Chapter 162
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 162
Chapter Title: The Fairy Queen's Plea
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Rachel, Mark Thomas's assistant and granddaughter.
She wasn't particularly pleased with the current situation.
“What is this? It's the middle of nowhere.”
She had been coddled since childhood, raised like a delicate flower in a greenhouse.
The advent of this bizarre world had brought some tough times, but it wasn't much of an issue for her now.
Although they had moved the entire research lab, the constant buzzing of bees and other things made for a dissatisfying situation.
“I don't get what Grandpa sees in that guy to make such a fuss. Normally, he'd be chatting away with me right now!”
In truth, this was the real reason for Rachel's irritation.
The heart of her one and only, precious grandfather, who had always focused all his attention on her, had been stolen by a mere beekeeper.
Well, she knew the object of his attention was Honeybee and that he was an incredibly powerful being.
“But he's *my* grandpa...”
But that was that, and this was this.
Having spent her entire life immersed in research with her grandfather, she couldn't possibly understand the beekeeper's actions.
It wasn't as if there was any special technology involved.
Just the repetitive act of harvesting honey from the hives purely by hand.
The natural harmony with the bees was quite beautiful, but to her, consumed by jealousy over having lost her grandfather, it just looked like a barbaric act.
However, that didn't mean she acted without reason.
“He said this is something only I can do.”
One had to distinguish between professional and personal matters.
Rachel had no intention of causing trouble just because she disliked him.
No, instead, she would simply use the power of her 4-star unique class, Robot Meister.
As if to prove she hadn't reached level 58 for nothing.
She skillfully used the tools she brought with her to create her masterpiece.
*Bzzzz-*
*Swiiing- Wheee~*
A rather large robot that looked like a mirror.
It could absorb sunlight and fire it at enemies.
While it possessed decent combat abilities, the robot's true value lay elsewhere.
“Hmph. No matter how amazing bees are, they can't beat science.”
*Vroooooom~*
As if responding to her words.
The robot flew up and gathered sunlight.
The effect of then scattering the collected sunlight in all directions was considerable.
[Solar Amplifier (★★★+) uses the skill, Photosynthesis Amplification (Lv.1).]
*Fwaaaah-!*
Refined sunlight shot directly at the flowers on the ground.
The plants that received the light grew faster, and the amount of nectar they produced increased, creating a virtuous cycle.
It went without saying that faster-growing flowers were a great help to the bees.
*Bzzzz~*
*Buzzzzz~*
And what do you know?
The bees, sensing the flowers' growth with uncanny precision, rushed over.
The sight of them gathered together, greedily sucking up nectar with only their rear ends sticking out, was utterly captivating!
“Hmph. They are kind of cute when you look at them like this.”
The irresistibly plump, devilishly cute behinds of the bees.
Was it because she had been listening to the buzzing for quite some time?
At first, it had been noisy pollution, but the longer she listened, the more it sounded like a gentle melody.
Moreover, the bees' assault on her heart didn't end there.
*Bzzzz~*
*Buzzz~*
“W-what? What are you doing?”
The bees, realizing who was responsible for this change, approached her.
Without hesitation, the bees flew to Rachel, nuzzling against her and burrowing into her arms as if asking to be petted.
“Uh, uh...”
It was the first time in her life she had ever faced such an affectionate onslaught from bees.
Along with her bewilderment, this became the moment that completely overturned Rachel's perception of bees.
* * * * *
The apiary continued to grow, expanding its territory day by day.
The contributions of the newly added Mad Seeker within it couldn't be summarized in just a few words.
Offense and defense depending on the situation.
And mobility, among other things.
The Mad Seeker's inventions offered a wide range of possibilities.
That alone was impressive, but Thomas's assistants were no less so.
“Not bad at all.”
As expected of those who had reached level 58, they naturally had unique classes.
Each possessed the special ability to either craft potions or build robots.
With a satisfied smile, Seong-hyeok spared no expense in supporting the three of them.
“I can always make more money.”
Not only the byproducts produced by the bees but also various expensive materials supplied through the exchange and auction house.
It might seem like a waste, but hoarding it would be pointless.
Seong-hyeok's unhesitant investment.
It soon resulted in various elixirs and creations, significantly increasing the safety of the bees and residents.
“Labor is good, but when it comes down to it, skilled personnel are the best.”
He was by no means ignoring the value of the residents who covered a wide area.
It was just that people like Yeon Su-hee or Thomas.
And the forest races had an incomparable influence on the apiary compared to the majority.
Accordingly, the next resident recruitment notice Seong-hyeok posted had a significant change.
【Korea/Honeybee: The Apiary is recruiting residents to join us.】
- It's been a while since I've posted on the community board. I'm here again to recruit residents to join us.
As before, we will provide generous support. The final decision will be made by the bees, so please don't hold it against us if you're not selected.
Also, for this recruitment, players with unique classes will receive even greater support.
We will announce the end of the recruitment period at a later date.
An announcement that openly promised preferential treatment for unique classes, something that hadn't been done before.
The players' reactions to it were varied.
【Comment Status (999+...)】
- Japan/Ninnin: I never knew having a unique class would feel this good. I'm on my way, Honeybee-nim.
- Korea/Makjang's Mouth: What the hell. Even Honeybee is discriminating now? What are the weak like us supposed to do...?
- China/NiChiFanLeMa: I didn't expect this from you. I'm disappointed, Honeybee!
- Korea/Attention Seeker NO.350: LOL, if you don't like it, you should've been born with better karma. Honeybee-nim and the rest of us aren't running a charity.
Those who criticized Seong-hyeok and those who defended him.
Well, it was a reaction he had expected to some extent.
Looking at the current residents of the apiary, only about 200 of them had unique classes.
Since the vast majority of players had normal classes, there was a significant outcry, but Seong-hyeok didn't pay it much mind.
“Those who want to come, will come.”
Just as in the old world, status based on the gap in power still existed in this bizarre new world.
In any case, someone who complained about everything would be rejected by Seong-hyeok anyway, and they wouldn't pass the bees' interview either.
【Honeybee: I'll leave the cleanup to you, then.】
【Jeongrichung: Just leave it to me!】
As they say, it's best to leave things to the experts.
He also had Jeongrichung, the reliable incarnation of the community board.
Now, all Seong-hyeok had to do was happily continue his beekeeping.
But perhaps the apiary's popularity knew no bounds.
[Monster detected!]
[Monster detected!]
[Monster detected!]
...
Notifications that 'monsters' had arrived first, not the 'players' he had expected to flock in after the recruitment notice.
“It makes sense.”
The World Tree, having undergone its third growth, had become even larger and now exuded a sacred aura.
It was only natural that the forest races would visit more frequently as a result.
However, the forest race member spotted by the scout bees left Seong-hyeok flustered.
“...What in the world?”
[Fairy Queen Harwen Lv. 52 (★★★★★+)] - Disaster-class Boss Monster
A Disaster-class boss monster that, like the forest fairy bees, was incredibly small.
But the problem wasn't her identity.
“P-please, help me!”
A horribly torn wing and fairy blood soaking the ground.
It was a mystery how she had managed to reach this place in such a state, but that wasn't important right now.
“Hurry, Maha!”
“Kkuwoooong!”
The High Elves and the Blue Antler Tribe.
And even the Digs.
Just like all the others who had a huge impact on the apiary, expectations for the Fairy Queen were high.
Saving the near-death Fairy Queen was the top priority.
* * * * *
“This is horrible.”
“Someone on the level of a Fairy Queen is no easy opponent. Who could have done this?”
The forest races know the ways of the forest races best.
The Elves gathered, expressing their opinions while focusing on healing her.
Many opinions were exchanged, but no real answer emerged.
To put it bluntly, just like the High Elves, the Fairy Queen was also, technically, a 'monster'.
The possibility that a human player had let her escape during a hunt couldn't be ruled out.
“For now, saving her is the priority.”
In any case, the surest way to resolve the mystery was to hear it from her own mouth.
*Bzzzz~*
*Buzzzzz~*
Was it thanks to the liberal use of the Healing Venom Bees' venom and high-grade consumables?
One of her wings began to grow back, albeit faintly.
“Kngh!”
“It would be best to rest until you're fully recovered.”
The creature groaned in pain as she pushed herself up.
Ignoring Seong-hyeok's advice, the Fairy Queen steadfastly rose and approached him without hesitation.
“Please, save my people.”
Unlike the other forest races so far, the Fairy Queen had come to the farm alone.
There was no longer any need to ask why she was injured.
[Conditions for quest issuance have been met. -> Desperate Plea]
[Harwen makes a request, trusting in your power.]
[Special Quest, Rescue of the Fairy Race, has been granted.]
______________________________
[Special Quest: Rescue of the Fairy Race]
※ This quest can be shared with up to 10 people.
- Harwen and her fairies were attacked by dragons. The Fairy Queen used her authority to place the fairies in a mental plane, but that power is not infinite. Please rescue them before the dragons devour them. -
※ The fairies will never forget this favor for the rest of their lives. If their lives are saved, they will watch over you and your descendants for all eternity, until their own lives end.
※ The fairy dust shed by the fairies is an excellent material and the best catalyst for promoting plant growth.
* Time Remaining: 1 day, 18 hours, 31 minutes
* Failure Condition: Death of all fairies
* Reward: Fairies' Favorability ↑↑↑, Acquisition of 'Friend of the Fairies' (Title)
______________________________
“...”
The quest window kindly revealed the identity of the Fairy Queen's attackers.
As Seong-hyeok read the information, his expression grew incomparably more serious than before.
“So they were hiding and building up their strength?”
Having already hunted one dragon, Seong-hyeok knew his relationship with their kind could never be amicable.
The scale of the situation had grown far beyond his initial assumption of an attack by other Disaster-class boss monsters or players.
Furthermore, the mention of 'dragons' attacking the fairies meant there was more than one.
“How many dragons are there?”
“There were two.”
“Hoo, two of them...”
Just like the worst-case scenario Seong-hyeok had previously considered.
An ordinary person would have their mind go blank and tremble in fear at the news of two dragons existing on Earth, but who was Seong-hyeok?
“Two dragon barbecues. My mouth is watering.”
As mentioned before, he had experience hunting one.
Well, the fact there were two would be tricky, but Seong-hyeok had a countermeasure.
* Effect: All stats +5%. However, when facing a dragon, all stats increase by +50%.
The power of a title that, despite the penalty of becoming hostile to dragons, granted the significant bonus of a 50% increase in all stats when facing them.
Besides, Seong-hyeok was not alone.
“Two dragons, you say? Looks like I'll get a proper warmup this time.”
“Once you've made an enemy of dragons, you have to see it through to the end.”
“I will burn this body of mine to protect our home.”
Not only the reliable Disaster-class boss monsters and residents who had fought alongside him when hunting the Red Dragon before.
*Buzzz~*
*Bzzzzzz-!!!*
But also the Healing Venom Bees, vibrating their wings as if to say they were ready to join at any moment.
“I'll do my best to save them.”
“Th-thank you so much!”
With his now incredibly reliable companions, Seong-hyeok's fighting spirit burned.