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Became a tyrant of defense games - Episode 237

◈ 237. [[Free Exploration] Doui

After walking back to the base camp, I took the teleport gate and returned to the Crossroads..

Verdandi remained at base camp..

When I asked her if she wanted to go out with me just in case, she immediately said no..

“I can't leave here until I complete my mission..”

Verdandi said that while smiling shyly..

I was speechless for a moment looking at her like that..

What would it be like to wander in the darkness for 100 years, looking for a treasure that we are not even sure exists?.

Even though the king and country that gave the order are already gone..

‘NPC parties wandering through dungeons are all like that..’

either one.

Either you are crazy, or you are holding on to a delusion that is tantamount to being crazy..

‘……Will we be like that too?.’

If I fail to clear the game, my colleagues will end up in the same situation..

Even though the world is already destroyed, we may wander underground and continue our meaningless exploration to save the world..

I glanced at the faces of my colleagues..

Everyone is gathered in a huddle in front of the teleport gate, smiling lazily with pale faces after being washed in hot spring water..

I clenched my fists and made a promise once again..

Children.

I won't leave you in the dark.

***

Over the next two weeks, I cleared four dungeons in District 5..

6There was a need to clear all 5 districts first before advancing into the districts..

The goal was to get the members to level 50..

A hero character must be level 50 to complete the 3rd job advancement and obtain the ultimate skill..

Afterwards, your stats will increase and you will be able to acquire characteristics, but your skill set will stop growing at this point..

Because it is such an important level, the experience required to level up is very high..

In particular, the level 48 to 50 section felt like growth was really slow, so much so that it was nicknamed ‘the commute to work’..

They said they had to get to 50 before the next defense, but no matter how much they ran, they couldn't get to 50, and there were many characters who were sent into the defense at 48 or 49..

Viewers used to call this ‘tardiness’..

The current levels of Lucas, Evangeline, and Damian are 49.

There are still two weeks left until Stage 10 starts, so I think I can still get to level 50 without being late..

“I'm sorry for not being able to keep up with the exploration.…….”

Early moning.

Junior said apologetically to us as we gathered in the backyard of the mansion and prepared for a new expedition..

“I thought I was feeling better, so I overexerted myself, but I guess I felt a strong rebound.…….”

The other heroes have all escaped the aftereffects of the last battle against Jormungand..

Evangeline, who was sick, has returned to her usual self, and Kuilan has also completed her recovery..

But Junior was still struggling..

Well, it's worth it. How many times did you use the ultimate that would kill you once you used it that day?.

“However, Lord Raina continues to assist with the procedure, so recovery will be completed by the next defense... … I'm really sorry.”

Evangeline smiled brightly at Junior, who still looked apologetic with a pale complexion..

“It's okay, Juju! Rather than that, body recovery comes first.!”

I also nodded my head..

“Don't stress and focus on your recovery. got it?”

Anyway, Junior has the highest level among the characters under his command, and he does not need additional training right away..

It's a shame that we can't take a wizard with us on the expedition, but clearing the dungeon at hand won't be a big problem even with the current members. It’s okay to focus on nursing.

“If I had known this would happen, I would have taken you to the hot springs too. It would have helped at least a little bit with my recovery..”

Hot springs require you to kill a monster at the entrance to receive a ticket, so they cannot be used until the next season's monsters are refilled..

If I had known that Junior's aftereffects would be this long, I would have just taken him away..

“ah… … As expected, the bathroom is a bit…….”

“There is also a private bath, so be sure to go together next time! sister!”

Even though Evangeline kept trying, Junior was reluctant..

But I made up my mind in my heart.

Every season, I have to gather all the members who are in trouble and put them in a hot spring. Even if it's just a small recovery buff, it'll be helpful..

Leaving behind Junior waving his hand with an embarrassed expression, we threw ourselves into the teleport gate..

flashing-!

***

The members who have been exploring for the past two weeks are as follows:.

Main party of 4, excluding Junior. Me, Lucas, Damian, Evangeline. And Kuilan and the 5 members of the punishment unit..

Verdandi, who has been helping with the exploration for the past two weeks, has been included, making a total of 10 people. 2 parties.

“Oh, you're here.!”

Verdandi, who was checking his equipment at base camp, smiled brightly when he saw us..

Because of the tear spots, it still doesn't look like I'm smiling..

Over the past two weeks, Verdandi has served as a great guide..

Junior joined the main party while he was away, and the team is pretty good..

100As if the time I've spent here for years was not in vain, I'm quite good at conquering dungeons. It's quite helpful.

So today I brought you an award. I took a bag out of my pocket and handed it to Verdandi..

“Now, here are the sunflower seeds I promised you before..”

Surprisingly, there were no sunflowers in the Crossroads area, so we had to send someone to the next city to airlift the seeds..

So it took some time to get it..

“Hehehe!”

Verdandi jumped up and received the precious sunflower seeds..

“thank you… … ! Damn, I never thought I'd see this again before I die.…….”

Verdandi repeatedly bent down and carefully packed the seed bag in her arms..

‘I expected him to eat like a squirrel, but he did it to save money.?’

I was secretly looking forward to it this time because he showed great eating reactions as soon as I brought him carrots, cabbage, and other ingredients, and ate them on the spot..

Unexpectedly, the first thing he requested was sunflower seeds, which he hid in his arms without even mentioning..

I was curious about the reason, but I didn't bother to ask. That could also be privacy.

“Today I stop by the Colosseum. This is a place I cleared before. The main party members all remember?”

At my words, Lucas, Damien, and Evangeline nodded in unison..

5The last dungeon of the area. Colosseum with sparkles.

At the time, there was no way to get there by land, so I used a shortcut to stop by. I wasn't at the level to beat the boss, so I used a trick to get through it..

But now the party has grown to the point where we can walk, and all the bosses in other District 5 dungeons have been defeated by our hands..

‘Everyone grew up so quickly.’

50I felt proud as I looked at the main party members who were about to reach their level..

Ooooh my babies. Let’s just walk down the path we know from now on.

“Are you really going to go to the Colosseum??”

Verdandi, who claimed to be a guide today, opened his eyes wide..

“After the vampire army invaded there a few months ago, the entire area was completely devastated. Even if you go, there won't be much to see..”

“My friend there helped me. In return, I was attacked by an army of vampires..”

I remembered the image of the jackal kneeling in front of me and sobbing..

I told him then. The Empire has not abandoned you,.

Even if it was a blatant lie to overcome the crisis just around the corner.

The jackal believed those words with all his heart and gave up his life for me..

If so, at least I should make what I said then true and not false..

the empire has not abandoned you.

I didn't forget you.

“Now that I have the power to help, I have to go find it. At least we need to find out if he's dead or alive. That's morality?”

Then, Verdandi’s eyes became even more round. Why are your eyes open like that? Was what I said strange??

“Morality, morality…….”

“why?”

“No, because it’s fascinating. … … I never imagined I would hear those words again in the depths of this hell..”

I smiled awkwardly.

“Actually, it's a word that's hard to hear even outside..”

On Earth and here in this world. It is foolish to live by discussing things like morality. Who doesn't know that.

At the very least, I don't want to forget the grace I received..

Even if he is not a great saint, even if he is insignificant and self-satisfied. He just wants to be that kind of person..

- brother!

……okay.

Because I will never, ever forget.

***

Even though I walked to the safe base closest to the Colosseum after teleporting, the distance was quite far..

Even though I took the shortcut and walked back then, it took forever..

‘Since the Colosseum itself is a noisy and dangerous facility, was it built on the outskirts of the city??’

I can only guess about the Lake Kingdom's intention to place entertainment facilities within the city at the time. Why don’t you think it’s like this?.

Anyway, after walking for a few hours, fighting off monsters that came at me due to sudden events, I was able to arrive at the Colosseum..

[5Zone - Sparkling Colosseum]

A huge circular stone building like that of ancient Rome.

The Colosseum, which was grand and majestic the last time I saw it, was completely destroyed..

The ceiling was blown away, and the pillars collapsed in an ugly way. It doesn't feel like a place where there's a lot of dust on the floor..

The party members were wary of my surroundings, their eyes flashing fiercely..

Amidst the escort, I kept my mouth shut and walked into the Colosseum..

“…….”

The Colosseum is empty too..

The spacious auditorium and the arena where a bloody battle took place for 7 rounds with monsters. It's empty without anything.

I look around with a bitter taste in my mouth.,

《Oh, Prince Ash……?》

A weak voice was heard.

All party members turned their weapons towards him at once..

Upon closer inspection, there was an old goblin sitting in the corner of the Colosseum..

The goblin with a full beard was covered in blood. I quickly ran in front of him..

《Well, you really came. Master Jackal was right.…….》

“you?”

《I am Master Jackal's subordinate, the management goblin of the Colosseum.…….》

The goblin coughed up blood and continued speaking with difficulty..

《Although the Colosseum was completely destroyed after the battle with the vampire army, Master Jackal continued to guard the Colosseum and waited for you.…….》

Jackal, fortunately, it seems he was safe during the battle with the vampire army..

But now?

“where is the jackal?”

《A few days ago, a werewolf army suddenly invaded.…….》

I gritted my molars. Is it them again?.

Five scars appeared to have been carved by claws on the goblin's chest..

I took out a potion and poured it on the goblin, but the wound did not heal well..

《During the previous battle with the vampire, we lost all of our troops, and as you can see, the Colosseum was not in a state to fight... … Jackal was eventually captured by these guys and taken away..》

“…….”

《He asked me to pray for the last time. If His Highness Prince Ash comes, please tell him not to worry about himself... … But I also ended up like this…….》

The old goblin's voice gradually quieted down..

《Still, because I could die preaching the word... … Relief…….》

The goblin's body went limp..

He was holding on to his life with a single mission, but it seems that his strength suddenly diminished when he spoke. The goblin died.

I slowly got up while looking down at the goblin's corpse with complicated thoughts..

Anyway, the jackal's whereabouts have been determined. It looks like he was also kidnapped by the werewolf army..

“One more reason to go save your comrades, Verdandi..”

I nodded to Verdandi. Verdandi also nodded with a stern expression..

7area wolf den.

Kidnapped NPCs are gathering there..

***

flashing-!

Let's end today's exploration and return to Crossroads.,

“huh?”

Ader was waiting in front of the teleportation gate with a stern expression. I asked, puzzled..

“What is it, Ader? What's going on??”

“Lord.”

Ader spoke to me with a stern look on her face that I had never seen before..

“Junior and Lord Raina were attacked..”

All returning party members widened their eyes..

“……It is said that he is currently wandering around the edge of death..”