I Became the Tyrant of a Defense Game [EN]: Chapter 267

The next day.

The funeral was prepared faster than any defense battle.

This was because there were casualties among the general citizens.

Although the soldiers and heroes risked their lives to defend desperately, there were losses.

‘Thirty-seven citizens.’

I pressed my lips together and bowed my head in front of the coffins of the citizens lined up. From afar, the bereaved families were awkwardly watching me.

I thought the bereaved families would grab me by the collar. I thought they would jeer or curse at me from afar.

I thought they would express their resentment, saying why I couldn’t do it properly, that their family members died because of me.

But no one did.

Is it because it’s not uncommon for citizens to die from monster invasions in this fortress city?

Is it because I am a high-ranking person, a royal and a lord?

Or is it because life is inherently cheap in this world?

Before the funeral, I met each of the bereaved families of the dead citizens, apologized, and gave them consolation money. They were grateful and thankful.

Gratitude.

My family died because I didn’t do well, but they thanked me.

“……”

I want to change it.

I want to overturn this world completely.

‘No… I will do it.’

I gritted my teeth.

I will change the world. To a place where death is not taken for granted. To a place where they don’t thank death.

In my own way. Definitely.

After finishing the flower offering, I headed to another group of coffins next to it.

‘One hundred and eighty-nine soldiers.’

Except for the tutorial stage, the most number of people died in this defense battle.

Most of them died protecting citizens from werewolves. In front of the north gate, and in various parts of the city…….

Looking at the rows of coffins covered with the imperial flag, I slowly bowed my head.

It hurts.

It hurts more because their deaths are noble. I bit my lip tightly. I tasted a metallic taste of blood.

‘All the soldiers who died this time were skilled.’

Enough to not run away from the monsters, and to throw their lives to save the citizens. Mentally skilled soldiers.

I lost nearly two hundred of them. It was a very painful loss.

I closed my eyes tightly and endured the heat rising in them.

I must not cry.

I must not console their deaths with tears. Instead, I must take responsibility.

The priests sprinkled holy water on the coffins and blessed the dead. I silently watched the process of hundreds of coffins going into the ground.

And finally.

‘Two heroes.’

There are two hero characters who died in battle. But strictly speaking, neither of them belongs to my front line.

Executioner Camus.

And Kuilan’s brother, Kureha.

One was a criminal who committed a crime and was waiting for execution, and the other was an ordinary citizen, regardless of his combat talent or his own skills.

But both died in this battle.

Although Camus was an executioner, considering that he stepped forward to save citizens, it was decided to bury his coffin in the cemetery.

I don’t know what it means to him to be buried in the empire’s tomb that he hated so much, but as a commander, I decided to do this.

Camus’s grave was desolate, unlike other graves. No one mourned his death.

Occasionally, citizens passing by would leave a bouquet of flowers, saying that he had saved their lives, but no one cried for him.

“……”

Junior, standing far away, was just staring at his tombstone with complicated eyes.

And further away from that. Reina, leaning on her cane, was blankly looking at Junior.

On the contrary, Kureha’s grave was quite crowded.

In addition to the five members of the penal unit who were wearing hoods and robes, bandits and refugees who came with the penal unit shed tears and offered flowers.

In addition, people in the city who had a relationship with Kureha also came and went, placing white flowers.

He was a good person.

But he died.

‘If only I had realized the essence of this game a little sooner…….’

Today’s scenery… would have been different from now.

The choir’s funeral song ended, and soon all the procedures were over.

Finally, it was my turn to give a speech.

I made up my mind and stepped onto the platform. Thousands of gazes, now familiar, were all fixed on me.

“……”

I cleared my throat and spoke.

“First, I want to apologize.”

As I bowed my head, a commotion spread among the people. Regardless, I continued.

“As a commander, I was complacent. I failed to grasp the enemy’s flanking maneuver. The monsters ambushed from all sides, and my response was slow.”

As a result of thinking that they would only attack the south wall, according to the rules of the game.

Crossroad suffered great damage from the werewolf legion that bypassed the rules.

“People died. This is entirely my responsibility.”

I was a bookworm who only knew how to fight within the rules of the game. I was a commander who was second to none when it came to the rules.

But, outside the rules.

In a street fight outside the ring. In a real battle.

I was a weakling who got hit hard in the jaw and knocked out in one blow.

‘I have never properly studied strategy and tactics, and I am certainly not a superhuman.’

I’m just an ordinary human who has played this game a little too much.

I’m still just a hardcore gamer who tries to deal with this reality by applying it to the game.

That’s why.

From now on, I.

“I will no longer deal with it complacently.”

Outside the rules, outside the ring.

I will try to face this world properly.

“I will think more keenly, analyze the enemy more sharply, and use all available means to crush their invasion.”

I don’t care about the ring anymore. I have already torn the ring rope and come down to the street.

I will trample on the lines of the rules and stand on them.

I will do anything to win against the monsters.

“Using all available means.”

After saying it once more, I slowly looked around the crowd. People were concentrating on me, who was giving a speech, swallowing hard.

“I hope today will be the last day you hear an apology from me. I will do my best to make that happen.”

Towards clearing the game, pioneering a new path outside the rules, I will lead them.

For a world where fewer people die.

In the process, even if I become something different from what I am now.

“……”

I paused for a moment and looked around. Perhaps because of my speech, there was a tense atmosphere in this cemetery.

I’ve been talking too much about myself. Shall I change the subject?

“Although all the deaths this time are painful, I want to say that all the deaths were noble.”

I continued in a soft tone.

“The fallen died to protect people. They threw their lives to protect you from the threat in front of you.”

I smiled faintly and nodded.

“And you are people who are worth it. Because you also stood up to protect the person next to you.”

Holding torches, holding weapons.

The citizens of Crossroad stood up on their own and gathered in the square.

Protecting each other’s backs, they spent the night together from the monster hordes.

“Don’t forget. We are human. We must protect each other from monsters.”

Human(人間) originally means ‘the space between people.’ [This refers to the Japanese word ‘ningen’ which literally translates to ‘between people’.]

To be human, humans need each other.

“Look at the face of the person next to you. The face of the person you must protect in the future, and the person who will protect you.”

The citizens looked at each other’s faces, feeling awkward. I turned my gaze towards the graves.

“Remember the faces of those buried in the tombstones. The faces of those who gave their lives to save you.”

Clenching my fist, I finished my speech.

“Become people who protect each other. The highest wall to defeat the monsters is right there.”

I slowly bowed my head.

“For all those who have become the foundation of this wall, I will offer a moment of silence.”

Thousands of people bowed their heads at once. Silence fell over the vast cemetery.

After a short moment of silence, I nodded without saying anything more and stepped down from the platform.

Since Lucas was not there, Evangeline was in charge of the funeral.

As Evangeline waved her arm, her body wrapped in bandages, the artillerymen lit the cannons.

Bang! Bang! Boom!

The cannon fire honoring the dead echoed faintly. The funeral ended like that.

***

The scattered citizens and soldiers went into the city or went back to the graves to mourn their respective comrades.

As I was blankly watching the scene, someone approached me.

“You gave a good speech, Your Highness.”

When I turned around, it was Reina. I nodded to the old officer who was slowly approaching with a cane.

“Sir Reina. How is your body?”

“It’s not to the point of making a fuss. Besides, there are many others who were injured in this battle.”

That was true. Everyone had several layers of bandages wrapped around their bodies. Reina’s level of injury was common.

Looking at the bandages wrapped around Reina’s stomach, I slowly asked.

“I heard that you eliminated Camus this time.”

“It was self-defense. Even if it wasn’t, I have the authority to eliminate a criminal who stabbed me.”

“……”

“Are you going to question me about that, Your Highness?”

“No. I just asked to confirm the facts.”

Camus tried to kill Reina, and Reina counterattacked and killed Camus.

Regardless of the previous grudges, that was what happened on this monster front. It’s not my place to interfere.

“So, it seems like you have something to say to me. Sir Reina.”

“Yes. I came to see you because I have something to tell you.”

I nodded, having guessed the content.

“It’s time to return, isn’t it?”

“That’s right. Our magic corps’ support for the southern front has ended with this defense battle.”

The number of defense battles they promised to support when they were dispatched was five. From stage 6 to 10.

With yesterday’s defense battle, they have completed all the counts. It was time to return to the imperial capital.

“Thanks to you, we were able to defeat the monsters easily.”

It was sincere. The magic corps officers and soldiers were a great help during the last five defense battles.

They did some other things behind the scenes, like the ‘Shutdown Protocol,’ but well, Reina told me about it herself and disposed of it herself. I’ll let that slide.

“I will not forget your hard work.”

I reached out my hand to Reina.

“We were just doing our job. Thank you for your words.”

Reina shook my hand up and down without any hesitation, even though it was a handshake requested by a royal. Her experience is not ordinary.

“When are you leaving?”

“I heard that an airship was sent from the imperial capital. It is scheduled to arrive today, and we plan to leave immediately.”

When they sent me down, they sent me by land, but the magic corps is a high-level workforce, so they are taking the airship back and forth.

“When you return to the imperial capital, please give my regards to Brother Fernandez.”

When I mentioned the name of the second brother, who is sure to take care of his people, Reina smiled faintly.

“I have something to report to His Highness Fernandez along with my regards.”

“?”

“That Your Highness is truly only interested in protecting this front.”

Reina raised her head and took in the desolate scenery around Crossroad.

“That in this barren wasteland, you do not miss the glamorous life in the imperial capital even a bit, and are devoting yourself to defeating the monsters.”

“……”

“That you are truly not concerned about the central power, wealth, or succession to the throne. I will report that.”

I don’t know if it’s a compliment or a sarcasm. No, I don’t know the intention.

Reina lowered her voice to me, who was narrowing my brow.

“I heard that you declared in the imperial capital? That the southern front will take a completely independent route.”

“I did.”

I guess they heard about it through the intelligence line.

“I hope that is true, Your Highness.”

“……?”

“That this front will be operated purely, regardless of the power struggles above. And that its future will be filled with light. I will support you from afar.”

I don’t know what kind of scheme she has in mind, but she said something nice, so I guess it’s okay.

“You’ve worked hard. Farewell, Sir Reina. Next time, I want to meet you in a peaceful place, not on this front, and talk openly.”

“Haha. It’s good to hear just your words. A peaceful place, not the front…….”

Reina trailed off, looking at the countless tombstones in the cemetery.

“I wish I could retire soon and spend the rest of my life in such a place.”

The soldier who had lived in war all his life said that, and then gave me a sharp salute.

“It was an honor to be with you. Your Highness. I hope to see you again someday.”

Reina turned around and headed towards Crossroad. She must be trying to pack her luggage since she has to go to the capital.

I blankly watched the old soldier’s worn black military uniform and the white robe of the magic corps fluttering on it.

“……”

I hope Reina’s remaining life will be peaceful. However.

I also know that it will not be so.