I Became the Tyrant of a Defense Game [EN]: Chapter 496

Lily, standing before the kings, was visibly nervous.

She kept swallowing hard, her throat bobbing, before turning to me.

“Y-Your Highness… do I really have to do this…?”

“Of course. And you’ll do great.”

I gently patted Lily’s shoulder.

“Please, Lily.”

“I-I understand.”

I pushed the wheelchair forward as Lily moved ahead. The kings’ intense gazes fell upon her.

Among the kings, an old man with a long white beard asked, looking puzzled.

“Who are you?”

“I-I am Lily.”

“Are you royalty from somewhere? Or the leader of some faction?”

“I am a commoner from the Empire. And, I am the senior mage of this front.”

“A commoner? And a senior mage…? So, you’re just a mercenary, aren’t you?”

The king’s wrinkled face darkened with anger.

“This is a place where leaders from all over the world gather to discuss the future of the world! It’s not a place for a commoner mercenary who doesn’t know her place! Get out of here!”

“Ugh… !”

Lily flinched and tried to step back.

Thud!

But I stood firmly behind Lily, holding onto her wheelchair.

I gave a gentle smile to Lily, who looked back with a pale face, and then looked forward.

“This mage, Lily, is a precious comrade who has been with me since I first stepped onto the battlefield.”

I glared at the disgruntled old king and growled fiercely.

“She has traversed treacherous battlefields that you cannot even imagine, and has burned down countless monsters.”

“…”

“She is a commoner mercenary. But she is also a warrior who has accomplished great feats. Please, treat her with the respect she deserves.”

The old king reluctantly turned his head away. I smiled at Lily once more.

“Lily. It’s okay.”

“…”

“So… please.”

Lily’s face was still a little pale, but she bit her lip once, hugged Sid tightly in her arms, and then slowly opened her mouth.

“…I first came to this front two years and six months ago.”

Lily began her story calmly.

What I had asked Lily to do… was to tell the kings about what she had experienced on this monster front.

That was all.

Lily trembled at first, but soon regained her composure and continued her story calmly.

Slowly. Without exaggeration. Just matter-of-factly.

How she had drifted into this remote southern region.

How she had gone into battle with a prince who had parachuted into the commander’s position, and ended up with a severe back injury.

How she had become unable to walk for the rest of her life and had to use a wheelchair.

How she had wanted to retire, but the commander wouldn’t allow it, so she ended up working in the alchemy workshop.

How she had fought against the monsters that poured out while sitting in her wheelchair, and how she had gone to the dungeon under that lake…

How she had met God Hand.

How she had initially hated God Hand because he was an elf who had caused her family’s death when she was young.

But how they had gradually opened their hearts to each other.

And how they had eventually fallen in love.

The brutal battles, the heartbreaking misunderstandings, and the night of celebration that had come…

After the fleeting happiness, winter had arrived.

And she had lost God Hand.

Before she could even despair, she had learned that she was carrying a new life in her womb.

After countless worries and nights spent in tears…

Lily had made a decision.

To live with this child.

“…”

I stood upright behind Lily, listening to her entire story.

The two-year story was long, sometimes disorganized, and occasionally emotional. But it was all true.

The faces of the kings, who had initially looked like they didn’t know why they had to listen to this story, gradually became serious.

From the Spider Queen, the Vampire King, the Wolf King, the Goblin God King, to Medusa just a few days ago.

How she, an ordinary human, had fought against countless legendary monsters, and what her comrades had done.

And how this child in her arms, Sid… had been born.

The long story came to an end. Lily was breathing heavily, her face pale.

“Thank you, Lily.”

In the silent conference hall, I smiled at Lily.

“You and Sid look tired. Take a break.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Lily bowed to the kings inside the conference hall and slowly exited. Serenade gently pushed Lily’s wheelchair out.

“That was a moving story.”

The old white-bearded king from earlier clasped his hands and tilted his chin.

“But what is the reason for telling us this story?”

“Because the spirit that this monster front, and… the World Guardian Front that will be launched here, must uphold was in that story.”

I looked around at the kings and smiled.

“Everyone.”

And then, I asked.

“What makes us human?”

***

The kings were unable to answer the sudden question. I continued.

“What makes us human? What makes us different from those monsters?”

What makes a person human?

What distinguishes a person from a monster?

The kings were silent at the sudden question, and I looked at each of them in turn.

“What makes us, who hate each other, gather here and talk? What is our common ground?”

“…”

“I believe it is… the ability to try to understand each other, no matter how much we hate each other.”

I know. It’s a cliché and a trite thing to say.

But sometimes, people need a cliché and trite story.

“We are different.”

I put strength into my voice.

“Just because you heard Lily’s story, can we, who can walk perfectly well, understand even one-hundredth of Lily’s situation, who has to use a wheelchair for the rest of her life?”

No.

That would be impossible.

“When Lily was young, her entire family was killed by goblins because an elf slave lowered the village’s barrier.”

“…”

“But even if you hear this story, can we fully understand the hatred she has for elves, and the fear she has for goblins?”

No.

That would be impossible.

“And yet, the heart that made her fall in love with an elf. And the heart that made her decide to give birth to and raise the mixed-race child she had with that lover, after losing him.”

I shook my head slightly.

“Can we dare to understand that?”

It’s impossible.

Absolutely impossible. But.

“But we can try to understand.”

I looked intently at the old king.

“We can listen to the story of a mere commoner mercenary and try to understand her pain. Just as you, who have gathered here, treat your people with kindness.”

People do not understand each other’s differences.

Those born in the desert do not understand those born in the snow, and those who have not experienced war do not understand those who have.

Those who have faced monsters and those who have not cannot help but see the world differently.

“We are different. We cannot help but be different. Our origins are different, our backgrounds are different, our values are different, our situations are different… everything is different.”

There are more reasons to hate each other than to cherish each other.

There are things in the world that can never be forgiven. There are rifts that can never be filled. That is an undeniable fact.

“But we are the same. Despite that, we are gathered here.”

Even across the rifts that can never be filled, we can shout and yell at each other, however unclear it may be. Because we can talk.

Because we still try to understand, that is why… we are still human.

It is thanks to this effort that the world has not yet lost its form.

‘Lily and God Hand were completely different beings.’

Their disabilities were different, their races were different, their genders were different.

Lily had lost her family to elves, and God Hand had lost his country to humans. There were countless reasons for them to hate each other.

But they tried to understand each other.

And as a result, a new life was born.

That is why I thought this birth was great. And in this birth, I saw the path that this front should take.

“The motto of this monster front is simple. To kill monsters and protect people.”

From the beginning until now, and in the future as well. This will not change.

“And a person is a being who strives to understand each other. That is how I will define it on this front.”

That much common ground is enough.

With just that much, we are the same people.

And if we are people, I will do anything to protect them.

I paused for a moment to catch my breath, and then the old white-bearded king from earlier growled.

“…So what are you trying to say?”

I faced the old king. He yelled.

“We can understand each other, so what? Are we supposed to hold hands and dance here with those who hated each other until yesterday?”

“…”

“It’s absurd, Third Prince of the Empire. You should be trying to win our hearts with gold and benefits, but what’s the reason for spouting such dreamy nonsense?”

The old king’s voice grew louder.

“Do you think you can maintain the front with just idealistic theories? Do you think you can keep us on this front with just such causes and justifications?”

“Is that not allowed?”

“What…?”

“If I keep you on this front with just ideals, causes, and justifications, is that not allowed?”

The old king’s face contorted in bewilderment, but I smiled.

This is a fantasy world, isn’t it? A world where kings can have fistfights, isn’t it?

Then, isn’t it okay to expect a bit of romance, to pursue ideals before money?

“Those who remain on this front must be people who try to understand each other, even if they are different.”

I raised my voice.

“It doesn’t matter if you were enemies, if your classes were different, if you were slaves or masters. For the next year, everyone on this front will be an equal army, and there will be only one goal.”

I raised my index finger.

“To protect ourselves and our people from monsters.”

“…”

“If there is anyone who does not agree with this goal and this motto, leave this front immediately. We don’t need you.”

“W-What did you say…?”

Not only the old king, who was bewildered, but also the faces of several other kings hardened in shock.

I snorted. What, did they think I would get on my knees and beg them to join the World Guardian Front?

Did they think I would promise them gold and benefits, grab their pant legs, and cry and beg?

Absolutely not.

It’s the opposite.

“If you do not agree with this motto, with this ideal, you do not need to be here. Get out of the World Guardian Front immediately.”

Then, the old king, his face turning red, jumped up from his seat as if he had been waiting for this.

“You are truly arrogant, young prince! Do you think I am so foolish that I would stay here after hearing such words!”

As he was about to turn around, I sneered at his back.

“But it will be quite a sight to see what will happen to the prestige of the countries that did not join this front after the world is saved.”

“…?!”

“What are you doing? Go on. Turn your back on the war to save the world, and leave quickly, complaining that you didn’t get gold and benefits.”

The old king’s shoulders stiffened. I grinned.

“That cowardice will be remembered for generations to come. The entire international community will laugh at you forever.”

Think about it, kings.

The World Guardian Front will be established in some way.

And it will fight to save the world, holding up a noble cause, and with pure ideals on its back.

And if the world does not perish. If we somehow manage to stop the monsters.

The World Guardian Front, an alliance of several countries formed around the Empire, will naturally wield enormous influence in the world afterward.

‘Don’t whine about a mere one-year conscription, you short-sighted fools.’

If you do not participate in this World Guardian Front now.

In a year, or even right now, that country will be isolated in the international community, and its long-term plans will collapse.

How can you wear a crown on your head if you can’t even read this much of the flow?

‘It’s not me who’s begging you to fight on this monster front.’

Politics is ultimately a battle of framing, of creating a structure.

And a frame can be flipped to create a completely different picture in an instant.

‘It’s you who need to beg.’

Even if the Everblack Empire falters, it is still the ruler of the world, and I am the most likely to become the Emperor right now.

The new world order that I lead is this World Guardian Front. Moreover, it has both cause and justification.

Rather, you are the ones who should be crying and begging, offering gold and benefits, to please let you fight alongside us, you idiots…!

“Prince Ash…”

The old king, trembling with anger, spat out.

“Are you… are you threatening us now?”

“Absolutely not. I am asking you. Very earnestly.”

I smiled kindly at the kings. The kings were watching me with disgusted eyes.

No, really? I’m asking you. Sincerely. Purely.

But whether you take it as a threat or not, well, that’s up to you.