I Became the Tyrant of a Defense Game [EN]: Chapter 822

Crossroad, north side.

Aryan Kingdom army camp.

The tent used by King Aryan Miller.

“What are you saying, Your Majesty?!”

The vassals and soldiers summoned by the king were horrified.

But Miller calmly said it again.

“I have decided to send Yoon away… to let her meet a noble end befitting a royal.”

“……!”

“She hasn’t regained consciousness and remains in a coma even after the curse disappeared. It would be too much to take her all the way to the distant Aryan Kingdom in such a weakened state.”

Miller turned his head and looked at the face of his daughter, Yoon Aryan, who was asleep on the bed behind him.

“However, we cannot leave a royal descendant in the Empire’s territory. We don’t know what kind of weakness it might become for the country in the future.”

“But, Your Highness is still alive!”

“She’s practically a living corpse anyway!”

Miller snapped.

“They couldn’t cure her even when divine power was still present in this world. Now that divine power is gone, there is virtually no way to wake this child.”

“…….”

“This is to protect Yoon’s honor as a royal… and as a princess.”

The vassals and soldiers bowed their heads with grim faces.

“When we return, we will announce that she died honorably fighting on the monster front.”

Miller sighed deeply and shouted.

“Bring the prepared poison!”

It was then.

Bang!

The ceiling of the tent burst open in a circle,

Flap-!

Someone fell down, their cloak fluttering.

The giant who fell snatched Yoon, who was lying on the bed, and pulled her into his arms.

“You, you are!”

Miller’s face contorted as he recognized the intruder.

“The Beastman King…!”

With his red ponytail flying—and Yoon held tightly in his arms.

Beastman King Kuilan growled lowly.

“……I’m taking Yoon.”

“You, you bastard!”

Enraged, Miller threw a punch with his only arm, but,

Whoosh-

Thud!

Kuilan, with movements as if they were pre-arranged, dodged and threw Miller inside.

“Ouch!”

Miller, who had fallen onto the bed where Yoon had been lying just moments ago, shouted urgently.

“What are you doing! Stop that man!”

Thud!

Kuilan kicked off the ground and sprinted towards the tent entrance, still holding Yoon. The vassals and soldiers of the Aryan Kingdom rushed to block Kuilan.

“Stop!”

“Return the princess!”

Kuilan didn’t even pretend to listen, throwing punches and kicks in all directions,

“Kuaaak!”

“Uaaaah~”

“He’s too strong!”

The Aryan Kingdom people who tried to stop him were sent flying like fallen leaves. Kuilan quickly passed through the soldiers who fell at just a touch, but Kuilan’s fist accidentally struck a soldier’s jaw squarely.

“Kehek!”

Surprised, Kuilan asked the soldier who was clutching his jaw in pain.

“Are you okay?”

“I-I’m fine! Don’t worry about me and go quickly!”

“Ah, okay.”

Thud-!

He sprinted out of the tent again at full speed. Then, Kuilan shouted at the Aryan Kingdom people who were trying to chase after him.

“Don’t move!”

“……!”

“Your precious princess is in my hands! If Yoon dies or gets hurt in my arms, the ‘honor’ you were trying to uphold will be for naught!”

The Aryan Kingdom people all groaned in anguish.

“Kidnapping the princess!”

“What a shameless act in this day and age!”

“A beast-like man! A bandit-like man!”

“……Aren’t you being too literal?”

In front of the bewildered Aryan Kingdom people, Kuilan suddenly thought of the past.

His first connection with this place, Crossroad, also started with kidnapping Prince Ash.

‘Is it going to start and end with kidnapping?’

A villainous smile formed on Kuilan’s lips.

The three years on the monster front.

It wasn’t bad.

“Your princess will be recuperating… ahem! Held hostage in the Maple Lang tribe village near the Great Forest!”

“You wicked bastard! Give me back my daughter!”

“If you’re worried about your precious daughter, send gifts often… no, show your sincerity. Heh heh…!”

“Kueeeh! In this situation, I have no choice but to send messengers with letters and medicine every six months!”

Some of the soldiers watching this spectacle whispered quietly.

“Do we have to send the princess away while putting on this play?”

“And aren’t there a lot of forced elements in the setup?”

“Shh! Be quiet!”

“Can’t you see His Majesty is immersed? Let him enjoy it…!”

Finally, Kuilan laughed heartily and turned around.

“I will take care of Yoon with all my heart! Hahahaha! Well then, have a safe trip back to the Aryan Kingdom!”

And Kuilan kicked off the ground and disappeared from sight in an instant.

Miller, kneeling on the ground, reached out his hand in the direction Kuilan had run and shouted.

“Yooooooooon~!”

Leaving Miller’s sorrowful cry behind, Kuilan carefully embraced Yoon and left the Aryan camp.

It didn’t matter if it was a clumsy play. It didn’t matter if he was disgraced. It didn’t matter if he was resented later.

‘Until you open your eyes in the morning.’

Wrapping his arms around his beloved’s warmth, Kuilan vowed.

‘I will protect you, Yoon.’

***

The night of the disbandment ceremony.

In various parts of the city, people mourned their farewells, confirmed their feelings, and promised to meet again.

This time, where sad goodbyes and the start of new relationships intertwine.

“…….”

A little away from the bustling city center, in the south of Crossroad.

Lily, in a wheelchair, was in front of the south gate, which had been horribly destroyed in the recent battle.

Holding a sleeping Sid in her arms. She stared blankly at the southern fields… and beyond.

“Lily?”

Then, Bodybag appeared from the city center.

Worried, Bodybag had gone looking for her after Lily had disappeared from the square and wasn’t in her lodgings.

“Are you okay, Lily?”

“……Yeah. I’m fine.”

Lily, turning to look at Bodybag, gave her usual mature smile.

“I was just trying to put Sid to sleep. I came all the way here looking for a quiet place.”

“…….”

After quietly walking to Lily’s side.

Bodybag slowly inhaled the night air.

“The weather has gotten much warmer.”

“It has.”

The wind blew.

It was the southern wind, carrying the scent of grass and flowers.

Letting her red hair, ruffled by the wind, obscure her vision, Lily looked at the innocent face of Sid, who was asleep in her arms.

“It seems like spring is coming.”

After that long night and harsh cold, spring had finally… come.

In a slightly choked voice, Lily barely murmured.

“Spring is coming again….”

The wind stopped.

Sid mumbled something and snuggled into his mother’s arms. After carefully adjusting her son, Lily raised her head.

“Shall we go back?”

Lily was smiling resolutely again.

“There are a lot of people we need to send off with a smile tonight.”

Bodybag, who gave a faint smile in return, went behind Lily and grabbed the handles of her wheelchair.

And so, embracing each other, and pushing and pulling each other….

The three people who had paused for a moment slowly began to move forward again.

***

Winter Silver Merchant Guild. Crossroad Branch.

In front of the guild leader’s room.

“Ahem!”

After clearing my throat and adjusting my voice for no reason.

I knocked lightly and entered the room.

“Ah!”

Serenade, who was sitting at her desk in the office, working busily through a pile of documents, was startled when she saw me.

“My lord!”

“Sorry to interrupt, Serenade. Are you very busy?”

Today was the disbandment ceremony of the World Guardian Front, a night when everyone was laughing and enjoying themselves.

Serenade was working all night. It was because she was scheduled to leave for the Bringer Principality with me tomorrow.

Currently, there is no branch of the Winter Silver Merchant Guild left in the Bringer Principality. They had to withdraw their business during the war with the Empire, and they had not had the capacity to rebuild the branch since then.

But now that I am taking office as the Grand Duke of Bringer, the king of the principality.

In a situation where supplies for post-war reconstruction are desperately needed, the Winter Silver Merchant Guild has decided to rebuild a new branch in the Bringer Principality and restore the distribution network. Serenade was very busy preparing for that.

“No, no! There is nothing more important to me than my lord.”

Serenade hurriedly wiped her ink-stained hands, took off her glasses, and stood up from her seat.

“I’ll make you some tea, please wait a moment!”

“Um… no, Serenade. Rather than that.”

I gestured outside with my chin.

“Shall we go for a walk for a bit?”

The Winter Silver Merchant Guild building had a small garden attached to it.

As befitting the southern land, even though it was only early March, the trees in the garden had flower buds at their tips. It looked like they would be in full bloom in just a few days.

I walked ahead in the early spring garden, waiting for the blooming. Serenade, who was following me, asked carefully.

“My lord, are you alright? You seem… more nervous than usual.”

“…….”

“Is something the matter? Is there anything I can help with?”

I stopped in the middle of the garden, cleared my throat once more, and turned to look at Serenade.

“Um, well….”

How should I start this?

I looked ahead, pondering.

The woman with long, light blue hair and silver eyes, standing in the spring and night garden.

I faced this steadfast person who always looked only at me.

“Serenade. Once we arrive in the principality, both you and I will be incredibly busy.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“So… I don’t think I’ll have a chance to say it after we arrive in the principality. I think I should say it clearly tonight.”

Serenade tilted her head.

“Say what?”

“……Serenade.”

Whoosh! I took a deep breath.

Hugging my heart, which was now pounding like a drum.

I slowly knelt on one knee in front of Serenade.

Startled, Serenade tried to stop me, asking why I was doing that, but then she realized the meaning of my actions and covered her mouth with both hands.

“I’m sorry it’s not a more wonderful place or a more wonderful time. But… I didn’t want to make you wait any longer.”

Kneeling on one knee, looking up at her.

I slowly took a small box out of my jacket pocket and held it out in front of me.

“Serenade.”

When I opened the box, there was a pair of beautiful silver rings with five small jewels lined up in a row.

At my request, over the past few days, all four major races and the human production union had gladly come forward to craft them….

It was a proposal ring that could only be made here and now, incorporating the most precious jewels of all races and their respective precious metal crafting techniques.

“Let’s get married.”

I proposed to Serenade in a trembling voice.

“Will you be with me for the rest of my life?”

But Serenade didn’t answer.

Tears welled up in her silver eyes.

Serenade stood rooted to the spot, covering her mouth with both hands… and began to sob.

I was flustered and didn’t know what to do.

“I-Is it because the proposal was too clumsy? I should have booked the best hotel in the capital and laid flowers in the top-floor suite… no, I do plan to do that formally next time….”

“No, no! That’s not it….”

Serenade, who barely managed to speak, now covered her face with both hands and sobbed.

“I… I’m not sure if I’m qualified to stand by your side.”

“…….”

“You are a crown prince. It means you will be the ruler of the Everblack Empire in the future. I still don’t know if it’s okay for someone like me to be by your side….”

I chuckled.

Because she was born a slave. Because she was a commoner merchant who bought her title with money. Because she had mixed blood from different races.

Serenade had been the target of public scorn her entire life.

So, she still didn’t seem to know.

How amazing, how wonderful she was… and how much I needed her.

“Serenade, do you remember our promise from when we were kids?”

At my question, Serenade’s eyes widened.

“Of course, I remember… how could I forget?”

Then, she gave a faint smile with her tear-stained cheeks.

“That was the day… I fell in love with you.”

– It doesn’t matter if your blood is low or noble… a world for kids like us who are bullied. A world where mom doesn’t have to cry, and my sister isn’t bullied.

– I… will definitely make it.

Remembering that scene, which was now vivid in my memory, I said with conviction.

“It was because of that promise that I was able to come this far.”

“……!”

“My journey continued because you were there. I wanted to create that kind of world with you, I wanted to live in that kind of world with you, and we came this far together, holding hands.”

I smiled gently.

“And Serenade. The kind of world we promised is already here.”

I held out the ring in my hand….

“It’s not perfect yet, Serenade. I promise you. I will work hard for the rest of my life to complete that kind of world.”

I held out the one-of-a-kind proposal ring, made by everyone of all races.

“And to complete that kind of world, I need you.”

“…….”

“So please, Serenade. Marry me.”

I whispered earnestly.

“I can’t do it without you.”

“…….”

Slowly.

Serenade lowered the hands that were covering her face.

“……I have one more question.”

“Anything.”

“Even if time passes, and I am no longer young, and no longer beautiful in your eyes.”

Her face, glistening with tears, was sadder than ever, happier than ever….

And as always, dazzling.

“Will you still love me?”

I smiled gently.

“When I was at my lowest. When I was at my ugliest and most foolish. You loved me.”

That long time.

My love who loved every moment of me.

I’m the same.

“I promise you. I will love you, of course, even in this moment when you are shining the brightest.”

I reached out and grabbed Serenade’s left hand, then pulled it towards me.

“I will love you even in the moment when you think you are the most worthless.”

And then, slowly, carefully, I slipped the ring onto her trembling left ring finger.

I smiled and asked.

“You’ll do the same, right?”

Serenade silently took the ring box, took out my ring, grabbed my left hand… and carefully slid it onto my ring finger.

“……Yes.”

And finally—she smiled at me.

“I will love you. Always, no matter how many times….”

We kissed.

After kissing several times, spinning around the garden, I pulled Serenade out of the garden while still holding her in my arms.

On the path leading from the guild to the square, the artisans of each race who had made the rings were gathered, waiting with bated breath.

Kellybay, who had overseen the ring production, couldn’t help but shout and ask.

“Did it work?! Did she accept?!”

Instead of answering, I shook the hand I was holding with Serenade. The proposal rings on our left ring fingers sparkled under the streetlights.

“Yes-!”

“Hooray! Hooray!”

“That’s it!”

The artisans, who had jumped up from their seats, cheered as if it were their own accomplishment.

Serenade and I went out to the square.

The people who had been waiting anxiously together saw us tightly embracing and understood the situation. Everyone screamed, popped champagne, clapped, and congratulated us.

Serenade, who was at a loss for what to do amidst the shower of congratulations from all sides, couldn’t help but burst out laughing.

“You said you would keep the really precious things to yourself!”

“I was going to, but I can’t anymore! I’m so happy, I have to brag a little!”

I smiled brightly.

“Let’s dance, partner!”

There was no prepared orchestra, but someone started playing a harmonica from their pocket.

The people stomped their feet to the rhythm, tapped on the tables to create the beat, and sang together at the top of their lungs.

If thou must love me, let it be for nought

Except for love’s sake only. Do not say

“I love her for her smile―her look―her way

Of speaking gently,―for a trick of thought

That falls in well with mine, and certes brought

A sense of pleasant ease on such a day”―

For these things in themselves, Beloved, may

Be changed, or change for thee―and love, so wrought,

May be unwrought so. Neither love me for

Thine own dear pity’s wiping my cheeks dry:

A creature might forget to weep, who bore

Thy comfort long, and lose thy love thereby!

But love me for love’s sake, that evermore

Thou mayst love on, through love’s eternity.

Receiving the applause, cheers, blessings, and toasts of the people gathered in the square….

Serenade and I danced.

With our foreheads touching, singing along to the love song that everyone was singing, until the black night turned white.

On that unforgettable dawn of our proposal, like that.