He Became The Most Insane Emperor Of All Time [EN]: Chapter 23

Became the Greatest Crazy Emperor – Episode 23

I had figured out the key to victory.

Now, all that was left was to actually achieve it and win.

I focused my mind and extended the Watcher’s Web [a technique used for sensing and surveillance].

It was partly to find him, but also to signal to him that I was about to attack.

“Over there, perhaps? But it’ll be a dummy.”

The last remaining assassin was extremely cunning.

Unlike the others who died without much resistance, he had almost figured out my patterns.

He must have grasped the Watcher’s Web, if not perfectly, at least to some extent.

Therefore, anything detected from now on should be considered a dummy created with spirit magic.

“The real one will only attack when he attacks me.”

Unless the enemy is an idiot, there are no other options.

In that case, I only have one choice as well.

“Assassin! I know you’re listening!”

I shouted loudly from behind the tree where I was concealed.

“You don’t have much time. And I, too, am determined to catch you. Our goals are conflicting.”

Of course, there was no response from the assassin.

This was a trick that even a child wouldn’t fall for, so there was no way an assassin would bother answering.

“So, I’ll give you a chance. I’ll reveal myself. We’ll have a chance to kill each other!”

Even as I said this, I was extending the Watcher’s Web in all directions.

Similarly, in this state, even if I detected the real one, there was no way to know if it was real or a dummy.

Conversely, the assassin would know that he could attack if I revealed myself, but he would also be exposed.

That’s where the psychological warfare comes in.

I was deliberately appearing, giving the implication of ‘a chance to kill each other.’

That was forcing a binary choice on him.

Attack, or attempt to escape.

There could be no option to remain hidden or create another dummy.

Because as soon as I revealed myself, I would destroy all detected dummies.

If he remained hidden? If I discovered him, he would be killed, and if reinforcements arrived, he would be discovered and killed anyway.

If he created a dummy? Since I had come out at the cost of taking damage, creating a dummy would be meaningless.

Rather, creating a dummy could reveal his location.

In the end, he had to choose between attacking or fleeing.

And I could kill him no matter which he chose.

With the ‘Shadow Blade’ I had just thought of.

“Then let’s risk our lives.”

Whether I killed him, or he killed me.

There were only two possible outcomes.

Taat!

[Current Mana Heart Output: 55%]

[High-Speed Movement Deployed]

I emerged from the concealed tree and moved at high speed.

The target was definitely a dummy.

As expected, there was a dummy made of earth spirit magic there.

Shuoooook!

[Nerve Acceleration Deployed]

[Current Nerve Acceleration Rate: 35%]

Chaeng!

His arrow flew towards me.

Similarly, an arrow of ‘Steel Piercing’ [an arrow enchanted to pierce through armor].

Fortunately, it flew relatively straightforwardly, so I was able to deflect it using nerve acceleration.

“But I couldn’t pinpoint his exact location. I could only roughly guess his location from the direction the arrow came from.”

Then I would eliminate the dummies that weren’t in that direction.

Thanks to the ‘Genius’ trait, my brain was working at full speed, allowing me to quickly narrow down the candidates.

Tadat!

[Current Mana Heart Output: 67%]

[Current Nerve Acceleration Rate: 49%]

I moved at high speed again, simultaneously identifying the locations of the dummies and gradually narrowing down the candidates.

Shuuuk!

Another arrow flew towards me.

This time, it curved as it flew, so I couldn’t deflect it.

Pak!

It slightly pierced the armor on my shoulder.

Although it pierced the armor and slightly penetrated my shoulder, I ignored the pain and traced the origin of the arrow.

I was able to narrow down the direction and location considerably.

But it wasn’t completely accurate.

However, it didn’t matter.

Because I could just attack the entire area.

I focused my mind and created aura [a form of energy]. Then, I twisted the properties of the aura.

Sharply and keenly, in the form of threads without the medium of a sword.

With the sensation of using both the Aura Blade and the application techniques used in the Watcher’s Web simultaneously.

I created shadows.

[Skill, Shadow Blade Acquired!]

[Shadow Blade Activated!]

Long, slender black blades extended from my namesake.

Not just one strand, but multiple strands at a very high speed, extending towards the estimated location of the assassin.

One attack wasn’t enough, so I sent additional Shadow Blades as follow-ups.

Pupuuk!

The first Shadow Blades that extended pierced mercilessly into the area where I estimated the assassin to be.

A sensation of stabbing something was transmitted from the Shadow Blades.

The blades had pierced him.

Shuuuuk!

But the arrow he shot was flying towards me.

It seemed he had shot the arrow even while being stabbed by the blades.

It meant that I wasn’t the only one fighting with my life on the line.

If I hadn’t been controlling the Shadow Blades, I might have tried to evade, but if I didn’t kill him now, it would only become more difficult.

[Nerve Acceleration Rate Increased!]

[Current Nerve Acceleration Rate: 98%]

So, I didn’t dodge and instead manipulated the subsequent Shadow Blades even more precisely.

With the nerve acceleration maximized, I focused on the incoming arrow to pinpoint the assassin’s exact coordinates.

Soon, my Shadow Blades and his arrow aimed for each other’s hearts.

Pak!

Pupuuk!

The final, intersecting strike.

The sensation of the Shadow Blades piercing him was transmitted at the same time as his arrow pierced my chest armor.

The arrow pierced exactly where the heart was located.

It was an arrow of Steel Piercing, so it would have been enough to pierce through the armor and pierce the heart.

“That was close.”

But the arrow didn’t pierce my heart.

Just before it pierced through the armor and pierced my heart, it was caught in my hand and stopped just barely.

Tteok.

I pulled out the arrow, which had a bit of blood on the tip, as if the end had slightly pierced my skin.

I threw it on the ground and walked towards the location of the assassin that I had last confirmed.

If my prediction was correct, he would be dead.

If not… an arrow would fly towards me as I walked defenselessly and kill me.

But fortunately, no arrow flew.

At that coordinate, there was only the assassin’s corpse, with his heart, legs, head, and various other places pierced by Shadow Blades.

[Trial of Valor Completed]

[Bonus Objective Cleared]

[800 Divine Power Acquired]

[Reflecting the battle results, agility and perception have been enhanced.]

[A significant hint about ‘Aura Property Transformation’ has been obtained.]

While the status messages about the rewards appeared, I approached the assassin’s corpse, which was still wearing a mask.

I didn’t know if I could identify which assassin he was by looking at his face, but I removed the mask just in case.

“An elf?”

But a very important clue was discovered.

This guy wasn’t human, but an elf.

Judging from this, the other assassins seemed to be elves as well.

“Elves, huh.”

According to my knowledge, elves are a heterogeneous race hostile to humans.

No, it’s not just elves, but in this world, almost all heterogeneous races are hostile to humans.

“Coincidentally, if they’re elves, they’re related to the eastern territories.”

The Empire’s eastern territory, where Stella’s Purification Order is located.

There is a conflict between elves and humans there.

Now that the Empire has weakened, it’s closer to humans being unilaterally victimized.

“I’ll have to ask Stella for more details.”

Having decided that, I left the assassins’ corpses behind and returned to where the Imperial soldiers I had brought were.

“Your Majesty, are you not injured?”

“Well, it’s nothing much, Captain of the Guard. I just need Stella to heal me.”

Of course, the Captain of the Guard made a fuss when he saw my injury, but I coolly replied and headed to Stella.

“Um, Fran- no, Your Majesty. Are you alright?”

“Well, I’m alright, but I came to you because I need treatment. Fortunately, the arrow wasn’t poisoned.”

Stella nodded at my words and cast a healing spell.

When I took off my armor and revealed the slightly pierced area on my chest, she had an expression that I couldn’t tell if she was frowning or blushing.

“Those guys were elves.”

“Yes?”

“The assassins, I mean.”

“Ah…”

While receiving treatment, I naturally spoke about the identities of those assassins.

“Do you have any idea who they might be?”

“Rather than having an idea, it’s not strange that they would send assassins since they are naturally enemies.”

Is that so? It seemed to be more than just a border dispute or something like that.

“The Purification Order has been hostile to elves for generations.”

“Is that still the case?”

“Yes, but now there are a few opinions being discussed about making peace.”

But the fact that they sent assassins to Stella meant that their position of hostility was still strong.

Whether that would continue or not was unknown.

As Stella said, if the Purification Order were to make peace or join hands with them…

“Perhaps that will be when they oppose me.”

“…Do you think so?”

“In the current Empire, anyone could do that.”

I am trying to establish an absolute monarchy, and the lords are trying to further strengthen their authority in the midst of the Empire’s chaos.

In other words, it’s a fight between absolute monarchy and separatism.

If the Purification Order aims for its own independence rather than being loyal to me, it’s not impossible for them to join hands with the elves.

“I will stand on the side of the Empire.”

Stella said as she finished the treatment and put her armor back on.

I couldn’t tell if it was a pledge, a resolution, a declaration, or all of those things.

“You would. But it’s useless if the Purification Order doesn’t.”

To be precise, the elders of the Purification Order.

They could act separately from Stella.

From what I’ve gathered so far, they were the ones who put Stella forward as the face of the Order.

Their influence would probably be great in determining the Order’s policies and actions.

Of course, Stella wouldn’t be completely a figurehead either.

But it was questionable whether Stella could stop them if they decided to join hands with the elves.

“Stella.”

Having put all my armor back on, I placed my hand on Stella’s shoulder and reminded her of the advice I had given her before.

“Don’t forget what I said before.”

Those who try to save someone must also know how to save themselves.

Who saves the savior? I didn’t want her, who was blindly devoted, to be sacrificed meaninglessly.

“…I understand.”

“Then this is really goodbye.”

Since all the assassins were killed, there probably wouldn’t be any worries for a while.

“Yes, maybe… we won’t see each other again for a while?”

“Maybe, or maybe not unexpectedly.”

It felt like we were separating forever, but that wasn’t really the case.

Stella or I could call each other whenever needed.

The problem was whether we could actually go, but if we met again, it would probably be in the form of me calling her or me going to her first.

It would be difficult for Stella, who had to be mindful of the Purification Order’s elders, to ask to meet first.

“Then let’s meet again someday.”

“Please do meet again, Your Majesty… no, Franz.”

Stella was full of regret when she left at the end.

I also looked at her with a similar feeling for a moment before turning my head.

I had too many things to do in the future, so I didn’t have time to be tied down by personal relationships.