A Village Appeared on My Desktop

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Chapter 203 – Rebellion (3)

“Did you take the bait?”

“Took it? No, that’s not taking the bait. They just pulled the hook out and sent it back up with the bait still on it.”

He chuckled at his teammate’s words and shook his head. It had already been several months since he was tasked with monitoring—no, surveilling—Lee So-Yeon.

Now that he had gotten to know her fairly well, he was convinced that she had seen through all their intentions.

Those sitting at the desk might not realize it, but the one truly in the position of power was Lee So-Yeon, not them. The world had changed so much.

Only those who couldn’t adapt were pushing themselves backward, denying it all along the way.

“Then why did you ask for more information?”

“Because we likely wanted the same thing. Thinking about it, is there any reason for us to be at odds? We all want this world to return to the peace it once had. Not a twisted realm full of bizarre monsters.”

He sighed and looked out the window, gazing at the peaceful night view for the time being.

In truth, what Lee So-Yeon wanted and what he wanted were the same: driving away the bugs and reclaiming peace.

Though he was a government official who had to be loyal to the higher-ups under the pretext of serving the state, he was also a citizen with a family on this land.

He naturally despised those who wasted time on futile political squabbles. Even if they were higher-ups giving him orders.

“…How should we report this? Depending on our report, the orders might change.”

“If Lee So-Yeon is taking such a public stance, then using this information is the true mandate. It’s obvious they’ll want to use it, and we can’t just sit back and watch.”

The allies who were somewhat less of a concern, and even the enemies, were all filled with thoughts of accomplishing their political motives by any means.

‘No matter how many people die or get hurt in the process, they’ll disguise it with that disgusting word “sacrifice.”’

Even someone seasoned like him could not condone their actions. The world was in dire need of unity and cooperation, and efforts were needed for that.

– Information has arrived. It’s a bit surprising; they shared it more willingly than I expected. So they really had an ulterior motive. If you act according to your plan, it’s a given that they will move as they think.

In the end, he used that information to inform Lee So-Yeon, and she conveyed it directly to Jun-Young.

– What if it’s a trap? That’s dangerous.

“On the contrary, it’s also an opportunity to verify if that team leader can be trusted or not. I’m not without my doubts, but if this world was filled with nothing but trash, we would have been doomed already.”

Rather, Jun-Young was more positive than Lee So-Yeon.

He thought it didn’t matter since he could verify it himself. This was evidence of his confidence.

“I’ll capture the messenger and confirm directly whether those bugs are actually using parasite bugs for some filthy scheme or not.”

Jun-Young had one goal: to verify whether the bugs were evolving in some new direction.

*

“Kidnapping a researcher for threats is a completely different level of mission.”

Having received more precise data and information from Lee So-Yeon, I took a deep breath.

It was something unthinkable for someone who had only been a rookie until recently. I had to sneak into the heart of an international terrorist organization’s base and take out their leader.

“I need to prepare thoroughly before going.”

Though I had gotten much stronger, I still felt anxious and fearful. I had to fight amidst those who beheaded people alive or perpetrated suicide bombings.

Therefore, just like the residents facing that giant enemy called an empire in the game, I planned to prepare strategies that would exceed my imagination.

“First, equipment.”

I checked my gear. It was all from offerings made within the game world, or items I had obtained. I had a stealth cloak and mask to help me hide, and I made sure to take an armor as well.

[Black Pullover Armor]

This completely black full body armor was offered by the residents in a ceremony held for me.

It was the only set crafted by artisans who used the by-products obtained from the higher-level mutants hunted by hunters who had firmly established themselves in creature hunting.

With special powers, including mana resistance, the defense of this armor was already proven through my own experimentation.

‘Also, potions and magic scrolls for unforeseen circumstances.’

I made sure to have items that could be used in emergencies. The potions commonly used by residents were far more effective than those I could make myself with the harvested herbs; they were goods obtained from Dark Blood.

Plus, I had several magic scrolls acquired from Lee So-Yeon. If I could properly harness the magic along with my abilities, I believed I could even battle an army.

It was about partly replicating the level of power that Riena displayed.

‘Next are traits and programs. Well, I can’t really take a look at those right now.’

Next was an inspection of myself. What I received as a reward for skillfully completing my missions as a user wasn’t limited to just material possessions.

My body, and perhaps even my soul, was clearly connected with the residents in the game.

Their growth was my growth. I had obtained power from the residents, including Riena, and I grew stronger as they grew stronger.

“I can do this.”

In fact, I had been continuously using the screenshot feature to record various scenes. The moments we achieved victory in war and when Riena and the warriors defeated the enemies, and so on.

Whenever I had free time or when there was nothing else to do, I played those scenes back over and over. I just needed to follow the figures I had ingrained in my mind.

I didn’t think it was impossible. I had come this far with them, and that connection still existed.

Furthermore, I was the one who first took down a colony-type bug, and I still had the last one of the final rewards I had yet to use.

There was no need to drag it out any longer. I, too, had a busy schedule, so it was vital to wrap this up as quickly as possible when I found the time.

‘Let’s get started, shall we?’

I operated my phone to open a portal, and as I donned the mask, I hurled myself through to the other side. In that moment, I could distinctly feel the air change.

“This is the place I’ve only seen in the news…”

Upon crossing the portal, I arrived at a desolate ruin. This place, once a village, was marked with clear signs of bombardments and bullet holes.

Korea had already entered the night, but here, the sun still shone brightly.

It was likely due to the local conditions that the air felt much hotter and drier. Thankfully, I was not particularly affected by this temperature, or else I would have surely been cooked alive just with the armor and mask on.

‘You should be thankful to me.’

Suddenly, I felt annoyed at the user who was looking down at Earth. As another user, I had never received such aid even once.

In reality, I was just a local with a pile of variables, but it was my right to grumble internally.

[Wide Area Detection]

And just as I was grumbling, I activated a magic scroll I pulled from my pocket.

Though I had infiltrated their base in an instant, I still needed to find where the target was hiding using this.

The mana waves spread out like radar, and simultaneously, signals detected on the scroll began appearing rapidly.

‘If it’s easier than I thought, then it can serve as evidence that there’s no connection with the bugs.’

If they were truly being controlled by the bugs, I would undoubtedly face obstructions.

However, if there was no connection, they might not notice my infiltration and could fall victim instead.

From the user’s perspective, seeing who the enemies and allies were would be apparent, so there was no way they would have locals who could see through my sneaking around next to their enemies.

Maintaining that tension, I moved slowly.

Although I wanted to hurry, I realized it would be impossible to move quickly in a state where I didn’t know what might fly at me from where.

“…”

“—?”

“–, —.”

As I walked, I spotted two armed individuals ahead holding rifles. I gradually became more confident when I saw they didn’t recognize me and continued chatting amongst themselves.

‘I’m not here to play hero. I just want to accomplish what I need and go home.’

I steeled myself as I passed the sentries. These were members of an internationally known radical terrorist organization whose names I was familiar with. I also knew the deeds they had committed.

According to Lee So-Yeon, the National Intelligence Service, which exchanged information with foreign intelligence agencies, had explained that their actions were cunningly designed to stir conflict in the world and only benefited the bugs.

– Given their previous activities, it can be accepted that they were actively engaged in fomenting unrest even now, in a world overrun by bugs. The most suspicious part is that those who once extolled the guardians who appeared on Earth as warriors sent by the gods are now denouncing them as demonic minions while instigating unrest.

“If they are indeed under the bugs’ control, they certainly wouldn’t dare keep the guardians near them. We don’t yet know if there’s involvement from the bugs, but for now, users can definitely distinguish between enemy and ally.”

The suspicions I had seemed fairly solid upon reflection. So now, all that remained was to verify it.

I passed by the armed members who still hadn’t recognized me and headed deeper into their base. On the surface, it appeared to be an ordinary local city, but they occupied this place and ruled over it like royalty.

‘If it’s true, then I need to be cautious too, don’t I?’

In that process, I started to sweat.

If the parasite bugs had evolved and were subtly manipulating the local powers, the repercussions would surely exceed those of the colony bugs.

The issue was that this wasn’t just a problem on Earth; it could also occur in the place where my residents lived. Coincidentally, my residents were entangled in disputes with the local powers and were already at war.

Though I had thoroughly destroyed the colonies here, given their tenacious vitality, it was impossible to exclude that possibility.

“I’m getting closer.”

Among the many people who couldn’t sense my presence, I distinctly detected an enemy nearby and moved towards it.

Somewhere beneath this city, a secret bunker was hidden—one that even those with the best intelligence had not been able to discover.

“—! —!!!”

“Huh?”

In the process, things spiraled out of control. Someone noticed me, who had remained undetected, and shouted in haste, pointing a finger.

‘The divine is reacting.’

But the surprise didn’t come from being discovered. It came from the reaction of Riena’s power, the divine I possessed.

Riena’s divine only reacted to bugs, whom she believed to be absolute evil.

My desktop screen has given birth to a village.

Chapter 204