NOVEL NEXT Ch 21
Chapter 21
Over time, as the world of the Great Awakening progressed, shelters were built as people organized themselves into groups and found good locations for fortifications.
The value of a shelter’s existence was not only to protect against monsters and evil people but also to serve other functions depending on its characteristics.
“Can you share your class and level in numerical order?”
“I’m a one-star thief and my level is 6. Although my level is low right now, if you accept it, I will do my best to——.”
“Rejected. I guess you can’t have a clear conscience, it’s not worth listening to anymore. What are you doing here?”
“I’m a 2 star priest and my level is only 4 because hunting is hard, is that okay?”
“Oh, of course, you’re welcome, and we’ll make up the level you lack by hunting together in our shelter.”
It’s like an interview to get a job at a big company.
Players desperate to get into a good shelter.
One would think that this wouldn’t be the case in an apocalyptic world, but since it was an “Apocalyptic” situation, recruitment was something that had to happen in any shelter, whether they liked it or not.
With monsters constantly regenerating, the shelter’s existing population will inevitably dwindle at the same time as casualties occur.
It’s a world where the strongest rule over those who are weak.
However, the players who form the basis of the framework are people who lived in the society before the system was modified, so there is bound to be a bit of the old society’s culture.
“How are things going today?”
“So-so. No unique professions, one to two-star combat and life professions, same as always.”
“Well, unique class holders are a dime a dozen, so I’ll ask you to take care of the newcomers’ team arrangements.”
“Leave it to me.”
In a typical survival game, there are those who are considered good survivors and those who are labeled as terrible at it.
There are a myriad of criteria for judging who is the strongest and who is the weakest among the so-called players.
Starting with their class and level, which are immediately visible through sharing, to the current item level of their gear.
However, on the Korean server, there were items other than those that came included,
“Oh, and don’t forget to keep buying the items Honeybee sells for as long as they’re worth coins. Even if we don’t use them right away, it’s good to have as many of them as possible.”
“Of course.”
That’s how much of Honeybee’s products on the Korean server, which has emerged as the leading name of the Korean Exchange, are worth.
Items that feature a wide spectrum of functions, such as potions and buffs.
When it comes to players, it’s all about the good stuff.
Ultimately, players’ leveling speeds vary depending on whether they have Honeybee’s products or not.
Being able to actively hunt monsters with superior stats and potions was a huge advantage.
【Heaven for the Weak, Hell for the Strong: “Honeybee, it’s nice of you to make processed goods and sell them, but please be human and think of us. Why do you keep sneakily raising the price of your goods? What are we supposed to do?”】
【Cheon Lishu: Huh? Don’t you know inflation? As you earn more coins over time, the price of things will go up, of course. And why should Honeybee take care of you guys in the first place? LOL You have coins to post on the community board, but you don’t have money to buy honey tea?】
【15gg: Honestly, even though it’s like shit, it doesn’t mean I don’t understand it. It’s an exclusive item, and it’s selling like hotcakes. To be honest, I would have raised the price if I were Honey Bee.】
【Blue is Jungle: If this continues, they say he’ll turn into Dooly.¹ Seriously, lol.】
【A dog that barks when it sees an idiot: Bark! Bark!】
The price was 6 coins.
In fact, the price of the Guardian’s Rubigem Honey Tea that was sold from the beginning wasn’t that cheap either.
Considering the cost of hunting goblins and selling their loot, one would have to kill two or three goblins to buy one.
Over time, however, the price of the Guardian’s Rubigem Honey Tea ballooned to more than three times its original price at about 20 coins.
Of course, the inflation caused by players getting more and more coins as they grow is certainly a factor, but the bigger reason is the monopoly and the overheated sense of competition among players.
Having already tasted the deliciousness of the product and its benefits once, powerful players, including big shelters, tried to buy their way up.
【Quick Feet: Urgent news, everyone! New products of Honeybee, the Exchange’s popular Honeybee, are now available!】
【Neatfreak: This time, it’s not a Rubigem, it’s called Peridot, but don’t be alarmed, its bonus effect is an attack boost!】
【Crazy NO.1: Kya, it’s the Honey Bee Class, and we’re going to have a honey jam extravaganza soon!】
….And now.
Honeybee’s newly registered processed Peridot Honey has caused a wave of activity on the exchange.
* * *
“No, are these people just stalking me all day? How did they notice and spread the news as soon as I registered?”
After registering on the exchange, Sung-hyuk went to check out the reactions on the community boards, and he was surprised to see players spreading the news of his new product.
He doesn’t know what kind of players they are in real life, but he knows their unique nicknames.
“Well, thanks anyway.”
They’re the ones who’ve been giving Sung-hyuk a subtle marketing boost every time he sells an item.
Well, that’s probably because they also want to benefit from the community board, but that’s the way it is in the world.
It’s a win-win situation.
They gain experience by becoming a well-known name on the community board through views, referrals, and comments, and Sung-hyuk earns coins through the advertising effect.
And as the saying goes, words without feet travel a thousand miles,² and the information spread by those in the community board quickly spread across the Korean server.
[Guardian’s Peridot Honey Tea (★★+) registered on the marketplace has been sold].
[Obtained 80 coins after subtracting 20% commission.]
[Guardian’s Peridot Honey Tea (★★+) registered on the marketplace has been sold].
[Obtained 96 coins after subtracting 20% commission.]
[Guardian’s Peridot Honey Tea (★★+) registered on the marketplace has been sold].
[Obtained 112 coins after subtracting 20% commission.]
….
One after the other, the processed products of Sung-hyuk’s new product, Peridot Honey, slowly started to sell.
“What would be a good price range?”
Unlike the Rubigem, which he had been selling for a long time, this was the first time he sold the Peridot, so he didn’t set a uniform price to gauge the market, but instead listed 10 different items, starting at 100 coins and increased by 20 coins up to 300 coins.
To be honest, he didn’t think they would sell out.
Though 100 coins would be enough to get by, 300 coins was still quite expensive in Sung-hyuk’s opinion.
Therefore, he was trying to gauge how much it would sell at a reasonable rate…
[The ‘Guardian’s Peridot Honey Tea (★★+)’ registered on the marketplace is sold out].
“Huh, what’s this? Is this real?”
‘But, what is this?’
It was like an 80% off sale happened at a bargain store.
Peridot honey tea sold out in less than a minute, in the blink of an eye.
Of course, there is also the effect of advertising by community board names, but even at 100 coins, it is a lot.
Even Sung-hyuk had no idea that the honey tea registered for 300 coins would sell out in such a short time.
This is because it costs 15 times more than the Rubigem honey tea, which costs 20 coins, but they bought it as if it wasn’t a big deal.
“The damage increase is definitely good.”
Aside from restoring health and mana, there’s only one difference between Rubigem Honey Tea and Peridot Honey Tea.
The damage increased.
7%.
Honestly, this isn’t much of a buff for a consumable, but the increase in damage will increase the hunting speed anyway, so high-level players should be able to get the most out of the duration.
“Maybe I can raise the price of my next Peridot Honey Tea a bit more if this is the case?”
Some might say that this is too selfish, but that’s the nature of an exclusive seller in a competitive market.
*Buzz!* *WeEeIinNngGg~~*
And each of Sung-hyuk’s honey products is the result of the hard work done by sincere bees.
In order to create the perfect dream house for the future bees and increase the safety of the bees, Sung-hyuk has no choice but to be even more greedy for money.
“I should let the honey wine age before selling it, just raise the price even more for things that can be used multiple times.”
An explosive reaction brought on by the increase in attack power.
[The ‘Guardian’s Peridot Honey Vinegar (★★)’ registered on the marketplace has been sold].
[240 coins were earned, after deducting a 20% commission].
[Guardian’s Peridot Honey Soap (★★+) registered on the marketplace has been sold].
[800 coins were earned, after deducting a 20% commission fee].
[Guardian’s Peridot Beeswax Candle (★★★-) registered on the marketplace has been sold].
[2400 coins were earned, after deducting a 20% commission fee].
….
Sung-hyuk properly rode the momentum.
Following the honey tea, there are three other items that can be used multiple times.
Especially the honey soap, which has a longer durability, and the beeswax candles, which can be cast on multiple people with a single use, are selling at a frightening pace despite their considerable value.
But can they possibly fathom it?
“Hmm so, how much am I supposed to sell these for?”
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[Guardian’s Peridot Royal Jelly Pill (★★★)] x 2
* Category: Consumable
* When consumed, in addition to effects such as fatigue recovery, stamina enhancement, and skin beauty, the ‘Guardian’s Peridot Royal Jelly Pill’s Strong Health’ provides the individual, with increasing Endurance by 2 permanently on the first consumption. Current consumption level: 0 / 1.
* Guardian’s Peridot Royal Jelly Pills Strong Health: Increases Strength and Endurance by 28 (+7) for 90 minutes.
…
[Guardian’s Peridot Propolis Film (★★★+)]
* Category: Consumable
* When consumed, apply the ‘Guardian’s Peridot Propolis Natural Antibiotics’ to the individual, permanently increasing their Spirit by 3 on the first consumption, Current consumption level: 0 / 1.
* Guardian’s Peridot Propolis Natural Antibiotic: For 90 minutes, you gain 82(+18)% immunity to all types of penalty effects and increase Spirit by 35(+6).
* Description: A ★★★+-rated film of peridot propolis engraved with the keywords of the Guardian. Peridot Propolis has been processed into a film for easy consumption, and when consumed, it grants high immunity and mental clarity. It also grants a permanent stat boost, once per person.
※Note: Propolis buffs from the same series do not stack.
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Did they say there’s a sky above the sky?
Royal Jelly and Propolis are two of the least common and highest-ranked byproducts of beekeeping.
The value of the products made from them is almost impossible to put a price on.
** ** **
TL/N:
1. “Dooly,” a dinosaur character that represents Korean cartoon and animation.
2. Rumors spread quickly, so be careful of the things you say.