Chapter 116
Chapter 116 – Fierce Battle (6)
‘I should only use it at a crucial moment.’
The ability to control residents at will is certainly a significant advantage, but the risks that come with it are equally great.
I didn’t have any specific individuals to deploy, and I had no intention of using the ability hastily, so I decided to seal that function for now and finish what I was currently doing.
Establishing a new farming location for the Essence of Monsters had been successful, after all. It seemed I could afford to increase the number of warriors doing the farming.
Those who awakened the farmer trait had started to cultivate land outside as well. The fact that Luke’s expedition was targeting the fields meant creating farmland outside came with risks, but it was unavoidable for securing food supply.
Fortunately, due to the farmers’ traits that hasten crop growth, managing a smaller area than typical fields lessened some of the drawbacks.
As the number of farmers dwindled and the number of warriors increased, farming for the Essence of Monsters would speed up, and with the surplus of essences, more individuals would awaken as new warriors.
This was the positive cycle I had hoped for.
‘The battlefield is also problem-free.’
Barun, Riena, and other key figures leading numerous warriors had not encountered any issues in their conquest activities yet.
New immigrants were continuously pouring in, but as the residents were struggling and working hard, my own responsibilities had lessened.
[Reward selection available]
Ultimately, the only remaining option was a choice for myself. This reward selection opportunity, which seemed to be given for achieving specific achievements, had to be approached with caution. It was a means to benefit me in reality beyond the residents on the screen.
[This is Lee So-Yeon, CEO of KUM. Even if you don’t visit the company, I can assist you anytime using the community features.]
Just before making my choice, I decided to check the user community provided by the Master Program. The place where only she and I used to communicate was now bustling with more users.
Most were directly visiting So-Yeon’s company, so it wasn’t particularly active, but she was still attentive to this space for those who might want to hide their identities.
“Are you busy?”
– I’m just stuck in front of the computer anyway.
In the secret room where it was just the two of us, she promptly replied as I sent her a message.
The reason I contacted her was simply out of curiosity about what reward she would choose.
If not selecting a special item, I could choose one trait from the residents. There weren’t any particularly appealing items, and the trait’s exploitative nature had already been sufficiently proven by the martial arts trait I was refining.
– Initially, I picked the magic trait, and with my last reward, I chose the fire magic trait.
“Isn’t it all related to combat? Are you planning to fight?”
– Just like last time… just in case.
The reason I asked So-Yeon was actually to steady my own heart. I felt it was a flimsy excuse, but I couldn’t help it. I wasn’t an innate hero, after all.
“A Paladin.”
After finishing my conversation with So-Yeon and checking Riena’s traits, I let out a small laugh. The entity that grounds me, who used to be just an ordinary person, existed on the screen as well.
She, who was merely an ordinary and still somewhat novice female warrior, had somehow grown enough to evolve her trait into that of a Paladin.
Since Riena had been alongside me, I had also been with Riena. In fact, watching her from outside the game, I knew much more about her than she knew about me.
[Reward choice: Trait, Paladin]
In the game, I was the god she trusted and followed, but in reality, I wanted to resemble her even more.
*
“Are you really alright?”
“As long as I don’t tire out, I’ll recover quickly. It’s a power that maximizes regeneration by expending mana.”
A long, deep wound that anyone would see as painful. Yet Riena shook her head as if it was nothing. In truth, the injury was closing up almost instantly with a faint golden glow.
This wasn’t just a miracle achievable through items obtained in the game. Her true faith had perfectly awakened the power embedded in the Celestial Blessing, making her a true Paladin.
“Just because the wound has healed doesn’t mean it’s no big deal. It must hurt every time you get cut or bleed.”
“I can endure that much.”
Of course, Barun, her father, felt sorry for her getting cut and injured, but Riena thought that as long as she could endure the pain, that was enough.
She was a knight who followed a god. She saw enduring the pain as a noble sacrifice for him.
“Intelligence suggests that Luke is gathering troops again. He probably can’t just leave us alone and is seeking to drive us out.”
“Are you planning to fight?”
“No, we have already achieved everything we set out to do. If we return to the village with the residents around here, he won’t be able to move easily after losing loyal subordinates and numerous soldiers.”
Barun, having achieved everything, had no desire to fight Luke again. He was confident that Luke would not invade the Arin Tribe’s stronghold first.
Whether Luke, like Garhan of the past, proposed negotiations or took time to catch his breath, it only served to benefit the Arin Tribe.
“One thing that’s bothering me is something the mage said. The Southern Kingdom that collaborated with Luke may intervene. Or perhaps the Empire has some schemes up its sleeve.”
“So what if they attack?”
“No matter who the opponent is, we have one duty— to follow the will of the Guardian Deity.”
While I’d prefer to avoid conflict, if push comes to shove, I won’t shy away from it. The sacred duty they protect cannot be neglected.
Riena sighed softly at Barun’s mention that they also needed to worry about those outside the grasslands.
When they were a small sub-tribe, she only had to focus on the surrounding area, but now that they were growing in size and had more tasks and possessions, the web of relationships expanded.
It would be folly not to feel worry at the thought of fighting those she had not paid attention to until recently.
“Riena, you should return to the village first. The cleanup is almost finished, and everyone will be returning soon.”
“Will you be okay?”
“This place is important, but the village is too. Many migrants have gone there, and it will be chaotic, so prepare before the Black Monsters, preying on that chaos, arrive.”
Barun sent the worried Riena back to the village first. It was an efficient distribution of personnel based on calculations.
Particularly, since the village, where numerous migrants headed, was in a state of chaos, it was efficient for someone with authority and power to go there and lead them.
“It seems they’ve picked up the scent of the increased residents in the village.”
And Barun’s prediction proved correct. Fortunately, while dealing with Luke’s expedition, the bugs, which had been somewhat subdued, began to stir.
“What do you mean? They’re gathering?”
“It’s the same as before. Our scout corps discovered multiple bug nests working in unison!”
The Northern Fortress. This place where portals were generated through screen rotation was once again filled with an impending sense of battle.
Of course, minor bug attacks had become almost a daily occurrence, but this time was a bit different.
The bug nests had decided to band together to form a large-scale army, determined to wipe out those who were hindering them.
“Everyone, inform the village and prepare defenses.”
Rakum immediately focused on getting defensive arrangements in place. The basic tactic against a legion of bugs made up of ants and their variants was to defend first and counterattack later. They planned to repel the incoming enemies with defense turrets and then attack the now-empty stronghold to root them out.
If timing was right, the arriving migrants would bolster their numbers by at least twofold compared to now.
“Move quickly! Maintain a vigilant defense!”
“This is…”
The stronghold troops, under Rakum’s orders, hurriedly began preparing defenses. Although not as high as in the village, the sturdy walls that had been constructed were still intact, and the defensive turrets scattered around had received substantial investment, boasting a solid foundation and formidable offense.
In such a state, some could do nothing but panic. Those who had been captured as prisoners were among them.
“It seems those monsters are coming in huge numbers. From what I’ve heard, before this fortress was built, thousands of them had already invaded!”
“Quit your bawling and hold your ground. Those monsters don’t discriminate. Regardless of their origins or status, they’re just prey before them. So we have to fight together.”
Rihar frowned at the words of the frightened subordinate. Compared to the trembling others, he was relatively calm.
‘My magical artifact has been taken by the Guardian Deity. I’ve paid the price as well. If I achieve merit, I might be able to reach that deity too.’
Rihar could maintain his composure largely because of a golden orb he had received just prior.
The Essence of Experience, which was snatched from Junyoung collecting materials for dimensional portals, was a substance that granted him mysterious power, which even mages couldn’t explain.
‘It’s different from the gods I knew. There’s a genuine readiness to embrace everyone.’
The Arin Tribe wasn’t solely made up of humans. Dwarf survivors who had escaped the monsters that destroyed their homeland also joined the Arin Tribe, and wondrously, the Guardian Deity was happy to bestow blessings upon the dwarves as well.
Rihar, shaken by the Guardian Deity’s action of granting rewards to him, a prisoner, had no choice but to take an interest in the being the Arin Tribe devoted themselves to so faithfully.
“You’ll survive, so don’t worry. We are… huh?”
Just as Rihar encouraged his subordinates to return alive, he caught sight of someone arriving.
A boy had just ridden up to the scene. Of course, although some young ones could become soldiers if they could ride, the reason Rihar was surprised was different.
“M-Mage!”
“?”
As Rihar shouted, Rasen turned around. Although Rasen didn’t know Rihar and the other mages, Rihar had seen the unidentified mage who had defeated the expeditionary force with grand magic illuminating the sky in the previous battle.
“W-What? Who are you?”
Rasen, riding a horse with a mage’s staff in one hand, flinched upon seeing a foreigner running toward him in fright, unlike himself.
At least, seeing Rihar’s outfit, he could guess that he might be a mage similar to him.
“These are external mages who sided with Luke. They’re from the Southern Kingdom.”
“A kingdom’s mage?”
One soldier next to Rasen chuckled and revealed their identities. Unsurprisingly, the attitude of the soldier who had lost a companion to the expeditionary force in the last battle was not very favorable.
