I Became The Tyrant Of A Defense Game [EN]: Chapter 627

The combo that could be called a sure win, [Elemental Disassembly] – [Foremost Banner] – [Eye of Command] – [Become Mine!], was used.

To use [Eye of Command], eye contact was necessary, which Violet’s illusion solved. Even a member of the Black Dragon Legion couldn’t resist this sure-win combo.

A control device in the shape of a dog collar appeared on Parekian’s neck, below its featureless head, tightly constricting it.

“Yes!”

Operation successful!

Thus, we succeeded in capturing a new legendary pocket… ah, no, anyway, a named monster. I clenched my fist. You’re mine!

[Black Dragon’s Claw Parekian (SSR) has been added to your allies!]

– Current Loyalty: 30(+15)/100

– Absolute Command: 1 time

‘Huh?’

I was puzzled by the much higher loyalty than expected.

It’s understandable that the [Foremost Banner] buff was added, but why is the base loyalty as high as 30? A boss monster of this caliber should have a loyalty of 0.

“…It’s not exactly a welcome thing. It seems it considers you a kind of… kindred spirit.”

Dusk Bringer, who was watching from the side, explained. Perhaps because they are the same dragon species, he seemed to be able to read Parekian’s intentions to some extent.

I tilted my head.

“Kindred spirit? Me?”

“Well, you know, that thing you ate a while ago. It seems to be because of that…”

“Ah.”

Dusk Bringer shuddered as if he didn’t want to mention it, but I understood immediately.

The Dragon Heart.

Nameless fed it to me when I collapsed from mana exhaustion a while ago, and thanks to that, I haven’t experienced mana exhaustion since and have been fighting well. I understand it as if a warm jade floor panel has settled inside my body.

Anyway, the Dragon Heart I ate back then was from a Black Dragon—since a heart of its kin is inside my body, it seems Parekian recognizes me to some extent. Thanks to that, a loyalty bonus occurred.

I stored Parekian in the subspace, then clapped my hands and shouted to the surrounding heroes.

“Battle over! Situation’s done! Everyone worked hard, let’s regroup!”

The heroes who had been scattered everywhere all shouted ‘Yes!’ and began to regroup.

It was a reckless operation to begin with, and even though it ended in the first phase, it was still a dragon raid, so many of the front-line heroes were injured.

The priests who came with us were casting healing magic on the injured and bandaging them. Watching this, I gestured to Nameless.

“Nameless, just a moment.”

“Hmm.”

Nameless, who had been standing there lost in thought, came running when I called her. I asked her.

“A while ago, you fed me a Dragon Heart, right? Do you remember?”

“Of course. I remember.”

“I heard that the one you fed me was a Black Dragon’s heart… Is there another reason why you fed it to me?”

Was there perhaps some intention behind it? I had been wondering about it for a while.

Dusk Bringer, who had come to stand behind me, also perked up his ears and listened to our conversation.

Nameless answered readily.

“The biggest reason was that your condition at the time was not good, so it was necessary to have you consume a powerful source of mana.”

“Yeah, that’s right.”

“The next reason… is that the heart was originally your spoils of war.”

“Huh?”

My spoils of war? That was?

“Didn’t you kill Kilitian, the youngest daughter of the Black Dragon, in the ‘Flaming Colosseum’?”

“Ah. Yeah. I did.”

Black Dragon’s blood drop. The youngest of the Black Dragon Legion. Kilitian.

It was the story of that dragon I had killed with a critical hit due to the Colosseum rule buff in the early days of my first year, which already felt distant.

“The Dragon Heart you ate was the heart that came from that dragon’s body.”

“Ah…”

So, it was the heart of the one I killed back then.

Certainly, back then, I had shot a [Black Queen] with the Colosseum buff, and her right half was blown away, killing her. I had forgotten about it because it wasn’t a situation to collect spoils, but it seems that a Dragon Heart was extracted from that dragon.

“It went around and ended up in my hands. Since I am a merchant here.”

“Indeed…”

“I also knew that you were the one who killed the owner of that heart. So, it was an item that was already intertwined with your karma. That’s why I thought it was inevitable and gave it to you.”

“So that’s how it was.”

At the time, it felt like, ‘Why a Dragon Heart out of the blue?’ But it was all connected like this.

“And, if we ever have to clash with the Black Dragon Legion.”

Nameless stared straight at me.

“I thought it would be helpful to have eaten their hearts.”

“…Why?”

I tilted my head, not understanding well, and Nameless explained.

“You must have met Night Bringer, right?”

“Yeah. I met him.”

I recalled the final battle against the Lord of Flies. That bastard dragged you to Crossroads.

“He is an existence that far transcends the mortal realm. And a transcender must have the appropriate status to confront him.”

A transcender cannot be damaged unless they have the same level of qualification.

The reason why we painstakingly prepared Dragon Slayer equipment in the game was for the same reason. Equipment forged from the bones, skin, and magic cores of the Black Dragon Legion could inflict damage because it matched Night Bringer’s status.

“Although she was a subordinate, Kilitian was undoubtedly the daughter of the Black Dragon. You killed that dragon and took its life—its heart. Now you have the qualifications equal to a dragon.”

The heart of a dragon from the mythical era.

I had hunted and consumed it myself, and through this process alone, a magical effect was manifested, and I had unknowingly gained the qualifications.

“Now you can choose. To become a ‘Slayer,’ an existence that kills dragons. Or…”

Nameless glanced at Dusk Bringer, who was standing next to me.

“To become a dragon yourself, a member of the ‘Bringers’.”

“… !”

A long time ago, I remembered what Dusk Bringer had said to me.

– Do you know what happens when an ordinary human consumes a dragon’s heart?

– They become a ‘vessel’ that can contain a dragon. It means you are halfway to being qualified to become a dragon!

I was terrified and quickly looked at Dusk Bringer.

“Uwaaa! Great Duke, what should I do?! I don’t want to become a dragon! I like being human!”

“…Calm down. Do you think it’s that easy to become a dragon?”

Dusk Bringer, scolding me like a gym newbie worried about getting bulky, let out a sigh.

“You have become a vessel and gained the qualifications, but that’s all. To become a real dragon, you need more steps and materials. Don’t worry too much.”

“Really?! I’m not going to start breathing fire from my mouth, am I?! Or grow wings and fly around?!”

Actually, now that I think about it, that sounds kind of cool?!

“Yes. You are a steadfast human.”

Dusk Bringer nodded.

“We all want you to remain human.”

At those words, Nameless also nodded.

“I gave you that Dragon Heart with the hope that you would become a Slayer. I had no intention of you becoming a Bringer.”

Nameless then smiled bitterly.

“But, Ash.”

“Yeah?”

“Even if, by any chance, you transform into something else… we are friends. Don’t forget that.”

“…”

Over Nameless’s warm smile, the image of the final boss I met in the game, the ‘Lake Princess Who Cannot Sleep,’ flashed by.

Clenching my fist, I answered seriously.

“Same here, Nameless. No matter how you change, we’re friends.”

We smiled at each other.

Only Dusk Bringer, who was standing behind us, made a disgusted face and spoke in a sarcastic tone.

“…Why are you suddenly declaring friendship so warmly?”

Anyway, this conceptual talk about becoming a dragon, killing a dragon, and getting a dragon qualification was roughly concluded.

Nameless waved her hand and left the Public Security Bureau first.

“See you again when we subjugate the Black Dragon Legion next time, Ash. Take care of yourself. And… be careful with Parekian too.”

“See you, Nameless!”

I waved my arm back vigorously.

Nameless smiled faintly and then disappeared into the darkness of the dungeon.

***

After finishing treating the injured heroes, we also finished searching the interior of the Public Security Bureau.

As expected of a place used as a lair by a dragon, there were piles of gold and jewels. Since I had captured Parekian, there was no need to leave them behind, so I swept them all up.

“Now that Parekian is on our side~ it’s just like moving his assets together~”

As I said this nonchalantly, packing magic cores and magic stones into a sack, all my subordinates were looking at me with eyes that seemed to say I was ruthless… no, full of respect. What’s with you guys.

After sweeping the inside of the Public Security Bureau clean, we ended the day’s schedule and returned to Crossroads.

“Your Highness!”

“You’ve returned safely!”

The people waiting in the backyard of the lord’s mansion greeted us with delight in front of the teleport gate.

It was past dinner and close to night. Even though it took quite a long time, it seemed they were all worried about us and waited. Well, it was a battle where anyone could have died if things had gone slightly wrong.

“I’m glad everyone returned safely.”

The members who had gone on the exploration today lined up in front of me. I spoke briefly and dismissed them.

“Eat well, sleep well, and rest well. I’ll summon you again in a few days.”

“Yes!”

“Thank you for your hard work!”

“Yay, it’s quitting time!”

The assembled heroes scattered in groups of twos and threes.

I told those who wanted to eat to stay, and quite a few heroes cheered and went into the lord’s mansion.

I was about to finish a simple cleanup and go in for a late dinner.

Woo woo woong…

Suddenly, the air above my head flickered ominously…

Chwaaaak!

A black dragon that looked like a lizard—Parekian—popped out, tearing through the subspace!

“Uwaaaak!”

“What the heck!”

We were all startled and jumped in place.

Why did this bastard suddenly pop out! Was being captured a lie?! Did he perhaps deliberately get captured and then try to attack our base?!

All sorts of thoughts ran through my head, but fortunately, it didn’t seem like he had such scary intentions.

Parekian, having cleanly stowed away his unique monster aura, landed smoothly on the ground and then… carefully moved his head, looking for something.

《…!》

Soon, Parekian, sensing something, ran towards it. Seriously, he’s like a big lizard.

Parekian was heading towards Violet, who was frozen white, looking this way.

Violet, who had joined the Gambling Club members she had been waiting for and was on her way to the pub, boasting about her exploits today, looked like she was about to faint when this huge black dragon-lizard ran straight towards her.

“Y-y-your Highness?! D-d-do something about this…”

But there was no time for me to do anything.

Parekian gently extended his tail, wrapped it around Violet’s body, snatched her up, and then… placed her on his back.

Then, as if urging something, he lightly bounced his body up and down. Violet, who was bewildered and making ‘uh-oh’ sounds, seemed to realize something and placed both hands on Parekian’s head.

“Uh, um… you want me to ‘show’ you again?”

Hwaaaak-

Violet’s light purple magic gathered at her fingertips and penetrated Parekian’s head.

It seemed like she was showing him the surrounding scenery, just like when we subdued this dragon earlier.

《…….》

Parekian slowly lowered his body, coiling up on the floor, and then quietly lifted his head, looking around.

The brightly lit lord’s mansion in various places. The people surrounding him, tense. And-

The night sky.

《…….》

The red energy vibrating inside Parekian’s chest with a ‘geeeing-‘ sound turned light blue and slowly spread inside the dragon’s body.

I, who had been thinking of using the ‘Absolute Command’ to subdue Parekian if necessary, stopped hesitantly.

Parekian, now completely settled on the backyard floor, quietly looked up at the night sky. And he stared intently at the Milky Way spread out there.