I Became the Tyrant of a Defense Game [EN]: Chapter 284

“Isn’t this festival of a foreign land quite enjoyable!” The girl who had sent Kuilan flying with a single finger exclaimed confidently. Only then did I realize. Black hair. Golden eyes. A silver crown. A small stature that didn’t look a day over ten, and an archaic way of speaking. That appearance. That physique. And that behavior. There was no way I couldn’t recognize her. Without realizing it, I murmured her epithet. “Dragon Lady…!” Duke Bringer. She had finally arrived in Crossroads. *** Grand Duke Bringer. The Dragon-Blooded Monarch. The Dragon King of the Sunset. Dragon Lady… A half-human, half-dragon who went by many names. The ruler of the Bringer Duchy, a fugitive who had been defeated in the war against the Empire, and a brazen woman who had declared war on me, who had offered a helping hand. Her name, inherited directly from the progenitor dragon, was Dusk Bringer. She and I were currently having a private meeting in a separate room. “I left my knights behind for reconnaissance and came here first, myself.” Dusk Bringer, sitting across from me in the barracks meeting room, smiled brightly, revealing her pointed teeth. “As expected of a front line at the end of the world, it’s a rural backwater, but the festive atmosphere isn’t too bad. I like it.” “……” “So, you’re the one, aren’t you? The brat who audaciously invited me here.” Outwardly, she was just a young girl who looked no older than ten. But in reality, she was a seasoned monster who had lived for over a hundred and twenty years. I tried not to let my guard down and smiled back. “I’m Ash. Ash ‘Bonehater’ Everblack. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Grand Duke.” “Hmm~?” Dusk Bringer, who had been staring at me with her amber eyes, wore a satisfied smile. “Indeed, you have some backbone. To remain calm in the face of my aura.” It seemed that this half-human, half-dragon was emitting some kind of murderous intent, just like the Nightmare Legion commanders spewing out their evil energy. But I had a passive skill, so that kind of thing didn’t work on me. “I never imagined we’d meet like this.” I said, pouring cold tea into the cup in front of her. “I thought I’d see you on the ramparts since you declared war.” “That was the plan. But wasn’t it you who left the city gates wide open without any defenses? Thanks to that, I’ve been enjoying the festival since yesterday.” Dusk Bringer laughed heartily. “Enjoying the festival, you say! There’s a terrifying evil dragon who’s aiming for control of this city right in front of you!” “An evil dragon, yes, but…” I smirked, twisting one corner of my mouth into a wry smile. “A toothless evil dragon.” “……Ho.” When I mocked her situation of having lost all her foundations, a savage fury flashed across Dusk Bringer’s youthful face. “You’re as impudent as your father.” “You could say I’m similar to the Grand Duke, who is a distant relative.” That was my way of saying she was impudent too. When I didn’t back down, the Dragon Lady also twisted her lips into a smile. It was a vicious smile that didn’t suit the girl’s face at all, but it felt strangely enjoyable. I brought my face closer to hers and growled. “Your country is burning, your army is annihilated, and all that’s left is that tiny body and a few of your personal knights. Yet, you still hold your head high and declare war on our front line that’s offering help.” “……” “If there were an impudence department at the Imperial Academy, you would definitely be the head professor, Grand Duke.” “Your tongue is smooth, Third Prince. Smooth enough to make me want to rip it out.” “I invited you politely, but wasn’t it the Grand Duke who bared her teeth?” I dropped the honorifics now. “I opened a path for you, and you want to fight for command? You’re betting against me without any chips? Isn’t it you who doesn’t know the ways of the world, Dusk Bringer?” We were already sworn to fight each other. There was no need to be polite. I intended to bring this Dragon Lady and her personal knights under my command. There was no reason to lose in this battle of wills. Even though I had dropped the honorifics and was speaking harshly, the smile on Dusk Bringer’s face grew even deeper. It was a little eerie, like being watched by a pet cat throwing a tantrum. “So, Ash. Are you perhaps lacking confidence? Is that why you won’t accept my declaration of war?” “I have confidence. Plenty of it. Bring your precious personal knights and let’s have the 5-on-5 duel you proposed.” I slammed my hands hard on the table and spat out fiercely. “I accept your all-in bet. The winner takes full command of the other’s forces. Do you agree?” “I agree, you young prince. Because I will win. I will swallow your southern front and use it as a stepping stone for the revival of our Bringer Duchy.” “You’re having a cute dream, Dragon King. We will win. I will use you and your knights to drive out the monsters on this front.” Dusk Bringer and I had a brief staring contest. Her amber dragon eyes contained a terrifying eeriness that made one’s spirit quail just by looking at them, but I didn’t back down and glared back. My passive skill was completely overpowered! “…Well, fine. Let’s settle our match soon.” Dusk Bringer shrugged, withdrawing her fierce gaze. “For now, I will enjoy the rest of the festival. Surely you’re not so cold-blooded as to chase away a guest participating in the festival, Third Prince?” “Of course not. The Crossroads festival is open to everyone.” This was a monster front. As long as the opponent wasn’t a monster, anyone could be embraced. “‘Everyone,’ you say… Hmm.” Dusk Bringer smiled meaningfully and downed the tea I had given her in one gulp. “You seem strong, but you also have soft spots. That’s what makes you young and fresh, and I like it.” I frowned. She liked me? Me? “Then, I will continue to participate in the martial arts tournament.” Dusk Bringer rose from her chair and grinned. “It wouldn’t be bad as a preliminary battle to gauge your strength before our war. Ah, of course.” Tap, tap. Dusk Bringer folded and unfolded her small fingers. “I wonder if there are any warriors on this front who can withstand even one of my fingers.” I was provoked and yelled. “Hey! Our guys are really strong! They can easily beat someone like you!” “Hmm? You were sent flying with one hit, though…?” “No, that’s because he’s a glass cannon! The others are really strong!” I shuddered, thinking of Kuilan, who had a stamina stat of 5. Kuilaaaaan! Show your dignity as a sub-party leader! “Huhu. I hope that’s not just empty words, commander of the southern front.” Dusk Bringer pulled her robe’s hood over her head. Whether it was a magically treated robe or not, her silver crown, black hair, and golden eyes were all hidden in the shadow of the hood. “If your warriors are all defeated by just a few of my fingers, wouldn’t the war we’re about to wage be too boring?” Dusk Bringer left the barracks meeting room, her robe fluttering behind her. I glared at her retreating figure and shouted outside. “Hey! Summon all my party members who are currently participating in the martial arts tournament!” Now, the prizes, the festival, the tourism city plan, none of it mattered anymore. This martial arts tournament had become a battle of pride between that Dragon Lady and us. I had to break that arrogant dragon girl’s nose. I twisted my lips, thinking about Dusk Bringer’s game stats and skill set. I will definitely ‘conquer’ you, you wicked dragon grandma…! *** However. There was something I had overlooked. That this martial arts tournament was a pure fist fight, and all magic and skills were sealed. Of course, Dusk Bringer was also not using her powers, so it seemed fair at first glance. But. In a pure physical battle. There was no human who could beat that half-dragon in terms of physical stats. If we were fighting with weapons, magic, and skills, there would be variables to exploit, but since it was just a physical stat battle, there was no way to win! Round of 8. I covered my face as I watched Berdandi scream and get ringed out by Dusk Bringer’s finger flick. Oh, dragon, have mercy! “I-I’m sorry, Ash… I tried to dodge and avoid it, but…” Berdandi scratched the back of her head and apologized to me. As expected of an SSR-grade assassin, Berdandi had been dodging Dusk Bringer’s finger flicks with her nimble movements, but in the end, one hit grazed her shoulder. The shockwave from that one hit was enough to send her flying out of the ring. Seriously, why is the race balance in this game like this? Isn’t it a scam, dragon?! Aren’t you going to patch it, director?!? I swallowed my curses and gently patted Berdandi’s shoulder. “No, you did well, Berdandi. You were the best among the kids so far…” “I’m really sorry, Ash…” Berdandi muttered gloomily, then her face brightened. “Then, I’m off! I have to use my free pass for the food stalls!” Then, she left with the Holy Grail Expedition team, happily heading to the city. Hey! Did you perhaps lose on purpose so you could eat all the snacks you wanted?! Huh?! Dusk Bringer’s opponent in the semi-finals was Evangeline. Evangeline grumbled as she warmed up before the fight. “Ah~ I wanted to forfeit in the last match and get a free pass for the food stalls too.” “I’ll buy you that instead! No, I’ll buy you everything you want, not just the food stalls! Just try to stop that woman!” “Huh?! Really?! You promised! You’ll buy me everything!” I nodded fiercely. If I could win this battle of pride against Dusk Bringer, it wasn’t just the food stalls? I felt like I could give her a whole castle if I wanted to. And so, the semi-finals began. The two small girls stood side by side in the training ground, glaring at each other. The referee, that Aider guy, flicked his hand down. “Start!” And as soon as it started, Dusk Bringer rushed in and flicked her finger, and Evangeline, with her emerald eyes shining, easily dodged it- Slip. “Ah.” …Or rather, she suddenly lost her footing. “Yammaaaaa!” I tore at my hair. Evangeline’s negative trait [Clumsy] had activated! When will that thing ever disappear! Bang-! “Uweeeeeeeck!” Evangeline, hit by the finger, made a terrifying sound and went flying. I thought she was going to be ringed out, but, Whoosh! Evangeline spun around in the air, regained her posture, and landed precariously at the edge of the training ground. “I’m okay! I bounced back!” Evangeline smiled brightly at me. I gestured to the opposite side. “Why are you looking at me, you idiot! Look at your opponent!” “Oops!” Evangeline turned to the side with a silly sound, and Dusk Bringer was already standing in front of her. Under her robe’s hood, a mouth with pointed teeth formed a wicked smile, and then, Bang-! The finger flick landed. “I’m sorryyyy-! But I’ll still take the Winter Silver Merchant Guild gift certificate-!” Evangeline left those words behind and flew far, far away… I covered my face with both hands. Ughhhh! There’s not a single party member I can trust in this world! “Easy, so easy. Is there really no warrior in the southern front? It seems like there was no need to declare war in the first place!” Dusk Bringer did a can-can dance on the training ground as if she was teabagging me. Wow! I really want to hit her! I want to beat her up! But there’s no way! “Is there… is there no one? Is there no warrior who can take the enemy commander’s head…?!” I muttered, feeling like Cao Cao telling someone to bring back Hua Xiong’s head from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, “My lord.” A somewhat awkward but determined voice came from beside me. “I will stop that woman.” I turned and widened my eyes. The SSR-grade hero, the protagonist of the game, the last insurance and bulwark of this game. Dusk Bringer’s opponent in the martial arts tournament finals. “Lucas…!” My knight was standing beside me. Lucas nodded at me with a determined face. “The first place in the martial arts tournament is mine.”