I Became the Tyrant of a Defense Game [EN]: Chapter 468

‘It’s unfair.’

From a young age, Junior thought this about the world.

A place that was not fair.

While the other children in the village had clean faces without a single scar and ran around happily with healthy limbs,

the children who grew up with her were all covered in burns, their bodies not whole, making it difficult even to move.

The children next door each had their own beds, but in this house, everyone was crammed into a small room, sleeping on mats.

The books she wanted to read, the food she wanted to eat….

Even their remaining lifespans.

It was all lacking.

There was no end to the comparisons. In every aspect, the world was unfair.

‘Why?’

In the summer, Imperial nobles lined up to visit the coastal village where Junior lived for their vacations.

Watching them, Junior’s questions grew.

She, whose entire life was ruined by magic bombardment simply for being born in the Camilla Kingdom, and those who lived without want simply for being born as nobles in the Empire.

‘Why is the world so discriminatory?’

Based on origin, appearance, wealth… Junior was constantly subjected to scrutiny.

Living always in a state of lacking something, Junior sometimes felt resentful.

But life was so harsh that she didn’t even have the luxury to express such resentment. Junior clung to life to survive.

To take care of her siblings, to hold onto her own limited lifespan, desperately….

But even while living so busily, those resentments did not disappear completely.

‘So, let’s just burn it all down.’

That resentment was whispering in Junior’s ear.

‘They need to know the pain I’ve suffered.’

“….”

‘Let the Imperial Capital perish. Let’s watch them get massacred. Wouldn’t that make the world a little fairer?’

The whispers grew louder. Junior covered her ears, but the whispers continued.

‘Why do I have to live with a limited lifespan? The others need to know this misery.’

“Stop….”

‘Let’s just devour them all.’

“Stop it! I-”

‘Suck the life out of others. Then you can live forever.’

The whispers seemed to carry a sweet scent. Junior tried not to listen, but the whispers continued.

‘You’re tired of worrying every night about whether you’ll be able to open your eyes tomorrow, aren’t you?’

“….”

‘You can do all the magic research you want and keep taking care of your siblings. What reason is there to avoid eternal life?’

Before she knew it, the whispers were urging her on.

‘The blood magic used by your clan. You already understand the principles. If you take the essence of others, you can live, forever.’

“But that’s-”

‘That’s what your mother wanted.’

“…Mother?”

Junior mumbled blankly.

Mother… Jupiter’s last words echoed in her mind.

– Live happily for a long, long time, Junior.

That was definitely it.

Jupiter wanted Junior to live a long life. That was the wish a mother left for her daughter.

If it was to fulfill her mother’s wish.

What reason was there not to touch the clan’s taboo? She had already taken the clan’s magic reversal….

Just a little.

If she broke the taboo of being human just a little, she could fulfill her mother’s wish.

The unfairness of this world that never disappeared would be alleviated, even if just a little….

‘Yes, that’s it.’

The whispers spoke with satisfaction.

‘Now, first, let’s devour that damned wind mage in front of us. Let’s take that cursed woman’s life and make it yours.’

“Reina, you… ?”

‘She’s the one who ruined your life. Blood revenge is only natural, right? Kill her, drink her blood. That’s all you have to do.’

Before she knew it, a dark crimson shadow was cast around Junior’s body.

The dark crimson shadow slowly covered her body, and slowly, it raised both hands to cover Junior’s eyes.

‘Leave it to me. I’ll take care of everything. Revenge, eternal life, everything.’

“….”

‘That’s right. Good girl. Just stay still, just like that….’

Junior slowly closed her eyes in her fading consciousness.

Yes. If she followed the meaning of these whispers.

The resentment engraved in her heart like a burning fire might disappear, even just a little….

Junior slowly let the strength drain from her body. The satisfied laughter of the whispers echoed in her ears.

It was then.

“Hey, leech.”

Suddenly, completely out of the blue.

A cheerful old woman’s voice was heard from the side.

“Didn’t I tell you clearly back then?”

Crack, crackle…!

The sound of lightning crackling rang out,

“Get your hands off my gold-!”

Thwack-!

A steel fist, sparking with tremendous force, landed.

It struck the dark crimson shadow that was covering Junior’s body. The dark crimson shadow let out a hideous scream and shattered into pieces.

Then, the whispers disappeared.

The dazed mind, as if filled with static, cleared up. Surprised, Junior opened her eyes wide.

“Huh?”

When Junior looked urgently to the side, she was standing there.

With a smile that curled up the corners of her wrinkled mouth, puffing out smoke from the cigar in her mouth.

A one-eyed old mage with white hair neatly tied back, wearing an eye patch.

Junior, blinking in surprise, stammered as she called out to the person.

“…Mom?”

Toward such Junior, Lightning Fire Jupiter gave a broad smile.

“Long time no see, my daughter.”

***

“…I see.”

Junior, realizing the current situation, laughed in a hollow manner.

“This is an illusion.”

“It’s a relief you realized it right away. My daughter is quick-witted, just like me, you know?”

Jupiter gestured with her chin, puffing out smoke from her cigar.

“This place is a space created by the combination of your subconscious and the malice sleeping inside your weapon.”

Where Jupiter gestured, there was the dark crimson shadow that had been shattered by the lightning fist a moment ago.

The shadow had already transformed into a long staff.

[Lord of Crimson].

A Nightmare Slayer forged with the magic core of the Vampire King Selendion.

Since the Nightmare Slayer is a piece of equipment made by borrowing the power of the evil Nightmare Legion Commander, it exhibits powerful performance but comes with such risks.

Junior suddenly remembered Damian, who had turned dark in the past. It seemed that something similar to what happened to Damian back then had happened to her as well.

“Until now, your mind was strong, so this guy couldn’t invade… but now that you’ve been thoroughly beaten and passed out, it seems he finally seized the opportunity and crawled out.”

Jupiter chuckled and kicked the staff with her combat boots.

“But! My daughter has this guardian angel Lightning Fire right by her side! Don’t even dream of doing anything reckless, you leech pervert!”

“Mom… are you really Mom?”

When Junior asked hesitantly, Jupiter scratched the back of her head, looking embarrassed.

“Ah, well. Of course, I’m an illusion too. It’s just that your subconscious’s defense mechanism manifested in the form of this wonderful gold miss.”

“….”

“Hey, hey, but still, aren’t I the lovely mommy you wanted to meet again?”

Jupiter spread her arms wide.

“Come on, this is a once-in-a-lifetime chance! You can do everything you wanted to do with your mom! A kiss? A hug? Holding hands and sleeping? Reading a fairy tale? What should I do first?”

“….”

Junior stared blankly at Jupiter, then slowly lowered her head.

“I’m sorry, Mom.”

“Huh?”

“I don’t think I can keep your words to live happily for a long, long time.”

“….”

“I’ve managed to survive somehow, but I don’t have much time left. The residual elements left in the magic reactor… are eating away at my body.”

Junior pressed her left chest with her hand.

“If I fight with all my strength, maybe I have only a few times left.”

“….”

“And… Reina is. Stronger than anyone I’ve ever met. I don’t even know if I can win even if I use all my remaining life….”

She had to stop Reina.

She had to prevent the execution of the shutdown protocol. That’s why she came here.

Even in this situation, she didn’t want to kill Reina.

But not only was it impossible to subdue her without killing her, but just facing her was already difficult. The odds of winning were infinitely small.

In the midst of all this, her remaining lifespan was steadily decreasing.

Even her mother’s last words… she couldn’t fulfill them.

Junior no longer had any idea what she should do.

Mission, revenge, forgiveness, even living.

She couldn’t do anything properly… was it her fate to just fade away like this?

“Oh dear. You completely misunderstood what I meant, you rascal.”

Jupiter burst into a hearty laugh.

“I told you to ‘live’ happily for a long, long time.”

“…?”

“Junior. What does ‘living’ mean to you?”

At those words.

Suddenly, Junior remembered.

During the battle with the Vampire King. A certain definition she had given to her own life.

“…It’s about proving.”

Junior’s trembling hand gripped the front of her chest.

“That I existed here.”

For Jupiter Junior, life was like a flame.

It was limited, but because it was limited, it was about burning brightly on its own.

Even if she spat blood and rolled in the mud. Even if not only her left face but her entire body was covered in burns. Even if everything burned and only ashes remained.

It was fine.

Even for a moment, she had decided to burn her life, emitting a dazzling light. Junior had already made that decision.

“Yes. You’re already a flame. What reason does a flame have to fear fire?”

Jupiter nodded quietly.

“Live, Junior. Live as you wish.”

If she had decided on a direction, with all her might.

Live like Jupiter’s daughter, Jupiter Junior.

After saying that, Jupiter added, looking embarrassed.

“But still! If possible! Live a little longer.”

“….”

“Come to my neighborhood even one second later. That’s all I ask.”

Junior, smiling at such Jupiter, slowly got up.

“Thank you, Mom. Even if it’s an illusion… I was happy to meet you.”

Yes.

In fact, the answer had been within her from the beginning.

Junior, who had fully stood up, did not hug Jupiter.

She didn’t kiss her, nor did she hold her hand. She just gazed at that wrinkled face quietly.

That alone was enough.

“I will live. As I want to live.”

And.

If possible, even one second longer.

Junior, smiling, turned around. And she began to run toward the shining point beyond the horizon.

Jupiter, watching her daughter’s receding figure, whispered softly.

“No matter what kind of life you live, never forget that your mom is always cheering you on.”

Jupiter slowly raised her hand toward the sky-

“Run, my daughter.”

She snapped her fingers.

Snap!

***

Reina mercilessly fired a wind magic bullet at the fallen Junior.

It was at that very moment.

Kuururung…!

Thunder rumbled in the sky filled with dark clouds,

Flash-!

Lightning struck.

Precisely dividing the space between Reina and Junior, an unexpected lightning bolt struck.

The wind magic bullet that was just about to be fired from Reina’s fingertips was neutralized and disappeared by the lightning.

“…?!”

Reina, horrified, quickly retreated.

‘What…?!’

She thought it was a miraculous coincidence, but Reina soon changed her mind.

Junior was slowly righting herself.

Under the blood-soaked pointed hat, amidst the wildly disheveled hair-

With her two eyes, flickering like flames, glaring up, and with a completely different resolute will than before.

“Hah…!”

Reina curled up the corners of her mouth and smiled.

Kuurung, kuurururung….

Thunder rumbled,

Flash-!

Kugwagwagwang!

Dozens of lightning bolts summoned by Junior struck down towards Reina.

Reina, who hastily summoned a tornado to block the lightning, smiled fiercely.

“Now you’re definitely more like the real ‘Jupiter Junior’…!”