Chapter 124
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 124
Chapter Title: The Raid Begins
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【Honeybee: ...So you're telling me those things have already slaughtered over 2,700 players?】
【Jeongrichung: Yes. It's not confirmed, but if anything, the number is likely higher, not lower. You can tell just by looking at them; their appetites are no joke.】
Even if they were strangers, Seong-hyeok was still human.
Besides, weren't they fellow Koreans, born and raised on the same land?
Having known nothing but bees, he had little in the way of patriotism, but one tends to favor their own.
Seong-hyeok decided to subjugate the creature.
【Jeongrichung: An excellent decision. If you make a strong showing by subjugating it this time, you'll be able to build a good public image as well.】
At the end of the day, Seong-hyeok, the beekeeper, was a merchant of sorts, selling processed honey products.
From the seller's perspective, it was naturally better to have more buyers.
In other words, the more survivors, the better.
Furthermore, in all matters, cultivating a certain 'image' was also critically important.
Honey sold by a beekeeper fighting for his country would surely see a boost in sales speed and price.
Moreover, Seong-hyeok decided to add another ingredient to the image he would build through this subjugation.
【Honeybee: If possible, I want you to broadcast the scene of my subjugation to the entire world.】
【Jeongrichung: What? Th-that would be great for me, but wouldn't important combat-related information be spread as well?】
【Honeybee: It doesn't matter. In fact, that's what I'm aiming for.】
Seong-hyeok was currently at odds with the European Union.
It went without saying that while premium products like processed honey and financial power were major deterrents to war, the greatest deterrent was, of course, military strength.
‘Even if the world has changed, the difference in power can't be ignored.’
Beyond just humans, it was a truth held by most sentient races: the strong prey on the weak, and the weak yield to the strong.
It was the way of the world to take everything you could get.
Business and military might.
A perfect win-win that helped both, killing two birds with one stone.
But Seong-hyeok's gains weren't limited to just these.
‘Whatever comes out of it, I’ll be getting one more Treasure item from this subjugation.’
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[Treasure Fragment of the Mud Giant (★★★★★+)]
* Classification: Miscellaneous
※ Combined Treasure: When combined with another treasure fragment, it will create one random Treasure item. However, the type of completed Treasure item will change depending on which treasure fragment is used as the base.
* Description: A treasure fragment from the ★★★★★+ grade Mud Giant, Salamet. It contains a powerful force and will be reborn as a single Treasure item when combined with another treasure fragment.
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A Disaster-class boss monster was the very definition of high risk, high return.
As it was a foe of such immense difficulty that one couldn't easily challenge it, the spoils from its defeat would surely possess a value beyond imagination.
Of course, betting one's life was no easy decision, but the first time is always the hardest.
And hadn't Seong-hyeok already faced a monster of that caliber alone once before?
"It'll be easier this time."
No matter how fast a Disaster-class boss monster grew, time was ultimately on the beekeeper's side.
"Dimensional Beehive."
*Bzzzzzz~*
With the skill's activation, two million bees seeped into the Dimensional Beehive.
And was that all?
"I'll finally get to taste it on this occasion."
Murion's Blue Velvet Antler Honey, a delicacy he had saved because its effects were too powerful to use lightly.
He felt a surge of joy at the thought of finally savoring its flavor.
*Buzzzzzzzzzzz~*
He went outside, feeling as if he were on a picnic with his bees.
* * * * *
The ability to fly through the sky.
The advantages it offered were clear.
[Player discovered!]
[Player discovered!]
[Player discovered!]
[Monster discovered!]
….
It was a power like clairvoyance, allowing one to see far and wide, regardless of distance or obstacles.
Thanks to his scout bees, which provided real-time updates on the situation, Seong-hyeok was able to reach a quick conclusion.
"They're all pretty capable."
Did they understand the gravity of a Disaster-class monster?
An encirclement had been formed with the appropriate responses from Korea's most renowned players.
On top of that, soldiers armed with powerful modern weaponry had joined the fray.
It seemed they had managed to 'itemize' them to some extent as their levels rose.
The concentrated fire from tanks and machine guns was making a significant contribution to stopping the advance of the Ancient Trolls.
However, their efforts were only enough to prevent more casualties.
"Their attack power can't overwhelm its regeneration, huh."
Trolls possessed an incredible regenerative ability.
What's more, these weren't just any trolls; they were 'Ancient Trolls'.
Even if a part of their body was blown off, it would quickly return to its original state with a squirming mass of flesh.
Furthermore, wherever people gathered, there were bound to be troublemakers.
Among the many players, some had gathered with a goal other than subjugating the Ancient Trolls.
"What are those crazy bastards doing?"
They were people using the Disaster-class monster to attack other players.
They were the Villains, distinguished by their bright red marks.
* * * * *
The Mark of the Villain.
In this world of survival of the fittest, it was a topic that never failed to spark controversy on the community forums.
(It's okay to kill monsters, but killing humans makes you a villain? What kind of twisted logic is that? Isn't being a villain part of the system too?)
(You idiot. Do you become a villain just for killing someone? There are conditions, like level differences and self-defense. Becoming a villain even with those in place means you're just that malicious.)
There were arguments for and against the existence of Villains.
Both sides had valid points, but as the counterargument suggested, the Villain system was a necessary measure.
If its penalties were reduced, high-level rankers could indiscriminately slaughter the weak.
And as if to prove that the vast majority of people viewed Villains unfavorably, their actions were enough to make any onlooker frown.
"Gah!"
"Dammit! Block it!"
"You sons of bitches! We're supposed to be working together right now!"
"Bullshit. You think I'd miss an opportunity like this?"
"Heh heh. Exactly. We'll just carefully pick off you righteous hypocrites first, then emigrate somewhere else."
Selfishness is a trait all humans possess.
The only problem was that while most people had a 'line' they wouldn't cross, Villains did not.
They were monsters who could laugh as they trampled over the corpses of others to get ahead.
Wasn't it obvious just by looking at the current situation?
"Th-they're breaking through!"
"Tsk, tsk. Pathetic. How are you breaking already?"
"You... you pieces of trash!"
They weighed the lives of others as mere spoils of war.
In a way, they were more vicious than the monsters themselves.
Even though their interference in checking the Ancient Trolls had led to this disaster, they didn't bother with cleaning up the mess. Instead, they were busy fleeing, feigning ignorance.
"We'll make good use of the loot you leave behind when you die."
"Heh heh. Let's see you hold out."
The Villains employed hit-and-run guerilla tactics, quickly striking and retreating as if this too were part of their plan.
However, there was one thing they hadn't accounted for.
*Bzzzzzz~*
*BZZZZZZZZZZ-!!!*
With the release of the Dimensional Beehive, a swarm of two million bees instantly filled the sky.
The Villains' reaction to witnessing this was simple.
"I-it's Honeybee!"
"Dammit! Scatter and run!"
Was it the Villain way to toss aside any sense of camaraderie?
They scattered in all directions, fleeing for their lives.
But Seong-hyeok was not about to let them go so easily.
"Where do you think you're going?"
As long as they were alive, they would be a poison to Korea, not a help.
Having fully adapted to this chaotic new world, Seong-hyeok felt not a shred of mercy.
*Stab— Puncture—!*
"Guooorgh!"
"Kh-khak!"
Those who died instantly from a bee sting to the forehead or through the ear could be considered lucky.
Why?
"Gggk!"
"H-help me..."
"My body feels like it's on fire! Please, please just kill me!"
The bee stings were coated in the bees' potent venom.
Compounded by Seong-hyeok's innate thirst for knowledge inherited from the Mad Inquirer, those poisoned were in a state of living death.
*Scratch, scratch, scratch-!!!*
*Bubble, bubble---*
Their fingernails were broken from frantically clawing at the ground, and their mouths were full of foam.
Just by looking at the blackened blood flowing from their seven orifices, one could imagine how ravaged their insides must be.
But Seong-hyeok had long since stopped paying attention to those who would meet their end on their own.
"Kwoooaaar!!!"
The people had been moments away from being torn to shreds.
After saving them in the nick of time and dealing with the Ancient Troll, Seong-hyeok summoned his elite bees.
"Prioritize your own safety while dealing with the Ancient Trolls, and don't hesitate to give processed goods to anyone in bad shape."
*Bzzz!*
*Buzzz!*
Since he had already decided to build his image, he might as well go all out.
Seong-hyeok had brought plenty of items helpful for restoring vitality, like honey tea and honey wine, when he brought the bees into the Dimensional Beehive, and he spared no expense in providing both combat and support.
"Th-thank you!"
"We will never forget this kindness, Honeybee-nim!"
"Thank you, little bees."
"I-I'm not a villain! Please! Huh? It doesn't hurt at all?"
The bees scattered in all directions, diligently performing their roles.
The elite bees led the charge against the Ancient Trolls, with worker bees following close behind to assist. Meanwhile, Healing Venom bees and other workers sought out the critically injured, diligently treating the wounded like medics.
"They're angels."
"No. They're fairies!"
The sight of them wiggling their plump bottoms as they healed people made them seem like healing fairies to the onlookers.
Seong-hyeok's heart yearned to be surrounded by the bees and receive some healing himself, but sadly, now was not the time.
As he dealt with the Ancient Trolls one by one, he naturally pushed deeper into their territory.
It was plain to see who was at the center of it all.
[Ancient Troll King Kurarara Lv. 50 (★★★★★+)] - Disaster-class Boss Monster
The Ancient Troll King, boasting a height of 10 meters, just as he had first seen in the video.
"Kwoooaaar-!!!"
"You have a special talent for being repulsive."
The creature, which stood at least six times Seong-hyeok's height, let out a roar at him, its mouth dripping with viscous saliva.
Unlike the bees, which brought a smile to one's face just by looking at them, this thing exuded a stench that could make one's nose rot.
"Strong human. Become meat and become my strength!"
"Stop your noisy chatter and come at me already."
This was a raid, the final objective of his outing.
【Honeybee: From now on, don't miss a single frame. Focus and record everything.】
【Jeongrichung: B-be careful! If you die, Honeybee-nim, we all die!】
With the information team filming nearby, Seong-hyeok officially began the hunt.