Chapter 99 of 100
Chapter 99. The Harvest Festival Begins (1)
8 min read2,076 words
[The entire floor where the Red Ribbon's giant carrot altar is located is blessed with additional magical power.]
Pfft. Pfft.
As soon as the message ended, the giant carrot altar rose into the sky, and green and blue light exploded continuously, spreading throughout the entire floor.
And suddenly, 1,000 rabbits appeared beneath the giant carrot altar.
Huh...?
Buh...?
Squeak?
Just as the 1,000 suddenly summoned rabbits were looking around, bewildered,
Squeak!
Squeak!
Squeak!
Squeak!
The rabbits on the 99th floor of the tower cheered at the sight of the summoned rabbits.
However, the cheering did not last long because the condition of the summoned rabbits was too poor. They were malnourished and emaciated, with patches of fur missing from their bodies.
"First, eat this."
Sejun took out some fresh carrots he had harvested a few hours ago from the subspace storage and handed them to the summoned rabbits.
Squeak?!
Buh?!
Squeak?!
The rabbits were surprised to see the carrots. They burst into tears at the sight of carrots they hadn't seen in decades, and the rabbits on the 99th floor of the tower comforted them. They seemed to have suffered for a long time.
A short while later,
Squeak?
Squeak?
The rabbits soon began asking each other about their recent well-being.
"Let's go home."
"Got it, meow!"
Gweong!
Sejun took Theo and Gweong to go home. While the rabbits were talking, he was preparing carrot soup for them to have for dinner.
Upon arriving home, Sejun went to the kitchen, put the ingredients into a large pot, and waited for the soup to be ready while checking his newly acquired skills.
[Occupation Skill - Crop Gigantification Lv. 1]
- Forces the power of C-grade or lower crops to focus on growth, making them gigantic.
- The degree of gigantification varies depending on the crop's grade (C-grade 5 times, D-grade 3 times, E-grade 2 times, F-grade 1.2 times).
"Hmm."
It seemed like a useful skill to use when giving crops to Eilin or his mother, the Crimson Giant Bear. After all, larger crops would allow them to better taste the flavor. Or it could be used when there's a food shortage?
Sejun then checked the blessings. Buffs and blessings like the Flame of Fire are displayed next to the name in the status window.
[Park Sejun Lv. 50 - Blessing of Abundance, Blessing of Magic]
When Sejun pressed the Blessing of Abundance, information about it appeared.
[Blessing of Abundance - Remaining Time: 6 days 23 hours]
- The blessing is only bestowed upon those permitted by the tower farmer Park Sejun, the host of the Harvest Festival.
- Abundance increases on the 99th floor of the tower during the Harvest Festival.
- The growth rate of crops accelerates.
- The likelihood of conceiving new life increases when breeding.
"Hmm."
The accelerated growth rate of crops was a welcome change, but the increased likelihood of conceiving new life when breeding...
"Maybe I should stay somewhere else for a while?"
The cave would likely become noisy with the rabbits.
Sejun then checked the Blessing of Magic.
[Blessing of Magic - Remaining Time: 6 days 23 hours]
- The blessing is only bestowed upon those permitted by the tower farmer Park Sejun, the host of the Harvest Festival.
- The concentration of magic on the 99th floor of the tower increases during the Harvest Festival.
- The recovery speed of magic increases.
- The power of magic increases.
"Hmm."
The Blessing of Magic was not particularly relevant to Sejun, though it would be useful for Iona or other animals. The effects of making dark clouds and causing rain would be enhanced, but it wasn't very useful for him.
'Should I make the puddle bigger to prevent the fire ants from crossing?'
While Sejun was pondering how to effectively use the Blessing of Magic,
Squeak!
Squeak!
Squeak!
Squeak!
The rabbits arrived in a rush, forming an orderly line in front of Sejun, and the distribution of food began. However, there were not enough bowls to serve the soup due to the large number of rabbits.
"Theo and Gweong, make some bowls."
"Got it, meow!"
Gweong!
Following Sejun's instructions, Theo cut the wood to an appropriate size, and Gweong hollowed out the inside of the wood like ice cream.
Three gray rabbits from the 99th floor of the tower and the summoned gray rabbits quickly finished making the bowls by sanding the rough parts inside the bowls.
Thanks to this, the 1,000 rabbits were able to enjoy their meal with their own bowls.
After the meal,
"Let's have some dessert now!"
Sejun washed the strawberries left from the offering to the giant carrot altar.
"Wow!"
As he brought the strawberries close to his mouth, the strong scent of strawberries swayed his heart.
Chomp.
Unable to resist the temptation, Sejun bit into a strawberry, and the unique flavor of strawberries, along with a sweet taste like sugar, filled his mouth.
[You have consumed a Lucky Strawberry.]
[Your luck will increase for 1 hour.]
"Luck?"
Sejun realized he hadn't checked the options before eating the strawberry and belatedly checked them.
[Lucky Strawberry]
A strawberry grown inside the tower, rich in nutrients and delicious.
Cultivated by an experienced farmer, improving its taste and efficiency.
Consuming it increases your luck for 1 hour.
Cultivator: Tower Farmer Park Sejun
Expiry Date: 90 days
Grade: C
'What good does increased luck do?'
The options were too vague. Sejun decided to be satisfied with the delicious strawberry.
Thinking of it, Sejun checked the green chili peppers in the subspace storage.
[Calmness Green Chili Pepper]
A green chili pepper grown inside the tower, rich in nutrients and delicious.
Cultivated by an experienced farmer, improving its taste and efficiency.
Consuming it calms your mind for 1 hour.
Cultivator: Tower Farmer Park Sejun
Expiry Date: 90 days
Grade: C
"Calms the mind? This is also vague."
Chomp.
Gweong!
Sejun was caught by Gweong while secretly eating the washed strawberries.
He then made Gweong a co-conspirator by putting five strawberries in Gweong's mouth.
"Now that you've eaten, we're co-conspirators. Don't tell the other animals, got it?"
Gweong!
Gweong nodded in response to Sejun's words. Thanks to making Gweong a co-conspirator, Sejun was fortunate enough not to be caught by the rabbits for eating the strawberries early.
The next morning.
"Ugh."
As soon as Sejun opened his eyes and got up,
"Still sleepy, meow."
Theo clung to Sejun's knee, whining to sleep more. Sejun ignored him lightly.
At that moment,
"Kwik-kwik-kwik. Good morning, Sejun!"
Iona, who had been sleeping on Sejun's knee with Theo's tail covering her, stretched and greeted Sejun cheerfully.
"Sure. Good morning."
Swish.
Sejun responded to Iona's greeting, added another line to the wall, and started the 265th day of his survival.
"Ugh!"
As Sejun stretched and came outside,
"Huh?!"
He saw unfamiliar buildings under the giant carrot altar in the distance and animals loitering around them.
"What is it?"
"Kwik-kwik-kwik. It's the market of the weasel clan that only comes during the Harvest Festival! Let's go check it out!"
"Really?!"
Intrigued by Iona's words, Sejun hurriedly approached the market and saw five street vendors. As he got closer, the delicious smell of food stimulated his nose.
At that moment,
"Hey! I've already given you 10 samples. That's already two servings."
Gweong!
In front of a food vendor, Gweong was throwing a tantrum, demanding more food.
Gweong, I feed you until you're full every day. What are you doing here? People might think I'm starving you.
"Ahem. Gweong."
Sejun called Gweong, feeling embarrassed.
Gweong! Gweong!
Gweong was overjoyed at Sejun's appearance, as if he had gained a thousand troops. Our dad is rich! He has a lot of money!
"Ah! Is that your father? Come, eat more!"
The vendor, seeing the payer, started giving Gweong more food.
And then,
"Huh?!"
Thump.
As the vendor handed Gweong a white, bouncy food, Sejun instinctively reached out and grabbed it.
Soft.
The texture was exactly the same as what he knew.
"Rice cake..."
Holding the lustrous white rice cake in his hand, Sejun savored it as he put it in his mouth.
Chewy.
"Mmm."
The texture was exactly as he had expected. As he chewed, the perfect taste of rice spread, and just as he was savoring it,
Gweong!
Gweong also received a new rice cake from the vendor and ate it deliciously. In just two minutes, Gweong had eaten 20 rice cakes.
Click.
The sound of a glass bottle being opened was heard from the side.
Gweong?
Gweong, who had the formula that the sound of a glass bottle opening means honey, turned his head.
Thud.
He saw Sejun dipping the rice cake in honey.
Gweong!
Gweong followed Sejun and dipped the rice cake in honey, then put it in his mouth.
Gweong!!!
The rice cake, dipped in honey, became a completely new food.
And then,
"I'll buy all the rice cakes!"
Sejun bought all the rice cakes from the vendor.
"Cut the price, meow!"
Sejun entrusted the bargaining with the vendor to Theo and started looking around the other vendors.
"Wow!"
Sejun marveled at the food sold by the vendors. The other three vendors sold rye bread, beer, and cheese.
"I'll buy all of it!"
Sejun bought everything from the four vendors, forcing them to close, and then went to the last vendor. There was nothing on the display.
"What do you sell here?"
"We sell seeds. Look."
The old weasel carefully took out a seed and said.
'Just one?'
Sejun examined the seed.
[Five-Color Bean Seed]
"How much?"
"10,000 tower coins."
The price for a single seed was too high. However, even though he thought it was expensive, Sejun continued to look at the Five-Color Bean Seed.
'I want to buy it.'
Sejun's instinct was drawn to the Five-Color Bean Seed.
At that moment,
"President Park, I bought everything, meow!"
Theo, who had just completed the transaction, proudly returned to Sejun's knee.
"Theo, what do you think of this? Are you drawn to it?"
Sejun lifted Theo and pointed to the Five-Color Bean Seed. He could trust Theo's golden paws, which could detect valuable items.
"Meow! I'm strongly drawn to it, meow!"
"Really?!"
With Theo's words, Sejun decided to buy the Five-Color Bean Seed.
"How much did you say it was?"
"10,000 tower coins."
"Hmm... Look, there's a scratch on the seed. Can you lower the price?"
"That's not a big issue."
"Then what about this? Isn't the seed too small for a bean?"
Sejun tried to lower the price by making all sorts of excuses, but the old weasel was not budging.
And soon, animals and other weasels gathered to watch the bargaining between Sejun and the old weasel. Sejun and the old weasel glared at each other.
'Theo is watching! I must lower the price!'
'I can't lower it! My subordinates are watching!'
Now, with everyone watching, it had become a matter of pride as the leader.
At that moment,
-You guys! You should have called me for the Harvest Festival!
The black dragon statue flew over, roaring.
[The tower manager says he also wants to enjoy the Harvest Festival.]
"Wait a moment."
Sejun sent the rice cakes, rye bread, and cheese he bought from the vendor, along with honey.
"Make sure to dip the rice cake in honey. It's really delicious. Got it?"
[The tower manager says he understands.]
While Sejun was telling Eilin how to enjoy the food with honey,
Bang!
-Bring me the alcohol!
"Um... That's..."
Kaiser was bullying the vendor selling makgeolli, demanding alcohol. The weasel trembled in fear from the black dragon's aura, unable to say that the alcohol was out.
"Kaiser, here's the alcohol."
Sejun handed a whole barrel of makgeolli to Kaiser.
-Hmph! I don't particularly want to drink it, but I'll drink it to show my appreciation.
Did you see him bullying the vendor for alcohol just now?
Sejun's eyes seemed to read the situation.
Splash.
-Hmph!
Flap. Flap.
Kaiser hastily poured the alcohol into his mouth and flew away like a fountain.
"Thank you for saving me!"
The old weasel approached Sejun and expressed his gratitude. Sejun seemed incredibly impressive for being able to speak in front of the black dragon.
"If you're grateful, lower the price to 5,000 tower coins."
'President Park is truly amazing, meow!'
Theo was deeply impressed by Sejun's ability to use the other party's crisis to his advantage.