Chapter 41
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 41
Chapter Title: Divine Contracts
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#2 When the Chapter update was in progress.
At the same time that Seong-hyeok was being influenced by the gazes of Sion and Bo, and the intervention of the three Transcendent Beings including Ninetails.
Elsewhere on the Korean server, another Transcendent Being was in the middle of their own intervention.
“……”
The target was Cha Hye-rin, who was active in the Yeonbun Gukbap Shelter but was currently hunting alone.
Beyond simply boasting a high level among players, there was the potential held by her 5-star unique class, Silent Step.
The Transcendent Beings, who had recognized this potential with their exceptional eyes, had begun to mark those who suited their own dispositions, laying their claim.
[The Transcendent Being, Shadow Empress Rehurin, holds your potential in high regard. She sincerely desires an Incarnation Contract with you for her future amusement. If you accept, you will be able to wield a portion of the power held by the Shadow Empress Rehurin. Will you proceed with the Incarnation Contract from the Shadow Empress Rehurin? YES / NO]
※ Upon forming an Incarnation Contract, you will receive significant aid from the Transcendent Being, such as Incarnation-exclusive items and various powers, with minimized penalties from the #Chapter. However, an Incarnation Contract with a Transcendent Being can only be made once per player, so please choose carefully.
From the Transcendent Being’s perspective, they could properly enjoy their game, and from the Incarnation’s perspective, they could receive a great deal of support.
It was a win-win condition where both sides could gain something of value.
But everyone’s perspective is different, and Cha Hye-rin did not have a particularly favorable impression of Transcendent Beings.
“So it was you. The ones who created this situation?”
Due to the specialization of her Silent Step class, Hye-rin was one of the people who had seen more than enough of the consequences of this topsy-turvy world.
The fundamental cause of the apocalypse that had snatched away countless lives, starting with the countless families who had been living well.
Of course, the ones who carried it out were purely monsters and people drunk on power, but the ones who had put swords in the hands of those who had been living just fine were none other than the Transcendent Beings who had altered the system.
Their very common sense walked a completely different path from the creatures called humans.
But perhaps that was why?
[The Transcendent Being, Shadow Empress Rehurin, gazes at you with a smile. …She uses the power of ■■■. She will temporarily invite you to the Shadow World. Will you accept? YES / YES]
※ If no selection is made, this option will be automatically chosen after 10 seconds.
Despite Hye-rin’s furious tone, the Transcendent Being simply smiled as if to mock her.
Then came the sound of static and a message of invitation.
“YES.”
Since there was no ‘NO’ option to begin with for this invitation to another world, Hye-rin was going to go anyway.
She chose YES, with the will to go on her own terms.
The world felt like it was flipping upside down, followed by a wave of nausea.
Fighting the urge to vomit, Hye-rin looked forward, where a single figure shrouded in black light greeted her.
“Welcome, little one.”
A beautiful voice, one that could never be thought of as human.
But what was important to Hye-rin was not that she had met a part of Rehurin or heard her voice.
“There’s no need to hide. I knew from the start that you were of the same kind as me, and that is by no means a bad thing. In fact, I liked that part of you, which is why I chose you as my Incarnation.”
The Shadow World moved with a bewitching smile.
It transformed into something like a mirror and soon reflected Cha Hye-rin.
And what appeared there was her past.
To be precise, the time after this topsy-turvy world had arrived.
It was the image of Hye-rin, upon choosing her class as Silent Step, slaughtering countless survivors and monsters around her without discrimination.
An act of murder committed while intoxicated with pleasure, as if she had been freed from a ‘limiter’ that had been holding her back.
Her behavior of only sparing ‘young children’ from death made her seem all the more like a demon.
“Now, isn't it time to drop the mask?”
“……”
*I know everything about you.*
That was what Rehurin’s question seemed to say.
In response, Hye-rin, who had been silent with her head bowed, felt her pupils begin to lose their light, becoming chillingly cold as a smirk spread across her lips.
“…Heehee. Well, well. You found me out?”
A complete change from moments before.
A shift in behavior like that of someone with a dual personality.
But this was not a change caused by Rehurin’s Shadow World.
It was simply…
Cha Hye-rin had always been hiding her true nature, acting as a humanitarian player to the point of deceiving even herself.
No, she had simply created the personality she desired.
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[Class Specialization - Silent Step]
* The Silent One: No matter what happens, you will never become an evildoer.
* Silent Footsteps: All actions produce no sound. You will not be perceived until you attack or speak.
* Personality Remodeling: Create a desired personality.
* Murderous Impulse: Upon killing a living being, the damage of the next attack is doubled for one time only.
* Life Harvester: The number of Field Boss Monsters and humans killed is recorded. Upon meeting the harvest quota, you gain 1 stat point. 8 / 30 (Total lives harvested to date: 3,518 -> Cumulative stat increase: 117)
* ???
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“Are all Transcendent Beings like this? A bunch of voyeurs who get excited secretly watching what I do?”
“Maybe they are, maybe they aren’t?”
“Heeh? You’re not denying it, huh. Well, fine. So, what can you do for me?”
Before the dawn of this chaotic world.
Among the 7.7 billion people, a very small number of unique classes were given only to those who lived with a special ‘karma’ from their lives.
As the owner of Silent Step, a 5-star class among them, Cha Hye-rin was by no means an ‘ordinary’ player.
* * * * *
The residents had stopped what they were doing and gathered, wondering if something had happened due to the #2 Chapter update and the bees’ spectacular dance.
“I was so surprised, hyung-nim. I thought something had happened.”
“I was feeling uneasy, but watching the bees feels so healing. Hehe.”
“Since it seems like nothing’s wrong, I’ll go back to finishing the building I was working on!”
“Keep up the good work.”
But once they realized it was nothing serious, they smiled at the thought of having seen a good show and began to head their separate ways.
Seong-hyeok, like the other residents, was about to start processing the harvested honey.
“Excuse me, Seong-hyeok-ssi.”
Yeon Su-hee remained, looking as if she had something to say.
After hesitating for a moment, as if the topic was difficult to broach, what she finally said was beyond imagination.
“…You made a contract with a Transcendent Being?”
An Incarnation Contract with a Transcendent Being.
Seong-hyeok knew what that meant.
The #2 Chapter update.
The most crucial part of its contents was that Transcendent Beings could now intervene here, albeit to a small extent.
And among those interventions, an Incarnation Contract was bound to be important.
First of all, just the keyword ‘contract’ suggested it was something not to be entered into lightly, and the other party was no ordinary person but a ‘Transcendent Being’.
A being that could be considered god-like in a way.
Naturally, the benefits would be substantial, but there was also a possibility of receiving penalties as a player, whether known or unknown.
“Yes. After a conversation with Preppion, the Goddess of Plenty, I thought the conditions were not bad, so I made the contract.”
“But is it alright for you to tell me something like that?”
“Fortunately, it seems the Goddess of Plenty has taken a liking to the diligent Seong-hyeok-ssi. She gave me permission to share the fact that I made the Incarnation Contract and the powers and items I received.”
But was this Transcendent Being named Preppion also quite open-minded, like Ninetails or Sion?
Or, being the goddess related to ‘plenty’, had the diligent work of the bees and Seong-hyeok pleased her?
Of course, the simple fact that Seong-hyeok was the master of the shelter protecting her Incarnation, Yeon Su-hee, couldn’t be overlooked either.
But regardless, there was no harm in Seong-hyeok learning in advance what one gained by becoming an Incarnation.
“Then, if you would, please.”
It was a no-lose situation, and Seong-hyeok wasn't about to pass it up.
[Player Yeon Su-hee (Mom’s Home Cooking - Level 20) reveals the powers of Preppion, the Goddess of Plenty.]
* Blessing of Plenty: As the Incarnation of Preppion, the Goddess of Plenty, the amount of experience gained from activities related to gathering and crafting is greatly increased. (Passive)
* Goddess’s Rapid Growth: With the power of Preppion, the Goddess of Plenty, complete the growth of a selected crop. However, the amount of Plenty Energy consumed varies depending on the crop’s grade and growth period. (Plenty Energy 100% / Time remaining until Plenty Energy recharges: 6 hours)
* Preppion’s World Tree Seed (Cannot be unlocked yet due to level limitations) -> Level Insufficient (Required Level: 30)
* ???
The powers of the Incarnation Contract, which bestowed formidable strength similar to class specializations or skills.
For Su-hee, who was farming in the greenhouse built by Seok-cheol and was in charge of cooking at the shelter, the ‘Blessing of Plenty’ that increased her experience gain was, in a word, a prime power that would allow her to accelerate her growth.
As for ‘Goddess’s Rapid Growth’, it made it possible to select and rapidly grow necessary crops as needed.
Of course, there was a limit called Plenty Energy, and it required a rather long time of six hours to recharge, but if used to grow just a few necessary crops, there was no better skill for a farmer or a cook.
And above all…
‘A World Tree Seed. Is that the same World Tree I’m thinking of?’
Among Preppion’s powers, ‘Preppion’s World Tree Seed’ was still locked due to an insufficient level.
No matter how absorbed Seong-hyeok was with his bees, he had at least heard the name ‘World Tree’ once in his life.
A giant tree commonly appearing in fantasy worlds, a plant that brought many benefits.
Given the high requirement of level 30, if she could somehow meet the level condition to acquire it, it would undoubtedly have a significant impact on Seong-hyeok’s bee farm where his bees were active.
Moreover, what Yeon Su-hee received from the Incarnation Contract wasn't just ‘powers’.
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[Preppion’s Seed Pouch (Divine)] - Incarnation Exclusive Item
※ This item contains a large amount of a Transcendent Being’s divine fragments. (It boasts effects far superior to ordinary items.)
※ Will be destroyed upon the permanent death of the Incarnation’s soul.
* Type: Etc.
* Capacity: 200 / 200 (Grows according to the owner’s ‘Level x 10’.)
* Akir Honey Apple Seed (★+) - Time Remaining: 2 hours 52 minutes
* Beryl Almond Seed (★★-) - Time Remaining: 3 hours 22 minutes
* Sunlight Melon (★★) - Time Remaining: 5 hours 22 minutes
* Imbues stored seeds with the energy of plenty. (Ripening period varies depending on the seed type.)
* Durability: ∞ / ∞
* Description: A ?-grade seed pouch filled with the potent energy of the Transcendent Being, Preppion, the Goddess of Plenty. It has been elevated to a Divine-grade item due to a large quantity of divine fragments. It can only be used by Preppion’s Incarnation. Seeds stored within will become imbued with the energy of plenty.
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An item of ‘Divine’ grade, which did not exist in the game system's basic star-rating framework.
It was blatantly labeled ‘Incarnation Exclusive’ and was even a growth-type item, something he had never seen before.
Furthermore, its effects were significant enough to be of great help to Seong-hyeok’s bee farm right away.
Although he couldn't know for sure what effect imbuing seeds with the energy of plenty would have, it was far more likely to be positive than negative.
Also, her years of experience were not to be ignored; Yeon Su-hee had already demonstrated her thoroughness by filling Preppion’s Seed Pouch to the brim with seeds and starting the ripening process.
“Thank you for telling me. I look forward to working with you.”
“Not at all. If anything, I’m the one who will be relying on you and the bees from now on.”
The Transcendent Being, Preppion, the Goddess of Plenty, was now set to influence Seong-hyeok’s bee farm.
How this entity, who had taken Yeon Su-hee as her Incarnation, would act was something that remained to be seen.