I Became the Tyrant of a Defense Game [EN]: Chapter 252

Whenever I look at the character sheets, I can’t help but notice how Korean and English are mixed haphazardly.

Why is that in English and this in Korean? What’s the standard? Couldn’t they make it consistent? There were some complaints about it even when it was just a game.

Now that I think about it, I guess it’s just the director’s preference.

I pushed aside the useless thoughts and examined the three unique job titles.

Lucas is a [Knight Closer]. Evangeline is a [Frontier Guardian]. Damian is a [Marksman of Magic Bullets].

Lucas and Evangeline got their unique jobs from the game.

‘First, Lucas’s Knight Closer.’

There were many different opinions among the viewers about what this meant.

Does ‘Knight’ mean a knight, or does it mean night? And how should ‘Closer’ be interpreted?

After a heated debate in the community, my viewers came to the following conclusion:

Because Lucas looks like the sun when he wears his exclusive equipment and uses his ultimate skill, Lucas’s nickname in the later part of the game is ‘Knight of the Sun.’

The sun rising on the battlefield.

So, a Night-Closer.

That interpretation was more popular, but I preferred the less popular one.

In baseball, a ‘closer’ is a relief pitcher.

The strongest card that ends the game and secures victory.

So, Lucas is the one who ends the war on this front and secures victory—a ‘Finisher Knight’.

Anyway, whenever Lucas’s job title came up, there was a war in the chat.

They called each other ignorant of English, dissing each other’s interpretations as hopeless.

In the end, Lucas’s job title was even banned from being mentioned in the chat… It’s not like the job title is that important…

I shook my head, snapping out of my memories of my streaming days. Enough about that.

‘Next is Evangeline.’

Frontier Guardian.

There’s no room for interpretation here.

A guardian of the border.

The one who protects the front line.

It’s a job title that perfectly suits the successor of the Cross family, who has been protecting this fortress city at the southernmost tip of the continent.

‘Damian’s job is new to me, though.’

Marksman of Magic Bullets.

It’s also the title of a famous German opera.

I’m completely ignorant in that area, so I don’t know what the opera is about. But I’ve heard the name.

‘Well, I guess I can understand it as an upgrade of a magic bullet user.’

Anyway, those are the job titles. Now, let’s check out their ultimate skills.

I touched Lucas’s ultimate skill [Divine Descent], Evangeline’s ultimate skill [Last Fortress], and Damian’s ultimate skill [Duel] in succession to bring up the skill descriptions—

“Senior! What have you been doing there since earlier!”

Eh.

Suddenly, a voice came flying.

Startled, I looked over and saw the other four party members staring at me. Evangeline waved her hand wildly.

“You told us to celebrate together, but you’ve just been chuckling like a villain in the corner… Come here! Let’s play together!”

“……”

Hearing that, I felt like…

I felt like a parent who only looks at their smartphone camera at their child’s school talent show.

It’s important to grasp the exact stats of my party members through the system window, of course.

But now is the time to celebrate these guys’ third job advancement.

‘Right. I can figure out the ultimate skill descriptions later, and more than anything, it’s much faster to experience their performance in actual combat.’

Instead of the system window, I should look at my companions with my own eyes.

I turned off the system window and approached my party members. Then, I clapped my hands and asked.

“Okay, what should we play!”

***

At the same time.

Crossroad City. Barracks.

“I’m back, hyaaawn… The others said they’re going for another drink…”

When Quillan returned to the barracks’ lodging.

Clang-!

“Kuh!”

Kureha, who was cooking something again in the kitchen, dropped a plate. Startled, Quillan rushed into the kitchen.

“I told you I was going to eat out, you old man, why don’t you ever listen…!”

Quillan, who was scolding Kureha, widened his eyes.

It was because he had just noticed that his brother’s right arm was mummified.

Kureha hurriedly lowered his sleeve to cover his right arm, but it was already too late.

“Brother, your right arm…?”

“Ah, this, well.”

Kureha, who was waving his hand, smiled wryly.

“Last time, I had to use my power in a situation… Haha. That’s how it happened.”

“……”

“No, it’s similar to my left leg! I got used to it quickly. It’s not particularly uncomfortable! You don’t have to worry! Really!”

To his brother, who was trying to speak cheerfully, Quillan asked in a subdued voice.

“Why did you keep it a secret from me?”

“…There’s no point in telling you.”

Kureha made an excuse to his brother, whose face had hardened.

“It’s a curse that can’t be cured anyway. I just tried to hide it so you wouldn’t worry.”

“…Kureha.”

Quillan, who had noticed something, asked slowly.

“Could that curse be because of the blood flowing in our bodies?”

“……”

“The monster wolf I met in the dungeon said something like that. That I’m a descendant of that thing… Is the curse on your body related to that wolf monster?”

There was no way to hide it now that it had come this far.

Kureha slowly nodded.

“Yes.”

“You knew from the beginning. That monster blood flows in our bodies.”

“…Yes.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

Anger flashed in Quillan’s eyes.

“Why do you keep everything to yourself?”

“……”

“Are you hiding something else from me?”

“Quillan.”

“Tell me. Everything. Right now.”

The younger brother, who was once small and young enough to be lifted with one arm, was now a young man a head taller than himself.

Looking up at his brother, and at the coin necklace around his brother’s neck, Kureha closed his eyes tightly.

Old memories flashed through his mind.

The maple tree.

The father who inflicted the curse on Quillan.

The villagers turning into wolves.

The burning village. Screams and the smell of blood. Death scattered everywhere.

The hellish full moon night…

How could he explain all of that?

“……”

The young brother who easily believed that it was all because of the Empire was no longer there. Quillan had grown too much.

But. No matter how much his head had grown and his body had gotten bigger.

Did he really have to remind him of those terrible memories of being a victim of the curse?

Wouldn’t it be much happier for him now that he doesn’t remember…

So Kureha hesitated, and Quillan became angry.

“Why can’t you speak, Kureha! Are my words not words to you?!”

“Quillan, I… I just want to protect you.”

Kureha reached out his left hand and patted his brother’s shoulder.

“Give me a little more time. I will tell you everything someday.”

“……”

Quillan, who was watching Kureha treat him like a child, irritably brushed off his brother’s hand.

“Do I still look like that weak little kid who couldn’t even walk properly, brother?”

“Quillan.”

“What? You want to protect me? Stop talking nonsense! I’m already protecting our bandit group, and you!”

Quillan turned away, grinding his teeth.

“Keep living like that, holding everything in and suffering alone, damn it.”

“Quillan! Wait a minute…”

Bang!

Quillan left the lodging and slammed the door shut.

“……”

Kureha looked around the kitchen with a long sigh. He saw the food that had been prepared and had gone cold.

No matter how big his body grew, his brother was still the skinny child from that day in his eyes.

A child to feed, protect, and care for.

“It’s all because of my guilt, I know…”

He knew, but.

He didn’t have the courage to speak.

Neither the mistake he had made that day, nor the curse that his brothers would have to take back someday when he died…

Kureha sighed and looked out the window. The moon was already rising in the sky.

The moon, which had filled more than half of the sky, was slowly swelling in size.

***

Lake Kingdom Dungeon. Area 7 [Wolf Den].

Contrary to its name, this place was a large underground pub.

The name ‘Wolf Den’ was written on a creaking sign in the darkness.

From here, a pack of werewolves poured out. At the head was the Wolf King Lunared.

With three days left until the defense battle based on Crossroad.

The Lake Kingdom’s monster army was beginning its march.

Hundreds of werewolves formed an orderly parade and advanced towards the north gate of the Lake Kingdom.

The killing intent emanating from the elite monsters under the Wolf King was like a blade.

It was when Lunared and his wolves reached the plaza in front of the north gate of the Lake Kingdom.

Flash! Flash-!

He saw dazzling beams of light shooting out from the plaza, cutting through the sky. Lunared clicked his tongue.

《Looks like they’ve already started.》

As he entered the plaza, he could see the beams of light even better.

Flash-!

Nameless. She was swinging her sword, emitting beams of light to kill the monsters, and countless werewolves were rushing towards her, baring their fangs and claws.

They were the bait unit to buy time while facing Nameless.

While the main force led by Lunared went out of the Lake Kingdom, they were tasked with drawing Nameless’s attention.

Every time they touched the beams of light that Nameless shot out, the bait unit was reduced to a puddle of blood.

Lunared wanted to have a life-or-death battle with Nameless, but he didn’t know what kind of punishment he would receive from the Demon King again if he did.

《Let’s finish off the human world first and then play, Nameless…》

Lunared muttered and led the main force towards the north gate of the Lake Kingdom.

Kugugugung…!

The rusty iron gate, which had been tightly locked, slowly began to split open to the left and right.

“…! Stop, Lunared!”

Nameless, who noticed that Lunared’s main force had approached the gate, swung her sword greatly.

The light exploded, and all the wolves in the area were killed.

“Hoo, hoo, hoo!”

Nameless, catching her breath roughly, wiped the blood that had splattered on her cheek. Lunared stood still and stared at Nameless.

《You look tired. Nameless.》

“……”

《You didn’t get tired even a hundred years ago. Now, your arms and legs are shaking even against these small fries?》

“You don’t look normal either, Lunared.”

Nameless sneered coldly. Lunared’s brow twitched.

《What nonsense are you talking about? I’m in perfect condition.》

“I only hear one heartbeat?”

Nameless smiled and pointed the tip of her sword at the Wolf King.

“Looks like you dropped one somewhere?”

《…….》

Lunared quietly frowned and touched his chest with his hand.

When he received a ‘punishment’ from the Demon King, one of the two hearts he possessed was crushed.

The heart is not only the most important organ but also the source of magic power.

He had lost one, so he was definitely not in perfect condition, but the Wolf King leisurely raised the corners of his long mouth.

《Hmph, do I need two hearts to destroy the human world? I threw one away on purpose.》

“Which one did you lose?”

Nameless narrowed her eyes and asked.

“Between the wolf’s heart and the human’s heart, which heart is left?”

《What does it matter? As long as either heart circulates blood in my body, that’s all that matters.》

“…Indeed.”

A meaningful smile appeared on Nameless’s lips as she closed her eyes and listened.

“Lunared. Listen. You are no match for Ash.”

《What?》

“Even if I let you go like this, your army will be defeated miserably.”

Lunared’s fist tightened.

《You seem to trust those young humans quite a bit.》

“Yes. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen someone exploring this place with only good intentions.”

《If I cut off the heads of those you cherish so much and bring them to you, you’ll be very happy, Nameless. I’ll make sure to cut them off one by one and bring them to you.》

“As I said, even if I let you go like this, you will be defeated. You will never be able to return here again. But even so, I will stop you with all my might.”

Nameless, gripping her sword again, recited coldly.

“Because that is my mission.”

《…….》

Lunared, twisting the corners of his mouth savagely, slowly turned his body and began to walk towards the plaza where Nameless was.

《I was ordered to avoid you… but I guess I can’t. I’ll punch your smug face and then set off.》

His guards tried to stop him, but Lunared ignored them and headed towards Nameless.

In the middle of the plaza, littered with the corpses of wolves.

Nameless and Lunared, standing face to face, raised their swords and claws at each other.

《No matter how much you sacrifice yourself here, there is no salvation for you. Deposed Princess.》

“I never wanted that.”

Nameless scoffed.

“I just want to be submerged and die here at the bottom of the lake with all of you.”

The next moment, the two powerful beings who had rushed towards each other collided.

***

Time flows relentlessly.

The moon, which had lost its flesh, is filling up roundly.

Soon, it will be a full moon.