Chapter 164
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 164
Chapter Title: Dragon Slayer
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“How in the world did they know I was here?”
The bee legion was approaching the dungeon where he was located, clear as day.
For Cassisidor, who had killed every human that had approached until now without letting a single one escape, the question that arose in his mind was answered surprisingly quickly.
“It must be the work of that pathetic fairy!”
The presence of the Fairy Queen, nestled within the ranks of the bee legion.
He had never imagined that a monster would ask a human for help.
But amidst the chaotic situation, Cassisidor had to make a choice.
Should he flee now, or should he punish the human who had murdered his kin?
If he followed the advice of the Gold Dragon Telairn, who had arrived here with him, the right course of action would be to flee and wait for the next opportunity. But Cassisidor was, by name and nature, a ‘dragon’.
The greatest race among the countless living beings.
A dragon without pride is but a corpse, and for a Red Dragon, the most belligerent of them all, to tuck its tail and run from a human?
Kraaaaaaaaaah-!!!!!
“I will make this your grave!”
That was utterly out of the question.
Bursting out of the dungeon, Cassisidor unleashed his magic with a ferocious roar.
Woong- Woooong-!
Though it wasn't complete due to the lack of time, the draconic language was the very symbol of a dragon.
“Burn!”
A torrent of powerful flame magic, cast with incredible speed.
But Seong-hyeok had long anticipated such powerful attacks.
“Everyone, I’m counting on you!”
Wheeeing~!
Buzzzzzzz-!!!
It is the way of things that every living creature has its own way of life.
If the dragon race was one that did everything alone, bees demonstrated the power of the collective.
Thwack- Thwack-thwack-thwack-!
Ruuuuuumble---
If one couldn't do it, two would.
If two couldn't, then three; if three couldn't, then four, and so on.
A war of attrition waged by a endlessly expanding swarm of countless bees.
A solid defense formed by Deundeun-i and massive beeswax walls interspersed throughout their ranks.
Of course, that didn't mean they had blocked the attack without any damage.
Swoosh- Thud- Thud-
Patter-patter-patter-
The beeswax walls were completely shattered amidst the downpour of flame magic, and the corpses of bees who couldn't withstand the firepower fell to the ground.
Seong-hyeok’s heart tore at the sight of the bees, charred black in death.
But for that very reason, Seong-hyeok grit his teeth until they could have bled, and endured.
“Prepare for the follow-up attack!”
He had already experienced a dragon raid once before.
For a beast boasting such a massive frame, this firepower was only the beginning.
Besides, unlike Porleirn from before, hadn't this one been secretly hiding and building up its strength?
Fwoooooooosh-!
The breath of the Red Dragon, boasting intense heat.
The beeswax walls were already destroyed, and unlike when they had constructed the beeswax castle last time, they had no proper defensive barrier. But as they say, if you don't have teeth, you chew with your gums.
[The Diamond Geumgang Boulder Legion Commander Bee (★★★★★) uses the skill, Geumgang Boulder (Lv.11).]
[The Diamond Geumgang Boulder Legion Commander Bee (★★★★★) uses Shield of the Gods (Aegis of the Fairy Queen).]
[Becomes immune to all types of damage for 5 seconds.]
Through the effect of Geumgang Boulder, Deundeun-i became a single, massive fortress wall.
With the addition of 5 seconds of invincibility, it stood unshaken even against the dragon's breath.
Tssssssssss--
Though the duration of 5 seconds was short, the swarm of Deundeun-i wearing the Aegis managed to block the attack safely and without damage.
Next up was the turn of Seong-hyeok and the residents.
“Spread out. Charge!”
“Waaaaaaah-!!!”
“You lizard bastard. I’ll finish you!”
No matter how great a race dragons were, in the end, it was just one creature.
Didn't humans possess the ultimate strategy passed down from their ancestors—the human wave tactic?
Wheeeeeeeeng!
And to that, the bees' own insect wave tactic was added!
On the ground and in the air.
Its life force was chipped away amidst the barrage of attacks coming from all directions.
“How dare you mere specks of dust!”
Only then did Cassisidor realize the gravity of the situation. He snapped to his senses and tried to fly higher into the sky where the attacks couldn't reach, but that decision came far too late.
“Now!”
“Concentrate your fire!”
Fwoosh! Whoooooosh---
As if they had been waiting for this very moment.
A concentrated barrage of ranged attacks was unleashed.
Among them, the attacks from the beeswax turrets, loaded with 5-star grade venom shells, must have inflicted damage beyond imagination.
And was that all?
Pahat-!
A new being was born from the collaboration of overwhelming stats, Bee Sting Arts, and various processed honey products.
With the advent of this bizarre new world, all humans had become superhumans, but Seong-hyeok was something more.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
The leap of a beekeeper who prided himself on being the strongest in close combat.
His 24 years of a life dedicated solely to bees were by no means in vain.
Soaring like a bee, Seong-hyeok immediately gripped a bee sting in each hand like a bee and plunged them into the creature's wings.
“Kraaaaaaahk!”
With a scream born of agony, Cassisidor plummeted to the ground.
Given its massive body, the impact of falling from the sky must have been beyond imagination.
Its wretched appearance was stained with blood.
It was a sight that conveyed pain just by looking, but the residents of the beekeeping farm were not soft enough to feel sympathy for an enemy.
“Press the attack!”
“Kill it before it recovers!”
“We can’t let the bees’ sacrifice be in vain!”
The fury of the residents, who, although not to the same extent as Seong-hyeok, had formed a considerable bond with the bees while living together.
At that point, the tide of battle was as good as decided.
[You have hunted the Red Dragon Cassisidor Lv. 77 (★★★★★+) - ???.]
[Obtained [Heart of the Red Dragon Cassisidor (★★★★★+)] - Legendary Treasure.]
[Scales of the Red Dragon Cassisidor...
Following the first raid, the second dragon subjugation.
[You have met the awakening conditions for the title, Dragon Slayer. -> Consecutive Dragon Hunts]
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[Dragon Slayer]
* Classification: Title
* Effect: All stats +7%. However, when facing a dragon, all stats increase by +100%.
* Effect - One Who Has Slain Two Dragons (Passive): You enter an irreversible hostile relationship with dragons.
______________________________
It concluded successfully, along with the bestowal of a title with even more enhanced benefits and penalties.
* * * * *
“This can’t be…”
Not even a full day in Earth time, but half a day.
During that time, Telairn, who had infiltrated the ranks of the humans using mind-control magic, couldn't hide his astonishment.
“Foolish creature. I told you so many times that recovering your strength should be the priority!”
The death of his kin, who had crossed over to Earth with him.
Even though it was a Red, not a Gold like himself, the death of a dragon was not a matter to be taken lightly.
And not just one, but two. Including the hatchling, that made a total of three dragons killed by the fate of this world, Earth.
This was no longer something that could be handled by adult dragons.
It was a matter that warranted caution from not just Elder Dragons, but even the Lord, the very existence of dragons itself.
“Foolish humans. You must be dying to die!”
Splat! Splat, splat!
Power leaked out as he failed to contain his boiling anger.
The golden eyes of Telairn flashed as he caused the heads of the humans he was controlling, regardless of age or gender, to explode.
* * * * *
The subjugation of a ???-grade Red Dragon, boasting a level of 77.
The amount of experience gained from it was plentiful enough to fill one's belly.
It was an amount that was in no way inferior to the previous monster gates.
Yet, even in this joyous situation, none of the residents showed any sign of great delight.
“Sniffle. Thank you for protecting us, little ones.”
“We’re always in your debt for our lives.”
“……”
A battle.
No, a dragon raid was no longer a mere battle.
Its unconventional power was in no way lacking even when compared to a war.
As such, sacrifices were inevitable.
Among them, most of the sacrifices were the bees who had taken the full brunt of the dragon's initial attack with their bodies.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you.”
It was Seong-hyeok's reality that he had no choice but to give the order, even while anticipating a significant number of deaths among the bees.
But even if that was the best choice, how could Seong-hyeok's heart be at ease?
If only it were possible, how he wished he could have taken that pain upon himself.
However, the bees did not resent Seong-hyeok and the residents for it.
Wheeing~
Wheeeing~
The swarm of bees approached their sides as if to cheer them up, wiggling their distinctively fluffy behinds in a dance and rubbing against them.
The irony of those who should have been comforted being the ones offering comfort.
At that sight, some of the more soft-hearted residents burst into even louder sobs, but Seong-hyeok held back his surging emotions.
“Really. I’m always grateful.”
Wheeing~
It was a renewed realization, but Seong-hyeok was no longer the orphan from his past world.
Ten thousand people.
And furthermore, he was in a position to become the leader of even more as his territory expanded.
The deaths of the bees were heartbreaking, but he couldn't afford to be swayed by every single joy and sorrow.
“Everyone, cheer up and get on your feet! It’s time to go home!”
As a leader and a beekeeper.
His body now carried the lives of the tiny bees still being born and the residents.
Recognizing the weight of his not-so-light responsibility, Seong-hyeok roused the residents from their sorrow.
* * * * *
The dragon subjugation yielded experience and bountiful spoils.
But among them, one of the greatest harvests was not an item, but living creatures.
“The grace you’ve shown in saving me and my tribe. I will never forget it for the rest of my life.”
“Thank you so much.”
“We’re grateful for your kindness!”
Seven fairies bowed their heads alongside the Fairy Queen Harwen.
There was no need to check the bees’ ‘Goodwill’ and ‘Hostility’ towards them.
Wheeing~
Wheeeng~
The bees’ buzzing notified him that the fairies held 120% pure goodwill.
There was a good reason for this.
[You have cleared the Special Quest, Rescue the Fairy Tribe.]
[As a reward, your Affinity with the fairies becomes Extremely High.]
[You have acquired the title, Friend of the Fairies.]
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[Friend of the Fairies]
* Classification: Title
* Effect: You establish a friendly relationship with all forest races, including fairies. As long as you do not attack first, they will trust you in return.
* Effect - Call of the Fairies: Summons fairies existing in the spirit realm at a random chance. The probability increases the more bountiful the forest is and the more it flows with milk and honey.
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The quest from the Fairy Queen was successfully completed in the course of subjugating the dragon.
The title gained from it offered no stat benefits, but it was better to have it than not.
“It’s a perfect match for the effect of the Tree of Life, too.”
Moreover, due to the presence of the World Tree, the beekeeping farm had to always maintain a good relationship with the forest races, so this brought a significant advantage.
“Hmm? The atmosphere seems to have changed somehow, partner?”
“Well, it doesn't seem like a bad change.”
The Poison Elves, who were already on good terms as fellow beekeepers, of course.
Even the Flower Elves, who usually paid little attention to anyone but the bees, showed a newfound interest.
If the Flower Elves, who were second to none on the farm in terms of being picky, had changed that much, how would the other forest races react?
“Squeak. Squeak-squeak!”
Even the Dig tribe, who usually only moved about on the ground, were expressing deep favor toward Seong-hyeok, which pretty much said it all.