The Buffs I Raised Are Too Strong - Chapter 1

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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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Episode 1.
The age belonged to the Awakeners.
It was a phrase hammered into your skull at every turn.
Towers had appeared across the globe.
Only Awakeners could dismantle them.
Society revolving around the Awakeners was the natural order of things.
Awakening is the lottery!
An age where everyone chased Awakening like a mantra, day after day.
That was the face of society now.
* * *
Jung So-hyuk was an Awakener.
His Awakening had struck suddenly one ordinary day, upending his entire life.
And was he happy because of it?
No.
For Jung So-hyuk, Awakening was nothing short of a catastrophe.
Everyone sang its praises—the lottery, the blessing.
The reason it was a curse for him alone was simple.
Jung So-hyuk had been a promising young baseball prospect.
Awakeners couldn’t compete in ordinary sports.
Enhanced physical abilities posed a danger to both himself and his opponents.
So Jung So-hyuk had given up baseball.
Or rather, it had been taken from him.
But that much he could have borne.
The path of baseball closed, but another opened in its place.
He could pursue a brilliant life as an Awakener instead.
‘If only it had worked out that way.’
It hadn’t.
Awakening equals lottery jackpot?
Sure, sure.
Winning five thousand won was still winning.
Jung So-hyuk’s Awakening had gifted him exactly that—a five-thousand-won ability.
An E-rank Buff Ability that boosted a target’s regenerative capacity.
Buff-type abilities were generally treated as nobility.
They were scarce, for one thing.
And the buff itself was absurdly broken.
His was different.
Not strength enhancement, not speed acceleration.
Just regeneration.
The effect amounted to faster wound healing, quicker hair growth—that sort of thing.
Calling it an ability was generous.
Even compared to other E-rank Healers, it fell short.
They could stanch bleeding, ease disease, restore stamina.
Far superior alternatives.
The result: Jung So-hyuk withdrew.
He lost the sport he loved.
He lost any life as an Awakener.
And so he locked himself away in a four-square-meter Rooftop Room.
Killing time pointlessly.
* * *
“God, I’m starving.”
He climbed out of bed.
Outside, the sun was setting.
How long had he been lying there?
Five hours? Eight?
No idea.
This wretched, durable Awakener body had cursed him with eyes that didn’t tire even after scrolling for hours on end.
So completely he could forget he was hungry.
He rummaged through the refrigerator.
The first thing he saw was braised meat he’d made yesterday.
An egg roll wrapped in plastic.
Kimchi my mother sent me.
Instant rice my sister bought.
Shut away as I am, I haven’t forgotten to cook for myself now and then.
Still, a person ought to live like a person.
Delivery’s a waste of money.
“There. One meal, complete.”
Braised vegetables over steaming rice—one bite.
A satisfying bite.
While eating, I kept scrolling through Shorts.
That faint dopamine hit from Shorts is the joy of my life.
“……Vegetables are insanely expensive these days.”
While scrolling.
A video comparing prices from ten years ago to now caught my eye.
“Guess I’ll have to ration the kimchi.”
Home cooking’s reached the point of costing as much as delivery food.
Ingredients are just that pricey.
That’s when a brilliant idea struck.
“What if I grew them?”
Potatoes or carrots would be too difficult.
But scallions, lettuce, tomatoes—why not those?
I’ve got the Rooftop Room, and space is no problem.
“It’s not even my money, and I’d feel guilty using too much of it.”
Right.
What money would someone who doesn’t work and stays locked in have?
Right now I’m living off an allowance from my sister.
I do think she’s generous to me.
The moment the idea came to me, I ordered a few essentials online.
‘Sorry, sister.’
Even if I spend more now, in the end it’s saving money.
The delivery arrived at dawn the next day.
A Wash Basin with drainage holes.
Soil.
A Watering Can.
A Cherry Tomato seedling.
My choice of Cherry Tomatoes was simple.
I’d grown them before.
Though that was back in elementary school.
Still better than trying something I had no experience with at all.
“Heave-ho.”
I looked around the Rooftop.
Morning light.
The spot with the best sun exposure was obvious at a glance.
I set down the Wash Basin.
Poured in the soil.
Planted the seedling carefully.
Pour water and I’m done.
‘Simple enough.’
Just as the internet said—the easiest plant there is.
‘It said about a month, didn’t it?’
If the harvest goes well, I’ll try growing other things too.
For now, I’m just thinking of it as practice.
“Time to sleep.”
When was the last time I did physical labor from dawn on?
My body’s begging for rest.
That moment.
[The target of the ability has been confirmed.]
“……Huh?”
A message bloomed before my eyes.
A status window—something I hadn’t seen in ages, and never welcomed.
“Why’s this showing up all of a sudden.”
The pleasant mood evaporated in an instant.
I’d hoped never to see this again.
Irritated, I clicked on the status window with a sharp gesture.
And there it was.
[E-rank Skill ― World Tree’s Blessing]
[Target: Jung So-hyuk’s Cherry Tomato.]
“A cherry tomato?”
Was this some kind of joke?
The buff target was a cherry tomato?
Bewildered, I turned my head away.
The cherry tomato seedling swayed in the wind.
As if being gently brushed by an invisible hand.
“……Sigh.”
Right.
It’s not like it’s useful anyway.
“World Tree’s Blessing.”
Whoosh!
Light streamed from my fingertips and settled upon the cherry tomato.
That familiar sensation of mana draining away — I’d almost forgotten it.
My already exhausted body now craved sleep even more desperately.
“Come on…….”
I collapsed onto the bed and fell asleep at once.
* * *
That evening.
“……I don’t even feel like I slept, and it’s already six o’clock.”
Yawn.
I dragged my sluggish body up and opened the window.
Fresh air is the best remedy for waking.
Growl.
Having fasted all day, my stomach was now demanding attention.
“Right……I finished all the rice yesterday.”
The last instant rice spinning in the microwave flashed through my mind.
Maybe I should stop by the convenience store.
“……Sniff.”
Just then, a mouth-watering scent drifted in from somewhere.
“Did the neighbors downstairs cook something?”
Fresh and bracing—
an aroma that stirred the appetite.
It was unlike any smell I’d ever encountered before.
“Wow, I can’t resist this.”
Clutching my aching stomach, I left the room.
I’d planned to grab a convenience store meal.
“Huh?”
Something large caught my eye.
“What is that?”
I stepped closer slowly.
In a corner of the rooftop, growing taller than my height—
it was the cherry tomato.
“???”
As I approached the cherry tomato, the scent intensified.
That fragrance had been coming from the cherry tomato all along.
But more than that—
‘Is this really a cherry tomato……?’
Cherry tomatoes grow to at most around 1.5 meters.
Growing taller than a person?
I’d never heard of such a thing.
And the seedling had only been planted less than a day ago.
Yet there, unmistakably, were small red fruits hanging from its branches.
They were unmistakably cherry tomatoes.
Growl―.
“A.C.”
Click—I plucked a cherry tomato from the stem.
The sweet fragrance tickled my nose.
Slurp—excess saliva dripped to the floor.
‘…Nothing strange about that, is there?’
Sigh.
Straight into my mouth.
Munch, munch.
“Wow.”
What’s this?
The juice danced across my tongue.
One wasn’t nearly enough—my tongue trembled with want.
“Just, just one more.”
As my hand reached for another cherry tomato—
Ding.
[Jung So-hyuk’s Cherry Tomato]
―Grade: R (Rare)
―Freshness: Optimal
―Blessing Type: Strength
“…What is this?”
There was more text below.
―No ordinary cherry tomato. Blessed by the World Tree’s Blessing, its grade has risen. Consuming it may bring good fortune…?
Good fortune?
But more than that—
‘World Tree’s Blessing.’
The name of my only skill.
A useless E-rank ability.
My jaw went slack.
Could this really be happening because of my skill?
‘It was a plant-only skill?’
Who would have guessed?
My Awakening ability—making plants grow faster, making them more delicious.
‘…I’m grateful to know it now, at least.’
Though it doesn’t change how useless it is overall.
At minimum, I’ve found one place to use it.
“Nom.”
Mmm.
If I could have this taste supplied endlessly, maybe being an Awakener isn’t so bad after all.
My hands worked quickly, harvesting every ripe cherry tomato.
About fifty pieces.
The stainless steel bowl overflowed.
“Tonight’s a tomato feast.”
A quick rinse with water, and—
Just as I was about to start eating in good spirits—
“I’m home~!”
“Ugh.”
The timing’s absolutely ridiculous.
* * *
Like I mentioned earlier.
I’m dependent on my sister for living expenses.
No matter how close family is, her generosity is beyond measure.
Of course, there was a price attached.
“…It hasn’t even been a week.”
“So what, you want me to leave?”
“…No.”
Once a week.
A checkup to see if I’m still alive.
The price my sister set was simple.
‘Honestly, the surprise visits are a bit inconvenient.’
But without her, my life wouldn’t exist in the first place.
Even accounting for the cost, a hundred thanks wouldn’t be enough.
My sister glanced around the room.
“The cleaning’s fine. And your clothes… they’re neat.”
Next came me.
“You seem to be eating well too.”
Crack!
Without warning, she slapped my back.
“Ow!”
“What? You should live a little messier so I have something to worry about!”
“Wouldn’t it be better if you didn’t have to worry…?”
“Hmph. There’s no point in giving you living expenses if I don’t get to fret over you.”
‘What kind of logic is that?’
Despite what she said.
My sister smiled, looking rather pleased with herself.
She crossed her legs and sat down at the table.
“You haven’t eaten yet, have you? I’ll buy us something. Let’s go out.”
“No… I was just about to eat.”
“Huh? But surely the rice is all gone… Don’t tell me you’re skipping meals?”
My sister’s expression darkened.
“Ugh! No! I’m eating fine.”
“…Is that so? Then what were you about to eat just now?”
“Um… this.”
I pointed to the Cherry Tomatoes sitting on the table.
“…Cherry Tomatoes?”
“Y-yeah.”
“Are you joking?”
My sister sprang up from her seat.
She grabbed my wrist firmly.
“Don’t give me that nonsense about Cherry Tomatoes. Come along quietly.”
“Wait, wait! Just a moment!”
“Do you have something else to say?”
“Please! Just try one first, then I’ll explain!”
I quickly grabbed a single Cherry Tomato.
“…Sniff.”
As I brought it close to her nose.
Her nostrils flared instinctively at the scent.
And beyond that.
The lustrous red skin.
The flesh swollen as if ready to burst.
“…Just one?”
“Yes! Just one!”
My sister pretended to relent and opened her mouth.
I hurried it into her mouth as though feeding a child a pill.
Pop!
“…Oh my.”
My sister’s lips moved as if entranced.
Chew, chew.
Swallow.
A tense moment.
“…It’s delicious?”
‘Got her.’
Even my sister had acknowledged it.
Something I’d grown myself—the pride was doubly rewarding…
“Nom.”
“…Sister?”
“Nom. Nom. Nom. Nom. Nom.”
I barely had a chance to stop her.
My sister’s hand moved so fast it was a blur.
One by one, the Cherry Tomatoes disappeared.
Right before my eyes, dinner vanished.
“Wait, hold on.”
Tap, tap-tap, tap!
My outstretched hand trembled as it went rigid.
The stainless steel bowl, once brimming full, now sat empty.
“Gulp.”
All those Cherry Tomatoes had disappeared down that small throat.
“……Oh!”
Only after swallowing everything did my sister come to her senses.
“……My dinner.”
“Oh my, haha…… they were just so delicious I couldn’t help myself…… S-should I order you some delivery instead?”
Just then.
Beep-beep-beep!
“Oh, that’s right. I had a schedule.”
I stared at the empty bowl as if my soul had left my body.
My sister glanced between her phone and me.
“S-sorry! Order whatever you want, even if it’s expensive!”
She fled the room.
“……My Cherry Tomatoes.”
Thump.
Grumble.
Between my growling stomach and the hollow feeling, I couldn’t even sleep.
I didn’t know then.
What kind of ripple those Cherry Tomatoes my sister had eaten would create.
The Buff Ability I Raised Was Too Strong
Author |
Noodle-Water Punch
Publisher |
Samyang C&C Co., Ltd.
Editorial Director |
Editorial Department
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Samyang C&C Co., Ltd. – Dreambooks
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G720:N+A063-20260731072
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Submissions |
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No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any form or by any means without the written permission of Samyang C&C Co., Ltd. – Dreambooks.

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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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