Player Farming in the Dragon’s Lair - Chapter 70

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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70
Tap.
Tap.
I placed the Fire Stones inside the fence.
There used to be six, but I’d collected far more—twenty this time.
I was aiming for a temperature around fifty degrees, and if it seemed higher than that, I’d remove a few.
Kkamangi watched from beside me as I worked.
“Absolute Concealment is seriously amazing, you know! Being able to take the Fire Stones without the Red Dragon noticing is incredible!”
“I didn’t take them—the Red Dragon gave them to me.”
“The Red Dragon gave them to you?”
“Yeah. When I arrived, he’d already prepared the Fire Stones for me. I just brought them as they were.”
Blink.
Kkamangi’s eyes went wide with disbelief, fluttering in confusion.
The Red Dragon had a reputation for being the most ferocious among dragons.
Though the reality might be different.
During my Administrator Class, I’d heard an explanation about the Dragon Race as the dominant species, and I recalled them warning me to be careful around the Red Dragon—who wielded fire with particular power unlike the Blue Dragon or Green Dragon—because he could kill with just a glance.
But from what Woo-jin was saying, he sounded like quite a kind person.
“Plus, he even asked if I needed more Fire Stones. I should repay him with a cup of Sikhye when I make some.”
“That’s… really something, you know.”
After about thirty minutes passed, I went back into the Jjimjilbang and felt a warm heat wash over me.
It was similar to the fifty-degree clay room you’d find in a typical Jjimjilbang.
“Perfect. This is just right.”
Now it was time to actually enjoy the sauna.
But before that, there was something I needed.
Sikhye!
I was about to message Kang Min-woo asking him to get some Sikhye, but I stopped myself.
Because.
[Tower Rice]
– Grade: C
– Effect: Upon consumption, all ability scores increase by 10% for 30 minutes
– Description: Tower Rice, cultivated and processed by someone.
‘Making it myself would be better.’
The taste would definitely be superior.
Sure, the MSG-heavy store-bought versions might have their appeal, but if I made some and tasted it myself, I could compare.
More importantly though.
There was an additional benefit that came with making Sikhye.
My Cooking skill proficiency would rise too.
Besides, I had nothing else to do right now anyway.
There was no reason not to make the Sikhye myself.
So how do you make Sikhye?
It wasn’t just throwing rice, sugar, and water into a pot and boiling it.
Mi-suk used to make it for me sometimes.
She’d put cooked Rice in a pot with water, sugar, and a ‘teabag.’
The contents of that teabag were Barley Malt.
Barley sprouts were called Barley Malt.
The Amylase Enzyme in the Barley Malt broke down the starches to create that distinctive sweet, nutty flavor.
But I didn’t have any barley right now.
Then I spotted something—rice kernels that had started to sprout.
Couldn’t this be considered a kind of malt too?
Rice Sprout Malt, essentially.
‘Let me give it a shot.’
I gathered a large batch of the sprouted rice kernels and then.
Spread out a handkerchief wide, placed them inside, and tied the corners together.
The Rice Sprout Malt wouldn’t escape.
It served as a makeshift strainer.
A substitute for the Barley Malt teabag.
.
.
.
[The effect of the Black Mithril Pot is applied.]
[You have prepared Rice using Cooking.]
[Cooking Lv. 6 proficiency has increased.]
[Rice]
– Grade: A
– Effect
– Taste Bonus +100%
– Upon consumption, all stats +20% for 60 minutes
– Description: Rice cooked from Tower Rice. Prepared in a Black Mithril Pot, so bonus effects have been applied.
After cooking the rice, he poured an appropriate amount of water into it.
He added some sugar, then threw in the lump of Rice Sprout Malt he’d prepared earlier.
Now it needed to ferment.
He couldn’t eat it right away—it would be ready after a few hours of fermentation.
* * *
Woo-jin was idly browsing the community when his stomach let out a growl.
It seemed dinner time was approaching.
Then.
[You have completed Sikhye.]
[Cooking Lv. 6 proficiency has increased significantly.]
[You have acquired Cooking Lv. 7.]
[Sikhye]
– Grade: A
– Effect
– Taste Bonus +100%
– Upon consumption, all stats +25% for 60 minutes
– Description: Sikhye made from Tower Rice. Its sweet flavor is exquisite.
Up he sprung!
The moment Woo-jin saw the completion message, he rushed over to the Black Mithril Pot and opened the lid.
Inside the Black Mithril Pot lay a perfectly finished Sikhye.
He could see the soft grains of rice distinctive to Sikhye settled at the bottom, and he decided to scoop some with a wooden ladle for a taste.
Slurp.
“Delicious!”
It was genuinely more delicious than the store-bought variety.
It was still lukewarm, but chilled, it would taste even better.
[The God of Adventure says he wants just one sip too!]
[The God of Authority gets in line.]
“I’ll let you have some after dinner. It’s still lukewarm right now.”
[The God of Adventure nods vigorously.]
To chill the Sikhye, he placed the Black Mithril Pot in the lake water. Simply dropping it in would obviously cause the lid to pop open and spill everything, so he carved out a large stone basin, filled it with lake water, and set the pot inside.
Splash.
Water overflowed from the basin.
From the first day he’d arrived here, he’d noticed the lake water was frigid—cold enough to serve as ice water.
Woo-jin already had dinner planned.
Shin Ramyeon!
And Kim Mi-suk’s homemade Kimchi!
A simple yet delicious combination.
There was a reason he’d chosen the Ramyeon and Kimchi pairing.
The sweet and savory combo that everyone loves.
When you eat Shin Ramyeon with Kimchi, the salty taste naturally dominates.
But then, with sweet Sikhye as dessert?
It simply had to be delicious.
“Rainfall!”
He caught an appropriate amount of rainwater in the Black Mithril Pot, added the Ramyeon broth, brought the water to a boil, added the fried noodles, and simmered for three more minutes.
Bubble, bubble!
Once the Ramyeon was fully cooked and ready,
he portioned out nearly one and a half servings into stone bowls.
[The God of Adventure says, “Thanks for the meal!” takes the bowls of Ramyeon and rushes off to the other gods.]
[The God of Fate picks up Kimchi with his chopsticks, wraps it around the Ramyeon, takes a bite, and declares that the Matriarch’s Kimchi paired with Ramyeon is absolutely divine.]
(……) Thumbs up!
Ramyeon always tasted good.
Woo-jin picked up noodles with his chopsticks and blew on them gently.
He let it cool for a moment, then slurped it down eagerly.
He plucked a generous piece of Kimchi from the pot and stuffed it into his mouth with a satisfying crunch.
The spicy flavor mingled perfectly with the crisp, tender cabbage.
He lifted the bowl and took a long sip of the noodle broth.
“Ow—it’s hot!”
Once they’d finished eating, the Doppelganger and Kkamangi cleared the dishes.
Lee Woo-jin retrieved the Black Mithril Pot he’d left soaking in the lake water.
Opening the lid, he peered inside and found the Sikhye chilled perfectly cold.
He drew out a ladle-full and tasted it.
It was as cold as Sikhye floating with paper-thin shards of ice.
“Sikhye, please!”
He filled a large wooden cup to the brim with a ladle and set it on a stone plate.
Raising it toward the empty air, it vanished.
The God of Adventure had taken it.
Now that he thought about it, the God of Adventure had naturally taken charge of serving meals at the Shrine.
From their usual conversations, he’d noticed the god possessed an unusually warm, gregarious nature.
In any case.
[The God of Adventure lets out a hearty laugh and says he’s brought the Sikhye.]
[The God of Order takes a sip of the Sikhye, opens his eyes wide, and marvels at how such a delicious beverage could possibly exist.]
[The God of Authority says he loves how the grains of rice crunch between his teeth, remarking that it’s a splendid pairing.]
[The God of Adventure asks if he can have another cup.]
“Of course. There’s plenty of Sikhye.”
Lee Woo-jin refilled each of their cups.
Beside him, Kkamangi’s tail swished eagerly, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.
“Let’s head into the Jjimjilbang and grab some food in a bit.”
“Got it, meow!”
“I’m going to make a quick delivery.”
Lee Woo-jin filled a large stone bowl with cool Sikhye, then vanished in an instant through the Teleportation Ring, reappearing before the door of the 54th Floor where Red Dragon dwelled.
“Are you in?”
– What is it, Adventurer? You’re back.
“I brought some Sikhye to share. Would you like to try some?”
Lee Woo-jin showed the large stone bowl he was carrying.
It was brimming with Sikhye.
What on earth was this?
It was a yellowish liquid.
Red Dragon snorted dismissively and was about to tell him to take it away, then caught himself.
After all, the Lord might be watching.
– Ah, well! Much obliged, Adventurer!
– I’ll enjoy it gratefully.
‘Do I really have to care about the opinion of an Adventurer so insignificant?!’
Red Dragon accepted the Sikhye, seething inwardly at the indignity.
“Then I’ll be on my way!”
Lee Woo-jin stepped through the Teleportation Ring and vanished again.
Red Dragon drained the Sikhye in one gulp.
Gulp.
-……!!!
– What—what is this taste……!
– It’s incredibly delicious!
I want more!
But Lee Woo-jin was already gone.
.
.
.
“What’s this, Woo-jin?”
“Sheep’s wool curls.”
Kkamangi looked up at the white towel wrapped on his head like a hat.
It really did look like sheep’s wool.
The Doppelganger was also wearing sheep’s wool curls on his head.
“Here, each of you gets a cup of Sikhye.”
He pushed open the Jjimjilbang door and stepped inside.
A pleasant fifty degrees of warmth settled over him.
Lee Woo-jin wore a breathable cotton shirt and cotton shorts.
In one hand, a cool glass of sikhye.
The warm air of the jjimjilbang seemed to draw out the impurities from his body.
“Ah, this warmth…”
(…) Nod!
Kkamangi stretched out in a bread-loaf position.
The Doppelganger sat with legs crossed, perfectly upright and composed.
Lee Woo-jin raised the sikhye to his lips and took a sip.
The cold sikhye flowing down his throat stood in sharp contrast to the warm temperature of the jjimjilbang, and it felt refreshing all the way down.
“Ahhhhh.”
Watching Lee Woo-jin drink, Kkamangi picked up a cup and downed the sikhye in one go.
“This really is delicious! So refreshing!”
(…) Nod, nod!
Day 40 on the Tower.
Drinking sikhye in a jjimjilbang.
A Player Farming in Dragon Rare (Serialized)
Author │ Gae Byeok S
Publisher │ Kim Ju-hyung
Published by │ J Plus Media Co., Ltd.
Marketing │ Han Jae-hyuk
Address │ 401, 11 Digital-ro 33-gil, Guro-gu, Seoul (Guro-dong, Ace Techno Tower 8th)
Email │ [email protected]
Website │ www.jayplemedia.com
ⓒ Gae Byeok S 2026
※ This work is published by J Plus Media Co., Ltd. under contract with the copyright holder, and its contents may not be used in any form or by any means without permission from the company and author.
Violation of this may result in criminal and civil legal liability.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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