I Became The Tyrant Of A Defense Game [EN]: Chapter 303

Winter is Coming (3)

– Your third son will tear the empire to pieces and destroy it.

– But at the same time, your third son will make the empire prosper forever.

The third son of the imperial family received two conflicting prophecies at the same time.

Destruction and prosperity.

The emperor tried to keep it quiet, but the rumors spread secretly.

The high-ranking officials of the imperial family didn’t even glance at the latter prophecy. They focused only on the former.

The child who would destroy the empire.

So, even long before he was born, Ash became the target of curses and hatred.

Petitions were frequently submitted, demanding that the third child not even be conceived, and the emperor himself intended to do so.

After the birth of the second son, Fernandez, he didn’t even sleep with the empress.

However, the emperor met Dustia on the battlefield.

And fell in love.

He overcame all political obstacles and appointed Dustia as the second empress.

When she became pregnant, the cries of his vassals demanding that her belly be cut open and the child killed poured out every day without rest.

But the emperor ignored them. He stayed by his beloved woman’s side and endured for ten months.

And finally… Ash was born.

At the first moment of holding the newborn child, the emperor called his third son this.

‘Bornhater.’

At that moment, Ash’s middle name was confirmed.

A child born in hatred.

And a child who would live scattering hatred.

…However, contrary to the grand prophecy.

Ash’s potential was meager.

He showed no talent in either martial or literary arts. Rather, after his mother’s death, he fell into debauchery, causing trouble and wasting time.

The public’s interest faded, and the prophecy became a mere ridiculous rumor.

In the modern age of advanced magical engineering, people laughed, saying that such past superstitions were not to be believed.

And so, the prophecy was gradually forgotten…

‘…Or so it should have been.’

Dusk Bringer pressed her lips tightly.

Ash was very different from the rumors. He was bold, meticulous, and even had a strong following.

It was as if the days he had lived as a scoundrel in the capital were all a deception to hide himself and survive.

‘Like father, like son, I guess Everblack is Everblack [referring to the black thorn tree that gave the prophecy].’

Dusk Bringer entered the shelter outside the north gate.

Her people greeted her with bright faces. Dusk Bringer examined the condition of her people one by one and entered the center of the shelter.

‘…Then Ash, you are.’

If that black thorn tree, Everblack’s prophecy, is correct.

‘How are you going to destroy the empire and make it prosper?’

She couldn’t even guess.

However, she had a strong feeling.

That Dusk Bringer’s own fate was also strongly intertwined with that youngest prince.

‘You might be the one who will help me find the meaning of my name, Ash.’

Over 120 years of life.

She sensed that the dusk that would come at the end was slowly drawing near.

Dusk Bringer, the maiden duke, grasped her own chest with her smooth, white hand.

As if grasping her own wrinkled, age-spotted old soul.

***

A few days later.

It was confirmed that the 1st Legion of the Imperial Army, stationed west of Crossroads, was moving some of its forces west and some north.

After they had completely left the Crossroads area.

I decided to enter the dungeon with a large number of hero character parties that were ready to deploy.

‘Larc and Fernandez fighting is their business.’

I need to do my own thing.

Preparing for the next stage, and the stage after that. No matter how the world moves, my goal is ultimately to settle things with this monster legion.

And the purpose of this free exploration is,

‘Level 50!’

For me to undergo my third job advancement.

I was the only one in the main party who hadn’t awakened, and my level was particularly low compared to the other party leaders. It was time to start paying attention to it.

‘My body seems to be mostly healed now.’

The fever was gone, and my condition was refreshed. I was ready for battle.

“Are you really going to be alright, my lord?”

“Just rest, senior! We’ll smash the dungeon for you!”

Lucas and Evangeline said worriedly.

“Since you’ve taken a break, it might be a good idea not to go to the front lines anymore, Your Highness.”

“That’s right, Prince! We had no choice before because we were short on manpower, but now we have enough troops!”

Junior and Damian also chimed in.

Everyone wanted me to step down from the front lines and relax safely in the back.

“……Heh heh.”

But.

“Do you think I’m going to step aside just because you say so?!”

Not yet, you guys!

You guys are so inefficient without me! Without my traits, passive skill buffs, and tactical instructions, you’d struggle a bit too!

Anyway, when I ignored them and stood in front of the teleport gate, all four members of the main party shook their heads and sighed.

‘I know you’re worried, but I just want to reach level 50~!’

I took the lead and pushed myself into the teleport gate.

Flash!

***

[Now Loading……Teleporting.]

[Tip – The larger the number of parties in an attack force, the more powerful it is, but detailed control becomes difficult. Change the party composition according to the situation of the dungeon and stage!]

***

When I entered the base camp, the Penal Corps and the Shadow Corps were waiting.

“Yo, Your Highness!”

“You’ve arrived, Your Highness.”

Kuilran, in his beast form with his red mane fluttering, greeted me casually with a wave, while Godhand bowed respectfully.

I grinned and checked their conditions.

“Alright, you’re here. You’re ready to deploy, right?”

“We can depart anytime.”

“We are the same.”

Flash! Flash!

Party members continued to arrive through the teleport gate behind me. Watching this, Kuilran groaned.

“By the way, the scale has gotten quite large……”

Hearing that, I also turned around. A total of four parties had gathered in front of the teleport gate.

The main party of 5.

The Penal Corps of 5.

The Shadow Corps of 3, with Lily and Margherita added to make 5.

Finally, Dusk Bringer and her Royal Knights of 5, who had newly joined.

A total of 20 people. Four full parties.

“Are you planning to go to war or something…?”

“Well, something similar.”

There are dungeons that require large-scale party formations. I was planning to visit such a dungeon today.

“Oh, ohhh…! To think that such a dungeon would remain in this day and age…!”

Dusk Bringer, who had entered the dungeon for the first time, opened her mouth slightly and looked around with a curious expression.

I approached Dusk Bringer and asked.

“Have you played around in dungeons before, Grand Duke?”

“Hahaha, of course! Who do you think I am? Dusk Bringer, the Dragon King of the Evening Glow! Dungeons, lairs, labyrinths! All are places fit for a dragon! I already feel a sense of comfort as if I’ve returned home…!”

No, shouldn’t you just be in your duchy’s office…?

Dusk Bringer, who had laughed heartily, went inside the base camp, saying she would take a look around.

There was someone who was watching the back of the dragon duke with trembling shoulders. It was none other than Godhand.

“……Are you okay, Godhand?”

“Y-yes, I’m fine……”

When I approached and asked, Godhand replied with a pale face.

“It’s just that I remembered being tormented by her……”

“Ah……”

That’s right. Godhand was the one who delivered my letter to Dusk Bringer. He said he had a hard time back then.

“She tortured me to extract information, and then healed me again… To be honest, it wasn’t a good memory…”

“I’m sorry, man.”

“It’s nothing, Your Highness. Thanks to that, this monster front has gained a powerful ally.”

But not only Godhand, but Bodybag and Burnout were also trembling.

It seems that Dusk Bringer caused some trauma to them….

‘But from Dusk Bringer’s point of view, it’s understandable. These three are from the Aegis Special Forces, and they were the ones who carried out the assassination of the diplomatic envoy that ignited the war between the two countries.’

It was also true that I had given them harsh missions to test their loyalty. I smacked my lips awkwardly. I’m sorry.

Lily, who had been watching the Shadow Corps members, pushed her wheelchair forward and firmly grasped Godhand’s hand.

“I, I’ll protect you! Godhand! Let’s defeat anyone together!”

“Lily-nim…!”

This cockroach-like couple was looking at each other with eyes that seemed to drip honey… Here we go again. Ugh, ptooey. Disgusting couples.

It seems that Bodybag and Burnout have become accustomed to this lovey-dovey display, as they are smiling with a resigned look. You guys have been through a lot….

Anyway, leaving the Shadow Corps behind, I also entered the base camp. I still had some business to take care of here.

“Ah, Ash-nim! It’s been a while!”

Verdandi, the leader of the Holy Grail Expedition Team, ran up to me with a bright smile. I smiled back at her.

“Verdandi. How have you been? Have your companions recovered?”

“Yes! They’ve gotten much better! Thanks to Ash-nim constantly providing us with food and taking good care of us…”

I couldn’t move because I was sick, but I had been sending them food, including sunflower seeds, all this time.

Perhaps because of that, Verdandi’s gaunt cheeks had regained a healthy color.

“A few days ago, we even went on a light exploration. I think we’ve almost finished recovering our condition.”

“That’s good. But still, be careful.”

“Yes! Oh, and! We finally found a trace during our exploration! We’ve finally pinpointed the location of the ‘Holy Grail’ and-”

Verdandi’s face gradually hardened as she spoke. Huh? What’s wrong?

“……Huh? Uh oh?”

Verdandi pointed with a trembling hand, her face pale, at Dusk Bringer, who was chirping and looking around the base camp next to me.

“T-The Dragon King of the Evening Glow…?”

“Huh?”

“Why are you here…!”

Then, Dusk Bringer’s eyes also flashed with a different color as she turned to look at Verdandi.

“Oh… Who do we have here?”

“Ah! Ahhh! Wait a minute!”

Verdandi frantically waved her arms. As if telling her not to say the next words.

But Dusk Bringer blurted out without a care.

“The noble second daughter of the World Tree, the direct descendant of the Fairy Kingdom… Isn’t that Verdandi!”

“……”

“I thought you had disappeared and died while searching for the Holy Grail at the end of the war a hundred years ago, but to think I would meet you again in a place like this!”

“……”

“We were once enemies, but it’s nice to meet a long-lived species after a long time in the world of short-lived ones! How have you been? Descendant of the Fairy Royal Family.”

Verdandi’s mouth dropped open.

The mouths of Godhand and the other elves, who were watching this from the side with bated breath, also dropped open at the same time.

“Huh? Why are you… Ah!”

Dusk Bringer, who belatedly raised her hand to cover her mouth, rolled her eyes left and right, then stammered and asked.

“……Was it a secret…?”

“Heh heh heh.”

I let out a low laugh. Well, I knew it from playing the game.

Verdandi had wanted to keep it a secret all along. I smiled bitterly.

“……That’s why.”

Verdandi’s green eyes, with their tear mole, filled with resentment, and she pointed at Dusk Bringer and shouted.

“That’s why I hate dragons!”

Then the rest of the elves nodded vigorously in unison.