Chapter 67
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 67
Chapter Title: Planting the World Tree
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A post from a needlessly meticulous organizer.
While it’s generally better to be surrounded by altruistic people rather than selfish ones, this time, such selflessness felt agonizing to Seong-hyeok.
Why, you ask?
The reason was obvious…
“Seong-hyeok. I understand how you feel, and I’m truly grateful, but I’m sorry. I think this experience kit is too much for me. Didn’t you buy this at the auction house for 330,000 coins?”
Su-hee’s boundless generosity always put the farm’s residents before herself.
When it came to giving her an important item, this trait was more of a hindrance than a help.
A woman who would give up Prepion’s first milk to Seong-hyeok was hardly going to accept an item worth 330,000 coins without a good reason, was she?
“If this is about the power of the first milk, it’s all right. The golden goose egg you gave me is more than enough of a reward.”
“No, please, just hear me out for a moment.”
But on this point, Seong-hyeok was confident.
To persuade an altruist, one simply had to present a proper ‘reason’ and emphasize how the resulting benefits would help those around them.
“This experience kit. Even if I used it at level 34, it wouldn’t even level me up. It would only give me about 20% experience.”
“…S-Still, it would be more beneficial for the bees and everyone else if you became stronger, Seong-hyeok.”
Of course, he had drastically understated the 82% as 20%, but Seong-hyeok didn’t care.
For him, simply eliciting Yeon Su-hee’s flustered reaction meant most of the persuasion was already a success.
“You can check how much experience you’ll get before using it, so please just check it once. Huh? You need to reach level 30 quickly so you can plant the World Tree.”
“Hmm, then I’ll just check without using it.”
“Yes, of course!”
He had given her a clear objective by mentioning the World Tree seed, one of the powers of an avatar, linking it to the need for a quick level-up.
Now, all that was left was to give Su-hee’s wavering resolve a final push off the cliff.
“What’s the effect?”
“It says 268%, and looking at my current experience bar, I think I’ll level up three times.”
“Oh, wow. The effect is drastically different because of the huge level gap. May I ask what your current level is, Su-hee?”
“I-I’m level 27.”
It was the perfect level to reach exactly 30.
In truth, it wasn’t surprising that Yeon Su-hee’s level was quite high for the farm.
She possessed the unique 4-star class, Originator of Abundance, specializing in gathering and processing.
On top of that, she was constantly engaged in production activities in a secure environment and was also the avatar of Prepion.
“Doesn’t this mean the answer is already decided? Instead of me using it for a meager 20% gain, it seems more important for you to use it and quickly reach level 30, don’t you think?”
“Th-That… even so, how could I use an item you paid 330,000 coins for? I can’t accept it, Seong-hyeok.”
Even when faced with a foregone conclusion, Yeon Su-hee continued to refuse.
But who was Seong-hyeok?
“Su-hee. My apologies in advance, but I’ll have to be rude.”
“What? What do you mean by…”
He was the type of person who couldn't rest until a debt was repaid.
That meant not only gratitude for kindness received but also, paradoxically, a perfect memory of any harm done.
And the implication of that was simple.
Just as in that previous case, Seong-hyeok intended to force Su-hee to use the experience kit, even if she refused.
※ Raging Venom Arms of the Bee Sting Technique: For 60 minutes, arm grip strength is greatly enhanced, and Strength increases by 40. x 2
Moreover, there was no way Su-hee could overcome Seong-hyeok, who not only had a higher level and stats but had also maxed out his strength with the Bee Sting Technique buffs.
“Think carefully, Seong-hyeok. On this farm, you, the owner, must be the strongest. Won’t that be more helpful in saving the future residents we’ll be taking in?”
“…You’re really something else. Trying to persuade me even in a situation like this.”
Indeed, an altruist should not be persuaded with words.
Just look at the bees, the greatest altruists he knew, who always thought of the safety of others and the future before their own.
But that was precisely why people like them, more so than egoists, needed to be kept close and alive for a long time.
“I’m sorry, but it’s better for someone like you to use this than a green young man like me. You need to level up quickly to enhance your abilities as an avatar and unlock the power of your unique class, right?”
“Your persuasion is fine, but don’t you think your method is wrong?”
“What about it? I learned it all from watching you.”
“Hah, I really can’t with you, Seong-hyeok.”
The situation had become a complete reversal of when he was forced to consume Prepion’s first milk.
Along with his rather plausible argument,
“This might sting a little.”
The experience kit, swiftly unwrapped, was used on Su-hee in its entirety.
Yeon Su-hee, who had been forced to use the 330,000-coin item.
“…”
She seemed quite angry, her expression stern, a far cry from her usual gentle demeanor.
The aura radiating from her far surpassed that of the Carapace Giant Hornets Seong-hyeok had faced.
But perhaps it was because of what she herself had done in the past?
Or was it simply the effect of the level-up notifications clouding her mind?
In the end, without launching into a lecture, Su-hee dazedly spread open her hand.
[The Transcendent Being, Prepion, Goddess of Abundance, is pleased with her avatar's growth.]
The World Tree seed, the greatest reward she would obtain from this rapid leveling.
Considering the changes this single tree would bring to the farm in the future, the price of 330,000 coins would not seem wasteful in the slightest.
* * * * *
The World Tree, a fantastical species that appeared only in games and novels, also known as the Tree of Life.
After obtaining the tiny seed that would become its foundation, the very first task was to find a place for it.
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[Prepion's World Tree Seed (Divine)] - Avatar-Exclusive Item
※ This item is heavily infused with the divine fragments of a Transcendent Being. (It boasts effects far superior to ordinary items.)
※ Will be destroyed upon the permanent death of the avatar's soul.
* Classification: Consumable
* When planted in the ground, it will grow into a World Tree that bears flowers and fruit after a certain period. (The World Tree has no limits and grows infinitely.)
※ 1st Growth Period: 15 days (Growth period can be accelerated through additional effects.)
※ Time to bloom after 1st growth: 2 days (Growth period and grade can be accelerated through additional effects.)
* Description: A ?-grade World Tree seed heavily imbued with the aura of the Transcendent Being, Prepion, Goddess of Abundance. It has been elevated to a Divine-grade item due to a large number of divine fragments. Only Prepion's avatar can use it. Upon completion of its growth period, it will mature into a World Tree that has finished its first stage of growth.
※ Warning! The World Tree's unique, abundant energy stimulates the instincts and appetites of nearby monsters. It increases the respawn rate of nearby monsters and attracts them. Occasionally, a dungeon drawn by the World Tree's power may appear. (This effect grows stronger as the World Tree matures.)
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‘With the World Tree added to the mix, this place is going to be a trifecta of monster magnets.’
From the Golden Mine to the Wild Beehive, and now the World Tree.
Not only did it attract monsters, but it also increased their respawn rate.
And to top it all off, the World Tree’s penalty could even lead to the appearance of a dungeon.
For an ordinary shelter, the constant, wave-like onslaught of monsters would be more than enough to drive them to despair!
But Seong-hyeok welcomed this ‘penalty.’
‘No reason to refuse a bunch of walking loot bags who are willing to crawl their way to me.’
To be honest, in the past, Seong-hyeok wouldn't have been so pleased, as it would have meant an increase in bee casualties.
But as they say, one's perspective changes with the passage of time.
Thanks to the Queen Bee's Resonance, which he used whenever the cooldown was up, and a stroke of good luck, the number of Geonchug-i had now grown to six.
With them assigned to constructing Beeswax Turrets, Seong-hyeok’s farm now possessed a total of 14 turrets.
*Whoosh—*
*Boom! Boooom—!!!*
Whenever a group of monsters appeared, the resounding blasts of cannon fire echoed, dealing fatal damage to them.
And that wasn't all.
The Beeswax Turrets were just one of many defensive measures.
Seong-hyeok had more than just turrets.
*Boom—! Boom—!*
*Swoosh-swoosh-swoosh—!*
The reconnaissance reports sent by the scout bees and Lilies.
They revealed monsters caught in the traps Cheon-su had set up after the turrets, writhing in agony. Finishing off these weakened foes was hardly a difficult task.
After all…
*Bzzzzzzzzzzzz—!!!*
“It’d be inhuman not to eat when the table’s been set this well!”
“Let’s gooo—!”
“Kuooonng—!!!”
Under the brilliant command of the elite bees, the other bees engaged in battle with almost zero casualties, while the armed combatants and the two bears delivered the final blow to the injured monsters.
And with that, Seong-hyeok acquired a massive amount of experience and coins.
This was all a result of having meticulously prepared defenses, but it was also a benefit gained from the explosive increase in the monster respawn rate.
‘This is great, just great.’
Ironically, what was a penalty for others was treated as a bonus effect for Seong-hyeok’s beekeeping farm.
Thus, Seong-hyeok quickly arrived at the spot to plant the World Tree.
“Planting it here seems most appropriate.”
It was the center of the apiary, where all the queens and princesses resided.
*Bzz-bzz-bzz-bzz—!!!*
Because of this, countless bees were flying back and forth in a formation that almost resembled a synchronized dance, making it the safest place on the farm.
“Then, I’ll begin.”
“Yes.”
The seed was planted in a space they had cleared, unable to guess how large the World Tree, with its trait of infinite growth, might become.
Afterward, Su-hee poured all of her Goddess's Rapid Growth into the planted World Tree seed.
“Hah, hah…”
Was this to be expected from a World Tree, a being on a completely different level from other crops?
Yeon Su-hee, who had never shown any signs of fatigue when using her skill on other plants, was now drenched in sweat and trembling.
“Would you like some honey tea?”
“Thank you, Seong-hyeok.”
Having used up all her energy of abundance, she began to recover by sipping the honey tea Seong-hyeok offered.
But her efforts were by no means in vain.
[The World Tree's vigorous spirit is now in effect.]
[While within the World Tree's domain, attack power and movement speed are increased by 2%.]
An alert message appeared, showing the effect that came with the birth of the World Tree.
It was a semi-permanent effect that applied to all three million bees.