A Village Appeared on My Desktop

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Chapter

156th – Storm (6)

“Are you a bit flustered?”

I chuckled faintly in triumph as I watched the screens.

The bug’s strategy to cause chaos by opening gates here and there to disrupt our rear backfired when our plan to raise simultaneous wars failed.

These creatures, whose methods and bodies seem to be steadily gaining intelligence, knew just where to strike by utilizing their strengths against our weaknesses.

That weakness could be fatal if we failed to find a way to counter it. But I ultimately discovered a method.

As the spear sharpens, the shield grows stronger. Now they will have to think of another way. Before that, we must mount a counterattack to drive them out somehow.

– They were greatly shocked. They realized all at once what they had been trying to hide. Although it didn’t make the news, the reaction is said to be huge.

“Nice cover-up, wasn’t it?”

– Of course. I claimed that an anonymous informant testified to me. It’s only natural to disclose that for the public good, so the justification is perfect.

While the general public is oblivious, significant upheaval has occurred beneath the surface. It’s because I took action to expose the classified information that the foreign government was trying to conceal.

Quite a bit of illegal conduct was involved in that process—violence, intimidation, and such. Though I felt a pang of guilt, I was already resolved, so I didn’t worry about it much.

Of course, I did feel a bit anxious about making a large announcement through Lee So-Yeon, but after all, they know I’m the culprit.

If Lee So-Yeon merely denies her connection with me, they wouldn’t have justification to attack her.

‘You should have been a little more modest in your greed.’

I had certainly been embarrassed in front of acquaintances, but I could only scoff. They knew how desperate we were to forge bonds with the residents on the screen, and they should have realized that trying to control us would provoke backlash.

“I’m glad to hear there is no problem. Please continue to deny your relationship with me moving forward.”

– That’s true, but… I think you should be careful. We’re trying to uncover your identity too.

“I will keep that in mind.”

Nevertheless, I felt I should be a bit more cautious for the time being. I was busy enough already.

‘This isn’t bad.’

I thought it was a fortunate decision to hide my identity due to the current situation. If I had revealed my identity like Lee So-Yeon, would I have succeeded this time?

I was quite satisfied with this system, where she operated above ground and I worked from the shadows.

“Now, only the West remains. Shouldn’t be a problem, right?”

With a lighter heart, I sat in front of my computer, preparing snacks as I mumbled to myself.

The bugs’ strategy to incite chaos through the gates was thwarted. Their attack on the Northern Fortress that took advantage of the confusion failed, and their offensive to topple the Land of the Elves like the Dwarf Kingdom also failed.

As they keep repeating failures, the only ones left were Luke and his remnants, approaching at just the right timing, whether they knew we were occupied or not.

‘Annoying pests.’

Facing these grotesque and rapidly evolving enemies had reached the point where they looked almost cute.

*

“Ugh.”

“Are you alright?”

“I’m fine.”

On the march leading the army. Although we hadn’t encountered the enemies yet, Luke suddenly flinched, clutching his arm. Those around him looked over in surprise, but Luke just shook his head, pretending to be fine.

‘What kind of nonsense is this? It’s already too late!’

Receiving information others couldn’t hear, Luke gritted his teeth as he saw the change in the situation and heard commands to retreat.

He could never accept this order. He had fallen for the parasite’s provocation from the start precisely because it incited his desire for revenge.

Denial of that led to an explosion of powerful rage, breaking him free from the parasite’s control.

‘I cannot back down. I am the king here. I will conquer this entire place!’

With glinting eyes, he controlled his breathing and forcefully suppressed the parasite trying to manipulate his mind.

Despite being objectively at a disadvantage, the parasite, oblivious to why he was hurling himself into danger, froze as they continued their advance and finally reached the Arin Tribe’s territory.

This was precisely when the side of the Elves, the Northern Fortress, and even the gates were all blocked.

Of course, it wasn’t too late yet. The Arin Tribe also hadn’t received troops sent elsewhere back yet.

“Your Majesty, we have started to discover towns that the enemies appear to have abandoned.”

“Such foolishness.”

They had found traces of villages abandoned by the refugees.

Ba-lun could not understand why they were behaving this way, having ignored most traditional customs.

“How did the reconnaissance go? Did they hide inside the castle again?”

“W-well, kind of, but it’s slightly different.”

As they entered further, new things started to come into view.

The scouts dispatched by Luke reported on the towns and cities where the Arin Tribe residents had already evacuated.

“The larger towns were surrounded by walls far taller than the residents themselves. While it seemed the fields and pastures were outside… all of them are currently sheltered within.”

“But that’s just a wall!”

Luke raised his voice in response to the report. The town reported housed hundreds of residents, protected by walls made of blocks piled three high by transporters.

Rushed construction left them incapable of building higher than three blocks, so it wasn’t up to the standard of actual castle walls. It was a height any of them could easily surpass, even if they were weak against siege warfare.

Moreover, they had new weapons at their disposal.

“It’s time to secure our first victory!”

Luke ordered his soldiers to attack the village, his eyes shining with certainty that it was an opportunity.

‘They are finally coming.’

Meanwhile, the one watching this unfold through the screen let out a deep sigh. Absorbing without war would have been best, but if it came to war, it meant there would be fewer individuals to absorb in the future.

He had never imagined that they would lose.

‘This is their first time seeing this, isn’t it?’

He opened the desktop destruction program and pulled out a machine gun. A powerful barrage raining down from the sky, capable of obliterating even bugs in one blow.

Unaware of what loomed overhead, they galloped into the assault to capture the village and gain momentum.

“Chieftain! They’ve begun attacking the border towns!”

“As expected. I’m deploying the prepared troops.”

Ba-lun nodded upon hearing news from a crow that transformed into a man flying in from the sky. He was pretty occupied due to distractions, but Ba-lun had made some preparations for battle.

‘The enemies number around 20,000. But unlike before, they are just a rabble.’

Ba-lun was aware that Luke’s second assault was a risky one. The more they squeezed for an offensive, the larger the blow would be when they collapsed.

Recognizing this as an opportunity to completely exterminate the enemies and take control of the grassland, Ba-lun launched himself into the fray with the prepared troops.

“Let’s hurry. If we’re late, the villagers will suffer.”

Although he had made defense preparations in advance, Ba-lun was feeling a bit anxious. Yet, as he began to hear news from the battlefield, the soldiers around him started becoming increasingly alarmed.

“The enemy has cannons!? Gunpowder weapons? How on earth!?”

The first news that came in was about the enemy’s new weapon. It seemed they had managed to acquire something flowing in from the Empire.

“That’s nonsense. How well do you think they guard that?”

“Ah, anyway, they said the enemies are firing cannons from a distance and launching siege warfare.”

For reasons still unknown, the fact that the enemies had cannons was irrefutable. Even if more people continued to hear of even greater weapons, many still regarded gunpowder weapons as powerful as magic.

The village was quickly on the verge of collapse.

“We have plenty of gunpowder! Keep firing! If they don’t surrender, we’ll charge in and wipe them out!”

Luke’s forces pressed the village using cannons, preparing to vault over the walls. Spirits were high regardless.

With every deafening roar from the cannons, they cheered wildly.

Meanwhile, the villagers attempting to resist could only hunker down and bear witness as their houses and facilities were obliterated by the cannonballs.

“Good. Just like this… huh?”

“Look over there. Something’s appearing in the sky!”

To them, the massive machine gun that appeared in the sky was completely unexpected. Something entirely different from the cannons.

Having no concept of guns, they couldn’t even guess what it was.

“It’s the divine retribution of the Guardian Deity!”

“It’s the witchcraft of the Evil God! Shamans!”

But they had already experienced similar occurrences. Divine retribution falling from the sky, the power of the gods.

The villagers cheered, while Luke’s soldiers panicked and hurriedly set up defense barriers to protect themselves from the cannons.

‘This is working well.’

“Ugh, Aaaah!!”

Almost simultaneously, the machine gun opened fire. The sound erupting from the sky was literally thunder. Bullets slicing through the air faster than thunder pierced the thin defense barrier conjured by mana, beginning to wipe out Luke’s soldiers gathered on the ground.

‘Is this a dream?’

Luke felt his heart drop as he slackened his grip on the reins.

He thought he had finally secured the advantage, but the divine retribution that appeared from the sky had completely decimated the cannons and their gunners in that brief moment.

‘What is this, what on earth…’

The emotions he was feeling were not solely his own. The parasite within him shared in the rage against the ever-growing Arin Tribe and the existence beyond them.

“Wow, Your Majesty. What exactly is that!?”

“The gunners and those protecting them have been wiped out!”

As his subordinates fell into a panic, Luke was unable to make a quick judgment. Had he thought coldly, he would have realized that the machine gun was not limitless and could have continued the offensive, but the shocking scene was enough to freeze even the parasite, leaving him merely flapping his mouth.

‘Indeed, that person knows everything. I just have to trust and follow.’

In the meantime, the Arin Tribe soldiers led by Ba-lun appeared before Luke’s panicking forces.

Having heard everything that had transpired, Ba-lun looked up at the sky, where the machine gun had disappeared, with a faint smile.