I Became the Tyrant of a Defense Game [EN]: Chapter 247

“The moon is bright tonight.”

Kureha’s father murmured, looking up at the sky.

“It’s a good night for wolves to go mad.”

“What… what are you planning to do?” Kureha asked urgently, his shoulders trembling with unease.

“And why did you bring me here tonight?”

“Tonight, this child will be sent to the Imperial Army camp.”

His father slowly walked towards Kuilan, who was lying on the ground.

“He is a child who bears the curse of the entire tribe. If we awaken him as a wolf and expose him to a full moon like tonight, he will become a monstrous beast.”

“… !”

“This child will kill the Imperial soldiers until the end of his life.”

“And after that?”

“He will die.” His father’s voice was utterly calm.

“Whether he is defeated by the Imperial Army after rampaging as a monster, or collapses from exhaustion, unable to bear the curse, he will eventually die.”

“What…”

“Then, the curse that leaves the child’s body will gather again in this altar, in this maple tree, which is our tribe’s guardian and the origin of our magic… Then, we will kidnap another child to be the next ‘vessel’ and fill it with the curse again.”

Kureha asked roughly. “You’re going to use a child who spent his entire life bearing the curse as a weapon now?”

“…”

“Is it not enough that we made this child a monster so that we could live as humans? Now you’re going to make him throw away his life for us?”

His father silently took out a dagger from his pocket. Kureha shouted, “Please reconsider, Father. This is not something a human should do!”

“This child is your brother, but he is also my son.” His father spoke in a stern voice. “Do you think my heart isn’t breaking?”

His father chanted a spell to activate the magic and stabbed Kuilan’s forehead with the dagger.

At the same time, the branches of the maple tree writhed like tentacles and pierced into Kuilan’s body with a ‘thud!’ sound.

“…”

Black blood flowed from the wound on his forehead, staining his face. The blood that poured from his body, pierced by the branches, formed a puddle. But Kuilan did not move.

However, when his father grabbed Kuilan and exposed the wound to the moonlight-

“Aaaaaaaah!” Kuilan writhed in agony.

Red wolf fur sprouted all over the child’s body, touched by the moonlight. His mouth became elongated like a wolf’s, and his eyes flashed like a beast’s.

A terrible sound came from the bones all over his body, and the child’s physique became larger.

However, Kuilan could not resist, even while struggling, because of the chains binding his body.

When his father’s dagger carved a clear X-shaped scar on Kuilan’s forehead, the boy had become a huge monster.

Claws that had grown grotesquely, hideous fangs that did not fit together, and red fur that had sprouted all over his body…

A wolf monster that had taken on all the curses of the clan.

“Kureha.” His father, who had turned around, commanded Kureha, who was overwhelmed by the sight. “Take him. Throw this monster… into the Imperial Army camp.”

Kureha gritted his teeth and shook his head. “I can’t do it.”

“You have to.”

“I can’t!”

“You fool!” His father roared in anger. “You are to lead the clan in the future! Are you going to waver like this over the life of your brother?”

“…”

“Are you going to disregard the lives of thousands that you must protect, just because one life is pitiful? Kureha! Can’t you judge what is more important?” His father growled like a wolf.

“To protect the majority, you must be able to sacrifice the minority with tears in your eyes… That is what a leader is!”

“If that sacrifice is in this form, then I can never be a leader.” Kureha slowly raised his fist and took a fighting stance. “I cannot let this child… my brother die. I will stop you, Father.”

Anger flashed in his father’s eyes. “Are you abandoning the clan, the village now? All the people in the village are trusting only you?”

“This method is wrong, Father! You know it yourself!” His father, who had been watching Kureha, who was not willing to back down, put his hand to his mouth and whistled sharply.

“…?!” Warriors who had been waiting in front of the altar rushed in through the still-open maple tree door.

They were all members of the chief’s direct guard.

His father spoke coldly. “Warrior Kureha has defied me, the village chief and shaman. Subdue him.”

“Yes!” The space was too narrow and there were too many of them to fight. Realizing that resistance was futile, Kureha slowly released his fighting stance, and the warriors immediately subdued him and forced him to kneel on the ground.

His father, who had been looking down at Kureha, who was gritting his teeth, ordered the warriors. “As we discussed beforehand. Take the monster and release it into the Imperial Army camp.”

“Yes.” Except for the two warriors holding Kureha, the rest of the warriors dragged the monster Kuilan out with chains.

Kureha, who was watching the scene, lowered his head. His father let out a long sigh. “Cool your head and think calmly, Kureha. You are the one who will rule our clan in the future. If this sacrificial system does not exist, our clan will collapse.”

Kureha was silent. His father clicked his tongue and changed the subject. “…I told you I would pass on the secrets of the Maple Fist, didn’t I? Do you know why I haven’t taught you all this time?”

“…”

“Because the last technique of the Maple Fist cannot be used by a human body. You must accept the curse of our ancestors flowing in our blood… the beastliness. That’s why it was sealed.”

His father took out an old book from his pocket. “The name of this secret technique is called ‘Severing Heart Wolf Storm’. It is said to be a fist technique that can break even the invisible heart. Well, there’s probably some exaggeration mixed in.”

Whisk.

The book his father threw fell in front of Kureha’s knees.

“Take it. It’s a manual that summarizes all the secrets of the Maple Fist, including the secret technique. It has been passed down to those who lead the clan for generations.”

Kureha slowly reached out and grabbed the old book.

“It is also a symbol that proves that you are carrying on the clan’s lineage.”

A fist technique that is passed down but cannot be used.

Then what is the meaning of this?

“When this war is over, take over as village chief after me. Kureha. Lead the clan.”

“…”

“You will be able to do it well.” His father’s words sounded like this to Kureha.

After your brother dies today, find another victim, pour the curse of the entire tribe on him, and turn him into a monster.

In order for everyone else to live as humans, create a scapegoat and keep him locked up here.

Add your hand to this terrible ‘peace’ that has been passed down for generations.

“…I refuse, Father.” Fuu-. Kureha took a breath.

All the other warriors had left with his brother, and only two warriors and his father remained here.

Thwack! Thwack-! Kureha swung his fists and elbows like lightning, striking the jaws of the two warriors who were pressing down on his shoulders.

The two warriors were knocked back, spitting blood without even being able to scream.

His father’s face twisted with anger. Kureha declared, shaking his fists. “I’m going to save Kuilan.”

“You fool! Don’t you understand yet? Your brother cannot be saved. He is already a monster!”

“Don’t you understand yet, Father?” Kureha lowered his stance and raised his fists forward. “The real monster is you.”

“Youuuu-!” His father, enraged, unleashed his magic, and the maple tree branches pulsed like tentacles and poured out from all directions.

***

Kuilan, who had become a huge wolf, was docile, unlike his appearance.

With his whole body wrapped in chains, he walked quietly as the warriors dragged him.

However, because his appearance was so hideous and intimidating, the warriors did not let their guard down even for a moment as they dragged Kuilan.

It was when they reached the village border, the outer gate surrounded by a wooden fence.

Paat-! Kureha, who had approached from above, stepping on a tree branch, fell down and extended his fists and feet.

The warriors, who had been focusing all their attention on the wolf, were unable to respond to the surprise attack and had to allow the attack.

Thud! Thwack! “Kuhuk!” “Ku, Kureha?!” “What is this!” Kureha, who had subdued three warriors in an instant, took a breath and raised his fists forward.

His whole body was covered in blood from shaking off his father, but the remaining warriors swallowed hard at the fighting spirit that Kureha, the strongest warrior of the tribe, was emitting.

Kureha spoke in a low voice. “Release him. I’ll take him back.”

“Don’t say such nonsense, Kureha!” “It’s an order from your father, the village chief and tribal leader! You have no authority to revoke that order!”

“If I don’t have the authority, I’ll take him by force.” Kureha, gathering strength in his toes, shot forward. “I will end this insane tragedy in my generation. Give me back my brother!”

A battle broke out.

Kureha was the strongest warrior of the tribe, but the warriors of the tribe were also elites trained in real combat. The battle was intense.

They tried not to use fatal blows against each other, as they were long-time comrades, but as the battle intensified, their attacks became sharper.

Kureha’s fists and the warriors’ blades were swung more and more threateningly.

Then, at one moment-

Clang! Kureha dodged the tip of a sword swung by one of the warriors, and the tip of the sword hit the chain that bound the wolf monster.

Sparks flew and the chain broke. Everyone was startled and looked at that side.

《Krrrk…?》 The monster – Kuilan blinked and looked at the broken chain.

Then, the monster twisted its body. As if it was trying to stretch.

Then.

Clang! Clatter! The chains that had been on his body all fell down with a scream.

From the beginning, it was not a monster that could be bound by such chains. It had just been staying captured all this time…

《Krr…》 The monster looked at its freed body as if it was curious.

Looking up at the monster, the warriors, Kureha, and even themselves, swallowed hard without realizing it.

And.

Taat-! The monster moved with a speed that was unbelievable for its huge body.

When they opened and closed their eyes, the monster was standing in front of Kureha. Kureha could not even think of moving and just stared blankly at the monster.

The monster’s hand, slowly extended, touched Kureha’s neck. Kureha sensed death.

He thought that those huge claws would tear off his neck.

…But, it wasn’t.

The monster tapped the coin on the necklace around Kureha’s neck with the tip of its claw, then opened its mouth with hideous teeth and uttered an unclear language.

The slurred pronunciation was terrible, but Kureha could clearly understand it.

《…Flip, coin?》 Kureha’s eyes widened.

Could this child remember the coin toss from his very young age?

The eyes of the wolf monster that he was facing were innocent.

Just like any other boy’s.

“Kuilan, you…” Kureha, who had uttered his brother’s name, reached out his hand towards his brother,

“Kureha! It’s dangerous-!” The warriors, who had drawn their swords, rushed in.

From the side, it looked like a huge monster was trying to tear off Kureha’s neck.

Although they had been confronting each other just a little while ago, Kureha was the hero of the clan, the son of the village chief, and a comrade who fought against the Imperial Army together.

The warriors raised their weapons towards the monster to save Kureha.

Kureha screamed. “No, this child! Kuilan is…!”

Splat-! However, there was no time to stop them.

The warriors who rushed in from all directions stabbed their swords into the monster’s back and side. The monster twisted its body and let out a terrible scream.

《Aaaaaaaaaah!》 Blood spurted like a fountain from the monster’s wounds.

The soaring drops of blood splattered on the faces of the warriors. The hot blood was black, sticky, and smelled disgusting.

The warriors quickly wiped away the blood that had gotten into their eyes, noses, and mouths and stepped back.

“Kuh?! What is this!” “Cough, cough! Damn it, the blood got in my mouth…” “Uh…?” One of the warriors who was quickly wiping his face hesitated. A warrior who had not been hit by the blood asked urgently. “Hey, are you okay? What’s wrong?”

“The moon…” The warrior, dripping the monster’s blood from his face, looked up at the sky as if possessed. “The moon… was it that big…?”

“What?” “It’s bright, too… I can’t open my eyes…” Crack. Cracking. The warrior’s skeleton began to twist.

His back bent, his jaw widened, his arm and leg joints bent, and claws sprouted. And he was covered in fur.

The warriors who had been splashed with blood on their faces all began to transform.

The other warriors who were watching this scene dropped their weapons one by one and sat down on the ground.

“Hee, heeheehee?!” “Wh, what is this…!” Kureha also watched this insane scene, hesitated, and stepped back.

“Could it be…” When they swallowed and were covered in the monster’s blood, the curse of their ancestors that was within it was activated.

It had awakened the wolf’s blood that was inherent in the bodies of the tribe’s warriors.

Aaaaaaaah-! Under the bright full moonlight.

The warriors, who had completely transformed into werewolves, all let out hideous screams.