603. Santa Sejun, where am I?!

 

Black Tower, 99th Floor.

"Ugh."

As Sejun woke up, messages began appearing in front of him.

[The dragon fruit with the ambiguous aura of Sejun Park has gained profound insight through Basic Mana Swordsmanship.]

…

..

[You have mastered Basic Mana Swordsmanship.]

[Basic Mana Swordsmanship (Master) has evolved into Intermediate Mana Swordsmanship Lv. 1.]

[Strength has increased by 100.]

[Stamina has increased by 80.]

[Agility has increased by 50.]

[Mana has increased by 50.]

[With the effects of <Authority: Super Weakling Dual Core> and <Authority: Strong Bones of the Young Dragon>, all stat potentials have increased by 110.]

[All stats have increased by 11 through <Authority: Super Weakling Core> and <Authority: Strong Bones of the Young Dragon>.]

Sejun reviewed the notifications.

"Hehehe, finally intermediate level."

After training tirelessly throughout the night with Bossaboo, Sejun 3 had mastered Basic Mana Swordsmanship, advancing to the intermediate stage. Sejun's day started on a good note.

"Nya…”

Chirp...

As he gathered Theo and the Kamangi Family to step outside—

[Hehehe. Sejun-nim, good morning!]

Flame was basking in the sunlight nearby.

"Good morning to you too, Flame."

Sejun greeted Flame warmly and lifted her onto his shoulder.

"Shall we go for a walk?"

[Yes!]

Sejun strolled around the farm, patting crops and harvesting the ones that were fully ripened.

[The pain chili thanks the farmer's footsteps and lends strength.]

[The Grand Harvest (Master) has activated, increasing the potential of your mana stat from 48,192 to 48,202.]

His potential rose even further.

"Just a little more, and I'll reach a mana potential of 50,000," Sejun noted happily.

Then, he pulled out a portal scroll to the family portrait, which served as a gateway to the temple of the Creator, and checked its usage requirement.

-Usage Restriction: Black Tower Farmer Park Sejun with a pure mana level above 50,000.

"But…"

How do I even reach a pure mana of 50,000?

This question had barely crossed his mind until recently. He'd been using the portal scroll to confront Amur Lange about not drawing his face accurately in the portrait. The pure mana requirement felt distant, a challenge for the future.

However, after his conversation with Kamangi the previous day, he learned that Destruction was destined to be the next Creator, making Sejun reconsider his priorities.

Now, he wanted to understand why the future Creator had fallen to corruption—and if he could, he wanted to help.

Sejun knew he had resources to purify Destruction's aura and the power to dispel corruption, so he decided he’d contribute.

‘Of course, I'll be in the support role.’

Naturally, he had no intention of fighting on the front lines.

"First, let’s get my mana potential as high as possible."

Raising the potential was key. Once that was high enough, boosting pure mana would be simple—he just needed to consume mana-boosting crops.

Plus, Sejun had something he was counting on.

‘Once I learn Basic Aura Swordsmanship, my growth will speed up even more.’

He anticipated the rewards that would come from advancing his rank.

Bossaboo had explained that when he learned Basic Aura Swordsmanship, all of his stats increased by 5,000 and his potential by 100,000, quickly making him stronger.

Bossaboo had even advanced from beginner to intermediate in three days by channeling his heartbreak into intense training.

‘At this rate, I can master advanced aura swordsmanship in ten days.’

May Bossaboo keep advancing!

A truly ideal disciple, Sejun silently cheered for his mentor’s growth.

Meanwhile—

Zzz…

The mentor he trusted so much was snoring deeply, curled up in a corner next to Sejun 3, completely oblivious and worry-free.

It seemed he had exhausted his heartbreak-fueled motivation entirely.

"Looks like I need to stoke the fire again."

It was clear that Bossaboo would need a stronger push this time.

Determined to find a more heartbreaking rejection, Sejun and his companions quickly finished breakfast and descended to the 75th floor of the tower.

"Hegel, are there any unmarried Black Wolves left?" Sejun asked.

“There are plenty. Why do you ask?”

“Well…”

Sejun requested the Black Wolf chieftain Hegel’s assistance in setting up Bossaboo with a potential bride who would be sure to reject him thoroughly, then returned to the 99th floor.

"Summon the door."

He then traveled to the 10th Tower to gather some Devourer of Destruction seeds.

[You are a Field Lv. 9 has activated.]

[A Devourer of Destruction Seed has been planted in the body of Melpix, the Demon of Ruin and the Fourth Apostle of Destruction.]

…

..

.

The Devourer of Destruction seed had been planted.

[You are a Field Lv. 9 has leveled up to Master.]

The skill "You are a Field" had reached its master level, and now, for every 100 harvests, Sejun would receive a stat boost of 10 across all attributes. While this was lower than previous stat harvests, he could activate it multiple times daily.

A bit later—

"Hammer-nim, please give me an Elixir of Enhancement."

Having wrapped up his tasks, Sejun approached Hammer for an elixir.

[The Farming God Hammer says, "I’m right here.”]

A single drop of enhancement elixir appeared in Sejun's hand.

"Huh?! Just one drop?”

It had been nearly a month since his last dose, and with Stella assisting, Sejun expected at least two drops of enhancement elixir.

[The Farming God Hammer explains that five days ago, Stella took the one-month vacation pass you gave her and went to rest in the Silver Tower, which has slowed down production.]

“Vacation pass?”

From me?

Wait… five days ago? Christmas?

It must have been from Santa Sejun.

“Now, what did I give Patrick, again? My memory’s foggy.”

Curious, Sejun asked what gift he had given Patrick.

[The Farming God Hammer says that you gave him a divine item with a spatial farm, while Patrick received a divine item capable of creating 100 million pyeong of land.]

“Oh, right! That’s what I gave them!”

Santa Sejun gave out divine items as Christmas gifts?!

Santa Sejun! What about me?!

Hearing about the gods' gifts filled Sejun with a fierce envy.

"Nya?!"

Chairman Park, your face is rotting again!

Seeing Sejun’s jealousy-twisted face, Theo quickly gave him a "knead-knead" treatment to soothe him.

After receiving Theo’s comforting kneads, Sejun returned to the Black Tower.

"Grrrr, are you Bossaboo?”

Chirp?!

[Are you my bride-to-be?]

“Hah! You look weak. Can you even stand by my side?”

Bossaboo was being introduced to Helena, Hegel’s daughter, whom Sejun had arranged to reject Bossaboo.

Chirp! Chirp!

[I may not look it, but I’m strong! Let me show you!]

“What?!”

At Helena’s challenge, Bossaboo wielded two wooden swords and immediately started sparring with her.

Bossaboo! I told you to hold back!

Sejun watched in horror as Bossaboo, incapable of moderation, thoroughly pummeled Helena.

Actually… maybe this is better?

After all, this would just ensure an even harsher rejection. He chuckled darkly.

A little while later—

“You think you’ll marry by beating up a girl like that?! You’ll be alone forever!”

Chirp... chirp…

[No, I just…]

Helena, not holding back, threw harsh words at Bossaboo and stormed off the floor.

And—

Chirp…

[I did my best…]

Heartbroken, Bossaboo collapsed, dejected. He seemed utterly clueless about what he’d done wrong.

Sigh.

You kind of deserve it.

Sejun sighed as he watched Bossaboo’s misery.

It was intentional, but… his 300 years of singlehood had formidable strength behind it.

Sejun was sure Bossaboo would have been rejected regardless, and he’d bet a handful of Kamangi’s fur on it.

I’ll have to find him a bride who’s powerful enough to put him in his place.

As Sejun was mentally adding “must be stronger than Bossaboo” to the bride qualifications, Kamangi started whimpering.

Corruption had appeared.

Quickly, Sejun placed his hand on Kamangi and looked at him.

Chime.

…

..

.

Soon, the Kamangi Family was peacefully snoring, fast asleep.

“That should do it.”

Sejun looked away from Kamangi and headed to the dimensional gate.

“Hmm? None today?”

Entering <Earthworm>, he was disappointed not to see any Tears of Destruction.

What he didn’t know was that as <Earthworm> produced more creative energy, the space for the Tears of Destruction to pass through had vanished.

As Sejun surveyed the area, Theo, Kuengi, and the Kamangi Family emerged from the gate and ran to him.

After gathering his team—

"Here you go, everyone."

Sejun handed out Devourer of Destruction seeds to the Destruction Sejuns and planted them together.

While they were planting…

…

..

.

[Intermediate Mana Swordsmanship Lv. 3 has been reached.]

Another notification appeared for Sejun.

Bossaboo, fueled by the pain of heartbreak, was training relentlessly.

[Intermediate Mana Swordsmanship Lv. 4 has been reached.]

…

..

.

[Intermediate Mana Swordsmanship Lv. 8 has been reached.]

The training was so intense that messages continued appearing every ten minutes.

Hehe. Bossaboo is on fire.

Sejun grinned contentedly, watching as Bossaboo’s heartbreak propelled him to new heights.

Later that evening, Bossaboo had reached the stage where he could wield five swords simultaneously using swordsmanship techniques.

By the next morning—

[<Hero of Hemk>, The One Who Wields Ten Swords, Bossaboo.]

Bossaboo was now handling ten swords.

And Sejun 3’s blade was shrouded in a black aura.

Finally, he’d reached the stage where he could use aura.

[Advanced Mana Swordsmanship has been mastered.]

[You can now imbue your blade with aura.]

[With your rank increase, Advanced Mana Swordsmanship (Master) has evolved into Basic Aura Swordsmanship Lv. 1.]

[All stat potentials have increased by 10,000.]

[All stats have increased by 500.]

A series of messages flashed in front of Sejun.

“Huh?!”

Bossaboo, you said learning Basic Aura Swordsmanship would increase all stat potentials by 100,000 and all stats by 5,000, didn’t you?

"Why is mine only a tenth?"

This world is so unfair.

Feeling a deep sense of injustice, Sejun bitterly stuffed his mouth with potent cherry tomatoes.

[Elixir-grade cherry tomato consumed.]

[Mana increased by 10.]

…

..

.

"Vitality."

Using the Vitality skill repeatedly, Sejun kept digesting cherry tomatoes, boosting his mana by 10,000.

Eating cherry tomatoes alone to raise his mana by 10,000…

Anyone else watching might have cursed, “What an unfair world!”

And then—

"Hehe, good morning, Aileen. Me? Of course, I dreamt about you.”

Sejun was chatting with his girlfriend too!

Chirp...

[Unfair…]

Bossaboo also looked at Sejun, frustrated by the world’s inequality.

Chirp! Chirp!

[Sejun 3, training now! Show me your stance!]

With that, Bossaboo unleashed his frustration on Sejun 3.

Thanks to this fiery relationship, both Bossaboo and Sejun’s swordsmanship continued to flourish.

Then—

[Hehehe. Sejun-nim, here’s a nutritious supplement. Would you like to try it?]

Flame held out an apple for Sejun.

At last, Sejun had reached a level where he could consume Flame’s lowest-grade supplement.