I Became the Tyrant of a Defense Game [EN]: Chapter 249

Kureha also briefly recounted the events that followed.

How the two brothers traveled across the continent.

How the Maple Leaf Tribe had completely fallen. How they had joined up with the surviving children of the tribe during their travels.

Unable to tell them the truth of everything, he had told Kuilan and the children that the Empire was the cause of all their troubles.

‘Well, it’s not entirely wrong, I guess…’

If the Imperial Army hadn’t invaded that village, none of this would have happened in the first place. I crossed my arms and groaned.

Anyway, after wandering for several years, relying on various refugee villages across the continent.

They clashed with the Imperial Army, who were rounding up refugees, and Kureha’s left leg became mummified as a result of using his power to escape the crisis.

After that, Kuilan came to genuinely hate the Empire and, after becoming a bandit, consistently robbed the Empire for ten years…

“…I roughly understand your brothers’ past.”

Our conversation had moved to the lord’s mansion midway through the story.

The story had become long, and Kureha was worried that Kuilan might overhear.

“So, you’re not just a beastman in name, but you truly have wolf’s blood flowing through you.”

“The Wolf King Lunared you encountered in the dungeon must truly be our ancestor.”

Kureha nodded, smiled bitterly, and looked at me.

“I’ve heard the slogan of this monster front. ‘Kill the monsters and save the people.’ I think it’s a truly righteous and wonderful value.”

“…”

“But Your Highness. What is a monster? What is a person? What is the standard that distinguishes a monster from a person?”

Hearing those words, I suddenly remembered the question the Emperor had thrown at me in the capital.

– You say you’ll protect people? Then what is the definition of a person? A human? A different race? Or a monster that speaks human words? Where exactly does a person end?

– What about traitors? Rebels? Thieves, robbers, and swindlers? All of this stinking pile of garbage is people! Are you declaring that you will lump them all together and protect them?

Standard.

The standard that distinguishes monsters from people…

As I was lost in thought, Kureha continued to ask.

“Do we, with wolf’s blood flowing through our veins… are we monsters? Or are we people?”

“…”

“Are we truly allowed to be on this front line?”

I pressed my lips together.

Kureha reached for his teacup with his right hand, almost dropped it, then grabbed it with his left hand and poured it into his mouth.

The lukewarm tea flowed into his parched mouth.

“I have honestly revealed everything about my brother and me. Now, whether Your Highness dismisses us or continues to employ us, that is for Your Highness to decide.”

Damn it. I clicked my tongue inwardly.

This season, I keep having to make these value judgments, and it’s really exhausting.

I changed the subject.

“By the way, Kuilan was saving money to buy his homeland, what happened with that?”

Kureha burst into a hearty laugh and answered.

“The reason the Imperial Army originally flocked there was because of the various resources, including the mines in the area. Quite some time has passed, and the resource extraction has ended. The logging of timber is also finished.”

“Huh.”

“After the Imperial Army withdrew from the area, it became a remote region with no residents, and there were rumors of werewolves appearing… so the land was sold at a low price.”

Kureha nodded.

“That became Kuilan’s goal. Although it’s already a ruin, he wants to buy his homeland with money and rebuild it with his own strength.”

“Ah…”

“…He must have had such a dream because he has forgotten all the terrible past.”

“Do you oppose that dream?”

At my question, Kureha blinked, then slowly lowered his head.

“Well, I don’t know… but. Honestly, I’m afraid to go back.”

Kureha’s pale lips pressed tightly together.

“After all, it’s my homeland that I destroyed.”

***

I put Kureha in a carriage and sent him back. He’s a friend with mobility issues, after all.

Watching the carriage disappear, I looked to my side and asked.

“What do you think, Lucas?”

Lucas asked back.

“What are you referring to?”

“Those two brothers. And the Penal Legion.”

I crossed my arms and made a hmm- sound.

“They have the blood of a monster like the Wolf King flowing through them. Maybe all beastmen have ancestors who were connected to monsters.”

“…”

“Is it okay to keep them serving on this front line? What do you think?”

Lucas is originally the protagonist of this game and the one who takes on the role of the front line commander. He has insight, so his advice is helpful.

“Since you have a plan for operating this front, I am hesitant to speak rashly…”

Lucas lowered his blue eyes slightly and looked at me.

“Don’t hold back, just say it.”

I playfully nudged his side with my elbow, and he said,

“…To be honest, they are different races anyway.”

Lucas blurted out without hesitation.

“Whether they have monsters or evil gods among their ancestors, they were the enemies of humans until 100 years ago. If I’m not mistaken, the number of humans killed by the allied forces of different races at that time is probably greater than the number of humans killed by monsters throughout the history of the Empire.”

“Hmm.”

I felt more strongly that the gap between different races and humans was deeper than I thought. There might be people who hate different races more than monsters.

“But Your Highness has already hired the Shadow Squad, an elf unit. And they have proven their worth.”

“…”

“The Penal Legion, a beastman unit, was also somewhat unruly at first, but recently they have been performing well as a proper military force.”

It felt strange that Lucas, who had been at the forefront of opposing the recruitment of the Shadow Squad and the Penal Legion, was now defending them.

Come to think of it, Lucas personally trained the Penal Legion.

I stroked my chin with my hand.

“Yes, origin doesn’t matter… but the problem is that the Penal Legion has the potential to transform into werewolves.”

“Humans betray each other anyway.”

Lucas’s cool yet bleak answer flew back at me.

“Just think about the recent attack on Lady Reina in the barracks. Anyone can go crazy and stab their allies.”

“…”

The face of Camus, who attacked Reina and is now imprisoned, flashed before my eyes. Damn it, he’s right when I think about it.

‘Come to think of it, Camus’s trial is also just around the corner…’

As I was thinking, Lucas added.

“And I think it’s necessary to heed what Mr. Kureha said just now.”

Lucas hesitated while adding the honorific ‘Mr.’ It’s a subtle relationship we have. It’s like Kuilan is a student we’re in charge of teaching, and Kureha is like a parent.

“Heed? What did he say?”

“‘Standard,’ I mean.”

Lucas turned his clear blue eyes towards me.

“Where does a monster end, and where does a person begin?”

“…”

“What is the standard of the people Your Highness wants to protect? We need to make that clear.”

The standard of the people I want to protect.

I also remembered the advice Kellybay had given me a few days ago.

– Set principles. And don’t break those rules. When giving rewards, be generous, and when giving punishments, be decisive. Punish those who cause trouble, and reward those who prevent it.

– If the principles you set are solid, even if your castle shakes, it will never collapse.

Principles and standards.

That which will be a clear compass for me, a rookie commander.

I groaned, stroked my chin, scratched the back of my neck, and rubbed my forehead. It’s not easy to decide this…

After pondering, I thought, ‘Oh well!’ and put it aside for a moment, and I told Lucas what I had been thinking about since earlier.

“By the way, Lucas.”

“Yes.”

“Don’t use beastification anymore. I’m scared you’ll become a werewolf too.”

I had been feeling uneasy while listening to the story of the beastman brothers. I was worried about this guy’s state, fluctuating somewhere between a dog and a wolf.

“Don’t worry, my lord.”

Then Lucas smiled brightly.

“I am a well-trained dog. I will never bare my teeth at my lord.”

Well, well. He’s admitting it himself now? Calling himself a golden retriever.

But you always have to be careful with large dogs.

Just like it’s proper etiquette to put a muzzle on a dog when taking it for a walk, regardless of what the owner claims about their dog not biting.

“If I tell you not to use it, don’t use it! Got it!”

As I repeatedly forbade Lucas from using beastification, Lucas smiled agreeably, saying he understood.

“…”

Large dog characteristic. They’re incredibly cunning.

I don’t know if this protagonist will obediently listen to me. I sighed deeply and shrugged my shoulders. Still, he’ll listen to me within my sight, right?

***

Two days later. Military Tribunal.

It’s a grand name for a tribunal, but it’s just a conference room inside the barracks with a slightly different table arrangement.

There’s no way there would be a proper judge in this remote border region. This place is a fortress city for military purposes in the first place.

The judge who makes the verdict is me, Ash, the lord and commander.

And today’s defendant is… Camus, an SR-rank mercenary from the Camilla Kingdom, who attempted to murder Lady Reina and the mages of the magic corps.

Camus, who was dragged out of prison and sat in the defendant’s seat, was in a miserable state.

His whole body was bruised as if he had been beaten badly, and his bloodied face was so swollen that it was difficult to recognize his original features.

‘…The mages of the magic corps said they ‘interrogated’ him.’

Sure enough, they seem to have beaten him up pretty badly.

He seemed to have gone through all sorts of hardships, but Camus’s expression was calm. Just looking at his eyes, he seems innocent, wow.

But Camus’s attempt to kill his allies is a clear truth.

He admitted it himself. Reina, who was stabbed in the stomach at that time, is still unconscious in the intensive care unit of the temple.

In addition, he injured four guards with his sword.

Even in a fantasy world where an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, and private sanctions and revenge are somewhat tolerated.

He has far exceeded the acceptable limits.

“Prisoner, Camus.”

After reciting the crimes Camus had committed, I made a concise sentence.

“I sentence you to death.”

“…”

Camus silently lowered his head. I continued.

“The execution of the sentence will be after the next defense battle. That is all.”

I picked up the wooden hammer on the desk and lightly tapped the board below. Tap. Tap. Tap.

The guards came in, grabbed Camus on both sides, and dragged him out.

Camus didn’t say a word until the end, and he walked out of the courtroom on his own two feet, even though he was staggering.

‘Tsk.’

I looked down at the wooden hammer in my hand. I don’t want to get used to this kind of thing.

Since there were no restrictions on entering the courtroom, a few people were watching the verdict. The mages of the magic corps, and…

“…”

Junior.

Camus and Junior’s eyes met once as Camus was returning to prison. Camus soon turned his gaze away, and Junior followed his back with his eyes until the end.

“…”

Everyone from the magic corps and the guards left, and even after I cleaned up my things and left the courtroom.

Junior stood there blankly, looking at the empty space where Camus had been.

“Junior.”

When I called out to him tentatively, Junior was startled and turned around, and I said briefly.

“You can visit him anytime.”

“…”

“Tell me if you want to. Okay?”

“Yes, Your Highness. …Thank you.”

Junior showed his characteristic fox-like smile. I smiled back bitterly.

Man, it’s not easy.

It’s a difficult world.