I Became the Tyrant of a Defense Game [EN]: Chapter 293

God Hand said he would go help with the forward base restoration as soon as his prosthetic arm repair was finished.

Lily was going with him. Well, since they need to plaster the forward base with artifacts, Lily’s help would definitely be beneficial.

‘Are they just going on an outdoor date…?’

Anyway, I distributed new equipment to the Shadow Squad. I also gave them a warning mixed with grumbling, telling them that it’s okay to date, but not to be so openly lovey-dovey.

I watched the couple disappear, looking embarrassed, clicking my tongue, and then I entered the workshop.

The other production guild leaders were already gathered and waiting for me.

The Carpenter Guild Leader, the Stonemason Guild Leader, the Blacksmith Guild Leader, and the Alchemist Guild Leader.

It had been a while since I had summoned these old men to one place. I looked at each of the guild leaders and conveyed my business.

“Crossroad will now be carrying out two construction projects simultaneously.”

Forward base restoration. Tourist city plan.

These two had been planned and shared several times in advance, so all that was left was to coordinate the target dates and estimated costs with the guild leaders.

“At the same time, we need to send magic stones up to the capital, so let’s proceed with that project in cooperation with the Winter Silver Merchant Guild.”

After the construction plan meeting, I added the magic stone matter, and the guild leaders nodded as if they had been waiting for it.

“The Winter Silver Merchant Guild leader came to greet us this afternoon. She also had a meeting about the upcoming work.”

“Really? Serenade came by first?”

I blinked blankly. As expected of a merchant guild leader. Her actions are certainly fast.

“We’re going to be busy from now on.”

In addition to that, I listened to the current issues and difficulties of various cities with the guild leaders, and after a meeting about improvements.

I grinned. A difficult and arduous journey lay ahead, but.

“Let’s have fun working!”

Watching the city develop is enjoyable in itself.

The guild leaders, who seemed momentarily stunned by the unexpected word ‘fun,’ all smiled and nodded.

“Yes, Your Highness!”

***

Time flows by in an instant.

As the transportation of supplies and workers became possible with the teleport gate, the forward base restoration progressed quickly.

I watched with satisfaction as the outer walls, which had been crushed by the Black Spider Legion’s attack, were covered with sturdy stone and iron plates, and as the collapsed artillery positions were rebuilt from the ground up.

The hotel construction, which was the core of the tourist city plan, also made steady progress. The architects quickly drew up architectural blueprints.

It was a magnificent hotel that harmonized with the outstanding natural scenery, one of Crossroad’s few advantages.

I approved the construction, and Serenade, wearing a safety helmet pulled down low, smiled brightly, saying she would take care of it.

The number of workers at the construction site became insufficient even with the refugees who had been accepted as laborers. A large-scale job advertisement was placed in nearby cities and mercenary guilds.

People poured into the city, and Crossroad was as bustling as during a festival.

……

Time flows by in an instant. Several weeks passed in a flash.

The autumn foliage that had colored the mountains and fields quickly faded, and before we knew it, fallen leaves piled up at our feet and frost settled in the late autumn.

[STAGE 11]

– Start in: 4 days

The next defense battle.

Stage 11 was approaching.

***

Four days before the defense battle. The forward base.

The monsters emerge from the lake and move north for three days, attacking Crossroad. In other words, the remaining days on the system window are based on Crossroad.

‘The battle at the forward base starts three days earlier than that.’

In other words, the first wave of monsters will hit this forward base tomorrow.

Since the monster attack was imminent, all the workers had been withdrawn.

The forward base had become noticeably more presentable, but it was impossible to restore it to full functionality with just a few weeks of repair work.

“The forward base restoration has certainly progressed considerably.”

Lucas, who had taken a tour of the forward base with me, agreed.

“In its current state, there are several difficulties in stopping the monsters here.”

“Yeah. I think so too.”

Standing on one of the empty walls of the forward base, I grinned.

“But that doesn’t mean we can let the monsters trample all over this place. We worked so hard to repair it.”

While repairing the forward base, it wasn’t like I hadn’t expected this to happen.

There was no way the repairs would be completed before the next stage started. It was obvious that we would have to carry out the repairs and the defense battle at the same time.

So – there was something I had installed in advance in the southern field of the forward base.

I stared at the southern field, and Lucas followed my gaze.

Sturdy wooden fences were densely packed, forming a pattern.

A kill zone.

A basic tactic in defense games, forcing the monsters’ path with obstacles and concentrating firepower on the gathered enemies.

Among them, what was installed in the southern field of the forward base was a high-grade kill zone that cost more and required more attention, but could definitely screw over the monsters.

‘Death Maze – Death Loop!’

While a normal kill zone limits the monsters’ route with obstacles and makes them take a concentrated barrage of firepower, the Death Loop goes one step further, creating a maze with obstacles.

Of course, it’s just a maze in name only; it’s just about placing obstacles so that the monsters waste as much movement as possible, moving around in circles. It costs a lot because you have to practically wallpaper the area with fences, but.

The effect is certain. Especially when the walls can’t do their job, there’s no better way to buy time.

‘The effect varies depending on what kind of monster legion the opponent is.’

If the opponent is a large monster, a flying monster, a spirit, etc., the effect is reduced or nonexistent.

But the monsters in this stage are a skeleton legion. It’s a group that the kill zone strategy works very well against.

‘It’s definitely doable!’

If things get bad, we can just hold out and escape through the teleport gate.

In the first place, the forward base is not meant to stop the entire monster legion.

Its role is to disperse and absorb a portion of them, reducing the burden on Crossroad.

In the game, usually about 30% to 50% of the monster legion is lured to the forward base.

‘If my plan goes well, I’ll be able to handle more enemies more safely in the future, but.’

For now, since the forward base restoration isn’t finished, let’s just do what we can.

“Well, don’t worry too much, my lord.”

Lucas said to me with a confident look.

“If things get bad, I’ll take care of everything.”

Then, he suddenly shrank and mumbled, “Uwoong-“,

“O-of course, within reasonable limits…”

“……”

I scolded him for charging into the enemy lines alone last time, so I guess he’s been worried about it…

After patting Lucas’s back silently, I stared at the distant south.

The black lake to the south was clearly visible from the forward base.

The abyss’s maw, spewing out monsters, was clearly rippling on the surface of the water.

‘It’s different from the tutorial.’

It’s different from the battle where we suffered immense losses at this forward base back then.

I turned away from the wall and looked down at my warriors lined up inside the forward base.

My heroes, armed with new equipment.

And my soldiers, neatly dressed in their Southern Front uniforms.

My elites looked up at me with unwavering gazes. I nodded silently.

We were ready, and we had become stronger.

We would no longer repeat the tragedy of the tutorial.

***

The next day. Early morning. The forward base.

Clatter, clatter……

Thump! Thump! Thump!

The monster legion that had risen from the surface of the black lake was clearly visible from the forward base, heading north.

White skeletons, wearing armor and wielding weapons, appeared one by one, making clattering sounds.

A skeleton legion.

Marionettes resurrected by magic, but with nothing left but a murderous intent towards humans.

I indifferently examined them and opened the system window to check their information.

[Enemy Information – STAGE 11]

– Lv.40 Skeleton Marshal: 2

– Lv.35 Skeleton Mage: 6

– Lv.30 Skeleton Knight: 110

– Lv.25 Skeleton Warrior: 388

Is it because it’s right after the boss stage? The monsters’ numbers, levels, and composition aren’t that great.

The skeleton legion itself is also a plain monster group with no special characteristics.

Moreover, the dark event didn’t even activate properly in this Stage 11.

[???’s ?? skips their turn.]

[The dark event will not activate in this stage.]

‘Why?’

I tried to guess the intentions of my adversary, whom I had never even met, but I couldn’t figure it out. Why? Why didn’t they activate the dark event?

‘Well, good things are good.’

I should be grateful that they’re making it easier for me to play the game. I’m not so relaxed that I can complain about why they’re not raising the difficulty.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

The distance between the lake and the forward base was short.

In an instant, the armored monsters approached to within striking distance.

Blue ghost fires flickered in the empty eye sockets of the white bone monsters.

As I met their evil gaze, which seemed to have crawled up from the depths of hell, a shiver ran down my spine from my tailbone.

Not great. No special characteristics. The dark event didn’t activate.

So what?

They are monsters. Ferocious devourers who tear humans apart and kill them without a second thought.

We must not let our guard down even for a moment.

Thump! Thump! Thump…!

The skeleton legion, which had approached to within striking distance of the forward base, stopped all at once.

At the head of their legion were two Skeleton Marshals riding bone horses and wielding huge halberds.

It’s ridiculous that skeletons have a title like marshal, but anyway, these two elite monsters are acting as the boss for this stage.

《……》

《……》

The two Skeleton Marshals seemed to hesitate for a moment, then looked at each other and nodded, and then split apart.

At the same time, the skeleton legion in the rear also split in two.

Half continued north, heading straight for Crossroad.

The other half turned towards the forward base and advanced.

“Half, huh…”

I breathed a sigh of relief inwardly.

I was a little nervous because sometimes the entire monster legion would charge at the forward base, but thankfully, that wasn’t the case.

I stared at the half of the skeleton legion that was rushing towards us, then turned around and said.

“If we follow our training, we can annihilate them without any casualties.”

I spoke firmly to my allies, who were standing in their positions, waiting for the monsters to approach.

“And, how many times have I said this? This forward base is a ‘place that can be abandoned.'”

I am investing a tremendous amount of money and labor to restore this forward base.

But that is only because this forward base is an efficient means of protecting Crossroad… and the people who live there.

It is by no means the goal to protect this forward base.

There is no need to risk your lives to protect this place. Absolutely not!

“If the situation becomes unfavorable, retreat to Crossroad through the teleport gate without hesitation. Got it? Remember! Don’t worry about what others think, just run!”

“Yes!”

The soldiers answered in unison to my earnest request. Only then was I satisfied, and I turned my gaze back to the south, towards the direction the monsters were coming from.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

And finally, the vanguard of the skeleton monster legion arrived at the entrance of the kill zone.

Without any hesitation, they stepped into the path made of wooden fences.

“Well, then…”

After confirming that the stupid monsters were pouring into the kill zone, I shouted loudly.

“Shall we begin the defense battle-!”

The monsters, eager to kill the nearby humans, rushed into the kill zone, and-

Boom! Fwoosh! Fwoosh!

Immediately after, they stepped on the mines that were heavily installed at the entrance of the maze, and their entire bodies exploded in a spectacular blast.