Became a tyrant of defense games - Episode 150
◈ 150. [Side Story] Funeral (3)
three days later.
A funeral was held in the cemetery west of Crossroads..
Since there were no deaths in Stage 3 and Stage 4, it has been quite a while since there was a funeral..
‘It would have been better if I never had to do it.…….’
As I watched the procession of coffins being transported, I thought to myself,.
Events like this... … It would have been better if it never opened in the future..
The coffins were placed in front of each person's burial place. Every coffin was covered with the flag of the Everblack Empire..
I stared at the flag with a little resentment..
The center of the flag depicted a sword and rose symbol, symbols of the imperial family..
If only the imperial family had sent reinforcements..
If so…….
Priests began to pray and sprinkle holy water on each coffin. Behind him, the choir sang a dirge..
It took some time because the number of dead people was quite high. I went to each newly created grave and bowed my head..
After all the coffins have entered their respective seats and all ceremonies have passed,.
Finally, it was my turn to speak..
There has never been a time when I didn't want to stand in front of someone more than today. But this is my responsibility.
Instead of running away, I climbed up onto the stage..
“…….”
Citizens of Crossroads.
And all the hero characters and soldiers under my command looked at me clearly..
After looking around at them in silence, I slowly opened my mouth..
“The monsters I faced this time were blood relatives..”
Inside the castle walls, I explained quietly to ordinary citizens who had never even seen the faces of the monsters..
“They are vampires and cannibals who lust for our blood and flesh. They eat other people's blood and flesh, steal other people's lives, and enjoy eternal life for themselves..”
I gestured toward our soldiers..
“Our warriors fought valiantly against these fearsome monsters. Not afraid of blood and flesh being torn, and not backing down in the face of death. As a result, we were able to safely protect the city..”
Clap clap clap clap clap……!
Citizens applauded regardless of who was first..
The soldiers received the applause, either embarrassed, ashamed, or taken for granted..
After waiting for the applause to die down, I continued..
“Unlike those monsters, we humans do not enjoy eternal life. We live a short life. It blooms like a flower, but withers like a flower. i am sad about this.”
I glanced at Junior..
Junior, standing next to Jupiter's tomb, was listening to me while wearing a simple black dress..
“But although short life may be sad, I do not envy eternal life..”
I raised my voice.
“A human being fighting against life, coughing up his own blood. It's much more beautiful than a monster that runs away from death by swallowing other people's blood. Because I believe so.”
sincerely.
Because I believe so.
“All the warriors who died this time fought back. Instead of turning his eyes away from his own life, he faced it head on with confidence. And he fulfilled his duty..”
I closed my eyes for a moment.
I thought of the names of the 155 people who died this time, one by one. They remembered the death they faced without backing down..
“Everyone, fight too..”
Opening my eyes, I continued speaking..
“Fight against life. Fight fiercely. Live with all your might so as not to shame those who were buried first. Travel the world, find out what you have to do, and achieve it without fail..”
I looked around the audience and nodded heavily..
“That may be what those who gave their lives to protect you wish for..”
I slowly lowered my head..
“I will take a moment of silence for those who fought fiercely with their lives..”
Everyone gathered at the funeral bowed their heads in unison..
After a short moment of silence, I raised my head and spoke again..
“And, I would like to say this to all the soldiers who went to the front line this time..”
The heroes and soldiers all looked at me..
“I understand your pain of losing a colleague. I also spent the last few nights unable to sleep properly..”
I haven't been able to sleep well for the past few days because the faces of my dead subordinates flash every time I lie down in bed..
“Don't feel guilty like, 'My colleague died, but I survived.' Your coworkers wouldn't want you to think that way.”
A significant number of soldiers shook their shoulders at my words. It seems like it was the perfect answer.
It is said that these are the most common aftereffects suffered by those who survive battle. I had similar thoughts.
I smiled faintly.
“Since we survived, let’s find out together what we need to do.”
This is the end of the prepared speech..
“……It was a tough battle, but I'm thankful I survived..”
After stuttering to say more, I managed to blurt out a shy smile..
“thank you, everyone.”
I walked down the stage and Lucas waved his arms at the artillerymen..
pop! Pump plop!
Gunfire rang out in honor of the dead..
The funeral schedule ended here. The clear sound of gunfire gradually faded, and the gathered citizens began to disperse one by one..
***
I started looking for my party members in the graveyard..
God Hand, Body Bag, and Burnout were seen first. The Shadow Troops stood in front of Old Girl and Skull's graves..
“Ah, your highness.”
“You are here, Your Majesty..”
As I approached, the three quickly bowed. I waved my hand and told him to rest..
“What happened between Old Girl and Skull... … I'm sorry.”
i saw the tombstone.
The two even had their code names written on their tombstones instead of their real names. That fact was sad, but it also felt like a shadow unit..
“Aegis Task Force members cannot be buried in their original graves. Upon death, the body is destroyed in any way and no trace is left on the world..”
Godhand spat out bitterly..
“However, I am glad that I was able to be buried in such a dignified grave thanks to His Majesty's consideration..”
“…….”
Fortunately, fortunately.
The three Shadow Unit members were completely expressionless even though it was their colleague's funeral. As if I had shaken off all the sadness of the past three days..
It's okay to feel sad even more. It felt a little sad that the sadness seemed forced..
After talking a lot about Old Girl and Skull, I told them the purpose of visiting them..
“Come to my mansion this evening. There is a meeting regarding the progress of the defense battle in the future..”
The three shadow troopers bowed their heads at the same time..
“I understand, Your Majesty. See you in the evening.”
“okay. See you later.”
After bowing at Old Girl and Skull's tombstones for the last time, I left the place..
When I glanced back, I saw the backs of shadow unit members standing in front of the two tombstones..
The sight of two out of five party members moving as one body disappearing... … It was lonely.
a lot.
***
Lucas, Evangeline, and Lily were in front of the grave of Dion's mercenaries..
Lucas and Lily also had sad faces, but Evangeline's face was especially funny. I was covered in tears and snot..
“Wow.”
It's even making strange crying noises.…….
“Wow!.”
“……You look very sad. Evangeline.”
Lucas answered my mumbling..
“Didn’t Evangeline go to the dungeon with Dion’s mercenaries? She must have felt quite affectionate..”
It did. I sent the Dion mercenaries on an autonomous exploration with Evangeline as their guide..
At first, I disliked Dion's party because I was ringed out during sparring, but I guess I've grown quite fond of it..
Lily was there to soothe Evangeline, who was crying like crazy..
Lucas looked at me from behind and asked me.
“By the way, Your Highness, what's going on? Should I resume escort work again??”
Lucas had stopped escorting me for a while..
I was very tired from the last battle, and I had been lying alone in my room for several days. I just told everyone to take a rest..
So, we were going separately until today..
“No, escort work will resume tomorrow... … Today, because of a meeting later in the evening..”
He informed me that a meeting would be held this evening regarding the progress of the future defensive battle. Lucas nodded his head..
“All right. I'll see you in the evening then..”
Wow!-
“……I'll calm down Evangeline and take her too..”
“Draw it. please. Bring Lily too..”
After bowing one last time to the graves of the Dion mercenaries and saying their names in my mind one more time, I left the place..
***
Damian and Margerita were cleaning up the funeral as priests..
I said hello and approached the two who were organizing supplies such as holy water and prayers..
“Thank you for your hard work, priests..”
Damien smiled happily and Margerita bowed politely..
“Ah, prince.!”
“Are you here? majesty.”
“Well done today. The reason I came is no different.…….”
I stated my business without delay. I have a meeting this evening, so come to the mansion..
“me too… … is it?”
Margerita asked hesitantly. I nodded loudly..
“Of course, saint. You definitely have to come..”
It looks like this saint still can't get used to the fact that she's part of my party..
No, once you join my party, you can never escape from my control.?
“Me, prince. Then shall we take those three too??”
Damian pointed to the side. There I saw three Old Hunters tankers in wheelchairs..
In front of the tombs of Jupiter and Janich, the three tankers were quietly praying with their hands folded..
I looked at their injuries and slowly shook my head..
“……no. Let those people rest in the temple..”
The three tanks survived with great vitality, but became unable to fight again..
He was torn to pieces by the swords and claws of vampires, and even received Celendion's blood magic with his body..
Although they were strong men who held out until the end of the battle, their bodies were left with permanent injuries..
In fact, retirement was confirmed..
Even if I had to spend my own money, they would guarantee my retirement, but in any case, I couldn't participate in defensive battles in the future..
“All right. Well, I'll see you in the evening..”
“See you later, prince.!”
I left the cemetery while being seen off by Margerita and Damian..
Junior, the last member to be called, was not in front of Jupiter's tomb. I looked outside the cemetery.
‘Where could it be… … I guess.’
***
crossroads downtown.
mercenary guild.
“…….”
Junior entered the room Jupiter used when he was alive..
It was to organize the deceased's belongings. Junior sighed and cleaned up the empty room..
“There's nothing to do other than organize, so what?…….”
Jupiter's luggage was simple..
three sets of old imperial military uniforms.
A coat. Two pairs of boots. two pairs of gloves.
Four bottles of alcohol. five packs of cigarettes.
end.
“Even though he was a wandering mercenary, how did he go this far empty-handed?~”
Humming an odd tune, Junior put away Jupiter's luggage..
Then suddenly it stopped.
“huh?”
There was a leather briefcase in the corner of the room. A familiar piece of paper was sticking out of the opening in the bag..
“This…….”
Junior carefully opened the bag and took out the contents..
“……It's a letter I sent.”
When Jupiter sent living expenses, Junior would write a letter to reply..
By the end of 10 years, I had collected one and two, and it filled a single briefcase..
Junior carefully opened the letters he had sent, starting from the old ones..
Most of the stories were about the lack of living expenses, increased debt due to children's medical expenses, and difficulties with just the money Jupiter sent..
But at the end,
- I miss you. When are you coming? come back quickly.
It was written.
With the recent letters, those phrases have gradually disappeared, and only the demand for money remains..
“…….”
Junior couldn't bear to look any further and closed the rest of the letter..
why… … Couldn’t I have conveyed my true feelings a little earlier? Why couldn't I speak honestly?.
If that were the case, something might have been different..
“huh?”
At that time, I saw a new envelope stuck in a corner of the briefcase..
This was the envelope Jupiter always used to send money home. But this time, instead of money, something else was packed..
“This…….”
When I opened it, I found old-smelling herb roots carefully packaged. with a short note.
- It's called Baeknyeonsam, and I found it in a dungeon. They say it’s good for your body. boil it down and eat it.
“…….”
2During free exploration of the area. It was Baeknyeonsam that Jupiter had purchased from an unknown person who appeared as a dungeon merchant..
I bought it to give to my granddaughter, but I couldn't send it in a letter or hand it to her in person.……
The sender has disappeared, leaving only a bunch of unsent letters like this..
“It's an herb that the elderly eat as a tonic..”
Junior, who was examining the Baeknyeonsam, muttered in astonishment..
“Did you keep this up like this so you could give it to me? really…….”
Something welled up inside me..
Junior bit his lower lip..
“really… … Like a grandmother…….”
Junior stands still, barely holding back his tears.,
smart.
There was a knocking sound outside. Junior quickly wiped his eyes and turned around to see Ash, who had come inside, frozen..
“uh… … sorry. Did I disturb you??”
“No, no. You came at just the right time..”
Junior smiled brightly with his eyes turning bright red..
“Mom won’t like it if you cry twice. Hi-Hi.”
“…….”
Ash, who was speechless, shook his head and corrected his voice..
“I came because I had something to deliver. There is a meeting about the future defense battle in the evening, so please come to the mansion..”
“All right. It's a defense meeting. okay.”
Ash smiled at Junior who nodded..
“You can look forward to it. Something very interesting will happen at today’s meeting..”
“……?”
“It's so dynamic and fun that it blows away the gloom hanging over our party..”
Junior frowned and asked back carefully..
“Ah, so dynamic and fun... … This is it?”
Comments