I Became the Tyrant of a Defense Game [EN]: Chapter 452

Swish!

I pulled the Everblack branch from my inner pocket.

The people around me looked bewildered as I suddenly took out the black thorn branch. Most of them seemed to wonder what I was going to do with just a twig. However, a few recognized what I held in my hand and were shocked.

“You, is that possibly…?”

The most bewildered was Fernandes across the river.

It was understandable. As far as Fernandes knew, the only one of these trees would be inside the Imperial Palace.

Fernandes would never have dreamed that this tree was originally created in the dungeon beneath Lake Kingdom, that its manufacturing method was preserved inside the dungeon, and that the scattered alien races possessed the materials for this tree.

“I picked up some things rolling around in the southern backwoods, Central Lord.”

I sneered and, holding the Everblack branch, swung it down into the empty space beside me.

Crack…!

Then, space split open.

Using the power of Everblack, I had temporarily opened a gate to the spirit realm.

I inserted the tip of the branch into it.

Whirr!

Then, the branch, having absorbed the power of the spirit realm, quickly extended its tip down into the spirit realm as if sprouting roots.

“You must have had a hard time fighting the Others alone there for so long?”

I smiled and spoke towards the open gate.

“Come back now and recover. And look after the people of the mortal realm.”

A man isolated in the spirit realm.

The true leader of the Empire.

The trump card I had decided to use in this war, and at the same time, the strongest card—

“…Father.”

At the same time as I called him,

Thwack!

I felt a strong hand grab the end of the branch.

I pulled the Everblack branch. Then, the extended branch quickly retracted—

And the man holding the end was pulled into the mortal realm.

Thud…

As soon as the man stepped into the mortal realm, the gate to the spirit realm closed.

Fwoosh-

At the same time, the Everblack branch in my hand turned to ashes and disappeared.

It seemed that such a small branch was only good for one lifeline, one searchlight.

It didn’t matter.

The main objective had been achieved.

“…”

The man who had returned to the mortal realm slowly opened his eyes.

Through his disheveled black hair, golden eyes that shone with a divine aura, not of a human, gleamed.

A human whom God had made with gold instead of clay.

The owner of half of this world.

The sole Emperor of the Everblack Empire.

Traha ‘Peacemaker’ Everblack… had returned from the spirit realm.

“Hoo.”

He looked up at the sky, swept the ground with his foot, took a deep breath, and then ran a hand over his unkempt beard.

“Even if you roll in a dung heap, this world is better.”

My father – the true Emperor of the Everblack Empire – laughed hollowly.

“There’s no such thing as a wrong saying.”

***

The area fell into panic.

Everyone south of the river, as well as Fernandes north of the river, and even the Imperial Capital Defense Forces under Fernandes’ command, all froze.

The Emperor, who had been reported missing and presumed dead, had suddenly returned.

“I-It’s a fake.”

One of the soldiers of the 1st Legion, who was pointing his spear at us, shouted.

“His Majesty the Emperor has been missing for over a year! Rumors of his death are widespread! To suddenly appear like this, it must be a fake…!”

“A fake, you say.”

The Emperor looked at them and chuckled.

“That’s an interesting story. If there is a fake who can imitate me, I would like to see him.”

“Ugh, kuk…?”

With the aura of an absolute being naturally emanating from behind him.

The Emperor, walking towards them, whispered as he looked around.

“I am a unique being. Even if there is a fake, he may be able to imitate my appearance, but he will not be able to imitate this light that my soul possesses.”

“…”

“Who dares call me a fake? Anyone, come forward and state the evidence.”

No one came forward.

They could only tremble as they faced the Emperor’s return.

“Fine. It’s me.”

The Emperor clicked his tongue briefly.

“How can you wear the Empire’s uniform if you cannot recognize me? Either drop your weapons or take off your uniforms. Do one of the two.”

Clang!

Clatter…!

The weapons fell from the hands of the 1st Legion soldiers.

The soldiers who had thrown their weapons on the ground prostrated themselves before the Emperor.

“Your Majesty…!”

“Your Majesty the Emperor!”

“We greet the supreme ruler of the Empire!”

“Please forgive our rudeness…!”

Immediately following,

“Y-Your Majesty!”

“Emperor of the Empire…!”

Among the fallen kings who had been pointing their weapons at us, the quick-witted ones quickly lowered their weapons.

“Have you been well, Your Majesty!”

“There seems to be a misunderstanding. We did not intend to oppose you…”

“We were just deceived by the sweet talk of Fernandes over there!”

The situation reversed in an instant.

Hostility was broken in a flash.

Most of the swords and spears that had been pointed at us fell to the ground. Looking around at the scene, the Emperor smiled gently with his hands behind his back.

“This is quite a sight. A strange alliance. It seems that many leaders from the border regions have gathered.”

Immediately after, the Emperor’s eyes met Dusk Bringer’s, and he narrowed his eyes and gestured.

“And I see many leaders who dislike me as well.”

“…”

Dusk Bringer simply crossed his arms and stared intently at the Emperor. The Emperor calmly ignored his gaze and changed the subject.

“To gather so many kings in one place, it must be…”

The Emperor, looking around the area, finally looked at me.

“My youngest, Ash. It’s you.”

“Yes, Father.”

I bowed to the Emperor.

“It has been a while since we last met in the spirit realm.”

“At that time, you were lost in the spirit realm, so I thought, ‘This prodigal son never tires of wandering.’… But the situation has reversed. This time, you saved your father.”

The Emperor raised his hand and ran it over his haggard face.

“It was getting to the point where I couldn’t hold on any longer. If you hadn’t pulled me out, I might have really met my end in that spirit realm.”

In fact, I could have rescued the Emperor as soon as I obtained the Everblack branch a few weeks ago.

But there was a spy within the military camp. It would have been troublesome if this trump card had been discovered by Fernandes if I had rescued him in advance.

So, in the meantime, I would occasionally open the gate to the spirit realm to check if he was doing well.

I confirmed that he had some time before he would pass away, and then I timed it and rescued him right now.

Perhaps knowing that fact, the Emperor did not show it and bowed his head to me, expressing his gratitude.

“Thank you, Ash. I will never forget this.”

“It was just something I had to do as a son.”

Immediately after, I grinned and turned the blade of my words.

“…But our brother, who did something a son should not do, is also over there.”

Then, the Emperor slowly turned his head and looked north – across the river.

“My dear second son, my Emberkeeper.”

“…”

Fernandes wore a bitter smile as if he was in despair.

“…Father. You have returned.”

The Emperor let out a short sigh.

“Yes, Fernandes. Because you closed the gate to the spirit realm… I was trapped there for quite a long time. If I had been trapped there a little longer, I would have probably met my end as you planned.”

“…”

“Fernandes. My son. Did you desire the throne so much that you would go as far as to eliminate your father?”

Surprisingly, the Emperor’s voice was calm and not angry at all.

“Then why didn’t you just say so honestly? You are so intelligent, I might have seriously considered abdicating.”

“I have no interest in the throne, Father.”

Fernandes shook his head.

“There was something I had to do as the representative of humanity, and it was clear that you would not allow it… That is why I did this.”

“In other words, that matter is worth doing even if it means eliminating me?”

“That is correct.”

“Then, even though I have returned, you still intend to call yourself Emperor and point your weapons at me?”

“That is correct.”

Fernandes did not hesitate. Rather, only the Imperial Capital Defense Forces soldiers around Fernandes were startled.

“What is there to hesitate about now, Father? As the last leader of humanity, I intend to walk the path I have chosen to the end.”

“…”

“Even if it means crossing swords with you in the process. I will go my way.”

Fernandes clenched his fist in front of his chest.

“I have already made up my mind. Even if no one in the world understands, I have decided to walk this path.”

“Because you believe that path is right?”

“No.”

Fernandes shook his head heavily.

“It is because this is the only path.”

“…”

The Emperor, who had been silently observing Fernandes, turned his head to me.

“Ash.”

“Yes, Father.”

“I will entrust you with my authority. I will lend you the name of the Emperor, so take care of the situation.”

The Emperor let out a long sigh.

“I am too old and tired to personally deal with my people who have bared their teeth at me.”

“Just lending your name is enough. Please rest for a while.”

I grinned and stepped forward in front of the Emperor.

And I raised my voice and shouted.

“Imperial Capital Defense Forces!”

The soldiers around Fernandes flinched.

Because Fernandes had been in charge of the internal affairs of the Imperial Capital as the Minister of Administration for a long time, the Imperial Capital Defense Forces were practically Fernandes’ hands and feet.

However, even so… they were also soldiers of the Empire who were loyal to the Emperor.

Fernandes had announced the death of the former Emperor and ascended to the position of the new Emperor. But the former Emperor had returned alive like this.

No matter what cause or justification there was, it was all just scraps of paper.

And when you lose cause and justification, the military can no longer remain a military.

What remains is just a mob of thugs.

“Choose this moment!”

I stretched my hand forward and presented them with a choice.

“Will you remain as a group of rebels following a false Emperor?”

“…!”

“Or will you remain as loyal and honorable soldiers of the Empire, willing to give your lives for the true Emperor!”

Agitation spread.

Cracks were forming in the Imperial Capital Defense Forces, which had been without a single gap just a few minutes ago.

The officers and soldiers were all looking at each other, not knowing what to do.

I grinned inwardly.

That’s what I was saying, you people. Get in line properly.

The best line in the Empire is not the 1st Prince, the 2nd Prince, or the 3rd Prince. It is, of course! The Emperor.

From the beginning, I only intended to grab this line!

“In the name of the great Emperor of the Everblack Empire, Traha ‘Peacemaker’ Everblack-”

With the Imperial command on my back, I shouted loudly.

“If you are a true soldier of the Empire, a true loyal subject of the Empire, seize the rebels before your eyes right now!”

“…!”

Then,

Clack! Clack! Clack!

Just as our World Protection Front had split in two a little while ago, this time the Imperial Capital Defense Forces split in two.

Soldiers belonging to the Imperial Capital Defense Forces fell out one after another and pointed their weapons at their own comrades.

And the tips of those swords and spears were pointed at Fernandes, who was once their master.

“Y-You, you guys…!”

“What are you doing!”

“Shut up! Who are you pointing your swords at now!”

“I am the Imperial Capital Defense Forces! I am the shield of His Majesty the Emperor! I will stand on the side of His Majesty the Emperor!”

The soldiers of the Imperial Capital Defense Forces, who had split in half, shouted at each other.

And in the middle of it all.

“Ash…”

Fernandes, with weapons pointed at him by the soldiers he had been commanding just a moment ago, laughed with a shudder.

“…It’s truly an amazing counter-throw.”

I smiled back at him.

Thanks for the compliment, brother!