I Became the Tyrant of a Defense Game [EN]: Chapter 70

This also has the characteristics of a city management game.

Basically, it involves managing the internal affairs of this city called Crossroads.

Over a three-year period, the player must develop the city in their own way.

The city needs to grow to increase revenue, attract people, and create a virtuous cycle.

There are many ways to do this.

You can focus on agriculture and cultivate all the land in the area, or you can revitalize it as an industrial city by leveraging Crossroads’ specialty, the processing of magic stones.

It’s difficult due to its location, but you can also develop it into a commercial city. You can also mix and match various elements.

In short, it’s up to the player’s preference.

During the 742 resets I played this game, I usually managed the city with an industrial focus.

It was the most standard route, and it was the city development build that could bring in the most money in the late game.

This time was no different. I was going to go with the industrial specialization build that I was familiar with and had a high level of proficiency in.

But there was one problem.

It was the issue of securing heroes.

The current hero acquisition situation is terrible. And there’s no guarantee that this situation will be resolved later.

While I was pondering what to do, a city development build that I had never tried before suddenly came to mind.

It was the tourism specialization build.

The tourism specialization build is a strategy to earn money and grow the city by building various facilities that can attract tourists to the city.

However, in the game, it was an entertainment build that almost no player attempted.

That’s because Crossroads is a remote, isolated village located at the southernmost tip of the continent.

Moreover, it’s a conflict zone with a MAX risk of monsters attacking at any time.

Unless you’re incredibly daring, there are hardly any visitors for tourism purposes.

No matter how many expensive tourist facilities you build, there simply aren’t enough tourists coming in.

That’s why I never considered the tourism build in all 742 playthroughs.

At best, in the late game, I would reluctantly build some tourism tech facilities to lure high-grade heroes who only come when those facilities are available.

‘This is the key part.’

The part I focused on was this.

Luring high-grade heroes.

‘Tourist facilities are expensive and not very effective in terms of industry… but they greatly increase the appearance rate of certain heroes!’

That’s why I usually built them in the very late game, but here’s a reverse idea.

What if I built tourist facilities in the very early game?

‘The appearance conditions are met. Then, someone will definitely get hooked!’

Moreover, the heroes lured by tourist facilities are mostly high-grade.

It would be helpful in building a good squad.

‘Of course, investing in tourism from the beginning is a waste of efficiency.’

First of all, tourist facilities are not only more expensive than other facilities, but they are also not linked to other essential industries in the city.

It’s an absurd plan if you’re aiming for an optimized city development build.

But in this playthrough,

‘I have a lot of money.’

The funds are very abundant.

I still haven’t spent all the money I made from selling magic stones in the tutorial stage.

Even though I’m pouring a huge amount of money into various parts of the city, I still have quite a bit of spare money left.

I’ll use this money to build tourist facilities. Facilities that meet the hero-luring conditions with the minimum amount of money.

After much deliberation, I decided to build a hotel.

And a luxury hotel with a casino inside.

In Korea, casinos have a very gloomy image, and it feels like only gamblers gather there, but in other countries, there are quite a few casinos that are considered healthy and elegant social venues.

The hotel I’m planning to build is in that direction.

“Okay, Lucas.”

I smiled at Lucas, who was sitting in the driver’s seat and still giving me a strange look, as I settled into my seat in the carriage.

“Let me explain my plan. Listen carefully.”

I explained a series of ‘high-grade hero luring plans,’ but Lucas still looked unconvinced.

“Do you really think that setting up a hotel with a casino in this remote backwater will attract exceptional heroes?”

“Yes, there are really those kinds of weirdos.”

That’s why I came up with this massive money-wasting plan.

“…My lord. If you really need talent, wouldn’t it be better to establish a knight training school?”

Lucas opened his mouth as he drove the carriage to the place I had instructed.

“I believe that the decent talents that you nurture from the beginning would be of higher quality than the thugs lured by entertainment.”

“That would be right from a long-term perspective.”

But I only have three years.

It would take at least 10 years to build a knight training school, discover talent, and complete their training. That would be too late.

“What I need are ready-to-go, fully trained warriors.”

“…”

“There’s not enough time, not enough time…”

Lucas, who had been silent for a while, slowly muttered.

“If it really doesn’t work out, I’ll do it all.”

“Huh?”

“I’ll do the work of other heroes. My lord, I am enough.”

“…”

“Just give me any order.”

I burst into a hearty laugh.

“Haha, you rascal. You’re saying something admirable. But we have to be realistic.”

“…”

“We’re at war, you know. There are many things you can’t do alone. We need more troops.”

Of course, Lucas is an SSR-grade, the ultimate protagonist. But there is a clear limit to what he can do alone.

Securing high-quality troops is essential. By any means necessary…

Lucas didn’t say anything more and just drove the carriage. I leaned back in my seat and fell into thought.

***

Crossroads City.

In this remote village, the most bustling place is where the city’s only inn is located.

This inn, which has been run by the same family for four generations for over a hundred years, is called ‘Etty’s Honey’.

It’s small, but it’s famous for the owner’s warm hospitality and delicious breakfast.

“The taste is definitely good.”

Although it wasn’t breakfast time, the owner, who was startled by my sudden arrival, served me a meal and coffee.

I didn’t refuse and ate quietly. I was hungry from walking around, and I’m not the type to refuse what’s offered.

As I pushed away the clean empty plate, the owner smiled brightly.

“I’m so glad, no, it’s an honor that it suited your taste! My lord!”

The owner of the inn was a middle-aged woman in her mid-50s.

Her plump smile made her look very generous.

“I was worried if it would suit the taste of a royal, but I’m relieved that you enjoyed it!”

“It’s thanks to the owner’s good skills.”

It might not suit Ash’s taste as a royal. But I was an ordinary commoner in Korea.

I prefer this kind of local cuisine.

“However.”

I wiped my mouth roughly with a napkin and added.

“I think you need to pay more attention to hygiene.”

“Yes?”

“Starting with this napkin.”

I shook the napkin.

“It seems like it’s been used for quite a while. No matter how cleanly you wash it every time, if you don’t replace it often, stains like this will remain.”

The napkin was clean, but it showed clear signs of age.

I deliberately spoke in a stricter voice to the flustered owner.

“The tableware and the utensil container are quite old. Are you washing them thoroughly every day? Especially the utensil container, there’s quite a bit of contamination left.”

“No, well…”

“And.”

I ran my fingertip along the window frame next to me. A faint layer of dust came off.

“When was the last time you washed the tablecloth? How often do you clean the inn?”

“Th, that is…!”

“I also want to check the income ledger. And the list of guests who have stayed here. This is the front line of the Empire, after all. You have a duty to record all the names of foreign guests, have you done that?”

The owner was completely flustered by my sudden questioning.

I clicked my tongue.

“It seems like the monopoly on honey was sweet? You could get away with running it carelessly since guests had no choice but to stay here.”

“…”

The owner, who was stammering, tried to make excuses.

“We, we try to welcome guests in a family-like atmosphere, comfortably…”

“Does a family-like atmosphere mean unhygienic and unprofessional management?”

I blew the dust off my fingertip. The owner’s face was pale.

“Okay, let’s get to the point of why I came here today.”

I crossed my legs, placed my clasped hands on top, and slowly tilted my chin to the side.

“I intend to build a national hotel in this city.”

“…Yes?”

“I’m going to build it very big and luxurious. Enough to accommodate not only ordinary travelers but also guests of the Imperial family.”

I raised one corner of my mouth mischievously and gestured with my eyes.

“But if that happens, your inn will inevitably suffer losses. Who would stay in this old, shabby inn? Everyone will go to the national hotel.”

The owner thumped her chest with her hand.

“My, my inn is competitive enough!”

“It will be for a while. But even losing half of your existing customers would be a fatal loss, wouldn’t it? Especially in this city where there are few foreign visitors.”

“…”

The owner, who had been standing silently with clenched teeth, asked in a trembling voice.

“What do you want from me, my lord? What are you trying to take by intimidating me like this? Do you want me to quit the inn business and drive me out of this city?”

“No, no. Owner. You’ve got it completely wrong.”

I softened my tone.

“I’ve come to recruit you.”

“Yes?”

“Let me make you an offer. Would you like to be the general manager of the new hotel?”

The owner’s eyes widened. I nodded.

“I’ll hire all the employees of this inn as they are. Of course, I’ll hire additional staff to match the size of the hotel.”

“W, wait a minute. It’s too sudden…”

“I guarantee you’ll make much more money than you do now. However, the responsibilities you’ll have to take on will also increase. Hygiene, cleanliness, guest service, management…”

The reason I’m making this offer isn’t because I trust this person.

It’s because this is the only person in this remote backwater who has experience in the lodging business.

As I’ve said repeatedly, I don’t intend to develop Crossroads into a tourism-specialized city.

The purpose of building the hotel is solely to satisfy the appearance conditions of some heroes.

In other words, even if I build a hotel, I want to minimize operating costs.

I could hire a hotelier who has been properly trained in the capital, but this option is cheaper.

“I won’t ask twice. Decide here and now.”

I pushed the flustered owner with a low voice.

“Will you spend the rest of your life as the owner of this small, cozy inn, or will you start a new challenge under me?”

***

The inn owner accepted my offer.

I decided to visit the inn again in ten days. To check if the operation had improved.

It was a minimum test to entrust her with the new hotel.

If she was at least running it at a decent level, I would entrust her with this task.

‘Anyway, the hotel won’t be completed until later.’

Inside the carriage returning to the mansion.

I rested my chin on my hand and looked out the window, continuing to think.

Even if I steal and use the magic construction technology of the Lake Kingdom, it will take a long time for the hotel to be completed.

And it will be later when heroes come because of that.

‘It will be at least the second year, no matter how fast it is.’

Then, the only place where I can secure heroes right now is…

‘Is it just free exploration?’

I’ll encounter NPCs [Non-Player Characters] in the dungeon under the lake and somehow persuade them to join me.

Of course, there are less than a hundred NPCs living in the dungeon under the lake.

And less than half of them are friendly.

‘But there must be one, there must be one!’

I made up my mind. The primary goal of this free exploration is to meet a friendly NPC and bring them to our side.

‘After breaking through all of the 3rd exploration zone, a safe zone called ‘Base Camp’ will appear.’

That place is the bridgehead and base for future dungeon explorations.

It’s also a place where some of the few NPCs living in the dungeon under the lake gather.

Surely, at least one or two of them will listen to my proposal. If not, I’ll recruit them by giving them money, items, or whatever it takes.

‘I want to leave right away today, but…’

I looked down at my left arm wrapped in a cast.

Not only me, but Damian is also injured in his eyes, and Evangeline also suffered minor injuries.

Jupiter and Lucas are probably still tired.

‘Don’t be impatient, let’s move forward slowly.’

There are some uneasy aspects, but the current situation is quite good.

One by one, steadily, by laying stepping stones, we can move forward.

‘The next thing to do is to recover and recruit new heroes in the free exploration.’

Thinking that, I closed my tired eyes.

Without even imagining what would happen in this free exploration.