I Became the Tyrant of a Defense Game [EN]: Chapter 46

“By the way, how long are you going to call me junior?” Evangeline asked, her brow furrowed. I shrugged.

“Why? You don’t like being called junior?”

“It feels like you’re teasing me a bit…”

“Then you keep calling me ‘senior’.”

“…Huh?”

“Call me ‘senior’. I’m from the 369th class of the Imperial Academy. You’re the 375th. We’re legitimately senior and junior, right?”

When I actually told her to call me that, Evangeline looked visibly flustered.

“Uhm, is it really okay to call you that?”

“Why wouldn’t it be? Feel free to call me that, junior~”

She hesitated for a moment, but then Evangeline swallowed hard.

“…Okay. I don’t think I’ll have many chances in my life to call a royal like this.”

Evangeline took a breath, then said,

“I’ll call you ‘senior’ from now on. Please take care of me… S-Senior.”

She said it like that.

Her small hands were clenched tightly, as if she was embarrassed.

I smiled. I hoped that I could give this kid some comfort, in any way possible.

Let’s get closer little by little, for now.

At that moment, Lucas, who had been trembling behind me, shouted.

“Wait a minute, Your Highness!”

“Jeez! What is it?!”

I thought, is ‘senior’ too informal? Is that why Lucas is objecting?

“Then I’m the only one who’s being treated unfairly!”

That wasn’t it…

I rubbed my aching head.

“What’s unfair about you…?”

“I want to call you ‘senior’ too, Your Highness!”

“No, you and I are classmates…”

“Then, classmate-nim!” [Nim is a Korean honorific suffix]

“No, that’s enough. Just call me ‘my lord’ or ‘Your Highness’.”

“My lord? My lord? Hmm, my lord…”

Lucas kept rolling the word ‘my lord’ around in his mouth.

“My lord sounds good, my lord.”

“R-Really?”

“Yes, my lord!”

“Call me whatever you want.”

He’s starting to lose it too. The continuous hard battles must have piled up the fatigue. I need to manage their battlefield stress somehow.

“Oh, comrade love~ Oh, country love~”

Jupiter hummed a strange song while sucking on a whiskey bottle from behind. Shut up, grandma.

“Uhm, then…”

Just as the commotion over my title was settling down, Damian cautiously asked,

“What should we call, uh, Miss Evangeline…?”

“For now, please call me ‘Miss’.”

Evangeline mumbled, twisting her hair awkwardly.

“Everyone called me that while I was growing up in this town… you know.”

So, she was called ‘Miss’ in town because she was the lord’s daughter.

I imagined Evangeline when she was younger than now.

I pictured her walking around the city, with people calling out ‘Miss!’ ‘Miss Evangeline!’ from all directions… It’s kind of cute.

“I’m Damian. I’m a sniper and a healer. Nice to meet you, Miss Evangeline.”

Damian greeted her with a gentle smile.

“This old lady is an electric mage, Jupiter. Miss Evangeline, you’re about the same age as my granddaughter. How cute.”

Jupiter said with a kind grandmotherly smile. Don’t be fooled! That old hag is a money grubber!

“…Lucas.”

Lucas, who had spoken briefly, added with wide eyes,

“M.i.s.s.”

“…”

Evangeline, who looked somehow offended, retorted,

“Nice to meet you again, M.i.s.t.e.r.”

“…”

“…”

A tense atmosphere flowed between the two front-line knights.

I thought that if they were in the same industry, they would understand each other and get along, but is it more like they’re competing for a spot on the team…?

“Alright, alright, let’s do the detailed party member introductions while we’re going, let’s get going for now. Junior.”

I put my arms around both of them, who were caught between a classmate and a junior.

I smiled at Evangeline, who looked up at me with a somewhat surprised expression.

“This senior will guide you to the hidden gems in your hometown!”

No, you shouldn’t go like you’re about to ride a theme park attraction!

***

[Now Loading… Teleporting]

[Tip – NPCs you encounter in dungeons may become allies or enemies depending on your choices. Use NPCs appropriately for a smooth conquest!]

***

Today, I skipped the same old, unhelpful tip.

When the teleport loading finished, we were in a dungeon under the lake.

[Area 1: Dried-up Drainage]

The current location was displayed in front of me.

Area 1, the dried-up drainage, a place I had already cleared before. The familiar scenery of the drainage unfolded before my eyes.

“Your Highness?”

Lucas asked me, looking puzzled.

“Isn’t this an area we’ve already explored? Why are we back here?”

“We could go straight to Area 2, but we have a new party member. I thought it would be better to get in sync in an easier place.”

“Does that mean that monsters have taken over this place again?”

“Yes. Every time we have a defense battle, new monsters fill this dungeon.”

The monsters ‘pool’ in the dungeon under the lake. And when the dungeon is full over time, they ‘overflow’ out of the lake.

Defeating the monsters that overflow and pour out like this is the defense battle stage.

After the dungeon is emptied, the next monster army begins to pool in the dungeon.

The dungeon repeats this cycle of filling and emptying monsters.

‘In other words, after a defense battle, monsters respawn in the dungeon.’

Thanks to the respawning monsters, you can repeat leveling and item farming.

Especially in the early areas, the monsters are less dangerous, so it’s good to keep sending sub-parties to level up.

The main party is the exploration team. They explore the dungeon, open paths to deeper areas, defeat bosses, and progress through events.

The sub-party is the farming team. They re-explore areas that have already been explored, level up, and acquire items from monsters.

This is the basic exploration strategy: dividing roles and going in and out of the dungeon.

‘We’re the main party, though.’

We came back to the easiest Area 1 to get used to the new party composition and to give Evangeline time to adapt to the dungeon.

Right. We came back, but…

“Uwaaaah!”

Evangeline was leaning against the wall, throwing up…

“Oh dear, Miss. Are you alright?”

Jupiter carefully patted Evangeline’s back.

“Teleportation also has motion sickness…”

I groaned, and Lucas muttered coldly.

“I’ve never actually seen someone experience it, though.”

Well, of course. It’s the first time I’ve ever teleported here.

“I’m… fine…”

Evangeline wiped her mouth, her face pale. No, you don’t look fine at all.

“But really… there was a place like this…”

Evangeline looked around.

Facilities with an architectural style clearly different from that of the surface were spread out in all directions.

“Would I have any reason to lie to you?”

I stood with my arms wide open and shouted like a tour guide.

“Welcome to the dungeon under the lake, the ruined ancient magic kingdom.”

“How did you know about this place, Senior? Even I, a member of the Cross family, don’t know about it?”

Heh heh. I knew you’d ask that. So I have an excuse ready.

“I can’t tell you everything. But the Emperor wouldn’t have sent me to this front line for no reason, right?”

“…!”

Evangeline and all the party members looked surprised. At the same time, they looked convinced.

‘Actually, it has nothing to do with the Emperor.’

I felt grateful for a moment, thinking of Ash’s father, whom I didn’t even know.

In this empire, the name of the Emperor is a very good reason.

It’s a very reasonable basis for anything you attach it to.

‘If the Emperor said it, they’d believe it even if he said he’d make meju [fermented soybean block] out of red beans.’

No, if the Emperor said that, the Empire would actually research and come up with a way to make meju out of red beans.

Anyway, I managed to gloss over it.

After briefly explaining the dungeon’s structure and its connection to the defense battle to Evangeline.

When Evangeline’s motion sickness had subsided, we began to move forward.

“Everyone, turn on the lights.”

As soon as we left the safe zone, the usual sticky darkness enveloped us.

Saaaah…!

The other members skillfully raised their torches or lanterns to drive away the darkness, but Evangeline recoiled in horror.

“Ugyaaah?! W-What is this darkness…?!”

“You’d better get used to it, junior. This whole dungeon is covered in this kind of darkness.”

I grinned at Evangeline, who was hesitating and stepping back.

“If you’re scared of the dark, you can go back now?”

“…! D-Don’t be ridiculous. This is nothing!”

Evangeline raised her torch high. It was shaking at my eye level because she was short. But she seemed ready anyway.

We entered the dry drainage.

[Area 1: Dried-up Drainage]

– Clear Progress: Normal Room 0/4

Since we defeated the boss last time, there is no boss room. We also got all the treasure chests last time.

We just need to take care of the monsters that have respawned in the dungeon.

“Lucas, stand at the front. Take the vanguard. Damian behind him. Watch the front. Jupiter in the middle. Get your magic casting ready. I’m fourth. Evangeline is last.”

At my command, the other party members quickly took their positions in a line, but Evangeline did not follow immediately.

“Wait a minute, I’m a shield knight! I should be at the front…!”

“Evangeline.”

I cut her off coldly.

“There’s one rule I didn’t explain. That is, the command authority on the field is entirely mine.”

“…!”

“This is the monsters’ base. If you make a mistake, you die. If you disobey or defy me, go back. Or follow my orders without complaint.”

“…”

“What will you do?”

“…I’ll follow you.”

Evangeline raised her small face, which had been lowered.

Her small face regained its composure. She looked like a kid until now, but now she looks more like a knight.

“I’m sorry for acting immaturely. I thought maybe I was being looked down on because I’m young and small, so I…”

“The rear is as important a position as the front. In this darkness, you don’t know where the enemies will appear. You have to take responsibility for the rear of the party. Don’t think your role is small.”

“Yes.”

“More than anything, I don’t look down on you because of your appearance.”

It’s a bit awkward to say this, but I keep looking at the system window.

What I trust is not your appearance, but your stats displayed in the system window.

It’s a cheat.

“I don’t care if you’re tall or short, old or young. I know your skills for sure.”

Evangeline, who was biting her small lip and mumbling something, nodded silently.

“So, at least while you’re in my party, I’ll put you where you’re most needed. Just follow me quietly.”

“Yes, Senior.”

“Alright, let’s go!”

Evangeline stood at the very back of the party. The five of us finally started moving forward.

We passed through the winding passage and arrived at the entrance of the first room. I took a deep breath and pushed my body inside with force.

“What kind of monsters will be in this season~?”

Thump!

Thump! Thump! Thump!

As soon as we entered the room, something huge stomped and approached from all the walls that made up the room.

Giant bodies made of earth and ore. A magic core that glows faintly from their chests.

“Golems…”

Immediately, a system window appeared in front of me.

[Dried-up Drainage – Room 1]

– Annihilate the enemies!

– Lv.6 Rock Golem: 4

The monsters to be defeated in this dungeon exploration, and the monster army to face in the next defense battle stage, are the golems.

‘This is another pain in the ass…’

Golems are classified as large monsters. These big guys are coming in droves.

I clicked my tongue inwardly, and the party members surrounded me.

It seems like they’re going to take on one golem each from all directions. I clapped my hands.

“Alright, everyone. Let’s see your skills?”

Lucas drew his sword, Damian aimed his crossbow. Jupiter sparked lightning in both hands, and Evangeline…

Gulp!

She put her shield forward and swallowed hard, audibly.

It seems like she’s not used to real combat yet. She looks a little nervous.

I smirked as I looked at the side profile of this genius rookie.

“Let’s mine some ore! Take them down gently!”

At my shout, the four party members and the four golems launched attacks at each other.