NOVEL ONLINE FREE Ch 75
Chapter 75
While he wasn’t recorded engaging in a one-on-one with the Emperor, he did demonstrate the firepower of the Wax Turrets.
That alone is something to behold.
The existence of Honeybee.
The realization that he’s not just an ordinary beekeeper selling processed honey made a huge impact.
[Spotted a Player!]
[I discovered a Player!]
[Got sight of somebody!]
[We detected a bunch of players!]
…..
Upon returning to Korea through the same portal that Sung-hyuk had used to cross over to the Chinese server, he was immediately greeted by the constant sound of discovery notifications.
As soon as Sung-hyuk appeared, he caught the attention of many players on the Korean server. Players from all directions approached him, each with their own intentions, but…
*Weing~~*
*Bzz!!* *Bzzz!!*
They aren’t bees that will simply allow them to approach.
They were warning the people of their proximity with the sound of their agitated beating wings.
That’s why they didn’t get any closer, but Sung-hyuk had a vague idea of their purpose.
“3… I’m a high-ranking knight of three stars. I’m willing to help you in battle, so if you would take me into your shelter, I’d be very grateful!”
“I’m a 2-star Shell Shield, and as a tank, I have a lot of aggro skills!”
“I-I’m a good at gathering!”
The world that has fallen to ruin.
As the difficulty rises steeply with each progressing chapter#, it’s only human nature to want to stick with the strongest, as they never know when a monster will kill them.
And in such a situation, given Sung-hyuk’s overwhelming firepower and the production system of bees, he is a fraudulent figure with abundant resources and power.
A fraudulent being that has both.
Of course, that is why they approached Sung-hyuk to join his shelter.
In fact, Sung-hyuk can also aim to pioneer new infrastructure and reduce the sacrifice of bees if various people gather in the shelter, but he cannot make a hasty decision.
‘Can I trust people that come to me based on the fact that I have a shelter and may backstab me?’
By nature, humans are far from altruistic.
They’re creatures of individualism and self-interest.
This is a path that can lead to internal danger.
‘But I have a way.’
However, when it came to picking and choosing, Sung-hyuk was confident in one aspect.
*Weing-!!!*
*BuZzZz-!!!*
“Oh, what a surprise.”
The bees look at the gathered players, one-by-one, and give them a harsh vocalization.
*Weing~* *Weing~♩*
*Wiggle*
However, to some people, they approached with a unique playful gesture as if they were about to get angry, and then wiggled their hips in response.
The instinct of bees.
The collective intelligence of the bees, who naturally discern between ‘enemies’ and ‘friends’ directed towards them.
“You folks over there can come along with me if you’d like.”
“Uh, you mean us?”
“Thank you!”
Sung-hyuk looked at the bees’ reactions, pointed his finger at the people who were favored, and let them into the gap of the bee swarm.
‘The number of people with purely goodwill is quite small.’
The people gathered here alone must be in the thousands.
An accepted number of 60 people at most.
Which means that there are a lot of people who are unknowingly hostile to him through emotions like jealousy or greed.
However, to interpret it differently, those selected among such individuals are considered trustworthy beings.
“Uh, why not me? I’m a four-star, I’m much stronger than that one-star warrior over there!”
“Honeybee. I can be of more help to you. Please take me with you!”
Of course, those who don’t know Sung-hyuk’s selection criteria are purely expressing their own appeal and clamoring to be included.
If he makes a mistake, he could be stabbed.
But who is Sung-hyuk?
*BUZZZ!!!* *BUZZZZZ!!*
“If you come any closer, I will consider you an enemy.”
“……”
A powerhouse who can command a legion of bees as if they were part of his body, and who, unbeknownst to them, took down the Emperor who was the strongest Chinese server in melee combat.
Those who tried to approach Sung-hyuk with their unknowing hostility could only stiffen like a frog facing a snake.
* * * ko-fi(dot)com/dusclops * * *
60 people.
It may seem like a small number to others, given the millions of bees that follow them.
But for Sung-hyuk, who had been running a shelter of 20 people at most since integrating with Yeonbun Soup’s shelter, it was three times that number.
Moreover, the number of people he could actually take in had the potential to grow,
“Thank you for choosing me, but if you don’t mind me asking, Honeybee, I have a favor to ask.”
“I, too, as a member of the same shelter, would like to make a request!”
That is because among the 60 people chosen by the bees, there are individuals with their own circumstances who wish to bring someone with them.
Sunghyuk’s response was simple.
“I’ll make the decision to take them along instead.”
“Thank you!”
Since they would pass by the shelter on the way, it wasn’t a waste of travel time, and since Sung-hyuk would be the one to make the decision, it wasn’t a problem.
Besides, did they say it was a species of colony?
As they have earned the bees’ favor, most of the people in their respective shelters succeed in being chosen as well.
The group grew from 60 people to 500, which is eight times that number in one fell swoop.
Many of the individuals were underdogs, many with only one star, but Sung-hyuk doesn’t see that as a problem.
‘As long as they have a good heart, it doesn’t matter.’
When visiting the shelter, not a single person was lazy and was working hard.
The value of the people who dismantled the monsters that the combatants had captured to avoid being cannibalized, and who faced and won the favor of the bees without shying away from any kind of labor, is not small.
And above all, there were hidden gems even among the lowest ranked players.
The class that Sung-hyuk needs most right now is the Blacksmith.
The shelter was quite large, and with seven blacksmiths, the production rate of the bee armor would be on quite an uphill trajectory!
“Thank you so much for taking all of our members.”
“I will do my best to be of service to Honeybee in the future!”
[Player Ko Dalsu (Green Bean – level 32) reveals his Class Specialization].
[Player Han Jongsu (Earthenware Collector – level 31) shared information about his Class Specialization].
One of the most common ways players gain trust is by revealing their class specializations.
As a result, it takes a moment to realize that they’re elite, high-level players with unique professions.
Sung-hyuk is taken aback by a fairly familiar looking nickname.
“Hey, wait a minute, is this really your nickname?”
“Yes, of course it’s me. My profile is also on the post of Neatfreak, but I thought you already knew that?”
“…..”
Greenbean, the player clutching a pair of duralumin bat in front of him.
It’s impossible not to recognize his name if they’re on the Korean server.
He’s the officially recognized #1 ranked player on the Korean server,
‘Message Terrorist…….’
A stalker-like figure who has sent well over 100 messages, one of the main reasons for Sung-hyuk to block him.
* * * ko-fi(dot)com/dusclops * * *
Cha Hye-rin sends her shadow doll to Sung-hyuk, who heads back to the Korean server, leaving the main body alone on the Chinese server.
[The player (China Server) had an Incarnation Contract, as a bonus you receive an additional 12,500 points].
[The player (China Server) had an Incarnation Contract, as a bonus you receive an additional 15,000 points].
[The player (China Server) had an Incarnation Contract, as a bonus you receive an additional 11,700 points].
….
During the event quest, War Breaks Out, she hunted down a large number of Chinese players, hunting down the incarnations that gave her the most points however,
[Your point ranking is in 2nd place].
[As a reward, you receive EXP, 350,000 coins, and a Riggle’s Lucky Gift Box (★★★)].
[You have leveled up, and gain 5 stat points].
….
Despite all her diligent efforts at killing and slaughtering, the result is a disappointing second place.
– Hehehe. You lost in the end, huh?
“…How noisy.”
Cha Hye-rin’s most confident aspect of player hunting.
She’s been racking up points since the beginning of the event, but her point status was reversed in one attempt.
When she realized that she hadn’t received a large amount of rewards, her anger rose, but why?
Deep inside, a smile tugs at the corners of her mouth as she feels a rush of emotion for the first time.
“Not bad.”
Could it be that this was the “family” she had always known?
He hasn’t changed at all since he was a child, and his fascination with bees and the skills he possesses are amazing.
In fact, something that happened not too long ago.
When she thinks of the scene where he fights the emperor one-on-one, all she can think about is how amazing it was.
In the moment when she was about to help, fearing he might die, there was a reversal as Sung-hyuk grabbed the Emperor and pressed him down with his strength.
“I don’t have to worry about him dying.”
In this ruined world, Sung-hyuk became the first person acknowledged by Cha Hye-rin for his skills.
As always, Cha Hye-rin couldn’t help but think about Sung-hyuk, who she wasn’t sure she could beat even if she were to fight him wholeheartedly,
*Splash!*
Harvesting has begun.
* * * ko-fi(dot)com/dusclops * * *
Even as Sung-hyuk mobilized the bees and the wax turrets to go to battle, the bees were in the process of laying eggs and collecting nectar as usual.
[Honey harvesting is now available!]
[Honey harvesting is now available!]
[Honey harvesting is now available!]
…..
So while Sung-hyuk was busy collecting the honey from the various beehives, Yeon Soo-hee took charge as the new residents’ receptionist.
“First, I’ll assign everyone to a work area according to their occupation.”
In the case of the combatants, most of them are in charge of minimizing the casualties of the bees.
Those in the lifestyle class were assigned to the greenhouse or blacksmith shop, depending on their characteristics.
They’ll also be gathering food from the natural vegetation in the surrounding area.
“There are traps around here, so please be careful.”
Of course, regardless of whether they’re a combat or lifestyle class, the most important thing to watch out for are the traps that are placed around the area.
A powerful trap of Kang Cheonsu that causes great damage to allies and enemies alike if stepped on.
It’s a terrifying prospect, reminiscent of a minefield, but there’s nothing to worry about.
“The bees will give you a signal before you approach the trap, so if you pay attention, you won’t step on it.”
The existence of bees as mine detectors.
As long as they follow the bees flying around, they won’t have to worry about being caught in a trap.
This also means, conversely, that if you mess with the bees, they’ll walk through the minefield without detectors, so it’s important to develop a steady rapport with them.
“Now that we’ve checked out the ground you’ll be working on, let’s have a bite to eat before getting started.”
Even the sights of Mount Kumgang must wait until after the meal.¹
Now that they know where they’re going to work, all that’s left is to satisfy the hunger they’ve worked up on the way over.
“Let me help too.”
“M-Me too!”
“Okay. I appreciate it.”
“Originally, preparing meals was an easy task with just Yeon Soo-hee and Lee Yeonbun, but now with over 500 people, it’s a different story.”
With the help of several other people with cooking-related jobs, a grand feast is being prepared, making for a bustling atmosphere.
“What are you doing here?”
“Uh, elder. How long have you been here?”
The finished table led to an unexpected meeting of old and new residents who were brought together in one part of the farm.
** ** **
TL/N:
1. The proverb suggests that even though Mount Kumgang is a place of legendary beauty, one should delay enjoying its sights until after eating.
It is used to emphasize the importance of satisfying hunger before indulging in other pleasures. No matter how exciting or enjoyable something may be, it’s essential to address basic needs first.