Chapter 126
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 126
Chapter Title: The Power of Public Opinion
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The current state of Gimpo Airport, where only rubble remained in place of buildings.
Although they had acted as swiftly as possible after hearing the news from Jeongrichung, monsters did not wait for anyone.
On top of that, with the interference from the group of villains, the current situation was far from favorable.
“Ugh…”
“Over here! Bring potions! Quickly!”
“I’m on my way!”
Agonized screams and urgent voices echoed from all corners of the tented area.
The place was filled with those injured from the bloody battle against the Ancient Troll.
“…It looks serious.”
The atmosphere was completely different from Seong-hyeok’s beekeeping life in the forest.
How should I put it?
It felt as if they were living in a world of a different genre.
If Seong-hyeok was filming a slice-of-life healing story, the world outside was an apocalypse.
It was, in every sense, the end of the world itself.
“That may be, but you don’t need to worry too much. This is a common sight in the world today. And this case was quite unique. It was a battle against a Disaster-class monster, after all.”
“I suppose that’s true.”
Even considering the variable of a ‘disaster,’ the situation was grave.
The state of those groaning in pain with severed limbs was pitiable at a glance.
Of course, that didn’t mean Seong-hyeok had to take care of all of them.
They were complete strangers he had never met before.
Moreover, Seong-hyeok was no philanthropist, nor did he have any reason to represent the country.
Even before this chaotic world began, he was just one of many citizens, an orphan with no parents.
“I can’t take care of everything, but let’s help a little.”
However, those with power are bound to bear the weight that comes with it.
“If that is your will, Honeybee, then I have no objections. In that case, would it be alright if I film your good deeds as well?”
“Please do. Make sure it helps the apiary.”
“Leave it to me!”
But as is always the case, nothing in life is free.
Publicizing good deeds was another form of image marketing.
* * * * *
The Ancient Troll boasted a physique incomparable to that of a human.
No matter how they attacked with groups and weapons, the price they paid was excruciating.
“Aaaargh!”
A shoulder completely crushed by the monster’s attack, as if hit by a car.
The pain emanating from it was far beyond imagination.
*I’d rather just pass out!*
The feeling of not wanting to die but wishing to faint to escape the pain.
Medics were administering potions beside him, but due to the severity of the injury and the lack of supply, the effect was minimal.
An eternity of pain felt in a fleeting moment.
In this maddening situation, a change occurred in an instant.
*Bzzzz~*
*Bzzzzz~*
The sound of flapping wings drilled into his ear.
Could another monster have appeared?
The injured man, startled, looked up, and what he saw was a mystical bee engraved with a blue, star-like pattern.
“S-Stop! N-Noooo!”
The sight of such a creature approaching with its stinger glistening was the very definition of terror.
But unable to properly react due to his injuries, he could only feel the sensation of the stinger piercing his skin.
“…Huh?”
It felt like a syringe being plunged deep into him.
A sensation most living creatures detested.
But what was this?
Contrary to his expectation of excruciating pain, what followed was nothing short of a ‘miracle.’
“M-My body is moving?”
His crushed shoulder was moving just as he willed it.
No matter how much power humans had gained through the game system, it was an impossible feat considering the state of his injury.
But the miracle didn't end there.
*Bzzzz!*
*Bzzzzzzzz~!!!*
One by one, the bees began to gather.
A single bee might seem small and insignificant, but when their numbers reached the thousands, or tens of thousands, it was a different story.
Furthermore, the bees hadn't come empty-handed.
“H-Honey tea!”
“They’re Honeybee’s bees!”
“T-Thank you!”
Despite their small bodies, the swarms of bees cooperated to carry and sprinkle processed honey products.
Additionally, the healing-venom bees moved busily, using their healing venom until their mana was depleted.
“My arm! My arm is moving!”
“Sob! Thank you, thank you so much, bees!”
“Long live Honeybee!”
One by one, the injured began to regain their strength and rise.
The scene, once filled with pain and groans, instantly began to fill with cheers of hope and joy.
It was a situation that could only be described as a miracle.
“…I don’t know if this was intentional, but this will make for a great angle.”
And in this apocalyptic, chaotic world, such an event held significant commercial value.
Jeongrichung, who was no rookie and now a big name on the community boards, saw the sharp angle.
He was certain that the video he was shooting now would be just as popular as the raid footage.
“Seriously, anything related to Honeybee is a piece of cake to get into the Top Posts.”
Furthermore, if things went as expected, shaping a positive public opinion about the apiary would be instantaneous.
Just think about it.
A being who appears swiftly when the nation is in crisis, deals with the source of the problem, and even handles the cleanup perfectly.
If this wasn't a hero, who could be called one?
“I’m curious to see what happens next.”
The outcome when all the recorded footage was uploaded.
But could Jeongrichung, let alone Seong-hyeok, have possibly predicted it?
“The bees are divine fairies!”
“Ah…”
*Benefactor’s Imprint: Those who have received your help will never forget your good deeds.*
The fanatical devotion to the bees, brought about by Seong-hyeok's title, the Provider.
Just what kind of impact it would have in the future.
* * * * *
There's a reason the term "guaranteed box-office hit" exists.
Honeybee’s raid, which had garnered immense interest and was instantly featured in the Top Posts as a live, standalone video even without prior context.
The reaction to the full, readily available version of that video was a foregone conclusion.
【Korea/No.1_Attention_Whore: Yo yo! Honeybee’s full video is up! It’s in the Top Posts, so check it out if you’re curious lol】
【Korea/AlphaFemale: The bee butts are in it too, so no one’s gonna skip this!】
【Korea/Explosion_Is_Art: fr lol】
The video once again electrified the world, spreading like wildfire.
A Disaster-class boss monster, possessing size and power incomparable to ordinary players.
The sight of Honeybee single-handedly facing a creature that would normally require hundreds, if not thousands, to risk their lives to raid, and ultimately achieving victory, was more than enough to stun the world.
【India/LiveByCurryDieByCurry: Wow, is that really the same species as me?】
【Switzerland/Nickelodeon: Can people in Asia really be that strong? For real?】
【USA/Freljord: Assuming the video isn't fake, I don't think anyone can argue that this being is the strongest among humans.】
The strongest of humanity—a term one could dare to use.
If this title wasn't given to someone who could solo-raid a Disaster-class monster, who else could be called humanity's strongest?
Honeybee’s fame grew endlessly.
But becoming famous is not always a good thing.
【UK/Lady_Shoming: So what? Isn't that guy a total scumbag?】
【France/Dingor: How petty can you be to refuse to sell something just because of one comment? He doesn't even think about the people who will die because of that decision.】
【Germany/Himis: He was selling them at ridiculously high prices anyway. It’s a hundred times better to just buy potions from alchemists.】
Jealousy, an emotion that all humans possess to some degree.
It was inevitable that some would harbor ill feelings toward Honeybee, who alone possessed a power they could never have.
But their jealousy did not last long.
【Thailand/Chingchingkap: Huh? There’s another Honeybee video?】
【Uzbekistan/Ors: Holy crap, is this for real?】
Another video had been uploaded.
What it contained was, in part, related to the raid.
【Korea/Green_Bean: Honeybee-nim is a true saint, I tell you.】
It was footage of Seong-hyeok generously providing processed honey products to the injured and using his bees’ healing abilities to help them.
They say no one is perfect, but to possess both power and wealth and use them to help the wounded was no easy feat.
After all, the world was now an apocalypse.
In this world on the brink of collapse, where death could come at any moment, acts of kindness were a rare find.
【Russia/Merodis: Ha! It's just a fake act for show, isn't it?】
【Germany/Frankin: I can put on a hypocritical show like that too.】
Of course, some accused him of just trying to manage his image, but that was only for a moment.
【Korea/Commander_Kim_Gichan: This is the army's chief commander who was on-site during the recent raid incident. I can confirm that the video is entirely true, with no falsehoods whatsoever.】
【Japan/Nin-nin: Considering the natural recovery Honeybee gave us, it definitely seems to be true.】
【North Korea/Comrade_Ra_Jinseok: He and his bees helped us a lot when we in the North were struggling, too.】
…
With on-site verification and the server purifications Honeybee had previously conducted in Japan and North Korea.
The cases where he had saved those groaning in pain from radiation had occurred on a ‘server-wide’ scale, meaning there were too many witnesses for anyone to refute the claims any longer.
And this put a certain group in a difficult position.
“…This is a complete disaster.”
“To think we can't even beat him with a PR war. What the hell has this guy been doing?”
The European Union, which had intended to slander Honeybee by any means necessary.
Contrary to their expectations, the image Honeybee had unknowingly built up over time was not something that could be easily torn down by a war of public opinion.
But could they defeat him with force?
Their answer to that question had changed a full 180 degrees from their previous confidence.
“If the PR war doesn’t work, how about we just overwhelm him with numbers?”
“No matter how strong he is, he’s still just one person. We have many powerful unique class holders on our side, so crushing him should be no problem.”
“And who will bear the losses? Who would willingly step up to face a monster like that?”
“You’re right, I wouldn’t volunteer either. I’d rather go on a Disaster-class raid.”
The fact that he had faced a Disaster-class boss monster alone and won was synonymous with him being far stronger than a Disaster-class monster.
Though it was not yet widely known, the European Union had already succeeded in several Disaster-class raids, so they had no doubt about how powerful such a being was.
“At the next auction. Let’s try to open a dialogue.”
“What do you mean…!”
It wasn't just Honeybee's military and financial power; having experienced the purchase restriction, the European Union felt the impact most keenly.
“To survive, we absolutely need the processed honey products. This is no time to be concerned with pride. Bowing our heads to a powerhouse of that caliber… is not such a high price to pay.”
“…That’s true.”
Honeybee.
The true trump card Seong-hyeok held was, in the end, his processed honey products.
To ensure they wouldn't lose access to what would become an essential potion in the increasingly perilous world, the European Union decided to swallow its pride.