Chapter 110
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 110
Chapter Title: The Flower Elves
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The Tree of Life, a Hidden Piece born from the World Tree's growth.
There were beings who were affected by its ability to announce its presence to the forest races, no matter how far away they were.
“The great tree calls to us.”
“I can feel the energy of abundant flowers.”
“We will join you, Rayleese.”
In a corner of the vast Chinese server, the Flower Elves had established a village shortly after their birth, cultivating flowers and living peacefully.
Though their total population was a mere nine, perhaps it was because their rank was not that of a common monster, but ‘Disaster-class.’
“Wh-what?”
“Hiiiek!”
Disaster-class monsters, with an average level of 45.
The players who witnessed their sudden appearance either fled in terror or collapsed where they stood, but the Flower Elves paid them no mind, ignoring them completely.
【China/BentleyRiderCN: I don't know why, but a Disaster-class monster just ignored me and passed by without attacking.】
【China/UltimateWarrior: Does that even make sense? Even the easiest goblins are aggressive monsters.】
【China/AzureBlade: Wow, but they’re really beautiful. Elves are something else.】
【China/LaughingCheetah: They look so strange. I can't tell if flowers are blooming in their path or if the flowers are growing on their bodies.】
And so, the information spread, one sighting and testimony at a time.
The Flower Elves had made their choice because they didn't want to waste time, but the players interpreted it differently.
【China/WorldCenterChina: This… I think this is a heaven-sent opportunity.】
【China/Bentler: Forming a raid party. Looking for DPS only, so join if you’re interested!】
The players guessed that the monsters’ refusal to attack humans must be some kind of penalty.
If hunting elites or field bosses dropped an unimaginable amount of loot, what would a Disaster-class monster yield?
Unable to contain their greed, the Chinese faction scraped together as many damage dealers as they could and attacked the Flower Elves. The rest was predictable.
“…I was already enduring this rotten stench. You don’t know your place!”
“Lady Rayleese. We will handle them.”
For the sensitive Flower Elves, the air in China was unbearable.
They didn't manage nature; they burned it for fuel.
Having provoked the Flower Elves, who were already displeased by the lack of respect for plants, the outcome was bound to be gruesome.
*Swish— Swiiish—!*
“Kegh!”
“Gah-heok!”
They attacked by whipping the thorny vines that grew from their bodies.
Though it seemed a rather simple attack, befitting their high level and Disaster-class status, the destructive power of the thorny vines was beyond imagination.
They dealt with the three hundred or so confidently gathered players right then and there.
“Truly a disgusting lot. To defile nature to this extent.”
“It’s because they don’t understand the value of nature.”
Elves dreamed of living in harmony with nature.
While this was true for most elves, Flower Elves had an even deeper emotional connection to the natural world.
It wasn't that they grew plants on their bodies;
the Flower Elves themselves were conceptually the same as plants.
Perhaps it was due to this trait?
“Oh, to think such a land existed in this world!”
“S-such immense energy.”
The power of the World Tree, felt the moment they entered the Korean server.
The reaction of the Flower Elves as they embraced the World Tree's bountiful welcome was a world apart from their time in China.
“The nature here is so beautiful.”
“I think this place is even better than our old home.”
As if they had never been ferocious, the Flower Elves became as gentle as lambs, photosynthesizing in the sun.
Rayleese wanted to bask in this feeling of oneness for longer, but she checked the treasure item that was sending signals from her body.
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[Solar Flower (★★★★★+) - Treasure]
* Type: Special Object
* Effect: When planted in the ground, it absorbs the power of the sun, imbuing the soil with its energy. (Can be accelerated by soil condition and additional effects.)
* Effect - Retrieve (Active): Retrieves the planted Solar Flower. It will return to its bound owner regardless of its location. However, upon retrieval, the sun's power imbued in the soil will be rapidly lost. (Mana Cost: 1,000 / Cooldown: 30 days)
* Effect - Power of the Sun (Passive): Increases the growth rate of all vegetation within a 100km ~ ∞ radius and creates special crops imbued with the sun's power. The area of effect changes depending on the surrounding environment.
* Effect - Solar Essence (Passive): Strengthens the attack and defense of solar crops located near the Solar Flower.
* Durability: ∞ / ∞
* Description: A ★★★★★+ grade Treasure that holds the power of the sun. When activated, it absorbs the power of the sun and imbues it into the soil.
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The Solar Flower.
It received direct power from the sun, the most crucial element for plants, and transmitted that power to countless plants over a wide area.
For the Flower Elves, whose bodies coexisted with plants, it was a treasure that boasted the absolute best performance.
“Yes, it seems you too wish to grow in that place. Very well, let us hurry.”
The World Tree, the Tree of Life.
Answering the call that had beckoned them from afar, the Flower Elves proceeded toward their new home with even lighter steps.
* * * * *
“This energy… It seems our brethren have arrived.”
“Would you be willing to accept them?”
Was there some kind of connection between elves?
After the scout bees made their discovery, Greendale and Leon came to Seong-hyeok with a request.
No, to be blunt, it wasn't even a request.
Any forest race that had come this far would have been influenced by the Hidden Piece, the Tree of Life.
“If they can help the farm, then I should be the one asking.”
Even if they were Disaster-class monsters, as long as they were friendly entities and not enemies, Seong-hyeok had no reason to refuse, having already realized the overwhelming impact the two elves had on both combat and production.
“Thank you truly, companion.”
“I am glad to know there are humans with whom one can converse. I will consider you an eternal friend.”
Yet, as if moved by his decision, the two High Elves expressed their gratitude repeatedly.
“May I come along?”
“Allow us to accompany you.”
“Alright. Let’s go together.”
Seong-hyeok had no reason to refuse their offer to help welcome the Flower Elves.
Even though he had earned the achievement ‘Druid of the Forest,’ Seong-hyeok was, at his core, a human.
He had already learned from the two previous encounters that elves weren't particularly fond of humans.
“Having two High Elves with me is reassuring.”
“You flatter us.”
“I know my friend is strong without needing to fight him.”
The keen eye of a Disaster-class boss monster.
Even without fighting, they could recognize the strength of the close-combat master beekeeper.
On the surface, he was an ordinary human beekeeper.
Nothing more, nothing less. But they knew instinctively that facing him would be dangerous.
Bzzzz~
Buzzzzzzz~
In any case, accompanied by the bees that were the foundation of his current existence, Seong-hyeok soon arrived at his destination.
Unlike the two Poison and Holy elves, the Flower Elves had a very unique appearance, and their attitude upon meeting Seong-hyeok was starkly different from his previous encounters.
“…A human?”
“Why is a creature like you in this place?”
Aggression was palpable from the very first meeting.
But Seong-hyeok wasn't scared or intimidated; he was calm.
After all…
“Because this is my farm.”
The reason was incredibly simple.
This land was, first and foremost, Seong-hyeok's property.
Though it was growing faster than before thanks to Yeon Su-hee's World Tree and the help of other forest races, none of it would have existed without the bees that started it all.
Bzzzzing~
Bwoooong~
As if they knew this themselves, the swarm of bees proudly wiggled their behinds at Seong-hyeok’s words.
“Sister. I understand how you feel, but put away your hostility. If you cross the line any further, we will have no choice but to consider you an enemy.”
“If you do not wish to join this faction, then leave.”
When the two High Elves who had accompanied him added their pressure, the Flower Elves naturally felt intimidated.
However, they couldn't just back down, having already tasted the addictive power of the World Tree.
“To build our home on human land is…”
The pride of being a Flower Elf versus the racial desire to settle here.
Caught between these two choices, what finally swayed the Flower Elves’ hearts was neither the human Seong-hyeok nor the High Elves.
“Huh? Hey, guys?”
Bzzzzing~
Buzzzzzzzz!
Ignoring Seong-hyeok’s call, the bees flew dreamily as if intoxicated by a floral scent.
The tiny creatures approached an unexpected target to collect honey.
[Ruby Gem Scout Bee (★★★-) has made contact with a Flower Elf (★★★★★). Growth is promoted, and nutrients are slightly increased.]
[Peridot Worker Bee (★★+) has made contact with a Flower Elf (★★★★★). Growth is promoted, and nutrients are slightly increased.]
[Imperial Topaz Silkworm Bee (★★★-) has made contact with the Flower High Elf Rayleese (★★★★★+). Growth is promoted, and nutrients are slightly increased.]
…….
“Wh-what are you do—eek!”
“……”
It was the Flower Elves themselves.
Landing on the flowers blooming on their shoulders and heads, the bees showed off their adorable behinds and greedily sought out the honey.
It was a truly absurd situation.
But the surprises didn't end there.
[High-purity honey has been collected. Flower Honey has the potential to affect the aging process.]
[The honey storage of the Ruby Gem Honey Pot Bee (★★★-) is now full.]
[The honey storage of the Diamond Geumgang-scale-lisk Legion Commander Bee (★★★★★) is now full.]
“Oh?”
The potential for a new type of honey, following Spore Honey and World Tree Honey.
And on top of that, the merit of filling their massive honey storage capacity.
“…It seems I’m the one who needs to ask a favor now.”
A symbiosis between the bees and the Flower Elves.
Thanks to this incredible benefit, the tables had well and truly turned.
* * * * *
“Do not misunderstand, human. We decided to belong here for the bees, not for you.”
“Suit yourself.”
The Flower Elves possessed a pride as high as a mountain, still refusing to acknowledge him.
But even they couldn't resist the bees' charms.
Bzzzzing~
Bzzzz~
At the sight of the approaching, wiggling bees, the fierce expressions of the Flower Elves quickly softened.
“Ahem. Hello there.”
“Come here, little one.”
The special nature of the Flower Elf race was still a mystery.
Well, honestly, while it was fascinating, he wasn't particularly curious.
“What’s important is that they’re helping the bees.”
In the end, what mattered was that honey was gathered faster and the bees were happy.
The Flower Elves' existence was more than justified by that alone!
‘Of course, I never expected this at all.’
Furthermore, the changes brought by the Flower Elves’ arrival weren't limited to the farm's environment.
This was a bizarre world where game systems applied.
Moreover, the gathering of not one, but three factions of Disaster-class boss monsters that appeared with the Chapter #3 update produced an unexpected result.
[Special Situation, you have met the condition for a Great Disaster. -> Alliance of 3 or more Disaster-class boss monsters]