I Became the Tyrant of a Defense Game [EN]: Chapter 299

“……”

“……”

A hellish silence fell.

Before me stood Dusk Bringer, wrapped head to toe in bandages.

Her long, ebony hair, once flowing, was now puffed up and curled from the explosion, and her white skin and gleaming silver crown were all covered in soot.

Only her amber eyes shone as usual… with a resentful glint.

I, sweating nervously, made a lame excuse.

“Well, I set up a lot of traps to deal with the monsters. If you come so confidently that way, it’s… dangerous. Obviously.”

“……”

“And I didn’t expect you wouldn’t be able to detect the landmines either…”

Then, Dusk Bringer bared her sharp teeth and pressed her body close to mine.

“It wasn’t a magic-powered artifact! It wasn’t shot with hostility! It was just a mechanical device! I, I might not be able to detect it!”

No, it’s just because you were careless…

Anyway, even after stepping on a landmine, the Dragon Horse only suffered a light scratch on its leg. The Dragon Lady also ended up with a minor burn. Their durability is really something else.

However, it seems the problem isn’t the physical wounds, but the scratch on her pride. Dusk Bringer was almost grinding her teeth and huffing.

“How… how could this… I even used magic manifestation to make a grand entrance… and then I step on a landmine at the end! And explode so spectacularly…!”

I nodded silently.

“I didn’t know you’d go spinning up like a scene from a movie. I don’t think anyone will ever forget it…”

“Ughhh! Ughhhhhh!”

Dusk Bringer covered her ears and screamed.

“There’s no other way now…! I have no choice but to use magic to erase everyone’s memories…!”

“You can use that kind of magic too?”

In the game, Dusk Bringer is a warrior class.

She’s a front-line position who beats enemies with her innate overwhelming magic power and physical specs. She shouldn’t have any connection with memory-altering magic.

Then, Dusk Bringer smiled dangerously and raised her fist.

“If you get a strong blow to the head, wouldn’t you be able to erase about a day’s worth of memories…?”

“No, if I get hit by your punch, I think I’ll lose more than a day’s worth, so please refrain.”

It’s not just memories, I’d die!

Clicking my tongue, I glanced outside.

The place where Dusk Bringer and I are having a private meeting is inside the commander’s tent in the forward base.

Dusk Bringer’s four personal knights are waiting right outside. Several of my heroes are also waiting outside.

Throb.

Throb, throb….

“……”

Somehow, they’re having a subtle war of nerves. Among themselves.

Dusk Bringer’s four knights were all men: an old man with white hair and a white beard carrying a longsword, a middle-aged man with long, dark hair carrying a greatsword, and two young men with spears on their backs.

They were staring at my party members with cold eyes. Standing silently and upright, they were crossing their arms and quietly exuding their aura.

“Ahem!”

Facing them, Quillan was unnecessarily puffing out his shoulders, flexing his chest and arms to show off his muscles as much as possible. Why are you showing off your muscles here?

“Ahem!”

“Hmm!”

And next to him, Evangeline and Damian were also trying to puff up their non-existent bulk, following Quillan’s pose. What are you guys doing? Are you frilled lizards?

“Ugh…”

Junior, standing a little further away, was covering his face as if embarrassed. Don’t be embarrassed, stop them! Or join them!

Thud. Thud.

Then, Lucas walked over from the south wall. I had assigned him to deal with the remnants of the Scorpion Legion, and it seems the job was done.

“……?”

Lucas was taken aback by the scene of this silent battle in front of the commander’s tent.

“Hup!”

He puffed out his shoulders, pushed his chest forward, and walked over with his neck stiff. Oh dear, another frilled lizard added.

Lucas, who entered the tent, reported in a voice full of force.

“I have finished clearing all the remaining scorpion monsters, my lord.”

Lucas glanced at Dusk Bringer sitting in front of me and reluctantly added.

“It was easier thanks to the help of the Archduchess… Our forces suffered no damage.”

“Good work. Dispose of the monster corpses and collect the spoils.”

“Understood.”

Lucas, who bowed politely, made a 180-degree turn and walked out again, stiff and waddling. You cute things….

I turned my gaze away from this silent battle and opened my mouth, facing Dusk Bringer with her exploded hair.

“So, since you’ve been so actively helping with the monster disposal… can I take it that you’re joining our front line?”

“Hmph, of course not!”

Dusk Bringer smiled threateningly, raising one corner of her mouth. But with that frizzy hair, it just looks funny…

“Well, I will join, but didn’t we agree beforehand? To have a 5-on-5 match for the control of this front line!”

Dusk Bringer clenched her tiny fist and shook it in front of me.

“Let’s have a showdown, Ash!”

“……The showdown is the showdown.”

I snorted.

“Then there wouldn’t have been any reason for you to lend a hand so grandly in our monster defense.”

“Hmph, I told you, didn’t I? To make a grand impression of my power, to break your momentum…”

“Just be honest, Archduchess.”

As I spoke calmly, Dusk Bringer’s face hardened.

“I was a little curious. Why it took so long for you to escape the Duchy…”

I muttered quietly, folding my fingers and counting.

“With the power of the Archduchess and her knights, there’s no reason why it would be so difficult or take so long to break through the Imperial Army’s encirclement.”

“……”

“It was also strange during the last festival. If the Archduchess and her knights, or even their followers, were all who escaped, there was no need for the Archduchess to come scouting alone. Since you have excellent mobility, you could have come together.”

“……”

“And now I know the reason.”

When facing the werewolves in the last Stage 10.

I didn’t take [Map Making], one of the three traits I could take at once, and suffered great damage because I couldn’t use the mini-map.

Since then, I’ve been wearing the [Map Making] trait whenever possible. So, I was able to turn on the mini-map and look around during this defense battle.

Although the mini-map only had a few minutes of usage time per day, I was able to find it quickly.

The monsters in the south.

Our allies at the forward base.

And, the NPC group huddled in the west.

“You brought the people, didn’t you?”

“……”

“It took time to escape while protecting them. And you had to sell your last valuables to feed and house them.”

“……”

“You went out of your way to gain merit in this battle, to somehow rely on me with your people. Am I right?”

Dusk Bringer’s small, trembling lips parted.

“It’s less than 1,000 people.”

Her amber eyes lowered. Unlike her usual confident self, her large dragon eyes were filled with deep regret and sadness.

“I told the people who followed me to stay. If they stayed in the Duchy, they could at least beg for mercy from the Imperial Army, but if they followed me, there would only be hardship and death.”

“……”

“But, even though most of them stayed, the last 1,000 people still followed me. They said they would be with this foolish king who ruined the country and failed to protect its people… until the very end.”

Dusk Bringer pressed her hand firmly over her left chest.

“Because I couldn’t give up this trivial legacy called Dragon Blood, I burned down hundreds of years of history… and let the enemy’s boots trample all over the land.”

Dusk Bringer, who was biting her lip with her sharp teeth, looked straight at me.

“They followed me with their lives, Ash. Can you… can you even imagine this weight?”

How could I know?

The bitterness and vengeance felt by a king of a ruined nation,

And the sense of responsibility for those who follow her even in this situation. How could I?

“Accept them.”

“……”

“My people… save them.”

I didn’t answer and fell into thought.

If it were just Dusk Bringer and her knights, I might be able to hide them without being caught by the 1st Corps of the Imperial Army on the Western Front.

But 1,000 refugees are a different matter.

The moment I accept them here, the 1st Corps of the Imperial Army on the Western Front… and its commander, the 1st Prince Larc, will immediately notice.

That Dusk Bringer is here.

That the owner of the Dragon Blood has joined the Southern Front.

The flames of war that started in the west will spread to the south. And that, right now…!

When I couldn’t give an immediate answer, Dusk Bringer spoke urgently.

“I have to take responsibility for them. So, I propose.”

“A proposal?”

“The 5-on-5 war we agreed on. Let’s do it right now.”

“……”

“I must take control of this front line and protect my people safely. So, right now…!”

I let out a small sigh.

“……We did agree to fight for control of this place, but we didn’t agree on the timing.”

I pointed to the wheelchair I was sitting in and the blanket covering my body.

“As you can see, I’m not feeling well right now. It’s difficult right now.”

“My people!”

Dusk Bringer almost screamed.

“If it’s not now, they’ll die! If it’s not now…!”

Dusk Bringer, who hurriedly got up, stood in front of me with a face distorted in pain.

“Fight me.”

“……”

“If that’s difficult, Ash.”

Dusk Bringer brought her trembling hand to her head and picked up her silver crown.

The symbol of the Bringer Duchy’s rule.

She slowly took off her crown, which she had never tried to remove in any situation.

“Let’s consider me defeated.”

“……Archduchess.”

“Let’s say you won. I won’t challenge your authority. If you want, I will become your loyal knight. Just like I swore during the martial arts tournament…!”

“……”

“My people are starving. They’re sick. They’ve already used up all their strength escaping to this south. And winter is near.”

Looking down at the crown in her trembling hand, Dusk Bringer closed her eyes tightly. And then, she held out the crown to me.

“It’s already the limit. Every day you hesitate, half of my people will die.”

“……”

I didn’t take the crown.

I just stared at the old king in the form of a girl, who was speaking so desperately…

“Please save them, Ash… save my people, who are like my own children…”

Dusk Bringer was about to kneel down,

Thud!

I quickly got up and grabbed her arm, preventing her from kneeling.

And I took the crown from her hand and put it back on her head.

The old crown, covered in soot, looked shabby in my hands.

But on its original owner’s head, it had unparalleled dignity.

Surprised, Dusk Bringer opened her eyes wide and looked up at me. I smiled bitterly.

“You have clearly made a great contribution in this defense battle, Archduchess.”

Perhaps that’s why Dusk Bringer fought so grandly.

To gain merit in preparation for this situation. To secure even a small possibility.

“This is a monster front line that accepts anyone without discrimination, as long as they fight monsters. And you have already proven yourself, Archduchess.”

I smiled brightly.

“So, I will gladly accept you. The guests of the Bringer Duchy.”

“……”

“You’ve had a long journey… Come on in.”

In front of Dusk Bringer, who was biting her lip and barely holding back her tears, I bowed slightly and showed the courtesy of welcoming a guest.

“The fortress city of the south, the independent route for all those who fight monsters, Crossroads.”

“……”

Dusk Bringer, who was staring blankly at me, smiled brightly with a tearful face and reddened eyes.

“Let me tell you in advance, Ash. You will regret this decision.”

“Maybe I will.”

“But I promise. I will do my best to erase your regret.”

I smiled back brightly.

I didn’t say it, but I also promised her in my heart.

I will not regret this decision.

No matter what happens in the future, it’s all a path I chose.

***

[STAGE 12 – CLEAR!]

[STAGE MVP – Dusk Bringer (SSR)]

[Level Up Character]

– None

[Deceased and Injured Character]

– None

[Allied Character]

– Dusk Bringer (SSR)

– Andymion (SSR)

– Berlin (SSR)

– Sieun (SSR)

– Jet (SSR)

[Acquired Items]

– Scorpion Legion Magic Stone: 274

– Scorpion Warrior Magic Core (R): 5

– Scorpion King Magic Core (SR): 1

[Stage clear rewards have been paid. Please check your inventory.]

– R-Grade Reward Box: 5

>> Get Ready For The Next STAGE

>> [STAGE 13 : Winter is Coming (2)]