I Became the Tyrant of a Defense Game [EN]: Chapter 450

The preparations for departure proceeded smoothly. Since the journey to New Terra was long and time was of the essence, the expeditionary force’s preparations had to be completed quickly. Fortunately, Crossroads was a fortress city, so military supplies were abundant. They gathered plenty of warhorses, armor, provisions, and consumables. They distributed equipment to the departing heroes and soldiers, and determined the order of march. With that, the preparations were complete. Now, it was the evening before the day of departure to the Imperial City.

“Ash.”

Dusk Bringer came to the lord’s mansion to find me. I greeted her warmly.

“Your Grace, what brings you here?”

“……”

Dusk Bringer scanned the surroundings with sharp eyes, and after confirming that no one was around, she asked in a hushed voice,

“Are you alright? I’m talking about the spy from Fernandes. That guy who brazenly entered your ranks…”

“……”

“Aren’t you going to deal with him? Are you going to keep him as he is?”

That’s right. A spy from Fernandes’ side had already infiltrated our camp. Dusk Bringer had noticed the spy’s presence and immediately reported it to me. After cross-checking testimonies and evidence, it was confirmed that the person was indeed a spy from Fernandes. However, I took no action. I left the spy in my camp.

“Not yet. I need to use him decisively at a more critical moment…” I smiled faintly. “I have everything planned, so don’t worry too much.”

“……”

Dusk Bringer frowned at me, then let out a small sigh. “I am worried, but I trust that you know what you’re doing.”

“Do you completely trust me now?”

“When haven’t I?”

Dusk Bringer chuckled and waved her hand as she left my mansion. “Tomorrow is the departure. Rest well, as it will be a long journey.”

“You came all this way, why not have a meal before you go…”

“I have decided to have dinner with my people tonight.”

Dusk Bringer had the dignified face of a monarch. “The fate of our Bringer Principality is also at stake in this battle. My soldiers, my citizens, are all trembling with anxiety.”

“……”

“I will reassure them, Ash. You must live up to my trust.”

“Don’t worry.”

I straightened my chest and spoke firmly. “We will win.”

“You’re always so confident… and you’ve always proven it with results.”

Dusk Bringer smiled, revealing her sharp teeth, and said, “I’ll trust you this time too.”

With those words, she walked towards the north of Crossroads, where her people were waiting.

“……”

So many people trust me, even though I’m just making empty promises. I must repay that trust. Watching her leave, I turned my gaze towards the city.

“A spy, huh…”

Fernandes, who had been up to all sorts of shady tricks since the beginning of the first year. Now, on the eve of a decisive battle, it would be stranger if there wasn’t a spy. I had naturally assumed that Fernandes would send a spy—and I had devised a plan to use him against him.

“You’ve had some fun using spies, haven’t you, brother?” I grinned, showing my teeth. “I’ll give you a proper counterpunch this time.”

***

The temple. When I visited without notice, the priests came out in a flurry of surprise.

“Your Highness, you’ve arrived!” Among them was the newly appointed head priest, Zenith. He was wearing a shabby sleeveless shirt and shorts, as if he had been resting… and he had a stubble on his chin, looking like a complete middle-aged man.

“Zenith, how is it? Is Crossroads a good place to live?” When I asked him in a friendly manner, Zenith answered calmly, though flustered. “Yes, Your Highness. I was worried that it might be uncomfortable since it’s in the southern outlands, but it’s much more pleasant than I thought. The people are all kind too…”

“I’m glad to hear that it’s not bad. Please continue to work hard for our city.” I smiled and squeezed his shoulder tightly. “I want to get along well with you for a long time.”

“……”

Zenith blinked, seemingly flustered. I patted him on the shoulder and walked past him. My purpose in visiting was to encourage the temple to function properly in my absence, but there was another reason for my visit today. I knocked on the door of a private room inside the temple and entered.

“Lily, I’m here.”

“Your Highness… !” Lily, who had been lying on the bed, looked at me with a surprised expression. Lily was already nine months pregnant. She had been experiencing severe abdominal pain, so she had been staying at the temple lately. I sat on the chair next to the bed and gestured with my chin.

“How are you feeling?”

“I want to say I’m fine, but to be honest, I’m still having labor pains… It’s difficult. Haha.” Lily sighed deeply, touching her swollen belly. “Making her mother suffer like this even before coming into the world. I’m worried about how much trouble she’ll cause after she’s born.”

“I know. I’m looking forward to it.”

“No, I’m asking you to worry, not look forward to it… !” We looked at each other and chuckled. I glanced at the calendar hanging on the wall.

“Has the due date been set?”

“No. If it were a normal human child, it would be ten months, but mixed-bloods are all different… Well, who knows. It could be as early as a month, or it could take a few more months.”

“You’ll be suffering for a while.”

“It’s Your Highness and the others who are going to suffer, though.”

We are all leaving for our respective battlefields. The expeditionary force, including me, to recapture the Imperial City of New Terra. The defense forces remaining in Crossroads to fend off the monsters. And Lily, to give birth to her child here.

“…I’ll definitely come back victorious. So…” I smiled gently. “I hope that you and your child will both survive this battle safely.”

Lily would give birth to her child while the expeditionary force was away in the Imperial City. I wouldn’t be able to be by Lily’s side then. That’s why I wanted to leave her with words of encouragement.

“I want to be a good godfather to your child, too.”

“Pardon?” Lily’s eyes widened at my words. “Godfather? Your Highness?” I made a slightly disappointed expression.

“What, you’re not going to let me?”

“Ah, no. It would be an honor for me and my child, of course… ! But I’m so overwhelmed…” I smiled at Lily, who was frantically waving her hands.

“Then leave it to me. It’s a promise?” It was something I had been thinking about for a while. To officially become the guardian of Lily’s child. If a prince were to volunteer to be the godfather of a mixed-race child, there would be a lot of gossip. But that’s all it would be, just gossip. Lily is my comrade, and God Hand is the same. This child is the child of my two comrades. If there is anything I can do, I will gladly do it.

“I’ll be back, Lily.” I held out my hand to Lily. Lily awkwardly took my hand, and we shook hands. “Let’s meet again safely.”

“…Yes, Your Highness. Please, come back safely.” Lily smiled too. It was a smile that was much more mature than when we first met.

***

While I was at the temple, I met several other people. I encouraged the other priests who had been working there since the first year. I made an offering in front of the goddess statue. I also met Damian, who was having a tearful farewell with the problematic hamster, Podong. Podong had become frighteningly fat, almost like a ball… How much did they feed him?

“You have to take good care of Podong while I’m gone, Head Priest?”

“Oh, don’t worry. I’m as good at healing animals as I am at healing people. In the town where I worked before, I even took on the role of a veterinarian, you know?” I chuckled as I listened to Damian and Zenith’s conversation. Podong needs to go on a diet first. I also met Torkel. He was still cleaning, swish-swish. It was very natural now. Even though I had given Torkel a new helmet, he was still wearing his original blunt helmet in non-combat situations.

“I will protect Crossroads and the temple with my life. Please go and come back safely.”

“Okay. I’ll be back.” It seemed that it would take more time to resolve Torkel’s trauma. I could only hope that he would resolve it well on his own.

“And Torkel.” I whispered to Torkel. “Get along ‘well’ with Zenith too. Got it?”

“… !” Torkel’s shoulders twitched, and then he slowly nodded. After taking a tour of the temple, I went outside. I nodded to Zenith, who came out to see me off.

“Zenith, please do your best to manage the injured while I’m gone. And please take good care of Lily and Lily’s child.”

“Yes, Your Highness. Please have a safe trip.” After taking one more look at the shabby middle-aged priest who was bowing politely, I turned around. After leaving the temple, I visited other facilities in the city and encouraged them to take good care of Crossroads while I was gone. And so, the last evening passed…

***

And the next morning.

“It’s time to depart!” I shouted, mounted my horse, and looked at the soldiers in the rear. “Let’s go! To the Imperial City of New Terra!”

“Yes!” The heroes and soldiers followed me. We departed through the north gate of Crossroads. At the north gate, Lucas, Evangeline, and other heroes and soldiers who were staying in the city came out to see us off. And,

“Lord! Please come back safely!”

“Show them the spicy taste of the South, Your Highness!”

“You must return safe and sound!” The citizens gathered like clouds on both sides of the north gate, waving their hands at us.

“……” I urged my horse forward, taking in the sight of those who were now familiar to me. Was I a good lord to them? I don’t know. I was clumsy as an administrator and reckless as a commander. I was not as experienced as the border counts of the Cross family who had ruled this city before. But the citizens trusted and followed me. I also wanted to be a good person to them. ‘Their lives depend on my actions from now on.’ And I wanted to save everyone. ‘Not only this place, Crossroads…’ But also more countries, more people. To save them. To see tomorrow together. To reach the world after the ending.

“Hyah!” I spurred my horse forward. The heroes and soldiers followed me in an orderly manner. We headed north, flying a black flag with nothing drawn on it.

***

Thanks to the road construction that the Winter Silver family had completed earlier, the road was pleasant. It had taken three weeks to travel south from the Imperial City to Crossroads by land before, but this time, thanks to the well-paved road, it took less than two weeks. This was the case even though a much larger number of people were moving. During the march, Dusk Bringer deployed her troops in all directions for reconnaissance, but there were no attacks from the enemy throughout our northward journey.

“Fernandes’ army isn’t stopping us,” Dusk Bringer muttered, looking puzzled. I replied cynically. “I guess it’s enough to defend only around the Imperial City.” Fernandes’ forces had also been depleted during the battle for the throne. Above all, Fernandes was now focusing all his efforts on controlling the Imperial City of New Terra. He was blockading the city, restricting the movement of citizens, and implementing the ‘Final Ark’ plan step by step. He would not have the resources to send troops to stop us.

“If they were to set up a defensive line, it would be right in front of the Imperial City…” I narrowed my eyes. “…They’ll stop us on the Iris River Plain.”

And so, two weeks after departing from Crossroads. On a clear day when the bleak chill of late autumn was setting in. Having completed our northward march, we reached the Iris River, which flowed in front of the Imperial City of New Terra. And we faced Fernandes’ army, which was stationed behind the river.