Chapter 108
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 108
Chapter Title: Honeybee Awakening
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[Fairy-Infused Micro Scale Armor (★★★-)]
※ Caution! Adjustment systems are inapplicable due to its miniature size.
* Classification: Armor
* Defense, Magic Resistance +50(+7), Movement Speed +3%
* Health +600, Durability +5
* Shock Absorption Rate 65%
* Weight significantly reduced by the power of fairies.
* Durability: 75 / 75
….
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An upgraded version of the previously mass-produced micro armor.
Defensive capabilities, shock absorption rate, and more.
The addition of Honeybee Scales yielded satisfying results in every aspect, and because of this, the survival rate of many bees was set to skyrocket.
Bzz~
Bzzzzz~
As if the bees instinctively knew this new armor was better, they flew to the dreaded blacksmiths’ forge and shook their thoraxes.
“Gahaha! You cute little things.”
“Looks like they really like it.”
“You like it that much?”
Was it the sight of a satisfied customer that made them forget they were drenched in sweat from the blistering heat?
The blacksmiths met the adorable bees’ antics with hearty laughter.
Mesmerized by the cute displays from the bees, who rarely ever visited, the blacksmiths handed over the new armor.
But among them, the true VIPs were yet to come.
Bzzzzzzzzzz~
Unlike the worker bees, these were the elite bees, each with their own distinct characteristics.
Teunteun-i, Lily, and the others.
They approached the forge, each flaunting their unique features, their posture clearly asking, “What about mine?”
It was a question that seemed to imply they would burst into tears if the answer was no, but who were the blacksmiths here?
They were all individuals whose skills were renowned throughout the Korean server.
Furthermore, with an infinite supply of materials from the bees' byproducts and two gold mines, a forcibly allocated daily workload, and a regimen of various health supplements, their bodies were honed to perfection!
“Don’t you worry, little guys.”
“We poured all our overflowing manly vigor into this. Gahaha!”
“Of course, we prepared yours too.”
“Hehehe, we didn’t know what you’d like, so we prepared everything!”
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[Sturdy Small Scale Armor (★★★+)]
[Elegant Small Scale Armor (★★★+)]
[Reliable….
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Unlike ordinary craftsmen who only made weapons outside, these blacksmiths had reached a state of complete superhumanity, possessing durability that could rival most combat classes.
As a result, they could now effortlessly produce thousands of pieces of equipment per person each day. For them, the opportunity to craft equipment for the elite bees was a welcome one.
After all, from a blacksmith’s perspective, it was far better to craft high-grade equipment using fine materials.
Why would they miss a chance to use Queen Bee Cocoons and Honeybee Scales to their heart's content, especially when it raised their skill proficiency and levels?
“Hahaha. What do you think? Do you like it?”
It was a glimpse into the symbiotic nature of the beekeeping farm, where the blacksmiths leveled up and the bees received new gear they loved.
Bzz!
Bzzzzzzzz~!
Buzzzzz~
And the ultimate reward was a rare sight indeed: the elite bees’ top-tier display of affection.
* * * * *
As time passed, the shelter of the beekeeping farm steadily expanded.
The farm's residents were the first to notice this phenomenon, as the territory grew in tandem with the bee population, which naturally increased as they flitted from flower to flower.
“At this rate, it feels like it’s going to swallow the entire territory of South Korea.”
“You think? The pace is accelerating with each passing day.”
“Just the World Tree’s domain alone is nothing to scoff at. I bet if it grows just one more time, it might cross the Korean border.”
Whether they were fighting or gathering, the way the farm’s borders constantly pushed outward was astonishing.
And the residents certainly didn’t see this as a bad thing.
“This is the best thing for the country.”
“Of course it is. And isn’t the scenery just beautiful?”
The bees existed in a symbiotic relationship with nature.
As creatures that were inherently averse to laziness, they were icons of diligence, scurrying about without a day's rest.
Beautiful flowers and the shoots of magnificent trees sprouted in the expanding territory thanks to the bees' pollination.
Of course, it would normally take a significant amount of time for a freshly sprouted seedling to fully mature, but that didn't apply here at the beekeeping farm.
Why, you ask?
[The World Tree's Embrace is applied.]
[Within the World Tree's domain, the growth rate of all viable natural vegetation and crops is accelerated by 150%, and the appearance rate of rare natural vegetation increases significantly.]
[The effect of Ruler of Flowers is applied.]
[The growth rate of flowers near you and your subordinates increases significantly.]
As mentioned before, there was the World Tree, the pinnacle of beings that invigorated the growth of nature.
When combined with the effect of ‘Ruler of Flowers,’ one of the titles Seong-hyeok had acquired, the growth rate of a newly sprouted plant was simply astounding.
And was that all?
[The effect of Hymn of Abundance is applied.]
[All stats of allies within the song's reach increase by 15, and movement speed increases by 180%.]
[The growth rate of crops and livestock within the song's reach increases by 750%.]
Several times a day.
Yeon Su-hee consistently activated her Hymn of Abundance.
While the stat buffs that raised the survival rate of combatants were great, the primary purpose of the hymn was the absurd 750% growth acceleration.
Just as it had been during the purification of the North Korean and Japanese servers, the plants grew at a speed that was unbelievable even when seeing it with one's own eyes.
And now that a steady supply of mana was established, was there any way Seong-hyeok would let such an effect go to waste?
“Whew. Encore, Su-hee! Encore!”
“Your voice is so beautiful, unni!”
“My, that’s one heck of a fine voice.”
“...You’re embarrassing me, please stop.”
Well, thanks to that, Yeon Su-hee blushed with embarrassment every time she sang the Hymn of Abundance. But funnily enough, whenever she was asked to use the skill, she was the first to step up, so it didn’t seem like she disliked it.
Thus, the beekeeping farm expanded day by day, drawing positive reactions. However, not every outcome was entirely satisfactory.
[A Ruby Gem Worker Bee (★★+) has died.]
[An Imperial Topaz Worker Bee (★★★-) has died.]
[A Diamond Geumgang Worker Bee Zombie (★★) has died.]
….
In a world ruled by the law of the jungle.
No matter how much their survival rate was boosted through bee armor or various evolutions, life was never invincible.
Moreover, with monsters growing stronger by the day, the deaths of bees were an occasional occurrence.
“…”
Was there anything more frightening than growing accustomed to something?
The notifications of bee deaths, which appeared several times a day, constricted his heart with pain.
“…Thank you.”
First were the bee zombies, who had already died once and rose again in their battered bodies, only to sacrifice themselves for the hive.
[A Peridot Spore Mycelium Bee (★★★-) has died.]
[Natural Vegetation, Peridot Spore Mycelium Bee's Mushroom Spawn (★★+), begins to grow from the ground.]
[A Peridot Cordyceps Legion Commander Bee (★★★★) - Elite Bee has died.]
[Natural Vegetation, Peridot Cordyceps Spawn (★★★★-), begins to grow from the ground.]
Then there were the Spore Mycelium Bees and Dongchung-i, who, upon death, used their own bodies as nutrients to sprout new life.
It was a display of profound devotion from the bees, who gave their all, even their bodies, for Seong-hyeok's sake, right up to the very end.
“Papa will remember you.”
It was a sight that couldn't be watched without tears, but Seong-hyeok buried their deaths deep in his heart.
It might seem cruel, but it couldn't be helped.
It was the law of the world that a life, once lost, could not be brought back.
In a system where hundreds of thousands of new bees were born each day, it was better to make the most of what he could, rather than drown in sorrow, so that these new lives could thrive.
After all, Seong-hyeok was not a bee—the very embodiment of altruism for the sake of the group—but a human.
It was a selfish decision that only he could make amidst the swarm of bees.
He knew very well that this was the path to survival for many more of them.
And, just as he expected…
[You have discovered Natural Vegetation, Peridot Cordyceps (★★★★)!]
The cordyceps mushroom bloomed from Dongchung-i, who had offered its own body.
The moment Seong-hyeok saw its effects and the mushroom that bore the shape of Dongchung-i’s now cold and still form, the tears he had been holding back almost burst forth.
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[Peridot Cordyceps (★★★★)]
* Classification: Consumable, Material
* Upon consumption, 'Power of the Cordyceps' is applied, permanently increasing all stats by 1 (one-time effect only). Uses: 0 / 1
※ Power of the Cordyceps: For 30 minutes, all stats increase by 20. If consumed by a honeybee, 'Honeybee Awakening' is additionally applied.
※ Honeybee Awakening: Stimulates the honeybee's inner self to awaken a special power. The effect varies by individual.
※ Caution! The effect of Honeybee Awakening can only be applied once per individual.
* Description: A ★★★★-grade Peridot Cordyceps native to the dimension 'Earth'. An extremely rare mushroom that can only be obtained through the help and sacrifice of a special insect. Grants various effects upon consumption. It has a very deep connection with honeybees.
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“You… you little….”
The devotion of the bee, Dongchung-i, continued to make its presence known even after being buried in his heart.
The newly discovered effect of ‘Honeybee Awakening.’
He was certain this would become the genesis of a new paradigm in the history of the beekeeping farm.
* * * * *
The types of bees added to the farm over time.
From Ruby Gem to Diamond Geumgang.
He had thought that having five different types of bees frolicking about was only a good thing, but he was wrong.
“Hmm, who would be the best to use this on?”
The sheer number of types and their unique characteristics created a dilemma.
Since the only way to obtain a cordyceps mushroom containing the Honeybee Awakening effect was through Dongchung-i's death, its production was tricky. Seong-hyeok couldn't afford to use the one he had just obtained carelessly.
“First, I’ll have to pass on the worker bees and higher-tier species, sorry guys.”
Hundreds of thousands of worker bees and thousands of higher-tier bees like scouts and honey pot bees were born each day.
Giving a cordyceps mushroom to each one of them, while it might have some effect, would be incredibly inefficient.
That left, of course, only the elite bees.
“…This just gives me more of a headache.”
Teunteun-i, Lily, Ssing-ssing-i, Geonchug-i, and so on.
The more he thought about it, the more the diverse options gnawed at him.
In the case of elite bees, their individual characteristics were bound to shine even brighter.
Especially since the cordyceps was not something easily obtained, he was hesitant to invest it based on a rash prediction.
In the end, he was caught in a dilemma, unable to move one way or the other.
Perhaps sensing Seong-hyeok's troubles…
Bzzzzz~
A single bee approached him.
Proudly displaying a mushroom growing on its body and abdomen, the one who came to solve Seong-hyeok’s dilemma was none other than a Cordyceps Legion Commander Bee.
In other words, it was another Dongchung-i.