Chapter 19
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: Peridot Venom Honey Tea
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With his skills, he could now not only manage his apiary but also seriously begin collecting bee venom.
In short, the doubled workload meant he could no longer afford to walk; he had to run almost every day.
No matter how diligent Seong-hyeok was, as a living being, he had physical limits.
Before, he would have been crushed by the workload and collapsed, but this bizarre new world operated under a game-like system.
Naturally, this meant Seong-hyeok himself had changed significantly.
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[Yu Seong-hyeok]
* Level: 21
* Coins: 125,744
* Health: 530 Mana: 450
* Attack Power: 36 Defense: 48 Magic Resistance: 33
* Stat Points: 0
* Strength: 17 Agility: 61 Endurance: 53 Control: 12 Spirit: 45
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Even after defeating the Lich Belmorn, he had consistently repeated the cycle of gathering, processing, and now, hunting the respawning monsters in his expanded territory.
Thanks to this, Seong-hyeok's level skyrocketed, as if a tiger had not just grown wings but strapped on a booster.
“If the honey overflows past 100% and spills on the ground, it's a waste. Speed is everything, of course.”
To prevent the hives from overflowing with honey, Seong-hyeok invested most of his level-up stat points into Agility.
After all, speed was life when it came to his work.
He also invested a fair amount into Spirit, since processing consumed a lot of mana. As for Endurance, which was necessary for working long hours, he didn't feel the need to invest in it directly.
Why, you ask?
[First consumption experience. Endurance permanently increases by 1. 1 / 1]
[The Sturdy Health effect of the Guardian's Ruby Gem Royal Jelly Pill is applied.]
[The Honeybee Guardian's class specialization, 'Processed Honeybee Product Aficionado,' activates.]
[You are now free from the permanent stat increase limit of the Guardian's Ruby Gem Royal Jelly Pill (★★). 0 / 1 Time remaining: 6 hours]
“Ugh, it tastes like some kind of sour medicine, but it's great to actually see myself getting stronger.”
…That was because, thanks to the 'Processed Honeybee Product Aficionado' effect, Seong-hyeok had been consistently taking the Guardian's Ruby Gem Royal Jelly Pills, which permanently increased Endurance by 1, every time the skill's cooldown was up.
As a result, despite having a life-class profession, Seong-hyeok was now like a mix of a decent tank and a damage dealer.
In game terms, he had become a jack-of-all-trades hybrid character.
But hey, what was good was good.
Seong-hyeok was more than satisfied with his current situation.
Bzzzzz— Bzzzzz—
“Yeah, it's a huge improvement just being able to collect the precious honey you've all aged without spilling a single drop.”
Swift legs and the stamina to support them.
These allowed Seong-hyeok to work tirelessly without a moment's rest.
Just as he was collecting honey from the filling hives, one by one.
BWOOOOOOONG---
Seong-hyeok broke into a wide grin at the sound of rough wingbeats.
“Oh, Teunteun-i. Perfect timing. I need some venom over here, please!”
Teunteun-i, the Cheonram Venom Legion Commander Bee, boasted a size that would put a giant hornet to shame.
The creature thrust its vicious, finger-sized stinger into the glass plate Seong-hyeok pointed at without hesitation.
Shunk—
Squeeeert—
Was this the effect of the Peridot Queen Bee's focused evolution on its venom sac, following the stinger organ?
A ceaseless, gurgling flow of venom poured out, enough to make one doubt if its species was truly 'honeybee'.
“……”
He wasn't sure about much else, but watching this, he could be certain of one thing.
If someone were stung and injected with that venom, they wouldn't just suffer—they'd be crossing the River Styx.
“Good work, Teunteun-i. Eat this and get some rest in the hive.”
Buzzz~
Handing over a special nutritional supplement for bees made from Ruby Gem Honey and Royal Jelly, Seong-hyeok scraped off the venom Teunteun-i had left pooled on the glass plate.
[Gathering Great Success!]
[You have acquired 2 Peridot Cheonram Bee Venom (★★★).]
“...Haha, well, that's really something.”
While thousands, even tens of thousands of other bees, could only gather 10 to 20 units, this one produced two units all by itself.
Considering this was extracted without endangering its life, it was hard to even guess the total amount of Cheonram venom stored in Teunteun-i's venom sac.
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[Peridot Bee Cheonram Venom (★★★)] X 2
* Type: Consumable, Material
* Upon consumption or exposure to a wound, Health decreases by 300 over 2 minutes. When the 2-minute duration ends, you take additional damage equal to the total damage sustained. Causes extreme pain, high fever, and paralysis for 30 minutes. (Max 5 stacks)
* Description: A ★★★-grade Peridot Bee Venom collected from a Peridot Cheonram Venom Legion Commander Bee that inhabits the dimension 'Venom Zone Graham.' It contains highly effective toxic components. Consumption causes extreme pain, high fever, and paralysis.
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“This is too precious to use carelessly.”
Did it live up to the name 'elite bee'?
Unlike other venoms that couldn't be stacked, the Cheonram venom could be stacked on its own, and it dealt a fatal blow of additional damage when its duration ended.
Since his existing venoms were sufficient for crafting venom rounds for attacks, Seong-hyeok decided to process the Cheonram venom in a different way.
“Let's try processing it into something consumable.”
As mentioned before, even poison could have beneficial effects on the body depending on how it was used.
Especially since Seong-hyeok had the 'Venom Immunity' class specialization, which made him completely immune to the harmful effects of bee venom.
Therefore, the path Seong-hyeok chose was a combination of bee venom and honey tea.
“It's fine, I've already experimented to see if it would work properly.”
Thorough preparation is always best before using top-tier ingredients.
Seong-hyeok had, in fact, already conducted processing experiments with a few units of venom before turning them all into venom rounds.
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[Guardian's Peridot Venom Honey Tea (★★+)]
※ Remaining Aging Period: 7 days (Toxic effects will be neutralized upon completion of aging.)
* Type: Consumable
* Upon consumption, restores 440(+40) Health and Mana over 30 seconds and provides a feeling of satiety. The consumer gains 'Immunity of the Guardian's Peridot Venom Honey Tea.'
※ Immunity of the Guardian's Peridot Venom Honey Tea: For 60 minutes, resistance to all penalty effects increases by 35(+5)%, and Endurance increases by 11(+2).
…
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A venom honey tea he had tried making using Ruby Gem Honey and Peridot Bee Venom.
The resulting item boasted decent effects, which was satisfying, but he had hesitated to make more since it required precious venom that could be used for venom rounds. However, obtaining an item like Cheonram venom changed everything.
“…With this, it's definitely worth a shot. A processed item that permanently increases stats, that is.”
Should one say he knew how to spot an opportunity?
He had never played a game before, but who was Seong-hyeok?
Wasn't he the man who had walked the solitary path of the beekeeper for 24 years, even when others called him an oddball or an obsessive and shook their heads?
In that respect, Seong-hyeok saw the potential in this 'Cheonram venom' and immediately took action.
[You have selected Manual Crafting. Please begin crafting the honey tea. Time remaining: 30 minutes]
※ Warning! If crafting is not completed within the time limit, the materials used will be destroyed.
He had a history of making honey tea hundreds of times a day.
This time, all he had to do was add the Cheonram venom at the right moment and let it dissolve and mix well with the honey.
[Venom Honey Tea Crafting Great Success! The Honeybee Guardian's blessing is imbued into the Venom Honey Tea.]
[Guardian's Peridot Cheonram Venom Honey Tea (★★★+) has been crafted.]
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[Guardian's Peridot Cheonram Venom Honey Tea (★★★+)]
※ Remaining Aging Period: 17 days (Toxic effects will be neutralized upon completion of aging.)
* Type: Consumable
* Upon consumption, restores 900(+100) Health and Mana over 30 seconds and provides a feeling of satiety. The consumer gains 'Immunity of the Guardian's Peridot Cheonram Venom Honey Tea' and, one time only, permanently increases Strength by 1 and Endurance by 2. Current consumption: 0 / 1
※ Immunity of the Guardian's Peridot Cheonram Venom Honey Tea: For 60 minutes, resistance to all penalty effects increases by 75(+15)%, and Endurance increases by 36(+7).
* Description: A ★★★+-grade Peridot Cheonram Venom Honey Tea imbued with the Guardian's keyword. The harmony of Ruby Gem Honey and Peridot Bee Cheonram Venom creates an exquisite sweet and sour taste. Consumption provides significant satiety, restores health, and builds the immune system. It also permanently enhances a player's stats once. However, as the toxicity has not yet been fully neutralized, consumption is likely to cause pain and side effects.
※ Warning! Buffs from the same series of Cheonram Venom Honey Tea do not stack.
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“Nice!”
Just as expected.
A processed item that permanently increased stats, completed just as Seong-hyeok had predicted!
Moreover, compared to the Guardian's Ruby Gem Royal Jelly Pill, which only increased Endurance by 1, this one raised Strength by 1 and Endurance by 2.
A high-quality item that boosted stats by a total of 3 points.
And of course, as mentioned before, with his 'Venom Immunity,' Seong-hyeok had no need to wait for the venom's toxicity to be neutralized.
Gulp— Gulp—
As if to prove it, Seong-hyeok lifted the thick Cheonram Venom Honey Tea and downed it in one go.
[First consumption experience. Strength permanently increases by 1, and Endurance permanently increases by 2. 1 / 1]
[The Immunity of the Guardian's Peridot Cheonram Venom Honey Tea is applied.]
[The Honeybee Guardian's class specialization, 'Processed Honeybee Product Aficionado,' activates.]
[You are now free from the permanent stat increase limit of the Guardian's Peridot Cheonram Venom Honey Tea (★★★+). 0 / 1 Time remaining: 6 hours]
“Kyah! This is amazing!”
Following the Guardian's Royal Jelly Pills, he had now secured another processed item that opened a path to permanent stat increases: the Peridot Cheonram Venom Honey Tea.
With this kind of processed item, the first step was always the hardest.
Once you knew the effect, it was simple.
Dedication, ingredients, and effort.
As long as these three formed a trinity, Seong-hyeok was confident he could churn out the same type of item anytime like pastries, even without a recipe.
And above all else…
[Honey status in the Guardian's Extra-Large Gillight Blood Jade Plywood Hive (★★★-) has reached 82%.]
[Honey is now ready for harvest!]
“Finally, it's ready for harvest!”
The notification signaling the possibility of a honey harvest—the alpha and omega of beekeeping.
But there was another reason for Seong-hyeok's elation.
[Gathering Great Success!]
[You have acquired 47 Peridot Honey (★★).]
[You have acquired 7 Peridot Beeswax (★★).]
[You have acquired 5 Peridot Royal Jelly (★★★-).]
[You have acquired 2 Peridot Propolis (★★★).]
It was his first-ever harvest of 'Peridot' honey, not 'Ruby Gem'.
Naturally, the potential of the processed goods that could be made from these was so sweet that even Seong-hyeok, a man who had walked the solitary path of the beekeeper, couldn't dare to predict it.