Chapter 39<blockquote>


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    There is a system in Silia Online called “channels.”


    No matter how much Silia Online prioritizes freedom, if too many yers gather in one area, it bes difficult to enjoy the game.


    To address this, the developers created the channel system to ensure a smooth gaming experience when a location bes too crowded.


    If we think of the world as a room, the channel system creates an identical, separate room to distribute the load.


    Normally, these channels do not affect each other at all.


    For instance, if a monster is killed in one channel, the same monster in another channel is not affected. The opposite holds true as well.


    However, during special events—such as a “Mutation Event”—the rules of separation are broken, and actions in one channel can impact others.For example, if Blum Vige, where Joanie is currently located, is destroyed by an ogre, this destruction would be reflected across all channels, and even the entire world.


    In short, whatever happens in one channel bes official history, hence the term ‘Mutation’.


    The exact conditions for triggering a Mutation Event remain unclear, though yers specte that it might be rted to NPCs.


    This theory arose from the observation that past Mutation Events were directly or indirectly linked to NPCs.


    However, just because an NPC is involved doesn’t guarantee that a Mutation Event will ur, so the theory remains spective.


    Mutation Events are rare—not so scarce that yers only experience them once in their gaming lifetime, but not frequent enough to be consideredmon. As a result, Joanie knew about Mutation Events, but had never personally experienced one.


    The issue is that only those present at the moment of a Mutation Event can participate in it.


    This was evident from the viewers who tried to join Joanie’s channel but were blocked.


    “The vige’s survival is on the line, so it’s definitely a big deal… but why now…?”


    After briefly despairing, Joanie calmly assessed the vige’s defenses.


    There were about twenty vige guards, eight mercenaries hired by the merchant caravan, and eleven yers, including herself.


    Although more people could potentially fight, those were the numbers she considered for the actualbat force.


    In fact, Joanie was being generous with her assessment, and it wouldn’t have been unreasonable to assume the real strength was even lower.


    After all, the vige guards in such a small settlement wouldn’t be much help against an ogre.


    ‘And the mercenaries likely won’t make a huge difference either.’


    While they might be able to inflict minor wounds or distract the enemy, they wouldn’t be able to deal any decisive blows.


    Ultimately, Joanie would have to rely on her fellow yers.


    After quickly analyzing the situation, Joanie turned to the other yers and asked:


    “What are your levels? Oh, and your sses too.”


    “I’m a mage, level 45.”


    “I’m, uh, level 35! A priest!”


    “I’m a level 40 barrier mage.”


    “I’m….”


    As the yers introduced themselves in response to Joanie’s request, her expression grew increasingly grim.


    ‘…It’s not enough.’


    Joanie didn’t show it, but from what she could see, their current group wasn’t equipped to handle a horde of ogres.


    Maybe they’d have a shot if it were only three or four.


    But anything more, and they wouldn’t just fail to defeat them—they wouldn’t even be able to hold their ground.


    — “Hm…”


    — “This looks tough.”


    — “Their levels are way too low.”


    — “Way too many healers.”


    — “Why did those lowbies even join? They’re just dead weight and dragging the group down!”


    “If you talk like that, you know what happens, right?”


    It was true that they were underpoweredpared to what she had hoped for, but as someone who valued manners, Joanie refused toin about people who had willinglye to help. Whether as a streamer or just a decent person, that wasn’t eptable behavior.


    So, she swiftly dealt with a few viewers whosements were getting out of hand.


    Once that was done, she turned her attention back to the yers.


    “…Should wee up with a strategy? Anyone got any good ideas?”


    “…”


    “…”


    “Hmm…”


    An awkward silence fell over the group.


    For some reason, Joanie found this atmosphere strangely familiar.


    — “I can’t breathe-”


    — “Man, this is so cringe, I’m embarrassed for them”


    — “Is this a group project?”


    “That’s it!”


    Right, this was just like those group projects in college.


    Still, recognizing why it felt familiar didn’t change the current situation.


    The NPCs, watching the yers, must have sensed the tension and slowly quieted down as well.


    ‘If only we knew how many ogres wereing, we could n better.’


    She had asked the hunter who first spotted them, but even he didn’t know the exact number. The moment he realized they were ogres, he had turned tail and fled, not even taking time to count.


    “Um, Joanie?”


    “Yes?”


    “Can’t we just ask Kana for help?”


    A priest raised their hand and timidly asked.


    “I mean, maybe she’d listen to you even if she won’t help us…”


    “…”


    Joanie hesitated.


    Would Kana even agree to help?


    More than that…


    ‘I really don’t want to ask Kana for help.’


    But there was too much at stake to be stubborn.


    Conviction and reality. Joanie was wavering between the two when a young man who had gone out on reconnaissance came running into the vige, shouting.


    “They’reing…!”


    “…!”


    “How many? How many are there?”


    “Are they headed this way? Where are they now?”


    “There’s ten of them… They were far away earlier, but now they must be near the flower field!”


    “Te-ten of them?!”


    Everyone who heard was shocked by the sheer number.


    Joanie was no exception.


    Even facing three or four would be tough, but ten?


    “This is impossible…”


    Joanie muttered without realizing it.


    No way out of this situation seemed apparent.


    “Let’s run! We can still escape!”


    “There’s still time! Load up your stuff, quick!”


    “Joanie!”


    “….”


    Joanie’s mind was swinging heavily toward reality.


    Feeling defeated and miserable, she lowered her head.


    “Canaria… I need your strength. Can you help?”


    “….”


    “…?”


    Canaria remained silent.


    She neither reluctantly agreed nor tly refused.


    “…Canaria?”


    Joanie, puzzled by herpleteck of reaction, slowly raised her head.


    The small bird wasn’t looking at her.


    Canaria’s gaze was fixed outside the vige, toward something far off.


    Joanie followed the direction of her stare and murmured without thinking.


    “…The mountain?”


    ***


    Joanie was saying something, but I didn’t have the attention to spare.


    I knew something was off from the start.


    Since the orc horde appeared, there were signs.


    The state of the orcs was too good to be merely driven out by an overcrowded territory.


    Now that I think about it, their true aim was probably evacuation.


    They were fleeing from an overwhelming enemy, seeking a new haven.


    And I’d bet that the ogresing this way are no different.


    …


    I feel a presence from the mountain.


    They must have instinctively sensed dangering. Fleeing ahead of time—are they able to sense the appearance of dimensional creatures?


    A canary that can detect the arrival of a dimensional creature… now that’s ironic.


    “Canaria?”


    Joanie called my name again.


    What was she asking earlier…?


    Ah, right, she asked for help.


    “Step aside.”


    She probably wanted me to kill the iing ogres.


    But she had no idea there was something far worse following them.


    If I just hide quietly in the mountains, it wouldn’t matter, but unfortunately, it seems like the dimensional creature that appeared in the mountains has other thoughts.


    Perhaps, just as I sensed it, it might have sensed me too.


    Judging by the way it’s approaching me.


    If it wants to die that badly, I can’t help it.


    “I’ll kill you.”


    “Uh, um? Thanks!”


    I looked at Joanie, who bowed her waist with a puzzled expression.


    …That wasn’t meant for you.


    There’s no need to rify that misunderstanding.


    ‘There’s no time for that.’


    <i>Swoosh.</i>


    I drew my sword.


    “…What? Are you really going to fight?”


    “Why aren’t you stopping me?! Hurry up and stop me!”


    “Requesting a fight from such a young child…”


    It’s so noisy.


    I ignored the chatter around me since I wouldn’t understand anyway.


    “Oh.”


    That’s right.


    I momentarily paused in gathering strength in my legs to run and took off my cape.


    “Here, hold this.”


    I don’t want to see it getting torn likest time.


    Besides, this battle seems like it might get a bit rough.


    Without waiting for Joanie’s reply, I tossed the cape to her and started running.


    <i>Whoosh—!</i>


    The objects around me elongated.


    People, buildings, fences, fields, roads.


    An ogre.


    “One down.”


    I lightly leaped while maintaining a speed that felt more like being shot than running, swinging my sword.


    The sword passed through the ogre’s neck without any resistance.


    Next was the creature that seemed to be tearing into animal meat. It looked very hungry, so I shoved my sword down its throat.


    Again, there was no resistance, nor any sense of it.


    Being a Master and struggling to take down just an ogre would be quite shameful.


    If that were the case, my body would probably be rolling around somewhere on a battlefield.


    Or maybe I’d be stuck serving a wealthy noble, trying to curry favor.


    …Ugh. Just thinking about it makes me feel sick.


    “…It’s your fault.”


    You made me think about such unpleasant scenarios.


    For that crime, you deserve to die a hundred times.


    With a thinyer of mana wrapped around my sword, I beheaded the ogre.


    When I had in a total of four, including the first two, the surroundings that had been in chaos finally returned to their original state.


    <i>Pshh.</i>


    <i>Kuh-whooom!</i>


    The headless ogres copsed, shaking the ground.


    From their severed necks, red blood gushed out like a fountain.


    “…Kruak?!”


    “Yep. Kruak.”


    As far as I know, ogres aren’t particrly known for their camaraderie.


    That said, if they witness theirrades being killed, they’ll at least seek revenge, but the ones here didn’t even seem to register what was happening to theirpanions. They were simply bewildered by the sudden copse of their previously healthy ally.


    It’s understandable; seeing arade drop dead like that is shocking.


    Responding kindly to the ogre’s question, I hunted down the remaining ones.


    One sh, one kill—simple yet effective.


    It didn’t take more than a few dozen seconds for all ten ogres to fall.


    Even if they hade to their senses and decided to fight back, they wouldn’t have stood a chance. The shock of losing their allies was too much for them to even think about grabbing their weapons.


    Killing such clueless creatures was like taking candy from a baby.


    After lightly shaking off the blood, I turned my body around.


    Now, then…


    “Hello. Did youe to see me?”


    Nice to meet you.


    I waved my hand toward the shimmering light in the darkness.


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