Chapter 45 of 100

Chapter 45: Revealing the Grandeur of the Great Black Dragon

8 min read2,034 words

Due to Theo's arrival, Sejun's dinner was delayed. It was because of the wolves Theo had brought.

"Theo, why did you bring these wolves?"

"I'm going to make them pay for trying to take my life! But I'm not sure how much I should charge! Let Mr. Park decide!"

Theo took out a contract with the wolves' paw prints and handed it to Sejun.

"Oh, that's not difficult."

Sejun easily wrote down the compensation Theo would receive on the contract.

"10,000 Tapcoins."

"Wow! My life is worth that much?!"

Sejun's words moved Theo. He was touched that Sejun valued his life so highly.

"Of course. You're the CEO responsible for our farm's distribution."

'Hehehe. As expected, Park Sejun can't do without me!'

Theo quickly turned his backpack upside down at Sejun's words. There was only about a month left in his term as CEO.

Thud.

Money from transactions, seasonings, and coffee mixes he received for taking photos of the glass bottles Sejun had asked him to buy, spilled out of the backpack. This time, he had taken many photos, so it would be about 30 hours' worth.

"2,870 Tapcoins?"

"How many more hours as CEO, Theo?"

Theo asked Sejun, who was counting the Tapcoins, with a hopeful voice. It was a record-breaking sales figure, so he was very hopeful.

"There will be no more CEO hours from now on."

"What?!"

Theo was shocked by Sejun's words. Not giving him more CEO hours?!

"Are you trying to kick me out?! Mr. Park, that's not nice! I work hard!"

Thump.

Theo clung to Sejun's legs, crying out in sorrow. Kick me out?! My knees?! He needed to be with Park Sejun's knees.

Without Park Sejun's knees, he was just a lowly wandering merchant cat. The thought of going back to being a lone wandering merchant made him feel dizzy.

Meow.

Theo's ears drooped in disappointment.

However, ... it was a misunderstanding.

"What are you talking about? Why would I kick out a capable wandering merchant like you? I meant that you'll be a permanent CEO, so there's no need for more CEO hours."

"..."

"I'm going to officially appoint you as the CEO in charge of our farm's distribution. Here's a bonus."

Sejun handed Theo 145 Tapcoins.

"Thank you! I'll work even harder!"

Theo wiped away the tears that had started to form in his eyes and shouted.

"And as a promotion to CEO, I'll let you be the manager for a day today."

"Manager?! That sounds appealing!!!"

Although he had just become a CEO, Theo found himself more drawn to the title of manager.

'I'm going to be a manager!'

Theo, who had just been promoted to CEO, was already looking to climb higher.

"But what's that smell? It smells delicious!"

The ambitious Theo, dreaming of greater power, sniffed the air. As a fish lover, there was no way he would miss the smell of grilled eel.

"Let's finish the rest tomorrow and start eating from now."

Sejun, who hadn't eaten dinner, was also hungry. He tightly tied the front and back legs of the unconscious wolves with leek leaves.

"And tell Ucheon Sam and Ucheon Sa to stay and guard the wolves tonight. In return, I'll give them snacks and breakfast tomorrow."

He also wanted them to come along when he went to collect the reward from Umarwang tomorrow.

"Got it! I'll leave it to the manager!"

Theo loudly relayed Sejun's message to the Black Minotaurs.

Moo!

Ucheon Sam and Ucheon Sa accepted Sejun's offer with joyful moos. There was no reason to refuse when they would be fed.

"Great. Let's eat now. You guys can eat the leek leaves in the leek field."

Moo.

Ucheon Sam and Ucheon Sa carried the wolves on their shoulders and moved to the leek field, while Sejun and Theo went down to the cave to eat dinner.

Squeak!

The rabbits, who had been waiting for Sejun and holding their hunger, urged him to hurry.

"Sorry. You've been waiting, haven't you? Let's start with the detoxifying leeks."

Crunch.

Sejun, Theo, and the rabbits each ate a detoxifying leek that had been grilled. They weren't sure if there was still any poison left in the eel.

"Did you all eat? Then enjoy your meal."

As soon as Sejun said "enjoy your meal," the rabbits started eating the eel eagerly.

"Theo, wait a moment."

Sejun put the grilled eel that hadn't been seasoned on the fire for Theo.

"Got it. I can wait!"

Theo, mesmerized by the delicious smell of the cooking eel, wiped away his drool and replied.

Sejun ate a piece of seasoned eel after eating a detoxifying leek. The skin was crispy, and the flesh was juicy and glossy.

"It's perfectly cooked."

Sejun put the well-cooked eel in his mouth.

[You have consumed the flesh of a giant electric eel.]

[There is a trace amount of poison left in the giant electric eel's flesh.]

[You are poisoned by E-grade paralyzing toxin.]

[Detoxified.]

[You are poisoned by E-grade acidic toxin.]

[Detoxified.]

E-grade?

Sejun, who had eaten a D+ grade detoxifying leek, felt relieved after reading the message. He closed his eyes and savored the taste of the eel.

Crunch.

The crispy skin of the eel broke first, awakening his taste buds with the salty flavor of the salt sprinkled on it. Then, the eel's flesh swam powerfully between Sejun's teeth, giving a chewy texture.

And

Munch.

The more he chewed, the more the rich and savory flavor of the eel took over his mouth.

Slurp.

Sejun quickly picked up another piece of eel and put it in his mouth. He didn't want to break the flow of this rich and savory taste.

While flipping Theo's eel to prevent it from burning, Sejun occasionally ate seasoned eel. By the time Theo's eel was fully cooked, Sejun had eaten his fill.

"Here, enjoy your meal."

"I will! Hoo! Hoo!"

Theo blew on the eel to cool it down. It would take a while for the eel to cool enough for his cat tongue to eat.

Meanwhile,

Puff.

Sejun sprinkled a pinch of pepper on his eel. Although the salted eel was delicious, Sejun needed the pepper to cut through the richness.

After eating their fill of grilled eel, Sejun and the animals.

"I can't eat anymore..."

"Full... Meow..."

Squeak...

Everyone's lips were shiny with oil from the eel.

"Let's have dessert."

To soothe their greasy stomachs, they ate sweet and sour cherry tomatoes and quickly went to bed, feeling drowsy.

And

Lick. Lick.

The sound of the rabbits and Theo licking the oil from their fur while sleeping could be heard throughout the night.

***

Elka, who had been knocked out several times, quietly opened her eyes.

"......"

Snore.

She saw two Black Minotaurs dozing off in front of her.

'I need to escape now!'

Chew. Chew.

Elka carefully chewed through the ropes binding her feet.

Just as she was about to wake her companions and escape,

Roar!

A massive shadow loomed over them.

***

The next morning.

Roar!

The roar of the mother Crimson Giant Bear and the howls of the wolves woke Sejun up.

"What's going on?"

Rushing to the surface, Sejun saw

Roar.

The mother Crimson Giant Bear was pinning down two wolves with her front paws,

Roar!

While Gweengi was sitting on a wolf's back, choking it. It was a mother and daughter with overwhelming physical strength.

"What's happening here?"

Moo...

Ucheon Sam and Ucheon Sa, who had let the wolves escape, scratched their heads and approached.

"They were napping for a moment, they say."

Theo, hanging from Sejun's knee, answered. It seemed the mother and daughter had caught the wolves while the two were asleep.

Gweengi?!

Gweengi looked at the wolf, drooling. Can I eat it?!

"No."

He needed to collect the reward for Theo's life from the wolves.

Gweengi...

Gweengi was greatly disappointed when Sejun told her not to eat the prey she had caught. I caught it...

"Instead, Gweengi, let's eat the grilled eel."

Gweengi!

At the sound of "let's eat," Gweengi's head turned quickly. Food!

Sejun had the rabbits bring the leftover grilled eel from yesterday, and Gweengi started eating it happily.

And

Squish.

Sejun's back of the head felt hot. He would need to prepare eel for the mother Crimson Giant Bear for lunch.

Sniff. Thud.

The mother Crimson Giant Bear hurriedly went on patrol to return for lunch, while the rabbits, Theo, Gweengi, and the Black Minotaurs surrounded the wolves.

"You attacked our CEO?"

"I'm sorry! Great Black Dragon! We didn't know this wandering merchant cat was one of the Great Black Dragon's subordinates! Please forgive us, the life of the Silver Wolf tribe's chief!"

In response to Sejun's question, Elka, who had misunderstood Sejun's identity, prostrated herself and shouted.

The reason the monsters on the 99th floor of the tower followed Sejun's orders without hesitation and the monsters who should be fighting each other got along well was because the existence in front of them was the Great Black Dragon, Elka thought.

'Great Black Dragon?'

Just as Sejun was about to refute, a message appeared.

[The tower's manager has specially forgiven you for impersonating the Great Black Dragon.]

[A quest has been issued.]

[Quest: Show the grandeur of the Great Black Dragon to the Silver Wolf tribe's wolves.]

Reward: Eileen is pleased.

Refusal: Eileen is disappointed!

[The tower's manager is cheering you on to show the grandeur of the Great Black Dragon.]

Eileen, who had never appeared as the Great Black Dragon, wanted to feel vicarious satisfaction through Sejun.

"What are you talking about? Our Mr. Park is... Uh!"

Sejun quickly covered Theo's mouth.

He would need Eileen's help soon, so he couldn't disappoint her. Although he had become friends with Eileen, a small disappointment could lead to a strained relationship.

Sejun decided to take the quest. He wasn't foolish enough to turn down an opportunity given by the tower's manager to impersonate the Great Black Dragon.

"Indeed. Now that you know, you should understand the gravity of your offense against the Great Black Dragon."

"Great Black Dragon! We are truly sorry. We really didn't know."

"Intent is not the only factor in sin. Ignorance is no excuse. However, I will give you a chance to atone for your sins."

Sejun said, extending a contract.

"The price for attempting to take the life of our CEO is 10,000 Tapcoins. If you pay this, I will forgive you."

"10,000 Tapcoins?! T...That much money..."

"Pay with your body if you can't afford it, they say!"

Theo, who had been trying to understand the situation, quickly shouted. He had always wanted to say this! When Sejun said it to Ucheon Sam, it sounded so cool.

"Pay with my body?!"

Elka's mind was in turmoil at Theo's suggestion to pay with her body. The Grid's commission was on credit, and there were no significant penalties for breaking the contract.

But while she was paying with her body, the young wolves in the village...

"Great Black Dragon, please. I humbly request that all of our tribe members pay the debt. In return, please ensure we don't starve to death!"

Elka thought that if they worked under Sejun, they wouldn't starve, looking at the crops growing in the fields.

"Agreed. From now on, the manager will oversee you."

"You must follow my orders, they say!"

Sejun's words prompted Theo to shout at the wolves. Theo, who had been wondering what was good about being a manager, was now excited.

What can I do as a manager? I've already conquered Park Sejun's knees. I don't need anything else.

But

'Hehehe. Being a manager means having subordinates!'

Theo was delighted to have subordinates.

"Understood. I will follow the Great Black Dragon's orders and serve Manager Theo. Thank you, Great Black Dragon!"

[Quest completed.]

[The tower's manager is greatly pleased that the Great Black Dragon has been praised.]

Sejun established the status of the Great Black Dragon and took in the entire Silver Wolf tribe, expanding his influence.