Chapter 25 of 100
Chapter 25. Catching a Falling Baby Bear
8 min read1,963 words
"President, we've tried all extraction methods, but we failed to extract new components from the cherry tomatoes."
"Is that so?"
Misreading.
Jenna, the president of the pharmaceutical company Ester, bit her nails upon hearing the report from the research team she personally directed. It was a habit she had when she was deep in thought.
'Is it really impossible to extract anything from items?'
She had gotten carried away when her younger brother Chris said it would be impossible to extract anything from items.
"However, the clinical trial results are very good. When the magic cherry tomatoes are consumed, 10g of fat is broken down, and the basal metabolic rate increases by 5-10%."
"Any cumulative effects?"
"In the case of non-awakened individuals, when consumed, 10g of fat is reduced, but the increase in basal metabolic rate is only about 0.1% additional. The additional effects are minimal."
"Indeed."
Jenna, who had eaten the magic cherry tomatoes herself and felt the effects, knew this well. She just wanted to confirm the exact numbers.
"Any side effects from overconsumption?"
"Other than the side effects that occur when regular cherry tomatoes are eaten, there are none."
"Really? What about excessive fat breakdown?"
"That's surprising. Even if the magic cherry tomatoes are overconsumed, if the body has little fat, the body fat percentage does not drop below 7-9%. Instead, the effect of increasing the body's vitality also disappears."
In short, the researcher's words meant that even if the magic cherry tomatoes were overused, they would not harm health.
"I see. For now, bring the remaining ones to my office."
For a few days, Jenna had been receiving calls from the FDA advisory committee members to whom she had given the magic cherry tomatoes, asking if they could get more.
"Yes. But it seems the magic cherry tomatoes are indeed good. Your jawline looks much better, President."
"Hehehe. Thank you."
Jenna felt happy at the team leader's words. Although the research to extract components from the magic cherry tomatoes had failed, her diet had been successful.
***
Day 165 of the Stranding.
"Ugh!"
Sejun got up and added another stroke to the wall, completing another 正.
"The fourth line is already 30% full."
Time seemed to pass slowly, but when you looked at it, it had already passed quickly.
Buzz.
The venomous bees approached Sejun before they woke up early in the morning to suck nectar. In the past two days, the number of venomous bees had increased by seven, bringing the total to 60.
"Did everyone sleep well?"
The venomous bees answered by rubbing their tails against Sejun's body.
At that moment,
Squeak!
Squeak!
Squeak!
The rabbits woke up and greeted Sejun in the morning.
Sejun and the rabbits had a simple breakfast of sweet potatoes, carrots, and cool honey water, then started the morning farming.
Starting today, one more task was added to Sejun's list. He decided to take over the job of cutting the green onions, which his wife rabbit had been doing.
As his wife rabbit's belly grew, he gave her easier tasks like preparing meals and picking cherry tomatoes from the stems he harvested.
Crunch. Crunch.
Sejun cut the green onions at an incredible speed. With Keynes' training dagger, he could be considered almost the only lawn mower in this cave.
The white rabbit with the cart couldn't keep up with Sejun's speed of cutting green onions, so the white rabbit with the sickle had to help carry the green onions.
In just an hour, Sejun finished cutting the green onions and immediately started harvesting the cherry tomatoes. With his improved stamina, this level of work was no longer tiring.
Crunch. Crunch.
Sejun diligently cut the cherry tomato stems with his dagger and harvested the cherry tomatoes, bringing them to his wife rabbit.
After harvesting the D-grade magic cherry tomatoes yesterday, most of the cherry tomatoes he harvested were D-grade. These were the fruits that had grown after Sejun became a D-grade top farmer.
"If Theo had come a day later, we could have sold the D-grade cherry tomatoes."
He felt a bit disappointed. But on the bright side, he could now eat the D-grade magic cherry tomatoes to his heart's content.
Crunch.
While thinking about this, Sejun was cutting a cherry tomato stem when
[You have harvested 7 fully ripe magic cherry tomatoes simultaneously.]
[Your job experience has increased slightly.]
[Your Harvesting Level 3 proficiency has increased slightly.]
[Your Harvesting Level 3 proficiency has increased by an additional 5% due to the effect of Proficiency Increase Level 1.]
[You have gained 140 experience points.]
[You have leveled up.]
[You have gained 1 bonus stat point.]
A few days ago, he had leveled up, and with the experience gained from harvesting D-grade cherry tomatoes, he leveled up earlier than expected, reaching level 14. Sejun used the bonus stat point to increase his stamina.
"Should I take a break?"
Taking a break, Sejun looked around to check on the other white rabbits.
Although his wife rabbit was no longer farming, the sickle rabbit and the cart rabbit, who had nothing to do because Sejun cut the green onions so quickly, helped the other rabbits, making the work progress even faster than before.
"Short break!"
Thanks to the dagger Theo brought, Sejun and the rabbits had more leisure time in their day.
At Sejun's call, the rabbits gathered at the official resting place, the fire.
"Let's eat one each while resting."
Sejun brought two cherry tomato stems he had just harvested and picked the cherry tomatoes off, giving one to each rabbit.
Squish.
Squish.
The rabbits started biting into the cherry tomatoes and sucking out the juice,
Squirt! Squirt!
Sejun squeezed the cherry tomato juice into a tumbler to make cherry tomato juice.
At that moment,
Buzz.
The venomous bees approached. When they saw the rabbits eating like this, the venomous bees usually sprinkled honey on the rabbits' cherry tomatoes.
Buzz.
The venomous bees also approached Sejun.
"I'm fine."
Today, Sejun wanted to enjoy the pure taste of the cherry tomatoes, so he declined the honey.
Thus, Sejun and the rabbits took a break and then returned to their respective tasks, having lunch later.
Slurp.
"Ah, that's good."
For lunch, Sejun ate grilled fish seasoned with salt and washed away the salty and fishy taste in his mouth with coffee. Today, he boiled water in a pot and made hot coffee.
Squeak...
The black rabbit climbed onto Sejun's lap to take a nap.
One second later.
Snore.
"How can you fall asleep as soon as you lie down?"
Sejun looked at the black rabbit in amazement and then looked up at the sky.
After about 10 minutes,
Creak. Creak.
A strange sound came from above the cave.
"Huh?!"
Sejun quickly got up,
Squeak?! Squeak?
The black rabbit, who had been thrown aside, looked around confused.
But Sejun couldn't pay attention to that. The sound from above was not loud, but it was definitely a monster.
Hop!
Feeling something was wrong, the black rabbit quickly jumped onto Sejun's shoulder.
At that moment, Sejun and the black rabbit met the eyes of a red-furred creature that was sticking its head out of a hole in the ceiling.
Creak?!
Slip.
Creak!!!
More surprised than Sejun and the black rabbit, the creature slipped and fell into the cave, screaming strangely.
***
You shouldn't go there.
Mom always said not to go there. It was the territory of the venomous bees and was dangerous.
But while Mom was briefly asleep, the baby Crimson Giant Bear woke up, went outside to play, and got lost.
Mom!
Mom!
The baby Crimson Giant Bear called out for Mom, trying to find the way home.
But the baby Crimson Giant Bear headed in the wrong direction, moving further away from Mom and entering the territory of the venomous bees, which Mom had said not to enter.
Mom!
Mom!
The baby Crimson Giant Bear, searching for Mom in the territory of the venomous bees.
At that moment,
Sniff. Sniff.
A sweet smell came from somewhere.
It smells delicious!
The baby Crimson Giant Bear forgot it was looking for Mom and followed the smell.
Sniff. Sniff.
Following the smell, the baby Crimson Giant Bear realized it was coming from a hole in the ground and cautiously stuck its head out to look down.
Huh?!
But there was a gaze looking back from below.
Slip.
The baby Crimson Giant Bear, too surprised, lost its footing and fell into the hole.
Mom, save me!!!
***
"Huh?!"
Without thinking, Sejun caught the falling creature with his hands. Thus, a small, dog-sized monster with red fur landed in Sejun's arms.
Plop!
The first thought that came to Sejun's mind when he caught the monster was how soft it was.
Creak?
The monster looked up at Sejun, who had caught it.
"Dog?"
No matter how he looked at it, it looked like a dog. But when he saw the name, it wasn't.
[Baby Crimson Giant Bear]
Sejun put the baby Crimson Giant Bear on the ground.
Creak.
The baby Crimson Giant Bear, still scared, stood on its hind legs, grabbed Sejun's leg with its front paws, and looked around.
"What should I do with this?"
Sejun was at a loss about what to do with this suddenly appearing baby Crimson Giant Bear. The presence of a baby meant there was a mother, and she might be looking for her baby somewhere.
While Sejun was thinking,
Step. Step.
The baby Crimson Giant Bear, thinking there was no threat, started exploring the cave.
The first place it went was the water bottle where the sweet-smelling honey was stored.
But
Buzz.
Plink!
When the venomous bees, who had been invaded, saw the intruder trying to get the honey, they prepared their stingers.
Creak! Creak!
The baby Crimson Giant Bear screamed and quickly hid behind Sejun's leg again.
Buzz.
The venomous bees circled around the baby Crimson Giant Bear, ready to attack.
Shiver.
Squish.
The scared baby Crimson Giant Bear trembled and even wet itself. This is too pitiful.
"It's okay."
Sejun calmed the venomous bees and sent them away.
Creak.
When the venomous bees disappeared, the baby Crimson Giant Bear clung to Sejun, asking to be held.
"What is this?"
Sejun picked up the baby Crimson Giant Bear.
Purr.
"What?"
As soon as he held it, the baby bear fell asleep instantly. Why? The black rabbit does the same thing. Why does it sleep so well in my arms?
Sejun, puzzled, gently placed the baby bear on his designated seat.
He then asked the black rabbit to guard the baby bear and started the afternoon farming.
Sejun checked on the baby bear from time to time, worried.
While checking on the baby bear,
Huh?!
The black rabbit and the baby bear, who should have been on the designated seat, were nowhere to be seen.
Could it be?!
He was worried that the baby bear might have eaten the black rabbit.
Sejun quickly looked around and heard the sounds of the black rabbit and the baby bear from the pond.
Squish!
Splash!
Creak!
The baby bear looked at the black rabbit with admiration as it hunted piranhas.
Squish?! Squish!
The black rabbit looked at the baby bear proudly. Did you see what I did, bro?!
Creak! Creak?
The baby bear nodded in response. Bro, you're amazing! Can I eat this?
Squish!
The black rabbit answered generously. Sure!
Creak!
The baby bear, with the black rabbit's permission, started eating the piranhas eagerly.
Sejun decided to entrust the care of the baby bear to the black rabbit as he watched the two.
On Day 165 of the stranding, the lost baby Crimson Giant Bear began to live and eat with them.