Mix vinegar and salt in a 2:1 ratio and add it to the bean juice. But dont stir it too much, or the tofu wont coagulate Huh?! Sejun?!

Kim Mi-ran was explaining how to make tofu to Sejun when their conversation was abruptly cut off as Sejun and Cuengi disappeared from the mirror.

I still had more to say

Kim Mi-ran said with a look of disappointment.

Then,

Ah!

Remembering something, she hurriedly opened the front door and went outside.

And,

Flamie!

She called out to the apple tree in the middle of the garden, which had been planted there since they moved in.

And,

-Yes. Masters mother, did you call for me?

The apple tree replied.

Initially Flamie, who had taken root in the houses basement to protect Sejuns family,

Sigh Sejun only sends messages that hes doing well through Hunter Han Tae-jun, but why doesnt he come out of the tower? Is he eating properly?

overheard Kim Mi-rans worries while she was watering the garden and worrying about Sejun.

Masters mother is worried about the master. I must do something!

So, Flamie connected its roots with those of the apple tree in the garden to ease Kim Mi-rans worries and,

-Excuse me Hello, masters mother, I am Flamie.

started to communicate with Kim Mi-ran through the apple tree, occasionally updating her about Sejun and reassuring his worried family.

However,

Hohoho. Sejun has a girlfriend? And shes incredibly beautiful?!

Really?! With Sejuns one word the monsters in the tower die?

He even ate ramen recently? The tower has everything, doesnt it?

Flamie ended up alleviating their worries too much by only sharing the good news about Sejun, making his family worry less about him.

As a result, Kim Mi-ran was not overly worried when she saw Sejun after almost a year.

Moreover, the environment visible through the mirror, with its fully cultivated wasteland now filled with crops like corn and cherry tomatoes, made Sejuns location seem like an ordinary peaceful countryside.

Back to the present.

Flamie, I was talking to Sejun and got cut off. Can I ask you something?

Kim Mi-ran, unable to satisfy her curiosity due to the interrupted conversation with Sejun, asked Flamie.

-Yes! Ask me anything!

How does Sejun take care of his skin?

-Huh?! Skin care?

Yes. Sejuns skin looked so good!

Kim Mi-ran was curious about Sejuns skin care routine, which had improved significantly since entering the tower. His skin tone brightened, blemishes disappeared, and there was a faint glow.

His features also seemed more defined. While Sejun, seeing his face every day, didnt notice the changes, his face was really getting more handsome due to Theos massages.

-Ah! Thats because of Masters right-hand man, Theo

Flamie explained to Kim Mi-ran why Sejuns skin had improved.

So youre saying Sejuns skin got better because of the kneading from Theo, the cat hes raising?!

-Yes!

Sejun is so lucky, getting massages and improving his skin Im so jealous.

Kim Mi-ran was enviously happy for her son, whose skin even got better while getting massages by the cats kneading.

Speaking of which, I didnt see Theo. I should ask Sejun to show me Theo later.

Kim Mi-ran, feeling a bit disappointed about not seeing Theo.

Oh, my! Look at me!

Suddenly remembering she had left the soybean paste stew on the stove, she hurried back to the kitchen.

-Phew. Its a relief that Masters mother didnt mention me to the master.

Flamie felt relieved that Sejun hadnt discovered its roots extending all the way there.

***

Grandpa, Im here!

Aileen arrived at the territory of the Black Dragon through the portal in the administrators area.

Kahaha! My granddaughter is here!

Grandpa, wheres the stuff?

Aileen immediately addressed her purpose, despite Kaisers warm welcome.

Aileen firmly told Kaiser that the Samyangju she gave was not for free, and handed over the liquor. In response, Kaiser distributed Samyangju to the black dragons and in exchange received dragon scales.

There they are. This time, for each cup of Samyangju, I got three scales engraved with dragon skin magic. Kahaha. How about that?

Kaiser proudly pointed to a huge pile of black dragon scales obtained as a price for the Samyangju.

Yesterday at lunch, when the 300 jars of Samyangju that Sejun had brewed a week ago were ready, 3333 bottles were distributed to each dragon clan, and all dragons tasted at least one glass of it yesterday.

And because of the good taste of Samyangju and its effect in clearing the mind, it instantly became the favorite drink of the dragons.

Consequently, the black dragons, following Kaisers demand for a payment, willingly gave up their scales engraved with dragon skin magic. In fact, they were even willing to give more scales for more liquor.

Grandpa, thank you. Ill be going now!

Aileen gathered the piled scales and hurried towards the portal.

What? Leaving already?

Yes, I have a lot of work to do!

Leaving the disappointed Kaiser behind, Aileen hurried back to the administrators area.

And,

Hehehe. Sejun will be happy, right?

Aileen delivered the black dragon scales she received from Kaiser to Sejun.

***

Sip.

[The Towers Administrator says these are in exchange for the Samyangju.]

Aileen spoke to Sejun, who was having his morning coffee after breakfast.

Then,

Thud!

Approximately 80,000 black dragon scales appeared in front of Sejun.

Aileen, thank you.

Sejun stored the black dragon scales he received from Aileen in his void storage. Though it was more than needed, having one dragon scale could save him from a deadly situation, so having more was not a bad thing.

After storing the black dragon scales in the storage,

Krueng!

[Dad, Cuengi will go and check on the herbs!]

Cuengi rushed towards the western forest.

Cuengi, you should take some snacks with you.

Sejun noticed that Cuengis snack pouch was empty, but

Krueng! Krueng!

[No need! Its okay!]

Surprisingly, Cuengi refused food and quickly headed towards the western forest.

Somethings fishy about Cuengi.

Whats fishy, meow?

As Cuengi quickly disappeared into the distance, Sejun commented, and Theo, curious, asked.

Its about Cuengi. These days, he doesnt fill his snack pouch and comes back late in the evening.

Since the day after they made tofu five days ago, Cuengi stopped asking Sejun for food. And even when he returned in the evening, he didnt eat but played around Sejun and then went to sleep.

Could he be sick?

At first, Sejun worried if Cuengi was unwell, but Cuengi seemed too energetic to be sick.

Then theres only one possibility left.

What is it, meow?

Vice Chairman Theo, you dont know? Then how can you be called Theo-son, assistant to the great detective Sherlock Sejun? (TL: Theo-son as in Watson from Sherlock Holmes)

Meow?! Whats Theo-son, meow?

Confused by Sejuns sudden role-play, Theo didnt understand what was going on and questioned.

Theres such a thing. So, are you going to be my assistant or not?!

I will, meow! Im Sejuns right hand man and his assistant, meow!

Though unclear about the specifics, Theo, always wanting to be on Sejuns side, agreed without hesitation.

Good. Seeing Theo-sons enthusiasm, Ill let this one slide.

Thank you, meow! Ill work hard from now on, meow!

Exactly! Thats the spirit, Theo-son!

Sejun was pleased with Theos eager attitude.

And,

Theo-son, listen carefully. Considering the amount Cuengi eats, it doesnt make sense for him to eat nothing, right?

Sejun continued his deduction.

Thats right, meow! It doesnt make sense for Cuengi to starve, meow!

Theo eagerly agreed with Sejuns words.

That means

That means? What, meow? Im so curious, meow! Tell me quickly, meow!

Cuengi is secretly eating something delicious! Haha! Hows that for a deduction by the great detective Sherlock Sejun?

Sejun proudly responded to Theos curious and eager attitude.

And,

Golden Bat! Go get Iona.

Sejun summoned the Golden Bat to bring Iona from the Wizard Tower.

It was time to confront Cuengi, who had only been suspected but not yet caught in the act.

Cuengi must have been eating delicious things alone and giving me only the tasteless and bitter stuff.

Sejun planned to follow Cuengi and catch him in the act of eating something delicious by himself.

So, Sejun summoned the Golden Bat to call Iona because he needed her wind magic to approach Cuengi without being detected by his keen sense of smell.

Although Sejun considered moving underground, Cuengi had learned to detect enemies moving underground during their previous battle with the corrupted ents.

Krueng! Krueng!

[Theres something in the ground! Lets hit it and find out!]

Cuengis method of attacking anything suspicious in the ground was too risky.

A short while later,

Kyoot Kyoot Kyoot. Sejun, did you call me?

Iona arrived with the Golden Bat.

Good, youre here, Iona. Were going to secretly follow Cuengi, so can you hide our scent with your wind magic?

Kyoot Kyoot Kyoot. Spying? That sounds fun. Leave it to me!

Iona, intrigued by the idea of a tailing, eagerly agreed to help.

Puhuhut. Even if Iona hides our scent, its me, the great assistant Theo-son, who will be assisting the great detective Sherlock Sejun!

Theo, fully immersed in their role-play, clung to Sejuns knee and declared confidently. Now, Ive got a sense of what Chairman Park wants, meow!

Alright! Lets go!

Sejun, along with Theo, Iona, and the Golden Bat, set off towards the western forest to catch Cuengi in the act.

***

In the western forest,

Krueng!

[Finally arrived!]

Cuengi, having skipped breakfast, arrived at the place filled with giant trees infested with kudzu vines and immediately started sniffing around.

Then,

Kuehehehe. Krueng!

[Hehehe. It smells like honey here!]

Crack.

Having found the scent he was looking for, Cuengi dug his front paws into the tree trunk, pulling out a blue kudzu root,

Krueng!

[Found a honey-flavored herb!]

Munch. Munch.

Cuengi happily ate it.

Krueng!

[Its delicious!]

Dum dum.

Chewing on the kudzu root, Cuengi danced joyfully as the sweet juice flowed out.

After finding and eating several honey-flavored kudzu roots,

Sniff sniff.

Cuengi began searching for new kudzu roots.

Then,

Krueng!

[Theres a bitter smell here!]

Crack!

Detecting a bitter smell, Cuengi dug into another tree and pulled out a red kudzu root.

Krueng!

[This ones for Dad!]

Cuengi quickly stashed the red kudzu root in its snack pouch.

***

Got you! You little rascal!

Sejun, watching Cuengi eat the blue kudzu roots and stash the red ones in its bag through Ionas clairvoyance magic spell, exclaimed.

Just as Sejun had suspected, Cuengi was eating the tasty ones and only giving Sejun the bitter-tasting ones.

What was more infuriating was the ratio in which Cuengi was harvesting: approximately nine blue kudzu roots for every one red root. Despite the abundance of tasty roots, Cuengi never offered any to Sejun.

You little rascal, Cuengi! You had delicious ones but only gave me the bitter ones!

Sejun, infuriated by Cuengis misdeeds, quietly approached him.

And,

Got you! You rascal!

Krueng?

Sejun grabbed Cuengi by the scruff of his neck as he was busily eating the blue kudzu roots.

*****