A Village Appeared on My Desktop

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Chapter 216 – Struggle (6)

“With modern medical technology, it can’t be caught, and the infected individual can’t even realize they’re being controlled unless the bug intends to reveal itself. How terrifying is that?”

“Is there really no way other than isolation?”

“They have to lock themselves away, but that’s easier said than done. Moreover, the bugs primarily target the high-ups in society who have much to lose.”

He nodded darkly at Lee So-Yeon’s words. Once infected, the people around them can’t trust the subject’s words.

It’s impossible to determine whether they are infected or if their actions stem from the bug’s interference. Therefore, if they suspect infection, they must isolate themselves, which is not an easy task for those in a privileged position.

“That’s why it’s absolutely necessary. When the war with the bugs fully begins, the hidden parasites will go berserk, plunging everything into chaos, and the war will be in vain.”

He lamented to Lee So-Yeon. Detached from personal interests, he was genuinely worried about the world and the people, so he couldn’t discern heated water from cold.

“Let’s look into it.”

Lee So-Yeon nodded at the National Intelligence Service chief’s direct request for help. This was a matter that couldn’t just be ignored.

Even though she was upheld in one world, she was still a resident living in this world, so whether she wanted to or not, she needed to find a solution.

‘There must be a way. Surely.’

She worked hard to share this information with users under her command and sought methods using everything available in the game world, like holy water, divine power, potions, herbs, etc., to find or exterminate parasites.

“In the process, I discovered it. One of the skills, the Eye of the Saint.”

“What effect does that have?”

“It’s a skill that can be learned by high-ranking clergy. Its primary function is to detect evil spirits dwelling within the body of a target and reveal their weaknesses. It’s a counter-skill for the undead. I immediately used my reward points to implant it into me.”

After gaining a breakthrough, Lee So-Yeon eventually found a plausible method after several days. She immediately called Jun-Young.

When Jun-Young arrived at the promised location, he was taken aback to see her one eye glowing a brilliant gold, and he couldn’t help but admire her.

“All that’s left is to prove whether this skill can actually detect the parasite bugs that have invaded people’s bodies, so I’ve been moving around a bit these last few days.”

After acquiring the skill, Lee So-Yeon had roamed the country. Naturally, her targets were the high-ranking members of society believed to be prey for the bugs.

“Surprisingly, most were clean, but I found something in an unexpected place.”

“The President’s secretary. Seems like they’re waiting for their chance.”

What she captured was someone slightly different from what they expected, but closely associated with someone else.

Jun-Young chuckled upon hearing this. The target was too obvious. It was as if they were deliberately parasiting someone close to their actual target, intending to infect them and control their body at the necessary moment.

“The problem is that while I’ve gathered evidence, proving its validity to people is impossible.”

“The only way we have now is to kill that person. But that’s not what we want.”

“Isn’t there another way?”

Reluctantly, she clung to Jun-Young. Knowing how valuable and significant the information he had provided was, she believed this was the best course of action.

In her mind, she was certain he could provide the answer even in this situation.

That faith was not so different from Riena’s.

“I’m looking for a way. A method to prevent and extract the bugs using parasites to invade people. Please give me a little more time.”

And now, reflecting on what was happening on his screen, Jun-Young returned her faith.

*

“How long has it been since I’ve had such a relaxing night?”

“I learned how to shoot now, but somehow it feels reassuring.”

While he was with Lee So-Yeon, time was flowing elsewhere, and events were unfolding.

Survivors seeking rest entered an abandoned building along the roadside to spend a calm night armed with firearms.

Even if their physical strength was declining, just having a gun made it possible to face several zombies alone, providing significant psychological comfort.

“Hey, do you know where that guy went?”

There was another basis for their reassurance. A stronger case that brought more comfort than a gun. Oh Chan-Woo, looking around, cautiously approached her.

‘Seeing her like this, she looks like a normal girl.’

The target was the black-haired female knight sitting at the table. Her appearance resembled that of a high school student, but her attire, actions, and speech were unequivocally those of a knight.

Riena, quietly with her eyes closed, furrowed her brows at Oh Chan-Woo’s question. He was asking about the person who had just logged out.

“He will return. There’s no need to search or worry. He will come back when it’s absolutely necessary.”

“I-I see.”

Oh Chan-Woo scratched his head at her confident yet peculiarly distant reply. In truth, he had a mountain of questions he wanted to ask: What’s her identity? How does she know the vaccine exists? Where did she come from?

But he couldn’t bring himself to ask. Even if Riena were to answer honestly, it would likely be hard to understand.

‘Well, let’s just survive for now. Let’s get some sleep before taking our night watch later.’

Oh Chan-Woo knew there were more important things than uncovering their identities. No matter what Riena’s identity was, as long as it helped him survive, that was enough.

“Someone’s approaching.”

However, at that moment, Riena, with her keen hearing, sensed something and stood up.

Surprised, Oh Chan-Woo hadn’t managed to say anything before she walked briskly toward the window.

“Z-zombies?”

“No. They are definitely human, not monsters.”

The startled survivors hurriedly concealed their bodies, their eyes trembling in fear. Standing solitary by the window, Riena looked out at the dark roadway and discerned who they were through sound.

Unlike the stumbling zombies, whose footsteps were erratic, the footsteps she heard were regular, agile, and deliberately muffled.

“Other survivors?”

“Don’t let your guard down. We’ve seen madmen before.”

In response to Kim Sun-Young’s wide-eyed words, Oh Chan-Woo shook his head. They had all experienced enough during the world’s downfall to know that people can view others as less than human.

“Those bastards are eyeing our stuff!”

Hiding and watching, they noticed, just as Riena had said, a group of people targeting their parked vehicles.

It was hard to tell if they knew there were owners, but seeing them thoroughly armed with their makeshift weapons, they didn’t seem like easy opponents.

“They’re armed.”

Some of them were even equipped with handguns and rifles.

Though all four were well-armed, they were just students, office workers, or others who had survived isolated from chaos for months. Fear was unavoidable.

“Wh-what should we do? If we go out, we’ll definitely end up fighting. Wouldn’t it be better to shoot first?”

“If that happens, a fight is unavoidable. Are you confident? They clearly seem like looters.”

Even among them, opinions began to diverge. They had to retrieve supplies from their vehicles, but no one had the courage to risk their lives in a battle.

If they were absolute enemies like zombies, they would have had no choice but to fight fiercely. But given the option, they now hesitated.

“If things get messy, provide cover fire for me.”

“Wait! You don’t mean…?”

But Riena didn’t hesitate; she moved forward. Flustered, Oh Chan-Woo grabbed her arm reflexively, but Riena continued on undeterred.

“I have been stationed here to protect that which he entrusted to me. I must fulfill my duty.”

Whether bugs or humans or monsters from the game, Riena had constantly fought through. What mattered to her in this situation was to protect the things Jun-Young trusted her with—nothing more.

The survivors had no hope of stopping her.

‘The life I’ve lived is different.’

Though she looked like someone of his age, Oh Chan-Woo felt the weight of her unspoken accomplishments deeply. He released her arm with a blank look.

“…! Look over there!”

“Who is it?”

Riena approached the looters who had come closer to their vehicles. Their reactions were no different from those of the survivors seeing Riena for the first time.

“Those are our belongings. You can’t take them.”

“W-what the hell is this crazy girl?”

The leader of the looters, shocked by Riena drawing her sword, aimed a revolver at her. Others reflexively pointed their weapons at her too, equally shocked.

‘These guys are really low-quality.’

Riena instinctively felt that these looters were lower quality than the survivors she had just met.

Indeed, these looters were akin to hostile NPCs in the game, roaming in groups, showcasing force, and indulging in robbery, rape, and murder.

Armed humans could potentially be even more dangerous enemies than zombies. Looters equipped with weapons posed a perilous threat, employing traps and ambushes while hunting players’ lives.

“Wh-what should we do?”

“Don’t kill her. She seems insane, but she’s quite the looker.”

The looter leader, taken aback, let out a faint smile at Riena glaring at him. Having abandoned everything since the world’s downfall, their primal instincts now overshadowed reason.

“Capture her!”

Soon, as they surrounded her, they reached out to subdue Riena.

As the others watched and gritted their teeth, ready to pull the triggers of their weapons—

“If he were here, they wouldn’t even have listened to this.”

“Ah, aahhhk!”

The outstretched arms of the attackers were abruptly severed, blood spraying everywhere. In the dark, illuminated only by the moonlight, the divine power radiating from her became the sharp edge of a blade.

Their filthy hands didn’t just fail to pierce through the flames but were severed at the moment they touched it.

“How…?”

“That expression is puzzling. Did you think you could engage in looting and threats without facing judgment?”

The inconceivable scene left the fallen leader trembling on the ground. Before meeting Jun-Young, Riena had lost her family and hometown to looters. For her, those who preyed upon the weak were akin to a hidden danger, and her rage flared in response to her boiling divine power.

The radiant light that had once become a beacon of hope for the tired and wounded now transformed into the light of judgment to strike down her enemies.

The village appeared on my desktop. Chapter 217