Chapter 13
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: An Unwanted Gaze
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The colossal threat of field bosses, the biting cold that swept in at night, and more.
In this chaotic world where even high-level players could lose their lives with a single misstep, the existence of potions was exceptionally precious.
It was no exaggeration to call them a lifeline for when your health plummeted or status effects left you immobilized.
[PFC IDontTellU: Was on ammo depot duty and nearly froze to death. Honey tea saved my life.]
[Victory: Didn't he take out that drug dealer bastard with soap? lol]
[BatMan: Seriously, what would we have done without Honeybee?]
[AttentionSeeker NO.55: It's the academic consensus at lunch that Honeybee has saved a ton of people.]
[GukbapWithRadishKimchiJuice: fr lol]
Perhaps because of this, praise for Honeybee, who was essentially the primary supplier of potions on the Korean server, never ceased.
From multi-use items like honey soap, beeswax candles, and honey vinegar, to consumables with long-lasting effects like honey tea and honey wine.
Truthfully, the prices weren't exactly cheap, but when compared to the potions from other alchemists on the marketplace, they were undoubtedly worth every coin.
Besides, for something considered an 'extra life,' the cost wasn't that high.
Moreover, as time went on, players had found their own ways to earn coins through hunting, gathering, and farming.
As a result, people didn't feel too burdened when making purchases.
…Of course, that was until Honeybee released a new product.
[SwiftFoot: Breaking news, everyone! The honey-slinger Honeybee has released a new item on the marketplace!]
[Jeongrichung: For all you players who don't want to waste coins on searching, I, Jeongrichung, have screenshotted the info! Likes and comments are love, everyone!]
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[Guardian's Ruby Gem Royal Jelly Pill (★★)] x 10 - Lowest Price 2,000 Coin ~ 3,000 Coin
* Seller: Honeybee
* Category: Consumable
* Upon consumption, provides fatigue recovery, stamina enhancement, and skin beautification effects. The 'Sturdy Health of the Guardian's Ruby Gem Royal Jelly Pill' buff is applied, and Durability is permanently increased by 1 (one time only). Current consumption 0 / 1
※ Sturdy Health of the Guardian's Ruby Gem Royal Jelly Pill: For 60 minutes, Strength and Durability increase by 13(+3).
* Description: A ★★-grade Ruby Gem Royal Jelly Pill inscribed with the Guardian keyword. Simply consuming it relieves fatigue and provides various beneficial effects to the body. It also permanently increases a stat once per player.
※ Caution! Buffs from the same series of royal jelly pills do not stack.
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Following the post by Jeongrichung, one of the well-known names on the Korean server's community board, people started flocking to see.
Those who saw it were left completely speechless.
[ChubbyNuguri: ……What is this?]
[SpicyKoreanFireChicken: Are these effects for real? A permanent stat increase? Honeybee, are you insane?!]
[Dol-쇠: Stamina is always right.]
[Hornet: Wow, is this really the same nerdy Honeybee I knew? My heart is swelling with pride.]
Strength and Durability, 13 points each.
A total stat boost of 26 points, equivalent to 5 levels, plus all the additional beneficial effects.
But what captured the players' attention more than anything else was, of course, the 'permanent increase' to a stat.
However, despite these amazing options, players couldn't help but voice their complaints.
[Philip: But isn't the price way too high?]
[Yorusiki: It's kinda overkill. Look at the price range he set up. Honeybee is the only seller, but setting a minimum and maximum price basically means only the first buyers get a good deal.]
[PassingOldGeezer: Tsk, tsk, kids these days! They have no respect for the price!]
[MintChocoBrigade: ^ Yeah, yeah, just walk along quietly, old man, before I force-feed you a mint chocolate latte.]
[BananaLatte: Whoa, crossing the line;]
[Trikia: Legal assassination, that's terrifying lol;]
And for good reason. A single pill, the size of a mouse's tail, cost a whopping 2,000 coins.
Compared to what they could earn from hunting monsters or self-sourcing and selling plants and food, it was an exorbitant price that ordinary players couldn't even dream of affording.
Furthermore, the price wasn't fixed at 2,000 coins but ranged from 2,000 to 3,000.
This meant some players, who were already annoyed by Honeybee's monopoly, were openly stirring up trouble and throwing tantrums.
But their complaints didn't last long.
[BackseatGamer: Guys, let's think about this logically. If you think of it as buying a permanent +1 stat with coins, it's a bargain. Is this your first day playing a game? You have to look at the long term, not the short term. For the record, I bought one. For 2,000 coins. That was me.]
[AttentionSeeker NO.1: He's right, it's the smart long-term play. Plus, it boosts your stamina, right? Broke-ass bastards, don't buy it. I'm getting on board at 2,100 coins! Whee!]
[Medusa: Screw it! I'm buying one too, dammit!]
[Green Bean: I will also make a purchase. Honeybee-nim. Please watch over me.]
[Jeongrichung: Kyah! The whales are on another level. Truly the pride of the Korean server. I'm so proud to see all these amazing people here! Oh, and that includes you too, of course, Honeybee-nim!]
As the saying goes, he who is thirsty digs the well.
In the end, no matter how high the price, those with the financial means were bound to buy.
The rich get richer, and the poor get poorer.
It was a sad reality, in a way, but one that held true even in this chaotic world.
The top players on the Korean server had no trouble making purchases, using the power and influence they had steadily built.
And that was more than enough to bring a wide smile to the face of a certain man in the forest.
[The 'Guardian's Ruby Gem Royal Jelly Pill (★★)' you listed on the marketplace has been sold.]
[You have acquired 1,600 Coin after a 20% transaction fee.]
[The 'Guardian's Ruby Gem Royal Jelly Pill (★★)' you listed on the marketplace has been sold.]
[You have acquired 1,680 Coin after a 20% transaction fee.]
[The 'Guardian's Ruby Gem Royal Jelly Pill (★★)' you listed on the marketplace has been sold.]
[You have acquired 1,760 Coin after a 20% transaction fee.]
….
The jingling sound of incoming coins was incessant.
[The 'Guardian's Ruby Gem Royal Jelly Pill (★★)' you listed on the marketplace has sold out.]
Following the sell-out notification, Seong-hyeok had instantly pocketed a massive sum of 22,000 coins.
“No matter the era, the desire to become stronger is always a sure thing.”
The permanent stat increase was one thing, but the impact of 'stamina enhancement' was undeniably huge.
Stamina.
Regardless of era or nationality, whether in Asia or Europe, it was something every man desperately desired.
“Anyway, at this rate, I should probably think about the pacing of selling these off.”
[Guardian's Ruby Gem Royal Jelly Pill (★★)] x 97
It took two units of royal jelly to produce one pill.
So, excluding the one Seong-hyeok had consumed and the ten he had just sold, he still had a whopping 97 pills in stock.
But despite this large inventory, Seong-hyeok didn't make the mistake of listing them all at once.
Why, you ask?
Isn't it obvious?
“There's no need for me to devalue my own products.”
It's a basic principle of economics that when supply increases, the price drops.
An item with 'only' 10 available versus one with 'as many as' 100 naturally has a different perceived value.
“Considering I'll be taking them regularly myself, I should probably sell only about ten a day.”
The premium that comes with a limited sale.
As the person monopolizing all 'honey'-related products on the marketplace, this wasn't a cheap trick; it was a wise and necessary decision.
Bzzzz— Bzzzz—
“Right. You guys think so too, don't you?”
Buzzzzz— Buzzzzz—
As if agreeing with his decision, the honeybees rubbed their plump little behinds against him.
At their cute gesture, Seong-hyeok subconsciously reached out and stroked their heads.
“You adorable things. Daddy's really starting to enjoy life, all thanks to you.”
The true king of 'the rich get richer, the poor get poorer'.
That was Seong-hyeok, frolicking in a land flowing with milk and literal 'honey'.
* * * * *
Among the many 'commercialized' dimensions, 'Earth' was one where the business was just getting started.
- I know we've seen it a million times, but it's still fascinating how people, regardless of the dimension, always discriminate and live differently based on race and rank.
- They're a lesser species. It's only natural.
- Well, it does make it convenient for us, since we don't have to sort them ourselves, right?
- True, that's a good point. Hehehe.
With the update of Chapter #1, the Transcendent Beings' pets claimed their desired regions on the commercialized Earth, in order, according to their individual 'stature'.
Some took the American server, others the Chinese and Japanese servers, and so on.
Based on reasons like a nation's military strength, population size, potential of unique classes, abundance of resources, or simply personal preference for the region and environment, they each claimed a territory to 'raise'.
- Hah, as expected from a country where modern weapons are legal. It's quite the spectacle, hahaha!
- Nah, numbers are king. Look at the Chinese server. No matter how dramatic I make things, the population never drops. The donations are rolling in, too.
- You barbaric bastards. When it comes to increasing a product's value, teching up is the only way. Behold, the equivalent exchange of this abundant resource called oil for natural vegetation.
- LMAO, oh Raygle. The UAE server's tech tree. I'll look forward to seeing it.
- That Raygle bastard. Always acting so high and mighty. I bet you don't think about the livestock you ground up while teching up, do you?
The efforts of the pets, all to satisfy the amusement of the Transcendent Beings.
Watching the others successfully raise humans in their respective territories, Riggle, the one in charge of the Korean server, scowled.
- The other guys are living large, running events and teching up, raking in donations. Tsk. What a pathetic lot I've drawn. A tiny little scrap of land, and it's even divided north and south. What kind of backwater server is this?
The Korean server, which seemed to have no distinguishing features to speak of.
Naturally, Riggle couldn't help but be dissatisfied.
Well, he had been assigned Korea in the first place because he was weaker than the other pets, so he had no choice but to accept it, but that didn't make him any less angry.
- Still, what can I do? Since it's come to this, I've got to at least try my best.
This was his one chance at a product.
To raise his own stature, he had to somehow cultivate his assigned server, even if he didn't like it, and ensure it survived the trials of the upcoming # Chapters.
Only then could he catch the eye of more Transcendent Beings, receive their patronage, build his presence, and become a being of a higher 'stature' himself.
- I'm going to grind you down as much as I can, so you'd better pray you're worth the effort. My livestock.
One well-raised player is worth ten others.
To filter out the impurities and obtain a useful sample, Riggle exercised his influence to the fullest extent.
Field bosses and dungeons.
And reduced penalties for becoming a villain.
He inflicted all sorts of trials upon the players.
Many lives were lost as a result, but Riggle felt no guilt whatsoever.
- To die as useful nutrients is the greatest joy for livestock. If anything, I should be the one receiving their thanks.
Becoming amusement for the god-like Transcendent Beings.
And serving as a stepping stone to elevate the stature of superior beings like themselves, who were beyond comparison to lowly creatures like humans.
For those reasons alone, Riggle believed his actions were perfectly justified.
- Hmm, that aside. This one here. I can't let him have it this easy.
Just as he was starting to ponder how he could grind down the humans more for cultivation,
Riggle tilted his head, his gaze landing on a single player.
One piece of livestock who, by a stroke of luck, existed in a zone where monsters didn't respawn, and was leveling up solely through life skills as a beekeeper without ever having to hunt.
- I appreciate him spitting out coins in transaction fees, but a freeloader needs to be tested!
If he endures, a useful piece of livestock will be born. If he can't and dies, he'll just become food for the monsters.
Reaching out, Riggle tweaked the controls of a nearby field boss and smiled the smile of an innocent child.