Chapter 125
Chapter 125 – Kingdom (5)
“We achieved victory again and successfully attacked their nest, but I think we shouldn’t stop here and must quickly uproot their roots.”
“Yes, I’m afraid of how much stronger they might become.”
After defeating the formidable enemy and finally conquering the last remaining nest, Rakum returned to the fortress, exhausted from leading the injured back with a blank expression on his face as he shared his thoughts with the people.
Those who had just battled the bugs did not contradict Rakum’s words. They felt the bugs’ growth on their own bodies.
“Of course, we are continuously developing with your help. But honestly, I have no confidence. It’s the same for other soldiers, not just me. Aside from a few outstanding individuals, just holding the line has its limits.”
One of the warriors reluctantly spoke up. Feeling the sincerity in the confession, Rakum couldn’t chastise him for sounding weak.
While the rise of games and programs increased the equipment they could use and the number of people awakening their talents, ultimately, only a few could achieve noteworthy accomplishments despite their continuous training and experience.
It was talent, not just traits, that facilitated that growth.
To fill that gap, they needed to consume the Essence of Experience to forcibly raise their skills and proficiency, but the Essence of Experience was an incredibly rare item, incomparable to the Essence of Monster that could be farmed in the game.
“I understand what you mean, but given our current situation, we must take time to regroup.”
Such a proposal was delivered to Barun, who was out in the western lands once ruled by Garhan. Barun sighed but shook his head. It was a matter of practicality.
“We aren’t ready to strike at the nests of the Black Monsters just yet. Plus, we have to pay attention to this place as well. Chieftain Luke, having claimed the Northern, Western, and Central regions, is proclaiming himself the king of the grasslands and is coming here.”
“But Father, if we leave them be, they will surely grow stronger and come at us again. We must not give them any breather and strike decisively.”
“Riena, sometimes you must know when to take a step back. We were able to leave our hometown and meet him because of that wisdom.”
Barun looked at Riena, who had brought Rakum’s letter, sighing with a hint of regret.
Now responsible for the lives of tens of thousands, Barun had vowed to himself not to let minor emotions cloud his judgment.
“Trust in him and be patient. He will surely show us a new path.”
Barun urged her to believe in the guardian deity.
Once the faith in the God was mentioned, she couldn’t go against those words. After all, she had already decided to dedicate everything to the Guardian Deity.
“Certainly, continuing the counterattack right now may be excessive. We need to regroup.”
In fact, he was currently busy surveying the connected monitors, observing the residents and collecting information by reading their concerns, concluding similarly to Barun.
“Regrouping, but there’s no time to rest.”
He smirked and swiftly moved the mouse. After taking down the nests and setting up defense turrets to prevent enemies from crossing the river, he operated according to his somewhat established routine.
This was a routine he had crafted to care for the residents amidst various games and backgrounds.
The first game he connected to was a sandbox crafting game responsible for the tribe’s resource supply.
Now, the crops harvested from the game were no longer enough to fill all the tribe members, so those who awakened the farmer trait were building fields and watering them with their own efforts outside the game.
The farming supplemented by the powers of the game didn’t require real farmers to toil the lands and wait a year; instead, crops nurtured by those with the farmer trait would grow quickly once they plowed the fields and sowed the seeds.
In this scenario, he did the hard work that the residents found difficult.
He would absorb the harvested crops en masse into the inventory for organization, create necessary facilities like automatic waterers or irrigation channels, and more.
“Oh, let’s wrap it up this way…”
He would also build various structures as references for those who awakened as architects.
To an outsider, he appeared to be thoroughly enjoying the games, but in reality, every action he took served as a kind of lesson for the residents, contributing to their lives.
Indeed, the structures built by following internet videos were gradually being erected in villages or fortresses by architects and transporters.
Simple box-shaped houses started to transform into proper buildings.
“Plow the fields more! We need to plant something other than rice here!”
Moreover, the farmers didn’t just plant food crops. Areas were also established for planting seeds of fruits or berries sourced locally or herbs obtained through Creature Hunting.
“My body…”
“Don’t resist and just get it! The Guardian wants you to plant more herbs!”
He even took direct control of the residents to instruct them to cultivate more herbs.
The potions made from the herbs they grew were like lifelines for the residents who needed to battle the enemies, and they were beneficial for him in reality as well.
“This area is good for now. Next are the hunters.”
After checking on the warriors who were hunting monsters and farming for items, he launched the second game.
Creature Hunting was the place to acquire equipment and various items to arm the residents.
The hunters assigned in the game would hunt while using the city as a stronghold and collect by-products from the bugs to sell or purchase equipment.
Now that most hunters were accustomed to their roles, training new recruits was being swiftly accomplished, and although they may not know it, they were already regarded as a famous group of hunters from outside the city.
“Phew, as expected, they’re truly amazing!”
“This new city has a different scenery.”
In such circumstances, he was concerned about Naroo and Dune, the first-generation hunters. Both were headed to a different city after leaving their original base.
‘They should gain experience here and buy higher-grade equipment to send back to the village.’
Though they were scruffy old men, the two were like excited kids on an adventure leading to a new world, as he sat atop the cabin on the back of a massive elephant. He was planning to send them, the most seasoned hunters, out to level up their ranks and acquire more equipment.
Though the gear they had was sufficient, bugs continued to grow stronger, leading him to deem it necessary for the residents to equip themselves with better armaments.
“There are still many uses left, but thinking of the future, this seems insufficient…”
Lowering the Creature Hunting spear, he sighed softly while surveying the 100-plus defense turrets and newly constructible facilities.
The development of the games was far from complete, and plenty of new activatable games remained. This meant they could keep pace with the bugs’ evolution.
However, there would undoubtedly come a time when limitations were reached. He couldn’t help but ponder what lay beyond that point.
‘Expansion is indeed necessary.’
Biting his lip, he surveyed the drastically increased backgrounds, including the still partially darkened grassland region and the kingdom screens illuminated by Rihar down below.
If he were to view the conflict with the bugs in the long term, he felt the imperative to unite the strengths of these vast lands.
‘Of course, that won’t be up to me alone. The people inside must make prudent judgments.’
He leaned back in his chair, slowly watching Rihar nearing the royal road.
Whether the bomb-like information Rihar was carrying would turn out to be beneficial through wise choices or lead to new chaos through foolish ones, no one could tell.
*
“Are you truly okay? This is not only about delivering the message but also meeting with the court’s ministers. You should rest a bit before going.”
“There’s no time for that. People are dying there even now. If that place falls, those horrible monsters will surely invade here as well.”
Levert urged his senior and friend Rihar to take a break upon seeing his haggard appearance. However, Rihar’s attitude was resolute.
Even if he looked worn out, his eyes sparkled more than ever.
“W-wait….”
Levert hastily tried to catch Rihar as he moved quickly, hesitating over whether to reveal the storm that had hit while he announced the brief news Rihar had provided in the court.
He originally intended to speak candidly to dissuade Rihar, but upon seeing Rihar’s gaze, he hesitated, and Rihar was already striding towards the court.
“Do you really have a letter sent by their chieftain? How can you even prove that? I know already that the ministers won’t easily believe you.”
“I am the proof. Everything I’ve seen and experienced is the evidence! And don’t worry too much. I’ve brought evidence along. Of course, if the foolish old men refuse to believe it even after seeing the proof, then I have nothing more to say.”
Rihar pulled out the cherished letter from his pocket. The firmly sealed paper bore the symbol of the Guardian Deity necklace that Barun had given him.
‘Damn, what’s the world coming to?’
As Levert hurried after Rihar, he tightly shut his eyes.
In truth, he couldn’t honestly tell Rihar that the atmosphere in the court was far worse than he had expected.
Whether or not to completely trust Rihar’s words was one issue, but the overwhelming majority of the ministers showed little interest in the bugs that Rihar cried out about with blood and tears.
“If their mystical herbs and equipment are indeed real, it might be worth checking into.”
“Well, there’s no reason to refuse when the barbarian wants to submit themselves.”
Those who remained somewhat positive were merely scrutinizing the potential of the Arin Tribe, with no consideration of the existence of the bugs or the need for transnational cooperation to stop them.
Some even mistakenly assumed the Arin Tribe was bowing in submission. How could mere barbarians dare to challenge them?
‘I expected it. I understand, but how foolish…’
Rihar sank into despair at the sight of such an atmosphere.
It was one thing for the ministers to disdain the Arin Tribe, but seeing their nonchalance about the bugs only made him sigh.
“Everyone, please be quiet. Let us first consider the fact that Lord Rihar’s claims are true and see what they’ve provided.”
The atmosphere was calmed by the king’s single statement.
As the noise was quickly silenced, Rihar carefully presented the letter from Barun that he had brought.
