I Became the Tyrant of a Defense Game [EN]: Chapter 414

While I was away, the heroes had diligently conducted autonomous dungeon explorations, so the opponent for this stage was already determined.

‘The Ghost Pirate Legion.’

A pirate legion made up of ghosts that control all sorts of marine life, with the legion commander being the Ghost Privateer Captain Bernard Fokker.

The summoned sea monsters are troublesome, but the biggest problem is the ghost fleet they lead.

‘Ghost Privateer Captain Bernard Fokker possesses the special skill [Stormy Sea].’

When this skill is activated, heavy rain pours from the sky, and all of this rain is seawater.

This is because it’s a ridiculous magic that connects the actual sea and sky with a kind of gate.

And if there is even a little bit of seawater on the ground, the ghost ships belonging to the ghost fleet can advance.

Their main tactic is to spread seawater on any field with their special skill and then stir it up with ghost ships.

These ghost ships, protected by evil spirits, are more powerful than most warships when they are at full condition.

They lack only the ability to fly, but their power is comparable to that of an airship.

‘Moreover, the dark event they have activated for this boss stage is ‘Rapid Advance’.’

It’s a monstrous dark event that makes the monsters’ movement speed much faster.

This time, they gathered dark events and activated them all at once, so the expected speed increase is about double.

‘The ghost pirate ships are already crazy mobile, and if they’re running around at twice their usual speed…’

It’s terrifying just to imagine.

Moreover, as soon as they emerge from the Black Lake, they will head north, covering a course that would normally take three days in just a day and a half.

This increase in speed is troublesome both during and outside of combat.

It might be even more difficult to deal with than the ‘proliferation’ dark event that the goblin legion received last time.

“However.”

I grinned.

“We’re not the kind of people who will just stand by and take it.”

Crossroad, which has been enduring for over a year and a half in this game that progresses up to the third year.

We’ve all gained enough experience. We can easily overcome this level of adversity now.

The heroes, who had been tense after hearing about the ghost pirates’ specs, looked puzzled.

I grinned and tapped the portable whiteboard that Aider had brought with my staff.

“If we proceed according to the plan I’ve laid out, perhaps… this defense battle might be the easiest, most effortless battle ever.”

Twisting the rules, bypassing the rules, and going beyond the rules-

Destroying the rules.

I smiled and explained the ‘plan’ I had devised this time. Bewilderment and shock flashed across everyone’s faces.

Lukas stammered and asked,

“Will such a tactic… really work?”

“Of course. It will work. Absolutely.”

742 attempts.

And, a year and a half of practical experience.

Thanks to this experience that I’ve steadily accumulated, I can now intuitively sense which tactics will work in practice and which won’t.

And, I sensed it.

This will work. Absolutely!

“Of course, I’ll prepare a Plan B just in case… but trust me. This tactic is definitely valid.”

I clapped my hands!

“Alright! There’s less than a week left until the defense battle starts. For the remaining time, all the workers and spare troops will start preparing for this operation.”

Looking around at the heroes, I let out an ‘ah’ sound.

“Come to think of it, do you guys happen to like sashimi?”

“Huh? Sashimi?”

“Yeah. It’s when you slice fish right after catching it and dip it in gochujang [Korean chili paste] or soy sauce…”

Crossroad is inland, and it seems that the culture of eating sashimi is rare in this area, as most of them looked bewildered.

I smiled and winked.

“Okay, I’ll let you eat your fill this time. You can all look forward to it!”

Though it seems they don’t have gochujang or soy sauce in this area!

***

The construction started right away the next day.

All the workers left in the city, as well as the soldiers and heroes, were mobilized to start construction on the flat ground in front of the city walls, as I instructed.

“It might seem like we’re just digging in the dirt for no reason…”

Evangeline, who was digging with a shovel, wiped the sweat from her forehead and smiled.

“But now, it really feels like you’re back, Senior!”

I turned to Evangeline, who was standing next to me, examining the construction site’s blueprint.

“Really? In what way?”

“You come up with seemingly absurd plans, and then you lead everyone without hesitation to carry them out… things like that?”

Evangeline shrugged.

“There have been more than a few times when I’ve wondered if it would really work. But they all hit the monsters effectively. So, everyone believes and follows this construction, thinking it will work meaningfully this time too.”

“….”

At the smoothly progressing construction site, people are digging into the ground and sweating without a shred of doubt.

They all trust me.

Then I have to repay them with results. By defeating the monsters splendidly….

After confirming that the construction site was running smoothly, I moved to the city center. I had business with the Winter Silver Merchant Guild.

“Ah, Your Highness.”

Serenade was waiting, as I had sent word in advance.

Perhaps because of what happened yesterday, Serenade blushed and avoided my gaze as soon as our eyes met.

Her squirming and shyness made me feel embarrassed too. Hmm….

But this visit was not for personal reasons, but for official purposes as the lord of Crossroad.

Therefore, I opened my mouth in a businesslike tone.

“Serenade. As I mentioned earlier… I’d like to see the condition of the airship.”

“Ah, yes! Please come this way.”

Serenade, who had quickly regained her composure, guided me. I followed her.

“During the six months that Your Highness was away, the airship ‘Geronimo’ has been repaired and upgraded under the leadership of Master Blacksmith Kellybay.”

There were several new warehouses on the Winter Silver Merchant Guild’s property that I hadn’t seen in the past few months, and Serenade led me to the largest one.

Thump-

The warehouse door opened, and the massive body of the airship waiting inside revealed its menacing appearance. I unconsciously held my breath.

The crude thrusters looked like they had been directly attached from a furnace. Two propellers were attached to the head and tail. The design was anachronistic, menacing, and thick.

Its unique, simple, and brute appearance remained the same, but several layers of sturdy outer armor had been added, and several more weapons had been added to the exterior.

“We’ve added armor and armaments, but especially, we’ve overhauled the engine extensively… and the current output is 1.5 times greater than before.”

“1.5 times?”

“Master Kellybay worked very hard. He said that not being able to complete this airship was his greatest regret…”

The airship’s hatch slowly opened as we approached.

Chik-!

Inside the airship was the female swordsman, Eliza, wearing a maid outfit, whom I hadn’t seen in a while. She bowed politely to me.

Serenade smiled brightly, extending her arm into the open airship.

“How about it, would you like to take a test ride?”

And so.

Tututututu…!

As we sat in our seats, the airship took off with a heavy mechanical sound.

The huge lump of metal seemed to float up, and then it quickly rose into the sky.

“Our people had only roughly learned the control system, but Master Kellybay taught us again… so we can now move more efficiently.”

Listening to Serenade’s explanation, I looked out the window.

Looking down at Crossroad from the sky was a different feeling.

I quietly observed the city’s appearance, which I hadn’t been able to see before, and as if considerate of me, the airship circled slowly over the city, not too fast and not too high.

“The city itself has changed a lot during the six months I was gone.”

I muttered as I looked at Crossroad for a while.

There were things that looked different from the sky, but there were many buildings that hadn’t been there six months ago.

Among them, one building that was particularly tall was under construction. I reached out my hand.

“That building under construction, is it perhaps…”

“Yes. It’s a hotel.”

Serenade smiled.

“It’s the very place Your Highness asked us to build.”

“Wow, it’s gone up a lot in the meantime.”

“Here in Crossroad, they’ve been researching construction methods using magic.”

I had left the defense tower scroll with the alchemy workshop. It must be about that technology.

“In addition, they are using various other technologies to build it very quickly. It might be completed sooner than expected.”

The hotel construction was a project that I had started soon after taking office, and now, a year and a half later, visible results were beginning to appear.

The city had changed dramatically in the year and a half since I took office. It’s a bit much to say it myself, but I think there’s been a remarkable improvement.

“….”

And again, in a year and a half.

At the end of the third year, when all these battles are over. How much will it have changed?

As I silently looked down at the city and thought, Serenade carefully spoke to me.

“Your Highness. The reason you came today…”

“Hmm.”

I put my thoughts aside and faced Serenade.

“First of all, I plan to use this airship in the next battle that’s coming soon.”

Serenade nodded with a bright face.

“Of course, please do. After all, it’s an airship that we’ve repaired to be of help to Your Highness. We’ll have it ready in perfect condition.”

“Thank you so much, Serenade. And…”

I carefully brought up the next topic.

“I’d like to know a little about the news from the capital.”

At my question, Serenade’s face slightly hardened.

The Winter Silver Merchant Guild has its headquarters in the capital, New Terra.

Although the guild leader is in this remote southern region, its roots are still in the capital.

Also, at my request, the Winter Silver Merchant Guild is focusing on information trading.

There’s no way they wouldn’t have information about the war between the first and second princes in the capital – the battle for the throne.

Serenade lowered her eyes for a moment to organize her thoughts, then slowly opened her mouth.

“You must have already heard that the war between the two princes ultimately ended in the victory of Prince Fernandez.”

I nodded. Serenade continued.

“During the war, we were constantly in contact with the inside of the capital. Alberto, who is currently an advisor to our guild, sent us regular messenger birds.”

The image of Alberto, an elderly chamberlain with a magnificent beard, flashed through my mind.

After retiring from his position as chamberlain, Alberto joined the Winter Silver Merchant Guild at my recommendation.

And he remained in the capital even during the urgent situation of the war.

“But… rather, all contact has been cut off since the end of the war. Even the regular reports that he always sent without fail have stopped.”

“….”

“Since we don’t have any information, it’s too early to jump to conclusions, but it’s certain that something… big is happening inside the capital.”

After hesitating for a moment, Serenade added.

“And, there’s something I must apologize for, Your Highness.”

“Huh?”

“…It’s about the matter of the First Princess Consort and her three sons, whom Your Highness entrusted to my protection.”

The wife and three children of the First Prince, Lark.

My sister-in-law and nephews, whom I had struggled to rescue from Fernandez’s clutches and escape here. What could have happened to them during the six months I was away?

I looked at Serenade with surprised eyes. Serenade closed her mouth tightly and bowed her head to me.

“After the news of Prince Lark’s defeat was delivered… the Princess Consort and her three sons left this place. It was just a few days ago.”

“…!”

“I tried to dissuade them, but they said, ‘How can I, as a Princess Consort, remain still in the face of my husband’s misfortune?’ and left. I… I couldn’t stop them.”

I ran a hand over my face.

This was a part that I hadn’t even thought about.

‘I was trying to keep them safe from Fernandez’s clutches, and at the same time, keep Lark from treating this place carelessly by having them here as a deterrent.’

When the rumors of Lark’s defeat and death spread, it seems that the whole family couldn’t stay still and took action.

Even the Third Prince – me – who had invited them here was missing. They probably didn’t feel a strong need to stay here.

‘If I hadn’t gone missing and had been here, I could have stopped them…’

But it’s already in the past.

Lark’s wife and children slipped out of my hands. And they walked into the raging storm of the capital on their own.

I can only hope that Lark is alive and well. And that he will safely reunite with his wife and children.

I can only pray from afar.

I gently stroked Serenade’s shoulder, who was blaming herself.

“Don’t blame yourself, Serenade. It wasn’t something you could have done anything about. It’s already in the past.”

“…The Princess Consort left a message.”

Serenade carefully raised her silver eyes and looked at me.

“It’s a message she asked me to deliver to you when Your Highness returned.”

“What is it?”

“If Prince Lark has truly passed away. And… if she and her three sons also suffer misfortune.”

I closed my mouth tightly.

“She asked you to stop Prince Fernandez.”

“….”

“She said that the only person in this world who can do that now is only Prince Ash. She said that and left.”

I clicked my tongue and looked out the window.

This time, not at the city, but beyond it.

To the nearby south, where the monster legion would soon invade.

And to the distant north, where ominous news could arrive at any time. Alternately.

“I’m going to do that anyway.”

I muttered, glaring at the horizon with wide eyes.

“…Because I’ve decided to protect this world.”

***

Five days later.

New intelligence came in from the north.

The news of Lark’s execution, and…

The news that his wife and three children were also captured and killed.