Chapter 69
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 69
Chapter Title: Inspired Crafting
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“Shall we give it a go?”
[The Transcendent Being, Bo, the Mad Inquirer, nods eagerly.]
[The Transcendent Being, Zion the Patient, shakes his head at the actions of the two inquirers.]
With all his byproducts gathered before him, Seong-hyeok put his knowledge to the test.
But as the saying goes, new successes are paved with countless failures.
[Propolis Processing Failed! Incorrect crafting method.]
[Royal Jelly Concentration Failed! Incorrect crafting method.]
...
A stream of failure notifications popped up one after another.
They were all materials used in previous crafting attempts, but was it because he was trying to force the options he wanted?
Or was it because the ratios were off?
Seeing the items vanish into thin air due to the failure penalty was a true waste!
But Seong-hyeok's stubbornness was far too great to be broken by something like this.
“Yeah, this is what makes it fun.”
The true joy of an experiment, after all, isn't found in succeeding on the first try. It's in the triumph that comes after repeated failures.
This was all part of his research to find a way to maintain the Hymn of Abundance for as long as possible.
“...If it’s a processed good applied to the body, then things like honey tea or candles should be excluded for now.”
The first and most important task was a method of mana recovery that didn't involve oral consumption.
He had discovered early on, when this chaotic world first emerged, that items needing to be consumed orally to take effect, like honey tea or royal jelly pills, simply didn't work when applied to the body.
It might have been an effect of the game's system, but that was the reality.
“Then that leaves things like soap and cosmetics.”
Honey, with its basic health and mana recovery effects, and propolis, which supplemented it with an immunity-boosting effect.
Seong-hyeok made the rational judgment that the answer lay in these two and repeated the experiment over and over.
Was it because he proceeded only after finding a clear path?
The results that followed still involved a few failures since the crafting method wasn't quite right, but by making adjustments in the direction he was confident in, he eventually led himself to success.
[Honey Soap Crafting Great Success! The Honeybee Guardian's Blessing is engraved on the Honey Soap.]
[Propolis Processing Great Success! The Honeybee Guardian's Blessing is engraved on the Honey Wine.]
[Soap of the Guardian's Blue Aura (★★+) has been crafted.]
[Propolis Cosmetics of the Guardian's Blue Aura (★★★-) have been crafted.]
...
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[Soap of the Guardian's Blue Aura (★★+)]
* Classification: Consumable
* Applying this grants the user a sweet fragrance and the 'Refreshing Vigor of the Guardian's Blue Aura' effect.
※ Refreshing Vigor of the Guardian's Blue Aura: Recovers 1,930 (+350) Mana over 3 minutes and increases the casting speed of skills that require concentration by 5%. (Durability -1, Cooldown: 20 minutes)
* Durability: 23 (+5) / 23 (+5) - Cannot be repaired.
* Description: A ★★+ grade soap engraved with the Guardian's keyword and imbued with a blue aura. This processed good has been modified through a special method to focus on mana recovery. When used, it lathers up, and its brilliant fragrance refreshes the mind, maximizing mana recovery speed.
※ Warning! Buffs from the same series of blue-aura-imbued soaps do not stack.
[Propolis Cosmetics of the Guardian's Blue Aura (★★★-)]
* Classification: Consumable
* When used, it grants effects such as skin beautification and enhanced immunity, along with the 'Clear Mind of the Guardian's Blue Aura'.
※ Clear Mind of the Guardian's Blue Aura: Recovers 5,350 (+950) Mana over 10 minutes and increases Mental Power by 11 (+2) for 30 minutes. (Durability -1, Cooldown: 60 minutes)
* Description: ★★★- grade propolis cosmetics engraved with the Guardian's keyword and imbued with a blue aura...
* Durability: 10 / 10 (+3) - Cannot be repaired.
※ Warning! Buffs from the same series of blue-aura-imbued propolis cosmetics do not stack.
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The soap and propolis cosmetics, marked with 'imbued with a blue aura', were the first of their kind, created because Seong-hyeok intentionally twisted the crafting method while using a skill.
Just looking at the effects, the mana recovery was so immense that it was clearly exceptional, but that didn't mean they were a cure-all.
“The cooldown is way too long compared to the duration.”
As is the way of the world, you can't have everything.
For all their amazing effects, both crafted items had a massive gap between their duration and cooldown.
But who was Seong-hyeok?
A diehard who had walked the single path of the honeybee for twenty-four years.
Wasn't he a honeybee aficionado whose very life was the pursuit of knowledge?
“If it doesn't work, I'll make it work.”
Now that he understood the modification method based on the crafting process, the solution to the next problem was simple: use an item that specialized in 'mana recovery'.
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[Imperial Topaz Seokcheong (★★★★-)] X 2
* Classification: Consumable, Material
* Upon consumption, provides amazing stamina enhancement and satiety, and instantly recovers 1,000 Health and Mana. It also applies 'Deep Aura of the Seokcheong' to the individual, and permanently increases all stats by 1 up to 3 times. Current uses: 3 / 3
※ Deep Aura of the Seokcheong: For 1 hour, increases max Health and max Mana by 1,000 and all stats by 5. (No cooldown)
* Description: Precious seokcheong obtainable from wild beehives. Only a very small amount can be acquired through a special method, and its taste is exquisite. However, consuming too much at once will be accompanied by considerable pain.
※ Warning! Overconsumption may cause stomachaches.
※ Warning! Buffs from the same series of seokcheong do not stack.
[Peridot Spore Honey (★★+)] X 267
* Classification: Consumable, Material
* Upon consumption, provides satiety and recovers 600 Mana.
* Description: ★★+ grade Peridot Spore Honey. This honey has mushroom mycelia naturally mixed in, boasting an excellent effect on mana recovery.
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Two materials among Seong-hyeok's byproducts that showed a strength in 'mana recovery'.
But it went without saying that of the two, the one Seong-hyeok had his eye on for primary use was the spore honey.
'Even if it's for the Hymn of Abundance, I can't just use up the precious seokcheong.'
The spore honey was collected intermittently where the Peridot Honeybees gathered nectar, but the seokcheong was a different story.
Starting with Geonchug-i, the elite honeybee assigned to building wax turrets, all the way to the ten thousand Imperial Topaz Honeybees.
They all had to be deployed at once, and it took 22 hours and 32 minutes to complete a wild beehive.
And then, it took nearly another full day to fill the wild beehive with honey.
In total, it consumed nearly two full days, and the number of items that could be collected from a wild beehive was a mere seven at most.
“The effects were one thing, but the taste was truly out of this world...”
However, a small quantity, in other words, was synonymous with rarity.
The seokcheong was a simple primary-tier gathered item, yet it came with a permanent stat increase effect—and not just once, but up to three times.
Well, since it wasn't a processed good, the effect didn't reset after being fully used, which was a slight flaw, but it didn't matter to Seong-hyeok.
Why, you ask?
Isn't it obvious?
The event quest he'd opened to keep the Chinese server in check, Honeybee's Gratitude.
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[Guardian's Seokcheong (石淸) Tricolor Honey Wine (★★★★+)]
※ Remaining aging period: 25 days (When aging is complete, the toxic effect will be neutralized, and the effects will be upgraded.)
* Upon consumption, provides amazing stamina enhancement and satiety, and instantly recovers 6,000 (+1,000) Health and Mana. It also applies the 'Aura of the Guardian's Seokcheong Tricolor Honey Wine' to the individual, and permanently increases all stats by 3 a single time. Current consumption: 0 / 1
...
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The Tricolor Honey Wine imbued with the essence of seokcheong, which he had put up as a prize!
A sweet brew that not only increased all stats by a whopping 3 but also had a special option where its effects would improve upon completing its aging.
Just as its effects were incredible, the materials required were also substantial.
For starters, it required three of the main and most precious ingredient, seokcheong, and on top of that, he had to pour in honey and royal jelly to complete this 'processed good' of seokcheong.
Although he had no choice but to use the first one he completed as an offering for the event quest, the thought of the promotional effect it would have across the entire Asian server, as powerful as its effects, was enough to make the corners of his mouth curl up.
“I'm looking forward to the next auction house.”
Moreover, thanks to the 'Adapting Hive' effect, the wild beehives didn't just produce seokcheong.
There was mokcheong, completed by mixing with tree sap, and tocheong, which grew while absorbing the energy of the soil.
And above all, the mokcheong that would be completed via the 'World Tree' on Seong-hyeok's honeybee farm was one of his most anticipated items.
*Gulp—*
Even in the middle of his experiment, the temptation of wild honey's sweet and healthy flavor came to mind.
Seong-hyeok let his imagination run wild and licked his lips, but he soon remembered the experiment at hand and shook his head.
“Alright, this should finish it.”
[Mixed Honey Processing Great Success! The Honeybee Guardian's Blessing is engraved on the Tricolor Spore Honey.]
[Guardian's Tricolor Spore Honey (★★★-) has been crafted.]
[Spore Soap of the Guardian's Blue Aura (★★★-) has been crafted.]
[Spore Propolis of the Guardian's Blue Aura...
Spore honey, specialized for mana recovery.
By successfully blending it with other honeys through mixed honey processing, Seong-hyeok finally created a processed good that maximized mana recovery.
* * * * *
One of the many buildings on the honeybee farm.
Inside the blacksmith forge, which Im Seok-cheol had only recently completed, Kim Cheol-gang was lost in happy contemplation.
“To think there would be so many high-quality materials, which I always felt were in short supply...”
The mine where the Golden Goblins were hard at work.
The high-purity minerals they excavated there around the clock.
Thanks to this, Cheol-gang had already been able to sufficiently hone his skills, and it was also possible for him to sell fitting arms and armor to the farm's residents.
But perhaps having too much supply could sometimes be a problem?
Because of the constant influx of materials, Cheol-gang had a thought.
Selling arms and armor made from these minerals on the exchange was fine, but what if he used them for the farm's residents?
Well, most of the residents were already equipped, so they had no reason to buy more, but depending on how you looked at it, customers were overflowing.
Especially since this honeybee farm was home to countless 'honeybees', wasn't it?
“Come to think of it, I heard that when honeybees use their stingers, they die regardless of their remaining health.”
The bees' kamikaze attack, a penalty that corresponded to its powerful offensive capability.
Regarding this point, Cheol-gang stroked his chin and thought.
The stinger attack, a blend of strength and penalty.
He'd heard from his companions that the honeybees had considerable health. In other words, couldn't they drastically reduce the sacrifices by adding another attack method besides the 'stinger'?
For example, using their fast flight speed to quickly dive at enemies from the air, using attack methods like a body slam.
“...If I craft something to mitigate the impact, they won't have to die.”
Once inspiration struck, the rest was simple.
The materials were more than plentiful anyway, and the supply was constant.
What's more, the small size of the honeybees meant he could greatly reduce the materials needed to equip them.
“Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Let's give it a shot.”
The players with production classes in this chaotic world.
Just like them, full of imagination and a challenging spirit.
Artisan Blacksmith Kim Cheol-gang began his work.