I Became The Tyrant Of A Defense Game [EN]: Chapter 182

“I understand your intentions, Ash,” the Emperor finally spoke after a long silence.

“To break free from the confines of a ‘Piece’ and become a ‘Player’ yourself—quite impressive.”

…Piece? Player?

Suddenly, game terminology appeared. I was surprised and widened my eyes.

“What do you mean, Your Majesty?”

“It means exactly what it says.”

The Emperor smiled calmly and sat back down.

“On the chessboard called the world, not a mere piece manipulated by others, but one who forges their own destiny.”

In his hand, he held a chess piece—a black king.

“Discussing the fate of the world, wielding the lives of others with words, and directly fighting for world dominance—a being on a higher plane. One who is qualified to play chess directly.”

Clack!

The Emperor placed the black king loudly on the armrest of his chair.

“That is what a Player is.”

“…….”

“To put it more simply, you could also call it a ruler.”

I recalled the chessboard placed next to the Emperor’s throne in the audience chamber.

A chessboard, pieces, and a player.

Then, those who have called me a player all this time….

“For you, the youngest, most foolish, and weakest, to grow this much on your own! As a father, I am pleased.”

Thump!

The Emperor, roughly clutching the chess piece in his hand, growled.

“However, as an Emperor, it is difficult to easily forgive.”

“…….”

“What parent wouldn’t welcome their child’s independence, but this is the Imperial Palace, and I am the Emperor. The declaration of independence of the Southern Front, in other words, means that much territory is escaping the Empire’s rule.”

A chilling aura emanated from the Emperor’s entire body.

“Do you think I would tolerate such a thing while I am alive and well?”

“……The Southern Front is undoubtedly Imperial territory, Your Majesty’s land. However, for the next three years.”

I stood firm, not overwhelmed, and raised my voice.

“For three years, I ask that you allow it to be a completely independent front, entrusting all the struggles and governance of that area entirely to my hands.”

Whatever I do or whatever happens in the Southern Front, the Imperial Family would not interfere. That was what I wanted.

But the Emperor would naturally not just allow it.

“Why should I do that? What benefit would it bring to the Imperial Family, to the Empire?”

Right.

In the end, what moves people is not justification but practical gain. I had to persuade them with that practical gain.

“I will offer the magic stones acquired from the Southern Front to the Imperial Family.”

At my words, the Emperor’s straight eyebrows furrowed.

“Magic stones? From Crossroads?”

“Yes.”

The magic power source that can be extracted from the bodies of monsters—magic stones—are the largest strategic resource produced in Crossroads.

However, most of its production is consumed in the southern part of the continent.

This is because distribution is not easy since Crossroads is located in such a remote area.

The merchants who have entered Crossroads take the magic stones to other cities and countries in the south to sell. There is quite a demand for magic stones there as well.

But.

“The invasions of monsters are becoming increasingly fierce. In other words, the amount of magic stones being extracted is also increasing.”

Since I became the lord, the production of magic stones has skyrocketed. This is because monsters are pouring out like crazy.

Right now, the warehouses of Crossroads are full of unsold magic stones.

Although I haven’t sold them to control profits, the supply can no longer keep up with the demand in the southern continent.

I will provide these magic stones to the Imperial Family for free.

…Not all of them, maybe about half?

“With this amount of magic stones, you will be able to operate the Everblack [a magical engine] without human sacrifices.”

“…….”

“Then, there will be no need to harm innocent lives anymore. The prisoners of the Bringer Principality, the citizens of the outskirts, there will be no need to capture them and burn them as fuel.”

A smile flickered across the Emperor’s lips.

Whether it was a sneer, a cold smile, or a smile with some other meaning, I couldn’t guess.

“That’s an interesting proposal. But the distance between the Imperial Capital and Crossroads is very far. The roads are not properly paved, and the security is unstable. How do you intend to transport the magic stones to the Imperial Capital?”

The thought that it could be done by transporting them by airship came to mind first, but.

That wouldn’t be possible. The airships are the most important military assets, and the Empire only has a few.

You can’t deliver packages with fighter jets. If that were the case, they would clearly say they don’t want the magic stones.

Transportation by sea is also difficult. Crossroads is a city located inland, and the southern sea is teeming with pirates.

In the end, it has to be by land. It has to be transported by ground.

“As Your Majesty said, although the national road project is in its final stages, the road to the Southern Front is not properly paved. It was originally a remote area not included in the road project.”

“That’s right.”

“So, I have spoken with the head of the Winter Silver Merchant Guild in advance.”

Here, Winter Silver is needed.

“The Winter Silver Merchant Guild has agreed to take responsibility for building the road to the Southern Front and also to take full charge of the distribution of magic stones.”

“Oh ho….”

“The Winter Silver Merchant Guild, which has already been in charge of the national road project, will pave the road to the remote areas of the south well, and since they are experts in securing distribution networks, they will safely transport the magic stones to the Imperial Capital.”

The smile on the Emperor’s lips deepened.

Without paying attention, I turned my gaze to Lark.

“Also, the Winter Silver Merchant Guild has promised to supply the materials needed by the Western Front at cost.”

A different look crossed Lark’s face, who had been listening with his arms crossed.

“Then, there will be no need to burn the Bringer Principality anymore. There will be no need to plunder innocent citizens.”

This time, I looked at Fernandes.

“Also, the information-gathering capabilities of the Winter Silver Merchant Guild are considerable. They have informants in every region. The source of the information for the words I spoke today is all from the Winter Silver Merchant Guild.”

Of course, the information that Winter Silver brought was only fragmented circumstances.

I, who knew the various events that would happen in this world, could easily figure out the truth.

“…….”

Fernandes kept glaring at me, clearly upset that the things the Dark Division had been doing in the Imperial Capital had been exposed.

I smirked at Fernandes.

“The Aegis Special Forces, it seems like they have a lot of gaps due to their rapid expansion.”

The Emperor had said that the Aegis Special Forces had tripled in size to maintain the Central Front.

They had exposed many gaps due to the rapid expansion of the organization.

The priest they were using as a spy was discovered, the attempt to kill Serenade with fire failed, and even detailed information was leaking to private merchant guilds….

They had become sloppy, despite the name of Special Forces.

Repairs are needed.

Fernandes, the commander of the Dark Division, would feel this more desperately than anyone else.

“If the Winter Silver Merchant Guild cooperates with the Dark Division’s information gathering, it will help fill those gaps.”

“…….”

“Then, instead of randomly capturing and torturing innocent citizens, you will be able to identify the spies who are definitely suspicious.”

The Emperor, who had been listening to my story quietly, was now smiling, even showing his teeth.

“Ash. My son. In short, what you are saying is that if we keep the Winter Silver family alive, it will benefit all four fronts, and there will be no need to take innocent lives?”

“That’s right.”

“So, you are saying to withdraw the plan to devour that merchant guild and save your former fiancée?”

I nodded honestly.

“That’s right.”

“Ah ha ha ha!”

The Emperor, laughing heartily, stared intently at me.

“Your proposal seems tempting at first glance, but why should we do that? We could kill the Countess and devour the merchant guild from the Imperial Family and then do the same things?”

—We could kill you and devour the Southern Front from the Imperial Family and then do the same things?

That kind of implication was felt.

“Because there is no need to kill and seize them.”

I shrugged nonchalantly.

“The current usefulness and efficiency of the Winter Silver Merchant Guild come from the fact that the Countess of Winter Silver is leading it as the head of the guild.”

The current usefulness and efficiency of the Southern Front come from the fact that I am leading it as the commander.

“There is no need to go through the trouble of getting rid of the Countess and putting someone else in her place, which would lower efficiency. If we leave her alone, she will be loyal to the Imperial Family anyway.”

There is no need to get rid of me and put another commander of the Southern Front in my place, which would lower efficiency.

The Southern Front is, after all, Imperial territory.

“The Countess and the Winter Silver Merchant Guild will be useful. To all four fronts, and to this Empire.”

I will also be useful to you.

There is no one who can control the Southern Front better than me.

There is no one who can kill monsters more efficiently and mine magic stones to bring to you than me.

“Please spare the Winter Silver Merchant Guild. And please allow the independent path of the Southern Front.”

Acknowledge my usefulness.

Acknowledge Serenade’s usefulness as well.

Serenade and I—are needed by your Empire.

“…….”

The Emperor, having wiped away his smile, stared at me expressionlessly.

It was a golden gaze that seemed to scan not my appearance but my soul. I did not back down and met his gaze.

“Very well.”

The Emperor finally spoke.

“But the decision will be made after I meet the Countess of Winter Silver, not by you. Where is the Countess?”

“She has not yet arrived at the party.”

Fernandes’ eyes flashed sharply.

“I have dispatched the Special Forces. She will not come back alive.”

“Well.”

I smiled.

“We’ll have to wait and see.”

***

And Serenade arrived at the grand banquet hall.

Although she was a mess, she had come here, enduring hardship, to keep her promise with me.

Before going to meet Serenade, I first approached Princess Yoon.

I knelt on one knee in front of her and carefully took her hand.

“I’m sorry, Yoon.”

At the sudden apology, Princess Yoon’s eyes widened.

“It was a short but enjoyable time. But it seems like this is the end for us.”

“……?”

Alarm quickly filled Yoon’s bright yellow eyes. She’s quick on the uptake, this princess.

“Wait, are you breaking off our engagement right after announcing it?”

“That’s how it is.”

“No, weren’t you going to marry me?”

“I’m sorry, but I never said that with my own mouth.”

I told my brothers that I would break off the engagement with Winter Silver, and I said I would meet you, but I never said I would accept the marriage, did I?

“The engagement announcement was also made by His Majesty on his own, and I never gave the okay sign. I just danced happily.”

“No…….”

“You also disliked this marriage, didn’t you? I hope you meet a handsome, muscular man who is your type, not a notorious scoundrel like me.”

In front of Princess Yoon, who was gaping and frozen, I slowly rose to my feet.

“Don’t worry. The alliance between the Arian Kingdom and the Empire will be strong. Not through an old-fashioned political marriage, but through a clean contract, a functional alliance. Let’s have a cool and refreshing relationship like sleet in the summer.”

“…….”

When I returned her words to her, Yoon was dumbfounded and finally said,

“Prince Ash. You are truly a playboy bastard.”

I shrugged.

“That’s what I always hear.”

And I went down the platform and walked towards Serenade, who was standing there blankly.

***

Currently.

In the middle of the party hall, under everyone’s gaze.

While dancing barefoot with Serenade, I whispered softly in her ear.

“……That was the conversation between me and His Majesty.”

I told Serenade the conversation that had taken place at the Guardian’s meeting earlier, without adding or subtracting anything.