Chapter 165
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 165
Chapter Title: A Fiery Upgrade
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With the Predatory Venus Flytraps making the Dig tribe's position more crucial than ever, deepening the trust between them was something the shelter welcomed with open arms.
But above all, the fairies' role was incredibly important at this point in time.
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[Fairy Queen's Powder (★★★★★)]
* Classification: Material
* Description: A ★★★★★-grade Fairy Queen's Powder. It is a catalyst that smooths out any unstable processing, and this powder, obtained from the Fairy Queen, boasts the highest quality.
[Fairy Powder (★★★★-)]
...
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It was the Fairy Powder that scattered from the fairies' bodies.
Despite being easy to acquire—requiring only time—it was a material that boasted high grades of 4-star and 5-star.
Naturally, as its effects had been clearly demonstrated in previous crafting sessions, the ones most delighted were the Mad Researcher and the blacksmiths.
"Ahem. Do you happen to have any Fairy Powder left?"
"Haha. Young man Seong-hyeok! Spare us a generous amount of Fairy Powder!"
There might be people who have never experienced its effects, but there are none who have experienced it only once.
The crafters would visit from time to time, asking for Fairy Powder.
But one must not forget that Seong-hyeok, having inherited the karma of a Mad Researcher, was also a 'crafter.'
"I can't give you any more than the allotted quota. I need to use some myself."
"W-well, that's true."
"Ahem. I suppose you need to use it too."
Processed honey products.
And the Fairy Powder was a perfect match for wild honey, arguably the most valuable of them all.
How could Seong-hyeok possibly give that up?
"Instead, I'll entrust you with the Red Dragon's eyes and scales. I'm counting on you."
"We'll put them to good use."
For a moment, he handed over the eyes and scales, which couldn't be used in processed honey products anyway.
Seong-hyeok lifted his head and looked at the apiary farm.
*Buzzzzz~*
*Buzzz~*
It hadn't been long since the fierce battle with the dragon, yet the bees were already bustling about, embarking on long expeditions to find flowers.
Besides, it wasn't just the bees who were working hard.
"Everyone, grab a packed lunch before you head out!"
"Su-hee made them with crops she grew herself and plenty of honey!"
"A monster's appeared in that area. Let's get over there and provide support, quickly!"
"Understood!"
The residents of the apiary farm, boasting a large population.
Hunting, gathering, farming, cooking, and more.
Not a single person was idle; everyone was fulfilling their respective roles.
How must Seong-hyeok have felt watching this?
*'I have to protect this so it can be maintained.'*
A home he had to protect, if only to live up to the name of his class, the Honeybee Guardian.
At the very beginning.
It was only right that this place, which had blossomed so brilliantly from a single Ruby Gem Queen Bee, be preserved for eternity.
But paradoxically, because he had something to protect, Seong-hyeok's worries never ceased.
"I can't help but be bothered by that remaining lizard."
The one dragon he had yet to deal with.
Considering Cassisether was even stronger than Porleireun, it was highly likely that this one was also building up its strength.
It was a relief that Jeongrichung was mobilizing his global information network to track the dragon's whereabouts, but there was still no news.
"Well, it's not easy to find someone who's determined to hide."
To be honest, this recent case was a prime example.
A dragon hiding in a dungeon in China, a place relatively close compared to Europe or the Americas.
As the saying goes, the darkest place is under the candlestick.
If the Fairy Queen hadn't shown up by chance, the situation could have escalated into a major disaster.
That's why, for Seong-hyeok, growing even faster than before was essential.
"It'll be hard to grow any further with just beekeeping."
There was the Monster Gate, but its cooldown was too long, making it nothing more than a temporary solution.
In the end, for rapid growth, Seong-hyeok also needed to hunt.
In the past, he would have had to accept that long outings would negatively affect the beekeeping, as the hives filled with honey in just a day, but that was no longer the case.
"With this, travel won't be a problem."
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[Guardian's Bee Teleport (Lv.1)]
* Designated Bee Status: 0 / 3
* Effect (Active): Teleport to the location of a designated bee. The cooldown for this effect applies individually to each designated bee. (Cooldown: 24 hours)
※ Caution! A cooldown will be applied if you un-designate a bee.
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The Bee Teleport skill he had acquired upon reaching level 65.
With this, he could just teleport back and forth whenever a Disaster-class dungeon or monster was found. Everything was set!
"Always prioritize your own safety. And don't hesitate to eat this if you get hungry on the way."
*Buzzzzz~*
The three bees Seong-hyeok could currently designate.
Of these, he designated two of the fastest Ssing-ssing-i and the Ruby Gem Queen Bee, who was always at the farm, thus completing his preparations on this end.
*BUZZZZZZZ~!!!*
All that was left was for the Ssing-ssing-i, now embarking on a long journey, to find suitable prey.
"Now then, I suppose I should get to my own work."
[Honey is ready for harvest!]
[Honey is ready for harvest!]
[Honey is ready for harvest!]
...
Have you ever seen a beekeeper turn down honey collection?
The time he had spent away due to the dragon raid.
It was more than enough time for the hives to become filled to the brim with honey.
\* \* \* \* \*
They say there's nothing like work to clear your head of distracting thoughts.
Seong-hyeok's beekeeping was carried out with a clear, empty mind.
But within it, there was no trace of boredom or weary hardship.
*Buzzzzz~*
*Buzzz~*
As soon as Seong-hyeok harvested honey from a hive, the admirable bees would enter it again to fill it back up.
The sight of the deadly stingers flashing from their abdomens might be frightening, but it didn't matter to Seong-hyeok.
[The Honeybee Guardian's class specialization, 'Beloved by Bees,' is activated.]
[A Garnet Gem Worker Bee (★★★+) is sending you boundless affection.]
[An Imperial Topaz Worker Bee (★★★+) is sending you boundless affection.]
...
If asked to pick his favorite class specialization, Seong-hyeok would choose this one without a second thought.
Gaining 100% affinity with all species of bees from all dimensions.
With such high affinity, how could the bees possibly attack him with their stingers?
Other ordinary players might not find it very useful, but for Seong-hyeok, there was nothing better.
*Buzzzzz~*
"Alright, alright. I get it, you cute little things."
The bees approached Seong-hyeok and rubbed against him, like children playing a mischievous prank.
If this wasn't happiness, what was!
"Ahh, another fulfilling day."
Having finished his labor, thoroughly steeped in bees and honey.
Normally, he would now move on to processing what he had harvested, but today was an exception.
[Heart of the Red Dragon Cassisether (★★★★★+)] - Legendary Treasure
Just as with the previous dragon raid, he had obtained the same thing from this hunt.
Naturally, it was Seong-hyeok's job to handle the heart, the Legendary Treasure that could be called the crown jewel of the spoils.
Things that are good for you are best enjoyed alone.
More importantly, if there was a shortcut to becoming stronger to protect his bees, was there any reason to hesitate?
However, that didn't mean there were no problems at all.
* You have already consumed a Red Dragon's heart once. Consuming another Red Dragon's heart will strengthen your existing Authorities (Dragon Tongue, Half-Dragon).
"Of all things, it had to be another Red Dragon."
He had already awakened his Authorities with Porleireun's heart.
Perhaps because of that, he would gain zero new Authorities from consuming this one; it would only strengthen his existing powers.
Of course, that alone was effective enough, but that wasn't the issue.
The dilemma was whether he should eat it to strengthen himself even partially, or let another resident eat it and absorb its full power.
But he had resolved that dilemma while mindlessly working on his beekeeping.
"I'll eat it."
Just as victory and defeat in a desperate battle could be decided by a one or two-second difference, even a one or two percent difference in an Authority's efficiency could be significant.
Furthermore, Seong-hyeok, in both the previous and current dragon raids, had seized victory through the sacrifice of his bees, hadn't he?
"If my power increases, it'll be easier to charge in."
The many Authorities Seong-hyeok possessed.
Strengthening the Dragon Authority, the most effective of them in combat, meant he might even be able to face a dragon one-on-one, just as he could with Disaster-class boss monsters.
As they say, strike while the iron is hot.
Seong-hyeok swallowed the heart, which he had shrunk using a miniaturization device he'd bought earlier.
"Nngh..."
Even though it was smaller, it was still a dragon's heart.
The overflowing power, worthy of its name as a Legendary Treasure, literally turned Seong-hyeok's insides upside down.
[The Heart of the Red Dragon Cassisether (★★★★★+) - Legendary Treasure has been fully absorbed.]
[Authority Specialization, Dragon Tongue, has been enhanced.]
[Authority Specialization, Half-Dragon, has been enhanced.]
"Hoo, I really hate going through this."
One would think he'd get used to it after experiencing it once.
But the pain of this bizarre meal still left him with an unpleasant feeling.
But what he gained from it washed all of that away.
※ Dragon Tongue (Permanent): Maximum Mana increased by 40%. Casting speed for all skills is greatly increased.
※ Half-Dragon (Permanent): Maximum Health increased by 40%. You can now use a significant amount of the Red Dragon's power.
Not the previous 30%.
But an increase to 40%, a 10% addition due to the enhancement.
The increase in health and mana was satisfying enough, but that wasn't all he liked.
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[Red Dragon's Flame (Lv.1)]
* Classification: Skill
* Mana Cost: 200 ~ All (Mana cost increases with the power and volume of the flame).
* Effect (Active): Freely manipulate the flame of a Red Dragon. (Cooldown: 30 seconds)
* Description: Create pure flames, which only Red Dragons can wield, in any way you desire. Attack power increases as the skill level rises.
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An effect that even added a skill, just as expected from a Dragon's Authority.
For Seong-hyeok, who had no offensive skills other than his Apipuncture, this was like gaining an entire army.
He was pleased to have a ranged attack, but the applications of the skill were only limited by his imagination.
*Sizzzzzle-*
"Ooh, so this is possible too."
A flame imbued into his acupuncture needle.
For some reason, perhaps because it was a pure flame, it didn't affect the bee venom on the needle at all—a peculiar state.
It heated up to a rather intimidating degree, but Seong-hyeok acted as if he were used to it.
He stuck the acupuncture needle into one of his own pressure points.
[Apipuncture Great Success! The Honeybee Guardian's Blessing is temporarily engraved upon the designated player.]
[The Blessing of Pure Flame is added.]
※ Blessing of Pure Flame: The effect of the administered bee venom is increased by 100%.
"Ooh!?"
Perhaps influenced by Seong-hyeok, the Honeybee Guardian, the power of the flame had amplified the effect of the bee venom.
If he could properly utilize this effect, then in terms of both offense and buffs, he would more than be able to use it however he wished!
"Ah, that feels good."
And was it because it was heated by the pure flame?
The pleasant warmth felt to Seong-hyeok like he was in a sauna.
But this was not all he had gained from consuming the heart.