I Became the Tyrant of a Defense Game Chapter 128

In the afternoon, before evening, at the entrance of the mansion.

The first party to arrive at the mansion was unexpectedly not the one I called.

"Jupiter?"

Confused, I muttered tentatively.

"What brings you here?"

"..."

Dressed in clean imperial army uniform, Jupiter flashed a thin smile.

Despite her pale face marked with unmistakable signs of disease, her sole eye remained as sharp as ever.

"Your Majesty. Do you rember what I told you before? I said I was spreading a rumor across the continent, didnt I?"

"Hmm?"

"That the monster front here pays well. That the new commander, His Highness the Prince, is generous. Didnt I say I was spreading that rumor?"

"Ah, right, that one."

Yes. It happened a few months ago, but I rember it clearly. I told her to spread rumors among the continents rcenaries.

I had readily agreed to it.

After all, there was nothing better than having rcenaries flocking to this city.

"The old rcenaries I knew heard the rumor and have co."

Jupiter pointed to the rcenaries standing behind her.

n and won of middle age, with vividly lined faces, politely bowed to .

Including Jupiter, they were a group of five - exactly one party.

"Were thinking of naming the party... Old Hunters. How does that sound?"

Jupiter proposed confidently.

"They are veterans, having rolled through hell-like frontlines. Theyll be of help."

"Jupiter."

But I shook my head slightly.

"Your magic explosion injuries havent healed yet. I cant allow you to join the frontlines."

"Your Majesty."

Jupiter didnt back down.

"I heard this defensive battle involves vampires."

"..."

"Youll need as many capable mages as possible, wont you?"

I clenched my jaw. What she said was undeniably true.

Even at a glance, these people were high-level veterans. Their rankings were decent too.

If they were to join the upcoming battle, they would be of great help.

However...

"Dont worry. Im a rcenary. Im not foolish enough to burn myself out just to spit out magic."

Jupiter, who had stepped forward, pleaded desperately.

"Your Majesty. Please give this old woman a chance."

"..."

"To prove that I still have so use... Please give a chance."

I couldnt bring myself to refuse her.

"Co in. Were about to have a strategic eting over dinner."

I gestured into the mansion and smiled wryly.

"I suppose Ill have to prepare five more servings."

***

A few hours later.

Inside the Lords mansion, in the dining room.

Although I asked everyone to gather by 6 p.m., all the party mbers had arrived even before 5 p.m.

A long table was set in the dining room, and the mbers of the four parties were seated in a row.

From the top seat, there was the main party, Shadow Squad, Dion rcenary Group, and the newly joined Old Hunters.

Junior, who I had separately called, was also sitting at the table with the main party.

From the friendly chatter, it seed they had beco friends.

At that mont, Junior locked eyes with Jupiter, who had been silently sipping water in the corner of the table.

"..."

"..."

The grandmother and granddaughter quickly averted their eyes, pretending nothing had happened. Seriously.

"Everyones here."

When I stood at the head of the table, everyone fell silent and focused on . I nodded.

"Originally, I was going to feed you first then start the eting. But since you all arrived early, lets have the eting first and then eat. Is that okay?"

Dion and Godhand imdiately nodded.

"Of course, Your Majesty!"

"The strategy eting for this defensive battle is much more important than a al."

I scratched my chin.

"Hmm... Youre right, but... the food might not taste as good after the eting."

"Haha! Even if the world ends, my appetite wont lessen. Dont worry about that."

Evangeline laughed, and Lucas nodded seriously. These gluttons.

"Alright. Before the appetizer cos out, let briefly share so information about this defensive battle."

Clearing my throat.

"The most important piece of information first. The boss monster for this defensive battle, the Vampire Lord Celendion, has..."

I boldly started with the most crucial detail.

"...1,000 lives."

Celendion had a stock of 1,000 lives.

It was almost appropriate to call him the savings king rather than the vampire king.

"..."

The dining room fell silent.

At the table filled with an atmosphere of silence, Evangeline stuck out her tongue and mumbled softly.

"Ew?"

See, I told you it might ruin your appetite...

"...So youre saying we have to kill this powerful vampire lord a thousand tis?"

Lucas mumbled apprehensively.

"Even killing it once seems very challenging... but a thousand tis?"

"Of course, its impossible to kill that monster a thousand tis."

I smirked.

"Thats why we have to find another way."

***

Vampires.

Monsters who take over the life rights of others through the act of blood sucking, making them part of their own lineage.

The lord stands at the apex of this vampire race.

The individual who owns the lives of all his legion mbers.

"Celendions vampire legion was once annihilated for so unknown reason."

I dont know what this unknown reason is. Only the setting that it happened in the distant past remains.

In any case, Celendion, who was left alone after all his subordinate vampires died, did not abandon them.

Noblesse oblige.

A lord is responsible for the lives of his followers.

"Celendion divided his imnse life force into a thousand pieces and distributed it among his already deceased followers, resurrecting them."

I nodded gravely.

"Celendions life is divided amongst the entire legion."

All for one and one for all.

That is the vampire legion.

The setting is lengthy, but how is this applied in the ga?

"Celendion wont die until the last mber of the legion falls."

You have to kill all the mobs before you can kill the boss mob.

"And if we fail to finish off Celendion at the end, he will retreat, regenerate his legion, and return."

If the boss raid fails, these bastards regenerate. Though it does take so ti.

"The explanation was long, but in the end, the structure is simple."

I summarized.

"The incoming vampire legion of a thousand. Until we completely incinerate the last scrap of ghoul... we cant kill Celendion."

This isnt taphorical. The word is literally stamped on Celendions status window.

Unkillable.

Immortal.

Bastard.

"In other words, we dont need to face Celendion."

Theres no need to waste firepower on soone who wont die.

"I will isolate Celendion with a secret plan Ive prepared, and tie his hands. In the anti, you all and the regular soldiers will annihilate the vampire legion."

Its easily said, but it will be a terribly difficult battle.

Even without Celendion, the remaining vampires alone are incredibly powerful.

But without giving anything away, I raised my voice.

"After that, we raid the alone Celendion and finish the defense. This is the overall flow of this defense battle."

Alright, thats the big picture.

"Now in detail... I will tell you one by one how to crush them."

I snapped my fingers.

Then, Aider rolled in a blackboard full of writings and drawings into the dining room.

"Frost ghoul. Enhanced frost ghoul. Fallen blood. Regular vampire. Vampire general. And the vampire lord, Celendion."

Drawing a staff in my hand, I banged on the blackboard.

"I will now lecture in detail on how to deal with each entity, so everyone better drill this into your heads."

Its lecture ti by the hit tutor RetroAddict of Protect the Empire!

"Rembering this will be your blood and flesh... and your life in this defense battle, so make sure you understand it clearly."

"Senior!"

Then, Evangeline raised her hand. I pointed at Evangeline with the tip of my staff, exclaiming, "Oh!"

"Good, student Evangeline. Do you have a question before the lecture?"

Evangeline, who was rolling her eyes to catch the atmosphere around her, asked cautiously.

"... Cant we have the lecture after eating?"

"Put your palm out."

"No, really, I feel like my appetite will completely disappear after hearing about how to deal with vampires! Even when we were supposed to eat!"

Young lady, is the al the problem now?! The future of the defense battle is the problem!

***

And so, my heated lecture on strategies ended three hours later.

It was well past 8 in the evening.

"..."

"..."

Really, all their faces turned pale, having lost their appetite.

As I ticulously explained the specifications of vampires, a species they had only vaguely known about until now, they were bound to feel disheartened.

As my lecture continued, the chef who had been watching from the back of the dining room started serving the appetizers cautiously.

But while food was being placed on the table, all the party mbers remained lost in their thoughts, unable to touch the food.

"Do you think... we can pull this off?"

The careful question was voiced by Damien.

"We are facing an enemy more formidable than any monster weve encountered so far..."

"..."

I recall encountering Celendion on the Path of the Overlord just a few days ago.

Back then, our main party was helpless against him. He was undeniably strong.

But that was a dungeon. It was his base.

This ti, we fight at our base.

And his stats will be adjusted down to match Stage 5. It will be much more manageable.

In the end, this ga is an RPG.

Level is the bully, and gear luck is king.

In other words,

"Think about the battles youve all fought so far."

If hes downgraded, and were upgraded,

We can catch up. We certainly can.

"All the previous battles were nearly impossible, harsh battles. But we made it through."

I looked around at everyone and smiled broadly.

"And we will do it again this ti."

I was confident. Confident that we could clear this stage, in our strategy.

But...

"..."

Honestly, I wasnt so confident.

How many of them could I actually save?

I was doing my best given the circumstances, but...

Limits do approach, clearly.

...ugh.

Suddenly, that scene flashed through my mind.

When we cleared the last stage on Earth.

Every party mber character was annihilated, with only Lucas left standing alone.

Standing alone on top of the bodies of friends and foes.

I wont let that happen again.

I shook my head vigorously.

This ti, its different.

Here, the real Lucas is nodding at with a face full of trust.

I wont leave you alone, Lucas.

I wont leave anyone behind... I wont lose anyone I can save.

"We have 9 days left until the start of the stage. We have determined our strategy, so we will train accordingly."

Seated at the head of the table, I picked up my fork and plunged it into the appetizer plate that nobody had touched yet.

"So, everyone, make sure to eat a hearty al!"

Chewing the salad vigorously, I grinned.

"Because Im going to be pushing you all to your limits from tomorrow."