I Became the Tyrant of a Defense Game [EN]: Chapter 467

Rumble, rumble…

The dark clouds that had been hanging over the imperial capital since morning gradually thickened.

Swoosh…

And then, the rain began to pour.

Under the heavy downpour, the sight of the imperial capital, New Terra, was surreal.

Throughout the city, citizens clashed with the Aegis Special Forces.

The citizens desperately tried to destroy the shutdown protocol magic circles installed beneath the city, while the Special Forces struggled to stop them.

In the center of the city, black thorn trees were multiplying like a nest, and among them, a large trunk was rising in the middle.

It was like a giant hand, gripping and enveloping the entire imperial palace.

“What a mess.”

And outside the imperial capital.

Surrounded by the Imperial Capital Defense Force and the 2nd and 3rd Corps of the Imperial Army, Dusk Bringer chuckled.

“I never thought I’d see a sight like this in my life.”

Black smoke billowed from various parts of the burning imperial capital. The flames did not easily subside even with the pouring rain.

The black thorn tree that had sprung up in the center of the imperial capital was swallowing its surroundings with terrifying momentum.

Screams and shouts echoed throughout the city.

It was as if the end of the world had come.

“To think that New Terra would end up like this…”

A smirk appeared on Dusk Bringer’s small lips.

“It’s a sight to behold.”

“…”

Around the nonchalant Dusk Bringer, the other kings of the World Protection Front looked tense.

The World Protection Front had declared surrender.

They had laid down their weapons and were bound. Imperial soldiers’ sharp spears and swords were pointed at them from all directions.

“Are, are we really going to be okay…?”

“What if they decide to kill us if things go wrong…?”

Except for a few, most of them were trembling with fear. But Dusk Bringer was unconcerned.

She looked at the opposing command.

The commander of the Imperial Capital Defense Force and the commanders of the 2nd and 3rd Corps of the Imperial Army were having a heated discussion.

“We must follow His Majesty Fernandes’s orders!”

“What are you talking about? Didn’t you hear what the real His Majesty said a little while ago?!”

“If we make the wrong decision here, we’ll become rebels! Behave yourselves!”

‘Indeed.’

Dusk Bringer chuckled.

Even in this situation where the world seemed to be ending, their behavior of still seeking their own safety and self-preservation was quite amusing.

However, the situation did not unfold as simply as a joke. The Imperial Capital Defense Force and the other corps commanders drew their swords at each other.

“You rebel scum, how dare you try to ignore His Majesty’s orders!”

“Who is His Majesty? Fernandes is the traitor! You are the rebels!”

“Drop your weapons! If you surrender, we’ll pretend this never happened!”

As the commanders drew their weapons, their subordinate officers also drew their weapons in unison.

Then, even the remaining imperial soldiers who had been aiming their weapons at the World Protection Front turned their weapons towards each other in confusion.

The tense situation was quickly resolved.

The 2nd and 3rd Corps of the Imperial Army were of the same mind and aimed their weapons at the Imperial Capital Defense Force, which supported Fernandes.

The forces of the 2nd and 3rd Corps were far greater than the already halved Imperial Capital Defense Force.

Moreover, the 2nd and 3rd Corps, which had heavy knight divisions, were much stronger in this close-quarters situation compared to the Imperial Capital Defense Force, which was a light cavalry unit.

“Damn it…! You damned rebels…!”

The commander of the Imperial Capital Defense Force, who was now surrounded, closed his eyes and raised both hands when a spear tip was pressed against his neck.

“…I surrender.”

“Subdue them! Capture all of the Imperial Capital Defense Force!”

The situation began to unfold strangely.

The Imperial Capital Defense Force, which had been part of the encirclement, was completely bound and knelt on the ground.

And the two corps commanders of the 2nd and 3rd Corps walked towards the command of the World Protection Front.

Swoosh-

As the two approaching corps commanders each drew their swords, the kings of the World Protection Front all swallowed hard.

And,

Thud, thud.

The two corps commanders personally used their swords to cut the bonds that held the kings.

“…?”

“Huh?”

Among the bewildered kings, Dusk Bringer calmly loosened her wrists.

The two corps commanders bowed respectfully to Dusk Bringer.

“It’s been a while, Dragon Lady.”

“Hmm. It has been a while. How have you been?”

The Bringer Principality was originally a brother country of the Everblack Empire.

Until the sudden deterioration of diplomatic relations and the outbreak of war, the two countries had maintained close ties.

Moreover, as Dusk Bringer held a dukedom in the Empire, she had a wide network of connections within the Empire.

Also, unlike the 1st Corps, which directly invaded the Bringer Principality, the 2nd and 3rd Corps had no direct conflict.

Now that the war between the two countries had come to an ambiguous halt, there was no reason for the old acquaintances to be hostile to each other.

“…We would like to ask for your advice, Grand Duchess.”

The two corps commanders looked towards the imperial capital, sweating profusely.

“What should we do?”

“Huhu, are you asking me for advice in this situation?”

“You have been His Majesty’s patron for a long time, Grand Duchess. Moreover, you are now on the same side as Prince Ash…”

“If you could give us a little reassurance, we might be able to move more easily…”

The two corps commanders hesitated. Dusk Bringer narrowed her amber dragon eyes.

Even in this situation, they could not move without someone giving them orders, and they were trying to create an excuse to avoid responsibility, which was, in a way, very soldier-like.

“No, I will not give you any advice.”

Dusk Bringer shook her wrists and stood up from her seat.

“You must choose and act on your own.”

“Yes?”

“Think for yourselves. What are you protecting? The Emperor’s orders? Or the lives of the citizens?”

The two corps commanders looked at each other and then nodded heavily.

“…Both.”

“Then do so. If you’ve drawn your swords, shouldn’t you cut something?”

Dusk Bringer pointed to the south gate of the imperial capital.

“Go and open the gate!”

A mischievous smile appeared on the face of the Evil Dragon Duchess.

“And protect what you want to protect.”

***

West of New Terra. The plains.

Whirr-!

The flagship Geronimo slowly landed on the rain-soaked field. The huge aircraft touched down on the ground, and the two propellers slowly stopped rotating.

Chik-

Clank!

Kellybay, a dwarf pilot, emerged from the hatch of the Geronimo.

“Hoo.”

Kellybay stroked his rain-soaked beard and looked up at the sky.

Thud thud thud thud!

More than ten airships, surrounding the Geronimo, were floating in the sky.

Kellybay shouted at them.

“Our fight is meaningless anymore!”

The airships did not move. Regardless, Kellybay continued.

“The world is ending, friends!”

Everyone here had heard the Emperor’s speech and seen the situation in the imperial capital.

That was why the entire air fleet had not stopped the sudden surrender and landing of the enemy ship, but had only watched.

“What you need to do now is not capture and shoot me down!”

Kellybay pointed a thick finger at the airships in the sky—no, at the imperial capital behind them.

“It’s to go and fix the mistakes you’ve made!”

***

Underground of the imperial capital.

Pat, pat…

Thud. Thud. Thud.

Rainwater was leaking into the underground space.

Reina, with a cigarette in her mouth, felt the raindrops falling on her coat.

“Hoo…”

As she lit it, smoke spread out.

The damp sewer smell mixed with the harsh smell of burning tobacco. After chewing on the cigarette for a while, Reina slowly raised her head.

Thump, thud thud thud…!

The sight of the thorn tree palace rising endlessly could be seen in the distance.

“…Looks like the situation is coming to an end.”

No sooner had she spoken than a frantic voice came through the radio on Reina’s waist.

「This is a report from the Special Forces Headquarters, Lady Reina! The external magic circle damage rate of the shutdown protocol is now over 30%!」

“…”

「Moreover, the 2nd and 3rd Corps of the Imperial Army and even the air fleet have betrayed us! All the magic corps on the walls have been neutralized by them. The war situation is extremely bad!」

“…”

「Surrenders are pouring in from both the Special Forces and the magic corps! At this rate, it’s over! We need to come up with a plan!」

“…”

「Lady Reina! Are you listening?! Please tell His Majesty Fernandes! We need orders-」

“Shut up.”

Beep.

Reina turned off the radio.

“I gave you orders in the beginning. Just follow them. Is that so difficult?”

Muttering, Reina roughly stomped out the remaining cigarette and turned around.

“Well, I’ve finished my cigarette, so… I’ll go and complete the orders I received at the beginning.”

The activation of the shutdown protocol.

That authority was with Reina.

‘The damage rate is over 30%? So what?’

This is such a huge magic circle.

Even if it’s somewhat destroyed, it will still work. The power will be reduced, and it won’t be able to exert even half of its original effect, but so what?

That’s not important anymore.

‘Execute the orders I received. That’s what I have to do.’

That’s all.

Whether it succeeds or fails, that is already out of Reina’s hands.

Complete the mission she received.

For a soldier like herself, that was enough.

So Reina was about to move towards the central magic circle of the shutdown protocol in front of her—

Thwack.

She was grabbed.

By the ankle.

“…Hoo.”

Reina, letting out a soft sigh, slowly looked back—and down.

“Haa, haa… Huk…!”

There was Junior.

In a miserable, bloodied state, collapsed on the floor where rainwater was beginning to pool. But his eyes were still shining fiercely.

He was grabbing Reina’s ankle, trying to stop her.

“…I told you, Junior.”

Reina, clicking her tongue, slowly pointed her fingertips at Junior.

“If you want to preserve what little life you have left, stop attacking me.”

“…”

Junior glared at Reina and gritted his teeth.

He was no match for her.

He had been rigorously trained on the monster front for the past two years, and he had a certain pride in his own skills… but he could not even approach Reina.

“Certainly, your talent as a mage might be one, no, several levels above mine.”

Reina muttered and shook her head slightly.

“But as a killer… I seem to be far superior to you.”

Personal combat.

Reina’s skill in ‘killing people,’ which she had accumulated throughout her life as a soldier, was overwhelming.

Moreover, as a member of the dark forces who had dealt with countless allied mages, her combat skills against great mages were also tremendous.

On the other hand, Junior’s combat experience was mostly against monsters.

In terms of how to kill people, the level of Reina and Junior was like heaven and earth.

After a few exchanges at the start of the battle, Junior was cornered, and Reina mercilessly tore him apart with magic.

And—this is how it turned out.

Reina was standing unharmed, and Junior was lying miserably on the floor.

Reina clicked her tongue.

“Above all, you don’t have the will to kill me.”

“…”

“So how are you going to stop me?”

Junior silently tightened his grip on Reina’s ankle.

Reina shook her head.

“This is reality.”

“…”

“A weakling like you, who can’t choose one side and hesitates… you were never going to survive as a mage from the start.”

Wind gathered at Reina’s fingertips.

“Since you won’t be able to live long as a mage with that attitude anyway, fine. I’ll end it for you.”

“…”

“Say hello to your mother for me.”

Thwack-!

A wind magic bullet was fired from Reina’s fingertips, aimed at Junior’s head.