He Became The Most Insane Emperor Of All Time [EN]: Chapter 72

The civil war in the Western Territory had triggered simultaneous uprisings in other regions, excluding the Central Territory.

“The situations in the North and South are still stable. The Grand Duke of the North and Duke Orlant are effectively suppressing the opposing forces.”

“That’s why we were able to send troops to the Western Territory. What about the East?”

“Well…”

Hendrick looked troubled by my question.

“The situation in the East is not good. Duke Druid is using his followers to incite sedition and rebellion.”

“Didn’t I share information with Stella in advance? It feels like she’s being defeated too easily.”

Stella is steadfast, even stubborn, but she’s not foolish.

She shouldn’t be falling this easily.

“It seems the elders of the Purification Order are in league with the elves.”

“…Are they willing to sell their faith and country for their own gain?”

Like the Western lords, these separatists have no sense of morality.

“How is Stella doing?”

“She has already formed a resistance, but frankly, I don’t know how long she can hold out. The entire Eastern Territory army can’t distinguish between friend and foe.”

That meant Stella couldn’t handle it alone unless I intervened.

“I’m heading to the Eastern Territory immediately. With the army.”

“Are you going as the Emperor this time?”

The head of the Imperial Guard was asking if I would be going under the identity of ‘Shadow’ like in the Western Territory.

I nodded.

“I can’t let the most fertile and prosperous land be handed over to traitors, heretics, and other races.”

A place that must remain part of the Empire.

Therefore, I had to save it as the Emperor.

For the Empire.

* * *

To Stella, faith was absolute, like it was for other religious people.

However, Stella believed that the proper role of faith was more important than religious authority.

That’s why she often clashed with the elders. The elders were always focused on ways to increase the authority and influence of the Purification Order.

On the other hand, Stella wanted the Order to contribute practically to the people’s welfare and society.

And in reality, Stella wasn’t always right.

Even if she tried to do something with good intentions, there were many things she couldn’t achieve without the Order having power.

Especially when it involved corrupt lords.

So, even though Stella knew they were entertaining dangerous thoughts of opposing the Empire and the Emperor, she believed they would eventually make the right choice.

“Burn the false idols!”

“The Empire is cursed! Only nature and the spirits will save us!”

“Kyaaa! Save me!”

So, when Duke Druid started a rebellion, she thought the elders would make the right decision.

But that was being too optimistic about people.

“What? You can’t send the Order’s guards?”

“It seems premature to move the Order’s forces, Archbishop.”

“Why? They’re burning temples and killing innocent people!”

“That’s unfortunate, but it’s still a minor loss.”

Stella was furious at the elders’ reaction, who didn’t seem to care at all that people were dying.

She would have been able to accept it if they had given a reasonable reason for opposing her, but for some reason, they were unconditionally preventing the dispatch of troops.

“If the pagans running wild and the followers dying are minor matters, then I don’t know what is important.”

“Archbishop Stella…”

One of the elders tried to answer her sarcasm, but the chairman of the elders stopped him and answered instead.

“Archbishop Stella, let me be frank. It’s because of the Emperor.”

“Yes?”

“This civil war isn’t just a problem for the Eastern Territory. It’s a problem for the entire Empire. It’s a major event that will determine the future of our Order.”

“Then we should purify these heretics even more! They’ve even brought in the elves!”

“So, what do we gain by subjugating them? We’ll just be the Emperor’s dogs, won’t we?”

“What did you say…?”

Stella couldn’t help but be appalled by the elders’ reaction.

Even if they prioritized the Order’s interests, there were things that couldn’t be tolerated.

The Purification Order was a branch of the Empire’s guardian religion, so anti-imperial values were unacceptable.

“It’s uncertain whether the Emperor will win the civil war. But if he wins, it won’t be good for the Order.”

“Chairman!”

“Listen to the end, Archbishop. We’re not thinking of handing everything over to Duke Druid either. But we’ve received a good offer from the elves.”

Dividing the Eastern Territory in half and sharing it with the Druids.

Independence from the Empire in exchange for guaranteeing the Order’s status. To be a buffer state with the elves.

In short…….

“…You’re saying we should become slaves to the elves.”

“Archbishop. We remember the darkest moments of the Empire. Before the previous Emperor, the Pope and even the Emperor were corrupt.”

Starvation and death from famine were frequent, and murder, robbery, theft, and adultery were commonplace, and religious people were busy deceiving the public.

“Our predecessors and we led the Purification Order in that era. And we survived. Do you know the secret?”

“…What is it?”

“It’s bending our faith.”

A statement that someone with faith could not say.

It meant that the elders of the Order were already far from having faith.

“The doctrines of the Purification Order are upright. Faith is certainly blessed. But you can’t maintain authority and influence by being purely faithful.”

“Are you abandoning your faith for that?”

“You say that because you haven’t seen the hell that comes from not having it! We can’t trust that Emperor or the Pope!”

“…….”

Then are the elves trustworthy?

…The words came up to her throat, but they probably didn’t really trust the elves.

What they said was ultimately just rationalizing their arrogance that only they were upright, rather than faith and the god who was the object of that faith.

“I can’t accept it. If the elders don’t take action, I will continue to resist.”

So Stella chose death rather than losing her faith.

* * *

“Search every nook and cranny! Find the apostates!”

“Catch the followers of the witch Stella! They are all apostates who have rejected the cause of the Order!”

“The Empire is rotten! It must be purified! Goddess, bless the Council of Elders!”

A civil war within a civil war broke out.

Stella, who rebelled against the Council of Elders of the Purification Order, became the loyalist faction, and those who sided with the Council became the Council faction.

The entire Order was in chaos as the leadership split in half, but the Order’s civil war leaned towards the Council faction.

The loyalist faction initially had the advantage due to Archbishop Stella’s powerful divine power and the high morale of the paladins, priests, and followers who followed her.

However, the Council faction elders had long prepared for this and had taken control of the Order’s forces.

A significant number of paladins and guards had been bribed by them, and those who hadn’t were deliberately deployed to suppress the Druids.

In the end, the loyalist faction was overwhelmed.

“Kuh…”

“Brother Thomas. There’s no use in running away.”

Priest Thomas, who was Stella’s close aide, said as he looked at the executioners of the Purification Order who were chasing him.

“Heretics.”

“Only the Order defines heresy.”

“Yes, that’s your true colors. Faith is just a tool for you.”

“You’re naive, Brother Thomas. That’s why you followed that witch.”

“That witch will die soon too, so go to the goddess’s arms and wait.”

Priest Thomas, who had already lost a lot of blood and couldn’t escape, closed his eyes, sensing his end as the executioners aimed their crossbows.

“I think you’ll be going to the goddess first?”

“……! Who is it!”

Seokeok!

But the bolt never flew towards Thomas.

Because before the Inquisitor could shoot the bolt at Thomas, I cut off his arm.

“Kkyaaa!”

“Does it hurt? Then pray to God for salvation.”

Chwaak!

Leaving the man screaming in pain with his arm cut off, I ran to the other guy and slashed him.

Because it was a sudden intrusion, the next guy died without being able to resist properly.

“It’s an apostate! Shoot!”

The others quickly came to their senses and began firing bolts.

Each and every one of them was coated with deadly poison, so even a graze would be fatal.

Chaeng! Chaang!

But I deflected those bolts with my holy sword, and for those I couldn’t, I used the guy whose neck I had cut as a shield to block them.

Shuk- Shyuuk!

At the same time, I stretched out shadow blades to aim for their necks.

Some of them dodged nimbly, but most of them couldn’t avoid the blades that were quickly aiming for their necks.

But not all of those who couldn’t avoid it were hit.

Jjeojeojeok-

“…Hooh, are you now openly using pagan divine power?”

Bark covered his neck, blocking the blade.

“Fo, for the Order… Keueueue-”

That wasn’t all.

Even the guys who had already been hit by the shadow blades were rising up like zombies with the wounded areas turned into wood.

The guy whose neck was cut off had a tree growing on his head instead of a head.

Kkadeudeuk, Kkadeuk-

Hwareureureuk-

Shyuuuuu-

The guys who were covered in bark or turned into trees altogether.

Even if they weren’t, there were guys whose arms or eyes were taken over by the spirits of fire or cold, covered in flames.

Each and every one of them looked like they were being forcibly dominated rather than being blessed, and they were in pain.

“Are you even giving up on humans? But to whom are you so fanatical?”

“We are no longer the dogs of the Empire!”

“Long live the Council of Elders! Long live the Purification Order!”

Even if I asked what made them so fanatical, the answer I got back wasn’t a rational one.

“Well, it’s useless to ask you guys anyway.”

Pacheutcheutcheut-

[Mana Heart Output Amplification!]

[Due to the growth of divinity, divine power can be converted into aura.]

[Current Mana Heart Output 300%]

In an instant, I amplified the Mana Heart and infused the Holy Sword with raging aura.

Last time, I used up all the potions of amplification while fighting the Orc horde.

But thanks to the divinity that grew from the achievement of defeating them, I can now amplify it at the cost of divine power even without potions.

Kwakwang! Chwajaak! Seokeok!

Soon, I unleashed explosive sword energy and sword winds with cutting power without holding back.

The Inquisitors, who were half-eaten by various spirits, put up a counterattack by spewing fire or turning into trees and holding out like zombies, but they didn’t reach me.

“Geueo…”

“It’s over.”

The last remaining guy fell.

Also, the Imperial Army was joining the resistance forces and repelling the Council faction’s army.

“Hey, hey, are you okay?”

“Yo, you are…”

“Can’t you recognize me?”

“…Your Majesty.”

I held out my hand to the guy who recognized me and helped him up. When I lifted him up, I slightly infused him with divine power to heal him.

“Euk, th, thank you.”

“It’s too early to thank me. What happened to Stella?”

“Th, the Archbishop… was captured by the Order. She fell into a trap…”