I Became the Tyrant of a Defense Game [EN]: Chapter 454

The next morning.

There was a defection from the World Guardian Front’s camp.

Mettalic and the remnants of the 1st Legion, along with several fallen royal factions, had vanished. They had fled in the night before I could conduct a thorough interrogation.

“It seems all those who deserted last night have fled to Fernandes,” I said.

I announced the deserters to the remaining royals and chuckled.

“All of you who remain here have decided to uphold the banner of our World Guardian Front… I assume that’s correct.”

They had all sided with the Emperor, not Fernandes. Well, that’s how it could be seen.

There might still be some who were hesitant, but the last train to leave for Fernandes had departed.

Those who remained here would now be mobilized for a full-scale war against Fernandes, whether they liked it or not.

“It’s a shame we missed the deserters. If we had captured them, we could have extracted a lot of information.”

One of the royals said this.

That was true. If we had set up a thorough guard, we could have captured them.

‘But that would interfere with my key infiltration operation.’

I deliberately deployed the guards loosely and didn’t stop the deserters’ escape, even though I received reports of their movements.

I simply watched them scurry away to the north.

In other words, I let them go on purpose.

‘Those I sent this time will guide us into the Imperial Capital.’

I glanced towards the north.

Hoping that those who had run away with all their might would reach New Terra soon.

***

Imperial Capital, New Terra.

The South Gate.

Clop, clop, clop…

A group of soldiers on horseback appeared before the firmly closed gate.

They all looked exhausted and weary, having deserted from the World Guardian Front the previous night.

At the head was Mettalic, the commander of the Imperial Army’s 1st Legion, riding with a grim face.

“Hyah, hyah!”

They stopped in front of the tightly shut South Gate.

Whishhh-

A desolate wind blew.

There was no sign of life on the outskirts of the city, surrounded by a massive wall. Instead.

Clank! Clank!

Magic defense systems, emitting a fierce light, sensed the moving life forms and simultaneously aimed their muzzles.

Swallow…!

Dry saliva went down everyone’s throats.

Even though they knew it was a formality, it was never a pleasant feeling to have machines that could tear a living person apart in an instant aiming at their lives.

Everyone looked tense, but there were a few soldiers who seemed particularly nervous.

Five soldiers at the very rear of Mettalic’s 1st Legion.

No, five people ‘dressed up as soldiers’.

“Sh, shit, how did…”

A woman with lavender hair ground her teeth, trembling as she spat out the words.

“How did we end up here, shibaal…”

She was none other than Violet, the leader of the gambler party ‘Gamble Club’.

The five heroes of the gambler party ‘Gamble Club’. They were wearing the uniforms of the 1st Legion, disguised as Mettalic’s subordinates, and had infiltrated this place.

Violet raised her sweat-slicked face and glanced at the South Gate of New Terra.

The magic defense systems installed on either side of the solid gate looked as if they would unleash magical flames at any moment.

Wiping her clammy palms on her pants, Violet recalled a conversation she had with Ash a few days ago.

– I will tell you the mission that the five of you will undertake this time.

Called suddenly in the middle of the night and rushed to the commander’s barracks, Ash introduced Mettalic and continued.

– You will disguise yourselves as subordinate soldiers of Sir Mettalic and enter the Imperial Capital with him.

– Huh?

– Sir Mettalic was a spy for Fernandes, but he has defected back to our side. In short, he will play the role of a double agent. You will move together as his subordinates.

The faces of the five members of the gambler party turned grim. Ash chuckled.

– Why the long faces? Didn’t you all want to return to the Imperial Capital?

– Well, we did… but going in like this is like sticking our faces into a crocodile’s mouth!

– Weren’t you trying to swindle me in a gamble? Wasn’t that like sticking your face into a crocodile’s mouth?

– No, that’s…

Ash winked slyly at Violet, who was at a loss for words.

– It’s no different from what you’ve always done. Disguise yourselves as soldiers, enter the heart of the world…

Clap!

Ash clapped his hands loudly once.

– Pull off a spectacular scam, and all the gold and jewels of the Imperial Capital will be yours.

– ……

– I won’t deny it. This is the most dangerous gamble you’ve ever faced in your lives.

Ash looked at each of the five gamblers in turn.

– But the reward is just as immense. A reward you’ve never encountered in your lives.

– ……

– Let’s pull off the biggest heist, everyone.

In any case, there was no right to refuse.

Having come this far, there was no turning back. There was no option to retreat.

Even if it was just for the sake of what they had poured into it, they had to win and return…!

“So, don’t be scared, Violet.”

Scarlet, the only N-rank hero among the five, and the girl with the best gambling skills in the party, using only her hand techniques without any special abilities, gently gripped Violet’s shoulder. Violet turned her trembling face towards her.

“Prince Ash is right. It’s just like what we always do, isn’t it?”

“Scarlet…”

“Catch a sucker and scam them. That’s all.”

Looking up at the South Gate that still hadn’t opened, a strange desire flickered in the young gambler’s eyes.

“To scam the fake Emperor who is trying to rule the world, in New Terra, the world’s largest city, in the world’s strongest nation, the Empire…”

“……”

“As gamblers, is there any better opportunity than this?”

Ash was right.

Gamblers were a group of perverted psychos addicted to risking their lives.

Scarlet’s shoulders were trembling slightly. But it wasn’t because of fear or tension.

It was excitement.

The excitement of a gambler facing the biggest gamble of their lives, one they might never encounter again.

Violet looked around with a horrified expression. Although the degree varied, the expressions of the other members—Lime, Orange, and Cobalt—were not much different.

Everyone’s eyes were gleaming with a strange desire.

Only then did Violet realize.

She might be the best among them in terms of abilities.

But among them, she was the biggest coward.

“Since the game has started, I’ll jump in. I’ll dance merrily on the tightrope.”

“What if things go wrong?”

“We’re always prepared for that, aren’t we?”

Scarlet shook her small hand.

“We’ll lose a hand, I guess.”

“……”

“Or if we’re really unlucky, we might lose our heads. Haha.”

That’s what gamblers are like.

They’re like clowns performing tricks on a long, thin rope. If they slip even once, they fall and die.

Last time, when all five of them lost to Ash.

Scarlet was prepared to die. But Ash saved them all and put them under his command.

From the moment they lost to Ash, the gambler Scarlet had already fallen off the rope.

She thought she already had a noose around her neck.

So, what was there to fear?

There was no life left on this neck anyway.

The five gamblers swallowed hard, waiting for the gate to open quickly. It was then.

「State your affiliation and identity.」

A dull broadcast sound echoed from the gate. Mettalic shouted in a gruff voice.

“I am Mettalic, commander of the 1st Heavy Cavalry Division, belonging to the Imperial Army’s 1st Legion. I was dispatched under the secret orders of His Highness Fernandes and am returning.”

「…….」

“Open the gate quickly. We are all exhausted.”

Mettalic became agitated, and after a moment, the broadcast sound echoed.

「Your identity has been confirmed. Please wait a moment. We will open the gate…」

Kugugugung…!

The gate began to open.

The faces of the Gamble Club members, who had been waiting anxiously, lit up. A faint sense of relief also flowed across Mettalic’s face.

It was then.

Gooooo-!

A loud engine sound came from beyond the wall,

Thud…!

Three massive airships appeared in the sky as if they had been flung there.

One jet-black airship with the Imperial family’s symbol of a sword and rose. And two escort ships covered in thick iron plates following on either side.

The airship in the middle was too famous.

The Imperial family’s flagship, now used as Fernandes’ and the Magic Corps’ personal ship, the Empire’s strongest airship.

“Alcatraz…!”

Gooooooo-!

The Alcatraz, which had flown in with a terrifying mechanical sound, floated its heavy body above the South Gate.

Kiiiiiing…

The hatch below the airship slowly opened, and an elderly female mage appeared, leaning on a staff, her coat fluttering.

「Sir Mettalic.」

When she opened her mouth, her voice was amplified dully through the airship’s speakers.

「You have returned. You have worked hard.」

“…Lady Reina.”

Mettalic ground his teeth, recognizing the voice of the other party.

“It seems you have also been working hard.”

Reina chuckled at Mettalic’s reply.

「Aren’t we all in the position to dedicate our bodies and souls to the Empire? We are just working hard.」

“Then, may we enter? I’ve been dying while playing the role of a spy, which I’m not used to.”

「That won’t be possible right away.」

Reina shrugged.

「As you know, Fernandes’ plans have been thwarted by various rats, so we are being extra careful.」

The atmosphere was ominous.

The five gamblers of the Gamble Club felt cold sweat trickling down their backs. Mettalic also pretended to be calm, but a chill ran down his old spine.

「Just in case you brought any other rats with you, we will conduct a small inspection.」

“What do you mean by inspection?”

「It’s nothing much. We will just compare the personal information of your unit members registered with us to see if there are any discrepancies.」

Reina let out a short laugh.

「I trust you wouldn’t do anything suspicious like that, Sir Mettalic.」

“……”

「It will be over soon. Just stay still.」

The Alcatraz, which had begun to fly at low altitude, emitted a dazzling magical light from its headlights and scanned those standing in front of the South Gate.

Mettalic gritted his teeth, and the gamblers closed their eyes tightly.

They never expected to be caught right at the entrance…!

「…Hmm.」

However,

Reina looked at the scan results for a moment and then said in an extremely light tone.

「There are no issues.」

“…?!”

「I apologize for making you wait. You may enter. Welcome to New Terra, Sir Mettalic. And to everyone who came with you.」

Reina raised her hand in a salute and then disappeared into the airship.

「Well then, I must go and carry out other duties.」

Kiiiiing-

The hatch door slowly closed.

The Alcatraz and the two escort ships slowly rose into the sky again, and then flew far away, spewing large flames from their thrusters. Thud…!

“……”

“……”

The gamblers, who had been dumbfounded, finally noticed the change. A purple magic power was surrounding their bodies.

“Hoo, hoo, hoo!”

Looking back to find the source of the purple magic power that was belatedly disappearing, they saw Violet, who was breathing heavily.

In that fleeting moment, Violet had deployed an illusion field, allowing them to pass Reina’s scan.

“I…”

Violet barely managed to utter, her face covered in sweat.

“That was close, shit…”

Violet was a coward, but she was a coward who did what she had to do when the time came.

The other gamblers laughed. Mettalic also let out a sigh of relief and looked ahead.

Kugugugung…!

The South Gate of New Terra was now wide open.

Was the inside a paradise of gold and jewels, or the entrance to hell?

They would find out once they went inside.