NOVEL NEXT Chapter 197
Chapter 197 – Internal Enemy (7)
“Your Majesty, is there any change in the plan…?”
“No, there is no change. We will proceed as planned.”
It was an ordinary morning like any other. The officials cautiously observed the Emperor’s usual expression. The reports were expected to come in from all directions soon.
As expected by others, Rihar commanded the war to continue without a moment’s hesitation.
‘This is a war with little justification or benefit. We need to end this as quickly as possible.’
‘Damn it, when will we regain peace? I’m already stressed out wondering when a bolt from the blue will come down.’
Many held dissatisfaction during the ongoing conquest wars. Yet they all vented their frustrations silently.
While the thunder from the sky was an uncertain judgment, the Emperor’s merciless purges were a definite calamity.
Those who knew how the dissenters were wiped out during Rihar’s rise to power had no choice but to keep quiet.
“…”
Throughout this process, no one dared to look the Emperor directly in the eye; thus, no one noticed the unsettling dark aura swirling within the seemingly normal gaze of the Emperor.
It was only natural. The parasite embedded in Rihar’s body last night was a being of an entirely different caliber compared to the previous parasite bugs.
With the memories of last night completely vanished, Rihar didn’t even know what he was infected with. He didn’t realize how it was slowly changing him.
Moreover, the goals Rihar usually pursued perfectly aligned with what the current bugs desired, aiding in hiding the parasitic nature.
Thanks to this, even those who knew Rihar well had their suspicions lessened.
“Due to the fierce resistance from the elves using mysterious magic, we weren’t able to scout as expected, but it seems Commander Royce’s main force has already reached near the border.”
“Continue as planned. Deploy the first unit to crush the resistance and push through.”
Meanwhile, the first unit they summoned had reached the territory of the Elves. Upon hearing that report, Rihar smiled faintly and ordered them to charge in.
Naturally, this news was also transmitted to the soldiers on the battlefield.
“Everyone, get ready! We’re entering the forest! This is the Emperor’s command!”
The commander could not refuse the Emperor’s order.
The soldiers, unsettled by the vicious rumors spread by the Baron’s soldiers who were brutally attacked by the elves’ guerrillas while entering the forest as a reconnaissance unit, were being urged on by Commander Royce.
Unaware of whom they were truly fighting for, they formed a massive group to cross the border and kill the elves to claim their land.
“Th-there are too many! We won’t stand a chance alone!”
“Were you not aware? We just need to buy time as long as possible.”
Seeing this, the elf guerrillas had no choice but to fall back. No matter how hard they tried to snipe, they couldn’t withstand the overwhelming numbers.
But this outcome was somewhat anticipated. The guerrilla leader, Vala, made the enemies waste their energy by forcing them to build defenses and began to retreat slowly, satisfied with merely stalling.
‘Is this really going to be enough?’
While hurriedly moving with her comrades, she looked up at the sky.
Under the same sky, their hope was already stirring elsewhere.
“The enemy’s main force is gathering in the west. The defenders in the east are the same, but in case of emergency, support will inevitably be delayed.”
“I believe the time has come. Look, the dimensional gate is opening.”
On the vast plains where most of the troops had gathered, Balun pointed with his finger towards the distant horizon.
Then, something shimmering appeared there. It was one of the miracles they were already familiar with—the portal. Once they crossed it, they could quickly leap through space and arrive at new lands.
Someone beyond the screen was observing their actions closely and knew exactly what they wanted.
“Confirmation shows it connects to the western grassland. A half day’s run will bring us directly to the Empire’s gates.”
“Surely, he knows what we’re thinking. Once we cross there, there will be no more time to waste. We’ll charge swiftly and breach their walls.”
Balun nodded at the report from the reconnaissance team that had checked where the portal led to beyond the dimensional gate.
Even though Junyoung could open a portal right in the middle of the capital city known from the elves, he chose not to do so in order to prepare for any unforeseen circumstances.
While it allowed for a large-scale landing right in the enemy’s midst, it also meant being surrounded from all sides.
Balun did not desire that either, and he accurately read that sentiment, connecting the portal right near the border.
“Everyone better stay sharp. The enemies we are about to face are not the black monsters.”
Additionally, Balun emphasized to the commanders that they were fighting against humans, not bugs.
Fighting against humans and bugs requires fundamentally different tactics. Treating bugs like humans or vice versa would surely lead to failure or massive losses.
“Your divine power won’t have any advantage against humans, which is a bit unfortunate.”
“It’s all right. My healing abilities for allies remain intact.”
Turning to Riena, Balun smiled faintly, as if expressing regret. Her awakened divine attribute was uniquely maximized to combat bugs.
Thus, when facing bugs, she wielded greater power and achieved miraculous feats, but unfortunately, that power didn’t grant any significant advantage over a different kind of enemy.
Even Riena, who reigned as the Angel of Judgment against bugs, returned to being just one of many strong warriors when faced with other humans.
“And there are other warriors besides me. We might have struggled against the rapidly strengthening black monsters mimicking us, but we certainly won’t lose to knights from other countries who are still at the level of frogs in a well.”
However, Riena did not concern herself with that. After all, her belief that her sword was the strongest remained unshaken, especially since she had faith in her comrades who had gained experience through numerous battles.
That belief wasn’t unfounded.
Through the various games he provided, with skills acquired and training undergone, the level of the Arin warriors accrued sufficient practical experience from the war against the bugs—far surpassing the early days of being nomads on the grasslands.
Riena firmly believed that her comrades, who had overcome adversity alongside her, would overwhelm the enemies.
*
“The number of warriors is reaching thousands… At this rate, managing each one individually is becoming impossible.”
Shortly after the battle against the bug swarm, he let out a sigh as a massive table filled the screen.
The document program linked to the Master Program displayed the Arin tribe, meaning all the residents who had truly pledged their loyalty to him.
Humans, dwarves, elves, regardless of whether they were from the grassland tribes or other kingdoms, the population exceeded a hundred thousand long ago.
One of his roles was to check their talents and assign them to suitable games or graduate them, but as the size of the faction grew and the population swelled dramatically, it had become a burdensome task.
Comparing the people on the screen with the documents, he felt like he might need to buy artificial tears for his tired eyes.
“The Essence of Mana must never be carelessly touched and must be preserved. The Lord will personally select candidates and grant blessings. Move quickly!”
“Oooh…”
At least the system was still functioning somewhat smoothly, thanks to the residents who had established themselves, teaching and guiding newcomers on their own.
The hunters, farming the Essence of the Monsters that could awaken taste-sensitive individuals, formed parties on their own to hunt mutated creatures in order to acquire higher-grade materials.
Thanks to the system he had built early on, supplies continued to stack up and were further developing.
‘Isn’t this too much? No, more is better. It’s not like it’s all finished yet.’
However, that didn’t mean his role had diminished.
Selecting those with talent to bestow the Essence of Mana upon and periodically swapping those assigned to games was still all part of his duties.
And all these tasks were like daily quests that needed to be completed, regardless of whether it was during war or peace.
“Form your squads and get in position! A wave is coming!”
Thanks to those efforts, the multitude of warriors produced faced the various and powerful monsters pouring in from the hunting grounds created by Riena, accumulating experience and gradually enhancing their senses through battles in games like Creature Hunting or against bugs.
Considering how many were puzzled over how to train knights or mages, this presented an enormous advantage in mass-producing skilled veterans.
“You’ve come again.”
“The King thought it would be convenient for someone familiar to make the visits.”
There was no need to even engage in wars with other factions as evidence of that situation.
When Leo, one of the commanders of the Baruk Kingdom’s knight order, visited, he conveyed a request to Rihar.
“Although we’ve remained vigilant in case the black monsters could appear in our lands, I’m left unsure whether the level of our knights is sufficient to confront those monsters. The veteran knights are capable, but the new knights even less so. So, I ask you, Rihar. Let’s have a match.”
Leo made his request now that the important war had settled. It was a proposal for a training bout between him and the knights he had brought from the kingdom and the Arin warriors.
“Given the unstable relations with the Empire, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to check our readiness.”
Rihar accepted Leo’s proposal upon hearing that news.
At this point, the war with the Empire had not yet been confirmed, but it was a precaution for emergencies.
“They say the knights of the Baruk Kingdom have been heavily influenced by the Empire. Therefore, analyzing them will also reveal information about the Imperial army. We can supplement any deficiencies and exploit any strengths.”
“Then I will prepare immediately.”
With both sides agreeing, the preparations moved swiftly. Although it was mainly for a purpose of friendly relations, the involved parties found a peculiar competitive spirit igniting.
‘This is fun. There’s no need to stop this.’
Naturally, Junyoung watched all of this unfold. After all, the achievements of the Arin warriors were also a result of what he had set in motion, making him inherently interested in the outcomes.