I Became the Tyrant of a Defense Game [EN]: Chapter 213

After the meeting ended and the party members dispersed to their respective lodgings,

I came to the dungeon alone through the teleport gate.

*Whirr!*

The base camp was still desolate.

Despite the fairly large space, the only NPCs [Non-Player Characters] I could see were the magic blacksmith, Kellybay, and the teleport specialist, old lady Coco.

“Hmm…”

In the original game, this base camp wasn’t this deserted, even if it wasn’t bustling.

There were often other NPCs in charge of different functions, and a few NPC adventurer parties would come and go while exploring the depths of the dungeon.

It was a place where everyone living in this Lake Kingdom dungeon would come and go.

Quests would arise from them, and they could also be hired as heroes.

‘It’s still empty. Is there a reason?’

As if noticing my question, Kellybay, who was waving his hand and approaching, spoke directly to me.

“It seems like something is happening in the depths of the dungeon.”

“In the depths?”

“The wandering undead, the adventurers who commissioned equipment from me and went inside, none of them have been seen for a long time. It seems like something big is going on.”

Kellybay shrugged his shoulders.

“I don’t know exactly what’s going on.”

“Hmm…”

What kind of events cause NPCs to disappear?

I was trying to recall my previous strategies.

“You didn’t come for a while, but now you’re coming and going frequently. What business do you have alone today?”

Kellybay’s words snapped me back to reality. Right, the problem isn’t the missing NPCs right now, I need to take care of my business here.

“Is the promise to make equipment with the Jormungandr scales still valid?”

“Of course. It takes some time to trim and craft those scales. Why? Have you decided what equipment to make?”

I nodded and said,

“Please make me a pickaxe.”

“……?”

“As sturdy as possible. Sturdy enough that it won’t break even if I hit it for about three days straight.”

Kellybay, blinking his bulging eyes, asked in confusion.

“It’s not difficult to make a pickaxe, but… what are you going to do with it?”

“You saw what the monster is this season, right? I’m going to beat up Jormungandr.”

“What? Beat up what? The World Serpent?”

Kellybay grabbed his stomach and laughed.

“Puhahaha! Don’t joke around too much, kid! Jormungandr’s northward march is like a natural phenomenon that happens once every few hundred years! It can’t be stopped by human power!”

“You seem to keep forgetting, but I’m the commander of the Everblack Empire’s southern front…”

I let out a deep sigh.

“If a monster is pushing in, of course, we have to stop it. By any means necessary.”

“If it were me, I’d just break down the walls, make a path, and let it pass by. That’s the least damaging and most realistic solution.”

Crossroad could really let it pass without much damage if they did that.

The problem is that all the countries above would be torn apart.

“That Jormungandr snake is a devourer of civilization! It’s a real monster that has existed since the gods roamed this land! How are you going to beat that monster?”

“It’s certainly a monster from the mythical era.”

I said calmly.

“But it died once before.”

I looked through the history books of this world, hoping it would help with the strategy. And I was able to find a record without much difficulty.

Hundreds of years ago.

The last fire dragon of the world, Duskbringer, blocked Jormungandr’s path, and the two mythical monsters fought for 7 days and 8 nights.

And on the morning of the 8th day, the battle was decided. Duskbringer had killed Jormungandr.

The emperor thanked Duskbringer for protecting the Everblack Empire by stopping Jormungandr, and from then on, Duskbringer guarded the empire until the day he died.

Then, the emperor and Duskbringer fell in love and had a child, which led to the Bringer ducal family… anyway.

‘It’s a snake that even has a record of its death.’

That snake is resurrected from the darkness of this Lake Kingdom and is starting its northward march again.

I suddenly thought of the vampire lord, Selendion. He had clearly said that he had been annihilated once, but was resurrected here.

‘The monsters in this dungeon might all be ones that died once before.’

If so, then why?

Why did the one who created the darkness of this Lake Kingdom resurrect these monsters? And how was that even possible?

I shook my head to clear my mind of these thoughts. Anyway, I have to stop Jormungandr for now.

“It’s not invincible. And I know the snake’s weakness.”

I pointed to my head, waist, and tailbone in turn.

“Three protruding nerve centers. If I destroy these, Jormungandr will give up its northward march and return to its nest in this dungeon.”

“……”

“The problem is, ordinary weapons can’t even scratch it. Its natural defense is ridiculously high. But what if I use a weapon made from the scales that fell from its body?”

Because it’s a scale that fell from the body of a powerful being.

Paradoxically, it can wound its body.

“Indeed… so that’s why you’re ordering a pickaxe. A pickaxe would be efficient for destroying those parts…”

“That’s right. I’m going to climb on the snake’s back and, like mining ore, just hammer those parts.”

“Hmm… !”

Kellybay’s eyes, stroking his beard, suddenly sparkled like a boy’s.

“…That sounds fun.”

“Huh?”

“That sounds incredibly fun. Riding on Jormungandr’s back and pickaxing its back…? Then you can also mine all sorts of rare materials that fall from its body in real-time, right?”

“Yeah, well… I guess so?”

Kellybay approached me quickly as I answered hesitantly.

“I’ll go with you.”

“What? What did you say?”

“Don’t pretend you didn’t hear me. I said I’ll go with you.”

Kellybay grinned, twisting his beard.

“To be able to pickaxe on the back of a living World Serpent? You’re not planning to make me miss this opportunity, are you, kid?”

“……”

“If you let me join in on that crazy plan, I’ll repair your equipment on the spot, and if necessary, I’ll even make equipment on the spot with the materials you mine. How about it? It’s a bit much to say it myself, but I’m incredibly useful, you know?”

There was no reason to refuse. Damian was out for the season, so there was an empty spot in the main party anyway.

“No take-backs, Kellybay?”

“Puhahaha! You’re the one who can’t take it back!”

And so,

[Kellybay (SR)]

– Level: 55

– Title: The One Who Seeks the Last Piece

– Class: Magic Blacksmith

– Strength 19, Agility 5, Intelligence 24, Stamina 29, Magic Power 20

Kellybay has temporarily joined the main party!

As expected of a production-type character, his stats are not very high compared to his level.

However, considering that almost all hero characters are combat classes, Kellybay, who is a production class and a hero character and has reached level 55, is quite impressive.

His skill set… there’s almost nothing that helps in combat.

They are all specialized in making, refining, and enchanting equipment. How did he reach level 55 with these skills…?

“First, I’ll melt all the scales and make them into pickaxes. It would be good to have a hammer too. And then…”

Kellybay, who was excited as if he was going on a picnic, began to count the equipment he would make this time. Watching him, I smiled bitterly.

“Jormungandr will stick its head out of the lake in six days, so you have to finish making all the equipment by then.”

“Hehehe! I’m great at meeting deadlines, so you don’t have to push me!”

…People who are so confident always fail to meet deadlines…

***

The next day.

The production guild of Crossroad also made equipment for us.

“I heard that you will be fighting on the body of a giant snake this time. In such an environment, it will be difficult to maintain your balance and move around.”

The head of the blacksmith guild and the head of the alchemist guild presented new items.

“We made these. Grappling launchers.”

I picked up the item and examined it. It was an additional piece of equipment that was worn like a gauntlet on the arm.

A hook about the size of a fist was attached to the equipment with a silver thread at the end.

“If you shoot it like this…”

*Thwack!*

When the head of the blacksmith guild operated the grappling launcher, the hook was shot out with a refreshing sound.

The silver thread was taut between the hook that was stuck in the wall and the launcher.

“The hook is shot out and firmly attached. If you operate it again, the device will wind the thread, and you can pull your body to where the hook is attached.”

When the equipment was operated again, the gears attached to the equipment rotated fiercely, winding the thread, and the head of the blacksmith guild’s body was pulled towards the wall.

Indeed, this would make it easier to move on the snake’s back. It would take some training, though.

“The power source is the wearer’s magic power. Please note that magic power is consumed each time you operate it.”

“Good. Prepare thirty of them. By today.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

If I give two to each person, they can use them well during this operation even if they break down. I nodded, looking down at the grappling launcher on my arm.

***

After that, all 15 members of the three hero character parties were equipped with grappling launchers, and training on how to use them was conducted.

The melee class characters were used to using their bodies, so they adapted quickly, and the mages also adapted quickly since it was equipment that was powered by magic.

Only Kellybay and I struggled to adapt. Damn it.

“Human engineers, heh, can make, heh, pretty decent equipment!”

Kellybay, who was struggling with the grappling launcher training, grumbled.

“But this is for humans, not dwarves! I need to modify mine separately!”

Then he started modifying his grappling launcher. He attached a magic power booster and tripled the size of the hook…

Then he started flying around. Ugh! A flying dwarf!

In the end, I was the least proficient, so I had to continue grappling training even during the others’ break time. Ugh.

In addition to this grappling launcher training.

The [Slime Room] event dungeon was also cleared by using up the remaining two entry attempts.

It was mainly focused on leveling up and adapting the penal unit.

The original purpose of this free exploration, such as reaching level 50 for the main party or farming various items by exploring the 5th area dungeon, was long gone.

However, the customized training to defeat Jormungandr was progressing smoothly.

***

Although the hero characters are the core of this operation.

Of course, the regular soldiers also have a role to play in this defense. It was Plan B, which would be executed if Plan A, the hero party operation, failed.

It was to stop Jormungandr by projecting firepower with cannons and ballistas.

Of course, this is like a last-ditch effort to be executed if Plan A fails.

Human firepower is not very effective against Jormungandr’s thick defense.

However, if the damage is not 0, there is a possibility, so I decided to prepare them.

Regular mercenaries are constantly being hired and expanded.

Their role is small in this defense, but in most stages, their role is also crucial.

*Thump! Thump! Thud!*

“Move carefully! Carefully!”

“That’s all gunpowder, you bastards! If you drop it, you’ll die!”

“Hey, newbie! Your pay will be deducted for any broken equipment! Did you come here to make a fortune as a mercenary and end up in debt?!”

New recruits were seen moving and installing equipment under the instructions of senior mercenaries.

The young-faced recruits were sweating profusely while wearing our new southern front uniforms.

The regular soldiers of the penal unit were also working with the new recruits, looking more disciplined than before.

I heard that Reina is pushing them during the day and Lukas is pushing them at night. Thanks to that, they are gradually becoming more like a military.

“……”

I want to pay these recruits for a long, long time until they become veterans.

I want to give them allowances, bonuses, and medals on their chests.

Until the day when all the strategies are over and the southern front no longer needs an army and we have a disbandment ceremony.

To do that, we have to pass the stage in front of us.

The enemy’s invasion was imminent. Watching the bustling fortress city, I clenched my fist tightly.

***

As always, time passed in an instant.

There was only one day left until the day of the Jormungandr subjugation operation.