I Became the Tyrant of a Defense Game [EN]: Chapter 280

“Your Highness!” Serenade, with the support of her escort, stepped down from the carriage. Naturally, the escort was Elise, Serenade’s loyal subordinate, who was carrying a sword that looked as big as a house.

“You’ve worked hard to come all this way, Serenade.”

I greeted the guests warmly. Serenade and Elise bowed politely in response.

Elise, with her usual emotionless face framed by her dark blue hair, glanced down at me. She seems to be doing well, judging by her healthy complexion.

Serenade, having straightened up, smiled brightly.

“I apologize. It took a little longer than expected because we had to pave the road all the way from the capital to Crossroad.”

What did she just say?

They came while repairing the road? Those treacherous mountain paths?

‘I thought it would take longer than expected to get here, but I was wrong.’

These people accomplished the task in an unbelievably short amount of time…!

I looked at the members of the merchant guild with a fresh perspective. They were starting to look like veterans of war.

“Our guild was in charge of the national road project. And the road repair wasn’t completely finished; we only did the most basic construction as we came.”

Serenade pointed to the baggage carts behind her.

“But there won’t be any major disruptions to the magic stone distribution. If you give us permission, we can start sending magic stones from Crossroad to the capital starting tomorrow.”

“You’ve really worked hard, Serenade. Thank you.”

As I praised her, Serenade fidgeted with her fingers, looking embarrassed.

“No, it’s nothing. It’s something I promised Your Highness. There’s no need to thank me.”

“Y-yes…”

Yes, you being like that makes me embarrassed too…

I scratched the back of my neck awkwardly. Just as a soft, tender atmosphere was about to form, Evangeline, who had been trembling beside me, looked up at Serenade with a shocked expression and muttered.

“This, this, this… Could this mature, sophisticated, and beautiful woman possibly be…?”

“Ah, introduce yourself, Evangeline. This is Serenade, the owner of the Winter Silver Merchant Guild.”

I introduced Evangeline to Serenade as well.

“Serenade, this is Evangeline. She’s the heir to the Crossroad Margraviate [a territory ruled by a margrave].”

“It’s nice to meet you, Lady Evangeline. I’m Serenade. I look forward to working with you.”

Serenade bowed first. It was a perfect greeting with no flaws.

“I-I’m also glad to meet you, Lady Serenade! But!”

Evangeline glanced back and forth between me and Serenade and suddenly asked.

“Actually, when I lived in the capital, I read a lot of magazines with gossip about the two of you!”

“…”

I raised my hand and touched my forehead.

Come to think of it, this girl said she collected and even made scrapbooks of all sorts of scandal magazines related to me when she was at the academy in the capital…!

“There were all sorts of speculations about the two of you! I was so curious that I couldn’t even sleep! Please, just answer one question honestly!”

Evangeline threw a fastball at Serenade.

“What exactly is your relationship?!”

“Huh? Well, that, um…”

Serenade, flustered and hesitant, cautiously glanced at me, then blushed slightly and muttered.

“…Ex-girlfriend, perhaps?”

Evangeline’s eyes widened as if they would burst, and she shouted.

“Ex-Girlfriend-?!”

“…”

…No, saying it like that makes her sound like an EX-rank girlfriend, what is that?!

“Y-you dumped such a beautiful person, Senior…?”

“No, I didn’t dump her, well, I did dump her, but…”

As I stammered, Evangeline, trembling, suddenly punched me on the shoulder.

“You womanizer! Bad man-!”

Why are you hitting me, you brat?!

***

“It’s really nice of you to come in person, Serenade.”

Lord’s Manor. Reception room.

After serving some simple refreshments and sitting face to face, I asked Serenade.

“Are you okay? You must have a lot of work to do in the capital. There was no need for you to come all the way to this remote place…”

“The Winter Silver Merchant Guild’s business in the capital is all stable. Alberto has been a great help with the new business in cooperation with the Imperial Family.”

I was glad to hear about Alberto.

That old butler who was in charge of the detached palace, it seems he’s doing well in the second act of his life at the Winter Silver Merchant Guild.

“I entrusted Alberto with the overall management of the capital’s merchant association. He’s been in charge of the Imperial Family’s finances his whole life, so he’s very meticulous in his work. He also has a wide network… He’s probably better than me. And if anything happens, we can just contact each other by messenger hawk…”

The Winter Silver Merchant Guild has a communication system using eagles, messenger hawks.

Some of them came with the merchant guild procession this time. If there’s any urgent business, we can contact them with that.

But even so, the guild owner should be in the capital, not in this remote corner of the southern world…

“And, um…”

Serenade’s voice trembled slightly as she lowered her eyes and stirred her teacup with a spoon.

“Alberto told me to go where my heart leads… and pushed me away.”

“…”

Whoa! The atmosphere has been so tender and subtle since earlier! I don’t have much resistance to this! Kim Ash! Come out quickly and solve this for me! She’s your first love-!

“…And. Most of all.”

Then, Serenade’s face became serious.

“There’s something I must tell His Highness the Prince in person.”

I blinked. Something to tell me?

Serenade took a resolute breath, then looked straight at me with her clear silver gaze, and slowly opened her mouth-

“Ah.”

She was about to say something but suddenly turned her gaze to the side. Huh? I looked that way too.

“…Ah.”

Lukas was standing at the entrance of the reception room.

He was hiding his large body outside the door, with only his head peeking inside, looking around.

Hey, big dog! Do you really think your body can be hidden like that?!

“It’s been a while, Sir Lukas! How have you been?”

Serenade waved her hand and greeted him first.

Lukas, flustered, rolled his blue eyes around awkwardly, then bowed his head, looking embarrassed.

“…It’s been a while, Miss Serenade.”

“Why are you standing there? Come in. You’re His Highness’s escort.”

“Ah… well, that’s…”

Lukas glanced at me. I was secretly sweating inside.

“…Um, may I resume my escort duties, my lord?”

Lukas still had bandages wrapped around his body.

He had been left in prison for a week without proper treatment after the battle. It would take a few more days for his injuries to fully heal.

“You’re not fully recovered yet. Rest for a few more days.”

“But…”

“Uh-uh. Don’t overdo it.”

“…Understood, my lord.”

Lukas made a face like a rain-soaked dog abandoned by its owner, then turned around and trudged out of the reception room…

“Hmm…”

Serenade, watching Lukas’s disappearing back, asked with an awkward smile.

“Sir Lukas’s demeanor has changed quite a bit? He used to be a bit more…”

“No, well, um.”

I felt awkward for no reason and gulped down my tea, then briefly explained what had happened this time.

That this battle was quite dangerous, that when the war situation became urgent, Lukas exposed himself to danger by causing himself to go berserk, and that he almost lost his humanity and became a beast forever…

And that I scolded him a little harshly so that he wouldn’t use that method again.

And that it’s been an awkward situation for the past few days. I told her honestly.

“Your Highness, isn’t Sir Lukas the escort who has been serving you since he was very young?”

After listening to the story, Serenade paused for a moment, then spoke to me in a soft voice.

“Did you really have to… discipline him with physical punishment?”

“I almost lost him forever.”

Lukas is the protagonist of this game.

He is an indispensable figure for future strategies, and at the same time, a precious companion.

That guy was wielding a dangerous double-edged sword called beastification, which I warned him not to use, and he almost stabbed himself.

“I needed to put a stop to that rampage.”

Battles will become even more intense in the future.

If I don’t put on the brakes now, Lukas might do something even more dangerous. That’s why I was so harsh.

“Above all, Serenade. This is a fortress city. I am the commander of this military camp.”

With a heavy heart, I looked down at the teacup in my hand. My face was reflected on the surface of the rippling tea.

“Hierarchy is necessary. Even if a knight is loyal, if he continues to disobey me, he must be punished.”

Of course, I want to get along with my companions like friends. Setting up rigid barriers is not my style.

However, when necessary, I have to make it clear.

That I am the one who holds the power of life and death on this front.

“I understand what Your Highness is saying.”

Serenade smiled gently at me.

“But isn’t it the law of the military camp to praise merits even if you punish mistakes?”

“…”

It was the right thing to say. I was speechless.

“Sir Lukas may have made a mistake this time, but he must have also made achievements in this battle.”

“Hmm…”

He was the MVP of this stage, Lukas. He single-handedly crushed the enemy’s main force.

“There are times when a stern punishment is needed, but in the end, it’s a few warm words that move people’s hearts.”

“…”

“Even if Sir Lukas’s actions were a little off, it was all for Your Highness. Since you’ve already punished him, now please soothe Sir Lukas’s heart.”

Yes, I know that Lukas did it out of loyalty.

And of course, I have to make up with him. I can’t stay in this awkward state forever.

‘But… well, that…’

It’s quite difficult to make up after a fight…

If it were my usual personality, I would bow my head and apologize first, but this time, scolding Lukas was not my personal decision, but a judgment as the commander of the front.

It was a punishment given to a subordinate officer as a superior.

For the sake of military discipline on the front, I, who gave the punishment, cannot apologize first. This is the military.

‘But… honestly, I feel like I was too harsh…’

As Serenade said, Lukas used beastification in this battle, but he was also the stage MVP who killed the most monsters. He deserves to be praised and rewarded…

‘Ugh! This is hard! Being a commander!’

I covered my face and groaned. Serenade covered her mouth and chuckled at me.

“Your Highness will do well.”

“Huh?”

“Because someone who worries, even if they lose their way, will eventually go in the right direction.”

The right path, the right path.

Not only scolding Lukas, but all the choices I’ve made so far, the culmination of all of them… are they really leading to the right path? Is it even the right path in the first place?

I’m not sure.

I just don’t stop. Even if I look back, I take a step forward.

Towards the dimly shining goal of clearing, somehow. By any means.

***

The Winter Silver Merchant Guild bought a building in the city and set up a branch there.

A sign that reads ‘Winter Silver Merchant Guild Crossroad Branch’ in elegant lettering is being put up.

Many workers are swarming around, and they are quickly starting repairs on the exterior and interior of the building. Their speed is really amazing.

“There are two things that Your Highness will entrust to our guild. The distribution of magic stones, and…”

Serenade, who was watching the building being repaired with me, glanced up at me and asked.

“The plan for a tourist city, was it not?”

“That’s right.”

“I’ve brought talented architects, so we can start building the hotel soon. I’ll instruct them to examine the site and create a bird’s-eye view.”

Serenade made an ‘hmm’ sound and pressed her plump lips with her index finger.

“And the Autumn Festival… It’s already that season. When does it start?”

“In two days. It lasts for three days.”

“I believe you said that Crossroad’s traditional events are the martial arts tournament and the dance festival.”

Serenade, with a serious expression, pondered, crossed her arms, and tapped her fingertips on her forearm.

“The natural scenery is quite good… There are also many empty lots in the territory… Under these conditions…”

It was a gesture as if she was calculating on an invisible abacus.

I quietly watched her, amused by the rhythmic movements of her white, slender fingers.

“It’s impossible to make dramatic changes in such a short time… but I’ll do my best.”

Serenade, as if she had finished her calculations, smiled brightly at me.

“Slowly, and steadily, let’s make Crossroad the best tourist city in the south! And let’s make this Autumn Festival the first step in that plan!”

“Huh…? Y-yes!”

At this point, I felt that something was a little off.

No, the tourist city plan I was trying to promote was… just building a hotel with a casino, filling the minimum tourist points, and luring SSR-SR grade heroes there.

It seemed that the owner of the Winter Silver Merchant Guild had a much grander plan.

I chuckled. No matter what, how many tourists would come to this remote corner of the world…?