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Chapter 121 – Kingdom (1)

Creating a multi is necessary anyway, and if we’re going to push forward in this direction, we need a base to replace the overly tucked away first village.

With that thought in mind, I built a new village in the old Territory of Garhan that Balun occupied.

‘Rather than making a village, it’s more like guiding them.’

I don’t do everything alone. I neither have the ability nor the need to do so. Once I designated the approximate area and location with defense turrets, Balun quickly sent a large number of miners and transporters to the site.

“W-whoa, that’s a lot!”

As Balun rapidly increased the number of technicians brought from the village, I opened the document showing data on the Arin Tribe, astonished.

The population jumped into the tens of thousands. Naturally, those who had awakened their traits increased significantly as well.

Farmers, miners, transporters, and loggers, they are individuals who can awaken through sandbox crafting and don’t need mana.

Thanks to that, awakening was easy, and qualifying wasn’t a problem either.

‘Not to mention, they’re also growing.’

I looked at Morin, who was shouting at the newbie transporters.

As the representative of the transporters, he was no longer just a transporter. Like Riena’s trait evolving from martial arts to Paladin, his trait evolved from transporters to architect.

Based on his experience, he was now able to install even more blocks.

With someone like him leading more than twenty successors, gigantic walls began to rise several meters every day.

Once the wall was complete, I demolished the defense turrets and installed them on top of the castle wall. I wondered if the warriors of the grassland, not accustomed to siege warfare, could really break through this defense system against the bugs.

“I’ll leave the command to Balun. I need to handle some tasks too.”

The residents were busily moving even after winning the war, but in reality, so was I.

“…Geez, how much is this?”

One of the tasks was selling some by-products collected from the bugs in the north to the creature hunting guild.

Brant, a guild worker, sighed as he looked at the piles of by-products stacked on multiple carts brought by me and the hunters. We had generously handed over a substantial amount to the artisans for equipment, yet this much remained.

“According to the law, I must accept it, but I’m really curious. Where do you catch such odd variants from?”

Brant couldn’t hide his curiosity while handing over the money. Of course, both I and the hunters could only mumble evasively. After all, even if we told the truth, nobody would believe it.

“–! —!”

I distributed the gold received from Brant to the hunters.

They cheered at the golden coins pouring out but, unlike usual, didn’t recklessly buy alcohol.

These gold coins weren’t their earnings from hunting, but rather the equivalent of lives earned by their companions and families.

‘With this much money, it’s about time I bought some expensive equipment. I should show them around the world as well.’

Watching them, I selected four hunters, led by veteran hunters Naroo and Dune, to board a cart heading to another city.

It was to purchase more equipment with the gold acquired and to give them a wider variety of experiences.

“—!?”

Of course, they were shocked when I dragged them with the mouse and right-clicked, making their bodies move on their own.

“I’m also continuing to awaken the warriors. But for now, I can’t move recklessly.”

Surviving on rough terrain meant constant war. We won, but the expected battles weren’t over yet.

The northern fortress was gathering troops to begin an offensive operation against the bug nests before the heat from the victory cooled. Meanwhile, the western village under Balun’s command was organizing new troops alongside construction.

In games, residents risk their lives fighting monsters for themselves and their tribes. In such a tense situation, I found myself with nothing to do.

It was partly because I was concerned about getting in the way and partly because the residents were handling things so well.

“Here’s the latest news. There are more and more people emerging in South Korea claiming to be guardians connected to users…”

Thanks to that, my attention shifted elsewhere. I opened an internet window to check a news article. It was about those shocking new bugs or users that had recently emerged.

‘Completely different from us, but still users.’

I, being the user, raised the residents appearing on my desktop using programs and games. This applied to other users who got embroiled after me as well.

However, the unknown users who left those ‘residents’ on Earth were nurturing Earthlings in an entirely different way.

According to their testimonies, they were dragged into strange spaces, forced to train, and returned with abilities.

They started hunting bugs, claiming it was their duty. Thanks to the users who had already emerged, most countries knowledgeable about the user, Master Program, guardians, and bugs didn’t stop them.

More precisely, it was close to them not being able to stop them. They were offering to deal with those strange monsters that wreaked havoc, who would otherwise need the military to fire cannons and missiles to catch them.

If they wanted to avoid public backlash, they couldn’t stop them. Ultimately, countries tried to negotiate with them.

“I never expected potions to hit it big like this.”

Lee So-Yeon said that. Just as she mentioned, not only users but guardians were also revealing themselves in this world, rapidly increasing the usage of various by-products obtained while running the Master Program.

Especially potions that refilled mana or healed injuries became essential items for them.

Though there were still few guardians in the country, the number of users wasn’t high, and above all, it seemed that rather than decreasing, the number of guardians would continue to grow.

‘If they can keep things safe…’

Their emergence wasn’t a bad thing for me. They would help ease our burdens. Of course, they were still in the early stages. It was reminiscent of when Balun and Riena first approached me and gradually adapted.

“This is a real situation. Once again, I inform you. This is…”

It was at that moment that a loud alarm sounded, and evacuation orders were issued. The cause: bugs that had appeared by opening rifts in the vicinity.

Even while we were diligently blocking them alongside the residents on screen, the trickling nuisances began to gradually invade this world.

We weren’t fully prepared to confront such nuisances yet.

It was impossible for the military to immediately deploy to the scene. If they fired missiles or launched fighter jets, the city would also be destroyed. In such a situation, if those nuisances attempted an assault, it would be the usual scenario of numerous casualties.

“…I have to believe.”

In that situation, the me of the past would’ve flat out stayed home, but I pulled down the hood of my cloak and hurried outside.

*

“What does it say?”

“It says, according to the will of God, we will continue the operation to establish a base in the west, so we should proceed with the assault.”

It was a letter from Balun. Riena, who read it, explained the content to those who hadn’t learned to read yet. Everyone nodded as if they understood the gravity of the situation.

Among them were also wizards from the Southern Kingdom who had managed to survive.

“Should we have not sent him?”

“Whether Rihar returns safely or not, if they recognize this situation and side with us, that would be a great strength.”

Rakur whispered, glancing at the empty spots among the wizards, but Riena shook her head.

In the end, they sent Rihar. From their perspective, Rihar’s resolve to fight bugs while crossing the frontlines was strong and trustworthy, especially as the guardian deity didn’t intervene but merely watched.

Thus, alongside the mission to inform Rihar about what was happening in this northern border, he was also given the mission to deliver a personal letter from Balun to the Arin Tribe.

This was the moment when the name of the Arin Tribe, who had been staying on the outskirts, was first conveyed to a world calling themselves a superior civilized society compared to the Northerners.

“What if they don’t even believe Rihar’s testimony, who is their kin?”

“Then… one day, they too will repeat foolish acts and face divine judgment, either surrendering their lives and land to the black monsters.”

“The latter isn’t really appealing to us and would become a disaster.”

Hearing Riena’s words, Rakur chuckled. Ignoring not only themselves but the bugs could lead to suffering for those left behind if crushed by that absurd force.

‘Like it or not, we need to become one. Because we have to fight.’

Riena fiddled with her sword, surveying the surroundings. Thousands of troops were now ready for departure.

The goal was to muster their strength and cleanse the bug nests that had attacked them. If they were attacked once, they’d pay back more than double. That was their self-established rule.

“According to the reconnaissance so far, beyond these five nests is a large river that the dwarves called the Mother River. Since the river itself will serve as a barrier, if we can secure this point, it will be much easier to hold off those nuisances.”

“In the end, we must ensure success with this expedition no matter what. Let’s depart!”

Confirming how crucial this expedition was, they all surged out of the fortress. They began crossing the plains in front of the fortress where thousands of corpses had piled up just days prior, splitting into three groups, each heading towards their assigned dungeons.

“Brother, the left flank should be fine. Riena is with them.”

“Y-yeah, I know that too.”

While attempting to glance at the torn left flank, Rakur, who was leading the center, repeatedly turned his head, prompting Rasen, riding nearby, to speak up.

Upon hearing that, Rakur flinched and nodded his head.

“Clueless guy.”

“Hmm?”

Seeing that, Shura sighed beside him, while Rasen scratched his head, confused about why the surrounding people reacted in such a way.

‘That person always shines consistently.’

Despite his innocent little brother’s comment, Riena’s heart remained untouched. After seeing people who followed and sought the divine in the game, Riena developed an aura that was difficult for other residents to approach regarding faith.

It was undoubtedly the power of the Celestial Blessing she received but also the power she forged herself.

And that strength transcended the world. Just as Riena grew through a meeting with someone.

‘It should be a little distance from an intersection where there’s a mart.’

No longer afraid or hesitating, a person leapt forward boldly to kill the enemies.

Believing in the experiences shared together and the accomplishments they had achieved.

“B-a variant!”

“Don’t be afraid, don’t fall back!”

[Rising Moon Slash · Light of Judgment]

Riena was the same. No matter what enemy stood before her, she drew her sword and swung it.

Just as the intense golden flash erupted, she cleaved through a towering enemy with a much larger and heavier body.

 

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