Novels online

I Became a Tyrant of the Defense Game - Episode 703

◈ 703. [Side Story] The remaining people

Among the flock of heroes, soldiers, and kings. We all cry and laugh and win… … And celebrated survival..

At the same time, he was saddened by the death of his comrades and the damage suffered on the front lines..

I wanted to continue to be intoxicated with the joy of victory under the bright sunlight again, but the damage that needed to be repaired was too great..

Cities were destroyed, walls collapsed, and people died. I immediately gathered those who could move and ordered them to take care of the situation..

“We will do it. No, please let us do it.!”

Ordinary soldiers with relatively less injuries rushed forward..

In particular, the soldiers of the Aryan Kingdom were active at the forefront..

Although they were saddened by the destruction of their city, they couldn't help but rejoice in the fact that their country had been saved far to the north..

Those who survived were a mixture of those who mourned and those who rejoiced..

This battle was such a glorious defeat and such a crushing victory. It wasn't strange that each person felt different emotions..

Looking at the faces of people with different colors... … I felt fortunate..

I'm glad I can be sad and happy.

The world continues like this.

“First, let's take care of the city first.…….”

After the most urgent recovery instructions were completed, I said as I watched people moving around in the morning sunlight..

“When people who took refuge return, and manpower is replenished from various countries... … We must also retrieve the bodies of the 30,000 warriors who died fighting the Black Dragon in the south..”

Most of the casualties of this battle were concentrated there. It must be resolved.

“Of course it will, Your Royal Highness..”

Valen, the leader of the City-State Alliance, who had received and relayed my instructions along with the other kings, nodded..

Valen, who was hit by a direct hit from the first breath, looked like his beloved mustache had all burned off..

He had bandages wrapped all over his burnt body. But now you're standing next to me.

“Are you all right, Lord Vallen??”

When I asked carefully, Valen tried to touch his beard with his fingertips, as was his habit, but when he realized that his beard had burned away, he lowered his hand awkwardly and answered..

“Is there anyone here right now??”

“…….”

“But just because you're not okay doesn't mean your life is over, right? I have to do my job.”

He already lost his mind during the last Lord of the Flies game..

In this battle, he also suffered this many injuries. He was a person who was not surprised at any time he left..

But instead of running away right away, I was trying to do everything I could to the end..

“That's because running away also requires courage..”

When asked carefully why, Valen answered:.

“I was born a coward, so I was afraid of being criticized behind my back. I'm just going to do everything I need to do to be as condescending as possible and then get rid of him..”

He spoke honestly and smiled awkwardly. I smiled too.

Because of people like this, the world will still survive..

“……This time too, a lot of people died and were injured. No, there have been more deaths and injuries than ever before..”

As I muttered as I looked at the south wall, which had been restored at best, but had collapsed again, Valen gave a stern voice..

“Victory is victory, even if it is full of scars, Your Majesty the Crown Prince. Your Majesty has achieved a truly legendary feat..”

“…….”

“so… … Leave the rest to us and go get some rest..”

He tapped me on the back and sent me deep into the city..

“There are many other people who need to be consoled, Your Majesty..”

I decided to be grateful for the consideration. All key instructions have already been given..

I was standing outside the castle walls and slowly walked inside the city. The destination was a temple.

‘I guess everyone needs care..’

Injured heroes are also heroes, but recovering heroes who have once immersed themselves in darkness is also a problem..

If I had to express it in game terms, would I say that my darkness attribute propensity was completely exhausted? It was useful in this battle because of the circumstances, but the side effects are also serious..

How should I neutralize this darkness... … I walk while thinking.

“…….”

I could see Kelly Bay from a distance..

The old dwarf blacksmith was quietly looking up at the [Solid Superstition] attached to the front of La Mancha, which had made an emergency landing..

Instead of a face filled with regret or sadness... … With a calm and peaceful face, quietly.

“…….”

I didn't bother to talk to him and headed into the city..

Inside the south gate of the Crossroads, there was Verdandi..

She was carefully watering the buds that had bloomed at the base of the remaining tree where her sister Skuld had died..

Surprisingly, the sprout, which had been harshly neglected without sunlight and in a snowstorm, was still alive... … It sparkled with young green as it was bathed in water from Verdandi..

“…….”

I didn't even talk to Verdandi..

I walked inside a city that was half ruined but full of people..

Diarmudin joins the surviving wizards and embraces each other and cries, and Kuiland meets the beast people and places his arms around each other's shoulders and shouts loudly..

At the entrance to the temple, Thorkel is arguing with a young acolyte over a broom, asking him to sweep it or just rest.…….

I didn't need to comfort him. There was no comfort. I decided not to force them to stand up and drag them out of the darkness..

Because they seemed to already know where to look..

“…….”

On the bench outside the temple, Lucas, who had received emergency treatment, was sitting with an expression on his face that looked like he was worried about something..

I quietly walked over and sat down next to him..

“lord…….”

Lucas muttered for a moment as if he had a lot to say, but then closed his mouth..

We sat on the bench for a while in silence, basking in the sun..

I also had a lot to say to Lucas. He had things to scold and things to praise. A story about the real Ash, and a story about the fake me. There were a lot.

But we decided to tell each other frankly about those stories later, and for now, we will keep it simple..

“You had a lot of trouble.”

said this.

I reached out my hand to Lucas, who was shaking, and tapped him on the shoulder. And she smiled.

“Well done.”

Then Lucas trembled and…….

“Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu.”

“oh?”

started crying…….

“Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu.”

He let out a polite, sad bear-like cry, so I laughed without realizing it. No, it's a bit weird if the boss laughs while the subordinate cries..

I stood next to Lucas, who was crying with many emotions, and patted him on the shoulder for a while..

Life doesn't end just because you step into a dark swamp..

Is it just darkness? During the long journey of life, it is not uncommon to step on all kinds of dirt..

There is no need to get that frustrated or give up..

Shake off your muddy shoes and do it again... … All you have to do is walk to the next road.

So I decided to wait for people to get out of the swamp on their own. Because I believe they are all looking straight ahead at their destination..

“Seniors!”

“Prince!”

“majesty-!”

At that time, the remaining main party members who had completed first aid inside the temple - Evangeline, Damian, and Junior rushed out..

There was so much to say to everyone, but first we each shared a hug and then.

“Let’s all sunbathe together!”

He pointed to the bench where Lucas sat..

Everyone looked like they didn't know what was going on, but they followed my instructions and sat down on the bench. And immediately after, his face cleared up..

“Wow, sunshine…….”

“Was it this warm and bright??”

“Shall we do nothing for a moment and rest like this?…….”

The children gathered around Lucas said nothing, quietly basking in the sun, and comforted him in silence. Lucas chuckled and swallowed his tears..

After laughing at the main party members, I entered the temple..

I walked around the temple and interviewed wounded soldiers. However, it was not possible to meet those who were seriously injured..

Chain was like that, and so was King Poseidon, who returned under his own power through the teleportation gate. I had a lot to share with these two..

And above all, my father. Emperor Traha 'Peacemaker' Everblack.

The emperor, who personally drove the secret ship La Mancha, suffered more serious injuries than any other hero. He was taken to the temple without any time to rejoice in victory, and was still undergoing surgery..

“…….”

As I looked at the tightly closed door inside the temple, I realized again that.

After this battle... … The fact that so many things will change.

When we finished touring the temple and went outside, the main party members were dozing off under the sun, probably because they were tired from the fierce battle..

Even Lucas, who was sniffling, seemed to have run out of energy due to being mentally and physically exhausted and even crying, so he fell into a nap while making a sound..

Sitting in a huddle, looking at the children sleeping soundly with their heads resting on each other's shoulders... … I covered my mouth and laughed.

Thorkel quietly brought a blanket, and I placed it on the children's laps..

“I will wake you up after some time..”

“Thanks, Thorkel.”

I also gently tapped Thorkel on the shoulder..

“You had a lot of trouble.”

Thorkel let out a silent, faint laugh and bowed his head to me..

As I left the temple and entered the main street, a carriage came and stopped in front of me..

“majesty!”

It was a carriage on top of Winter Silver, the driver was Elise, and the person sitting inside was Serenade..

“It looks like you will be stopping by many places today, so we hastily airlifted a carriage..”

Serenade asked with a smile as she opened the door..

“Where can I take you?”

I took a deep breath and turned my gaze to the north..

“To the north gate.”

With my hand on my chest, looking back at the warmth inside... … I spat out in a firm voice..

“To the military camp of the Principality of Bringer.”

***

The military camp in the Principality of Bringer was quiet..

All the unharmed soldiers were put into the city restoration project, and the wounded soldiers were in the temple..

And as if he knew I would come... … The dragon knights were waiting for me with calm expressions..

“Welcome, Your Majesty the Crown Prince.”

Perhaps because the dragon's blood was recovered, they did not have the strong power they once had..

Instead, aloof… … A strong will emanated from both eyes, like a dry tree standing under heavy snow..

There was a line of four to three, and the dragon knights, who were noticeably older than before, saluted me. And immediately got to the point..

“Is your Excellency safe??”

“…….”

Instead of answering, I spread my hands out and lit up a red flame in them..

The faces of the dragon knights who knew the meaning of this flame fell. Their statue-like faces, which had stood strong, were filled with childlike sadness..

“ah……!”

To those who fell down with their legs weakened, I calmly declared,.

“Dusk Bringer's predecessor gave me his flame..”

“…….”

“and… … He went to Yeongmyeon (永眠). His body was recovered by me and preserved with magic..”

I tried my best to keep my voice from shaking as the three dragon knights fell to the ground and cried..

“As soon as manpower returns to this city, we plan to collect the bodies of all fallen soldiers as quickly as possible. The Archduke's body was also recovered at that time... … As per the tradition of the Principality of Bringer, a state funeral will be held in the Principality..”

The dragon knights who were sobbing frantically asked in watery voices..

“Then, now His Royal Highness the Crown Prince…….”

“okay.”

I nodded..

“Now I am the heir to the Bringer Principality... … It's Dawn Bringer..”

Then the three dragon knights roughly wiped their eyes, stood up, and adjusted their appearance.,

“Loyalty)-!”

They all shouted in unison and got down on one knee in front of me..

“Meet the new Archduke of Bringer!”

“Meet His Excellency the Grand Duke!”

“Meet His Excellency the Grand Duke!”

What does it mean to them that I, the crown prince of the Everblack Empire, have become the Duke of the Principality of Bringer?.

Also, what does it mean to the people of the Principality of Bringer? How will it be received by the people of the empire and the world?.

I didn't know everything yet, but the dragon knights swore loyalty to me without hesitation..

“Please continue the great will of the previous Grand Duke.……!”

“……I will. I definitely will..”

I smiled and said with confidence.

“'Cause I'm his son.”

At those words, relief flashed across the faces of the dragon knights, and they bowed their heads deeply towards me..

okay. This world is full of unknown things, but... … There are certain things.

The fact that Dusk Bringer's flame and her will flow within me..

- I love you, Ash.

I closed my eyes tightly, thinking back to her last words..

I will do so, Archduke..

Just like you said... … Definitely, like that.