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I Became a Tyrant of the Defense Game - Episode 349

◈ 349. [[Free Exploration] Prelude

Leprosy killing squad).

This mercenary group is made up entirely of lepers, and is famous for its tenacity in tracking down and killing the target of the request..

He is also famous for his tenacity in always receiving the requested money..

Since the bottom of the mercenary industry is a bit rough, clients who delay or take money from paying the money often appear, and they are also famous for tracking down such clients until the end and making them pay..

That's why the nickname was given - the leprosy killing squad made up of lepers..

Why do you know so well??

‘Because it was one of my main vanguard parties in the game.!’

I guess I'm the type of gamer who cares more about performance than looks. It was a leprosy extermination unit that was not popular due to its hideous appearance, but I did my best..

They all have the [Leprosy] trait, which dulls pain perception and allows them to better withstand damage..

Instead, it has the disadvantage of receiving a penalty to the agility stat and being prone to status injuries such as burns, frostbite, and bleeding..

Still, since I'm a tank, being slow isn't a big problem, and I didn't worry too much about status injuries because in the game, you can manage them by how to endure them during the battle and hospitalize them in the temple after the battle..

In addition, everyone has tank aptitude, and their skill set is also focused on tanking and self-healing..

Even if you throw them in the middle of enemy lines as a party, they are reliable friends who can attract attention and survive all day..

“Welcome to Crossroads!”

When the SR-class high-performance party appeared, I welcomed them with open arms..

“Welcome, mercenary friends! Nice to meet you!”

“……?”

The five members of the leprosy extermination team looked quite embarrassed when I welcomed them..

The man with the helmet, who seemed to be the leader among the five hesitant people, stepped forward and spoke..

“In this city... … I heard there is a lot of work… … . The five of us are confident in fighting something.…….”

“Hapgyeo Eok-!”

“Yeah?!”

Not only the leprosy extermination team but also the mercenaries who were watching were shocked..

Regardless, I took the leper killing squad and guided them to a room inside the mercenary guild..

“Let’s go in and write a contract first. Negotiating salary as well. Come on, come on, come here.”

The leader of the leprosy extermination squad - the man with the helmet was a man named Thorkel..

He seemed bewildered by the current situation, but clearly laid out their salaries..

Instead of paying 30 percent and a bonus, I added the condition of serving at the front here for at least one year..

“Of course, if you want to work more, your contract can be extended! Working conditions must be the same as in previous years or increased! That's about it. how?”

“…….”

“The form of benefit is weekly, and if urgent payment is needed, advance payment is also possible. If you have any more questions.”

Thorkel, who was looking down at the contract with his mouth open, stammered..

“Good... … No, it's too good... … is. Is it okay to have such good conditions?…….”

“Of course it's okay! you deserve this.”

Thorkel swept down the contract with his bandaged hands and glanced at me..

“We are lepers... … no see. Don't you feel uncomfortable??”

“Well, it's not contagious. It matters?”

Oh, is leprosy in this world different from on Earth? It's just contagious, but?

I was a little nervous, but Thorkell slowly shook his head..

“Your Majesty, it is as you said. Our disease is not contagious. It's just ugly to look at, and there are ugly rumors going around that it's a curse from an evil god.…….”

“It's just a rumor?”

“That alone makes people avoid us.”

“Anyway, how are you? It's not like I'm going to make a living with you..”

It's enough for mercenaries to fight well. I'll say it again, I'm the type of person who prioritizes performance over looks..

It is no different from the reason I accepted a different race on this front..

As long as you are good at killing monsters and don't break military law, it doesn't matter if you have long ears, bushy hair, or leprosy..

“…….”

A heavy silence fell between the leprosy killing squad. I blinked. Did I say something unpleasant??

“……Thank you, Your Highness.”

Thorkell, standing right in front of me, slowly bowed to me..

“We will be faithful until the day our dull bodies wear out..”

Afterwards, the remaining members of the leprosy extermination squad also bowed to me. I grinned and waved my hand..

“Of course, it would be nice if they were loyal, but I don’t want anything grandiose. Just work for what you get! That's a mercenary. yes?”

“……That's right.”

Thorkel nodded gravely..

“I will work for as much as I receive. Just give me an order.”

“I'm waiting. I'll be calling you up soon.”

After finalizing the contract, I left the mercenary guild. The leprosy killing squad followed me and bowed down until I walked away..

“My lord, you are truly informal in many ways..”

Lucas muttered as he climbed into the driver's seat of the carriage I was riding in..

“I have never seen a member of the royal family treat a leprosy patient so freely. No, not the royal family, but even the priest who treats them won't treat them that comfortably..”

“The treatment of leprosy patients is not that good.?”

“The punishment for those who sin against the goddess is reincarnation... leprosy... … It is widely known that Although it is not officially recognized by the Goddess Church, it is a common belief..”

There was even a religious reason. Moreover, even the appearance is hideous. It seems like they are being persecuted in one way or another..

“But those guys have enough skills. It will be proven in practice. I don't care about looks.”

“But the soldiers will care.”

Lucas said as he started the carriage..

“For their sake, I will find separate accommodation outside the barracks..”

“…….”

okay. No matter what I think, discrimination in reality exists. It's not something that will disappear just because the lord orders it..

Right now, the elf shadow unit and the beastman punishment unit are staying in places other than the barracks..

It would be better for both parties if the leprosy extermination squad also found separate lodgings outside the barracks..

‘In the future, all kinds of ‘different’ people will flock from all over the continent.…….’

Can we unite them into one army?.

Everyone in this world where prejudices and interests are tangled, become one.…….

“Hey!”

I was lost in thought, and Lucas skillfully drove the carriage. The blacksmith shop wasn't far away..

***

I ordered a lot of various equipment from the blacksmith shop..

In the afternoon, three parties were gathered and entered the dungeon. It was the main party, the punishment unit, and the Dragon Blood Knights..

“I was already feeling queasy from not having rested for a long time.!”

Dusk Bringer, leading his fully armed knights, smiled brightly..

A joyful laugh came out between her pointed teeth..

“Where are you going today? Is this really a new dungeon? Looking at the mobilization of people, it looks like it's a pretty difficult place.?”

“Haha, you'll find out when you go..”

Seeing is worth hearing. Once you experience the occupation war, you will immediately understand what it is like..

“Umm~ My whole body gets itchy at this time of year..”

Kuilan and the punishment unit are following in the rear row, scratching their bodies..

The punishment unit has just entered prisoner mode..

Red hair has begun to sprout in human mode. Although you receive less beastman stat bonuses, this is actually enough..

The biggest problem is that Kuilan's negative characteristic [glass body] is erased in beastman mode..

If I had to choose the top 3 combat power among the hero parties I have, these are the three..

It will be sufficient for today's operation..

At that time, Junior, one of the main party members who were whispering among themselves, came to me and asked carefully..

“Are you planning on taking over again, Your Majesty??”

“okay.”

“You collapsed after overexerting yourself at that time... … Are you okay??”

“Don't worry, don't worry. 'Cause I'm really used to it now.”

If you use it this time, [Declare Imperial Decree] will already be used for the third time..

I can feel my body slowly adapting..

I wouldn't say it's completely unreasonable, but just as the muscle fibers are torn and the muscles grow, it feels like the limits are expanding as the magic power within the body is overworked..

‘The dragon heart that Mumyeong gave me at that time was definitely effective..’

Electric jade floor… … No, Dragon Heart lends me its power only for [Declaration of Imperial Decree]..

For some reason, I feel like the battle to occupy the Imperial Proclamation Island is slowly becoming more manageable. If I want to take over all the dungeons from now on, I need to be able to do it..

‘By the way, why was it a dragon heart??’

I thought to myself as I rubbed my stomach with my hand..

Why did Nameless give me a dragon heart? Is it because it is the most effective among magic power tonics? Or is there another reason?……?

When we arrived at the Colosseum, a jackal was waiting for us..

“majesty!”

As the jackal jumped out with bare feet, I smiled and waved..

The plan agreed upon with Jackal is as follows:.

First, we will occupy this [Fiery Colosseum]. Then monsters will not be able to invade this area..

And here, the jackal uses his abilities and develops his army..

Jackal's unique characteristics, [Colosseum Operator]].

Simply put, it is a monster taming ability..

It's a little different from my 2nd skill, [Be mine!]. I'm the type of person who forcibly controls their minds, while Jackal is the one who fights with monsters and 'hires' them as gladiators. It's just a formality and it's closer to kidnapping, but anyway.…….

In this way, we can safely cultivate our side's monster army in a place where the enemy cannot invade..

It can be said to be a trait that can be used because Jackal is a 'contaminated' NPC who is half clad in the darkness of this place..

‘Even though you were swallowed up by darkness and rose to the position of dungeon boss, you obey me only out of loyalty to the empire... … He’s also quite poisonous..’

I had a bitter taste in my mouth as I watched Jackal explaining this strategy to the party members on my behalf..

Someday, after conquering all the dungeons and seeing the true ending, will it be possible to let Jackal live in the empire again??

‘……I have a lot of random thoughts today..’

After putting aside my thoughts, I took out the flag. This is a new flag made at the blacksmith shop..

During the last special task force infiltration incident, it was confirmed that [Imperial Decree Proclamation] could be used even with a crude white flag. There was no need to carry a large flag and plant it..

I made a small, cute, foldable flagpole that can be stored away. The flag is the imperial flag.

‘We will also need to create a new flag to symbolize the monster front here..’

How do you design? Should we at least hold a contest? With that in mind, I planted the flag in the center of the Colosseum..

“I declare this land - the territory of the empire.!”

As soon as the flagpole is planted in the ground,

flashing!

There was a flash of light and the magic that escaped my body spread out in a wide circle..

The presence of the Dragon Heart inside my body was now clearly felt..

In my veins, the pieces of the dragon heart condensed randomly, radiating hot heat and spinning along my magic path again and again..

Kiiiiing!

Well, this is working, right? I don't have any technical qualifications for this.…….

Fortunately, there was nothing wrong other than my whole body feeling hot. And [Imperial Declaration] was cast smoothly..

Wow!!

As the air around the area settled, a familiar gray magical fortress was erected there..

Combined with the outer walls of the Colosseum, it looked much stronger than usual. Today is the occupation war here..

[Conquest war begins soon.]

- Until: 5 minutes to go

[Conquest War - Area 5: Sparkling Colosseum]

- You win by fending off three monster waves.

- A monster wave is randomly selected from three of the closest monster armies..

- Each wave contains boss-level monsters.

The rules are the same as last time. Three monster waves. Includes boss monsters every time.

I clapped my hands and looked back at the party members. Except for the main party members, the rest are confused as they look at the suddenly rising castle wall..

“Now, everyone has heard roughly how it works, right? Monsters will come soon! ready for battle!”

When I shouted, everyone, like experienced combatants, immediately decided on their own defense zones and rushed to prepare for battle..

Everyone knows that the battle is close and that solving questions can be done later..

As I looked at the heroes arranged in an orderly manner, I inwardly whetted my appetite..

‘They are a party with the top 3 combat power, but combining the three is not that harmonious..’

Our main party has its own mix of Pure Tank/Deal Tank/Sniper/Wizard/Kim Ash..

The punishment unit is all vanguard characters, and the same goes for the Dragon Blood Knights. It consists of five damage tanks, four knights and one half-human half-dragon..

When the three parties are put together like this, it is a rush-type physical wave combination with the body leaning forward..

‘It's still strong enough, but it would be better to combine one more back row dealer party if possible..’

I'm thinking something like that.

“Ash, you…….”

Dusk Bringer's trembling voice was heard..

“Is that in your body?……?”

“yes? omg!”

Dusk Bringer was not in combat position, but came next to me and looked at me with a shocked expression..

Without realizing it, dry saliva went down my throat..

‘Have you ever been caught eating the heart of Dusk Bringer's kin as a nourishing tonic??’

I was quickly thinking about what excuse I should make..

“Is that black?…….”

thud! thud! thud!

Dusk Bringer stopped talking and the ground began to rumble..

Then, a series of monsters appeared in the distance, raising a cloud of dust..

“dismissal! We have a large area to defend. Hurry this way!”

A shout was heard from the Dragon Blood Knights looking for Dusk Bringer..

“…….”

Dusk Bringer glanced at me with a pale face, then pursed his lips and ran out to greet the monsters..

“phew!”

I unconsciously breathed a sigh of relief. Damn it, but what should I say when they ask me later??

It was then.

“uh?”

A monster with a slightly strange appearance, standing at the head of the approaching monster army, caught my eye..

Click, click, click-

A large physique riding a mountain goat with sharp horns like a horse... … It was a goblin.

Leather armor covering the entire body, a golden cloak swirling in the dust, and a strangely shaped helmet that combines a mask and a crown..

《…….》

The goblin who appeared with the army pulled the reins and stopped his mountain goat a long way away from the magic fortress..

And then he quietly raised his masked face and looked this way..

His eyes met mine..

In the midst of the noisy battlefield, there was a moment of strange silence..

“…….”

《…….》

I intuitively realized it.

That guy is the nightmare commander I have to deal with in this defense battle..

It was the Goblin God King, Kali-Alexandr..