I Became the Tyrant of a Defense Game [EN]: Chapter 528

I couldn’t help but chuckle at Mikhail’s words of gratitude.

“We have to help each other out. Especially those of us fighting monsters together.”

“I challenged your command. That means I’m someone who could rebel against you at any time… From your perspective, I’m a potential obstacle to the stable command of the front lines.”

Mikhail’s crimson eyes darted as she stared at me.

“But you saved me and my knights. Whether that was out of mercy or confidence in your command, I don’t know… Well, either way, it’s my complete defeat.”

Unlike the monsters forced into submission by magic, this young knight before me… knew how to bow her head. She acknowledged her mistakes and the merits of others.

That was a little admirable.

“You’re surprisingly self-aware, aren’t you?”

“I tend to reflect after I’ve done something. I need to make fewer mistakes in the future. The problem is, I can’t think things through before I act…”

Mikhail sighed deeply.

“I admit I charged into this battle like a reckless fool, but I’m not so pathetic that I can’t accept the consequences.”

That act of admitting is a big deal.

Admitting her own faults and looking to the future.

Perhaps this alone was enough to prove Mikhail’s potential as a hero.

Having said her piece, Mikhail continued, as if relieved.

“The monsters here are far more powerful than those in our kingdom… but the sophistication of the combat doctrine for dealing with them is also overwhelmingly superior here.”

“Thanks for the compliment.”

“Actually, I read the reports about the monsters that appear in the south. They weren’t this threatening. It must have changed suddenly in the last few years, right?”

I didn’t answer. Mikhail nodded silently.

“And Prince Ash, you’ve been maintaining the front lines against these monsters all this time.”

“We’ve all been working hard in our own positions.”

“There’s no need to be modest. You and your army have done something amazing.”

Mikhail scratched her head, then placed her hand over her chest.

“As per the bet, for as long as the World Guardian Front exists, the Sky Knights will faithfully follow your orders.”

“I’ll look forward to it.”

“However, I’d like to add one more condition.”

I raised an eyebrow. Mikhail nodded with a determined look.

“Send us to the most dangerous and challenging places.”

“Oh?”

“I may have shown a disgraceful side today, but if given proper command, our Sky Knights can fly higher than any other heroes.”

As she said, Mikhail and the Sky Knights were already a top-tier force in terms of stats.

What they needed was experience. And the right tactics.

If they continued to defeat this many tough monsters under proper direction, the Sky Knights could become even more effective than my other parties.

I chuckled and extended my hand.

“I look forward to working with you, Mikhail.”

“Likewise, Prince Ash.”

We shook hands.

“Alright, enough with the reflection! Let’s go have a victory feast!”

I patted Mikhail on the shoulder and led her down from the ramparts.

“It’s another specialty of our Crossroads! If we win, we eat, drink, and enjoy ourselves!”

***

Lukas and Evangeline returned safely.

They must have been exhausted after fighting in the air while riding on the backs of monsters, but Lukas calmly organized the battlefield and reported the results.

Evangeline? She immediately ran off to prepare for the feast, singing a song like, ‘Playing is the best~’

“In this battle… there were some casualties, and a few cannons broke down.”

Lukas smiled at me as he scanned the report.

“Other than that, there were no losses. It was an excellent battle, my lord.”

“It’s the result of everyone doing their jobs well.”

Not only our existing forces but also the newly joined Sky Knights performed their roles as bait well.

When everyone does their part, even a difficult monster army can be dealt with without much damage.

“The incineration of corpses and the collection of spoils are complete. That concludes today’s work.”

“Let’s close up shop and go in~ Everyone’s worked hard, so let’s fill our bellies.”

As Lukas and I finished cleaning up the battlefield and headed to the city’s central square, a drinking party was already underway.

There had been an awkward and subtle tension between the existing Crossroads forces and the newly joined forces, but after fighting together today and with the flow of alcohol and meat, they quickly became friendly with each other.

Above all, they all had the commonality of being soldiers.

The hardships that soldiers feel are similar, no matter where in the world they are fighting or what enemies they face.

As they shared their grievances, the soldiers quickly mingled and got along.

And…

“The shul [a type of alcoholic beverage] of Gaesujeon is blanddd~”

Mikhail was already drunk!

“It’s so bland, it’s like water, water. Give me more~”

Mumbling with a slurred tongue, Mikhail kept tilting her glass. I was horrified and snatched the glass from her hand.

“Hey, aren’t you a minor?! Why are you drinking like this! Go drink some juice!”

“Huh? In my country, we’re adults at twelve? I have five fiancées, you know?”

No, your sister also had five husbands, why do you people have so many spouses! What’s wrong with the Vermillion Kingdom’s sense of chastity!

Mikhail, completely drunk, began to babble and act out her drunken antics.

One of the Sky Knights, watching this, bowed his head to me with a cold sweat.

“I apologize for this disgraceful behavior. The Crown Princess is weak to alcohol…”

“Then you should have stopped her from drinking!”

“She said she was really okay this time, so we only gave her one glass…”

Then, Mikhail put her hands on her head and started hopping around. The soldiers watching this began to laugh, holding their stomachs.

Okay? She’s completely out of it!

‘Is this also a result of the negative trait ‘Recklessness’?’

Suddenly, I began to worry about whether I could control this kid in the future. Hmm.

“Hahaha! This much alcohol is nothing! The blood of griffons flows in the bodies of the people of the Vermillion Kingdom!”

Mikhail thumped her chest and declared.

Then, Evangeline, who had been sitting next to me, exchanging juice glasses with Lukas, asked Mikhail, puzzled.

“Then does that mean griffons and the people of the Vermillion Kingdom are siblings?”

“That’s right! We’re practically siblings!”

“But how do you ride griffons?”

“Huh?”

“If you’re siblings? Do you put saddles on them, tie them with reins, and sit on their butts? How can you do that? If you’re siblings?”

“Uh…”

Mikhail stared blankly at her griffon, which was tied up behind her, and opened her mouth slightly.

“…Come to think of it, you’re right?”

As if understanding her words, the griffon also widened its eyes and opened its beak, looking at us with a shocked expression.

Mikhail suddenly burst into tears and hugged the griffon’s neck.

“I’m sorry, my brother, I’m sorry! From now on, you can ride me…!”

She cried for a long time while clinging to the griffon, and then, not long after, she fell asleep as if she had fainted…

The Sky Knights gathered the Crown Princess and took her back to her lodgings. Evangeline clicked her tongue, watching them.

“I didn’t think so, but the Crown Princess of Vermillion, her character has completely broken down…”

“You’re the one who broke her…”

You made her realize the uncomfortable truth about the relationship between the people of the Vermillion Kingdom and griffons. You’re the culprit.

Anyway, Mikhail, who had gone completely out of it, went to her lodgings, but I continued to drink and chat with the remaining Sky Knights.

Before I knew it, my heroes were gathered around me, as always, chattering loudly. I suddenly looked around at my subordinates.

Junior was taking care of the young mages like younger siblings, feeding them food, and Damian was sitting with the priests, relieved that there weren’t many casualties today.

Kuilran and Yoon, Torkel and Nobody… the vanguard heroes who participated in the melee were each competing to see who had done the most today.

Verdandi and the Holy Grail Expedition, and the elves like Burnout and Bodybag, were, as expected, handing out nuts and honey wine to each other.

……

Finally.

When Lily appeared, holding baby Seed in her arms, the square erupted into a frenzy.

The bearded mercenary uncles were trembling, saying Seed was cute, and the female mercenaries were yelling, asking for a kiss from their aunt. You guys are all a little scary…

“The last party was good, but…”

Slightly detached from this chaotic feast. Dusk Bringer, who was quietly drinking next to me, chuckled and said.

“This king prefers drinking with the soldiers like this, all together and boisterous.”

“……”

I chuckled back and offered my glass. We quietly clinked our glasses together.

It was then.

“Hmm. Is this a victory feast?”

New people appeared.

Robed mages on white horses arrived in the central square, parting the crowd.

The old mage at the front took off his robe and stroked his long beard.

“We heard that a monster invasion was imminent, so we rushed here day and night. It seems the situation is already over?”

It was the Ivory Tower Master, the Archmage Diermuidin, who had caused trouble at the meeting of kings before.

And that wasn’t all. Following them, knights and warriors in various armors entered the square one after another.

“What, we arrived just in time for dinner, is this a feast!”

“We didn’t really do anything, but they’ll let us join, right?”

I couldn’t recognize who was who at a glance, but the soldiers around me murmured introductions about them.

“It’s the ‘Ivory Tower’… [a powerful mage organization]!”

“It’s the elite assault unit from the nomadic tribe ‘Mirage’!”

“Those red berets… are they the ‘Red Berets,’ the strongest in the jungle!”

“The dwarf army has also arrived!”

“Is that the elven queen and her guards…?!”

“Are the other races joining in earnest!”

“Are all the renowned warriors of the world gathering?”

All the new forces were from the top ranks of their respective regions, and they began to size up the existing forces, taking their places in the square.

The leaders of each military group, with fierce expressions, strode towards where I was drinking.

Looking at their faces, I sighed quietly.

It seems that as soon as I managed to get one troublesome person under control, even more troublesome people are pouring in, one after another.

‘Well, fine. Come on in.’

I’ll get them all in line and make them all my subordinates!

“Come on, let the monsters come as much as they want!”

After giving new drinks to the newcomers.

I raised my glass high, announcing the start of the second part of the feast. And I shouted.

“If we all join forces, we can crush those monsters like we did today!”

Ooooooh-!

The heroes and soldiers all smiled brightly and raised their glasses. The newcomers also began to mingle and join the feast, introducing themselves to each other.

We laughed, talked, drank, and shared stories all night long.

As if the world would never end. Like that.

***

…At that time, I didn’t know.

That this battle would be the last battle without any casualties.

That this was the last moment when everyone in the World Guardian Front could laugh and be happy together.

At that time, we had no idea.

***

[STAGE 26 – CLEAR!]

[STAGE MVP – Ash(EX)]

[Leveled Up Characters]

– Ash(EX) and 50 others

[Deceased Characters]

– None

[Injured Characters]

– Mikhail(SSR) and 25 others

[Acquired Items]

– Elite Beetle Magic Core(SR) : 20

– Beetle Legion Magic Stone : 372

– Beetle High-Grade Carapace : 150

[Captured Monster]

– Beetle Lord Hercules(SSR)

[Stage Clear Rewards have been distributed. Please check your inventory.]

– SR Grade Reward Box : 3

– R Grade Reward Box : 10

>> Get Ready For The Next STAGE

>> [Next STAGE : Too Young To Die]