I Became the Tyrant of a Defense Game [EN]: Chapter 440

Clink.

I poured liquor into a glass.

A clear, low-proof liquor, with simple snacks.

I brought it to share with Nameless when I met her today.

Nameless accepted it without hesitation. We each swallowed our drinks in silence.

“Good.”

Nameless smiled faintly and put down her glass.

“I don’t enjoy drinking, but the scent of alcohol has the power to evoke beautiful memories of the past.”

“What kind of memories?”

“The days when the country was prosperous, before it became like this.”

Nameless closed her eyes for a moment and smelled the empty glass.

“Memories tend to be embellished, but still, this country back then… it was truly beautiful.”

She slowly opened her eyes and looked around.

“…But it’s all like a dream in the night. As time passes, all that remains is this darkness.”

A dungeon sunk beneath the lake, shrouded in pitch-black darkness.

That this place was once the most powerful magic kingdom in the world, and that the woman before me was the rightful heir to that kingdom.

How many people in the world know it now, and how many will believe it?

‘I am here.’

Yes.

I know, and I believe.

I refilled her glass with new liquor. And on the table where I placed the glass, I took out what I had brought and presented it.

“First of all… I came to return this today.”

It was a shard of light, broken like a puzzle piece.

[Fragment of the Princess’s Soul].

Nameless had fragmented her own soul, lit it, and scattered it throughout this Lake Kingdom.

This flame was the last light to illuminate the city submerged in darkness.

And these fragments were recovered after fulfilling their role when I drove out the darkness from the city through conquest battles.

Since returning, I had been conducting conquest battles whenever I had the chance, and I had now conquered all the dungeons up to the 4th district.

I had collected quite a few soul fragments during that time. So, I kept visiting to return them to Nameless.

“These are the fragments of your soul that I’ve collected. Here, take them.”

“…”

Nameless looked at the fragments with a hesitant expression, then met my gaze.

“But Ash, I lent these to you to stabilize your soul…”

“I’m fine now.”

I smiled gently.

“During the six months I was missing, I defined who I am… and found myself. So, I’m fine now.”

“…Indeed.”

Nameless, who had been gazing intently into my eyes, smiled softly.

“You have already regained the light of your soul. Well done, Ash.”

Nameless reached out and patted my shoulder.

I’ve never had a sister, but I wonder if this is what it feels like to be praised by one?

In front of my awkward self, Nameless retrieved her soul fragments with a gentle touch.

“Then, I will gratefully take them back.”

Whirr-

The soul fragments each emitted a burst of light, then disappeared into Nameless as if they were absorbed.

Nameless’s pale complexion brightened slightly. She also smiled awkwardly.

“Thank you, Ash. I feel a little better.”

“There’s nothing to thank. They were yours in the first place.”

I shrugged, pouring liquor into my glass as well.

“I’ll gradually return them as I conquer other districts and recover your soul fragments.”

Why does Nameless fall into becoming the final boss, [The Sleepless Lake Princess], in the end?

I still don’t know the process or the cause.

But if it’s to prevent that, I will do anything.

It’s not just because the final boss is powerful. It’s not just because she’s related to the true ending.

I want to save Nameless too. That’s why.

‘The only clue we have now is [Fragment of the Princess’s Soul]…’

There’s no guarantee that collecting all of these will prevent her from becoming the final boss. However.

If there’s anything I can do, I will keep doing it.

“…Thank you.”

Nameless placed her hand over her chest.

“Perhaps because it’s been hundreds of years since I regained them, they feel unfamiliar even though they are my own soul.”

Nameless muttered, closing her eyes for a moment to catch her breath.

“…If you drive out all the darkness from this city, and I regain all my fragmented pieces. Then, will I be able to return to the way I was before this place became like this?”

“…”

“Will this country… be able to return to its former glory?”

“No.”

I denied it firmly.

“You can no longer return to the way you were back then, nor can you live like that.”

I smiled at Nameless, who was looking at me with slightly surprised eyes.

“It’s been five hundred years, hasn’t it? We have to move on to the next era.”

“…”

“The world will change, Nameless. You should live as the new queen of the new Lake Kingdom, right?”

Nameless, who had been stunned as if hit by a hammer on the back of her head,

“…Haha. I’ve never even thought about it.”

She burst into a hearty laugh.

“I’ve always only thought about regaining my former self, but I’ve never thought about moving on to a new era… not even once.”

“It’s just a hypothetical situation.”

Still, one of the most fun things in the world is to count your chickens before they hatch.

“If all this nightmare really ends, and a new era comes. And if you become the ruler of this Lake Kingdom.”

“…”

“Then… what kind of king do you want to be?”

“…A king.”

Nameless stared blankly into the air.

“That’s right. I used to imagine such things. It’s already a distant memory.”

“It’s okay to imagine, isn’t it? How about it?”

Nameless closed her eyes for a moment and pondered, then,

“…I certainly had a sparkling dream, my own ideal way of kingship. But I can’t remember it.”

I sensed it.

She was lying.

Her unwavering turquoise gaze was definitely looking at her own ideal.

But she didn’t reveal her way of kingship, even going so far as to lie that she couldn’t remember it.

Why?

“Someday, if my kingdom is freed from this darkness. If the brilliant sunlight of the outside world finally reaches the bottom of this lake, instead of the artificial flames I obtained by burning my soul.”

Perhaps, Nameless.

Isn’t she already giving up, thinking that such a day will never come…?

“I will definitely tell you then, Ash. What kind of king I wanted to be.”

She smiled bitterly, glossing over the topic, and then turned the question around.

“Then what about you, Ash?”

“Huh?”

“What kind of king do you want to be?”

“…Huh?”

“If all the monsters disappear and peace comes to this place… what will you do then?”

This time, it was my turn to be stunned.

After the ending-

It was a story I had never thought about. My thoughts had always been focused on safely clearing these three years.

But it’s already the mid-to-late part of the second year.

The third year will soon come crashing down,

And after the match with Fernandez, the battles with the remaining Nightmare Legion Commanders, and the final showdown with the Demon King…

That’s right. It’s the ending.

‘What happens after that?’

This place is not a game in the first place. It’s complete reality.

I am Ash himself, who only has the memories of a classic game enthusiast.

So… even after the ending, I have to live on.

There won’t be a game statistics settlement window, no staff roll, and no words saying ‘Game Over’ will appear. Life goes on.

“You also have enough qualifications to be a king.”

Nameless smiled gently.

“What kind of king do you want to be?”

“…”

I pressed my lips together and gripped my glass tightly.

I have no intention of avoiding it. I have no intention of pretending to be naive.

Now that the rumor that the First Prince Lark is dead is widespread.

If I fight the Second Prince Fernandez and win.

The next imperial throne of the empire – needless to say, it will fall into the hands of the Third Prince, Ash.

That’s right. I didn’t mention it because there was no need to, but… declaring war on Fernandez is the same as declaring that I also aim for the imperial throne.

And if I take the imperial throne…

“…I.”

I closed my eyes, organized my thoughts, and then opened my mouth with an awkward smile.

Because it was Nameless and no one else, I could speak comfortably.

“The path I want to walk as a king is, well…”

***

The next day.

Crossroad. North Gate.

Clip-clop, clip-clop-

With peaceful hoof sounds, dozens of deer, each carrying a rider, entered the city.

The ones riding without saddles on the deer were the elves.

At the forefront, the fairy queen – Skuld, riding the largest white deer, looked around the city in admiration.

“It’s only been a few months. The city has developed quite a bit in that time.”

New barracks and all sorts of new buildings were rapidly going up all over the city.

The city’s development speed was bizarre. It wasn’t just a matter of construction technology or the influx of people.

‘Why are so many people flocking to a city on the front lines of the monster defense…’

Skuld, observing the unique appearance of a rapidly growing human city, smiled brightly and turned to her side.

“I heard that the missing Prince Ash has returned, and it seems like something is definitely moving quickly. Sister?”

“Uh-huh… I guess so…”

“Oh, come on, sister. Why are you so awkward? Is it because I dressed you up a bit?”

“No, that’s not it…”

Verdandi was sweating profusely.

It was true that she was dressed strictly according to elven etiquette, but that wasn’t the problem…

Clang.

Currently, Verdandi’s left hand was handcuffed, and the handcuff was connected to Skuld’s right hand.

Skuld covered her mouth and laughed, shaking the handcuff on her wrist.

“Ah, is it because of this handcuff? Hehe, it can’t be helped, can it? You keep trying to run away, sister.”

“…”

“If you try to run away one more time, I won’t just tie up your wrist, I’ll tie up your whole body to me. Keep that in mind.”

Then Verdandi let out a shriek.

“No, you could have just left me alone! Why did you… put me in the position of Vice Queen!”

On top of Verdandi’s head was a white branch crown, smaller than Skuld’s but similar in shape.

Skuld, fixing Verdandi’s crooked crown, smiled brightly.

“You are of the fairy royal family. You are qualified enough.”

“Qualified my foot! I abandoned the country and wandered around for a hundred years…!”

“During those hundred years, you found the Holy Grail… the sapling that could become the World Tree of the next era. Then you deserve this much treatment.”

“That’s why…”

“Okay, that’s enough! Let’s just go quickly.”

Skuld whispered as she led the deer into Crossroad.

“Big things that will turn the world upside down are about to happen, sister.”

“…”

“I can’t do it alone. Please help me from right next to me.”

“Ugh, okay…”

Even though she had lived as a warrior in the field her whole life, she was extremely awkward with this kind of title.

Verdandi suppressed the urge to run away immediately and moved alongside her sister.

“Welcome, Your Majesty, and the elves.”

In front of the elves, a woman with water-colored hair and a neat suit – Serenade, appeared.

Serenade, bowing politely, gestured with a businesslike, clean smile.

“We have been waiting for you. This way.”

Serenade led the elves to a newly built hotel.

It was a clean and sophisticated facility that was hard to believe was built in such a remote border area. Skuld, as well as Verdandi, were shocked.

“Is such a luxury hotel necessary on the monster front?”

“His Highness the Prince wants to make this Crossroad a tourist city.”

“A tourist city…? Crossroad…?”

Skuld made a dumbfounded expression.

How could people come to visit a city like this, where monsters are rampant…?

Well, there might be demand for a few thrill-seekers, but as long as the threat of monsters exists, it’s natural that people would be reluctant to visit.

‘Anyway, that prince, I don’t know if he’s extraordinary or just a little crazy.’

Serenade led the way in front of Skuld, who was shaking her head.

“The banquet hall is this way. Please come this way.”

Skuld and Verdandi entered the banquet hall, leaving the deer and the other elves behind.

And as soon as they entered the neatly prepared banquet hall-

“Save the dwarf!”

The dwarf craftsman, Kellybay, who had arrived earlier, screamed and jumped out.

“Kellybay? What’s wrong?”

Verdandi, startled, stopped Kellybay and asked, and Kellybay pointed inside the banquet hall, trembling.

“My, my son! My son!”

“What? If it’s your son… are you talking about the Dwarf King?”

“Yes! That damn unfilial son of mine!”

Kellybay let out a desperate scream.

“He’s trying to kill me!”

No sooner had he finished speaking,

Thud. Thud.

Kellybay’s youngest son – the Dwarf King, appeared from inside the banquet hall, exuding a terrifying murderous aura.