I Became the Tyrant of a Defense Game [EN]: Chapter 358

“Torkel, the leader of the Leprosy Extermination Unit, stood in front of the temple.

As usual, his helmet was pulled low, and his whole body was wrapped in bandages. He just stared at the temple from a distance, unable to go inside.

He hesitated, unable to take a step.

“Oh, Mr. Torkel?”

Damian, who was sweeping around the temple with a broom, noticed Torkel. They had become acquainted after exploring the dungeon together for the past few days.

“What brings you here? Do you have business at the temple?”

“……”

Torkel, who had been hesitating, answered honestly.

“My heart is heavy, and I wanted to ask the Goddess something. That’s why I came, but…”

“Then you can just come in, right?”

“……But I’m a leper. A body abandoned by the Goddess. I wonder if it’s okay for someone like me to pray in the temple…”

“Oh, come on. Of course, it’s okay. Were you worried about that?”

Damian smiled brightly and gestured towards the inside of the temple.

“Come on in! I’ll guide you.”

“……No.”

Torkel shook his head and slowly brought his hands together in front of his chest.

“If it’s allowed to pray, I’ll do it here.”

“How about coming inside? There’s a statue of the Goddess there too.”

“The statue of the Goddess can be seen from here.”

Torkel clenched his hands tightly and bowed his head. Damian stayed by Torkel’s side.

At that moment, Margherita walked out of the temple entrance. She also had a broom in her hand, as if she had been doing the morning cleaning.

“Damian! Why is the front gate cleaning taking so long!”

“Whoa, High Priestess!”

“You’ve been slacking off lately. If you keep doing this, I’ll increase your morning cleaning area… Oh my.”

Margherita, who had just noticed Torkel praying, closed her mouth.

Damian smiled awkwardly, and Torkel slowly released his hands from prayer and raised his head.

Torkel and Margherita awkwardly bowed to each other. Margherita, feeling a bit embarrassed, asked Torkel.

“It’s the first time I’ve seen you come here without being injured, Mr. Torkel. What kind of prayer did you offer today?”

“……Actually, I couldn’t pray.”

“Huh?”

“I don’t know what to pray for.”

Torkel continued in his unique, muffled voice.

“Ever since I contracted this disease a long time ago, I’ve been secretly praying to the Goddess every day. Begging for forgiveness.”

“……”

“Asking to be absolved of my sins. Asking to be forgiven. Asking for this disease to be taken away.”

Torkel looked down at his hands wrapped in bandages.

“But last time, the Saintess told me. This disease is not a divine punishment. It’s not because of the sins I committed.”

His hands clenched tightly.

“Then now, what should I pray to the Goddess for? Who should I ask for forgiveness? Or should I resent someone?”

“……”

“It was easier on my mind before. I could just think it was a disease I got because I did something wrong. I could just think I was a wretch who deserved divine punishment. I could just resent myself… But now.”

Torkel shook his head.

“I don’t know anything. Nothing at all…”

Silence fell.

Damian rolled his big eyes, not knowing what to do.

And just as Margherita, who had been lost in thought for a moment, was about to open her mouth to say something to Torkel,

Clatter! Clatter!

A carriage carrying Ash appeared from the other side of the street.

Screech-!

Ash, who had poked his head out of the roughly stopped carriage, waved his hand.

“Torkel! Damian! You’re all here. You’re the last ones!”

“Your Highness.”

“Prince, what’s going on?”

“It’s a summons! We’re going to have a strategy meeting over lunch, so come to my mansion by noon! Oh, the Saintess is here too. Saintess, please come too!”

Following that, Ash stuck out his tongue and leaned back against the carriage seat, panting.

“Ugh, I should have just sent someone. I went out this morning for nothing, calling everyone myself… Anyway, see you later~!”

Ash waved his hand, and the carriage started again. Clatter, clatter….

Torkel, who had been watching the departing carriage, bowed his head to Damian and Margherita.

“……Then, I’ll be going now.”

“Mr. Torkel!”

Margherita called out to Torkel’s retreating back.

“I’ll also think about that problem. So, please come to the temple again without getting hurt.”

“……”

“Okay? I’ll be waiting. Definitely.”

Torkel silently bowed his head once more, then walked towards the other side of the city.

The two priests quietly watched his retreating figure.

***

“Ugh, this is surprisingly tiring.”

I loosened the front of my clothes and fanned myself with my hand.

I went around the city from the morning to summon the heroes, and it was tough… I should have just sent someone. Why did I go out myself and suffer? I don’t know.

While returning to the lord’s mansion, I saw the bustling city and suddenly said to the coachman.

“Wait! Stop the carriage!”

The carriage stopped, and the place I got off was right in front of the Winter Silver Merchant Guild branch building.

The guild members were busily packing their luggage.

Because I had issued an evacuation order, they were sending as many civilians as possible to nearby cities.

As expected of the guild members, the luggage was neatly packed.

Is it because they move so often? Their packing skills are amazing. You could make some money if you ran a moving company.

“Your Highness!”

At that moment, Serenade, who had noticed me, ran towards me.

She also had been working since morning, with beads of sweat on her forehead, and her water-colored hair was tied up behind her neck. Her exposed white nape was glistening with sweat.

“I was planning to visit you in the afternoon anyway. I’m glad you came first.”

I thought she would be sad if I said I just happened to pass by, so I just smiled awkwardly. Haha.

“Are you leaving today?”

“Yes. Most of the guild has evacuated, and today, the last group, including me, will go to the northern city.”

Following that, Serenade looked to the side and gestured.

“Ah, Elise! Come here! As I told you before, stay by His Highness’s side.”

“……”

Elise, who appeared dragging her sword on the ground, seemed unhappy with the situation, and reluctantly answered, ‘Yeees-’.

I smiled bitterly. She might not like leaving her master’s side, but still, an SSR-grade swordsman is useful. I’ll make good use of her in this battle.

Elise, whose face was dark, stood behind me. Serenade nodded as she looked at us.

“We’re leaving Crossroads for now, but we’ll continue to send the military supplies we’ve secured from nearby cities to Crossroads.”

“Thank you. You’re the only one, really.”

For reference, I had requested reinforcements from nearby cities and countries, but… no one has responded yet.

The only support coming from outside the city was the mercenaries who came of their own accord, and the military supplies brought in by the Winter Silver Merchant Guild. Everyone is so stingy….

“And, we’ve also acquired a rather amazing military supply this time.”

Serenade smiled brightly.

“We’ll send it here as soon as possible. I hope it will be of help to Your Highness.”

“Oh, I’ll look forward to it.”

I don’t know what it is, but if the Winter Silver Merchant Guild says it’s amazing, it must be quite good. Maybe it’s an SSR-grade artifact.

At that moment, Serenade, who had taken a step closer to me, looked up at me with worried eyes.

“……Your Highness, please be safe. You mustn’t get hurt.”

“Thank you. You too, please be careful.”

I smiled bitterly as I faced this young lady who had come down to a faraway land because of me, and was now even evacuating to a nearby city.

Serenade, who had been staring at me for a moment, reached out and took my hand, then lightly kissed the back of my hand.

Her soft lips left a brief lingering sensation on the back of my hand.

I was blankly watching the scene when I belatedly came to my senses.

“Uh… what does that mean?”

Is there some meaning like wishing me good luck, this kiss on the back of my hand?

“No, it doesn’t mean anything.”

After answering confidently, Serenade smiled, her silver eyes curving like the moon.

“I just wanted to do it.”

“……”

My face flushed first. Serenade, whose ears were also bright red, slowly bowed her head.

“Then, Your Highness, please. Let’s meet again safely.”

“……Okay.”

I have no intention of getting a game over in a place like this.

I answered with conviction.

“Let’s meet again, Serenade. Definitely.”

***

Noon. The Lord’s Mansion.

The reception room was packed even though only the main heroes and the leaders of the reserve party were gathered.

‘I should build a large hall so that all the heroes can gather.’

Since there were many people and it was lunchtime, the meal was replaced with simple tea and sandwiches instead of a banquet.

“Listen while you eat. First of all, the most important thing to convey… For this defense battle only, I’m going to change the organization of some parties.”

Lukas and Evangeline, who were munching on sandwiches, looked at me in surprise.

I nodded. Yes, I’m talking about you guys.

“The main party, disband.”

“Huh?!”

“Eh?!”

“Lukas, Evangeline, Damian, Junior. Each of you will become a party leader and command your own party.”

Lukas for the swordsman and knight party.

Evangeline for the shield tank party.

Damian for the archer and sniper party.

Junior for the mage party.

I had selected useful hero characters from the reserve party members. I decided to organize them into their respective parties.

“I’ll call them Lukas Party, Evangeline Party, Damian Party, and Junior Party.”

Evangeline shook her head with a dumbfounded expression.

“Your naming sense is really something, senior.”

“Shut up. It’s just a temporary party anyway, so let’s keep it straightforward.”

This battle will be a large-scale battle unlike any we’ve experienced before.

The enemies are goblins.

A quantity offensive legion that overwhelms with numbers. However, each individual is not very strong.

Therefore, we also need to spread our forces widely while maintaining our combat power advantage.

The main party is certainly powerful, but it’s too strong to be grouped into one party.

I judged that it would be better to divide it up and operate it for this battle.

“After today’s meeting, get in sync with your party members. I’ve only organized you with friends who have similar fighting styles, so it won’t be difficult.”

For reference, Elise was assigned to Lukas’s party. I’m already looking forward to the synergy of the SSR-grade knight & swordsman duo.

“I’ll call out the list now. Each party should sit at the same table and get to know each other.”

I called out the list of the newly formed parties, and soon the heroes moved around in a disorganized manner and sat at their respective tables.

They were all glancing at each other, like a college group project team meeting for the first time…

I’ll give you all A+ grades, so please overcome this awkwardness and get to know each other.

Lukas, who was greeting his party members, looked at me as if he had suddenly remembered something.

“Then who will be in charge of guarding the lord?”

“I don’t need a guard. I won’t be on the front lines if possible.”

…No, what’s with all the looks? You all have eyes that say you don’t believe me at all.

Since everyone was still looking at me with suspicion, I reluctantly added.

“I’ll be accompanied by at least one party at all times anyway, so don’t worry about my safety.”

Still, the party members were still shooting out worried looks… Ugh! You guys! I ignored them and continued to speak.

“Likewise. I’ll add two more members to the Shadow Unit. This is also a temporary organization for this defense battle only.”

The current Shadow Unit, which only has three members, was difficult to function as a complete party. So, I added a shield warrior and an archer.

For reference, the selection criteria were ‘how little hostility they have towards elves.’

As for the combination, it’s enough if they just assist while the three members of the Shadow Unit are firing.

The Punishment Unit, the Dragonblood Knights, the Leprosy Extermination Unit, and the Holy Grail Exploration Team, which promised to provide support, will remain as they are.

This side is already complete as a party, and there are also issues with their respective affiliations.

Following that, I looked at Margherita and said.

“Saintess. You will not be participating in the battle this time. Please focus on treating the injured at the temple.”

“Understood.”

“Instead, I’ll build a teleport gate at the temple. This will make it easier to transport the injured.”

If a hero-centered battle were possible, I would bring Margherita to the front lines and use her as a field medic.

But this time, the damage to the general soldiers is expected to be significant. I judged that it would be better to respond at the temple, which is well-equipped with treatment facilities.

Margherita nodded.

“The expansion of beds and the replenishment of first aid supplies are complete. All the priests are prepared for this battle.”

“Thank you as always. Let’s work hard again this time.”

In addition to this, I announced various party reorganizations, and the reorganized party lists were posted outside.

“Well, I’ve said a lot of things, but in fact, these organizational changes may not mean anything.”

I grinned.

“Because I’ve set up a huge trap that will allow me to devour them all.”

“……?!”

All the heroes looked surprised.

Lukas asked back.

“A trap?”