I Became the Tyrant of a Defense Game [EN]: Chapter 114

The party members were fervently debating whether to go to the library or the courthouse.

But unfortunately,

‘The answer is, none of the three.’

I drew an X on all three routes. Everyone’s mouths dropped open.

‘If we were following the standard clear route, we’d have to attack one of those three places. But I know this dungeon very well.’

Yeah. I know it way too well.

I drew a new route starting from the base camp, skipping the four areas leading to the library, the Grand Park, and the courthouse.

We’ll go to those three places later. But not today.

‘Today, we’ll skip the 4th area by going through a secret passage. We’ll go straight to the 5th area.’

My chalk stopped behind it.

‘Our destination is the 5th area, the ‘Colosseum’.’

And after writing ‘Colosseum’ in large letters, I made a big dot.

‘We’ll attack this place.’

‘…….’

A moment of silence passed.

Evangeline, who was stammering, asked carefully.

‘Wait a minute. If it’s the 5th area, isn’t it more difficult than the 4th area? Is it a place we can clear right now?’

‘Of course.’

Actually, this is the easiest place to clear at this point.

‘That’s because there’s a trick to it.’

Both the dungeon gimmick and the boss monster.

It’s a dungeon optimized for using tricks. Actually, I was planning to raid this place right after the base camp opened.

‘Don’t worry about clearing it. I have all the methods prepared.’

I said confidently, and then ran my hand over the path between the base camp and the Colosseum.

‘However, as you can see, it’s quite a distance.’

The depth of the base camp is 3.

From here, we have to go to the Colosseum, which has a depth of 5.

In other words, we have to crawl deep into the dungeon.

‘The physical distance is quite far. It’s inevitable that it’ll be a one-night, two-day trip.’

‘I see…….’

‘I’ll explain the tricks as we go. Anyway, the distance is far, so there’s nothing to do but talk while we’re going.’

I put down the chalk and wiped my hands with a handkerchief.

‘That’s all. Questions… I’ll take them as we go.’

Evangeline and Junior, who seemed to have a lot of questions, lowered their hands with regret. I smiled.

‘If you don’t want to make it a two-night, three-day trip, let’s get going. You guys took too much time getting ready.’

***

[Now Loading……Teleporting.]

[Tip – The base camp has many paths to various places in the Lake Kingdom dungeon. Feel free to explore various places!]

***

After passing through the teleport gate, we arrived at the base camp.

This time, the blacksmith Kellybay was nowhere to be seen. Only the space mage, old lady Coco, greeted us.

‘Hehehe, my little ones! Did you come to play again?’

No, we didn’t come to play. We’re exploring with our lives on the line.

‘Oh my, it seems like you’ve lost more weight than last time? Wait a minute. This old lady will give you something delicious.’

‘Ah… I’m sorry, Grandma Coco. We’re really busy right now.’

Coco was about to take out some kind of jellies from her workshop again, but I stopped her and looked around.

‘By the way, where’s Kellybay?’

‘That dwarf old man? I don’t know. I think he went into the dungeon to get some materials.’

‘Hmm…….’

Kellybay is always a regular NPC [Non-Player Character] who guards this place. Does he ever leave his post?

Well, he’ll take care of himself. Anyway, Kellybay is higher level and stronger than us at this point. He won’t die a meaningless death.

‘Then, Grandma Coco, just one more favor…….’

I took Coco to the center of the base camp.

In the center of the base camp, there was something like a manhole cover installed. I pointed at it with my hand.

‘Please remove the seal on this.’

‘Hehehe, are you sure? The passage below is the infamous path of the Overlord.’

Coco hunched over her large body and stared at me with a face trying to hold back laughter.

‘Your heart might break while passing through it.’

‘It’s okay. It won’t break.’

‘If you don’t conquer the battlefield at the end, you won’t be able to return. It becomes a one-way trip. Are you really okay?’

‘It’s okay. I’ll conquer it.’

‘Hehe, hehehe! Kellybay said this newbie is pretty good, and indeed!’

Coco, who was holding her stomach and laughing, lightly waved her hand.

Clunk!

Then, a light flashed from the manhole cover, and it lightly opened upwards.

‘Okay, go! I’ll be waiting for your heroic tales.’

‘Thank you, Grandma.’

Coco stepped back with her hands behind her back. I pointed to the bottom of the manhole with my toe and winked at the party members.

‘Okay, shall we go?’

The inside of the manhole was pitch black. The dungeon’s unique three-dimensional darkness was surging.

Even in this already dark place, it was a path leading underground, so it was even darker.

As we got closer, a guide message popped up.

[Path of the Overlord]

– All skills are sealed while passing through this passage.

– This path will be closed if you do not clear the sector.

– Only those who are truly courageous should challenge it.

Rustle, rustle…….

The unique sound of insects gnawing, which the darkness here made, echoed fiercely in the passage.

‘…….’

‘…….’

Everyone looked reluctant. Even Lucas.

Well, it’s understandable. This is a physiological issue.

‘I’ll go first.’

Then I have to take the lead, I guess.

‘Huh? My lord, just a moment—’

Before Lucas could say anything, I took out a ‘Blue Flame Torch’ from my inventory.

It’s a torch that I got as a reward before, and it never goes out.

I threw it into the passage first.

The torch lit up the surroundings in blue and fell inside. There were ladders installed densely in the long vertical circular passage.

Thump-!

The flame bounced off the floor without falling for too long.

‘It’s not that deep, right?’

I smiled and pushed my body into the passage first.

All the other party members had determined looks on their faces, and followed me.

***

If darkness had a will, what would it try to do?

I had that thought while going down the vertical passage.

Rustle, rustle…….

The sound of insects gnawing constantly echoed in my ears.

I even had the illusion that they were gnawing at my ears.

It seemed like I kept seeing something at the edge of my dim vision. But when I turned my gaze, there was nothing.

Rustle, rustle…….

It’s like the darkness is whispering something.

The deeper we went, the insect sounds formed the shape of language. It became clearer in my ears.

Die.

Fail.

Explode.

Diefail explode diefail explode diefail explode diefail explode diefail explode diefail explode diefail explode diefail explode diefail explode.

‘…….’

It’s scary.

Honestly, it’s damn scary.

But.

‘It’s less scary than game over.’

We have to pass through this place to get to the Colosseum, and we have to go to the Colosseum to get the Dark Crystal, and we have to get the Dark Crystal to have a way to fight the Vampire King.

Then I have to move.

If that’s the only way to clear it. I have no choice but to jump into the darkness or the lava.

Thud.

The vertical passage, which felt like an eternity, ended, and my toes touched the ground.

At that moment, like a lie, the sound of insects gnawing, the words of curse, and the faint white things that were blurring the edge of my vision, all disappeared cleanly.

‘…….’

I picked up the blue flame torch that had fallen on the floor and raised it up.

A white marble passage, neatly cut in a straight line, was spread out in front of me.

‘Path of the Overlord.’

Well, the name is cool, but it’s just a secret passage.

Speedrunners who aim for the shortest clear time all used this path to clear the Colosseum first.

It’s an RPG [Role-Playing Game], but I wonder why there’s a speedrun. But that was the achievement name…….

Thud-!

Then Lucas nimbly fell down the passage behind me. I turned to look at Lucas.

‘Was it okay to come down, Lucas?’

‘…….’

Lucas, with a pale face covered in cold sweat, looked at me and asked carefully.

‘May I… take a break, my lord?’

‘Of course. Let’s wait until everyone comes down.’

As soon as I finished speaking, Lucas collapsed and sat down on the spot.

I didn’t bother asking what he saw or heard. I just stood next to Lucas and put my hand on his shoulder.

‘……Thank you.’

Lucas quickly calmed down. That’s a relief.

‘All skills are sealed on this Path of the Overlord.’

That means my passive skill, [Unyielding Commander], is also sealed.

I can’t protect the party members from mental abnormalities. I can only hope that each of them will overcome this trial well.

Thump!

The second one to come down was Damian.

Damian almost rolled down the passage, then curled up in a corner, trembling.

‘I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry! Please, sob, don’t hit me…….’

‘Damian.’

‘I’m sorry, Ban. I’m sorry. I’m sorry for being alive. I was wrong. So…….’

‘Damian!’

I grabbed Damian’s shoulders and made eye contact with him.

‘I’m here.’

‘Haa, haa, haa…….’

‘Whatever was up there, it’s over now. And it will never bother you again.’

Damian, who was looking at me with trembling eyes, mumbled in a sunken voice.

‘Your Highness. Please hold my hand…….’

‘Okay.’

‘Sir Lucas too. Please.’

‘I will.’

Lucas and I each took one of Damian’s hands. Damian closed his eyes tightly and trembled.

Thud-

Next, Junior came down.

‘Hmm.’

Junior, who looked up at the passage with an interested look, pressed down on his large hat.

‘I see. So that’s how this kind of curse works… interesting.’

‘Interesting?’

‘It’s a bit old-fashioned since it’s from five hundred years ago, but it’s interesting.’

I winked at Junior’s legs.

‘Your legs are shaking.’

‘No, this is, um… mages are weak at physical things. It’s not because I’m scared.’

‘Yeah, well, let’s just go with that.’

Then, Junior, who looked at us, narrowed his eyes.

‘By the way, what are you three doing right now?’

‘Come here. Hold Damian’s hand.’

‘Huh?’

‘Quickly. Can’t you see he’s trembling? He needs human warmth.’

Junior, who hesitated and approached, carefully reached out and placed his hand on Damian’s hand.

Thump-!

Finally, Evangeline came down. She lowered her shield and landed stylishly. Are you Captain Crossroads?

‘Wow! My whole body is covered in cold sweat.’

Evangeline, who swept her sweat-soaked hair back, grumbled.

‘Why did I take a shower?’

I’m the one who used the water, you little brat.

And when Evangeline looked at us, she showed a reaction similar to Junior’s.

‘What are you four doing right now?’

‘Well… holding hands in a circle?’

‘…….’

After looking at us with a sulky gaze, Evangeline reached out her hand and ran over.

‘I want to do it too.’

‘Suit yourself.’

Poof.

Evangeline’s tiny hand covered Damian’s hand.

‘Um, that is.’

After a while of doing that.

Damian rolled his big brown eyes and glanced at us.

‘Um… I’m okay now…….’

‘Huh? No, no. You’re still trembling. Let’s stay like this a little longer.’

‘It’s a bit… embarrassing…….’

‘No, it’s okay! It’s never embarrassing to be afraid of such a curse! Cheer up, Damian!’

‘Cheer up!’

‘Cheer up!’

‘Let’s cheer up~!’

‘Ughhhh.’

Damian’s neck and ears turned bright red, and he buried his face down.

We looked down at Damian and laughed. Teasing him is fun.

I don’t know what terrible past Damian went through, or how deep his wounds are.

But the party members are here together.

I thought that it would be nice if we could fight off painful memories together, just like we hunt monsters together.