Became a tyrant of defense games - Episode 484
◈ 484. [STAGE 23] Dark clouds
‘The three Gorgon sisters?!’
I gritted my teeth at the contents of the urgent report from Crossroads..
‘It's a pretty strong enemy on a boss stage! This monster attacked Crossroads while I was away.?!’
no… … Looking back, the Black Lake always spewed out the worst monsters at the worst times..
It might be natural to send out enemies who are difficult to deal with when I am not around, especially given the current composition of the monster front's troops.……!
‘I don't know if the system window works normally..’
I nervously opened and closed the system window in front of me..
Enemy information in the system window, which should have been updated a long time ago, was not displayed on my side. This is why my response was delayed..
‘Ader, you bastard... … ! Are you sabotaging business? What are you doing?! Are you busy with anything? I can't see you very well with Moo-myeong these days. What are you up to??’
Blaming the director for not responding, I summoned all my subordinates..
I really want to lead the entire World Defense Front down there, but that would take several weeks..
We must load only elite troops onto an airship, which is the fastest means of transportation, and get down quickly..
‘From the ecliptic to the crossroads, three days by air..’
Because the aircraft must be inspected and recharged with horsepower after landing on the ground periodically, three days is the limit no matter how quickly you try..
‘This is also slow!’
Jeon Seo-eung had already spent several days reaching the imperial capital..
If I spend three more days here and go back, it won't be surprising if something goes wrong at Crossroads..
Time needs to be shortened further. Is there some way?…….
“……I can't help it.”
I thought of a way and clicked my tongue briefly..
“Also, I think it would be useful if the cute youngest showed some cuteness to my beloved Abama..”
It was time to transform once more into a fiery filial boy..
***
bang!
I kicked down the door of the palace that the emperor was using as his temporary office and entered..
The Thorn Palace was completely blown away, and the emperor was currently staying in a small villa south of New Terra..
“Abama! where are you!”
The knights guarding the entrance were unable to stop me and just sweated profusely..
“Tuesday, His Royal Highness!”
“It would be difficult if you suddenly came and did this.!”
“You must come after completing the formal procedures.-”
I kindly ignored what was being said and went inside and kept shouting..
“The youngest is here, Abama! This is an urgent matter.!”
The emperor was sitting in his office.
The emperor, wearing reading glasses and processing a mountain of documents, glanced at me with tired eyes..
“……Are you Ash? As you can see, Jim is busy. If you have anything to do, tell the officials outside..”
“I'm here because I have a request to make directly to Abama..”
“To Jim? directly?”
“yes. This is a very serious matter. Much more than state affairs issues!”
“I'm already scared. What on earth are you asking for??”
thud!
I walked in front of the emperor, placed both hands on the desk in his office, and told him my business..
“Why don’t you go for a drive with your son?!”
“……?”
The emperor frowned and took off his glasses..
“drive?”
“Is there anything better than a drive to increase intimacy between a father and son who have been unfamiliar with each other??”
“You want to take a carriage and go out to the countryside? Well, it's not that bad…….”
The Emperor rested his chin in thought, as if he was thinking seriously. But I waved my hand..
“Hey, Abama too. Their names are the emperor and prince of the Everblack Empire, so what is the carriage drive? I won't buy form.”
“So what should we take for a drive? … for a moment. no way.”
The emperor looked at me with disapproval..
“I'm not saying we should go out on an airplane.?”
“You make a lot of sense now. Let’s take a refreshing flight on an airship.!”
The emperor chuckled, as if he was dumbfounded.,
“Where?”
Without getting angry, I started by asking about the location. This guy is also a really interesting person..
I smiled and shrugged my shoulders..
“I know a place with nice scenery and nice weather. There's a crossroads at the southern end of the continent.…….”
Only then did the emperor realize my intention and let out a sigh of relief..
“…… So now. As you were returning to your battle lines, you said to me, your father and leader of this empire... … Please be an unofficial driver?”
It's not just the driver.
If it were an ordinary airship, it would have to land every certain flight time to recharge the magic reactor and inspect the aircraft, but if the emperor personally drove the airship,?
The emperor's own magic power can be injected during flight, and there is no need for maintenance..
Because the Emperor assimilates his consciousness into Alcatraz and drives it..
‘So, I want you to act not only as a driver, but also as a mechanic and bio-battery.!’
Do it!
Give me more! No, give me everything.!
“……You're so arrogant, Ash..”
After I explained the details.
The emperor shook his head..
“Even though the Southern Front is in crisis and you are the only son I have left, how dare you try to manipulate the emperor like this? It's a bit far-fetched…….”
“Don't do that, just help me out once, Dad.?”
“……what?”
The emperor looked at me with a shocked face..
In front of the emperor, I put my hands together and my eyes sparkled..
“My cute youngest son is asking me this, but you really won't listen, Dad.?”
“Holy fuck.”
The emperor let out a low curse. No, is it something that will hurt you and even curse you??
The emperor covered his eyes with both hands as if he had seen something he could not see..
“Don't do that again because it gives me goosebumps..”
“If you don't do me a favor, this will continue, Dad.!”
“Let's deal with it quickly. Let's go right now. So stop it. please.”
Not only did he just say something, the emperor immediately got up from his seat..
“Take those who will go with you to Alcatraz. Departing in an hour.”
I jumped up from my seat with my arms wide open..
“Hurray! Dad is the best! I'm so excited! I'm driving with my dad.!”
“Don't do it! It's Hwangmyeong, Hwangmyeong.!”
The emperor, who was disgusted, rubbed his forearms as if he had goosebumps and ran out of the office. It looks like they are going to repair Alcatraz..
I chuckled as I watched the emperor's back moving away. Please look at this leniently. This is what happened when I grew up not receiving love..
Anyway, with this, we have secured the quickest way to get back to Crossroads..
‘I'll be right there, guys..’
I turned my gaze to the southern sky. Toward my front line in a faraway place.
‘Hold on just a little longer……!’
***
Night has come to Crossroads.
Most citizens had evacuated far away, but essential personnel for city management, including priests, were waiting at a point not far from the city..
They returned now that there was a lull in the fighting and helped with maintenance..
The injured were healed by priests, and broken equipment was urgently repaired by blacksmiths. Among the regular soldiers, veterans volunteered for tomorrow's manned unit..
A pot was set in the barracks cafeteria and the soup was boiling. Along with the smoke, there was the smell of grilling beef jerky. Those who were exhausted ate with difficulty..
“…….”
Squatting at the entrance to the temple, Thorkel looked down at this scene..
Behind Thorkel, Zenith was using healing magic with a sad expression..
“I'm glad I have the ability to do it. If not, what would I do??”
Zenith had the ability to break curses..
However, it was impossible to heal everyone who was petrified today because it consumed too much sacred power..
So, in a hurry, only Thorkell's petrified parts were healed..
“……thank you.”
Thorkel roughly rubbed the parts of his body that had been petrified..
My hands and feet were still stiff, but I slowly felt the blood flowing to the numb extremities of my body..
“This is just a temporary solution. The person who placed the curse… … As long as you don't kill that monster, the aftereffects of petrification will remain forever..”
“……What happens if you kill that monster??”
“Well, then, not only the petrified part but also the people who were petrified are released from the curse. Likewise, the aftereffects will be a bit severe.…….”
Zenith, who was sitting next to Thorkel, took another cigarette as if she felt sick, and then said, “Eh!” He made a noise, crumpled it in his hand, and slapped it on the floor..
It seemed like she still couldn't smoke because she had to return to her mother's home soon..
Thorkell glanced inside the temple and asked cautiously:.
“Lily, are you okay??”
“It's in a dangerous state. I lost too much blood and used up all my energy... … She passed out and woke up again and again. Why is this kid so upset?…….”
“…….”
“Still, the end is in sight. Don't worry. I will save both the child and the mother..”
There was silence.
Against death, to protect life.
The two men who had fought on different battlefields sat side by side on the floor in silence for a moment. I looked down at the city immersed in darkness.
Then Thorkel spoke..
“Master Janice.”
“yes. I'm listening.”
“You once called me a lost lamb. If you need a place to confess, come here..”
Zenith looked back at Thorkel and smiled..
“It did. Are you finally ready to say something??”
“……I thought it was a sin that I was born into this world.”
Thorkel adjusted the helmet that covered his face..
“Because of the sins committed in a past life, being born into this world itself is a sin. That's why he suffered from leprosy. I believed so.”
“…….”
“But the former priest… … The saint said there was no such sin. He just said that this world is inherently cruel like this..”
The image of Margerita came to mind..
The noble face of the saint who was tying bandages around her body with her blood-stained hands.
“So all we can do is struggle until the end in this cruel world. You said so.”
“…….”
“Master Zenith... … What do you think? Are the saint’s words correct??”
Zenith did not give a clear answer on whether it was right or wrong..
Instead, he grinned and winked at Thorkell..
“You must have had a hard life because of that disease, Thorkell.?”
“……yes.”
Thorkel nodded..
“There was never a moment that wasn't difficult.”
“Was this world nothing but pain for you??”
“……I think so..”
Thorkel said yes once more..
“There was only pain... … I think.”
I lived because I couldn't die.
All of his colleagues who suffered from the same disease died, and the saint who prayed for him also died..
In this city on the tomb, I am the only survivor, struggling as the saint said..
But - for what?
How long do I have to struggle like this??
Even when I closed my eyes, I could see people dying. The guilt of surviving alone was clearer than the pain of my chapped skin..
In this cruel world, suffering like this is the only thing… … Is this really life??
“As a priest of the Goddess religion, I was dispatched to various parts of the world. I went to the western end of the world once..”
Zenith stood up and opened her mouth..
“For some reason, it's a place with very terrible weather, and there are thick dark clouds all year round in that area. There are only three things about weather. If it's cloudy, rainy, or foggy.”
“…….”
“Perhaps because of the weather, all the people in the neighborhood had gloomy expressions. It was a nasty neighborhood where missionary work was extremely tight.…….”
Zenith chuckled..
“Do you know what the local natives found more difficult to believe than the existence of a goddess??”
“……I do not know. What is it?”
Janice raised her finger and pointed to the sky..
“sun.”
“yes?”
“The people of that town did not believe at all the obvious fact that there was a dazzling sun in the sky illuminating the entire world. It has to be that way. Because it was a town where the sky was always filled with dark clouds. It's hard to believe in something you haven't seen.”
Zenith waved as she strode into the temple..
“Thorkell, it seems to me that you are in a similar state to the villagers..”
“…….”
“But, please be clear. Although you might not have noticed it because there were always dark clouds... … Even in your life, the sun continues to shine.”
Zenith disappeared into the temple, leaving only vague questions and answers typical of a religious person..
Thorkel, who had been staring blankly at the back, turned back toward the city and fell into thought. To reflect on the meaning of Zenith's words.
“……I thought going to confession would make me feel lighter..”
A long sigh escaped from inside the helmet..
“My anguish only deepens.…….”
When I looked up at the sky, dark clouds were gathering..
It was a dark night without a single moonlight..
***
And under the same moonless sky.
Thump, patter…….
Inside the petrified nest of monsters built in a corner of the city.
Inside a huge egg made of rock, Medusa was chewing and swallowing the last piece of Euryale..
Quack, quack, quack!
Meanwhile, huge wings sprouted from Medusa's back, and the poisonous snakes on her head became even more hideous..
Medusa's body became even bigger. She had rock shells sprouting all over her body like armor..
《……Don't worry, Sister Euryale..》
Medusa lost her usual clarity and stared into space with blurred eyes, muttering:.
《Together, we will kill everyone. together…….》
《…….》
Steno, standing behind him, just watched his younger brother quietly..
Soon the second day of the invasion.
More deaths... … It was going to flood this city..
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