I Became the Tyrant of a Defense Game [EN]: Chapter 460

Fernandes was sitting on the throne.

On that throne, frozen white and transparent with thorns.

“…It’s time.”

Fernandes, who had been connected to the thorn tree—Everblack—and had his eyes closed, muttered those words.

At the same time,

Saaaaa…

The throne, which had been frozen white for years, slowly began to melt.

The black thorn tree that surrounded the throne also regained its vitality as if spring had returned.

Since it was Fernandes who had originally frozen Everblack with magic, he melted it again when it was time to restart Everblack in earnest.

“Because I always kept the embers.”

Kugugugung-!

The thorn tree, having regained its stolen warmth, began to grow rapidly. As if to reclaim the time that had been stopped for the past few years.

“…The plan is in its final stage. The ark will soon be completed.”

Fernandes raised his eyes and looked ahead.

“Are you coming to stop me, Ash?”

Fernandes’ dark red eyes smiled softly.

“Good. This kind of end wouldn’t be bad as the conclusion to our long and bitter feud.”

The black thorn tree grew endlessly.

Enveloped in Everblack, Fernandes whispered softly.

“Come quickly, brother. My patience isn’t that deep.”

***

Riding the Kraken, we sped through the center of the Imperial Capital.

The giant monster destroyed all sorts of beautiful decorations of the Imperial Capital, including sidewalks, fountains, and statues, as it rushed forward.

At first, my companions looked at it with pitiful faces, but after a while, they seemed to have adapted, and were just staring blankly at the marble fragments flying in all directions.

“That’s the fifth fountain destroyed… Are you sure this is okay, Captain? They all look really expensive.”

“It’s okay. We can just rebuild the fountains.”

“Whoa! The Empire’s founding monument is in two pieces!”

“Is it… going to be okay? I’m sure the original is stored separately…”

“Oh no, the statue of the first Emperor of the Empire is shattered! Wasn’t that one of the most famous landmarks of the Imperial Capital?!”

“…”

It’ll be, it’ll probably be okay.

Right now, it’s a national emergency, right? If we’re not careful, everyone in the city could die.

Our ancestors will surely be lenient about destroying a few statues. I’m sure of it!

“We, we have to stop them!”

“Stop the intruders!”

“We can’t let them get to the Imperial Palace!”

The soldiers of the Imperial Family tried to stop the Kraken, but

“Aaaah!”

“Get out of the way, get out of the way! We can’t stop that!”

“Quickly contact the Imperial Palace-”

They were unable to overcome their fear when faced with the giant monster and hastily moved out of the way.

Unless they were veteran soldiers from our Southern Front, it wouldn’t be easy for ordinary humans to stand against such a terrifying monster.

Anyway, our advance was very smooth.

The Thorn Palace was quickly approaching. At this rate, we’ll be able to arrive soon…

Kugugugung!

That’s when it happened.

A terrifying tremor was heard from the Imperial Palace in the distance. My companions and I were all startled and looked in that direction.

Kwaaang-!

The ancient towers are collapsing.

The Imperial Palace of the Everblack Empire, which had only been expanded endlessly since the establishment of the Empire without ever being invaded, was collapsing.

The black, pointed towers fell in a row, spewing thick smoke and dust.

And at the same time,

Crack, crack, crack!

It grew.

From underground, thick, giant black thorn tree trunks began to sprout wildly.

Knowing the true nature of that tree, I shouted in panic.

“Everblack?!”

It was Everblack, the guardian tree of humanity.

The entire palace was swept away as if being devoured by the enormously swollen Everblack. The tree was growing grotesquely, extending sharp branches in all directions.

“…This is insane.”

Looking at this, I muttered in disbelief.

“It really has become a thorn palace, literally…”

“Is, is that tree okay, Captain?! It’s a bit scary?!”

Kuilran stammered, his face pale.

“I feel the same energy as the cursed maple tree of our tribe. But it’s much more… inorganic…”

“You have a good sense, Kuilran. That’s right. That tree is of the same kind as your tribe’s maple tree.”

The difference is that it’s a chimera tree made by combining the guardian trees of various races.

And… the bastard who has taken over that tree now intends to wield its immense power to kill his own kind.

“It’s swallowed the palace now, but it’ll cover the entire city later.”

The human sacrifice magic circle installed under the Imperial Capital, the shutdown protocol.

Using this, all the people of the Imperial Capital will be melted into spirits, and at the same time, the massive energy generated by the human sacrifice will be injected into Everblack.

The proliferated Everblack will cover the entire city, completely isolating the Imperial Capital from the outside world.

And it will absorb the spirits of the people of the Imperial Capital and transfer them to the spirit realm.

This is the true nature of the ‘ark’.

‘Killing people to create energy, and then using that energy to preserve their souls!’

What a thrifty and economical massacre plan, my brother! You crazy bastard!

Thwoom!

The Kraken, kicking the ground with its tentacle legs, sped through the air as if flying.

At the end of our relentless advance, we soon reached the Imperial Palace. But soon, a problem arose.

Bang-!

A huge, transparent magic barrier blocked our way.

A magic shield installed from the main gate of the Imperial Palace, along the fence, and surrounding the outer perimeter.

Even though the inside of the Imperial Palace was in such a state, this protective magic was doing its job perfectly.

Gooooooo!

The Kraken roared wildly and swung its tentacle legs.

But no matter how super-class the monster was, it was something that couldn’t be broken through. The Kraken struck down with its terrifying tentacles, but the barrier didn’t budge.

“We can’t get in unless they open it from the inside.”

I grumbled and looked towards the main gate of the Imperial Palace.

Behind the firmly closed main gate, there were soldiers looking at us with stern faces. I commanded them.

“Imperial Palace Guard! Open this gate immediately!”

“Prince Ash, Your Highness. We cannot do that… !”

The captain of the guard, who seemed to recognize my face, stepped forward and shouted.

“This is where the supreme ruler of the One Empire Everblack resides! There is a strict order not to let anyone in without permission!”

“Whose order? The fake Emperor Fernandes?”

I snorted and pointed at myself with my thumb, shouting.

“Hey, Captain of the Guard! You don’t seem to know, but I have the authority to open this gate as much as my self-proclaimed Emperor brother. Open it now.”

“What are you talking about? Opening and closing the main gate of the Imperial Palace is the sole authority of His Majesty the Emperor. Your Highness does not have the authority…”

“The real Emperor, Traha ‘Peacemaker’ Everblack, His Majesty’s proxy is me. He gave me the authority directly.”

I said, pointing to my chest with my hand.

“Until His Majesty withdraws the authority, I can use the same authority as His Majesty. Opening this gate is naturally included in my discretion.”

“…You can’t prove that.”

The captain of the guard, gritting his teeth and pondering, glanced at me.

“How will you prove that Your Highness is his proxy?”

“I knew you’d ask that, so I brought the certificate.”

I have some memories of living in the country of official certificates. I know very well that if you don’t prepare these things in advance, it’s a headache.

“Here.”

I gestured behind me. Then, my companions carefully carried the luggage they had brought forward.

It was a large coffin.

“Here’s the certificate.”

I smirked in front of the guards who had puzzled expressions, and opened the coffin wide.

And inside the coffin-

“…?!”

“Huk!”

The Emperor was lying there.

Lying there as if dead. Even wearing a sleep mask. He was sleeping soundly.

Even though he was being carried around like a piece of luggage, he didn’t move at all and just kept sleeping. This old man is really thick-skinned.

As someone who had guarded the gate through which the Emperor passed his entire life, the captain of the guard seemed to recognize the Emperor immediately. The captain of the guard immediately knelt on the floor.

“Do you believe me now? His Majesty is currently in a deep sleep, but before that, he gave me the authority and fell asleep.”

“…”

“Fernandes, who has disguised the death of His Majesty, who is alive and well, and has ascended to the throne himself, is a traitor. Do you understand the situation? Then, will you open the gate?”

“Bu, but…”

I shouted at the captain of the guard, who was still hesitating.

“Captain of the Guard! Open your eyes and look properly!”

I pointed with my hand to the inside of the Imperial Palace, which was being consumed by the thorn tree, and to the city center where citizens and soldiers were mixed in great chaos.

“Look at the sight of the city you have protected your whole life collapsing!”

“… !”

“Is it the form of the Empire that you are trying to protect, or its essence? Which one is it!”

“I, I am…”

“If you are truly a soldier of this country! If you have the pride of having protected the Imperial Capital, the Imperial Palace, and the Emperor! It should be clear what you must protect!”

I shouted once more at the captain of the guard, who closed his mouth and lowered his head.

“Answer! What is it that you truly must do?”

“…It is to protect the Empire.”

“Then open the gate. Join us in protecting the Empire.”

I nodded heavily.

“This is your last chance.”

The hesitation didn’t last long.

The captain of the guard closed his eyes tightly and operated the gate opening device. Soon, the barrier flickered and went out, and the thick iron doors of the main gate slowly began to open to the left and right.

‘That’s a relief.’

I breathed a sigh of relief inside.

In fact, Metallic, who had infiltrated as a double agent, was waiting near the main gate. If necessary, he would have massacred the guards from the inside and opened the gate.

But there was no need to take lives that didn’t need to be lost. So, I persuaded them with words as much as possible to open the gate.

Kugugung!

As soon as the gate opened, Metallic and the remnants of the 1st Legion, who had been ambushing behind the guard building, poured out.

The guards were surprised. It seemed they had just realized that they had almost died.

“Welcome, Your Highness.”

The remnants of the 1st Legion greeted us along with the Imperial Palace Guard, who were standing awkwardly. I controlled the Kraken as gently as possible and entered through the main gate.

Metallic looked at the Imperial Palace with a worried face. The thorn tree was still growing endlessly.

“…What are you going to do now?”

“Everyone has to do their job.”

I gave instructions quickly.

“My companions and I will go into the Imperial Palace and stop Fernandes. Sir Metallic, you and the 1st Legion will rescue those imprisoned in the Imperial Palace prison, and also search for and rescue Brother Larc.”

“…Thank you.”

Metallic bowed deeply. From the beginning, Metallic and the 1st Legion were like Larc’s personal guard, so they must have been waiting for this order.

Following that, I gave instructions to the guards who were looking at me with bewildered faces.

“Imperial Palace Guard! You will be mobilized to stop the shutdown protocol.”

“We will move as you command, but… how exactly are we supposed to stop it?”

The captain of the guard asked hesitantly.

I curled up one side of my mouth and smiled.

“There’s obviously only one plan to stop the shutdown protocol, right?”

I have a counter-protocol prepared.

That is,

“It’s called the Shut-up Protocol!”

I shouted, raised my hand high, and then,

“Activate-!”

I brought it down.

Towards my father’s cheek, who was sleeping soundly in the coffin right next to me, wearing a sleep mask and snoring!

Swaack-!

With a refreshing sound, the Emperor’s face turned sharply to the side.

“…”

“…”

“…”

Metallic and the 1st Legion, the captain of the guard and the Imperial Palace Guard, all of my companions, even the Kraken.

Everyone looked at me with wide eyes full of shock.

And,

“…?”

The Emperor slowly opened his eyes.

He took off his sleep mask, still not understanding the situation, and had a puzzled look on his face.

He touched his cheek, which he had just been hit on.

“…Huh?”

I smiled at him, who still had a sleepy face.

The Emperor had clearly said this:

– Until I withdraw the authority, you are no different from the Emperor of this country. Protect this Empire with that authority.

So.

In terms of authority, I am the Emperor right now.

And my father?

He lent me the authority, and has not yet withdrawn it, so he is currently in a state of ‘having no authority’.

“As the proxy of the Emperor, by the authority of the Emperor, I command His Majesty the Emperor!”

In other words.

No matter how much of an Emperor he is, he has to follow my orders right now.

I pointed my finger at my father and shouted.

“Save your country!”

Did you think you could just give me the authority and sleep soundly?!

What nonsense! You’re the biggest cheat key! I’m going to use you to the fullest!

My father, who was staring at me with a dumbfounded look, slowly uttered.

“You crazy bastard.”

Immediately after, a deep smile appeared on the Emperor’s lips.

“That’s my son.”