Chapter 139: Exclusive Scoop!
[We have to find the golden bat!]
Even after an hour had passed, the golden bat hadn’t returned, and Theo and Cuengi’s anxiety only grew. Sejun felt the same way.
“Kaiser! Kellion!”
Sejun hastily sought out Kaiser and Kellion, the ones who had lived the longest and possessed the most wisdom.
-What’s the matter?
-What’s going on?
“It’s…”
Sejun explained the situation from an hour ago when the golden bat had disappeared.
-Hmm… Simple. That kid’s talent has grown. That’s why it’s staying longer on Earth. There must have been signs before.
“Signs? Ah…”
At Kaiser’s words, Sejun recalled how the golden bat had been unable to go to Earth even after a week had passed.
-Right. Such a mobility-based talent becomes highly unstable before growth, so the ability may not be activated.
Kellion added to Kaiser’s explanation.
‘So that’s why it couldn’t go to Earth?’
With the two dragons’ explanation, Sejun understood why the golden bat had been unable to go to Earth.
“That’s a relief. When will the golden bat return?”
-We don’t know that either.
“What?!”
-Yes. Depending on its talent, it could be a day or even a month.
All they had learned was that the golden bat would return at some point, but they didn’t know how long it would take.
“Theo, go down quickly and ask Tae-jun to look for the golden bat.”
Finding the golden bat in Korea, when they didn’t even know where it was, was like looking for a needle in a haystack. But they had to do something. Considering that the golden bat might be hiding and trembling with fear somewhere…
“Got it, meow! I’ll be back soon, meow!”
Theo hurriedly gathered his things and went down the tower.
***
(What do I do?!! I can’t go back!)
Flap. Flap.
The panicked golden bat flew around frantically. It had never stayed on Earth this long, so it was extremely flustered.
However, after an hour, the golden bat gradually adapted to the situation. Thinking about it, there was no one here who could harm it.
To be honest, Sejun was no match for it in terms of combat power. And the ordinary humans here were even less of a match.
And now, it could read any text since it had fully learned Korean.
(Pip-pip. Since I’m here, I might as well find out where I am and tell Sejun!)
With the thought of obtaining information that could help Sejun, the Golden Bat, now filled with courage, began to explore the surroundings. It carried two Choco Pies, as it didn’t know when it would return, and couldn’t leave the food Sejun liked.
And then,
“I found it! The Golden Ghost.”
Through a previously installed camera, Bae Jeong-ho, the assistant PD of ‘There’s Such a Thing in the World,’ was watching the golden bat live.
***
Unable to shake his concern for the golden bat, Sejun focused on farming. For now, there was nothing he could do. Worrying wouldn’t solve the problem either.
In times like these, it was better to move one’s body and sweat, and not to think about anything.
“Land Moving!”
Sejun used Myler’s hoe to plant sweet potato stems in the harvested sweet potato field.
Thunk.
As the hoe swung by Sejun stuck into the ground,
Rumble.
[You have planted 20 golden sweet potato stems.]
[Your Job experience increases slightly.]
[Due to the effect of Sowing Lv. 6, the probability that the golden sweet potato sprouts will take root increases.]
[Your proficiency of Sowing Lv. 6 slightly increases.]
The ground turned over and the sweet potato stems, which the rabbits had scattered at regular intervals in the field, were planted. From harvesting to planting, the uses of the ‘Land Moving’ skill were truly endless.
“Great! 20 successful!”
Sejun wiped the sweat from his forehead and spoke. Even though he had only used the skill a few times, he was sweating profusely due to the high level of concentration required.
While Sejun was busily planting sweet potato stems,
Chomp chomp.
[It’s delicious!]
Cuengi was watching Sejun while eating baekseolgi (rice cake) dipped in honey.
To comfort Sejun, who was worried about the golden bat, the rabbits had gathered all their money to use in Relic: Wealth-devouring Rice Dough. They added tower coins to it and made baekseolgi with the rice flour they obtained.
But since Sejun didn’t feel like eating, Cuengi was enjoying the baekseolgi all by himself.
“Are you enjoying the cake while the golden bat can’t return from Earth?”
He had been worrying so much just a moment ago… but now he looked calm. Wasn’t he adapting too quickly?
However,
[Thinking about it, the golden bat has gone to Earth! And Dad is a weak Earthling who lives on Earth! So, the golden bat is safe!]
Cuengi realized that there was no need to worry about the golden bat and became calm.
The golden bat has gone to Earth.
And Sejun is a weak Earthling who lives on Earth.
Therefore, Earth, where the weak Earthlings live, is safe for the golden bat.
Cuengi answered using Aristotle’s three laws of logic, which he didn’t even learn. He’s smart, isn’t he? Our Cuengi was definitely a genius. And Sejun realized he made another mistake.
‘Who am I worrying about right now?!’
On the 99th floor, there’s nothing more useless than worrying about others…
It was rather a situation where he should be concerned if the golden bat might harm people. It wouldn’t, of course, since it’s gentle personality… but in the end, he only felt sorry for Theo, who went down.
“He can suffer a bit.”
Ever since he became the Vice-Chairman, he’s become too arrogant without lifting a finger.
Then
Gurgle.
A sound from Sejun’s stomach. As the worry about the golden bat’s safety vanished, he became hungry.
“Cuengi, give me a piece of baekseolgi.”
Pause.
Cuengi, who was busily chewing on baekseolgi, stopped at Sejun’s words.
And then
Krueng…
[I ate all the baekseolgi…]
Cuengi said, glancing at Sejun. It seemed that the one he just ate was the last piece.
“It’s okay. We can make more. It will be quick.”
Baekseolgi can simply be made by mixing rice flour with water and sugar and then steaming it.
[Then Cuengi wants to eat baekseolgi again!]
“Sure.”
Thus, when Sejun went to the kitchen with Cuengi to make baekseolgi again,
Squeak!
Father Rabbit came over to Sejun, holding an onion the size of a fist.
“Ah?! An onion? Is it already time to harvest?”
Squeak!
Father Rabbit nodded at Sejun’s words and handed over the onion. Sejun examined it, anticipating what kind of option would be attached.
[Expulsion Onion]
→ An onion grown in the tower, it is nutritious and delicious.
→ Cultivated by a skilled farmer, the sweetness of the onion has been enhanced.
→ Consuming it will slightly expel waste from the body.
→ When consumed for a long time, the expulsion of waste increases, enhancing the circulation of mana.
→ Grower: Tower Farmer Park Sejun
→ Expiration Date: 90 days
→ Grade: C
“An Expulsion Onion? It has a waste expelling effect?”
On top of that, the expelling effect of waste increases, and even the effect of increased mana circulation occurs when eaten long term. It seemed great to supply them to wizards in bulk later on.
He would make money selling onions, and the wizards would be able to enjoy delicious meals with onions instead of those bitter potions and pills balls; a win-win for all.
‘If they don’t buy, I’ll have to push them onto Iona.’
Squeak?
Father Rabbit asked Sejun what he would do with the onion, just as Sejun was determined to sell it no matter what.
Since the onion had grown enough to be harvested, Father Rabbit was asking if Sejun wanted to harvest them now or let them bloom to collect seeds.
“Of course, I will collect the seeds to plant more onions. But I will harvest a few for now.”
Onion, a vegetable that goes into almost every Korean dish. So, Sejun always regretted not being able to eat squid and onions together whenever he had stir-fried squid.
“It’s stir-fried squid today!”
Thus, the menu changed abruptly from baekseolgi to stir-fried squid.
***
(At first, it was awkward. But…)
“Where is this sound coming from?”
The coin karaoke owner began to focus on the song sung in a clear and soft voice. The singing was so good that could be believed to belong to a professional singer.
‘Such a talented person in our karaoke?’
He was curious about the face of the talented singer and began to check the rooms where the customers were.
And just when there were only a few rooms left to check,
“Brother! Don’t go!”
Bae Jeong-ho rushed in and stopped the owner.
“Ah! You startled me! Bae Jeong-ho! What’s the matter? Why shouldn’t I go?”
Having maxed out his affinity level, PD Bae Jeong-ho of ‘There’s Such a Thing in the World’ was already calling the coin karaoke owner ‘brother.’
“Brother, don’t go in, but watch this instead.”
Bae Jeong-ho showed his laptop screen.
“What?! What is that?!”
On the screen, a golden bat was holding a microphone and singing passionately. It even inserted money into the machine. It was the cash that Sejun had given to the golden bat just in case.
“Brother, this is an incredible exclusive scoop!”
Bae Jeong-ho, who had watched the golden bat since it descended from the 7th floor to the coin karaoke on the 5th floor, said with a wide smile.
***
[The Farmer’s Warm Touch Lv. 4 is activated.]
[The growth of the apple tree accelerates slightly while being touched.]
Sejun stroked the leaves of Flamie while waiting for Cuengi, who had gone into the water to catch squid.
[Hehehe. Master! I’m growing!]
“Yeah. Let’s grow quickly, Flamie.”
[Yes!]
Sejun, unaware of the enormous size of Flamie beneath the ground, used his skill on Flamie without hesitation, urging it to grow quickly.
‘Master! I will catch you the best squid!’
Flamie, seeing Sejun patting it, was busily moving its massive roots into the sea of dimension to catch the best squid.
Kreung!
Splash, splash.
Cuengi was pretending to hunt, playing in the water until Flamie caught a squid.
Then, a giant squid passing through Flamie’s roots.
Squish.
Flamie’s roots tightly grabbed the squid, beginning to drag it to where Cuengi was waiting.
Bang! Bang!
The squid moved its legs frantically, attacking Flamie’s roots to avoid being dragged, but it couldn’t shake them off.
And then
Bang!
Cuengi finished off the exhausted squid that was dragged in.
[Daddy, I caught a squid!]
Cuengi, holding the gills of the 50m giant squid, proudly walked out of the pond.
“There was such a thing in the water?!”
Sejun asked with a surprised expression, looking at the giant squid. The water seemed much more dangerous than he thought.
292nd day of being stranded. There wasn’t a shortage of squid, but rather a shortage of seasoning, so they couldn’t make all the squid into stir-fried squid.
***
40th floor of the tower.
“The youngest is in danger, meow!”
Big brother Theo, who was still worried about the Golden Bat, arrived at the camp where the hunters were gathered, to meet the Earth Defense Force waiting there.
However
“Meow?!”
The hunters’ camp was horribly destroyed.
And then
“We have occupied this place. Get lost.”
The Giant Black Orcs, who should have been on the 49th floor, had occupied the hunters’ camp. They were an enormous force of over 10,000.
The shocked monsters, because of Black Minotaurs, moved down the tower, creating a butterfly effect as the monsters on the 60th floor moved down to the 50s, and those on the 50th floor moved down to the 40s.
“What happened to the humans here, meow?!”
“Isn’t it obvious? According to the law of the jungle, we have enslaved them and will eat them later.”
“You can’t do that, meow! I, the Great Black Dragon’s subordinate, the deadly yellow cat Theo Park, will stop you, meow!”
Swish!
Theo unsheathed his claws and shouted. He couldn’t let his suckers become slaves.
‘Then who will buy our Chairman Park’s crops, meow?’
For Theo, who had to sell the crops and receive Sejun’s affection, the disappearance of the human suckers was a serious problem.