I Became the Tyrant of a Defense Game [EN]: Chapter 473

In front of the ruined imperial palace, the Emperor stood blankly.

Only the remains of the Everblack [a powerful, dark entity], which had multiplied and then collapsed, remained here, now a complete ruin.

The Thorn Palace, which had guarded the center of the imperial capital for hundreds of years, had completely disappeared and crumbled.

“…….”

As the Emperor quietly gazed at this desolate and miserable scene,

“What are you thinking so deeply about?”

Someone approached from behind, making light footsteps. The Emperor slowly turned around.

Approaching the Emperor with a light step was the Dragon Lady, Dusk Bringer.

The Evil Dragon Duchess wore a mischievous smile.

“It’s been a while, Traha.”

“Sister.”

Immediately, the Emperor corrected Dusk Bringer’s title.

“No… It’s been a while, Duchess Bringer.”

Although he changed the title, the Emperor used honorifics towards Dusk Bringer since it was a private setting. Just as it had been since long ago.

“Hmm? You can call me sister. It reminds me of the old days when I used to change your diapers and raise you.”

“We are no longer in a position to do that.”

Dusk Bringer, who stood right behind the Emperor, narrowed her small brow.

“For someone who tried to kill me and my country, your greeting is very bland. Don’t you have anything else to say?”

“It would be more ridiculous to make excuses.”

“Still, try it. Let’s hear what you have to say.”

“…It was for the sake of the Empire.”

At the Emperor’s words, Dusk Bringer gritted her teeth.

“To protect the Empire, you tried to burn down my country, which was the shield of the Empire?”

“Because that was the prophecy of Everblack.”

The Emperor nodded silently.

“A prophecy that Duchess Bringer and the Duchy would be one of the axes of the Empire’s destruction.”

“Then, what about now? Why aren’t you trying to kill me now?”

“…….”

The Emperor silently turned his gaze back to the ruined palace.

“I don’t think prophecies mean anything anymore.”

Despite hearing the prophecy.

The second son rebelled, and the first son died trying to stop it…

The Emperor had not even imagined this future, where the foundation of the country was completely lost along with the palace.

Dusk Bringer snorted.

“Prophecies are originally just vague, empty talk. Even if you had been properly informed of this future, it would have been difficult to deal with.”

“…….”

That was true.

Of the four fates that would destroy the Empire, Everblack had clearly warned about the hidden forces under the imperial capital.

The one who was entrusted with dealing with it was a traitor…

“Hah.”

The Emperor let out a short sigh.

The imperial capital was protected. The citizens survived.

However, the two sons who were the foundation of the nation, who were entrusted with the affairs of the country, had disappeared.

The Emperor could no longer tell. Whether he had properly prevented the destruction that Everblack had prophesied. Whether the target of the prophecy was even this incident in the first place.

Clinging to the illusion of prophecy, the Emperor, in his position, had been engaged in meaningless battles on the other side of the shore… and perhaps he had missed the essence of the world.

So, the Emperor decided to let go, starting now.

He decided to let go of the constraints of prophecy and face reality, even now.

“I will nullify the war declared with the Duchy. I will also proceed with compensation for damages in order.”

Although there was already a tentative truce, the Emperor declared a complete end to the war between the Bringer Duchy and the Everblack Empire.

“However, I will not apologize.”

“I didn’t expect you to, you bastard. You’re so stiff-necked.”

Dusk Bringer clicked her tongue.

The Emperor gave her a surprised look.

“Aren’t you angry, Duchess? Honestly, I thought you would breathe fire at me as soon as we met.”

“Well, my heart is burning… but I am a king. In other words, I’m a politician.”

Dusk Bringer shrugged her small shoulders.

“I’m not stupid enough not to know that fighting until the end with the Empire would be fatal to my country.”

“…….”

“If there is proper compensation for damages, a non-aggression pact, and a sincere apology from the Emperor! Wouldn’t it be beneficial for us to stop here?”

“I will not apologize.”

“I don’t need a verbal apology either! I’m saying you should provide proper material compensation. My country is in ruins because of your army!”

Dusk Bringer, who actually spat out a small fire from her mouth, then let out a dry breath.

“I’m quite heated, but with that much, I don’t plan to rampage anymore.”

“…Considering what you’re saying, you seem to have calmed down a bit.”

The Emperor, who knew Dusk Bringer’s personality well, was puzzled.

Compensation is compensation, resentment is resentment.

If it were the usual Dusk Bringer, she would have said this and attacked immediately. Why was she being so docile?

“Be grateful to your youngest son.”

Dusk Bringer smiled with a snort.

“He neutralized all my anger towards the Empire.”

“…….”

“When Lark and the 1st Legion were about to die, Ash saved us all. Thanks to him, we were able to lay the foundation for recovery.”

Ash interfered with the Dragon Blood Front [a military formation].

But because of that, Dusk Bringer survived as Ash’s ally and contributed to the monster front.

Now, the Emperor was even more confused. What future did the past prophecy show?

So… he decided to just look at the present.

“Sister.”

“Oh my, it’s a bit startling to actually be called that. Why are you calling me that?”

“Please take care of my son.”

The Emperor slowly bowed his head to Dusk Bringer as a sign of respect.

“It’s shameless, but just as you helped me in my childhood… please look after Ash from now on. He will become the Emperor of this country in the future.”

“…I don’t know.”

Dusk Bringer did not answer immediately.

The Emperor looked at her, puzzled. Dusk Bringer revealed her sharp teeth and laughed heartily.

“Of course, I will continue to help Ash. But whether he will really become the Emperor… we’ll have to see when the time comes, won’t we?”

“Huh?”

What was she talking about?

Ash was the only remaining imperial grandson in the Empire. Then who else could become the Emperor besides Ash?

“I also care a lot about Ash, but isn’t he… not an ordinary, extraordinary guy?”

It was good to say extraordinary.

To be honest, he was full of crazy aspects.

Dusk Bringer slightly twirled her index finger next to her temple.

“I have a feeling. His enthronement will also be… quite a difficult task.”

The Emperor burst into a hearty laugh.

“Originally, all rulers are bound to be broken somewhere.”

“You too, and me too?”

“I learned it from you, sister.”

“You’re funny. You were crazy from the start, you little rascal.”

A smile finally touched the Emperor’s stiff lips.

But the smile quickly disappeared. Looking back at the ruined palace, the Emperor spoke again in a desolate voice.

“The road ahead is long.”

“The road is always long. It has no end.”

Speaking like a sage with the appearance of a young girl, Dusk Bringer slapped the Emperor’s back with her hand.

“The important thing is not just to look at the road, but to take one step at a time, isn’t it?”

Whack!

Dusk Bringer shouted confidently at the Emperor, who was staggering greatly.

“Come on, move it. Emperor! Rebuilding the ruined country is also the duty of a ruler! And I will go to my country and do the same thing.”

“…….”

Touching his aching back, the Emperor thought.

No matter how he thought about it, the hand strike just now was full of emotion…

***

After sending Serenade to the Merfolk King, I hurried through the imperial capital to join the other party members.

Everyone was scattered, so gathering them in this vast city was a task.

The main street was crowded with people who had poured out. I made my way through the crowd, observing the faces of people who were relieved by the end of the emergency situation, and those who were still anxious.

It was then.

“……?”

A group of people who had appeared out of nowhere came and stood politely in front of me. I was flustered and looked around at them.

All of them were women.

They were all wearing black veils and black dresses, dressed in mourning clothes.

These women sent me gazes from behind their veils that were sad, longing… and difficult to understand.

I was flustered and broke out in a cold sweat.

“Um… do you have any business with me?”

“No, we do not.”

The woman standing at the front answered my question.

“We have no business with the current Highness.”

What kind of hardship had she gone through?

The woman’s face was bruised and blotchy under her veil. Had she been subjected to harsh torture?

But the way she looked at me with that face was affectionate. The wounds were as proud as medals.

Suddenly, I felt like I knew who they were.

“I see, so you are…”

I looked around at the women and nodded.

“The ‘jilted women’ of mine.”

“No, we are not.”

The woman denied again, then calmly continued her explanation.

“We were jilted not by the current Highness, but by the former Highness.”

“…….”

“We were graced by him, and we fell in love with him.”

Was she reminiscing?

The woman closed her eyes and continued.

“The former you were so beautiful, precarious, and… lovely that there was nothing we could do. We were willing to risk our insignificant lives for you.”

And they did.

They risked their lives and acted as hidden forces against the Aegis Special Forces [an elite military unit] in the imperial capital under Fernandez.

If it weren’t for their work, the shutdown protocol would have been activated long ago, and there would have been no chance for a counterattack.

Also… if it weren’t for the flag pieces they had taken care of.

If it weren’t for the letter that the past me sent to the present me.

I might have lost the final battle with Fernandez as well.

“I…”

I carefully opened my mouth.

“What can I do for you?”

“…….”

“What kind of reward do you want? I want to reward your hard work and pay you the proper value.”

“We did it voluntarily, on our own. We don’t need any reward.”

The woman looked at me with kind eyes… no.

She looked at Ash before the memories were overwritten.

“However, we wish. Please live on.”

The woman’s hand, holding the hem of her skirt, tightened.

“In the image of the person we loved. Without giving in to any adversity…”

“…….”

“Please enjoy the peace and happiness that he could not enjoy.”

The people who loved me, whom I do not remember, gave me their heartfelt blessings.

“We will watch and support you from afar.”

“…….”

“My beloved.”

The woman wore a sorrowful smile.

“May you be happy. And may you continue to be happy.”

Several dozen women in black dresses simultaneously grabbed the hems of their dresses and bowed to me.

Then, they all turned around and scattered into the city, into the crowd, and disappeared.

Whisk…!

The scattering women took off the black veils they were wearing and threw them into the sky.

The neatly tied hair of different colors fluttered behind their dresses. The women disappeared into their own worlds with lighter steps.

“…You too.”

I quietly watched this spectacle, then whispered softly.

“May you be happy, and may you continue to be happy.”

And.

I prayed that the long funeral of the lovers you had gone through would also be completely over today.

I stood there and watched until the women’s backs had completely disappeared.

While also saying goodbye to the past me who had been with them.