I Became The Tyrant Of A Defense Game [EN]: Chapter 172

“Lost your memories?”

The Emperor’s deep, dark gaze, like an abyss, swept over me.

I shuddered, feeling as though I was being scanned by some cutting-edge machine.

“…Hmm. Well, fine. Memories can be recovered in time.”

Fortunately, the Emperor didn’t delve too deeply.

Whether it was because he trusted Ash that much, or if this was something not even worth his concern, I couldn’t tell.

“As a Guardian in charge of the Southern Front, it’s not like I can’t give you this much of an explanation.”

The Emperor, sinking into his throne, slowly began to explain.

“Do you remember what color this tree originally was?”

What the Emperor pointed to was the white, ice-thorned tree that swallowed the throne and covered the audience chamber. I shook my head.

“I don’t.”

“It was black.”

A bitter smile formed on the Emperor’s lips.

“This tree is the national tree and guardian tree of our Everblack Empire. Always a black thorn tree—the Everblack.”

I swallowed hard.

So, the name of this country came from this tree?

“It’s also a magical beacon that the First Emperor brought from the Spirit Realm [a realm of spirits and magic] and planted, illuminating the path of the Empire.”

The Emperor stroked the frozen branches with his hand.

“But seven years ago, this tree suddenly froze like this. Our alarmed Guardians immediately scrambled to find the cause.”

The Emperor’s eyes closed tightly as he recalled that day.

“The tree was frozen, but it was still functioning. As the magical beacon, I saw the future and learned that this tree had only 10 years left to live, and the fate of the Empire would end then as well.”

“Does that mean…?”

“Yes.”

The Emperor opened his eyes again.

“That was seven years ago. In three years, the Empire will fall.”

Three years.

A familiar number. I frowned.

“The tree revealed four paths of destruction that would lead the Empire to ruin.”

The Emperor looked down at the chessboard beside him.

“The first destruction comes from the west. Our ally with dragon blood, the Bringer Principality, will invade and destroy the Empire.”

The West, the Dragon Blood Front.

“The second destruction comes from the center. There are unidentified shadows lurking within the Imperial Capital. They will destroy the Empire from within.”

The Center, the Shadow Front.

“The third destruction comes from the north. The heteromorphic races [races that are not human] we conquered. The Othergods they worship have descended directly from the Spirit Realm to save their children. They will destroy the Empire to free their children.”

The North, the Othergod Front.

“The fourth destruction comes from the south. From beneath the long-destroyed Lake Kingdom, nightmarish monsters will rise… and destroy the entire world.”

The South, the Monster Front.

“These four paths of destruction were tightening around the Empire… and to stop them, I summoned all the remaining Guardians within the Empire.”

I asked cautiously,

“What are ‘Guardians’?”

“They are those who have the right to connect to this tree. Those who look into the future with the magical beacon and protect the Empire. They are the descendants of our Everblack Imperial family.”

The Emperor looked at his three sons in turn and smiled.

“Now, there are only four of us.”

Larc and Fernandes were kneeling on one knee, listening quietly to their father’s story with their heads bowed.

“Having identified these four paths of destruction, we made a resolution that day. No matter what, we would stop these paths of destruction. We would protect the Empire, no matter the cost.”

No matter what.

No matter the cost…

“The Bringer Principality has been loyal and devoted to the Empire for hundreds of years. My distant brothers… We decided to kill them before they attacked us first. We have been preparing to attack the Bringer Principality for seven years, and now Larc has gone to war.”

Larc bowed his head even lower.

“The shadows that have infiltrated the Imperial Capital. To find them, the Aegis Special Forces have tripled in size, and the Central Standing Army has quintupled. Anyone even slightly suspicious is being arrested and investigated. Fernandes has been struggling for years.”

Fernandes also bowed his head even lower.

“The Othergods descending from the Spirit Realm in the north… I am personally stopping them. By connecting to the Spirit Realm through this tree, I face them with swords and magic every day.”

The Emperor smiled bitterly and looked down at his hands.

“It’s not something an Emperor should be doing at this age. But what can I do? Among our Guardians, I am the most experienced in this.”

“…”

“And finally, the Monster Front in the south.”

The Emperor looked at me.

“My youngest son, the youngest and most foolish of us all. Ash. You left with the remaining scraps of the army this year to stop the monster invasion.”

“…”

“And so far, you’ve been surprisingly successful.”

I clenched my fist.

So, what is it?

The Emperor is playing an action RPG alone in the northern Spirit Realm.

My eldest brother is playing a real-time strategy simulation in the west.

My second brother is playing a national management simulation and a mafia game in the center.

And I, the youngest, am playing tower defense in the south.

Is that the situation, where we are each protecting the Empire?

‘Are we playing four different genres of games under the title of ‘Guardian’?’

This is quite a generous game!

“How is it? Do you remember the situation now?”

The Emperor asked gently. I raised my head.

“I have one question.”

“Speak.”

“Why are you… neglecting the Southern Front, the Monster Front, the most?”

I looked at my two brothers and the Emperor in turn.

“As you said, the other three fronts are also in great danger, but they are ultimately crises that only affect the fate of the Empire. But the Monster Front is a crisis for the entire world, isn’t it?”

The west, the center, and the north.

Even if they are defeated, only the Empire will fall, the world will remain.

But if the south is breached, not just the Empire, but the entire world will be destroyed.

Everyone will die. Even the Emperor already knows this.

Yet, while putting all their efforts into the other three fronts, they are so openly neglecting the south?

Why?

“Hahahaha!”

Then the Emperor laughed, holding his stomach. I frowned.

“Why are you laughing?”

“No, it’s just that even though you’ve lost your memories, what you’re saying is exactly the same as before you lost them.”

The Emperor seemed genuinely amused, smiling with clear wrinkles around his mouth.

“Ash, you asked the same thing seven years ago. Why is the Southern Front, which is pursuing a greater cause, given the lowest priority?”

I was surprised.

Did the original Ash say that too?

“The answer is simple. Because we are the Guardians of the Empire.”

“…Huh?”

“As you said, the monsters’ rampage is the largest of the four destructions. But it is not a direct threat to the Empire. That’s why we postponed its priority.”

What is he talking about?

“What the monsters want is not the destruction of the Empire, but the destruction of the human world. But the other three crises are clearly aimed at the Empire. Pure hostility, aiming for the neck of our Everblack.”

The Emperor tapped the throne he was sitting on with his fingertips.

“I am not a guardian of the world. I am the Emperor of the Empire. Therefore, isn’t it natural to remove the knife closer to the Empire’s neck first?”

The Emperor’s logic was clear.

“If the Southern Front is breached, the war with the monsters will spread throughout the southern part of the continent. Then, other countries in the south will also join the fight to stop the monsters, buying us time.”

“…”

“There are also autonomous zones of heteromorphic races in the southern continent. If the monsters arrive, the Othergods who are fighting me will also go there for rescue. In short, even if the Monster Front is given a lower priority, we have a little more time from the Empire’s perspective.”

The Emperor declared,

“Do you understand? It is inevitable that the Monster Front has a lower priority.”

“…”

“Of course, just because it has a lower priority doesn’t mean we intend to ignore it. Once we overcome all the other three crises, we will mobilize all the Empire’s forces to wipe out the monsters.”

I slowly lowered my head.

“…I understand, Father.”

So, they send the youngest prince, the least skilled among the Guardians, and the remaining scraps of the army to the south to buy time.

Even if the youngest dies and the Southern Front collapses, they will use other countries and races as shields to hold out.

After removing the other three crises targeting the Empire, they will then put all their efforts into driving out the monsters—

That is the idea of these self-proclaimed ‘Guardians’.

‘Ah.’

How… rational.

Protect the Empire.

Use and kill everything else outside the Empire.

Even if the rest of the world is destroyed, as long as the Empire is protected.

In protecting the system called the Empire, the concept called the Empire, where else can one find a clearer principle?

However.

“…”

I gritted my teeth.

However—can I accept their conclusion?

The rationality of the Empire, the principles of the Empire, I, the youngest prince of the Empire, but also the commander of the Southern Front.

I, who decided to protect people.

How… should I accept this?

“But, Ash, don’t be too gloomy.”

The Emperor chuckled and then gestured towards Fernandes.

“Actually, when you woke up from hibernation earlier, I already talked to Fernandes. I heard about the general situation. Don’t worry, I’ll send reinforcements to the south.”

“…!”

“I wanted you, young and foolish, to grow while fighting for your life. And you have. To have stopped the monster invasion this much, well done.”

The Emperor smiled warmly at me.

“It’s unfortunate that you lost your memories, but to be honest, I’m glad that you seem to have become a much more useful Guardian.”

“…”

“I’ll send you plenty of reinforcements. But in return, you must listen to your father and brothers from now on, okay?”

I couldn’t answer and just stood there with my head bowed. The Emperor waved his hand at us.

“I’m a little tired today. I believe you’ve all been doing well on your respective fronts, and I’ll return to the Spirit Realm.”

The Emperor cracked his neck and sank back into his throne.

“We’re having a victory celebration soon, right? It’s time to show the world that I’m still alive and well.”

“…”

“I’ll take a nap until then. See you soon, my sons.”

Larc and Fernandes said at the same time,

“Have a good dream, Father.”

“Yes.”

White frost began to cover the Emperor’s body as he smiled bitterly.

“Though there are only dark nightmares here…”

Soon, the Emperor and the throne were frozen white along with the ice-thorned tree, becoming indistinguishable.

Larc, Fernandes, and I, the three brothers, backed out of the audience chamber.

***

“Your marriage partner has been decided.”

Outside the audience chamber. In the hallway.

Fernandes handed me a document.

“This time, it’s a proper lady of noble lineage. A princess from the Arian Kingdom, and as you know, the Arian Kingdom is the largest of our northern allies…”

I took the document and blankly read the words written on it.

Fernandes’ tedious explanation continued in my ears.

To strengthen the alliance between the Arian Kingdom of the Northern Front and the Everblack Empire, marriage talks were held, and since I was scheduled to break off my engagement, I was deemed suitable, and the story progressed.

“What if I refuse?”

I asked quietly.

“What if I refuse this marriage and maintain my engagement with the Winter Silver family?”

Fernandes didn’t even pretend to hesitate.

“Of course, you can’t. The princess of the Arian Kingdom is already on her way to the Imperial Capital. To attend the victory celebration.”

“…”

“This time, you’ll just greet each other, and the wedding will take place within this year. The bridal chamber can be set up on the Southern Front.”

Fernandes murmured in a low voice to me, who had my lips tightly shut.

“Remember what Father said? You have to listen from now on.”

“…”

“Please, Ash. Don’t resist anymore. If you have any sense of responsibility as a prince of the Everblack Imperial family and as a Guardian, don’t hesitate over a mere political marriage.”

“…”

“If you accept this marriage, you’ll be able to return with enough elite troops to defend Crossroads.”

A large hand gripped my shoulder as I remained silent. I looked up and saw Larc.

“It’s painful, but this is also a prince’s duty, Ash.”

“…”

“You lost your memories and many of your subordinates in battle, right? You’ve come this far with such sacrifices, you can’t stop here.”

Larc grinned and pulled Fernandes’ shoulder with his other hand.

“Come on, my beloved brothers! In the spirit of encouraging each other, how about a hug!”

And Larc’s muscular arms forcefully embraced me and Fernandes…

“Kueeeek.”

“Kuhurrrk.”

After being forcibly injected with brotherly love like that.