I Became the Tyrant of a Defense Game [EN]: Chapter 23

The evening after the battle ended.

A banquet was held in Crossroads.

It was grandly called a banquet, but it was just a feast where food and drinks were piled up in the city’s central square for everyone to eat and drink.

“Now, to celebrate the victory we achieved after defeating those terrifying armored monsters…”

I raised my glass, giving a brief toast.

“Cheers!”

The soldiers all raised their glasses and shouted in unison.

“Cheers-!”

“Cheersss-!”

“Come on, eat and drink to your heart’s content! It’s on me today!”

“Yahoo~!”

“Long live the Lord!”

The banquet began. The soldiers chattered noisily, tearing into meat and gulping down drinks.

Just a few hours ago, death had been right in front of their noses.

They would need meat and alcohol to relieve that extreme stress.

Barbecue was sizzling next to a large fire in the central square, and the soldiers sang songs, celebrating their victory.

I sat huddled in a corner of the square, blankly watching the scene.

“Are you alright, Your Highness?” Lukas asked, approaching me with a worried look.

“You haven’t eaten anything all day. Please, have some food.”

“…Okay.”

I answered, but I didn’t feel like putting anything in my mouth. I spun the glass in my hand.

The liquor in the glass reflected the bonfire, glowing red.

Lukas, who had sat down right next to me, smiled gently.

“You don’t look like a victorious commander, Your Highness.”

“…”

“You managed to stop 1,000 Living Armors without taking much damage. I think you could be a little happier.”

“Not much damage, huh?”

I slowly brought the glass to my lips.

“Cough?!”

“Your Highness? Are you alright?”

“Y-yeah. I’m fine. The taste of the alcohol is a little different from what I expected…”

I stared down at the glass with a shocked expression.

Wait, this wasn’t beer? It feels like it has at least 20% alcohol content.

‘Since the world is different, it’s natural that the alcohol is different too.’

I awkwardly put down the glass and finished what I was saying.

“There wasn’t much damage, but we lost precious lives.”

From the moment someone dies, it’s meaningless to discuss the size of the damage. Life has no weight, and everyone is precious.

Of course, I know. It’s impossible to save everyone. In this harsh game, that’s arrogance.

But one hero character I couldn’t save today, one ordinary soldier, could have played a crucial role in protecting this city in the future.

Their lives were seeds of potential that could have bloomed into something.

And they’re gone.

“If I had been a little more meticulous… they wouldn’t have died.”

I replayed today’s battle in my mind.

I could have done better. I could have been less careless.

It was different from the tutorial stage. There was definitely room for improvement. Knowing this myself made it even more painful.

“I believe you did well enough, Your Highness, and there’s no need to blame yourself… but I doubt my words will make your regret disappear.”

Lukas said softly.

“But Your Highness, this is a victory banquet.”

I turned to look, and the blonde-haired, blue-eyed protagonist was smiling at me.

“If you’re upset, the soldiers’ morale won’t rise.”

“…”

“Please smile. At least for now, please rejoice with us. That is also part of a commander’s job.”

Smiling is a commander’s job, huh?

That statement was both right and ridiculous, and I was about to laugh when…

“Indeed, that is absolutely correct!”

Aider popped out from behind me, making a fuss. What the heck?!

“It’s important to mourn the sacrifices, but we can’t maintain morale if we only feel sad. We also need time to celebrate and rejoice in our victory!”

Aider was wearing a chef’s outfit and holding a tray of food. What is this guy doing again?

“It’s not good for your health to only eat meat. I’ve brought some vegetables too.”

“No, I haven’t even eaten meat yet…”

As I grumbled, Aider handed me a tray of grilled vegetables.

“Congratulations on clearing Stage 1, Lord.”

Aider’s gray eyes winked behind his round glasses.

“It was a difficult stage, but you did well.”

“…”

“Please keep up the good work in the future!”

Feeling awkward at the game director’s encouragement, I picked up a grilled corn from the tray and put it in my mouth.

But as soon as I put it in my mouth,

“Our Prince Ash is eating vegetables!”

Suddenly, Aider yelled at the top of his lungs.

“The Prince is only eating vegetables because there’s no meat!”

“W-what? What nonsense are you spouting?”

I was dumbfounded for a moment, but the soldiers who heard the shout quickly swarmed around me like a cloud.

“We’re sorry, Your Highness! We were so thoughtless!”

“To make Prince Ash, who is famous for only eating meat, eat only vegetables!”

Did I have such a reputation? How the heck did Ash live his life?

“You bastards! Bring meat to His Highness, meat! And bring all the alcohol too!”

“Your Highness! Please, have this meat I grilled!”

“You idiot! His Highness is royalty! He only eats raw meat dripping with blood!”

“Woah! As expected of the Everblack royal family!”

“Shut your trap, you idiots! He eats normally!”

The soldiers offered me meat, each trying to outdo the other. I couldn’t take it anymore and yelled.

“I’ll eat it myself, so leave me alone!”

But the soldiers wouldn’t leave me alone. Soon, a drinking party surrounded me.

“Pour it!”

“Drink it!”

“Die!”

The soldiers were pouring alcohol into each other’s mouths with murderous intent.

They were eyeing me with fierce eyes, wondering when they could force alcohol down my throat. These wolf-like bastards?

I chewed on the mountain of meat piled in front of me, shuddering.

How did it come to this! I was planning to quietly and seriously reflect on this battle in a corner!

“Your Highneesss.”

“Eek?! What is it this time?!”

I looked to my side and saw Lily, her face as red as her hair, slurring her words.

When did she drink so much?

“Please let me resign… please let me resign, Your Highneesss…”

“Nope~ Not happening. Work harder.”

What resignation in this economy? I’m giving you a good salary, you know? Be grateful and work.

“Sob sob, I want to quit…”

Lily, who had become a ghost of a resignation hopeful, began to sob, and the other alchemists dragged her away in her wheelchair. Go put her to bed somewhere.

“Hehehe. Your Highness.”

“Agh, you scared me! Who is it now!”

This time, I heard slurred words from the other side. I was startled and saw Damian.

“The water here is a bit bitter, hehe… hic.”

“No, that’s not water…”

Who gave this kid so much alcohol? Huh?

The culprit was sitting right next to him. Jupiter was grinning with a completely sober face.

That damn old woman was pouring an unidentified strong liquor into Damian’s glass.

“Hey, Jupiter! What are you doing to the kid!”

“Kid? He’s a full-fledged mercenary.”

Jupiter leisurely puffed on a cigar and winked slyly with her one eye.

“He needs to learn how to drink, how to smoke, and various ways to waste money. Since he’s like a grandson to me, I’ll teach him myself.”

“Why are you teaching your grandson that kind of stuff, you messed-up adult!”

Then, my shoulder felt heavy. Damian, completely drunk, had put his forehead on my shoulder.

“Hehe, Your Highneess… hic.”

“To dare touch, no, put your forehead on the body of a royal. You’ve become very brave, Damian.”

It was something unimaginable for Damian, a commoner, but the power of alcohol is amazing. Well, I’m not one to punish someone for this.

Just as I was about to tell them to take him away and put him to bed, Damian mumbled with difficulty.

“…When I’m alone, I keep seeing the faces of my dead friends.”

“…”

“The scene from that day keeps replaying. The guilt of being the only one who survived is crushing me.”

I closed my mouth and listened to Damian’s words. Damian mumbled with unclear pronunciation.

“But strangely, when I’m by Your Highness’s side… I feel at ease.”

It’s not because I’m a special and great person. It’s just because of my passive skill.

It’s just the [Unyielding Commander] effect that prevents mental status ailments.

But I couldn’t say that.

“So… by Your Highness’s side…”

Damian soon began to nod off.

I awkwardly stared at this poor child, who had his forehead on my shoulder and was breathing softly.

“Come to think of it, I also feel like my magic has become stronger while following Your Highness’s command for some reason.”

Jupiter, who was looking at me, tilted her head.

“Is it thanks to Your Highness’s excellent command?”

It’s not because my command is excellent, it’s just because of my traits and the party synergy system.

In this battle, a total of 25 percent buff was applied.

But I couldn’t say that. I just chuckled.

“It’s all thanks to Your Highness’s excellent character and your innate talent as a leader.”

This time, a voice came from behind. I turned around and saw Lukas sitting there.

“When I’m with Your Highness, my worries disappear, and when I follow Your Highness’s command, my body feels light and agile. If this isn’t proof of Your Highness’s character and talent, then what is?”

To give such flattery with a straight voice.

It’s unlike this guy, the embodiment of diligence and a rock, but it seems he’s had quite a bit to drink. There were many empty glasses piled up next to him.

I had never seen Lukas like this before, and I couldn’t help but laugh. I curled up the corners of my mouth and gestured to Lukas with my chin.

“So, is that why you’re sticking so close to me, Lukas?”

Lukas, who was swallowing beer, raised one eyebrow.

“I wonder?”

That guy, ‘I wonder?’ That’s not an answer befitting a model student knight character.

Just as I was about to press him further, other soldiers swarmed around me. The soldiers were loudly exchanging toasts and gulping down drinks.

“For our fallen comrades!”

“For us who survived!”

“For Prince Ash!”

Everyone took turns drinking, and soon, everyone’s gaze was on me.

I was startled and looked around.

“What, what? Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Your Highness. Your glass is full.”

“Ah, it’s just that my condition isn’t so good…”

I didn’t really enjoy drinking alcohol back on Earth, so I was trying to avoid it somehow.

The soldiers all pretended to cry and fell to the ground.

“We’re sorry, Your Highness! We didn’t create the right atmosphere!”

“To make Prince Ash, who is famous for drinking alcohol all week long if he wants to, not drink even one glass!”

I’m telling you, what kind of reputation is that! What kind of life did this damn delinquent prince live!

“We’re the ones who deserve to die! Please kill us!”

“No, don’t overreact, you guys! Stop it and get up!”

“Then please drink!”

“Huh? Why does it turn out like that…”

“Drink it! Drink it! Drink it!”

The surrounding soldiers all started chanting in unison.

Drink it! Drink it! Drink it!

“Oh, for fuck’s sake.”

I couldn’t just get serious and pull rank in this kind of atmosphere.

Well, what can I do? I ended up closing my eyes tightly and downing my glass in one shot.

The strong liquid burned its way down from my esophagus to my stomach.

“Khaaa! Is that good enough? Is it?!”

I roughly wiped my mouth and shook the glass over my head.

The soldiers cheered and were about to die of happiness. These bastards…

“Since you dared to make me, the lord and commander, drink, you better be ready to handle the consequences?! Hey! Fill all the glasses!”

At my command, the soldiers happily rolled out barrels of alcohol.

As I refilled everyone’s glasses, I shouted.

“Alright, let’s all drink and die together!”

We ate, drank, sang, and talked until the moon was high in the sky.

The night of victory was growing deep.

***

“Ugh, I’m getting drunk…”

The banquet ended close to dawn.

I barely made it back to my room in the mansion, washed up roughly, and sat on the bed, holding my spinning head.

The alcohol in this world has no mercy, no mercy. I only drank beer, but the alcohol content is on a different level than the beer I used to drink on Earth.

I wanted to collapse and fall asleep right away, but I forced my heavy eyelids open and turned on the system window.

‘I should open these before I go to sleep.’

The reward boxes that came as a reward for clearing the stage.

Two R-grade boxes and three N-grade boxes.

It was time to check what was inside them.