I Became the Tyrant of a Defense Game [EN]: Chapter 476

477. Premonition (2)

Shortly after Ash led the World Protection Front forces out of Crossroads, a monster invasion occurred.

They managed to fend it off without any casualties, and no equipment in the city was destroyed. It was a flawless defensive victory.

Several weeks have passed since then.

Morale was high, and Lucas was confident. He was certain he could protect Crossroads safely until Ash returned.

But to lose fifteen heroes, not in a defensive battle, but during a routine exploration…

*Flash!*

Lucas and Evangeline hurried to the base camp, hoping to find information about the monster responsible for the incident.

However,

“……?!”

“What? Where did everyone go……?”

The base camp was deserted.

It was usually a place where adventurers stayed after rescuing the kidnapped, but now no one was there.

As the two knights were panicking, they spotted a large witch packing her belongings in her workshop. It was Coco, the teleporter.

As the two knights rushed to Coco, the old witch grinned, revealing her large mouth.

“Ho ho, aren’t you Ash’s knight subordinates? What are you doing here at such a dangerous time?”

“Madam Coco, it’s been a while.”

Lucas bowed politely and asked cautiously.

“Dangerous time? Could you explain in detail? Where did everyone else at the base camp go?”

“They all dug their own hideouts and hid inside. It seems they decided it wasn’t safe here after the base camp was attacked just yesterday…….”

Coco also seemed to be leaving for a hideout. She spoke while carrying her bundle on her back.

“Of all times, these troublesome monsters had to cause chaos when Muyeong was away due to his destiny. Sigh.”

“What are these troublesome monsters?”

Then, Coco narrowed her wrinkled eyes and spoke the ominous name.

“Gorgon (Γοργών).”

“Huh? Gorgon……?”

“Yes. They are infamous for being vicious even in the darkness beneath the Lake Kingdom.”

The witch shuddered as if she was disgusted just by imagining them.

“The worst three monster sisters have appeared!”

***

After Coco had also left, heading to her own hideout.

“……The three Gorgon sisters. I’ve heard of them.”

Lucas said, taking out the scales he had collected from his pocket and examining them.

“The Lord gave me information before he left.”

Before leaving for the Imperial City, Ash had spent his spare time writing strategies for Lucas to protect Crossroads in his absence.

Lucas had memorized the document that detailed the types and characteristics of the monsters that could invade Crossroads. That’s why he could recall the information as soon as he heard the name of the enemy.

‘The three Gorgon sisters.’

First, Stheno, the one with immense strength.

Second, Euryale, the one who can fly.

And the youngest, Medusa, the one who controls.

A legion of just three. Vicious monsters with hair made of snakes, scattering petrifying eyes.

“They are named monsters, as strong as the ten commanders of the Nightmare Legion.”

These three monsters have no subordinates.

That’s because their abilities petrify even their allies.

And also, because they are powerful enough not to need subordinates.

‘No wonder the enemy legion couldn’t be identified during this exploration…….’

Usually, the monsters for the next defensive battle would fill the dungeon.

But this time, no monsters were seen. It was the same as when they faced Jörmungandr, the ‘World Serpent,’ before.

Unable to get information about the next defensive battle’s enemy legion, they desperately increased the scale of the exploration and sent several parties into the dungeon for reconnaissance.

That’s when they were attacked. By the enemy legion commander…….

‘And even the base camp was devastated.’

Originally, the base camp was a safe zone, a space where Coco’s barrier prevented monsters from entering.

But it seems the three Gorgon sisters stood outside the barrier and unleashed their petrifying gaze.

Since this cursed gaze works when you make eye contact, many adventurers who were careless because they trusted the barrier were affected.

‘Even so, the adventurers at the base camp are quite skilled…….’

Having lived in this dungeon for a long time, their average level is quite high. And yet, they were helpless.

Seeing the base camp devastated in just one day, Lucas felt that if they were complacent with the safe walls, Crossroads would suffer the same fate. Lucas gritted his teeth.

“Of all the enemies, we had to get the worst one.”

In the document Ash wrote, it was mentioned that these three Gorgon sisters were the rarest and had the lowest probability of appearing—so low that you could fall backward and break your nose [a Korean idiom meaning extremely low probability].

And it also said that they were the worst enemy legion to face with the current forces of Crossroads.

‘The Gorgon sisters’ ability is petrification.’

In short, it’s a special gimmick.

The remaining forces in Crossroads are undoubtedly powerful elites, but they are weak against such special enemies.

The core heroes are honest knights like Lucas and Evangeline, who are strong in straightforward power battles, but they struggle to come up with countermeasures against such difficult enemies.

“So, does that mean we can’t handle it on our own?”

Evangeline asked urgently after hearing the explanation about the three Gorgon sisters.

“Then, we should immediately request reinforcements from the seniors in the Imperial City……!”

“……We can’t do that.”

Lucas shook his head.

“The Lord is fighting for the fate of the world right now. He trusted us and left it to us.”

“…….”

“We have to handle it on our own.”

Fortunately, Ash had even left behind a strategy in the document.

He had written down the measures that the current forces of Crossroads could take in case these three sisters attacked.

‘It’s doable. Definitely.’

Certainly, the three Gorgon sisters are special enemies. But as unique as their abilities are, there are definitely points to exploit.

Lucas decided to carry out the defense without informing the Imperial City.

Even if they suffer some damage in the process…… they decided not to burden the battle in the north, which would determine the fate of the world.

“First, let’s transport the petrified people to this base camp.”

Lucas turned towards the teleport gate.

His subordinate heroes, who had belatedly followed the two knights, were rushing through the teleport gate.

“They are only petrified, not dead…… Let’s move them to a safe place.”

If they don’t release the petrification in time, they will all die, but not yet.

Similarly…… if they don’t come up with countermeasures in time, the defense will fail, but not yet.

‘I will make it happen.’

Lucas clenched his fist tightly.

‘I won’t let the Lord down. I will prove that I am a sword he can trust and rely on……!’

“…….”

Evangeline could only watch Lucas with a worried gaze.

***

However, the situation began to unfold much more urgently than Lucas had anticipated.

“Sir Lucas! Reporting!”

Just a few hours later, as soon as they returned to Crossroads from the dungeon, urgent news arrived.

“Report from the scouts stationed at the lakeside pier! We have confirmed the appearance of monsters through the surface of the Black Lake!”

“What? Already……?!”

No—it wasn’t already.

Quite some time had passed since the last defensive battle.

They just hadn’t been able to identify the enemy monster legion, but they might have been preparing for a surprise attack while secretly advancing.

‘If they are high-ranking monsters, they might have been using deception tactics to launch a surprise attack without being detected by us…….’

Lucas was remorseful for his own carelessness.

He thought that if they reinforced the walls, maintained the defensive equipment, and managed the soldiers well, everything would be fine.

But it wasn’t. He should have tried harder to understand the enemy’s intentions more thoroughly and meticulously. If he had, the situation wouldn’t be so urgent…….

‘Tch!’

Lucas shook his head. Now is not the time to dwell on the lost time. He needs to think about what to do next.

“What do the monsters look like?”

“Their hair is made of snakes, their upper body is covered in thick fur…… and their hands and feet are made of metal, they were hideous monsters.”

It matched the characteristics of the Gorgons that Ash had told him about.

“How many?”

“There were only three.”

“It’s definitely them.”

Lucas spat out, trembling with anger.

“……Immediately evacuate all the citizens of Crossroads to the north.”

Lucas looked around and ordered.

“The three Gorgon sisters are to be considered as a threat equal to the previous Jörmungandr.”

Fifteen heroes who had encountered them were annihilated without being able to do anything.

Their abilities are tricky, and there are not many ways to deal with them. Above all, Ash is not here now.

Lucas judged that the situation was as difficult as, or perhaps even more difficult than, the time they faced Jörmungandr.

“Start evacuating the citizens immediately. Hurry!”

To use the strategy that Ash had left behind, they had to empty the city, and to do that, the evacuation of the citizens was essential.

So Lucas was about to order the evacuation.

However.

“Lily is…….”

Evangeline mumbled hesitantly.

“She’s in labor right now.”

“…….”

“Can she…… evacuate?”

Lucas rubbed his forehead with his hand. His head was throbbing.

“……Let’s go to the temple. Right now.”

The two knights immediately headed to the temple and called for Jenice.

“Whoops!”

Jenice, who was secretly trying to light a cigarette in the temple’s backyard during her break, rushed to the two knights.

“What’s the matter, Sir Lucas? Or should I call you acting commander?”

“Either is fine. More importantly, it’s urgent.”

Lucas asked directly.

“When do you think the delivery will be over?”

“In all my life, I’ve never seen such a difficult labor…… Usually, hybrids torment their mothers from the time they are in the womb until they are born, but this one is worse. The situation is not good right now.”

Jenice couldn’t help but put a cigarette in her mouth. But she didn’t light it, she just chewed it like gum.

“If it weren’t for the temple, Lily would have died a long time ago. The baby would have died too. It’s only because there are so many priests here that the situation is stable…….”

“I’m sorry, but please keep the explanation brief. So, how many more days do you think it will take?”

“……Based on my experience, at least three days.”

Jenice sighed deeply.

“I had a hybrid child before that took about that long. But the situation is worse than that time…… it might take longer.”

“…….”

“But, why? What’s wrong?”

Instead of Lucas, who was rubbing his throbbing temples and worrying, Evangeline stepped forward and explained the current situation.

She told them that a powerful enemy monster was approaching and that they needed to start evacuating immediately.

Even after hearing everything, Jenice shook her head.

“No, I can’t. I told you, it’s a terrible difficult labor right now…….”

“…….”

“She’s already in a precarious battle, and you’re telling me to evacuate on top of that? If we’re lucky, either Lily or the baby will survive. Usually, both will die.”

When Jenice refused the evacuation, Lucas retorted harshly.

“We have to empty the city, immediately! Otherwise, they will die from the monsters!”

“So, what? Are you telling me to decide now? Whether the mother dies from the monster or dies while evacuating, is that what you want me to decide?”

Jenice flared up.

“In this weather, with winter coming, where are we supposed to evacuate and give birth to a baby! Do you really want both the mother and the baby to die?”

“If we don’t evacuate immediately, Priestess, your safety cannot be guaranteed either.”

“Listen here, knight.”

Jenice took a step closer to Lucas.

“If I was going to worry about safety, I wouldn’t have been assigned to this city in the first place.”

“…….”

“As a priest, I will save the mother and the baby. Neither the acting commander nor the monsters can interfere with this.”

Lucas and Jenice stood facing each other for a moment.

After a while, Lucas let out a long sigh.

“……Alright. Let’s start evacuating the other citizens first, and Lily will evacuate with the baby as soon as the delivery is over. Until then, let’s leave only the minimum number of people in the temple.”

It was the best compromise Lucas could make.

Jenice nodded heavily, and Lucas pointed towards the temple.

“Please select the minimum number of people needed, Priestess Jenice. And order the rest to evacuate. Immediately.”

“Damn it, it’s really like adding insult to injury…….”

Jenice grumbled and ran into the temple.

Leaving the noisy temple behind, Lucas and Evangeline walked outside. The city, where the evacuation order had already been issued, was quickly becoming chaotic.

*Ding ding ding ding ding ding-*

Evangeline felt uneasy at the sound of the urgent bell and the footsteps of the soldiers running to prepare for the monsters.

Just half a day ago, Crossroads, which was peaceful and joyful at the thought of seeing Lily’s baby, was gone.

It was transforming into a front line, a fortress preparing for a monster invasion.

“……So.”

Evangeline looked up at Lucas, turning her eyes away from the street filled with the ominousness of the impending war, and asked.

“What is that strategy that Ash gave you?”