I Became the Tyrant of a Defense Game [EN]: Chapter 229

Eider’s room.

Eider and I sat facing each other in this still monochrome, barren place with no decent furniture.

It was the start of a long-awaited one-on-one talk with this director.

‘If I start asking and questioning, there are too many issues to bring up.’

I started with the most immediate and pressing matter.

“There was an incident where an additional hostile legion invaded this stage.”

“Yes, I’m aware. It was the Werewolf Legion, wasn’t it?”

“It wasn’t a dark event [a pre-planned event], there was no warning, they just came and crashed right in.”

I gritted my teeth.

“If this kind of thing happens again, it’ll be hard to keep playing. At least the established rules should be followed to keep the game going, right?”

“As you said, this incident is a clear violation of the game rules.”

Eider nodded.

“So, in the next stage, the monster legion will receive an additional penalty. As hard as it was this time, it will be easier next time.”

“…….”

After listening to Eider’s answer quietly, I clenched my fist.

“There’s a fundamental question.”

I glared at Eider.

“What is a ‘player’? Why are we fighting monsters in the form of a ‘game’?”

“…….”

“As a consequence of this monster legion invasion, they’ll get a penalty next time? Does that mean they also agreed to these ‘rules’? What principle is this whole thing running on?”

I suddenly remembered what the Emperor had told me in the Imperial City.

– A being from a higher dimension who discusses the fate of the world, manipulates the lives of others with words, and directly fights for world dominance. One who is qualified to play chess directly.

– That is a Player.

– To put it more simply, you could call them a King.

The Emperor’s definition of ‘Player’.

It was a little different from what I had been thinking.

Not just someone who plays a game, but someone who holds the fate of the world in their hands.

Then, is this ‘game’ that this self-proclaimed director is making me play also a concept derived from the same context?

“On a chessboard called the world. Many players are playing chess in the name of war.”

Eider slowly opened his mouth.

“And here, on the monster front, we are playing a game with our own local rules.”

“Local rules…?”

“The Nightmare Demon King who has occupied the Lake Kingdom, and the human commander who is defending the final line of defense in the mortal realm.”

Eider began to arrange the chess pieces on the chessboard that was on the desk.

“Under the agreed rules of both sides, they continue to exchange attacks—a defense game of which side will first capture the other’s base and kill the other’s king.”

Tap. Tap. Tap.

The chess pieces began to be placed in order.

Pawn.

Knight.

Rook.

Bishop.

Queen.

“This is based on a pact made between the Demon King and the human commander, and it will continue until one side is completely destroyed.”

Tap!

Finally placing the King in its place.

Eider, who had finished arranging the chess pieces, slowly took his hand off the chessboard.

“As the director who established the rules of this game, I am watching the direction of the game.”

“Who made that pact to play a game with that Demon King bastard?”

Eider silently looked at me. I was horrified and pointed at myself.

“Wait, are you saying I did that?!”

“To be precise, it was the Third Prince, Ash.”

I let out a silent scream.

No way, Kim Ash! It’s you again! You’re the root of all evil! You reckless, noisy, dizzy, crazy troublemaker!

“The Demon King agreed to the rules, and two players sat at the game table.”

Eider smiled bitterly.

“However, for various reasons, Prince Ash was unable to continue the game himself… and had to find a proxy.”

“That’s me, isn’t it?”

“That’s right, Classic Otaku.”

In the end, it seems like a repeat of what I already knew, but one big new thing has come to light.

My opponent.

My fellow player.

The Demon King who rules all nightmares, he is also a player.

And he is playing a game with me according to the rules, just like a person…

…As if it were a light entertainment.

While we are struggling with all our might, he is throwing his legions one by one as if it were a game.

“…Anyway, I understand. Then, next.”

There was a lot to talk about.

First, my dissatisfaction with the achievement shop.

The achievement shop has almost no items that help with in-game play, and most of its functions are focused on adding system convenience.

So, I’ve hardly used it so far.

Eider apologized to me, saying that he was already preparing an update for the achievement shop. In his words, it’s under remodeling…

Besides that, Eider and I talked about this and that.

“Lord. I am the director of this game, but I am not a judge.”

Eider said this, promising as much help as possible.

“I clearly wish for you to win. Even if I can’t give you direct help, I will try to provide as much convenience as possible.”

“…….”

“I am in a shared destiny with you. Please don’t forget this point.”

The moment I heard those words, I suddenly remembered what my second brother… Fernandez, had told me in the Imperial City.

– Oh, and. About Eider, who is your aide on the Southern Front…

– It’s best not to trust that immortal bastard too much. He’s a con artist.

I glared at Eider, who was smiling with his glasses on.

“…….”

Immortal and a con artist?

‘There’s something more to it, this guy…’

I’ll investigate this a bit more personally and then question him.

The personal meeting was roughly over. It felt like we hadn’t talked much, but several hours had easily passed. It was already late afternoon. It would be dinner soon.

As I was leaving Eider’s room, I asked casually.

“So, what’s your relationship with Muyeong?”

But Eider’s guard was tight to the end.

“I told you, no comment.”

Ugh, so you won’t tell me to the end…?

“Then just answer this. Is it related to Muyeong’s true ending condition?”

“I’ll just say that it’s ‘not entirely unrelated’.”

Eider smiled and gave an ambiguous answer.

So, I can take that as it’s related. I snorted.

In the end, nothing changes.

Whether it’s a hostile player or whatever, I’ll beat the crap out of that Demon King bastard and wipe out all the monsters.

In the process, I will protect the people within my reach.

I’ll keep doing what I’ve always done.

Towards the clear, one step at a time. Step by step.

***

I sat down in the lord’s office, sipping coffee, and looked at the system window in front of me.

“Hmm…”

This was displayed on the system window.

[Rank Up Quest]

– Target: Damian (N)

> This character possesses abilities that transcend their current rank, making a rank up possible.

> Upon ranking up, the character’s stats and skills may change.

> A rank up requires a rank up-specific consumable item.

> Would you like to proceed with the rank up?

Rank up!

It means Damian’s rank, which is N, will increase.

‘From the start, it didn’t make sense for Damian to be N rank.’

Of course, as a healer, it’s right that he has abilities around N rank, but he’s a [Clairvoyance] holder. The best cheat trait in this game!

‘The problem is… this is the first time I’ve seen this rank up thing.’

Character’s rank changing?

It’s unheard of. At least, I’ve never seen it in the 742 times I’ve cleared it.

It says stats and skills may change, so I don’t know what will happen.

Of course, I think it will change for the better, but this damn game has so many traps, so I can’t be sure.

‘Still, I have to do it.’

It might sound cruel to say this, but there’s no chance that N-rank stats and skill sets will get worse.

I’m just worried that something that doesn’t suit the current Damian will come out.

Anyway, I’m going to do it…

‘What’s a rank up-specific consumable item?’

Let’s open the list.

“Ah.”

There was an item name that immediately caught my eye.

[All types of ‘Wish-Fulfilling Orb’ items]

“It’s such a perfect fit, geez…”

I took out the ‘Jormungandr’s Wish-Fulfilling Orb’ from my inventory. It’s the item that Jormungandr spat out this time.

[Jormungandr’s Wish-Fulfilling Orb]

– A sphere of power containing the essence of Jormungandr. It is used to elevate the existence’s tier.

This kind of legend is common on Earth.

In the process of a serpent training to become a dragon, power gathers to form a sphere, and this is the Wish-Fulfilling Orb.

If a serpent has only one of these orbs, it can be promoted to a dragon, but if it is greedy and has more than that, it cannot become a dragon.

So, there’s a myth that the serpents ascending to dragons spit out the remaining Wish-Fulfilling Orbs.

‘Jormungandr, that guy, he seemed like a snake, but was he actually a serpent?’

Whether it’s a serpent or an earthworm, whatever. Anyway, he gave me the perfect item I needed. I was wondering what to use this for.

Damian happened to be at my mansion. I called Damian to the office.

“Did you call for me, Your Highness?”

As soon as Damian entered my room, I held up my hand and said, “Stop!”

“Stand right there, Damian! Yes, there, in front of the full-length mirror!”

“Yes? Uh, yes…”

Damian stood awkwardly at the entrance of the room. It was in front of where the full-length mirror was placed.

“Good, just look at yourself in the mirror like that.”

Damian had a puzzled expression, but he stood looking at himself in the mirror anyway.

‘It’s a monumental rank up scene, I have to watch it from all angles in a splendid way!’

I didn’t hesitate and used the Wish-Fulfilling Orb item, completing Damian’s rank up quest.

[Rank Up Quest Successful!]

Whoosh-!

A gray aura spread out from behind Damian. It was the color of N rank.

Whoosh!

Immediately after, the color began to change. I swallowed hard.

How will our Damian’s rank change?

R? SR? Or maybe, SSR?!

‘Is it blue?! Is it purple?! No! Just give me gold!’

SSR! SSR! God of SSR! I believe in you!

In front of me, who was praying with both hands together, Damian also seemed to feel something and looked down at his own body with wide eyes.

And-

Flash!

Not blue, not purple, not gold.

A white, transparent light poured out from behind Damian. I widened my eyes.

Eh?

‘What rank color is that?’

And.

Its identity was soon revealed.

Ding!

[Hero character ‘Damian’s’ rank is changed.]

> Damian (N) → Damian (EX)

“…Ah.”

I gaped.

EX rank?

‘Out of the norm’ you say?

…I didn’t expect this?

Following that, all sorts of messages popped up and covered my system window.

[Hero character ‘Damian (EX)’s’ job is changed.]

[Hero character ‘Damian (EX)’s’ skills are changed.]

[Hero character ‘Damian (EX)’s’ stats are changed.]

[Hero character ‘Damian (EX)’s’……]

[Hero character ‘Damian (EX)’s’……]

Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding!

As I was staring at the screen with my mouth open, Damian looked at me with a tearful face and asked.

“Um, Your Highness, something feels strange… Did I do something wrong?”