A Village Appeared on My Desktop

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Chapter 195 – Internal Enemy (5)

“I can’t understand your hesitation. Do you have something more important than people’s lives?”

“Shut up with that nonsense! How can I trust you? Seriously!”

He flinched, but then caught his breath and redirected the topic, claiming he couldn’t trust me.

Seeing that, my heart sank. Even if I proved everything to him here and now, would he actually believe me? No, if he just insists it’s not enough and drags it out, it would be meaningless.

Therefore, to me, his words only sounded like an attempt to obscure the main point.

“Everything happening in the world is evidence. Monsters are appearing, growing endlessly, and people are dying. They’re beginning to develop means to withstand the army’s firepower. Do we need more proof that we need to fight?”

“How old are you, anyway? You talk about war so easily. Do you think the world rolls as smoothly as a game?”

“…Don’t you think that just thinking of this as a war is already wrong?”

“Hiiiek!?”

I drew my sword and pointed it at him. There didn’t seem to be any value in continuing this conversation. Neither of us were about to bend.

When two stubbornnesses clash, it’s only natural that one side breaks, and that side would be him, with his ample belly.

“Even an ordinary office worker willingly took on the fight. If you’re someone the people elected, then fulfill that duty with honor.”

“I-I can’t believe you’re saying this…”

“I know who you are, where you live, and who your family is. I even know what they do and where. Even if you hide in some underground bunker after today, I’d have the confidence to find you. You seem to have a great belief inside you, but prove that belief is more important than your life.”

I threatened him. It wasn’t too hard, possibly because I had done this once before. It was a warning that if he acted recklessly, I would truly kill him.

And that was sincere. For not just myself but for everything I wanted to protect, I was ready to commit murder.

“I look forward to the press conference tomorrow.”

I opened a portal and exited the room. The expression on Congressman Lee Yong-Gu’s face when I last saw him was one of sheer shock, as if he’d seen a ghost.

-Will he actually bend? It seems more likely he’ll feel threatened for his life and go into a panic.

“If he tries to do something like that, I’m already prepared. His death will serve as a warning to other politicians.”

I informed Lee So-Yeon about what happened today. As she grew into the representative and expanded the company, whenever she talked about her experiences with government officials, she would be horrified. She expressed her concerns, but I firmly told her not to worry.

If I hadn’t already resolved to make this move, I wouldn’t have acted this way.

“Such things are happening over there as well. In fact, they’re already in a position where they’ve clearly wiped out the enemy colony and just need to finish things, but they ended up fighting again without reaching an agreement. Still, I support that fight because leaving things alone will only lead to tragedy.”

I had already learned from witnessing what was actually happening in another world that I had to do anything to avoid the worst.

Since the moment I decided to take action, perhaps it was a predetermined fate.

“In any case, I apologize. This will lead to people suspecting Lee So-Yeon…”

-As I said, I was prepared for this. As you said, this is for all of us.

She accepted my apology as if it were no big deal. Regardless, the material evidence would leave no trace, so she wouldn’t be targeted beyond being suspected.

‘I’ve had enough sleep.’

After ending the communication, I lowered the window and stared blankly at the desktop. Even at this late hour, seeing the residents moving about with their lights on made me feel a bit more at ease.

*

“The moment the Empire sends troops to the elves, we will strike their Eastern Wall.”

“But then the distance… Shouldn’t we send soldiers first?”

“That’s right. But as you know, they also have eyes planted in this grassland. If we move a large army at once, they will definitely be suspicious.”

Late at night, in the castle turned into Glowing Castle using lightstones obtained from the game, Balun spoke of the plan with Riena.

He had already discussed and concluded with other advisors, but since Riena had to be the key to the operation and was his daughter, Balun informed her of everything.

“There are still merchants from the Empire actively trading in the western grasslands. It wouldn’t be unusual to drive them all out. Therefore, we must move the army of over 100,000 there without drawing their attention.”

“I think there’s only one way I know of to do that.”

The eyes of the father and daughter sparkled simultaneously. They had already experienced a similar situation before.

“That person will open a portal for us. We’ll wait and attack their land through it.”

Balun hinted that when that person drew a picture for him to illustrate the situation, he would be the one to open the portal.

The technology that joins spaces was a miraculous skill that could hardly be explained even with magic, comparable to the Bugs’ Gates.

“Our target is to capture the Emperor. So the battle must be quick and decisive.”

Their goal was clear. Balun hadn’t set some delusional objective of occupying the Empire.

Their true aim was to establish a system to keep the Bugs, who could appear anytime and anywhere, in check, and that system necessarily required the Empire’s cooperation.

If they could ‘force’ that cooperation, that would be enough. Balun planned to use whatever means necessary to achieve that.

If it comes to it, he was certainly ready to replace the Emperor.

“Go prepare as well. It won’t take long.”

Balun smiled bitterly at Riena.

As a father, it was only natural not to be able to shake off his worries, knowing the kind of person she had shown herself to be until now.

“We received word from the elves. The Imperial army seems to be moving!”

And the next day, news arrived from the elves, who were focusing on the border, that a large number of enemies were moving.

“A massive army is gathering from all directions at one location. This clearly indicates an intention to invade.”

“Then, as planned, we must hold out as much as possible.”

After the druid returned from scouting, he transformed back into a human to deliver the scouting results. Elder Seria sighed and hurriedly informed the elves nearby through the spirit.

“We have no choice. Evil humans, hmm. They will ravage our land, but we must hold on as best we can. For true revenge.”

After a moment of being taken aback by the sight of the Arin Tribe warriors, Seria changed her tone and laid out the plan. The Arin Tribe would prepare for war, and when the situation arose, the elves’ mission would be to hold out as long as possible.

The dense forest they had come to cherish would assist in their fierce guerrilla warfare. If the Imperial army is bogged down by that guerrilla, they would waste time and fail in their goal of occupying the elves’ land.

Of course, it was somewhat expected that land and forest would be scarred and set ablaze during this process.

However, the elves, including Seria, were resolved to bear that. The humiliation and suffering endured would soon be repaid in kind.

“Let’s move. We need to set traps in the paths they might come from and prepare to create a disruption.”

Eve, who had become a new member of the Royal Guard from an ordinary warrior, commanded her companions to prepare for war.

Their preparation for war was literally thorough attrition warfare. The Imperial army must break through the numerous traps and ambushes they prepared to reach their desired location.

Even if this war was deemed dishonorable and received scorn, no one could care about that anymore.

Having fought against the Bugs and nearly faced extinction, they had thoroughly learned that nothing was more important than survival.

“I hear they have a military power with numerous knights and mages…”

“That seems likely. But no knight or mage can attack from that far.”

Eve showed her worried companion a large sniper rifle and chuckled.

Now familiar with using firearms in combat, Eve and the few elves were ready to use the rifle’s power generously in this guerrilla operation.

Even the Bugs couldn’t easily withstand that firepower.

Unless one possessed the courage to approach as their companion’s head exploded and their body was torn apart, each bullet from Eve’s rifle would likely become a terrible disaster for the Imperial army entering the forest.

“I believe they’re the scout soldiers.”

And the opportunity to actually test that would soon come. The baron’s army, which had begun to mobilize upon the Emperor’s order, started approaching the border.

The baron had mostly met the elves’ demands during negotiations, but ultimately he was just a baron governing the border. When the Emperor directly commands, there’s no other choice but to comply.

“Send the army into the unknown land beyond the border and complete the reconnaissance before our main force arrives.”

The Emperor’s instructions to the baron were to gather information about the nearby terrain and geography in advance.

Hearing that, the baron cursed under his breath but still had no choice but to comply. If he were to rebel, he would end up being torn apart by the Emperor’s directly subordinate army, not the elves.

“Shall we respond immediately?”

“First report back. But we must strike back decisively.”

Since the fight against the Bugs ended, Balra, who had been guarding a base around the border with a small number of personnel, opened her shop window and took out a firearm. This was her first time aiming a gun at a human, not a Bug or drone, but she had no doubt about its power or efficiency.

‘I see them.’

Concealed, Balra’s eye caught sight of enemy soldiers through the scope at the end of her silenced rifle.

The enemies seemed completely absorbed in their reconnaissance mission, looking around as if they had no intention of doing anything else.

Regardless, Balra pulled the trigger.

“W-what’s that!”

“What’s happening!?”

Thus began the gunfire that would later announce the start of the infamous guerrilla, called the Demon of the Forest, among the Imperial army.

The soldier who had taken a bullet to the head fell over, and the startled soldiers looked around, but Balra, perfectly hidden up in trees, remained unnoticed as she fired.

A village appeared on my desktop. Chapter 196