Chapter 99
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 99
Chapter Title: The First Festival
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The meal preparations were proceeding as usual.
But this time, the situation was exceptionally different.
“Seong-hyeok. How about we throw a meat festival today?”
The hunt for the boar family that had appeared yielded a tremendous amount of meat.
Even after selling half of it on the exchange, there was still an overflowing amount of meat, a testament to the boars' hefty size.
“Damn it all. They're just itching to make an old woman work.”
From the cook's perspective, the difficulty had shot up, making a curse slip out naturally.
But contrary to the swear words leaving her lips, she seemed determined to demonstrate a classic case of actions not matching words.
Lee Yeon-bun rolled up the sleeves on her arms, seasoned by years of experience, and began preparing her gukbap.
“What are you doing, Ji-ho? Hurry up and go trim some meat!”
“Haha, right away, ma’am.”
Jang Ji-ho, one of the farm's residents and a 4-star Butcher.
Having run a butcher shop before this crazy world began, he busily trimmed the mountain of meat.
“I've gathered some vegetables!”
“The temperature is set just right!”
“The items you asked for from the warehouse are ready!”
The residents of the beekeeping farm moved as if they had each been assigned a role.
Not a single person slacked off; everyone proactively and efficiently carried out their duties.
It was a level of initiative rarely seen in other shelters, where large groups of people would often discriminate based on level or rank, or push their work onto others.
This was an uncommon sight compared to other shelters, but it was all ultimately the result of the diligent bees working nearby and Seong-hyeok, the most powerful person on the farm, leading by example.
*Fwoosh-*
*Sizzle-*
[Bountiful Steel-Tusk Boar Stew (★★★+)]
[Bountiful Steel-Tusk Boar Stir-fry (★★★+)]
[Bountiful Marinated Steel-Tusk Boar Belly (★★★+)]
[Bountiful Steel-Tusk Boar Belly (★★★+)]
[Hearty Grandma's Steel-Tusk Boar Head Gukbap (★★★+)]
…
As time passed, the dishes began to emerge one by one.
Kimchi, peppers, tofu, and more.
Naturally pollinated by the bees as they grew, of course.
From the stew simmering with vegetables grown by Yeon Su-hee and the Poison Elves, to the pork belly and gukbap.
And was that all?
True to its name as a beekeeping farm, the most abundant ingredient was, naturally, honey.
Thanks to Seong-hyeok's support, who willingly provided honey for the meal, it was hard to find a marinade that *didn't* include it!
Sweet honey, vegetables, and meat.
The aroma rising from their combination was pure paradise.
“Whoa, that smells incredible.”
“It's one of those days that makes you crave soju.”
“I wonder what the boar head gukbap tastes like.”
Pork belly and soju—the ultimate pairing that any Korean would think of.
But hadn't I just mentioned it?
The beekeeping farm was overflowing with honey.
Naturally, the soju brewed here was on a different level from the ordinary kind.
[Guardian's Peridot Bee Venom Liquor (★★★-)]
[Guardian's Rubydot Honey Wine (★★★-)]
[Guardian's Five-Colored Honey Wine (★★★+)]
[Guardian's Three-Honey Honey Wine (★★★)]
…
There was honey wine, crafted with generous amounts of honey, and bee venom liquor, made with bee venom.
Furthermore, with the number of bee types now increased to five, the variety of liquors and their distinctive flavors were all different.
“These folks don't know how to drink. The truly delicious one is this sweet Ruby Gem honey wine!”
“Hey, nothing beats Peridot's bee venom liquor for cutting through the gaminess of pork belly, I tell you.”
“Tsk. Everyone knows Diamond is the best. I pity you for not knowing its taste.”
“If you're all going to fight, just drink the Five-Colored or the Rubydot!”
It was as if all the most dedicated drinkers had gathered in one place.
They were even holding a debate.
The funny thing was the bees gathering around them.
*Bzzzzzz!*
*Buzzzzzzzzz-*
*Bzz- Bzzzzzz!*
It was as if each was insisting that the honey they had produced was the best.
The bees buzzed their wings and wiggled their bottoms next to the drinkers who supported their honey.
At the cute and comical sight, the bickering drinkers and onlookers soon broke into hearty laughter.
And just like that, the meal preparation time flew by.
Then, Seong-hyeok, the owner of the farm, arrived with Kang Yeon-ah.
*Gulp-*
The delicious aroma of the food wafted over, making it impossible to control the swallowing in their throats.
It was a form of torture, like listening to a principal's long speech!
“Yeon-ah. You can unload it here.”
“Yes, sir!”
At Seong-hyeok's word, a variety of honey teas and honey wines poured out onto the farm.
These were items that, under normal circumstances, could only be obtained by paying the wholesale price, no exceptions.
But Seong-hyeok wasn't so calculating as to do that at the farm's very first festival.
“What more needs to be said? The honey wine and honey tea are on me. For today, let's all eat and drink until we drop.”
“Woooooah-!!!”
“Hmph, my partner is quite generous.”
“Will eat! Kkiik!”
“Gruuuaaargh!”
*Bzzzzzzzzzz~*
As soon as the boss's short speech and generous honey support were announced, the residents—human, elf, golden goblin, bear, and bee alike—erupted in cheers.
And so, the beekeeping farm's first festival began in abundance.
* * * * *
Ever since monsters appeared in the world, survival had been a constant life-or-death struggle.
It went without saying that the tension, stretched taut like a rubber band, was bound to wear down a person's spirit.
And that applied to everyone, adult and child alike.
“Kuh... Seong-hyeok, young man. You've grown up so dependable, you're like a son to me!”
“Brother. You know I love you, right? You have to know.”
The fear of death had unknowingly festered over time.
Was it because they had consumed an incomparable amount of alcohol thanks to the festival?
Just as the saying goes that alcohol makes you honest or brave.
Im Seok-cheol and Kang Cheon-su clung to Seong-hyeok, pouring out their emotions.
“Oh, for goodness' sake. You old fool, what are you doing grabbing Seong-hyeok and grumbling like that during the festival! If you're drunk, go inside and sleep it off!”
“Haha, it's alright, Su-hee.”
Seong-hyeok laughed it off as Yeon Su-hee, having finally grasped the situation, tried to pull the slumping Seok-cheol away.
It was behavior that others might see as a nuisance.
But perhaps because Seong-hyeok had lived as an orphan?
These expressed emotions didn't feel so bad.
“Everyone's just having a hard time, that's all.”
The stress that came from adapting to the changed environment.
It was always best to let go of pent-up feelings.
Looking around, he saw people releasing their stress in various ways—sharing stories, laughing, crying.
They were letting go of their accumulated stress in all sorts of ways.
“Hahaha! I survived back then thanks to you, Lucina.”
“That is fortunate.”
Hadn't someone said that conversation and alcohol were the best ways to get closer?
In the process, the awkward gap between the human and elf races narrowed, of course.
As they shared stories of saving each other's lives or fighting together, the wall between humans and elves quickly crumbled.
‘I should hold festivals like this every once in a while.’
The 600 people who had joined as residents of the shelter.
For Seong-hyeok, who was in a position to protect all of them, humans and elves alike, it was an incredibly good thing if their inner turmoil could be so thoroughly resolved.
“Seong-hyeok! There's an empty spot here!”
“Honeybee-nim! Would you accept a drink from me?”
“Partner. My cup is empty.”
It was as if Seong-hyeok's thoughts had been conveyed without him saying a word.
One by one, the residents gathered around Seong-hyeok.
“...Youth is truly enviable.”
For a moment, she felt a pang of envy at their free-spirited behavior.
“Sister! Hurry up and come here!”
“Su-hee. Come over here and eat with us.”
“How long are you going to keep Yeon-bun waiting, Su-hee!”
“Alright. I'm coming.”
Hearing the calls for her support, Yeon Su-hee decided to set down her burdens and enjoy herself.
* * * * *
The day-long festival came to an end, and reality returned.
But was it because they had shaken off all their old, pent-up emotions?
Or was it thanks to seeing the bees, who reliably protected them and always worked so diligently?
“Morning, guys.”
“Let's have another good day, little ones.”
*Bzzzz~*
Facing the new day, the residents greeted the bees that energetically welcomed them before heading out.
They formed groups and moved out to take care of their assigned duties, be it combat or daily life.
And there, working among the residents, was Seong-hyeok.
*Bzzz~*
*Bzzzzzzzz-*!
He received a grander wiggling greeting from the bees than anyone else and was briefly collecting the honey that filled the hives.
When he looked up at the sense of someone approaching from a distance, he saw Go Dal-su.
Seong-hyeok took the item from the man—a combat squad leader who rarely approached him—and couldn't help but be surprised.
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[Bountiful Jere's Meatball (★★★★+)]
* Classification: Consumable
* Upon consumption, grants the Authority Specialization 'Flame Immunity' one time only. Current consumption 0 / 1
※ Flame Immunity (Permanent): Increases immunity to flame-related damage by 30%.
* Description: This is a ★★★★+ grade Jere's Meatball engraved with the 'Bountiful' keyword. A meatball that fully contains the power of Burning Jere's meat. Upon consumption, the player can obtain a permanent Authority power, limited to one time per player.
______________________________
A 4-star+ grade item was by no means a low rank.
Moreover, unlike the stat points Seong-hyeok always obtained from his processed honey products, an 'Authority' like this provided a tremendous advantage.
And this advantage, in other words, would be a huge merit for other players as well.
“What is this?”
“It was made from the byproducts of a field boss we hunted—one of the boars that met certain conditions. We asked Su-hee to make it. It's the unanimous opinion of the entire combat team that you should have it, Honeybee-nim.”
“...I'm sorry, but I don't think I can just accept this. Or are you perhaps trying to sell it to me? If so, I'll pay a fair price.”
“No, your bees and the baby bears played a much bigger part in this hunt, Honeybee-nim. How could we possibly accept coins for it?”
The countless chapters to come, and the enemies that would grow stronger with them.
Among them, an increase in flame immunity was an option powerful enough to save a life that might otherwise be lost in the future.
That was why Seong-hyeok couldn't accept it.
Like with Jeongrichung, it would be different if money were exchanged.
But to be given such an item for free when he hadn't even participated in the battle?
Seong-hyeok wasn't that shameless.
“Hoo...”
But he couldn't just keep refusing.
Since they were stubbornly insisting they wouldn't take coins even if it killed them, he had to find some compromise.
“Alright. If you won't take coins, take goods instead. I'll give you royal jelly pills and propolis cosmetics, calculated at the wholesale price I think this is worth.”
“I'm sorry, but with the equipment and all the other investments you've made in us, we really can't accept!”
It was like they were as stubborn as an ox.
They were putting their foot down, absolutely refusing to accept.
But when it came to this deal, Seong-hyeok was rather confident.
“You seem to have forgotten. These things are good for your vigor. And they're amazing for your skin. If you're saying you won't accept something this good...”
“Thank you! We'll put them to good use!”
Vigor and skincare.
Those were the magic words that could break even a man with the stubbornness of an ox.