Chapter 339

Chapter 339

"This isnt right."

Just after barely escaping the encirclement by the Aegis Special Forces, escorted by three members of the Shadow Squad, I tossed my dented helmet aside and spoke. The blood-splattered trio from the Shadow Squad looked back at me.

"This cant be! Lucas is in danger!"

Lucas had stayed behind in the enemys den, acting as my decoy. He had swapped clothes with me, letting himself be tied up in my stead.

I looked down at the armor I was wearing, which had belonged to Lucas.

The black armor that was freshly fitted not long ago was now punctured, ripped, and soaked in blood.

Lucas had claimed that he had a way to escape, but...

Could I really trust his words?

Was it possible that he had lied, just to ensure that I would leave without any qualms?

"Your Majesty."

Godhand, who had turned to look at me, spoke in a composed manner.

"Have you ever played chess?"

"Of course, I have."

Ive played it both on Earth and in this world; the rules are more or less the same.

"Do you know what the objective of chess is?"

"To capture the opponents King."

"Correct. And we also need to protect our own King."

Godhand pointed at himself and his two subordinates in turn.

"Pawns like us, or Knights like Captain Lucas, all die for the King. Because thats the stepping stone for victory."

"..."

"If we can save you from a dire situation with our lives, it would be a fair trade."

I clenched my lips shut. Godhand nodded.

"The game continues only if the King remains. For this front to persist, you must be safe, Your Majesty."

"..."

"Captain Lucas has made a choice. Even if it puts him in danger, he decided to save you... A knightly and wholly correct decision."

I took a deep breath.

The heat from my forehead cooled down, clearing my mind.

"Listen carefully, Godhand. The game may continue if the King remains, but..."

And I spoke.

"Simply having the King wont win you the game."

"..."

This time, Godhand was the one to keep his mouth shut.

"A King needs Pawns, Knights, Bishops, Rooks, and a Queen. Only then can a King truly be a King."

"Your Majesty."

"I can only move one square around me. Its because you all stand by me that I can be a battlefield commander."

I looked at Godhand, then turned to Burnout and Bodybag.

"I need you all. And I need Lucas, too."

I want to go on together.

With all my comrades.

Toward the true ending, and beyond...

So, losing Lucasmy main character, my knight, and my strongest cardin a place like this is unacceptable!

"Thats idealistic, Your Majesty."

Godhand grinned bitterly.

"Chess is a game where you must lose to gain."

"But this isnt a chessboard; its the real world."

"Thats correct. Its even colder."

"But its a place where possibilities not confined by rules exist."

And so, I decided.

I decided not just to be a commander but to be a tyrant on the board.

To trample over any rules for victory... A tyrant in the game.

SoI wont weigh exchange rates.

I wont play by sacrificing Pawns and Knights to capture an opponents Bishop and Rook.

I will force my way, throw a tantrum, lose none of my pieces, and consume the enemys.

Yes, thats the kind of player I am.

Thats what... Ive decided.

Beep.

It was then. A system window popped up in front of me.

[Player Authentication Complete.]

[System Usage Enabled.]

"..."

I dont know what error had prevented me earlier, but now I had regained access to the system.

I had many questions, but now wasnt the time. I hurriedly reached into my inventory and grabbed an item. Good, it works.

Godhand rushed me.

"Your Highness, I understand your concerns, but we should first retreat to a safe location and regroup later"

"Itll be too late. They could kill Lucas right away."

"So what do you plan to do? Go back there?"

Continuing, Ash shrugged his shoulders smugly.

"Its not difficult. Ill take all of you there. Just follow me. Ill personally escort you in."

Ash looked around at the special agents, who were confused by his offer, then raised the white flag above his head and waved it grandly.

"This Price is exceptionally good at guiding people in amusement parks!"

It was a flag-waving maneuver as skillful as that of a tour guide leading tourists.

***

And so.

Following Ashs guidance, the special agents were making their way towards the teleport gate located in the lords mansion.

"...My lord. Why?"

As Lucas, who was supported by Ash, limped along at the front, he stammered.

"Why... have you returned? I risked my life to get you out..."

"Its because you risked your life."

Ash replied nonchalantly.

"So I have to risk my life to save you, too."

"I am but a mere retainer, my lord. It is only natural for me to die for you. But you should not risk your life for a mere retainer..."

"No."

"Excuse me?"

"Idiot, youre not a dog."

Ash looked at Lucas as if he couldnt believe him.

"Just because people say youre puppy-like, resemble a golden retriever, or whatever, do you think youre actually a dog? No, you fool. Youre a human, a human!"

"..."

"And I. I save people."

Ash declared as if making a vow to himself.

"If theyre within my reach, I save people. Im just following my own principles."

Just as Lucas seemed about to say something more, Mason quickly approached from behind.

"I should inform you, Your Highness. Im quite... hot-headed at the moment, due to your previous deception and the loss of my subordinates."

"Oh dear. You must have a lot of heat in your body. Are you a Yang Cultivator by any chance?" (TL Note: In Cultivation Novels, Yang is represented by Heat, while Yin is represented by Cold. The manlier you are, the more Yang you have, and vice versa.)

Ash threw another joke that Mason chose to ignore and instead growled at him.

"If you try to deceive me again, it wont end well."

"Ooh, scary. A public servant daring to threaten the royal family. You should definitely get a health check-up later. That big belly of yours must be full of fatty liver."

The path to the teleport gate was deserted.

Mason and the special agents remained alert for ambushes, but not a single soldierlet alone ordinary citizenswas in sight.

Ash taunted the tense special agents.

"Hey. Im the Lord of this city. If we brawl in the middle of the city, innocent people will get hurt. How would you handle that?"

"...You cleared the people out in advance?"

Ash seemed to have ordered his subordinates to evacuate the people from the path beforehand. He shrugged his shoulders.

"Either way, we both achieve our goals, right? You guys get into Lake Kingdom, pay your respects to the Demon King, and I get to safely head home with my knight. Okay?"

Of course, Mason had no intention of letting Ash and Lucas go even if they accomplished their objective, but he quietly nodded.

Arriving in front of the teleport gate, Ash raised his hand to activate it.

"Welcome to a land of fantasy, where a joyous festival is held~ Come to a land of adventure, the land of eternal happiness~"

Humming a strangeAsh insisted it was a theme park songtune, Ash gestured towards the open gate.

"Well, shall we go? To the Lake Kingdom!"

"..."

Mason tightly gripped Ashs shoulder and jumped into the teleport gate with him.

Flash!

The moment the teleportation endeda spacious square unfolded before them.

Magical stones emitted light like streetlamps scattered throughout the open space, and a large bonfire was ablaze at the center.

A subtle dampness in the air. And the pitch-black darkness covering the sky...

Mason instinctively knew.

"...Were in the right place."

This was the Lake Kingdom.

Flash! Flash!

Members of the Aegis Special Forces who arrived right after stood agape, scanning their surroundings.

It was their first time experiencing teleport magic and their first time in the Lake Kingdom dungeon, so their bewilderment was understandable.

Therefore, Ash bought some time.

Grinning wickedly, Ash lifted up what he held in his handa white flag.

Although Ashs wrists were bound, the white flag he held wasnt taken from him.

Its not a weapon, what could he do with a small surrender flag?with that line of thinking, the special forces had left it with him.

They had no idea.

What Ash could do with a flag.

"I declare this place"

Driving the white flag into the ground, Ash shouted,

"as territory of the Empire!"

Whoosh!

Magic power burst forth from Ash, covering the area in a blinding flash.