Chapter 639: Oh No, It’s All Burned

 

In the Black Tower, there was an unspoken rule:

[No Entry for Yuren]

A law prohibiting Yuren from entering the Black Tower. The moment Yuren arrived, chaos and destruction would ensue, leaving no other choice but to ban him.

However, the ban wasn’t absolute. There were two exceptions allowing Yuren entry.

The first was if he was accompanied by Poyo, the Sand Fairy who consumed misfortune. Even then, Yuren could only stay for three days. His strange power to cause catastrophe escalated when he remained in one place for more than three days, resulting in a Great Calamity that struck without warning—even Poyo couldn’t prevent it. It was, quite literally, a disaster.

When Sejun encountered Yuren at the Deimon family estate, Yuren had stubbornly delayed his departure on the third day, leading to Raton’s descent. If not for Sejun and his party, it would’ve been catastrophic.

The second exception was if Yuren was with Theo.

Thus, Yuren lived a wandering lifestyle.

“I miss Lord Theo…”

Walking aimlessly, Yuren suddenly felt a pang of longing. At least when Theo was around, things always ended well.

Not to mention…

Oh, how wonderful! Lord Theo is always near Master Sejun!

Being by Theo’s side meant enjoying delicious meals three times a day.

"Piyoot!"

[I miss Lord Theo too!]

I wish to serve him up close!

“Mohehe. Me too!”

Misfortunes created by Lord Theo have such a unique flavor!

While Yuren spoke, Piyoot and Poyo responded with entirely different thoughts.

Their wandering eventually brought them to the Red Ribbon Kingdom on the 55th Floor of the Black Tower.

“Yuren, your entry is confirmed. Since Poyo is accompanying you, you must leave within three days.”

“Oh-hoho. Got it.”

Yuren beamed happily at the words of the gray rabbit conducting the entry inspection and entered the city.

Inside…

"Yuren has entered! Assign two pink pigs for surveillance immediately!"

The soldiers of the Red Ribbon Kingdom entered a state of emergency.

 

<Avian>

“For now, we don’t have to worry about running out of seaweed.”

Sejun looked at the mountain of seaweed piled in the spatial storage with a satisfied expression.

“And Badhin, where to next?”

“There’s a swarm of Locusts spotted to the west.”

“Then how about chicken for dinner?”

…

Huh?!

When the anticipated reaction didn’t come, Sejun glanced around curiously.

Where’s Queng?

Queng, the master of dramatic reactions, was nowhere to be seen.

Realizing Queng was missing, Sejun felt no immediate panic. Queng wasn’t the type to get himself into trouble.

“Queng!”

Sejun called out loudly. Normally, no matter how far away he was, Queng would always respond with a cheerful “Queng!” and come flying back.

…

No answer came.

Where could he have gone?!

Sejun’s heart started pounding, and sweat pooled in his palms. Though he logically knew Queng wasn’t likely in danger, he couldn’t shake the unease that Queng might be alone somewhere, crying.

Queng, Dad’s coming for you!

“Everyone, spread out and search for Queng!”

“Yes, sir!”

Sejun ordered Badhin and his subordinates to fan out.

“Queng!”

“Queng, where are you, nya?!”

"Squeak! Queng, where are you?!"

"Squeak?! Big Brother Queng, where are you?!"

The group began their search.

After a while of searching…

This way?

Sejun’s intuition pointed him in a certain direction.

“What’s this?”

A Queng detector?

Until now, he thought he only had a Theo detector. Discovering that he could also sense Queng’s presence, Sejun quickly honed in on the direction Queng’s energy was coming from and ran.

Hiss.

He reached an area where the rain wasn’t soaking the ground—unlike everywhere else.

And beneath him, Sejun could sense Queng’s energy.

“Vice-President Theo!”

“Got it, nya!”

Boom!

Understanding Sejun’s intent, Theo slammed his paw on the ground, creating a massive hole.

“Let’s go!”

Without hesitation, Sejun jumped into the pitch-black pit.

The hole was incredibly deep, and Sejun kept descending.

As he went deeper, the heat intensified, but thanks to his title [Reborn from Flames], Sejun felt no discomfort.

Theo was unaffected as well.

"Squeak… Butler, it’s hot…"

"Peep-peep! Great Kamangi, I’ll cool you down! Hyah!"

Although Shari was trying her best to help Kamangi’s family, the heat was overwhelming.

"Squeak… Great Kamangi might die from the heat…"

Seeing their struggle, Theo intervened.

"Purr-haha! Iona, help out, nya!"

"Squeak-squeak-squeak! Got it. Ice Magic: Cooling!"

Iona cast a spell to lower the temperature around Kamangi’s family, providing some relief.

After a while…

Light.

The end of the hole came into view.

“Nya!”

As they neared the bottom, Theo dug his claws into the wall to slow their descent.

“Landed!”

Sejun and his party safely reached the ground.

“There he is! Queng!”

"Queng!"

Boom!

They spotted Queng fighting a Magma Giant in the lava.

"Dad, wait a bit! Queng will bring the herb, okay?!"

Boom! Crash!

Seeing Sejun, Queng shouted while continuing to pummel the Magma Giant.

Has Queng always collected herbs like this?

The Magma Giant quickly regenerated damaged areas with magma, making it hard for Queng to defeat it. Queng avoided attacking the Giant’s head for some reason, making the fight even more difficult.

What’s going on?

Curious, Sejun focused on the Giant’s head.

And then…

“What’s that?!”

[Baby Puppet Flame Herb]

Why is it there?!

The reason Queng wasn’t touching the Magma Giant’s head became clear.

It’s because of me.

Queng was avoiding the Giant’s head to protect the Baby Puppet Flame Herb growing there.

“Queng, use a headlock!”

"Queng? What’s a headlock?!"

"Purr-haha! I know what it is, nya! Watch this!"

Squeak?! Squeak!

[What?! If you don’t stop this, the Great Kamangi will get mad!]

Theo, having experienced countless headlocks from Sejun, demonstrated by wrapping his paw around Kamangi’s neck.

"Queng!"

Mimicking Theo, Queng placed the Magma Giant in a headlock, subduing it.

"Purr-haha! Hold it tight, Queng, nya!"

"Queng!"

[Got it!]

While Queng restrained the Giant, Theo climbed onto its head.

Stamp.

He stamped it.

"Purr-haha! Welcome to Sejun Company, nya!"

With that, the Magma Giant officially joined Sejun Company.

"Queng-hehe-hehe."

Pluck.

Queng shrank down and carefully plucked the Baby Puppet Flame Herb growing on the Magma Giant’s head.

"Queng!"

[Dad, here it is!]

“Thanks. But Park Queng, shouldn’t you be scolded?”

"Queng? Queng?"

[Huh? Why would Queng be scolded?]

Queng’s innocent face tilted in confusion. After all, he thought he had done a good thing by collecting herbs for Sejun.

“Of course you’ll be scolded. You should tell me when you’re leaving. Imagine if Dad disappeared without saying anything.”

Hearing Sejun’s words, Queng imagined such a scenario. Though comparing Sejun’s disappearance to his own was a stretch, the thought worked.

"Queng… Queng… Queng…"

[Worried… uneasy… Queng did a bad thing.]

The realization hit Queng, and he quickly understood his mistake.

“You won’t do it again, right?”

"Queng! Queng!"

[Won’t do it again! Next time, Queng will tell Dad!]

“Good. You have to promise. Dad was really worried.”

"Queng-hehe-hehe. Queng!"

[Hehe, got it!]

Queng hugged Sejun as he replied.

“But you still need to be punished for your mistake.”

"Queng?!"

“For worrying me, your punishment is… a belly blow! Bzz-bzz-bzz.”

Sejun blew raspberries on Queng’s belly as punishment.

"Queng-hehe-hehe!"

Queng burst into laughter.

Hee-hee! If I hide, Butler will worry about me too, right?

Kamangi, eager to get the same punishment, hid by pressing his head against a wall.

Meanwhile…

"Purr-haha! So, what’s the new guy’s name, nya?"

Theo asked about the new recruit’s name.

"Ugh…"

[I don’t have one…]

The Magma Giant scratched its head, looking embarrassed.

"Purr-haha! Don’t worry, nya! The great Hybrid Chairman Park is amazing at naming things, nya! Chairman Park, this one needs a name!"

Theo called over Sejun.

“Hehe, really?”

Time for naming!

Sejun Naming Office—Open!

With much anticipation, Sejun declared, “You’re Yongbun! From now on, you’re Yongbun.”

The name Yongbun, inspired by the Giant’s connection to magma and its role as a pot for the herb, was born.

"Kik-kik, squeak!"

[Hee-hee! Butler named it Yongbun!]

“Yongbun… sounds like Magma Poop, doesn’t it? Hahaha!”

Chirp!

The Kamangi family misunderstood Sejun’s intent, delighting in what they thought was a hilarious name.

"Ugh?"

[Yongbun?]

The Magma Giant muttered its name in confusion.

Suddenly…

[Talent: Namemaker has been activated.]

[The name Yongbun has gained special effects.]

[All stats increased by 1,000.]

[Bloodline: Magma Giant has been enhanced.]

[Talent: Hot Planter has been unlocked.]

The Namemaker talent infused Yongbun’s name with unique effects, including the ability to cultivate fire-attributed miracle herbs.

With the naming ceremony complete…

"Purr-haha! Yongbun, give me some blood, nya!"

Theo demanded Yongbun’s blood.

Though Sejun had consumed blood from Bronze Giants, Silver Giants, and Earth Giant Landrox’s Lava Bloodstones, he had yet to taste Magma Giant blood.

"Ugh…"

[Here you go.]

Yongbun cut his fingertip and offered a few drops of his bubbling blood.

Bubble, bubble.

The molten blood boiled ominously.

I’m supposed to drink this?!

Sejun hesitated but cautiously touched it with his finger.

Hiss.

“Oh… it’s cool.”

The fire energy in the blood rejuvenated Sejun’s fingers, thanks to his title [Reborn from Flames].

Encouraged, Sejun swallowed the blood.

But…

"Ugh!"

He gagged, realizing too late that Giant blood was, as always, disgusting—this time with an oddly dung-like flavor.

"Chairman Park, you can’t spit it out, nya!"

Theo quickly clamped Sejun’s mouth shut with his paw.

Gulp.

Sejun forced himself to swallow.

[You have consumed Magma Giant Yongbun’s blood.]

[All stats increased by 3,000.]

[All stat potentials increased by 5%.]

[Talent: Kneader has been unlocked.]

What’s Kneader?

Sejun checked the talent description.

[Talent: Kneader]

With heated hands, you can mold stone into any desired shape. (Your hands will only heat up when working with stone.)

“The description isn’t even formal this time?”

Sejun grumbled about the system’s inconsistency.

Mischievous systems are always annoying.

After cursing the system, Sejun instructed, “Iona, lift us back up.”

"Squeak-squeak-squeak! Yes! Wind Magic: Levitation!"

Iona used her magic to lift everyone back to the surface.

Yongbun came up with them, but…

Hiss.

He melted the sand beneath his feet.

“Yongbun, lower your temperature. You’re melting everything.”

"Ugh…"

Lowering his temperature was impossible for Yongbun, a Magma Giant.

But nothing was truly impossible.

“Kamangi, it’s your turn.”

"Kik-kik, squeak!"

[Hee-hee! Leave it to the Great Kamangi!]

Thunk.

Kamangi confidently headbutted Yongbun’s body.

Gradually, Yongbun’s temperature dropped.

Then…

“Huh?!”

Sejun noticed smoke rising from somewhere.

Following the source…

Fwoosh.

Kamangi’s forehead fur was burning. It must have caught fire during the headbutt.

Sejun quickly put out the flames, but…

“Oh no… it’s all burned.”

A large bald spot now adorned Kamangi’s forehead.

“Pfft… what should I do?”

Sejun struggled to suppress his laughter while wondering how to cover Kamangi’s new bald spot.