I Became the Tyrant of a Defense Game [EN]: Chapter 71

Three days later.

Evangeline’s injuries had completely healed. The Cross family’s cavalry spear and shield, which had been at the end of their durability, were also repaired.

Damian’s eyes were almost healed as well. I returned the SSR-grade magic rifle, Black Queen, to Damian.

Only my left arm was still in a cast. I wished I could heal as quickly as these sturdy guys.

[STAGE 4]

– Time until start: 7 days

There was a week left until the next stage started.

To be fully prepared for the free exploration, it would be okay to rest for a few more days, but the remaining days until the stage starts were slowly becoming a pressure.

I needed information about the next stage.

So, I decided to go on a free exploration today.

I summoned the party, and before noon, all the party members arrived at the mansion. I looked at each of them.

Lucas, Evangeline, Jupiter, and Damian.

Now, they were all skillfully equipped, and my main party was all gathered.

“I hope you all rested well these past few days.”

I smiled as I made eye contact with each of them.

“I’m sorry for being a bad boss who overworks you, but it’s time to deploy again.”

“……”

But, for some reason.

Evangeline couldn’t make eye contact with me and quickly turned her gaze away. What’s wrong?

“What’s wrong, Evangeline? Do you have any complaints?”

“……”

As I stepped closer and asked, Evangeline kept avoiding my gaze and moved her body backward.

“No, it’s just… it’s embarrassing…”

“…Huh?”

No. What’s embarrassing? What is it?

Is it because we’re in the same party now? Or because we fought golems together, risking our lives? Or because she told me all about her parents’ issues?

“What is it? What? What is it?”

“Ah, never mind, move! Let’s just finish the briefing and leave quickly.”

Evangeline got flustered and pushed me back.

I was dumbfounded and let out a sigh. Damn it, it’s impossible to understand a teenager’s mind.

And when I turned my gaze, Damian also couldn’t make eye contact with me. Why is he like this? His eyes are all healed, right?

“I’m also… feeling a bit awkward. Hehe…”

“What about you…?”

Damian didn’t answer and scratched the back of his head. Is it because I visited him in the hospital? What is it? Why are you all like this?

“Hoo hoo.”

Jupiter made a strange sound as he watched us. I quickly turned my head.

“What, Jupiter? If you have something to say, say it now.”

“No~ It’s nothing. Ho ho.”

Jupiter covered his mouth and smiled with his eyes.

“What would an old man do, acting up among young people?”

“Every day is a life of acting up, but what…”

I sighed and looked at the last party member.

“You’re the only normal one in this party, Lucas.”

“Of course, my lord.”

Lucas gave a bright smile.

“You can always trust me.”

As expected of our reliable main character. I high-fived Lucas in an exaggerated manner. Clack!

“Alright, enough with the small talk! It’s time for dungeon exploration.”

I clapped my hands to organize the atmosphere and continued speaking.

“The free exploration area we’re going to this time is Area 3, ‘Outer Wall North.’ We’ll be exploring the northern wall of the Lake Kingdom in a straight line.”

I recalled Area 3, which I had explored countless times in the game.

“There are no special gimmicks. The dungeon structure is just one long corridor. We just need to honestly fight the monster bastards and move forward.”

Strength against strength.

Just keep moving forward while defeating the monsters that keep appearing.

Area 3 has one of the simplest structures among all the areas.

“It won’t take that long. Let’s aim to return before evening.”

I looked around at the party members.

“Any questions?”

Everyone was just looking at me, checking their equipment.

I nodded my head greatly.

“Alright, let’s go!”

[Teleport Gate]

– Please select a destination.

> Lakeside Wharf

> Dried-up Drainage

> Hidden Back Alley

> Outer Wall North (New!)

I activated the teleport gate, opened the path to the Outer Wall North, and then I jumped in first.

Flash-!

The familiar flash enveloped me.

***

[Now Loading… Teleporting]

[Tip – You can re-explore areas you have already cleared. Try sending sub-parties to different areas to level up!]

No, I need a sub-party to send them, you damn tip text!

***

As I passed through the teleport gate, I arrived at the safe zone in front of Area 3.

Whoosh-

A watchtower on a high wall. This place overlooks the entire Lake Kingdom.

As they looked at the vast expanse of the Lake Kingdom, the party members all swallowed hard. I gestured towards the wall with my chin.

“Let’s go straight away.”

As we went down the watchtower and stepped onto the wall.

Ding!

[Area 3: Outer Wall North]

– Clear Progress: Normal Room 0/1 Boss Room 0/1

– Acquired Treasure Chests: 0/2

The system window displayed the information for this exploration area.

Compared to the dungeons so far, it was a very simple structure. One normal monster room. One boss room. Only two chests.

‘As there are no special gimmicks, it’s honestly tough.’

Depending on what kind of monsters appear, there will be variations, but it’s a dungeon where the body has to suffer.

Since the normal room is just a long path, you have to go straight without rest. Because monsters keep pouring out without stopping.

‘So, what is this monster group this time…’

In front of me, as I swallowed hard, large statues made of rock flew and landed.

Thud-!

The statues that landed on the left and right of the huge wall all lit up their red eyes. I shouted their names.

“Gargoyles!”

As expected, flying monsters appeared as predicted!

[Outer Wall North – Room 1]

– Eliminate all enemies!

– Lv.12 Rock Gargoyle: 8

Since it was a map where monsters kept appearing, the wave number was displayed.

“Alright, let’s make it quick! They’ll keep coming, and the longer it takes, the more tired we’ll get.”

As the monsters appeared, all the party members got into battle stances.

Lucas raised his longsword, Evangeline her cavalry spear and shield, and Damian his magic rifle.

Jupiter also floated a magic crystal ball above his shoulder.

I also took out a short magic staff from my inner pocket. This was the new equipment I had obtained, ‘Maestro’.

I held out the Maestro and shouted.

“Break through at full speed!”

“Understood!”

Our party of five immediately started running forward.

***

There are two types of flying monster groups that appear in the early stages.

The first is the wyvern.

It’s a monster commonly called a flying dragon.

Although the name includes dragon, it’s not actually a dragon species, but rather a form that has degenerated from a dragon.

They have low intelligence, and of course, they don’t use the unique powers of a dragon species.

But even if they’re degraded, they’re still something. Thanks to being a direct descendant of a dragon genetically, they have very high magic resistance.

The feeling of despair when you’ve carefully raised a mage party and then a wyvern group appears as an enemy…

Moreover, they shoot fireballs from their mouths, trying to imitate a dragon. Flying monsters even have ranged attack abilities.

Instead, their physical defense is low.

If you have a solid anti-air fire network with bows and ballistas, you can defeat them, although it’s difficult.

Next, the second flying monster group.

It’s the gargoyles we met in this stage.

These guys have the opposite attributes to wyverns.

Since their bodies are made of stone or metal statues, their physical defense is quite high. Instead, their magic defense is paper-thin.

And they don’t have ranged attack abilities. They only attempt melee combat with the weapons they hold.

They’re the kind of enemies that the front line blocks with their bodies while the rear mages and artifacts work hard to defeat them.

In other words,

“Indeed, the mage is the flower of the battlefield! The core of war! The owner of bonus pay, that’s what I’m saying!”

…It means Jupiter is showing off again.

With Jupiter’s excited shout, lightning fell from the sky.

Flash-!

Boom! Boom boom…!

Every time lightning struck the air, gargoyles fell and shattered.

Even though the gargoyles are tough, Lucas and Evangeline can easily break their bodies.

However, the efficiency of Jupiter, a wide-area mage, was on a different level.

While the two knights were blocking the incoming gargoyles, Jupiter was constantly pouring down lightning, frying them.

Is this some kind of experience event?

‘Well, that’s why I’m spending a lot of money to raise a mage.’

In this world, mages are like strategic weapons.

I’m paying them enough for their high value. Although I don’t like their cockiness.

“Um…”

At that time, Damian, who was fidgeting because he had nothing to do, asked me quietly.

“Is there anything I can help with, Your Highness…?”

“No. Don’t think like that, let’s take it easy.”

You haven’t fully recovered your eyes either. And my left arm isn’t fully healed yet either.

“I hope we don’t have to step up today.”

That was my honest feeling. If we don’t have to step up, it’s better to stay quiet.

‘From the start, the party members currently fighting are two SSR-grade knights and one SR-grade wide-area mage.’

Moreover, they have all completed their second job advancements.

It’s an extravagant composition that’s excessive for exploring Area 3.

“If we can get carried, let’s follow along comfortably as the injured.”

“Still…”

Damian wiggled the fingers holding his magic rifle.

I gave Damian a gentle smile.

“You’re my last line of defense.”

“…!!”

“Don’t be impatient, and just move according to my instructions when needed. Got it?”

Damian nodded his head greatly.

“Yes, Your Highness!”

Anyway, thanks to Jupiter’s great performance, we successfully broke through the normal room easily.

Even though she’s a grumpy old woman, her skills are certain.

After passing through the remains of what seemed like a hundred gargoyles, we walked along the path that stretched along the wall for quite a while.

“We’ve arrived.”

We arrived at the wall right above the north gate.

In front of us was a large metal door. We had to go inside to find the passage that leads down to the main gate below the wall.

“Alright, it’s the boss room.”

After a short break.

With a smile, I pushed open the door to the boss room.

“Let’s try to leave work early today!”

Thud thud-

The door opened with a heavy sound.

And inside the boss room…

[Outer Wall North – Boss Room]

– Defeat the boss!

– Lv.30 Golden Gargoyle

A huge gargoyle, wearing armor that seemed to be made of gold, was standing there.

“Oh…”

The Golden Gargoyle.

In the setting, it was a gargoyle that was decorated in the royal palace of the Lake Kingdom. Its stats are comparable to other boss-level monsters, but… as befits its expensive-looking appearance, it drops a lot of items.

“Alright, let’s get some tasty items! Everyone, prepare for battle!”

The moment I shouted that.

Tap!

Jupiter suddenly spread his arms and started running towards the Golden Gargoyle.

“…?”

I just blinked at Jupiter’s sudden action.

Jupiter?

What are you doing now?