I Became the Tyrant of a Defense Game [EN]: Chapter 432

…No, I thought I saw it. The path to clear.

Right from the next day, I was faced with difficulties.

“Noooo! I don’t want to go see my son!”

When I asked him to deliver a message to the Dwarf King, Kellybay vehemently refused.

Seriously, is your son the Dwarf King? I didn’t even know about this backstory.

Beside Kellybay, who was clutching his head and wailing, Dusk Bringer, who had come along, explained.

“Whether you know it or not, dwarves are extremely individualistic. In other words… they don’t like taking on public office.”

“Ah, that kind of individualism…?”

“After the tribal war, the dwarves scattered, and everyone was reluctant to take the throne of the fallen kingdom. When the right of succession drifted to Kellybay’s brothers, this dwarf…”

Dusk Bringer gestured towards Kellybay.

“…ran away with his brothers. He formed the ‘Golden Branch’ mining group, saying he would mine the ‘Golden Branch’ that only remained in legends.”

Seriously, the reason you were mining metal under this lake wasn’t just out of curiosity or a sense of adventure… but to escape the succession to the throne?

Dusk Bringer finished his explanation.

“The drifting throne was eventually decided when Kellybay’s fourth son was chosen to succeed. So, the current Dwarf King is Kellybay’s fourth son.”

I looked at Kellybay in surprise.

“You have four sons?!”

Kellybay sighed and shook his head.

“I have four daughters too.”

“Seriously, you have so many children?! What are you doing here instead of supporting them!”

What an irresponsible parent! Please give your children even half the love you pour into metal!

“I fed and raised them until they were adults, isn’t that enough… Dwarves are supposed to be independent and grow up on their own from the age of 12.”

“Hmm. This is the culture of the dwarves….”

Well, each race and culture has its own way of life. It’s not my place to say anything.

“Besides, they’re all around fifty years old now. The youngest son must be around forty.”

“…Ah, dwarves are long-lived, right.”

Since the concept of age is a bit different here, it’s confusing.

Kellybay shook his head and flailed his arms and legs.

“Anyway, I can’t go! I won’t go! I’ll just stay here and bang on equipment for the rest of my life!”

“Oh, come on, don’t be like that! Go see your son after a long time! And tell him my story! Okay?”

But Kellybay covered his ears and huddled in the smithy. This old man is so stubborn….

Then, Dusk Bringer, who was smiling beside me, opened his mouth in a subtle tone.

“All the other races except the dwarves have already decided to gather. If only your race doesn’t gather… wouldn’t that be a bit ridiculous?”

“What?!”

Kellybay’s eyes flashed fiercely.

“The other races are all gathering…?!”

“That’s right. The merfolk, the beastkin, even the elves you hate, and even this dragon, are all gathering. Only the dwarves are missing….”

Dusk Bringer clicked his tongue and shrugged.

“Well, how can we discuss the world with these short, narrow-minded fatties? Come to think of it, it’s better for you to just stay out. Just stay home and scratch your bellies while fiddling with your favorite pieces of metal.”

“D-don’t be ridiculous! Dwarves have their pride, how can we be the only ones left out!”

Kellybay stood up resolutely and growled.

“Fine! I’ll go back after a long time and see my sons, my daughters, my, my, my wife! I’ll see them all! Damn it! I’ll go, I’ll go! So don’t leave us out!”

Gesturing towards Kellybay, Dusk Bringer whispered in my ear.

“…Despite being individualistic, they have a strong sense of racial pride. So, if you just scratch them a little, they’ll do this.”

“Your Grace. Every time you show this side of yourself, I am deeply reminded that you are the king of the Duchy.”

His way of persuading people is extraordinary. I was genuinely impressed.

Kellybay, who had been grumbling, looked at me.

“So, what exactly do you want me to tell them?”

“Please go and deliver this letter to your son… the Dwarf King. That’s all you need to do.”

I gave Kellybay the letter I had prepared in advance.

“If you come to Crossroads on the day of your departure, we will send you off with our escort and the gifts we have prepared.”

“Hmm… I understand. The sooner, the better, right?”

“Of course.”

“Alright. Then I’ll just finish the equipment I was making and leave right away.”

Kellybay sighed and glared at me.

“You’re really making good use of me, Ash.”

I smiled. Of course, I have to use everything I can.

***

Kuilann was already preparing to leave.

“Are you leaving right away, Kuilann? You can take your time.”

“Hehe. There’s a saying that you should strike while the iron is hot, right? And I have many places to visit.”

Kuilann, who had retied his boot laces, stood up with a large movement.

“The beastkin tribes are scattered all over the world. As you know, there are many, not just wolves, but also bears, tigers, foxes, and so on.”

I made a hmm- sound at Kuilann’s explanation.

“Then there wouldn’t be a single being that could be called the king of the entire race. How can we gather the consensus of the race into one?”

“There are chiefs of each tribe. I plan to visit them one by one and persuade them.”

“Oh, persuade? How?”

Then Kuilann smiled and raised his fist.

Ah, that kind of persuasion…?

“Sometimes, sharing a fist is faster than a hundred words. That’s how we beastkin are… Well, just leave it to me. But it might take some time.”

Kuilann nodded heavily.

“And… I’ll stop by my hometown and bring back a part of that maple tree. Don’t worry and wait for me.”

“I’ll trust you and wait, Kuilann.”

“Hehe. It seems like we’ve built quite a bit of trust between us now?”

“Of course. You’re a man I can trust to watch my back.”

When I said it sincerely, Kuilann silently raised his thick red eyebrows and smiled.

He packed his bags lightly and left with only the penal unit members. He’s the type to move without any fuss.

Kuilann’s back, as he walked away with his silver leather cloak fluttering, truly looked like that of a king, thanks to his magnificent physique.

‘…Not a bandit king anymore.’

I chuckled.

‘I might have to call him the Beastkin King….’

And, right after Kuilann left.

“Where did he go-!”

Yoon popped out a beat late.

She was in her pajamas, and her unique ivory hair was all messed up, as if she had rushed out.

She even rode the northern wolf that she had kept tied up and unused while staying in Crossroads, and darted out.

I asked Yoon, who was looking around fiercely, with a sullen expression.

“Who are you talking about, Yoon?”

“Kuilann, Kuilann! We were supposed to travel together for the same route!”

Ah.

No wonder Kuilann left in such a hurry. Did he run away because he was burdened by Yoon…?

It wasn’t something I could hide, so when I told her that Kuilann had left a little while ago, Yoon gritted her teeth.

“Ugh, seriously… I keep getting dumped by men after leaving my hometown, damn it!”

“….”

Since I was one of those men who dumped her, I awkwardly chuckled.

“Now that it’s come to this, I’ll chase after him out of spite. I’m going too, Your Highness Ash!”

“Yes? Right now? The people from the Northern Kingdom were supposed to leave in a few days….”

“I learned something after being dumped by you.”

Yoon growled fiercely.

“A man’s heart is like a reed, if you don’t catch them in time, they’ll leave right away!”

“….”

“Do you think I’ll just live being defeated? I’m Yoon Arian! I can’t be like that! So, I’m going first! Tell my subordinates to follow me quickly!”

Thud-!

Yoon’s wolf followed the direction Kuilann had left in. I waved my hand in that direction and shouted.

“Please tell the Northern Kingdoms as well~”

And with Kuilann, well. Good luck with that….

Kuilann is strangely popular, and Yoon is strangely the one who gets dumped, so it seems like their romance will be difficult. Well, it’s their problem to figure out.

***

Verdandi had finished preparing to leave with the Holy Grail Expedition.

“Oh.”

She wasn’t wearing her usual tight adventurer’s outfit, but rather an elf’s traditional ceremonial dress, which made her look so unfamiliar that I couldn’t help but make a surprised sound.

Wearing a loose green dress and with elaborate ornaments on her long ears, Verdandi smiled at me.

She was holding the sapling of the World Tree carefully in her arms.

“My clothes are awkward, right? It’s a style from a hundred years ago, so it might be old-fashioned.”

“No, Verdandi. It suits you very well.”

It’s like, I’ve only seen her as a fighting warrior until now… but seeing her like this, she really has the air of an elven princess.

“I’m planning to visit both the Elven Autonomous Region and my hometown… so I dressed up carefully for the first time in a while.”

Verdandi seemed to like her own outfit, even though she was embarrassed.

The glasswork hanging above her eyebrows sparkled. Along with the three consecutive tear marks, she smiled with her eyes.

“So, as Your Highness Ash’s envoy… what should I tell our Queen?”

“Deliver this letter. And my gift to your race… I’ve loaded it on the backs of these children.”

After handing over the letter, I gestured, and five animals that had been grazing in the fields around Crossroads approached.

They were deer as big as horses.

Verdandi asked with a surprised face.

“Who are these children?”

“When the Elven Queen visited Crossroads before, she left them behind. Saying that you should ride them when you return.”

“….”

Verdandi was speechless and stroked the deer’s neck. The deer made a low cry, as if it liked the elf’s touch.

“Don’t be too nervous, Verdandi. More than you think, your sister will be ready to accept you.”

“…I hope so.”

Verdandi quickly climbed onto the deer first. The other members of the Holy Grail Expedition also mounted other deer.

“I’ll be back, Your Highness Ash.”

“Come back safely, Verdandi.”

I waved my hand.

“I’ll be waiting for good news.”

“Yes. Definitely.”

After bowing one last time, Verdandi urged the deer forward.

Clop, clop, clop-

The five deer carrying five elves quickly disappeared into the distance. I quietly watched their backs.

I hoped that Verdandi would bring good news from the Elven Queen. And.

I prayed that the two of them could reconcile peacefully.

***

“It’s nice that you rely on me, Ash.”

The person who had been by my side while I sent off the other envoys.

It was time for Dusk Bringer to leave as well.

Her four direct knights, along with a series of troops, were loading their luggage onto carriages and horses, preparing to depart.

Beside them, she smiled slyly and looked at me intently.

“Even so, isn’t it too much to entrust most of the small countries in the south and west to me?”

“I apologize for bothering you, Your Grace.”

I had entrusted Dusk Bringer with contacting most of the neighboring small countries.

There was no one more suitable for this task than her, who had reigned as the king of the Bringer Duchy for a long time.

Although not as much as the imperial homeland, the Bringer Duchy was also a country that wielded enormous influence in the south and west.

“Hehe. Well, it’s fine. After all, my fate is already with this southern front… and with you.”

And Dusk Bringer readily took on the role.

Even though she was also a king, she decided to take on the role of my envoy, the commander of the southern front….

I hesitated for a moment before asking.

“It’s a bit awkward for me to ask this myself, Your Grace. Why are you helping me this much?”

“Hmm?”

Then Dusk Bringer made a playful expression with her young face, and then,

“When everyone in this world abandoned me and my country. You and your city were the only ones who reached out.”

She replied in an unexpectedly serious tone.

“Whether it’s a favor or a grudge, I repay what I receive twofold. That is the way of the dragon.”