He Became The Most Insane Emperor Of All Time [EN]: Chapter 58

“I suppose I should use formal language now, Grand Duke. You were also a close friend of my father.”

In the audience chamber, from which even the Royal Guards had been dismissed, I stood face to face with Grand Duke Hector alone.

The captain of the guard had opposed withdrawing the guards, but after calming those who had witnessed the attack on Mirror disguised as me, he eventually retreated as ordered.

“There is no need for Your Majesty, the Emperor, to elevate me.”

“Well, unless we’re using aliases, I can’t really do that with someone of your stature, Grand Duke. Besides, I’m much younger anyway.”

When we didn’t reveal our identities and used aliases, I didn’t necessarily use formal language even if there was an age difference.

Since becoming Emperor, I didn’t automatically use formal language just because someone was older, but it felt a bit awkward not to with the Grand Duke.

Since he was someone who knew my father, it felt more natural to treat him with the same respect I would show the Empress Dowager.

“As you wish, Your Majesty. But… what was that just now?”

“I’d like to ask you that first. How did you know it was a doppelganger?”

I knew the Grand Duke of the North was extraordinary, but I didn’t expect him to see through something like that.

“The knights of the North, who frequently encounter demons, are capable of sensing demonic energy.”

It was a vague answer, but considering he had identified the Shadow Blade as using aura instead of magic, it didn’t seem impossible.

“Then let me ask you, is a doppelganger impersonating Your Majesty?”

“It’s a bit of a long story…”

It wasn’t a joke; I was a little unsure where to even begin explaining.

However, I explained in as much detail as possible the circumstances that led to Mirror becoming my double.

“…So, demons, presumed to be in league with Karstein, sent a doppelganger, but fortunately, we were able to identify it.”

“Then why didn’t you execute it?”

“Because it’s much more useful to win it over and use it. Isn’t a doppelganger the perfect stand-in?”

As I said that, I added that thanks to such a stand-in, I no longer needed to leave the Imperial Palace and could go out.

“How did Philip produce such a willful son…”

The Grand Duke reacted as if he had a headache at my words.

Well, I’m used to people reacting that way to my actions, but the Grand Duke’s reaction, as if he remembered my father whom he had never met, felt a bit special.

“Ahem, I think I heard some disrespectful words?”

“Forgive my rudeness. More importantly, I have a very important matter to tell Your Majesty.”

As if to end the small talk, the Grand Duke immediately got to the point.

Come to think of it, the Grand Duke had come secretly, even concealing his identity.

The news he had to deliver couldn’t be ordinary.

“The lords of the Western Territory are plotting a rebellion.”

“That’s not surprising. I already thought a civil war was only a matter of time, and it was most likely to start there.”

I had fully anticipated that much.

But the Grand Duke wouldn’t have come all the way here just to tell me something so obvious.

“The problem is that they are also trying to join forces with the Greenskins.”

“With the Greenskins…?”

I paused for a moment, taken aback by the unexpected words.

Greenskins are fundamentally similar to humans, but they are a different, very aggressive species. [Think Orcs or Goblins.]

They live inside the Demon Realm to the point where the distinction between them and monsters is blurred, but beyond the Western Territory to the west, their power is so immense that it is a threat beyond estimation.

“They can plot conspiracies, so it’s not impossible for them to join forces, but an alliance seems impossible?”

“Of course, it won’t be an alliance. It seems they intend to open the way for them… it seems they plan to use their hands to divide the Empire.”

I frowned at the Grand Duke’s words.

Bringing in foreign powers in a civil war is undeniably an act of treason.

Of course, separatists will join hands with demons or cultists if necessary, like Karstein.

But this time, they’re even thinking of bringing in the Greenskin army; I don’t know how they plan to handle the aftermath.

“Well, if they were the type to think about the aftermath, they wouldn’t be trying to wage a civil war.”

“Your Majesty, the ones who will primarily stop the Greenskins are the Western Rangers. But it seems the lords are also meddling there.”

The Grand Duke continued to provide additional information.

“Meddling?”

“There is a traitor within the Rangers.”

“They’re trying to undermine them from within.”

The Rangers are those who would remain neutral or loyal to the Imperial Family or the Empire even if a civil war broke out.

According to the Grand Duke, the Western Rangers did not seem to have been swayed by the lords of the Western Territory.

As I organized these facts one by one in my head, one thing suddenly became clear.

“But how do you know this, Grand Duke?”

The information the Grand Duke was conveying was too detailed.

He even knew that there were spies within the Western Rangers, not just within their own forces.

“The lords of the West also tried to persuade me to join the rebellion. They said that if they started a civil war in the Western Territory, I should cooperate.”

“So you refused… or rather, you didn’t refuse? Knowing their intentions means you heard their plans…”

Even at my questioning mixed with suspicion, the Grand Duke nodded honestly.

So, that’s why he came here secretly; the Grand Duke’s words made sense.

But that didn’t mean it was too early to believe that the Grand Duke was completely innocent.

Perhaps, even if it wasn’t betrayal, he might be aiming to gain something by leaking this much.

“Grand Duke, let me be frank. As the Emperor in the current situation, I cannot completely trust you.”

“I understand. I would be satisfied if I could prevent the Empire’s civil war.”

I smirked at his words.

He wants to prevent the civil war. But that was the opposite of what I wanted.

“No, civil war is a foregone conclusion. To be precise… if it doesn’t happen, I will force it to happen.”

“…What do you mean?”

His eyes showed wariness at my statement.

Seeing that, I continued with even more extreme words.

“Civil war is an opportunity to remove the Empire’s tumors. I will cut out those who are eating away at the Empire through civil war.”

“That’s a dangerous idea. You’ll turn more than half of the Empire’s lords into enemies.”

Before answering the Grand Duke’s reply, I stood before him.

Then, with a crazed look in my eyes, I continued to utter destructive words.

“Of course. But that’s why I’ll use every method possible. Truly, every means.”

I will divide and persuade the lords to fight each other.

I will take away the vested interests monopolized by the nobles and give them to the commoners, including merchants.

I will make those commoners loyal to me and choose talented ones to fight against the old forces.

And by weakening, dividing, and eliminating those who are confused-

“I will purify the Empire in the end. With fire and blood.”

Words that someone would call a mad emperor if they heard them.

Especially the lords who are steeped in separatism would foam at the mouth on the spot.

However, the Grand Duke’s reaction was somewhat calm. At least, his eyes held calmness.

“Philip… you are too different from your father, the former Emperor.”

The Grand Duke no longer showed me respect. At the same time, he had already drawn his sword.

I also drew my sword and asked.

“I’ll take that as a compliment. I think I’m doing well. Do you think I’m wrong?”

“No, even your words are not wrong. The Empire was waiting for its death. Philip tried to save such an Empire, exhausting himself to death…”

The Grand Duke muttered bitterly and then unleashed his killing intent.

“But one thing I cannot agree with.”

“What is it?”

“You are not strong enough to accomplish that.”

At the same time as those words, the Grand Duke disappeared for a moment and appeared in front of me, swinging his sword.

Clang!

It was a high-speed movement that was difficult to react to, but I blocked his sword with the Holy Sword I was holding in advance.

“That’s something we won’t know until we try, Grand Duke.”

“I can’t let you gamble the fate of the Empire on your bet!”

The Grand Duke shouted that and pushed me away, emitting aura from both his body and his sword.

The surrounding air felt sharp, exuding killing intent.

“I don’t call something I can do enough a gamble. I am confident that I can defeat all those who challenge me.”

“Then prove it, Franz, son of Philip.”

Pahtz tz tz tz tz-

Aura flowed like electricity on the Grand Duke’s sword.

I also infused aura into my sword.

Shupaht- Chaeng!

Soon, the Grand Duke and I began to inflict fatal blows on each other without any hesitation.

Sharp and fast sword strikes aimed at each other’s necks and hearts, and the aura-filled swords struck down, causing explosions.

“Amazing, you’re different from Karstein, who was all talk?”

Are all the Elector Counts this strong? Come to think of it, Stella’s divine power as a priest was outstanding, even if her martial prowess was weak.

“Is that all you’re relying on, that paltry power, son of Philip?”

The Grand Duke and I exchanged dozens of blows without inflicting fatal wounds on each other.

But it was also true that I couldn’t defeat the Grand Duke.

If I couldn’t even defeat him, I would have nothing to say even if what I said to him was a bluff.

“There’s no way. I’ll go all out this time, so be prepared.”

I said that and gripped my sword again, and the Grand Duke also aimed his sword as if preparing for me.

I told him I would go all out, but in fact, I was conflicted.

If I were to really go all out, I would have to take the Enhancement Potion first, but…

Somehow, I didn’t want to. I had the thought that I had to defeat him without relying on that potion to be able to accomplish what I had said to him.

“Here I go!”

Shuuuwoot! Chaeng!

I charged with high-speed movement and aimed for his shoulder from the front, but he lightly deflected it.

When his sword and mine collided, I felt a sensation as if a white light was spreading for a moment.

Chwaang!

“I will cut you down here and stop your madness. That might be better.”

The Grand Duke’s counterattack continued fiercely. To the point where I was increasingly on the defensive.

But I was increasingly captivated by the strange sensation that grew each time the swords collided.

Kakang!

Each time the swords collided, a white light spread. Each time, I felt like I was being thrown into a world where countless beings were watching me.

Then, at some point, the world turned white and stopped.

That world was similar to the moment I had faced the Guardian Gods of the Empire before.

But unlike then, I felt like my soul was merging with that world.

[The Imperial Soul is being connected to your divinity.]

[You have not yet fully awakened the Imperial Soul, so you cannot fully unleash the power of the Imperial Soul.]

Imperial Soul?

I couldn’t understand what the status window that had appeared was referring to.

But my soul was already aware of that power.

Chaeaeaeeng!

When I returned from that world, I was pointing my sword at the Grand Duke’s throat, enveloped in a dazzling white light.

The Grand Duke’s sword was cut off as if it had been sharply cut.

“…You have won, son of Philip. No, Emperor of the Empire.”

Even when he acknowledged me as the Emperor again, I was only trembling with the feeling that I had become one with the Empire.