I Became the Tyrant of a Defense Game [EN]: Chapter 394

‘Great Bridge’.

As its name suggests, this wide bridge is the only path connecting the 10th and 9th Districts of the Lake Kingdom Dungeon.

The 10th District, the deepest part of the dungeon, was originally where the Lake Kingdom’s royalty resided.

It seems they even dug a river and surrounded it with a moat to separate it from the rest of the kingdom.

So, it was originally a place heavily guarded by the kingdom’s soldiers. Well, that’s a story from before the Lake Kingdom fell into this state.

After becoming a dungeon, it’s just a long bridge over a dried-up river—

“Hey, hey!”

“Pretty ladies over there~! How about we have a little chat?”

Shadows blocked our path as we were about to cross the bridge.

“This bridge is ours now, you see.”

“If you want to pass, you’ll have to pay up. Heh heh.”

Blocking our way were a duo of male and female bandits.

Both had messy, white hair, making it hard to see their faces properly. The man also had a thick beard, making him look even more disheveled.

The man held a rusty, chipped sword, while the woman wielded a short spear that looked like it was broken in half.

“……”

I was momentarily speechless.

The familiar stench of bandits reminded me of Quillan and his gang. They also tried to rob us back then.

Quillan and his men, who were also bandits, were quite shabby when they first attacked me, but these two were on a different level.

Even from a distance, the stench was overwhelming, their eyes were bloodshot between their long eyebrows and hair, and their yellow teeth were missing in patches.

Two crazy beggars trying to rob us on the road…

‘With such distinctive appearances, there’s no way I wouldn’t recognize them.’

Having identified them, I broke out in a cold sweat.

One of the worst hostile NPC [Non-Player Character] groups you could encounter in the game.

The two-person bandit gang – the ‘Stranded Home-Longing Band’.

‘A group of people who are stranded and long for home’ – that’s what it means, but users just called them ‘Damn-We’re-Screwed’ because they were such a pain to deal with.

They randomly appeared inside high-difficulty dungeons, and no matter how many people you had, they would always pick a fight. The reasons varied, but the conclusion was always the same.

“Don’t be so scared, we’re reasonable people~ We do business fairly.”

“So, just hand over half of your entire fortune and you can be on your way.”

Half of my entire fortune!

But in the game, the way it was calculated was messed up. It wasn’t half of the character’s current wealth, but half of the player’s wealth in the city, which was a terrible outcome.

I was just clearing the dungeon! And then these two bandit NPCs show up and demand half of my wealth in the city! What kind of nonsense is that!

But it was also difficult to just overpower them because these two bandits were ridiculously strong.

If you encountered them with a mediocre party, you were likely to be wiped out. Even with an elite party, you were lucky to get away with injuries, and if you were unlucky, your precious characters would die.

It wasn’t a boss fight, but a random encounter with an NPC that could cost you half of your fortune or wipe out your party.

It was no exaggeration to say that this was the worst NPC event in the game, forcing you into such a terrible dilemma.

‘But this isn’t a game, it’s reality…’

Half of what I have now?

I’d gladly give it to them. I’m broke anyway. I quickly rummaged through my pockets.

“Mason, Salome. Open your pockets too. Let’s give it to them and move on.”

《Understood…》

《Huh? Really? I’m a legion commander, you know? Am I really getting robbed by roadside bandits now?》

What good is being a legion commander or an emperor in front of a sword? Staying alive is the priority. We have nothing to lose, so let’s just get robbed and move on.

Mason was the first to empty his pocket(?).

Thud! Thud!

Only a bunch of mixed animal fur flew everywhere.

This guy went to the Demon King’s headquarters, and it seems he already lost all his belongings back then.

“……”

“……”

The two bandits narrowed their eyes at Mason, who really had nothing. I quickly gestured to Salome.

“Salome.”

《Okay…》

Salome diligently searched her pockets.

But it seems this woman didn’t have any valuables either… Only the fruit she stole yesterday kept pouring out of her bag and pockets.

Salome awkwardly picked up the fruit and gave a sheepish smile.

《The fruit is delicious!》

“……”

Well, yes, it is delicious, but…

As soon as it was confirmed that the two in front of them were broke, the two bandits turned their gaze sharply towards me.

I couldn’t just stand there with such expectant eyes on me, so I diligently emptied my pockets as well.

But.

The inventory.

It’s not working?

“……”

In the end, all I had was a water bottle I had filled at the fountain on the way.

The two bandits looked at us in disbelief and searched our bodies themselves. But what can they take if we have nothing? Only dust flew around.

The two bandits clicked their tongues and looked at each other.

“I’ve never seen beggars worse than us.”

“Even in a high-difficulty dungeon like this, how do you wander around without any decent weapons? No, how have you not died yet?”

I scratched the back of my head.

“Well, I got stranded by accident…”

I woke up in the 10th District, you see. So now I have to go back up and get out of the dungeon. I’m broke right now.

…That’s what I was going to explain, but these bandits reacted to the word ‘stranded’ first and their eyes turned bloodshot.

“Really?! Oh my god, we’re stranded too!”

“We didn’t live like this originally. But because of that damn Lake Kingdom collapse, shit!”

“Seeing young folks crawling around this place with nothing, it doesn’t feel like it’s someone else’s problem…”

“Yeah. Since we’re connected by fate, how about you join our Stranded Home-Longing Band?!”

I’m even getting invited to join a bandit gang now.

Fortunately, it seems like we can pass without any major conflict. I was about to politely decline the offer.

That’s when it happened.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

A series of footsteps echoed from the other side of the bridge. Looking that way, I could see about a dozen shadows approaching through the hazy mist.

I panicked and broke out in a cold sweat.

Why are there so many roamers today? The chances of those guys wandering around in this high-difficulty dungeon being friendly are extremely low…

But unlike me, who was panicking, the two bandits had a look of delight on their faces.

“Oh my, oh my, what’s this! We’ve been getting no customers for days, but suddenly today is busy! Honey!”

“I know, don’t worry! I’m great at customer service, aren’t I?”

The male bandit excitedly ran towards the other side of the bridge and shouted loudly.

“You bastards! Stop right there-!”

His customer service is amazing…

I stared at him with my mouth agape at his incredible greeting, and the male bandit continued.

“We’ve taken over this bridge! If you want to pass, you’ll have to pay!”

“……”

But the other party didn’t stop and approached right in front of us.

“It has been a long time since my kingdom was submerged by monsters and darkness, but now even bandits are rampant on this great bridge.”

The one at the front of the group muttered gloomily.

“It is a lamentable situation.”

Wait.

That amazing low voice, that white smiling mask, and that jester outfit…

I knew him well. I called out his name.

“Crown…?”

“Hmm? Ash?”

As expected, it was Crown, one of the hostile NPCs of the Lake Kingdom, the ‘Pied Piper’.

And his forces – the self-proclaimed last remnants of the Lake Kingdom, the ‘Nightcrawlers’.

They were all wearing their characteristic white smiling masks. It’s been a while since I’ve seen them all.

Crown was clearly taken aback by my sudden appearance. I could even see him blinking under his smiling mask.

“And Salome too?”

《Hi, Crown!》

Salome waved her hand at Crown. It seems they know each other.

“Why are you all together… and with those bandits?”

Crown’s voice was incredulous.

Well, it’s a really unavoidable situation… It was beyond my control. Could you please not look at me like I’m crazy?

“…Well, whatever.”

Crown let out a short sigh and pointed next to me.

“That half-beast over there. We were searching the area for him.”

Crown was pointing at Mason.

“He defeated the demon guards in front of the royal palace and fled. Well, I don’t care if the demon guards die, but spilling blood in front of the royal palace is a serious crime.”

“……”

“Hand him over immediately. He must be judged immediately and reported to the King of Kings.”

I turned to look at Mason. He still had a dazed look in his eyes, still under Salome’s charm.

Memories of Mason suddenly flashed through my mind. The times we spent together…

…

…I don’t have any good memories with this guy?

No, I only have bad memories?

I was about to hand Mason over to Crown immediately. Take him! We don’t really need him either! And if possible, kill him very painfully!

However, the two bandits blocked Crown’s path.

“Hey! Have your eyes gone bad from being in the dark all the time?! Can’t you see us?!”

“Where do you think you’re going, trying to steal our customers, you bastard!”

“W-what did you say?”

“Even if this is the bottom of hell, huh?! There should be some decency among us who are in the same boat, decency!”

“You bastard, you’ll die and go to hell if you keep doing that, hell!”

…This conversation is happening in the middle of hell.

Crown, who was bewildered, shook his head and gestured with his hand.

Then, the dozen or so Nightcrawler soldiers lined up behind him immediately prepared for battle.

The two bandits also didn’t back down and raised their respective swords and spears.

“Oh ho, you shameless bandits! So you’re finally showing your true colors!”

“You think you can push us around with numbers? If you think we’ll just sit here and die, you’re very mistaken!”

Despite being outnumbered, the bandits didn’t back down and yelled.

“We old folks have the advantage on this old bridge! You know why?”

“Because we’re old ‘bridge’?”

“You get it right away! Heh heh, honey, do you know what kind of money I like the most when I do this kind of banditry?”

“What is it?”

“It’s ‘old lady’ money! It’s you!”

“This old man has gone crazy, what a disgrace!”

…They really seem crazy.

Their sense of humor is so hellish. It’s already bewildering that they’re suddenly making jokes in this situation, but the content is even worse. My god, they wouldn’t even make jokes like that in the 80s…

‘Do you go crazy like that if you stay in a high-difficulty dungeon for too long?’

I couldn’t keep up with the conversation of the two bandits, so I turned my gaze away. Then,

“……”

I saw Crown desperately trying to hold back his laughter.

In this crazy world, why are you laughing at such puns! You’re a court jester! Is that the level of court humor?! I didn’t see you like that, I’m disappointed, Crown!

《…….》

Then I saw Mason, who was trembling and trying to hold back his laughter even though he was charmed. You find that funny too?! Am I the weird one?!?

Salome, who had been standing behind with a blank face, tilted her head.

《What does that mean…? I don’t understand.》

“You don’t need to understand. Just stay still.”

Dad jokes aside, anyway, it was then that the Nightcrawler forces and the two bandits were facing off against each other with us in the middle.

Swish! Swish! Swish!

This time, an anomaly occurred behind us.

Flies and rats, crows and insects…

All sorts of hideous and black things that suddenly appeared from all directions began to gather and clump together.

They took the form of limbs and eventually merged into a giant man.

A black coat and a fedora. And a white crow mask with a long beak, like a medieval plague doctor.

Raven, the legion commander of the plague army, appeared here.

《Hoo…》

Raven growled fiercely in his characteristic deep voice.

《I wondered who the hell stole my fruit… It was you, Salome.》

Ah.

So, the owner of that farm who grows fruit, was it you?

Salome has now laid out the fruit she took from her pocket all over the place. There’s no room for excuses…!

《Hiccup!》

Salome, who started hiccuping, quickly opened her mouth.

《W-wait a minute, Crow! I’ll pay you back later! So…》

《The price is your life! I will immediately take you to my farm and use you as a field for my new plague-》

“What the hell is this bastard!”

The male bandit, who had rushed in like a thunderbolt, swung his sword downwards.

Splat-!

Raven’s body was split in two vertically.

Of course, the part that was hit by the sword was immediately filled with insects and crows again, but Raven was bewildered and quickly stepped back.

《What is this…?!》

“It’s already hard enough to make a living, and now this shit! You bastards, how dare you cause a ruckus in someone else’s workplace when this Sword Demon is watching with his eyes wide open!”

Flash!

This time, the female bandit, who was facing off against the Nightcrawlers, roughly swung the short spear in her hand.

Then, a huge groove was carved into the bridge. The Nightcrawler forces were startled and quickly retreated.

“This Spear Demon is also watching with her eyes wide open!”

“We caught these customers first!”

“So, we can roast them or boil them, it’s our choice!”

The two bandits pointed their weapons at Raven and the Nightcrawler forces, respectively, and shouted at the same time.

“Get the hell out of here!”

And so.

With us in the middle of the bridge, the two crazy bandits on either side of us, and the plague legion commander and the Nightcrawler forces at each end of the bridge, a standoff was formed.

Salome, picking up the fruit and putting it back in her pocket, smiled awkwardly.

《We’re so popular, aren’t we?》

“……”

No, I don’t need this kind of popularity…