I Became the Tyrant of a Defense Game [EN]: Chapter 175

“……”Serenade stared at the pile of documents on her desk. The documents were filled with messy codes, which she had just deciphered and read. “Haa.” Serenade rubbed her aching forehead with her fingertips. The Winter Silver Merchant Guild’s information-gathering power was more formidable than she had thought. They were able to gather a wide range of information that Ash had instructed them to collect. The problem was the content. ‘It’s too sensitive.’ Most of it was fragmented and isolated due to the wide scope of the investigation. However, the astute Serenade was able to grasp the overall flow with just a glance at the fragments of information. ‘This is information that could be fatal to the Imperial Family.’ That must be why Ash ordered them to investigate this. But gathering this kind of information is too dangerous. Does Ash really think… that this information can save the Winter Silver Merchant Guild? It was then. Fing- Fing- Something was heard cutting through the air outside the window. “Huh?” As Serenade tilted her head in confusion, Clang! The window shattered, and flaming arrows fell inside. Whoosh-! Flames spread inside the building in an instant. Serenade jumped up from her seat, her face pale. ‘What, what’s going on?!’ Could it be… were they followed? Did someone notice that Winter Silver was gathering this information and try to eliminate them? Or has the destruction that Ash spoke of already begun? “Cough, cough, cough!” Many thoughts flashed through her mind, but first, she had to escape this place. Serenade covered her mouth with a cloth and tried to leave the room. Then, her feet suddenly stopped. The gold, silver, and silk piled up in the guild master’s room could burn, but the information that Ash had ordered her to collect had to be protected. Serenade quickly spread her coat, stuffed the pile of documents inside, and then, clutching the rolled-up coat to her chest, she left the room. Whether the flames on the fire arrows had been magically treated, the building was engulfed in flames in an instant. “Young lady!” “Guild Master!” Outside, other employees were desperately trying to put out the fire. Serenade shouted. “Stay calm and get out of the building! Check if anyone is left behind! Evacuate first!” If it was a magical fire, ordinary people couldn’t put it out with their hands. It was better to evacuate quickly. Following Serenade’s instructions, the employees began to orderly exit the building. Serenade looked around the hallway one last time before trying to go down the stairs to the lower floor. That was until she found another maid collapsed and suffocating on the other side of the hallway. “……!” Serenade rushed to the maid, quickly supporting her and helping her to her feet. Whoosh- The flames grew fiercer. The black smoke from the burning building obscured her vision. Feeling suffocated, Serenade gritted her teeth. *** Elise and I ran to the Winter Silver Merchant Guild building, which was engulfed in flames. The fire demon licked its tongue, devouring the tall and ornate building. People who had gathered were pouring seawater from nearby, trying to put out the fire, but the flames didn’t budge. “Lady Serenade!” Elise screamed and ran towards the building. Elise shouted to the guild members who were desperately trying to put out the fire. “Where is Lady Serenade?!” “W-Well, we haven’t seen her since earlier……” Elise looked at the burning building with a pale face. “Then, could it be that she couldn’t evacuate…?” The building was already completely engulfed in flames, making it impossible to enter. Splash! Despite that, Elise poured a bucket of seawater over her head and tried to jump inside. I urgently grabbed Elise’s shoulder. “Wait, Elise! What are you doing!” “Can’t you see! If the master is inside, I have to go save her!” “Are you out of your mind?! If you go in there, you’ll burn to death too!” “If the master is inside! If she can’t get out!” Elise snapped. “Then I’ll burn to death with her.” “……” “If that’s the last thing I can do for the master, then I will.” I hesitated for a moment, wondering whether to stop this twisted loyalty or let her do as she wished. “You don’t have to do that, Elise.” A weak voice came from the side. Surprised, I saw a woman in a gray robe among the clamoring people. It was Serenade. Her face, visible through the robe, was covered in soot. “I got out before the building was completely burned. Cough…!” “Serenade!” “Master!” “Shhh.” Serenade, with her index finger on her lips, staggered towards the pier. “This way.” The Winter Silver Merchant Guild’s yacht, which we had ridden before, was waiting at the pier. “Let’s get out of here first.” Elise quickly ran to the captain’s cabin at the bow and began preparations to set sail. Serenade entered the ship’s cabin and collapsed as if she had lost all strength. Sitting across from her, I asked urgently. “Are you okay, Serenade?” “I’m fine. Cough! More importantly, the information that you asked me to collect, my lord……” Serenade looked despondent as she held out something she had been carefully holding in her arms. “Because I delayed my escape, it’s all burned……” The pile of papers that Serenade held out was completely scorched, and the ink had evaporated, making it impossible to tell what was written on them. “I’m sorry, my lord… If I had escaped sooner, the information would have been safe, but some of our people were suffocating from the smoke. I couldn’t leave them behind.” “……” “Even though I’m a merchant, I’m still slow to judge what’s more important… This information was more precious than anything else…” “No, Serenade. You did the right thing.” I smiled and carefully took Serenade’s soot-covered hand. “Nothing is more important than people.” “……” Serenade looked at me with a blank stare. The yacht set sail. The ship cut through the waves, leaving the coast and heading towards the open sea. Instead of the burned documents, Serenade began to organize and tell me the information that remained in her head, one by one. The details of the already fragmented information became even more blurred, and the faint connections between the pieces of information crumbled. Perhaps due to the shock of escaping the fire, Serenade couldn’t remember some of the information at all. But it was enough. After all, what I needed was not the details of the information, but the minimum basis for me to wag my tongue. I nodded. “You’ve worked hard, Serenade. It’s enough.” “Did I… help you even a little, my lord?” “Of course.” Relief flashed across Serenade’s face, visible through her robe. I then took out what I had brought from my pocket and gave it to her. Serenade received it, looking bewildered. “My lord, what is this…?” “It’s an invitation to the victory celebration party.” It was an admission ticket to the final showdown in the capital, which would be held tomorrow. “……” Serenade took the invitation and stood still. I tilted my head. “What’s wrong?” “No, it’s just that this is the first time you’ve invited me to such a big event at the Imperial Palace, my lord…” But soon, Serenade returned the invitation to me. “But, my lord. I’m very sorry, but… I don’t think I can attend.” “Why?” “……” After hesitating, Serenade slowly took off her robe. I gasped softly. Her beautiful blue hair was singed at the ends and curled up hideously, and her fair skin was burned red in places. Avoiding my gaze, Serenade mumbled. “How can I attend a party at the Imperial Palace in this state?” “……” “It’s a place where famous people from all over the world gather, and if the head of the Winter Silver Merchant Guild appears in this state… everyone will laugh.” Serenade’s head drooped lower and lower. “More than anything… I can’t stand next to you tomorrow in this state.” “……” “If that’s the case, I’d rather not go at all…” I squeezed Serenade’s hand tightly. “Serenade. Let me just say this. I need you tomorrow.” “Yes…?” “To save your Winter Silver family. And to determine the path of my southern front. You must come to the party tomorrow.” This fire made it clear. The Imperial Family was already trying to eliminate the Winter Silver family. Whether it was because they dug up information they shouldn’t have, or because the time for their destruction had come, or both. To survive, Serenade had to attend the party tomorrow. Because the path to survival always lies in death. “……” Serenade’s soot-covered face stiffened at my words that I needed her. Her silver eyes closed tightly, then opened brightly with a determined will. “……Then, I will definitely go. Even if I look worse than this, I will stand in the party hall.” I nodded heavily. After that, we had a meeting for a long time about what we needed to do at the party tomorrow. It was close to midnight when we returned to the port. The guild building was completely burned down, leaving only ashes, and only a few of the guild’s people were seen cleaning up the debris. ‘It’s not a form of arrest, they just attacked with magical fire arrows and left….’ No matter how you look at it, it’s the work of the shadows. I realized that the path for Serenade to come to the party tomorrow would be difficult. “Elise.” The ship reached the port, and just before getting off, I asked Elise quietly. “You’re confident you can protect Serenade, right?” Elise growled, her blue eyes flashing with sharpness. “Even if it costs me my life.” “Save your life a little…” Still, this SSR-grade knight’s escort was reliable. “Good luck.” I patted Elise on the shoulder. Elise squinted and glared at me. Serenade quickly gave instructions to the guild’s employees who were waiting at the port. She told them to stop cleaning up the fire and return to the Winter Silver family’s mansion to strengthen their defenses. “Please return to the detached palace now, my lord. I have ordered a carriage to be prepared.” Serenade approached me. I gestured with my chin. “What about you?” “It seems dangerous where I am, so I won’t return to the family tonight… I’ll stay on this sea with Elise.” Serenade smiled bitterly and touched the ends of her singed hair with her hand. “While preparing for tomorrow’s party.” I grinned. “I’ll be looking forward to it.” “Don’t get your hopes up…” Serenade sighed deeply, as if she was very worried. The ship carrying Elise and Serenade sailed back out to sea. I waved to Serenade, who kept bowing to me from the ship, and walked towards the carriage that the Winter Silver Merchant Guild had prepared. And, I made up my mind. For the sake of the southern front. And to conquer this harsh game. With Serenade……. Tomorrow, I would break off the engagement. *** The next day. Finally, the morning of the victory celebration party dawned.