Solo Farming In The Tower Chapter 829 102: Accidentally Running a Hotteok Stand (2) / 826

TL: Hanguk

Heavy snow was falling from the heavens.

Because of this, traffic came to a total halt on the roads.

"Huh? What's happening? Has a trendy new eatery opened up or what?"

While inching his vehicle toward home at a snail's pace, Kim Dong-sik noticed a lengthy queue close to Oksu Station and felt intrigued.

"Excuse me? What's this queue all about?"

He lowered the window and inquired to a fellow in the line.

"Ah?! Aren't you Hunter Kim Dong-sik?!"

"Yes. That's correct."

Even though his aura was nearly invisible alongside his master Han Tae-jun, Kim Dong-sik remained among Korea's top 10 Hunters.

"Hahaha. Naturally."

As such encounters were routine, Dong-sik retrieved a pen he always kept handy and autographed the cap offered by the man.

"Thank you! This queue is for the Cat Paw Hotteok."

"Cat Paw Hotteok?"

"Yes. It's a hotteok stall where they imprint the hotteok with a cat paw mark. It went viral on Stargram right away, making the wait incredibly lengthy."

"Really? Mind sending me the link through DM?"

Dong-sik intended to forward the link to his spouse and grab some hotteok should she express a craving.

"D… DM? Sure, I've sent it."

Overwhelmed that Dong-sik welcomed his DM, the man forwarded the link.

"Thank you."

Dong-sik viewed the link.

"Huh?!"

Why on earth is Sejun-nim peddling hotteok…?

A known face appeared in the image. The rest were obscured by illusion magic, so he couldn't identify them.

This demands urgent action!

"Thanks. Hope you savor your hotteok."

Dong-sik bid the man a courteous goodbye, then accelerated away from the spot.

"Hey, it's me. I just messaged you a link, right? Send agents there immediately and manage the throng to avoid mishaps."

He swiftly mobilized his team.

***

"Puhuhut. Greetings, meow!"

"9 hotteok, please."

"Puhuhut. Hold on a sec, meow! Chairman Park, order of 9 hotteok, meow!"

Squish. Squish. Squish.

Theo flattened the hotteok on the griddle using his front paw as he handled the order. Iona tweaked the illusion magic, making patrons see Theo wielding a cat paw-designed hotteok press.

What's going on? Customers keep flocking endlessly.

As he busily kneaded the hotteok batter, Sejun felt perplexed.

Initially, the plan was to whip up meals for themselves and vend a handful to occasional visitors. Yet now, the influx of buyers was overwhelming.

Ultimately, he exhausted all the dough supplied by the hotteok elder lady, and the gas supply dwindled to nothing.

Nevertheless, Sejun kept the stall open. After enduring the perils of the Black Tower's 99th floor, this was a mere trifle, and closing never crossed his mind.

"Iona, warm up additional griddles."

"Kyoot Kyoo Kyoot. Understood!"

To shorten wait times for patrons, they ramped up the griddles to five in total.

"Aileen, place the prepared dough on the free griddle areas and add oil as needed."

"Got it!"

"Cuengi, manage the packaging of hotteok and handle payments."

Kueng!

[Understood!]

"Paespaes, cue up work song number 3."

(Pip-pip! Affirmative!)

Kihihit. Kking?!

[Hehe. Butler! And for mighty Blackie?!]

"Blackie, bark fiercely at line cutters."

Kking! Kking!

[Affirmative! Butler! Mighty Blackie handles that! Unleash!]

Blackie dropped his illusion magic for the duty.

Having assigned the roles, Sejun pulled flour from the void storage to craft more dough, then set about readying fillings for the hotteok.

Sugar extracted fresh from sugarcane.

Enchantingly tasty roasted peanuts.

Stamina Corn.

Sticky Corn.

Superb roasted and dried sweet potato.

Halfway through, inspiration struck for fresh recipes, expanding the hotteok stuffing options.

The standard hotteok featuring sugar and peanuts.

Savory sweet corn cheese hotteok crafted with Stamina Corn and mozzarella-resembling gooey Sticky Corn.

Plus,

Incorporating roasted and dried sweet potato would pair perfectly.

Roasted and dried sweet potato hotteok, proposed by Blackie.

Rip.

Sejun ripped open a carton and jotted down the titles and costs for the fresh hotteok:

Corn Cheese Hotteok / Roasted and Dried Sweet Potato Hotteok – 1 for 2,000 won.

Corn Cheese Hotteok / Roasted and Dried Sweet Potato Hotteok – 3 for 5,500 won.

He set the sign beside the existing hotteok pricing chart.

"Oh?! Owner, I'll take 3 corn cheese hotteok and 3 roasted sweet potato hotteok as well!"

Waiting customers, eager for their turn, began ordering extras.

Thus, hotteok solely from Tower-cultivated produce was being distributed.

-Wow! The corn cheese hotteok tastes amazing! It's my lifelong top hotteok pick!

-Sample the corn cheese hotteok and roasted sweet potato hotteok! They're incredible—I rejoined the queue! Buying 30 this round, mix of basic hotteok too!

ㄴDude, show some restraint!

ㄴSkip the line! I'm en route! Snow's clogging the streetsㅜㅜ

ㄴHeads up, cutting will get you a harsh scolding from a black Sapsali dog ㅋㅋㅋ

Stargram buzz from hotteok tasters kept surging, luring even more visitors.

-Who's that kid crooning at the hotteok booth? Looks ordinary, but his vocals are stellar! Debut material for sure.

ㄴTotally! I'm munching hotteok by the curb just to hear him.

ㄴWait?! You the one beside me in the red fur cap?

ㄴHuh?! Yellow puffer coat?

Moreover, Paespaes's vocal prowess started gaining traction through chatter.

At that moment.

"Oh?! That's Sejun!"

Kyung-chul, idly scrolling Stargram from the comfort of the new home Sejun had constructed, caught sight of Sejun's photo.

"But why's Sejun frying hotteok at Oksu Station?"

"Maybe a charitable initiative?"

Choi Mi-na, tackling work on her laptop nearby, responded. True to her chaebol upbringing, her perspective was unique.

"Ah!"

As expected from my pal Sejun!

Inspired by Sejun's benevolent act(?), Kyung-chul declared,

"Dear, I'm off to assist Sejun."

"Alright. Grab some hotteok on your way back. Every variety."

"Will do!"

He dashed straight to Oksu Station. Given the pricey ingredients that money alone couldn't secure, sold at bargain rates, it truly qualified as philanthropy.

Five minutes later.

Oh Kyung-chul reached Sejun's hotteok booth.

"Sejun, I'm here to lend a hand! Where do I start?"

"Oh! Kyung-chul, perfect arrival! Assist in directing the queued patrons."

"Understood!"

The swelling crowd had worried him, so Kyung-chul's aid was a godsend! Appreciate it, buddy!

Sejun felt grateful for Kyung-chul's support.

Yet.

"Earth's mightiest! Hunter Oh Kyung-chul has arrived!"

"Oh. Has Hunter Oh Kyung-chul joined to purchase hotteok?"

"Well, even the planet's top fighter craves hotteok amid snow."

"Folks! Kindly queue to the side to avoid blocking others!"

"Huh?! Hunter Oh Kyung-chul managing the queue?"

"Employing Oh Kyung-chul, the world's premier hunter, for line duty? What's the secret behind this hotteok vendor?!"

Kyung-chul's presence sparked an immense wave.

-Here's the Oksu Station hotteok spot. Queue up for Hunter Oh Kyung-chul's signature and a photo op.

-Snapped a pic with Hunter Oh Kyung-chul; he confirmed real camaraderie with the hotteok proprietor.

ㄴEnvious!

ㄴOh Kyung-chul devotee! Rushing over now!

As a result, the queue didn't dwindle—it stretched further.

Thirty minutes post Kyung-chul's entry, the line doubled its prior length.

"Sejun-nim, greetings. Require any support?"

Having just parked close by, Kim Dong-sik neared Sejun alongside Korean Awakeners Association members and inquired.

"Oh. Greetings, Dong-sik-nim. No needs here. Please accept some hotteok."

"Puhuhut. Dong-sik, nice to see you, meow! Standard hotteok goes for 3 at 4000 won. Corn cheese and roasted sweet potato hotteok are 3 for 5500 won, meow!"

"This voice… Theo?"

"Puhuhut. Correct, meow!"

"They're accompanying me. Your hotteok here."

"Oh. Appreciated. If assistance is needed, just say the word!"

Munching the hotteok provided by Sejun, they vigilantly patrolled the hotteok area to thwart any disruptions targeting Sejun.

Thankfully, the hotteok venture proceeded without hitches until closure.

"Kyoo?! Sejun-nim, the young ones are stirring!"

"Truly?! Aileen and Iona, return home ahead."

"Alright!"

"Kyoot Kyoot Kyoot. Affirmative!"

Though Aileen and Iona departed upon the kids' awakening,

"Could you assist us further?"

"Of course!"

The personnel gap was filled by Korean Awakeners Association workers.

The hotteok operation concluded around 10 PM.

"Kyung-chul, much obliged for your aid."

"No biggie. I barely contributed."

"Take this for snacking."

"Thanks, Sejun."

Sejun passed Kyung-chul a weighty paper sack. It contained ten pieces each of the three hotteok types.

"Plenty to go around, so grab one apiece."

Sejun distributed bundled hotteok to the assisting Awakeners Association team, then announced,

"Time to head back."

"Puhuhut. Understood, meow!"

Kueng!

(Pip-pip. Yes!)

Kking!

The crew collectively journeyed homeward.

Upon reaching home, Sejun found.

"Dad, why skip bringing Taecho?!"

Taecho dashed forward, lips pursed in grievance.

"Apologies. But Dad fetched tasty treats for you."

"Tasty treats?"

Gulp.

Taecho gulped at Sejun's mention.

Gulp.

Gulp.

The trailing Children of Destruction also salivated, eyes fixed on Sejun.

"Here. They're named hotteok…"

As Sejun retrieved hotteok from the void storage,

""Wow!""

Taecho and the Children of Destruction buzzed with thrill, each reaching to snag and devour one.

"Hold up!"

Sejun halted the youngsters promptly.

Without care, the steaming innards could scorch their tongues,

Potentially sparking tears—and given the winter chill, a blizzard might ensue.

"The filling's piping hot, so blow like this prior to biting."

Sejun showed the proper method.

"Fuu!"

"Fuuuung!"

The kids puffed vigorously, nearly spitting, to temper the hotteok.

Sejun observed the children contentedly, then

"Here."

Discreetly extended a hotteok to Theo.

"Meow?!"

"Added Churu inside."

"Puhuhut."

Theo cleaved the hotteok open at Sejun's cue, revealing oozing Churu.

No way I'll waste the great Chairman Park's Churu, meow!

Chomp…

"Meow! Scorching, meow!"

His tongue got singed.

"Seriously. I demonstrated blowing first."

"Kyoot Kyoot Kyoot. Theo-nim, extend your tongue. I'll mend it."

"Thanksh-meow!"

"Kyoot Kyoot Kyoot. Healing magic…."

Theo protruded his tongue for Iona's remedy.

"Puhuhut. Grateful, Iona, meow! Fuu, meow! Fuu, meow!"

This round, he huffed diligently on the Churu,

Chomp. Chomp. Chomp.

Savoring the Churu with relish.

Lick. Lick. Lick.

Kihihit. Kking!

[Hehe. The roasted and dried sweet potato hotteok belongs solely to great Blackie after my licks!]

Blackie slobbered over the roasted and dried sweet potato hotteok to claim them, but

Kuehehehe. Kueng!

[Hehehe. Every hotteok flavor Dad whipped up tastes superb!]

Kking!

[Impossible!]

Cuengi thwarted his scheme.

"Hehehe. How pleasant."

Sejun grinned watching Aileen, the companions, and the Children of Destruction relish the hotteok joyfully.

With the outdoor chill contrasting the indoor warmth, today's bliss felt amplified.

He resolved to craft a snowman come morning.

Sejun partook in hotteok, concluding a merry day.

Thus, a day elapsed, and

"Huh?"

Why such a massive gathering?!

The elder lady arriving for hotteok duty panicked at the enormous line before the stall.

*****

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