NOVEL NEXT Chapter 212
Chapter 212 – Struggle (2)
The schemes of those who spare no means or methods have reached this point. I barely managed to guess the cause of that terrible plague spreading around the Imperial Palace.
“It must be a parasite.”
My face involuntarily scrunched up. The bugs that have changed direction aim to control all humans, not just the powerful, but have successfully evolved even into parasites that can manipulate people without detection.
“Why didn’t they do this from the start?”
I had pondered this question once before. If they had successfully evolved into parasites capable of controlling people discreetly, why didn’t they spread the parasites everywhere and control everyone?
They do whatever they can. Considering their behavior, the reason they haven’t done so until now must be one of two things: either they couldn’t, or they didn’t need to.
“—!”
“—, —!”
As I furrowed my brow at the hellscape unfolding on the screen, I began to understand their intentions.
‘It was just impossible from the beginning.’
If it were easy to control people without being detected, they would have done it. But the reason they hadn’t is clearly because it was impossible.
The people attacking their companions, friends, and family in a frenzy were, without a doubt, closer to mindless beasts.
The monsters rampaging out of control, without suppressing the Emperor and the powerful, don’t fit with the bugs’ intention to exploit the Empire’s wealth and civilization.
‘In their desperation, they just scattered them.’
Thus, there was only one possible interpretation: that the pressure from our attacks forced them to reveal their final card.
They were clearly trying to buy time.
[Fallen World: 5000P]
“So you want me to install this game because it’s the solution?”
And the Master Program recommended a game because it could unravel their intentions.
Since I had already proven my ability quite a bit, there was no reason not to believe, even if it cost a fair amount of points. I was already holding at least 10,000 points in reserve for emergencies.
[Fallen World Activated]
Ultimately, I activated that game. True to its name, it was a survival horror game set against a zombie apocalypse.
In some way, if I cleared this game, there might be a way to overcome the current crisis.
*
“A plague is spreading? In the capital where the Imperial Palace is located?”
“Yes. It’s a terrible plague that drives people mad to attack others. Whether it was a failure of control or not, a significant number of citizens have already been infected, and many are fleeing to the vicinity.”
“What about the Emperor? What’s happened to the Emperor?”
Barun, having returned from reconnaissance, was flustered and immediately sought news of the Emperor. However, the druids scratched their heads and replied that they didn’t know.
“The palace is thoroughly quarantined. It doesn’t seem to have been breached, but we haven’t confirmed whether the Emperor is inside.”
“It’s the plot of the Black Monsters. They already possess the ability to infest people and drive them mad.”
Barun realized that this terrible calamity was the work of the bugs. The problem was that even knowing this, there was no immediate way to respond.
What if that plague infected our allies and caused significant damage?
“Should we retreat then? Aren’t there those who would invade our territory now that it’s left unguarded?”
“This is their trap. If we pull back, we’re only doing what they want. I don’t know if there’s a way out of this…”
Barun sighed and looked up at the sky at the anxious words of those around him.
If there were a solution to this situation, we could believe and wait for it. But if not, we’d have to withdraw regardless.
And usually, when a nonsensical crisis like this struck, it was the being watching over them from above that provided salvation.
“Ah.”
At that moment, as if responding to Barun’s thoughts, the sky opened. Riena, who was beside Barun, was enveloped in light and floated up into the heavens.
Having experienced this countless times, Riena understood what it meant and widened her eyes.
“That being is calling me to another world.”
“Then it must mean that being will show us how to resolve this issue. Everyone heard that? The Guardian Deity will find a way for us, so we must establish a stronghold here and find a way to stop that plague spread by the Black Monsters.”
Barun’s face brightened, and without hesitation, he made his decision.
It was a choice made possible by his strong faith. However, the bonds they had built over time led both Barun and even the lowliest soldiers to have no doubt about this choice.
“Seeing that it’s you they chose, it appears that being is sincere. Come back safely.”
“Yes.”
Barun shouted to Riena, who was vanishing somewhere, to be careful. Knowing the role she had to play in reality, those aware of his tendency to entrust gameplay to others understood that summoning Riena indicated how important he deemed this matter.
‘Where am I?’
Soon after being sucked into the game world, Riena opened her eyes and surveyed her surroundings.
The unfamiliar scenery sent her anxiety levels soaring. Although entering a game world wasn’t a new experience, adapting to new environments is never easy.
‘I’ve seen this a lot in videos, but I’ve rarely played this game myself.’
No one felt as awkward as Riena, but even the one now in the game felt a sense of unease. Controlling a character in third-person who was taking on the form of a regular human male, he approached Riena, who was standing dazed.
“That looks completely out of place.”
Seeing her, he couldn’t help but smile wryly. Riena, donned in armor like something out of a fantasy game, looked entirely mismatched against the backdrop of a ruined modern city.
Nonetheless, the reason he had brought Riena here, ignoring all other talents, was simple. To bring the strongest being and clear the game smoothly without any interruptions.
Indulging in the luxury of developing the talents of others was a luxury they simply didn’t have right now.
“You’ve come.”
Riena recognized him at a glance. It was natural to greet someone she had seen before, even if not for long.
Though they couldn’t communicate verbally, the two now understood each other’s intentions through body language and expressions alone.
‘The game’s goal is to farm items and survive. But the Master Program must have sent us here for more than just that. The means to overcome the current outside situation must be vaccines and healing item!’
He began to speculate on the Master Program’s intentions and what needed to be done.
In the game, there existed an item called a vaccine. A medicine to prevent infection.
Securing that and completing related quests to continuously supply vaccines would surely provide a means to halt the same kind of plague that the bugs were causing in this world.
“Something’s coming.”
“It was a game notoriously unfriendly to newbies and with quite a high difficulty, but does that matter?”
At that moment, sensing a presence, Riena drew her sword and aimed it at the alley. He also glanced there and smiled faintly.
Currently, he was characteristically unarmed beyond the clothes he wore just starting the game. It would be impossible to fight a zombie barehanded; at first, fleeing or finding a weapon was necessary.
“Is it a person…? No, a monster?”
But now, at his side, there was a human weapon capable of facing an army. That human weapon was far stronger and more reliable than guns and bullets.
Seeing a zombie staggering towards her, Riena panicked but quickly gripped her sword.
“Kyah… grugh.”
Then, in an instant, she sliced the charging zombie in half. There was no question of whether its head would suffer additional damage.
Her sword shone with divine light, and all creatures were treated equally.
Whether it was a demon crawled out of hell or a mutant contaminated by magic, be it drones created by rebels or deadly viruses birthed from biochemical terror.
‘I can make it quickly.’
Unlike other games, this was not a game activated for leveling up. Pleased with Riena’s combat prowess, he took the lead, guiding her.
With her strength, they could carve through obstacles at an impossible speed, acquiring what they desired.
*
“I never thought the Imperial messenger would come so urgently and reject my hospitality.”
“We must discuss a matter of great importance, Your Majesty.”
At that moment, across the sea, fierce battles were occurring between the Empire’s forces attempting to impede the Arin Tribe’s advance.
The Imperial messenger, who had rushed across the sea, met with the boy king of the Kingdom of Baruk, getting straight to the point.
“I must apologize for bringing this to your attention at such a late hour.”
The messenger bowed his head in request for understanding. It was indeed a late hour, and he had met without any ministers present.
“I will listen.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty. Please take a look at this. A letter from His Majesty the Emperor.”
The messenger passed a tightly rolled letter to him through an attendant standing nearby.
Since the Kingdom of Baruk had already formed an alliance with the Arin Tribe, he originally had no intention of considering the Empire’s words, but, wanting to maintain a facade, he took the letter and unfurled it.
“!”
At that moment, something darted out rapidly from within the rolled paper and lodged itself into his neck.
The needle-sized object was a wriggling parasite, and despite the sharp sensation, he couldn’t stop it from slipping into his body.
“You little…”
“Follow the trend. And don’t worry too much. There won’t be any problems.”
The messenger looked down at him as he staggered in shock, impaling his attendant with a transformed arm.
This was the step the bugs had prepared before spreading the plague.
The plan was to infect the leaders of the surrounding forces and incite them to attack the Arin Tribe simultaneously, and it was actually in the process of being successfully executed.
“Cough?!”
However, an unexpected event occurred. The captain of the guards, Leo, burst into the room and pierced the messenger’s chest with one strike, killing him.
He gazed at the scene in disbelief.
“I- I don’t know either.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“My body just moved on its own! So, I ended up seeing this scene and… and killed the messenger!”
Leo stammered, complaining that his body had acted of its own accord, killing the messenger.
Hearing that, his eyes widened. What Leo was saying sounded like something he had heard somewhere before.