I Became the Tyrant of a Defense Game [EN]: Chapter 784

I shared the ‘strategy’ I would use in the final stage of this defense with the kings.

The kings who heard this ‘strategy’ were first shocked, then horrified, and finally screamed.

“…That’s all.”

After finishing the explanation.

I looked around at the frozen kings.

“Do you have any questions?”

The kings immediately shouted.

“Prince Ash! Even so, isn’t that… too much?”

“That method undermines the very foundation of our world!”

“It’s impossible! It’s something that can’t come from normal thinking… !”

“Please reconsider! Even for you, this method is too much-”

I listened quietly in the face of fierce opposition.

In fact, I expected opposition, of course.

If the ‘strategy’ I proposed is used, a certain ‘pillar’ that has built up the civilization of the human world will disappear.

Even if we overcome destruction after the last stage, the world will be completely different from the past.

It is a condition that is difficult for not only the kings, but anyone living in the human world to easily accept.

However,

“Then, are you going to accept destruction?”

When I coldly asked back, the room immediately became quiet as if cold water had been poured on it.

“Certainly, the losses that the human world must endure are painful. However, as the price for protecting the world from destruction, it may be a very cheap loss.”

No matter what the price.

Wouldn’t it be better than the world being destroyed and people dying?

“…”

Among the kings who were just looking at each other in silence, a quiet question flowed out.

“Is this the only way?”

It was my father – Emperor Traha ‘Peacemaker’ Everblack of the Empire.

He was looking at me with a serious, hardened face.

I nodded heavily.

“This is the only way.”

Amid the sighs that erupted, the Emperor silently looked at me.

Soon, his cracked lips opened, and a tired voice flowed out.

“Ash. Whether you are the savior of the world or a mad revolutionary, it is not us here who will judge that, but the people of later generations…”

His lips slowly formed a curve.

“That judgment can only be made if the world continues to exist until later generations.”

The Emperor, who slowly rose, declared.

“Our Everblack Empire will walk the path that Prince Ash is taking!”

“… !”

“There is no way to overcome the world’s crisis without any losses. There must be parts that we all have to give up and concede.”

The Emperor pointed to his chest with his only arm.

“When this method is used, and when a completely different tomorrow unfolds from yesterday, which country do you think will suffer the most? It is our Empire. But it doesn’t matter. We will accept it.”

“…”

“Let’s all bear the burden together. Let’s hurt together. This is not a matter of choice, but a matter of life and death.”

The next moment.

Another person stood up from the crowd.

“Our Arian Kingdom also actively agrees!”

It was Miller Arian, the king of the Arian Kingdom.

The other kings were quite surprised by the approval of this king, who had once been at the forefront of opposing the World Defense Front’s path.

“Miller… !”

“You?!”

“If you’ve been fighting together here, you can’t help but know. That Prince Ash’s proposal eventually led to the right path.”

Miller smiled at me.

“I will support his decision until the end.”

Following that, several people stood up from their seats at the same time.

Kellybay, Verdandi, Kuilan, and King Poseidon.

Representatives of each race.

They faced me with unwavering faces.

“We have already decided to entrust the fate of our race to Prince Ash… to the future of this World Defense Front.”

“No matter what the price, it cannot take precedence over our lives.”

“We’ve come this far anyway, haven’t we? Let’s go all the way to the end!”

“If I can protect the lives of my people, I can bear that much of a price.”

Then, Mikhail, Valen, and Hannibal stood up from their seats in turn.

“Vermilion has the same opinion!”

“Our City-State Alliance too!”

“We will follow you to the end!”

Like a wave.

All the kings who had fought shoulder to shoulder with me stood up from their seats in turn, expressing their support for my ‘strategy’.

The kings who had hesitated until the end were also those who believed in me and followed me, as they had remained in the World Defense Front until now.

It was just that the method I proposed was too radical, so they couldn’t easily agree.

But in the end, they also closed their eyes tightly and stood up from their seats.

“…Just promise me one thing, Prince Ash.”

The king who was holding his forehead with one hand, and who was sitting in his seat until the end.

Dearmuddin, who leads the smallest independent country in the world, the Ivory Tower, pleaded with me earnestly.

“Even if ‘that’ disappears from this world… that we can live well. That you will make it so. Promise me.”

“I promise.”

I smiled and answered.

“We will be fine.”

Because I have already lived in a world without ‘that’.

And because I know well that that world is beautiful enough.

I spoke with conviction, and finally, Dearmuddin also sighed and stood up from his seat.

“The Ivory Tower will also share its fate with the World Defense Front.”

After looking around at all the kings who had risen around me.

I nodded heavily.

“Thank you for making a difficult decision.”

Destruction is near.

Therefore, we unite as one.

“With this united will, let’s open the way to tomorrow…”

The future is not clearly visible.

But it will be okay.

Because we have it.

The courage to abandon everything from yesterday to move towards tomorrow.

***

After the meeting ended and all the kings had left.

“Ash.”

The Emperor approached me, who was left alone in the hall.

“Father.”

The Emperor smiled at me, who simply paid my respects.

“Is there a reason why you sought consent even though you could have handled this matter on your own?”

What the Emperor said was true.

In fact, there was no need to say it in advance and seek consent. There would have been no problem if I had handled everything on my own and notified them later.

No, it would have been safer that way. The battle was just around the corner, and if there were any forces that did not agree and left the front lines, it would have been a headache.

But…

“If the only goal was to overcome destruction right now, that would have been fine, but my real goal… includes completely managing the world after this battle.”

The world does not end after the ending. It will continue endlessly.

And the world after the last stage will be completely changed. Shouldn’t we seek consent from the people who will live there in advance, and prepare countermeasures together?

“It’s not a world where I live alone. It’s a place where we all have to walk together. Even if I wear the crown that represents everyone.”

“…”

The Emperor looked at me with an unfathomable black gaze, and then closed his only eye tightly.

“Well, it’s all a story after we’ve done well in this final battle. Right?”

“Haha. That’s right.”

“This father is in this state, so it’s a pity that I can’t help with the battle anymore. Everyone else is preparing for battle, but I’m just killing time in the rear…”

To the Emperor who was sighing, I declared in a stern voice.

“No. That’s not true, Father.”

“Huh?”

“Even in this final battle, you will have to use your strength, Father.”

The Emperor pointed to his body as if he was puzzled. A body with one eye, one arm, and one leg missing.

“I’m in this state?”

“Even if your body is weakened, your heart is still strong, isn’t it?”

“Haha, my heart is not just strong, it’s as good as any young person!”

“Then that’s enough. Please come with me, Father.”

I smiled in front of the Emperor, who was still puzzled.

“There are other warriors who are not as healthy as my father, but whose hearts are burning. Please come with us.”

At my words, the Emperor did not ask any more questions, but instead laughed heartily.

And he said this.

“Okay, let’s go. To the end of the final battle… !”

***

Time passed quickly.

The day before the last stage.

A banquet was held throughout the city before the departure.

The heroes who had gathered before the final defense shared drinks and food.

I personally served drinks and food to everyone, including the soldiers in the barracks and the people in the production union, all those who were fighting in their respective positions.

I walked around with a glass, toasting each one, and wishing everyone good luck.

And, in this place…

“Lord.”

Suddenly, Aider popped out.

It was in the central square of the city. I was no longer surprised and faced him.

“Aider.”

“Hehe. You’ve finally come this far.”

“It’s the result of all of us working hard.”

Aider was wearing a very old ceremonial robe, unlike his usual appearance.

I handed him a glass of wine and then handed him something I had kept in my pocket.

“Take it.”

It was a fragment of an unnamed soul.

Her last fragments, which remained inside the dungeon, sparkled and hovered in the air before being sucked into Aider’s hand.

Aider, who carefully put it in his pocket, smiled brightly.

“I have also finished my own preparations.”

“…”

“Now, all that’s left is to give them a big blow.”

Snap!

Aider snapped his fingers.

Then, the [Traitor’s Necklace] that was hanging around my neck flashed once.

“As you may have guessed, the ‘Achievement Points’ you used through that necklace are actually… a concept of consuming the Karma we have accumulated over time.”

The endless cycle of destruction games.

Aider, who participated here as a human player, and I, his proxy. The karma that the two of us accumulated by repeating the regression was burned and manifested as power.

I smiled bitterly.

“Well, the explanation of achievement points wasn’t entirely wrong.”

“When you build fortresses materialized with magic, or when you perform other miraculous powers, we have been consuming this accumulated karma to assist you.”

Aider smiled.

“I have now released that limiter.”

“…”

“It’s the real last time. There’s no need to save the balance anymore, right?”

A former player, a former hero, a prophet, a lord’s aide, a director…

The accomplice who plotted against the world with me said that.

“Burn it all to the last point. Without regrets.”

“You too, Aider.”

To this damn monster director, whom I had grown fond of, I sincerely wished him well.

“Let’s face it without regrets. The finale of this long game…”

We clinked our glasses together.

A clear sound of glass ringing was heard.

***

After having a chat with all the heroes.

As the night deepened and dawn approached, as the banquet was coming to an end.

“Serenade.”

I approached Serenade from behind, who was standing alone by the window, looking outside in the corner of the darkened banquet hall.

Serenade, who turned around, quickly wiped her eyes and smiled brightly.

“Your Highness.”

“Are you okay?”

“Of course. I’m going to stop seeing you off with tears now. I no longer doubt your return.”

“…”

“Please go and come back safely, Your Highness. I will be here waiting with a smile.”

After hesitating for a moment.

I carefully asked.

“Can you call me like before, instead of ‘Your Highness’?”

“Yes?”

“Like back then. Like in the Imperial City, before we broke off our engagement…”

Serenade, who quickly realized what I meant, blushed and smiled, then took a step towards me…

And whispered like a breeze in my ear.

“…Please come back safely, my husband.”

I smiled silently and bowed towards her.

…

After kissing in the moonlight, as I was about to pull back.

Serenade’s long fingers snatched my sleeve.

“Tonight.”

With her face lowered, the reddest I had ever seen, Serenade whispered in a trembling voice.

“I don’t want to just let tonight pass.”

“…”

“Tonight… I want to spend it together.”

Instead of answering, I reached out and hugged her waist tightly… and kissed her once more.

***

The next day.

At the end of a long journey.

Stage 50, the final battle… began.