I Became the Tyrant of a Defense Game [EN]: Chapter 633

Armor set forged from the magic core of the Fly King Baalzebub.

Its name is [Lord of the High Tower].

One of the Fly King’s epithets was adopted as the equipment’s name.

It’s a chainmail armor with small magic metal chains intricately linked together, so much so that it looks like a cloth garment at first glance. When worn, it feels like a coat that extends from top to bottom.

However, each of these chain links is made from reprocessed magic cores.

Three SSR-grade [Super Special Rare] Fly King magic cores were used, along with 100 additional R-grade [Rare] normal entity magic cores. It was a luxury made possible by the abundance of magic cores obtained as spoils from the last defense battle.

As a result of this lavish magic core flex, each chain link that makes up the armor can function as an auxiliary magic source. They resonate with each other, aiding the wearer’s magic calculations.

This armor itself acts as a super-grade magic orb.

‘It’s similar to what the Fly King did.’

The Fly King was an aggregate of countless flies. He concentrated the consciousness of the flies that made up his body and used them for his own magic calculations.

This equipment, made from their magic cores, was eerily similar to them.

‘In addition to this, I’ve incorporated [Individual Barrier Generation Artifacts].’

These were also spoils from the Fly King battle, obtained from the mutant flies.

We acquired a little over 40 of them, which allowed us to use the small barriers that they used on an individual basis.

‘The alchemist team had quite a hard time…….’

The alchemist team had to rack their brains for weeks to apply this artifact technology to our armor.

And they succeeded admirably. This armor, [Lord of the High Tower], was the first armor to have the barrier artifact incorporated whole, applying its technology.

Not only does it generate barriers according to the wearer’s will, but another unique feature of this over-spec armor has also emerged.

The chains at the point of impact automatically detect, react to, and calculate the enemy’s attack, generating a localized barrier to block it. In game terms, it’s like an Auto Guard.

In addition, like Evangeline’s golem armor from before, each metal chain acts as a defense, and if the damage reaches a critical point, it purges. It truly incorporates every usable technology.

And all the functions of this armor are concentrated in the helmet, allowing the wearer to fully control the armor by focusing their consciousness on the helmet.

All armor parts assist the user’s magic calculations, and not only is it an excellent armor in its own right, but it also has extreme barrier performance-

It’s truly an armor befitting a commander, a command tower. [Lord of the High Tower].

‘Considering that the essence of this game is tower defense, this is a peculiar naming choice…….’

Of course, in terms of genre, it’s character defense, and the goal should be town defense, but the larger genre category itself is tower defense… Ah, I’m thinking like a gamer again!

As I was lost in thought while examining the armor, Kellybay lightly lifted the armor with his fingertips.

“It has a built-in weight reduction magic. It’ll feel like a slightly heavy coat.”

“It’s really amazing. It’s incredible, and thank you so much, Kellybay.”

Upon my praise, Kellybay turned his gaze to me.

“It probably doesn’t need explaining, but this armor is for you.”

“…….”

That’s right.

Not to mention the magic calculation assistance.

This extremely safety-oriented armor—an armor that feels like it was made with the obsessive determination to save the wearer, mobilizing all the technology and resources humanity possesses.

Without a doubt, this armor was made for me from the start.

I never ordered it, and the entire production team never even had a meeting to discuss who this armor was for, but it turned out this way.

The final battle was near, and I, the commander, was directly entering the enemy lines without a single piece of dedicated armor.

Even if I had ordered it to be made for someone else, Kellybay and the blacksmiths would have changed the purpose of this armor to be for me.

“……It would be nice if I could wear it, but.”

However.

“Ultimately, I’m a rear support. This kind of high-performance armor is more suitable for a warrior fighting on the front lines.”

Honestly, I was tempted, and I thought it was extremely useful for me… but I decided to give it up.

“…….”

Kellybay narrowed his eyes and glared at me, so I frantically waved my hands.

“Of course, I’ll wear armor too. No, I’ve been wearing it all along!”

Who would think I’ve been running around completely naked, huh?

I haven’t said anything, but I’ve always worn armor when going to the battlefield. Since I have such low stamina, even wearing leather armor was difficult, so I mostly wore light armor.

Several new armors with barrier functions will be coming out this time, and I’ll choose one that’s suitable (the lightest one) to wear.

‘In short, it’s a waste to keep this armor in the rear… that’s the problem.’

It’s right to give good armor to the vanguard on the front lines. Rear support can just pick up whatever’s left over.

“Then who are you going to give it to?”

Kellybay’s beard twitched as if he was dissatisfied, but he asked as if he respected my opinion as the commander.

“There’s someone whose armor was damaged in the last battle.”

“Are you talking about the Dragon Lady?”

“Yes.”

There’s no need to beat around the bush. It’s Dusk Bringer.

As the nemesis of the Black Dragon, she will have to continue fighting on the front lines.

It’s right to give the best armor to this Dragon Lady.

“I plan to give it to her to use for now.”

“Do as you please. But, whoever wears it, keep this in mind.”

Kellybay flicked the box with his fingertip and earnestly warned.

“The Fly King wasn’t one of the official 10 Nightmare Legion Commanders, but he was a monster that was equal to, or perhaps even greater than, them. Naturally, this equipment made from his magic core contains darkness equal to or greater than that of a Nightmare Slayer.”

“…….”

“Be careful when handling the darkness within. Got it? I’ve said my piece.”

I quietly looked at Kellybay. Then Kellybay flinched.

“W-what is it? Why are you looking at me like that?”

“……It’s nothing.”

Is it because he was chosen by the god of his race and became an avatar?

Or is it because he’s been working day and night for the Crossroads?

Or perhaps, is it because he’s burning with a vengeance that has nowhere to go after losing his son?

Kellybay was haggard. His eyes were bloodshot, his cheeks were gaunt, and his unkempt beard was growing messily.

I was worried about this old dwarf. Just as much as this old dwarf was worried about me.

But I didn’t say it out loud. Just like he didn’t say it out loud.

Instead, I had to give this order.

“Kellybay, I’ll tell you in advance. Kellybay will not be deploying in this battle.”

I quickly waved my hand at Kellybay, who was surprised and wide-eyed.

“Of course, Kellybay is a strong warrior. He even magnificently crushed the jaw of the evil dragon in the last raid.”

“Then why are you trying to exclude me?”

Kellybay’s voice was tinged with disappointment.

Instead of making other excuses, I gave a practical reason.

“There are too many Dragon Slayers that need to be produced. And if Kellybay isn’t here, all of this production will stop…….”

“…….”

Currently, the Crossroads’ smithy was mobilizing all the production workers, regardless of race or affiliation, to focus all their efforts on producing Dragon Slayers.

And Kellybay was the general supervisor of this project.

The moment he leaves, all manufacturing processes will stop.

He was an excellent warrior, but he was also an unparalleled blacksmith. The battlefield that suits him and needs him is here.

And this is also the place where he can calmly quell the flames of resentment in his heart.

“…….”

Kellybay quickly scanned the inside of the busy smithy. Even now, in addition to this [Lord of the High Tower], several high-grade equipment pieces were being produced simultaneously.

And they had to continuously produce equipment until right before the True Black Dragon – Night Bringer raid.

It was perhaps more important than going to the front lines. Kellybay himself knew this well, so he couldn’t easily refute it.

“Master Craftsman.”

Hannibal, who had approached, reached out and gently patted Kellybay’s shoulder.

“…….”

Kellybay silently looked at Hannibal.

The small assistant had grown up so much that he was now about the same height as Kellybay. And perhaps in a few more years, he would grow much taller.

What did he see reflected in that figure?

Kellybay squeezed his eyes shut and then turned sharply towards the furnace.

“Alright. Instead, even if I don’t participate in the next three raids, I’ll accompany you on the last raid… when we go to catch the True Black Dragon, is that okay?”

“…….”

I smiled bitterly and nodded.

“Yes, Kellybay.”

“Then that’s settled. You must be busy, so go now. Oh, and take that with you when you leave.”

Kellybay pointed to the side with a somewhat listless voice.

“That was also completed this morning… a weapon made from the magic core and fangs of that evil dragon we caught this time.”

On the table next to him was a small box wrapped in black cloth.

“The person who will own that weapon was nagging me. Asking me to finish it first…….”

“…….”

“You can deliver it for me. Then.”

Kellybay disappeared into the smithy, and Hannibal bowed to me before following the dwarf.

“…….”

I picked up the box containing the armor and the box containing the dagger.

I left the smithy where people were working hard, sweating profusely. And I moved to find the person who would own this weapon.

***

South of the city. The South Gate site.

No… it might be a bit inappropriate to call it the South Gate site now. The restoration work has progressed a lot.

The southern wall, which was completely destroyed in the last battle, was being replaced with a new wall brought from New Terra. People were busy moving around the construction site, shouting and assembling the wall.

As expected of a wall brought from the imperial capital New Terra, the wall was already beautiful, even though it was far from completion.

“…….”

Verdandi was squatting in front of this construction site.

Behind the wall restoration site, charred dead trees were piled up, waiting to be collected. What Verdandi was looking at was not the wall, but these dead trees.

They were the remains of the miracle, the wall of trees that blocked the Fly King’s self-destruction during the last battle.

The World Tree’s branches that the Fairy Queen Skuld summoned by sacrificing her entire eternal life.

It saved the people in the city, and the tree burned black and died. Skuld, who summoned this tree, was the same.

“…….”

After losing Skuld, Verdandi was always sitting here in her spare time. She was also helping the people of the production union all day long, but it seemed that when she couldn’t hold back the anger boiling inside, she would come here to calm down.

I called her name and approached.

“Verdandi.”

“……Ash.”

As if she had already noticed my presence, Verdandi called my name and slightly lowered her head.

I sat down next to Verdandi. We were silent for a moment.

“…….”

Verdandi turned her head and looked down at the place where Skuld had died.

There, the roots of the black, dead tree were buried in the ground.

Skuld, who summoned the World Tree’s branches, had merged with the tree and was connected to its roots here. Verdandi had personally separated Skuld’s body and held a funeral, but the base of the tree that had penetrated the ground still remained in front of the South Gate site.

I didn’t offer any clumsy words of comfort. Instead, I handed her the wooden box I was holding.

“Take this.”

“What is this……?”

“It’s a weapon made from the fangs and magic core of the dragon we defeated this time, Tustibean.”

“…….”

Verdandi silently opened the wooden box.

Inside the box was a jet-black dagger that emitted a terrible evil aura.