Chapter 95
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 95
Chapter Title: The Poison Elf Alliance
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Awakening as the chieftain of the Poison Elf village, she deciphered the thought transmitted to her at the moment of her creation.
(Annihilate the enemy and restore the Poison Elves' domain.)
A short message, but one that held many implications depending on its interpretation.
“Oh, it seems there's an abundance of prey.”
The Disaster-class boss monster of Chapter #3.
Beyond the jurisdiction of a pet serving as a server administrator.
Having received her will from the 'World' and the freedom to act, her first move was to cultivate her domain.
“First, I must summon my dear children.”
Greendale drew upon the power she possessed as naturally as a person learns to breathe upon birth.
[Retainer, Poison Amethyst Queen Bee, responds to the master's call.]
[Retainer, Poison Amethyst Jarret Legion Commander Bee, responds to the master's call.]
[Retainer, Poison Amethyst Kiiros Legion Commander Bee, responds to the master's call.]
[Retainer, Poison Amethyst Worker Bees, respond to the master's call.]
…….
Bzzzzzz~
BZZZZZZZZ—!
Thousands of retainers answered her call.
“Ooooh!”
“You are beautiful, Chieftain!”
“I will craft the beehive!”
The six Poison Elves cheered at the appearance of the swarm of brilliantly shining, violet-colored bees.
But their joy was short-lived.
After observing the outside world through her bees, she frowned at the horrific state of nature.
“Those humans, worse than vermin!”
The scene of radioactive contamination spreading across the world.
The surrounding environment, facing the aftermath, was nothing short of horrific.
Not a single blade of grass could grow, let alone trees or flowers.
“Committing such rotten deeds… they haven't changed, not then, not now.”
Just as they had in her homeland, Deltaria.
The behavior of humans, who cast nature aside for the sake of progress.
She trembled with rage at the sight of her worker bees dying from radiation exposure outside, but she quickly composed herself.
“For now, food for my children is the priority. Plant flowers, even if it's just here!”
“As you command, Chieftain.”
Using the power given to the elves, a forest began to form in the underground.
If humans were to step in and destroy what the elves had painstakingly cultivated, the solution was simple.
“It won't be so easy for them this time.”
Eradicate the problem itself—the humans—from this world.
A simple method, utterly devoid of mercy.
To that end, she spent several days increasing the number of her bees, gathering food and venom.
While doing so, Greendale continued to assess the surrounding situation through the sacrifice of her bees, and she couldn't help but be astonished.
“What in the world…?”
Outside, a forest was forming as trees and flowers bloomed the instant seeds were planted—a feat carried out by countless bees.
“Impossible! Multiple species of bees are working together?”
What was even more surprising was that the bees in action were not of a single, unified 'species'.
Many were acting as one.
This was something her understanding could not possibly accept.
But what was most surprising of all was something else.
“A… human?”
The one who had brought about this miracle.
That being was a human, the very species Greendale had vowed to exterminate.
Though they were supposed to be a detestable race, she felt a sense of goodwill just by looking at him.
Her confusion over a human achieving the title 'Druid of the Forest' was brief.
[Due to the appearance of one with superior control, your authority over the Poison Amethyst Worker Bees (★★★+) has weakened.]
“My… my children…”
Her retainers. The situation, where even control over her Poison Bees was being taken away, only deepened her confusion.
* * * * *
In fantasy, elves are often called the people of the forest.
Was the same true for the purple-skinned Poison Elves?
A vast forest spread across their underground domain.
Unique plants he'd never seen before were growing there, and the Poison Amethyst Bees present were pollinating their flowers.
‘This is certainly not bad.’
At present, he commanded countless bees, with many more being born each day.
In fact, for Seong-hyeok, those with the power to rapidly grow plants like trees and flowers were incredibly valuable assets.
One look at the bee farm was enough to see that the influence of the World Tree and Yeon Su-hee, who fulfilled that role, had become indispensable.
It went without saying, but if elves—who were expected to specialize in this—were added to his farm, Seong-hyeok wouldn't just accept; he'd welcome them with open arms.
“That is Lady Greendale. I hope the talks go well, without any unnecessary trouble.”
“You don't need to worry.”
Furthermore, thanks to the effect of his 'Druid of the Forest' title, he could feel a deep sense of goodwill from the Poison Elves he had met so far.
‘What comes next is what's important.’
Of course, that didn't mean he let his guard down.
After all, the Poison Elves were still monsters.
And they were far from ordinary.
[Poison High Elf Greendale Lv. 48 (★★★★★+)] - Disaster-class Boss Monster
[Poison Amethyst Jarret Legion Commander Bee (★★★★+)] - Elite Bee
[Poison Amethyst Kiiros Legion Commander Bee (★★★★+)] - Elite Bee
…….
Greendale, a Disaster-class boss monster at a staggering level 48, and the dozen or so elite bees positioned beside her.
But for some reason...
The elite bees, whose eyes glinted with a ferocity that would make any other player recoil in terror.
To Seong-hyeok, however, the bees were no different from gentle puppies.
[The Honeybee Guardian's class specialization, Beloved by Bees, is activated.]
[Poison Amethyst Jarret Legion Commander Bee (★★★★+) sends you boundless goodwill.]
[Poison Amethyst Kiiros Legion Commander Bee (★★★★+) sends you boundless goodwill…….
In an instant, the violet-colored elite bees transformed from 'enemies' to 'allies' and approached Seong-hyeok.
Greendale reacted with surprise, much like Belmorn had, but perhaps her 5-star+ grade and level 48 weren't for show?
“So you were the cause, just as I thought.”
Greendale nodded with a bitter expression.
As if she had expected it, she approached Seong-hyeok with a smirk.
“...”
Was she planning a surprise attack?
Seong-hyeok braced himself to counter a potential attack, but only for a moment.
The action Greendale took upon approaching was, to his utter bewilderment, to sniff him.
“...?”
There was no hint of aggression.
Instead, Seong-hyeok, who had been ready to fight, felt needlessly embarrassed.
“So you do know how to be flustered.”
“What are you trying to do?”
“I was just smelling the color of your soul.”
Despite creating the awkward situation, Greendale let out an alluring laugh, as if she found it amusing.
“Such an intoxicating sweetness. Good. You might be worth trusting, just this once.”
Like Yongbi and Danbi smelling honey, she seemed to have made her decision with a satisfied attitude.
She touched the ring on one of her fingers.
“Lady Greendale?”
“Wha-what!”
She had merely touched the ring, yet the surrounding Poison Elves reacted in horror.
“This is my decision. Are you trying to make me reverse it?”
“Th-that is…”
But she ignored them, determined to have her way.
Through the notification that appeared along with the ring she offered, Seong-hyeok understood why the Poison Elves had been so horrified.
[Ring of Lust (★★★★★+) - Do you accept becoming the Treasure's companion? YES / NO]
______________________________
[Ring of Lust (★★★★★+) - Treasure]
※ Becomes bound upon equipping and cannot be removed. To obtain ownership, the bound target must be killed.
* Classification: Accessory
* All Stats +50
※ Chains of Lust: The companion's location can be tracked. If the companion is within 10km, the ring's effects are doubled.
※ Companion of Lust: The ring's effects are applied to the designated companion. This effect can only be used once and is reset if ownership changes.
* Durability: ∞ / ∞
* Description: A ★★★★★+ grade Treasure imbued with the power of lust. It holds a lust more powerful than any other item and can never be destroyed. A deep sense of lust can be felt just by possessing it.
※ Warning! Treasure items announce their existence to all players. They also increase the respawn rate of nearby monsters and attract them.
______________________________
A Treasure item—the biggest reason and objective behind Seong-hyeok's desire for the location of Disaster-class monsters.
But it was something he had half given up on after deciding to form an alliance with the Poison Elves.
“...Should I take this as a sign that you wish to form an alliance with us?”
“Haven't I made it clear enough? So, what's your answer?”
Peace was indeed the best option.
Unexpectedly, Seong-hyeok had gained a reliable alliance with the Poison Elves and the effects of a Treasure item.
“What's there to say? Of course, it's YES.”
He had obtained both at once.
* * * * *
Through a mutual understanding of interests, the Poison Elves had turned from foes to allies.
Greendale, a level 48 Disaster-class boss, was dependable, but the six Poison Elves under her were also quite reassuring.
Their levels ranged from 42 to 45, and true to their elven race, they could accelerate plant growth and raise bees.
Moreover, their other strengths could not be ignored.
Bzzzzzzzz~
It was a perfect match.
The swarm of Poison Amethyst Queen Bees, which, while not belonging to Seong-hyeok, were a staggering 5-star grade.
Following the red, green, yellow, and white, the amethyst bees now showed off their violet-colored abdomens.
And perhaps because of the 'Poison' prefix?
The venom that could be harvested from the amethyst bees was on par with that of the peridots.
Furthermore, it seemed there was something special about the elves' unique processing methods.
Their processed goods returned as potions and weapons of a completely different concept from what Seong-hyeok had ever made.
“Fufufu. You should be grateful to have us.”
Greendale's attitude was brimming with confidence.
Knowing her own worth well, it seemed she considered herself the 'superior' one in this relationship of mutual interest.
However, Greendale's confidence didn't last long.
Bzzz~
Bzzzzzzzz-
“...Astonishing.”
“My goodness. He really has four queens?”
“The sheer scale of the hive is incredible!”
“How can this be… it’s unbelievable…”
As if to boost Seong-hyeok's morale, the four Queen Bees emerged from the hive and nuzzled against his body.
Biologically, they might all be bees, but the uniquely elegant Queen Bees had a distinctly different aura!
At the sight, Greendale and the Poison Elves, who had been so imperious, instantly deflated like puppies with their tails between their legs.
“Thank you, my Queens.”
Buzzz~
When it came to boosting their dad's spirits, the Queens were the best.
He felt his shoulders straighten with pride, like a parent bragging about their children.
But had that feeling somehow been transmitted through the Bee Link?
Bzz!
Buzzz?
Bzz- Bzzzz-
The four Queens exchanged glances, communicating their thoughts through dance, and as if signaling they were ready,
[Peridot Queen Bee (★★★★+) uses the skill, Queen's Pheromone (Lv.13).]
[Imperial Topaz Queen Bee (★★★★★) uses the skill, Queen's Pheromone (Lv.15).]
…….
They scattered their respective pheromones, gathering the bees.
[The Transcendent Being, Archangel Seriel, is curious about what's happening.]
[The Transcendent Being, Insect King Prainkito, pats the ground, telling everyone to take a seat.]
[The Transcendent Being, Insect Queen Nainkito, lets out a cheer. She donates 50,000 Coins to commemorate her return.]
Perhaps because they had seen this several times before?
The Transcendent Beings' messages showed they were preparing to watch without needing to be told.
His brief moment of happiness at seeing Nainkito return from her penalty in Chapter #3 passed.
Having assembled and completed their preparations, the bees began their activity.