Chapter 127
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 127
Chapter Title: The Honeybee Examiners
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The law of the jungle, where might makes right.
Was it a product of this apocalyptic world?
Regardless of race or nationality, the community forums always had a hot-button topic of debate.
(Who is the strongest superhuman in the world?)
A primal question born of curiosity.
Naturally, most people nominated the rankers from their own countries.
Unless you were a complete sociopath, you were part of a server.
In other words, belonging to a country meant that a bit of national pride was bound to surface.
That was why at first,
when 'Honeybee' became known to the world with the Chapter #4 update, he wasn't considered much of a powerhouse.
【Russia/Blackjic: Honeybee? He's just a production class that controls bees. Isn't a 5-star unique combat class stronger?】
Combat class and production class.
Two types that were fundamentally different from birth in how they grew.
In fact, there had even been a case where a 4-star unique class blacksmith, fully equipped with gear he'd crafted himself, lost to a mere 3-star combat class. What more needed to be said?
【USA/Dejet: It’s the swarms of bees that are scary, his personal strength is probably nothing special lol】
【USA/Showmeiris: Without the bees, that Asian guy is just trash. Just set the stage. I’ll prove it myself.】
These were the people who ran their mouths, hoping to steal some of the immense fame Honeybee had acquired.
But as they say, there's an exception to every rule.
After a video was released showing Honeybee fighting a disaster-class boss monster single-handedly, without the help of his bees, public opinion around the world shifted in an instant.
【Korea/ToughGal: I heard there were people who dissed my Honeybee oppa? Where are you? Huh? You wanna get spanked by a bee’s butt?】
【Korea/FastFeet: The person who called Honeybee trash has been identified as America's 3rd-ranked player, Showmeiris…….】
【USA/Showmeiris: I-I'm sorry. I'll keep my head down and reflect for a while.】
Overwhelming power that made even a ranker apologize publicly!
Of course, even with the video evidence, rumors that it was faked were still rampant, but there was one thing that completely demolished their claims.
[The Treasure item, Origin of Regeneration (★★★★★+), has been revealed. Current Owner: Korea/Honeybee]
Before the video was posted.
The news of Honeybee acquiring a Treasure item had been announced to all players.
Was there any better proof against claims that the raid was staged?
“Ugh, so annoying! Seong-hyeok oppa, can't you just teach them all a lesson?”
“If you stepped in, I bet they'd all shut up.”
Well, despite that, the claims of it being staged or him being gear-carried, and so on, continued.
The endless talk made Kang Yeon-ah and Kang Cheon-su fume.
[The Transcendent Being, Insect Queen Nainkito, glares at the rebellion of lesser beings.]
[The Transcendent Being, The Patient Sion, says he can no longer be patient.]
[The Transcendent Being, Mad Inquirer Bo, suggests capturing them all and using them as test subjects.]
...
And even with the Transcendent Beings chiming in, Seong-hyeok paid them no mind.
“I don't have enough time to waste convincing those who won't believe even after seeing this much.”
He had already spent enough time on the image-building he had planned.
Right now, Seong-hyeok's top priority was the beekeeping work he couldn't do while he was away.
“You just came back from a raid. Aren't you tired?”
“Can't you tell by looking? I'm perfectly fine.”
Seong-hyeok casually showed off the stamina that came from his high durability, leaving Cheon-su speechless.
Finding the sight absurd, the siblings simply burst out laughing.
“...That's so like you, hyung-nim.”
“Is it just oppa? Look at those bees over there. Those little guys never seem to get tired.”
*Bzzz~*
*Buzzzzz~*
As if to prove that Seong-hyeok wasn't the only one obsessed with work.
The moment they were released from the Dimensional Beehive, a festival of bees began, tirelessly wiggling their behinds as they flew toward the flowers.
Just as the saying goes, time is gold.
One beekeeper and his countless bees, as always, paid no mind to what others said.
*Buzzzzzzz~*
Just as they were about to carry on with their assigned tasks.
[Player discovered!]
[Player discovered!]
[Player discovered!]
...
“Damn, it's not even easy to get some work done.”
The notifications rang out ceaselessly.
[Due to a high Reconnaissance level, you have identified the opponent's precise information.]
[Oh Ji-tae, Lv. 28 (Not an evildoer)]
[Lee Seol-hyun, Lv. 27 (Not an evildoer)]
[Kim Ah-in, Lv. 22 (Not an evildoer)]
[Sendo Akira, Lv. 41 (Not an evildoer)]
Information sent by the recon bees.
From Koreans to a high-level Japanese player.
The reason for these uninvited guests' visit was painfully obvious.
“I expected this, but their reaction is really fast.”
Just as bees gather to flowers,
it was only natural for people to gather where there was power.
The many people who had come to Seong-hyeok's beekeeping farm were those who hoped to become residents.
* * * * *
“I... I'm going to try to get into Honeybee's shelter.”
“Are you saying you're going to abandon this shelter?”
“Boss. Think about it. This place might be safe for now, but will it be next time? Can you guarantee we can survive if a disaster-class monster attacks?”
“...”
As they say, people gather where there is power.
Abundant resources and the wealth that came from them, all thanks to the bees.
On top of that, he now possessed what could be considered the most important thing of all: military might.
Hadn't Honeybee's very existence become a rallying point for people?
“You know the exact location, right?”
“Of course.”
“Alright. We're dead either way, so we might as well give it a shot.”
Full of spirit, a procession of countless players made their way to Seong-hyeok's beekeeping farm, where the World Tree stood.
However, what greeted these hopeful travelers were bees reacting with aggressive hostility.
“H-How are we supposed to get in there?”
“Hey guys, could you maybe let us in?”
“We can't kill them since they're Honeybee's bees. This is driving me crazy.”
*BZZZZZZZZZ!!!*
The bees beat their wings, ready to charge without hesitation at the slightest sign of approach.
Besides, they weren't enemies but prospective residents, so attacking the bees was out of the question.
“Did we come all this way just to turn back...”
“They definitely won't take us back at the shelter. Haaa!”
Stuck between a rock and a hard place, they couldn't take a single step into the forest.
But perhaps, as if by a stroke of heavenly luck,
they sensed a presence from deep within the forest.
The players cheered at the sight of Honeybee appearing, riding on his bear.
The joy of potentially joining the safest shelter there was.
But contrary to their expectations, the response they received was cold.
“You should leave now. If you approach any further, I will consider you enemies.”
“...”
Such an icy reaction.
And at the same time, it was terrifying.
The man who had single-handedly raided and defeated a disaster-class monster.
Frankly, it was a no-brainer what would happen if such a being decided to attack them.
But perhaps the vague reality of the future was more frightening than the immediate terror before them.
“C-Could you please at least take our child? If you need coins, I'll give you my entire fortune.”
“I'm a 3-star unique combat class. If you let me in, I promise I'll do my best to help!”
“I...”
As if they couldn't back down.
They began to promote themselves or appeal to his sympathy.
He wasn't without sympathy for their plight, but all their numerous pleas were refuted by Seong-hyeok's single question.
“What do I stand to gain by accepting you?”
“W-Well...”
After all, it was Seong-hyeok who had successfully soloed a disaster-class raid.
He was even the one who practically swept the auction house clean every week.
Whether in terms of power or wealth, there was nothing they could say that would be a benefit to him.
“...”
Their mouths were shut tight, as if the cat had gotten their tongues.
Normally, Seong-hyeok would have dismissed these complete strangers without much thought, but things were different now.
“You don't need to pay your life savings to become a resident.”
As mentioned before, the bees had their role, and the residents had roles that only they could fulfill.
As was clear from the current progress, honey production would continue to rise steeply as more bees were born.
No matter how top-tier Seong-hyeok's beekeeping skills were, there would inevitably be a limit. Moreover, bees couldn't construct buildings or lay down railway tracks.
They could enrich the forest, but building infrastructure was impossible for them.
In the end, for Seong-hyeok, a human, to coexist with bees, the presence of other humans was also indispensable.
'The speed at which the territory is expanding has long since surpassed my expectations.'
Furthermore, as the territory grew larger, 700 people were gradually becoming insufficient, both for combat and production roles.
Of course, that didn't mean he had any intention of letting residents join for free.
'I have to make it so they're the ones who want to come, not that I'm the one who wants them.'
The one in power and the one subordinate.
In truth, while it was just a simple distinction, the difference in influence it created was incomparable.
Securing absolute authority over the bees—his number one priority, which others might find strange.
To that end, Seong-hyeok offered just one condition to the despairing crowd.
“If you truly want to become residents, then you must be acknowledged. By the honeybees right here.”
“...Excuse me?”
A decision from Seong-hyeok, who lived for, died for, and was crazy about his bees.
And so, the role of judging the residents fell not to Seong-hyeok,
*Bzzz~*
*Bzzzz~!*
but to the butt-wiggling honeybee officials.
* * * * *
【Korea/FastFeet: Honeybee's second resident recruitment notice! Those who want to join the master of disaster-class raids, hurry up!】
【Korea/Bilgewater: Huh? Is that for real?】
【Korea/Jeongrichung: I've confirmed it, and it's true. The post is up, so you can go check it out.】
The presence of the intel team, perfectly stirring up the hype.
People went wild over the news brought by the team whose posts were always busy becoming BEST posts the moment they were written.
(Honeybee is recruiting residents!!!)
Ever since this bizarre world came to be,
a shelter was an element directly linked to survival.
Because of that, shelters usually looked at the uniqueness of one's class and other factors.
To become a resident of a high-tier shelter, one often had to go through an interview process so rigorous it would put major corporations to shame.
Naturally, one would expect that only the absolute top-tier players could get into Honeybee's beekeeping farm, which was currently revered as the safest zone.
But what was this?
The actual content of Honeybee's post was nothing short of shocking.
【Korea/Honeybee: We are once again recruiting residents to join our shelter.】
- Hello. This is Honeybee. This time, we are recruiting for all positions, not just blacksmiths.
As before, food and materials for crafting gear will be provided free of charge. We also occasionally provide support in the form of royal jelly pills and propolis cosmetics.
However, as we expect a large number of applicants this time, we have decided to make the honeybees our recruitment officers.
If you are chosen by a honeybee, you will be accepted regardless of class or nationality (Europe and China excluded), but if you are not chosen, you will have to leave.
P.S. If you cause a scene, I cannot guarantee your life.
/
【Comments (999+...)】
- Korea/OctopusLady: I wonder if honeybees like octopuses?
- Korea/DischargedSergeant: Goddammit! The interviewers are bees. The interviewers are bees!!
- Korea/FinalGate: Just got back, leaving a review. First off, I was accepted as a resident. The bees are incredibly cute.
- Thailand/Levitan: Don't think it's easy to get picked. The number of people who were rejected is huge.
The unprecedented condition of needing a honeybee's approval to be chosen as a resident.
In response, countless people, strong and weak alike, formed a procession heading toward the beekeeping farm.