A Village Appeared on My Desktop

---

Chapter 66: Ascendancy (6)

“I’ve seen this a few times already, but it’s still fascinating.”

“It’s a sight that’s hard to get used to.”

In the early morning, as everyone began to wake up and start their tasks, they emerged from their homes.

They couldn’t help but gawk at the strange sight of transporters and miners digging into the ground, placing stone blocks into the square pits to pave roads.

This trio had recently joined the village as warriors of the Oren Tribe. Having surrendered, they became the village’s warriors, and they still fought as warriors.

‘This atmosphere is still unfamiliar.’

One of them, Naroo, scratched his head, taking in the surroundings.

This was a rather special village. First, there was hardly any distinction of status.

Warriors usually enjoyed a respected position as valuable middle-class forces in any tribe, but the Arin Tribe, led by Balun, was different.

Warriors lived and acted just like other tribe members. Tribe members didn’t bow their heads to them; rather, they were expected to take the lead in dangerous tasks.

However, they couldn’t complain about this culture.

Although it was an unspoken rule for the warriors of the grasslands to follow the strong, having witnessed the existence of an actual guardian deity with their own eyes, they no longer entertained thoughts of betrayal.

“Honestly, I want recognition too. If I could play a role and make a contribution to ‘those places,’ I might gain special powers as well.”

Naroo muttered as he glanced at his companions, Dune and the equipped Shura, who were crossing through a rift as if it were natural.

The real benefits offered to warriors here weren’t servitude or treatment.

In a place where miracles exist that can awaken those without natural mana, merely being a warrior didn’t hold much significance; they wanted to take on more important roles.

As Rasen and Shura gradually unlocked the essences of monsters while farming in the underground world’s dungeons, the number of people—regardless of age or gender—who had talent but couldn’t awaken it began to rise steadily.

Just awakening their mana didn’t guarantee special treatment or privileges.

“I guess it can’t be helped. Unless it’s the chieftain’s will, the roles assigned to us are determined by the guardian deity.”

Naroo sighed and shook his head. Honestly, bribing Balun individually wouldn’t make any sense. After all, all authority resided with the entity above Balun.

They had no choice but to act like ordinary warriors, scouting or standing guard, or engaging in personal training until that great entity called upon them.

“…Huh?”

At that moment, both Naroo and Dune’s bodies levitated in the air. With wide eyes, they flailed around.

*

“Riena needs to take a break.”

Waking up early to match the villagers’ routines, I yawned and sat down in front of the computer, starting to move as I had planned the day before. The residents conduct their own scouts, but I’m faster.

First, I flipped through the screens to see as far as possible. It was one of my habitual actions. The wider the scouting range of the villagers became, the more time this task took.

Especially since the Oren Tribe had launched an attack recently, the area was farther than usual.

‘Is there any way to manage this?’

Simply clicking to switch screens takes a while, and dragging things while moving back and forth takes even longer.

The mouse control I had grown used to became inefficient as the distance broadened.

Perhaps once I meet the Master Program, I might find programs with various functions to solve this issue, but for now, I had neither points nor time to search.

“No problem.”

Having completed the brief check, I returned to the village.

The village was buzzing with activity, filled with people moving about. Looking at the scurrying figures through the screens, it would be easy to mistake them for mere game characters, but the villagers weren’t dumb AI restricted to a game—they could think and act independently, making decisions I hadn’t considered when I wasn’t watching.

So, as they grew stronger, my burden lessened.

[Creature Hunting]

[Available Slot: 0/2]

Instead, with the activities related to games now holding significant weight in their lives, it was limited what they could manage on their own, so I, as the administrator, needed to intervene.

The first thing I did was assign new villagers to the newly activated game. I had done a brief taste test with Riena, so now I properly placed individuals who would engage there.

“I’ll take you two!”

I picked two sturdy warriors, named Naroo and Dune, who had recently joined the village.

I didn’t know what they would think, but I decided to deploy experienced veterans over mere beginners who had just awakened their mana.

‘Thank goodness they understood right away.’

I dropped them in front of the warehouse where the by-products of the bugs were stored. Luckily, they quickly understood the meaning and began to hurriedly gather the bug by-products alongside other villagers.

Black carapaces, poison fangs, stingers, wings, and hearts, among other things. It amounted to almost a whole cart’s worth.

“—!”

I stood beside that cart, drawing the attention of the two as they nervously glanced at my rugged face with its bushy beard. I pulled them into the game world.

We arrived in the city of hunters within Creature Hunting, where Riena had also come.

‘This isn’t great…’

Observing the two who were dragging the cart of bug by-products while looking around in shock, I sighed at my raccoon body. I couldn’t lead the charge in battle with this form—my only capability would be to provide support.

I could only hope that the two warriors would learn the special skills that could only be acquired here and fight well.

“I didn’t actually think they’d come; they really did arrive. But where’s that girl?”

Afterward, I took the dazed duo to the association to meet Brant, the staff member handing out quests.

Seeing us, he widened his eyes and began searching for Riena.

“Just as I expected, the quality is superb.”

Brant’s eyes sparkled as he saw the bug by-products. He must have deemed them to have significant value, as his desire to take them was apparent.

“I’ll pay a fair price; how would you like to receive it?”

Simultaneously, he presented me with the choice of receiving payment in in-game gold or physical goods equivalent to that gold, like equipment or materials.

I hesitated for a moment but chose the physical goods. After all, what I wanted to obtain from this game were equipment and crafting materials made from special materials.

“I hope to see you often, little friend.”

Seemingly pleased with our transaction, he looked down at me and handed over the promised items.

Equipment and materials crafted from resources obtained by hunting strong enemies—these were quite high-tier. I urged Naroo and Dune, who were just standing there awkwardly, to put on some of the items.

As I bounced around on top of the equipment in the cart, pointing at them, they finally understood and hurriedly equipped themselves.

‘They should start hunting the small ones and raise their proficiency.’

I detached the cart and sent it back to the village, then looked at the two outfitted in the hunters’ gear made from mutant by-products. I repeated sitting and standing as a signal for them to follow me.

This behavior, which can be taken in almost every game and which I enjoyed using, seemed to have made some sense among them.

Even the two newcomers understood the meaning and began to follow suit.

My goal was to have them complete hunting missions, gaining proficiency and by-products, and learn crafting techniques so they could produce their own equipment.

“Let’s test their skills.”

Once we left the city, the field unfolded before us, filled with all sorts of monsters that could be hunted.

The target I aimed for was one of the weaker and smaller creatures, Titanus, which beginners first encounter.

It resembled a massive bird inspired by a horror creature.

“—!”

The target was not hard to spot. A giant bird with red feathers charged at us, not fleeing upon noticing us.

Comparing its size to the villagers, it stood at least 2 meters tall. But in-game terms, even a newbie could easily take it down.

Looking at the creature, Naroo and Dune, both warriors from the grasslands, seemed startled. But soon, they refocused and prepared for battle.

True to their skill with bows, Naroo took aim at the Titanus with the enormous bow he was handling for the first time. The arrow he was about to shoot was actually crafted from the Titanus’s by-products.

“They fight well, huh?”

With nothing more I could do than cheer them on as a mascot character, I couldn’t help but smile as I watched. The flying arrow struck the monster’s chest, causing it to stumble as it charged at us.

In that moment, Dune, wielding a large and heavy hammer made from the bones of a massive creature, rushed in and dealt a full-powered blow to the Titanus’s leg, shattering it.

They executed the ambush so smoothly and cleanly, it was even smoother than a real game fight. It seemed that defeating a creature at this level wasn’t hard for experienced warriors like them.

“—.”

“—…”

I approached them as they caught their breath and moved to the fallen Titanus’s corpse. The collection button activated, and all by-products flowed into my inventory.

The body that had fallen limp instantly vanished. The two were taken aback by this game’s mechanics and stared at me in astonishment.

‘Surprisingly, they’re adapting quickly.’

Having collected the by-products, I continued walking with them, who looked dazed.

I needed to increase their adaptability and complete the quest by hunting down ten Titanus. After that, they could raise their hunter grade, hunt stronger enemies, and repeat the process.

Even though I had picked the weakest creature, they managed to easily take down a monster in this world without strong skills like Riena’s, thanks to their abilities and equipment.

With just a little help, they could manage their own activities and achieve results.

And with those achievements, the items they could acquire would become finely crafted equipment infused with special powers, further fortifying the residents who would continue battling those dreadful beasts.