Chapter 39

There is a system in Sillia Online called channels.

Even though Sillia Online emphasizes freedom, if too many players gather in one place, it becomes impossible to enjoy the game.

Thus, to ensure a smooth gaming experience, they implemented the channel system when there were too many people in one area.

If you think of the world as a room, it’s like creating another identical room to separate the crowd.

Channels normally do not affect each other under any circumstances.

For example, killing a monster in this channel won’t make the same monster disappear in the other channel, and vice versa.

However, during special events—specifically, Change Events—the mutual non-interference rule is broken, and the event affects other channels.

For instance, if the town where Jini is located gets destroyed by an ogre, that result is reflected in every other channel as well as the entire world.

In other words, whatever occurs in that channel becomes official history; hence, it’s called a Change Event.

Though the exact conditions for triggering a Change Event are unknown, players suspected that it might involve NPCs, since every Change Event they experienced had been somehow related to them.

Still, just because an NPC was involved, it didn’t always mean an event would occur, leaving it merely a guess.

This rare event, hard to come across even in one’s entire gaming life, wasn’t common enough for Jini to have personally experienced it—she just knew it existed.

The problem was that when a Change Event occurred, only those present at the event could participate.

Evidence of this was when some viewers tried to join Jini’s channel but were blocked.

“…It’s no small matter since it concerns the survival of the town, but why exactly now…?”

After briefly despairing, Jini calmly assessed the town’s forces.

There were about twenty guards protecting the village, eight mercenaries hired by the caravan, and eleven players including herself.

Though there may be more people capable of wielding weapons, in terms of combat ability, the count roughly equaled that.

In truth, even Jini’s generous estimation overstated the actual fighting power, which would be even less effective.

Small-town guards wouldn’t stand a chance against ogres.

“And the mercenaries won’t be much help either.”

They might inflict minor injuries or divert attention, but delivering deep wounds or decisive blows would be unlikely.

In the end, the only ones Jini could truly rely on were the players.

Jini quickly analyzed the situation and asked the players:

“What are your levels? And your classes?”

“I’m a magician, level 45.”

“Level 35! I’m a priest!”

“Level 40 Barrier Magician.”

“Me….”

As the players introduced themselves upon Jini’s request, her face grew darker with each word.

“…It’s not enough.”

Though she didn’t outwardly show it, Jini knew that these forces wouldn’t stand much of a chance against an ogre group.

It would be doable with two or three, but anything more, and they wouldn’t even last.

– Hm…

– This seems tough.

– Levels are too low T_T

– There are too many healers.

– Why would such low-levels even think of helping? They’re just in the way.

“Bad words will be punished, you know?”

Even though her forces were weaker than she’d hoped, Jini believed it was disrespectful to complain about people who had willingly come to help. Thus, she quickly cleared out a few troublesome viewers.

After finishing, Jini turned her attention back to the players.

“Let’s come up with a strategy. Any good ideas?”

“…”

“…”

“Well….”

An awkward silence spread.

For some reason, this awkward silence seemed familiar to Jini.

– Can’t breathe.

– I can’t breathe just hearing it.

– Is this a group project?

“…That’s it!”

Oh, this was something she’d experienced many times during college.

However, recognizing the familiarity didn’t change the situation.

The NPCs, sensing the unease as well, began quieting down.

“If only we knew how many were coming, it would help.”

When questioned, the hunter who first spotted the ogres admitted he didn’t know the exact number.

He had fled in a panic after confirming it was an ogre, not even sparing a glance to count them.

“Uh… Jini-sama?”

“Yes?”

“Isn’t it possible to just ask Kana-sama for help?”

The priest cautiously asked, hand raised.

“I mean, even if we couldn’t ask, Jini-sama could, right?”

“…”

Jini hesitated.

Would Kana accept her request?

Most of all…

“…I didn’t want to ask Kana for help.”

But there were too many things at stake to be stubborn.

As Jini wavered between standing by her principles and facing the harsh reality, a young man who had gone on a reconnaissance mission returned.

“They’re coming!”

“How many? How many?”

“Are they coming this way? How close are they?”

“Ten, and…they were far away, but they’re probably near the flower fields by now!”

“Wait, ten?!”

The group was shocked by the unexpectedly high number.

Jini was amongst the stunned.

It was challenging to handle even two or three ogres, let alone ten.

“…This is impossible.”

Jini muttered unconsciously.

There was no clear way out.

“Let’s flee now!”

“It’s not too late! Hurry, pack the carts!”

“Jini-sama!”

“…”

Reality weighed heavily on Jini.

She lowered her head, drowned in helplessness and despair.

“Kana… I need your strength. Could you help?”

“…”

“…?”

Kana didn’t reply.

She neither reluctantly accepted nor immediately declined the plea.

“Kana?”

Jini, puzzled by the silence, slowly raised her head.

Kana’s small bird-like eyes weren’t focused on her.

They were directed outward, towards beyond the village.

Following Kana’s gaze, Jini murmured absent-mindedly.

“…The mountain?”

* * *

Whatever Jini was saying didn’t register with me.

I have no time to spare.

‘It was strange from the start.’

The signs were there when the Orc groups began to appear.

Their condition was too good to be true for beings searching for a new territory due to overcrowding.

Now, looking back, it seems their purpose was evacuation.

Escaping from an enemy they couldn’t overcome to seek a new home.

It seems the ogres heading towards this village now are no different.

“…”

I sense movement from the mountain.

Given how early the evacuation began, did they instinctively sense the danger?

If they could detect the arrival of Dimensional Beasts, it’s hard to say who the true Kanaria is here.

“Kana?”

Jini called my name again.

What was that… right, she asked for help.

“Move aside.”

She probably meant to ask me to kill the incoming ogres.

She doesn’t know there’s something else lurking behind.

There’d be no problem if it stayed hidden in the mountain, but unfortunately, the Dimensional Beast that emerged doesn’t seem to be staying put.

It might have sensed me, just as I sensed it.

It seems to be coming towards me.

If it wants to die so badly, there’s nothing I can do.

“I’ll take care of them.”

“Huh, really? Yup! Thank you!”

I glanced disapprovingly at Jini, who bowed deeply in gratitude.

…Not to you.

There’s no point in correcting the misunderstanding anyway.

‘Not enough time for that either.’

Suuw.

I’ve drawn my sword.

“…What’s going on? Are you trying to fight?”

“Don’t let her do it! Stop her!”

“Why ask a kid to fight…”

It’s noisy.

I didn’t pay attention to the surrounding commotion because I couldn’t understand it anyway.

That’s right.

I paused gathering strength in my legs for a moment to take off my cape.

I didn’t want to see it get torn like last time.

Besides, this battle is going to be rough.

“Here, keep this.”

Before waiting for Jini’s response, I tossed it at her and dashed forward.

Paat!

Everything around me blurred and stretched.

People, buildings, fences, fields, roads.

Ogres.

“First one.”

Running at blinding speed, I lightly jumped and swung my sword.

Without any resistance, the sword passed through the ogre’s neck.

The next one was gnawing on what looked like animal meat, so I shoved the sword down its throat since it looked very hungry.

There was no resistance either, which was fitting since I’d be disgraced if I couldn’t easily handle such basic monsters after achieving mastery.

If not, I’d probably be fighting in some distant battlefield or serving under a wealthy noble in the empire.

…Ugh. Just imagining that makes me sick.

“…This is your fault.”

You deserve to die a hundred times for making me have those thoughts.

I smoothly beheaded the ogres, their necks laced with a slight mana.

By the time I’d dispatched the first four ogres, the distorted surroundings finally returned to normal.

Whoosh.

Kooong!

The ogres dropped their heads with a loud crash, and red blood sprayed out in fountains.

“Uh… croak??”

“Yeah. Croak.”

To my knowledge, ogres aren’t particularly known for camaraderie, but seeing a comrade die in front of them should be enough to prompt revenge.

However, these ogres, which had not even noticed their comrades being killed until now, were merely confused at their sudden fall.

It’s only natural since their friends were fine just a moment ago.

While kindly answering the ogre’s confused utterance, I hunted down the remaining ones.

One cut per ogre, a simple yet effective method.

It took less than half a minute for all ten ogres to fall.

Even if they were prepared, they wouldn’t have stood a chance against me, and the shock of their comrades being killed in an ambush left them unable to lift their weapons.

Killing such stunned opponents is as easy as eating a pancake lying down.

After casually shaking the blood off, I turned around.

Alright, then…

“Hello there. Did you come to see me?”

Nice to meet you.

I waved at the light shimmering in the darkness.