Chapter 46: [Side Story] Main Party (2)

Name：I became the Tyrant of a Defense Game Author：
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Chapter 46: [Side Story] Main Party (2)

"Are you choosing not to invite Miss Evangeline to join our ranks?"

Aider pressed me further as I vacillated.

"Miss Evangeline could prove a crucial asset."

"...To claim Im not enticed would be a falsehood."

Truthfully, I was hell-bent on recruiting her. The desire was overwhelming!

To possess two SSR tier front-liners at stage 3? Moreover, those being Lucas and Evangeline?

Regardless of how much the game tweaks the difficulty, having those two on my side would make for smooth sailing!

However.

- I yearn for my daughter to escape this accursed place, this accursed duty, and to live a serene and joyful life.

I had given my word.

- Please, live freely... as your heart desires...

It was the final wish of the departed Margrave.

His dying plea was to free his daughter from the familys burden.

"I must uphold my promise. Ill let her choose her own path."

"Arent you concerned about potential regret from missing this opportunity, my Lord? Isnt it prudent to keep her with us, even if by force?"

"I refuse to disregard basic human decency merely for the purpose of game completion."

Aider cocked his head, perplexed.

"But wasnt your success in overcoming Hell Iron Man due to your indifference towards such considerations?"

"Thats accurate."

I had crammed countless characters into every corner of the game. Treated them as expendable pawns.

For sub-quests, treasure chests, challenges, innumerable lives, I traded.

I sacrificed lives for efficiency. Thats how I managed to conquer Hell Iron Man.

"However, if I were to employ the same methods this time around, it would mean I havent evolved."

I grinned faintly.

"My aim is to be a better version of myself than I was yesterday."

Aider regarded me with a complex look.

"Such a constraint may end up being your downfall someday, my Lord."

"I can live with that."

I have no intentions of feigning sainthood, nor am I inclined to morph into a monster.

Even in a realm where life is taken lightly, I yearn to remain human.

Thats the crux of it.

"Anyway, Aider, please take good care of Evangeline. Shes a teenager undergoing the tumultuous phase of puberty. She must be bewildered."

"As you command, my Lord."

At my words, Aider nodded respectfully, pausing before changing the topic.

"Speaking of which, my Lord."

"Hmm?"

"Theres the matter of Miss Evangelines spear and shield that you demolished recently."

"Oh, that."

I had shattered Evangelines equipment with my 777 Punch and had yet to address it.

Aider, who had been hemming and hawing, finally spoke up.

"Upon inspection, it turns out both the spear and the shield were of SSR-grade..."

"..."

"Theyre irreparable, beyond the point of salvaging any materials. How do you propose to compensate for this..."

I momentarily felt light-headed.

SSR-grade items, both of them?

That signified they were not only pricey but exceedingly rare as well.

Should I be in awe of the potent force of my punch that obliterated them in a single blow?

"Could, could I craft replacements?"

"To fabricate top-tier gear, I require magic cores..."

Blast it. I had exhausted all the remaining magic cores in the production of magic cannons.

"Could my stroke of luck rectify this situation? Could we, could we call it even?"

"I dont think thats feasible..."

"Blast!"

A headache began to blossom, prompting me to massage the bridge of my nose while releasing a wearied sigh.

"Summon the party."

The time was ripe for our expedition into the dungeon.

With sleep-deprived eyes wide open, I rose briskly from my seat.

"Time to hunt for some magic cores!"

Regarding the equipment, we could simply craft new ones, right?!

***

Thus, several hours later, as evening draped itself over the mansion grounds.

"It seems like a while since we last gathered."

I addressed my assembled comrades.

"Has everyone recuperated sufficiently in the last few days?"

The party comprised of the usual suspects. Myself, Lucas, Damien, Jupiter. And...

"Why must it always be me?!"

Lilly, who predictably expressed her dismay.

Immediately after the summons were released, Lilly had attempted to evade, but anticipating this, I had guards stationed around the alchemy lab.

Lilly was apprehended in her escape attempt and was forcefully ushered here. A visibly upset Lilly protested.

"Weve recruited new members, havent we? Why not take them instead!"

I sighed deeply.

"I get that, junior, but"

"Please, I implore you to bring me along. If there truly is something beneath the lake, I need to witness it firsthand."

"Well..."

"As the last surviving member of the Cross family, both of my parents fell victim to the monsters of the lake. I believe I have every right to investigate."

I chose to remain silent.

That was precisely the issue. My intent was to keep her from facing the monstrous dangers lurking beneath the lake.

Your father wished the same...

Suppressing my thoughts, I simply nodded.

"Are you physically up to it?"

Instead of responding verbally, Evangeline unraveled the bandage on her arm.

Minor cuts and scrapes were all impeccably healed. Indeed, her healing ability was befitting of an SSR-grade Tanker.

"What about mentally?"

"Excuse me?"

"Have you regained your composure?"

"..."

She had only learned of her fathers demise a few hours prior. Her emotional state must be quite unstable.

"Remaining idle only intensifies the pain. Keeping active is more bearable."

Tying back her disordered hair, Evangeline opened her sharp eyes wide.

"So, whats your decision? Will you let me accompany you?"

"...Fine."

I no longer had grounds for refusal.

I glanced sideways. There, Lily was glaring intensely.

"Lilly, youre staying in Crossroad."

"Yay~!"

Lilly erupted into a joyous dance, arms swinging wildly. She seemed genuinely ecstatic...

"By the way, have you seen my lance and shield?"

Observing the rest of the party fully equipped, Evangeline inquired.

"I distinctly remember having them before I fainted yesterday..."

"Ahem, ahem! Thats... They were slightly damaged, so I dropped them off with the blacksmith for repairs."

I quickly motioned to Aider. He immediately dashed off to the warehouse.

"For now, you can borrow some of the spare equipment we have."

"Well... I suppose thatll do."

Aider returned from the warehouse with a lance and a shield in just a few minutes.

"Hehehe! I just grabbed the first ones I saw...!"

They were, of course, a sizable cavalry lance and shield. Although smaller than Evangelines previous gear, they were still fairly large.

Evangeline happily donned both pieces of equipment.

"Its the same gear I used when I was younger. Its been quite some time."

Boom! Vroom!

Evangeline spun the massive cavalry lance as if twirling a baton, then gave a nod of approval.

"Its slightly lighter than what Im accustomed to... But I think itll suffice."

To me, it seemed like a massive chunk of iron. Thats considered light?

Of course, her strength stat is 35.

"Even with five of me, shed probably still beat me in an arm wrestle..."

"Alright. Im set."

Evangeline, having secured her lance with a leather strap to her waist, sought confirmation once again.

"So, youre letting me join the team?"

"Yes, yes. Its best I pay heed to my junior."

I opened the system window and added Evangeline to the group, leaving Lilly out.

[Main Party (5/5)]

- Ash(EX) Lv.11

- Lucas(SSR) Lv.31

- Jupiter(SR) Lv.37

- Damien(N) Lv.24

- Evangeline(SSR) Lv.35 <Guest Character>

A chime signaled the application of a new party synergy.

The formation was Commander 1, Knight 2, Healer 1, Mage 1.

[Active Party Synergy]

> (Commander 1) Battlefield Imperial Guard: The morale of this party never wavers.

> (Knight 2) Dual Knights: Physical defense of all party members enhances by 20%.

A knight-related synergy was activated. Our team had become quite solid.

"..."

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

"No, its nothing."

I shrugged off Evangelines perplexed expression.

I was reminded of the dying Margrave in my arms, which made me feel uneasy, but honestly, having an SSR-grade tank in the team made me feel a lot safer.

I smirked.

"Im relying on you, Evangeline, my junior."

At this, Evangeline furrowed her eyebrows.

"By the way, how long do you plan on calling me your junior?"