Choi I-chan said he bought fruit from a street vendor while running. Fortunately, he had kept the flyer and handed it to me.
[Happy Green Life Fruit Shop
Direct from the source / Delivery available
β» Free delivery for orders over 30,000 won
010-xxxx-xxxx]
Apart from the somewhat peculiar name, it looked like an ordinary fruit shop flyer...
Is there really a Purification Tree in such a place? Should I go check it out?
Given that the system always tried to throw me into dungeons whenever it got the chance, I naturally thought the Purification Tree would grow in a dungeon. But it turns out it could be bought at a fruit shop?
However, it seemed the flyer was printed on recycled paper, as the backside had completely different content.
I was about to fold the flyer and put it away after noting the phone number, but I was startled when I saw the back.
[Happy Green Life Dungeon Farm
Specializing in the cultivation and sale of dungeon plants
β» Certified by the Dungeon Management Bureau
β» PhD in Dungeon Botany
β» Operating a dungeon plant experience farm
010-xxxx-xxxx]
Well, I should go check out this farm too.
The moment I saw the name of the farm, a certain incident before the regression came to mind.
It was a story that appeared on a television program.
The story of a botanist who became fascinated with the plant ecosystem of the dungeon. After his awakening, he threw everything away and immersed himself in the study of dungeon plants.
While it might sound somewhat melancholic, the actual broadcast portrayed him as an 'alien' or 'Martian'.
In other words, he was treated like a weirdo.
Although it wasn't a particularly interesting topic, I was drawn in by the appropriate teasers and provocative editing and ended up watching it all the way through.
It went something like this...
[βΆβΆ]
In this place, the <Hunter Market> consignment shop area, where numerous items are traded.
Hunters crowd around, trying to buy items at low prices, but the Martian's interest lies elsewhere.
The Martian, who quickly scans the surroundings, stops at one spot.
"How much is this?"
What the Martian pointed to was... a seed?
"What did you just buy?"
"Dungeon vine and green ether toothed carrot seeds."
"Are those... plant-type monsters?"
"No. They are often mistaken for monsters, but they are all ordinary plants."
The Martian, who calls a carrot with sharp teeth an ordinary plant.
With the monster seeds in hand, the Martian heads to his habitat.
"What are you going to do with these monster seeds?"
"Of course, I plan to cultivate them."
Raising plant-type monsters?
The Martian takes the shocked PD Kim to the greenhouse.
"The greenhouse has the same ether, temperature, and humidity as inside the dungeon. Any dungeon plant can grow perfectly here."
It's full of toothed carrots and razor-tongued orchids.
"Looking at them like this, they seem so creepy."
"Hehe, aren't they cute?"
"Do they have any special effects when grown?"
Perhaps they have some special effects. PD Kim, who has been working overtime and is in poor health, shows interest.
"Really? Just growing them? They're cute."
"...They're scary."
The Martian, who waters the plants with ether water and takes good care of them.
One of them finally blooms.
"I really struggled to grow this."
Ugh, is this a flower?
"It looks like a human head."
"It's called a head flower. See, isn't it beautiful? Touch it."
PD Kim cautiously extends his hand.
Snap!
"Ahh! Ahhhh! It bit me!"
Crunch!
"Ahhh! Let go! Save me!"
[βΆβ₯]
...
The final scene was of PD Kim running away with his hand bitten by the head flower.
After that, the farm's promotion led to a lot of criticism, and it eventually became the reason for the cancellation of the program 'The Martian's Secret', which introduced unique hunters.
This <Happy Green Life Dungeon Farm> was definitely the place featured in the broadcast.
'A place that grows head flowers, so it's not strange that it has a Purification Tree.'
However, I remember this farm went out of business later... It even became a topic of conversation due to a major incident. What was it again?
Hmm, I can't remember the reason for the closure.
In any case, it seems to still be in business, and since I finally got a clue, I should go check it out.
* * *
In front of an ordinary apartment complex, the <Happy Green Life Fruit Shop> was there.
"How much is a basket of apples?"
"5,000 won."
The street vendor was quite busy with customers buying fruit on their way home. I approached the owner, who was putting fruit into plastic bags, with a blank expression.
"Excuse me, how do I get to the <Happy Green Life Dungeon Farm>?"
There was no sign of a farm around the fruit stand. The address on the flyer was definitely here...
"Go that way."
The fruit shop owner pointed to a certain direction. His gaze seemed to say, "What a weirdo."
Following the direction of his finger, I saw a sign that read 'Farm' on a narrow path leading to the back mountain, half-hidden by the underbrush.
"Ugh..."
The joy of finally finding it was short-lived.
As soon as I stepped onto the path, I felt a sudden wave of hot air. Moreover, toothed carrots and razor-tongued orchids grew densely on both sides, creating a creepy atmosphere.
Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh, swoosh...
I could hear strange sounds coming from somewhere...
If I had known this, I should have come with Choi I-chan. I regretted telling him I would come alone, as it might have been a wasted trip.
I stepped onto the creaking stairs and entered the farm. The air was stuffy, and there was a unique smell, with suspicious plants everywhere, but no sign of anyone.
"Hello, is anyone there?"
No answer.
"Is no one here? I want to buy something."
Is no one here? I was about to leave, feeling disappointed, when...
Bang!
Something inside collapsed, and a person rushed out.
"Oh, ah, huh, what's going on! I paid the electricity bill last week. The electricity can't be cut off. Please wait a few more days... Are you here to collect the electricity bill?"
"Yes, I want to look at some seedlings."
"Huh, a customer? A customer? After a month, no, two months? Please, this way, this way!"
The farm owner looked almost the same as in the broadcast before the regression.
His long hair was dyed green at the bottom, and he wore a light green shirt, a green velvet skirt, and a green jacket. He also had green horn-rimmed glasses. His outfit was clearly themed.
His name was definitely...
"I'm the owner, Lee Chorok. I'm a botanist. What are you looking for?"
Yes, Lee Chorok. Even the name matched.
"We are different from similar businesses. You can choose the perfect dungeon plant for you, recommended scientifically by a PhD holder. I will do my best to serve you if you trust me."
The flyer Lee Chorok handed me had content like 'Dungeon Plant Recommendations by Blood Type' and 'Lucky Color Plants by Astrology for Today's Fortune'.
It has nothing to do with science...
However, it seems there were no customers for two months. Is this place really okay?
Anyway, I returned the pseudoscientific flyer and took out the leaf of the Purification Tree, which was in my pocket with the fruit.
"I'm looking for this tree."
Lee Chorok immediately recognized the leaf.
"Ah! It's a Purification Tree. With the severe fine dust these days, the Purification Tree, as its name suggests, has the effect of purifying the air. I recommend it as a houseplant. By the way, I have seedlings that I obtained from a C-grade dungeon with great difficulty. Would you like to see them?"
His eyes were full of anticipation, and his sales pitch was desperate.
I nodded, and Lee Chorok quickly led me to where the seedlings were.
[Item: Purification Tree Seedling (β ββββ)
Type: Seedling
A young Purification Tree seedling. When planted, it emits a subtle floral fragrance.]
The name in the status window was definitely the Purification Tree.
I didn't expect to find it so easily. A smile crept onto my face, thinking this quest would end smoothly.
"How much is it?"
"Right now, it's on sale! For a special sale price of 50 rubies."
"..."
It's more expensive than I thought.
I counted the rubies left in my inventory. Excluding the shop's earnings, I had 70 rubies left from the 100 I got from the previous quest, after spending some on various materials. 50 rubies is almost all my money.
"Umm..."
I should go back and think about it slowly. There's no rule that I have to buy it now, and I might be able to find it elsewhere.
"I'll come back after checking more."
However, the dungeon botanist Lee Chorok, sensing my hesitation, quickly started adding options. His agility was impressive.
"Sir, this is not a tree that can be easily obtained. It only grows in certain areas of C-grade dungeons when the ether in the soil is water-based. It also has excellent air purification capabilities."
"Still, the price is a bit high..."
"If you buy it now! I'll give you an ether fertilizer set for faster growth, a dedicated water sprayer, and gardening shears for free!"
"Umm..."
"I'll also include the 'Dungeon Plant Care for Elementary Students' volumes 1 and 2!"
The cover featured toothed carrots and head flowers, with 'Author: Lee Chorok' written on it. It looked like a self-published book.
"I'll give you two toothed carrots as well! A super special deal! A great service!"
"No, that's fine."
Toothed carrots sound like they would give me nightmares.
"I took out a full loan to start this farm, and for two months... except for one strange hunter, there have been no customers. These are precious trees that I have raised from the dungeon myself."
Well... unless you have a special reason like me, no one would buy dungeon plants.
"I've been behind on my electricity and water bills for months. If business doesn't improve... my sister, the owner of the fruit shop next door, said she would turn this place into a fruit shop."
The fruit shop seems like it would do better business.
"If this Purification Tree seedling doesn't sell... I will sadly leave this place and die like dust with the trees..."
His extremely burdensome gaze overwhelmed me.
The skill to make you feel indebted was no joke. It was really hard to say, "I'll buy it next time," in front of his heart-wrenching gaze and sad tmi.
Well, I do need the Purification Tree, and I'm getting a lot of extras, so I might as well buy it.
"Then... I'll buy it. Please give me this."
"Please think of it as saving me, huh! Yes? Really? You're buying this?"
Lee Chorok, who had been shedding tears with a sad expression, brightened up at my words.
"Please wait a moment. Right! Why don't you take a look at the greenhouse while you wait?"
"No, it's fine."
"This way! Feel free to look around."
Lee Chorok pushed me into the greenhouse and disappeared somewhere, saying he would pack the seedling and other items.
"Please don't give me the carrots," I shouted, but it seemed he didn't hear me. He seemed to be the type who doesn't listen to others.
The greenhouse was filled with strangely shaped plants.
It's a bit scary, but since I'm here, I might as well take a look.
"As long as I don't touch the head flowers, it should be fine."