NOVEL NEXT Ch 30
Chapter 30
‘I’m sure the natural vegetation in other dimensions has something similar, like rice or something.’
In other words, in Korea, it’s called bapshim.(rice power)¹
Not sure when it will happen, but if he can harvest and eat rice, or even better, get a building like a mill, he will be able to get processed products like bread and rice cakes through further processing.
If that happens, he’ll be able to make bread or rice cakes and eat them with fresh honey.
‘Well, this is still something of a distant dream.’
Although the situation hasn’t even been begun yet, people say that dreaming is essentially free.
In addition, Sung-hyuk was a living embodiment of realizing a dream.
His life beside the bees was incomprehensible to some.
However, regardless of the circumstances, as the world of disaster unfolded, Sung-hyuk was in a state of creating a massive beekeeping farm, utilizing the knowledge and dream that others had previously trampled on, without any filter.
“Brother Sung-hyuk, I did it! Take a look!”
Sung-hyuk was in the middle of beekeeping with a satisfied smile on his face.
The last of the villagers to join the group.
Kang Cheonsu, who had introduced himself as the biological brother of the elite porter, Kang Yeon-ah, rushed over, drenched in sweat.
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[Class Specialization – Trapper]
* Bomb Demon: Increases the destructive damage of items of the Explosive and Trap category by 15%. Only applies when the item is used by you. (damage increases with level).
* Deception: Allows you to hide items that belong to the Trap category, making them visually harder to find. This only applies if the item is used by you.
* Dexterity: greatly reduces the chance of failure when performing meticulous tasks.
* ???
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A resident with an unusual profession, Trapper, and currently the only combat-oriented profession in the Shelter, aside from the bees.
‘I don’t know what kind of life you have lived to earn a job like this, but….’
Well, honestly, there was no shortage of questions about karma, but Sung-hyuk didn’t really care.²
In any case, the most important thing for him now was to reduce the death toll of the bees in future battles.
In that regard, Cheonsu’s role as a trapper was quite crucial.
“Oh, is this the venom bomb that was used during the battle with the Stinger back then?”
“It’s a bee venom…… that can be ingested or smeared on a blade or other surface, and it’s very useful.”
“If you don’t mind, older brother. I don’t know about anything else, but I’m pretty good at making traps and such things, and I think I can make something groundbreaking with this.”
Just as Sung-hyuk was obsessed with bees, Cheonsu was obsessed with bombs and traps.
Of course, it was only for a short amount of time, so he didn’t seem to be able to get a ‘Unique Profession’, but that doesn’t mean his knowledge wasn’t invaluable.
“You must deliver a clear result.”
“I will definitely repay your faith, big brother!”
If he was just showing off for no reason, Sung Hyuk wouldn’t have easily handed over the bee venom.
The bee venom was a byproduct of the bees squeezing out a little bit of their venomous fluid, which could be said to be their lifeblood, from their venom sacks and passing it to Sung-hyuk as a small gesture.
Depending on how it was used, it could save the lives of countless bees, or it could be used as a permanent stat boost.
‘If it can be used for something better, it’s not a bad thing.’
If there is an expert who can handle the production of poison traps more effectively, assigning it to them is one way to go.
Although he can’t give up the Galehound Venom or Releaser Venoms, which are the source of Sung-hyuk’s valuable permanent stat boosts, due to the small number of them, he can still offer the Rubigem and Peridot Venoms.
As a result, the following items were created.
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[Elaborate Peridot Venom Trap (★★)]
* Category: Consumable
* When placed on the ground and the keyword ‘use’ is spoken, it will activate 10 seconds later. Afterward, when subjected to a certain amount of weight, it will explode, dealing lethal damage to all entities in a 22(+2)M radius around it and putting them into the ‘Dense Peridot Poisoning’ state.
※ Damage: 350-580 (varies based on the proximity factor)
※ Dense Peridot Poisoning: Inflicts 25 (+5) Health reduction per second on poisoned targets for 1 minute (stacks up to 3)
* Description: A ★★-rated peridot poison trap with the keyword elaborate inscribed on it. Due to the dexterous hand of its creator, the venom has been mixed in without much loss. When it explodes, it releases the condensed venom in a single burst of lethal force, poisoning enemies.
[Elaborate Rubigem Venomous Arrow Trap (★★-)]
* Category: Consumable
* Can be positioned on an obstacle, such as the ground or a tree, and is installed 10 seconds after activating the ‘Use’ keyword. At a later time, when the trigger condition is met, an arrow laced with bee venom rains down on the enemy, inflicting the condition ‘Dense Rubigem Poisoning’.
※ Damage Dealt 130 X 10
※ Dense Rubigem Poisoning: For 1 minute, the poisoned target loses 12 (+2) Health per second (stacks up to 5).
* Description: A ★★-grade Rubigem Bee Venom Arrow Trap with the keyword elaborate inscribed on it. Due to the dexterous hand of its creator, the poison has been infused into the trap without much loss. When the trigger condition is met, 10 arrows laced with bee venom are shot at enemies, poisoning them in the specified location.
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‘Hoo?’
Was this because the advantages that the bees enjoyed in the poison zone of the Guardian’s bee venom bombs were gone, and instead they were now associated with Cheonsu, who was a Trapper?
Both types of items have shifted their direction to one that maximizes offense.
Of course, the trade-off is the hassle of setting traps and getting enemies to trigger them, as opposed to just throwing them, but that shouldn’t be an issue.
In any case, thanks to the countless scouting bees spread throughout the forest, the monster invasion routes and even the areas of respawning have been mapped out to some extent.
As long as they can set it up at those spots, any monsters that manage to get close to them without knowledge will receive significant damages.
“What do you think, older brother?”
Cheonsu looked at Sung-hyuk with a shining sparkle in his eyes, as if he was waiting to be praised.
At twenty-two years old, it was creepy that someone two years younger than Sung-hyuk would do something like that, but it was definitely a good result, and thus Sung-hyuk replied without hesitation.
“It’s awesome.”
“Hehe. Thank you. The materials were so good that even keywords that normally wouldn’t be attached easily came out, so I’ve gained a lot of experience as a result.”
“Well, that’s good to hear. I’ll keep supplying you with bee venom, so please keep producing it, and I’ll get some bees to join you so you’ll be able to set traps.”
“I’ll do my best, just leave it to me!”
It’s best to leave the trap setting to him, even if it means utilizing the power of his class specialty, the Bomb Demon.
While the experience gained from killing monsters is a bit regrettable, unless it’s a field boss or elite class, beekeeping is honestly more efficient for gaining experience as Sung-hyuk has reached level 26 by hunting Stingers.
[The Honey Status of the Guardian’s Oversized Gilite Bloodstone Plywood Beehive (★★★-) has reached 84.53%].
[The Honey status of the Guardian’s Oversized Gilite Rurium Plywood Beehive (★★★-) has reached 81%]
[The Honey status of the Guardian’s Oversized Parkison Plywood Beehive (★★★) has reached 86.7%].
…..
[Honey is ready to be harvested!]
“I should begin to work as well, then.”
So, as usual, Sung-hyuk was eager to collect the honey from the bee hives, in spite of the addition of the new members of the farm.
Without hesitation, he rushed to collect honey from the bee farm.
[Conditions for assigning the quest have been met -> Riggle’s whim].
[The event quest, Soldiers VS Civilians, will be granted to all players on the Korean server].
The conditions for the nonsensical event that suddenly came to his head were met and the quest was issued.
“Sung… Sung-hyuk, this!”
“I’m also seeing it.”
What it had to offer was not something to pass up.
* * * *
The 30th day when the chaotic world started.
For other players, it might be just another day in the life, but for some, it’s particularly different.
Especially for the military, who, due to their special situation, have been restricted to a 30-day lockdown.
“I’m finally free!”
“This is my first time out in a while.”
“Whew, I almost died from exhaustion.”
” Hey. What’s a corporal saying about exhaustion? Is it just you?”
[Conditions for lifting of restrictions have been met -> 30 days have elapsed]
[The restrictions on going out due to powerful modern weapons have been released].
The freedom of the soldiers who have been remaining inside the camp, fulfilling the quests assigned to them by their ranks and dealing with the monsters that have been attacking the camp.
Moreover, the soldiers also have access to powerful modern weapons.
With the advent of the disaster in the world, many players have been able to become superhuman by increasing their stats, and while the effectiveness of non-item weapons has been somewhat diminished, they still have the capacity to kill monsters in the nation of South Korea.
With North Korea as an opposing force, the South Korean server’s defense power is quite high for such a small peninsula.
Even if modern weapons are not listed as items, they can still be used against ordinary monsters such as goblins and two-headed dogs.
The average person will have no trouble dealing with these monsters.
“‘Everyone, gear up! We shall go help the family members and citizens who will be waiting for us!”
“Yes! That’s right!”
“Advance with caution! Dispose of the monsters mercilessly and guide the survivors to safety! Our first objective is to join up with the other units in the immediate vicinity.”
“Yes! Roger that!”
Even if most of them were dragged into the conscription system unwillingly, these soldiers were a group of people who wanted to defend their country.
They are fiercely patriotic, and their end goal is to protect their people and rebuild the country.
In order to do so, it would be efficient for them to join up with other nearby military units.
The bitter irony is that the military, armed with powerful modern weapons, is both a force that protects and a force that specializes in destruction.
Obviously, Riggle knows this.
For example, there’s no way the Transcendent’s pet in charge of the Korean server is going to stand idly by and let that happen.
[Conditions for assigning the quest have been met -> Riggle’s whim].
[The event quest, Soldiers vs Civilians, will be granted to all players on the Korean server].
The event quest, Soldiers vs Civilians, was issued with the ridiculous condition of satisfying Riggle’s Whim.
As the players, both military personnel and civilians, on the Korean server checked the contents of the quest, corresponding to its seemingly ominous name, they couldn’t help but feel bewildered.
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[Announcement]
Greetings, players on the Korean server! As many of you may have heard, the military has recently been granted the right to freely engage with the public, and it’s very touching to see how patriotic the majority of them are. But are those feelings real? No, I don’t mean to doubt them. I’m just curious, so I’m going to do a little experiment with you. Of course, this is a spontaneous event quest, so participation is free. However, you will have to bear the consequences of your decisions. Do not forget that~~
[Event Quest: Soldiers VS Civilians]
* Military players will receive triple their loot when hunting civilian players, and will receive a certain amount of points based on their level.
* Civilian players will receive triple their loot when hunting military players, and will receive a certain amount of points depending on their level.
* Duration: 30 Days
※ Enormous rewards will be given to players ranked 1-10 who earn the most points within the time limit.
※ During this period, soldiers and civilians will be hostile to each other and will not be labeled as Evil even if they commit murder.
※ During this period, soldiers and civilians will not be able to recognize each other’s status as Evil player.
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Soldiers and civilians.
A quest that openly encourages fighting between fellow Koreans on the Korean server.
When the military soldiers read it, they forgot to be aware of their surroundings.
“What the hell….”
“What is this, are they telling us to kill civilians?”
Just a moment ago, these soldiers were full of thoughts of saving their families, rebuilding the country, and sweeping away the monsters.
But then, this?
Out of nowhere, an event quest forces them into two factions.
This completely divided the soldiers and civilians into two opposing sides.
“Argh!”
“You think this bullshit is going to work on us!”
“Wake up everyone, we can’t fall for such nefarious intentions!”
As the panicked soldiers faltered, a few NCOs and officers tried to reassure them, but the truth is that they were just as terrified as the people around them.
Consider this scenario.
All those military units and soldiers scattered across the Korean servers.
Would they all be willing to defend the civilians?
What if a single military unit was driven to massacre by the lure of triple rewards?
And there was another variable: what guarantee was there that the civilians wouldn’t kill the soldiers?
This might not have been an issue in the old days.
Now, thanks to the game system, elementary school students and elderly people can gain superhuman strength and overpower young people with their strength, or wear armor with high defense capabilities, as long as their stats are high enough.
(However, You will have to bear the consequences of your decisions. Don’t forget that~)
The last statement given by the one running the game was meant to be a warning.
It was as if the implication was that they would be punished for not doing so, and that they would regret it, and the soldiers, both commissioned and non-commissioned, were deeply affected.
** ** **
TL/N:
1. Bapshim is a Korean word literally meaning ‘rice power’, Koreans use this word often to describe how, for Koreans, it doesn’t feel like they’ve really eaten a meal unless they had some rice. (This is natural for Asian countries since Rice is a staple food.)
2. Chapter 0 – Job Class are based on a person’s lifestyle