Chapter 04
I successfully cultivated brush algae.
The secret to my success?
Just form a puddle, and brush algae grows like crazy.
‘Honestly, it’s terrifying. When did it even attach itself? What’s its growth energy source?’
Brush algae didn’t ask questions or nitpick about trivial things. It was a true manly plant.
“You’re damp there? Then I’ll just grow on my own.”
What a testosterone-filled plant.
Thanks to that, the numbers in my bank account were swelling wildly.
[500,000 won deposited]
[500,000 won deposited]
[500,000 won deposited]
[500,000 won deposited]
“Has everyone lost their minds?”
This actually sells?
I’d made up my mind to farm on the First Floor, but the only thing growing was moss.
Honestly, it hurt my feelings.
And yet…
“Why is business booming?”
The story goes like this.
To me, brush algae was just a preliminary step to enrich the wasteland.
It was nothing more than the first step toward creating green space.
But wouldn’t you know? The brush algae multiplied way too much.
So much that it was overflowing beyond what I could handle, so I listed some on the Exchange.
[Product: Brush Algae Grown in the Tower]
[Description: Fresh~ squish squish~]
[Weight: 100g]
[Price: 10,000 won]
I’d only listed it out of pure curiosity.
The price was 10,000 won.
It was a market test to see how low the price could <drop>.
Even selling at 5,000 won would’ve been a jackpot.
But then.
Brush algae was a black semiconductor.
Brush algae that started at 10,000 won broke through 100,000 won in a single day. A tenfold increase.
I was getting dizzy.
The brush algae’s rise had only just begun. The next day it rose to 300,000 won per 100 grams.
And it kept climbing until now it was trading at a whopping 500,000 won per 100 grams.
“I’m not the crazy one. The world must be crazy, right?”
The reason prices fluctuate like this is that Exchange prices are fundamentally based on bidding.
You want to buy some rare product? Climbers outbid each other to place purchase orders.
Then the item is more likely to go to whoever placed the highest bid.
“It’s not 100% guaranteed purchase, but the probability increases significantly.”
In a way, it’s similar to stocks or auctions.
[Current Market Price: 500,000 won]
In other words, climbers got into a money-throwing competition and formed this absurd price range.
“…The world really has gone mad.”
500,000 won for 100 grams.
That’s the same price as caviar served at a five-star hotel.
The only difference being that theirs is sturgeon eggs, and mine is moss grown in a puddle?
“Haa. I don’t even know anymore…”
I put on yellow rubber gloves and yellow boots, stepped into the puddle, and scraped up the brush algae.
100 grams secured.
The selling method is simple.
“Sell!”
The moment I shouted, the brush algae was teleported to some dimensional space.
And not even 10 seconds later.
[500,000 won deposited]
Wow. Sold again.
Seeing how well it sells, it must indeed prevent mana decomposition.
“Whew. Aqua. You’ve worked hard these past few days.”
I’d stumbled into money, but it was all thanks to Aqua spraying water so diligently these past few days.
When the water ran out, we went back and forth to my studio apartment to refill with Arisu.
Our entry limit is 9999 times a day, after all.
[Aqua… puff up puff up! ᕦ(◔ ͜ʖ◔)ᕤ]
“Haha. That’s right. Good job.”
Currently we’ve moistened about 10 pyeong of land.
This brush algae farm looks peaceful on the surface, but the reality is quite different.
The brush algae engage in infinite competition. They seethe and multiply, and those that don’t get sunlight starve to death.
The more brush algae corpses accumulate, the more the wasteland’s constitution improves.
“Ah. I feel fulfilled. Should I post something?”
I took a photo and uploaded it to the Plant Gallery. You guys who mocked me about Mars this and that.
I’ll show you the completely transformed me.
=======
[Title: lol I redecorated my front yard]
(Photo)
I’m back
Someone recommended brush algae so lol
I planted some, critique welcome
=======
As expected, quite a lot of humans reside in the Plant Gallery, and once again countless comments poured in.
↳ Is this for real????
↳ What kind of bastard actually grows brush algae when told to grow it @#$%#$
↳ The Aquarium Gallery dislikes this post
↳ Why did you spread Zerg creep in your front yard?
↳ So “front yard” meant a Zerg front yard expansion, ah
Ha. The Plant Gallery showed a reaction beyond warm today—downright hot.
Anyway, how cheeky.
I expected them to be happier than this…
[Author: lol Still, it’s kind of cute when you look at it.
And you guys should try growing it too, prices are going up lol]
↳ Ha….
↳ You grow it then
↳ What the hell is a brush-mom?
↳ Reported to the Aquarium Gallery, snitch
Despite my defense, even the Aquarium Gallery people flocked over and started foaming at the mouth en masse.
↳ What kind of crazy bastard puts brush algae in front of their house
↳ Isn’t this a crime? Call the police
↳ I bow down, I bow down, I bow down, I bow down
↳ Growing it is your choice, but how did you grow it this fast?????
↳ This speed is literally incomprehensible
The Aquarium Gallery people were shocked that “brush algae grows too fast.”
They’re experts on brush algae. If they say it’s fast, it really is fast.
“So this isn’t the normal speed?”
Figured as much.
If this were the normal speed, Earth would have been conquered by brush algae long ago.
I’ll figure out the cause gradually.
“Anyway. I’m going to stop selling brush algae soon.”
[Aqua… curious about the reason! ꉂꉂ (ˆoˆ )]
“I’m going to use the brush algae as sacrifice to advance the agriculture tech tree!”
The farm had become rich in organic matter from the accumulated brush algae corpses.
The soil was now ready.
I had a crop I’d planned in advance, and I even planted a sign.
[Chlorella Farm]
Goodbye to the tasteless, nutrient-less brush algae. From now on, it’s the era of chlorella.
“When was it… a few years ago? There was a nationwide chlorella food craze.”
Pizza dough came out green, ramen came out green, rice came out green, et cetera…
An era when chlorella, supposedly good for you, was stuffed into everything.
The so-called era of chlorella madness.
Fortunately the trend flickered out and disappeared, but thanks to it, chlorella’s efficacy was revealed to be a jackpot.
Vitamins, protein.
Anti-aging.
Just looking at its nutritional profile, it was on par with perennial snow ginseng. So what exactly is chlorella?
Chlorella is a microorganism.
A close relative of those cyanobacteria that float in water and cause green algae blooms.
“Alright! Then let’s go get some chlorella!”
[Aqua… that chlorella guy, I’m ready for him! Gonna collect them all! Q–(ᵔ.ᵔ Q )]
We set off.
Where to?
The neighborhood mart.
Surprisingly, chlorella ramen is still distributed in Korea, and the green noodles contain chlorella.
* * *
Cheongyeol headquarters.
The man who is third in line for succession within the family.
Cheon Ryu-jin was gazing out the window from his magnificent office.
His face was full of worry.
“Head Director. I’ve procured it with great difficulty.”
Secretary Lee handed him something black and squishy. Cheon Ryu-jin’s head throbbed.
Just looking at the squirming mass made his stomach churn already.
“Did you run a sample test?”
“Yes. The lab confirmed it’s exactly brush algae. You know, that slimy black floating stuff in valleys and such. Even carp won’t eat it…”
“Please shut up… Not hearing it is better medicine.”
Cheon Ryu-jin, his brow deeply furrowed, looked at the product. A black mass he’d bought for 500,000 won.
Cheon Ryu-jin had never scrimped on money in his life, but suddenly the money felt wasteful.
“And I’m paying this much for this.”
He poured a generous glass of premium liquor and sprinkled the brush algae on top.
The visuals were quite…
Clench.
He shut his eyes tight and downed the glass in one go.
The refined malt aroma at least washed away the disgusting feeling.
“Hm.”
The 40-proof strong liquor slid down his throat, and Cheon Ryu-jin calmly examined his interior.
He’d just spent 500,000 won.
On valley trash that even carp won’t eat because it smells fishy.
‘What kind of bastard is this seller?’
After this and that…
Flash!
His mana, which had been decomposing moment by moment, solidified firmly and refused to be discharged.
“…!”
It works!
Disgusting, nauseating—those modern sensibilities evaporated.
His head cleared at once.
This wondrous feeling of mana not leaking!
Mana decomposition has a rule. The more mana accumulated in the body, the more mana decomposes.
Simple arithmetic—the principle of osmotic pressure.
“Haha, hahah!”
And because Cheon Ryu-jin’s total mana was overwhelming compared to peers of equal skill, the amount of mana dispersing was also tremendous.
His enemy was not monsters. Flowing time was his enemy.
Because mana decomposition occurred at every moment.
And today, the enemy was defeated!
“Stupid Earth bastard. Mere brush algae blocks you.”
“It’s effective, I see. Congratulations.”
“I feel like my realm has even risen… huh?”
“What’s the matter?”
The firmly solidified mana was slowly loosening. Then Earth began stealing his mana again.
Mana disperses throughout the whole world.
Damn it!
“The effect is excellent but the duration is too short?”
His mood improved, then crashed. Having it given and then taken away made it feel even worse.
Cheon Ryu-jin had to exert himself to condense the mana again through mana manipulation.
Annoying for no reason.
“Did you really buy the right thing?”
“It’s genuine.”
“We have plenty of money. You should have gotten a higher-grade product than other climbers.”
“The seller only sells this one product.”
“Son of a…”
What kind of person is this seller? Out of all the plants in the world, why sell moss?
His curiosity about the seller piqued, but he soon shook his head. Who cares who they are.
“Buy more.”
If it helps, he’d drink lye.
Cheon Ryu-jin had no room to retreat.
Within the group, there’s conflict between blood relatives; in the Tower, conflict with other races.
A climber’s life is a continuous series of extremes.
Just when you barely raise your realm, this damn Earth scatters it—what the hell.
Somehow!
As long as he can preserve his realm!
He’ll eat it right now!
“Oh. Head Director. I apologize. It just sold out.”
“UWAAAAAH!!!! SHIT!!!”
Cheon Ryu-jin screamed at the top of his lungs. Just moments ago he couldn’t even stand to look at it, and now it’s gone and he can’t eat it…
To make matters worse, Secretary Lee began bringing up ominous news.
“Head Director… for your reference, it seems brush algae will be hard to obtain from now on?”
“What’s that supposed to mean now.”
“The seller just posted a notice. Brush algae sales will be discontinued going forward…”
Clench.
Cheon Ryu-jin shut his eyes tight.
“This seller bastard… what kind of son of a bitch is he?”
Cheon Ryu-jin was a delinquent used to being cursed at, but this seller’s villainy was truly extraordinary.
