Chapter 273 – Ajax is the Problem

Inside the kitchen on the 99th floor of the tower.

Kkuhehehe.

Cuengi was staring at Se-jun, who was cooking, with sparkling eyes and a bright smile.

And Se-jun, receiving Cuengi’s hot gaze, was hard at work making honey Baekseolgi.

A little while ago,

Kkueng! Kkueng!

[Dad ate 5 delicious things all by himself-da-yo! Cuengi can know everything-da-yo!]

With incredible reasoning power, Food Detective Cunan correctly guessed the exact number of Royal Jellies of Golden Proficiency Se-jun had eaten,

Kkueng!

[Cuengi is disappointed-da-yo!]

At the sight of Cuengi pulling out the reinforced branch of the Corrupted Ent from his snack bag,

“Cuengi, sorry. I’ll make you honey Baekseolgi instead.”

Kkueng!

[Good-da-yo!]

Se-jun had reached a peaceful agreement with Cuengi by proposing to make honey Baekseolgi, Cuengi’s favorite food.

Plonk.

Like that, Se-jun placed the giant steamer to steam the honey Baekseolgi on top of the pot from which steam was rising, and

[You have harvested 9 Cherry Tomatoes of Mana.]

[Your job experience increases slightly.]

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

[Due to the coldness effect imbued in the Scythe of Freshness, the expiration date of the harvested crop increases by 5 days.]

[You have acquired 540 experience points.]

He went to the cherry tomato field and began to pick cherry tomatoes. It was to make cherry tomato juice to eat together with the honey Baekseolgi.

While Se-jun was harvesting cherry tomatoes like that,

[5,000 Elixir: Cherry Tomatoes Imbued with Mighty Mana are stored in the temporary storage of the White Tower.]

[The temporary storage of the White Tower is full.]

[Since crops cannot be put into the temporary storage, the harvesting instructed to Ajax Mamuve, the tower farmer of the White Tower, has ended.]

A message appeared saying that the capacity of the White Tower’s temporary storage was full, after almost two months.

When the Elixir: Cherry Tomatoes Imbued with Mighty Mana were first planted, the mana emitted by Ajax on the 99th floor of the tower kept accumulating, making the density high.

So the cherry tomatoes could grow quickly by absorbing plenty of mana, but as the cherry tomatoes absorbed mana, the mana density on the 99th floor of the White Tower gradually lowered.

Due to this, the growth rate of the cherry tomatoes slowed down, and now it was taking almost two months to harvest 5,000 elixir-grade cherry tomatoes.

“The growth rate has slowed down too much…”

The core of this problem was Ajax.

If Ajax were slacking off instead, he could have scolded him to increase the harvesting speed, but Ajax was working diligently these days.

This was a problem that could only be solved if the mana emitted by Ajax increased.

‘What should I do?’

When Se-jun fell into thought,

[Your tower farmer grade has increased, allowing you to double the size of the temporary storage for 500 million Tower Coins.]

[Would you like to expand?]

An additional message appeared asking if he wanted to expand the temporary storage.

The maximum inter-tower transport capacity was 100 kg. Because the size of the temporary storage was small until now, Se-jun had transported up to 50 kg via inter-tower transport.

If the size of the temporary storage doubled here, it meant he could fully utilize the 100 kg maximum inter-tower transport capacity.

However,

“I won’t do it.”

Se-jun did not expand the temporary storage.

It was not because he had no money. Since he had about 1 billion Tower Coins left after purchasing last time, he had enough money. It was just because there was no need.

Even if the size of the temporary storage doubled, it was meaningless because the growth rate of the cherry tomatoes was slow.

Even now, it took two months to harvest 5,000 cherry tomatoes. The period to fill up the temporary storage expanded to twice its size would take twice as long as now.

“Then it means I have to wait for more than four months.”

That was too long. Since Aileen would run out of cherry tomatoes to eat before then anyway, he had to use the inter-tower transport whether the temporary storage was filled or not.

If the cherry tomatoes had not been filled today, he had intended to bring cherry tomatoes via inter-tower transport in a few days anyway.

“Ajax is the problem.”

Ultimately, the problem was Ajax’s weak (?) mana. If Ajax knew he was treated like this by Se-jun, he might have invaded the Black Tower once again.

Of course, he would be smashed by Aileen before that.

At that time,

[The tower administrator asks if Oppa Ajax is not listening to you again.]

[The tower administrator is furious, saying that if you summon Ajax-oppa, she will truly smash him this time.]

Hearing Se-jun’s words, Aileen got angry, thinking Ajax was causing trouble for Se-jun again. For Ajax, who had been working diligently without causing any trouble lately, it was unfair in many ways.

“It’s not like that, Aileen.”

Se-jun calmed Aileen down and,

“Transport.”

Paid the 1 million Tower Coin inter-tower transport fee and moved the 5,000 cherry tomatoes to the Black Tower.

After a moment,

Flash.

[5,000 Elixir: Cherry Tomatoes Imbued with Mighty Mana (50 kg) have arrived.]

When 5,000 white cherry tomatoes appeared forming a small mountain in front of Se-jun along with the message,

“Aileen, you ran out of cherry tomatoes, right? Eat these.”

Se-jun sent 3,000 cherry tomatoes to Aileen.

The cherry tomatoes Aileen ate in a day were approximately 50. 3,000 pieces could be eaten for 60 days, so it was roughly a two-month supply.

The reason Aileen ate only 50 cherry tomatoes a day was that anything more exceeded her mana potential.

Aileen’s mana was already at its potential state.

However, because Aileen was in her growth period, she grew day by day and her potential increased. Se-jun’s honey jelly also helped greatly in increasing Aileen’s potential.

The mana potential of Aileen that increased every day like that was around 50.

Considering that the effect of the Elixir: Cherry Tomatoes Imbued with Mighty Mana was a 10 increase in mana, it was strange. If she ate 50 pieces, her mana should increase by 500.

‘How strange.’

Se-jun initially thought that part was strange. Because, in Se-jun’s common sense, if one ate more than their potential, they had to go to the restroom.

However, there was something Se-jun did not know. Aileen did not fully receive the effect of the cherry tomatoes.

Compared to Aileen’s status, the elixir-grade cherry tomatoes were severely lacking, so the effect was not properly displayed.

Aileen’s mana increased by 1 when she ate one cherry tomato.

Like that, Aileen was increasing her mana by 50 a day, and 1,500 a month.

According to Kaiser, there was normally no case where the speed of potential increase in hatchlings of Aileen’s age grew so rapidly.

[The tower administrator says thank you.]

Aileen, who received the elixir-grade cherry tomatoes, was moved by Se-jun’s heart that thought of her.

‘Hehehe. Se-jun, I will repay you with even more delicious (?) cooking!’

Because Se-jun strongly dissuaded her out of worry whenever she said she would cook, Aileen decided to cook in secret from Se-jun.

Unaware of Aileen’s thoughts, Se-jun packed a certain amount of elixir-grade cherry tomatoes in a bowl, and

“Vice President Theo, pack this, please.”

“Understood, meow!”

He had Theo pack the remaining elixir-grade cherry tomatoes into his bundle.

This was because if a large quantity of elixir-grade cherry tomatoes holding a lot of mana gathered together, they would create an effect similar to the Blue Moon.

When the organizing of the elixir-grade cherry tomatoes ended like that,

“I should send some honey jellies to Ajax to make him stronger.”

Eating honey jelly would slightly strengthen mana-related talents, so it would help.

Se-jun sent 10 glass bottles full of honey jellies and seeds of Elixir: Cherry Tomatoes Imbued with Mighty Mana to Ajax.

And,

Squeeze! Squeeze!

Se-jun went to the kitchen and squeezed the cherry tomato juice to start making cherry tomato juice. Using none other than the Elixir: Cherry Tomatoes Imbued with Mighty Mana.

Se-jun’s current mana stat and mana potential were

Mana (581/708).

He was no longer the Se-jun of the past who would go to the restroom after eating just a few elixir-grade cherry tomatoes.

“Hehehe. I am not the me of the past.”

Se-jun made the elixir cherry tomato juice with a confident expression.

After a moment,

“Guys, let’s eat dinner!”

Se-jun ate dinner with the animals.

Kkuhehehe. Kkueng!

[Hehehe. It’s delicious-da-yo!]

Cuengi ate excitedly with honey Baekseolgi held in both front paws.

“Cuengi, you should drink while eating. Otherwise, you’ll get indigestion.”

When Se-jun brought the cup containing cherry tomato juice to Cuengi’s mouth,

Gulp. Gulp.

Perhaps having his throat blocked, Cuengi quickly drank the juice.

And,

Chomp. Chomp.

Once the blockage was gone, Cuengi began to eat the honey Baekseolgi quickly again.

At that time,

Tap. Tap.

A yellow front paw tapped Se-jun’s arm.

“Chairman Park, pay attention here too, meow!”

Theo, who had already finished all the Churu Se-jun scooped onto the spoon, said in a disappointed voice.

“Our Vice President Theo, did you eat all of it already?”

“Puhut. That’s right, meow! I, Vice President Theo, eat fish and Churu very well, meow!”

When Se-jun babied him a little, Theo, who quickly became high and mighty, said in a boastful voice.

“Here.”

When Se-jun scooped up homemade Churu with a spoon and brought it to Theo,

Lick. Lick. Lick.

Theo began to eat diligently again.

Peck. Peck. Peck.

Ppiyot!

[It’s delicious!]

Beside them, Ppiyot-i was happy eating the peanut powder Se-jun had crushed for him with his beak.

Like that, everyone finished a happy day by having a pleasant dinner.

***

[30,000,000 seeds of Elixir: Cherry Tomatoes Imbued with Mighty Mana and 10 bottles of honey jellies have been sent from the Black Tower to the White Tower.]

“Huh?! What is this?”

Ajax, who was wearing a straw hat and boots and holding a scythe, wondered when something other than the cherry tomato seeds arrived and examined what it was.

“Huh?! Honey jelly?”

Se-jun had sent them with the meaning of telling him to become strong quickly and harvest a lot of cherry tomatoes, but

“The human fellow, he must have felt sorry to me.”

Ajax thought on his own that the honey jelly was sent as a sign of apology for making him suffer all this time.

“Hmph! Do you think I’ll be pleased just because you gave me something like this?!”

Ajax’s lips were already twitching in a good mood.

Pop.

Ajax opened the glass jar containing the honey jelly, pretending not to be interested only in words.

Yum.

‘I will absolutely not like it!’

He was the great White Dragon. He wouldn’t fall for this kind of food.

Ajax, who made a firm resolution like that, ate the honey jelly.

However,

Melt.

“Huh?! What is this?!”

It was too delicious! The deep honey taste of the honey jelly, which felt as if it smoothly melted like cotton candy in his mouth, disarmed Ajax’s heart.

“Hmph! I will eat it considering the human’s sincerity.”

Yum. Yum.

While Ajax was excitedly eating the honey jellies,

“Oh! The cherry tomatoes over there are ripe.”

Snip.

He harvested the cherry tomatoes.

And,

Whoosh.

Due to the effect of the honey jelly, Ajax’s dragon heart grew a little, and the mana Ajax emitted to the surroundings increased slightly.

***

The next morning.

“Uph!”

As soon as Se-jun got up from his seat,

“Meow…”

He picked up Theo, stood up, and

Pat.

Attached him to his leg and marked the date on the wall.

Day 360 of being stranded, today was the day of the Red Ribbon Kingdom’s founding ceremony. He had to quickly sell the black beans to the dragons and go down to the 55th floor of the tower.

Rattle.

When Se-jun tried to open the bedroom door and come out with Theo,

Ppiyot!

[I am going with you too!]

Ppiyot-i, who was sleeping in his wooden box house, quickly followed Se-jun out. I am Vice President Theo’s right front paw, following him wherever he goes!

Click.

Se-jun, who went to the storage room with Theo and Ppiyot-i like that, opened the Golden Box of Abundance and took out 2 black beans.

“Good. Six in total.”

Se-jun packed the six black beans and headed to the fountain where the dragons were.

At that time,

Ppiyot?

[Vice President Theo, didn’t we forget something?]

Ppiyot-i asked Theo. They had forgotten something, but he couldn’t remember it.

However,

“Puhut. Ppiyot-i, don’t worry, meow! I was planning to give the drawn item to Chairman Park while eating breakfast later, meow!”

Theo gave a completely different answer.

This time, both Theo and Ppiyot-i had completely forgotten that they had to save the Mother Tree.

Ppiyot! Ppiyot!

[Ah! That was it! As expected, Vice President Theo is a smart cat!]

“Puhut. Of course, meow!”

Theo boasted at Ppiyot-i’s words. They were truly a fantastic duo, Theo and Ppiyot-i.