I Became the Tyrant of a Defense Game [EN]: Chapter 609

“But, Hecate. You are….”

Lukas answered awkwardly.

“A guy.”

“……?”

Silence fell. Hecate, and all the students watching, missed the flow of the conversation and just blinked blankly. Ash’s jaw dropped as he was chewing his candy.

Hecate, who had been spacing out for a moment, stammered back.

“…What? What did you say?”

“So….”

Lukas scratched the back of his head, embarrassed.

“I think of you as a good friend and a great swordsman, but no matter what, I can’t accept a confession from a guy….”

“No, no! Wait. Just wait a minute!”

Hecate, trembling, pointed at herself.

“Wh, who is a guy?”

“…You…?”

“Where do you see a guy in me, you crazy bastard-!”

A curse finally burst from Hecate’s beautiful lips.

Lukas tilted his head, puzzled.

“Aren’t you a guy?”

“Of course, I’m a girl, you cra, cra, crazy bastard!”

“So, your identity is female… Of course, I respect that as a friend, but….”

“No, I’m biologically a woman, you moron!”

Hecate had a straight physique, tightly packed muscles, short hair to avoid interfering with swordsmanship training, and a melancholic expression. Several points overlapped, exuding a neutral charm.

…It even made Lukas, who had been with her for six years, mistake her.

As a male.

“No, it just seems like Lukas is a legendary airhead….”

Ash muttered sullenly.

By now, the surrounding students were taking the candies in his hand one by one and putting them in their mouths. It was too exciting to stop.

“Hecate, you’re a girl… No way….”

Lukas, who was stammering in disbelief, gasped and recalled the past.

“Then, going to the bathroom separately every time?”

“Didn’t you ever think it was weird?!”

“When the three of us went to the river or the sea, you were the only one who didn’t take off your top…?”

“Try to notice, please! Notice at that point!”

“And that you were sick once a month, could it be…?”

“Do I have to say it out loud for you to know, you…!”

Facing Hecate, who was trembling with her shoulders and glaring with teary eyes.

Lukas belatedly clapped his hands and shouted.

“Oh my god, Hecate!”

“What?!”

“You were a girl?!”

At Lukas’s words that he had never seen her as a romantic interest, let alone as a member of the opposite sex.

“Dieeeee-!”

Hecate finally went berserk.

She began to beat Lukas wildly with the scabbard of her practice sword.

Lukas also tried to fight back with his scabbard, but Hecate, who was already superior in skill, attacked with desperate anger, and he couldn’t handle it.

In the end, the dark history of this day, later named the ‘369th Graduation Confession Disaster,’ ended with Lukas being carried to the infirmary, beaten all over….

“He deserved it.”

Ash muttered, watching the knight being carried away, and then he poured the remaining candy into his mouth.

And, looking around at Hecate, who was squatting on the floor crying, and the students who were comforting her, he chuckled and muttered quietly.

“Certainly, I think I’ll miss it. My last school days….”

As he felt the sunlight shining on his closed eyelids, the prince slowly took a deep breath.

The purity of the young boys and girls, the laughter of the students, and the shouts of the teachers rushing over in surprise….

The old air of the campus, which was now tiresome but would be cherished in the future,

He would never be able to experience it again.

“I’ll miss it.”

***

Present.

Lukas, recalling the events of the graduation ceremony, let out a deep sigh.

“No, how can I accept a confession from a friend I thought was the same gender until just yesterday….”

“I can see that you’re definitely not in your right mind, since you’ve been confused about your friend’s gender for six years….”

‘I should have guessed when this guy showed his weird side sometimes, but he’s really amazing in strange ways! I can only be amazed!’

“I was only focused on guarding my lord and improving my swordsmanship. Well, Hecate was a good friend, but.”

“So you didn’t see her as a member of the opposite sex at all.”

“That’s right. It wasn’t like I was in a situation to date anyone….”

“You moron, oh my….”

With such a lack of awareness, will he ever date anyone later? Isn’t he going to be alone for the rest of his life?

‘No, that’s not it. It’s the opposite. He’s the main character, so he’s oblivious in this area….’

If being insensitive to romance is a classic condition for a main character, then Lukas is just being true to that condition. That’s what main characters are like….

Anyway, Evangelin, who had heard the amazing past story, expressed her impressions with an admiring face.

“I didn’t know that Lukas had such an amazing youth. You look like you’ve lived a life that has nothing to do with romance… such a boring face.”

Lukas flared up.

“Did you just say I have a boring face…?”

“It’s too neat, a smooth mask without any stains. It’s boring.”

At Evangelin’s words, the other members nodded, hmm-ing. Junior and Damian spoke in turn.

“Indeed… Just by looking at your face, it seems like you’ve lived a perfect life without any wrinkles. Surprisingly, you’ve had a lot of colorful events?”

“I suddenly feel a sense of closeness to Sir Lukas! Hehe.”

It seems that the prejudice against Lukas, who had been acting like a perfect knight, had crumbled a lot. Junior and Damian smiled warmly.

“…….”

Lukas’s face became even darker at the unexpected revelation of his dark history. Well, it’s your original sin, what can you do?

‘By the way, it’s a dark history for Lukas, but it seems like an even darker history for Hecate….’

She confessed publicly and got rejected, and on top of that, she was recognized as a man by the other person… What a terrifying story of youthful wounds.

“…Well, that’s enough about the story of our immature days.”

Cough! Lukas cleared his throat and adjusted his tone, then coldly stared in the direction where Hecate had disappeared.

“Hecate’s talent and skill are real. I’ve never been able to beat her once during our school days.”

Lukas, who is one of the top SSR-grade combat geniuses in this World Protection Front, was overwhelmed throughout his school days, so Hecate’s talent is definitely monstrous.

Moreover, she was selected for the Glory Knights right after graduation, and now she has risen to the position of commander….

“But.”

Lukas continued in a fighting voice.

“It’s different now.”

“Oh?”

“I’ve also been trained in real combat. I’ve survived by facing countless mythical beasts with my sword. No matter what kind of training Hecate has done, I’m confident that I won’t lose.”

Lukas nodded seriously.

“The next match will be different from that day at the graduation ceremony.”

“…….”

“I won’t lose, my lord!”

Lukas shouted with a fighting spirit.

No, well, she was the one who confessed to you, you know. Instead of just thinking about winning in a sword fight, can’t you think about other ways of talking…?

‘Sigh, never mind. Never mind. My own love life is difficult, so who am I to tell you what to do.’

As I turned around thinking that, Evangelin was looking at Lukas with a subtle expression.

“Hmm~.”

“What about you?”

“I won’t lose either. To that Hecate person.”

“Hoo?”

“I’m also the top of the 375th class. And I even graduated early, which she didn’t!”

Ah, that side…?

I had a feeling, but it seems that the two muscle-brained knights think similarly. Anyway, Evangelin clenched her fist, emitting fighting spirit.

“Even if you’re a top senior, I won’t lose…!”

“Oooo.”

Anyway, our knights were burning with passion. Junior, Damian, and I quietly clapped our hands from behind.

“My lord, so what is the training for the martial arts tournament?!”

“Let’s do it quickly! I’ll defeat anyone and win!”

At those words, I smiled and clapped my hands, then turned to look at the main party members and shouted.

“Alright, no matter what kind of rock rolls in from the capital, let’s show them that we are the strongest party on this front!”

***

That evening.

After training with Ash, Junior staggered back to his lodgings.

“Ugh, I’m tired….”

He was a mage who was weak at physical activities, and his stamina was also weak.

Ash’s training was to prepare for the battle against the Black Dragon, which was a training to move the body immediately. He was exhausted from running, rolling, and dashing.

‘It’s training to deal with the Black Dragon’s various wide-area attacks, so….’

I don’t know exactly how this training will help me avoid the Black Dragon’s attacks.

Anyway, the Black Dragon’s attacks don’t hit mages any weaker.

And it’s not possible to counter all the attacks of other dragon species with magic. If you can avoid it with your body, it’s reasonable to train for it.

‘Apart from that… it’s still hard….’

Among the main party of five, Junior had the lowest stamina, followed by Ash.

Damian, who had been working hard to train his stamina, ran around well, unlike his frail appearance, and the two knights… it’s pointless to even talk about them.

Anyway, Junior and Ash were very tired today. I wouldn’t be surprised if Ash went back to the lord’s mansion and just collapsed.

Junior’s lodgings were still at the inn ‘Etty’s Honey.’

The entire management of this inn had moved to Hotel Crossroads, and Ash had also offered to move Junior’s lodgings there, but Junior declined.

Just looking at the glittering things made his eyes spin, so it was hard to rest properly in such a fancy place.

‘Etty’s Honey’ was still open for business for guests who found the hotel too much, like Junior.

Junior climbed the stairs with tired steps. He wanted to take a hot bath and fall asleep.

‘Huh?’

And, Junior, who had arrived in front of his room, belatedly discovered it.

Someone was unpacking in the room in front of his, which had been empty.

He tried not to look, but the door was half open. Junior opened his door with a key and unintentionally looked that way-

Through the half-open door, his eyes met.

“Oh my.”

A woman with beige hair, wearing loose and comfortable clothes.

Although he was confused by the change in her clothes, Junior, who barely recognized her, greeted her awkwardly first.

“Hello… um, Ms. Hecate?”

Hecate, the commander of the Glory Knights, was a little flustered, but then smiled brightly.

“Yes, hello. I saw you with the prince earlier, your name is….”

“I’m Jupiter Junior. Just call me Junior.”

“Ah, hello, Mr. Junior.”

An awkward silence fell.

Junior, who was rolling his eyes, stammered and asked.

“Um, but why are you here…?”

“Haha. Well… the barracks were full, and there were no vacancies in the official hotel either. The Glory Knights decided to stay here temporarily.”

Heavy footsteps could be heard thumping from downstairs. It seemed that the other knights were unpacking in the rooms on the first floor.

“Oh….”

“Um….”

The two women made awkward noises.

Their relationship was… what should I say. Like a friend of a friend of a friend.

It wasn’t like they didn’t know each other, but it was a bit distant to become close… such a subtle relationship.

Junior, who had been hesitating, finally swallowed an “Eek!” and quickly reached out his hand.

“Ah, until you move your lodgings! Let’s get along. Since we’re staying in the rooms in front of each other!”

“…….”

“And… we’ll be fighting monsters together in the future.”

Hecate blinked silently, then covered her mouth and chuckled.

And she reached out her hand, wrapped in bandages, and shook hands with Junior.

“Yes. I look forward to working with you.”

The awkward handshake ended.

Hecate bowed her head and said, ‘Well then-’ before returning to her room and closing the door.

“……Hoo….”

Junior also quickly entered his room and stroked his uncomfortable chest.

It wasn’t the first time he had greeted someone he had never met before, but it was somehow uncomfortable and awkward.

‘Why? Is it because she’s a very high-ranking person? Or is it because she’s too beautiful?’

Junior, who was thinking hard, tilted his head right after.

‘Huh?’

Come to think of it….

‘…Bandage?’

Hecate’s hand was wrapped in a bandage.

Not just an ordinary bandage, but a special bandage with magical characters written all over it.

Recalling the memory from a moment ago, it seemed that the bandage was not only on her hand, but also on her wrist… and it seemed to be wrapped around her body.

Come to think of it, there was also a faint smell of blood….

‘……?’

A mage’s intuition was nudging something, but he couldn’t quite figure out what it was.

‘Is it not something to worry about?’

All sorts of strange people gather at this front. A body wrapped in bandages is not even that strange.

Junior, who was tilting his head, decided to ignore it and entered the bathroom.

***

And, time passed quickly….

The morning of the autumn festival dawned.