Novels online

Became a tyrant of defense games - Episode 268

◈ 268. [Side Story] Funeral (4)

next day.

This funeral was prepared faster than any other defensive battle..

This was because casualties occurred among ordinary citizens..

Soldiers and heroes desperately defended themselves, sacrificing their lives, but damage was done..

‘thirty-seven citizens.’

I kept my mouth shut and bowed my head in front of the citizens' coffins lined up in front of me. The bereaved family members were awkwardly watching me from afar..

I thought the bereaved family would grab me by the collar. I thought they would boo or curse from afar..

I thought you were going to vent your anger, asking why you didn't do it right, saying my family died because of you..

But no one did that.

It is not uncommon for citizens to die due to monster invasions in this fortress city.?

Because I am a noble person and a lord,?

Or, it is a world where life is originally cheap.?

Before the funeral, I met with the families of the deceased citizens one by one, apologized, and handed them condolences. They were happy and grateful..

thanks.

My family died because I didn't do it right, and they thanked me..

“…….”

Want to change.

I want to turn this world upside down..

‘no… … will do so.’

I gritted my teeth..

It will change the world. To a place where death is not a given. To a place where death is not appreciated.

In my own way. certainly.

After finishing offering flowers, I headed to the group of other coffins next to it..

‘189 soldiers.’

Excluding the tutorial stage, the most people died in this defense battle..

Most of them died protecting citizens from werewolves. In front of the North Gate and throughout the city…….

As I watched the procession of coffins covered with imperial flags, I slowly lowered my head..

sick.

It hurts more because their deaths were noble. I bit my lip tightly. It tasted like fishy blood..

‘The soldiers who died this time were all skilled..’

To the extent that he does not run away from monsters, but rather throws his life away to save citizens. mentally skilled soldiers.

We lost nearly two hundred of them. It was such a painful loss..

I closed my eyes tightly and endured the heat..

you shouldn't cry.

Their deaths should not be comforted with tears. Instead, I have to take responsibility..

Priests sprinkled holy water on the coffin and blessed the dead. I watched silently as hundreds of coffins went into the ground..

and last.

‘two heroes.’

There are two hero characters who died in action. But strictly speaking, neither of these are part of my front..

Death Row Prisoner Camus.

And Kuilan's older brother Kureha..

One was a criminal who had committed a crime and was awaiting execution, and the other was an ordinary citizen, regardless of his fighting talent or personal skills..

But both died in this battle..

Considering that Camus went out of his way to save citizens even though he was a death row inmate, it was decided to bury his coffin in the grave site..

I don't know what it would mean to him to be buried in the tomb of the empire he hated so much, but as commander, I decided to do this..

Unlike other tombs, the front of Camus' tomb was empty. no one mourned his death.

Occasionally, passing citizens would leave bouquets of flowers, saying that he had saved their lives, but no one cried for him..

“…….”

Junior, standing at a distance, just stared at his tombstone with complicated eyes..

And further afield. Raina was standing with her cane, looking at Junior from afar..

Conversely, the area in front of Kureha's grave was quite crowded..

In addition to the five members of the punishment unit wearing hoods and robes, bandits and refugees who came with the unit shed tears and laid flowers..

In addition, people from the city who had a connection with Kureha also came and went to lay white flowers..

he was a good person.

but died.

‘If only I had realized the essence of this game a little sooner.…….’

Today’s scenery… … It would have been different from now.

After the choir's funeral song, the whole ceremony ended..

Finally, it's my turn to speak.

I made up my mind and went up to the stage. Thousands of familiar eyes were now focused on me..

“…….”

I refined my voice and spit it out..

“I want to apologize first.”

As I lowered my head, agitation spread among the people. Regardless, I continued..

“As a commander, I was complacent. He failed to grasp the enemy's diversionary maneuver. Monsters attacked from all directions, and my reaction was slow..”

As a result of thinking that according to the rules of the game, they would only attack the southern wall..

Crossroads suffered great damage from the werewolf army that bypassed the rules..

“A person died. This is entirely my responsibility..”

I was a saennim who only knew how to fight within the rules of the game. As long as it was within the rules, he was a commander who was not inferior to anyone in the world..

However, outside the rules.

In street fights outside the ring. In real practice.

He was a weakling who was hit hard on the chin and knocked down in one blow..

‘I have never properly studied strategy and tactics, and I am certainly not a superhuman..’

I'm just a normal human who played this game a little bit.

I'm still just a hard-core gamer who tried to cope with the reality here by using games only..

so that.

From now on, I.

“We will no longer be complacent.”

Outside the rules, outside the ring.

Trying to face this world straight ahead.

“We will think more astutely, analyze our enemies more keenly, and use every means at our disposal to crush their invasion..”

I don't care about rings anymore. I have already torn the ring rope and landed on the street..

Trampling the line of rules and standing on top of it.

I will do anything to win against the monsters..

“using all means available.”

I sighed once more and slowly looked back at the audience. People were swallowing dry saliva and concentrating on me speaking..

“I hope today is the last time you hear an apology from me. I'll do my best to do that.”

I will lead them towards clearing the game and pioneering a new path outside the rules..

For a world where at least one less person dies.

In the process, maybe I become something different from what I am now..

“…….”

I paused for a moment and looked around. Perhaps because of my speech, there was a lot of tension at the grave site..

I talked too much about myself. Let’s change the topic.

“Although all the deaths this time are painful, I want to tell you that all the deaths were noble..”

I continued speaking in a soft tone..

“The fallen died to protect people. I gave my life to protect you from the threat right in front of you..”

I smiled vaguely and nodded..

“And you are worth it. Because you also stand up for yourself to protect the people around you..”

Hold the torch, grab the weapon.

The citizens of Crossroads rose up and gathered in the square..

We spent the night together, watching each other's backs and fighting off hordes of monsters..

“Don't forget. we are people We must protect each other from monsters.”

Human (人間) originally means ‘between people’..

To be human, humans need each other.

“Look at the face of the person next to you. The face of the person you must protect from now on and who will protect you..”

Citizens looked embarrassed and looked at the faces of the people next to them. I turned my gaze towards the graves..

“Remember the faces of those buried on the tombstones. The faces of those who gave their lives to save you.”

Clenching my fist, I finished my sentence..

“Be each other's protectors. The highest wall that defeats monsters is right there..”

I slowly lowered my head..

“I will say a moment of silence for all those who laid the foundation for the walls of this place..”

Thousands of people bowed their heads in unison. Silence fell on the large grave site..

After a short moment of silence, I nodded without saying any more and came down from the podium..

Since Lucas was not there, Evangeline was in charge of the funeral..

As Evangeline wrung her arms wrapped in bandages, the artillerymen opened fire with their cannons..

pop! pop! Bubble bung!

The gunfire in honor of the lion rang out in the distance. The funeral ended like that..

***

Citizens and soldiers scattered in small groups either entered the city or went to the tomb to pay respects to their comrades..

As I was watching the scene from afar, someone came next to me..

“You're a good speaker, Your Highness..”

When I turned around, it was Raina. I gestured to the old officer who was slowly approaching with her cane..

“Lord Rayna. how is your body.”

“It's not something to be harsh about. Also, aren't there a lot of people injured in this battle?.”

It was as he said. Everyone has several layers of bandages wrapped around their bodies. Injuries like Reina's are common..

I asked slowly while looking at the bandage wrapped around Raina's stomach..

“I heard that you eliminated Camus this time with your own hands..”

“It was self-defense. Even if it wasn't, I have the authority to eliminate the criminal who stabbed me..”

“…….”

“Are you going to reprimand me for that, Your Majesty??”

“no. I was just asking to confirm the facts..”

Camus tried to kill Raina, and Raina fought back and killed Camus..

No matter what the previous source was, that is what happened here on the monster front. I'm not in a position to argue..

“So, it looks like I have some business to do. Lord Rayna.”

“yes. I came here because I have something to tell you..”

I nodded, having guessed the content..

“It's time to return?”

“That's right. Our magic corps' support for the southern front ended with this defensive battle..”

The number of defensive battles in which they were dispatched and promised support was five. Stage 6 to 10.

Yesterday's defensive battle fulfilled all of those counts. It is time to return to the imperial family..

“Thanks to this, I was able to easily defeat the monsters..”

I meant it. The officers and soldiers of the Magic Corps were of great help during the last five defenses..

‘Like 'Shutdown Protocol', they planned something else behind the scenes, but Raina told them about it and disposed of it with her own hands. I'll skip that bit..

“I won't forget your hard work.”

I held out my hand to Raina..

“I just did what I had to do. Thank you just for your words.”

Even though it was a handshake requested by the royal family, Reina took my hand and shook it up and down without any hesitation. As expected, Jjambap is not ordinary..

“When are you going to leave??”

“It is said that an airship was sent from the Imperial Capital. It's scheduled to arrive today, but it's leaving immediately..”

When they send me down, they send me by land, and the magic corps is said to be a high-quality man, so they bring it back and forth on an airship..

“When you return to the capital, say hello to Brother Fernandez..”

When I mentioned the name of my second brother, who is sure to take care of his people, Raina smiled faintly..

“I have something to report to His Highness Fernández with my regards..”

“?”

“The truth is, Your Majesty is really only interested in protecting the front here..”

Reina raised her head and took in the desolate scenery around the Crossroads..

“In this barren remote area, he doesn't even miss the glamorous life in the imperial capital, and is only doing his best to defeat the monster..”

“…….”

“You really don't care about issues such as central power, wealth, or succession to the throne. I will report.”

I don't know if it's a compliment or sarcasm. No, I don't know the intention..

Reina lowered her voice as I narrowed my eyes..

“You said it was announced from the Imperial Capital? The southern front will follow a completely independent path..”

“It did.”

I guess I heard about it through the intelligence line..

“I hope those words are true, Your Majesty..”

“……?”

“I hope that the front here will be run purely regardless of the power struggle above. And may the future be filled with light. I will support you from afar.”

I don't know what kind of trick he has up his sleeve. What happened when you said nice things?.

“You had a hard time. Goodbye, Lord Reyna. Next time, I'd like to meet somewhere peaceful and talk openly, not on a battlefield like this..”

“haha. It's nice to hear just what you're saying. It's not a front line, it's somewhere peaceful.…….”

Raina trailed off as she looked at the countless tombstones placed at the grave site..

“I wish I could retire soon and spend the rest of my life in a place like that..”

The soldier, who had lived his entire life in war, said that and gave me a sharp salute..

“It was an honor to be with you. majesty. See you again someday.”

Reina just turned around and headed back toward the Crossroads. Since you have to go to Seoul now, you probably want to pack your luggage..

I watched from a distance the old black uniform worn by the old soldier and the white robes of the Magic Corps fluttering above it..

“…….”

I hope Raina's remaining life will be peaceful. however.

I know I can't do that..