Solo Farming In The Tower-Chapter 12Vol 2. : Welcome to the Kindergarten of Destruction! ()

<Earth>

“Huh?!”

Kim Dong-sik suddenly felt something shift.

What’s this?

It was a familiar sensation—something he’d experienced once before a few months back. His body felt stronger, a wave of exhilaration surged through him.

“Did Lord Sejun raise Earth’s level again?”

Though Earthlings had no way to measure Earth’s level directly, they could confirm the change through the residents of the Tower.

“Status window.”

Dong-sik quickly checked his stats.

[Kim Dong-sik Lv. 73]

Talents: Remarkable Average, Good When Rolled, Mediocre Swordsman, E+ Grade Poison Resistance

Stats (+3): Strength (107/10,000) – Stamina (81/10,000) – Agility (152/10,000) – Magic (79/10,000)

Skills: Intermediate Swordsmanship Lv. 9, Quick Blade Lv. 5, Swift Footwork Lv. 8, Play Dead Lv. 9, Bargaining Lv. 1

“Just as I thought.”

His stats had increased by 20%, and stat potential had increased tenfold.

“If I’d known this would happen, I would’ve used my three bonus stat points...”

He couldn’t help but pout. If Lord Sejun was going to raise Earth’s level, he could’ve given a heads-up!

It wasn’t just his problem either—this was a missed opportunity for all of Earth.

Why? Because Earth had leveled up too quickly. Most hunters hadn’t raised their stats enough to take full advantage of the +20% bonus.

If they’d had more time to train before the level increase, they could’ve maximized the effect.

Still, Earthlings had undeniably become stronger. And once people get stronger... they want to use that strength.

1st Floor of the Black Tower

“We’re taking over the 1st Floor market from now on!”

“Yeah! We’re not Level 2 hunters anymore!”

“That’s right! We’re Level 3 hunters now!”

“Bring it on, Black Bears!”

Apparently, recklessness wasn’t just a Sejun trait—it was a shared trait among Earthlings. As soon as Earth leveled up, a few guilds challenged the Queng Gang Black Bears, who controlled the market.

But—

“You’ve grown a bit... how pathetic. Youngest.”

“Yes! I’ll handle it!”

WHAM!

“AAAGH!”

“Spare me...!”

“O-okay! We surrender!”

Faced with the overwhelming and brutal violence of the Queng Gang’s youngest member—Black Bear No. 999—the hunters had no choice but to submit.

Earth’s hunters had gotten stronger, but Sejun Company employees were growing stronger far faster thanks to eating Sejun’s crops.

And that gap? It only widened with time.

***

“Ugh...”

Why am I lying down?

Sejun opened his eyes and looked around, wondering why he was in bed.

And then—

“I was arm-wrestling with Jjongjjong... ah. I lost.”

Damn. Even to Jjongjjong?

It finally hit him that he’d been defeated.

Maybe he was cursed. There didn’t ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) seem to be anyone around who was weaker than him anymore.

He wanted to look down on someone... just once.

Still, having no one to look down on might actually be good for cultivating his character.

Either way, even if it didn’t feel like it, being surrounded by the strong was a tremendous blessing for Sejun.

No one could lay a finger on him. Or rather—they couldn’t.

“Puhuhut! The Great Hybrid Chairman Park is protected by me, Vice Chairman Teo, nya!”

[Hehet. No one can approach Lord Sejun now!]

Kuhehehe. Queng!

[Hehehe! Queng will protect Daddy!]

(Bat-Bat! Anyone who messes with Lord Sejun gets banished somewhere weird!)

Kkihihit. Squeak squeak!

[Hihit! The feeble butler is guarded by the great Kkamang! Bring it on!]

Anyone who tried to get close would be intercepted by the combined radars of Teo, Flamy, Queng, Bat-Bat, and Kkamang.

Because Sejun was always surrounded by such powerful companions, his potential was constantly pushed to its maximum—whether he liked it or not.

Thanks to this, Sejun had reached a level of strength far beyond what Earth-level beings should have. Now that Earth had become a Level 3 world, Sejun’s strength was comparable to that of someone from a Level 6 world.

And this was without consuming his own crops.

Anyone who did eat his crops could be 1–5 levels stronger than normal.

For powerful races like dragons, the power boost was even more dramatic.

Sejun was living in an era of power inflation.

“Yaaaaawn.”

Sejun stretched out lazily.

Grrr.

Byuurong.

Fwooorong.

Koong.

Kkirong.

He checked on his companions, who were snoring soundly, and quietly headed for the kitchen.

Flamy didn’t need to sleep, but she had recently learned how to enter a light dozing state, so she now slept with them too.

“Hm-hm-hm~”

Humming as he worked, Sejun busied himself with breakfast prep—busier than ever.

Because of his picky companions and the wide range of children’s ages, he had to prepare more than ten different dishes: grilled fish, stir-fried peanuts, ultra-flavored roasted sweet potato chips, baby food, seaweed soup, and more.

Eventually—

“Done.”

Breakfast was ready.

Clack.

He opened the spatial storage and stepped inside.

“Fermentation.”

In the brewing room, Sejun started making liquor.

While he worked—

[A quest has been generated.]

[Quest: Retrieve the <Child of Creation Tainted by Destruction> left behind in <Necting> and bring them to the Kindergarten of Destruction.]

Reward: +5% charge capacity for [Brilliant Earrings of Darkness], +5% Earth Lv. 3 evolution EXP

A new quest appeared before Sejun.

“Guess I’ll have to make lunch, too.”

If he didn’t prep lunch, Aileen would cook. And if that happened, the kids would run screaming out of the kindergarten again.

That would be the real end of Earth.

Though... they’d probably just go to the neighbor lady’s house now.

“Still, better to reduce uncertainty.”

He quickly baked hotcakes for lunch.

Soon, the scent of warm bread filled the air.

Kuhehehe. Queng.

[Hehehe! Smells yummy!]

Queng was the first to awaken, his face full of joy.

A little later—

“Sejun, are we having hotcakes this morning? Then I want lots of whipped cream!”

“It’s actually lunch, but sure, I’ll load it up. Just wait a bit.”

“Okay!”

Aileen sat at the table, resting her chin on her hand, beaming as she watched Sejun work.

Hehehe. Sejun flipping hotcakes is so cool!

As she stared lovingly at him—

Squeeze.

She hugged Sejun from behind.

At some point, she’d equipped the [Brilliant Earrings of Darkness].

The earrings took 10 minutes to charge and required three days of stored energy to craft the Elixir of Sleep.

In other words, they enabled 10 minutes of physical contact every three days.

As Sejun gently laid his hand over Aileen’s—

“Puhuhut.”

“Kkyut-kkyut-kkyut.”

Teo and Iona, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, stacked their paws on top of Sejun’s hand.

[Hehet.]

(Bat-Hehet.)

Flamy and Bat-Bat joined in too.

Kuhehehe.

Squeeze...

And Queng used telekinesis to move the sleeping Kkamang’s paw, placing both of theirs on the pile.

Just like that, what began as a moment between Sejun and Aileen turned into a group cuddle.

Still—it was warm. And it made Sejun smile.

The warmth of their touch.

Aileen’s scent, rising softly with each breath on his back.

Then—

“Hmm?”

Suddenly, a thick black fog filled his vision.

What the...? Was this all a dream?

Sejun began to worry that the warmth in his hand, the breath in his ear, was all an illusion.

But then—

“Chairman Park! The hotcakes are burning, nya!”

Teo shouted.

Right! The hotcakes!

Snapping back to reality, Sejun quickly flipped the hotcakes with a snap—

“...Burned.”

They had already turned pitch-black.

Still, he hadn’t let go of Aileen’s hand the entire time.

Moments later...

“......”

“......”

Sejun and Aileen quietly stepped apart.

He managed not to faint this time, but...

I wanted just a little more...

Even if it meant fainting, he’d wanted to stay in that warmth. But he held back.

He had fainted yesterday, after all. Fainting again might make him seem less appealing.

Of course, that was Sejun’s delusion.

To Aileen, who already considered fainting to be Sejun’s default setting, it didn’t make him any less attractive—if anything, it just made her want to protect him even more.

Still, I should probably space out the faints by five days...

Ever the meticulous planner, Sejun’s caution might just be part of his charm.

“Aileen, Iona—could you use some magic to clear out the smoke?”

“Sure.”

“Kkyut-kkyut-kkyut. Okay.”

After clearing the kitchen air with their magic, Sejun resumed cooking.

“Aileen, I think I’ll need to hop into the Tower again after breakfast.”

“Again?!”

“Yeah. The quest wants me to go to a place called <Necting> to bring back another student.”

“I’m coming too.”

But when Aileen said that—

“If you do, I’ll faint.”

“Ah... okay. I won’t. But come back quickly.”

“Promise.”

Aileen backed down quickly, her voice full of disappointment.

[Hing... I wanted to go too...]

Even Flamy, who hadn’t dared say it aloud, sulked beside them.

And that sulking... triggered a chain reaction.

***

Dimensional Beast School, next to World Tree School

[I’m disappointed in all of you! Your growth is as slow as a turtle! How are you supposed to become a Tree of Creation at this rate?!]

Flamy had gathered the dimensional saplings and was giving them a passionate scolding. She wanted to hurry up and train a successor so she could retire and return to Sejun’s side.

She still hadn’t found the fifth question required to become a full Tree of Creation, but the sooner they were ready, the better.

If she got lucky, she could pass the test and immediately hand off the title.

[Especially Grapey! You’ve been way too slow with your nutrient intake lately!]

As Flamy’s roots pointed accusingly at Grapey, he flinched and averted his gaze.

Moments later—

[To break your laziness, we’re doing log gymnastics! On “one,” say ‘Me too!’ On “two,” say ‘Take me!’ One hundred reps! How many?!]

[One hundred!]

[Good! One!]

[Me too!]

[Two!]

[Take me!]

The ten saplings lifted and lowered Flamy’s giant root in perfect sync.

Then—

[We can’t lose either! On “one,” say ‘Nutrients are—’ On “two,” say ‘Delicious!’ One hundred reps! One!]

[Nutrients are—!]

[Two!]

[Delicious!]

Sausage, inspired by Flamy, began feeding the World Trees with renewed vigor.

He was expected to grow into a dimensional beast soon and transfer to the other school.

I’m not going alone.

He didn’t want to be the only one. He needed companions to suffer with him.

Thanks to Sausage’s efforts, the World Tree School produced ten dimensional saplings that year.

***

Passing through the dimensional gate Bat-Bat had created on the 1st floor of the Black Tower—

[You have arrived in Level 7 World <Necting>.]

A system message appeared before Sejun.

“A Level 7 world, huh.”

That meant it might be a bit dangerous.

Sejun looked around, scanning for threats.

Not that it was necessary.

“Hiss!”

Quuong!

(Batrrrng!)

Krrrrng!

Teo, Queng, and Kkamang were already radiating murderous intent in all directions, driving everything away.

Traveling with Sejun had taught them a few things.

Just as Sejun prepared to begin exploring <Necting>—

“Waaaaah~!”

A thunderous wail echoed in the distance.

This content is taken from fr(e)ewebn(o)vel.𝓬𝓸𝓶