Chapter 627: Just Drink!

 

77th Floor of the Brown Tower.

“Puhuhut.”

Press, press.

[You have subjugated one slave.]

[With the title <Slave King>, all stats have increased by 0.02.]

...

Sejun stamped the unconscious Brown Tower residents, one by one.

“If you’re awake, come and eat!”

[You have fed one person to fullness.]

[With the title <Saint Who Fills the Belly>, all stats have increased by 0.2.]

...

Feeding the newly employed residents after stamping them, Sejun’s stats continued to rise steadily.

What’s more, he was drawing closer to achieving enough Great Feats.

The most satisfying part, however, was introducing the Brown Tower employees to a whole new world of taste.

“Oh! This is actually delicious!”

“So, this is what it feels like to enjoy eating!”

“Everything I’ve eaten before is garbage compared to Chairman Sejun’s food!”

Naturally, after living on decayed food, tasting top-quality cuisine was like a glimpse of paradise.

“Puhuhut. It’s like soaring straight from the depths of hell to the heavens,” Sejun gloated, watching the employees’ reactions.

“Nya! Chairman Park, your face is looking seriously smug!”

Theo rushed over, squeezing Sejun’s cheeks.

[The praise from those enlightened by the taste fills your soul immensely.]

[Mental strength has increased by 10.]

...

“Ki-hi-hit!”

[Our caretaker is going to pass out!]

As the praise from the employees flooded Sejun’s soul, Kamangi’s family jumped in to absorb the excess mental energy, converting it into potential power for Sejun.

While Theo and Kamangi took care of Sejun...

“Kuengi?!”

[You’re not going anywhere!]

“Kelkelkel. I wasn’t running away...”

Kuengi caught Orik, who had tried to sneak away, and set him back to planting beans for the spirit increase.

“Kelkelkel. I was just lying down briefly...”

“Kueng! Kueng!”

[No excuses! Here’s what happens when you resist!]

Wham!

Crackle.

Kuengi struck the ground with the Thunder Club, demonstrating what awaited if Orik disobeyed.

“Yes, sir!”

Finally, Orik closed his mouth and worked diligently.

As Sejun continued hiring and feeding new employees, he hit a limit.

[All potential stat capacity has been reached.]

[No more stats can be acquired.]

[All acquired stats will revert to nature.]

Sejun’s stat potential had maxed out, and his stats began to revert.

And then...

“Ugh. Guys, could you help massage me...”

With the reversion, his strengthened muscles were causing severe soreness.

“Chairman Park’s face is turning grim! You can’t let muscle soreness defeat you, nya!”

Theo rubbed Sejun’s cheeks, while...

“Kueng! Kueng!”

[Hang in there, Dad! I’ll help you feel better!]

Kuengi did his best to loosen Sejun’s muscles.

“Ki-hi-hit! Ki! Ki!”

[You can do it, caretaker! Even though you’re fragile like a paperfish, this will make you stronger!]

Kamangi cheered him on.

But...

“Ugh. Kamangi, no roasted sweet potato treats for a week.”

“Ki!”

[You’re mean!]

Smack. Smack.

An indignant Kamangi lightly slapped Sejun, but...

“Ahh, that feels good. Kamangi, you’re great at massages!”

Sejun, the incorrigible teaser, was unfazed.

“Ki...”

[Tiring...]

Eventually, Kamangi, exhausted from his little rebellion, fell asleep on Sejun’s chest.

Meanwhile, Sejun’s Muscle Strengthening Skill leveled up, expanding his stat potential by 9,000.

A bit later...

Snore...

Worn out, Sejun drifted off to sleep, followed by Theo and Kuengi by his side.

 

The next morning.

“Alright, let’s give it our best today!”

Sejun and his group got back to work, resuming their activities.

By afternoon, as his stats reverted once more, the soreness returned.

“Guys~!”

Once again, Sejun called his team for massages, and with their help, his Muscle Strengthening Skill advanced again, increasing his stat potential by 11,000.

The next day...

“Fewer people are showing up now.”

The residents coming to the 77th floor had decreased significantly, intimidated by those who’d come but hadn’t returned. In reality, they were too busy enjoying Sejun’s food to leave.

A bit later...

[You have achieved the Great Feat of ruling over 3 million slaves.]

[You have achieved the Great Feat of feeding 3 million people to fullness.]

Sejun finally completed two more Great Feats, fulfilling the requirement for five Great Feats.

And then...

[It’s time! Eat this!]

[The time has come!]

[Grow into a World Tree!]

[There’s plenty, eat up!]

Blaze units 91, 92, 93, and 95 simultaneously nurtured four World Trees on the 22nd, 54th, 72nd, and 86th floors of the Brown Tower.

[The Brown Tower administrator joyfully asks how you managed to grow four World Trees so quickly.]

Grave, thrilled with the growth, lavished praise on Sejun.

However, the tower had yet to ascend. There was a slight oversight—Blaze had assumed that, since Orik was working with Sejun, he would naturally be an A-grade Tower Farmer. But Orik was still stuck at B-grade.

“Hey! No slacking off!”

“Kelkelkel. I was merely taking a brief rest.”

Orik’s mindset was hopelessly lazy.

There was no choice.

Until now, Sejun had tolerated it since the other conditions were incomplete, but he couldn’t let Orik tarnish his reputation as a “Three-Hour Tower Maker” any longer.

He decided to rewire Orik’s mentality.

“Kamangi, keep a close watch on Orik.”

“Ki-hi-hit! Got it! Leave it to the great Kamangi!”

Thud.

Kamangi stealthily approached the resting Orik and headbutted him.

“Kiiiik!”

A response came quickly.

A moment later...

“Ki!”

[Orik, back to work!]

“Back to work!”

Following Kamangi’s order, Orik sprinted to the field and diligently planted beans.

Looks like he’ll reach A-grade soon.

Satisfied, Sejun smiled, watching Orik’s progress.

 

Herc’s Pawnshop.

[Earth Dragon Bak Tohryong, Sejun’s guardian demi-god from the Black Tower, has arrived for career advice.]

“Welcome, Tohryong!”

The god of commerce, Herc, welcomed the visiting Tohryong.

“Hello, I’m Bak Tohryong. I heard my big brother’s received a lot of help from you, so I brought you a gift.”

Thud.

Sympathetic to Herc’s plight under Theo’s torment, Tohryong carefully handed over a box of 30 bottles of alcohol.

“Thanks! I’ll enjoy it!”

Herc, lifting a bottle from the box, examined the label.

[Golden Triple-Distilled Brew]

“Triple-distilled brew?”

Curious, Herc inspected the unfamiliar drink.

And then...

“What?!”

Drinking this raised divine power by 100 points?!

She was astounded by the effects.

And Sejun made this?

It’s a no-brainer...

Just drink it!

Gulp. Gulp.

“Ahh!”

It tasted exquisite as well.

“Tohryong, listen closely. From now on, your big sis will...”

Fueled by the drink, Herc threw an arm over Tohryong’s massive shoulders and began explaining two realms he should visit next.

“Watch out for them! They’ll mess you up! Seriously! Got it? Squirrely! Hehehe. How’s my rhyme?”

Unfortunately, her low tolerance turned her advice into a jumbled mess.

 

77th Floor of the Brown Tower.

“Orik, can you make stir-fried pork belly perfectly now?”

“Yes!”

“Good. That’s it for today.”

“Thank you!”

At Sejun’s words, the Brown Tower employees bowed deeply.

This marked the third day since Orik had been under Kamangi’s mental reformation and worked diligently.

Meanwhile, Sejun found himself with little to do.

“Sejun, please teach us to cook like you!”

At the request of the employees, Sejun had begun teaching a new dish each day, spreading proper cuisine throughout the Brown Tower and transforming its dietary culture.

However, Orik’s issues remained unresolved.

Not that his farming skills were subpar—in fact, Sejun saw little to criticize.

What was the problem?

“Kelkelkel. Grow well.”

Sejun carefully observed Orik’s sinister grin as he tended to the beans.

Maybe it’s that laugh...

Annoying as it was, the crops seemed to endure it and grew just fine.

As he pondered, Sejun suddenly remembered something.

The Ultimate Tower Farmer!

There had been a note about passing on farming skills to other tower farmers.

This could be it.

“Orik!”

To test his theory, Sejun called Orik over.

“Kelkelkel. Yes, Sejun?”

Orik came running, pleased to be called and freed from work.

Sejun placed his hand on Orik’s head, mimicking the gesture when Bossie transferred skills to him.

Transfer.

When Sejun focused on transferring his farming skills to Orik...

[What farming skill would you like to transfer to Orik, the Brown Tower Farmer?]

[Magic Sowing]

[Harvesting]

[Seed Collection]

...

Disappointingly, skills alone wouldn’t make Orik an A-grade Tower Farmer.

As Sejun scrolled down the list on a whim...

[Insight of a D-grade Tower Farmer]

...

[Insight of an A-grade Tower Farmer]

“Oh!”

There it was!

Sejun selected [Insight of an A-grade Tower Farmer].

[Transferring Insight of an A-grade Tower Farmer to Orik, the Brown Tower Farmer.]

[Orik’s limit is B-grade.]

[To forcibly upgrade Orik to A-grade, you will need to expend 5,000 points from each stat.]

Do you wish to proceed?

So there was a limit on tower farmer levels?

No wonder Orik hadn’t reached A-grade despite his hard work.

“Yes, proceed.”

With around 400,000 total stats, 5,000 points per stat wasn’t a major setback.

[Orik has been upgraded to an A-grade Tower Farmer.]

Having received Sejun’s insight, Orik was now an A-grade Tower Farmer.

A moment later...

[The Brown Tower administrator expresses gratitude and delight at your hard work.]

[The Brown Tower administrator presents you with the promised reward.]

Overjoyed, Grave handed Sejun his reward as thanks for completing the Brown Tower upgrade.

“Hehehe. Thank you.”

With his reward in hand, Sejun addressed his companions.

“Let’s head back!”

Leading his team, he returned to the Black Tower.

And then...

“Gwahaha! Let’s celebrate!”

The Great Brown Dragons threw a grand party to celebrate the Brown Tower’s promotion, sending sales at the Dragon Market soaring once again.

 

[You have arrived at the 99th floor of the Black Tower.]

...

Back home, Sejun greeted Aileen, Ace, the Dragon Societies, and the farm residents, then sought out Pink Fur.

“Goodnight, Kuengi.”

“Kuhe-hehe. Kueng!”

[Hehe. Goodnight, Dad!]

Smooch.

After bidding goodnight to Kuengi, Sejun returned to his home and lay down in bed.

I wonder, what’s my limit as a tower farmer?

Suddenly, Sejun found himself curious about his own potential.

But...

“Ki-hi-hit! Ki!”

[Hey, caretaker! Everything’s ready!]

Kamangi, holding a piece of World Energy, urged Sejun to join him in atonement, leaving no room for contemplation.

Snore...

Snore...

...

Everyone drifted off, joining Kamangi in his mental world as the bedroom filled with gentle snores.

Under the night sky’s soft glow, Sejun’s question found a silent answer.

It was a subtle light, not overly bright but piercing the darkness gently.

It spread across the entire 99th floor, stretching from the cave where Sejun had first lived to the pond below.

The light dimmed slightly upon reaching the pond, but steadfastly traveled to the bottom, finally reaching the dimensional sea.

[Hehe. I’m basking in the same light as Sejun!]

Blaze, swimming through the dimensional sea, rejoiced in the shared glow.

The light seemed to convey a message.

This is you, and as long as you don’t lose your light, there are no limits.

In its own way, the stars in the night sky provided Sejun with an answer.

[Guardian of Gastronomy, Sejun, grow stronger soon!]

Among the stars, [Delicious] sparkled brightly, cheering Sejun on.

Inspired by Sejun’s culinary legacy, [Delicious] resolved to spread the world of flavors far and wide, expanding its own potential.