I Became the Tyrant of a Defense Game [EN]: Chapter 198

After that, the Bandit King’s party quickly adapted to large-scale monster battles.

They weren’t skilled yet, often getting hit by monsters and falling, but thankfully, the opponents were level 10-20 slimes. Their injuries were all minor enough to be healed with potions.

It took quite a while, but they managed to clear Area 3 [Outer Wall North] safely.

We were able to return to Crossroads late in the evening.

‘There were some close calls, but we managed to clear it somehow.’

I took a sigh of relief, breathing in the cozy summer air of Crossroads.

“You all worked hard today.”

I said, turning back to the teleport gate, and what do you know.

All five members of Kuilan’s party were sprawled out on the floor. Kuilan was even leaning against the wall over there, retching.

“Kuh-huh… I hate monsters and dungeons now…”

A muscular giant over 2 meters tall saying that so pathetically just doesn’t suit him, man.

But there’s no one in the world who finds monsters cute and dungeons as enjoyable as a flower garden.

You have to overcome the fear that seeps into your bones and keep moving forward. If you want to stand on this monster front, you need to be prepared for that much.

[Enemy Information – STAGE 8]

– Lv.? ??? : 1

– Lv.30 Acid Slime : 526

– Lv.25 Tricolor Slime : 488

– Time until start : 7 days

There was a week left until the next stage started.

‘I need to keep pushing these guys in the party during that time, and train them to be useful in real combat.’

Thinking that, I looked over the five bandits.

“…”

Suddenly, I thought of the other sub-parties I had been with.

‘The Shadow Unit.’

The Shadow Unit, a firepower team composed entirely of elves.

Two out of five died, and the remaining three were dispatched on a classified mission. Looking back, it was an excessively good team for my first sub-party.

‘The Dion Mercenary Group.’

The Dion Mercenary Group, composed entirely of N-rank heroes [N-rank is a low rank in the hero system].

They had ambition and potential, but in the end, they all fell in the final battle against the Vampire King.

‘The Old Hunters.’

The old mercenaries Jupiter brought.

It was an efficient combination of two mages and three warriors, but both mages died, and the three warriors retired, unable to ever return to the battlefield.

‘And, this new sub-party…’

I stared blankly at the Bandit King’s penal unit, which didn’t have a name yet.

All the sub-parties under my command have never remained intact. They were either injured, killed, or annihilated.

What will happen to you?

Will you also be injured, killed, or annihilated?

Knowing that future, should I still hire you and use you under my command?

Even if I buy your lives for a few coins and swing you around with a leash called punishment, is that okay?

“Hey, you bandit trash.”

I took out a few gold coins from my pocket and flicked them one by one to Kuilan and his subordinates.

“It’s a bonus. Take it.”

The bandits, whose complexions had been dark, jumped up as if it were a lie and snatched my gold coins.

“Whoa?! Thank you!”

“We’ll use it well, benefactor!”

“Buy something delicious with it and get some rest tonight. But don’t get too relaxed.”

“Yes sir~!”

“We’ll do as you command!”

Kuilan and his party members giggled among themselves and left my mansion. They’d probably go to a bar in the city and have a drink or two.

Suddenly, I thought that the way people live is similar everywhere.

They work, go home, eat, and sleep.

These bandits who were conscripted into the penal unit, and the ordinary people living on Earth. Maybe they’re spending similar days.

I turned to the other side. Our main party members were staring up at me with blank eyes. I chuckled.

“Shall we get something to eat too?”

***

Come to think of it, I’ve been away from here for over a month, and we haven’t had a welcome back dinner since I returned. I should take care of that now.

I asked the chef to prepare a simple meal and some snacks.

I thought about inviting the other hero characters, but it was already late at night. So, we decided to have a simple meal just with our main party members.

“Well, then. It’s a bit late, but to celebrate my safe return to Crossroads…”

It was a bit funny to give a toast myself, but whatever.

I raised the glass in my hand.

“Cheers!”

The party members all followed with “Cheers-!” and raised their glasses.

Lucas and Junior had glasses of alcohol, while Evangeline and Damian had juice glasses. Evangeline grumbled.

“Tch, I can drink alcohol too…”

“Alcohol is still too early for a minor. Drink your juice.”

With a clink, we toasted and each took a sip.

Lucas downed his drink in one go and still looked fine, but Junior took just one sip and made a face, exclaiming, “Kuh?!” He must not be used to alcohol.

“It’s so bitter! How can you drink this stuff… Cough!”

Before he could finish, Junior choked and red wine spilled from his mouth. I’ve seen that blood-cough gag so often now that it’s not even scary anymore.

“You think alcohol is bitter?”

Damian, watching him, wore a conceited smile.

“I guess my life is so hard that it tastes sweet to me. Heh heh…”

“No, you have juice. Of course, it’s sweet.”

When is this guy going to return to normal? His chuunibyou [a Japanese term for someone who acts like they have special powers or knowledge] dark aura seems to be getting stronger.

“I can’t drink alcohol, and I can’t decorate the place the way I want…”

Evangeline sighed, swirling her juice glass in her hand.

“When will I become an adult and live as I please? Haa…”

This teenage brat, she didn’t want to become an adult before. I guess she’s changing her mind because she’s restricted in so many ways as a minor.

“Here, take this, Evangeline.”

I held out a small, wrapped box I had prepared in advance. Evangeline’s green eyes widened.

“What’s this?”

“You asked me to buy it, didn’t you? It’s a gift set from the confectionery in front of the Imperial Academy.”

Evangeline’s gloomy face instantly brightened.

“Whoa! Really?!”

It was the thing Evangeline had asked for before I left for the capital. I didn’t forget to bring it.

“I really wanted to eat this! Yay!”

While Evangeline was excitedly unwrapping the package, I gave the other party members gifts I had bought in the capital.

“I bought gifts for you guys too. Here, take them.”

It wasn’t anything special. Just souvenirs I bought while I was in the capital.

I gave Lucas a decorative string for his sword, Junior a book on elemental magic, and Damian eye drops.

Lucas, Junior, and Damian had rarely received such gifts, and their faces lit up as they happily unwrapped their presents.

In the meantime, the chef brought out the food. We chatted and ate.

“…”

I was quietly watching the party members laughing and eating when Evangeline suddenly asked.

“Senior, are you tired?”

“Huh?”

I hesitated for a moment at the sudden question. What?

Evangeline, munching on the sweets I gave her without eating her meal, tilted her head.

“You look especially tired today. Well, you haven’t even recovered from your trip, and you started working right away.”

“Really? Do I look tired?”

“Actually, since you were appointed here, you’ve been constantly fighting off monsters, and as soon as you returned from the capital, you’re preparing for the next defense battle. You must be exhausted.”

“…”

“The monsters will keep coming endlessly. If you keep working like this, you’ll eventually collapse from exhaustion.”

I smiled wryly and put my fork down on the plate in front of me.

“It would be a lie to say I’m not tired.”

How many defense battles have we fought already? How many times have we faced monster waves targeting the walls?

This time it’s slimes, and what kind of monsters will come next?

They are countless, and they are even getting stronger. The difficult war situation makes me feel frustrated and helpless. But.

“But enduring this tedious repetition is what it means to be an adult.”

It’s not because I’m an exceptional human that I can endure this.

In fact, everyone living in this world is doing it.

The way people live is similar everywhere. They work, go home, eat, and sleep. They repeat this endlessly.

Ordinary office workers, game streaming streamers.

Mercenaries fighting monsters, and the lord governing the city.

They survive by cutting down the same boring tasks and the same enemies that keep coming.

“And…”

I suddenly looked out the window. I could faintly hear cicadas chirping through the dense greenery.

“There is an end.”

The season is already full summer.

It’s been almost half a year since I first came to this city in late winter.

When the three-year conquest ends and the fourth year’s spring comes, the game will end.

Even this unchanging daily life… will end someday.

“I hope I won’t regret that last day. So, even if I’m tired and exhausted, I’m going to live each day without turning away.”

Whatever ending awaits at the end of this conquest…

To face the end without regrets. I’m going to live to the fullest.

That’s what I’ve decided.

“…”

The party members quietly stared at me.

It became awkward. I gave the party members an embarrassed smile.

“Ahem! Still, if you guys are tired, tell me! I’ll give you a vacation. Okay?”

I’m not that evil lord. I’ll manage the combatants’ conditions. If it’s hard, tell me in advance, okay?

Lucas, who had been quietly watching me, opened his mouth slightly.

“My lord, if you are ever so tired that you can’t stand it, please tell us.”

A kind smile formed on the knight’s lips.

“I will massage your shoulders.”

Evangeline, Junior, and Damian spoke in turn.

“Then I’ll do your feet! Foot massage! My massage made all my academy knight class classmates go crazy!”

“I’ll make you a health drink. Let’s see, I think there’s spinach in the kitchen…”

“I, I can cast recovery magic on your tired eyes…”

The four of them didn’t just talk, they actually jumped up from their seats and surrounded me.

“Huh?”

I broke out in a cold sweat. Guys?

Squeeze.

“Cough?!”

Lucas and Evangeline grabbed my shoulders and feet and started massaging. Damian cast recovery magic, and Junior made a suspicious drink on the spot.

“No, wait, wait! Ouch, damn it! Stop it, you guys!”

In the end, I suffered the terrible fate of having my shoulders and feet squeezed, recovery magic poured into my eyes, and a spinach drink forced down my throat.

You guys! You’re making me more tired! Stop it right now!

***

Several days passed.

Kuilan’s party quickly became skilled in fighting monsters. Now, they could easily succeed even if they were sent on autonomous explorations.

They had reached a level where they could be operated as a sub-party.

The bandits who were recruited as regular soldiers were also trained to be usable as combatants.

As expected, Reina, the commander of the Imperial Magic Corps, whipped them into shape with a short-term intensive course, and they became useful in no time.

In preparation for the battle against the slimes, we installed suitable defensive equipment on the walls, and for the first time in a while, we densely deployed kill zone palisades on the plains.

The preparations for the defense battle were progressing smoothly.

And so, time passed quickly-

[STAGE 8]

– Time until start : 1 day

Before we knew it, there was only one day left until the next defense battle.