A Village Appeared on My Desktop

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Chapter 220 – Struggle (10)

“Another group is coming!”

“It’s not too many. We’ll have to eliminate them.”

Here in the encampment created by the Arin Tribe, even the Empire’s refugees were starting to fill the place, and the shadow of the plague began to loom ominously.

As they wandered in packs and spotted people, a swarm of infected individuals charged recklessly towards the scouts.

“Don’t get too close! Fire!”

The commander leading the scouts ordered a ranged attack. Druids, Mages, and ordinary Warriors all attacked the charging infected with their own methods—magic, spells, arrows, you name it.

“They’re persistent. Aim for their legs!”

One method they had learned was to incapacitate the infected’s mobility. Even if a monster kept charging with an arrow through its head, if they completely shattered its legs, it wouldn’t be able to regain its mobility.

After incapacitating them, they would swiftly swing down to decapitate and remove the parasite controlling the central nervous system.

“The numbers keep increasing. It doesn’t seem like they’re just multiplying by biting. Most people must have fled already.”

“I think so too. Let’s return for now.”

The battle ended without casualties, but their expressions were gloomy. In fact, one warrior raised a concern. The sheer number of infected seemed excessive for it to be merely from biting.

“There’s likely some method by which the Black Monsters implant a horrific plague into people’s bodies. Even if we know, it’s hard to stop it.”

Barun also had reasonable doubts upon receiving such reports. The issue was that, given their current situation, it would be difficult to prevent the parasites the Bugs were systematically spreading.

Without knowing exactly how they were getting infected, they couldn’t even launch a large-scale extermination operation.

“W-well then…”

“In the end, there’s only one thing we can rely on. Riena will find a way to dispel the plague through that individual.”

Barun sighed and looked up at the sky.

It had already been several days since Riena disappeared into the game world. Perhaps it was urgent, as she hadn’t returned for even a single day.

Though she had already surpassed human capability, she was still his only daughter. Barun couldn’t help but worry.

Moreover, since the actual situation was not good, the longer time dragged on, the more precarious it could become.

“Huh?!”

“The Saintess has returned!”

Fortunately, Barun’s worries didn’t last long. Riena, whom they had been waiting for, returned to reality shortly after seizing the vaccine production facility.

“Are you really saying that just one of these will cure the plague?”

“Yes. It’s something brought over from another world, like potions or herbs.”

As expected, she didn’t return alone. She brought along a box filled with unfamiliar-looking medicines.

“Taking this will prevent the infiltration of the plague. Even for someone who has already contracted it, if they take it before completely transforming, it might still work.”

Riena showed the pills to the tribe people, lecturing them on their efficacy and usage. Of course, this was a result of thorough learning from the creator, Park Dong-soo, in that other world.

“The VK vaccine made from prototypes was a less refined version. This new medicine, changed to oral administration for easier use, is much faster and stronger!”

Park Dong-soo had risked his life to gather materials and show the survivors what he created. It was this white pill.

“Anyway, this means that if we take this, we won’t get infected, right?”

“Let’s eat it quickly!”

For both Riena and the survivors, complex principles and formulations didn’t matter. They all administered the new vaccine provided by Park Dong-soo without leaving anyone out.

‘I don’t feel anything, but it can’t possibly be ineffective.’

Seeing her body without any noticeable reaction, Riena smiled faintly. As long as there was a being that guided her to this place, the chances of it being ineffective were nonexistent.

“Make as many of these as possible. Do not rest.”

“N-not rest?”

“There shouldn’t be a shortage of materials.”

Following Jun-young’s will, Riena ordered Park Dong-soo to mass-produce the vaccine. It was only natural, as the places in need of vaccines were still plentiful.

As the de facto leader of this group of survivors, Riena’s words could not be refused by Park Dong-soo.

“We need to go hunting more.”

“I’ve heard Uncle Jun-soo can handle the radio; let’s try broadcasting. Maybe others will hear and come here.”

The survivors began to regain their vitality little by little around the facility as they sought hope.

This great change came from the influence of Jun-young and Riena in a world that originally held no dreams or hopes.

“To gather materials, I must continue my activities in that world. I’m still not settled in.”

“You should take pride in doing great work.”

Thanks to that, Riena still had work to do in that other world. Hearing this, Barun patted her shoulder, smiling bitterly.

Everyone had their own tasks, and fulfilling them was a virtue. He preached the same to others, starting with himself.

Riena had great power; thus, the tasks she undertook were all a part of the divine will. Thinking this, Barun, who had never failed even once up until now, felt reassured.

“Rakum, prioritize giving this medicine to the foremost team heading out. It’s our turn to move now.”

Barun called Rakum and ordered him to gather the warriors who had been cooped up in this encampment.

The Bugs’ purpose was to buy time to recover power by unleashing the parasites, so he planned to make a move first before they could do so.

“The target is the Emperor’s palace. Right now, he is essentially the leader of the Black Monsters.”

Their target was Emperor Rihir. Even without knowing that there were Bugs, led by an Assassin, around him, they clearly knew whom they needed to capture.

*

“Let’s go. Hurry!”

Riena’s arrival and the miraculous medicines she brought weren’t just longed for by those present.

In the early dawn, before the sun had fully risen, Rihar was galloping with all his might on horseback after leaping through the portals in succession.

“Is that really true? You got the medicine?!”

“The Guardian Deity sent the Saintess to directly bestow the medicine. Hurry, give this medicine to him!”

Having received word in advance, Leo was astonished upon meeting Rihar, who had come urgently with only a small group. What Rihar brought was what could save the now precarious kingdom.

“Clear the path!”

Leo ordered the guard to open the path that completely surrounded the palace and brought Rihar as deep inside as possible.

In this thoroughly sealed place, there was currently the only infected individual in the Kingdom of Baruk. Thanks to the thorough blockade, the plague had yet to spread in the Kingdom of Baruk.

“Some see me as a traitor because of this, but…”

“You’ll be alright now. The commander merely fulfilled his duty.”

Rihar handed the precious medicine he had tenderly carried to Leo.

“This way.”

Sighing softly, Leo moved inside with the medicine alongside Rihar. The area was kept to a minimum for human access, and there was someone trapped inside a room.

“I… I couldn’t help it. This evil monster threatened the prince, injuring himself to blackmail!”

Seeing this, Rihar was dumbfounded as Leo involuntarily made excuses. No matter how unavoidable it seemed, there was still a degree of propriety.

“…!”

Inside the room, a boy was struggling, bound to a chair. His eyes were covered, and to prevent him from biting his tongue, a gag was shoved in his mouth.

“This is treason! You treasonous scum!”

Once the gag was removed to give him the medicine, he immediately began spewing curses as if he were familiar with it. Rihar was flustered, but Leo didn’t flinch at all.

“I brought the medicine to exorcise you. This mockery ends now.”

“I’m real. I’ve been real from the beginning!”

He flinched at the mention of the medicine, making a desperate attempt. It wasn’t incorrect, as the parasite had now fully taken over the central nervous system unlike before when it was just growing inside.

It was just a matter of severely disrupting the body’s signals and hormones and damaging a person’s emotions and thoughts—but it didn’t mean the host’s mind was swapped.

“I believe in the prince. He will come back. If he does return and punishes me for this, I will gladly accept it.”

“Ugh!?”

Leo, sighing in pity, forcefully shoved the medicine into his mouth.

Of course, the parasite reacted violently and resisted, inducing severe vomiting.

However, the medicine dissolved in his mouth and finally absorbed into his body, and the parasite immediately began to resist violently, writhing.

“Your Highness, do you regain your senses?”

The intense resistance ended with the boy regurgitating the living parasite. Rihar and Leo, aghast, watched as the disgusting creature writhed on the floor.

“It feels like a horrifying nightmare. Would you believe me if I said I am myself?”

Looking worn out, he trembled as he glanced at the parasite on the floor. As if his clouded mind had cleared, his bodily functions returned to normal, and his vision became clearer.

“Of course, I believe you.”

Leo and Rihar knelt down simultaneously. Having witnessed the entire process, it was harder to doubt than to believe.

Above all, there was a hope that if something went wrong, the being watching over them would correct it.

“Please call the others.”

As soon as he was freed from his constraints, he stumbled, attempting to stand. After going through such a terrible experience, he had only one thought.

“We cannot leave those monsters in this world.”

It was the fear of the Bugs. Up until now, he had only heard about them indirectly, but after being infected by the Parasite Bug, he now vividly realized their horror.

“But already, the Arin Tribe has long advanced deep within the Empire to eradicate them.”

“They’re not just there. What they did to me, they surely have done to others.”

As he said, the Bugs had already co-opted the leaders of each faction and declared war against the Arin Tribe. He had seen through that.

“I will send reinforcements to stop them.”

Until now, he hadn’t actively participated, but his thinking had completely changed. He wanted to send troops to help in the war against the Bugs.