Chapter 93
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 93
Chapter Title: Seeds of Worship
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[You have met the conditions to unlock the Incarnation’s Authority, Welcoming Guests. -> A Transcendent Being has entered the Korean server due to your actions.]
* Welcoming Guests: When a Transcendent Being enters the Korean server due to your direct or indirect influence, you will gain a massive amount of experience points. (Limited to once per Transcendent Being)
The Incarnation’s Authority that had been marked as ‘???’.
One of its powers was now unlocked, granting an immense amount of experience.
It was enough to instantly fill over 10% of the experience bar for Seong-hyeok, who had just reached level 44. This was certainly no trivial matter.
And that wasn't all Seong-hyeok received.
[You have met the conditions for acquiring a title. -> Formation of a small forest.]
[You have acquired the title, Druid of the Forest.]
[You have met the conditions for acquiring a title. -> Alleviated the hunger of over 1,000,000 people.]
[You have acquired the title, Benefactor.]
______________________________
[Druid of the Forest]
* Classification: Title
* Effect: All Stats +2. You will receive the favor of forest-related lifeforms and Transcendent Beings.
* Forest’s Soldier: Imbues a plant with a soul, allowing it to participate in combat for 30 minutes. However, plants awakened by this effect have free will and will not be unconditionally loyal to the user's commands. (Cooldown: 24 hours)
* Description: You have created a small but promising forest where nature’s future can bloom. The essence of the forest now resides within you, increasing your affinity with forest-related beings.
[Benefactor]
* Classification: Title
* Effect: All Stats +1
* The Benefactor's Mark: Those who have received your help, even once, will never forget your good deeds.
* Description: Those who have escaped the most painful death of starvation will remember your good deeds, etched deep within their souls.
______________________________
Two new titles were acquired, accompanied by additional notification chimes.
The bonus to all stats from obtaining the titles was nice, but just like with ‘Big Shot,’ the real prize was the additional effects.
‘So titles can have skill-like effects, too?’
The extraordinary effect of imbuing a plant with a soul.
For a moment, he wondered what would happen if he used it on the World Tree in his bee farm.
Then, Seong-hyeok looked at the effect of his other title, Benefactor, and tilted his head.
‘They’ll never forget my good deeds… Is this supposed to be a good thing?’
‘The Benefactor's Mark’ offered no statistical bonuses or any clear explanation of its effects.
He couldn't quite grasp it, but Seong-hyeok decided to think positively.
He was sure he would discover the true nature of this effect in due time.
Besides, he now had a shortcut to finding Hidden Pieces.
[You have met the conditions for a reward from the permanent quest, 'Restoration of a Broken Nature.']
[You have acquired 100 points as a reward.]
[A special bonus is granted for the purification of the North Korean server. You have acquired an additional 45 points.]
“Alright, shall we talk now?”
- *Kikikik.* I expected this, but you’re faster than I thought. I like it.
The server administrator, Riggle.
The curtain rose on his ‘legitimate’ information trade with the GM.
* * * * *
- The points you received from the ‘World’ are far more valuable than you think. As long as you can pay the price, I will diligently provide you with any information that matches its worth.
Acquiring information was the biggest reason he had made a deal with the creature.
But before proceeding with the transaction, Seong-hyeok had to think.
‘Who knew that being able to get information would be so agonizing…’
Different pieces of information held different values.
Knowing about a Hidden Piece that would be immediately useful was important, but so was learning about future dangers in advance.
To be honest, within the Asian server—no, among all the countless servers across the globe—there could be other classes capable of weaponizing something as heinous as nuclear weapons, just as the North Korean dictator had. Furthermore, the Disaster-class monsters added in the #3 Chapter update were also a major concern.
And was that all?
There was also the 5-Star+ grade Treasure item he currently possessed, the Ring of Greed.
Finding clues to obtain more such items with massive effects would also be a way to accelerate his growth.
‘Then is there only one answer?’
Seong-hyeok, who had been clutching his head in thought, finally made up his mind.
- This is all I can tell you. Figure out the rest on your own.
[145 points have been spent via information trade.]
[You have acquired information befitting its value.]
[The location of the Disaster-class Dungeon, Village of the Poison Elves (★★★★★+), is now revealed only to you.]
The Disaster-class monsters that could be a future threat, and the Treasure he desperately wanted to obtain.
To gain the ultimate advantage, Seong-hyeok attempted to kill two birds with one stone.
* * * * *
Perhaps it was because the dictator, the biggest headache, was dead.
The restoration of North Korea’s ravaged nature proceeded without a hitch.
[A special bonus is granted for the purification of the North Korean server. You have acquired an additional 15 points.]
[The special bonus from the North Korean server will no longer be granted.]
The special bonus, which had been slowly dwindling, was now completely gone. Seong-hyeok turned away without a second glance.
In a way, he was taking what he needed and leaving.
It might seem quite heartless.
But people are naturally drawn to their own interests, and it was no exaggeration to say that Seong-hyeok had done more than enough.
“Time will take care of the rest.”
He had laid the groundwork with trees and fruit. From here on, it was up to the remaining people of North Korea to manage on their own.
Frankly, Seong-hyeok wasn't exactly overflowing with free time either.
[The honey status of the Guardian's Extra-Large Gilite-Blood Jade Plywood Beehive (★★★-) has reached 100%.]
[The honey status of the Guardian's Extra-Large World Tree Beehive (★★★+) has reached 100%.]
[The honey status of the Guardian's Extra-Large World Tree Beehive (★★★+) has reached 100%.]
[Honey is ready for harvest!]
…
“Oh, for crying out loud…”
Urgent notifications greeted him the moment he returned to the bee farm through the dimensional tunnel.
Even with 1.08 million bees away on assignment, the remaining ones had worked with incredible diligence. Their numbers had grown, and every hive was at 100%, with excess honey wastefully dripping down the sides.
“Seong-hyeok, I’m sorry. We tried to collect it, but the bees resisted fiercely…”
“No, it’s fine.”
Most of the residents had been away for the subjugation of North Korea.
Cheon-su and the few others who had stayed behind to guard the farm had tried to harvest the honey, but it was a hopeless task.
“Honestly, they all have such a temper.”
Normally, the bees were affectionate creatures that approached people easily, but there was one thing they would never tolerate.
*Bzzzzzz!*
*Bzz-bzz-bzz—!!!*
And that was anyone touching their hives.
Approaching the hives where the queens and princesses resided, in particular, was a suicidal act for anyone but Seong-hyeok.
[The Honeybee Guardian's class specialization, 'Beloved by Bees,' is activated.]
[The Ruby Gem Worker Bees (★★+) show you endless favor.]
[The Imperial Topaz Worker Bees (★★+) show you endless favor.]
…….
“There, there. Daddy’s here, so calm down now.”
*Bzzzz~*
As soon as the class specialization activated, the bees instantly became docile, as if they had never been agitated.
Their desire to protect their home wasn't a bad thing, but given their instincts, it seemed Seong-hyeok would have to handle all the harvesting for the ever-increasing number of hives.
Well, it was already a fact that he was handling it all anyway…
‘What would I have done without the Godly Beekeeping skill?’
Thanks to his diligent leveling, his highest-level skill, Godly Beekeeping, had now reached level 22.
As its name suggested, the skill dramatically increased his harvesting speed. Combined with his high stats, Seong-hyeok quickly collected the honey from all the hives on the farm.
“Whew. Still, I did set up another safety net, didn’t I?”
Another safeguard that slightly lessened his workload was the automatic honey extractor.
As the name implied, it automatically drained and collected honey when a hive was full, making Seong-hyeok’s labor considerably lighter.
“That should put out the immediate fire.”
After harvesting the honey and bee venom, he finished the processing.
Now so accustomed to the task that he could finish it in the blink of an eye, Seong-hyeok turned to his next important duty.
He checked the precise location of the 5-Star+ Disaster-class dungeon, the Village of the Poison Elves, and was momentarily stunned.
“Is this place cursed or something?”
The information pointed to a location surprisingly close by.
Unexpectedly, it was Japan, the very place where the first Disaster-class monster, the Basilisk of Greed, had appeared.
“…At least I won’t have to make two separate trips.”
※ The only remaining location where you can receive a special bonus is the Japanese server, which has been severely corrupted by nuclear missile strikes.
Since he had to go there for purification to claim the special bonus anyway, just as he had in North Korea, Seong-hyeok began preparing for another large-scale bee deployment.
* * * * *
North Korea was suffering from starvation, while Japan suffered from radiation exposure due to nuclear missiles.
For Seong-hyeok, it was merely an act of goodwill performed while collecting special bonuses for his information trade, but for the people in those two territories, it was a completely different story.
“A little bee came up to me and rubbed its butt against me!”
“I was always hungry, but now I’m okay.”
“Thank you so much for saving us! I’ll never forget this kindness.”
People of all ages and genders from both servers expressed their gratitude.
In a way, it was only natural.
Without this help, they would have died, either attacked by monsters or wasting away from hunger.
In a world turned upside down, a world that felt like the apocalypse, who else would provide such a vast amount of food for free?
Moreover, the bees didn't just stop at providing food.
“Everyone, let’s give it our all again today!”
“You look very hungry. I’ll give you what I have this time, but from now on, you have to gather it yourself.”
“Of course. He who does not work, neither shall he eat!”
“Hey! Don’t be greedy, just take your allotted share!”
With trees sprouting and bearing countless fruits, a forest began to form.
The players, refusing to fall into despair, found work for themselves and started building a new foundation for their lives.
A new vitality bloomed after they had overcome what seemed like insurmountable disasters—a dictator and nuclear missiles.
This new environment was all thanks to Honeybee’s unconditional support and the bees’ hard work.
“Ahh, the bees must be fairies sent by God.”
“All hail the bees! All hail Honeybee!”
Overcome with emotion for some reason, the people began to revere Honeybee almost as a god.
To an outsider, it might have looked like the madness of a cult.
But in a place where the abnormal gathered, the normal became the abnormal.
* The Benefactor's Mark: Those who have received your help, even once, will never forget your good deeds.
The Benefactor, one of the titles Seong-hyeok had obtained.
The ‘Benefactor’s Mark’ embedded within it unknowingly exerted its influence, uniting the people without conflict.
“My life for Honeybee!”
“Serve the bees!”
“Waaaaah!”
A loyalty that could well be called the Bee Religion.
It would later grant Seong-hyeok a force beyond his wildest imagination.