I Became the Tyrant of a Defense Game [EN]: Chapter 68

“I…”

Damian, who had been hesitating, spoke carefully.

“I haven’t thought about that promise with you since then, Your Highness.”

“……”

“When all the monsters are defeated someday, and peace comes to this front line, Your Highness. Please ask me again then.”

Damian looked up at me with a face that was hard to tell whether he was crying or smiling.

“I’ll answer you then. Whether I still… hate you, Your Highness.”

“That day will surely come, Damian.”

Three years from now.

Once I’ve walked all the paths to the ending, there will be a resolution in some form.

“And whatever answer you give then, I will gladly accept it.”

I reached out and covered Damian’s eyes, which were wrapped in bandages. Damian remained still.

Loyalty and hatred. Grace and resentment.

Player and cheat character.

No matter what our relationship is, I hoped that this little boy who was helping me would be happy someday.

Whatever ending we face, I just… pray that it will be so.

***

The night after the stage ended.

I returned to my room, completely exhausted.

“Ugh, my bones are aching, ugh…”

My left arm was already injured, and after being tossed around roughly, my whole body was creaking.

But I couldn’t just rest. I needed to know the exact results of the defense battle I hadn’t attended.

The real-world results, which couldn’t be seen from the system settlement window.

So, I had just returned after looking around everything from the ramparts to the artifact storage, various production facilities, and the temple’s soldiers.

“I’m tired… I’m going to die…”

There was a victory banquet tonight, but I was in no condition to attend, so I just gave a congratulatory speech and came back.

Even without me, the other guys would have fun with the soldiers. Jupiter, or Jupiter, or Jupiter…

‘I believe in you, Jupiter.’

You’re definitely a talent when it comes to drinking, smoking, gambling, and wasting money. You’ll know how to liven up the atmosphere and have fun with the soldiers.

“Huuuaaaam.”

As soon as I sat on the bed, fatigue washed over me.

I wanted to collapse and sleep right away, but.

I wouldn’t put off what I had to do today. I opened the system window.

First, job advancement.

In the last battle, two of the main party characters reached the level required for job advancement.

I reached level 20, making my first job advancement possible, and Lucas reached level 35, making his second job advancement possible.

Let’s start with Lucas.

I opened Lucas’s stat window. Let’s see our lovely SSR [Super Super Rare] protagonist’s stats, let’s see~.

[Lucas (SSR)]

– Level: 35

– Title: The Prince’s Royal Knight/Protagonist

– Job: Advanced Knight

– Strength 35, Agility 35, Intelligence 15, Stamina 35, Magic Power 20

“Are these stats insane…”

Strength, agility, and stamina are all maxed out. If he had been born on Earth, he probably would have won several Olympic gold medals. I don’t know what events though.

Lucas has already completed his second job advancement and is now an Advanced Knight. That means his second skill is also unlocked.

I opened Lucas’s skill window. Let’s take a look at his second skill!

– Skills

> Passive: Man of Steel

> Skill 1: Willpower Strike

> Skill 2: Tenacity Step

> Ultimate: ??? (Unlocked after 3rd job advancement)

Lucas’s second skill, [Tenacity Step], has been unlocked.

It’s a skill that gives wings to Lucas, the SSR-grade cheat character. Simply put, it’s a super-speed movement skill.

Once used, it provides insane mobility, allowing him to leap about 10 meters in an instant.

However, there must be a target. He can’t jump into empty space.

Whether it’s an enemy, an ally, or an object, there must be something to target and charge towards.

Even with this restriction, the reason this skill is a cheat is because… there’s no cooldown.

In the game, it could be used every turn.

Of course, it consumes a lot of MP [Magic Points], but if you wanted to, you could hit and run on your own, wreaking havoc in the enemy lines.

The reason why Lucas is considered the foundation and the complete form among all the damage-tank characters in this game is simple.

His skill set is strong, simple, and can handle any situation.

Tanking with his passive.

Attacking with his first skill.

Moving with his second skill.

‘Once he learns his ultimate, and finishes his exclusive equipment and trait upgrades… Lucas will truly become a god of the battlefield.’

Of course, the road to level 50 is long and arduous.

Obtaining exclusive equipment and trait upgrades is also not easy.

But once you achieve it, it pays off. Our protagonist, Lucas…

‘Let’s try a little harder.’

I smiled to myself, imagining Lucas’s rise to power, and closed his status window.

Next is me, Ash.

From a terrible start at level 1, I finally reached level 20 after a long and arduous journey…!

The hardships I’ve endured came to mind, and my nose tingled. Sniff.

‘The end of hardship is the beginning of happiness, Kim Ash! Now, cheat skills worthy of a hidden class will pour out!’

I didn’t stop my happiness circuit, which was burning brightly.

No, it’s a hidden class! The ‘Commander’ class that no one has ever had!

Shouldn’t there be one or two cheat skills that would make the balance run away in terror!

I opened my stat window.

[Ash (EX)]

– Level: 20

– Title: Lord of Crossroad/Third Prince the Scoundrel

– Job: Intermediate Commander

– Strength 6, Agility 9, Intelligence 20, Stamina 8, Magic Power 12

Maybe it’s because I’ve been through so much. Surprisingly, my stats are increasing steadily. Especially intelligence.

Even with the 50 percent reverse growth debuff unique to the Commander class, this is quite good.

‘Stats are fine, but skills! Second skill!’

I hurriedly opened the skill window. Shouting with all my might.

“Did a cheat skill appear?!”

– Skills

> Passive: Indomitable Commander

> Skill 1: Command Eye

> Skill 2: ??? (Unlocked after 2nd job advancement)

> Ultimate: ??? (Unlocked after 3rd job advancement)

I frowned.

The name of the new skill was visible. But what is this? Command Eye…?

I quickly opened the detailed description.

[Command Eye]

– Controls the consciousness of the target you make eye contact with, forcing them to obey.

– The lower the target’s magic power stat, the higher the skill’s success rate and the longer its duration.

※ The effect does not apply to allies who are under the effect of the passive skill [Indomitable Commander].

“Hmm…”

In short, it’s a skill that casts mind control magic in a wide area.

Of course, it’s weaker than mind control magic that lasts throughout the stage once it’s applied.

But it means that you can move monsters as you please just by making eye contact.

‘I’ll have to test how much MP it consumes, but this is pretty good.’

Of course, honestly, I was expecting some kind of explosive active skill…

Like, you know, since I’m a commander, I’d summon dozens of cannons and fire a barrage.

Or summon and control hundreds of sand soldiers. I was expecting something huge like that.

Well, there are still the second skill and the ultimate left. Let’s pray that the explosive skills will come out then.

‘Is this why they gave me this passive skill because of this first skill?’

I looked at my passive skill [Indomitable Commander] again.

[Indomitable Commander] has the effect of preventing mental status ailments in nearby allies.

It seems that this passive prevents my first skill from malfunctioning. My subordinates follow my orders anyway, so there’s no need to use the first skill on them.

‘Anyway, it’s a skill with endless potential.’

All sorts of ways to use it instantly came to mind.

Even if it’s temporary and has a chance of failure, it’s still a mind control skill.

The possibilities are endless if my creativity can keep up.

‘I’ll test it in a real battle soon.’

It seems like I can only test it when I meet an enemy. I quickly closed the status window.

‘Next.’

I took out four boxes from my inventory.

Three were gray.

And one was a brilliant gold!

It’s an SSR-grade reward box. I received it as a reward for clearing the last stage.

‘Oh my SSR god, an SSR-grade box!’

I swallowed hard, looking down at the golden box in my hand.

It’s the SSR box that’s hard to get even 10 of from the beginning to the end of one playthrough. And it appeared in stage 3.

‘It would be nice if a weapon that I could use came out.’

I looked down at my left arm, which was in a cast.

In the last battle, I was wielding the luck-based roulette weapon ‘Lucky Strike’ when a fumble came up, and my left arm was shattered.

Even after the treatment, they said it would be impossible to use it like before.

‘Instead of relying on luck, I need a weapon that has fewer variables and is definitely practical.’

I want to just stay behind and give orders safely, but that’s not how reality works.

Moreover, now that I’ve confirmed the existence of ‘Dark Events’ that try to screw up the game’s strategy, the difficulty of the game will continue to fluctuate.

That means I’ll continue to be involved in direct combat.

‘I could shoot a magic gun like I did in the last battle.’

Last time, I brought the SSR-grade magic gun, Black Queen, and used it effectively.

But that’s just a temporary measure.

‘It’s better to give even one more magic gun to Damian. Especially cheat weapons like the Black Queen.’

There’s already the right person who can bring out 200 percent of the magic gun’s power.

Using a weapon that can one-shot the enemy’s core units from long range like a shotgun is like putting a pearl necklace on a pig.

I need to find a weapon that suits me.

‘It’s greedy to hope that it will appear here, but.’

Still, since I have an SSR-grade reward box in my hand, I can stack one more greed, right?! Isn’t that right?!

First, I opened the three N-grade boxes. I’m not expecting anything, but did a complete item appear?!

[Rewards]

– Superior Health Potion

– Superior Magic Potion

– Flame Enchant Scroll

“Nope~ Nothing~”

They’re all consumables. Well, potions are always useful, and enchant scrolls are also effective.

‘Come to think of it, I have a freezing scroll that I received as a reward before. I haven’t used it yet.’

It’s better to use it when an enemy with a weakness to that element appears, so I’m saving it. Anyway, let’s keep them all.

Now, the main event!

Holding the golden box in my hand, I took a deep breath. Huff…

Please!

“Oh SSR god! Please grant me a weapon that is perfect for me!”

I shouted and ripped open the golden box in one go.

Flash-!

A dazzling golden light scattered everywhere.

Soon, the golden light gathered into one, forming the shape of an item.

Holding the item in my hand, I slightly opened my mouth.

“This is…?!