I Became the Tyrant of a Defense Game-Chapter 17: [STAGE 1] Preparation for War (2)

I filled my party members in on the current situation.

As I discussed the imminent onslaught of a thousand Living Armors, the faces of Damien and Lilly turned ashen.

Jupiter just exhaled billows of smoke from her cigarette without a word, while Lucas, having already been briefed, remained composed.

"What's our plan, your highness?"

Lucas inquired.

I acknowledged his query with a nod.

"We can't just twiddle our thumbs for three days. We'll do all that's within our power. I'll delegate tasks to each of you now."

I first addressed Lucas.

"Lucas."

"Ready for your command."

"I'm appointing you as the supreme commander of the Crossroad forces."

Lucas, the original protagonist of this game, essentially represented the player.

He was endowed with exceptional leadership skills. I could depend on him.

"I'll do my utmost."

With a respectful bow, Lucas accepted my terse and to-the-point directive.

"Crossroad hasn't experienced a real invasion in several years. Our troops have likely lost their edge. Your job is to whip them back into shape."

"I'll fulfill your command."

"The enemy we're about to face is the Living Armor. They're spectral knights. Physical attacks are largely ineffective, especially cutting strikes. They're practically worthless."

Would slicing through a ghost serve any purpose? Moreover, blades are usually ineffective against armor.

"Equip all our soldiers with blunt weapons. If that's not feasible, provide them with wooden clubs."

In essence, I planned to modify the nature of their weaponry to ensure they could deal substantial damage, even if it was to the armor.

The physical attack attributes in "Protect the Empire" were divided into three types: slash, strike, and pierce.

While no single attribute was clearly superior, aligning them appropriately could prove beneficial.

"In the next three days, swap the gear and provide basic training in the use of blunt weapons."

"Understood."

"Excellent. I'm counting on you."

I had faith that Lucas would accomplish his task proficiently. I then focused on the next party member.

"Moving on, Lilly."

As her name was called, Lilly, confined to her wheelchair, gestured towards her legs with a puzzled look.

"Your highness, as you can see, I am unable to..."

Her confusion was understandable. She had recently retired from battle due to her incapacitation. And here I was, urging her back into the fray against the monsters.

"I apologize, Lilly. But at this moment, we're in desperate need of your assistance."

Lilly, an R-grade magician with experience since the tutorial stage, was too precious a resource to leave unutilized.

I regretted it, but I had to leverage her skills.

"But don't worry excessively. You won't be required on the frontlines."

"Then what should I...?"

"Crossroad hasn't faced a direct assault in over a decade."

The soldiers were not just complacent, but our defensive tools and facilities were also deteriorating.

"A considerable chunk, actually, most of the defensive artifacts, are languishing and decaying in storage. We need to get them operational and back in action."

I had already instructed the head of the Alchemist Guild. By now, a team of alchemists should be congregating at the military warehouse.

"Then, I...?"

"Yes. I'd like you to supervise the refurbishment of the defensive artifacts."

Artifact repair was typically a task for alchemists, but it was undeniably more efficient to have a mage for the field tests.

'Surely, this is just an excuse...'

I had intended to appoint Lilly to supervise all artifact maintenance from here on out.

As a mage, Lilly was sharp, hard-working, and efficient. She was the ideal candidate to manage the artifacts, which could be considered the heart of the defensive equipment.

'If she's in charge of artifact repairs, she'll naturally become well-versed in their condition and capabilities.'

Inevitably, she would assume overall responsibility.

I'm sorry, Lilly, but retirement isn't in your cards. Your future is a life of service to this city...!

"It doesn't need to be in top-notch condition. As long as it can fire even a single shot, repair the artifact to that level and place it on the city walls."

"Ah, understood..."

Lilly was slightly trembling, but she nodded. Don't worry too much. I'll compensate you generously.

"Next, Jupiter."

Upon hearing her name, Jupiter promptly extinguished her cigarette.

You can keep smoking. After all, you're about to be pushed to your limits. It's the least I can allow.

"Jupiter, as you've probably anticipated, you're the cornerstone of this defensive battle."

The moment she learned the enemy was a living armor, Jupiter would've known. She was headed for an exhausting fight.

"Living armors are 'ghosts' clad in 'metal' armor. You, who can wield 'electric' 'magic', are their perfect counter."

This was the key reason why I chose to fight traditionally, refraining from any gimmicks at this stage.

SR-rank lightning mage, Jupiter.

For the monster species known as living armors, she was the worst enemy imaginable.

You could say this cursed game had granted me a sliver of luck.

"You and your party will operate separately. We'll supply mounts for everyone... during the defense battle, you'll employ guerrilla tactics. You attack, and your party members shield you."

"..."

"There's nothing else to prepare. Sync up with your party members and rest until the day of the defense battle. You'll be stretched to your limits."

Jupiter listened to my words in silence. I gave a hearty nod.

"Show me what you're capable of. Make the salary I'm paying you worthwhile."

"...I have one question, Your Majesty."

Jupiter, twirling her unlit cigarette between her long fingers, flashed a faint smile.

"That 'salary'... it's renewed annually, isn't it?"

"Indeed, it is."

"So if this old gal performs well, it goes up, right?"

Jupiter inquired, not bothering to conceal the avarice flickering in her one eye.

I couldn't help but laugh at her audacity. This money-minded old woman...

"Absolutely! It will naturally increase based on your performance."

"You might want to start contemplating next year's hike, Your Majesty."

Jupiter tossed her cigarette on the ground.

The elderly lightning mage cracked her knuckles within her gloved hands and laughed.

"There won't be a mercenary as good a bargain as I am."

***

Once Lucas, Lilly, and Jupiter received their assignments, they left to fulfill their respective duties.

At the entrance of the mansion, only Damien, Aider, and I remained. Damien blinked his large brown eyes in bewilderment.

"Um, Your Highness, what should I..."

"Damien."

I signaled to Aider, who promptly brought over a leather bag. I passed the bag directly to Damien.

"Take it. It's been prepared for you."

"Huh?"

With a look of surprise, Damien opened the bag and examined its contents.

"Is this... a crossbow?"

"Indeed."

I'd hastily bought an N-grade crossbow from a weapons merchant.

[Ordinary Crossbow(N) Lv.10]

- Category: Crossbow

- Attack Power: 10-15

- Durability: 30/30

- Bonus: None

Although it was N-grade, it was lightweight and rather durable. I'd also secured three quivers of high-quality arrows and placed them in the bag.

"From now on, your role will be a stationary long-range sniper. Only resort to healing magic in dire circumstances."

Damien would have to relinquish his identity as a healing priest and reinvent himself as a sniper.

Naturally, there would be conflicts. The only skills Damien would acquire henceforth would be unrelated to sniping — healing magic.

He'd also have to let go of the combat style he'd practiced as a healing priest his entire life.

It would be challenging. The path ahead was steep.

However, [Far-sight] was a talent worth the hardships. It was a top-tier skill in the game.

"...I'll give it a shot."

Damien gingerly put down the staff he'd been clutching, and took hold of the crossbow I'd handed him.

"If it's Your Highness's command."

His stance with the crossbow was clumsy, but if he could shoot as effectively as he had with the mana cannon, he'd master this quickly too.

"By the way, where are your glasses? Not wearing them anymore?"

"Indeed."

Damien's face was devoid of glasses. Apparently, he'd discarded them after they broke in the previous battle.

"In fact, my eyesight was so good that I wore glasses with no prescription just to dull it..."

"Huh."

"But now that I need my eyes, I won't be wearing glasses."

Damien offered a shy smile.

Proud fellow. I too grinned and gave Damien's shoulder a supportive pat.

Observing us from behind, Aider, adjusting his glasses, joined in.

"I'm relieved. I was concerned about the overlap of the glasses trait."

"Could you just keep quiet, please."

After issuing a soft growl at Aider, I cleared my throat and turned to Damien.

"Aider and I are heading out to oversee the defense preparations. Damien, if you wish, you can practice with the crossbow alone..."

"I'll accompany you, Your Highness!"

Before I could suggest he join us, Damien volunteered enthusiastically.

"With Sir Lucas not here... please allow me to escort you, Your Highness!"

"..."

Escort. That's an interesting choice of words. By the looks of it, it seemed like I might be the one needing protection.

Regardless, I was already considering taking you along, so I gave a nod of agreement.

"Alright. Let's get going then. First stop, the ramparts."

***

Crossroad was a fortified city, encircled by walls on all four sides. However, the southern wall was notably the thickest.

It was only natural, given that the brunt of monster attacks coming from the south was concentrated there.

As Damien, Aider, and I arrived at the southern wall, the guild masters of the blacksmiths and stonemasons promptly approached us, their greetings a touch awkward.

"Ah, Your Highness has arrived!"

"Hmm, indeed. How's the wall faring?"

"It's, well, it's not in great shape. It's been neglected for some time....."

The two guild masters glanced at the rusty metal plates strewn along the wall with a twinge of regret.

I turned to Aider, my tone gruff.

"Isn't it the basic responsibility of a fortress city to maintain its walls? Why the hell was it left like this?"

"Well, it's because we ran out of funds....."

Aider replied, offering a forced smile.

"With the decrease in monster appearances, the magic stone mining decreased, city revenues decreased, and so on. The previous lord started to trim the budget in areas where the money wouldn't be needed immediately."

"They've mistaken the means for the end....."

A fortress constructed to repel monsters, now falling into disrepair because of a decline in income. It was absurd.

I shouted at the guild members working on the fortifications.

"I don't care what it costs. Reinforce and repair it as much as possible. Understood?"

"Yes, sir!"

"Start right away! There's no time to waste! Monsters could be on their way any minute!"

The blacksmiths hastily attached metal plates to the wall and secured them with firm hammer blows.

The sound of metal striking metal echoed satisfyingly around us. Clang, clang, clang.....!

Money can always be made later, but lives lost are gone forever.

Having seen too many scenarios where being tight-fisted led to disastrous consequences, I had no intention of scrimping on defenses.

"What's the status of our cannonball and arrow supplies? Do we have enough?"

When I asked, looking at the cannons and ballistae positioned on the wall, Aider was quick to respond.

"We're short, so I bought up as much as the merchants had. They'll all be placed here."

"Aren't the moats supposed to be filled with holy water? Why are they still dry?"

"We're working with the temple and getting it all airlifted in!"

I jabbed my index finger at Aider, issuing a stern warning.

"Spare no expense and fill every inch. If I hear about any shortages, your head will be the first to roll. Understood?"

"I-I will make sure that doesn't happen!"

Aider, clutching his neck with both hands, yelled.

After clicking my tongue, I surveyed the wall, now under repair, once more before heading down.

***

Our next stop was the lumber workshop.

As we entered the workshop, dozens of expectant carpenters and a towering pile of wood all turned to face me. In response, I clapped my hands with a resounding echo.

"Did you catch all that? We're pressed for time, so let's get to the point. What you'll be constructing for the next three days is... a 'wall.'"

"Excuse me?"

"A wall, you heard right, a wall. About this high. Understand? Something that blocks the path."

I stretched my arms wide to visually demonstrate the concept of a wall.

"A fucking high sturdy wall."

"Well, we do understand what a wall is, but..."

"This wooden wall will be erected in front of the southern ramparts. I'll specify the exact spot."

The carpenters exchanged puzzled looks. After a brief pause, the cautious head of the carpenters' guild spoke up.

"Pardon me, Your Majesty, but monsters will easily breach a wooden wall."

There was a reason why Crossroad's ramparts were fortified with robust iron plates.

Even if reinforced with resilient plywood, a wall composed of wood would be effortlessly torn asunder by monsters.

"I'm not looking for a permanent blockade."

You'd think I wouldn't understand that, having played this game countless times.

"What I need is a disposable barricade for this specific battle."

What was needed was a wall to be used as a consumable item.

A 'defense game-type wall' to forcibly reroute those monstrous brutes.

"All you need to do is build a wooden wall as high and as sturdy as you can, just as I instructed."

I bellowed at the still bewildered carpenters.

"Alright, no dilly-dallying! Get to work immediately!"

It was time to implement the cornerstone of defense game tactics.

It was time to establish the 'Kill Zone'.

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