Became a tyrant of defense games - Episode 173
◈ 173. [Side Story] Guardian Meeting (2)
“lost my memory?”
The emperor's deep, black, bottomless gaze swept over me..
I trembled because it felt like I was being scanned by a state-of-the-art machine..
“……hmm. Well, that's good. It's a memory, you just have to find it little by little..”
Fortunately, the emperor did not question it too much..
Does he trust Ash that much, or is this not even worth worrying about for him? I don't know which one.
“There's nothing I couldn't explain to my son who was in charge of the Southern Front as a guardian..”
The emperor, who had sunk into his throne, slowly began to explain..
“Do you remember what color this tree was originally??”
What the emperor pointed to was the white ice thorn tree that swallowed the throne and covered the throne room. I shook my head..
“I do not know.”
“it was black.”
A bitter smile appeared on the emperor's lips..
“This tree is the national tree and guardian tree of our Everblack Empire. Always black thorn tree - Everblack.”
I swallowed dry saliva..
Does this country's name come from this tree??
“It is also a magical lighthouse that the first emperor brought from the spirit world and planted to illuminate the future path of the empire..”
The emperor swept the frozen tree branches with his hand..
“But seven years ago, this tree suddenly froze like this. Our flagship Guardians immediately rushed to find the cause..”
The emperor's eyes closed tightly as he recalled that day..
“The tree was frozen, but still functional. As I illuminated the future with a magic lighthouse, I came to know. This tree only has 10 years left to live, and the empire's fortunes will also end then..”
“Those words are……?”
“okay.”
The Emperor opened his eyes again.
“That was 7 years ago. Within the next three years, the empire will fall.”
3year.
It's a familiar number. I frowned..
“The tree revealed that there are four fates that will lead to the destruction of the empire..”
The emperor looked down at the chessboard next to him..
“The first destruction comes from the west. Our dragon-blooded ally, the Principality of Bringer, invades and destroys the empire..”
Western, Dragon Blood Front.
“The second destruction comes from the center. There are unidentified shadows lurking within the ecliptic. They destroy the empire from within.”
Central, dark front.
“The third destruction comes from the north. The different races we conquered. The gods they worshiped came directly from the spirit world to save their children. They destroy empires to free their children..”
Northern, Isin Front.
“The fourth destruction comes from the south. Nightmare monsters rise from beneath the lake kingdom that was destroyed long ago... … destroy the whole world.”
Southern, monster front.
“In this way, the four fates of destruction were constricting the empire... … To prevent that fate, I have summoned all the remaining Guardians in the Empire..”
I asked cautiously.
“‘What is a ‘Guardian’??”
“This refers to those who have the right to access this tree. Those who illuminate the future with a magical lighthouse and protect the empire. They are the ones who carry on the lineage of our Everblack royal family..”
The emperor looked at his three sons one by one and smiled..
“Now it's just the four of us.”
Larque and Fernandez knelt on one knee, bowed their heads, and quietly listened to their father's story..
“Having identified the four fates of destruction, we made a decision together that day. No matter what happens, I will definitely prevent that fate of destruction. Determined to protect the empire at any cost.”
no matter what happens.
no matter what sacrifice…….
“The Bringer Principality has been loyal and devoted to the empire for the past hundreds of years. My distant brothers... … We decided to kill them before they hit us first. We have been preparing to attack the Duchy of Bringer for seven years, and now Larc has set out in person..”
Lark bowed his head even more deeply..
“Shadows hiding in the ecliptic. To hunt them down, the Aegis Task Force tripled in size and the Central Standing Army swelled fivefold. Anyone who is even slightly suspicious is being arrested and the background is being investigated. Fernandez has been struggling for years..”
Fernandez also bowed his head even more deeply..
“These gods are coming down from the northern spirit world... … I am stopping them myself. I connect to the spirit world through this tree, cross swords with them every day and share magic with them..”
The emperor smiled bitterly and looked down at his hands..
“It's not something a so-called emperor would do at this age. What should I do? Of all our Guardians, I am the most familiar with this..”
“…….”
“And finally, the southern monster front.”
the emperor looked at me.
“You are my youngest son, the youngest and the foolish. ash. This year, when the monster invasion began in earnest, you led the remaining troops and set off to stop it..”
“…….”
“And so far, surprisingly, it has been blocking it well..”
I clenched my fists..
So, what is it??
The emperor is playing an action RPG alone in the northern spirit world..
My eldest brother is doing a real-time strategy simulation in the West..
The second brother is playing a national management simulation and mafia game in the center..
As the youngest, I am playing tower defense in the south..
Is this a situation where each person is protecting their empire like that??
‘I'm playing games in four genres with one title:?’
This is a very clever game, right?!
“How do you feel? Do you remember the situation now??”
The emperor asked softly. I raised my head..
“I have one question.”
“tell me.”
“Why the South... … Are you treating the monster front most poorly??”
I looked at my two brothers and the emperor in turn..
“As you said, the other three fronts are also a big crisis, but in the end, the fate of the empire alone depends on it. But isn't the monster front a crisis for the entire world??”
Western Province, Central Province, Northern Province.
Even if defeated, the empire will only fall, but the world will remain..
However, if the South is breached, not just the empire but the entire world will fall..
Everyone dies. Even the emperor already knows this.
Yet, while putting all their efforts into the other three areas, they are so blatantly neglectful of the South.?
Why on earth?
“Ha ha ha ha ha!”
Then the emperor held his stomach and laughed. I frowned..
“why are you smiling?”
“No, you said you lost your memory, but what you say is the same as before you lost your memory..”
The emperor seemed genuinely happy and smiled with a clear wrinkle at the corner of his mouth..
“Ash, you asked that question 7 years ago too. Even though the Southern Front pursues a greater cause, why is it given the lowest priority?.”
I was secretly surprised.
Even the original Ash said that.?
“The answer is simple. Because we are the defenders of the empire..”
“……yes?”
“As you said, the monsters' rampage is the largest of the four destructions. However, it is not a direct threat to the empire. That's why I postponed my priorities.”
what is this sound.
“What the monsters want is not the destruction of the empire. The destruction of royalties. But the other three crises are clearly aimed at the empire. This means that innocent hostility is aiming for our Everblack’s head..”
The emperor tapped the throne he was sitting on with his fingertips..
“I am not the guardian of the world. He is the emperor of the empire. In that case, wouldn't it be natural to put away the sword closer to the empire's neck first??”
The emperor's logic was clear..
“If the southern front is breached, the war against monsters will spread to the entire southern part of the continent. Then, other southern countries will join the war to stop the monster and buy time..”
“…….”
“There is also a heterogeneous autonomous region in the southern part of the continent. When the monsters arrive, the gods fighting me will also go there to be saved. In short, even if the monster front is given a low priority, our empire has more time to spare..”
the emperor declared.
“Do you understand? It is inevitable that the priority of the monster front will fall..”
“…….”
“Of course, it's just that the priority is low, but I have no intention of ignoring it. First, overcome all three other crises, and then the entire power of the empire will be mobilized to wipe out the monsters..”
I slowly lowered my head..
“……understand. Abama mama.”
So, send the youngest prince, the least skilled among the guardians, and the remaining troops to the south to buy time..
Even if the youngest child dies and the southern front collapses, as long as we endure by using other countries and races as shields..
After clearing out the remaining three crises targeting the empire, we exert all our efforts to drive out the monsters at the end.-
This is what these self-proclaimed ‘guardians’ think..
‘iced coffee.’
How... … Is it reasonable?.
protect the empire.
Use and kill anyone but the empire..
Even if the rest of the world falls, you only have to protect your empire..
When it comes to protecting the system called empire and the concept called empire, where can there be a more clear and clear principle?.
however.
“…….”
I gritted my teeth..
But - can I understand their conclusion??
The rationality of the empire, the principles of the empire, I, the youngest prince of the empire, but the commander of the southern front,.
I decided to protect people.
how… … Should I accept it?.
“But, Ash. Don't be so gloomy.”
The emperor grinned and winked at Fernandez..
“Actually, when I woke up from hibernation earlier, I already talked to Fernandez. I also heard the general situation. Don't worry, we'll send reinforcements to the south..”
“……!”
“I hoped that you, who were young and foolish, would grow up while fighting for life and death. And so it happened. To be able to stop an invasion of monsters like this is amazing..”
The emperor smiled warmly at me..
“It's a shame you lost your memories, but honestly, I'm glad you've become a much more useful Guardian..”
“…….”
“I will send plenty of reinforcements. Instead, from now on, we should listen carefully to this father and her older brothers.?”
I couldn't answer and stayed still with my head down. The emperor waved his hand towards us..
“I'm a little tired today. I think everyone was handling the front line well, and I will return to the spirit world..”
The emperor cleared his throat and sank back into his throne..
“I said it would be a victory party soon. For the first time in a while, I have to show the world that I am alive and well..”
“…….”
“Until then, I will close my eyes again. See you soon, sons..”
Larque and Fernandez said at the same time.
“Have a nice dream, Abama.”
“OK.”
White frost began to cover the entire body of the bitterly smiling emperor..
“There are only dark nightmares here…….”
Eventually, the emperor and the throne, along with the ice thorns, froze white and became indistinguishable..
Larque, Fernandez, and me. The three brothers took a step back from the throne room..
***
“Your marriage partner has been decided..”
Outside the throne room. corridor.
Fernandez handed me a document..
“This time, it's a girl of proper noble descent. She is the princess of the Aryan Kingdom. As you know, the Aryan Kingdom is the largest of the northern allies.…….”
I took the document and blankly read the words written on it..
Fernandez's boring explanation continued in my ears..
Marriage talks were held to strengthen the alliance between the Aryan Kingdom of the Northern Front and the Everblack Empire, and it was decided that I, who was about to break off the engagement with my fiancee, was the right person, so the conversation proceeded..
“If I say I don't like it?”
I asked quietly.
“If you refuse this marriage contract and decide to maintain your marriage with the Wintersilver family,?”
Fernandez didn't even pretend to be worried..
“Of course you can't. The princess of the Aryan Kingdom is already on her way to the imperial capital. To participate in the victory party.”
“…….”
“This time, we will just say hello to each other and get married within this year. The new room can be set up on the southern front..”
Fernandez whispered to me in a low voice as I pursed my lips..
“Abama, do you remember what I said? From now on, I need to listen carefully.”
“…….”
“Please, Ash. Don't resist any more. If you have a sense of responsibility as the prince of the Everblack royal family and as its guardian, then don't hesitate in a marriage of convenience..”
“…….”
“If you accept this marriage talk well, you will be able to return with enough elite troops to protect the Crossroads..”
A large hand grabbed my silent shoulder. When she looked up, it was Larque..
“It may be painful, but this is the prince's job, Ash..”
“…….”
“I heard you lost your memories and many of your subordinates during the battle? We made such sacrifices to get here, so we shouldn't stop like this..”
Larque grinned and jerked Fernandez's shoulder with his other hand..
“Come on, dear brothers! Let's give each other a hug to encourage us to work harder in the future.!”
And then Larque's muscular arms came out and forcibly hugged Fernandez.…….
“Kuehhh.”
“Hahaha.”
So we were forcibly instilled with brotherly love..
After the hug was released, I sighed and said,.
“okay okay. I will do that.”
Larque and Fernandez smiled brightly. I gritted my teeth and nodded..
“I will break off my engagement with Winter Silver. And, I will meet the princess of the Aryan Kingdom..”
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