I Became the Tyrant of a Defense Game [EN]: Chapter 102

Five days later.

The alchemist’s workshop.

Click.

Shhh.

Clunk.

The prosthetic arm, fitted by Godhand, moved smoothly, making a soft sound.

It looked like a slightly elaborate gauntlet, but thanks to Godhand’s metalworking skills, it moved just like a real hand.

We watched in admiration as the prosthetic hand made a rock-paper-scissors motion with a clicking sound.

“Ooh…”

“Amazing.”

“It looks so real! Just like a real hand.”

Clack-!

Godhand, who had stopped the spinning hand, gave a faint smile.

“Excellent. It’s much lighter and easier to use than the previous prosthetic.”

“Of course. It’s made of the most expensive magic metal this workshop can produce.”

Lilly, who had helped Godhand make the prosthetic, shrugged her shoulders.

“It’s light but sturdy, and the magic reaction is fast. It’ll be easier to control with less magic power and concentration.”

“Thank you so much, Lilly.”

Godhand tucked the prosthetic into his chest with a natural motion, then pulled out his wallet.

“The price of the prosthetic is…”

“Keep it. It’s for saving your life.”

Lilly said coolly, then frowned when Godhand stared at her.

“Do you think I’d take money for that? I already feel indebted to you, and it’s killing me.”

“But, Lilly…”

“Oh, what ‘but’ are you talking about! Just take it and get out of here! I’m already busy with all the things His Highness ordered, and it took me days to make that.”

Lilly, pouting, pulled her wheelchair into the workshop.

‘They’re so cute together…’

As I was thinking, Godhand, with a wry smile, approached me.

After pulling down his sleeves and putting on his gloves, his arms looked completely normal.

“My body has recovered, and there are no problems with my return, Your Highness.”

“Good.”

Even so, he had lost his arm below the elbow. I wanted to let him rest a little more, but.

Even if it’s a harsh schedule, it can’t be helped. We need to move as soon as possible.

“Gather all the Shadow Squad members at the lord’s mansion by 9 PM. We’re departing tonight. It’ll be a late-night operation, so let the squad members get some rest during the day.”

“Understood.”

Godhand bowed his head, glanced at the alchemist’s workshop one more time, then turned towards the temple.

I stepped into the workshop. Lilly was staring blankly at an artifact being repaired.

“Lilly.”

“Ah, yes! Your Highness. What brings you here? This artifact you ordered to be repaired will be adjusted by tonight-”

“I won’t be taking you on this operation…”

“Hieeek?!”

“…so you can rest assured.”

She’s terrified just hearing the words. Before the last defense battle, she was saying she’d be on the front lines every day, but was it all just bravado?

“From now on, unless something special happens, you won’t have to go to the front lines. Instead, this friend has joined the main party.”

I gestured to Jupiter Junior, who was standing behind me.

Jupiter Junior and Lilly had been introduced a few days ago.

From now on, whenever we recruit a new mage, I plan to have them greet Lilly, the senior mage, first.

“Juju…”

Lilly held Jupiter Junior’s hand tightly and whispered.

“If His Highness overworks you, come talk to me. We’ll protest together. We mages need to stick together, right?”

“Hehe, I will. Let’s work together.”

They’re about to start a mage union. You two have fun.

“Then I’ll come again later. Take care of the artifact repair.”

“Yes, Your Highness. Leave it to me. And…”

Lilly hesitated for a moment, then nodded with a determined look.

“Please call me to the front lines whenever you need me. I’m prepared.”

“…”

As I left the workshop, I thought to myself.

‘Prepared when needed, huh…’

The Blood Clan Legion will attack in three weeks.

I want to leave Lilly in charge of on-site artifact management, but in an emergency, she’ll have to fight monsters again.

‘Your retirement is still a long way off, Lilly.’

Someday, when Lilly is only working in an office.

That will be when this front line is stable. I sincerely hoped that day would come soon.

“Let’s go.”

I gestured with my chin towards Lucas and Jupiter Junior, who had followed me.

“We need to prepare for departure.”

I had also issued a summons to all the other party members to gather at the mansion.

Finally… it was time to carry out the base camp recapture operation.

***

And when we arrived at the mansion.

“Huh?”

An unexpected person was standing at the entrance of the mansion.

I called out the person’s name in a daze.

“Jupiter?”

“…”

Jupiter, wearing an old Imperial army coat over her temple patient gown, was leaning against a pillar at the mansion entrance, her face pale.

“You’re still not fully recovered. You should rest more. What are you doing here?”

“Your Highness.”

Jupiter glanced at Jupiter Junior behind me, then lowered her voice to me.

“I heard you’re departing today.”

“That’s right.”

“Please take me with you.”

“What?”

“Aren’t they the ones who put me in this state? Please give me a chance to get revenge.”

Jupiter’s hand gripped my collar tightly. Jupiter, close to me, whispered.

“Junior.”

“?”

“Don’t take my granddaughter…”

Jupiter’s voice was desperate, a tone I had never heard before.

“She shouldn’t have to experience war.”

I was surprised and just stared at Jupiter. Jupiter pleaded earnestly.

“Please, Your Highness… !”

That’s when it happened.

“You can’t even stand properly, Grandma.”

Jupiter Junior, who had approached, gently pulled Jupiter away from me.

“What are you talking about, going on a dungeon exploration in that condition?”

“Junior… !”

Jupiter clung to her granddaughter.

“Please, it’s not too late. Let’s stop now. Okay?”

“Stop what?”

“From jumping into this war’s quagmire.”

A hollow light flickered in Jupiter’s one eye.

“I tried so hard to stop you, to stop you all from coming here. You know that.”

“…”

Jupiter Junior sighed softly.

“That’s why you’re so sick now, Grandma. Don’t worry too much, okay? I’ll take over your work now.”

“No!”

Jupiter shook her head violently.

“That can’t be. It can’t be. There’s no reason for me to have lived so messily until today if that happens.”

Jupiter Junior gently wrapped her arms around Jupiter’s shoulders.

“Grandma. I’ve already signed a mercenary contract with His Highness. Today is the operation day.”

“… !”

“If you keep acting up like this here, huh? It’ll be awkward for His Highness and me. How about you go back to the temple and rest, and we can talk later?”

Jupiter, gritting her teeth, turned her head sharply to look at me.

“Your Highness.”

“Hmm?”

“If I’m fine, and stronger than my granddaughter. Then you can just take me to the dungeon, right?”

I narrowed my brows.

“What are you trying to say, Jupiter?”

“I’m requesting a duel…”

“Huh?”

What is she talking about?

“So, uh… with Junior? You?”

“That’s right.”

Jupiter was asking me to let her fight her granddaughter.

“If I’m stronger, there’s no need to take my granddaughter to the dungeon or the battlefield. Isn’t that right?”

“Well… that’s…”

“Mercenaries are all about skill! Skill is the most important thing in this world.”

Jupiter glared fiercely at her granddaughter.

“If you’re weaker than me, there’s no need for you to receive a salary here.”

“…”

Jupiter Junior sighed again.

“Do you really have to go this far, Grandma?”

“Yes. I have to. I can’t back down like this.”

“Fine, I’ll play along.”

Jupiter Junior smiled thinly and took out her pipe.

“It’s finally time to show you the skills I learned from watching you, Grandma, right?”

A fierce smile formed on Jupiter’s lips.

“Don’t get cocky, granddaughter. No matter how outstanding your talent is… can it compare to the experience I’ve accumulated over a lifetime?”

Rumbling, rumbling…

Thunder began to sound in the sky.

“Your Highness, this way.”

Lucas quickly grabbed me and pulled me back.

No, wait a minute, shouldn’t we stop this instead of running away?

But before I could stop them, the duel happened in an instant.

“Haaah-!”

Lightning flashed from Jupiter’s one eye.

At the same time, lightning burst from Jupiter’s outstretched hand, and at the same time.

“You’ve gotten old, Grandma.”

Jupiter Junior’s murmur was heard.

Flash-!

Following the movement of Jupiter Junior’s casually swung pipe, a huge bolt of lightning fell from the sky to the ground.

The lightning from the sky instantly swallowed the lightning from Jupiter’s hand, and then struck the ground, burning the area black.

Kugwagwagwang!

“My garden!”

I jumped up in surprise, seeing the stone walls and garden grass being scorched by the lightning.

You mages! Go play with lightning somewhere else!

“Cough… huff!”

Jupiter groaned and slumped to the ground. The elderly electro-mage’s nose was bleeding profusely.

The match was over.

“Junior…”

Jupiter, kneeling on the ground, mumbled in a blood-soaked voice.

“With this… isn’t it enough?”

“…”

“Can’t you… end it by getting revenge on me?”

Jupiter Junior, who had been silent, answered coldly.

“Of course not, Grandma.”

“…”

“Go back to the temple and rest. I’ll be back soon.”

Jupiter Junior flapped her robe and went inside the mansion first.

I couldn’t interfere in the conflict between grandmother and granddaughter, and I had been watching from afar, so I quickly ran to Jupiter’s side.

“Are you okay, Jupiter?”

“Your Highness.”

Jupiter staggered but managed to stand up again. The old mage’s shoulders were trembling like aspen leaves, but she refused my support and stood on her own.

“Please… take care of my granddaughter.”

“…”

“She has talent, but she’s still inexperienced. Please don’t give her too much work.”

Then, she staggered out of the garden, left the mansion, and started heading towards the city.

“Jupiter…”

Even though her physical condition was not good, she went this far to stop her granddaughter from going to war.

What happened between the two of them?

I didn’t know, and I didn’t have time to listen now. The departure had to proceed as planned.

I looked at Jupiter’s back as she walked away, then went inside the mansion.

All the party members under my command were already gathered in the mansion’s reception room.