I Became The Tyrant Of A Defense Game [EN]: Chapter 543

“Knowing how to give up efficiently is also a virtue of a king, Prince Ash. Pursuing only ideals without any consideration is nothing more than stubbornness and recklessness.”

“…….”

“The world calls a leader who knows how to find a good compromise between ideals and reality a wise ruler. If not, they are nothing more than a dark tyrant.”

Dearmurdin, repeating the words he had said back then, asked me.

“Which one are you? Will you walk the path of a wise ruler, or will you fall into the abyss of a dark tyrant?”

“…….”

I was going to fight to save the world, and I was also going to save as many allies as possible on the front lines. My conflicting ways of acting.

My contradiction of trying to reconcile the continuation of this increasingly harsh battlefield with the preservation of lives.

Until now, it had barely been possible to maintain both, but in the third year, in the face of the enemy’s powerful offensive, these two goals were clashing and collapsing.

I know.

It’s childish to stubbornly insist on not letting allies die and to overdo things.

This is the front line, and losses are inevitable.

We’ve already lost a lot, and we will continue to lose more. Isn’t that a fact we’ve already accepted?

But, even so.

“……Your Highness.”

If there is a way.

If there is a way to save the people suffering right in front of me. If there is a clear possibility in that path.

At least, shouldn’t we try?

“I have something to tell you, Your Highness.”

It was Janice who approached me.

When I gestured for her to speak, Janice hesitated for a moment, then spoke resolutely.

“……There is a way.”

“What way?”

“If the fear state of the captured allies is magic cast by the enemy, I think I can undo it.”

Several heroes around us looked surprised.

But I wasn’t surprised. I knew from the beginning, and I had been calculating it in my head, even taking Janice’s abilities into account.

The reason I hesitated was just that.

“If that scarecrow monster cast fear magically, I can dispel it. However…….”

“However?”

“……I need to be close.”

This plan required throwing this clueless idiot of an uncle into a death trap.

***

Janice’s skill set is as follows.

Passive. [Grant Us Peace (Dona Nobis Pacem)].

It is a step further enhanced from the general recovery magic passive, the Light of Healing, and it is possible to ‘remove status ailments’ along with recovery.

It was thanks to this skill that she was able to remove the ‘petrification’ status ailment of our allies during the Gorgon Sisters battle.

And this time, she will also be able to remove the ‘fear’ status ailment of the Scarecrow Legion with this.

Next, Skill 1 and Skill 2.

Skill 1. [God Does Not Want It (Deus Non Vult)].

Skill 2. [God Wants It (Deus Lo Vult)].

Skill 1 is a defense-increasing skill that forms a part of armor made of divine power and puts it on the body. Skill 2 is an attack-increasing skill that forms a weapon made of divine power and attacks the enemy.

The effects seem simple, but the increase in defense and attack power is quite significant. Moreover, it can be used in various ways depending on how divine power is applied.

However, it is not so important in this battle… Now, the ultimate skill is important.

Ultimate Skill. [If You Want Peace, Prepare for War (Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum)].

If the viewers of the classic enthusiast were watching, would they have shortened it to ‘PeaceWarPrep’?

It is an ultimate skill with outstanding effects, and it can apply the effects of passive, Skill 1, and Skill 2 to all allies within a certain range.

In other words, it is possible to heal allies within a certain range, recover from status ailments, equip them with divine power armor, or give them divine power weapons.

It is a powerful skill that completes Janice, an SSR-grade priest, as a wide-area healer and wide-area buffer.

However, it has three problems as much as its outstanding performance.

First, only one effect can be activated at a time.

Health recovery, status ailment removal, defense increase, attack power increase, these are not done at once, and only one of them must be selected.

Well, up to this point, it’s not really a problem, it’s just a bit disappointing. The real problem is from the next one.

Second. She has to be close.

All of Janice’s skills are for close combat.

From the passive, the effect is activated only when she directly touches an ally, and it goes without saying that Skill 1 and Skill 2 are skills to fight close to the enemy.

The ultimate skill also gives effects to allies around her, and of course, she has to go directly to the allies who will receive the effects.

Well, up to this point, you can grit your teeth and say it’s not bad, but…….

Third. For one turn before and after using this skill, Janice cannot move.

First, it takes one turn, that is, 3 minutes of casting time to use it. She has to stand still and concentrate for 3 minutes.

And after using it, she falls into a state of exhaustion for another 3 minutes, regardless of how many allies are within the range or how much divine power she used.

Normally, it might be a penalty that can be tolerated since the healer moves with the allies.

But now, the targets that need to be healed with this ultimate skill are all captured by the enemy, and they jump around when they sense us.

Even if she manages to use the skill within the range by luck, it is still in the middle of the enemy camp.

If she gets exhausted for 3 minutes after using it, it’s like shouting, ‘Please kill me!’

‘It’s really frustrating that they put one disadvantage on good skills just to balance them!’

I don’t want to make difficult choices! I want to use a bunch of balance-breaking characters who spam mindless OP skills! Why doesn’t this damn fantasy world understand my heart!

“Hoo.”

I sighed and clicked my tongue at Janice.

“Okay, let’s say you get close. But then, can you heal them properly? Those scarecrows that sense you will rush to kill you.”

“There is a way. Your Highness also knows it.”

Janice looked at me intently. I frowned unhappily.

Lukas, who was standing between us and looking around, asked curiously.

“What is that method, my lord?”

“……It’s about getting captured on purpose.”

I reluctantly explained.

“Janice deliberately gets captured by the enemy scarecrows, then gets dragged to the center of the enemy legion… and uses a wide-area healing skill there.”

“No, is that possible? Isn’t she dominated by the fear of the enemies from the moment she is captured?”

“Janice has status ailment recovery magic, so she can dispel the fear herself.”

I can also assist from a distance with [Unyielding Commander].

The enemies don’t pay much attention to the captured victims, so even if she is tied to a scarecrow, Janice will be able to use her ultimate skill.

The problem is after that…….

“After I dispel the fear of those who have been captured, Your Highness and everyone else can rush in and save me. Isn’t this quite a good chance of winning?”

“…….”

I sighed at Janice, who was speaking calmly.

“You might really die, Janice.”

“If we stay like this, everyone captured there will definitely die. I think it’s a gamble worth taking.”

“……I just want to ask you one thing.”

I asked, genuinely suspicious.

“Are you perhaps the type who feels joy in sacrificing yourself for others? Or are you, like… a masochist? Is that it?”

Janice smiled bitterly.

“No, I’m not.”

“Then why are you going this far?”

“I survived because of the kindness of others. Even if I can’t repay as much as I received, I will not run away when I can step forward.”

“A clergyman has appeared…….”

No, he is a clergyman. Right.

Janice, who had already returned his priest’s robe and could no longer make the sign of the cross that he used to do habitually, was still smiling kindly.

“……Let me ask you one more thing.”

I snapped coldly.

“You’re not just looking for a place to die, are you?”

“…….”

“Now that you’ve been dismissed as a priest, you’re not just trying to die in a cool and rewarding way, are you? I will never allow it if that’s the reason.”

Janice moved his lips a few times, then shook his head with a bitter smile.

“……Honestly, I can’t say that I don’t have that kind of feeling at all.”

Look at how honest this uncle is.

“So…… Your Highness, please save me.”

Janice looked towards the forward base.

“According to our doctrine, priests should not commit suicide. I will throw myself into a dangerous place, so Your Highness, and everyone else…… please save me.”

“…….”

Finally, I nodded.

“It’s dangerous, but it’s worth a try.”

“Prince Ash!”

Dearmurdin, who had been listening to the conversation, shouted.

“Are you really going to ignore my advice?!”

“…….”

“Those who should die must die, and those who should live must live! Why can’t you make such a basic judgment?!”

There is no wrong opinion here.

They all make sense. Dearmurdin is the same.

Still, I decided.

“We will carry out the operation while maintaining a safety line. However, just in case, please do not participate in this operation and watch from afar, Dearmurdin.”

Dearmurdin’s face contorted. I glanced at the old mage and nodded.

“And if we are all annihilated, please return to Crossroads and come up with countermeasures.”

“…….”

“I trust you with this. Head of the Ivory Tower.”

A plan was assembled in my head.

Turning away from Dearmurdin, I clapped my hands and shouted to my subordinates.

“Okay, there’s no time! I’ll explain the plan immediately!”

I commanded my subordinates, who were looking at me with tense faces.

“The operation name is…… Hit the Scarecrow 10,000 Times!”

“……?”

My subordinates all looked puzzled at the strange operation name.

No, in MMORPGs, hitting a scarecrow 10,000 times in the beginner village to raise stats was common sense in this world!

Scarecrows are meant to be beaten up!

***

After my instructions were finished, everyone began preparing for the operation.

I also started preparing. This time, it was a situation where I had to use all my abilities.

“Hoo, okay.”

I grabbed the ceremonial longsword- Nightmare Slayer [Light and Shadow] that was hanging on my waist.

“It’s time for me to use my hidden card.”

I slowly drew the ceremonial longsword with a cool pose (although I don’t know any swordsmanship), but a sarcastic voice flew in.

“Do you even know how to use a sword?”

It was obviously Dearmurdin.

Even while grumbling, he was worried to death about us, and Dearmurdin was pacing around me restlessly. I chuckled.

“This isn’t a sword.”

“Even though it’s a ceremonial one that hasn’t been sharpened, it looks like a sword…….”

“I made it look like that. But actually, that’s not its purpose.”

In my right hand, after drawing the sword, I held the ceremonial longsword [Light], and in my left hand, I held the scabbard [Shadow].

“Dearmurdin. All the advice you gave me is reasonable.”

“…….”

“But if I handle everything according to reason, I won’t be able to reach the ending I desire.”

What I’m trying to reach is neither a normal ending nor a good ending.

A true ending – a true ending.

It is something that can only be grasped by breaking reason, breaking laws, breaking limits, and at the end of it all.

So.

“I will show the world my desires, my stubbornness, my recklessness.”

Saving those who should die,

Clearing stages that cannot be cleared,

Reaching endings that cannot be reached.

To do that, I will constantly repeat futile actions and struggles. It’s okay if people point fingers at me, saying I’m reckless, foolish, and full of stubbornness.

Yes. Because this is the path I have chosen.

Dearmurdin, who let out a hollow laugh as if he was dumbfounded, shook his head.

“Do you know? That mindset is…….”

“You don’t have to say it.”

I will not become a dark tyrant.

I never wanted to be a wise ruler.

What I was trying to become from the beginning was……!

Spin!

I turned the ceremonial longsword [Light] so that the handle was facing down.

And then, I placed the scabbard [Shadow] on the handle-

Click-!

I combined the two.