I Became the Tyrant of a Defense Game [EN]: Chapter 672

Thud. Thud.

Dusk Bringer, leaving the barracks, staggered through the streets.

She didn’t care that her long black hair was getting dirty from the falling snowflakes, or that it was being tousled by the hot wind blowing from the east. She just kept walking forward—

But she stopped briefly when she saw a group of people approaching from the opposite direction.

“Hoo….”

Dusk Bringer let out a soft exclamation.

“They are all quite… fierce, aren’t they.”

The ones striding towards her were the heroes of the Monster Front.

Starting with Lucas, who wielded the Demon Sword, there were heroes wielding Dragon Slayers, and heroes wearing Nightmare Slayers….

All of them looked as if they had been drenched in the blood of an evil dragon, their eyes burning with undisguised vengeance. They didn’t even bother to wash the dried blood from their faces… and they were all walking east together.

The heroes stopped in front of Dusk Bringer. Dusk Bringer gestured with her chin towards the east.

“Why are you going east? It’s just a sea of fire spewed by the Black Dragon there.”

“…That’s why we’re going.”

Lucas glared at Dusk Bringer with his eyes blazing blue.

“There’s no better place to hone our edge.”

“…….”

“It seems your body has recovered somewhat, so we will ‘prepare’ to face the Black Dragon there.”

Demon Sword, Dragon Slayer, and Nightmare Slayer….

Not only these weapons, but also the darkness emanating from the heroes’ inner selves was shimmering like a heat haze behind each of them.

Under that darkness, where they could never have gone when Ash, the brake, the control device, was still there… everyone was sinking deep.

Dusk Bringer laughed hollowly.

“You’re all becoming excellent ogres, Rakshasas [demons in Hindu and Buddhist mythology], and Asuras [a class of divine beings in Hindu mythology].”

“That’s how we’ll achieve our lord’s revenge.”

Lucas retorted dryly.

“It seems that the Grand Duke is still maintaining a human form.”

“Don’t worry. My ugliness is by no means inferior to your resolve.”

A dangerous red light scattered in Dusk Bringer’s eyes. Sensing it, Lucas narrowed his blue eyes.

As they passed each other, Dusk Bringer whispered softly.

“However, children. It’s okay to step into this mire, but don’t go too deep.”

“…….”

“There’s no need for you to fall to the end of hell.”

Dusk Bringer’s small body headed across the street, and soon she was swept away by the falling snow and disappeared from sight.

“…Talking as if she knows everything.”

Lucas growled and started walking again. The heroes, their eyes fiercely glaring, followed behind him.

And.

“…….”

Evangeline was watching the heroes, who were uneasily fluctuating and crossing paths, from the top of a nearby tower.

Behind her stood the remaining heroes, who had not succumbed to the darkness, with equally worried expressions.

Damian, who still couldn’t see and had his eyes bandaged, sat leaning against the tower wall, silent with a haggard look.

‘What’s going to happen?’

Evangeline bit her lip and gripped the flagpole in her hand tightly.

‘What will we….’

The long black flag, symbolizing the World Protection Front, with nothing drawn on it, fluttered wildly in the gale.

Evangeline, looking up at the flag, pressed her hot eyes with the back of her hand.

Everyone was being consumed by darkness for the sake of revenge for the person she revered, and Evangeline could fully understand that feeling. She felt like she was going crazy with anger and hatred herself.

But… is this really the path Ash wanted?

If Ash were here, what would he want them to do….

‘Senior….’

Evangeline looked down at her shield.

Her weak shield, too small and thin to protect the whole world….

‘What can I protect now…?’

***

Temple. Hospital room.

“Umm….”

Serenade’s silver eyes, which had been twitching in her sleep, opened.

Her whole body ached. Her head was fuzzy. Her head was hot and her body was heavy.

Serenade barely opened her eyes and looked around.

“Where is this…?”

“Master?!”

Elise, who had discovered that Serenade had regained consciousness, rushed to her bedside.

“Master, it’s Elise! Can you recognize me?!”

“Ah, Elise… of course I recognize you… what’s wrong? What happened… ugh.”

Serenade tried to get up, but she gritted her teeth because of the intense pain that surged through her body. Elise grabbed her and laid her back down.

“Huh… why am I in the hospital…?”

“Master. That is….”

Elise explained the situation.

The Winter Silver Company building had been swept away by Night Bringer’s breath.

By a stroke of luck, the other employees had been in the warehouse next door at the time, so they had escaped harm, but Serenade had been caught in the collapse of the main building and was severely injured.

It had been more than a day since she was taken to the temple and treated.

“The other employees of the company also suffered minor and major injuries, but they are all safe. You were the most seriously injured, Master.”

“That’s a relief, though. It’s good that no one else was seriously injured except me….”

Serenade reached out and stroked Elise’s hand.

“And you came back alive.”

“Master….”

Elise, who was trying to smile awkwardly, stiffened at Serenade’s next question.

“By the way, Elise, how did the expedition go…?”

“…….”

“Did you defeat the Black Dragon? Is His Highness okay…?”

Elise swallowed hard.

How should she answer?

Elise hesitated, closed her eyes tightly, and then opened them, forcing a smile.

“Of course, Master. His Highness the Prince….”

Elise intended to lie until Serenade’s condition improved. She didn’t want Serenade, who was seriously injured, to become weak in her heart as well.

However, she couldn’t bring herself to say the next words.

Elise’s dark blue eyes, which were always like sharp blades, slowly filled with tears. In front of Serenade, who was blinking in surprise, Elise finally dropped tears.

“I’m sorry, Master. I’m sorry….”

“Elise. What’s wrong? Why are you crying….”

“It’s because I’m not good enough… because I’m incompetent… I failed to… protect His Highness the Prince….”

Elise finished her words with a voice choked with sobs.

Serenade’s face lost all color.

Elise slowly, but surely, reported the progress of the hero expedition. Serenade murmured blankly.

“He’s… missing?”

Serenade, who had struggled to sit up and lean against the headboard of the bed, touched her dizzy forehead with her hand. She tried to think positively.

He had gone missing last year too. He had returned after half a year as if it were a lie.

That man was always like that. Without giving any notice, he would suddenly leave, very far away, and then come back nonchalantly with a sly smile.

Even if her heart was burning black, even if she spent countless nights crying while worrying about him… when she saw his face smiling innocently when he returned, the words of resentment could not come out of her mouth and disappeared inside her.

That was the kind of man he was.

So, this time too. Wouldn’t it be okay this time too….

‘Ah.’

Serenade clutched her chest and bent forward.

But she couldn’t help but know. That this time was different from then.

The world was breaking, and destruction was imminent. And the man who stood at the forefront to stop it had fallen, bleeding, at the bottom of hell.

Serenade was a merchant. She was also the owner of a top-tier company in the world.

She was good at calculations. That’s why she could naturally and quickly estimate the outcome of this situation.

It’s over.

Everything.

‘If that person isn’t there, I….’

It was hard to breathe.

Under Serenade’s blankly opened silver eyes, a thin teardrop flowed down. Serenade was caught in the illusion that her whole body was being torn to pieces along with the collapsing world.

‘There’s no reason to live….’

Her soul seemed to be falling down to the bottom.

Serenade’s staggering body slowly fell to the side. As she fell, Serenade thought blankly that it would be nice if she could fall all the way down to where that man was lying.

Thud-

At that moment.

A firm hand reached out and supported Serenade’s shoulder, catching her as she was about to fall.

“Don’t do that.”

It was a tired, but firm voice.

“It’s too early to despair. So, calm down.”

Surprised, Serenade looked back blankly, and there—

Lily, sitting in a wheelchair and holding the sleeping Sid in her arms, was facing Serenade with a strong face.

“Take a deep breath. Here. Slowly.”

As Lily gently stroked her back, Serenade’s breath, which had almost stopped, resumed.

“Inhale. Exhale. That’s right. That’s right. You did well. Inhale again, exhale….”

Holding Serenade’s trembling shoulders tightly, Lily whispered softly.

“The world hasn’t ended yet.”

Having experienced the same pain, but still surviving until now.

Lily’s voice was layered with pain, and an even stronger will.

“So, breathe.”

Serenade closed her eyes tightly, then opened them.

That’s right.

The world will end someday. Perhaps it will be in just a few hours, maybe a few minutes, maybe a few seconds.

But, however,

It hasn’t ended yet.

So….

“Live.”

For now.

She had to fight.

Serenade’s trembling subsided.

Lily smiled gently. Serenade looked at Lily and slowly nodded.

Even if that person can never return… there is still something to do.

Even for the sake of the will that person left behind.

She couldn’t just sit here and die.

Lily hugged the calmed Serenade tightly. Serenade hugged Lily back, unable to bring herself to say thank you.

After a short hug, Serenade took a deep breath and looked at Elise.

“Elise.”

Facing her master, who had quickly regained her sharp gaze, Elise straightened her back and waited for orders.

Serenade, considering what she could do, asked carefully.

“Among the collapsed buildings, is ‘that warehouse’ safe?”

***

Lake Kingdom Dungeon.

Between Area 9 and Area 10 – The Great Bridge.

In the darkness below the abyss, thousands of feet down.

The lowest hidden survivor settlement, the Bottom Village.

Thud! Thud thud thud!

The tremors that had been intermittent since the day before were now even more intense.

As if the dungeon under the lake also knew that the end of the world had come, it was shaking violently.

“It’s a mess, a mess….”

An old man with disheveled hair and dressed like a beggar grumbled, looking at the shaking world.

He was the Sword Demon, a resident and the village chief of the Bottom Village. Next to him, his wife, the Spear Demon, was clicking her tongue, leaning on a spear like a cane.

“It seems this damn world is finally going to end, honey.”

“That’s what I’m saying, wife. It seems our tedious honeymoon is finally coming to an end.”

“Oh, so you want to die that quickly and actively? You should have said so earlier. I would have pierced you well with this spear.”

“Oh, you have to listen carefully, my dear. I said the honeymoon is ending? Now the real married life begins.”

“Hehe, who knew the honeymoon would be this long. They say marriage is the tomb of life, and there’s not a single word wrong with that?”

“Hehehe, let’s stay buried together under this tomb for longer, my dear.”

The village chief couple, who had been laughing, simultaneously shut their mouths and turned their gazes. Their gazes were directed towards the center of the village.

“By the way, that young man, he didn’t bring the gold coins he was supposed to give us….”

“What the hell is that again?”

In the center of the Bottom Village.

There, a mass of black blood was floating in the form of a giant sphere, and within the vortex of that blood….

Ash was submerged.

His eyes tightly closed, his face pale as if dead.

There was a deep sword wound in the center of his chest, and the black blood surrounding him was repeatedly being sucked into and out of it.

“Hoo…!”

King Poseidon was standing in front of the sphere of black blood.

Standing with his trident, controlling the sphere of black blood, King Poseidon was covered in burns all over his body. Despite his serious injuries, he was focused on taking care of Ash’s condition.

“…….”

“…….”

The Sword Demon and the Spear Demon were quietly watching this strange scene, when—

Thud! Thud thud thud…!

The entire Lake Kingdom shook once more.

And then.

Thud. Thud.

Footsteps were heard from behind.

When the Sword Demon and the Spear Demon turned around, what appeared from the darkness behind them was…

“So.”

Slowly lowering the flute he had been holding in his mouth, adjusting his pure white smiling mask, a man dressed as a clown—

The court jester of the Lake Kingdom.

It was Crown.

With cold eyes shining from behind his mask, Crown asked.

“When will this insane ‘surgery’ be over?”