I Became the Tyrant of a Defense Game [EN]: Chapter 316

“……”

Lucas stood on a low hill outside the east gate of Crossroads.

The south gate of Crossroads had a defensive line. The west gate had a cemetery. The north gate had a main road leading to other cities.

Unlike the gates in the three directions, which were always bustling with people, the east gate was always a quiet place.

So, whenever Lucas had something to worry about, he would come here.

“Haa……”

With a faint sigh, Lucas took something out of his pocket.

It was the hilt of the [Bestowed Sword].

The blade was broken and gone, and only the old, crude hilt remained, swaying forlornly in Lucas’s hand.

Its function as a sword had long been lost.

But Lucas never threw it away and always kept it close.

Because it was such a precious and painful object.

– Hey, Lucas. You still have the hilt of the first sword you used, right?

Ash’s voice, asking with a nonchalant face a while ago, flashed through his mind.

“……”

His lord.

Has he really forgotten everything?

That day’s events. That day’s oath…….

Lucas pressed his lips together and looked down at the sword hilt in his hand.

“Young Master!”

Suddenly, a familiar middle-aged man’s voice was heard.

Surprised, he saw a middle-aged man with a thick beard running towards him with a bright smile.

“Oh my goodness, Young Master Lucas! It’s me, it’s me!”

The middle-aged man was a huge man of great stature. His broad shoulders and thick body made him look like a bear.

On his back was a huge greatsword, almost the size of a human torso.

The middle-aged man waved his hand and ran to Lucas, thumping as he went. Surprised, Lucas hesitantly uttered his name.

“Uncle Mason……?”

“Yes, Young Master! I am Mason, the eternal loyal servant of the McGregor family!”

The middle-aged man, Mason, bowed deeply. Lucas was flustered but smiled warmly and grabbed Mason’s shoulder.

“It’s been a long time, Uncle Mason. How long has it been?”

“It’s been about eight years since the McGregor family’s swordsmanship dojo [a traditional martial arts training hall] closed. You’ve grown up so well, Young Master……!”

Mason’s eyes welled up as if he was moved by the reunion after so long.

“I’ve heard rumors about your exploits on the southern front. To think you’ve grown into such a fine knight, not bringing shame to the name of McGregor……. I, Mason, am deeply moved!”

“……”

Feeling burdened, Lucas smiled bitterly.

The McGregor family of swordsmen.

The name of the family Lucas was born into.

Once, it was a prestigious knight family that had produced the empire’s greatest swordsmen for generations.

Once, it was. Until about a hundred years ago.

Until the head of the McGregor family was implicated in treason a hundred years ago.

Considering the merits he had accumulated, the family was not completely destroyed, but the head was beheaded, and the family shrank.

Since then, they had not achieved anything significant, let alone produce the empire’s greatest swordsman, and had become a pathetic, declining noble family.

And finally, in Lucas’s generation.

They were unable to even maintain the family, and eventually, they had to close the family’s swordsmanship dojo, which had been running for a long time.

Mason was the master of the McGregor swordsmanship dojo. At the same time, he was also a retainer who had served the McGregor family for life.

On the day the swordsmanship dojo closed and the McGregor family disappeared into the annals of history, Mason grabbed Lucas and cried for a long time, not befitting his large size.

After that, they had lost contact.

And now, they had reunited in this remote southern region.

“You probably know that I’ve been serving as a guard for His Highness Prince Ash……”

Lucas gestured towards Crossroads and asked Mason, facing him.

“How have you been, Uncle Mason?”

Mason smiled and said,

“After that day, I joined the ranks of His Highness Prince Fernandez, the second prince.”

He revealed his affiliation without hiding it.

“He was the one who supported our McGregor family in the past. It was a natural course of action.”

“Ah…….”

Flustered, Lucas stammered and smiled awkwardly.

“I see. So, you still are?”

“Yes. I’ve been working in the Aegis Special Forces ever since. My main job is…….”

Mason now spoke openly.

“Espionage.”

“……”

“This time, I was dispatched to grasp the situation on this southern front.”

Lucas’s voice, with a frown, turned cold.

“Mason. What is the meaning of this…….”

“Do you know, Young Master? The Aegis Special Forces I belong to is a place where those driven to the edge of a cliff gather.”

Mason scratched his thick beard and spoke nonchalantly.

“Those who have nothing left to sell to the devil but their souls gather in this special forces to achieve their goals.”

This was the way of the Aegis Special Forces.

They would exploit the weaknesses of those who had lost their foundations, and take what they were willing to risk their lives for as hostages.

They would give any mission.

And the special forces would gladly carry it out.

“I was the same. To achieve my goal, I willingly sold my soul to His Highness Fernandez.”

Lucas, narrowing his eyes, asked coldly.

“What is your goal?”

“The revival of the McGregor family.”

Looking into Lucas’s bright blue eyes, the old retainer who still served the McGregors fiercely recited.

“That is the only thing I desire.”

“The McGregor family is already over. Uncle.”

Lucas still looked down at the hilt of the [Bestowed Sword] in his hand.

An old, worn-out sword with only the hilt, without even a blade.

The day the blade of this sword broke years ago.

The fate of the McGregor family was also over.

“Let go of that ghost now. Live your own life.”

“No! It’s not over. The blood of the most noble knight in the empire flows in Young Master Lucas! Doesn’t it continue in you!”

The blood of a noble knight.

Lucas couldn’t help but chuckle at the absurdity.

The blood flowing in his body was far from noble or chivalrous.

If anything, it was the blood of a mad dog.

The blood of a rabid dog that didn’t know where to bite, not even recognizing its owner.

Unaware of Lucas’s self-deprecating thoughts, Mason continued.

“I have never once forgotten the revival of the McGregor family.”

“……”

“I, Mason, have endured all sorts of humiliation and contempt to be with Young Master’s future! And finally, the time has come.”

Mason, twisting his beard and smiling, moved closer to Lucas.

“After my continuous requests, His Highness Fernandez has promised.”

“……Promised? What?”

“He told me to tell Young Master Lucas. ‘If you keep the old oath, I will absolve the remaining sins of the family, restore its honor, and restore the family’s old fief [a large piece of land owned by a lord] and property.’”

The old oath…….

At those words, Lucas’s bright blue eyes closed and then opened.

– Swear to me, young McGregor.

Fernandez’s kind and annoying face, looking down at him while sitting on the upper seat, came to mind.

It was a long time ago, and he had forgotten about it, but it seemed that he was the only one who had forgotten.

The past was catching up with Lucas, and it was once again presenting him with an indelible mistake.

“Young Master Lucas. His Highness Fernandez will become the emperor.”

Mason said with a confident tone. Lucas gasped.

“Isn’t His Highness Fernandez clashing with First Prince Larc? How can he stop that world-class army and commander in the capital?”

“Military power is meaningless. This war is not that kind of war. I, who have rolled around in the Aegis Special Forces for eight years, guarantee it. The winner of this war will ultimately be His Highness Fernandez.”

Mason smiled.

“For the future of the McGregor family, think carefully about how you should act in the future…….”

“……”

“What is the point of being loyal to a third prince who is a good-for-nothing in this remote region? That prince has only tormented and used you for his entire life, hasn’t he?”

Mason’s logic was simple. And clear.

Abandon the third prince, a good-for-nothing who was holed up in a remote region, and who did not pay for loyalty, and instead, side with the smart second prince who would seize the throne in the central imperial family.

Fulfill the old oath that he had failed to keep, even now.

Then…… even the already collapsed family could be revived.

“……”

Lucas, with a hollow laugh, was about to answer Mason.

That was when.

Creak-

The east gate of Crossroads opened wide,

Rumble……!

A crowd of people poured out from inside.

“Huh?”

The east gate of Crossroads was not usually frequented by people. It was strange that dozens of people suddenly opened the gate and came out at once.

Lucas looked that way. Mason, who had noticed the strange sign, also looked that way.

Thump thump thump-!

People running towards them in a hurry.

At the head of them was…….

“Lucaaas!”

……It was Ash.

The third prince of the empire, with his face flushed red from rushing so quickly, shouted.

“I found youuuuu!”

Ash, who had arrived in front of Lucas in an instant with dozens of soldiers behind him, pointed his finger without even catching his breath and shouted.

“Catch that guy-!”

“Yes, sir!”

Dozens of soldiers rushed forward with their spears, surrounded them, and-

They grabbed Mason and threw him to the ground.

“Kehek?!”

Thud thud!

Mason was subdued without much resistance. As he was being tightly bound with ropes, Mason shouted.

“W-what is the meaning of this! I am a refugee from the north…….”

“Hoo, hoo, don’t bullshit me, you spy bastard.”

Ash, wiping his chin and roughly catching his breath, growled.

“I was going to let it slide if I could. Whether you were reporting the situation, stealing magic stones, I was going to pretend I didn’t know what you spies were doing.”

Mason, who was flustered because he didn’t expect his identity to be revealed so quickly, stammered.

Ash pointed his finger at Mason and yelled.

“But how dare you secretly offer a scout proposal to steal a player from my team! It’s the middle of the season right now?! This is tampering, you unethical bastard!”

Ash spewed out sports contract terms that were used on Earth, venting his anger.

“If you’re going to make a scout proposal, you should make an offer through me officially! Offer a huge transfer fee! I’ll listen to the story! But I’ll never give him up!”

“W-what…….”

“Ah, forget it! Throw him in jail for now!”

Lucas broke out in a cold sweat as he watched Mason being dragged away to jail.

Mason looked at Lucas with pitiful eyes, but he couldn’t help him because it wasn’t a situation where they had a clear conversation.

In front of Lucas, Ash smiled like an angel as if nothing had happened.

“Lucas, should I raise your salary?”

“Yes, yes?”

“Or a title? A fief? What do you want? This prince will grant it all! Everything! Tell me any complaints, difficulties, or suggestions! Ah, maybe equipment? Should I get you some better equipment?”

As he said that, Ash suddenly noticed something in Lucas’s hand.

It was the hilt of an old sword.

“Huh?”

Thud!

Ash snatched it from Lucas’s hand and smiled brightly.

“You had it, the bestowed sword!”

“Ah……!”

“I found it! Oh man, I was so worried that you had pawned it off. Whew. I’m so glad I found it, really.”

Ash tucked the sword hilt into his pocket and gave a thumbs up with a grin.

“I’ll make it into an amazing weapon. You can look forward to it. With this, you’ll really be flying high? Trust me, buddy!”

“……”

Lucas was stunned for a moment, then,

“……My lord.”

He slowly spoke.

“A moment ago, you told me to trust you, my lord, right?”

“Huh? Oh, yeah, I did?”

“Then, do you trust me, my lord?”

“Of course! Hey, if not you, who else would I trust?”

“Even if…….”

Lucas slowly lowered his bright blue eyes and…….

Quietly examined Ash’s neck.

“……Even if I betrayed you once before?”

The neck he had tried to bite a long time ago.