I Became the Tyrant of a Defense Game [EN]: Chapter 820

“Huh?”

Torkel was visibly flustered by Rosetta’s proposal.

“Me… a priest?”

“Yes. We, the Holy Knights of the Goddess Order, are officially inviting you to join.”

“But, I’m a leper… If someone like me becomes a priest, there will surely be talk in the world.”

Rosetta shook her head emphatically.

“Now, all magic and mysteries have disappeared from this world. The divine power used by our order has also vanished, and at the same time, all the curses that remained in the world have disappeared as well.”

Rosetta gazed steadily at Torkel’s face, hidden by his helmet.

“But Torkel, your leprosy remains. This is proof that leprosy is not a curse, but a simple disease.”

“……”

“Our priests have observed you serving in the temple. Your faith, integrity, altruistic thoughts, and actions. You were more like a priest than a priest, a true example.”

Torkel lowered his head. Rosetta continued.

“The Holy Knights are an organization of priests who fight for the order. But before being knights, they are priests who serve the Goddess, and our order does not choose priests carelessly. We are inviting you to join because we truly believe you are qualified.”

“……”

After a moment of silence.

Torkel cautiously asked again.

“…It’s a truly grateful offer, but would it be alright if I thought about it a little longer?”

“Of course. If you make up your mind, please contact the order anytime. We will be waiting for a positive answer.”

After bowing to Torkel,

Rosetta looked at me… with a smug smile, like a scout who had already won the recruitment war!

“Then, Your Highness, let’s give Torkel some time to find his answer within himself… shall we go inside the temple?”

“What?! W-wait, wait, wait a minute!”

“I came out to greet you personally upon hearing that you were coming, Your Highness. Now, let’s go in… !”

I was caught by Rosetta’s gentle hand and dragged into the temple.

I desperately shouted one last time at Torkel, who was deep in thought with his chin in his hand.

“T-Torkel! The Bringer Duchy too! Duke Dunbringer also wants you, don’t forget that!”

Thud!

The temple door closed in front of me.

At that moment, I had a hunch.

That I had lost in this stove league [a term for the off-season period when teams recruit new players], the Torkel recruitment war.

That Torkel would become a priest of the Goddess Order…

‘Well, if he’s happy, it’s okay…’

Since Saint Margherita died here, Torkel had always lived in the temple.

I also wanted to bless his long atonement as it blossomed into a new form.

“My stove leagueeeeee!”

Anyway, my recruitment strategy is being destroyed. Gyaaaaaaak…!

***

Inside the temple, Zenith and Hannibal were also there.

Zenith, who had been staying at the temple for a long time, was saying goodbye to the temple people, and Hannibal was also bowing his head as he followed behind, saying his goodbyes.

“Ah, Your Highness!”

“We greet the Crown Prince.”

The two, who had discovered me, smiled and bowed. I smiled back and waved my hand.

After a brief greeting, they asked where they were going.

“Besides us half-bloods, there are more communities of mixed-race children in various parts of the world.”

Hannibal explained calmly.

“And there would be even more mixed-race children who cannot join communities and suffer alone.”

“Hannibal and I are going to travel around the continent, looking for and helping those people.”

Hannibal was planning to expand his activities as the leader of the half-blood community ‘Half-Blood,’ and Zenith, who was now free, seemed to be joining Hannibal.

“I’m confident that I can help people wherever I go! My father, who is knowledgeable in all sorts of things, including medicine, is also there! And I also have the skills I learned from Master Kellybay!”

Hannibal confidently flexed his arm.

Zenith smiled wryly beside him. Although he had grown up a lot, she seemed worried about her son, who still had a childish side.

Rosetta, who had been listening to our conversation, also stepped forward.

“Our Goddess Order is also planning to start a project to help such marginalized people in earnest. We are also planning to carry out a joint project with the activities of Half-Blood.”

I asked casually.

“Is recruiting Torkel one of the reasons?”

“The top reason is that I think he will truly become a good priest.”

Rosetta wore her characteristic charming, wrinkled smile.

“But it is also true that the Goddess Order has lacked the will to look into the lives of marginalized people. Besides lepers, there are many people who have been abandoned by the world, such as other races, mixed-race people, and refugees…”

“……”

“We want to be a small hope for them. Not just in name, but in a way that can provide practical help, that kind of…”

Rosetta trailed off and looked around the temple.

“Here in Crossroads, I was able to let go of many of the stereotypes that had dominated my life.”

Zenith and Hannibal, who had made eye contact with her, smiled.

Rosetta, who smiled back, looked at me.

“Now, without prejudice, we must spread the warmth of the world to more people.”

The order had lost its divine power.

But it seemed that they had already finished preparing to be more truthful to the world.

“Now that the convenient medicine called divine power has disappeared, we are planning to focus more on medical research.”

“It seems like we’ll have to see each other often, Rosetta.”

I said sincerely.

What’s good about being a Crown Prince? It’s being able to help those who are trying to have a positive impact on the world. Now that divine power has disappeared, we will have to focus national power on medical research.

“It’s usually burdensome to meet with politicians, but Your Highness is an exception.”

Rosetta bowed politely.

“Just call me. I will visit you anywhere.”

“Me too, Your Highness.”

“Me too! Me too!”

Besides Rosetta, Zenith, and Hannibal.

I greeted the priests and spiritists.

I knew well that we were able to win because there were people who supported the battle in unseen places.

I visited every corner of the temple and praised everyone who had worked hard.

“……”

The sickroom where I had been taken care of many times was now empty.

Looking at the clean, white bed, I felt a strange flutter in my heart.

***

After going around and meeting people, time passed quickly.

It was already late afternoon, close to evening.

When I returned to the central square, the atmosphere was even more bustling.

In particular, I noticed the Gambler Club putting on a small performance in one corner of the square.

While Cobalt and Scarlet were doing a puppet show with small wooden dolls, Orange and Lime were reciting the lines with ventriloquism.

The content was about a hero of light defeating a dark evil dragon. I naturally thought it was my story, but when I looked closely, the main character was a long purple-haired female doll. What?!?

This puppet show was especially popular with children, and in the front row, in Lily’s arms… Sid was sparkling his eyes and focusing on the show. Oh my, how cute.

“Sid, are you having fun? Your godfather is here~”

“Ah! Godfader~!”

As I approached and greeted him, Sid reached out to me.

When I offered him a finger, Sid grabbed my finger tightly and giggled… and then immediately brought it to his mouth and chewed on it.

Well, if he’s happy, it’s okay… I did wash my hands before coming here…

“You’re here, Your Highness!”

“Lily.”

Lily and I smiled at each other without a word.

We had already had many conversations about Lily and Sid’s future.

In conclusion, Lily decided to stay in Crossroads.

She was in a situation where she couldn’t leave because she was in charge of too many important things in Crossroads. She was already being considered as the next head of the production association…

And she herself wanted to raise Sid here.

Whether it was because Crossroads was a good place to live, or because she had too much of a foundation to leave.

Or… if there was another reason.

I didn’t bother to ask.

I just cheered for the future of this mother and son.

“I’ll come see you often, Sid.”

I reached out and ruffled Sid’s red hair. Then Sid smiled brightly with his big green and brown eyes. I don’t know who he takes after to be so cute.

“……”

Lily quietly and gently hugged her small son, who was giggling.

At that time, an elf who was coming this way with both hands full of food greeted me.

“Your Highness!”

“Bodybag.”

It was Bodybag, who was living with Lily.

Today was also the day that Lily and Bodybag would be parting ways. This was because Bodybag had decided to go to the Bringer Duchy with me.

Long ago, when the Shadow Squad was the 8th team of the Aegis Special Forces.

They were tasked with assassinating the Everblack Empire diplomat in the Bringer Duchy and setting the stage for war.

The war between the two countries that was triggered in that way was already over. Now the world is at peace.

But we can’t pretend that it didn’t happen.

I was planning to have Bodybag testify and make it clear that the war was caused by Everblack’s intentions.

It was a promise with Dusk Bringer, but also because I myself was the Crown Prince of Everblack and the new Duke of Bringer.

To clear the past, I decided to acknowledge the empire’s mistakes. And Bodybag had willingly agreed to join me on this difficult journey.

While I was carefully holding Sid’s hands and shaking them up and down to the rhythm, Lily and Bodybag were chatting. It seemed that they were very sad to be parting ways after living like a family.

“You have to come to Crossroads often?”

“I’ll bring Your Highness here very often. Sid is important, but Lily also needs to take care of her health?”

Just as their voices were about to become tearful, I casually intervened.

“By the way, Bodybag.”

“Yes?”

“Now you have to get your name back.”

I smiled at Bodybag, who was looking at me with wide eyes.

“Not your codename, but your real name.”

“That is, embarrassingly… I’ve forgotten my real name. I’ve been using a codename since before I was even old enough to understand…”

“Then how about making one up this time?”

Bodybag seemed flustered, but Lily clapped her hands, saying it was a good idea.

Then, people who had gathered around us started throwing out new names that would suit Bodybag.

“Hamster?”

“Squirrel?”

“The-One-Who-Loves-Black-Sunflower-Seeds-The-First?”

“Don’t bring up rodent names! It’s a name for the Crown Prince’s aide! Don’t you have anything decent?!”

Why is it like a contest again, this neighborhood!

Lily and Bodybag burst out laughing at the hilarious nonsense. When the two laughed, Sid laughed too. And when Sid laughed, everyone around him laughed.

If they’re happy, it’s okay… but… well, I don’t know.

Amidst the commotion…

“Yormunganddddd, where did you gooooo… Anyway, when did these reptiles ever stick to me when they liked me, and now they’re all leaving…”

While everyone was chanting rodent names, there was a woman who was yelling at reptiles.

It was Violet, who was drunk and passed out. Because the illusion had been lifted, her hair was now a normal brown.

I chuckled and brought my glass to the glass in Violet’s hand, unilaterally toasting, and then asked.

“What are you going to do now, Violet?”

“Huh? Welllll…”

Violet, who was swaying with unfocused eyes, wiped the drool from her mouth and mumbled in a slurred voice.

“Should I wander the world and tell stories about my great adventures…?”

Then, the other Gambler Club members, who had just finished the puppet show and were coming this way, were delighted.

“What, are we being reborn as a minstrel group now?”

“We’ll spread the great battle of the monster front far and wide!”

“All sorts of terrifying monsters trying to cross the walls!”

“And the legendary hero who defeats that evil nightmare…”

The four Gambler Club members waved their hands wildly and struck dramatic poses…

“The story of Sid-!”

They suddenly reached out to Sid, who was in Lily’s arms.

Sid, not knowing what was going on, smiled brightly, and the people around him cheered and applauded.

Violet shouted with a look of utter injustice.

“What about me?! Aren’t I the main character?!”

“Can you take care of me first…?”

Everyone? The Crown Prince is here? The leader of the monster front, it’s me. It’s a little sad if you forget me already just because we’re disbanding?

It was a moment when the atmosphere of the square was heating up even more, with such a lively commotion.

“Now, everyone! Attention-!”

The new Count of Crossroads appeared, leading the rest of the female hero group.

Evangeline had an uncharacteristic serious expression, and in one hand, instead of the juice cup she always drank… she was holding a beer glass! She’s old enough to drink now, but why does it feel so awkward?!

“As of this moment!”

Evangeline solemnly declared.

“The Crossroads Female Hero and Mercenary Rights Committee, or the CFHMRC for short… is disbanded!”

“……!”

“Because I, the chairman, have finally taken Crossroads into my hands… no, ahem! Because I have become the lord of Crossroads. From now on, I will have to embrace everyone, even those who are not in our rights committee.”

That’s right.

From now on, Evangeline, as the lord of Crossroads, has the responsibility to embrace everyone in this city.

She had decided to disband the private organization she had led with her own hands.

“But it will remain in our hearts forever!”

Evangeline raised the glass in her hand.

“I will never forget the days we drank, ate, and had fun together! Everyone… wherever you go, you have to live happily!”

“May you eat well and live well wherever you are!”

“Long live the CFHMRC!”

“CFHMRC-!”

Those who belonged to the CFHMRC shouted together.

It’s really a name that sounds like a dragon’s roar every time I hear it… I still can’t get used to it even until the disbandment…

“Now, senior!”

Then Evangeline turned her target to me.

“To commemorate the disbandment of the World Guardian Front, and at the same time to commemorate the disbandment of the CFHMRC! Please give us a wonderful toast!”

Everyone’s eyes were on me.

I smiled and grabbed my glass and shouted cheerfully.

“Good! Everyone open your ears and listen carefully!”

I stood up from my seat, raised my glass high,

and recited a spirited drinking song.

勸君金屈?
I urge you to take this golden cup,

滿酌不須辭
Do not refuse the full measure.

Everyone cheered and raised their glasses.

Following the drinking song I recited, people toasted each other. The glasses of countless people, and the gazes of countless people, touched and then separated.

I watched the scene with a tender smile, and then whispered the last verse as if swallowing it.

花發多風雨
When flowers bloom, there are many storms,

人生足別離
Life is full of partings.

Where there is meeting, there is parting, and where there is parting, there is another new meeting.

So let’s not be sad about tomorrow’s farewell. Let’s get drunk with each other today.

When the storm passes, the flowers will bloom again, and when the painful farewell passes, a joyful reunion will come.

I took a refreshing shot and shook my empty glass as if showing it off. People cheered and applauded, calling out my name.

The night of the disbandment ceremony was deepening.