Chapter 128
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 128
Chapter Title: Festival and an Unexpected Invitation
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As the number of residents grew, it was only natural that more labor was needed for preparations.
Today, in particular, was set to be an even more intense affair, serving as a welcome for the new residents and a festival of sorts to thank the existing ones for their hard work.
“Don’t just stand there gawking! Grab these and get them ready!”
“The whole barbecue is done!”
“Yes, yes! Coming, ladies!”
With more mouths to feed, the food was now being prepared in much larger quantities.
But just because the volume had increased didn’t mean the quality had dropped in the slightest.
[Bountiful World Tree Ginseng Whole Barbecue (★★★+)]
[Bountiful Honey Strawberry Salad (★★★+)]
[Hearty Grandma’s Merin Pork Head Gukbap (★★★+)]
...
These dishes were personally crafted by Yeon Su-hee, the Originator of Abundance, and Lee Yeon-bun, the Master of Pork Head Gukbap.
Moreover, the foundation of any good dish is solid ingredients.
And in that regard, there was no place better than Seong-hyeok’s apiary.
“Ma’am, can I just have one taste?”
“What? You wanna die?”
“The aroma is just so good…”
“You’ll get to eat your fill later, so get a move on!”
The tender, juicy pork, raised on a diet of World Tree ginseng three times a day, exuded a rich, full-bodied fragrance.
And was that all?
Countless honeybees, who could rightly be called the apiary’s finest workers.
The honey they had painstakingly collected from the flowers was incorporated into various dishes, making the meal preparation a continuous symphony of sweetness.
“This is the most agonizing part.”
“Hahaha. Let’s just bear with it a little longer. If we really let loose later, this patience will pay off handsomely.”
“Whew, I never thought I’d resent having more people this much.”
In a way, it wasn’t the hard labor that was difficult.
It was the torture of having one’s appetite stimulated by the aroma of these top-tier dishes.
Normally, they would have picked up their chopsticks by now, but with the population swelling to ten thousand, the work continued unabated.
Thanks to this, the farm’s chefs were gaining a massive amount of experience from completing the dishes, but they were also enduring equally strenuous labor.
Of course, with only about fifty people preparing a meal for ten thousand, it would have been understandable if someone had voiced a complaint, but the chefs’ faces were filled with joyful smiles.
And for good reason…
‘Honey-processed goods are the best bribes.’
For the men, there was honey wine infused with wild honey, a fantastic vitality booster.
For the women, there were soaps and cosmetics made from wild honey, excellent for skin care.
They were already well-acquainted with the effects from previous use, so there was no need for further explanation.
“Once today is over, things will get easier.”
Furthermore, more mouths to feed also meant more hands to work.
Among ten thousand people, there were bound to be a fair number with cooking-related professions. If they were all put to work, it would eventually even out.
“I should just focus on my own work.”
While they were busy, Seong-hyeok couldn’t afford to be idle either.
Having already briefed the queens about the aerial dance, Seong-hyeok immersed himself in turning the honey byproducts piling up in the warehouse into processed goods.
*Bzzzzz—*
The work proceeded, accompanied by the honeybees’ characteristic floral scent and the sweet sound of their fluttering wings.
Time was gold.
The labor churned out processed goods as valuable as gold, and time flowed by relentlessly.
For a moment, he even forgot a festival was being prepared, his hands moving in a repetitive rhythm of creation.
He fell into a sort of trance, quickly depleting the honey byproducts in the warehouse.
*Buzzzzzzz—!!!*
Seven types of honeybees flew to Seong-hyeok’s ear, rousing him from his stupor.
“Oh? Are you all ready, my queens?”
*Buzzz!*
Seven tiny honeybees, each boasting a different color.
They were the stars of the upcoming performance—the queens themselves.
\* \* \* \* \*
Trees flaunting lush leaves and flower buds exuding a fresh fragrance.
And countless swarms of honeybees, wiggling their bottoms ceaselessly as they moved back and forth as if it were their home.
The apiary, owned by Honeybee, was a place where every corner was painted with the beauty of natural scenery.
But even amidst this beauty, there was a true masterpiece.
“...N-no way.”
“Are we really going to be able to live in a place like this from now on?”
“Is this really the same South Korea I used to live in?”
“It’s beautiful.”
It was the space at the heart of the apiary, where the beehives and the World Tree were concentrated.
Alongside the World Tree, which radiated an aura of abundance, newly emerged lifeforms were spreading their wings from within the hives, showing off their adorable forms.
It was a feast for the eyes, a spectacle that could stir the emotions of even the most hardened individual.
But the new residents weren't just looking at the environment.
“Huh? What’s that? Are my eyes playing tricks on me?”
“That over there doesn’t look human.”
“A-a monster! There’s a monster over there!”
[Flower High Elf Rayleese Lv. 50 (★★★★★+)] - Disaster-class Boss Monster
[King of the Blue Antlers, Murion Lv. 50 (★★★★★+)] - Disaster-class Boss Monster
[Blue Antler Warrior Lv. 43 (★★★★★)] - Disaster-class Monster
...
From the very beginning, one of the biggest worries for the new residents had been the monsters of the forest tribes.
The original residents had long since grown accustomed to them, having lived together for quite some time, but for the newcomers who had just arrived from the outside, it was nothing short of a catastrophe.
“Squeak! Squeak-squeak!”
“Aaaah! A rat!”
Moreover, among the forest tribes were not just humanoid demi-humans like elves and the Blue Antler Tribe.
There were also bears, moles, and even giant earthworms(?), so it was expected that chaos would ensue.
Normally, persuasion through dialogue would be the standard approach, but that wasn’t the path Seong-hyeok chose.
“Queens, if you please.”
Sometimes, actions speak louder than words.
Seong-hyeok initiated the aerial dance of the honeybees, the prelude to the festival he had prepared.
*Buzzzzz—*
*Buzzz-buzzz-buzzz—!!!*
The honeybees, having gathered in advance, didn't need to release pheromones.
Like a rainbow appearing after the rain.
A brilliant seven-colored hue filled the sky.
The colors didn’t perfectly match a rainbow, but the unique charm each possessed was more than enough to stir people’s emotions.
“Woooow. It’s so pretty.”
“Honeybees could do something like this?”
“My goodness…”
A visualization of joy.
As if captivated by the colorful display painted across the blue sky canvas.
The new residents couldn’t take their eyes off it.
And it wasn’t just them; even the original residents, who had seen the dance several times, and even…
[The Transcendent Being, Insect Queen Nineto, sheds tears of joy.]
[The Transcendent Being, Insect King Prainto, is satisfied.]
[The Transcendent Being, Great Golden Goblin Lord Macherty, rubs his hands together, remarking on its excellent marketability.]
...
The honeybees possessed a devilish charm that captivated even the Transcendent Beings.
It was a sight one could watch for 24 hours straight without getting bored, but unfortunately, beautiful moments are fleeting.
“You worked hard, everyone. Now, I have a job for you.”
*Buzzzzzzz—*
The very essence of the honeybees, the workers of the forest, was to embark on long journeys in search of flowers.
Expending all their energy on dancing was something the bees themselves would refuse. At Seong-hyeok’s signal, they wiggled their colorful bottoms and dispersed.
“Aww…”
“I wanted to see more.”
“Haha. Those honeybees. They have impeccable timing for leaving you wanting more.”
A sense of disappointment lingered after the dance, which had lifted everyone's spirits, came to an end.
But that feeling was bound to fade quickly.
Didn't they know?
The dance was merely the signal marking the festival's beginning.
With the prelude over, all that remained was to enjoy the festival proper.
“The food’s getting cold, so let’s all eat first and talk later!”
“Honeybee is providing unlimited refills of honey wine and honey tea! Let’s all eat and drink till we drop!”
“Gasp!”
“Wh-what? When did all this food get here?”
Faced with food and desserts that stimulated the appetite, what did it matter that monsters were on the farm?
The name Honeybee carried overwhelming power.
He was someone who had single-handedly defeated even a Disaster-class boss monster. If they were enemies, he would defeat them. If not, they could all get along together.
“Seong-hyeok, you should stop working for today too! Come have a drink!”
“That’s right, boss! You’ve opened up the storehouses, you should enjoy it when you can!”
“Alright, I’m coming.”
The second festival at the apiary, which also served as a welcome for the newcomers.
Thanking the honeybees, who were still hard at work, Seong-hyeok too dived into the blazing festival.
\* \* \* \* \*
Encountering anything for the first time is always new and frightening.
Therefore, it was only natural for people to show aversion to monsters, who were originally beings they fought to the death, but the festival atmosphere was perfect for shattering such preconceptions.
“So, you elves also decided to live here after seeing the honeybees and the World Tree?”
“It's rare to find a place where nature is this alive. To us, anyone who cherishes and loves nature is a friend, even if they are not our kin.”
“...I’m still very much lacking, but I’ll be in your care.”
Some cautiously began to mingle with the other races.
“The flower in your hair is so pretty!”
“For a human, you have a decent eye.”
“The shape of your antlers is so sharp. It’s cool.”
Others, emboldened by the honey wine, started to chat more casually.
The atmosphere was unfolding naturally and positively.
For a moment, Seong-hyeok felt pleased with the success of the honeybees, who had started it all.
But in the next instant, an anomaly visible only to him occurred.
[A secret auction hosted by the 'World's Administrator' has opened. Will you participate in this event? YES / NO]
※ Refusal will result in the permanent revocation of your participation rights. Time remaining until notification disappears: 1 hour.
“...!”
A secret auction hosted by the World itself.
Unlike the integrated server auction house, the appearance of this one had been completely unannounced.
But having experienced countless incidents, Seong-hyeok was not the least bit flustered.
‘When it comes to a wallet fight, I’m confident.’
Coin Owned: 136,502,000
His funds, which were now piling up daily, had reached a point where accumulating 100 million Coin in a week was no big deal, thanks to the overwhelming financial power of his bees and himself.
He was confident he could purchase whatever came up in the secret auction without any problem.
The only thing that bothered him was the fact that, as the host, he had to leave the still-ongoing festival for a while.
‘I feel bad for the bees.’
Thinking of the hard work of the bees who had diligently wiggled their bottoms made him feel too sorry to leave.
But it seemed he wasn’t the only one feeling that way.
“Seong-hyeok. I’m sorry, but something’s come up and I have to go.”
[The Transcendent Being, Shadow Empress Rehurin, bursts into laughter at the current situation.]
Someone else had been invited to the secret auction.
It wasn't just Seong-hyeok.
“What. Don’t tell me you qualified too?”
“...Yeah.”
Cha Hye-rin was invited as well.