I Became the Tyrant of a Defense Game [EN]: Chapter 623

And so it was. The final match was a bit rough, but we made it to the end.

With a touch of fantasy world romance and my own will as the host, we decided to let it slide and move on…

Anyway, the winner was decided.

“The winner’s party is none other than! ‘The Prince and the Kids’~!”

The award ceremony.

All the participating parties came up one by one to receive their awards, and finally, Aider called out our name.

Amidst the cheers, jeers, applause, and whistles of the crowd, we went up to the platform.

“…By the way, Your Highness, since when was our party’s name like that?”

“Wasn’t it just the main party, Your Highness?”

“Well, I just wrote down the party name casually. Don’t read too much into it.”

“As expected of our lord! Such amazing naming skills! It’s a very good party name! I’ll remember it for life!”

“Is this guy a loyal subject or a sly one… No, Senior, what’s with this party name! At least make it ‘The Prince, the March Heir, and the Kids’!”

As I went up to the platform with the kids chattering and pecking at me, Serenade was waiting with the winner’s trophy.

“Congratulations, Your Highness.”

“Thank you for preparing everything so well this time too, Serenade.”

“Hehe. It’s nothing. It’s my pleasure.”

Serenade looked tired from working throughout the festival, but she seemed happy that the event she had prepared went well.

“I believed in you. That Your Highness would win! I cheered you on enthusiastically too. The strongest! Prince! Victory! Go! Like that!”

“Ah, so that’s why you were in such a good mood…?”

“Of course. Even if I was too busy to watch the other matches, I watched all of Your Highness’s matches in person. Hehe, Your Highness’s great performance made me feel proud… I’ve recorded all your fighting scenes in the matches.”

Serenade, who was about to continue her fan-girling, suddenly realized that she was on the award platform.

“Ah.”

Serenade, her face flushed red under the intense gazes, fidgeted and twisted her body, then bowed her head and stepped aside.

I awkwardly came down from the platform with the winner’s trophy.

Woo-ooo-ooo~

The jeers directed at me seem to have changed a bit… Ahem, ahem. I’ll just have to brazen it out here…

And for the final special award, the Production Guild received the award for their contribution to the tournament preparations.

Lily, the fake dragon pilot who represented them, received a small trophy and gave it to Seed, who was in her arms.

Then Seed wriggled and clutched the trophy tightly with her chubby little hands.

“Awoo?”

And she immediately tried to put it in her mouth, so Lily stopped her, saying, ‘No, no!’.

At this sight, screams and cheers erupted from the audience. Why is the reaction more intense than for us, the winning team?

With Seed’s flamboyant, drool-filled performance, the award ceremony ended. The heroes, each with their prizes and trophies, scattered in different directions.

The martial arts tournament, which had been full of ups and downs, ended like this. Oh my.

***

The autumn festival is also coming to an end.

Now, the only remaining events are that dance festival and the fireworks display to mark the closing.

As if by agreement, people gathered in small groups in the square and sat down.

Those who were drunk were shouting things they would regret tomorrow, like ‘I’m buying tonight!’, and drinks and snacks, no one knew who bought them, were passed from hand to hand.

I sat in a corner of the square, watching the noisy crowd, and quietly swallowed my drink.

People of all kinds were laughing and chatting, enjoying their own festivals.

My heroes, soldiers, citizens, and even the new guests… they were all mixed together, drinking, singing, and mingling.

Old men and scary older women were arm in arm, and the five representatives of the Outsiders and the five forces were mixed together, toasting.

People from the West and East were shaking hands, and people from the North and South were exchanging traditional drinks.

The people from the Production Guild who came to the Glory Knights kept bowing. It was an apology for the accident.

This time, young mercenaries came to Hecate, who didn’t know what to do, and bowed. They apologized for running away without knowing the grace of being saved.

Knights, archers, priests, mages, workers, and citizens were all mixed up. People shared drinks, gratitude, apologies, and connections.

“……”

The hand holding the glass tightened.

I know.

The wounds they suffered in the last battle have not yet fully healed.

Perhaps, some wounds will never heal.

The world is heading towards destruction. We will not live forever. When this laughter and enthusiasm fade, other tears and pain will come.

……

But, however, I also know.

After those tears and pain pass, after the harsh days of life pass.

There will always be a happy day again.

If we don’t forget how to laugh. People will surely find a moment to laugh.

Today may be the last festival in this world. But.

This won’t be the last day to have fun.

“…I’ve shown you an ugly sight.”

Next to me, Dusk Bringer, who had been sitting silently with her small knees hugged, suddenly opened her mouth.

“I was so focused on protecting you that I went on a rampage… on my own.”

“I’m the same, Grand Duke.”

I smiled awkwardly at Dusk Bringer.

“On my own, I didn’t want to put you in danger… so I tried to beat you no matter what.”

Both Dusk Bringer and I.

We tried to win this martial arts tournament, which was about the command of the operation. Only then could we exclude each other from this Black Dragon subjugation battle.

Because this battle is that difficult, and also.

My life, and Dusk Bringer’s life, will be in danger.

I, as the commander of the front line. Dusk Bringer, as the nemesis of the Black Dragon. We will have to face death.

“I know, Grand Duke. What you’re worried about. What you’re worried about in me. How powerful the Black Dragon is.”

“……”

“But we’re stronger when we’re together.”

We are all trump cards.

From the beginning, we were essential cards for this Black Dragon battle. It didn’t make sense to exclude anyone from the start.

“Let’s go together, wherever the darkness under that lake ends…”

Whether we win or lose.

Whether we live or die.

“Let’s go together until the end.”

“……”

I held out my glass to her.

Hugging her knees, Dusk Bringer stared at me with a heavy gaze. And then she slowly opened her mouth.

“Ash. Truly, you… resemble the previous Duke.”

“I guess they were quite handsome?”

“Hahaha!”

Ah, she laughed.

She had been looking sad all along, but Dusk Bringer finally laughed. I was a little relieved.

“…She was a beautiful woman.”

Dusk Bringer, who had slowly stopped laughing, picked up her glass and clinked it against mine.

“And she also loved festivals.”

“Did you ever go to a festival with her?”

“I did. Just once.”

Dusk Bringer closed her eyes and reminisced about that day.

“That day, the previous Grand Duke said this to the citizens. Drink, dance, sing, and…”

Dusk Bringer whispered as she slowly brought her glass to her lips.

“Love.”

“……”

“Love, my children. Love…”

Dusk Bringer, who had been staring at the clear wine in her glass, gestured to me with her chin.

“So go, Ash.”

“Yes?”

“Over there, isn’t your lover waiting for you?”

Surprised, I turned my head in that direction and saw Serenade, who was hesitating in the center of the square, looking at us.

Feeling like I had been caught by my cousin with my childhood friend, I flailed my arms and legs in embarrassment.

“No, lover, well, it’s not entirely wrong, but our relationship is, well, that’s… !”

“Goodness, why is the Empire’s greatest playboy acting like such a simpleton?”

I’ve said it many times, but the playboy is Kim Ash! I’m… no… I’m Kim Ash, but that’s…!

“You have many talents, but you also have a remarkable talent for frustrating the people around you in unexpected ways.”

Dusk Bringer waved her hand.

“Go quickly. And drink, dance, sing, and love.”

“……”

“The night of the festival is short. So make sure you spend it without regrets so you can remember it for a long time.”

With a mischievous expression like a naughty cousin.

“I will enjoy watching you like that. Now, go!”

Dusk Bringer stood me up and pushed me towards the square. Whoa!

The people around me all opened a path and pushed me forward. As I was helplessly pushed, I came to my senses in the center of the square.

Serenade was standing in front of me.

In the light of the burning bonfire, her light blue hair shimmered like a mirage.

It was so unreal, as if it would disappear if I reached out my hand.

Serenade, who had been quietly looking up at me, slowly narrowed her silver eyes.

“Do you know, Your Highness?”

“Huh? What?”

“They say that if you fall in love with a charming person, a person with a dangerous job, or a bad person… you’re bound to have a hard time.”

Serenade sighed deeply.

“Your Highness fits all three categories, so what should I do…”

“Uh, I, I’m sorry…?”

I didn’t really know what she meant, but I apologized anyway.

Serenade, who had given me a meaningful look, took a deep breath.

“As promised, please allow me. Tonight.”

She held out her pale, slender hand to me.

“Please be mine for tonight only.”

For a moment, the surroundings were filled with silence,

Oooooooo-!

Suddenly, cheers erupted. Everyone, young and old, was holding their cheeks with their hands and squealing.

Only then did Serenade realize that there were many people around, and she frantically made excuses to me with a bright red face.

“I, I didn’t have any strange thoughts!”

“No, what did I say…?”

“I didn’t, I didn’t! I just wanted to! Hold you tight all night!”

Serenade shouted with her eyes tightly closed.

“I want to dance!”

“……”

To be honest, it might be a bit perverse, but.

This person is much cuter when she’s desperate than when she’s relaxed.

I gently grasped the trembling fingertips of Serenade, who had her eyes tightly closed.

I took a step closer to Serenade, who was trembling, and whispered softly in her ear.

“Gladly, my partner.”

Whoa, goosebumps! How cheesy! Did I put butter on my tongue?! This was a bit like Kim Ash!

At the same time as I thought that, the orchestra on the square stage began to play music. There was no grand starting signal, but everyone in this place knew.

The last event of the autumn festival.

The dance festival.

Amidst the music, cheers, sighs, and singing, Serenade and I stood close together. Her silver gaze met my eyes.

I smiled brightly first, and Serenade couldn’t help but smile too.

And-

We started to dance.

Throwing away all pretense, to the music, excitedly.

***

“……”

Dusk Bringer sipped her drink, looking down at the central square where people were dancing freely.

They’re all so young. Dancing so happily without any decorum.

‘Since the commander-in-chief is acting like that…’

Since Ash is taking the lead and messing around in the center, anyone can jump onto this stage without hesitation.

Dusk Bringer smiled as she looked at Ash’s sweaty profile.

That’s when it happened.

Bang! Boom-!

Fireworks began to spread across the dark sky.

It was the fireworks display to mark the end of the autumn festival. The colorful fireworks shot from all over the city brightly illuminated the dark sky.

The fireworks that people had brought from all over the world were all different in shape, but they were all dazzling and beautiful.

As Dusk Bringer stared blankly at it,

– Love, Dusk.

Suddenly.

The last voice that Day Bringer, the previous Bringer Duke, had left for her came to mind.

– Don’t hate, love.

“……”

Dusk Bringer closed her amber eyes tightly.

“Grand Duke!”

Suddenly, a voice was heard from in front of her.

Surprised, she saw Ash, who had run up to her. And all the other companions were standing there.

They were all smiling brightly, soaked in sweat.

For a moment, Dusk Bringer felt dizzy.

The youth of these people. Their freshness.

It felt like the fireworks that bloomed and faded in the sky.

The dazzling light, and the transience…

It was really like fireworks.

“How long are you going to just watch!”

Ash, who was smiling mischievously, grabbed Dusk Bringer’s hand and forcibly stood her up.

“The stars are dancing in the sky, so it’s a problem if the Grand Duke is so down!”

“No, I’m… If I join, where would the decorum be?”

“Do you think I don’t know you’re good at dancing? I remember the cancan dance you did at the festival two years ago very well?”

“You, you remember everything, really…”

Someone came and stood on either side of Dusk Bringer, who was hesitating.

When she turned around, she saw her knights and the Glory Knights. They were all awkward, but they were clearly smiling.

The dozens of walls that had been between them… had temporarily disappeared at this moment.

“…Oh well, whatever! Okay!”

Dusk Bringer, who had no choice but to laugh, shouted confidently.

“Let’s dance!”

***

Under the rain of colorful fireworks, people sang and danced.

Forgetting the worries they hadn’t solved and the fearful future that was coming relentlessly…

The last night of the last festival was shining brightly.