Chapter 37
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: Guardian's Mix
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“What a feast! Wow! You’ve already harvested almonds and melons? Just like the honey apples, they’ve ripened so beautifully.”
“Hohoho. Aren’t they? Just wait. I’ll prepare them for you in a jiffy.”
“Hehe! Okay, Eonni!”
Most of the kitchenware was outside in the kitchen structure Seok-cheol had built, but there were still enough tools inside for things like paring fruit or roasting almonds.
Besides, this bizarre world was a place where all sorts of things, like skills and items, could be produced.
Among the spoils obtained from hunting monsters, there were byproducts from the monster itself, but sometimes, peculiar items would drop as well.
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[Medium-Grade Ignition Stone (★★)]
* Classification: Rechargeable Consumable
* Capacity: 85% (30 charges remaining)
* Upon inputting the 'Use' keyword, a flame will ignite after 10 seconds. Capacity is continuously consumed while active. Inputting the 'End' keyword will extinguish the flame.
※ Caution! The flame inflicts minor damage.
※ Attack Power 10
* Description: A ★★-grade medium-quality Ignition Stone created by someone out of boredom. It can ignite a flame and can be recharged to 100% capacity. However, recharging requires the consumption of 100 mana.
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A new fuel system was beginning to emerge in the form of items tailored to this new world.
It was an incredibly simple yet efficient energy source, requiring only the input of ‘Use’ and ‘End’ keywords. Beyond just ignition stones, there were also electric stones that supplied electricity and purification stones that could partially cleanse seawater or contaminated water, making it drinkable.
Since they could be used multiple times and recharged a certain number of times, they were quite useful items for those living in groups.
*Crackle- crackle-*
*Slice- slice-*
Thanks to these and other energy source items, the preparation process was over in a flash.
While roasting the almonds in a frying pan, Su-hee neatly sliced the melon into bite-sized pieces and offered the food to Yeon-ah, her face brimming with anticipation.
*Crunch- crunch-*
*Munch, munch- slurp-*
“How is it?”
“Mmm! It’s delicious! The almonds are savory, and the melon is perfectly juicy and sweet! You should try some too, Eonni.”
“Really? Then let me see…”
Following Yeon-ah’s lead, Su-hee also began to enjoy the snack.
Like hamsters with their cheeks puffed out, the two devoured the prepared Beryl Almonds and Sunshine Melons, their expressions filled with happiness.
“As expected, your farming skills are amazing, Eonni.”
“Ohoho. It’s not just me. It’s all thanks to the honeybees working over there.”
“I was so out of it when I first saw them that I was scared, but looking at them now, I love how fluffy they feel and how gentle they are, not even stinging.”
“And their actions are as cute as they look, aren’t they? Anyway, I’m glad we’ll be able to make some pretty decent dishes and desserts with this.”
“Hehe. I’ll be looking forward to it later.”
“You can count on your Eonni. Alright, then, I’ll go finish up the rest of the work.”
“I’ll help you. That’s what I came here for, anyway.”
After finishing their snack, the work began anew.
But before they started.
“Ah! Right! Su-hee Eonni!”
Yeon-ah, belatedly remembering something else important besides helping with the work, called out to Su-hee.
“Please take this. Seong-hyeok Oppa gave it for you and me to use. It’s cosmetics.”
“Oh my, cosmetics? Aigoo, you should just use it. How old do you think I am? I’m fine with just soap.”
Su-hee would soon be turning sixty.
But at her refusal, Yeon-ah shook her head as if it were absurd.
“Oh, Eonni. In this day and age, 59 is your prime. And most importantly, these are natural cosmetics made from the honeybees’ products. I’m sure even Ajeossi Seok-cheol will be grinning from ear to ear when he sees your glowing skin.”
“Y-You think so?”
“Of course! A woman like you, Su-hee Eonni, is still in her prime!”
“Oh my, this child…”
A woman is a woman, no matter her age.
There isn't a single woman in this world who dislikes dressing up and becoming more beautiful.
Especially since the cosmetics Seong-hyeok gave them were natural, made by the honeybees.
The cosmetics made from Lily’s venom were still unusable as the poison hadn’t been neutralized yet, but before that, they could simply use the standard Ruby Gem and Peridot propolis cosmetics Seong-hyeok had provided.
“Hmm. It feels like I’m applying water, but it’s not bad.”
“I know, right? It feels cool and refreshing as it soaks into the skin.”
“Oh my, it says my Skin Beauty has improved.”
“I got it too, Eonni!”
After spreading the propolis cosmetics all over their hands and faces, the two jumped up and down with joy at the notification that their Skin Beauty had risen, not to mention the temporary stat buff.
“Ohoho. Well, since I’ve received such a wonderful gift, I’ll have to repay Seong-hyeok-ssi with some delicious food.”
“I’ll do my best to help you, Eonni!”
“I’m counting on you.”
The allure of cosmetics that greatly aided in skin beauty, a gift from Seong-hyeok.
Faced with a ‘carrot’ that no woman could refuse, the two worked more diligently than ever, pouring their energy into harvesting the remaining crops.
* * * * *
Until now, the processed goods from the honeybees were mostly made from a single type, either Ruby Gem or Peridot.
This was a natural consequence, as Ruby Gem bees were several times more numerous and produced in large quantities, while Peridot bees generally had a lower yield.
But now that he had a gradual surplus of materials, Seong-hyeok was able to approach processing with more diverse methods and perspectives. The greatest result of this was this.
[You have met the conditions for skill acquisition. -> Level 15, produced a mixture from two or more types of honey products while retaining over 80% of their advantages.]
[You have learned the skill, Guardian's Mixed Honey Processing.]
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[Guardian's Mixed Honey Processing (Lv.1)]
* Classification: Skill
* Mana Cost: 20
* Required Materials: 2 or more types of honey products, processed honey goods
* Effect (Active): Creates a honey item that maximizes the advantages of two or more honey byproducts. (No cooldown)
* Description: Consumes two or more types of honey byproducts and the caster's mana to create beeswax candles. As the level increases, you will be able to obtain higher-grade finished products.
※ There is a certain chance to obtain a honey mixture engraved with the 'Guardian's' keyword.
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A skill called Guardian's Mixed Honey Processing, acquired after a few attempts.
This skill didn't have a strictly defined framework like beeswax candle making, honey brewing, or venom processing, but its versatility was off the charts.
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[Guardian's Rubydot Honey (★★+)]
* Classification: Consumable, Material
* Upon consumption, restores 230 Health and Mana along with providing satiety.
* Description: A ★★+-grade Rubydot Honey engraved with the Guardian's keyword. The sweetness of Ruby Gem honey and the unique, neutralized toxicity of Peridot honey are mixed, creating a tangy flavor and a peculiar sensation. Consumption provides a significant amount of satiety.
[Guardian's Rubydot Beeswax (★★+)]
[Guardian's Rubydot Royal Jelly (★★★-)]
[Guardian's Rubydot Propolis (★★★)]
[Guardian's Rubydot Bee Venom (★★)]
…….
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Frankly, the Rubydot created by mixing Ruby Gem and Peridot honey didn't exactly have an increased grade, but some of its effects were enhanced.
Beyond that, there was another noticeable change: the engraving of the 'Guardian's' keyword.
Seong-hyeok, who had experience crafting beehives using 'Sturdy Gillight Plywood,' already knew the role that a 'keyword' engraved on a processed item played in this bizarre world.
“H-Hyeong-nim. This is one heck of an item you’ve created.”
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[Meticulous Rubydot Venom Bomb Trap (★★+)]
* Classification: Consumable
* Place on the ground and input the 'Use' keyword to set it up in 10 seconds. It will explode when crushed by a certain amount of weight, inflicting critical damage to all entities within a 26(+3)m radius and afflicting them with 'Meticulous Rubydot Poisoning'.
※ Attack Power 440~760 (Varies depending on proximity)
※ Meticulous Rubydot Poisoning: The poisoned target loses 30(+6) Health per second for 2 minutes. (Max 3 stacks)
* As a bonus effect from the consumption of the 'Guardian's' keyword, the attack power of the venom bomb trap is further increased.
…….
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A continuous processing chain, passed from one person to another.
The game's system granted a bonus effect upon the consumption of a created keyword, and the same applied this time, boosting the attack power of the venom bomb trap Cheon-su had made.
And was that all?
Ruby Gem and Peridot.
A completely different variety of mixed product, Rubydot, was born from mixing the two.
That meant he could now obtain a new category of processed goods, separate from the existing ones, like Royal Jelly pills, propolis films, and cosmetics.
Furthermore, there was the 'Guardian's' keyword attached to the mixture.
What would happen if that was stacked repeatedly?
“This will be an interesting discovery.”
One must not forget that Seong-hyeok was a being who had spent his entire life dedicated to the ecology of honeybees, a desire for mad inquiry that bordered on obsession.
As proof, during his job selection, 'Mad Inquirer' was an option alongside Honeybee Guardian, both 5-star grades. The culmination of his life's work made him a different breed, a true eccentric compared to ordinary people.
For such a man, in a situation where time was gold, even a moment's hesitation was a luxury.
Without a second thought, Seong-hyeok went through the process of concentrating the Guardian's Rubydot Royal Jelly into a pill.
And the result was…
[Royal Jelly concentration is a great success! The Honeybee Guardian's blessing is engraved upon the Royal Jelly pill.]
[An item blessed by the Honeybee Guardian already exists among the ingredients used. The keywords will merge to grant an additional bonus effect.]
[Guardian's Rubydot Royal Jelly Pill (★★★+) has been crafted.]
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[Guardian's Rubydot Royal Jelly Pill (★★★+)]
* Classification: Consumable
* Upon consumption, it provides effects such as fatigue recovery, stamina enhancement, and skin beauty. The entity gains 'Sturdy Health of the Guardian's Rubydot Royal Jelly Pill,' and for one time only, Agility permanently increases by 2 and Endurance by 1. Current consumption 0 / 1
※ Sturdy Health of the Guardian's Rubydot Royal Jelly Pill: Agility and Endurance increase by 32(+8) for 90 minutes.
* As a bonus effect from the fusion of the 'Guardian's' keyword, the effects of the Royal Jelly pill are further enhanced.
…….
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An absolute success!
Following the Ruby Gem and Peridot Royal Jelly pills, he had succeeded in processing an additional superior-grade item that permanently increased stats.
It went without saying that if the Royal Jelly pill was a success, it meant that he could obtain additional superior-grade items like propolis films or cosmetics.
And that would supercharge Seong-hyeok's stat growth, while also having a tremendous influence on the stat growth of his honeybees under the Honeybee Guardian's authority!
“…Not yet. There’s one more. I haven’t even attempted the most crucial experiment yet.”
It was news worthy of celebration, but for Seong-hyeok, there was still one more, very important mixture left to try.
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[Peridot Bee Cheonram Venom (★★★)]
[Ruby Gem Bee Dark Lilyzer Venom (★★★)]
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It was the mixing of the venoms from Teunteun-i and Lily, the bees who possessed the most powerful and special venoms on his farm.