I Became the Tyrant of a Defense Game [EN]: Chapter 269

After discussing matters with the penal unit and future plans, I instructed them to prepare for departure separately. I intended to leave for the Lake Kingdom tonight.

After watching the penal unit members disappear to prepare, I went to find the rest of my party members one by one.

Damian had a minor injury, but he temporarily lost his eyesight due to excessive use of his Clairvoyance. So, he was resting and couldn’t attend the funeral.

Lucas was still not in his right mind due to the side effects of his beastification, so he was tied up and locked in the dungeon.

The last main party member was, Junior.

“…….”

Junior was standing still on the hill.

What she was looking at was,

Gooooooo-!

The airship that had flown into the sky above Crossroads. It was the Imperial Special Mission Ship, Alcatraz.

The airship was dispatched to retrieve the magic corps stationed here and return to the Imperial City.

The massive airship was slowly landing in front of the south gate of Crossroads.

Soon, Reina and the magic corps would board that airship and leave for the Imperial City.

“…….”

Junior was watching the landing airship with a blank expression.

As I approached, Junior murmured quietly.

“…I vaguely believed that people could understand each other.”

I stopped walking. Junior continued.

“But it wasn’t true. Between some people, there’s a chasm that can never be filled.”

“…….”

“A chasm so deep, so profound, that it can never be filled…”

Junior slowly lowered her head.

“A deep hatred that cannot be overcome even with effort, and cannot be ignored even if you try to look away.”

“Junior.”

“I wanted to fill that chasm and get closer to that person. I wanted to forgive that person and feel at peace.”

A bitter smile formed on Junior’s lips.

“But I realized. I noticed it only after seeing that person and Camus fighting to kill each other.”

“…….”

“There are things in this world that can never be forgiven. There are chasms that will never be filled. There is such a deep chasm between me and Lady Reina.”

Junior shook her head.

“Getting closer was impossible from the start.”

“…You might be right, Junior.”

Perhaps from the beginning. It might have been impossible to fill the chasm between the two of them.

I gave Junior a gentle smile.

“But you don’t have to get close.”

“Huh?”

“Even with a deep chasm between them, people can still talk to each other.”

You don’t have to be friends, or even in a friendly relationship. It doesn’t even matter if you’re enemies.

People can talk to each other.

As long as they have the will to do so. As much as they want.

I nodded to Junior, who was looking bewildered.

“I don’t think Reina is right. I don’t think the things she did in the past can be forgiven.”

“…….”

“But I know that if you let her go like this, you’ll regret it.”

I gently pushed Junior’s back.

“Go. Go and talk to her one last time.”

“…….”

“You don’t have to forgive her. You don’t have to understand each other. But still, even from afar, shout and talk to each other.”

After a long silence, Junior cautiously asked back.

“Then, will something change?”

“It doesn’t matter if it doesn’t change.”

I said with conviction.

“But the regret will lessen.”

Reina killed Camus.

She bombed Junior’s kingdom, gave Junior an indelible wound, and did not ask for Junior’s forgiveness.

This resentment is the kind that can never be washed away or erased.

But the two of them tried for each other.

Reina tried to improve their relationship by healing Junior’s body, and Junior was slowly accepting Reina.

A makeshift bridge was being built, albeit clumsily, between the deep chasm between the two.

I had been watching this process from the side.

That’s why I couldn’t stand to see them say goodbye without any greetings.

Even if this chasm could never be filled.

Even so, I wanted these two to face each other properly and part ways, instead of turning away from each other.

…No matter what fate awaits them in the future.

I wanted them to understand each other, even if it was just one more word.

For Junior.

And for Reina as well.

“…I’ll go. I’ll at least go and say goodbye to Lady Reina in person.”

Junior, who had made up her mind after hesitating, bowed deeply to me.

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

Junior ran towards the Crossroads barracks where Reina had disappeared.

I watched her go, then turned my gaze to the south wall as well.

Weeeeee-!

The airship, now completely landed, was bustling with officers and soldiers of the magic corps loading their luggage.

***

When Junior reached the south gate,

Gooooooo-!

The airship was emitting a powerful engine sound, having finished its flight preparations.

And through the open hatch, Reina was just about to board the airship for the last time.

“Lady Reina!”

Junior, who had rushed over, shouted urgently. Reina, surprised, turned around.

“Junior?”

“…….”

A brief awkward silence flowed between the two people facing each other.

Reina chuckled and shrugged her shoulders.

“Just in case, are you here to accept my previous offer?”

The offer to go to the Imperial City together.

A sweet proposal to walk the path of magic together in the Ivory Tower, the cutting edge of magical research.

But Junior quietly shook her head. She had already refused. Reina smiled bitterly.

“Then why are you here? What’s the matter?”

“…….”

“Did you come to curse me because you hate me? That kind of farewell isn’t bad either.”

Junior silently stared at Reina, who was speaking with a sly tone, and then,

“I’ve decided…”

Junior said anew.

“…not to forgive you.”

Reina’s lips tightened. Junior continued.

“But.”

“…?”

“I am grateful for what you have done for me.”

Junior slowly raised her hand and placed it in front of her chest.

“For healing my body. For guiding me in magic. For fighting side by side with me.”

“…….”

“For interfering in my affairs, dragging me to the restaurant, and talking about my mother… The journey of the past few months with you.”

Junior spoke honestly.

“It was fun.”

“…….”

“If I had a magic teacher, I thought it would be nice if it was someone like you.”

Junior had learned everything by herself without ever having a proper teacher.

Each of Reina’s teachings was precious and valuable.

All the time spent together… was beneficial and enjoyable.

“If we ever meet again.”

Junior said in a trembling voice.

“I still won’t be able to forgive you, but still…”

Junior, who had been hesitating, finally looked directly into Reina’s eyes and said.

“Then, tell me your story.”

Reina’s eyes blinked at the unexpected words.

“…My story?”

“What kind of life you’ve lived. Why you had to live that way. What you were feeling at that time.”

During their time together, the topic was Jupiter.

It was their common ground and a shared interest.

They talked about how Jupiter acted when he was with Junior, and what kind of person Jupiter was when he was with Reina.

So, they hadn’t talked much about each other.

“Tell me about yourself.”

“…….”

“I’ll tell you about how I’ve lived as well.”

A magician who trampled on other countries for her own nation,

And another magician who survived and grew up after being trampled on.

Two people who were so different, standing on opposite sides.

From the other side of the unfillable chasm, standing at the edge of the already collapsed bridge.

Nevertheless, Junior shouted.

Let’s talk.

Let’s understand each other.

We are so different, and I can’t forgive you, but still,

I still want to hear your story.

“…Okay.”

After a long silence.

Reina opened her mouth with a faint trembling voice and barely answered.

“I will, definitely.”

Reina, who had closed and opened her eyes, had a relieved smile on her lips.

“Definitely.”

“…….”

“I’ll be looking forward to the day we meet again. Jupiter Junior.”

Kiiiiing-!

The hatch slowly closed. Reina waved her hand with a bright smile.

“Until then, gather lots of great stories! Got it!”

Thud!

The hatch closed,

Thwack-!

The blue flames generated from the magic reactor were emitted through the airship’s thrusters.

The airship carrying the magic corps pierced the sky and disappeared in an instant.

Junior was quietly watching the trajectory left by the receding airship as it cut through the clouds.

Hoping that she could understand the unforgivable magician when they meet again.

***

Crossroads. The Lord’s Manor.

What was waiting for me when I returned to the mansion after the funeral was over were the three members of the Shadow Unit.

I had called them. I had things to order, and I needed to hear a report on how the mission I had entrusted to them went.

“Godhand. Bodybag. Burnout.”

I nodded, looking at the three elves who had returned safely.

“You’ve worked hard on the long-term dispatch mission. I’m glad you returned safely.”

“We are sorry for being much later than scheduled, Your Highness.”

The three elves bowed their heads at the same time. I patted their shoulders.

“I’m grateful that you came back alive. Besides, you contributed to the defense battle as soon as you returned… You’ve really worked hard.”

The three elves were happy with my praise, but they were somehow looking at each other.

Without much thought, I smiled brightly and looked at Godhand.

“So, the Dragon Lady… Did you meet Duke Bringer?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

The mission I had entrusted to these Shadow Unit members.

It was to deliver my letter to the Dragon Lady, the king of the Bringer Duchy.

The content of the letter was simple. It was to hide and help Duke Bringer rebuild if she escaped to this monster front.

Duke Bringer, who was on the verge of destruction in the war with the Everblack Empire, would eventually flee to the monster front anyway.

In the game, it was a choice of whether to accept this or not.

I twisted this and instead proposed that she come to the monster front first.

I had already decided to keep Duke Bringer under my command.

That’s why I made the proposal first to take the initiative.

And the Shadow Unit, who were the messengers of that letter, had returned like this.

What this meant was that Duke Bringer had decided to accept my proposal.

“…Here is the reply from Duke Bringer.”

Godhand, who was somehow hesitant, handed me a letter. I tore open the wax-sealed letter without hesitation and immediately read its contents.

And the smile on my lips slowly hardened.

I was dumbfounded and looked at Godhand with the letter in my hand.

“What is this?”

“…Well, that’s.”

Godhand really didn’t want to answer, but he had no choice but to explain the contents of the letter to my question.

“It’s a declaration of war.”

“…?”

“Duke Bringer has declared war on this southern front.”

The contents of the letter were not wrong.

Godhand, who had met Duke Bringer in person and returned, clearly conveyed the Dragon Lady’s intentions to me.

“…She says she will march directly here soon.”

What the hell is this…

No, is that a dragon’s roar-?!