I Became the Tyrant of a Defense Game [EN]: Chapter 288

“They say good times fly by,” Lily muttered, shaking the drink in her hand.

“Before we knew it, the festival is already coming to an end.”

The sun had already set.

However, the central square of Crossroads was still brightly lit, filled with people singing and dancing joyfully.

As Lily watched the people clinging to the last moments of the festival, God Hand, who was holding her wheelchair from behind, chimed in.

“Indeed, Lily. It went by in a flash.”

Lily chuckled and looked up at God Hand.

“Did you enjoy the festival, God Hand?”

“Of course. It was the most enjoyable festival I’ve ever experienced in my life.”

God Hand, who was grinning, had his hair all messed up, with some strands even burnt black. It was the result of Lily scolding him on the first night of the festival. Even in that state, he was smiling brightly, making him look a bit foolish.

‘Well, at least he’s been focusing on me since then…’

It seems like I don’t need to scold him anymore.

Lily secretly deactivated the 1-skill [Fire Cannon] she had stored in her magic circuit.

I guess carrying this around was a bit much, after all….

God Hand, who was cautiously watching Lily’s reaction, hesitated before asking.

“Did you really enjoy yourself, Lily?”

“Huh?”

“That… the date, it’s my first time, so…”

God Hand scratched the back of his head, looking embarrassed.

“I was worried that you might not have had fun spending time with me…”

“….”

“I’m not exactly… a fun guy…”

Lily stared at God Hand, who seemed lost after saying that, and then chuckled.

“Just being with you is enough for me.”

Lily didn’t expect anything grand from her lover.

Sharing the same space, seeing the same scenery, experiencing the same things, and making the same memories.

That alone was enough to make her happy. Enough to make the past two days disappear in an instant.

“….”

God Hand, who was staring at Lily as if mesmerized, slowly came in front of Lily’s wheelchair.

“L-Li, Lily!”

“Yes?”

He stammered and hesitated, then slowly knelt on one knee.

“It might be a bit late to say this now! But still, even now!”

God Hand hurriedly took something out of his pocket.

It was a short metal rod. A plain and crude lump of steel.

However, at God Hand’s fingertips, the metal rod instantly bloomed into a rose. It was a feat only a metalworker like God Hand could perform.

Lily was mesmerized by this wondrous sight.

“P-Please… officially go out with me!”

God Hand said, closing his eyes tightly and holding out the metal rose.

“For the rest of my life… or, well, I don’t know if it will be for the rest of my life yet! But anyway, I’ll make you happy while we’re together-!”

God Hand bit his lip, stopping mid-sentence.

He had bitten his lip while speaking too hastily. God Hand was embarrassed and in pain, but he somehow managed to finish his confession.

“I’ll, I’ll make you happy…”

“….”

Lily, who was looking at God Hand with an absurd expression, let out a short laugh.

“Show me your lip.”

“Huh?”

“Your lip, it looks like it’s bleeding. Let me see.”

God Hand awkwardly leaned his face forward. Lily grabbed his chin and examined his injured lip.

*Chu.*

She lightly kissed his lip.

“…?!”

God Hand’s face instantly turned bright red. Lily, also with a flushed face, smiled at him.

“I’d like to go out with you. But promise me one thing.”

“W-What promise is it?”

“Don’t lie to me from now on. Even in an unavoidable situation, tell me only the truth. …Can you promise me that?”

God Hand nodded without hesitation.

“Of course, my lady.”

The two of them awkwardly chuckled and stared at each other for a while.

Just as the atmosphere was getting good.

Crash! Thump!

Suddenly, something collapsed next to them.

Surprised, God Hand and Lily turned to see Bodybag and Burnout sprawled on the ground with a trash can in the corner of the square.

It seemed they had been secretly watching from behind and accidentally fell over….

“H-Huh! S-Sorry! I-I wasn’t trying to eavesdrop!”

Bodybag quickly got up and waved his arms, his face pale.

“I-I was just worried! I was worried if God Hand, who’s been single all his life, could date properly…! So I just tried to follow along…!”

Nod nod nod!

Burnout nodded urgently beside him.

In any case, the good atmosphere was instantly ruined. Just as God Hand was about to scold his two younger brothers, who were looking bewildered,

“Come here, Bodybag. Burnout.”

Lily, who was covering her mouth and laughing, gestured to them.

“Let’s play together.”

Bodybag and Burnout widened their eyes in surprise.

“Huh? But…”

“God Hand is your older brother, right? So, now that God Hand and I are dating, it means we’ll have to see each other more often.”

Lily gestured to the two elves.

“Let’s get along. Come on, let’s spend the rest of the festival together.”

Bodybag and Burnout, who had been looking at each other, cautiously came to Lily and God Hand’s side.

God Hand looked apologetic to Lily, but Lily didn’t mind.

It felt like she was already getting younger brothers-in-law.

Well, it wasn’t bad.

Bang! Poof-!

At that moment, several streaks of fireworks soared above the central square of Crossroads, scattering sparks as they dispersed. Surprised, Bodybag pointed upwards and shouted.

“Fireworks!”

“Really? It’s a fireworks show!”

That was the beginning. Fireworks launched from all over the city painted the sky of Crossroads in various colors.

Lily, who was quietly looking up at the scene, murmured.

“The finale of the autumn festival is, of course, fireworks.”

They were small and simple fireworks, befitting a rural town.

But they were beautiful.

The people gathered in the square cheered and looked up at the fireworks. Bodybag and Burnout jumped up and down and ran under the fireworks.

Watching that scene, Lily quietly reached out and took God Hand’s hand, holding it tightly.

God Hand’s long ears turned red. It was so noticeably cute that Lily covered her mouth and laughed.

‘Elves are good in this way.’

She had discovered an unexpected advantage.

“Let’s watch the fireworks together next year too.”

At Lily’s soft whisper, God Hand smiled and replied.

“Yes, next year too. Definitely.”

***

Poof-! Bang-!

Fireworks soared into the sky.

I, who was sitting on a mat in the corner of the square, drinking and chatting with my party members, was startled and looked up. What the heck?!

Evangeline, who was chewing on grilled dried squid, looked at the sky with a bright face.

“Ah, it’s fireworks time!”

“Fireworks time?”

“It’s the finale of the autumn festival. It’s tradition to end it with fireworks.”

So there was such a tradition. It’s quite a fiery finale.

“Well, since it’s smaller in scale than the massive fireworks in the capital, it’s understandable that you’d be taken aback, senior.”

“N-No, that wasn’t my intention….”

I’m just a shut-in gamer, so I’m not used to this kind of social culture….

Anyway, everyone who had been chatting loudly on the mat all looked up at the sky.

And they quietly watched the magical fireworks blooming in various colors.

Kellybay, and his assistant Hannibal.

Kuilun and the Punishment Squad. Verdandi and the Holy Grail Expedition. God Hand and the Shadow Squad. And Lily.

All the other heroes, including Margherita, and many soldiers.

And even my main party members beside me. Everyone. They all gaze at the festival of fireworks.

“….”

I looked not at the fireworks, but at the faces of the people looking up at the fireworks.

After the festival ends, we will have to return to our daily lives of fighting monsters.

But, these peaceful moments of memories.

They will become sturdy anchors that will keep our weary hearts from drifting away.

That’s how people gain the strength to live through another year, and another year, repeatedly.

“The autumn festival was fun.”

“Hehe. Right?”

“I’m looking forward to next year!”

As I muttered, Evangeline and Damian smiled brightly.

“Next year….”

Junior smiled bitterly and put his pipe in his mouth,

“….”

Lukas was silently just watching the spreading fireworks.

It was then.

“Your Highness.”

A clear voice was heard from outside the square, and when I looked, Serenade was standing there.

Under the light of the colorful fireworks, Serenade, with her water-colored hair fluttering in the autumn breeze, looked like a mermaid.

Even without scales or a tail.

It was as if a refreshing scent, like sea foam, was emanating from her.

I quickly stood up and faced Serenade.

“Serenade. You worked really hard throughout this festival.”

I scratched the back of my neck awkwardly.

“You worked hard, but it seems like I just had fun thanks to you. I’m sorry.”

“Hehe, not at all. It was my pleasure to see Your Highness having a good time.”

Serenade, with her silver eyes curved into a smile, exclaimed, “Ah!” and held out one hand.

“Your Highness. I worked hard throughout this festival, so… will you give me a reward?”

“Of course. What do you want?”

I asked with a smile, but suddenly, I remembered what Serenade had asked me for before.

That… s-s-seed….

‘C-Cough!’

As long as it’s not that kind of thing, I’d be happy to grant it.

Slightly nervous, I waited for Serenade’s answer.

Then, Serenade giggled and, taking a step closer to me, opened her outstretched hand.

“Would you dance a song with me?”

“Huh? You mean dance?”

“Yes. The day of the dance festival isn’t over yet, is it?”

Her face, as she made the bold request, was red. Was she a little nervous?

After a moment of blankness, I let out a hearty laugh and slowly stood in front of Serenade, taking both of her hands.

“Gladly, partner.”

Bang… Poof…!

Under the light of the falling fireworks,

Now that people’s attention was fixed on the sky. Hidden outside that view. Not in the center of the square, but in a corner.

We slowly began to waltz.

There was no music, no chandeliers, no carpets, but this had its own charm.

Perhaps because we had worked together for a long time in the capital, we continued to dance smoothly.

Serenade, who was happy with a flushed face in my arms, whispered softly.

“Your Highness.”

“Yes?”

“Do you remember that I said I had something important to tell you a few days ago?”

I remember.

On the first day Serenade arrived here in Crossroads, she had said with a determined expression.

– There is something I must tell the Prince myself.

That thing she had to tell me, even coming all the way from the capital to this remote Crossroads.

The real reason she visited this remote southern region.

But perhaps because there was no chance to be alone, she hadn’t been able to tell me until now.

I swallowed hard. What on earth was she going to tell me?

‘Could it be, a c-c-confession?’

Ah, I’m not ready yet…! I know I sound like a fool, but I’m really not good at this kind of thing…!

Serenade looked around with a slightly nervous face. There was no one next to us.

After confirming several times that there were no ears listening as we waltzed, Serenade whispered softly into my ear.

“…A rebellion is underway.”

My thoughts froze.

I didn’t understand what she was saying out of the blue. I blinked blankly and asked hesitantly.

“What?”

“A rebellion is underway in the capital, Your Highness.”

Serenade, with an utterly serious face, whispered clearly into my ear once more.

“The Second Prince, Prince Fernandez, is plotting a rebellion…!”