Chapter 24: I Wonder If They’ll Be Able to Handle All This

An egg roll feast was held starting from early morning.

The standard for a rolled omelet is to well-beat the eggs, add just a pinch of salt, and roll them up nicely.

Inside, you can add green onions, chili peppers, onions, kimchi, cheese, tuna, and so on...

By mixing in various ingredients, the variations become endless.

Of course, there was no cheese or tuna, so those were skipped.

He decided to keep it simple and only add green onions and chili peppers.

The green onions he had planted the day before yesterday had already grown enough to be used in the egg rolls.

Go Nam-tae divided the batter into two types.

One with chili peppers and one without.

After that... he grilled, grilled, and grilled again.

Even after mobilizing all the frying pans in the house, he became so busy that he added one more item to his order list.

- Large frying pan.

The Boss’s rolled omelets—the Gyarok egg rolls—had different effects compared to when the eggs were eaten raw.

The grade of the eggs in their raw state was Green.

The egg rolls that passed through the Boss’s hands were still Green grade, but they had improved to the point of being close to Blue.

Naturally, the effects were strengthened as well.

Not only did Vitality increase by +50%, the internal defense shield doubled, and bone strengthening and regeneration speed rose, but a mental resistance buff was also added as an extra.

Of course, Go Nam-tae and his kin didn’t care one bit about the effects.

‘It’s delicious!’

‘It’s delicious, it’s delicious!’

They were so popular that everyone ate enthusiastically, and although the quantity was ample, he couldn't share any with Kim Gu-bok.

Toto gave a warning.

[I recommend withholding food resources of Green grade or higher, other than those the Boss cultivated personally.]

[Resources of Green grade or higher act as poison to ordinary people.]

Since the tofu was something he made himself, it was harmless, but the Gyarok eggs were considered hunted spoils.

For a Hunter, they would serve as items to obtain mana, but even they could only eat them after they had undergone purification.

However, it didn't mean it was impossible forever.

“...Withhold?”

[It will become possible once the Boss's Authority grows stronger.]

“....”

It meant he had to become stronger for the Boss’s Authority to affect hunted spoils as well.

‘They’re really tasty, though...’

Still, it wasn't enough to be truly disappointing.

There were many more things to send in the future.

Instead of sending them to Kim Gu-bok, there was one more entity to share with.

“Heungbok, you eat some too!”

Sway, sway.

Hae-ul translated for him.

‘Heungbok says he likes the shells more.’

“The shells are enough?”

‘He says they’ll make his stems sturdy. He says he’ll be able to bear delicious fruit.’

“Oh, then I should definitely give them to you. Heungbok, you take all the shells.”

Sway, sway.

Heungbok carefully extended a leaf, wrapped it around the eggshells, and closed it tightly.

Nod, nod.

The fellow shook his leaves carefully as if saying goodbye and carried them outside.

Looking at how he unfolded his leaves near his roots, the shells were already half-crushed.

Just like actual eggshells.

It was a scene that would have made the American team—who still couldn't even handle the fragments properly—flip out.

Heungbok dug into the ground with a stem and buried the shells.

Deep in the invisible earth.

The shells wrapped around the roots crunched and shattered...

Ssshh.

They decomposed like powder and were absorbed into the roots.

***

Thump, thump-thump-thump!

As soon as breakfast was over, the spirits of Hyeonmu and Jujak revived.

The time during which Go Nam-tae had banned them from helping as punishment had ended.

The two fellows finished the dishes first.

He watched blankly as the dishes became squeaky clean and almost opened the door late again.

When he quickly gathered the items and opened the door, thankfully, Kim Gu-bok and Go Mi-young were waiting.

As soon as the door opened, Kim Gu-bok carefully pushed something in first.

“Oh, it’s a mirror!”

A mirror even larger than he had hoped for was passed through, meticulously packaged.

Even after sending such a large item, Kim Gu-bok spoke worriedly.

“They say there are even larger mirrors than this. If you want, I’ll send another one. I’ve even looked into the ones used in idol practice rooms.”

“No, this is enough!”

While Go Nam-tae waved his hand in refusal, the Sasin-su carefully moved the mirror.

Following that, the requested items came in one after another.

New packaging containers and various sacks and bags for packing.

There was also a case containing a thick document envelope.

It was likely the contract-related documents.

Finally, two more heavy boxes came in.

“Nam-tae, the potatoes and sweet potatoes are a bit late, right? I heard there were good seeds, so I got delayed while trying to get them. But I haven't been able to get the coffee beans yet. Still, a dealer I know says he can get them, so please wait a little longer. I’m trying to get as many varieties as possible. Sugarcane will be coming in soon too.”

“Wow, coffee as well?”

Kim Gu-bok was much more capable than expected.

Coffee was something he had only half-hoped for when he ordered it.

In the meantime, the Sasin-su and Hae-ul’s family were busy carrying the incoming items.

This hectic trade was the last of its kind for today.

Now that the large mirror had arrived, future trades would take place in the storage room rather than this cramped bathroom.

Since the items had come in, it was now time for things to go out.

Go Nam-tae immediately emptied his baskets.

Once all the items he sent were through, Kim Gu-bok and Go Mi-young spoke hurriedly.

“Nam-tae, we really enjoyed the tofu you sent.”

“It was really... really good. Thank you!”

Strangely, both of their eyes looked a bit red.

Just in case, he checked, but the anxiety he always saw seemed to have vanished, and their expressions looked brighter.

“I’ll send more!”

Today, there was a bit of time left before the door closed even after sending the items.

Kim Gu-bok tilted his head while checking the list.

“Oh, right, it would be good to set a scheduled time. ...Yes, this time works for us too! ...But Nam-tae, including the commercial-grade pots, a high-capacity frying pan? It seems like you have a lot of people working with you... You’re getting along well with those people, right?”

Go Nam-tae shouted to the worrying Kim Gu-bok.

“Don't worry, I have family members I live with!”

He smiled brightly, stroking the fellows who were stuck to his sides and shoulders.

‘How should I explain these guys to them...’

His kin liked the Kim Gu-bok couple as well.

The Kim Gu-bok couple would probably like hearing about these fellows too.

However, the words spoken on this side did not reach the other side.

The couple spoke with slightly excited expressions.

“Nam-tae, starting today, our kids decided to stay with us too.”

“Next time, the kids will say hello like this together...”

But the time was already up.

The cold-hearted mirror closed before Kim Gu-bok could even finish his sentence.

“Wow! That’s great news.”

After the siblings left because of their debts, Go Nam-tae had seen firsthand how much Kim Gu-bok and Go Mi-young had suffered in anxiety.

Now that the family was reunited, how wonderful was that?

Thanks to that, he felt relieved.

If one lacked power when items were selling like hotcakes, pests were bound to swarm.

If the Saeron Guild was the backing, who would dare to mess with them?

He first looked over the proposal from the Saeron Guild.

As expected, it was a proposal asking him to supply them with a certain amount first.

While suggesting they gradually increase the supply volume, they wanted a guarantee for an initial 20%.

The main point was that in exchange for the priority supply, they would send Kim Seong-hye and Kim Jae-won as bodyguards.

And if his production volume increased in the future, they would adjust the amount quarterly.

“Toto, what do you think?”

[They weren't greedy with the supply volume, and more than anything, the fact that they are dispatching those two Hunters as the price seems to have merit.]

“You think so too, right?”

[However, it might be good to keep contracts with other guilds in mind as well.]

[Because they might offer even better terms.]

“That’s true... but I think we can go ahead with this for now. It’s not an exclusive deal, after all.”

Most of all, he liked the Hunter dispatch the most.

The fact that those Hunters were Kim Seong-hye and Kim Jae-won was the greatest merit.

Since Kim Seong-hye and Kim Jae-won’s affiliation was still with Saeron, they could firmly secure their backing as well.

It could truly be called a win-win.

Even without this, he was in a position where he had to find guard Hunters anyway, so there was no reason to refuse if the other side was providing everything.

Even at 20%, since the absolute numbers were still low, the quantity wouldn't be much.

Park Ki-bum must have estimated the potential of his crops very highly.

[Do you particularly like the Saeron Guild?]

“Yeah, I like that fellow Park Ki-bum.”

It was because of Go Nam-tae’s one-sided connection.

“Let’s proceed with this.”

He signed the contract and opened the remaining bundles.

Inside were plenty of things Go Nam-tae hadn’t even thought of yet.

“Wow, this is... fruit!”

Seeds for fruit trees like apples, peaches, pears, persimmons, plums, and greengages were packed inside.

Just seeing the word 'Apple' written there made his mouth water.

Apples were Go Nam-tae's favorite fruit.

However, for these to be used as seeds, they had to sit in the storage or warehouse for a little while.

“Then should I try planting tomatoes, which look like apples?”

He didn't know if apples and tomatoes really looked alike, but a fairly positive answer came back.

[You can plant tomatoes, lettuce, and onions.]

[You may plant pumpkins, watermelons, and melons starting tomorrow.]

Mentioning pumpkins reminded him of a dream.

Heungbok, who had been glaring at the pumpkin he was holding.

‘...Eh, it was just a dream.’

Still, for some reason, he had a hunch that he should ask Heungbok.

The ‘egg’ he saw in his dream existed in reality, didn't it?

“Then can I move the items that were in the storage to the warehouse?”

[Since barley and wheat will take some time, I recommend moving only the rest first.]

“Okay!”

All the seeds he received today went into the storage.

Instead, the carrots, eggplants, chives, water parsley, and so on that were waiting their turn in the storage went into the warehouse.

Potatoes and sweet potatoes also went into storage.

Though Nam-tae liked sweet potatoes quite a bit, the fact that he wasn't particularly anxious for them was probably because food was so plentiful.

[Storage synchronization is at 38.8%.]

“I feel like the synchronization speed has slowed down a bit compared to the beginning, is that right?”

[It has indeed slowed down.]

[Energy has been somewhat dispersed due to putting effort into Earth’s crops.]

“How long do you think it’ll take to reach 100%?”

[At the current speed, it will likely take about fifteen days to a month.]

[It may vary depending on the extent to which seeds are brought in.]

‘Should I try asking them to give them to me a bit more slowly?’

After pondering for a moment, Go Nam-tae shook his head.

They were all things he would eventually bring in anyway.

The more important thing wasn't the number of seeds, but the farmland.

This would also become faster the more he farmed.

“Let's fill up the vegetable garden first.”

The garden inside his absolute territory—the circular area inside the stream—was called the vegetable garden.

Things grown in the vegetable garden were a bit more special.

They grew faster and had better effects.

He intended to source everything he and his family would eat from the vegetable garden.

So, he decided to plant as many varieties as possible.

He took out the seeds that had just been released from the warehouse and scattered them in the field.

Seeds like thistle down flew through the sky and snapped into their places.

Now, this level of work wasn't even enough to serve as an appetizer.

He immediately crossed the stream to check the fields.

“I could probably harvest the corn here.”

Since he had emptied the storage today, he had to harvest new crops so that no supply gap would occur.

But now, it seemed like he had to worry about having too much.

The corn was four times the initial amount, soybeans and cabbage radishes were more than three times... The newly made rice paddy was also more than twice as large.

This was calculated excluding the rice paddy on the riverside where seeds hadn't been sown yet.

In just a few days, the initial harvest had essentially ballooned.

‘I wonder if the older gentleman will be able to handle all this...?’

Still, since two strong workers had arrived, the work shouldn't be an issue.

The problem was the speed at which they would sell.

However, after finishing the harvest, he discovered a small, trivial problem.

It was only crossing one stream, but a ‘transport distance’ had been created.

“How am I going to move all this...?”