Poor Little Kitties
“Nyaaang!” (Any word on the wandering merchant yet?!)
“Nyaaah...?” (When have you ever seen them show up on time?)
Jelly had been nagging Elder Jam Tiger for days now, but with no quick way to scrape together cash, frustration was mounting.
If only we had money, everything would be solved...
Jelly remembered it well—that first heat cycle. The shy girl-next-door Nyangsoon, aka Jenny, charging at him with uncharacteristic boldness! He knew females got bolder during heat, but he'd never forget losing his virginity to his childhood friend's sultry, decadent allure.
The pleasure of that moment. The sheer bliss. Jelly clung to those memories.
Elder Jam Tiger had tasted the carrots and tomatoes Jelly brought last time, experiencing their effect firsthand (temporarily blocking the aphrodisiac pheromones), and now backed Jelly's plan fully. But still...
“Why does it have to be money of all things...!”
The secret stash overflowed with items, but Ho Tae only traded crops for cash. No choice—they needed money, fast.
Jam Tigers couldn't earn it themselves. But sell items to a wandering merchant? Instant cash.
So they'd waited over a week for the elusive trader, hearts aching with impatience.
As Jelly and Elder Jam Tiger moped with gloomy nyaaas, a familiar scent wafted in from somewhere.
“Nyaaang... huff—sniff—nyang?” (Hmm... what's this smell?)
“Nyaaaaang!!! Nyaaang—nyahaaang!” (Th-this is carrot-carrot!!! No doubt—it's Ho Tae's carrots!)
Following the irresistible aroma, they arrived to find the human savior who would free them from the aphrodisiac pheromone curse—bestowing carrots on the pride with a benevolent smile.
★
“Here you go~ Dig in, and tell your moms to buy some when you get home~!”
Jam Tigers all looked pretty much alike—medium dog-sized builds. I focused on handing carrots to the smaller ones, hoping the message spread.
They scarfed them down and bolted with a whoosh of cold wind, nearly breaking my heart as my stock vanished. But...
“Oh? Jelly...?”
Luckily, today's goal looked achievable. Spotting Jelly waving happily at me and the staff-wielding, musty-scented elder Jam Tiger, I pondered how to seal the deal.
First step: Win hearts.
“How's that? Cute, right?”
I pinned a pink hair clip—courtesy of Choi Eunji—next to Jelly's ear. Made him easier to spot among the lookalikes, but this smiling monster type pulled off cute anyway. Petting his head with his short arms grooming back? Jelly was thrilled.
“Pink's not very manly, though?”
“Huh? Jelly's a guy?”
Assumed female from the name...
“Well... doesn't really show, y'know?”
“He says it'll challenge a male's pride to a duel.”
“.......”
Flustered, but fair enough. Cat privates were smallish. Jam Tigers weren't cats, but close enough.
“Who's this guy?”
As I eyed Jelly, monster-language interpreter Iris relayed my words and his response.
“Black Cat Fighter elder, apparently.”
“Elder?”
“Yeah, think of him as the pride's boss.”
“Oh... they have ranks?”
Thought they were just monsters, but hierarchy existed.
“So, got the money ready?”
Time for the real pitch. I rubbed thumb and forefinger quick—money money! Iris translated, and both Jam Tigers bowed low. Deal busted.
But...
“Instead, how about items?”
Items were my real target anyway. Their dejected faces confirmed it.
This negotiation's in my favor... heh heh...
I smirked villainously inside. “Items? Sigh... can't even sell those easily. But let's see 'em first.”
Jelly and the elder pulled out wrinkly, gum-like orbs from both hands.
Whoa... what're those chewed-up gum balls...!
Seed-shaped, though. I entered my farmland to appraise Jelly's gift. Knew Iris could identify stuff, but in here, I had plant appraisal skills too—like spotting the heat shrooms before.
Hunch confirmed.
◈ Consume to permanently increase Magic by 1
◈ Non-stackable
◈ Plant to yield 10 Poison Apples
Permanent Magic +1? Non-stackable sucked, but Magic was notoriously hard to raise. Choi Eunji's saintess status came from her absurd innate Magic, letting her outshine everyone. (Her glass-cannon build stayed secret, but even accounting for low healer stats, her Magic topped first-gen awakeners.)
This hits the market? Chaos.
Tried listing in the shop—blocked again. Direct sales it was. Not hard with this rarity. I cheered inwardly.
Bonus: Plantable despite poison. Harvest effects? Exciting.
Poison's just medicine in the right hands!
Poker face on, I eyed the Jam Tigers. Jelly and Elder Hello looked like kids awaiting punishment—pitiful. I heard their terms first.
“Nyanyanyanyaaang! Nyang! Nyaaang! Nyoongnyang! Nyang! Nyanyanyanyanyanyaaang! Nyaaang! Nyaaang! Nyanyanyaaang!”
Elder Hello rapid-fired. Then Jelly unleashed his nyaa barrage. Iris translated.
“One big carrot lets 50 share the effect for a week?”
“Effect?”
Iris's follow-up made the Jam Tigers even more pitiable.
No pleasure even during mating!
Aphrodisiac pheromones made getting close unbearable, even to kin. Hurt as a man, beyond species lines.
But this was cutthroat business. Handouts make suckers. Charity and chump change? Thin line.
Win-win was business; profiting smart was too.
Jelly's Poison Apple Seed was solid. Minimize payout, maximize intake.
“How many you need?”
“Pride's down to about 40,000 now, but one dose lasts a week. So...”
I crunched numbers.
“800 carrots a week? Payment: 100 Poison Apple Seeds.”
Quick math: Carrots at 200k each now—800 was 160 million won! Magic +1 item? At least 100 mil each. Even lowball 10 mil? 1 billion!
Gulp...!
No brainer. But pro negotiator mode: stone face.
Harvest calc next. 800/week. One carrot feeds 50 for 7 days—perfect for 40k pride.
Crops lasted a week on them, so 800+ weekly harvest needed.
Double daily harvest: 100/day, 700/week.
Need more farm space...
Eunji or Chaerin peeing in-farm (hypothetically) for triple? Possible staying put.
But dungeon life forever? Nah.
Farm despawned if I left—confirmed before. Stay dungeon-bound to maintain.
As I pondered, their faces darkened.
Sudden epiphany: Wait! Regular seeds yield 2+ per plant!
Farmer Master's were 1:1, but regulars doubled (halved size, doubled taste/nutrients). Effect same for Jam Tigers?
Decision: Test regular seed crops first.
“Need to think. Come back tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow?”
“Yeah. Might work—meet same time for talks. Oh, bring other items! Like something, we deal!”
Iris relayed. Gloomy Jelly and Hello's eyes sparkled clear.
Always-smiling feature hid expressions, but eyes told moods.
“Nyaoooong~~~~♡”
“Nyaaaaang~~~~♥”
Ecstatic, they departed.
“Let's head out.”
“Huh?! Outside today?”
Stuck dungeon-bound lately—she assumed same. No clue why so shocked.
“Yeah! Need to shop outside.”
“Uh... c-can I come?”
“You? Why?”
“J-just!!!”
“Why yell?!”
Good mood ruined.
“Me too—”
“You too, Chaerin?”
“Yesss~!”
Chaerin tagging along. Dungeon grind all day—no fatigue?
Fair... Eunji paid 1 bil, buys 200k carrots daily. Buy dinner? Iris earned interpreter pay too.
Last time, hangover soup house call. “Sure! My treat!”
Pork belly fine. Light steps out the dungeon.