Chapter 12: Accidents in the Chili Field

Here is the full text with a one-line gap following every closing quotation mark, question mark, and full stop.

Feeling energized, Ko Nam-tae immediately began his morning work.

He finished drying the remaining rice from the previous day, then moved on to threshing and milling.

Even with the help of machines, the work that would normally take several hours was finished in a few minutes.

Because the germination rate had been low, he set aside the seeds separately, but it was still a significant amount.

“It looks to be over 200 kilos, right?”

[It is 217.6 kilograms.]

Toto was even functioning as an electronic scale.

Although the quantity was small for now, he would produce more and more in the future.

No matter how well he and his kins ate, there would be a surplus.

“It would be best to sell what’s left over from now on, right?”

[Since Mr. Kim Gu-bok has a store, a sales route has been secured. I will now draw up a strategic production and sales plan.]

“……?”

He wondered what meaning Earth’s money had for him now… but considering his eventual triumphant return, it was a necessary task.

Of course, Toto had another reason for being so proactive.

[The more the Boss’s crops spread, the stronger your interference power becomes. As interference power increases, your authority will also grow.]

“You said authority growing also increases interference power, right?”

[That is correct.]

It was a classic "chicken or egg" situation.

If authority grew, interference power grew; if interference power grew, authority grew.

It was impossible to say which came first.

The conclusion was that he needed to spread the crops he produced as widely as possible.

To do that, the farmland needed to be larger.

It always came back to the same point: he had to do a lot of farming.

‘Right, let’s just get to work….’

[Why don’t you send a list of orders to Mr. Kim Gu-bok first? Even if seeds from Earth arrive, it will take time before they are in a state where they can be planted.]

“But I planted the ones from the warehouse immediately.”

[That is because they were originally inside the warehouse. Other items from Earth require a bit of time to adapt to the labyrinth.]

In other words, when things from Earth arrived, they needed a ‘maturing’ stage while staying in the warehouse.

Ko Nam-tae headed to the storage room carrying a basket.

He had been taught that even when asking a favor of a close acquaintance, one shouldn’t go empty-handed.

Since he had set a fixed coordinate when connecting with Kim Gu-bok the day before, he could open it immediately without wandering.

Upon entering the storage room, the information was updated.

[Current storage synchronization is 27.1%.]

The synchronization speed was quite fast.

The status preservation and storage space efficiency were also both nearing 60%.

At this rate, it wouldn't take long to reach 100%.

“He must have tried the corn already, right? To sell it, the quantity needs to be somewhat large.”

He leisurely packed more than three bundles of corn.

On his way straight to the bathroom, Ko Nam-tae stopped in his tracks when he saw the rice in the basket.

……He also packed some rice tightly into a small pouch.

“I should write a note first, right?”

Because the time the mirror stayed open was short, the note had to be prepared in advance.

He started by writing the list of what he needed.

[Salted shrimp, garlic, garlic for seed… green onions!]

“What else do I need? ……Ginger too!”

As he thought about it, the list kept growing.

He carefully wrote out the list, feeling regretful about items he couldn't order due to the season.

However, just before opening the mirror, he hesitated.

“Ah, I should have checked if these would even sell first. If I just send them blindly, it might be a burden for him to deal with, right?”

Adding a line to the note, Ko Nam-tae included his needless worry.

[If they don’t sell, please share them or dispose of them as you see fit. I’ll compensate you for the disposal costs with something else.]

In that case, he could probably just mine some stones and send them.

Energy sources would always sell, after all.

However, the reason he hadn't considered stones as a trade item in the first place was because of tracking.

Energy sources were items directly managed by the state.

Even if they traded them, Kim Gu-bok would be the one getting caught, and if they couldn't be accounted for, they would be confiscated.

Besides….

[Items that the Boss does not produce personally have a negligible effect on interference power.]

Because of this, trading crops was essential.

“Open Sesame!”

The mirror opened with a playful command.

Since it was quite early, he had only intended to send the items.

He had intentionally chosen this time out of consideration for the couple who had been startled by the rift the previous day.

However, as soon as the door opened, the two were already waiting and waving their hands happily.

“Nam-tae!”

“Nephew Nam-tae!”

Fortunately, they weren't as anxious as they had been the day before.

Ko Nam-tae also waved his hands vigorously in return.

“Uncle, Aunt!”

However, his voice still wouldn't reach the other side.

Ko Nam-tae hurried to send the note first.

Flutter, flutter.

As if he had been standing by, Kim Gu-bok jumped up and caught the note.

Though Kim Gu-bok was nearing sixty, he was as nimble as a young man.

After reading the note, Kim Gu-bok shouted while drawing a large circle with his arms.

“I’ll prepare everything! It can be done by today!”

“By tomorrow is fine!”

After shouting, he was about to send a note when an answer to the last line came back.

“But Nam-tae, that corn you sent is truly precious. The magic level is beyond orange! Is it really okay for me to sell all of this?”

Then he really should leave it to him.

“Yes, please, Uncle! Whether you sell it cheap or expensive, do as you please! Oh, wait, no. Uncle and Aunt, make sure to sell it for a big profit!”

“I’ll save it all up and put it into your account. You know a contract is mandatory, right!”

They were on the same page.

Though Ko Nam-tae was the only one who could hear voices in both directions, the conversation flowed well.

Since Kim Gu-bok was already preparing with the same thoughts, things were proceeding smoothly.

“Then you must take a sufficient commission!”

“Okay!”

Kim Gu-bok waved his hand, making a circle with his thumb and index finger.

Whether he would actually take a ‘sufficient’ amount remained to be seen, but his answer was refreshing.

‘I don’t really need money right now, though.’

But he soon changed his mind.

From buying seeds immediately to anything else he might need to buy from Earth, that account might become necessary.

If they traded like this, it would be easier to ask favors of Kim Gu-bok in the future.

In many ways, connecting with Kim Gu-bok was a stroke of luck.

‘Oops!’

As the mirror showed signs of closing, Ko Nam-tae hurried to pour the baskets into the mirror.

Once the mirror closed, a chuckle escaped him.

“Can things really go this well?”

It felt like everything was falling into place.

“Now, everyone, let’s head out!”

Peep peep peep peep peep!

Hop hop hop hop!

A farmer had much to do.

The couple’s eyes turned serious as they examined Ko Nam-tae’s note.

“Honey, it looks like Nephew Nam-tae is planning to make kimchi.”

“Kimchi? Ah, you’re right! Most of these are secondary ingredients for kimchi.”

“But there are a lot of seeds too. He must be planning to plant something.”

“It seems Nam-tae has started farming in earnest. Don’t worry, I’ll go get everything today!”

“Then I should quickly salt those and send them along when we send his things.”

In a corner of the store, the cabbage and radishes received from Ko Nam-tae yesterday were being salted.

“Oh, then what should I do?”

“No, you go ahead and bring back the things Nephew Nam-tae asked for first.”

“Hey. No stores are open this early in the morning. It’s better if I help you organize the corn and such.”

“Then do it quickly and get going.”

“Right, should we boil some corn first?”

“I’d love to!”

Even though they had only managed a quick nap in the store before waking up, the couple was full of energy.

It was as if they had reclaimed their younger bodies; they were so full of vigor that working wasn't tiring at all.

Discovering a small pouch of rice among the corn, Kim Gu-bok let out an exclamation of admiration.

“My goodness, it looks like Nam-tae is even growing rice!”

It looked different from regular rice to begin with.

The pearly white grains, flowing with luster, shone as if they were self-luminescent.

“Really? No, how can things grow this fast when it hasn't been that long since he quit his job?”

“He’s an Awakened. There must be something we don’t know about.”

“I suppose?”

No.

Even for an Awakened, no one could cause such an anomaly.

Because they were ignorant of that world, the couple actually felt less shock.

Thanks to that, they accepted the rift easily.

After quickly putting the mixed kimchi into containers, the smell of boiling corn began to sting their noses.

The couple took out one corn to take a bite for breakfast….

It was then.

“Excuse me, is this the place that sells the super-ultra-nuclear-delicious drug-grade corn?”

A hunter, draped in cumbersome equipment, was gulping back saliva in front of the steamer.

Ko Nam-tae gave a demonstration in front of the chili pepper field.

“We’re only going to pick the red ones.”

Peep peep peep peep peep!

Hop hop hop hop!

‘I’m going to pick the most!’

‘I’ll pick even more!’

The workers immediately charged into the chili field.

Perhaps because of the color distinction, mistakes occurred frequently at first.

Ko Nam-tae couldn't participate in the harvest because he was busy sorting the peppers.

But a moment later.

[Skill has been activated.]

[Chili Harvesting]

“How did this happen? I barely picked any peppers.”

[The kins' activities have been recognized as the Boss’s own.]

“Wow……!”

The chili picking was finished in an instant.

Next, he didn't even have a chance to touch the cleaning process.

The Sashinsu moved back and forth through the pile of peppers a few times, and once the washing was done, they spread them out widely in the yard.

Leaving the peppers to dry in the sun was more than enough.

“Let’s eat and get some rest.”

Hop hop hop hop!

Peep peep peep peep peep!

At the mention of eating, everyone’s eyes sparkled as if they were about to fire laser beams.

To respond to the appetites of the family members eating with him, Ko Nam-tae moved busily.

Because he still lacked so many ingredients, the menu was limited.

Seeing a bag of flour in a corner of the sink, which he couldn't remember when he’d bought, made him feel even more regretful.

‘I should ask the Uncle for flour next time…. No, wait, should I try planting wheat?’

If there was wheat, the food would become much richer.

Hand-torn noodle soup, noodles, steamed bread, various pancakes, and so on….

As he grew hungry, the things he wanted to eat increased as well.

But today's menu was once again white rice and earthworm meat.

Seeing how they complained even with such a menu, human taste was truly fickle.

“Everyone, watch the rice for me!”

After entrusting the rice cooker to the Sashinsu, Ko Nam-tae headed majestically toward the stream.

All he had to do was throw in a few balls of bait mixed with crayfish shells and earthworm scraps.

Plop, plop!

Catching these crayfish was easier than scooping carp out of a pond.

After placing the crayfish on the hearth and taking a seat, Ko Nam-tae momentarily felt a strange sensation.

Sitting around on the ground looked rather pitiful.

……They weren't a band of beggars.

‘There was a wooden platform my father made….’

But he soon remembered that it, too, had disappeared long ago.

“Toto, let’s make a wooden platform later.”

[Yes, I will create a blueprint.]

Entrusting the afternoon plans to Toto, who understood him perfectly, Ko Nam-tae began his meal.

Freshly cooked rice with well-grilled earthworm meat and crayfish.

Instead of kimchi, which he had run out of, he also put a plate of fresh chili peppers on the table.

He dipped a pepper into the small amount of remaining red pepper paste and took a bite.

‘……!’

Another heaven opened up.

For some reason, it was a heaven similar to a fiery hell.

It was spicy, but it was sweet.

His tongue felt like it was on fire and paralyzed.

Yet, he couldn't stop reaching for more.

As he kept huffing and blowing on his mouth, Haeul’s brood stared at him with wide eyes.

Ko Nam-tae waved them off.

“Chili peppers are really spicy, so don’t eat them. If you really want to try, just take a tiny bite of the tip.”

But would the little ones listen?

Accidents always happened in the blink of an eye.

One of them, having escaped everyone’s notice, took a huge bite of a chili pepper!