I Became the Tyrant of a Defense Game [EN]: Chapter 32

The next morning.

As soon as it was light, I left the mansion. I planned to go around the entire Crossroad and oversee the preparations for the defense.

First, I headed to the city walls.

I saw the production guild members already working hard, sweating from the early morning. They’re all working hard.

“Ah, Your Highness!”

The stonemason guild leader, who was directing the wall repairs, bowed to me. I gave a light nod in return.

“How’s the repair situation?”

“Just now, we broke the greatsword that was embedded in the wall.”

Looking where the guild leader pointed, I saw shattered metal fragments.

It was the greatsword that the wraith knight, the boss from the last stage, had embedded in the wall. They had broken it off.

“Today, we’ll clear all the debris and begin full-scale wall repairs.”

“There’s no need to clean up the greatsword debris.”

I gestured towards the field outside the wall.

“Scatter it in front of the wall. It’ll make a great barricade.”

The next stage’s monster horde is a swarm of sewer rats.

The metal fragments of the greatsword will be a great welcome for the rats. A perfect rat trap.

I examined the wall where the greatsword had been removed. The area that had been directly hit was badly dented.

The internal steel frame, bent like taffy, was visible.

“What’s the estimated time for the wall repairs?”

At my question, the guild leader hesitated slightly.

“Your Highness has provided additional workers, and soldiers have also been mobilized for the repairs, but… we’ve discovered additional damage to the wall while removing the greatsword. It’s in worse condition than we thought.”

The walls of Crossroad were specially built to be sturdy against monsters.

They had a framework of closely spaced steel rods, with stones piled up around them, and then steel plates attached on top.

It was the pinnacle of the Empire’s construction technology. Thanks to that, it boasted incredible defensive power and was able to withstand the wraith knight’s greatsword.

If it had been a normal wall, it would have been split in two and completely collapsed.

But that also meant the construction process was complex. Repairs were difficult, and it couldn’t be fixed simply by filling in some stones.

“Cut to the chase. What’s the estimated time?”

“Ten days from now.”

“Ten days…”

I licked my lips.

There’s only about a week left until the next stage. Time is running out.

“If we use more people and money, can we shorten it to a week?”

If I could buy time, I was willing to invest as much manpower and money as necessary.

But the guild leader shook his head.

“There are limitations to the construction technology itself. It’s difficult.”

“Still, there must be some parts that can be shortened with manpower.”

“Well, if we use more people and materials and repair day and night, we might be able to shave off about a day…”

“If we can shave off a day, we can shave off two days, and if we can shave off two days, we can shave off three days.”

I know it’s an unreasonable demand. But I pushed on.

“I’ll provide the manpower and materials. No matter what, finish the wall repairs within a week.”

There was only one reason why I was making such an unreasonable demand.

[Enemy Information – STAGE 2]

– Lv.? ??? : 3

– Lv.5 Giant Sewer Rat : 3251

It’s not a mistake.

I didn’t misread it.

When I finished the free exploration, the enemy information was displayed, and it was like that.

3,000.

Those huge, dog-sized rats I met during the free exploration, a whopping 3,000 of them.

Of course, their level is only 5. They’re just big rats that even ordinary soldiers can kill easily.

But there are 3,000 of them.

Even ordinary animals can turn a city into a wasteland if 3,000 of them swarm. And these guys are even monsters.

‘We can’t do it without the wall.’

The wall must be repaired. There’s no way we can stop a monster wave of that size without a wall.

I squeezed the guild leader’s shoulder. The guild leader, who was sweating profusely, nodded with difficulty.

“…I understand. I’ll do my best.”

I patted the guild leader’s back.

“Thank you. I’ll remember your hard work and everyone’s dedication.”

Looking around at the workers, I raised my voice.

“Alright, everyone, we’re protecting the world! Let’s keep going!”

***

“Now, let’s go to the alchemist’s workshop.”

After leaving the wall, I took Lucas with me to the alchemist’s workshop in the city. Oh boy, so busy.

“Oh my, Your Highness?! To think you’d visit us in person!”

“You’ve arrived, Your Highness!”

When we arrived at the workshop, the alchemist guild leader and Lily came out to greet me.

Stepping into the workshop, I got straight to the point.

“What types and how many artifacts are currently being repaired?”

“We’re currently repairing five of the easiest artifacts first. We’ve also started readjusting the three artifacts used in the last battle.”

“Stop all current work and start repairing the artifacts I designate.”

They were prioritizing the easiest artifacts to repair, but.

Since the next enemy is over 3,000 sewer rats, it would be better to select and repair the artifacts that can most efficiently eliminate the rats.

I received the list of artifacts that were stored in the warehouse.

Let’s see, which of these are useful for the next battle…

“Three flame thrower artifacts. Repair them with the highest priority.”

It’s a simple R-grade artifact that shoots flames. There’s nothing more efficient than flames against rats.

There were three in the warehouse, so I ordered all of them to be repaired.

“Once these are repaired, go back to repairing the artifacts you were working on before.”

“Understood, Your Highness.”

The workshop immediately began repairing the flame thrower artifacts according to my instructions.

To the guild leader, who was giving instructions to his subordinates, I brought up the next matter.

“And this.”

I took out a blue magic scroll from my pocket and showed it.

It was a ‘Summon Scroll: Automatic Defense Turret’ that I had obtained from a dungeon during the last free exploration.

“Do you know what this is?”

“This is…?”

The alchemist guild leader, who had been carefully examining the scroll, was soon surprised.

“Could it be… an ancient summoning magic?”

“Yes. It’s a scroll that summons structures.”

Summoning magic.

In the game, it was a skill exclusive to players.

It was one of the few ways that players, who always entrusted battles to their game characters, could directly intervene in the game.

It was largely divided into two skill trees.

The first was summoning ‘defense towers’ that were additionally installed in structures.

The second was summoning ‘boss monsters’ that could be directly controlled.

You could only summon one summon at a time, but the effects were powerful.

You could build an overwhelming fire net with defense towers, or you could beat up enemy monsters with boss monsters.

‘The conditions are a bit tricky…’

To use tower summoning magic, you had to obtain a summoning scroll and then have the alchemist’s workshop research it.

Tower summoning scrolls are guaranteed drops. If you diligently do free exploration, you can obtain them one by one.

However, the research costs are quite high, and the research period is quite long.

Fortunately, the first summon, the automatic defense turret, has a low research difficulty, so it should be usable soon.

‘The boss monster side is even more difficult.’

Boss monsters drop summoning scrolls with a very, very rare probability when they die.

You can use this immediately without having to research it, but the problem is that it’s one-time use.

Instead, the effect is certain. Unlike defense towers, you can summon them anywhere.

‘I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to use it since I got sucked into the game as a player, but thankfully I can use it.’

This summoning magic is, strictly speaking, outside the character’s role. It’s the power of the system.

To be able to use this as it is. It’s a relief, but it also makes me feel complicated.

‘Am I a character or a player in this game?’

Or am I both?

While I was pondering these things, the alchemist guild leader’s eyes almost popped out of his head as he held the scroll.

“Where on earth did you get such a precious thing…!”

I couldn’t say, ‘It’s a guaranteed drop if you progress through the dungeon,’ so I glossed over it.

“You don’t need to know that. Anyway, can you decipher it?”

“Of course! It’s in the style of hundreds of years ago, but it’s a scroll within our magic system. We can decipher it!”

“Good. Please do it as quickly as possible. I want to install the scroll’s summon as soon as the wall repairs are complete.”

“Understood, Your Highness! Please leave it to us!”

The alchemist guild leader, who bowed to me several times, hugged the scroll tightly.

It’s a thing full of technologies that don’t even exist now, so I understand why he wants to research it.

If he works hard, it’s a win-win for both of us.

After seeing the guild leader rush into his office with the scroll, I beckoned to Lily with my index finger.

“Lily, come here.”

Lily approached me hesitantly with a terrified expression.

“Why, why are you doing this… Your Highness?”

She seemed nervous that I was going to order her to do something dangerous again. I smiled gently.

“No, it’s nothing. Just. Thank you for your hard work. I look forward to working with you in the future.”

I will order her to do something, but not now.

After giving a pointless handshake of encouragement to Lily, who was frozen in place, I left the alchemist’s workshop with Lucas.

“You’re going to order me to do something weird again, aren’t you?! Something dangerous?! Right? Your Highness! Your Highneeeess!”

Lily’s scream echoed faintly from behind.

Sorry, Lily. But what can I do? That’s what a public servant’s job is like.

***

The temple.

As I entered this marble building located in the north of the city, the smell of disinfectant stung my nose.

“…”

I didn’t bother to announce that I had come and quietly walked into the temple.

“Patient in bed 3 is critical!”

“Bring more potions! And holy water and bandages!”

Inside the temple, there were beds filled with injured soldiers receiving treatment.

The priests, including the R-grade healer ‘Saintess’ Margherita, were busy healing and nursing the injured.

Damian was among them.

I watched Damian from afar as he used healing magic, sweating profusely.

It was… inevitable that Damian, who was bandaging the injured, looked more at ease than when he was sniping enemies with sharp eyes.

“…It doesn’t seem like there’s anything more I can do here.”

I quietly turned and left the temple again.

Quietly, in unseen places, everyone is fighting to survive.

Here at the temple, everyone was struggling to save people.

As their leader, I must also do my best.

I clenched my fist tightly.

Kill the monsters and protect the people.

That’s what I have to do.

“Let’s go. Next is the mercenary guild.”

“Yes.”

Lucas and I left the temple and headed to the mercenary guild.

***

In front of the mercenary guild located in the center of the city.

I took a deep breath in front of the door.

‘I hope the mercenary guild is filled with new, useful talent!’

I prayed quietly in my heart and opened the door forcefully.

“Did a new SSR character appear!”

But.

“No way! Isn’t that Your Highness!”

Inside the quiet mercenary guild, there was no light announcing the arrival of a new mercenary.

Instead, Jupiter was drinking alone, emitting a dazzling purple aura.

‘I was excited thinking a new SR-grade character had appeared!’

I held my forehead in frustration. Why is this old woman here again?

I gestured with my chin at Jupiter, who was staggering towards me and saluting.

“What are you doing here, Jupiter?”

“Do I have a home? Do I have any savings? I don’t have a decent place to stay, so I’m staying here.”

“That’s something to be proud of! With the salary I gave you, you could build a house in this town!”

“Aww~ What’s the point of a mercenary buying a house? It’s not like I’m going to settle down here.”

Jupiter curled up the wrinkles at the corners of her mouth with a sly smile.

“For a mercenary, it’s best to live as the wind blows, as the heart desires, eating, drinking, and scattering money.”

“So you’ve settled down here…?”

“I can’t stay in the Imperial army barracks since I’ve already been discharged, can I? And would I live in the mercenary dorm with the young ones? The inns are too poor for the cost.”

It’s pointless to say more. I shook my head and looked around the empty guild.

“Okay, it doesn’t look like there are any new, useful friends.”

“It’s too early to be disappointed, Your Highness.”

Jupiter shrugged her shoulders. I glared at her. Does this old woman have a plan?

“Who am I? I’m Jupiter, a veteran warrior who’s been eating 30 years of military rations in the Imperial army and rolling around as a mercenary for several years!”

“So, what about it, veteran warrior? So what?”

“This old woman has some, no, a lot of connections.”

Heh.

Jupiter, with her usual villainous smile, confidently declared.

“I’m spreading rumors all over the continent. That the new lord of the monster front is a royal and is throwing money around.”