I Became the Tyrant of a Defense Game [EN]: Chapter 811

The Black Lake.

This lake, once filled with black water tainted by malice and nightmares, was now…

Swooshhhhh!

Completely evaporated.

As the passage to the other realm closed and the spirit realm vanished, all the curses that had filled the Black Lake disappeared simultaneously.

With all the contaminated lake water evaporated and the bottom completely dried up, the ancient kingdom that had been submerged beneath finally revealed its full form to the world.

The time of the people of this nation, who had been preserved by the curse of eternal life, also began to flow again.

“Huh?!”

“W-what is this…”

“How long… how long were we trapped in a nightmare…?”

The people who had escaped the Demon King’s nightmare regained their senses one by one.

Most of the people of the Lake Kingdom, not long after being cursed with eternal life, could not endure the hellish pain beneath the lake and accepted the Demon King’s offer. They entrusted themselves to the nightmare and sank.

Having emerged from a very long dream, they were bewildered by the unfamiliar air of reality. And they were shocked to see the world that had completely changed.

“All the buildings are in ruins…!

“Why did the entire kingdom fall to the bottom of the lake?!

“M-magic isn’t working! There’s no magic power in the air!”

“All the artifacts are dead! What is going on?!”

The Lake Kingdom, an ancient magical kingdom, had a higher level of magic than any other modern nation.

Conversely, their dependence on magic was extreme.

The people of the Lake Kingdom were shocked by the magic power that had disappeared from the atmosphere and their moss-covered civilization that had stopped working.

Like a woodcutter who didn’t realize his axe handle was rotting while enjoying the life of a hermit.

After five hundred years of isolation in hell, the people of the Lake Kingdom were in shock at their encounter with a completely changed world.

A terrible chaos was about to sweep through the entire kingdom…

“Calm down!”

A leader who maintained a cool head remained.

“It’s the royal order! Everyone calm down! Maintain order!”

The man who took off his jester mask.

Crown—no, it was Prince Christian.

In place of the king, who had fainted again as soon as he woke up from the nightmare, he stepped forward to quell the chaos in the country.

The royal family still had authority, and more than anything, Christian understood the reality.

Christian quickly calmed the chaos within the kingdom, accompanied by the Nightcrawler unit. He led the people to regain order, using the royal order.

Recovering the homeland that had been liberated from the nightmare was something he had dreamed of for countless years.

Christian and the Nightcrawler unit moved busily through the city, leading the people.

“We’re out of water and food, Your Highness.”

“We have stockpiled dried food and purified water in the royal warehouse. We will start distributing it soon, so post notices at the main government offices in the city. Also, summon the personnel who originally handled public affairs.”

“It’s still cold, and night will come soon. Many people will freeze to death if this continues.”

“Tear down all the rotten wooden buildings and use them as firewood. Light fires in all the squares and small squares.”

Christian, who was busy giving instructions, pointed to the land above, visible in the distance.

Since the kingdom itself had sunk to the bottom of the lake, it was a long way to the surface.

“And we need to make a path so we can go up above the lake. The work will start tomorrow morning, and everyone who can use their body will be mobilized. Conscript them.”

One of the high-ranking officials who was listening stammered.

“Your Highness. Such things are usually done with magic…”

“There is no more magic!”

Christian rebuked.

“Now we have to do everything in the world with our own two hands.”

“W-why is this happening… why is our Lake Kingdom…”

“Why is our brilliant magical civilization like this…”

Christian spoke in a stern voice to the nobles who were trembling, unable to adapt to the situation.

“We are paying the price we deserve.”

“…!

“This nation’s sin of being fascinated by the light of magic, clinging only to it, committing atrocities against the world, dividing and discriminating against people. Now we are paying the price.”

Christian then murmured softly.

“And… it is also my sin.”

After all, it was undoubtedly his sin that he brought the Demon King in and destroyed the country like this.

“I will also pay the price.”

But paying for his sins is something to do after saving the people of the country first.

“Let’s move, Nightcrawler.”

Leading those who had followed him from hell until now, Christian walked forward.

“The long night is over, but we will have to move even more busily for a while.”

“Yes!”

Christian headed towards the outer city area.

Unlike the people in the inner city area who were in a panic, the non-citizens in the outer city area were quickly moving according to Christian’s orders.

The non-citizens of the Lake Kingdom could not use magic even in the age of magic.

They were much more prepared to live tenaciously for their immediate survival.

Christian, who was walking quickly, stopped. Someone was standing in front of the road, waiting for him.

“Your Highness!”

They were the Sword Demon and Spear Demon, the adventurers of the base camp, and… the people of the bottom village.

Those who had survived in this hell for as long as Christian and the Nightcrawlers.

And those who were ready to face the new era.

“How about, can we help you?”

The Sword Demon and Spear Demon asked with a grin, and Christian immediately nodded.

“I gratefully accept your kindness. Until Ariel returns, we need to do at least some organizing… your help is essential.”

While busily resuming the cleanup work with the people, Christian suddenly looked up at the distant sky.

The black contaminated lake water no longer lingered above the Lake Kingdom. The clear winter sky was just far away, with a piercingly clear blue light.

“…Ariel.”

Christian uttered his sister’s name softly.

“Please come back soon. This country… needs you.”

Because he believed in Ash’s promise and Aider’s determination.

In this world where the nightmare had disappeared, he believed that his younger sister would be safe…

***

Long white eyelashes fluttered.

Finally, her eyelids slowly opened, and clear turquoise eyes were revealed to the world.

“Ah…”

Ariel opened her eyes.

Having heard that she was about to wake up, I, who had come to her hospital room to wait, greeted her.

“Are you awake, Nameless? No…”

I hurriedly corrected her name.

“Ariel.”

“…Ash…?”

Ariel, who was looking at me with a dazed look, hurriedly raised her upper body the next moment.

“Where is this…?!”

“The temple of Crossroads. It’s dawn.”

I showed her the bandages wrapped around my body.

“You slept all day. Just yesterday, the final battle ended.”

“The final battle is over? What does that mean…”

“It means that all those nightmares are over.”

I smiled and gestured to her.

“How does it feel to have slept soundly for the first time in a long time without having nightmares?”

“Ah…”

Only then did Ariel seem to realize that all the nightmares that had plagued her had disappeared.

“It’s true. It’s gone. All that darkness and curse…! How could such a… miraculous thing happen…”

“…”

“Then, my kingdom too…!”

Then Ariel bowed her head to me several times.

“Thank you, Ash. I will properly arrange a place later and express my gratitude in the name of the Lake Kingdom… Thank you so much. How can I ever repay this favor…”

Ariel held my hands with both of hers, tears welling up in her large lake-like eyes.

“You saved me… my kingdom, and this world. Really… thank you…”

“It’s nothing. We’re friends. It’s only natural between friends.”

Once Ariel started sobbing, she couldn’t stop crying. Tears constantly streamed down her white cheeks.

I was a little worried and asked carefully.

“Are you okay?”

“I’m okay… Don’t worry. I’m crying because I’m happy…”

Ariel desperately tried to smile, but soon she couldn’t hold back her tears.

She clutched her chest with both hands, in pain.

“I’m really happy, I’m really happy. But, something… I feel like I’ve forgotten something very precious.”

“…”

“Why is my heart aching like this… on such a happy day, why… why do I feel such a great loss…”

I remained silent.

Beside me, Ariel continued to sob sadly.

“I’m sorry, Ash. Just for a moment… just let me cry for a moment…”

Ariel wept like that for a long time.

I quietly stayed by her side until she stopped crying.

***

After dawn, early in the morning.

As soon as she recovered, Ariel left.

She seemed unable to bear the worry about the situation in the Lake Kingdom. Even if she rode her horse right away, it would take three days, so I lent her the best horse I had.

Also, I decided not to send Ariel alone, but to send some soldiers from Crossroads with her.

It was to check the current situation of the Lake Kingdom and to provide support as soon as possible if they needed supplies.

Ariel, who had easily mounted her saddle, smiled faintly.

“Thank you so much, Ash. Thank you is not enough… I am grateful for all your kindness and consideration.”

“You’re welcome.”

“As soon as I have settled the situation in the Lake Kingdom, I will return to the World Protection Front to officially express my gratitude.”

Then Ariel added carefully.

“And… I will come to officially apologize for the damage I caused to this world as the master of the nightmare.”

“…”

“I know that it’s not a problem that can be solved with an apology. But… I will do my best.”

Ariel said that she had no memory of when she became the ‘Lake Princess who cannot sleep’.

But she was aware that she had become the master of the nightmare and tried to destroy the world.

I slowly nodded.

“I’ll help too. With all my might.”

We smiled faintly at each other.

“Then, see you again! Giddy up!”

Ariel spurred her horse and dashed south like a gust of wind.

I quietly watched the figure of the Lake Kingdom princess and her escort, who were quickly moving away…

Then I slowly turned my head to the side.

“…Is this really okay?”

Then, a man who had been hiding in the shadow of a nearby building staggered out.

I called his name with a feeling of pity.

“Aider.”

“…”

My accomplice, the man who was the director—Aider, smiled weakly.

With a large hole in the middle of his chest, gray particles were scattering from his entire body.

He had overloaded and burned the systems of the outer gods, and healed the wounds engraved on Ariel’s soul at the cost of his own soul.

And at the end of this long battle, he was completely broken… struggling just to exist.

“I destroyed the game of destruction that was ravaging our world, and I saved the only person I wanted to save in my life.”

The director, who had regained his characteristic languid tone, smiled faintly.

“I couldn’t be more okay than this. Hehe.”

“…”

“You don’t have to worry about me. It’s all as we expected…”

Aider limped towards me, dragging one leg.

“Rather, Lord. The story of the great achievement you have accomplished comes first.”

We quietly looked at each other.

Aider continued to speak in a slow, old voice.

“And, it’s finally time to fulfill the wish that you have cherished for so long, Lord.”