Chapter 8
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: The Queen's Evolution
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By day thirteen, both Seong-hyeok and his farm had undergone quite a few changes.
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[Yu Seong-hyeok]
* Level: 12
* Coins Owned: 33,728
* Vitality: 300 Mana: 300
* Attack Power: 21 Defense: 12 Magic Resistance: 15
* Stat Points: 0
* Strength: 17 Agility: 31 Stamina: 30 Control: 12 Mentality: 30
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First, Seong-hyeok, who had been level 9, gained three more levels, reaching level 12.
In the process, he discovered something new.
[You have met a specific awakening condition. -> Level 10]
[The Honeybee Guardian's dominion grows stronger. The number of queen bees you can possess increases by 1.]
It was the fact that the maximum number of queen bees Seong-hyeok could own had been raised from one to two.
“For a beekeeper, queen bees are power, so this is more than welcome.”
Considering the influence the Ruby Gem Queen Bee currently wielded, her value was by no means small.
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[Ruby Gem Queen Bee (★)]
* A nest is currently established.
* Swarm Size: 116,678 (Eggs 7,722 / Larvae 2,322 / Pupae 4,688 / Worker Bees 101,946)
* Growth Rate: 99%
* Spawning Rate: 4 per minute
* Hatching Time: 8 hours
* Eclosion Period: 18 hours
* Skills: Spawning (Lv.3), Queen's Pheromone (Lv.2), Stinger (Lv.2), Flight (Lv.2)
* Vitality: 130(+35) Mana: 70(+35)
* Attack Power: 12(+3) Defense: 5(+2) Magic Resistance: 3(+1)
······.
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Indeed, what started as a single queen bee had grown into a swarm that easily surpassed one hundred thousand.
As a result, the Guardian's Extra-Large Acorn Beehive, which could only accommodate up to one hundred thousand bees, was no longer sufficient to house them all.
But even as the population exploded, Seong-hyeok wasn't worried.
“I have plenty of homes for them.”
[Guardian's Extra-Large Chestnut Beehive (★+)]
[Guardian's Extra-Large Fir Beehive (★+)]
[Guardian's Extra-Large Thornwood Log Beehive (★★)]
He had been using his Guardian's Beehive Crafting skill whenever the three-day cooldown was up.
Thanks to using different materials and methods each time, he had secured three more beehives of various types, in addition to the original acorn one.
“Seeing this makes me think how convenient games are, but it also feels like it's trampling all over my research. Then again, these are bees from another dimension, so of course their very nature would be different, right?”
Normally, he would have had to split the swarm with a new queen.
But was it thanks to the game's system?
Or was it because Seong-hyeok, as the master, had complete control over the Ruby Gem Queen Bee?
Whatever the reason, the bees moved the larvae and pupae to the queenless hives on their own and even began storing honey there.
*Bzzzz— Bzzzz—*
“That's right, my cute little ones. I've prepared the finest chambers for your queen.”
Seong-hyeok now possessed a total of four beehives.
While three of them were ★+ grade, one was a different story.
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[Guardian's Extra-Large Thornwood Log Beehive (★★)]
* Classification: Etc.
* When struck, the 'Thornwood Curse' is applied to the enemy.
※ Thornwood Curse: Decreases Vitality by 1 per second for 30 seconds. (Stacks up to 5 times)
* Currently empty.
* Capacity: 0 / 133,000 (+18,000)
* Current Honey Status: 0%
* Vitality: 4,350 (+1,250)
* Defense: 57 (+18) Magic Resistance: 25 (+9)
* Durability: 550 / 550 (+80)
* Description: A ★★-grade extra-large thornwood log beehive inscribed with the Guardian's keyword. The sharp thorns inflict a curse on any who strike it.
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After his Beehive Crafting skill reached level 2, he had used thornwood—a type of vegetation from another dimension he found on the exchange—to create this higher-grade, ★★ beehive.
The original acorn beehive wasn't bad, but as they say, newer is always better.
Seong-hyeok decided to use this place as the Ruby Gem Queen Bee's new royal chamber.
“Alright, little queen. Shall we move to your new home?”
A sturdier, more perfect home, complete with a counterattack function.
But for some reason…
There was no response from the Ruby Gem Queen Bee, who should have immediately understood his command.
*Bzzzz— Bzzzz—*
“What? What's wrong?”
Furthermore, the worker bees were frantically circling the hive, their movements almost like a dance, as if to stir up a sense of unease.
Even for Seong-hyeok, who had watched them for thirteen days straight, it was an inexplicable, ominous sign that something was clearly wrong.
However, he didn't panic.
“If there's a reason, it'll let me know. And even if it doesn't, I'll figure it out one way or another.”
The Ruby Gem Queen Bee was the first creature he had obtained in this chaotic world.
As a Honeybee Guardian, he had no intention of giving up on her so easily.
Besides, this chaotic world was fundamentally based on a game system.
And just as he expected…
The cause of the unusual phenomenon was revealed to him.
[The conditions for the Ruby Gem Queen Bee's (★) evolution have been met. -> Growth Rate 100%, Swarm Size over 100,000]
[As the master of the Ruby Gem Queen Bee (★), please choose an evolution path. Time remaining: 30 minutes]
※ Warning! If a path is not chosen within the time limit, one will be selected at random.
Honestly, one of the things that had intrigued Seong-hyeok most when he first saw the Ruby Gem Queen Bee's stats was the 'Growth Rate'.
Since the bee didn't have levels like him, a player, he had figured something would happen once it was full.
But for it to be the queen's evolution?
“……This game is incredible.”
One must not forget that Seong-hyeok, before choosing the Honeybee Guardian unique class, was a man who had dedicated 24 years of his life solely to bees—so much so that he also had the option of the 5-star unique class, 'Mad Inquisitor'.
Needless to say, for someone like him, the evolution of a bee—the very core of his research—was the perfect trigger to awaken his dormant madness.
\* \* \* \* \*
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[Notification]
※ The Ruby Gem Queen Bee (★) has met the conditions and can now evolve into a Ruby Gem Queen Bee (★★). As its master, please choose a path. Time remaining: 29 minutes 52 seconds
※ Warning! If a path is not chosen within the time limit, one will be selected at random.
[Evolution List]
* Spawning Gland Evolution: Increases the Ruby Gem Queen Bee's egg-laying speed, egg hatching speed, and shortens the pupal eclosion period. / A very low chance of a Ruby Gem Princess Bee (★+) being born. The princess bee is considered part of the Ruby Gem Queen Bee's swarm. However, the Ruby Gem Princess Bee's evolution is restricted, and you can only possess a maximum of two.
* Stinger Gland Evolution: Strengthens the venom in the stingers of the Ruby Gem Queen Bee and her swarm. / A low chance of producing Ruby Gem Acidic Venom Bees (★+) and Ruby Gem Self-Destruct Bees (★+).
* Physical Body Evolution: Increases the physical capabilities of the Ruby Gem Queen Bee and her swarm, such as Vitality, Attack Power, and Defense. / A low chance of producing Ruby Gem Long-lived Bees (★+) and Ruby Gem Serrated-Mandible Bees (★+).
* Wing and Pollen Basket Evolution: Increases the flight speed of the Ruby Gem Queen Bee and her swarm, and increases the amount of honey they gather. / A low chance of producing Ruby Gem Scout Bees (★+) and Ruby Gem Honey Pot Bees (★+).
※ Please choose the evolution path carefully. The queen's evolution will immediately affect the entire swarm she commands. Furthermore, your choice may broaden or narrow the scope of future evolution paths.
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“……”
The evolution paths for the Ruby Gem Queen Bee appeared before his eyes.
As someone who had dedicated his entire 24-year life to bees, Seong-hyeok was filled with the desire to choose them all, but he reined in his excitement.
“If you're going to give me something, why not just give me all of it?”
Ultimately, the framework of this chaotic world was a game.
No matter how powerful his 5-star unique class was, it was impossible for Seong-hyeok to obtain all those evolutions at once.
If he could, the game balance would surely be shattered.
“So it's about choosing and focusing, is it?”
It was a frustrating situation for Seong-hyeok, but what could he do?
If these were the rules of the game's system, he had to abide by its limitations.
Thus, Seong-hyeok kept his head cool and his heart burning as he thought.
(Your choice may broaden or narrow the scope of future evolution paths.)
That line was written there.
From this, he could infer that the Ruby Gem Queen Bee's evolution wasn't a one-time event, and his choice now would determine her future evolution paths.
“For my future survival, which path is the most rational choice?”
Broadly speaking, the choices were divided into quantity, poison, physical strength, and speed/efficiency—all of which were difficult to pass up.
Each gland's evolution would surely have vastly different pros and cons, and would undoubtedly have a major impact on his survival.
[As the master of the Ruby Gem Queen Bee (★), please choose an evolution path. Time remaining: 16 minutes 22 seconds]
Half of the allotted time had already passed.
Yet, still caught in a loop of endless deliberation, Seong-hyeok took a deep breath as if he had finally made a decision.
“Right. This decision isn't mine alone.”
With his mind made up, Seong-hyeok unhesitatingly reached his hand into the beehive.
*Bzzzz— Bzzzzzz—*
As if it had been waiting for his touch, the queen bee landed on his outstretched finger, her wings trembling. She looked so small and fragile.
But the queen bee was by no means a weak creature.
The massive swarm of over one hundred thousand bees before his eyes…
It was this great mother, the queen bee, who had built this army.
“My little queen, what do you want to evolve?”
Seong-hyeok posed the question to the Ruby Gem Queen Bee.
Anyone else would have found it utterly incomprehensible.
Bees were insects, and they communicated through pheromones and dances; there was no way for them to have a proper exchange with a human.
Even though Seong-hyeok had the 'Bee Link' specialization, which allowed him to transmit his thoughts, it was impossible for him to receive the bee's thoughts in return.
But Seong-hyeok was different.
Thinking back, he was a true eccentric who had dedicated his life to bees over a trivial incident.
As befitting the only player chosen as a candidate for the Honeybee Guardian class, he attempted to truly communicate with the Ruby Gem Queen Bee.
*Bzzzz— Bzzzzzzzz—*
The desperate wing beats, the dance, the sweet scent of honey that the Ruby Gem Queen Bee was sending him.
A body language unique to bees, not conveyed through game notifications.
Seong-hyeok observed every detail without missing a single one, and then…
“Yes. I understand your will, little queen.”
[You have selected an evolution path. -> Wing and Pollen Basket Evolution]
[The Ruby Gem Queen Bee (★) evolves into a Ruby Gem Queen Bee (★★).]
[The overall stats of the Ruby Gem Queen Bee (★★) and her swarm are enhanced.]
[The grade of all worker bees in the Ruby Gem Queen Bee's (★★) swarm increases from (★-) to (★).]
[The Flight skill's level increases. Lv. 2 -> Lv. 3]
[During the pupal eclosion period, there is a low chance of producing Ruby Gem Scout Bees (★+) and Ruby Gem Honey Pot Bees (★+).]
[Growth Rate has been reset to 0%.]
[The level of Capture Dimensional Queen Bee increases. Lv. 1 -> Lv. 2]
[You have met the conditions to unlock the class specialization, Bee Elite. -> Secured superior species eclosion process]
* Bee Elite: Increases the appearance rate of elite bees, which are a superior species.
He had chosen the path of Wing and Pollen Basket Evolution, just as the Ruby Gem Queen Bee had wished.