A Village Has Appeared on My Desktop

20 – The Beginning of Progress (10)

[The World Devourer Bug is a substance that exists solely to consume the world. When the devouring is discovered, a program for resistance is developed, utilizing the power of the world’s gap. The Master Program, the administrator of this program, assists in the coordination between users and guardians to carry out bug defense missions.

1. Bug: It does not have a fixed form, but it tends to take on the appearance of the organisms in this world. Different types have distinct appearances in various parts.]

2. Use..]

“…What?”

I read it again. It felt like I read it at least five times. But even though it was written in Korean, I couldn’t understand it all at once. Or was I refusing to understand it?

The long, drawn-out text contained settings that seemed like they could be from a fantasy piece, making it difficult to understand.

“Users are those who confront the bugs that invade the world using the master program.”

The part that I couldn’t understand the most was this. Users are those who confront these monster-like bugs. According to the explanation and context, it seemed like I was the user handling the master program, but why?

“Guardians are cooperative beings who fight alongside users against bugs, existing in different worlds but connected by the thread of their souls, supplying the driving force for the master program.”

What nonsense is this? If this is all just a setup, it’s deserving of criticism.

According to the explanation, the guardians mentioned here are referring to the residents appearing on my desktop. Apparently, I can operate the master program by connecting with them, but naturally, I couldn’t make head or tail of this gibberish.

[Once the bugs recognize a user, they are programmed to prioritize finding and eliminating the user, even if the user tries to flee. If bugs manifest and begin to proliferate in the user’s world, it becomes difficult to exterminate them, so the user must focus on preventing this with the help of the guardians.]

However, my hand came to an abrupt stop at the following sentence. The bugs kill the users. They chase and kill them, no matter where they are.

“No way?”

I desperately denied the fact that I had unknowingly gotten involved in this madness. With trembling hands, I scrolled down and read all the other writings.

But nowhere did it say that all the contents written here are fictional. I almost died for real just a few minutes ago, and to simply overlook all this would be too light-hearted.

Would everything really be resolved if I just ignore all these words and throw away the computer?

[Situation]

My mouse naturally moved to another item. I already knew the purpose itself.

[Program Operation Day 9. Current users on Earth: 01, no additional awakenings, no deaths]

The situation page was exactly what it said it was.

Short and concise sentences. My gaze lingered on the “01” number. According to the talk of additional awakenings, it could increase, but for now, it meant that I was alone.

‘Why is this locked? Am I alone?’

I pressed back in confusion and clicked on the last option. The community feature was locked. In retrospect, it was a useless feature since I was alone.

[Cannot be opened due to the user’s master program level]

“Oh, surprise.”

Annoyed for no reason, I clicked consecutively, and suddenly something popped up on the screen. It was text appearing out of nowhere in the previously empty white space.

It even blinked as if urging me to input something. Having nothing more to be surprised about, I swallowed my dry spit and raised my hands to the keyboard.

-Who are you?

[I am the helper of the manual. Besides specific questions, you can hear stored answers to frequently asked questions from users. 1. Who are you? 2. Please save me 3. Go away 4. Oh, god 5…]

An auto-response program. Disappointed, I chuckled at the reactions similar to mine. I had hoped to have a proper conversation with someone who knew about the situation.

-If there’s a manual, shouldn’t it recommend that first?

[Originally, the procedure is to guide users with the manual first, but in many cases, urgent situations of guardians prioritize recommending immediately needed programs, pushing the priority of the manual back.]

Just to test, I asked about the most irritating point. Surprisingly, the answer was correct.

-Why me?

[The third most frequently asked question by users. The answer is destiny.]

-Want to die?

Of course, not all answers were correct.

It seemed there were more annoying responses, but after exchanging a few more questions, I felt my mood gradually calming. Whether everything was burned away, or I just let it go and resigned myself.

-Now, what do I have to do?

[Do not feel burdened. If the occurrence of bugs can be prevented, the user’s world and surroundings will be safe, and the user can enjoy a daily life no different from before. The first thing to do is to raise the level of the master program. Achieve achievements as much as possible and strengthen the guardians.]

The manual simply told me to do as I had been doing. Interact with the people who appeared on my desktop, play games together, fight, and watch over. After experiencing something like today, would such things be easy, I wondered?

However, it seemed to me that I had no choice. Whether I completely ignored the warning and brought the computer, or once followed this change, I had to choose one.

“Ugh.”

I just pulled out the manual. Even in this situation, while mechanically getting ready for work, changing clothes, occasionally using a virus program to treat and observe the injured residents on the screen.

Although it was clearly displayed that I received rewards and achievements, I couldn’t confirm it now that I had to go to work. In the first place, I just wanted to keep my distance right now.

“Junyoung, you’re early, huh? Good. Today might be a bit busy. But if you prepare in advance, you can go home that much faster.”

Arriving at the company as if escaping, sitting in a dazed state, my supervisor, Manager Kim Kyuseok, tapped my shoulder, saying that today might be busy.

“That’s fine.”

“…Huh?”

I let out a bitter laugh at his words. It might help clear my mind if I worked busily and distractedly, considering the situation.

Although he looked at me as if I were crazy for thinking that being busy was good, now that work had started properly, I had no time to think about anything else, just as I wanted.

***

“Are you saying that the unidentified monsters we first saw after coming here were attacking the ‘power’ that helped us when we were attacked by them?”

“It’s speculation, but it seems likely. At the time of the black monster’s attack, there was no reaction, but as soon as the monster fell, he saved those who were injured.”

While he was pondering the unexpected attack in various ways and trying to forcibly control his complicated feelings at the company.

As the excitement from the victory in battle subsided, the complex emotions also engulfed the residents who were saved by the players after the intense battle against the bugs.

Barun, who had not crossed over to the game world to recover his health and take care of the consumed equipment and livestock, listened to Rienna and sank into thought after hearing why she did not listen to his words and rushed out.

“Although nothing has been clearly revealed yet, that power that lifted us into the sky. I think that power is sending us to different worlds.”

Living a lifetime of repeating struggles with other tribes and fierce northern monsters, who were called barbarians by settled residents due to their lack of knowledge and skills, they were by no means stupid.

Barun was convinced that they were related to the mysterious meadow they had immigrated to, the gate that opened in the village, and the worlds connected to that gate within the game.

In fact, his conjecture was not wrong, proving that his insight was not lacking.

“What on earth is their identity? The power of the prairie, the beings from the square world, and even the unidentified knight I encountered. Are they all different entities? Are they truly gods?”

“I don’t know. But one thing is certain, we need their power. Whether it’s malevolent spirits or mysterious sorcerers, it doesn’t matter. Those who provide us with everything we need are our protectors.”

Barun took his daughter’s hand, comforting her in her bewildered state. It was difficult to witness his daughter suffering, but ultimately, it was a trial connected to her life.

If it had been the past Leana, she wouldn’t have been able to contribute in the fight against the bugs.

“Are they coming again today?”

Residents who had somewhat recovered began their tasks around the afternoon, continuing from yesterday.

Some had severe injuries, broken bones, or crushed flesh, but thanks to the rewards points he earned from defeating bugs and using the vaccine program, everyone had recovered.

While Barun returned to the sandbox game collecting various resources, Leana, alone, clad in armor and armed, stayed in the village, quietly waiting.

As expected, by evening, he would bring her to a new world. A world more horrifying, with unfamiliar monsters.

But for some reason, in that world, she felt less fear. Realizing it was because of his constant presence, she smiled faintly.

“Could it be that you find it enjoyable?”

For her, a warrior of the prairie, a fight was a struggle directly linked to life. Weakness meant being defeated and devoured. Despite having exceptional talent, she had lost more than she gained in the fights she had faced so far. Therefore, the prospect of losing something again in a fight made her more despondent and fearful.

She, who had, for the first time, found joy through battles with him, always gained in those battles. It was the first hope she had obtained in her life.

The intuition that he might be in danger prompted her to dash out without caring about her own body, a struggle to not lose that hope.

“!?”

How much time had passed while she waited like that?

Startled, Leana blinked as she felt someone gently touching her head. However, there was no one around. Only the busy movements of the residents in front.

“You’ve come!”

Recognizing the subtle sensation, Leana stood up, looked at the sky, and shouted. As she expected, she was soon transported to the world of the second game, Dark Blood.

“I defeated that monster too. There’s nothing I can’t defeat.”

Now, even when looking back at his journey, it was possible to do so without surprise and with a smile. Yesterday, within the dark underground passage where they had parted ways, she faintly lifted the corners of her mouth as she saw him running towards her, purposefully rolling forward.