Chapter 225: Eating Crab Stew

Black Tower's Administrator Area.

[It wasn't my intention to hide it from you, Aileen. I just wanted to appear cute to my master...]

"Really?"

[Of course! I swear on my leaves!]

"Alright. I'll trust you."

Convinced by Flamie's heartfelt oath, Aileen decided to trust Flamie's words.

"But how did you end up extending your roots to Earth?"

[I heard that my master's family was in danger, and with my desire to protect them, I pushed my roots as far as I could, and they reached Earth.]

"Really? Have you extended your roots anywhere else?"

[Yes, but I'm not sure exactly where.]

"Then tell me anything you've seen or heard from there. I might know something about it."

[Yes. Thank you.]

Thus, Aileen began to listen to information about the surroundings where Flamie's roots had extended.

***

Silver Dragon's Territory

Thud. Thud.

Dragons arrived for the meeting, all converging at about the same time due to the urgency of the matter.

Although it had been nearly a month since their last meeting at the Golden Dragon's territory, none of them exchanged pleasantries.

To dragons, such a period was but a fleeting moment; by human standards, it's like not saying hello again to someone you saw a few minutes ago.

Soon,

"I, Crisella, the head of the Hisron family clan and the Silver Dragons, welcome everyone to the Silver Dragon's territory. Now that everyone is here, let's begin the meeting."

Crisella greeted everyone and started the meeting.

"As you all know, the 10th Tower has appeared. If anyone knows anything about this 10th Tower, please share."

Crisella asked the other dragons if they had any information about the 10th Tower that had appeared below Destruction. At times like these, even a small piece of information was valuable.

However,

"I don't know anything."

"Neither do I."

No dragon had any information about the 10th Tower.

"Then let's form an investigation team with 10 dragons from each tribe to investigate and explore the 10th Tower."

The dragons, following their customs, agreed to assemble an investigation team.

"The investigation team will gather here in five days and then depart. Go back and send your dragons."

The decision to send a total of 90 dragons to the 10th Tower was finalized, and Crisella concluded the meeting.

As the dragons prepared to leave,

"Has anyone here tried Samyangju?"

Ramter Zahir of the Red Dragons asked the others.

"Ramter, you too?!"

"I've tried it as well."

"Me too."

Ramter's question surprised the other dragons. They had thought they were the only ones who had received the liquor.

"But who made Samyangju and distributed it to us?"

"I wish I could drink it again..."

"Right. Not just for the clarity it gives to the mind, but I can't forget its fragrance."

"The fragrance is good, but I like the way it how smoothly it goes down my throat."

The dragons began discussing who might have created Samyangju and shared their appreciation for its taste.

"It must be a hidden arrangement by the Creator, just for us dragons who can fight against destruction."

Tier Peten of the Purple Dragons spoke with conviction.

Shaking.

"Kellion, don't give it away."

Kaiser cautioned Kellion, who was itching to join the conversation.

Kaiser himself wanted to boast that it was Sejun, the Tower Farmer of their Black Tower, who had made Samyangju and saved them, but he restrained himself. Revealing that the Samyangju came from the Black Tower would lead other dragons to demand it, putting pressure on Kaiser.

Even Kaiser couldn't withstand the pressure from the other dragons, which would ultimately lead to sharing the Samyangju made by Sejun with the others, reducing their own share. Therefore, he remained silent.

Then,

"Hey, Kaiser, Kellion, you've been quiet. Didn't you get any Samyangju? Want me to give you some? Keke."

Tier taunted Kaiser and Kellion, noticing their silence.

"What?! Of course, we got it! We knew about Samyangju before any of you did!"

Kellion, provoked by Tier's taunt, blurted out without thinking before Kaiser could stop him.

"You knew first?!"

"Kellion, what are you saying?"

As Kellion's response sparked the interest of the other dragons. If they knew about the Samyangju before the others, they might have some small information about it.

"Uh! That's..."

Kellion, realizing his mistake, became flustered when,

"Let's go, Kellion. We should leave now!"

"Ah! Yes, let's go."

Kaiser quickly left the Silver Dragon's territory with Kellion.

"The two of them seem suspicious..."

The remaining dragons found Kaiser and Kellion's abrupt departure odd, but

"It's nothing suspicious! They are surely lying. That's why they left so quickly."

Tier continued to belittle them, causing discomfort among the dragons.

"Let's leave as well."

"Yeah, me too."

The dragons, uncomfortable with the situation, began to depart one by one to their respective territories.

Meanwhile,

"Is Kaiser alright? Did he really not get any Samyangju?"

Ramter, who had received help from Kaiser before, flew after the two dragons with some remaining Samyangju, just in case, wondering if they truly hadn't received any.

***

After finishing grafting the grapevines, Sejun hummed in anticipation of the future grapes.

"Hmm hmm hmm."

Sejun, excited about the grapes, hummed a tune while planting carrot seeds in the holes he had created in the field, infusing them with magic.

Swoosh.

As Sejun covered the hole where he planted the seeds with soil,

[You have planted the seed of Agility Carrot in the soil imbued with magic.]

[Your job experience has increased slightly.]

[Due to Agility Carrot seeds listening to the sound of the farmer's footsteps, the effect of Magic Seed Sowing Lv. 8 has been enhanced.]

[With the effect of Magic Seed Sowing Lv. 8, the growth rate of the Agility Carrot seeds will double for the next 24 hours.]

[The probability of obtaining a new variety is increased by five times due to the effect of Magic Seed Sowing Lv. 8.]

[Your proficiency of Magic Seed Sowing Lv. 8 has increased slightly.]

Among the displayed messages, one particularly stood out. This was the reason why Sejun was planting the seeds by hand instead of using the Myler's hoe to plant them in bulk.

-When planting seeds by hand, the probability of obtaining new variety increases five times. (Does not apply to tenant farmers.)

With Magic Seed Sowing reaching Lv. 8, Sejun tolerated the inconvenience to plant seeds by hand due to the increased chance of obtaining new varieties.

Suddenly,

"Chairman Park! Am I doing well, meow?"

Thud. Thud.

Theo, helping Sejun, asked while making holes with his dragon claws for Sejun to plant the carrot seeds.

Not because he didn't know but...

"Yes, Vice Chairman Theo, you're doing great."

"Puhuhut, I knew that, meow!"

Theo wanted to receive praise from Sejun.

"Hmm hmm hmm."

"Chairman Park! Am I doing well, meow?"

"Oh yes."

"Puhuhut, I knew it, meow!"

Theo continued to work, intermittently seeking Sejun's affirmation.

And then,

Krueng?

[Daddy, is Cuengi doing well too?]

Cuengi, who was planting various seeds in the field alongside Sejun, also wanted Sejun's praise.

"You've planted them well. Good job."

After checking Cuengi's work, Sejun complimented him.

Kuehehehe, Krueng!

[Hehehe, Cuengi will grow herbs to make Daddy strong!]

Motivated by Sejun's praise, Cuengi clenched his front paws with determination.

As the saying goes, you reap what you sow, but Sejun just patted Cuengi's head without saying anything and returned to his spot to plant more carrots.

While working late into the afternoon,

"Ah, I want some crab stew."

Sejun suddenly craved a dish and inadvertently spoke it out loud.

"Puhuhut, Chairman Park, do you want to eat crab, meow? I, Vice Chairman Theo, will catch some for you, meow!"

Before Sejun could say anything, Theo dashed towards the lake in the cave.

Dadadada.

Before Sejun could stop him, Theo quickly ran towards the lake in the cave.

Krueng! Krueng!

[Big brother Cuengi will catch crabs too! Daddy, just wait a little!]

Dadadada.

And so, Cuengi also hurried after Theo towards the lake.

"Then, I'll wait while playing with Flamie."

Sejun decided to wait for them while playing with Flamie and went down to the cave.

"Flamie, how have you been?"

[Master! Hello!]

Flap, flap.

Flamie greeted Sejun with its five leaves waving enthusiastically.

Thump.

As Sejun sat down beside Flamie,

[First, take this. Yap!]

Flamie used the ability of its fourth leaf.

The fourth leaf turned red and its ability, the Flame of Growth, seeped into Sejun's body.

[The Flame of Growth seeps in for 3 hours.]

[The Flame of Growth will enhance your latent potential for 3 hours.]

"Thanks. But what does the fifth leaf do?"

[The fifth leaf has the Golden Flame, which increases luck in gaining wealth.]

"Really? Then I'll try it on Vice Chairman Theo later."

[Heehee! That would be fun!]

And with that, Sejun and Flamie talked alone for the first time in a long time.

Shortly after,

Splash!

Theo and Cuengi emerged, creating a huge splash, each carrying a massive 50-meter crab, including the legs, lifted above their heads. The two crabs were of similar size, making it difficult to decide which was larger.

"Puhuhut, Chairman Park, eat the crab I caught, meow!"

Theo, upon spotting Sejun, offered him the crab he had caught.

Then,

Krueng! Krueng!

[No, Daddy should eat the crab Cuengi caught!]

Cuengi quickly offered his crab to Sejun.

"Calm down, guys. We can eat both."

Sejun calmed them down and was about to dismember the crabs when,

"Ah, presentation is important for this dish."

Sejun changed his mind about how to prepare the crabs.

"Cuengi, can you open this up?"

He asked Cuengi to separate the crab shells.

Krueng!

[Got it!]

Cuengi, having enlarged, easily separated the shells from two crabs.

"Cuengi, please wash these."

Sejun asked Cuengi to clean the shells while

"Vice Chairman Theo, claws."

"Here they are, meow!"

Snip!

Scrape, scrape.

Using Theo's claws, Sejun skillfully cut the crab legs and body into suitable sizes, cleaning them thoroughly.

Once the crabs were prepared,

"Land Moving."

Sejun went above ground and created a large, two fire pits in the ground, filled it with firewood,

Snap.

and lit a fire.

Krueng

[Daddy, the crab shells are all clean!]

"Cuengi, put the shells here."

Sejun instructed Cuengi to place the large crab shells on top of the fire pit, planning to use them as pots.

And then,

Sizzle.

Sejun began cooking at a spot he had made between the fire pit, pouring water into the giant crab shells placed over the pits.

Da da da da.

First, he sliced radish, green onions, and onions, adding them to make a broth.

Bubble, bubble.

As the water started to boil,

Plunk. Plunk.

He added the prepared crab legs and bodies, seasoning with Cheongyang chili peppers and salted shrimp.

Shortly after,

Slurp.

"Mmm. Good."

After tasting, Sejun was satisfied with the flavor. Though the crab stew turned out clear due to the lack of other seasonings, it was delicious.

"Guys, let's eat!"

Sejun called the animals who had been drooling looking over the fire-pit, to eat the crab stew.

On day 348 of being stranded, Sejun and the animals had another fulfilling day, working hard and eating well.

*****

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