Became a tyrant of defense games - Episode 393
◈ 393. [Side Story] Sleeping with the Enemy (4)
Crack, crackle…….
the bonfire is burning.
We still haven't left Area 10, but we had to take a break..
Apparently, my body was not in the right condition since it came out of the spirit world. I couldn't move for a long time..
I found an abandoned building and went inside, found firewood and started a fire..
Salome went outside, saying she was looking for something to eat for me (is there anything to eat in this neighborhood?), and ordered Mason to guard the outside..
“I think I'll buy some…….”
A campfire provides more than just warmth.
light.
10Although skyscrapers here and there emit light like streetlights to provide a view, it is basically a place of thick, breathtaking darkness..
shakily, shakily…….
A sound like bugs gnawing echoes from all directions. It's the sound of darkness approaching.
I tried to ignore it and peered into the bonfire from afar, then suddenly raised my head..
Dark sky - No, since it is under the lake, it would be more correct to call it dark water. Anyway, it covers the entire field of vision..
There is a land above that distant darkness.
Once again, it felt so far away..
It feels like I crash-landed on an unknown alien planet in a broken spaceship. There must be an Earth beyond that vast universe, but…….
‘Can I go back??’
This is not just a story about Crossroads. I wiped my tired eyes.
Here, I look back on the dream I had just before waking up..
Me on Earth, my life as a ‘classics fanatic’.
I felt like I had come so far from being an ordinary corner gamer. At the same time, I became dizzy.
‘Can I go back??’
It's not a physical story this time..
Even if I clear all the stages, reach the true ending, get my wish, and return to my original world..
Was I really me at that time??
During the past year of strategy, I have worn out a lot..
I got used to Ash's body, face, and voice, and he became a little more shameless and a little more cruel. I have seen countless real deaths..
Was a player, tried to become a tyrant, and ended up not even becoming a monster..
I am already a completely different person from the classics fan I used to be..
When I reach the end of this game, how much more will I have changed?.
‘There is a famous philosophical problem called ‘Ship of Theseus’. The question is, 'If the parts of the ship are replaced one by one, and ultimately all parts are replaced, is the ship still the ship of Theseus?'.
‘After all this process is over…….’
After all parts of the body are replaced.
What will I become in the end??
“…….”
As I looked up into the darkness, facing the bonfire, I suddenly slowly blurted out a sentence..
I was conceived in this darkness, I grew up in this darkness, and I still live in this darkness..
Now I'm struggling because I don't know where I should go. I am haggard, as if I am the focus of the century..
It was then.
《Oh, oh? What is that? city?》
Salome came back just in time. She is holding something like fruit in both hands..
Feeling embarrassed for some reason, I answered while rummaging around in the firewood..
“……It's an essay. written by a famous poet.”
《Cool, Ash! Looks intelligent!》
“Thank you for the compliment.…….”
The poet who wrote this essay is amazing, but I am just an imitator who only memorizes and reads it..
Feeling embarrassed, I quickly took the fruit from Salome's hand. The fruit gives off a refreshing scent as if it was just picked..
“How did you get something so fresh from a place like this?.”
《Among the corps commanders, there is one who enjoys food. I knew that this guy had taken over the farm here and was making fruit wine. I secretly entered that guy's base and took a peek..》
Perhaps because of his ignorance, he didn't get caught and seems to have succeeded brilliantly. This guy is more useful than I thought..
I chewed the fruit I received with its skin. As I passed the juice down my dry throat, I felt like I could live a little..
Salome squatted down right next to me, who was silently chewing fruit, and looked at me with her chin resting on both hands. The gaze is burdensome.…….
“……why. what. why.”
《No, because I eat well and look good. Huhuhu.》
“It's not like it was poisoned.?”
《How could that be?! what the. What are you looking at me for??》
When I finished eating every single piece of fruit, Salome came closer to me with sparkling eyes..
《I ate well?》
“Well, okay. I ate well.”
《Then I guess I should say thank you?》
“……thanks?”
《No~ Don’t say that kind of greeting..》
I wondered what on earth she wanted, but Salome made a strange request..
《Recite another poem! It's okay to sing a song!》
I quit school.
“What are you asking for?…….”
《But I liked the recitation just now! I want to hear more, more!》
“no. I won't do it anymore because it's embarrassing.”
《Oh, don't do that. In my dream, I saw that you were always good at broadcasting in the past... … omg.》
Before speaking, Salome covered her mouth..
“……?”
I didn't understand for a moment so I blinked blankly, but later I understood what he meant..
How does this guy know I did a 'broadcast'??
“you you… … ! no way!”
I aimed my trembling index finger at Salome..
“Could it be that you read my memories??!”
《Well, shall I say that it couldn't be helped??!》
Salome hastily backed away from me and made excuses while rolling her big eyes..
《In the process of bringing you from the spirit world to reality, I had to make contact with you! Because I see every dream! Should I say that I came to read your dreams naturally?……?!》
“…….”
《So, I took a peek at your memories from that world... … uh…….》
I was shocked. I wondered why I suddenly found myself reminiscing about my life on Earth..
This dreamer must have tried to read my past.……!
“Salome, I can no longer keep you alive.…….”
I muttered darkly and got up. Salome began to hiccup.
“Now that I know I'm not the real Ash, I'm going to kill you and seal your mouth.…….”
I am a human from another world who has possessed the body of this crazy prince..
There's nothing good about a monster knowing that, right? After all, Salome has no choice but to die.……!
《Who cares??!》
At that time, Salome shouted angrily..
《I didn't like you because you were Ash! I didn't like you because you were the prince, and I didn't like you because you were the lord of the city or had a lot of money! That doesn't mean anything to me, a monster.!》
“…….”
《I just like you because you are you!》
Salome, who shamelessly continued her embarrassing confession, immediately avoided eye contact and muttered..
《No, of course, I'm not sure if this is really the feeling, so I'm sticking with you to find out... … anyway…….》
……Why did I lose my breath?.
‘I, who was about to use 'Absolute Command' to make Salome commit suicide, sighed and sat down again in front of the campfire. Salome carefully watched me..
《I won't kill you?》
“I'm going to kill you... … Not now, later…….”
Salome is very useful right now..
Killing him is certain, but not now. I'm a little tired right now to see more people die..
As I squatted helplessly in front of the fire again, Salome crept back to me..
《Hehehe.》
“……What do you like to laugh about?.”
《Your secret that no one else in this world knows, only I know.》
Salome pounded her chest and boasted..
《Don't worry, we're already accomplices, right? Be sure to keep your secret! 'Cause I'll take it to my grave!》
When will I dig that grave myself?.
Swallowing my words inwardly, I silently nodded. Salome kept laughing, wondering what was so good about it..
***
Mason, who was on guard outside, was called in..
His body was still repeating collapse and regeneration. I don't know when he won't be able to hold out and die, so we'll have to interrogate him while he's still alive..
It has taken the form of a monster that seems to be a mixture of all kinds of beasts, but among them, the shapes of bears and tigers stand out..
The face here is half human, so it's a bit scary to look at it..
“Now answer my questions, Mason..”
I'm still listening to Salome's charm. Mason quietly nodded her head..
“I said the mission was accomplished. What exactly does that mean? Did you really come here to meet the devil??”
《That's right. Successfully gained an audience with the Demon King..》
I gritted my teeth..
To be honest, I was somewhat underestimating the Aigis Special Task Force..
Because everything these bastards do is a waste of time. Even though I have the grand name of Ambu, I can't do anything right..
But I have to admit this one.
These damn bastards managed to send an envoy all the way to the depths of hell and ended up meeting the enemy commander..
Phew - I took a deep breath and glared at Mason..
“Fernandez said he was sending you to ‘declare surrender’ to the devil..”
Mason once told me this clearly:.
- This is a declaration of surrender, His Highness Prince Ash. It is an expression of humanity's complete surrender to monsters..
Why did Fernandez dispatch an envoy to the devil?.
It was to declare defeat against the monster of humanity..
…… Even now, I can't understand it, and I wonder what kind of crazy nonsense it is, but anyway, this is the order that Fernandez gave Mason. And Mason,
《That's right. He had an audience with the Demon King and announced humanity's intention to surrender..》
It really delivered that..
It was a fucking feast for crazy idiots. I thought for a moment about whether or not to spit out the soaring hexagram, but Mason continued..
《Instead of surrendering, he pleaded to avoid a future in which monsters would exterminate all mankind..》
“……what?”
《The Empire, more specifically, the imperial capital of New Terra, requested that at least all of its personnel be spared. This was His Majesty Fernández's request..》
So, what is it?.
Instead of giving up fighting any more monsters, instead of letting the rest of the world's population die, did they demand that at least the people of the Imperial Capital be spared??
“why? Crossroads is still holding on. The monster front can fight much longer.……!”
《His Highness Fernández has the power to see into the future, albeit in a limited form..》
Is it because I am fascinated?.
Mason continued his drinking conversation. I swallowed dry saliva..
Can you see the future? Fernandez?
《His Highness Fernández witnessed it himself. All four major fronts of the empire collapsed, and threats pouring in from all directions devastated the empire..》
“…….”
It reminded me of the 'Guardian's meeting' that was held in the imperial capital a long time ago..
North, West, Central, and South.
The four imperial defense fronts that the emperor and the three princes each took charge of..
《All other threats were surmountable. The gods of the northern spirit world, the dragon ladies of the western Principality of Bringer, and the secret struggle taking place in the central underground... … However, only the southern monster front. It was a destruction that could not be overcome no matter what one did..》
“…….”
《In the end, Inse's destiny was to be invaded and destroyed by monsters unleashed by the Demon King. No amount of effort, no amount of attempt, can overcome this, His Highness Fernández said..》
“so?”
《So His Highness Fernández decided to become emperor. He has risen to the position where he can decide the fate of mankind, and hopes to save as many people as possible..》
“Are those ‘people’ limited to only those living in the capital of the empire?……?”
《That's right.》
I was so dumbfounded that I laughed out loud..
It's limited, but you can see the future.?
And destruction is destined?
So you decided to surrender to the devil and beg for your life? Not even all of humanity, but only a select few who live on the ecliptic.……?
《But the devil refused to surrender to us..》
“……!”
《The Demon King said this. 'Among the countless repeated games, there has never been a case like this. Your declaration of surrender gave me great pleasure. But, Fernandez. you are not my enemy.’》
Mason raised his eyes and looked at me intently..
《‘My opponent is still fighting. I'm struggling to make the next move on a collapsing chessboard..’》
I clenched my fists..
《‘Until he gives up, the game's not over yet.’》
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