He Became The Most Insane Emperor Of All Time [EN]: Chapter 61

“A civil war, huh… So the Imperial Family thinks so too. Well, anyone who isn’t a fool would think that way.”

After hearing my less-than-subtle remark, Herman closed his eyes for a moment, as if his thoughts had become complicated. Soon, he opened them, seemingly having sorted things out, and said,

“You’re right. Now, fighting is all that’s left. I was foolish.”

Regretting his previously submissive attitude, he honestly reflected on himself.

“I shouldn’t be the one saying this, but shouldn’t the Rangers take a step back from the civil war, or at least maintain neutrality?”

“Stand by and watch as lords run rampant and people die? If that’s what I was going to do, I wouldn’t have become a Ranger in the first place.”

Herman said, looking at the farmer and his daughter.

“Rangers are those who fight to protect the people and subjects. Those who abandon that duty are not Rangers.”

“……That’s admirable.”

Even decent knights wouldn’t uphold such virtue, yet it was ironic that Rangers, who weren’t even knights, possessed such beliefs.

However, when I thought about the reason I came to find the Rangers myself, I couldn’t help but feel bitter.

Because there was a traitor hiding among these people.

“Anyway, let’s go back to headquarters now. It’s been quite a while.”

At Herman’s words, I nodded, and we immediately prepared to move.

“Th-thank you, Sir Knight.”

“Hmm?”

“Thank you for helping us……”

Just as we were about to leave, the farmer’s daughter, whom we had helped, expressed her gratitude.

The farmer, the young girl’s father, was also bowing his head.

“There’s no need to thank me. It’s not like I did it for you.”

Unlike Herman, I didn’t try to protect them because I felt sorry for them.

The things I’ve done since becoming Emperor haven’t exactly been for others, and I don’t intend to do so on purpose in the future.

Just now, I merely stepped in because I couldn’t stand the fact that Herman had yielded, yet they still broke their promise.

“Still, we survived thanks to you, Sir Knight. You are a really good person.”

“……Think as you please. Goodbye.”

Hearing the innocent child’s words made me feel a bit awkward, so I left the place without looking back.

* * *

It’s said that the Western Territory has a lot of wasteland, but not all of it is barren.

Rather, there were many diverse terrains such as grasslands, rivers, lakes, canyons, and undulating hills that just hadn’t been cultivated.

“A natural fortress. A cliff rising in the middle of a grassland.”

“It used to be a small mountain. They say it was carved into a cliff in the distant past.”

So it was made artificially, which makes it even more impressive.

Of course, it must have been made when the Empire was more stable than it is now.

Anyway, perhaps because of that, the fortress city ‘Black Raven,’ where the Western Ranger Headquarters was located, was not only sturdy but also well-built.

“There are residences and auxiliary buildings below the highlands. As you can see, there are walls there too, but in case of emergency, everyone is evacuated to the fortress on the highlands.”

“Since it’s a fortress on a cliff, it won’t be easily captured.”

Of course, that also means it’s easy to become a rat in a trap.

“That’s right. So no matter who attacks us, we can endure it.”

“I hope so.”

Because there’s a very high probability that we’ll have to face a large army of Greenskins [Orcs] in the near future.

“Squad Leader Herman! I heard that supplies came from the Imperial Family, is it true?”

“Yeah, as you can see, we brought them safely. I don’t know how they knew, but an Orc raiding party ambushed us at the meeting place.”

“Wow, it’s been so long since we’ve had this many supplies! It seems we’re benefiting from the Emperor.”

As we entered the city, the stationed Rangers cheered as they looked at the supplies from the escort.

They brought a lot of weapons, arrows, and bolt armor, but they seemed to like the alcohol and various foods more.

It reminds me of soldiers flocking to a golden carriage… If I had known this would happen, should I have increased the amount of luxury goods in addition to military supplies?

“Everyone step back, Rangers! Are you showing such frivolous behavior in front of a guest!”

“Ah, Vice Commander……”

However, with someone’s voice, the buzzing atmosphere became as quiet as if cold water had been poured on it.

In the place where the voice came from, there was a middle-aged Ranger with a cold atmosphere.

He walked towards me, not caring about the stiffened atmosphere.

“Are you the person from the Imperial Family?”

“That’s right. I’m Shadow.”

“I am Vice Commander Van Horn. We will gladly accept the gifts sent by His Majesty the Emperor. Please convey our gratitude to His Majesty.”

“Well, that’s a given. But I also have business with the Rangers besides this.”

“I suppose so, as the situation in the Western Territory is not reassuring.”

The one who introduced himself as Van Horn looked at me with a stern expression, then briefly made eye contact with Jack, who was next to me.

Jack nodded in greeting, as if he knew him, but he didn’t say anything to him.

“But I heard a report that there was a commotion. Is it true that you crippled the knights of a lord who was being conscripted?”

“That’s right. If you can call those guys knights in that state.”

“……An outsider has done something rash.”

“Well, I’m an outsider. I don’t need to be bound by your circumstances. If you have a problem, tell the Imperial Family.”

His eyebrows furrowed at my attitude, which was not only confident but also somewhat cocky in response to his questioning, but he soon said in a cold voice.

“I have no intention of passing the responsibility on to you. But it seems that some of His Majesty’s gifts will have to be used for compensation.”

“I wouldn’t recommend doing that. You’ll be short on supplies if you’re going to fight those guys soon.”

“……Thank you for the advice.”

Vice Commander Van Horn exuded an atmosphere of being strict and cold, and after ordering the supplies to be moved to the warehouse, he left.

“Damn it, I’m sorry. The Vice Commander has a terrible personality.”

“Well, it’s okay. I guess he can say that much.”

I didn’t have any particular ill feelings towards the Vice Commander’s attitude, but Herman scratched his head awkwardly and said.

“He’s a Ranger too, so I shouldn’t say this, but we don’t really like him either.”

“Why? Because he has a bad personality?”

“No, well… there’s a bit of that too… but his reputation is not good.”

“His reputation is not good?”

“Well, as you just saw, he tries to avoid conflicts with the lords… I’ve also heard rumors that he gives and receives bribes. He has a reputation for being cowardly and corrupt.”

Herman said somewhat gloomily, but soon changed the subject.

“Oh dear, I shouldn’t have shown an outsider our flaws. Anyway, are you going to meet the Commander now? Then follow me. I’ll guide you.”

I immediately followed Herman, who volunteered to guide me, to the headquarters. The headquarters was located in a fortress built on a highland cliff.

“Nice to meet you, Sir Shadow. I am Leonard, the Commander of the Western Ranger Patrol.”

After a while, I was able to meet the Commander in a place where all the executives of the Ranger Patrol were gathered.

“I called all the executives of the Rangers because you specifically wanted to see them, but do you have some important business?”

“Of course. You know the state of the Western Territory better than I do, right?”

“It is certainly a chaotic time. A rebellion by the lords is expected……”

At the Commander’s words, which lacked diplomatic rhetoric, the expressions of the executives stiffened at once. Only Vice Commander Van Horn maintained his cold expression.

Even so, the Commander asked with a relaxed attitude.

“Could it be that your business is to have us be loyal to the Imperial Family in the event of a rebellion in the Western Territory?”

“No, it would be shameless to do that after treating you like unwanted guests until now. Of course, I want you not to side with the lords, but I came here for a different purpose.”

“A different purpose?”

“A warning.”

At the word warning, everyone gathered here, including the Commander, had an expression of half doubt and half wariness.

Because the word warning itself didn’t imply anything good.

“It can’t be the obvious warning that a rebellion will occur… What kind of warning are you trying to give?”

“Two things. One is that the Greenskins [Orcs] will attack. Probably with a massive offensive.”

As soon as I said that, Vice Commander Van Horn, who had been listening silently, interjected.

“Greenskins [Orcs] stirring up trouble is as natural as the sun rising in the east here, isn’t it?”

“I suppose so. But this time it’ll be different. Those guys have joined hands with the lords of the Western Territory.”

“……!”

Then, not only the Vice Commander but also all the executives were noticeably agitated.

“N-no way. No matter what, how could they ally with those Greenskins [Orcs]……”

“……Those bastards are capable of anything. Do you think separatists would hesitate to bring in foreign powers?”

“But how could they form an alliance with those guys?”

“It wouldn’t be an alliance. But they’re thinking of starving us out. Even if supplies are cut off, we won’t be able to hold out.”

Immediately, a debate broke out among the executives. There was a heated argument, but it seemed that they were converging on the opinion that ‘it’s a possible scenario.’

“Is there any basis for that claim?”

“Let’s just say it’s reliable intelligence.”

“It’s hard to believe if you say it like that.”

“It doesn’t matter if you don’t believe it. But I hope you don’t do the foolish thing of not preparing at all.”

“……I’ll keep it in mind. But you said there was one more thing, didn’t you?”

“That’s right. In fact, this is closer to the main point.”

I said up to that point, then scanned everyone gathered there, and said with suspicious eyes.

“I received intelligence that there is a traitor within the Rangers.”

“Wh-what?”

As I quietly revealed that fact, the executives were all shocked.

The only ones who maintained their composure were the Commander and the Vice Commander.

“The traitor’s goal is to collapse or co-opt the Rangers, sabotage, incite discord, etc. I don’t know if it’s singular or plural.”

“That’s absurd! Rangers never betray their comrades!”

“Well, that’s what every organization says. Anyway, I came to warn you about that. I also want to identify them if possible.”

Ignoring one executive’s protest, I said to them.

Unexpectedly, the executives’ opinions were divided.

“……Certainly, patrol routes and ambush sites have been attacked too easily lately. It would be explained if there was an internal traitor.”

“Th-that’s just a coincidence. Are you going to be swayed by the words of an outsider? Maybe the Emperor is trying to tame us?”

“What benefit would that give the Emperor? Besides, according to the report, the escort that brought the gifts was also attacked by an Orc raiding party. Isn’t this also evidence that information was leaked?”

“Th-that’s……!”

Naturally, the internal traitor had been continuously neglecting his duties until now.

Even if I didn’t know exactly what motives and goals the traitor had, there was no way he hadn’t done anything until now.

“Sir Shadow. As you can see, the traitor… probably has a very high probability of existing. I want to deny it, but that’s the reality.”

“C-Commander!”

“Quiet. There’s no time to deny reality.”

The Commander, silencing the executives, said to me.

“I will fully cooperate with you, so please identify the traitor.”

“I will.”

“……Then, would you please leave us for now? We have a lot to discuss with our subordinates about your ‘warning.’”

At the Commander’s request to leave, I readily stepped back.

As soon as I left the conference room, I could hear it becoming noisy, but that was already expected.

“Your Majesty, was it necessary to reveal that there was a traitor?”

“Do you think I was premature, Jack?”

“It’s not that… but this could cause the traitor to hide or create unnecessary confusion.”

“That may be the case. But we don’t have time to leisurely find the traitor.”

The separatists’ unrest was reaching a critical point.

Putting everything else aside, if the Greenskins [Orcs] finish preparing for the invasion, they will start the offensive without hesitation, and the lords will rise up without hesitation.

“So I have to throw bait that the traitor can’t help but bite.”

“Could it be…….”

I nodded to Jack, who seemed to have guessed my intention.

“The guy the traitor wants to kill the most is the one who’s making a fuss about finding the traitor.”

I was planning to be the bait.