In the Black Tower Administrators Area.

-Kahaha! How has my granddaughter been?!

Kaiser, who had returned to the Black Dragons territory in a good mood after drinking Samyangju with Kellion and Ramter, re-entered the Black Tower through the Black Dragon statue.

Grandpa, where have you been?! I have something to ask you.

-Oh?! My little Aileen has something to ask this old man?! What is it? Ask me anything! Kahahaha.

When Aileen said she had something to ask him, Kaiser was ready to answer any question.

Its something I read in a book. Theres a place where the sky is purple, the land is green, and there are crustacean insects with many legs. But the name of the place wasnt mentioned, so I thought maybe you would know.

The place Aileen mentioned was where Flamie had rooted itself, but Aileen had no idea about it. Thats why she asked Kaiser, even resorting to a lie to keep Flamies secret.

-Hmm Purple sky and green land Ah! Of course, I know!

Upon hearing Aileens words, something immediately came to Kaisers mind. However, what Kaiser thought of was not a place, but the beings that create such an environment: the Purple Dragons.

The places where Purple Dragons reside turn green due to the magic imbued with their toxic aura, and the atmosphere turns purple due to their poisonous breath.

What is it?!

-Well, Im not sure of the exact location, but its a phenomenon that occurs when Purple Dragons dwell.

Really?! Purple Dragons?!

-It could be the Purple Dragons territory or inside the Purple Tower where such an environment is created.

Kaiser replied, looking at Aileen suspiciously. There are no books about Purple Dragons in the library. I got rid of all those unlucky Purple Dragons books, didnt I?

As Kaiser looked at Aileen with suspicion,

Ah! Right! Sejun is making Samyangju again! Hes planning to sell it this time!

Aileen informed Kaiser that Sejun was making Samyangju again. It was a promotion for Sejuns Samyangju.

-Really?!

Upon hearing Aileens words, Kaiser immediately headed to the brewery. Kellion would be coming soon, and Kaiser planned to pay Sejun first and secure the Samyangju.

After Kaiser left,

Phew

Aileen sighed in relief, having been tense from deceiving Kaiser, and picked up a crystal orb.

Keeheehee. Flamie, I found out where your roots are!

[Really? Where is it?]

I think its the Purple Tower. Theres a lot of poison there, but are you okay?

[The poison I can somewhat withstand, but its a bit annoying because the bugs keep trying to eat me.]

What?! Bugs dare to bother you, Sejuns tree?! That wont do. Ill teach you a few spells!

Aileen began teaching Flamie some magic.

***

Early dawn.

Squeeze squeeze

Huh? Whats that?

Sejun woke up feeling something pressing on his face.

Puhuhut. Chairman Park, are you awake, meow?!

As Sejun woke up, Theo, who had been massaging Sejuns face with his paws, greeted him with a mischievous laugh.

And then,

Chairman Park, try this, meow! Its honey water made from fresh honey collected by bees this morning, meow!

Theo handed Sejun the honey water he had forcibly made from the poisonous honeybees.

What Whats this? Vice Chairman Theo, why are you acting like this all of a sudden?

Normally, Theo would be busy with his own things even when Sejun woke up. But now, from massages to honey water this early in the morning? It was too suspicious.

No need to feel burdened, meow! Just go ahead and drink some honey water, meow!

Youre the most burdensome

Alright.

Following Theos persistent urging, Sejun drank the honey water.

Gulp, gulp.

The honey water flowing down his throat.

Kuh. Refreshing.

The honey water was sweet and refreshing.

As Sejun drank the honey water,

Puhuhut. Werent you hot while sleeping, meow?! Ill fan you, meow!

Whoosh, whoosh.

Theo waved his paws, fanning Sejun.

Why are you really doing this?

Sejun couldnt bear Theos burdensome behavior anymore and asked.

Puhuhut. What do you mean, meow?

Especially that mischievous laugh was too annoying.

Why are you doing something you never do?

Chairman Park, I want to keep being Vice Chairman Theo, meow! So, please revoke my penalty, meow!

So that was it?!

Just go to the 65th floor and get the money.

Sejun didnt understand why Theo was behaving this way when all he needed to do was go to the Legendary merchant to repay the money.

However,

Chairman Park, hear me out, meow!

Theo, planning to continue borrowing Sejuns money, not just this time, I cant keep getting penalized like this, meow!, Theo began earnestly trying to persuade Sejun.

So, Vice Chairman Theo, youre saying that when you use my money, the efficiency is 1, but with other money, its 0.5?

Thats right, meow! Thats why I want to use Chairman Parks money, meow! Chairman Parks money is the best, meow!

Hmm. Is that really true?!

Why only his money? Isnt all money the same?

Okay. Lets do just one test, and if its really true, Ill lift your penalty.

Really, meow?! Lets test it quickly, meow!

Theo, eager to get the penalty lifted, exclaimed at Sejuns words.

Wait a minute

Just as Sejun was about to ask for help to measure Theos power,

-Sejun!

Not a power meter but Kaiser himself came flying towards Sejun of his own accord.

Then,

-Here, take this!

Kaiser thrust 100 million Tower Coins into Sejuns hand without any explaination.

Whats this?

-Kahaha! What else? Its the advance payment for the Samyangju that you are making.

Kaiser had prepaid the price for the upcoming Samyangju.

I got here first.

Kaiser looked around and smiled inwardly, confirming that Kellion hadnt arrived yet.

I need to bring more money from the storage.

Just as Kaiser was about to hurry to the storage to get more money,

Kaiser, can I ask for a favor?

-A Favor?! Anything for you!

Kaiser readily agreed, hearing that it was a request from Sejun. After all, the favor was for Samyangju.

Please see how powerful Theo becomes.

-Sure. Nothing difficult about that. Lets see it.

Kaiser responded and began to closely observe Theo.

Yes! Thank you. Here, Vice Chairman Theo, take the money. Its from me.

Sejun handed Theo 10 million Tower Coins to Theo.

Thank you, meow!

Poof!

Theo burned the money he received from Sejun.

-Ho-ho! A talent to become stronger by burning Tower Coins, thats really amazing!

Kaiser looked at Theo, shining in golden light as he burned the money, with interest.

Once the golden light faded,

This time, Im lending it to you.

Sejun handed another 10 million Tower Coins to Theo. Although he didnt quite understand this formal method of changing the ownership of the money, he decided to try it according to Theos words.

Poof!!

Once again, Theo burned the money and emitted a golden light.

?!

Upon closer observation, even Sejun could see that the intensity of the golden light was different from before, despite burning the same amount of money.

How about it, Kaiser?

Sejun asked Kaiser for an accurate assessment.

Then,

-If the power gained just now is considered 100, then before it was only 49.

Kaiser provided an accurate evaluation.

So, its true that he gets stronger by burning my money?!

Puhuhut! Chairman Park, see, meow?! I was right, meow! Quickly lift my penalty, meow!

Theo, relieved that his argument was validated, arrogantly laughed and clung to Sejuns lap.

Kaiser, thank you. Heres your Samyangju.

Sejun handed Kaiser 10 bottles of Samyangju for helping him,

Swoosh.

and marked the day as the 351st morning on the wall.

***

[This place, where Ive taken root, is better for living than anywhere else.]

Wriggle, wriggle.

Podori, content with the nutrient-rich soil and the kind farmer Sejun, happily spread its roots.

Then,

Twitch.

Podoris roots bumped into another set of roots.

And then,

[Hello. I am Flamie.]

The other roots greeted Podori.

[Flamie? Are you also a World Tree candidate?]

Podori, a World Tree candidate, asked Flamie.

[No. Im not that.]

[What?! Youre not?! Then you should have come to greet me, Podori, a World Tree candidate, earlier!]

Podori got angry, thinking Flamie was of a lower hierarchy for not being a World Tree candidate. The farms hierarchy is a mess. I need to reestablish it!

[Flamie, from now on, you will greet me every morning]

And just when Podori tried to assert dominance over Flamie,

[I]

[Yes?!]

Podori froze upon hearing Flamies reply.

[But didnt you just say something about doing something every morning?]

[Oh! I meant that from now on, I will greet you, Flamie, every morning! Please take care of me!]

Podoris roots humbly bowed towards Flamies roots.

***

Hey, you woke me up too early.

Sejun, who had come outside, complained to Theo for waking him up early, but

Gororong.

Theo, back to his usual self, didnt care at all and slept soundly.

Thats more like it.

Swoosh, swoosh.

Sejun stroked Theos head. Yes, this is more like you.

Lets check the rice.

Carrying the sleeping Theo on his leg, Sejun went to the area where the rice, planted in the Golden Tree Stump Pot of Abundance, showed a golden hue.

And,

Swoosh.

He placed a rice ear on his palm and examined it closely. The rice ear was completely golden without a hint of green.

Good. Its ready to be harvested.

Confirming that the rice was ready to be harvested, Sejun took out the Sickle of Freshness and

Swoosh.

started cutting the rice.

Then,

[You have harvested 3518 grains of Golden Rice.]

[Your job experience has slightly increased.]

[Your proficiency in Harvesting Lv. 7 has slightly increased.]

[Due to the Cold energy imbued in the Sickle of Freshness, the expiration date of the harvested crops has increased by 5 days.]

[You have gained 246260 Experience Points.]

A message appeared indicating that the rice was harvested. There were a lot of grains, hence the high experience points.

Lets see.

Sejun closely examined a grain of rice.

[Golden Rice]

Rice grown inside the tower, well-nourished and tasty.

Grown by an excellent farmer, it has outstanding effects.

Consuming 100,000 grains of rice triggers the Rice-as-Medicine effect. (When activated, the Rice-as-Medicine effect randomly increases Strength, Stamina, Agility, and Magic stats by a total of 100.)

Cultivator: Tower Farmer Park Sejun

Expiration Date: 155 days

Grade: A

Is this good?

The effect of increasing total stats by 100 by eating 100,000 grains of rice seemed good, but the number seemed incredibly high, leaving Sejun unsure if it was actually advantageous.

What does it matter?! The important thing is that I can eat rice!

Swoosh, swoosh.

Sejun started to harvest the rice earnestly.

As he cut the last stalk,

[You have leveled up.]

[You have gained 1 bonus stat.]

A level-up message appeared, and Sejun reached level 67. There were about 300 rice stalks planted in the pot. Having harvested nearly a million grains, it made sense to level up.

Good. Now, I need to the rice milling

Sejun shook off the rice from the ears and looked at the grains that had fallen to the ground, deep in thought.

Then,

Rustle-rustle.

He placed the rice between his palms and began to rub them together, as if grinding sesame seeds, husking the rice. The husks began to fall to the ground.

Oh! Its working!

Sejun rubbed his palms more vigorously.

Then,

Zap!

Electricity sparked in his hands, burning the rice and releasing a fragrant aroma.

Ah! What?!

Sejun was startled by the unexpected result.

Guys, help me out.

Eventually, unable to hull the rice, Sejun enlisted the help of the still-sleeping monkeys, rabbits, mushroom ants, and poisonous honeybees to start hulling the rice.

Rustle, rustle.

The monkeys and rabbits hulled the rice by rubbing their palms like Sejun,

Crunch, crunch.

while the mushroom ants and poisonous honeybees used their front teeth to hull it.

Then,

Krueng?

[Daddy, what are you doing?]

Cuengi, who had just woken up, approached.

Cuengi, are you awake? Wait a minute, Daddy will feed you rice soon.

Krueng!

[Cuengi will help Daddy too!]

Uh?! No

Before Sejun could stop him, Cuengi grabbed a handful of rice with his front paw and started hulling with just one paw.

But,

Ssssss.

Cuengi, failing to control his strength, ground not only the husks but also the rice grains into a fine powder.

On the 351st day of being stranded, Sejun finally harvested the rice.

******

TL: Happy New Year, Everyone!!!!

******