I Became the Tyrant of a Defense Game [EN]: Chapter 537

◈ 538. Hannibal

Three years later. 14 years before the present.

Western Mist Kingdom. Temporary Goddess Church.

“Priest~ Sir~!”

“Play with us~!”

The children from the slums ran into the churchyard, shouting noisily.

Soon, the old door of the temporary church creaked open, and Zenith appeared, scratching his messy hair.

“…Not a priest, but a cleric.”

Between his shaggy hair, the sharp glint of an Inquisitor’s eyes, which he couldn’t hide, flashed.

“And how many times do I have to say I’m not a ‘sir’! I’m still in my twenties… !”

However, even in the face of Zenith’s fierce attitude, the children were unfazed. They stuck out their tongues at Zenith and pulled down their lower eyelids.

“Ebebe~ You’re acting prickly again.”

“Priest or cleric, it’s all the same! In our country, we call you ‘Priest-nim’.”

“Well, the priests don’t even look at the likes of us, but the cleric sir plays with us every day. Is it a little different?”

At the children’s words, Zenith put his hands on his hips and nodded heavily.

“Yes. That’s the difference between your Mist Kingdom Church and our Goddess Church. So, if you also convert to our Goddess Church…”

“Ah~ You’re saying boring things again.”

“Forget it, let’s play ball today, play ball!”

The children shrieked and entered the church as they pleased, and soon found a ball, hugged it, and rushed out.

“Hey, hey! Wait a minute! Before you take the ball, at least say a prayer of thanks…”

“Thank you, cleric sir!”

“Come quickly, sir~ !”

“I told you I’m not a sir… Hah, never mind.”

The children ran to a nearby open space with the ball. Zenith, watching them go, sighed and took out a cigarette, putting it in his mouth. Then, he stared blankly at the sky.

This was a terrible country.

From the terrible weather with dark clouds all year round, to the indigenous religion that strictly adhered to social class and ethnicity, and the existing power structure that benefited from this indigenous religion, they were hostile to the Goddess Church.

Naturally, Zenith, as a cleric, was also looked down upon.

With all the mistreatment and hostility, Zenith’s heart was gradually being worn away.

It was difficult to infiltrate the leadership, and support from the home country was becoming increasingly thin. In the end, he had to move the temporary church to a corner of the slums, where the rent was the cheapest.

As life became more difficult, his unkempt beard grew darker, and Zenith’s neat appearance, which had exuded a cold charm just three years ago, became more and more shabby.

‘I’m getting old, getting old.’

Looking at the stained mirror, Zenith irritably swept his hair back.

Still, the only place that accepted Zenith as a cleric of the Goddess Church was here in the slums.

He treated people’s wounds for free and became close with the children through balls and toys.

The people of the slums, who had much to gain from Zenith, gradually opened their hearts to him. Although they still refused to convert.

Three years of living among the people of the slums like this. Zenith’s heart, which had been as sharp as a well-honed knife, was now dull and blunt.

‘It’s difficult…’

From the start, Zenith was a combat operative. He was not proficient in healing magic, nor was he good at proselytizing.

There was no one more suitable to repel the radical followers of the Mist Kingdom Church who attacked the church from time to time, but the rest of the tasks were overwhelming.

Even though every day was difficult, the reason he was able to endure for three years in such a place was,

“Cleric-nim~!”

Thanks to this girl.

At the sound of her innocent laughter, Zenith turned his head, and a round girl with plump, healthy flesh, wearing a loose-fitting dress, waved her hand.

“Cleric-nim! How have you been?”

“…Princess.”

Zenith quickly put out his cigarette, and a faint smile unconsciously appeared on his lips.

Cloudy, the youngest princess of the Mist Kingdom.

She was a rare royal who was interested in the lives of the poor.

In this country where social status and class were clearly divided, it was rare in the history of this country for a princess to directly visit the slums and care for the lives of the poor.

So, she was especially popular with the poor, but she was ostracized in aristocratic society for smelling like livestock.

However, she didn’t care about such evaluations, and today she appeared in the slums with only one bodyguard.

“Welcome, Princess. And, that… bodyguard friend.”

As Zenith greeted them, Cloudy smiled brightly, and the bodyguard also bowed his head heavily.

Even the bodyguard she took with her was a slave from a beast race. Zenith thought she was a truly wonderful royal who fought against discrimination and corruption with her whole body.

‘She’s the only high-ranking person I can somehow try to get close to.’

In fact, in the current situation where most of the political maneuvers had failed, Cloudy was the only connection Zenith could rely on.

So, Zenith acted as docile as a dog with its tail down in front of Cloudy.

“What are you going to do today, cleric-nim? I’ll follow you anywhere and help!”

“Hmm… After playing ball with the children, I’m going to set up a regular clinic in the center of the village.”

“Those are all rewarding things! Is it okay if I follow you around?”

Cloudy covered her mouth and giggled. Even her voice felt round and cozy.

“Of course. It couldn’t be more reassuring if the princess helps.”

Zenith smiled back.

In this wretched neighborhood, Cloudy was one of the few refreshing things. If it weren’t for this girl, Zenith thought inwardly, he would have given up on proselytizing a long time ago.

***

Late afternoon, after the ball game and the clinic were all over.

Cloudy, who was helping with the cleanup of the clinic, wiped the sweat from her forehead and suddenly said.

“Cleric-nim, you are really amazing.”

“Yes?”

“As a cleric of the Goddess Church and a diplomat of the Everblack Empire, you must be quite a high-ranking person, but you are working so hard for the people of the slums in this distant foreign land.”

Zenith scratched the back of his head awkwardly.

“No, well… It’s a natural thing for a cleric of the Goddess Church to do.”

“It’s also amazing that the Goddess Church is a religion that loves everyone.”

Cloudy smiled bitterly, which didn’t suit her youthful face.

“As you know, our country is a strict class system, and the state religion is the same… I also want to help people in low places like cleric-nim, but it doesn’t work out as I wish.”

“You’re doing a good enough job.”

“But I don’t have the courage to give my whole life like cleric-nim.”

“I’m just living according to the doctrine. ‘If even one believer can be saved, do not hesitate to wage a holy war’….”

As Zenith recited the phrase as a habit, Cloudy looked at Zenith with a blank face. Feeling embarrassed, Zenith cleared his throat and cautiously brought up the topic.

“Do you like our doctrine? Then, would you perhaps consider converting…?”

“Hehe, that’s a bit much. As a royal, I’m also a priest of the state religion.”

Anyway, the people of this country would open their hearts to everything else, but not to proselytizing. Zenith clicked his tongue.

“But, I think Zenith-nim and the Goddess Church’s noble intentions are amazing. I will follow your example.”

Cloudy smiled brightly with her youthful face.

Zenith thought without realizing it.

‘She’s cute, and kind…’

Such pure goodness in this harsh country… Just being next to her was touching.

“I’ll go now! See you again, cleric-nim!”

Cloudy waved her plump hand and walked away. Her bodyguard followed silently behind her.

Zenith waved back at them and returned to the church.

“Another~ rewarding day’s work~ is done~”

Zenith, who was humming a strange tune on the spot, shuddered.

It’s a characteristic of old guys. They add strange tunes to their words and sing them.

He was unconsciously doing what the older priests in the order used to do.

“You’re really done for, Zenith…”

As he grumbled and opened the door,

Thud.

A piece of paper that had been wedged in the door fell to the floor.

“…”

Zenith’s face, which had been drooping for the past three years, hardened into cold metal in an instant.

‘A directive…!’

Zenith quickly picked up the paper and examined it. It looked like meaningless scribbles, but it was actually a complex code used only by the Holy Knights.

It was a directive from his sister, Rosetta. Zenith quickly read the contents.

‘There’s good news… Diplomacy between the Empire and the Mist Kingdom has dramatically improved, and an alliance agreement between the two countries is about to be signed…’

‘The Goddess Church has also been officially allowed to build a temple and begin official proselytizing… There will soon be a major personnel reshuffle from the order… Your hard work over the past three years has been great, now return home…’

A hollow laugh appeared on Zenith’s lips as he finished reading the directive.

Even though he had worked so hard to proselytize, no one had paid any attention, but as soon as diplomacy between the two countries progressed, they immediately granted permission for a formal temple. What a sight.

‘Well, it’s better than an order to kill them all if things go wrong.’

He had always been prepared for military action to turn this Mist Kingdom into a wasteland if necessary.

There was no need to use such force, nor was there any chance for his proselytizing to see the light of day. In the end, Zenith himself was just a small chess piece in a larger political game.

‘That’s enough. Good is good.’

Zenith crumpled the directive and looked around the shabby temporary church.

It was time to leave this place.

***

The incident happened that night.

Whoosh…

Zenith was building a fire inside the church and burning all of his belongings.

A body that should disappear like mist. There was no need to leave any unnecessary traces. Just like his past life.

“…”

The clothes and snacks he was going to give to the children in the slums tomorrow, the ball they had played with today, all became ashes.

In front of the disappearing memories, Zenith put a cigarette in his mouth to try to calm his turbulent heart. That’s when it happened.

Knock knock-

A knock on the church door was heard.

A visitor at this hour? Zenith opened the door, puzzled. Then,

“Cleric-nim.”

It was none other than the youngest princess Cloudy, who had come here with her identity concealed, wearing a robe hood pulled down low.

Zenith’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Princess?”

Why here?

Did she somehow realize that he was leaving tomorrow?

Or did she hear about the diplomatic talks between the two countries and come to congratulate him?

All sorts of thoughts flashed through his mind, but what came out of Cloudy’s mouth was completely unexpected.

“Please save me!”

Cloudy cried out with a tear-stained face.

“Please save me, cleric-nim!”

“…?”

Zenith’s face hardened with bewilderment.

“What? Save you? Who would try to harm the princess?”

“M-my, my father, he’s trying to kill me…”

“His Majesty the King is trying to kill the princess? Why?”

“Th-that’s…”

Cloudy hesitated, then grabbed her belly and squeezed her eyes shut.

“I was found out to be pregnant… !”

“…Yes?”

Pregnant?

No, what is this nonsense. She’s still young…

In front of Zenith, who was dumbfounded, Cloudy, looking distressed, unbuttoned the belly part of her dress.

A swollen belly was visible. It looked like she was almost full-term, how had she hidden it all this time?

Zenith, who was staring at the belly with his mouth agape, asked cautiously.

“…Princess, were you married?”

“Would I be?! Of course, it’s an illegitimate child, so my father was furious!”

Cloudy, trembling, snatched the cigarette Zenith was holding, put it in her mouth, and lit it. Then, with a trembling hand, she took a long drag. She was very skilled. Zenith’s gaping mouth widened even more.

“…Since when did you start smoking?”

“It’s a basic skill for royalty.”

“With a baby in your belly.”

“In this situation, even our baby will understand if I smoke one.”

Something… the fantasy about Princess Cloudy was shattering…

“You look close to full-term, how did you hide it all this time?”

“I’m a bit on the plump side. I’ve been lying that I’ve gained weight, but that excuse has reached its limit.”

Cloudy puffed out smoke with her round, innocent face.

“Hoo… I’ve been hiding it well, but I was found out today… I only needed to hold out for a few more days, damn it.”

“…Who, who is the father?”

“My bodyguard.”

“Ah, that friend.”

Only then did Zenith remember the beast race slave bodyguard who always followed Cloudy.

“He was my lover. We’ve been dating for 10 years.”

“…”

Zenith, feeling a strange chill, asked cautiously.

“Then, perhaps, all this time you’ve been helping slaves and the poor…?”

“Yes. It was all to make him happy.”

“It wasn’t because you had noble intentions?”

“Who cares about noble intentions, I only need my love!”

His head was starting to hurt even more. Zenith took a deep breath.

There was no refreshing thing. This country was indeed a terrible country…

“…So, where is that lovely love of yours now?”

“He’s dead…”

Cloudy, looking distressed again, bit her lip.

“As soon as my father found out, he captured him and had him torn apart by five horses…”

“…”

“I have to save this child. It’s the fruit of my love with him!”

Cloudy rushed to Zenith and begged, grabbing his collar.

“Please help me, cleric-nim! My father will try to kill the baby in my belly. And of course, he’ll kill me too!”

“No, how do you expect me to help you…”

The sound of soldiers’ footsteps echoed outside the church. The torches of the search party lit up the night streets.

Feeling the narrowing encirclement, Cloudy, whose face had turned pale, suddenly shouted at Zenith.

“I’ll convert!”

“…Yes?”

“I’ll convert! Right now, from this moment! I’ll believe in the Goddess Church!”

Zenith’s shoulders stiffened.

Shaking Zenith back and forth, Cloudy shouted.

“The Goddess Church doesn’t abandon its believers! You said you would wage a holy war to save even one believer! So!”

“…”

“Please save me.”

The sound of soldiers’ footsteps came right up to the church. Cloudy cried out.

“Please save the baby in my belly…!”