9 – Sudden Visit (9)
“No, this is insane.”
Events unfolding on my desktop as the day progresses. In my heart, I want to shout at the screen, questioning what is happening, but I am unable to even change my desktop freely at this moment.
Upon closer inspection, there seems to be something on the west side, that is, the left side of the desktop. Glitches like monsters generated within the computer appeared from the south before, but now, with the words “external intrusion,” the wolves that attacked last time came from the west.
“—!”
“—, –!”
Naturally, everyone, including the hastily returned Barun, panicked and rushed around.
Nevertheless, the material I provided to them in the game world was helpful in times like this. Villagers armed with steel weapons, bows, and arrows quickly rushed out of the village and ran towards those fleeing to this place.
[Burangmin Shun]
[Trait: -]
[Deployment: -]
As I checked with the mouse, the pursuers came to mind as burangmins with a purple border. Whether it was a neutral sound or an attempt to quickly evacuate, the left mouse click did not work.
[Plunderer Ur]
[Trait: Martial Arts]
[Deployment: -]
The ones chasing the burangmins were the same. However, they, like other enemies, had a red border, indicating their hostile nature.
Moreover, the giant named Ur, who looked extraordinary at first glance, had the same traits as Riena.
For now, all I can do is watch. In the game world, I would have directly controlled my character and done whatever was necessary, but now, all I can do is hope that the material support I provided plays a significant role.
“But there are more on this side.”
Similarly, as the villagers mounted their horses and showed off their excellent archery skills, regardless of gender, I thought that they might be able to handle the situation.
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At the same time, the enemies seemed perplexed. It seemed like they were not aware that there was a village here in the first place, let alone expecting such proactive resistance.
After more than ten of them were defeated in the counterattack and fell one by one.
“—!”
Now, only one formidable enemy remained. With his extraordinary strength, the chieftain Urda wielded his spear, deflecting all the arrows.
Furious, he aimed his spear at the villagers and looters in front of him, while the trapped bystanders trembled, unable to do anything.
Looking at the expression on Chieftain Barun’s face, it seemed he was concerned about the bystanders. He seemed eager to help. But as the hostile figures appeared on the screen, it became impossible to reach out to them with the mouse.
***
“It’s pointless to go openly.”
As everyone aimed their weapons at each other, yelling in extreme tension, she, who had been riding from behind, quickly grasped the situation and immediately dismounted. Since everyone was intensely focused on each other, she was able to silently lower herself and hide among the tall grass, slowly turning away.
“Are you telling me to fight?”
Regrettably, the mouse continued to touch her, offering unintended encouragement in a strange way.
Mistaking the encouragement for a desire for her to fight, she bit her lip, concealed her movements perfectly, and continued to advance slowly. The sight of the intensely focused enemies momentarily narrowed, failing to notice Leana moving alone to the side.
“I can do this.”
Finally, silently and without a sound, she stealthily approached the enemies from behind, cautiously drawing her bow. The arrow, made of steel tip and wood shaft, was a superior item crafted using steel scraps and wooden poles provided by him.
It had enough power to pierce the hearts of the enemies who were off guard.
“Chieftain!”
“Quiet. Wait until Leana makes the first move.”
There was no way her comrades could have missed Leana slowly emerging from the bushes and drawing her bow. Barun waited for her to act first, continuing to confront the looters.
“Now!”
And right after that, as Leana ran, the consecutive arrows she shot struck the backs of those around Urda.
Simultaneously, the villagers aimed their bows, and amidst the confusion, Urda, who turned around, saw Leana brandishing a sword and standing with determination.
“When did she…ugh!”
Before Ur could turn his body and swing the spear, she leaped towards him as if flying, kicking the ground before wielding her sword to parry his spear. With the force of the clash between the knees and nose bones of warriors, an explosive shockwave erupted. They tumbled backward and immediately drew weapons on each other.
“How can a novice like this!”
“My body feels light. The training so far has indeed paid off.”
Even though he was surprised, bleeding from his nose, Ur, confident in his skill, was astonished as Rienna’s sword, seemingly unremarkable, skillfully blocked his spear. She had a certainty in her movements, deriving from the experience of diligently leveling up in the game world, which now translated into real strength.
“It’s over.”
Swinging her weapon, creating a blast of pressure and a loud noise, in the fierce battle where others dared not intervene, Rienna emerged victorious.
“You did well. You won. He’s dead.”
“Should we have captured him?”
“We didn’t have that luxury. It wasn’t necessary.”
Barun approached her, patting her back as she breathed heavily, staring down at the fallen enemy’s corpse.
The brief and small-scale war that unfolded in an instant concluded in their victory. The scene was left with the bodies of looters and the wary onlookers among the common folk.
“The situation was urgent, so the action had to be taken, but now seems like a good time for a conversation.”
Barun approached the trembling commoners first, as their chieftain. Upon closer inspection, these wanderers had recently adapted to this area.
“We hadn’t heard rumors of a village here. We were chased away just before we stumbled upon this place.”
“To be honest, we haven’t settled here for long either.”
Barun engaged in conversation with the representative elderly man among the commoners. However, the old man, named Lus, was not the leader of the commoners; their true leader was dead. About thirty surviving commoners had fled here, survivors of a shattered tribe.
Recently, Barun’s face, who had directly suffered from the intensified looting and wars between the tribes, didn’t look much different from theirs as he listened to their words, and it made him feel uneasy.
“The chieftain has just settled here and is living a hard life, but in our eyes, they seem like strong people armed with steel weapons and well-fed livestock. Your character also seems incomparable to the other crazy ones, so please accept us, Chieftain. We will be loyal.”
“We…”
Barun looked at the vassals who kneeled before him with bewildered eyes, gathering his thoughts.
At the moment, Barun’s tribe didn’t have the luxury to increase its population. However, at the same time, the thought crossed his mind that maybe it was possible.
He had tasted the miracle of turning the impossible into reality until just recently. If that miracle continued, if it grew, then increasing the population would not be a problem.
And the increased population would soon become the fundamental strength of the tribe. As the chieftain, Barun keenly understood how important the population was.
“Before leaving, we have never absorbed members from other tribes, and now, after losing everything and leaving, to experience that. Furthermore, if they find out that the pursuit force has been annihilated, wouldn’t they send reinforcements here again? That’s also a concern.”
“The strength that was here. That determination is clearly on our side.”
As Barun worriedly muttered while watching the new tribe members joining the village, Rienna approached and told him about her experiences.
If it wasn’t for the existence of that clear unknown power by their side, there would have been no successful ambush or victory.
If that power could protect them, it gave them a solid corner to believe in.
“That power, the existence in this harsh world, is also a strength for us. We have no choice but to make the most of what we can get.”
They were unaware that the power lifting them with the mouse pointer and the in-game character were the same person.
However, they were clearly aware that they were their allies. A lifeline that must be used in a situation where everything is lacking.
“They are calling us again. This is already the second time today.”
“It might be urgent for them to call us out like this.”
And one of those lifelines called the residents, including Barun, back into their world once again.
Now, instead of waiting for it, they headed there without reluctance.
The new residents were startled and bewildered by the sight, but as the existing residents explained what they could gain there, they looked at the black rift in the middle of the village with amazed eyes.
“Me? Are they telling me to harvest?”
“It seems like they want us to follow.”
As soon as the residents entered the game again, he, who had been waiting for them, began giving instructions with gestures and nods this time as well.
Having witnessed the entire war unfold on the desktop background, he was anxious too. The top priority had shifted to arming the residents with more resources.
He repeatedly pointed at the crops grown with the fertilizer he had given to Ruso, one of the team members, indicating to harvest the crops and plant seeds. It meant for others to do the same.
At the same time, after nudging Leana and Kun, who had evolved into miners, he pointed consecutively outside the barrier. Leana realized that the action meant for them to follow.
‘There’s no reason to hesitate.’
Actually moving his character now, he led Leana and Kun outside the barrier, intending to accumulate achievement points as much as possible today.
[Level 2 Activation: 2000P]
[Upon level 2 activation, additional placement of residents is possible, residents can autonomously open up]
He aimed to progress the game by activating it in sync with the master program. It was a necessary step for more resources.