Chapter 40
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 40
Chapter Title: A Performance for the Transcendent
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Transcendent Beings.
To be honest, even Seong-hyeok didn't have a purely positive image of them, the very cause of the apocalyptic trials that had befallen people who were just living their lives.
After all, it was an undeniable fact that countless lives had been lost due to their actions, like the ‘Soldier VS Civilian’ event quests.
But Seong-hyeok didn't particularly resent the Transcendent Beings.
Why?
Because he had lived his life as an orphan ever since losing his parents in an accident as a child.
Moreover, once he became fascinated with the ecology of honeybees, he had focused solely on his bee-holism.
Naturally, he didn't have the worries about family that ordinary people would.
If there was an exception, it would be the director of the orphanage who had raised him; he hoped she was still alive, at least.
As a result, Seong-hyeok wanted only one thing.
‘As long as the bees don’t go extinct.’
From their fluffy, cute appearance to their ultimate altruism, willingly sacrificing their own lives for the good of the colony.
If anything, Seong-hyeok was grateful to the Transcendent Beings for granting him the destiny of the ‘Honeybee Guardian’ class and allowing him to meet the Ruby Gem and Peridot honeybees, creatures from another dimension.
But no matter how grateful or positive he felt, Seong-hyeok didn't trust the Transcendent Beings.
No, from the very beginning, Seong-hyeok was not one to easily trust any existence other than his bees.
Most living things were inherently selfish.
‘…Still, there’s no reason to pass up something I can use.’
While it was essential to remain wary of the Transcendent Beings, the three who had approached him now hadn't shown any particular hostility.
The ones called Sion and the Gaze of Bo, who seemed content to just watch what he was doing, were one thing, but the Transcendent Being named Nainkito seemed to have taken a liking to his bees, even offering a 3-star+ grade evolution material.
‘I guess bees are technically insects, too.’
The Insect Queen.
In short, a Transcendent Being who could be seen as the queen of insects.
Was it as they say, birds of a feather flock together?
It seemed the ever-adorable honeybees had caught the eye of the Insect Queen.
‘I don’t know if this will count as a charm offensive or not…’
It was a situation where he had nothing to lose.
Seong-hyeok called for the Ruby Gem and Peridot Queens through the Honeybee Link.
*Weeeeng- Weeeeeeng-*
*Wiiiiiiing-*
The two queens, who had been in the middle of laying eggs, were summoned without knowing why.
The command was to put on a ‘charming display,’ something they had never heard before.
He was just about to explain, in case they didn't understand.
[Ruby Gem Queen Bee (★★★+) uses the skill, Queen’s Pheromone (Lv.6).]
[Peridot Queen Bee (★★★+) uses the skill, Queen’s Pheromone (Lv.7).]
…
As if they understood his words, the two queens activated their pheromones, gathering the nearby bees.
Then, flanking the two queens as if to serve them, Teunteun-i and the Lilies appeared faster than anyone, displaying their respective valor and elegance.
But that was only the beginning.
*Wiiing- Wiiing- Wiiiiiing-!*
*Bzzzz- Bzzzzzzzz-!!!*
Honeybees are social insects.
If one were to pick the noblest among them, it would naturally be the queen, but if one were to name the most crucial pillar, it would be, without a doubt, the worker bees.
They work ceaselessly from the moment they are born, and for the sake of the colony, they are the epitome of sacrifice, always ready to lay down their lives in mutual destruction.
Excluding the higher-ranking species, the worker bees, which made up over 80% of the swarm, came together. With a war-song-like buzzing of their wings, the red-hued Ruby Gem and green-hued Peridot bees wiggled their distinctive abdomens in a synchronized dance, performing an acrobatic flight.
That sight.
No, the scene, which could be called a beautiful spectacle without any exaggeration, far surpassed the scope of a mere ‘charming display.’
It was the realm of art itself—a multitude of life forms moving in perfect, orderly unison!
“Heh, what in the world…”
“B-Bro Seong-hyeok, is something going on?”
This happened while everyone was already flustered by the Chapter 2 update.
Seok-cheol and Cheon-su, who had rushed over wondering if something was wrong, stood with their mouths agape at the spectacle of the bees.
“Wow, it’s beautiful.”
“My, they really are good at everything.”
Su-hee and Yeon-ah, who had also run over, were similarly mesmerized, lost in the bees’ synchronized flight.
And it seemed the Transcendent Beings felt the same way.
[The Transcendent Being, Sion the Patient, sends praise for your subordinate’s magnificent performance. Sponsoring Sion’s Necklace (★★★).]
[The Transcendent Being, the Gaze of Bo, the Mad Inquisitor, expresses delight at the rather entertaining spectacle. Sponsoring Bo’s Elixir, the Mad Bloodflow Wine (★★★-).]
[The Transcendent Being, Nainkito the Insect Queen, praises that while it wasn't exactly a charming display, it was a fine performance nonetheless. Sponsoring Wild Jewel Honeycomb Fragment (★★★+).]
A series of alerts followed, the Transcendent Beings sponsoring various items as if paying for the show.
*Wiiiing- Weeeeeeeeeeng-!!!*
“…You blessed little things.”
The sheer brilliance of his bees, who always did more than what was asked of them.
How could Seong-hyeok not fall for their sweet charm?
* * * * *
*Wiiing- Wiiiiiing-*
After the bees’ performance to receive the sponsorship from the three Transcendent Beings ended, they returned to their daily routine and resumed their work.
[The Transcendent Being, Nainkito the Insect Queen, cheers for your journey ahead. A Parasite - Heart Reinforcement Bug (1-time use) is implanted in you. She says it will be helpful in a moment of crisis.]
[The Transcendent Being, Sion the Patient, states that they will be watching from now on.]
[The Transcendent Being…….
Following that, a series of positive messages from the three Transcendent Beings arrived, and then nothing more.
Whether sending messages was a paid system or if there was some kind of penalty, Seong-hyeok couldn't know, but it wasn't a problem for him either way.
Whether the Transcendent Beings were there or not, Seong-hyeok would just live as he always had.
Just like his bees, who always diligently carried out their assigned tasks.
“…Still, I never imagined I’d get something like this.”
In addition to the sponsored items, he had also received the Parasite - Heart Reinforcement Bug from Nainkito.
At a glance, it had the unsettling name of ‘parasite,’ and he could feel an unfamiliar squirming in a corner of his chest.
But the effect it held was good enough to overlook all that.
※ Parasite - Heart Reinforcement Bug: Detonates the parasite engraved on the heart to temporarily stimulate the body to a great extent. For 10 minutes, all stats are doubled, and max HP and max MP increase by 2,500. However, immediately after the duration ends, all stats are reduced by 100 for 1 hour. (1-time use power from the Transcendent Being - Nainkito)
A pumping effect with fraudulent power, doubling all stats and even increasing HP and MP by 2,500.
But as powerful as the effect was, the penalty was also quite severe.
A reduction of 100 in all stats.
For most players at this point, this was a penalty that would render them completely useless, with their stats likely plummeting into the negatives.
For Seong-hyeok, however, it wasn't that critical.
“This is why it’s good to consistently take care of your body.”
Thanks to various permanent stat-boosting items and his class specialization, Lover of Processed Bee Products, which removed the limit on them.
As a result, Seong-hyeok's stats, except for Strength and Control, were all over 100, and even those two could be sufficiently raised through leveling up and future item processing.
Besides, hadn't he gained quite a lot from this opportunity?
______________________________
[Sion’s Necklace (★★★)]
※ This item is infused with a divine fragment from a Transcendent Being. (Boasts effects superior to ordinary items.)
* Classification: Accessory
* Defense +30, Magic Resistance +55
* HP +500, Vitality +30
* Durability: 250 / 250
* Description: A ★★★ grade necklace that the Transcendent Being, Sion the Patient, used for decoration. A minuscule divine fragment has imbued it with the power of a superior-grade item. / P.S., …….
[Bo’s Elixir, the Mad Bloodflow Wine (★★★-)]
※ This item is infused with a divine fragment from a Transcendent Being. (Boasts effects superior to ordinary items.)
* Classification: Consumable
* Upon consumption, Strength permanently increases by 5 one time. Current consumption 0 / 1
* Description: A ★★★- grade elixir, the Mad Bloodflow Wine, modified by the Transcendent Being, the Gaze of Bo, the Mad Inquisitor, for the inhabitants of the lower chapters. A minuscule divine fragment has imbued it with the power of a superior-grade item. Thanks to the Transcendent Being’s consideration, it has no side effects. / P.S., A small reward for the eye candy. I look forward to more interesting developments.
[Wild Jewel Honeycomb Fragment (★★★+)]
※ This item is infused with a divine fragment from a Transcendent Being. (Boasts effects superior to ordinary items.)
* Classification: Consumable, Material (Evolution)
* Has a connection to Wild Honey
* Description: A ★★★+ grade Wild Jewel Honeycomb Fragment, a modification of an ordinary honeycomb by the Transcendent Being, Nainkito the Insect Queen. A minuscule divine fragment has imbued it with the power of a superior-grade item. Detailed effects are displayed. / P.S., Use this for the evolution of a bee that will gather excellent resources. All insects are my children. I trust that the heart you possess will endure to the end.
______________________________
In any case, the Transcendent Beings hadn't been particularly hostile toward Seong-hyeok.
That didn't mean he could trust all three of them 100%, but the three items they sent were all gems that he couldn't afford to miss.
A piece of equipment with excellent stats, an elixir that permanently boosted Strength by 5, and finally, what could be considered the most important, a supplementary material that could be definitively used for a queen bee’s evolution.
Furthermore, the description on the Wild Jewel Honeycomb Fragment mentioned a connection to ‘Wild Honey.’
“Wild honey. This is definitely it.”
He hadn't devoted his life to bees for just a day or two.
How could Seong-hyeok not know what wild honey was?
“It was something I was planning on getting one way or another.”
If regular honey was just coffee, then wild honey—rock honey, tree honey, and earth honey—was the top-shelf stuff.
It went without saying that if he could utilize byproducts like royal jelly or propolis from such high-quality honey, the possibility of creating more types of ‘permanent stat-boosting’ processed goods would arise.
“This is getting exciting.”
As he sketched out a not-so-bad future in this topsy-turvy world,
______________________________
[Ruby Gem Queen Bee (★★★+)]
* Growth Rate: 18.66%
[Peridot Queen Bee (★★★+)]
* Growth Rate: 92.64%
______________________________
Seong-hyeok prayed for his two queens to quickly reach a 100% growth rate.