Chapter 322: Ajax, I Will Bring Morning to the White Tower!
99th floor of the Red Tower.
"Phew. This is tough."
Clank.
When Udon, having finished the battle with Cactus, was about to take off his helmet and rest,
Roarrrr.
"Udon-!"
A massive energy took over the surroundings as Ramter appeared.
Clank.
Udon hurriedly put his helmet back on.
And then,
"I greet the great Red Dragon, Lord Ramter! What do you wish of me?"
He knelt down towards the direction of the voice and shouted.
"That's right! Udon, dry this in a dry place and then bring it back!"
Thud.
Ramter handed over a heavy leather pouch and said.
"Yes! Understood."
"Then call me once you're done."
After Ramter gave his command and disappeared,
"Phew. I guess I have to go back down again."
Udon went down the tower again without even having a chance to sit.
***
[You have acquired the seeds of the Magical Cherry Tomato.]
[Your job experience increase slightly.]
[Your proficiency in Seed Harvesting Lv. 8 has increased slightly.]
[You need to use the Seed Harvesting skill 532,012 more times to complete the job quest.]
...
..
.
"Hehehe. Nice."
Sejun, who had been paid by Ramter to dry his pears, harvested the cherry tomatoes with a satisfied smile.
After Sejun harvested cherry tomatoes for about an hour,
[Your soul feels fulfilled.]
[Mental strength increases by 1.]
He felt a sense of accomplishment as his mental strength increased.
And then,
"Aileen, what do we use mental strength for?"
He asked Aileen about the use of mental strength.
He initially wanted to ask Kaiser, but Aileen said she would look into it for him.
[The tower's administrator says that as mental strength increases, it affects other stats as well, causing them to increase.]
Aileen, having asked Kaiser in detail about mental strength, answered.
"Really?"
Hehehe. I should work hard to increase my mental strength from now on.
When he learned about the use of mental strength,
"Puhuhut. Chairman Park, I'll go work, meow!"
Theo said he would go to work.
"Oh! Really? What's the occasion Vice Chairman Theo?"
Sejun was surprised at Theo's words,
"Puhuhut. Since I'm the Vice Chairman, I need to supervise whether the employees are slacking off, meow!"
Theo answered proudly, planning to secretly check if the employees were slacking off.
However,
'Who's supervising whom?'
Sejun Company was a company where everyone worked hard, except for the Vice Chairman.
Still, it was commendable that he decided to work on his own.
"Be careful."
"Puhuhut. Understood, meow! I'll be back soon, meow!"
"Alright."
"Let's go, Piyot meow!"
Piyo!
[Yes!]
As Theo and Piyot went down to supervise the employees,
"Should I look around the fields?"
Step. Step.
Sejun walked towards the farm. Today, he had crops to check.
He planned to check the Japanese Pumpkin, Flame Beans, Watermelon, and Blueberries he bought when the 8th seed shop opened. (TL: Previously I might have translated Japanese Pumpkin as Sweet Pumpkin but the exact variety is Japanese Pumpkin aka Kabocha or Kabocha squash)
As Sejun arrived at the field where the crops were planted,
[The water-absorbing watermelon is grateful for the farmer's footsteps and lend its strength.]
[The potential of your magic stat increases from 2279 to 2280.]
The watermelon raised one potential in magic strength as a reward for hearing the footsteps.
"When will this one grow?"
Sejun said, looking at the watermelon the size of a fist. Its growth rate was excessively slow compared to other crops.
"Is it still lacking even though I gave it so much water?"
He had been watering the watermelon, known as the water-absorbing watermelon, ten times a day, but the result was a watermelon that grew from the size of a bean to a fist.
"Well... it's growing, at least."
Sejun shifted his gaze from the watermelon to the other crops.
However, the flame beans had not even sprouted yet, perhaps requiring special conditions to germinate.
The blueberries were still growing, now reaching about the height of Sejun's knees.
The last remaining crop was the japanese pumpkin.
"I'm glad at least you guys grew well. Hehehe."
Sejun looked at the well-ripened japanese pumpkin with a deep green color with satisfaction.
And then,
Swoosh.
He harvested the japanese pumpkin by cutting its stem with a dagger.
Then,
[You have harvested a Poison Detoxifying Japanese Pumpkin.]
[Your job experience increase slightly.]
[Your proficiency of Harvesting Lv. 8 has increased slightly.]
[Due to the effect of Proficiency Increase Lv. 1, the proficiency of Harvesting Lv. 8 increases by an additional 5%.]
[You have gained 70 experience points.]
[Experience points will not accumulate as you have not completed the job quest.]
Messages appeared.
"This one's definitely something Tier would buy."
A name that Tier couldn't help but be interested in.
But Tier wasn't here right now.
-Hurry up and pick it up.
On the way to deliver the 83rd-floor land deed to Sejun, Tier dropped the land deed to see if Theo would pick it up.
Click.
Sejun picked up the japanese pumpkin and checked its options.
[Poison Detoxifying Japanese Pumpkin]
→ A japanese pumpkin grown inside the tower, it has absorbed ample nutrients and is delicious.
→ When consumed, it expels a small amount of poison from the body.
→ Its taste and effects improve if left to ripen for up to two weeks.
→ With long-term consumption, it can completely expel any poison.
→ Cultivator: Tower Farmer Park Sejun
→ Shelf life: 150 days
→ Grade: A
"As expected."
The fact that it can completely expel any poison with long-term consumption meant this was a crop that Tier would definitely drool over.
"Hehehe. Let's hurry and harvest."
Sejun began to harvest the japanese pumpkin in earnest after confirming its effects.
A little later,
"Done."
When Sejun felt a sense of accomplishment after harvesting 300 japanese pumpkins,
[Your soul feels fulfilled.]
[Mental strength increases by 1.]
His mental strength increased by 1.
As the japanese pumpkin harvest concluded,
"I'll have japanese pumpkin for dinner tonight."
Sejun took the japanese pumpkin and headed to the kitchen.
And then,
Thump. Thump.
[You have acquired 5 seeds of the Poison Detoxifying Japanese Pumpkin.]
...
..
[You need to use the Seed Harvesting skill 528,172 more times to complete the job quest.]
Sejun started cooking after cutting the top off the japanese pumpkin and scooping out the seeds with a spoon.
Tonight's dinner menu was spicy seafood stew with japanese pumpkin.
As Sejun was about to put octopus, squid, fish fillets, green onions, and onions inside the japanese pumpkin,
"Ah?! There are no Cheongyang chili peppers?"
He realized belatedly that he was out of Cheongyang chili peppers.
Then,
"Sejun hyung! I'll pick some for you!"
Ajax, who was watching Sejun cook, raised his hand and shouted.
"Then, could you please?"
"Sure! Hyung! Just wait a bit!"
Swoosh.
Ajax hurried off to the Cheongyang chili pepper field.
A little later,
[Your slave, Tower Farmer Ajax Mamebe, has harvested a new variety called Sundried Red Pepper.]
A message appeared that Ajax had harvested a new variety called Sundried Red Pepper. So, is that Ajax's?
As Sejun wondered,
[A slave's achievements are your achievements.]
[You have achieved the feat of creating a new variety in the tower.]
...
..
.
[Due to your job trait, all stats increase by 10.]
A message appeared clarifying Sejun's doubts, indicating that Sejun had obtained the exclusive cultivation rights to the Sundried Red Pepper harvested by Ajax.
And then,
"Sejun hyung! I harvested this!"
Ajax, happy to have been of help to Sejun, flew over with a red pepper in his cute hand.
"That's great. Well done."
Sejun patted Ajax's head and examined the Sundried Red Pepper.
[Sundried Red Pepper]
→ A pepper grown inside the tower, it has absorbed plenty of nutrients and the energy of the sun, making it deliciously spicy.
→ When consumed, if exposed to sufficient light, one of the stats randomly increases by 5.
→ Cultivator: Tower Farmer Park Sejun
→ Shelf life: 150 days
→ Grade: A
"Oh! It has good options."
"Ehehe! Sejun hyung, I did well, right?!"
"Yes, you did well."
Pop. Pop.
When Sejun was patting Ajax on the back and praising him,
[You have obtained a clue that could lead to a great achievement.]
[A quest has been initiated.]
[Quest: Cultivate 10,000 Sundried Red Peppers and bring them to the White Tower. Then, you will be able to find the sealed location of the sun within the White Tower.]
Reward: 5 drops of Harvest Elixir
A quest message appeared in front of Sejun.
"Five drops of Harvest Elixir?!"
The reward is too good? Ajax, I'll Bring morning to the White Tower!
"Ajax, but what about the Cheongyang chili peppers?"
First, let's eat.
"Ah! Right! I'll bring it quickly!"
With that, Ajax brought the Cheongyang chili peppers, and Sejun stir-fried the pre-prepared dish one more time and seasoned it.
Then, he placed the stir-fried seafood inside the japanese pumpkin and put it in the oven he had made for pizza.
While the japanese pumpkin seafood stew was being completed,
"Ehehe! You're here?"
Kuehehehe. Kueng!
[Hehehe. It smells delicious!]
"Is it already dinner time?"
Cuengi and Veronica, attracted by the smell of the food, entered the kitchen and
Click. Click.
Sat down at the dining chairs.
Kking!
'Delicious smell!'
Fenrir also entered the kitchen and settled down in front of his bowl marked 'Blackie'.
30 minutes later,
[You have achieved the feat of making the first spicy seafood stew with japanese pumpkin in the tower.]
[The recipe for spicy seafood stew with japanese pumpkin is registered in Cooking Lv. 8.]
[Your proficiency of Cooking Lv. 8 has increased slightly.]
The cooking was completed.
Click. Click.
Sejun placed a japanese pumpkin on each of their plates and said,
"Let's eat."
Click.
As he opened the lid of the japanese pumpkin,
Click. Click. Click.
Cuengi, Ajax, and Veronica also followed Sejun, opening the lids of their japanese pumpkins and started eating the seafood stew.
Then,
Kking!
'Me too.'
Fenrir barked loudly, asking for his meal as well.
"Alright. Here."
When Sejun cut the japanese pumpkin wrapping the seafood stew and gave it to Fenrir,
Chomp. Chomp. Chomp.
Kking!
'Delicious!'
He started gobbling it down eagerly. Going to eat quickly and get ready for round two!
While everyone was enjoying their delicious dinner,
"Meow meow meow."
Piyo. Piyo.
Theo and Piyot were humming a tune while heading towards the 99th-floor entrance of the tower.
And then,
"Meow?!"
Theo found the land deed that Tier had thrown in advance.
"Puhuhut. Found something good, meow!"
Swoosh.
Of course, Theo picked up the land deed.
"Meow meow meow."
Piyo. Piyo.
They moved again, humming a tune, and
-That's it.
Finally, Tier, having delivered the 83rd-floor land deed to Theo, returned to the fountain with a smile.
Thus, Sejun's 370th day in the tower came to an end.
***
53rd floor of the Red Tower.
"But how did Lord Ramter obtain crops from the Black Tower?
Udon, having checked the option of the pear inside the leather pouch, spoke with curiosity.
As far as he knew, all dragons don't usually give and take things from each other.
They think that if another dragon gives them something, it means they are being looked down upon. Could such dragons exchange such insignificant crops?
It was unthinkable by Udon's common sense. Well... It was different since it wasn't a dragon to dragon trade, but a trade between a dragon and Sejun.
"But this is really fascinating."
Udon said, looking at the pear. It was his first time seeing such a crop. A crop that emits water in a dry place.
"Should this level of dryness be enough?"
Udon had just arrived in an area that was becoming a desert.
Click. Click.
He began to take pears out of the leather pouch and placed them on the ground.
After Udon had laid out about 50,000 pears on the ground,
"Is it evaporating well?"
He checked the first pear he took out.
Just by looking at it, it was much smaller than the pears inside the leather pouch.
"But why is it getting dark?"
Udon, noticing that it was getting dark around him, hurriedly looked up at the sky.
And then,
"What is that?!"
He spotted the dark clouds floating in the sky. The moisture evaporated from the pears had risen into the sky and formed clouds.
Then,
Drip. Drip.
Raindrops began to fall from the sky, one by one.
"It's raining..."
Udon was moved by the moisture wetting his face.
Swoosh.
In the meantime, the rain grew heavier and turned into a downpour.
"Hahaha! It's rain! Rain!"
Udon laughed heartily, embracing the falling rain with his whole body.
For the first time in a thousand years, rain fell on the Red Tower.
*****