Chapter 62
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 62
Chapter Title: New Residents and New Abilities
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Seong-hyeok's beekeeping farm.
Upon arriving at the heart of the farm, where the beehives were gathered in a cozy cluster, the people began to voice their impressions.
“Whoa...”
“I think I'm seeing all the bees I'll ever see in my entire life right here.”
“So this is why Honeybee is able to list so much honey on the Exchange.”
It made sense. This was where the honey was collected and new baby bees were born, so it was only natural for them to gather here.
The sight of red, green, and yellow bees mingling together, zipping into the hives and zipping back out, was nothing short of wondrous.
For a moment, they gulped, understanding the source of Honeybee's vast supply of goods and imagining the terror of all those bees turning hostile.
But it seemed adults and children saw things differently.
“They're so cute, wiggling around!”
“Their butts are so fluffy! They look warm!”
“You little ones have a good eye, don't you? But don't touch them. They're all busy working right now.”
“Okay!”
The children swayed on the backs of Yongbi and Danbi.
More captivated by the bees' adorable, wiggling bottoms than their intimidating stingers, the kids hopped around in delight.
While Seong-hyeok, as the Honeybee Guardian, was pleased that the bees were being well-received, he didn't just smile.
He was, after all, the master of this shelter, and he needed to establish his authority.
So, just as he had when he welcomed Su-hee and the other residents, Seong-hyeok emphasized that this entire environment was built on the sacrifices of his bees.
“Understood. Since we're the ones joining, we'll do our best to follow your lead.”
“Thank you, ma'am.”
It was only a verbal agreement, with no contractual clauses, but it was better than nothing.
After receiving Yeon-bun's confirmation, Seong-hyeok guided them to their new living quarters.
“They're not individual buildings, but I've constructed two houses so you can live separately by gender. There isn't much furniture, but you should be comfortable enough.”
Half a day's time.
In reality, building habitable houses in such a short time would have been absurd, but this was a bizarre world where game-like systems prevailed, wasn't it?
Seok-cheol's skills, honed by extensive construction, combined with an abundance of lumber and reinforcing materials like beeswax, propolis, and even bee cocoons.
The two houses, completed with all sorts of byproducts, were not only durable but also maintained a remarkably pleasant internal temperature.
“This is amazing, don't you think?”
“A house just needs to be sturdy, right? I love it!”
“Huh? Wait, isn't this a functional building that grants a buff if you rest here for a certain amount of time?”
Of course, with high-quality lumber and byproducts...
...and outstanding construction skills on top of that, the buildings were bound to be anything but ordinary.
While resting inside, a sweet honey scent would spread, relaxing both mind and body and creating the perfect conditions for a deep sleep.
The condition of getting over six hours of deep sleep to wake up refreshed might not seem like a big deal, but in this anxious world overrun with monsters, it was a truly precious effect.
And above all...
“What? We don't have to stand watch at night?”
“Wow, my sleep schedule was a wreck from waking up at dawn every day. You've saved me.”
“And the fact that bugs won't bother us is awesome too, isn't it?”
“I think bees are about to become my favorite bug.”
The Gil-light plywood beehives illuminated the night, allowing the bees to work around the clock and rendering night watch unnecessary.
Moreover, since most bug-type monsters didn't even approach the area, it was nothing short of paradise for those who had been forced to stand watch outside as a matter of course.
It was only natural that their fear of the bees that created this environment was now being replaced by a growing sense of gratitude.
They voiced their admiration as they briefly unpacked their belongings.
“Dinner is ready. Has everyone eaten?”
A smile spread across their faces at Seong-hyeok's question.
Honeybee, the renowned tycoon of the Korean server and owner of all those honey products.
His meals were sure to be anything but ordinary!
And sure enough?
“Come on in. It's not much, but I hope you all enjoy it.”
“Not much? I think the table's about to break!”
“There's so much variety, it's incomparable to what Elder Yeon-bun, who only knows how to make gukbap, serves.”
Their eyes widened at the magnificent feast Su-hee had prepared, showing off her full skills.
It couldn't be helped.
No matter how much they loved gukbap, eating pork head gukbap for all three meals every single day in this bizarre world was bound to get old. They were only human.
And now, here was a main dish slathered in honey, along with an array of sweet-looking desserts.
Was it any wonder that everyone, adults and children alike, found their mouths watering at the sight?
“...You damn rascals. Just you wait.”
“Ma'am, you mentioned you like honey wine, right? I have a new product that I haven't even listed on the Exchange yet. Would you like a glass?”
“Hohol. Thank you, young man.”
Of course, there was one person who didn't seem too pleased with their behavior, but it was a joyous time nonetheless, thanks to the bountiful meal.
They say there's no better way for strangers to get to know each other than by sharing a meal and drinks.
A small bond was formed as they ate together.
Perhaps because of that, the bees' flight patterns suddenly changed.
*Bzzzz— Bzzzzzz—*
*Bzzzzzzzz—!!*
“Haha, hello there. Nice to meet you, bees.”
“This honey you all gathered... it's really delicious. Thank you for the meal.”
“Wow, so cute! Mister, can I pet the bee?”
The bees stopped their busy work and flew over to the newcomers, rubbing against them to show their friendliness.
“Go ahead. They won't attack you if you touch them.”
“Hehehe!”
In this bizarre world, people were more frightening than monsters.
In a place where you could be stabbed in the back at any moment, judging whether someone harbored ill intentions was surprisingly simple for Seong-hyeok.
*'They've been accepted.'*
The bees, a multitude of colonies acting as a single mind.
For them, who valued protecting their queen above their own lives, to show favor meant, in other words, that the newcomers held no 'hostility' toward Seong-hyeok.
And so, was this how they were fully accepted as 'residents' through the bees?
“Huh? I just got a quest. It says to deal with the orcs at the foot of the mountain.”
“I-I think I got one too, but the details seem different from yours, hyung-nim.”
“Anyway, the reward for this is no joke, is it?”
'A Land of Milk and Honey,' the special status applied to Seong-hyeok's beekeeping farm.
Those who were now included in its area of effect had also been given quests.
“That's a special status applied to my farm. You should be able to receive one quest per day.”
Since they would all be living together, he couldn't hide the existence of his traps and wax turrets forever.
Having learned their true intentions through the bees' actions, Seong-hyeok began to lower some of his guard and revealed what he could offer.
“Don't tell me that's...?”
The first were Seong-hyeok's processed goods—high-end items like Royal Jelly Pills, Propolis Film, and cosmetics.
The permanent stat increase was a one-time thing, but when it came to boosting virility and improving skin, there were no better items to entice both men and women.
“Now that you're my residents, I'm not so shameless as to charge you the full Exchange price. I can offer you a discount, and depending on the situation, if you meet certain quotas, I might just give them to you.”
“Ooooh!”
“Is that really true?”
In any case, the amount he sold on the Exchange was minuscule compared to his total production, if only to maintain their premium status.
Moreover, as more bees were born, the rate at which byproducts were collected was constantly increasing.
In this situation, it was more effective to use them to establish his authority over the newcomers and reduce the bees' sacrifices, rather than just for earning coins.
“And now, if you don't mind, could I ask about your respective roles? You can decide for yourselves how much detail to share, but for now, please just distinguish between combat and life classes.”
“Of course.”
Information, by its nature, shouldn't be a one-way street; it's meant to be exchanged.
Since Seong-hyeok had offered something, it was only right for them to share information with him in return.
“So, to summarize, there are four life classes and eight combat classes?”
“That's right. Is there a problem?”
“No. More combat classes are very welcome. In fact, we were a bit too heavy on the life classes.”
Now that he said it, he realized the class distribution at his beekeeping farm had been quite bizarre.
Including himself, there were five residents in total.
Among them, four were life classes, and the only combat class was Cheon-su, who wasn't even a direct fighter but a trapper.
In terms of balance, and by the standards of the outside world, it was a miracle they had survived this long!
But now, he no longer had to worry about that balance.
“Then I look forward to working with you all.”
Six reliable, able-bodied men and two children who seemed to hold considerable potential.
And the most reassuring addition of all was Cha Hye-rin, a powerhouse strong enough to earn the title of VVVIP.
With her on their side, the need for his bees to make sacrifices would diminish even further.
* * * * *
Among the twelve new residents, the ones identified as life classes were Lee Yeon-bun, the two children, and, surprisingly, a middle-aged man with a sturdy build who looked like a combat class.
“There's a pen, that's perfect. Sorry to ask, but would it be alright if I used this entire space?”
“Yes, feel free to use it as you wish.”
“Then, if you'll excuse me for a moment.”
It went without saying that among these four, the one who demonstrated the greatest influence was Yeonbun Gukbap, the renowned official 3rd-ranked player on the Korean server.
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[Class Specialization - Master of Pork Head Gukbap]
* Mother of Pigs: The growth rate of affiliated pigs increases by 5 times.
* Gukbap Master: When crafting gukbap with a Great Success, its effects are enhanced.
* Boiling Vigor: The libido of affiliated pigs explodes.
* Pig Pouch: Stores affiliated pigs. However, pigs in this state stop growing. 230 / 230 (Storage capacity increases with level)
* ???
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Was it because Seong-hyeok had offered her the new Tricolor Honey Wine?
Or was it to firmly establish trust as a newcomer?
Whatever the reason, she had revealed to Seong-hyeok that she had a 3-star unique class and even shared her class specializations, something people usually kept private.
Because of this, Seong-hyeok now had a better understanding of why she had asked if she could take up most of the empty space in the pen.
*Oink— Oinkoink—! Oink oink oink!*
*Squeeeeeal—!!!*
Her 'Pig Pouch,' one of her class specializations.
Just as he'd expected, the number 230 written there literally meant 230 live pigs.
“...That's incredible.”
With Lee Yeon-bun's overwhelming ability to supply pigs, it seemed they would never run short of pork again.
Moreover, that wasn't the only surprising thing.
“Hoholhol. Let me show you something even more amazing.”
Logically speaking, so many pigs...
...and unique varieties that seemed to come from different dimensions, couldn't have all been acquired through the Exchange.
It didn't take long for the secret behind it to be revealed.
*Oink oink—!*
A single piglet was summoned into an empty space.
It was obvious where the little creature, with its pink skin and barely-open eyes, had come from as it scurried around.
“That's one of your skills, ma'am?”
“You catch on quick.”
Lee Yeon-bun, the Master of Pork Head Gukbap.
She possessed a skill that literally 'created' pigs.
“I look forward to working with you. Ah, and this is hornet's nest wine I made myself. Please drink it after it has aged properly and the toxins have dissipated.”
“My, my, such a precious gift! I'll be sure to savor it.”
Now that he knew Yeon-bun was a fanatic for honey wine...
...handling her would be a piece of cake for Seong-hyeok.