Chapter 100
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 100
Chapter Title: The Second Growth
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“Phew. Finally got away.”
Go Dal-su, who had been clinging to me relentlessly, was finally gone.
I should have known from the early days when he, as Green Bean, relentlessly spammed Seong-hyeok with messages, but his persistence is truly something else.
“If he were trying to take something, I could've dealt with it somehow, but this...”
They say forcing a gift on someone is scarier than pickpocketing.
An act to which there's no defense.
But to turn all that around, there's nothing quite like this magic word.
“I don't know what I would've done without you guys. You're really the best.”
Buzzzzz~
As expected of bees that symbolize abundance, their byproducts commonly boasted incredible effects on vitality and growth.
As if they'd miraculously understood the praise, the bees performed joyous aerobatics before zipping into their hive like scoring a goal.
“Hahaha! You cute little things.”
Leaving behind the sight of their adorable, ceaselessly wiggling behinds.
Seong-hyeok looked at the item in his hand.
“Anyway, burning meat. I won't have any problems if I eat this, right?”
Even just holding it in his hand, he could still feel the intense heat.
More importantly, this particular food required a whopping 500 Durability to consume.
Frankly, it was no exaggeration to say that this was a prohibitively high requirement for any player who wasn't a tanker.
“What's the worst that could happen? Compared to Teunteun-i's and Dongchung-i's bee venom, this is nothing.”
Well, even so, for Seong-hyeok, who had over 1,700 Durability, it was practically child's play.
Since Durability was the stat that had benefited most from his Honeybee Product Aficionado class specialization, Seong-hyeok cast aside his hesitation and bit into the heat-radiating meat.
Sizzle— Sizzzzzle—
Fwoosh!
As if in reaction, the moment it was chewed in his mouth.
The meat began to burn fiercely.
Moreover, as if to say the fire was by no means fake.
Seong-hyeok's health began to slowly decrease.
[You have been burned by infernal flames due to Zher's fire. Health recovery is restricted until consumption is complete.]
[Warning! You are taking damage!]
On top of that, as if it carried a special debuff, his health recovery was restricted.
‘Food that kills you if you don't eat it fast enough. They really made this bizarre.’
He grumbled for a moment about why it required 500 Durability.
Properly motivated, Seong-hyeok moved his mouth even faster.
It definitely wasn't because he was actually scared of dying.
“The smoky flavor is amazing, though, isn't it?”
Amidst the sensation of his mouth being on fire, he could taste the rich, savory aroma of the meat.
Also, it was prepared and seasoned so well.
Without a hint of toughness, Zher's Meatball melted in his mouth so softly he could barely feel himself chewing.
“*Buuurp—*”
With a sound that signaled the end of his meal, Seong-hyeok licked his lips.
He'd felt it during the festival, too, but he had really lucked out with his residents.
Yeon Su-hee's cooking skills, a combination of her 4-star unique class, Origin of Abundance, and her years of experience.
When high-quality ingredients were added to the mix, the result was inevitably a spectacular taste worth risking one's life for.
[You have successfully consumed the Bountiful Zher's Meatball (★★★★+).]
[You have acquired the Authority Specialization, Flame Immunity.]
And just as its description promised, he acquired an Authority.
Since it was a permanent effect, not a one-time use, it was nothing to be taken lightly.
Buzzzzz~
Bu-buzzzzz—
As if they sensed that Seong-hyeok had gained an Authority.
At the news of their father growing stronger, the bees danced with overwhelming joy.
Did their adorable actions somehow lead to a good outcome?
The notifications arriving for Seong-hyeok didn't end there.
[Specific awakening conditions have been met. -> Acquired immunity to fire]
[The Authority of the Honeybee Guardian grows stronger. All bees belonging to the swarm gain an additional 20% Flame Immunity, and the power of flame is bestowed upon some of the unique individuals.]
[Zher's Flame now imbues the Peridot Ramdok Self-Destruct Bee (★★★-).]
The karma of the Honeybee Guardian, which Seong-hyeok was born with and had chosen.
As if to say he had lived to protect the bees, befitting a 'Guardian,' the power of Flame Immunity was also granted to them.
While 20% was a slight downgrade compared to the 30% Seong-hyeok had received, this was by no means an effect to be taken lightly.
An Authority as the Honeybee Guardian that applied to all countless bees, both present and future.
“…This is huge, isn't it?”
Fire, which had been a common weakness for both Earth's bees and those from other dimensions.
Gaining immunity to it would give a major boost to their future survivability.
Moreover, the benefits of gaining the Authority didn't stop there.
Buzzzzzzzzz—
A single bee approached joyfully at Seong-hyeok's call.
With its unusually protruding abdomen, its appearance wasn't as cute as the other bees, but it was the individual Seong-hyeok was most proud of.
It was a Ramdok Self-Destruct Bee, which possessed the most special and tragic skill among the bees: 'Self-Destruct'.
Even now, whenever a major battle occurred, it was fated to sacrifice its own body to protect the other bees.
Perhaps in recognition of its admirable nature, this little darling was the unique individual selected during this acquisition of the Flame Immunity Authority.
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[Zher's Flame (Lv.1)]
* Category: Skill
* Mana Cost: All
* Effect (Active): Ignites the body, doubling all stats and inflicting flame damage to any target it touches. However, once used, the skill cannot be stopped.
* Effect - Burning Body (Passive): When used, it will self-destruct within 10 minutes. The destructive power increases the longer the effect is maintained.
* Description: Imbued with Zher's Flame, it emits a far greater power than usual.
※ 100% chance of death upon use.
______________________________
A skill that contained the tremendous effect of Zher's Flame.
The effect of igniting its own body for a massive stat boost was not something to be taken lightly.
Especially since, unlike the elite bees of which only a few were born each day, the Ramdok Self-Destruct Bees were born in no small number due to a fairly high probability.
It was a natural principle that strength increased with numbers.
Therefore, the power of this skill would be a tremendous advantage for the farm.
It was certainly good news, but knowing the end result was 'death,' Seong-hyeok couldn't be purely happy about it.
“…You little rascal. How could you go and get another skill like this?”
To protect the queen and the other bees.
A self-destruct skill with good intentions but a tragic result.
From Seong-hyeok's perspective, who loved all his bees without exception, it was an effect that was both admirable and utterly heartbreaking.
Buzzz—
Buzzzzzzzzz~
As if it knew what Seong-hyeok was thinking through the Beelink, the bee clung to him as if to say not to worry.
“Hoo. You guys. I'll be counting on you from now on.”
Buzzzzzz!
Faced with its innocent display, Seong-hyeok couldn't bring himself to scold it any further and could only pat its plump little behind.
* * * * *
Seong-hyeok's Apiary Farm.
If one were to name the most important entity within this shelter, it would undoubtedly be the bees, whose influence was far from trivial, but there were countless other aspects that made this farm so appealing.
Among them, the most representative was the World Tree, the Tree of Life, standing in the center of the farm and growing ceaselessly.
The application of its wide-ranging buffs and debuffs.
The survivability of the bees and residents who received its effects had risen to a level that couldn't be ignored.
And was that all?
The byproducts that could be obtained as the World Tree grew, such as branches, leaves, and fruits.
Not only did they provide considerable advantages to those with various production-related classes,
but the World Tree and the bees also boasted a synergistic efficiency that was a match made in heaven.
Buzzzzz~
Buzzzzz—
That was the World Tree's flower, which yielded a rich and sweet World Tree Honey.
If a normal flower was an ordinary restaurant, the World Tree's flower was akin to a Michelin-starred one.
Buzzzzzzz—!
Buzzzzz!
Perhaps for that reason, even the bees, who would normally share without conflict, seemed to lose their minds in front of the World Tree's flower.
The competition was quite fierce.
Well, even setting that aside, the synergy between the bees and the World Tree was undeniably fantastic.
As the bees naturally pollinated the World Tree's flowers, the fruits ripened faster and more robustly, and the bees gathered ample honey. Could there be a better symbiotic relationship?
[Wild Hive - Seokcheong (★★★+)'s honey status has reached 100%.]
[Wild Hive - Mokcheong (★★★+)'s honey status has reached 100%.]
[Wild Hive - Tocheong (★★★+)'s honey status has reached 100%.]
[Honey is ready for harvest!]
“*Gulp.*”
Furthermore, with the Honeybee Guardian Seong-hyeok added to the mix, the ultimate byproducts of this symbiotic relationship were the three musketeers of *cheong*.
The production of wild honey, imbued with the energy of the World Tree, was steadily increasing as the populations of Geonchug-i and the Imperial Topaz worker bees grew.
Thanks to this, among the items for his 'Honeybee Product Aficionado' class, he was gradually becoming able to consume honey products made from wild honey every six hours.
“…I really can't give up this taste.”
Of course, even so, the total production was still pitifully small compared to other types of honey.
However, there were those to whom even Seong-hyeok would yield the wild honey.
“*Whine! Whimper!*”
“*Squeal squeal!*”
The three furballs who, as if by magic, would show up whenever he harvested the wild hives.
Seong-hyeok was helpless against the baby bears when they charged at him, armed with their powerful weapon: cuteness.
“That's right. Keep growing up big and strong, you little rascals.”
“*Squeeeal!*”
The baby bears were growing at an incredible rate, even though it hadn't even been a month yet.
Their growth rate, fueled by devouring the healthy wild honey, was so exceptional among giant Asiatic black bears that even Yongbi and Danbi seemed surprised when they saw them.
And now, that speed was about to increase even more.
That was because…
*Creeak— Creak—*
An unusual sound echoed from nearby.
“Everyone, get back!”
“*Squeal!*”
“W-whoa!”
Seong-hyeok realized the source was the World Tree and evacuated the baby bears, along with the nearby bees and residents.
*CRREEEEEAAAAK—!!!*
Simultaneously, the World Tree began to spread its roots at an unimaginable speed.
Then, having finished all its preparations, the World Tree's branches shot upward, displaying a shocking level of overgrowth.
The World Tree's size, which couldn't have been called small even after its first growth spurt.
Needless to say, the World Tree was not just a plant with a large body.
“Seong-hyeok! The, the World Tree!”
“I think I know, even if you don't tell me.”
[Special Situation, conditions for opening the Tree of Life have been met. -> World Tree's 2nd Growth]
The World Tree's second growth, having finally reached 100% growth rate through its continuous relationship with the bees, and the unexpected Hidden Piece that resulted from it.
With this, it seemed the World Tree's role in the apiary farm was bound to increase even further.