Chapter 301: Let's Spar!

Black Tower's Administrator Area.

"Kehehehe."

Aileen laughed as she connected the black glossy string to make a necklace with Kai-ra's heart shard.

Click.

"It's finally time to give Sejun his gift!"

Aileen, holding the necklace, wore a solemn expression. It took quite a long time just to give one gift.

"Sejun, come out to the waypoint alone. I have something for you."

Aileen called Sejun to an isolated place to avoid any collateral damage.

"Ah! Bring Theo along, Sejun."

Just in case, Aileen told him to bring Theo along.

***

"You have something for me?"

Hehehe. A gift?

"Got it."

Following Aileen's words, Sejun got excited and stood up to head towards the waypoint.

Tororong.

Ppyerorong.

Kurorong.

Pirorong.

Fortunately, the other animals had eaten their fill in the morning and were now taking a nap.

Then

Ssssrk.

"Puhuhut. Chairman Park, look at this, meow! My fur doesn't fall out anymore, meow!"

Theo bragged about how even with vigorous movement and running around, his fur didn't shed.

Thanks to Talent: Strong Fur.

That's how Theo boasted about his strong fur.

"Now I should rest, meow."

After finishing his bragging,

Theo clung to Sejun's legs.

'Kkuhng. Aileen told me to come alone, but...'

Once he clings like this, it's at least takes an hour.

As Sejun pondered how to detach Theo,

[The Tower's administrator says to bring Theo along.]

"Got it! Let's go, Vice Chairman Theo!"

"Puhuhut. Good, meow! Let's go, meow!"

Theo, excited to go anywhere with Sejun without knowing where, shouted.

And Sejun moved towards the waypoint with Theo.

***

Black Tower 99th Floor, South Area.

The habitat of the fire ants.

Kieeeek!

The fire ant swarm rushed towards the invaders of their territory.

But there were only two intruders.

"Moonlight Slash!"

Veronica swung her dagger horizontally towards the incoming fire ants,

Whoosh.

A semi-circular blade of energy sliced through the fire ants.

Approximately 3,000 fire ants died in one strike.

Then

"Kyoot kyoot kyoot. Veronica, not bad. Power of light, burn the enemies. Cannon Beam."

A high-heat beam emitted from Iona's cute front paws incinerated 5,000 fire ants.

"Not bad? I'm just getting warmed up! Full Moon Slash!"

Veronica, holding twin daggers, pulled her arms back then swung them forward dramatically,

Whoong.

This time, two semi-circular blades of energy formed a circle, slaughtering 10,000 fire ants.

"Kyoot kyoot kyoot. I'm getting warmed up a bit too. Power of wind, crush the enemies. Air Press."

Bang!

With Iona's magic, a violent windstorm from the sky struck the ground.

The tremendous pressure created by the wind crushed 20,000 fire ants to death.

"Good. But I'm not done yet! Moonlight Dance!"

Veronica then swung her twin daggers, spilling blood-colored energy blades in all directions.

"Kyoot kyoot kyoot. Same here! Power of ice..."

The two slaughtering fire ants.

The reason they were doing this from morning was to see who was stronger.

Iona and Veronica were competing to see who could kill more fire ants, determining the second in command of the Black Tower.

***

On the way to the waypoint

"Chairman Park, where are we going, meow?"

Theo finally became curious about their destination.

"Aileen has something for us at the waypoint."

"Puhuhut. Aileen noona is giving a gift, meow?"

"Probably."

"Puhuhut."

"Hehehe."

Laughing like fools, the two arrived at the waypoint.

"Aileen, I'm here."

As Sejun called for Aileen,

[The Tower's administrator says to receive this first.]

Aileen replied and handed a necklace with a black stone shard to Sejun.

[Kai-ra's Guardian Necklace]

"Huh?! Is this made from Kai-ra's heart shard?"

Sejun examined the necklace after reading its name.

[Kai-ra's Guardian Necklace]

→ This necklace is made from the heart shard of one of the ten dragons first created by the Creator God, the strongest dragon, the great Black Dragon Kai-ra Pritani.

→ The magic that was told by Kai-ra's residual thoughts contained in the heart shard was engraved by Aileen Pritani.

→ To lower the usage restriction, the necklace's performance has been significantly reduced.

→ Usage Restriction: Those granted permission by the great Black Dragon Aileen Pritani, Lv. 50 or above, all stats over 500

→ Creator: Aileen Pritani

→ Grade: Unmeasurable

→ Skill: [Absolute Protection (Master)]

[The Tower's administrator confirms it's true.]

[The Tower's administrator says to infuse the necklace with magic power.]

As Sejun examined Kai-ra's Guardian Necklace, Aileen answered.

"Magic power?"

When Sejun infused the necklace with magic power,

Woong.

The magic power of the necklace resonated and enveloped Sejun.

And then

[Checking the magic power of Kai-ra's Guardian Necklace.]

[Checking the magic power of Black Tower's farmer Park Sejun.]

[Kai-ra's Guardian Necklace is now bound to Black Tower's farmer Park Sejun.]

Kai-ra's Guardian Necklace became entirely Sejun's.

[The Tower's administrator says to now try using the engraved skill of Absolute Protection on the necklace.]

"Okay. Absolute Protection."

When Sejun used the Absolute Protection skill,

[The Kai-ra's secret skill: Absolute Protection is activated for 10 minutes on yourself and nearby allies.]

[During the activation of Kai-ra's secret skill: Absolute Protection, physical resistance and resistance to other energies are increased tenfold.]

A skill activation message appeared.

"Kai-ra's secret skill?"

Resistance increased tenfold?! It seemed like it could even block Cuengi's punch. Of course, a full-power punch would be too much.

As Sejun was reading the message,

"Grandma taught me this skill! Nice to see you, Sejun!"

Aileen spoke to Sejun as she descended from the sky with her back to the sun.

Sejun shielded his eyes while looking at Aileen with the sun behind her.

It was dazzling. Both the sun and Aileen.

Click.

Aileen landed on the ground in the meantime.

"...Aileen?"

Sejun, mesmerized by Aileen's beauty, snapped back to reality and asked.

"Yeah! It's me. Happy 1 year survival anniversary, Sejun. Now, receive my gift!"

Finally, Aileen was able to directly give her congratulatory gift to Sejun.

Chu.

Aileen pressed her lips to Sejun's.

Aileen's prepared gift for Sejun's 1 survival anniversary was a kiss.

The Kai-ra's Guardian Necklace was just a means to achieve that.

"...!"

Aileen's lips touching his.

Sejun's mind went blank, and his legs gave out at his first kiss.

"Kehehehe. Success!"

When Aileen was happy about delivering her gift,

"Aileen noona... Chairman Park has fainted again, meow!"

Theo said.

"Kuh?!"

At Theo's words, Aileen hurriedly detached her lips and checked Sejun's face,

...

Sejun had fainted with a pale face.

Till face-to-face interaction, Absolute Protection and Theo's energy drain could cover, but physical contact was too much.

At least he felt the touch on his lips before fainting, which might be slightly less unfair for Sejun.

Thump, Thump.

Now accustomed to Sejun's fainting, Theo calmly massaged Sejun's body with his paws.

Especially focusing on the face. Compared to Aileen noona, Chairman Park's face has really ugly, meow!

"Sejun, wake up! Heal."

Before the duration of Absolute Protection ended, Aileen, wanting to converse and see Sejun's face, helped Theo and used healing magic.

However, Sejun did not wake up until Absolute Protection was over.

"Sejun, see you in 100 days."

Aileen promised to see him again in 100 days when he could use Absolute Protection again and returned to the administrator area.

***

Hachijo Island, located about 300 km south of Tokyo, Japan.

Wriggle. Squirm.

Giant leeches began to emerge from the sea.

Some of the giant leeches, swept by the deep-sea currents, had arrived here.

The giant leeches silently invaded the village, following the scent of blood.

Caught off guard by the sudden invasion of the giant leeches, the people couldn't escape and

"Save me..."

Suck. Suck.

Were engulfed by the leeches, drained of their blood, and died.

The people of Hachijo Island were annihilated by the giant leeches before they could even request support from mainland Japan.

Thus, Japan was almost attacked by the giant leeches without any awareness.

"What is that?!"

Fortunately, a boat that had left the island for fishing was able to request support from mainland Japan, buying some time to prepare for the giant leeches.

And

Squish. Squelch.

Around the same time, giant leeches also landed in Russia, the Philippines, and New Zealand.

***

An hour had passed since Aileen left.

"Ugh."

Sejun finally regained consciousness.

Press. Press.

He felt Theo's front paws pressing down on his face.

Then

[The Tower's administrator asks if you're okay.]

Aileen asked.

"Huh? Oh... I'm... I'm fine."

Stuttering, Sejun recalled the moment he fainted.

It was incredibly embarrassing. To faint during a kiss...

Because of that, Sejun felt utterly deflated.

"Chairman Park, are you okay now, meow?"

Theo asked him.

"Yeah. I'm fine."

"Puhuhut. I, Vice Chairman Theo, am happy to see Chairman Park becoming stronger, meow!"

Theo said with a happy expression, looking at Sejun.

"I've become stronger?"

"That's right! If it were the old Chairman Park, you would have fainted at the sight of Aileen noona, meow!"

"Hehehe. Is that so?"

Right. I've grown! Encouraged by Theo's words, Sejun's confidence, which had nearly hit rock bottom, began to rise again.

And

"Puhuhut. That's right, meow! This time, I also struggled, but Chairman Park gave me strength, meow! Chairman Park is amazing, meow!"

The continuous praise from Theo was like a pump to Sejun's confidence.

Thanks to that, Sejun fully regained his confidence. Just don't faint next time.

"Hehehe. Vice Chairman Theo, let's go back."

Click.

As Sejun extended his leg,

"Puhuhut. Understood, meow!"

Snap.

Theo quickly clung to Sejun's leg in response.

"Let's go!"

Sejun returned to the farm with Theo hanging on.

'Aileen noona, did I do well, meow?'

Theo, hanging on Sejun's leg, secretly talked to Aileen.

[The Tower's administrator says it was excellent praise.]

[The Tower's administrator says they will give you a special reward later.]

'Puhuhut. Understood, meow!'

Squeeze.

Happy with Aileen's words, Theo hugged Sejun's leg tightly.

Anticipating that Sejun would lose confidence upon waking up, Aileen had planned ahead.

"Theo, when Sejun wakes up later, praise him a lot for being amazing."

Aileen had instructed Theo to praise Sejun.

Though it was a bit risky to ask Theo to act, at the moment, Theo was the only one Aileen could rely on.

But

'Chairman Park knees are amazing, meow!'

Theo, originally a fanatic admirer of Sejun's knees.

There was no need for Theo to pretend in praising Sejun. It was all genuine.

However, it seems Theo's confidence boost was a bit too much.

"Minotaur 3008, let's spar!"

Sejun fearlessly challenged the youngest of the Black Minotaurs seen in the distance.

Moo?

[Are you sure?]

"Yep!"

Sejun shouted with bravado. Hehehe. I'm not the old me!

Moo!

[Then here I come!]

Thump. Thump. Thump.

Minotaur 3008 charged in response to Sejun's answer.

[The Tower's administrator urgently shouts to knock Sejun out quickly.]

Aileen hurriedly called out to Theo.

"Chairman Park, why are you trying to get yourself killed, meow?! That's not allowed, meow!"

Thump!

Shocked, Theo struck the back of Sejun's neck,

Hmm!

Seeing Sejun pass out, Minotaur 3008 quickly stopped.

Drag. Drag. Drag.

Eventually, Sejun was dragged away by Theo

Kking...

Zzzzz

And lay down to sleep next to Fenrir, who had fainted after eating black royal jelly.

*****

4/5

*****