Chapter 182
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 182
Chapter Title: A Glimpse of Transcendence
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Chapter 182
The Madness Disease broke out all over the world.
Getting bitten meant certain infection, and it greatly enhanced the victim's physical abilities.
It caused all sorts of problems, but by now, the crisis had long since turned into an opportunity.
(If you ignore the risk of infection, there's no better hunting ground than the Mad Ones.)
Their drastically increased stats made them tricky, but even so, most of the Mad Ones had been weak individuals to begin with.
For the strong, they weren't particularly difficult opponents.
Of course, many players were reluctant to hunt them, knowing they were once human, but that hesitation didn't last long.
【China/NiChiFanLeMa: Wow lol, I don't even know how many levels I've gained today.】
【Korea/OctopusWoman: I don't know why, but the experience points are insane. Seriously.】
【Korea/GoInPeace: May you find happiness in your next life…】
In any case, those who had survived in this world, whether they liked it or not, had experience hunting monsters.
And the humans who had become Mad Ones, by their appearance and behavior, had long since ceased to be human.
Besides, if you thought about it differently, living on without reason in such a state must be even more agonizing.
“…That's my family. If it's too late to cure them, I'll at least be the one to end it.”
“I'm sorry, Chan-su. Back when we were isolated at the start, I was the one who secretly ate the rice balls.”
“Mi-seon. I'm sorry I couldn't protect you.”
In times like these, the faster the decision, the better.
Once the first step was taken, people began to deal with the Mad Ones with even more fervor.
“Whew, is that all of them in this area for now?”
“It feels gross, but the loot is too good to pass up.”
“With this, I should be able to get something pretty good at the next auction.”
In stark contrast to their sudden appearance, the number of Mad Ones was rapidly decreasing.
At the same time, those who had obtained a significant amount of loot let out cheers.
With a hefty sum of capital to back them, they would surely be able to acquire some decent items at the upcoming auction!
[The 4th Integrated Server Auction House has opened.]
As time passed, the auction house opened.
【Japan/NinNin: This time, I'm definitely getting something.】
【Pakistan/Gwarousa: Heheheh, my pockets are quite full, you know?】
【China/King'sGesture: Hahaha, no matter what you do, China is the best.】
They had scraped together the vast sums of money earned from hunting the Mad Ones and joined with a burning desire to win, but not even a minute passed before cold water was thrown on their ambitions.
[Player Korea/Honeybee has bid 8,000,000 coins on Packaged Adamantium Bundle (★★★★★-). Time remaining: 9 minutes 12 seconds]
[Player Korea/Honeybee has won Avenger's Chain Scythe (★★★★+) for 5,350,000 coins.]
[Player Korea/Honeybee has won Merlin's Skill Book (★★★+) for 2,113,000 coins.]]
…
【Pakistan/Gwarousa: Whaaaat!?】
【China/Emperor_Jeongri: *Sigh*, it's a lost cause this time too.】
There's always someone better.
It was Honeybee, tearing up the stage that was the auction house with the money he earned from selling honey.
* * * * *
Just as crops grow faster in fertile soil,
so too do the honeybees.
The more flowers boasting sweet fragrances nearby, the faster the bees worked.
Buzzzzz~
Bzzzz~
The drive of the bee swarm was such that calling them fairies of the forest would not be an exaggeration.
Showing off their alluringly wiggling butts, covered in pollen, the bees' next move was obvious.
Fwip-fwip-fwip-
Bzzzzzzzzzz~
They acted like lifelong friends, always together, yet the moment they spotted a flower, their eyes would glaze over as they rushed in and plunged their heads straight into the blossom.
One would think they'd get tired flying such long distances, but on this beekeeping farm with its long and storied history, there was no need for such worries.
[The energy of the Nine-Colored Honey Strawberry Pollen Cake is applied.]
[For 300 minutes, max HP increases by 1,500, and movement speed and honey storage capacity increase by 30%.]
[When consumed by a honeybee, the effect is doubled.]
The Nine-Colored Honey Strawberry Pollen Cake, a structure successfully built by Geonchug-i in collaboration with Deombur-i.
A structure made by bees, for bees, combining byproducts like pollen, beeswax, and propolis from their bodies with honey and honey strawberries.
Moreover, this wasn't the only thing that helped the bees.
“Everyone, please gather here.”
“Dear honeybees, over here!”
“Fly hard, everyone, fly fast!”
Though similar in size to ordinary worker bees, the fairies clearly had the form of tiny people.
The dust scattered by the true fairies, led by Fairy Queen Harwen, vanished as if melting the moment it touched the bees' bodies.
[You have received the Fairy's Blessing. A random buff best suited for the target will be applied.]
A rather unique buff with no fixed effect.
But that didn't mean it should be underestimated.
[For the rest of the day, honey storage capacity is tripled.]
[For 12 hours, movement speed increases by 300%. However, this buff will disappear upon taking damage.]
[For 7 hours, movement speed increases by 50%.]
While the fairies' buffs were useful for the residents, the Fairy's Blessing was even more crucial for the honeybees.
For bees making long round trips, the effect of movement speed was self-evident, and the importance of honey storage capacity was beyond question!
Bzzzzing~
Buzzzzz~
In any case, thanks to the various supplementary effects from many races and structures, the bee swarm could now move with even greater efficiency.
The bees, boasting a number so vast it was impossible to count, roamed everywhere, generously bestowing the energy of life upon the forest.
“The honeybees are truly the best.”
“The hard work of the worker bees is astonishing.”
The chatterbox fairies endlessly praised the bees.
They were truly the ultimate pollinators.
The bees' very existence was akin to a wellspring of nature.
This alone was incredible, but the bees' virtuous cycle didn't end there.
Moooooo~
Oink! Oink oink!
Honk— Hoooonk—
The numerous livestock housed in the beekeeping farm's barns.
Among them, the highest status belonged to the Preppion cow and Lee Yeon-bun's pigs, along with the loudly honking golden geese.
Having finished their three meals a day, made from the finest ingredients infused with honey, what more needed to be said about their products?
______________________________
[Preppion's Honey Milk, Filled with Richness (★★★★+)]
* Category: Consumable
* Upon consumption, recovers fatigue and strengthens bones. The 'Bountiful Heart' and 'Calcium Bone Health' effects are applied to the individual, and Durability permanently increases by 3 (one time only). Current consumption 0 / 1
※ Bountiful Heart: For 24 hours, the results of all gathering actions increase by 10%.
※ Calcium Bone Health: As bones become permanently stronger, defense ability increases by 0.1%. This effect is tenfold for infants and young children. (Cooldown: 3 days)
* Description: A ★★★★+ grade milk produced by a Preppion cow, a Divine-grade livestock, after consuming a special honey nutrient feed. The unique sweetness of honey has melted into the milk, removing any reluctance to drink it. It makes bones exceptionally strong, and the effect is maximized the younger the consumer.
[Lustrous Golden Goose Egg (★★★★)]
[Grenium Pork, Infused with Wild Ginseng (★★★★-)]
…
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Milk and goose eggs.
And, apologies to the pigs, but there was also the marbled pork, its deliciousness a sin in itself.
Each product boasted a freshness and efficacy that made them fine to consume as is, but their true value was maximized when processed by human hands.
“Hahaha! I'm quite pleased with the newly completed warehouse!”
“Dinner's ready! Come and get it before it gets cold!”
“Whoa! Pork belly with honey wine. Man, our boss lady's got the best taste!”
“You're spitting on the meat! Shut your mouth and eat!”
The number of residents was now vast, easily surpassing thirty thousand.
With such a large population came a wide variety of professions.
Blacksmiths, cooks, architects, and more.
The synergistic effect that occurred when all of them met the honeybees was by no means negligible.
“…This is faster than I ever imagined.”
With each passing day, the infrastructure of nature began to spread at a rapid pace.
In a way, it was the coexistence of two elements that should have been incompatible.
There was no need to say who had made it possible for them to harmonize.
Bzzzzing~
Bzzzz~
With themselves as the main characters, these little friends meticulously took care of everything, letting nothing go to waste.
Just like on most beekeeping farms.
It was a colossal achievement that could never have been accomplished without the honeybees.
Well, perhaps it was because they were as innocent as they were cute.
Buzzzzz~
Bumble~ Buuumble~
Whether they knew what a great feat they had accomplished or not, the bees flew about, buzzing as they always did with their characteristically clear eyes.
And yet, they would occasionally approach Seong-hyeok or friendly residents, rubbing their bodies and butts against them or performing adorable dances.
Their displays of affection were, quite literally, dripping with honey.
“How nice would it be if things could just stay like this.”
Watching the therapeutic scene, Seong-hyeok spoke his heart.
For most people, this chaotic world was an apocalypse that had made them lose so much.
Of course, everything he had gained—inheriting the karma of the Honeybee Guardian and building a bee army with countless queens, including Queen Ruby Gem—was a result of the world's changes.
“…It's not going to be that easy, is it?”
He knew it instinctively.
By now, he had long grown accustomed to threats popping up everywhere.
That was why Seong-hyeok couldn't let his guard down.
There was the situation with the dragons, creatures impossible to ignore, with whom he was now at odds, not to mention the recent anomaly of the epidemic.
He had managed to get through the Madness Disease thanks to the acacia and wildflower honeys that had a vaccine-like effect, but there was no telling how long such luck would last.
'Always assume the worst.'
He knew his own strength best.
As a lover of processed bee products, Seong-hyeok possessed the highest stats on Earth and had reached the number one rank based on them. But even so, that power was only valid 'on Earth'.
The possibility that, like the dragons who couldn't use their full power in another dimension, he too could have a portion of his strength sealed, and the power gap with other dimensions that he couldn't help but be curious about.
It was still an unknown realm with more questions than answers, but when it came down to it, the solution was simple.
- Ki, kikikik. You crazy bastard. Do you have any idea what you're asking for?
'An information trade for what I asked. It is possible, right?'
- Well, yes. But you're the first one to stubbornly save up this much… *Sigh*, whatever happens later, don't you dare blame me.
'Stop fussing and just do it.'
Not like any other ordinary Transcendent Being.
The domain of power that Seong-hyeok, a player who had made a direct contract with the server administrator, could wield, unlike other players.
[You have paid 2,500 points through an Information Trade.]
[Acquiring information befitting the value.]
What else could it be?
From the very beginning until now, it had arranged his meeting with the Poison Elves and provided numerous Hidden Pieces and Treasure items.
The Information Trade was a golden lifeline that had guided the queens' evolutionary paths and even saved his life when he consumed all sorts of bizarre foods.
This time, too, it began to gather information befitting the value with its reliable performance.
No, to be precise, it was just about to execute the command.
Zzt— Zzzzzzt—
A sudden noise felt like it was tearing through his ears.
He was momentarily confused.
Then, feeling a weight as if his body were laden with sandbags, Seong-hyeok couldn't help but be startled by the notifications that followed.
[Due to the high level of information, you are temporarily granted the Status of a Transcendent Being for 60 minutes.]
['The World' is watching you.]
[The shackles of 'The World', which harbors a lofty will to maintain balance, bind you with the power of ■■■.]
- H-Heok! I told you I wouldn't take responsibility… for this!
“…Huh?”
The notifications floated before his eyes.
The result of spending a massive 2,500 information points was a one-hour pass to being a Transcendent.