A Village Appeared on My Desktop

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Chapter 167 – System (7)

[Lee Riena’s Dilemma]

“… Really, it’s a difficult problem for me.”

The genuine turmoil that Riena was grappling with might not be something she fully understood, but in fact, he could read it too. Having caught a glimpse of that, he let out a hollow laugh.

Some people certainly enjoy being depended upon and praised, using it as a chance or energy for themselves, but on the flip side, there are also those who feel burdened by it.

He was the latter by nature. While he rejoiced in the fact that the residents trusted and followed him, he trembled with anxiety at the possibility of them getting hurt or even dying because of him.

Even until now, keeping his identity hidden and only interacting with the world through Lee So-Yeon was all due to that tendency.

[Mikhail Roman, Commander of the Baruk Kingdom’s Artillery Brigade]

[Trait: Leadership]

Having experienced the horrors of the battlefield, the commander of the artillery brigade, who genuinely wished for a blessing, and his subordinates had ample qualifications.

Through several battles, they had forged a strong camaraderie with the Arin Tribe, and the Master Program had already judged them to be complete allies with green borders.

He had no intention of coldly dismissing such individuals. The goal was never to engage in a religious play. When fighting alongside enemies, everyone becomes a comrade.

‘If cases like this continue to increase…’

What he was worried about wasn’t about not being able to help them. It was about being wary of his growing influence.

Knowing full well that, contrary to the residents’ perception, he was merely a single human being, it was a possible thought. He was concerned that if he later failed to meet their expectations, it might place a crack in their relationship.

‘Right, this isn’t a problem to worry about now. It’s rather a happy dilemma, thinking about how many will or won’t die.’

After pondering for a moment, he shook his head to rid himself of the distracting thoughts and took hold of the mouse again.

Before him, the enemies that had yet to crumble were still intact. Unless he defeated them all, he had no energy for other worries. He moved the mouse and lightly touched Riena.

“Are you okay?”

“I was just a bit surprised. It seems that person has been watching this scene and has provided an answer.”

Riena, who had been talking with Rihar, squinted at the touch she felt on her head from the mouse before her eyes widened.

The flustered Rihar asked what was wrong, but once she realized the intent of the touch, she rubbed her tiara-clad head and faintly smiled.

“Please go tell the commander that I’ve given him a definite answer. The artillery brigade is already our ally, and that person will take care of them as well.”

“Oh…!”

Rihar nodded at her confident assurance. In a land where transcendent beings known as guardian deities actually exist, if she, regarded as the Saintess closest to the gods, guarantees it, it certainly cannot be false.

“If the issue has been resolved, let’s think about fighting now.”

She turned her gaze. The vast land stretching outside the fortress. Once the domain of the dwarves, it had now become a den of enemies.

Having fully prepared, they began to exit the fortress steadily according to their plan and initiated an offensive.

“We need many things compared to those monsters. Supply lines, resting points, places to store materials, and so on. Therefore, we won’t directly attack their center but will slowly conquer the outskirts first.”

The counterattack had finally begun. With the thought that losing even once would mean the end, Chieftain Balun mobilized every capability of this special newborn kingdom thoroughly and cautiously.

Of course, all these capabilities were something an ordinary kingdom could never have accumulated in such a short time.

“It’s impossible to attack all their nests. However, we’ll select the most efficient areas and isolate two or three nests with one focused attack.”

“Dividing our forces inevitably risks being picked off one by one.”

“There’s no choice. In this world, you can’t gain anything without taking risks.”

Balun executed the plan with a stern face. The fact that it was a gamble that had to be made was unchanged.

“The enemy’s reaction?”

“They haven’t reacted properly yet. Could it be that they are truly lacking in response forces?”

The reconnaissance unit that had crossed the river in advance reported back that the bugs that had been repulsed showed no noteworthy response.

Hearing this, Balun judged the chances of it being a trap to be low.

“Push forward as planned.”

So they decided without hesitation to cross the river right away. Although they had begun to move, the sky remained silent, which only further solidified their confidence in their choice.

If there were any issues, surely the being watching this scene would give a warning.

“The safety of the front has been secured. Quickly set up the bridge!”

“Those who stacked four blocks need to retreat immediately!”

What they first attempted was the “construction” of multiple bridges to cross the river.

As a small force confirmed the safety on the other side, the transporters used the blocks they had brought in to quickly build a bridge over the river, an act that was, quite frankly, impossible both logically and physically.

However, they leveraged the abilities they had brought from the game to twist reality like they had done successfully until now.

The artillerymen, unfamiliar with this approach, gaped in astonishment. With this, they could completely change the framework of warfare that had existed up until now.

“Cross the river. Move calmly and safely!”

The transporters swiftly exhausted their stamina and withdrew immediately, alternating with others to make the bridge in no time. The numerous soldiers then crossed in unison, reaching the opposite bank.

‘It has begun.’

The one observing them from the screen felt the tension rise as well. Although there were no visible enemies on the screen yet, there were still defenses within the nests, so combat was inevitable.

‘Conserve ammo.’

Even as the residents who began their assault entered combat, he held back without making any particular movements, saving his strength. He had engaged in many battles in this manner before.

For a user, it was an absolute virtue to use one’s strength appropriately when truly necessary.

“The enemy is responding. Begin firing!”

In order to secure the territory and surrounding area, Balun, leading the central army, planned to reclaim one of the old dwarf cities controlled by the bugs and use it as a base.

It was a completely different tactic from the charge attempted by the bugs.

Trusting in ranged fire, they approached slowly to create havoc with magic and cannons within the nest before advancing for a close assault.

“Of course, we can’t be at ease since we don’t know what tricks they may have up their sleeve, but there’s no need to be overly afraid. Look at how they’re falling to what we’ve built up.”

The bugs had no means of countering ranged attacks unless they charged. Although there were special variants capable of setting up defense barriers, they were few compared to the masses.

Watching their artillery inflict heavy damage on the enemies, Balun gradually raised the predicted chance of victory.

“Charge! Let’s take their nest!”

Judging that they had sufficiently incapacitated the enemy, they simultaneously began to charge forward. Once again, Riena took the lead.

“What are you afraid of? Are we to fight alone.”

Grinding her teeth, she raised her weapon high, and the light wrapping around it became a beacon, dispelling everyone’s fear and leading them into battle.

“That light is…”

“Look. As long as that shines before us, we have no need to be afraid.”

The commander of the artillery brigade, who was urging his subordinates to fire the cannons, along with Rihar, witnessed the light.

“Rasen, stick close and support with magic only when needed.”

Rakur, commanding his troops, calmly advanced together with his younger brother Rasen. Everyone surrounding them shared the same sentiment.

“Let’s go, reclaim our hometown!”

The dwarves burned with more eagerness than anyone else. They were united solely by the desire to reclaim their lost hometown, which they could not face, and to avenge their fallen kin, charging forward without hesitation.

Meanwhile, the bugs, who had focused solely on producing troops for the offensive without building anything like castle walls, were about to be swept away if they couldn’t stop this charge filled with fury and resolution.

*

“Your expression is dark. Is something wrong? Have you encountered any issues with your work?”

“There’s no problem per se. It’s just that somewhere, a war is happening that holds the fate of several worlds, and I can’t help but be concerned about it. But more importantly, why have you come all the way to my office?”

In the calm late afternoon, where one might seem completely uninformed about what was happening in any world, Lee So-Yeon replied half-heartedly to her guest’s words while sitting in her office.

She didn’t particularly want to be involved with someone unless they sought her out first.

“Officially, there will be a summons, but I came to inform you beforehand.”

“Is it directly from the team leader?”

At her words, the national intelligence agent smiled dryly and mentioned new information. Upon hearing this, she straightened up. If they had come all the way to inform her, it absolutely wasn’t a trivial matter.

“It’s not confirmed information, but since I got hold of it, I’ll let you know. It seems that colony-type bugs have begun to appear on this planet.”

“…!”

Indeed, his words were significant enough to make Lee So-Yeon’s eyes widen.

It was evidence that the bugs had begun to grow steadily, just like they did in the users’ screens.

“You clearly said that the bugs grow larger and more numerous as they evolve. Regrettably, it seems the bugs on Earth have successfully evolved from small groups into colony-type ones.”

“Y-You’re saying it’s too fast. It shouldn’t be possible this quickly.”

“From what I’ve heard, it’s speculated that some bugs that have escaped from the users have come into contact with the bugs on Earth, accelerating their developmental cycle.”

“Oh, so that’s how it is.”

She jolted up but then sank back into her chair with a sigh. It wasn’t an incorrect statement. Considering the observed behaviors and characteristics of the bugs up until now, their growth rate was beyond imagination.

‘This may not be the end…’

She sighed as she recalled 준영 and the residents under him, who were engaged in battle.

Even if they achieve victory in the battle and liberate that world, his fight wouldn’t be over. The world she lived in was still under endless threat.

He was making his best efforts in his mission, but harshly, there were still many challenges he had to overcome for true peace.

“Prepare yourself mentally. I don’t know what kind of discussions will arise in the meeting.”

“Don’t worry too much. The areas suspected of the colony-type bugs appearing are in Africa, which hasn’t found stability due to the civil war between the rebels and government forces. It’s far from here, so for now… isn’t it alright?”

“Who knows? Colony-type evolved bugs are dangerous and terrifying beings. They are connected as one, moving strategically and cooperating. It’s incomparable to the previous, beast-like stages.”

With a sigh, she expressed her gratitude for the information and prepared her mind.

She already knew full well how infuriating those bugs could be.