Chapter 141
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 141
Chapter Title: The Price of Free
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The meaning behind the word “free.”
It might sound great to not have to pay a single coin right now, but this wasn't some low-tier, 1 or 2-star item you'd get from killing a random monster.
It was a staggering 5-star+ grade.
What's more, it had been evolved using a slew of expensive materials. That was the Golden Rock Queen Bee.
And he was offering it for free?
Excessive kindness, as they say, often breeds suspicion.
Seong-hyeok didn't rejoice immediately. Instead, he stared intently at Chesuru.
“For free? What do you mean?”
There’s no such thing as a free lunch.
And Seong-hyeok's suspicion was spot on.
“To be precise, it isn't entirely free. I do have the intention of getting on your good side, after all. Also, if you could entrust us with the sales rights for up to five percent of your monthly processed goods—both current and future creations—that would be more than enough.”
Scoring points with the Golden Rock Queen Bee.
And on top of that, securing the sales and distribution rights to Seong-hyeok's honey products.
“Is five percent really enough?”
He didn't know why Chesuru had limited it to a mere 5% instead of a larger amount, but the goblin’s answer was simple.
“An abundance of goods isn't always a good thing. When a product is just scarce enough, its value rises. This is especially true for those of us who travel between dimensions.”
“Are you saying you’ll handle distribution?”
“Precisely.”
Chesuru made his living as a merchant of sorts.
He simply valued Seong-hyeok's products, which held infinite potential, more highly than an immediate 200 million coins.
Of course, one might wonder how long it would take to earn 200 million coins by selling these products one by one, but…
“Anything more is a trade secret. My professional know-how, you see.”
Even a merchant had to have his secrets.
Well, for Seong-hyeok, this was actually the easier path.
If he could save 200 million coins, he could put them to much better use at the upcoming integrated server auction house.
Furthermore, opening a trade route with Chesuru's Golden Carriage could be seen as a gain rather than a loss.
This wasn't the exchange on Earth.
This was selling to beings in another dimension.
In a way, he was securing a brand-new sales channel.
“I'll be sure to generate profits for you at a price that will be anything but disappointing.”
Chesuru extended a hand with a comical smile brimming with greed.
With no reason to refuse, Seong-hyeok accepted this symbiotic relationship.
* * * * *
The golden goblins were new big spenders, buying his honey products at prices even higher than the exchange, and he had the Golden Rock Queen Bee to boot.
On top of that, Seong-hyeok had gained more than just the queen bee and a business deal.
[Heart of the Red Dragon Porleirn (★★★★★+)] - Legendary Treasure
The Dragon Heart had been problematic to consume due to its size.
But since Chesuru was a giant merchant caravan unto himself, there was a chance he had a solution.
“An item to make consuming the Red Dragon's Heart easier… Hmmm, any chance you’d just sell that heart to me?”
“…”
“Hahaha. Just kidding.”
A merchant to the bone, the creature couldn't hide his desire to purchase the Dragon Heart.
He’d said it was a joke, but the genuine greed glittering in his eyes suggested it was anything but.
Well, in any case, asking him on a whim had paid off handsomely.
______________________________
[Mercy's Finest Miniaturization Device (★★★★-)]
* Classification: Consumable
* Miniaturizes a designated item without any damage. However, it cannot be used on living creatures.
______________________________
A single 4-star- grade consumable.
Its effect was nothing special, but Chesuru demanded a whopping 1 million coins for it.
“The value of an item is determined by necessity. At your world's current level of civilization, it'll be cheaper to just buy this.”
As expected of a merchant, Chesuru was thoroughly money-grubbing.
But what could he do?
Just as the creature said, Seong-hyeok was the one in need.
Wheeeeng~
[Golden Rock Queen Bee (★★★★★+) is registered to Player Yu Seong-hyeok. Current Queen Bee Slots: 7 / 7]
Besides, he had only obtained the Golden Rock Queen Bee thanks to meeting Chesuru.
Seong-hyeok's heart melted at the sight of the golden queen buzzing close to his ear and rubbing her abdomen against him. He bit the bullet and paid the 1 million coins.
“Thank you, valued customer.”
“You ruthless bastard.”
“Hehe, I'll take that as a compliment.”
* * * * *
It had been a joyous festival night.
But as they say, time flies when you're having fun, doesn't it?
“It's been a while since a day has felt this short.”
“If you hold another festival, we'll pay our way, so please let us join… Thank you.”
“It's such a shame that it's already over.”
The festival came to an end, and people began to leave one by one, expressing their regret.
Considering the cost of food and honey wine, the large crowd had resulted in considerable expense, but Seong-hyeok wasn't too concerned.
After all, whether it was honey products or food, he could easily become self-sufficient with enough time.
Bzzzz~
Bzzzzzz~
While ten thousand people were nothing to scoff at, the daily honey production of his fifteen million bees was more than enough to host several more festivals.
“You are humanity's hope. I look forward to more of your honey in the future.”
“If you ever need help, just ask. Of course, my skills are but a speck of dust compared to yours, but I'll do what I can to be of assistance.”
Honestly, at this point, winning the hearts of the world's people was far more profitable.
The European Union, the United States, and others.
If he could build friendships with rankers from the so-called great powers in this topsy-turvy world, he could sway public opinion later or ensure steady sales of his honey products.
Looking to the future, it was a significant gain.
‘Not bad.’
From the initial goal of the dragon raid to securing a list of big spenders.
His satisfaction at how things were progressing step by step was brief.
After everyone had left, Seong-hyeok immediately took an item from his pocket.
“This size should be small enough to swallow without chewing.”
Porleirn's Dragon Heart, which had once been the size of his chest.
But now, thanks to the miniaturization device he'd bought from Chesuru, it was small enough to fit snugly in the palm of his hand.
Someone might even mistake it for a piece of candy instead of a dragon's heart.
“…It'll be okay, right?”
Now that he could actually eat it, another fear washed over him.
Others might not know, but Seong-hyeok, who had eaten Jer's Meatballs and Salamet's Mud Essence, knew.
Just like the saying that good medicine tastes bitter.
He knew the agony that came as these elixirs were absorbed into the body.
Moreover, this time it was a legendary treasure, a Dragon's Heart, something Salamet's Mud Essence couldn't even compare to.
“Hoo, here I go.”
Having come this far, there was no turning back.
The usage requirement of 2,000 in all stats was already met, so with renewed determination, Seong-hyeok tossed the Dragon Heart into his mouth.
“…!”
[The Heart of the Red Dragon Porleirn (★★★★★+) - The legendary treasure permeates your heart.]
And with consumption came a searing pain in his own heart.
Seong-hyeok had endured countless life-or-death battles and could usually laugh off most pain, but this was, after all, a dragon's heart.
“Gasp!”
An agony so intense it threatened to shatter his consciousness.
If he let his guard down for even a moment, he felt like he would lose his mind.
But Seong-hyeok grabbed hold of his fleeting consciousness and endured.
‘I won't lose!’
Even with the penalty, he was still Seong-hyeok, the one who had defeated a dragon in battle.
He had defeated a living dragon; how could he lose to a mere heart?
There could be nothing more absurd!
Grit! Clench!
He gritted his teeth so hard they felt like they would shatter and clenched his fists until blood dripped from his palms, but still he held on.
Did they somehow know what he was going through?
Bzzzz~
Bzzzzzzzeeeeng!!!
One by one, a swarm of bees flew toward Seong-hyeok.
They seemed greatly alarmed at the sight of him bleeding.
They buzzed and flew about haphazardly, but the chaos was brief.
Bzzzz-
A single Golden Rock Queen Bee slipped through the throng of bees.
What happened as she harmonized the minds of the agitated bees was truly astonishing.
Bwoooong~
To the sound of gentle wing beats, the bees' bodies and abdomens wiggled in rhythm.
Unlike a solemn, synchronized dance, how could one describe it?
It was a movement like the innocent cheers of a young child.
As if their dance had cast some kind of spell.
“…Hoooo.”
As the pain subsided, Seong-hyeok found it much easier to catch his breath.
There were no system notifications of any added effects, but as his mind grew calm, the pain washed away as if it had never been.
“Thank you, everyone. And you too, Your Majesty.”
Bzz~
Bzzzeeeeng!
He had overcome the trial of the Dragon Heart with the help of his bees' concern and charming actions.
Now that he had endured the pain, which he no longer felt at all, a notification rang in his ears.
[The Heart of the Red Dragon Porleirn (★★★★★+) - The legendary treasure has been fully absorbed.]
[Specific conditions have been met.]
[Acquired Authority Specialization, Dragon Tongue.]
[Acquired Authority Specialization, Half-Dragon.]
Dragon Tongue, a versatile authority that increased maximum mana and skill damage, and Half-Dragon, which granted maximum health and the ability to use a dragon's power.
As befitting a dragon, considered a top-tier race in fantasy, the abilities were all-encompassing, lacking nothing.
But was that all the energy the legendary treasure had to offer?
[You have met the conditions for acquiring a title. -> Consumed two or more types of hearts]
[You have met the conditions for strengthening a title. -> Consumed a 5-star+ grade heart]
[Acquired Title, Gourmet - Heart Eater.]
The conditions for the Heart Eater title were met thanks to consuming the Dragon Heart after the Mud Giant's Heart.
______________________________
[Gourmet - Heart Eater]
* Classification: Title
* Effect: Durability +3%
* Effect - Heart Resuscitation (Passive): Immediately resurrect upon death. All held coins and items are not lost. (Cooldown: 200 days)
______________________________
Just from the “Gourmet” prefix, it was a rather bizarrely named title, but perhaps because it was also strengthened, its effects were not bad at all.
The title's effect was to increase Durability, Seong-hyeok's highest stat, by a whole 3%.
But the real prize was the other effect attached to the title.
“Heart Resuscitation?”
In this topsy-turvy world where death could come at any moment, the prospect of “resurrection” was extremely valuable.
He had been kicking himself for missing out on the Resurrection Engraving Scrolls a few times, but now things were different.
A 200-day cooldown was quite long, but being able to come back to life could create an enormous variable in terms of strategy.
While the effect was more than satisfactory, Seong-hyeok's smile didn't fade just yet.
“Alright, now it's time for the main event.”
And for good reason—there was still the main event, another notification he couldn't forget.
[Specific awakening conditions have been met. -> Consumed a Dragon's Heart]
[The Authority of the Honeybee Guardian grows stronger. The stats of all bees in the swarm increase by 15%, and some of the unique individuals will be granted the enhanced Blessing of the Dragon Heart.]
It was an effect caused by the lingering essence of the Dragon Heart meeting the Authority of the Honeybee Guardian.