I Became the Tyrant of a Defense Game [EN]: Chapter 149

Three days later.

A funeral was held in the cemetery west of Crossroads.

Since there were no casualties in Stage 3 and Stage 4, it had been quite a while since the last funeral.

‘It would have been better if we never had to hold one again…’

I thought to myself as I watched the procession of coffins being carried in.

I wish these kinds of events… would never happen again.

The coffins were placed in front of their respective burial spots. Each coffin was draped with the flag of the Everblack Empire.

I glared at the flag with a slightly resentful heart.

In the center of the flag was the emblem of the imperial family, a sword and rose design.

If only the imperial family had sent reinforcements.

If only…

The priests began to sprinkle holy water on each coffin and offer prayers. Behind them, the choir sang a funeral dirge.

It took some time, as there were quite a few dead. I went to each newly made grave and bowed my head.

After all the coffins were placed in their spots and all the procedures were completed.

It was finally my turn to give a speech.

There was no time I wanted to avoid standing before others as much as today. But this was my duty.

Without running away, I stepped onto the platform.

“…”

The citizens of Crossroads.

And all the hero characters and soldiers under my command were all staring intently at me.

After silently looking around at them, I slowly opened my mouth.

“The monsters we faced this time were of the Blood Clan.”

I explained calmly to the general citizens inside the walls, who had never even seen the faces of the monsters.

“They are vampires and ghouls who crave the blood and flesh of us humans. They feed on the blood and flesh of others, stealing their lives, so they can enjoy eternal life.”

I gestured towards our soldiers.

“Our warriors fought bravely against these terrifying monsters. They did not fear having their flesh torn apart, and they did not retreat in the face of death. As a result, we were able to protect the city safely.”

Clap clap clap clap…!

The citizens applauded, as if they had all agreed to do so.

The soldiers received the applause, some feeling embarrassed, some shy, and others as if it were their due.

After waiting for the applause to die down, I continued.

“Unlike those monsters, we humans do not enjoy eternal life. We are short-lived. We bloom like flowers, but we wither like flowers. I find this sad.”

I glanced at Junior.

Junior, standing next to Jupiter’s grave, was listening to my words, wearing a simple black dress.

“But even though I am sad about being short-lived, I am not envious of eternal life.”

I raised my voice.

“Because I believe that a human who fights against life while spitting out their own blood is far more beautiful than a monster who swallows the blood of others and runs away from death.”

Truly.

Because I truly believe that.

“All the warriors who died this time fought back. They did not turn away from their lives, but faced them head-on with dignity. And they fulfilled their duties.”

I closed my eyes for a moment.

I recalled the names of each of the one hundred and fifty-five people who had fallen this time. I remembered the deaths they faced without retreating.

“You too, fight.”

Opening my eyes, I continued.

“Fight against life. Confront it fiercely. Live with all your might, so that you will not be ashamed of those who were buried before you. Roam the world, find the work you must do, and achieve it without fail.”

Looking around at the crowd, I nodded heavily.

“That is what those who gave their lives to protect you would want as well.”

I slowly lowered my head.

“For those who fought fiercely with their lives and passed away, let us observe a moment of silence.”

Everyone gathered at the funeral bowed their heads in unison.

After a short moment of silence, I raised my head and spoke again.

“And, I want to say something to all the soldiers who went to the front lines this time.”

The heroes and soldiers all looked at me at once.

“I understand your pain at losing your comrades. I, too, have not been able to sleep properly for the past few nights.”

Every time I lay down to sleep, the faces of my dead subordinates flickered before my eyes, so I hadn’t been able to sleep well for the past few days.

“Do not feel guilty, thinking things like, ‘My comrades died, but I survived.’ Your comrades would not want you to think that way.”

At my words, a considerable number of soldiers flinched. It seemed I had hit a nerve.

It is said that this kind of aftereffect is the most common among those who return alive from battle. I had similar thoughts as well.

I smiled faintly.

“Let’s find the things we need to do together, now that we have survived.”

That was the end of my prepared speech.

“…It was a tough battle, but thank you for surviving.”

I stammered, trying to say more, then I smiled awkwardly and barely managed to say.

“Thank you, everyone.”

I stepped down from the platform, and Lucas waved his arm towards the artillerymen.

Boom! Boom boom!

The sound of cannons firing in honor of the dead echoed.

The funeral schedule was over. The clear cannon fire gradually faded, and the citizens who had gathered began to disperse one by one.

***

I began to search for my party members in the cemetery.

God Hand, Bodybag, and Burnout were the first I saw. The Shadow Unit members were standing in front of Old Girl and Skull’s graves.

“Ah, Your Highness.”

“You’ve arrived, Your Highness.”

The three quickly bowed as I approached. I waved my hand, telling them to relax.

“Old Girl and Skull’s passing… is regrettable.”

I looked at the tombstones.

Even on their tombstones, their codenames were written instead of their real names. That fact was sad, yet also very Shadow Unit-like.

“Aegis Special Forces members are not originally buried in graves. Upon death, their bodies are disposed of in some way, leaving no trace in the world.”

God Hand said bitterly.

“But thanks to Your Highness’s consideration, we are fortunate that they could be buried in such proper graves.”

“…”

Fortunate, fortunate, you say.

The three Shadow Unit members were completely expressionless, even at their comrades’ funeral. As if they had shaken off all their grief over the past three days.

It was okay for them to grieve more. It was a little sad that they seemed to have forcibly cut off their grief.

After talking about Old Girl and Skull, I told them the purpose of my visit.

“Come to my mansion tonight. There will be a meeting about the progress of the upcoming defense battle.”

The three Shadow Unit members bowed their heads at the same time.

“Understood, Your Highness. We will see you tonight.”

“Okay. See you later.”

After bowing one last time to Old Girl and Skull’s tombstones, I left the spot.

Looking back, I could see the backs of the Shadow Unit members standing stiffly in front of the two tombstones.

The sight of two of the five party members who had moved as one being gone… was lonely.

Very much so.

***

Lucas, Evangeline, and Lily were in front of the Dion Mercenary Corps’ graves.

Lucas and Lily also looked sad, but Evangeline’s face was especially a mess. It was covered in tears and snot.

“Ueeeeeeeng.”

She was even making strange crying noises…

“Ueeeeeeeeeeeng.”

“…You seem very sad, Evangeline.”

Lucas answered my mutterings.

“Evangeline has also been to dungeons with the Dion Mercenary Corps. She must have grown quite attached to them.”

That’s right. I had sent the Dion Mercenary Corps on autonomous explorations with Evangeline as their guide.

She had disliked the Dion party at first because of being ringed out during sparring, but it seemed she had grown quite attached to them.

Lily was comforting Evangeline, who was crying her eyes out.

While watching them from behind, Lucas asked me.

“By the way, Your Highness, what brings you here? Shall we resume the escort duty?”

Lucas had temporarily suspended his escort duty for me.

He was greatly exhausted from the last battle, and I had also been lying in my room alone for a few days. So, I had just told everyone to rest.

That’s why we had been going our separate ways until today.

“No, let’s resume the escort duty from tomorrow… Today, it’s because of the meeting tonight.”

I told him that there would be a meeting tonight about the progress of the upcoming defense battle. Lucas nodded.

“Understood. Then, I will see you tonight.”

Ueeeeeeeeeeng-

“…I will calm Evangeline down and bring her along.”

“Okay, okay. Please do. Bring Lily too.”

After bowing one last time towards the Dion Mercenary Corps’ graves and mentally reciting their names once more, I left the spot.

***

Damian and Margherita were in the middle of cleaning up after the funeral as priests.

I approached the two, who were organizing supplies such as holy water and prayer books, and greeted them.

“You’ve worked hard, priests.”

Damian’s face lit up, and Margherita bowed respectfully.

“Ah, Your Highness!”

“You’ve arrived, Your Highness.”

“You did a great job today. The reason I’m here is…”

I immediately stated my business. I told them to come to the mansion for the meeting tonight.

“Me… as well?”

Margherita asked hesitantly. I nodded my head emphatically.

“Of course, Saintess. You absolutely must come.”

This Saintess still doesn’t seem to be used to the fact that she’s part of my party.

No, once you’ve joined my party, you can’t escape from under my command forever, you know?

“Your Highness, then shall we bring those three as well?”

Damian pointed to the side. There, the three tanks of the Old Hunters were visible in their wheelchairs.

In front of Jupiter and Yenichi’s graves, the three tanks were quietly praying with their hands clasped together.

I looked at their injuries and slowly shook my head.

“…No. Let those people rest at the temple.”

The three tanks had survived with their strong vitality, but they had become bodies that could never fight again.

They had been torn by the vampires’ swords and claws, and had even taken Sellendion’s blood magic with their bodies.

They were strong people who had endured until the end of the battle, but they had permanent injuries to their bodies.

They were effectively retired.

I would guarantee their retirement even if I had to use my own money, but they would not be able to participate in the defense battle in the future.

“Understood. Then, we will see you tonight.”

“See you later, Your Highness!”

I left the cemetery, seeing off Margherita and Damian.

The last member to call, Junior, was not in front of Jupiter’s grave. I turned my gaze outside the cemetery.

‘I can guess where she might be…’

***

Crossroads City.

The Mercenary Guild.

“…”

Junior was in the room that Jupiter had used during his lifetime.

It was to organize the belongings of the deceased. Junior sighed and organized the empty room.

“There’s nothing to organize, really…”

Jupiter’s belongings were simple.

Three old imperial military uniforms.

One coat. Two pairs of boots. Two pairs of gloves.

Four bottles of alcohol. Five packs of cigarettes.

That was it.

“Even if he was a wandering mercenary~ how could he have traveled with so little~”

Junior hummed a strange tune as she cleaned up Jupiter’s belongings.

Then, she suddenly stopped.

“Huh?”

There was a leather briefcase in the corner of the room. A familiar piece of paper was sticking out from the open gap of the bag.

“This is…”

Junior carefully opened the bag and took out the contents.

“…It’s the letter I sent.”

Whenever Jupiter sent living expenses, Junior would write a letter in reply.

As one or two letters accumulated over ten years, they filled a briefcase.

Junior carefully unfolded the letters she had sent, starting with the oldest ones.

Most of the contents were about how she was short on living expenses, how her debts were increasing due to the children’s medical bills, and how it was difficult with only the money Jupiter sent.

But at the end, there was always,

– I miss you. When are you coming? Come back soon.

As the letters became more recent, those phrases gradually disappeared, and only the demands for money remained.

“…”

Junior couldn’t bear to look at them anymore and covered the remaining letters.

Why… couldn’t I have conveyed my true feelings a little earlier? Why couldn’t I have spoken honestly?

If I had, maybe something would have changed.

“Huh?”

Then, a new envelope tucked into a corner of the briefcase caught her eye.

It was the envelope that Jupiter always used when sending money home. But this time, something else was wrapped inside instead of money.

“This is…”

When she opened it, there was a carefully wrapped root of an old-smelling medicinal herb. Along with a short note.

– It’s called a hundred-year ginseng, I got it in a dungeon. It’s good for your health. Boil it and eat it.

“…”

It was the hundred-year ginseng that Jupiter had bought from the nameless dungeon merchant during the 2nd district free exploration.

He had bought it to give to his granddaughter, but he couldn’t send it by letter, nor could he give it to her directly…

With the sender gone, only the unsent letter remained.

“It’s a medicinal herb that old people eat for nourishment, isn’t it.”

Junior muttered, dumbfounded, as she looked at the hundred-year ginseng.

“You kept this hidden away to give to me? Really…”

Something welled up inside her.

Junior bit her lower lip tightly.

“Really… like an old hag…”

As Junior stood there, barely holding back her tears,

Knock knock.

A knock sounded from outside. Junior quickly wiped her eyes and turned around, and Ash, who was coming in, froze.

“Oh… sorry. Did I interrupt something?”

“No, no. You came at just the right time.”

With her eyes still red, Junior smiled brightly.

“Mom wouldn’t like it if I cried twice. Hehe.”

“…”

Ash, who had been moving his lips as if to say something, shook his head and changed his tone.

“I came to deliver a message. There will be a meeting about the upcoming defense battle tonight, so come to the mansion.”

“Understood. A defense battle meeting. Okay.”

Ash smiled at Junior, who was nodding.

“You can look forward to it. Something very fun will happen at today’s meeting.”

“…?”

“Something very dynamic and fun enough to blow away the gloom that has fallen over our party, I mean.”

Junior frowned and carefully asked again.

“Something very dynamic and fun… you say?”