Chapter 78
Chapter 78
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 78
Chapter Title: The Queen Bee's Demise (1)
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The Land of Regeneration.
It was quite a distance from Crossroads. It wasn't marked on the map either, and it wasn't just a single place with that name.
It was the name of a special greenhouse where half-elves cultivated all sorts of spiritual herbs. It was too vast and grand to simply call it a greenhouse, but since it wasn't an official hunting ground, it wasn't listed on the map separately, which confused many people.
'No point in just causing trouble in the enemy camp for nothing.'
The problem was it wasn't just getting lost.
The trouble started because there was another field called the "Land of Regeneration" on the Black Dragon Legion's side. For a major quest like the racial quest, they didn't hesitate to cross territorial borders.
'Good thing it's not that damn place.'
But whether moving solo, in parties, or guilds, everyone failed.
In the "Land of Regeneration," closely tied to the undead within the Black Dragon Legion, the longer you stayed, the more damage all living beings took.
The land itself absorbed vitality to strengthen the power of death.
Wandering there looking for flowers that didn't even exist meant humans withered and died while undead grew stronger. It was only natural.
That's why, despite being a level 130 field, it was impossible to conquer.
'The issue is how to get into the greenhouse...'
Knowing that, Rokan crossed no borders but headed southwest instead. He used his Rune Book to teleport to the nearest saved location, then rode hard for a long stretch.
After a boring gallop, he arrived at the half-elves' small village.
"Halt. Who are you?"
It was just a small village, but even entering was prickly. And for good reason—this place grew all sorts of plants cultivated and studied by half-elves.
Especially since some world tree saplings and seedlings were here, the half-elves were on edge.
"I'm Rokan, the human True Berserker. I've come as a 'Friend of the Half-Elves' to see if there's any way I can help."
Rokan used his cheat key while eyeing the wary half-elf. It was the effect of the title earned from overwhelming success in the recognition quest.
"True Berserker Rokan—the one who brought dozens of world tree saplings? I've wanted to meet you. Welcome!"
'It worked.'
As expected. The half-elf guard reacted instantly upon hearing the story. The title effect applied, granting Rokan trust.
Proof was that the racial name was already gone when addressing him.
"Good. You're looking for work to do. Even if there wasn't any, I'd have called you for a request, but we have a headache right now. I'll ask you then."
[Pest Removal][Quest]
Eliminate the bugs appearing in the half-elves' greenhouse and supply nutrients to the diseased plants.
-Completion Condition: Remove pests
-Rewards scale with the number of pests removed
Thanks to that, he got the quest immediately.
Half-elves could get the Pest Removal quest easily even without the title effect, but for other races, it would've taken several tough quests. Building even "trust" with another race, short of full recognition, was incredibly hard.
After hearing some rules and precautions, he entered the village, then the "greenhouse" hidden by large-scale illusion magic.
"Wow."
Stepping inside revealed an unbelievable sight. Trees and plants so huge he wondered if he'd shrunk filled the space.
It was like arriving in a land of giants—an astonishing landscape.
Even Rokan struggled to adapt to the incredible scene, which hid sharp, murderous glares.
[Giant Life Mantis][Lv 121]
Insects that had grown huge by absorbing the greenhouse's abundant life energy. Similar to giant mantises in form but a different species. Think of them as an upgraded version.
'Still fierce at the start.'
But they belonged to a very powerful early type. Humanoid or animal monsters were easy to predict, but insect movements were still unfamiliar to users.
Just being hard to react to raised the攻略 difficulty by 1.5 times or more, making it a top-tier hunting ground for current users.
Plus strict entry conditions meant only a handful hunted here.
"What're you staring at?"
But the opponent was Rokan. Instead of fear or caution, his field of view widened and movements sharpened.
Tadak!
Spotting it, he skipped the staring contest and slammed his Battle Axe down with Leaf Attack.
He could've used Bombardment, but that risked damaging the greenhouse plants, so he went for a direct strike.
Puk!
The Giant Life Mantis swung its arms fast to slice, but Rokan's power overwhelmed it. Not a strength-based monster, and with the level gap, its slender arms were lopped off easily.
With its scythe-like arms—its main weapons—gone, all it could do was open its grotesque mouth.
He casually grabbed and snapped it, then hacked away a few times until it slumped lifelessly.
[You have removed a pest.]
[You have met the completion condition. Return to the entrance for your reward. Solve more pests for higher rewards.]
"No can do."
According to past life攻略, more pests meant more rewards, but the most efficient way was claiming rewards one by one.
Quests were repeatable anyway, and extra rewards weren't overwhelmingly better unless extremely lucky, so you couldn't expect returns matching the effort.
Thus, hunting near the entrance and running back often was best, though few did it yet. That came later, after some experimental type calculated and published the formula.
"Max around level 160, right?"
Also problematic: monsters here ranged level 120-160. Dying didn't fail the quest, but most preferred safe leveling near the entrance, claiming rewards as they went, over the risk.
Of course, not everyone.
"100 catches a guaranteed reward."
Like Rokan.
Thanks to his personality that started challenges and saw them through, he'd learned in his past life.
Catch 100 mutant bugs or heal 100 diseased plants for a fixed reward: "Acquire Desired Plant."
World tree items were off-limits, obviously, but you could get high-grade alchemy materials.
Early on, many completed at 99 to maximize extras since fixed rewards cut them, but still.
"Time to run wild then."
Goal set, Rokan sped up. Crossing the greenhouse, he slaughtered every bug and insect in sight.
* * *
Kkaang! Kkaang!
"It's too far! Can't hold much longer!"
"Shut up! Can't focus!"
Hammering metal sounds mixed with urgent male voices echoing through the greenhouse.
Pushing a massive body before them was a huge stag beetle. Its armor-like shell made their attacks nearly useless.
"Oppa, fighting! Yerin's cheering you on!"
Behind their desperate fight was a woman yelling without even holding a weapon.
Her small face, slender jawline, upturned nose, and long ears fit half-elf traits perfectly. Her beauty was celebrity-level, so even mid-battle, the men glanced her way.
Every time she cheered and shook excitedly, something heavy jiggled, stealing their gaze.
"Piercing Strike!"
Pajik!
Boosted by her cheer, the archer-like man unleashed a combo skill.
A sure-kill piercing strike that barely penetrated the shell—but that was it. Before a follow-up, the enraged stag beetle turned on him.
"Look at me! Taunt!"
As its head swung, the tank hurriedly skilled to regain aggro. It worked; the hesitating beetle suddenly charged.
"Guk!"
The stag beetle had defense, but insane strength too.
The tank raised his shield in guard, but flew back like hit by a car.
"One-Point Shot!"
Another combo skill!
The archer's arrows targeted the cracked shell in succession, but missed aim. Provoked and thrashing wildly, it only hammered intact shell, enraging it more.
"Kyaaak!"
The beetle turned and lunged at the archer and woman. Aimed at the archer, but the woman screamed loudest.
"Divine Shield!"
"Damn."
A barrier unfolded. Priest class, using holy power sloppily—not on the targeted archer. She shielded herself, the untargeted one, to survive.
But the archer, as if expecting it, clicked his tongue and dove aside.
To get away from her. To draw all aggro and spare her harm.
Gritting teeth, he triggered his last combo.
"Emergency Escape!"
Whoosh!
The beetle's charging horn cleaved air. Long cooldown, but a one-time lifesaver combo dodged it.
Now the chance. Aiming for the beetle's back as momentum carried it forward, he nocked another arrow.
"Damn, move!"
Then he spotted a man in his view. A human blankly staring their way in the beetle's charge path.
Up close, he'd recognize the face from videos, but no time.
Before wondering why a human was here, he spat a scream-like warning.
"What's this guy?"
Jjeok!
Next instant, he pinched his cheek.
In one blow, the stag beetle's shell—untouched by their combos—shattered, fluids gushing like brains.
And silence.
It just trembled faintly. One hit to near-death.
They couldn't claim credit for draining HP; they'd barely dented the shell otherwise.
So the first to react amid their stunned faces was the priest woman.
"Thanks for saving us! We would've wiped without Oppa!"
"O-Oppa?"
The two men's faces filled with absurdity and hurt. How many buses they'd ridden, items gifted, to hear "Oppa" from her! And now to a stranger?
Before their deflated voices, the woman had already rushed to the new axe warrior, feigning fragility to stir protection.
'What the hell is this?'
Unaware he was clinging to Rokan, or that Rokan grasped the whole situation instantly.