I Became the Tyrant of a Defense Game [EN]: Chapter 98

Jupiter immediately shook her head.

‘Don’t underestimate the frontier front. This place is tightly run. There are many eyes watching, and there aren’t many opportunities for slipping something past them.’

‘Hmm, is that so?’

‘Above all, there’s the commander, the Third Prince.’

Thinking of Ash, Jupiter smiled wryly.

‘He’s completely different from his reputation in the capital. His vision isn’t just broad; it’s like he can see the future.’

Junior made an ‘ooh’ sound.

‘It’s the first time I’ve heard you speak so highly of a commander, Grandma.’

‘He seems like someone who has a lot up his sleeve. Rather than trying to pull a fast one and getting into trouble, it’s more profitable to honestly take my salary. They pay well too…’

‘Really?’

Junior shrugged.

‘Then there’s no choice. I guess I’ll have to work here for a bit.’

‘What?’

‘I was on my way back from meeting that prince. He directly offered me a job, asking if I was interested in working.’

Jupiter, who had been stunned for a moment, quickly got up from her seat.

‘D-don’t do that, Junior! You promised me! You wouldn’t use magic!’

‘Ahaha! Are you worried about me now?’

Junior revealed her left face, which had been hidden by her hair, to her grandmother.

‘Now?’

‘……!’

Jupiter couldn’t say anything and flinched back.

Chuckling, Junior, who was looking at her grandmother as if she were cute, tidied her hair and then waved her hand as she left the hospital room.

‘Rest well, Grandma. You seem pretty hurt.’

‘W-wait a minute! Junior! Let’s talk more…’

‘You’ve worked hard your whole life, doing all sorts of dirty work to earn money, Grandma.’

Junior, who had turned around at the entrance, smiled brightly.

‘Now, I’ll earn it.’

It was a smile that was both fox-like and cute, yet also seemed to be plotting something…

‘Our Grandma should live comfortably for the rest of her life, right?’

‘……’

‘I’ll come again, see you later~’

Thud. The door closed.

The sound of her granddaughter’s footsteps walking down the hallway gradually faded away.

‘……’

Jupiter stood there blankly, dumbfounded.

Throb.

It hurt.

Not her injured body, but a certain point in her memory that was etched in her mind. It throbbed terribly.

The scene of that burning village…

Throb. Throb.

‘Kuh…’ A suppressed groan escaped from Jupiter’s mouth as she collapsed onto the bed.

‘It’s all my fault.’

The old soldier’s one eye was filled with deep regret.

‘It’s all… my karma…’

***

After leaving the mercenary guild, Lucas and I headed to the city center first.

The destination was ‘Etty’s Honeycomb,’ the only inn in Crossroads.

‘Let’s see how much the operation has improved over the past ten days or so?’

I had given orders to improve the inn’s operation last time.

Since I was planning to entrust the operation of the hotel to be built in Crossroads to the inn’s crew, I wanted them to maintain at least a minimum level of hotel management skills. It was a test.

So, as soon as I entered the hotel,

‘Welcome, Lord!’

‘Welcome!’

The entire inn crew came out and bowed to me.

They were all wearing suits that I hadn’t seen before. What’s going on?

Moreover, the inside of the inn had been changed to be sparkling clean.

It was definitely a bit old, but it was a neighborhood inn with a friendly and cozy feel.

Now, there was a red carpet laid out, and a chandelier that didn’t fit the narrow ceiling was hanging. It was too much, too much!

‘……What is this?’

As I was bewildered and looked displeased, the innkeeper came out from inside with a confident face and greeted me. This person was also dressed to the nines.

‘How is it, Lord!’

‘No, what do you mean how is it, what is this?’

‘Didn’t you say you would entrust the operation of the national hotel to us?’

The innkeeper laughed heartily and thumped his chest.

‘So, we prepared in advance! We thought of this place as that hotel, and we changed everything from the staff’s manners to their attire, hygiene, management, and even the props!’

‘……’

No, it’s good that you’re enthusiastic, but.

I didn’t expect you to go this overboard… no, to work this hard. I just meant for you to clean up a little more diligently.

‘So, how is it! We’ve transformed the inn like this with the feeling of shedding blood and grinding our bones for ten days!’

The innkeeper looked up at me with a glint in his eyes.

‘You’ll entrust the operation of the national hotel to us, right?’

‘Uh…’

Of course, after going this far.

‘You’re hired!’

Wow-!

As soon as I finished speaking, the innkeeper and the hotel crew all hugged each other.

It was like they had just won the Olympics.

But even if I used full magic construction technology, it would take almost a year for the hotel to be completed. What are they going to do if they’re already like this?

‘Still, it’s good that they’re motivated, I guess.’

Looking at the high-class interior that didn’t fit the narrow inn, I only broke out in a cold sweat.

Towards me, the innkeeper clenched his fist and declared his ambition.

‘We will definitely make the hotel a specialty of Crossroads and make customers flock to it like bees!’

‘……’

No, I don’t even have any plans to properly develop the tourism industry. I don’t even plan to welcome customers like a swarm of bees.

I’m just doing this to try and catch a few high-ranking heroes.

But I couldn’t say that, so I just smiled awkwardly with my hands behind my back. Good luck to them.

‘I’ll build the hotel quickly…’

That was the best I could do with my conscience. Heh.

***

After leaving the inn, I looked for the head of the stonemason’s guild and the head of the carpenter’s guild.

I had already scouted several sites for building the hotel, and I wanted to find out which one would be best, what level of construction was possible, and how much the budget would be.

‘This location seems better!’

‘No, it’s hard to transport materials there. Rather, this place is…’

‘Even if it’s a little harder to transport materials, the view is important for a hotel! Rather, this place!’

The two guild leaders continued their heated debate while looking at the map, and eventually, they decided that words alone wouldn’t do and suggested that we go to the site directly.

We rode in a carriage and toured various parts of the city to inspect which location would be best for starting the construction of the hotel.

It was late at night when we finally decided on a location and got a rough estimate.

‘However, Your Highness. We can do the construction, but…’

The guild leaders said cautiously.

‘For facilities like hotels, it would be better to hire a proper architect to build them. The beauty of the exterior is also important.’

‘Hmm, that makes sense.’

I nodded.

‘I’ll have to go to the capital once…’

I needed to find a good architect. I also needed to contact a specific merchant group for the distribution of magic stones.

‘I also need to find out about the other princes…’

I also wanted to find out about Ash’s brothers.

So, I was thinking of going to the capital once, but there were still many problems right in front of me.

The distance to the capital was also a problem, and I didn’t have enough time to go.

I told them to start securing materials first.

The stonemason’s guild and the carpenter’s guild were also in charge of the reconstruction of the southern forward base, so they would be busy for a while.

‘The forward base comes first. Let’s gather the materials for the hotel construction more slowly.’

‘Yes, Your Highness!’

After ending the meeting, which had taken longer than expected.

‘Huuuaaam…’

I loaded my tired body into the carriage and was returning to the mansion when.

Ding!

[Autonomous Exploration Ended!]

A message appeared that the autonomous exploration had ended.

It had already been eight hours. I quickly checked the results window.

[Leveled Up Characters]

– Dion (N) Lv.17 (↑1)

– Ayla (N) Lv.16 (↑1)

– Rock (N) Lv.16 (↑1)

– Hessen (N) Lv.16 (↑1)

– Chey (N) Lv.15 (↑1)

[Deceased and Injured Characters]

– None

[Acquired Items]

– Common Potion: 2

– Flame Enchant Scroll: 1

– Low-Grade Bloodline Magic Stone: 12

Simple enough.

No injuries, and it seems like they came back without any major incidents…

‘……?’

Wait a minute.

Something strange was visible.

I looked at the acquired items tab again. Was I seeing things?

– Low-Grade Bloodline Magic Stone: 12

I wasn’t seeing things.

‘Eeeaaahhh!’

I couldn’t help but scream in shock.

Lucas, who was startled in the driver’s seat, stopped the carriage and poked his head inside, asking.

‘My Lord?! Are you alright?! What happened!’

‘Bloodline… you said…?’

I gaped and trembled.

Before the stage begins, exploring the dungeon under the lake is also a form of reconnaissance.

Because you can figure out what kind of monsters will appear in the next stage.

And if this system window wasn’t broken, the enemy that the party dispatched for autonomous exploration encountered this time was a bloodline.

‘The enemy legion in Stage 5 is… a bloodline?!’

What is a bloodline?

In other words, a Vampire.

It refers to vampires and their entire forces.

They are the highest-ranking monster species that only appear in the later parts of the game!

‘Crazy game! Why are they appearing in Stage 5?!’

Is it another dark event?! Or is the game just broken now?! [Dark events are special, often difficult, occurrences in the game.]

I was tearing at my hair when I felt Lucas’s surprised gaze and barely calmed down. Okay, okay. Let’s get a grip.

‘I’ll listen to Evangeline’s report, check if it’s a dark event, torture Aider, that damn director, and then make a decision.’

I smoothed my hair back and smiled awkwardly at Lucas.

‘……Let’s go back. To the mansion.’

‘Yes, yes? Your Highness, are you alright? Perhaps your old headache is…’

‘Ah, I’m fine, so let’s go back! Quickly! Really quickly!’

At my urging, Lucas quickly started driving the horses again.

Inside the carriage, which was flying towards the mansion, I organized my thoughts.

If the enemy legion in Stage 5 really is a bloodline.

Can we win with the current party composition?

‘……’

No, it’s impossible.

We need to expand more. More soldiers, stronger heroes, better items…!

It was then. On the side of the road leading back to the mansion, I saw a familiar woman in a robe walking.

Jupiter’s granddaughter. An SSR-grade elementalist. [SSR is a game term for Super Super Rare, indicating a very powerful character.]

It was Jupiter Junior.

‘Stop the carriage, Lucas!’

‘Yes, sir!’

Screech-!

The carriage wheels stopped with a long screeching sound.

When I opened the carriage door, Junior was standing calmly in the thick dust raised by the carriage, facing me.

‘Jupiter Junior.’

A voice without composure came out of my mouth. But it was an unavoidable situation.

‘You have two choices. Be forcibly conscripted, or be hired by me of your own free will.’

‘……’

‘Which one will you choose?’

Junior smiled like a fox and gestured with her eyes towards the inside of the carriage.

‘Is it okay if I ride with you, Your Highness?’

I held out my hand. Junior took my hand and lightly slipped into the carriage.

The door closed, and the carriage started moving again.

As the mansion covered in twilight got closer, I realized.

Hell.

Not just the name of hell difficulty, but real hell was approaching this monster front.