I Became the Tyrant of a Defense Game [EN]: Chapter 73

[Free Exploration] Base Camp

[Area 3: Outer Wall North]

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

– Acquired Treasure Chests: 2/2

Area 3 all clear.

There was a minor hiccup during the boss fight, but overall, it was a quick and easy clear.

The Golden Gargoyle didn’t drop any equipment, but instead, a bunch of valuable trade items spilled out.

I quickly gathered them up, planning to sort them out later.

And from the boss room’s treasure chest,

[Robe of Screams (SR) Lv.30]

– Category: Cloth Armor

– Defense: 15-20

– Durability: 20/20

– Recovers 1% of lost MP each time an enemy is defeated.

> Set Effect: You must scream (1/3)

– Inflicts a wide-area fear status ailment each time an enemy is defeated.

(Requires ‘Gloves of Screams’ to activate set)

(Requires ‘Orb of Screams’ to activate set)

The Scream set….

I already got the Orb of Screams, the magic orb, last time, so now I just need to get the gloves to complete the set.

“Oh my, everyone suffered because of this old lady. I don’t know if I should shamelessly accept this.”

As she said that, Jupiter snatched the robe with lightning-fast hands.

Well, she did cause some trouble in the boss fight, but Jupiter took down almost all the normal gargoyles.

And Jupiter’s role is crucial in this defense stage. There’s no harm in giving her good gear.

‘It feels a bit weird giving a reward to the one who caused the trouble…….’

Anyway, the item collection is over, and the exploration of Area 3 is finished.

Inside the boss room, there was a staircase leading down. It was a passage to the bottom of the fortress wall.

“If we go a little further, there’s the next safe zone.”

I informed the party members who were taking a short break after the battle.

“It’s the biggest of all the safe zones we’ve been to. It’s a place where the few people who live in this dungeon often gather. There are facilities like shops and blacksmiths.”

Like a base camp set up in a dungeon, it’s possible to purchase items and get magical enhancements that you can’t get in the outside world.

“But our goal today is to scout new members.”

I reminded the party members again.

“If there’s someone who’s friendly to us and seems capable, we’ll try to recruit them.”

“…….”

“You guys also keep your eyes peeled. See if you spot anyone decent.”

Evangeline, who was eating her rations, broke out in a cold sweat.

“Is there really going to be someone with decent conditions in this gloomy underground den? Or is there even a ‘person’ to begin with?”

“……Well, they don’t have to be perfect. Anyway, let’s look with our eyes wide open.”

It doesn’t matter if they’re not human, even a ghost is fine.

As long as they’re good at killing monsters, what’s a ghost? I’m more than willing to bring in a demon or a zombie!

***

After a short break, we went down the stairs. The spiral staircase went round and round endlessly.

‘I wish there was an escalator…….’

Considering the height of the fortress wall we climbed up last time, the way down was also daunting.

But maybe because we were less tired than last time, we came down much more easily.

Thud!

Finally, we set foot on the ground.

And right next to the stairs we came down,

“Wow…….”

There was a huge gate made of iron. Evangeline, seeing the gate for the first time, looked up and exclaimed in admiration.

The North Main Gate of the Lake Kingdom.

The steel gate, rusted red, was firmly locked, still emitting an ominous aura.

“That’s the same gate we saw when we first entered under the lake.”

We saw it from the outside then, but now we’re seeing it from the inside.

Because this gate was closed, we had to enter the city through the drainage channel. We went a long way around, only to end up at the main gate.

“It seems like there’s no way to open it now, just like back then.”

Lucas, who had been examining the gate, tilted his head.

“There are no pulleys or other opening devices…… How do you open the gate?”

“It’s a magic kingdom. There must be some magical device, right?”

I shrugged.

“And there’s only one way this gate opens anyway.”

“When is that?”

“When their invasion begins.”

Lucas’s face hardened. I nodded.

“Only when the monsters’ invasion force sets out towards the human world. Only then.”

The party members swallowed hard.

I grinned and gestured with my chin towards the city.

“Let’s go inside. The safe zone is right ahead.”

***

From the north main gate, we headed into the city along the main street, and soon a large plaza appeared.

It was a huge plaza, almost the size of a stadium, and gargoyles were lined up there in an orderly fashion.

Evangeline, flustered, looked around.

“What are they doing here, these guys?”

“They’re the ones who will invade the Crossroads in the next defense battle.”

The hundreds of gargoyles, packed tightly together, were still with their heads bowed, as if they were asleep.

The plaza was shrouded in darkness, making it difficult to count them accurately, but it was clear that there were an enormous number of them.

“They’re stacked up here like this, and when the time comes, they’ll all come to the Crossroads at once.”

Lucas put his hand on the longsword at his waist.

“Then shouldn’t we attack them now and wipe them out?”

“Don’t even think about it. Do you want to be annihilated?”

They’re not moving as if they’re asleep, but if we attack them, they’ll obviously react.

Even at this moment, other gargoyles flying in from all over the city were joining the ranks one after another.

Their numbers were increasing in real time.

“This is the heart of their territory. There are only five of us. If we attack now, it’ll be nothing but a dog’s death, right?”

“…….”

“Let’s do what we can do now.”

I gestured, slipping into a side path next to the plaza. The party members cautiously followed behind me.

After leaving the main street and walking for about five minutes through crooked alleys,

Suddenly, the surroundings opened up. A fairly large open space appeared in front of us.

Unlike the other dark parts of the city, it was very bright.

Magic stones were emitting light like streetlights all over the open space, and a large bonfire was burning in the middle of the open space.

“Here it is.”

I turned to the party members and pointed towards the bonfire.

“This is the base camp. It’s going to be a bridgehead for our future dungeon exploration.”

It’s nothing compared to the plaza where the monsters were gathered, but it’s overwhelmingly larger than the safe zones we’ve had so far.

My party members and I stepped into the open space.

After being in a dark place with no light, we suddenly entered a brightly lit place, and we felt a sense of relief and our tension eased.

“Whew, it’s warm.”

I put my hands over the bonfire and enjoyed the warmth. I feel like I can live now. This is a real base camp.

Then, Lucas, who was looking around with sharp eyes, whispered to me.

“But, my lord. Didn’t you say there were people living here?”

“Huh? I did.”

“But…… I don’t see anyone.”

Oh?

I also raised my head and looked around. It’s true. I don’t see anyone.

‘In the game, there were at least four or five NPCs [Non-Player Characters].’

There are four or five resident NPCs, and there are always NPCs coming and going.

For some reason, the base camp was empty.

“…….”

I narrowed my eyes.

This is not a good sign.

“Could it be…….”

It was at that moment.

Clank! Clank!

About a dozen NPCs rushed out from all over the open space, aiming weapons such as bows and crossbows at us.

“Hands up!”

“Move and you’re dead! Stay still!”

Lucas, who was already prepared, quickly drew his sword and took a defensive stance.

Evangeline also quickly put on her shield and held it out in front of her, while Jupiter, with a calm expression, floated her magic orb and chewed on her cigarette.

“W-wa? Waaaaa?”

Only Damian was flailing around in confusion.

I grabbed Damian’s shoulder tightly once and scanned the surroundings.

There were about a dozen of them surrounding us.

But, they were wearing unfamiliar outfits.

They were all wearing white masks that covered their faces and were fully armored.

Looking at the level of their equipment, it was clear that they were high-level.

‘They even brought a cannon…….’

I found a cannon aiming at us from the high ground over there and let out a hollow laugh. They’re really going all out.

‘What’s the escape route?’

I looked around for an escape route, but the encirclement was perfect. It seems impossible to slip away quietly.

I bit my lip tightly.

‘I was careless because it was a safe zone!’

In the game, it’s a place where monsters can’t invade and no battles take place, but this is reality.

There are no restrictions on how or where you clash with ‘people’, whether you kill or be killed……!

‘But there was no warning at all! A surprise attack as soon as we entered the safe zone? And who are these guys? What the hell is this situation!’

My head was a mess, but I acted calm on the outside.

“The welcome is a bit hot, isn’t it?”

With a relaxed smile, I spoke up.

“I appreciate the warm welcome, but I’d be grateful if someone could explain the current situation.”

“…….”

“We’re adventurers who just entered this dungeon a while ago. We’re cute newbies that you guys should be helping and guiding.”

Even with my joking, lighthearted words, they didn’t move.

They just looked at us with cold eyes from behind their masks, aiming their weapons.

I sighed softly.

“Or what, is this some kind of initiation to discipline new adventurers? I didn’t know there were places where such bad practices remained in this modern society.”

“Bad practices? Would you call it a beautiful tradition?”

Then, a deep, dignified voice was heard.

It was a fantastic bass voice. He could be a singer.

“The initiation of newbies is a time-honored culture that has been with humanity throughout history. It’s a process of engraving respect and courtesy for seniors into their bodies. Shouldn’t we protect and develop such a wonderful culture in the future?”

But he was spouting such nonsense with that amazing baritone voice, making me think it was a waste of his voice.

I snorted.

“What kind of culture is that kind of old-fashioned nonsense? Our adventurer senior has quite the boomer mentality.”

“Hahaha! I hear that often.”

Thud. Thud.

A man walked out from among the white-masked NPCs.

“But what can you do? After living for so long, I tend to cling to the old ways.”

“……!”

A long pointed hat, a black minstrel outfit.

The man’s appearance was familiar.

That’s because this guy was the culprit who ruined Stage 2.

I glared at him, grinding my teeth.

“‘The Pied Piper’……!”

“Ho, is that what you call me?”

Under the man’s pointed hat, the face hidden by the shadow of the hat brim came into view.

……He was also wearing a mask.

A mask with a detachable chin part so that it could be removed only when playing an instrument.

Like a clown, just a smiling face was engraved on it…… a white mask.

“The Pied Piper. It’s an interesting nickname, but I’ll give you a chance to properly introduce myself.”

The man put his hand on his chest and introduced himself in an exaggerated tone.

“A great traitor who wanders the bottom of this great Lake Kingdom. The last court musician, court jester, and court magician left in the Lake Kingdom.”

The man, who slowly bowed, finally spoke his name.

“I am called ‘Crown’.”

It was a dignified, beautiful, and hateful voice.

“Nice to meet you. The last ‘Player’.”