Chapter 66: Obtaining the Hand Axe

Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh.

After informing Sejun about the Orange Gang, Theo lay on Sejun's lap, happily eating the churu Sejun gave him, enjoying a blissful moment.

"Meow!"

Suddenly, Theo thought of another reason to be praised by Sejun.

And

Rustle, rustle.

"President Park, look at this, meow! I pulled it out, meow!"

Theo confidently shouted as he pulled a hand axe out of his bag.

"Hand axe?"

It was a hand axe with a short handle and a blade the size of a palm.

"That's because my front paws were very strongly drawn to it, meow!"

"Is that so?"

At Theo's words, Sejun quickly examined the hand axe.

[Hand Axe]

???

Usage Restriction: Level 20, Strength 15 or higher

Craftsman: Unknown

Grade: E

[Quest has been triggered.]

[Quest: Give the unidentified hand axe to the Great Black Dragon Eilin Fritani.]

Reward: None.

Refusal: Cannot appraise.

[Additional quest has been triggered.]

[Quest: Serve Sev's cherry tomatoes soup to the Great Black Dragon Eilin Fritani.]

Reward: Appraised hand axe

Refusal: Cannot receive the hand axe.

Eilin, who was watching, created the quest before Sejun could even request an appraisal.

"Here."

The hand axe disappeared from Sejun's hand.

[The Tower Manager uses the appraisal skill on the hand axe.]

[The Tower Manager says it's a fairly good item.]

A fairly good item? Sejun's expectations for the hand axe item grew, given Eilin's high standards for items.

The last time Theo brought a ring, Eilin harshly criticized it, saying that using an appraisal spell would be a waste.

'That was understandable.'

The appraised ring was a D-grade item with a curse option that had a certain probability of taking away vision.

Sejun wanted to give the ring to Eilin and have it destroyed, but Iona wanted it for research, as it was an item for studying curse magic. So, he sold it cheaply (10 Tower Coins).

[The Tower Manager licks his lips and asks for Sev's cherry tomatoes soup.]

"Sure, just a moment."

Sejun picked up Theo and went to the kitchen to check if the soup was ready, tasting a spoonful.

Slurp.

"Hmm."

The red locust meat, which had become tender from long cooking, and the cherry tomatoes blended well with the seasoning Sejun added, enhancing the flavor of the soup.

"Take this."

With Sejun's words, the soup that filled three large pots disappeared.

[Quest completed.]

[Quest completion reward: Appraised hand axe - Great Warrior Uka's Throwing Hand Axe obtained.]

"Great Warrior Uka?"

It was a named item. Sejun, filled with anticipation, checked the hand axe's options.

[Great Warrior Uka's Throwing Hand Axe]

This is a throwing hand axe personally crafted and used by the dwarf Great Warrior Uka.

The center of gravity of the hand axe is well balanced, increasing its destructive power and allowing it to fly farther when thrown.

The blade is finished with mithril powder, maintaining its sharpness for a long time.

Usage Restriction: Level 20 or higher, Strength 15 or higher, Magic Power 15 or higher

Craftsman: Blacksmith Uka (Red Rock Clan Dwarf)

Grade: A

Skills: [Split the Seam Lv. 1], [Recall Lv. 3]

[Split the Seam Lv. 1]

When striking a seam with the hand axe, it can be split with less force.

[Recall Lv. 3]

The thrown hand axe can be teleported back to your hand once every 10 seconds within a 300m range.

It was already inconvenient to fight the branch scouts with Cain's training daggers...

"With this, fighting the branch scouts will be easier."

Sejun firmly gripped the hand axe, which felt perfectly balanced in his hand, as described in the item description.

Theo had brought a truly excellent item this time.

"Good job, Theo."

Peck.

Sejun, feeling very happy, kissed Theo on the forehead.

"Meow?!"

[...!!!]

Two beings were shocked by Sejun's kiss.

"Meow! What are you doing, meow?!"

Theo quickly groomed his forehead, which Sejun had kissed, with his front paws.

[The Tower Manager is angry, saying your lips are now unclean.]

Eilin was also angry, saying Sejun's lips were unclean.

"What's wrong with my lips..."

Sejun was hurt by their attitudes.

At that moment,

[The cooldown for Growth Promotion Lv. 1 has ended.]

After 30 days of using Growth Promotion, the skill could be used again.

"Ah! I should use it on Fire!"

Sejun went to find Fire, who gave him endless love.

[Master! Welcome back!]

Fire greeted Sejun with a spirited voice.

"Sure. Growth Promotion."

Sejun immediately used the skill on Fire.

[Growth Promotion Lv. 1 used.]

[The apple tree has tremendous potential.]

[All 10 portions of the growth promotion effect are used on the apple tree.]

All 10 portions?!

Sejun was surprised as he watched Fire, now enveloped in a bright light.

[Oh! Master! I feel so strong! Yaaah!!!]

Fire shouted with determination.

And

Pop.

A new leaf sprouted on Fire's body after absorbing all 10 portions of the growth promotion effect.

***

67th Floor of the Tower.

"Attack!"

"Yaaah!"

At the Great Warrior Tamuro's command, the lizardmen and free mercenaries charged at the red locusts.

Every day, twice a day, they left the area protected by the blade leaves to kill the red locusts.

The reason was to collect the bodies of the red locusts that died on the blade leaves and replace the withered blade leaves.

Crunch, crunch.

The red locusts, who were eating the bodies of their fallen comrades, flapped their wings and charged at them.

Swoosh, swoosh.

"Quickly!"

Tamuro, using his massive greatsword, cut down five red locusts at once and shouted.

"Yes!"

The lizardmen transporters loaded the red locusts' bodies onto the carts and pulled out the withered blade leaves.

And

Thud!

The wolves planted new blade leaves in the ground.

Thanks to Tamuro, the lizardmen, who had eaten Sev's soup before departure, were able to finish the work quickly due to their increased strength.

"Great Warrior Tamuro! The work is done!"

"Good! Send the carts first, and we'll retreat slowly!"

Following Tamuro's instructions, the lizardmen created space for the carts to move and prepared to retreat slowly.

At that moment,

"Great Warrior Tamuro! Five units of red locusts are approaching from the front!"

A lizardman scout, who was patrolling the area, ran to report to Tamuro.

"What?! Quickly request support from the rear!"

The pattern of the red locusts, who always moved in a consistent number, had changed.

***

Sejun, who had made Fire sprout a new leaf, had lunch and then said,

"Tell Uma-oh to pass a message to the cats."

Moo!

Sejun went to find Uchensam and told him to warn the cats that he would soon visit but not to harm them.

Then, Sejun started his afternoon farming.

"Meow, meow."

"Move a bit."

Sejun, who was cutting the bean leaves, removed Theo, who was rubbing his face around Sejun's mouth and blocking his view.

But

"Meow, meow. Give me a kiss, meow."

Theo, who realized that Sejun's kiss was a sign of praise, was rubbing his forehead against Sejun's mouth, trying to get another kiss.

"Enough."

Sejun, whose heart was already hurt, placed Theo on his lap and continued cutting the bean leaves.

At that moment,

[1.1 mL of cherry tomatoes nectar obtained.]

[The proficiency of Beekeeping Lv. 3 has slightly increased.]

[The proficiency of Beekeeping Lv. 3 has filled, and the level has increased.]

The level of the beekeeping skill increased.

And

Buzz, buzz.

About 1,300 venomous bees, which had been collecting nectar, flew toward Sejun.

"President Park, I'm sorry, meow!"

Theo, thinking that Sejun had called the venomous bees to scold him, quickly hid inside Sejun's shirt.

"Hey! Come out!"

"Yeeek! No, meow!"

Sejun barely removed Theo, who was clinging to his back, and placed him back on his lap.

"What's going on?"

Sejun asked the venomous bees.

Buzz.

One of the venomous bees landed on the back of Sejun's hand.

And

Buzz.

[Please instruct which flowers to collect for the honey jelly.]

"Honey jelly?"

Surprised by the sudden request from the venomous bees, Sejun checked the beekeeping skill, which had just leveled up.

[Special Job Skill - Beekeeping Lv. 4]

- You can keep bees if you own a beehive.

- The activity range of the bees in the owned beehive slightly increases.

- The queen bee's egg-laying speed slightly increases.

- The bees' nectar collection speed slightly increases.

- The bees' nectar collection amount slightly increases.

- The probability of pollination slightly increases.

- You can produce honey jelly with special effects. (Currently, honey jelly can only be made from nectar and pollen collected from one type of flower.)

- Current owned beehives (3/4): 3 venomous bee beehives

Can I make honey jelly with special effects?! Sejun thought about the new description of the beekeeping skill.

"First, have beehives 1 and 2 make honey jelly from cherry tomatoes."

Since there were many cherry tomatoes, he assigned the task to beehives 1 and 2, which had a large number of bees.

And

"Have beehive 3 collect nectar from peanuts and other flowers."

He assigned the task of collecting nectar from the peanut field and other plants to beehive 3, which had fewer bees.

Buzz, buzz.

The venomous bees, having received their tasks, flew to their respective locations.

"What kind of honey jelly will come out?"

Swoosh, swoosh.

Sejun thought about the honey jelly while cutting the bean leaves, and it was time for dinner.

"Let's eat."

For dinner, it was Sev's carrot soup.

Squeak!

Squish!

Squish!

The rabbits were excited by the carrot soup.

After finishing the soup,

[Combat Ration - Sev's Carrot Soup consumed.]

[Agility increases by 7.1 for 30 minutes.]

[Feeling of fullness lasts for 3 hours.]

Agility increased.

"Let's work quickly and rest."

The effect of increased agility was perfect for Sejun and the rabbits, who were expanding the fields by 1,000 square meters before bed to grow their landlord talent.

[1,000 square meters of cherry tomatoes field created.]

[2,000 experience points obtained.]

With the increased agility, Sejun and the rabbits finished creating 1,000 square meters of cherry tomatoes field in an hour, completed their work, and went to rest, eventually falling asleep.

***

Roar!

On the 240th day of the disaster, at dawn.

Sejun was awakened by the roar of his mother, the Crimson Giant Bear. The branch scouts had invaded.

"Ugh!"

Thinking about using the newly obtained Great Warrior Uka's Throwing Hand Axe, Sejun energetically got up, holding Theo and the black rabbit in his hands, and ran to where the battle was taking place.

Roar!

Thud! Thud!

When Sejun arrived, Gweung, who was cutting the limbs of a large branch scout, greeted him.

"Did you sleep well, Gweung? Let's go, everyone!"

Sejun greeted Gweung and shouted.

"President Park, trust me, meow!"

Plink!

Swish, swish, swish.

Theo, using the sharp claws he had hidden in his front paws, climbed on the large branch scout's body and killed it.

Squish!

Thud! Thud! Thud!

The black rabbit, swinging his hammer widely, swept away the small branch scouts on the ground.

And while Theo and the black rabbit were active,

Thud!

[Large branch scout of the Fallen Ent killed.]

[500 experience points obtained.]

...

..

.

Sejun, who had finished killing the large branch scouts that Gweung had prepared.

'Should I throw it once?'

With no more enemies to kill, Sejun strongly threw the hand axe at a large branch scout approaching from about 50 meters away.

Whoosh!

The hand axe powerfully cut through the air and embedded itself in the center of the large branch scout's body.

Thud!

Crack.

[Seam attacked.]

[Split the Seam Lv. 1 activated, successfully splitting.]

[Large branch scout of the Fallen Ent killed.]

[500 experience points obtained.]

"Wow!"

On the first attack, the hand axe hit the seam, and the large branch scout was split in half and fell.

"Recall."

Using the recall skill, the hand axe returned to Sejun's hand.

Whoosh.

Sejun, gaining confidence, attacked another large branch scout. Gweung, watching Sejun fight, nodded.

Dad could now do about one-hundredth of what Gweung could do. In other words, by Gweung's standards, Sejun now had 0.01 units of combat power.

Roar!

Pleased with Sejun's growth, Gweung swung his front paws at the branch scouts without worrying about his dad.

Boom!

With a punch filled with Gweung's determination, the enemies within 10 meters in front of him were completely annihilated.