I Became the Tyrant of a Defense Game [EN]: Chapter 610

September’s end.

Finally, the day of this year’s autumn festival dawned.

Not just in Crossroads, but across the entire Everblack Empire—and many other countries—it was a festival to give thanks for the year’s harvest and to encourage those who had worked hard throughout the year.

Whatever its original meaning, it was one of the few seasons when everyone around the world had fun and celebrated.

“Wow.”

After waking up in the morning and heading into the city with the main party members staying at the mansion,

The city was more bustling than ever. The streets were packed with people.

Cheerful music, shouts from people already drunk in the morning, the sounds of cooking, playing, and bargaining. It felt like not only my vision but also my ears were filled with vibrant colors.

“It’s on a completely different scale than the year before last.”

As I said, looking around the cityscape, Evangeline nodded her head vigorously, her cheeks flushed with excitement.

“It seems the proclamation you spread, Senior, had a huge effect!”

“Yeah, well… I didn’t expect it to be this much…”

The two proclamations I had spread around the world via Serenade were:

A recruitment notice for heroes, and an announcement for the autumn festival.

My intention in spreading these two proclamations together was clear.

We are preparing for a decisive battle, so if there are any brave fools who want to participate in that battle, we will feed them well and let them enjoy the festival.

‘But why did so many people come!’

It’s not like they just came all the way to this southern monster front just because it’s the autumn festival, right?! Huh?! This place is very dangerous! It’s the autumn festival now, but usually, it’s a monster-infested zone!

I don’t know which one they were lured by, but anyway, Crossroads is more crowded than ever.

It’s incredibly bustling with guests from all over the world.

‘I’m realizing the effect of advertising… Is this why everyone is so eager for PPL [Product Placement]…’

It was already much more crowded than usual due to the joining of the World Guardian Front, but with all these guests pouring in because of my proclamation.

Empty buildings were converted into accommodations, and citizens offered spare rooms in their homes as guesthouses.

Even that wasn’t enough, so they had to set up a lot of mobile accommodations made of tents to barely meet the demand.

‘It’s a good thing the Winter Silver Merchant Guild prepared in advance.’

I just recklessly spread the proclamation and was done with it, but Serenade prepared everything, so we were able to barely manage.

The tourism industry is not easy. City management is not easy…

And what Serenade prepared was not just accommodations.

“Crossroads’ local specialty tour! It departs every hour starting at noon…”

A Winter Silver Merchant Guild employee with pamphlets was shouting at the city gate, guiding people on the tour course.

“Specialty tour…?”

I frowned.

“…Was there anything special about Crossroads?”

Besides monsters, what else is there?

“No, why wouldn’t there be anything special! There’s a lot!”

Evangeline retorted, and I asked her, looking displeased.

“What is it? Tell me.”

“Uh…”

After hesitating for a moment, Evangeline suddenly raised her index finger and… pointed at herself.

“…Evangeline Cross?”

“Get lost, you brat. Go buy some snacks.”

“Hmph, I was going to do that anyway? This way!”

Anyway, it seems there’s a tour course I didn’t expect. Maybe I’ll go later if I have time… Thinking that, we headed to the street stalls and soon had to widen our eyes.

“Wow, what is this! It’s amazing!”

What unfolded before us was a row of stalls that stretched out from the central square of the city in all directions.

There were various stalls even in the first year, but this time, Serenade had prepared with a vengeance, and the stalls were neatly arranged by street and section.

Here’s southern food, here’s northern food, there’s meat, here’s seafood, and vegetables…

In front of the street stalls lined with unheard-of snacks, the party members all swallowed hard. You guys seem to be doing the same things now as you did two years ago.

‘But it’s really amazing.’

I looked around and was impressed.

Tables and chairs were densely placed in the central square, and it seemed that you could eat the food you bought from the stalls there.

People from the Winter Silver Merchant Guild were moving around as staff in various places.

They were organizing tables and chairs, emptying trash cans, and guiding people who were bringing new food to sit down.

A small stage was prepared in the center of the square, and minstrels were preparing to start their performance.

Looking at the signboard in front, it seemed that performances would continue all day with different bands.

“Serenade really put in a lot of effort…”

“Hehe. It’s not much, but I did my best.”

I was just muttering without thinking, but a reply came from the side. Whoa, that startled me!

When I turned around, Serenade, who had apparently been preparing something in the central square, was smiling at me.

“Welcome, Your Highness. It’s not the official start yet, but how is it… do you like it?”

“You always do more than I imagine. You’re amazing, Serenade.”

“It’s a festival that Your Highness proclaimed to the whole world. I had to do my best to prepare.”

I, I didn’t even know that… I left all the festival preparations to her and only focused on our party’s training, repairing the walls, and military-related work…

A sense of guilt welled up. I’m sorry.

“I’ve prepared festivals before, but this time, I don’t know why… I worked especially hard.”

Serenade whispered, looking at the street stalls that stretched out in all directions.

“As Your Highness said, I prepared thinking that the world might end tomorrow.”

“…”

“If, if the end of the world really comes. Then… we all have to play happily with all our might, without regrets.”

Serenade turned her gaze to me and gave a gentle smile.

“Because we have to make the best memories that we’ll never have again.”

“…”

Pressing down on my aching heart, I whispered sincerely.

“I hope you make good memories too, Serenade.”

“Of course. I will also do my best to leave the most enjoyable memories in the world.”

Serenade, who had come closer to me, gave me a gentle look.

“You’ll allow it, won’t you, Your Highness?”

I gave a sheepish smile to Serenade, who asked meaningfully.

“If there’s anything I can give, anything.”

Serenade smiled brightly as if she liked that answer, then bowed gracefully to me, said, ‘I hope you have a great festival,’ and then walked away to the other side of the square to continue preparing for the festival.

Looking at that side, I took a breath and turned around.

“…”

“…”

I found my party members looking at me with a warm gaze.

“What is it, you guys, what!”

I shouted, my face turning red without me realizing it.

Why are you making that face like grandparents watching their grandchildren at a kindergarten talent show? Huh!

***

Around noon. The time when the festival officially begins.

This time, there was an unprecedented congratulatory address before the festival, and that was because.

Click-

The Emperor himself had come to this festival.

Apparently, he had been drinking with his subordinates since the morning, and this guy, with his face flushed from the alcohol and even slightly staggering, stepped onto the platform in the square. He’s really enjoying the rural festival!

Perhaps because it was a festival held in the borderlands? The Emperor opened his mouth very casually, without paying attention to formalities or etiquette.

“Greetings, my subjects living in Crossroads!”

Cheers!

Long live the Emperor!

The imperial citizens shouted and knelt on one knee to pay their respects to the Emperor.

But this is the World Guardian Front.

It’s an independent entity that operates separately from the Empire, although for a limited time.

There are many people here who are not imperial citizens. There are even many kings from other countries who can be considered equal to the Emperor.

Among them, there are many who still have grudges against the Empire.

They paid only the minimum respect, or they watched with their heads held high, regardless of whether the Emperor entered or not. Some even gritted their teeth, still not hiding their hostility.

Anyway, even if it was precarious, everyone was allies now. The Emperor smiled at them as well.

“And greetings to all the heroes of the World Guardian Front. And to all the kings who have gathered to protect the world.”

The Emperor raised his arm and scanned the city.

“The harsh battles fought on this land, the hard work you have done, now we all—the whole world—know about it.”

The World Guardian Front has become an organization joined by almost all countries in the world.

Reports about the battles that took place here have spread throughout the world. Everything, including the most recent battle against the Fly King.

Everyone now knows that this monster front is truly preventing the destruction of the world.

“And we all know that the battle will continue. That everyone here will continue to fight fiercely.”

The fact that the remaining battles will be even more severe, not less.

That the fate of the human world truly depends on this front—no one is unaware of it now.

“That’s why!”

Following that, the Emperor raised his glass, letting out a booming voice.

“You have the right to rest. You deserve to eat and drink to your heart’s content. No matter how great a warrior you are, you cannot exert your full strength if you do not rest enough.”

The Emperor showed his characteristic smile, revealing his teeth.

“Let us all enjoy this leisure time to the fullest. Now, then! To announce the start of the festival… Cheers!”

Cheers-!

The Emperor poured the glass of alcohol into his mouth with a hearty gesture, and everyone gathered in the square—and even those who were watching this scene from the streets because there was no space in the square—drank from their glasses.

The Emperor, who had emptied his glass, laughed heartily, waved his hand, and went down from the platform.

The imperial citizens applauded enthusiastically, and even those who were not imperial citizens rejoiced at the start of the festival.

Even though it was the borderlands, it was still imperial territory.

It was an unprecedented scene for Crossroads, with the Emperor himself giving a congratulatory address to have fun. The atmosphere heated up in an instant.

The minstrels who had taken their places on the stage began a lively performance, and people who were already drunk started singing along.

As befitting a festival in the borderlands, there were no formalities. Because of the overflowing crowd, there was no meaning to the VIP seats or the upper seats.

The people who were mixed together ate food, drank alcohol, and chatted with people they had never met before.

I watched this scene and sipped the drink in my hand.

“…”

I could see my subordinates in the square, and on the streets, everywhere.

Has it already been almost a month since the last battle? Their expressions have become quite bright.

The scars are clearly still there…

The darkness engraved in everyone’s hearts and faces has not yet completely faded.

But still, everyone was smiling a little. So I felt a little relieved.

“The festival schedule this time… the first day is, as always, eating and drinking. The second and third days are the martial arts tournament. And on the evening of the third day.”

Damian, who had read the festival schedule posted in one corner of the central square with his clairvoyance, said with a bright smile.

“It’s a dance festival!”

“Ptoo!”

I spat out the drink I had in my mouth.

Not that again, ugh!

***

At the same time.

North of Crossroads. Bringer Principality military camp.

Most of the refugees had already returned to the Bringer Principality, and this place, where only the Dusk Bringer’s direct principality army was stationed, was quiet.

That was because Dusk Bringer had sent everyone to the festival.

Only the minimum security force, Dusk Bringer, and her four direct Blood Knights remained in this military camp.

“…”

Dusk Bringer was floating in her tent—her body curled up in the air.

In her naked form, with her long black hair disheveled, she was meditating, eyes closed, in a vortex of transparent magic.

It was then. As Dusk Bringer was sinking into her inner self, she heard the cautious voice of the old knight from outside the tent.

“Your Excellency. A guest has arrived.”

Dusk Bringer replied irritably.

“Didn’t I say not to receive anyone?”

“However…”

At the following words, Dusk Bringer’s amber eyes flashed open.

“…The Emperor of the Everblack Empire, His Majesty, has come in person.”

Tch, Dusk Bringer clicked her tongue, stopped meditating, and released the vortex of magic. The gathered magic was absorbed into her heart.

Throb.

“…”

She pressed her chest once with her fingertips to calm the dull pain.

Dusk Bringer, who had roughly thrown a negligee that was lying on the floor over her body, shouted sharply.

“Bring the guest in.”

Flap-

As soon as permission was given, the Emperor—Traha—entered the tent.

“The festival is in full swing, what are you doing here?”

“…Traha.”

The Emperor, who had entered this place without a single attendant, was holding a dark red wine bottle in his hand.

“Would you like a drink after a long time, Sister?”

To the old Grand Duke who had once raised her,

was her guardian, was her enemy to kill, and now had become her son’s helper—

The Emperor gave a bitter smile.

“It seems there will be no other chance to do this again.”