Became a tyrant of defense games - Episode 55
◈ 055. [Side Story] Funeral
Lucas' eyes are blue. It is a very deep, blue, beautiful wall eye..
That gaze is usually gentle, like a large dog looking up at its owner, but I'm not sure what the temperature is right now..
Did you ask that question out of genuine concern for me?.
Or is it a test to see if I am the 'real' Ash?.
“Uh, that's it…….”
I was in a cold sweat..
There's no way I would know things like Ash's family history. Since he is the emperor's son, I guess his family life will not be simple..
I was at a loss as to how to respond to the attack that came from a completely unexpected direction..
“…….”
Lucas stared at me silently for a moment.,
“sorry. I've touched on something you don't like..”
I bowed my head and apologized..
I quickly waved my hands.
“No, no! Just thinking about it all of a sudden, I was dazed for a moment. haha.”
“Your lord's family affairs and Miss Evangeline's family affairs will all work out well..”
Lucas smiled brightly. It's the usual innocent golden retriever smile..
Was I just being too sensitive? Maybe Lucas was just worried.?
“Ugh, uh… … . Thank you and sleep well! I'll see you tomorrow!”
I hesitated, waved my hand and ran away to the bedroom..
‘Ash, this bastard also has problems at home.?’
No, because he is a prince. Because he is the emperor's son.
Of course, there must be a lot of dirty and dirty things in it. The problem is that I don't know anything.
‘What kind of past are you hiding again?.’
I'll have to dig up some information later. Ugh.
Once again, I felt like this body belonged to someone else. Well, living as a stranger is usually not difficult.…….
***
The day after I went to the dungeon.
I took care of backlogged work and expanded defenses for the next stage..
[Enemy Information - STAGE 3]
- Lv.? ??? : 5 bodies
- Lv.20 Steam Golem: 152
- Lv.15 Rock Golem: 103
In particular, since I knew that the opponent for this defense battle was the Golem Army, I had to change my defense equipment accordingly..
‘Large monsters and a few elites. Modify your tactics accordingly..’
There's just over a week left until the next stage..
This time, prepare really thoroughly..
So that we can respond perfectly to any variable that appears. no.
‘No matter what variables appear, we can overcome them with more firepower.……!’
By repeating orders and repairs to all production facilities within the city, I accelerated preparations for the next stage..
***
And then again a day later. early morning.
Field west of Crossroads. grave site.
“…….”
I stood silently in this place that was bustling with funeral preparations..
There were several injuries in Stage 2, but only one death..
‘margrave.’
I pursed my lips as I looked at the list of funerals. The name Charles Cross was written alone..
“Your Majesty, I am told that the coffin has departed..”
“hmm.”
Lucas spoke in my ear. I nodded..
The coffin departing from the temple was transported along the main street within the city and passed through the west gate..
Before we knew it, a long line of citizens had followed the coffin..
It was the death of the previous lord who had ruled this place for decades..
No matter how insensitive the city was to death, many people were expressing their condolences..
Eventually, the coffin stopped in front of the cemetery..
It was decided that only the funeral would be held here and the coffin would be buried in the orchard where the margrave stayed during his lifetime..
Because there is also the tomb of the Margrave's wife there..
rattle!
The flag of the Everblack Empire was covered over the coffin, which was carefully lowered to the ground..
Priests surrounding the coffin offered prayers, and a choir sang a funeral song behind them..
After a series of ceremonies, It is time for me to make a brief speech..
I stepped up onto the podium. I'm now used to receiving a lot of people's attention..
“after.”
Take a breath. After refining what I wanted to say in my head.
I made a voice.
“I said it last time. Your death is expensive. It's not a figurative expression, it's actually expensive in monetary terms..”
Funeral costs and compensation.
To be blunt and honest, death is expensive in this city..
“But the death of Margrave Charles Cross went beyond financial loss... … It hurts deep inside my heart.”
I pressed my chest with my hand..
people are still quiet.
I swallowed for a moment and then slowly exhaled..
“……The margrave told me. Give people joy.”
I smiled faintly.
“They say that just being sad doesn't make the city move. Because this is a fortress city, there is inevitably death lurking around all the time. Let us rule with hope and joy instead of sadness..”
Immediately after, I shook my head slightly..
“But today I will break the margrave's will. I will be sad today.”
“…….”
People were swallowing dry saliva and listening to my story. I raised my voice.
“This front is maintained by the sacrifice of precious lives. Not just the Margrave, but every single life lost here hurts..”
I pressed my chest again..
“I hope you always remember that the sacrifice is as valuable as it hurts. That the empire, and the entire human world, is maintained through your sacrifice and dedication. I hope you always remember.”
I glanced at everyone below the podium..
“I will say it again and again and again and again. You will continue to die here on the front lines.!”
I nodded heavily..
“And it's definitely worth it.”
In front of a silent audience, I slowly lowered my head..
“I will take a moment of silence for those who saved the world..”
I bowed my head first, and the people gathered also bowed their heads one by one..
Even though thousands of people gathered, the area in front of the cemetery suddenly became extremely quiet..
“I hope that one day, this city will have festivals every day instead of funerals..”
Slowly raising my head again, I muttered quietly.
“Just as the Margrave had hoped.”
I walked down the stage and Lucas waved his arms at the artillerymen..
pop! Pump plop!
A gunshot rang out in honor of the dead..
That was the end of the funeral ceremony. The old soldiers who were under the Margrave's command lifted the coffin and carried it away, and I mounted the horse..
We began to move towards the place where the Margrave's coffin was to be buried..
***
About 30 minutes on horseback to the southeast..
The Margrave's orchard began to come into view..
“huh?”
As I rode at the head of the procession, I noticed that someone had arrived in the orchard first..
A petite platinum-haired girl was standing in the backyard of the orchard. Standing with her hands in her jacket pockets and her shoulders hunched..
“…….”
I slowly slowed down my speech. Other veterans following the coffin procession also discovered the girl one by one..
“what? That person…….”
“Miss Evangeline?”
“It's a young lady.”
“The lady is back!”
Soon the procession entered the orchard..
Evangeline was standing in front of a small gravestone in the backyard of the orchard. Perhaps that was her mother's grave..
“……ah.”
Evangeline looked towards us and muttered indifferently..
“You came.”
Old soldiers rushed to surround Evangeline and greeted her..
“Miss Evangeline, it’s been 3 years.!”
“You have come a long way from the capital to here..”
“I am truly sorry for what happened to you, Margrave. We should have protected it…….”
“…….”
Instead of answering, Evangeline bowed her head in silence..
The veterans soon closed their mouths and bowed their heads to Evangeline..
“coffin.”
Evangeline asked when she saw the coffin on the floor..
“Can I check the tube??”
The priests presiding over the funeral looked at me in confusion. I nodded..
“You have that right. to check.”
Evangeline came and stood next to the coffin, and the priests carefully opened the top of the coffin..
“…….”
Evangeline pursed her lips and looked at her father's face..
The body, which had been prevented from decomposing by temporary magic, was pale..
The good news was that although the body was so badly damaged, the face was relatively intact..
“……It's true.”
Evangeline muttered slowly..
“He always fought at the front, as if he would never die. at last…….”
Evangeline pursed her lips and turned around..
“……thank you That's enough now.”
The coffin was covered again..
Evangeline turned around and did not move until the coffin was under the ground..
The pipe has been placed in the deeply dug ground, and now all that remains is to cover it with soil..
At that time, one of the old soldiers spoke cautiously to Evangeline..
“miss.”
“yes?”
“I think I should ask you one thing..”
The old soldier held out what he was holding to Evangeline. It was a scuffed cavalry spear and shield. Evangeline's eyes widened..
“This…….”
“This is a weapon used by the Margrave that has been passed down through the Cross family for generations. Originally, I was going to put it in the Margrave's tomb together. I'm asking just in case..”
“…….”
“Although it is old and a little damaged, it can be used again if repaired.…….”
“ask.”
Evangeline shook her head..
“Please bury me next to my dad..”
“……I will. miss.”
Old soldiers dug a separate space next to the grave, placed a box in it, and placed their spears and shields there..
Two warriors who had assisted the head of the Cross family for generations disappeared into a pile of dirt..
I looked at that sight a little regretfully..
Finally, dirt was covered over the coffin..
The priests recited the last words and this ended the funeral..
“Oh my, my shoulder..”
I shook my stiff shoulders and eased them. Even though it was only a few hours long, I was very tired..
“Everyone, have a cool drink.!”
Lucas offered drinks to everyone who worked hard..
While everyone took a drink, I stood in front of the grave and looked down at the tombstone..
‘Many people will die in the future.’
I thought of all the fallen soldiers. Looking back, all of the deaths were vivid and tangible..
In the future, how much.
how much.
At that time, I suddenly remembered one of the things the Margrave had said:.
- There will come a time when you have to sacrifice what is most precious to you to protect this city..
“…….”
What is precious that I will lose?.
Even if I lose it, will I still be me?.
As I was thinking, I quietly recited a poem..
A wall made of ice and snow
This is the ground
It is a path of compassionate life.
It was a line from a poem I liked on Earth..
I originally planned to recite it as a funeral tribute because I thought it was a poem suitable for the Margrave. I left it out because it didn't fit the order of the meal..
I look down at the tombstone, lost in many thoughts..
It was then.
“I didn't know you had a noble hobby of reciting poetry..”
A little girl's voice came from next to me..
I turned around, and sure enough, it was Evangeline..
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