I Became a Tyrant of the Defense Game - Episode 58
◈ 058. [STAGE 3] Select
ridge-! ridge-! ridge-!
Ding den den den den-!
Strong drums and bells ring inside the city..
Hastily assembled soldiers hurriedly gather their weapons and climb onto the castle walls, and cannons and artifacts that have been hurriedly completed are installed one by one..
Workers carrying cannonballs, arrows, boiling oil, and furnaces clamor to move the load first..
War is always urgent, but unexpected surprise attacks made the front lines even more chaotic..
My party members and I arrived in the middle of the chaos. As soon as I got on top of the castle wall, I shouted.
“feeler! Their current location is?”
“It is visible even with the naked eye. It's over there!”
When I looked at the location indicated by the skirmisher, I saw a cloud of dust far to the south..
The monsters were advancing through the dust cloud and raising new dust clouds..
thud… … . thud… … . thud…….
The huge golems stamped their feet all at once. They formed an orderly camp and were coming this way..
These were the guys I met in the dungeon, but when hundreds of them came all at once, the sense of intimidation was on a whole different level..
It feels like a huge wall is approaching.
“When will they come into the cannon range??”
“At this rate, it will take less than 15 minutes..”
“Before that, we need to get everything lined up and ready for launch! Hurry!”
“yep!”
The soldiers were sweating profusely and preparing to fire the cannons. Load the shell, set the aiming line, and fill it with gunpowder..
As I was watching this process, Lucas came up behind me..
“lord.”
“…….”
“Are you going to leave me alone??”
I didn't answer. Instead, I bit my lip..
A stage that started suddenly.
Currently, the golem army is divided into two groups..
The main force of about 200 individuals flocking to the city right now, and the detachment of about 50 individuals heading toward the Margrave's Orchard..
And Evangeline, who is probably alone in the orchard right now..
‘Why?…….’
Because I was so strong, the taste of blood seeped out of my lips..
‘Why does the stage suddenly start, and why do the monsters suddenly split into two groups? why now!’
There is no way all these things could have happened at the same time by chance..
Malice).
It is clear that some great malice has distorted the situation to its liking..
Otherwise, there is no way the situation could have gone astray like this..
Then whose malice belongs to?
why… … Are you so anxious that you can't ruin this game??
At that time, dozens of soldiers came rushing towards me. When I looked back, it was the Twilight Legion, veteran soldiers belonging to the Cross family..
“majesty!”
Among the old soldiers who saluted in unison, the leader of the Twilight Legion walked up and opened his mouth..
“I heard the news. please send us.”
“what?”
“The current frontline defenses are solid. Even without our old ones, we will be able to block it well enough. Please send us to the orchard. We can rescue Miss Evangeline..”
“…….”
“There is no time, Your Majesty. Soon the monsters get closer. There is not much time left to send the rescue team out to the south gate..”
I sighed dryly as I listened to the old soldiers..
“There are two errors in what you say..”
“yes?”
“The first error is that the current frontline defense is strong. Does this wire look solid now??”
I pointed to the castle wall. Soldiers were shouting and rushing to install the artifacts that were not yet fully installed..
“Due to the sudden appearance of these guys, not only the artifacts but also the cannon alignment work was not completed..”
“All water-based equipment can be ready before they arrive.!”
“So, let's say you've finished preparing the equipment. If you leave the front lines here, most of the remaining soldiers will be new soldiers. I think the new soldiers alone will be able to withstand the attacks of those large monsters.?”
“…….”
The old soldiers were silent..
This is probably because they know very well that neither the equipment nor the soldiers are fully prepared..
“The second error is that you can rescue Evangeline..”
I pursed my lips bitterly..
“The Margrave's villa and orchard have no defenses whatsoever. There are only low hills and plains. As many as 50 golems, large elite monsters, flocked to that place..”
“…….”
“Even if there is a wall there and you fight along it! In a hundred, you will be wiped out. And there aren't even any defenses! How the hell are you going to rescue Evangeline with just you??”
The reason why this game is established as a defense genre is because it has the overwhelming advantage of castle walls..
However, if you go out to fight monsters head on in a plain without walls,.
That's just throwing away one's life.
The leader of the Twilight Legion answered with a determined expression..
“Even if we all die, we will save the girl.…….”
“That's not an operation, fuck.!”
The old soldiers, startled by my shout, hesitated and retreated..
I swept my bangs back in annoyance..
“I want a viable operation. It's not your vain death.!”
“So what on earth are you saying? There's no possibility, so let's throw it away? Your Majesty the Prince, are you planning to let Lady Evangeline die??”
“…….”
“If no one comes to save her, Miss Evangeline will surely die! I can't leave it like that!”
I kept my mouth shut..
As the old soldiers say. Without support, Evangeline will surely die..
Even if Evangeline is an SSR-level character with a mediocre skill set, her ability to deal with 50 large monsters is far beyond her ability..
There are even boss-level entities among them..
‘However, to save it, you have to form a rescue team with the most elite party..’
The Twilight Legion alone is not enough. At least I have to send all my main party members..
And while the main party takes out the monsters, we need soldiers to block them with their bodies..
But that doesn't mean the defensive battle here won't work..
Even if we save Evangeline, if the front line here collapses, it's game over..
‘shit…….’
I closed my eyes tightly.
No matter how hard you try, rescuing Evangeline and defending the front lines are simply incompatible. What kind of dilemma is this?.
‘Is there any way? really?’
At that time, I suddenly remembered the conversation I had with the Margrave before..
- I had to choose. Will you save your wife on the frontier, or will you protect the tens of thousands of citizens inside the city?.
The Margrave was in a similar situation..
The monsters were divided into two groups, and the Margrave, as the lord, had to choose..
The wife or the city?.
- What do you think I chose??
I remembered the Margrave's aged eyes full of regret as he asked me that question..
Crackling!
I gritted my teeth..
‘I think I know a little bit of your pain, Margrave.…….’
In order to fulfill the will of Margrave Cross, I tried to free Evangeline from the monster front here..
He was a talented person who had to be recruited and retained at all costs for an efficient strategy, but he did it because he believed that people are more important than efficiency..
But if you stay like this, all of those things lose their meaning..
Evangeline, the last survivor of the Cross family, is killed by a monster..
However, if a rescue unit is sent, both the defense line and the rescue unit become dangerous. There is a high possibility that both will end. No, it's game over in all likelihood..
In the end you have to choose.
Is it a person or a strategy?.
Is it a person.
Is it a strategy?…….
“…….”
I slowly opened my closed eyes. I felt people's eyes looking at me..
“command!”
okay.
The answer was decided from the beginning.
“None of you are joining the rescue team..”
At my words, the complexions of the veterans all turned pale..
My party members gritted their teeth. But I wasn't shaken.
“You should not waste power for no reason. Concentrate all forces on this defense line..”
One life and tens of thousands of lives.
There was no hesitation in the first place. The difference in weight is embarrassing even to put on the scale..
“If the walls here collapse, tens of thousands of Crossroads citizens will die..”
“…….”
“Not only that, but all the cities and villages above the front line are in danger, and eventually the human world itself is in danger..”
No matter what happens, the line must be maintained.
No matter what happens, the attack must continue.
This is the main premise.
If the game itself is over, what is the point of saving SSR-level characters or not?.
“Let me be clear once again. None of you are participating in the rescue squad.!”
I made up my mind and shouted loudly..
“Get ready for a defensive battle.”
“…….”
“What are you doing? I can't see the monsters coming.?”
I shouted sharply at the soldiers who were frozen in their seats and unable to move..
“Ready for battle, ready for battle! hurry!”
***
Southeast from Crossroads.
There is an old mansion built on a hill here with an oak forest in the distance..
Ivy has grown thick on the walls of the faded mansion, and the windows are so dusty that you can't see inside..
At a glance, it appears that it is not properly managed..
This is the villa where Margrave Cross lived during his lifetime..
If you walk a few steps along the hill from this villa, you will come across a small orchard..
Unlike the villa, the orchard clearly shows signs of being managed until relatively recently..
However, it remains the same as having lost its owner and being neglected..
The fruit trees stood in rows on the soil, shivering from the occasional breeze..
It's spring now.
As the sun rises and the days become warmer, even on this land polluted with the blood of monsters, the trees will bloom buds and ripen fruit..
Evangeline realized something again..
That you will never see it.
Now I'm leaving this place forever.
“…….”
Evangeline stretched out her hand and stroked the buds of the fruit tree..
After his mother passed away and he himself left home. It is said that his father took care of this place alone.
‘It's also foolish. really.’
The back of my father was drawn in my imagination..
Just a few days ago, my father would have been standing right here, tending to the trees..
Hoping for proper fruit to grow this year..
Even though I know it can't happen like that.
“…….”
Evangeline slowly removed her hand from the tree..
So, what good does it do now?.
Even if there are feelings that cannot be conveyed. Even if there are misunderstandings that cannot be resolved.
Even if there are wounds that have not healed. What good is it anyway?.
Evangeline slowly looked around the barren orchard and villa..
‘This place is a ruin.’
Father and mother are dead, and he is leaving.
‘It was a ruin before, and it will always be a ruin..’
A bitter sneer appeared on Evangeline’s small lips..
at last. The end of the Cross family, which had protected this place for hundreds of years, was such a trivial one..
Nothing was left behind but death and dust..
I stuffed the gold coins I had earned by selling my family name and my remaining pride into my pocket..
As the last of the defeated soldiers, he runs away without even fighting..
Evangeline walked over and stood in front of the two tombstones erected in the backyard of the orchard..
“Dad mom.”
Evangeline hesitated whether to focus her gaze on the tomb or the tombstone, then slowly sighed..
“I won't be able to see you anymore. I'm about to leave.”
Even though I unconsciously hope that there will be an unpleasant order,.
There is no answer. obviously.
“There was so much I wanted to say... … I can't even remember what it was anymore..”
Shoot ah…….
The wind blew. There was a smell of oak and oil from afar..
“I'll go.”
Evangeline suddenly felt dizzy..
My head is pounding and I feel like the ground is shaking. Am I feeling sentimental now?.
After shaking her head and trying to get rid of distracting thoughts, Evangeline smiled faintly. She wanted to spend her last days with a smile.
“……Bye.”
I turn around.
Evangeline quickly wiped her hot eyes with the back of her hand..
“Hehehe!”
He raised both hands and lightly tapped his cheek, then raised his head and looked ahead. It was really time to leave..
“Okay, let's go.!”
And when Evangeline looked straight ahead.
Kuwagwanggwang-!
The stone wall in front burst right through the ground..
It was instantly shattered, as if it had been hit by a huge catapult..
“……?”
For a moment, I didn't understand the situation..
In front of Evangeline, who was frozen in shock.,
Kwajik, Quad Deuk!
Guooooh-!
A huge steam golem attacked, scattering fragments of the shattered stone wall in all directions and emitting a vicious driving sound throughout its body..
Evangeline made a stupid noise..
“uh?”
Kwasik-!
The next moment, the golem's huge fist struck Evangeline's slender body..
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