Chapter 277 – Launch a Vigorous Kkuenghu to the Front

A five-story building built by stacking bricks next to the waypoint on the 3rd floor of the tower. On the building’s plaque, ‘Gagel’ was written, indicating that the brick building belonged to Gagel.

This brick building was an administration office built by Gagel to manage the experience farm, and one was built next to each waypoint on the 2nd and 3rd floors of the tower.

The 5th floor of the experience farm administration office on the 3rd floor of the tower.

“Vice President, the operation has failed.”

“What?!”

Michael, who was waiting for the operation’s result, frowned at the unexpected outcome.

This matter could absolutely not fail. The operation’s goal was also not battle with the enemy, but seizing the sweet grapes full of life and the branches of the grapevines.

Considering the movement speed of the Black Skeletons, as long as the seizure was successful, the rest was a unconditionally successful operation.

The reason Gagel carried out the operation like this instead of buying grapes from hunters was that, strangely, there were no seeds inside the grapes the hunters received as wages.

Michael intended to obtain seeds or trees to cultivate the sweet grapes full of life himself.

Therefore, through thorough prior investigation, they had grasped everything down to the location of the warehouse where the Black Skeletons stored the sweet grapes full of life and the number of troops defending the warehouse.

In addition, although they were not elites like the Crush Guild, they deployed more than 50 first-class hunters. Yet, it was a failure?

“What is the reason?”

Michael asked his subordinate for the cause of the operation’s failure.

“Well… ten 3-meter skeletons were lying in ambush around the warehouse.”

“3-meter skeletons?”

“Yes. Unlike normal skeletons, they were very sturdy, strong, and fast.”

“For now, have the slaves work at the grape farm while smuggling out grapes or branches.”

“Yes.”

Like that, Michael did not give up and immediately proceeded with another operation.

***

Kkueng!

[Cuengi is full now-da-yo!]

The two front paws of Cuengi, who had eaten food without resting for two hours, finally stopped.

Kkueng…

[Cuengi is sleepy-da-yo…]

Grab.

Perhaps feeling sleepy after being full, Cuengi dug into Se-jun’s arms and snuggled, and

Kkurolong.

As soon as he placed his head on Se-jun’s chest, Cuengi fell asleep.

Ppiyot!

[I will go to the restroom for a moment!]

Flap. Flap.

Ppiyot-i, who overate, went to empty his stomach again. Although Se-jun did not count after Ppiyot-i went to the restroom 20 times, if he went that often, his bottom would hurt…

While Ppiyot-i went to the restroom,

“Tell the Black Rabbit that we are going to the 79th floor of the tower and then returning directly to the 99th floor.”

Se-jun let Coco know that he was leaving.

Salute? Salute!

[Pardon? Then I will bring the King.]

“No. The Black Rabbit is busy too, and we have urgent work, so we must leave immediately.”

Salute!

[Understood!]

Just as Se-jun persuaded Coco like that,

Ppiyot!

[I’m back!]

Ppiyot-i, who had quickly emptied his stomach, returned.

“Then let’s set off for the 79th floor of the tower now. Guys, go inside.”

Clank.

When Se-jun opened the subdimensional warehouse, carefully placed the sleeping Cuengi on the warehouse floor, and spoke to the other animals,

“Understood, meow!”

(Yes!)

Ppiyot!

The animals answered and entered the subdimensional warehouse.

Clank.

Closing the subdimensional warehouse where the animals had entered like that,

Rustle.

Se-jun unfolded the land deed of the 79th floor of the tower.

[The summoning function for the initial owner’s engraving of the land deed for the 79th floor of the Black Tower is activated.]

Se-jun disappeared, and

Salute!

[Have a safe trip!]

Coco saluted toward the place where Se-jun had disappeared and saw him off.

***

[You have arrived at the farm on the 79th floor of the Black Tower.]

[You have moved from the 99th floor of the tower, which is the highest floor, to the 79th floor of the tower.]

You have descended 20 floors.]

[Due to the effect of , all stats increase by 20.]

Se-jun arrived at the farm on the 79th floor of the tower. As usual, he was about to check if there were any monsters by looking around first.

However,

[Mantis]

“…?!”

There was no need to do that. Because green monsters named Mantis, which resembled praying mantises, were full in all directions.

Se-jun temporarily froze, overwhelmed by the excessively large number of monsters.

At that time,

Swoosh!

A sharp front paw cut through the wind and attacked Se-jun’s back. It was one of the Mantises occupying the farm.

The Mantis quietly hunted the prey that suddenly appeared showing its back in front of it, but

Ting!

The Sacred Stone Ice Shield Cube protected Se-jun.

Thanks to that, Se-jun, who snapped out of it, pointed his finger at the Mantis that attacked him and injected mana into the Sacred Stone Piercing, and

“Piercing!”

Pusung.

Two fist-sized holes were made in the Mantis’s head.

“Huh?!”

When Se-jun wondered about the two holes being created,

Thud.

[You have defeated a young male Mantis.]

[You have acquired 1,000 experience points.]

With the experience acquisition message, the dead male Mantis collapsed, and a heavy sound resounded.

…!

At the same time, the gazes of the Mantises who heard the sound focused on Se-jun.

And,

Kwieek!

The Mantises rushed toward Se-jun.

However,

Clank.

Unfortunately for the Mantises, the subdimensional warehouse was already opened.

And,

“Chairman Park! There is something I didn’t tell you… meow?”

Theo, who was about to quickly tell him that there were many Mantises around the farm, realized that it was already too late upon seeing the Mantises rushing toward Se-jun.

“Puhut. Chairman Park, I, Vice President Theo, will rescue you, meow! Nya-nya-nyan!”

Theo quickly shifted his stance, drew his Dragon Claws, and flew invisible mana blades toward the Mantises attacking Se-jun.

[Guardian Theo has defeated a young male Mantis.]

[You have acquired 500 experience points, which is 50% of the experience points acquired by Guardian Theo.]

…

..

.

And,

(Bat-bat. I will rescue Lord Se-jun too!)

Ppiyot!

[Vice President Theo, I will assist you!]

Following Theo, the Golden Bat and Ppiyot-i flew around frantically and quickly, defeating the Mantises.

Slice.

The Golden Bat moved quickly and sliced the Mantises with his wings, and

Ppiyooot!

Ppiyot-i slammed his body against the Mantises.

Kkueng…

Meanwhile, Se-jun held the sleeping Cuengi’s body with both hands, lifted him, aimed Cuengi’s body toward the oncoming Mantises, and

“Cuengi, launch a vigorous Kkuenghu to the front!”

Made him use Kkuenghu.

Kkuuuuueeeeeng!!!!

[Cuengi is sleepy-da-yo!!!!]

Kaboom!!

The bloodthirsty wind created by the Kkuenghu of Cuengi, who was full of irritation from his sleep being disturbed, tore the Mantises to shreds.

[Herb Collector Cuengi has defeated a young male Mantis.]

[You have acquired 500 experience points, which is 50% of the experience points acquired by Herb Collector Cuengi.]

…

..

.

[You have leveled up.]

[You have acquired 1 bonus stat.]

Thanks to that, Se-jun leveled up and reached level 68.

At that time,

Kwieek…

A faint sound reached Se-jun’s ears. They were the Mantises that were only knocked unconscious without dying after being hit weakly at the boundary of Kkuenghu.

Kkueng…

[Cuengi is sleepy, but Dad woke me up-da-yo…]

“Sorry. Sorry. Go back to sleep.”

Pat. Pat.

“Piercing.”

Se-jun handled those fellows himself while soothing Cuengi.

Meanwhile, as the surroundings were mostly cleared up,

“But why are two holes being made each time?”

Se-jun picked up the Sacred Stone Piercing to check what he had been curious about earlier.

[Sacred Stone Double Piercing]

“Huh?! It evolved?”

The Sacred Stone Piercing had evolved into Double Piercing. It succeeded in evolving by training desperately to avoid being dragged away by Aileen.

“Then only this fellow is left.”

Se-jun said, staring blankly at the black gem located near his shadow heart. It was the Heart of Dark, the God of Darkness.

“Should I send it to Aileen?”

While Se-jun was contemplating whether or not to send the Heart of Dark, the God of Darkness, to Aileen like that,

[The seal on the Heart of Dark, the God of Darkness, weakens minutely.]

[The seal on the Heart of Dark, the God of Darkness, is released by 0.02%.]

[All stats increase by 10.]

The Heart of Dark, the God of Darkness, released its seal up to 99.97%.

“What is it?”

Since there was a change for now, Se-jun took his eyes off the Heart of Dark, the God of Darkness, and began to examine the farm.

And,

‘Whew. I almost met Kaiser.’

The Heart of Dark, the God of Darkness, having passed the crisis, was relieved. It was fortunate that Se-jun’s mana had greatly increased recently, giving it the leeway to release the seal.

While the Heart of Dark, the God of Darkness, was relieved like that,

“Are there more Mantises?”

Se-jun was looking around the farm to search if there were any remaining Mantises.

This was because, despite defeating all the Mantises that occupied the farm, the message that he was recognized as the rightful owner of the land deed did not appear.

At that time,

“Nyan! Chairman Park, that is the Mother Tree, meow!”

Theo, who was clinging to Se-jun’s leg, pointed to the giant tree visible in the distance.

“That is a tree?”

While Se-jun was surprised looking at the giant Mother Tree that seemed to be supporting the sky,

[You have discovered a Mother Tree that will die soon on the 79th floor of the tower.]

[If the Mother Tree on the 79th floor of the tower dies, the birds of the Cobb Kingdom will become extinct.]

[A Middle Manager Quest is generated.]

[Middle Manager Quest: Find and eliminate the reason why the Mother Tree is dying.]

Time remaining: 5 days

Reward: 1,000,000 experience points, 500,000 Tower Coins

Upon failure: Death of the Mother Tree, destruction of the Cobb Kingdom

Instead of the expected message saying he was recognized as the owner of the farm, a quest message appeared.

“Five days remaining?”

Since the matter regarding the Mother Tree was much more urgent for now, Se-jun decided to return to the farm later and hurriedly go to the place where the Mother Tree was located.

At that time,

“Huh??”

As a giant shadow was created,

“Vice President Theo, you have come?!”

Thud.

Rui, the King of the Cobb Kingdom, descended from the sky.

Rui had been scouting around the farm once a day from a long distance since Theo left.

Today too, as he was examining the farm as usual,

“What is this?”

The Mantises that had filled the farm to the point where the farm looked green were nowhere to be seen.

Therefore, he felt something strange and came close to the farm, only to discover Theo.

“Puhut. That’s right, meow! I, Vice President Theo, came together with Chairman Park, meow! Now Rui, don’t worry, meow!”

Ppiyot! Ppiyot!

[Puhut. Ppiyot-i, Vice President Theo’s next right front paw, has come too! Ah! Let me quickly empty my stomach and come back!]

Perhaps Ppiyot-i still had a lot to empty, so he quickly hid behind a small rock and did his business.

“Thank you for coming all the way here, Chairman Park.”

“We live by helping each other.”

Meanwhile, Se-jun conversed with Rui.

Ppiyot!

[I’m back!]

When Ppiyot-i returned,

“Please ride on my back. I will guide you to the Mother Tree.”

Rui offered his back.

“Yes. Thank you.”

Thanks to that, Se-jun could move comfortably to the Mother Tree while flying in the sky.

“It’s a bit cold?”

Of course, to the hairless Se-jun, the sky was extremely cold, but

“Hehehe. Guys, come here.”

He overcame the cold by stealing the warmth of the furballs in his arms.

Arriving in front of the Mother Tree like that.

“Wow.”

It was big when seen from afar, but seeing it close up, he was naturally overwhelmed by its size.

“Now. Let’s start the treatment.”

When Se-jun snapped out of it and spoke,

“Understood, meow!”

(Yes!)

Theo and the Golden Bat, who were in charge of treatment, answered and treated the Mother Tree with their respective abilities.

The remaining three animals also had their own responsibilities.

Kkurolong.

Kkyurolong.

The sleeping Cuengi and Iona were in charge of destruction.

Ppiyot! Ppiyot!

[Lord Se-jun, fighting! Vice President Theo, fighting!]

Ppiyot-i was in charge of cheering.

Touch.

Se-jun placed his hand on the Mother Tree and began treatment.

[Farmer’s Warm Touch Lv. 7 is activated.]

[While touched, the damaged roots of the Mother Tree are slightly healed.]

…

..

.

‘So the painful spot was the roots?’

As Se-jun continued to treat the roots of the Mother Tree,

[The Mother Tree, whose roots are healed, moves its roots to try to escape from the being that absorbs its life force.]

“A being that absorbs life force?”

A message giving Se-jun new information appeared.

At that time,

Kwaek!

Creating a giant green wave, Mantises flocked toward the Mother Tree, and

Kkueng!

[I want to sleep comfortably-da-yo!]

“Kyut-kyut-kyut-who woke me up from my sleep?!!!”

The two in charge of destruction, who were extremely pissed off at their sleep being disturbed, woke up.