: MY RIGHT KNEE IS YOURS

TL: Hanguk

[Phew. I need to digest this quickly.]

While Flamies surveillance was gone, Podori began to expel the nutrients absorbed under Flamies coercion.

Although the nutrients were used to produce grapes, there was still a lot left over, so the remaining nutrients were all spread into the surrounding soil.

[Phew. Now I feel like I can finally live.]

As Podori relieved itself by expelling the overeaten nutrients,

[Really? You think you deserve to live after throwing away everything I took care of for you?]

[?!]

Podori was startled by the sudden cold voice of Flamie. Flamies gaze had returned and was glaring at Podori. The gaze was very cold.

Fwooosh.

Conversely, Flamies roots wrapped in fire became hotter and hotter.

[Um Flamie~nim]

As Podori felt the heat as if it was going to burn to death, it hurriedly begged for Flamies forgiveness.

[What are you doing?]

[Eh?]

[Draw back in the nutrients you expelled! Quickly!]

[Yes!]

Thus, Podori absorbed back the nutrients it had spread around to avoid burning to death under Flamies watch.

Then,

[Wow! Master, its my first time going outside!]

Really? Its your first time here? Is there anywhere youd like to go?

[No. I like being by Masters side the most.]

Podori noticed a small being chattering on Sejuns shoulder and Sejun. It was Flamie with five green leaves moving like its head and limbs.

[Flamie~nim?]

There was no mistaking it since the energy felt the same.

[Flamie nim, youre full of pretense. Its despicable.]

As Podori spoke while looking at the roots of Flamie in front of it,

[What?! What?! You know what happens if you tell the Master?! You die! Youre going to die!]

Flamie raised its voice in embarrassment, threatening Podori.

*** owns this.

In front of the kitchen.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

Meow Im bored, meow

Theo lay in front of the door, waiting for Sejun, listening to the sound of Sejun kneading rice noodle dough. He was banned from approaching during kneading because of his fur.

I cant stand this, meow!

It was too unfair for Theo to be kept off Sejuns knee because of his fur.

Lick. Lick. Lick.

So, Theo diligently licked his fur, swallowing it all.

And then,

Puhuhut. Chairman Park, I wont shed fur anymore, meow!

Theo called out to Sejun and scampered into the kitchen.

Are you sure?

Puhuhut. Yes, meow!

Let me see.

Swoosh.

Sejun ran his fingers through Theos body, grabbing a handful of fur. There would be no reason to ban Theo if his fur was easy to manage.

Swoosh. Swoosh.

A clump of fur quickly formed after a few strokes.

Thats not true.

Sejun showed the clump of fur he had caught to Theo,

Meow I definitely ate all my fur, meow. Thats strange, meow Should I eat more, meow?

Theo, with his tail and ears drooping, walked out dejectedly.

Hey! Why would you eat fur?! Come here.

Chuk.

Sejuns heart softened at Theos behavior, lifting his right leg and saying, Vice Chairman Theo, my right knee is yours.

Puhuhut.

Thump.

With Sejuns permission, Theo hung onto Sejuns leg with a beaming smile.

But you have to stay still without shedding fur. Got it?

Puhuhut. Understood, meow!

As Theo joyously claimed Sejuns knee,

Piyo!

[Theo~nim, I have returned from scouting!]

Flap. Flap.

Piyot, who had been scouting the farm, entered through the kitchen window.

Chuk.

Piyo!

[There was nothing unusual in the surroundings!]

Piyot, saluting Theo with its wings, reported on the scouting.

Puhuhut. Good job, meow!

Puhuhut. As the future right front paw of Theo~nim, I always scout the surroundings for Theo nims safety!

Piyot was intoxicated with pride from Theos praise.

Then,

[Heheh. The sun feels good.]

Piyo?

Piyot saw a strange creature sitting on Sejuns right shoulder, basking in the sun. How dare! Thats my spot?! You are done now!

Even though he had been failing at making subordinates lately, he thought he could manage with a guy like that.

Puhuhut. I, Pirururur Yotra, the future right front paw of Theo~nim, will grant you the honor of becoming my first subordinate!

Flap. Flap.

Excited at the thought of making a subordinate, Piyot climbed onto Sejuns shoulder.

Tap. Tap.

Piyo? Piyo! Piyo?!

[Do you know whose spot this is? Its the spot of me, Pirururur Yotra, the future right front paw of Theo~nim! Move aside quickly, wont you?!]

Piyot, trying to sound as intimidating as possible, hit Flamies shoulder with its wings. Puhuhut. Im so scary. What if this guy gets too scared and faints?

While Piyot was intoxicated with its own frightening appearance,

Slap.

A leaf slap flew towards Piyots face.

Humph, humph, humph.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

Currently, Sejun was immersed in kneading dough and concentrated. Flamie was docile only when Sejun was watching; when not, it was very scary.

Piyo?

Piyot, who suddenly received a slap, had tears circling its eyes.

Piyo

When Piyot, feeling wronged, was about to complain about being hit,

Chuk.

Flamie put up a leaf like a finger and covered Piyots mouth.

Piyong! Why did you hit me?!

So Piyot asked with its eyes, looking at Flamie. It seemed like making a sound would result in an even harsher beating.

[Because youre Theo~orabonis subordinate, I only hit you once, so be careful from now on.] (TL: oraboni = formal way of saying oppa aka brother)

It was a quiet and gentle voice, but

Shudder. Shudder.

Piyots legs, already completely intimidated by Flamie, were shaking severely.

Getting the first hit in a fight is important!

Piyot learned something new today.

***

Black Tower Administrator Area.

Ugh. This is hard.

Aileen, exhausted from engraving magic into the shard of Kai-ras heart with all her might.

Khihihi. But its almost done.

Aileen smiled proudly, looking at the densely engraved magic circles on the shard of Kai-ras heart.

It seemed like she could give Sejun the gift on the planned date with a few more days of work.

Yum. Yum.

Khihihi. Sejuns cherry tomatoes are delicious.

As Aileen was eating the Elixir: Cherry Tomatoes given by Sejun for magic recovery and checking the crystal orbs alarm,

[One of the Black Towers growth conditions has been exceeded.]

A golden message caught her eye.

Eh? Exceeded?

When Aileen pressed the message,

[Black Tower Growth Conditions]

Tower Farmer (A): Achieved

Create more than 10 new varieties: Exceeded (15/10)

Cultivate more than 330 million square meter of farmland: Unachieved

Grow a World Tree: ?

Acquire More than 10,000 Worlds Energy Pieces: Unachieved

Own more than 5 relics: Unachieved

Achieve 3 great achievements: Unachieved

Increase the number of Black Tower entrances to 120: Unachieved

The Black Tower growth conditions appeared.

Ah?! When did we get 15 new varieties?

Aileen said, checking the conditions.

But is there any benefit to exceeding?

As Aileen hovered her hand over the words exceeded,

[If you exceed 2 of the Tower Growth Conditions, one additional condition will be considered as achieved.]

A new message appeared.

Khihihi. Good job, Sejun! I need to work harder too!

Whoosh.

Aileen stuffed her mouth full of Elixir: Cherry Tomatoes and began to engrave magic on the shard of Kai-ras heart again.

***

Han Tae-jun and Kim Dong-sik, surrounded by the Blue-Backed Penguin Tribe, were trapped in a prison on the 44th floor of the tower.

What day is it today?

Its May 6th.

When Han Tae-jun asked Kim Dong-sik for the date, Kim Dong-sik checked his hunter phone and answered.

Initially, they fought the penguins to avoid being captured, but the armor worn by the penguins was so strong that not even Han Tae-juns magic missiles could penetrate.

Dong-sik, throw away the weapon.

Yes.

Since the penguins didnt seem to have any intention of killing them, they surrendered without resistance.

Were running out of time.

We need to hurry and deliver the kimchi to Sejun~nim

Kim Dong-sik said in a regretful voice.

They had planned an event to deliver kimchi and other food items to Sejun on May 11th, a year since Sejuns disappearance.

And today, under the supervision of Sejuns mother, Kim Mi-ran, the Awakeners Association staff were scheduled to prepare kimchi and record recipes.

Furthermore, 1000 members of the Earth Defense Force had entered Korea to transport the food made by Kim Mi-ran to the tower.

Originally, they would have had enough time in their schedule if they had returned before defeating the boss on the 43rd floor, but this situation arose because Han Tae-jun insisted on just defeating the boss and leaving.

Consequently, the two highest commanders of the kimchi transport operation were unable to lead.

Timing is crucial for kimchi

By the time it was delivered to Sejun, the kimchi might have completely spoiled.

Cough I only intended to defeat the boss and leave. Who knew it would turn out like this? Still, the kids will deliver it to Sejun~nim on our behalf.

Han Tae-jun, feeling sorry, spoke quietly, a bit unusual from his usual self, where he might have yelled or thrown a punch at Kim Dong-siks words.

Then,

Do you guys know Sejun~nim, peng?

One of the penguins guarding the jail asked them.

***

Dough is done.

Sejun stored the completed 1000kg of dough in the void storage.

Since the state is maintained in the void storage, noodles can be made with a noodle machine whenever needed.

Puhuhut. Finally done, meow?! Eunyanya!

At Sejuns announcement of completion, Theo yawned and stretched, having been asleep.

Piyo!

Piyot, who had been dozing off, leaning its head on Theos leg on Sejuns instep, also hurriedly stretched its wings following Theo.

Having lost its spot on Sejuns right shoulder to Flamie, Piyot settled on Sejuns right instep, allowing it to stay even closer to Theo.

Time for a coffee break.

For the brief coffee time,

Drrrrk.

Sejun grounded the beans with the millstone,

Tap. Tap.

and placed the coffee grounds into a black glossy dripper,

Chororok.

and began pouring hot water, making circles.

The dripper, made from dragon scales by Aileen, had a warmth-retaining magic spell, maintaining the water temperature hot.

Thanks to this, coffee extraction was faster, allowing for a rich brew.

Slurp.

Kuh. Its strong.

As Sejun enjoyed his freshly brewed coffee, sitting at the table for coffee break,

Puhuhut. Nice, meow!

Theo from Sejuns lap,

[Heheh. Its warm.]

Flamie from Sejuns shoulder,

Piyiyi.

[Hehe.]

Piyot, sitting on Sejuns instep, basked in the warm sun along with Sejun.

Then,

Kueng!

[Dad, Cuengi brought herbs!]

Dadadada.

Cuengi, having met Pink-fur and visited the herb garden, ran towards Sejun with herbs and

Jump.

leaped into Sejuns arms.

Kueng!

[Here are the herbs!]

Cuengi, nestled in Sejuns arms, began to take out herbs from the snack pouch.

Ten blue kudzu roots with sweet taste, one white kudzu root with bitter taste, and one green kudzu root with sour taste.

[Heheh. Hello, Cuengi?]

Flap. Flap.

Flamie waved its leaves in greeting to Cuengi, who had handed over the herbs to Sejun.

Kueng?

[Is it Flamie~noona?]

Cuengi asked, sensing the unique energy emanating from Flamie.

[Yes. Now I can travel together.]

Kueng! Kueng!

[Hehehe. Thats great!]

As the two conversed,

Lets head down now.

Having finished his coffee, Sejun went down with the plants and animals to the 79th floor of the tower.

And then,

[Oh?! Theres also a good candidate for the World Tree here? Come forth, my roots.]

Seeing the Birds Bearing Tree, Flamie guided its roots to the 79th floor of the tower.

*****

*****