I Became the Tyrant of a Defense Game [EN]: Chapter 726

The barrier was restored, and the water drained from the Lake Kingdom, which had now become a land overrun by monsters. The monsters claimed their favorite parts of the vast city-state, turning them into their strongholds.

Many survivors, who had barely managed to maintain their sanity for over a hundred years, had their spirits broken at this point. Being hunted daily by hideous and terrifying nightmare monsters was simply too despairing. Every night, the monsters held feasts, and the people of the Lake Kingdom, who would revive no matter how many times they died, became their prey. They had their blood sucked while still alive, were torn by claws, and burned by breath. The monsters mocked the weak resistance of the humans and played with them.

Various kinds of monsters lurked everywhere in the kingdom, and their territories gradually expanded. Before long, there was no space left in the city where humans could rest in peace. Even in this situation, Ariel did not give up. She gathered the survivors from all over the kingdom, organized a resistance force, and fought the monsters together. However, even their desperate efforts eventually began to fade.

“…Brother?”

Because a traitor appeared among the people, one who sided with the monsters.

“What is… this…”

The white-masked people, who had joined by disguising themselves as another group of survivors. After infiltrating the resistance, they kidnapped and persuaded the resistance members one by one, taking them to the Demon King.

“…Their consciousness was personally trapped in a dream by the Demon King.”

The leader of these white-masked people – the ‘Nightcrawlers’. The man dressed as a jester, who identified himself as ‘Crown’, was none other than Prince Christian.

“Father is the same. He eventually succumbed and is now dreaming.”

“Prince Christian… !”

“Get a hold of yourself, Prince Christian!”

“I have abandoned that name.”

When the other survivors called out the prince’s name one after another, Christian shook his head.

“I coveted the crown [referring to the literal crown of a monarch] beyond my station, but in the end, my fate is nothing more than this ridiculous clown [referring to his jester attire].”

From under the laughing mask, the man laughed miserably.

“So, from now on, call me Crown.”

“Brother… !”

Ariel shuddered. Crown slowly picked up a flute from his waist – a power bestowed by the Demon King.

“Now, you are the only humans left in this country who resist.”

“Why! Why did you side with the Demon King!”

“Ariel. Why do you resist?”

Looking around at the people who were still trying to fight, Crown let out a soft sigh.

“Have you not seen those mighty monsters? And what about the Demon King who commands them? The country has fallen under the lake, and there is no way to break the curse.”

“…”

“There is no hope anyway. Then, instead of resisting uselessly, wouldn’t it be better to… become comfortable quickly?”

“Brother, you… !”

Crown stared at his sister’s face, who still called him brother. Those unwavering eyes, still shining brightly even in this hell.

“It’s just that I, who have committed sins, who have brought the country to ruin, am trying to finish the last dirty deed.”

Crown brought the flute to his lips. Then, all the Nightcrawlers drew the weapons they had prepared. The resistance also raised their weapons in response. Ariel cried out, tears streaming down her face.

“Please don’t do this, brother! It is our royal family’s fault that this country has fallen into hell! So, we must take responsibility and fix it together!”

“No, Ariel. You are not at fault. The fault lies only with me.”

Tears of blood flowed from under the mask. Crown spoke with a heavy, choked voice.

“So… I will make you comfortable as soon as possible.”

*Peeep-*

As Crown played the flute, immediately after, the monsters, having heard the sound in the darkness, rushed in this direction with their red eyes glowing.

“What is this?!”

“Is he controlling the monsters…? !”

“Your Highness! You are really-”

The Nightcrawler unit members unhesitatingly fired arrows and magic at the bewildered resistance. Faced with the combined attack of monsters and traitors, the resistance fell helplessly. Ariel desperately ordered a retreat.

In a world occupied by monsters, even the last remaining humans were now divided and fighting each other.

***

Following the monsters, even fellow humans. The enemies only increased, and the fighting power only decreased. In the end, Ariel had to make a decision. As a member of the royal family who had brought the country to ruin, to take responsibility. To protect the remaining people, to continue fighting the Demon King… She decided to use the ancient magic that had been secretly passed down in the royal family.

“I will offer my existence as a burnt offering to the goddess.”

The principle of magic that the Lake Kingdom had discovered was as follows: If the guardian spirit of a race rooted in the spirit realm draws power from another world and brings it to the present world, that power can be processed and used in the present world. And the royal family of the Lake Kingdom already knew that a burning woman was seated at the root of the human guardian spirit, ‘Everblack’. That the god, commonly called ‘Goddess’, who was simply regarded as a legend among the people, was real. That her magic was strongly linked to humanity.

This ancient magic was a ritual to borrow her power in exchange for offering one’s existence to that goddess.

“Your Highness does not need to do that!”

“We would rather… !”

“No. It’s not just about stepping forward to sacrifice myself.”

Ariel shook her head at the people who were against it and smiled bitterly.

“It’s because I am the one who has the most to ‘burn and offer’.”

And, if someone in this place had to take responsibility for all this hell, it was only herself. In the end, Ariel performed a ritual to offer herself to the goddess through ancient magic.

“I offer.”

After setting her own body on fire with magic, Ariel chanted while enduring the heat that consumed her whole body.

“My status.”

She abdicated herself, abandoning her status as a princess.

“My memories.”

Forgetting the beautiful and precious days from birth until now, and the days of resistance that were difficult but never gave up.

“My name…”

Burning the name Ariel, becoming nameless.

“Everything of mine.”

The burnt offering ritual was over. When the fire on her body went out, the princess’s brilliant silver hair had turned white. The red ribbon that she had always tied to maintain her humanity for a hundred years after the destruction, had all burned to ashes. Along with her cleanly bleached memories, her expressions and emotions were also cut away.

*Flash…!*

A dazzling light formed in the nameless hand. To the princess who had offered everything, the goddess bestowed a light that could destroy evil. The resistance members, who were weeping as they looked up at the princess who had turned white, knelt down one by one towards her. Nameless silently picked up a rusty iron sword lying on the floor, infused it with light, then turned to the people and said.

“Let’s go.”

Her bright smile, which she always showed to everyone, and the rich emotions in her voice, had all disappeared. But in her clear eyes, like a lake, only one purpose remained, overflowing.

“To save the world.”

To defeat the Demon King and save this country. To kill monsters and protect people. Only that purpose.

***

…….And again, many years passed. Nameless continued to fight. Her ordinary, old, and rusty iron sword had cut down countless monsters, and after writing as many legends, it became one of the best weapons that could cut down any monster, no matter who they were. Nameless herself had also been extremely trained in countless battles, becoming a swordsman more skilled than anyone else in this world against monsters. And, while time passed to get to this point, the resistance members disappeared one by one. The Demon King persistently persuaded the resistance members. Moreover, after persuading them, he did not simply make them into living devices that had nightmares. He placed monsters that had copied their memories to fight against the resistance.

Those who had been comrades until a few days ago, not only succumbed, but also appeared in the form of monsters and attacked the resistance.

《There are rats, everywhere, there are rats! No matter how many you kill, rats keep coming out! Damn rats!》

《I also want to go to the court and learn magic someday. I’m tired of sweeping and cleaning this place like a machine.》

《Centurion 20 years ago, centurion 10 years ago… Am I supposed to be a centurion for the rest of my life?》

《Eliminate those who climb the walls! Even in an emergency, it must be handled according to the law! Summary judgment for all of them! Summary judgment…!》

《Become fertilizer for the future of humanity, non-citizens!》

In the endless battles that continued in the hell under the lake, the resistance members went mad one by one. It became difficult to distinguish whether it was day or night, underwater or on land, whether the opponent in front of them was a monster or a human. Those who had gone mad attacked their allies, hallucinated and became confused, or lost all will and could not move, and were no longer able to endure.

“I can no longer fight them, but I don’t want to become a living device that has nightmares.”

The resistance warrior who was the first to leave requested of Nameless.

“Please confine and seal me.”

“…”

Nameless, who had been silent, slowly nodded.

“I will do as you wish, comrade.”

Then, Nameless carefully asked.

“Do you remember where your original home was? I will let you rest there for the last time.”

Thus, those who could no longer fight returned to their original homes and were sealed. Nameless laid her comrade on the bed that had been eaten away and collapsed, and stroked his forehead, whispering.

“May you have a peaceful retirement.”

“I hope you will regain the light someday, Nameless…”

After saying goodbye, she placed several magical seals on the house to prevent the Demon King from approaching. And, in case of emergency, she blocked the doors and windows from the outside. This was called ‘Retirement Funeral’ among the resistance of the Lake Kingdom, who could not die. It was the only honorable end they could have.

***

…….And, after a long time had passed again. Throughout the Lake Kingdom, houses with doors and windows sealed like this had sprung up like mushrooms.

*Thud, thud, thud…*

After sealing another comrade with her own hands, and nailing the door of the house.

“…”

Nameless turned around. She was alone now. The resistance, which had once numbered in the hundreds, had either all succumbed to the Demon King or had their retirement funerals, and had disappeared from this Lake Kingdom. Those who were still fighting were truly a very small number.

‘Ah.’

Even that was now at its limit. Nameless herself was feeling that her own end was approaching. She knew well that the light she had borrowed from the goddess was gradually flickering with difficulty.

‘In all those days, in all that resistance, was there any meaning?’

Nameless raised her tired eyes and looked up at the sky. This kingdom, which was once beautiful with colors, was now just a dull monochrome, submerged in darkness.

‘The last time I saw a pretty color…’

Suddenly, Nameless was lost in thought.

‘When was it?’

Surely, before the world became like this. It seemed like she had seen something beautiful with someone…

‘…I can’t remember.’

Because she had burned and offered everything, nothing came to mind. Nameless smiled bitterly and staggered back into the kingdom submerged in darkness. To prepare for the endless battle that would continue again. And, to prepare for the possibility of a new possibility coming. Today, she had to hang torches throughout the Lake Kingdom, clear away monsters, and patrol to find visitors.

And.

“Hmm?”

While patrolling outside the castle walls, she saw a group of people standing outside the closed main gate. A black-haired youth at the front, a blonde knight. A brown-haired, curly-haired sniper, a one-eyed white-haired wizard, and a red-haired wizard in a wheelchair.

‘Are they adventurers?’

There were often people who came here after hearing the rumors that the kingdom had sunk. Some of them settled in the kingdom and became new forces, but most of them were frightened by the monsters and ran away or died in vain. So, without much expectation.

“Are you grave robbers who have come to this Lake Kingdom in search of treasure?”

However, with a very small hope, she approached, warning them so that innocent people would not get caught up in this hell.

“There is nothing you want here. Return to the surface while you still have your lives…”