A Village Appeared on My Desktop

---

Chapter 46 – The Wind of Change (6)

‘Is there really such a reward?’

I was flabbergasted. It was a reward I couldn’t even imagine, let alone anticipate. No matter how many攻略 videos I searched through from various rankers, I wouldn’t find this kind of item.

Because this wasn’t just some NPC programmed by developers, but a real person sincerely offering their heartfelt gratitude.

[Hermit’s Cloak]

“Actually, this isn’t something I made. It’s a special item I stumbled upon about ten years ago. I know that it holds a special power like the masterpieces I create, but I could never figure out exactly what that was. I thought perhaps you might know.”

The Armor Artisan explained the story behind this black cloak he received in the past while handing it over to me. This black cloak adorned with a bit of golden decoration clearly wasn’t an item that existed in the original game, but it was treated as a form of equipment that my character could wear.

‘Action support and stealth, huh.’

The Armor Artisan said he couldn’t figure out the power contained within the cloak despite his efforts. However, to my eyes, all the special functions of this cloak were displayed as tooltips.

Just reading the effects already indicated that it was quite a useful piece of equipment. It was a good means of strengthening my character, which needed to match the growing prowess of Riena.

[First Achievement Unlocked: True Heart]

[Reward Selection Available]

“Uh?”

But this opportunity wasn’t just to strengthen my character alone.

Seeing the following message pop up, I was frozen in surprise. It wasn’t just a simple quest in the game, but recognized as an achievement, and the reward was something entirely different from what I’d imagined.

[Hermit’s Cloak Available for Selection]

My mouse twitched, having lost its way. Regardless of the instruction to select, the only reward available to me right now was just that Hermit’s Cloak I had just obtained.

‘Is it possible to bring this into reality?’

Of course, what item I choose right now wasn’t the important part. The truly important thing was that, just like how I applied one of Riena’s traits onto myself as a past reward, I could bring that item from the screen into reality.

There were no other options. My heart racing, I selected the Hermit’s Cloak, and soon the monitor began to ripple unexpectedly, then expelled something toward me without any forewarning.

Immediately, I caught the wide expanse of black fabric that splashed onto my face, and thanks to my enhanced reflexes, I barely avoided toppling over.

“…It’s real.”

And looking at the smoothness in my hands, I couldn’t help but smile weakly. The item I’d seen in-game had truly popped out right before my eyes.

“Ha.”

I suddenly let out a hollow laugh. If it sprang out from my monitor, it couldn’t possibly be just a piece of cloth.

Thinking about whether I had genuinely brought the game item with me, I quickly got up from my seat to spread out the cloak. It was a large cloak that could mostly cover my rather tall frame. Just putting it on felt awkward.

But somehow, I managed to drape it over my shoulders and wrap it around my body.

Using the mysterious power contained in this cloak was also not difficult. I could intuitively sense that it operated as I wished, without any special triggers.

With a sensation of something quickly slipping out from my body, the cloak twitched.

‘How do I confirm this?’

The tooltip read “Action Support and Stealth,” but when I held up my phone to reflect on the black screen, I saw my appearance unchanged.

It seemed that I didn’t disappear even from my own eyes as the user. That would certainly be inconvenient.

So, the method that came to mind was to take a photo with my phone. After all, stealth techniques captured on a CCTV wouldn’t hold any value back on modern Earth.

‘It really works.’

And seeing the results, I couldn’t help but let out a snicker. I had clearly taken a photo using the front camera, yet there was nothing visible on the screen.

The stealth function written in the tooltip had truly been applied. I’d have to check if it could evade various sensors or heat sensors, or infrared cameras, but for now, I focused on the fact that the item had indeed operated in this reality.

Whether I can use this item in reality was not what mattered. What was important was that such rewards would continue to be given, ensuring my safety with each one. That was the most crucial part.

*

“Why’s it suddenly acting like this? After all this effort to obtain it.”

“He does this sometimes.”

While he was flailing around with the cloak that had suddenly appeared in reality.

In the game, the Armor Artisan scratched his head while looking at him like a mannequin, holding onto the cloak. Riena, already accustomed to his antics, shrugged it off.

After all, he’d still come back around after standing still like that for a while.

“This armor I’m giving you is my masterpiece. I couldn’t bring myself to just sell it for money, so I’ve been saving it. I would prefer it not to just be used by someone with a lot of gold, but for a true knight.”

“…I gratefully accept it.”

The Armor Artisan chuckled with bittersweet feelings while removing the covering cloth. Though it was a reward for saving his daughter, this was Riena’s first experience with such a gift, leaving her at a loss for words as she expressed her thanks repeatedly.

“Making it for a female knight was indeed a wise choice after all.”

“Th-this is…”

It was an item obtainable only in this Dark Blood world, and the masterpiece created by a craftsman was finally revealed.

The artisan proudly tapped his work, and Riena froze at the sight. While the material, functionality, and several decorated ornaments were all fitting pieces of armor, they were subtly different from what she had expected.

“Is this how armor is originally made here?”

“What’s wrong? Is there an issue? It looks like it would suit you quite well.”

Riena finally opened her mouth, pointing her finger at the armor.

The artisan was nonetheless busy bragging about the armor, boasting it had basic auto-recovery features powered by the user’s mana, adjustable functions, and enhanced magic resistance.

‘Is this the kind of armor worn here?’

At least at that moment, Riena, who tightly shut her eyes, and even the artisan who produced the armor, had no idea that this armor, which exposed portions of the thighs and chest, was the result of a mod created by players.

Thus, there was no escaping it. She just had to wear it.

‘Come to think of it, I installed some mods when I first got recommended this game. I didn’t know what they were at the time.’

Having neatly folded the cloak he brought into reality and placed it aside, he sat back down, lamenting upon seeing the armor Riena had received, pulling his hair in frustration. After all, this game was one he installed based on his friend’s recommendation.

Literally, he knew nothing and just followed what his friend told him to do, which led to this.

‘So far, the only mod installed is this one.’

While Riena was changing into the armor she obtained, he checked the game files to see if there were any other variables he may have installed.

Upon confirming, thankfully or unfortunately, the only installed mod was one that slightly tweaked the appearance of items or characters.

“Wouldn’t that lower the defense instead? I’m worried.”

“Don’t worry. It’s structured to maximize functionality. Besides, with your level of expertise, it shouldn’t be a problem.”

Though Riena felt a sense of distrust, the Armor Artisan firmly believed that this was the perfect form to maximize performance, applied in a modded state as it was.

He was speechless, watching the scene unfolding on the screen, yet Riena, encountering this special equipment for the first time, believed that trusting the artisan was the best option.

In fact, the artisan wasn’t wrong either. Riena’s skills had long surpassed the need for armor.

“Do you still have places to go?”

And Riena had no time to feel awkward. After leaving the workshop, he had already set his course towards the next destination for the next plan, and she had no choice but to follow behind him, regardless of how others looked at her.

‘So, so embarrassing!’

But to get used to it would still require time. Although she was from a tribe that was relatively carefree and didn’t mind much about exposed skin, she had lived her childhood more as a warrior who needed to fight than as a woman.

Fortunately, it was a stroke of luck for her that he didn’t pursue the day’s affairs any further after arriving at their destination.

“You certainly don’t look ordinary; it seems you’ve been through a lot.”

“Y-yeah.”

When Riena returned to the village. Chieftain Balun, who had already come back around the same time, chuckled as he took in her appearance.

No matter Riena’s reaction, Balun barely paid it any mind. He approached with an attitude that it was all by the will of God.

“I want to eliminate the Bug Nest nearby as soon as possible. I couldn’t muster the courage until now, but how about now? You’ve acquired new equipment, and the number of warriors, including Rakum, has also increased by three.”

What Balun was concerned about was the Bug Nest that had appeared near the village a few days ago.

When Riena had ventured there as part of reconnaissance, she had deemed it absolutely out of reach, but it would be foolish to leave that lair unattended just because monsters weren’t currently erupting from it.

They had all grown significantly stronger compared to when they first discovered that place, so Balun argued that it was time to try again.

“I think it’s worth attempting.”

Knowing why she was slogging through this game world, Riena agreed with Balun’s words. Now that she had reliable companions to fight alongside, she felt she could take on that gigantic, terrifying spider they had seen inside the nest.

“When our reconnaissance team returns with something to report, let’s make our next raid attempt the following day.”

Having confirmed her determination, Balun decided that they would proceed with their conquest the moment the reconnaissance team, currently out in the distance, returned.

He was confident it wouldn’t take long. Just as they had previously tracked down and retrieved those who had gone far away, the moment the reconnaissance team made any discoveries, he would bring them back to the village in one fell swoop.

‘Is it really time to head back now?’

In actuality, he spotted those among the scattered reconnaissance team who were beginning to make their way back, concluding they could advance no further, and using mouse control, he transported them straight to the village.

Though there were times when hostile beasts appeared, breaking the mouse control and threatening the exhausted residents, each time, his enormous hammer would fall from the skies, squishing the enemies entirely.