A Village Appeared on My Desktop

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Chapter 208 – Rebellion (8)

‘Are they no longer even trying to hide it?’

He sighed as he watched the enemies that had attacked the elves. It was just like the armed group that had taken off their masks and started rampaging with the power of bugs when cornered.

There was no need to capture the Emperor to check for parasite infection; it was clear evidence that the Empire was already completely dominated by the bugs.

“Let’s retreat for now.”

“B-but, Commander! If we retreat now, we won’t be able to stop them.”

“It’s just a bit ahead of the expected timeline. And I’m sure that person has seen this and will find a way.”

Eve clicked her tongue as she observed the approaching imperial main force while dealing with these unidentified infectious entities. Although other comrades expressed concern over the retreat order, she had already made her decision.

‘It’s not over yet.’

She bit her lip as she hurried her comrades to evacuate.

The elves, who hadn’t mobilized their full strength due to still being in the aftermath of the war, had long expected to be overwhelmed by the Empire’s serious offensive. Therefore, the elves’ mission wasn’t to hold out but to stall for as long as possible.

They had performed this task extraordinarily well beyond their target, so even if the guerrillas were dismantled, plenty of coins were still left to expend.

‘At least now we know about those guys.’

Moreover, the elves had not merely played the role of buying time. To break through the elves, Lihir had ultimately resorted to a last-ditch measure, which worked excellently but exposed their existence to the world.

If Gra could learn this information, he would surely provide suitable assistance.

“I am confident. Although they may seem to be thriving at the moment, having allied with wicked fiends, many will become victims, and those who remain will be exploited like slaves. Some of them will rebel.”

“However, the humans uphold the Emperor. Those who resist will be branded as traitors and executed, making it hard for anyone to step forward.”

“That’s only true when there’s at least a minimal order in place. Didn’t we also experience something similar? Of course, our king was just a bit rigid and not evil… Anyway, once that order collapses, they will surely rise up and attempt to drive out the Black Monsters.”

Eve believed in the enemies even in such circumstances.

It was natural to question whether, once the reality that this war was not merely a human’s desire and arrogance but a survival struggle against the monsters that aimed to bring ruin to the world was known in the Empire, they would still follow the Emperor as they do now.

Her perspective as an elf completely excluded from the order created by the Empire was surprisingly objective and accurate.

Of course, all these speculations and thoughts only held meaning if they could repel the enemies and launch a counterattack.

“Urgent news from the elves!”

Soon, the news Eve sent was conveyed through the elf cities and holy sites to Chieftain Balun who was on the battlefield.

“I can’t be sure without seeing it with my own eyes, but if it wasn’t true, that person wouldn’t have sent their intentions. So, it would be wise to believe what the elves have conveyed for now. At the very least, the upper echelons of the Empire must have already been compromised by the monsters or are in collusion.”

Through various means such as wind spirits, communication magic, portals, and druid messengers—methods unimaginable to others—the news relayed by the elves reached even far-off Balun in an instant.

Listening to Eve’s report about the variants modified by the bugs based on humans, Balun was certain: their true enemy was indeed those guys.

“The elves will persist stubbornly. The issue lies with us. What if those guys also appear where we face them?”

“From what I hear, they don’t seem particularly strong, and even if they were, it wouldn’t change anything. We’ll continue to charge forth and capture the Emperor to root out those wicked monster schemes.”

Balun helped steady the restless spirits of his comrades. As he said, the task ahead was unchanging.

“Bring them here.”

Before moving the troops again, Balun ordered for several individuals to be brought forth. They were none other than those who had been rulers of the occupied territories.

The lords who had lands, officials under the Emperor’s order, and those who had surrendered or been captured while resisting now knelt before Balun under the watchful gaze of the Arin warriors.

“Look at what’s happened. There hasn’t been any chaos anywhere. Rather, our soldiers have been protecting the anxious citizens of the Empire and providing them with reassurance. Do you still think we’ve come to plunder or occupy?”

“Th-that’s…”

They stammered at Balun’s words, unable to respond. In reality, the Arin had never committed atrocities in the lands they occupied.

The perfectly controlled Arin troops never touched ordinary citizens, and there were naturally no acts of plundering, kidnapping, or rape to be expected during the war.

‘So what exactly do you want?’

At this point, it seemed rather frightening. The captured individuals felt thankful to the Arin for not harming them, yet they felt an unsettling difference in the Arin’s restraint.

“The Emperor of the Empire is in league with the monsters. The citizens are all being exploited. Until now, it was merely a suspicion, but I have just secured physical evidence.”

“!”

In the midst of this, Balun made a shocking statement. It was something that would make any sworn loyalists to the royal family foam at the mouth.

‘Whether they believe it or not, the outcome will come. So I need to plant as many seeds as possible.’

Balun smiled faintly at their stunned faces.

He never expected them to take him at his word. It was merely a task of planting seeds.

If the bugs secretly took control of the powerful and used the wealth and resources built up by the Empire to suppress their long-standing enemies, Balun couldn’t afford to be caught off guard.

He intended to thwart their attempt to consolidate power and ruin the bugs’ intentions. Once conclusive evidence comes out, there’s no way even the citizens of the Empire would continue to support a tyrannical Emperor intent on harming them, brainwashed by monstrous fiends.

This was one of the natural measures being attempted in Earth as well, now that the parasite bugs had been discovered.

“If they can’t implant parasites in everyone, doesn’t that mean there are too many loopholes?”

Meanwhile, looking at this through the screen, Joon-young snickered.

If the bugs’ schemes were simply this, it didn’t seem impossible to counter them.

“What was the prisoners’ reaction?”

“They didn’t dare to oppose us strongly in front of us and showed a hesitant response, but they still seem to distrust us. They view it as a wicked plot to undermine the Emperor’s authority.”

“Well, we can’t say much as they are more confused. Anyway, the truth will soon be revealed.”

That night, Balun laughed heartily as he listened to Rihir’s report. He hadn’t thought about being full after just one cup.

Even if they didn’t believe, Balun still gained something.

‘As long as I trust my soldiers, it doesn’t matter now.’

Balun focused more on his allies. After several battles, they were completely mentally fortified and no longer cared about the Emperor’s current condition, only feeling greater rage and hatred towards the bugs.

Thanks to that, they could become more tightly united, so Balun actively encouraged that atmosphere.

“The enemies are gathering their forces to block ours in the plains a bit away from here. It seems large-scale battles will be hard to avoid there.”

“I’m looking forward to seeing if they will appear again.”

Given their unstoppable advance, the next battle was already at hand. Balun anticipated whether the bugs would reveal themselves there.

Whatever actions the bugs might take, their ultimate goal of obliterating all life in the world remained unchanged, so the mask they wore would undoubtedly be removed someday.

‘That person is already aware of it. Then there’s nothing to worry about.’

Stepping outside for a moment, Balun faintly smiled at the defense towers gradually arising in the occupied city. Thanks to those, they could dash forward, leaving everything else behind.

The defense towers left at the rear would block enemy access and secure their retreat.

Thus, they were able to intervene directly in the scene they had occupied.

The citizens of the occupied Empire had to yield their land to an unidentifiable existence, and the territory under their influence continued to expand.

*

“Those conniving bastards.”

Letting out a sigh, I took a break. The bugs had only one goal, and for that singular aim, they wouldn’t spare any means or methods.

Fairness and common sense did not apply. It was all about survival—that was all.

And that was the same for the bugs appearing on Earth and the ones showing up on my screen.

“Did you see the news? The parasite story. Ugh.”

“Yeah, I saw. They’re scary and crazy.”

As I stepped out of the room, my little brother grimaced while pointing at the TV. On the screen, they were explaining the intensely shifting international situation.

‘The growth of the colony has already begun to reach its limits. Before it’s too late, we must concentrate the world’s capabilities to finish this.’

‘Parasite bugs, which manipulate actions and thoughts without awareness, are spreading. Those opposing the extermination of the bugs should examine themselves for parasite infection.’

The repercussions brought on by my actions were shaking the world.

The existence of parasites and the emergence of colossal monsters that were hard to catch with ordinary firearms, combined with it, led to those voicing one side gaining the upper hand.

Those who had consistently opposed the Allied Forces for political and economic reasons even before the bug’s emergence were facing fierce attacks.

If you oppose, you’re infected with parasites, they would say, and since they couldn’t exactly prove it by showing their brains being split open, they had lost all justification.

‘That’s good.’

I was personally satisfied. It felt like I was getting a reward for not declining the agent’s request for help.

At that moment, I heard my brother expressing concern.

“Is it really impossible to tell apart? What about treatment? That would be too scary, not knowing you’re infected and ending up cooperating with bugs.”

“They probably have ways to figure it out. Just take care and don’t worry too much.”

Surely, it was definitely a problem, as distinguishing whether someone is infected or not would require different methods, though treatment might be possible with the bugs’ vulnerabilities to divine forces.

A village appeared on my desktop. Chapter 209.