Chapter 185 – Eat and Become Stronger!

“To think an Apostle of Destruction came inside the pond too…”

Se-jun fell into thought with a serious expression.

Although Theo and Kkueng had not come out of the pond yet, he had no worries about them. The two could hunt the Apostles of Destruction, and there was also Iona sleeping on Theo’s tail.

Since Iona would also step forward if it got truly dangerous, he was not too worried.

At that moment,

[The administrator of the tower asks if you are okay.]

Aileen asked about Se-jun’s state.

“Me? I’m fine. Theo and Kkueng handled it.”

Se-jun, thinking it was because of the Apostle of Destruction, reassured Aileen.

[The administrator of the tower says she is glad.]

[The administrator of the tower says she worried about you because an Apostle of Destruction suddenly infiltrated the 99th floor of the tower.]

Since the Apostles of Destruction that entered the tower through the Sea of Dimensions had not disguised their energy, they were caught by the tower’s system as soon as they entered, and Aileen also recognized that the Apostles of Destruction had infiltrated.

Even if Theo and Kkueng had defeated them just a little later, Aileen would have stepped forward personally to defeat the Apostles of Destruction.

Thanks to this, he learned that Aileen could know first when an Apostle of Destruction entered through the Sea of Dimensions.

‘What a relief.’

Se-jun felt relieved at Aileen’s words. If an Apostle of Destruction that entered through the tunnel came out of the pond, the first thing it would encounter was the fragile(?) Flamie. By the time Se-jun noticed it, it would have been too late.

About an hour after finishing the conversation with Aileen and working in the fields like that,

[The Stamina Corns thank the farmer’s footsteps and add their strength.]

[The potential of the Stamina stat increases from 100 to 101.]

Se-jun’s stamina potential increased by 1.

“Great.”

Se-jun focused on the field work again with a proud expression.

At that moment,

Splash.

“President Park, we came, meow!”

Kkueng!

[Kkueng caught tuna!]

Theo and Kkueng came out of the pond. Theo was empty-handed, and Kkueng appeared holding a giant tuna in each of his two front paws. Looking at it, it was clearly Kkueng’s victory.

“Kkueng won?”

“No, meow! I caught tuna too, meow!”

Theo, snapping at Se-jun’s words, began to take out giant tunas from his bundle. It was two tunas, just like Kkueng’s. The size was also similar.

It was thanks to Flamie letting four tunas of similar size enter the pond so that the two would not fight.

“And I obtained these coins too, meow!”

Theo handed four green coins and five gray coins to Se-jun.

“This many?!”

Se-jun said in a surprised voice, receiving the nine coins.

Kkueng!

[Kkueng has one more coin! So Kkueng won!]

Since he had one more gray coin, Kkueng claimed his victory.

“No, meow! I have this, meow! The victory belongs to me, VP Theo, meow!”

Theo took out a thin and long object about the size of Se-jun’s body from his bundle.

Kkueng?

[Isn’t that just a stone?]

Kkueng tilted his head, looking at the stone Theo brought. Why did big brother bring a stone that can’t even be eaten?

“Puhuhut. This is not an ordinary stone, meow! My front paw was drawn to it, meow!”

Theo shouted confidently. His front paw was drawn to it, and President Park’s satisfaction level of 8 to 9 points was not bad.

“This is?!”

Just as Theo had been confident, Se-jun got excited as soon as he saw the stone Theo brought.

[Giant Deep-Sea Rock Oyster]

It was not a stone, but an oyster.

“VP Theo, take out your claws.”

Se-jun said, grabbing Theo’s front paw.

“Puhuhut. Understood, meow!”

Schwing!

Theo, sensing that he had brought something amazing upon seeing Se-jun’s reaction, smirked and extended his Dragon Claws.

Slice, slice.

As Se-jun carefully cut the oyster shell, water began to flow out from inside.

Slice, slice.

Se-jun ignored it and continued to cut the oyster.

Once he cut the oyster shell about halfway like that,

“Kkueng, pry this open a bit.”

Kkueng!

[Understood!]

Kkueng, realizing that what Theo brought was food, actively cooperated.

Pry.

As Kkueng easily pried open the oyster’s mouth, the white flesh of the oyster appeared. It was giant flesh.

Slice.

When Se-jun cut a little of the milky oyster and put it in his mouth, the flavor of the sea filled his mouth.

“Wow.”

An exclamation came out naturally.

While Se-jun was feeling the aftertaste of the sea like that,

Thud! Thud!

Kkueng!

[Dad, Kkueng wants to try it too!]

Kkueng, becoming anxious since Se-jun didn’t give him any, stamped his feet to appeal his presence.

“Got it. Here.”

Se-jun then cut the rock oyster into a large piece about the size of a palm and put it into Kkueng’s mouth.

Chew, chew.

Kkueng! Kkueng!

[I can see the blue sea! It’s delicious!]

The taste-knowing Kkueng recognized the flavor of the sea at once.

“Does VP Theo want to eat too?”

“No, meow!”

Theo flatly refused, contrary to Kkueng. As expected of a fish lover.

Kkueng!

[Kkueng will eat!]

Kkueng, who had swallowed the oyster in his mouth before he knew it, opened his mouth like a baby bird and answered quickly.

“Right. One bite for me, one bite for Kkueng.”

Se-jun cut the giant rock oyster into a regular oyster size for his own mouth, and a palm size for Kkueng’s mouth.

When Se-jun and Kkueng ate one bite each in a friendly manner like that and consumed about half of the oyster,

Kkueng!

[Dad, you must eat this!]

From the flesh of the giant rock oyster, Kkueng took out an ivory-colored bead about the size of a walnut and handed it to Se-jun.

“What is this? A pearl?”

Se-jun lifted and examined the bead Kkueng handed him.

[Inner Core of Deep-Sea Rock Oyster]

It was the inner core of a rock oyster that lived for over 3,000 years in the deep abyss of the Sea of Dimensions.

Upon consumption, Strength increased by 50 and the talent: Sturdiness could be obtained.

It had a strong bitter taste.

Usage Restriction: Level 50 or higher, Stamina 50 or higher

Grade: A

“Oh!”

Se-jun marveled at the inner core’s properties. His Strength would increase by 50, and he could even obtain a talent. And he could understand why Kkueng handed over the inner core to Se-jun so willingly.

“It has a strong bitter taste?”

Kkueng! Kkueng!

[Kkueng hates bitter taste! Dad, who likes bitter taste, should eat it and become stronger!]

Kkueng cheered Se-jun, raising his thumb. It was Kkueng, who thought Se-jun liked bitter taste upon seeing Se-jun drink bitter coffee.

‘Right. If it’s to become stronger!’

I will escape being the weakest too!

“Ugh.”

Se-jun, making a firm resolution, put the Inner Core of the Deep-Sea Rock Oyster into his mouth.

Squishy.

As soon as it entered his mouth, the inner core turned mushy.

“Mmmph!!!”

At the same time, a bitter taste spread throughout his mouth. A bitter taste so intense that it made his mind go blank heavily struck Se-jun’s brain.

Se-jun resented himself for swallowing the inner core and tried to spit it out, but

Gulp.

the inner core was swallowed on its own, sliding down Se-jun’s throat.

[You have consumed the Inner Core of the Giant Deep-Sea Rock Oyster.]

[Strength increases by 50.]

[You have awakened the talent: Sturdiness.]

“Aaaaargh!”

Se-jun let out a weird scream and hurriedly put cherry tomatoes from the field into his mouth to eliminate the remaining bitter taste in his mouth.

“Ugh… it was terrible.”

Se-jun, who ate about 20 cherry tomatoes, shuddered as he recalled the bitter taste he had experienced a moment ago. And he checked his achievements gained after hard work.

[Strength 85]

[Talent: Sturdiness]

-Your body becomes sturdy, allowing you to ignore attacks below a certain level.

-As Stamina increases, the damage that can be ignored increases.

“Hehehe.”

The result was satisfactory. Although it was not a wind attribute talent, Se-jun had succeeded in awakening a talent anyway.

“Then we will leave.”

[Yes! Master! Enjoy your dinner!]

Flamie shook its leaves diligently toward Se-jun, who was heading to make dinner.

Inside the cave where only Flamie remained like that,

[Phew. Next time, I should find something with good nutrition and good taste!]

Flamie began to ponder what was there that could increase Se-jun’s abilities while also satisfying Se-jun’s appetite.

***

The next morning.

“Heup!”

As soon as Se-jun woke up,

Chomp.

[You have consumed a piece of Aileen’s Healthy Fist Meat.]

[You must eat all of the food to activate the effect.]

78 pieces remaining.]

He first ate Aileen’s fist meat pieces, which he hadn’t eaten lately because of the cabbage soup. Eating them early in the morning like this allowed him to digest up to two a day. Soon, the meat swelled inside his stomach, making him full.

Scratch.

Se-jun, who marked the date on the bedroom wall after resolving his meal, started the morning of the 327th day of being stranded and came outside.

As he came out of the house,

Kkwek!

A mushroom ant called Se-jun from afar. It was a call to take the elixir.

Gesture, gesture.

Se-jun silently pointed to the back of the house to the mushroom ant.

And

Kkwek!

a meeting took place behind the house.

[You have harvested the High-grade Elixir: Pine Mushroom.]

[Your job experience increases slightly.]

[The proficiency of Harvesting Lv. 7 increases slightly.]

[You have gained 250 experience points.]

As soon as he harvested it, the fragrance of the pine mushroom spread out intensely.

‘Let’s give up on this.’

He couldn’t eat it because he was full, and since the scent was too strong, Kkueng would 100% catch him even if he hid it. If he got caught hiding it in vain, only his dignity as a father would be lost. Se-jun decided to give the pine mushroom whole to Kkueng.

“Thank you. Please do so next time too.”

When Se-jun praised and sent off the mushroom ant who brought the elixir,

Kkueng? Kkueng!

[Dad, where are you? Kkueng is hungry!]

The cry of Kkueng searching for Se-jun was heard from afar.

“Dad is here!”

As Se-jun answered,

Dadadada.

Kkueng came running, making cheerful footsteps as he chased Se-jun’s voice.

Kkueng!

[It’s Dad!]

Plop!

Kkueng threw his body toward Se-jun.

Lightly.

Se-jun caught Kkueng lightly. Thanks to his strength having grown, Kkueng really felt like a down feather now. Of course, Kkueng’s efforts were greater, though.

Sniff, sniff.

Kkueng! Kkueng?!

[Dad’s body smells like something delicious! Did Dad eat something delicious alone?!]

As Se-jun’s body smelled delicious, Kkueng immediately suspected Se-jun and sniffed around Se-jun’s mouth. Kkueng tried to gradually turn into the ferocious wild beast mode.

But

Kkueng?

unexpectedly, no smell came from his mouth.

“Tada! Dad didn’t eat it to give it to Kkueng. Here, eat this and wait.”

Se-jun took out the pine mushroom he had hidden in his waist and gave it to Kkueng.

Kkueng! Kkueng!

[Dad is the best! Kkueng will wait patiently!]

Chomp, chomp.

Kkueng, held in Se-jun’s arms, answered vigorously and began to eat the pine mushroom.

After heading to the kitchen to heat up the tuna fish porridge made yesterday and giving breakfast to the animals like that, Se-jun came outside.

And

Step, step.

he took Myler’s Hoe like yesterday and planted crops in the field.

[You have planted 500 Magical Cherry Tomato seeds in the mana-infused ground.]

[The Magical Cherry Tomato seeds are listening to the farmer’s footsteps, strengthening the effect of Mana Sowing Lv. 6.]

[By the effect of Mana Sowing Lv. 6, the growth rate of the Magical Cherry Tomato seeds doubles for 24 hours.]

[There are 7,554,673 repetitions left until the completion of the job quest.]

If there was anything different, it was that it was carrots yesterday and cherry tomatoes today.

While he was planting cherry tomatoes like that,

(Se-jun-nim! I think I will be going to Earth in a little bit!)

The Golden Bat hanging on Se-jun’s back hurriedly shouted.

“Oh! Really?”

(Yes! What should I bring?)

“Ramen! Bring back a lot of ramen no matter what!”

Se-jun shouted as if he had a deep grudge regarding ramen. Ever since he had been deprived of it by Kkueng last time and only tasted the soup, he held such a grudge that the scene sometimes appeared in his dreams.

He wouldn’t have cared if he hadn’t tasted it at all, but thanks to having tasted it, Se-jun was in even more suspense.

(Yes! Leave it to me!)

The Golden Bat answered confidently and crossed over to Earth.