I Became the Tyrant of a Defense Game [EN]: Chapter 66

“This city is already mine. I can’t give it back!”

I stuck out my tongue.

“If you’re asking for it back just because it was originally yours, huh? Did you think I’d just spit out this candy-like power I’ve already put in my mouth? You’re mistaken!”

“…….”

“I’ve already slobbered all over it! This city belongs to Prince Ash!”

Evangeline, with a dumbfounded expression, stood still with her mouth open. Her eyes were wide with surprise.

Pfft.

A laugh escaped my lips. Should I tease her a bit more?

“However! If you insist. If you want to claim your rights as the heir.”

I tapped Evangeline’s forehead with my fingertip.

“Under the condition that you cooperate in defending this front as a mere knight under my command.”

“Huh…….”

“When you become an adult and a wonderful person capable of taking responsibility for this city. Until then, if you diligently help me, and if your heart doesn’t change until then!”

I nodded emphatically.

“I will return both the title of Margrave [a noble title, similar to a count] and the position of lord to you then.”

“…….”

Evangeline couldn’t seem to close her open mouth, then suddenly narrowed her brows.

“It’s three years.”

“Huh? What is?”

“Three years from now! No, I’ll be an adult in two and a half years. Let’s see then.”

Evangeline, whether she was heated or excited by the challenge, spoke passionately to me with a subtly pleased expression.

“I’ll get your recognition, Senior! And I’ll properly inherit both the title and the city.”

Looking down at the young knight, I curled up one corner of my mouth into a smile.

“I’ll look forward to it, Evangeline Cross.”

After all, the strategy for this game is three full years.

After that, who cares whether I return the city or not? I’ll just make empty promises.

We continued our staring contest for a moment, but soon both of us groaned in pain from our injuries and sat down on the pavilion.

After resting in the sun for a while without speaking,

“Senior. Can I ask you one more thing?”

Evangeline cautiously opened her mouth. I nodded.

“What is it?”

“When I was little, my mother told me.”

Evangeline’s face was wistful as she recalled old memories.

“She knew that if I lived in this city, if she married my father and had me… that sad and difficult things would happen.”

“…….”

“She said she chose this path knowing that. That the reason was because of ‘what continues’.”

Evangeline shook her small head.

“What does ‘what continues’ even mean? What is it that made my mother choose to live in this city, even knowing she would face such an end…”

“…….”

“My mother said I would understand when I grew up, but I still don’t know…”

“Is that so?”

I gathered my fingers, placed them on Evangeline’s forehead, who was deep in thought, and then…

*Flick!*

I flicked her forehead with all the strength I could muster, with one hundred percent sincerity.

“Eek!”

Evangeline let out a bizarre scream, clutching her reddened forehead and yelling.

“W-what was that?! Why did you hit me?! What was that for! Why did you hit me!”

“You’re asking what ‘what continues’ is?”

I raised my index finger and pointed it directly at Evangeline.

Evangeline, who was blankly looking at me, hissed with venom.

“No, what! You hit me and then just point! So what is it that continues… you…”

My finger pointing at Evangeline did not waver.

“…Ah?”

Evangeline’s mouth slowly opened as she finally realized the identity of ‘what continues’.

That’s right.

“The ‘path’ your parents tried to continue is right here.”

It’s you, Evangeline.

“…….”

I smiled at Evangeline, who was speechless and frozen, and then got up from my seat.

“Welcome back to the monster front, Evangeline Cross.”

“…….”

“Rest well. From now on, I’ll use you as I please.”

Evangeline was just sitting there, touching her forehead with a dazed expression.

I left the courtyard, leaving the young girl to sort out her thoughts.

The sunlight is clear. The weather is nice.

Looking at the new sprouts blooming in the courtyard garden, I muttered to myself.

“Finally, spring is coming…”

***

“…….”

Evangeline was still sitting in the courtyard pavilion with her head bowed.

‘…I think I understand a little now.’

Evangeline could vaguely understand her mother’s intentions.

Her mother was prepared.

Knowing that losing would hurt as much as she loved. Perhaps even knowing that she would die a miserable death as a result.

Nevertheless, she married and had a daughter. She loved with all her might.

To connect the path between people.

To pass on what continues to the next generation.

If there is only one reason why humans fight against monsters, perhaps that is it.

‘Everyone in this city is living with the same resolve.’

Evangeline slowly raised her head and looked around.

Sensing the arrival of spring, new sprouts were emerging from the frozen ground.

Even if the stems grow and bear fruit, the flowers will eventually wither under the frost, and the fallen leaves will rot under the frozen soil.

Yet, spring will come again, and new sprouts will bloom again from the buried earth.

Everyone will die someday.

But what continues is definitely here.

‘The Cross family didn’t just leave behind death and dust.’

Evangeline clenched her fist in front of her chest.

Even after being covered in death and dust, the Cross family ultimately left the last successor – Evangeline Cross – on this land.

‘I think I understand a little, Mom. Dad.’

A faint smile appeared on Evangeline’s lips.

‘Just a little, but I think I understand.’

Because there is something that continues. People live on this front.

Therefore, Evangeline will also not stop and will pave the way forward.

Because that is what the people of the Cross family… no.

That is what everyone who lives here has been doing every day.

Evangeline got up from her seat, leaned on her crutches, and limped out of the courtyard.

Her injured body ached all over, but her heart was more refreshed than ever.

It’s spring.

Finally, it’s spring.

***

[STAGE 3 – CLEAR!]

[STAGE MVP – Ash(EX)]

[Leveled Up Characters]

– Ash(EX) Lv.20 (↑5) (First Job Change Available!)

– Lucas(SSR) Lv.35 (↑2) (Second Job Change Available!)

– Evangeline(SSR) Lv.38 (↑2)

– Jupiter(SR) Lv.39 (↑1)

– Lily(R) Lv.23 (↑2)

– Damian(N) Lv.30 (↑3)

[Deceased and Injured Characters]

– Ash(EX) : Seriously Injured

– Evangeline(SSR) : Slightly Injured

– Damian(N) : Seriously Injured

[Acquired Items]

– Golem Legion Magic Stone : 110

– Golem Legion Armor Fragment : 182

– Magic Stone Golem Magic Core(SR) : 5

[Stage Clear Rewards have been distributed. Please check your inventory.]

– N-Rank Reward Box : 3

– SSR-Rank Reward Box : 1

>> Get Ready For The Next STAGE

>> [STAGE 4 : The World on the Chessboard]

***

As I returned to my room, the Stage 3 settlement window appeared before my eyes.

‘Huh, I’m the Stage MVP?’

My eyes widened at the unexpected result.

It seems that taking all the credit from the orchard was a big factor. I’m not even a combatant, but I’m getting MVP.

‘Okay, let’s look at the other results one by one.’

Since I couldn’t participate directly in the defense battle this time, I was planning to carefully examine the details.

But then,

*Crack!*

A silver spark flashed from my neck, and I felt a stinging pain in my neck.

Reflexively grabbing my neck, a system window appeared before my eyes.

[???’s Necklace – Unlocking Function.]

The item I received as a reward from the tutorial stage, which had been displayed as ‘???’s Necklace’ until now.

The exact name of that necklace… was finally being displayed.

[Traitor’s Necklace(EX)]

– A necklace for the ‘player’ who rebels against fate.

– You can use the exclusive store with the achievement points you have accumulated so far.

So, in simple terms, it seems like they’re letting me use a special store with the achievement points I’ve earned.

‘I don’t know why the name is Traitor’s Necklace, though.’

That a player rebels against fate?

That’s the first time I’ve heard of that. Is there some hidden information or something?

“Hmm-”

After pondering for a moment, I decided to put it aside for now and open the achievement store. Let’s check what’s there first.

*Ding!*

As I opened the achievement store, a tutorial message flowed out.

[Welcome to the Achievement Point Exclusive Store!]

[With the achievement points you have collected, you can purchase various items and abilities that will help you in the game.]

[Current Achievement Points : 1,000,000P]

[Purchase perks that suit the situation and add more fun to your game strategy!]

‘Fun, my ass… Are they just showing off? I wonder if there’s anything useful.’

I was grumbling inwardly when a supermarket flyer-like advertisement popped up.

[※Director’s Recommendation!※]

[Dark Event Tracker]

– If a dark event occurs on the stage, it will detect and notify you in advance.

– Price : 100,000P

[※The real director is recommending it, so please buy it!※]

“…….”

The phrase that Aider seemed to have desperately written is also visible. Did he think it was that necessary…?

‘Dark event detection?’

But what is a dark event? I’ve never heard of it before.

I touched the perk to see more detailed information.

[Dark Event]

– Occurs when ???’s ?? interferes with the game.

– A random event occurs on the stage, negatively affecting the player’s strategy.

My eyes widened.

‘Could it be?’

The points were quite expensive, but I didn’t hesitate and immediately purchased the Dark Event Tracker.

*Flash!*

The necklace flashed once, and the tracker function was immediately added to the system.

Opening the system window and unfolding the dark event logs from the past.

“Holy shit…”

Sure enough.

Dark events had been triggered in all the previous stages.

Stage 1 was the designation of the Living Armor, the worst monster group in the early stages.

Stage 2 was the intrusion of hostile NPCs.

Stage 3 was the abnormal behavior of the monster group. Specifically, a rapid attack and a feint.

The most frustrating parts of the previous stages were all due to these dark events.

‘It’s clear now.’

I thought the game had suddenly gone crazy and the difficulty had spiked, but it wasn’t.

‘Everything is not a coincidence. Someone is clearly trying to ruin this game with a clear intention.’

The malice I felt was not a delusion.

But why?

‘Why are they trying so hard to ruin the game? Why?’

I stared blankly into the empty space.

The unidentified malice that is interfering with my strategy…

Whose is it, anyway?