I Became the Tyrant of a Defense Game [EN]: Chapter 742

Over the next two days, La Mancha and the griffons poured diluted cure onto the zombie horde.

Initially, most of the zombie horde showed little reaction, but as the amount of cure applied accumulated, changes gradually began to appear.

The zombie state weakened, and the parasites controlling the hosts began to lose their grip. The number of zombies that could no longer move nimbly grew like a snowball.

Even individuals where the parasites, the root cause of the zombie state, were being eliminated began to appear.

And these ‘cured’ zombies… were attacked by the ones that weren’t.

It seemed that the zombies judged friend from foe based on whether or not a parasite was controlling the host.

Each time an individual was cured by the repeated application of the cure, the remaining zombies would somehow recognize it and attack, killing each other.

A zombie without a parasite was just an ordinary corpse.

The remaining zombies would actively attack and finish off the individuals who were being cured by the cure and were about to collapse and die on their own.

‘What a grotesque sight….’

The sight of over 100,000 corpses rushing together, then suddenly killing each other, was too gruesome to watch.

‘But if they reduce their numbers, it’s beneficial for us.’

The zombie horde was steadily weakening and decreasing as it moved north.

I nodded, reviewing the footage recorded by La Mancha. It was going according to plan.

However.

“……”

Even in the video footage, it was clear that Cromwell’s size was gradually increasing.

At first, I thought it was a mistake. But when they came within a day’s distance from Crossroads, it became certain.

The leader, Cromwell, was growing larger.

The horns, which had been repeatedly growing abnormally, now looked like a single giant tree, and his enlarged body was so unwieldy that he had started moving on all fours, with his arms on the ground.

As if he had been a quadrupedal animal from the start.

Yes, like….

A giant reindeer.

A giant reindeer with pale green magic swirling around its grotesquely twisted, muscular body, leading the zombie monster horde, roaring as it advanced.

I suddenly recalled Rosetta’s explanation.

– The parasite penetrates the target’s body through the infected person’s mouth, infects the target’s mana source, and seizes control of the body.

– And when the target dies, it uses the demon’s power of ‘sacrifice’ to take the target’s life force and transfer it to its master.

From the beginning, this zombification was related to the demon’s unique ‘sacrifice’ ability.

When the zombie monsters fall and die, Cromwell recovers even their last remaining life force, strengthening himself… Is that the mechanism?

‘Is this boss-strengthening-when-minions-die gimmick some kind of RPG raid tradition….’

It was concerning that Cromwell was getting bigger and bigger.

But, are we going to let fear of the maggots stop us from making soy sauce? [A Korean idiom meaning to not let trivial fears stop you from achieving something important.]

It would be ridiculous to leave the zombie horde alone just because we’re afraid of the boss getting stronger.

‘The preparations are complete.’

I thought, estimating the location of the zombie horde, which had advanced near Crossroads, on the map.

‘We will clear this, no matter what.’

Stage 45.

The last boss stage before the final battle, Stage 50. It could be said to be the most difficult hurdle before facing the final boss.

‘It’s no different from what we’ve done so far.’

Kill the monsters, save the people.

From the beginning until now, that’s the only path I’ve wanted to take.

***

It was night, with only a few hours left before the zombie horde arrived.

The city of Crossroads was desolate.

It wasn’t a city with a large population to begin with, but with the monster horde’s attack imminent, all non-combat personnel had been evacuated, making it even more deserted.

And in this empty city, in the equally empty training grounds of the abandoned barracks….

“Huff, huff!”

Hecate was still desperately wielding her sword.

Even though her broken body and lost swordsmanship were unlikely to return, she repeated the desperate motions of swinging her sword, only to drop it again.

“……Hecate.”

Lucas, who had been watching Hecate from behind, spoke.

“Why didn’t you evacuate and stay here?”

“Haa, haa…….”

Hecate, picking up her sword again, replied bluntly.

“His Highness told me to stay in this city. That’s why I’m staying.”

“Don’t act like a child. That’s not what he meant.”

“I know. But where else would I go right now?”

Hecate shook her head.

“It’s the same anywhere. I’m a useless person now, and I have nowhere to return to.”

“…….”

“So I’m here. To find a reason to live, as His Highness said.”

Clang-

Hecate’s practice sword rolled on the ground.

Hecate stared blankly at her palm, where the calluses had broken and blood was flowing, and muttered.

“Lucas, if…….”

“Hmm?”

“If I’m in a life-threatening situation tomorrow, will you come to save me?”

After a brief silence.

Lucas raised his clear blue eyes to meet Hecate’s gaze.

“You are one of my closest friends, Hecate.”

“…….”

“If it weren’t wartime, I would, of course, drop everything and rush to save you. But.”

Hecate smiled bitterly at the following logical statement.

“Right now, I am my lord’s guard and the adjutant to the front-line commander. I have a position to protect. Therefore, I will not be able to come to save you.”

“…….”

“You would have done the same if you were me. Wouldn’t you?”

“That’s right. Even if you had lost your strength and I had remained a knight, our judgment would have been the same.”

Hecate, letting out a long sigh, leaned against the wall of the training ground and looked up at the sky.

“I’m just curious. If I hadn’t broken down, if I had continued to be useful… would you have ever looked back at me?”

“……Hecate.”

Lucas, hesitating, asked carefully.

“After this battle is over, would you like to go on a date with me for a while?”

Hecate’s eyes widened. She wondered if she had misheard.

“A date? Did you just say ‘date’?”

“Yes. A date. You know, eating together, walking around, that kind of thing.”

Lucas tilted his head.

“Do you not want to?”

“No… it’s not that I don’t want to….”

Why is this dense bear suddenly making such a proposal?

Hecate was flustered, stammering at this completely new experience. Lucas nodded.

“Then I’ll take that as a yes.”

“No, uh, okay…….”

Lucas chuckled and stepped back.

“Since you’re staying in the city anyway, it would be best if you waited in a safe place.”

“…….”

“Then, let’s see each other alive.”

Lucas left the training ground and quickly disappeared. Hecate stared blankly at his retreating figure.

“…….”

Even though she had received a date proposal from her long-time crush, Hecate’s expression was complicated.

She couldn’t help but think that if she hadn’t broken down, Lucas wouldn’t have been so considerate….

“It’s difficult…….”

When she was young, getting a date request from that stiff guy was her wish.

Why isn’t she happy now?

Hecate shook her head slightly and picked up the practice sword that had fallen on the ground.

She didn’t know what she should live for, but she had no intention of dying to the zombies without a purpose.

‘Let’s live a little longer.’

At least to see what that dense bear would prepare for their date.

And to find the reason for which she should die.

At least, she would survive this battle. Hecate thought so.

***

The zombie horde was scheduled to arrive at Crossroads in the early morning.

Evangeline, who had been preparing for the siege with the melee unit heroes since the night, suddenly felt hungry.

“Shall we eat something and continue?”

“Let’s do it, gluttonous captain!”

Laughter erupted among the unit members. Evangeline protested, ‘I’m still growing!’ and led the way.

The melee unit heroes all headed to the field kitchen.

In preparation for the start of the operation at dawn, the field kitchen was providing simple meals throughout the night.

The heroes were given cups of hot soup and simple sandwiches with large chunks of meat.

Evangeline, who took a bite of her sandwich as soon as she received it, happily puffed out her cheeks.

“Wow, it’s delicious! The New Terra style, arranged for the South, is exactly my style….”

Evangeline, realizing something was off, widened her eyes and said, “Huh?”

Wait. This style of cooking. Where have I eaten this often….

Then, she noticed the cook from the field kitchen, who was hesitating in front of her.

“Huh?”

It was a familiar man. Evangeline, flustered, pointed at him and asked.

“Uhh? That waiter?!”

“Hahaha… Yes, that’s me.”

It was the waiter from the cafeteria who had suddenly confessed to Evangeline.

Evangeline was dumbfounded.

“No, why aren’t you evacuating and what are you doing here… what’s with that uniform?!”

“Well… I temporarily enlisted as a volunteer. There was a notice that the kitchen staff was short-handed, so I impulsively… I’ve helped out with cooking at our restaurant, so I can cook to some extent.”

Evangeline was speechless. The waiter, embarrassed, lowered his eyes.

“A few days ago, a soldier who came to the restaurant told me. He said that even though I said I liked Miss Evangeline, and I live in this city, I don’t know anything about Miss Evangeline or the city.”

“…….”

“He said that I don’t know what it’s like to fight monsters, or what this city is protecting… So, I felt a little ashamed. I wanted to know. So, I enlisted.”

Evangeline slapped her forehead.

“Your heart is admirable, but it’s really dangerous here. You haven’t even had combat training. You could really die, you know? You should evacuate right now….”

“Don’t worry! I won’t do anything reckless.”

The waiter quickly waved his hands and added.

“I just… want to know. What kind of fight Miss Evangeline is fighting.”

“…….”

“If I really have the right to live in this city.”

Evangeline sighed and urged him.

“When the battle starts, hide in a safe place. Okay? You absolutely must not come out!”

“Yes, I will keep that in mind.”

The waiter smiled innocently.

Evangeline, turning away, downed her cup of soup in one gulp, her insides burning.

She didn’t feel any particular affection for that young man, but he was a resident of this city, and Evangeline was the heir to the lordship of this city.

‘There’s a lot to protect….’

If she becomes a true lord, she will have to accept the diverse feelings of many more people.

‘It’s not easy.’

Neither the monsters nor the hearts of others.

It’s not easy.

Evangeline snorted and finished her meal cleanly before heading back to the front lines.

The melee unit heroes watched Evangeline’s retreating figure with smiles on their faces.

***

The night, filled with a jumble of various emotions, passed, and it was early morning.

In the dark hours before dawn.

Thump…! Thump…! Thump…!

Finally, far away in the southern fields of Crossroads, the advancing zombie monster horde appeared.

Their numbers had been reduced to less than half by the cure bombardment over the past two days, and their speed and power had decreased.

But they were still numerous, still fast, and still terrifying.

The zombie horde, approaching through the dark night, flashing ominous green eyes, was grotesque and eerie.

Groooaaan….

Groooaaan!

The terrible screams of tens of thousands of zombies reached Crossroads.

And among the soldiers swallowing dryly with tension, Ash calmly smiled and stretched out his arms forward.

“Well then, shall we begin!”

And he confidently shouted.

“Activate the ‘Wall’!”