He Became The Most Insane Emperor Of All Time [EN]: Chapter 106

“Well, um… a friend, I guess? Maybe.”

“A suspicious fellow.”

Igrid’s mother, Hildegard, gave me a dubious look in response to my lukewarm answer.

“Mother.”

“Igrid.”

Just then, Igrid approached and confronted her.

The reunion between mother and daughter was somewhat…

“You foolish girl!”

“Mother!”

Clang!

…violent.

“You left without permission to find the Emperor! And now you bring back some strange hoodlum!”

“That’s not it! I really did have an audience with the Emperor!”

“Then I should scold you even more!”

A mother wielding a rune axe at her daughter, and a daughter desperately blocking it with a rune sword.

It was a scene of home education that made you feel the spirit of the Northerners.

“When did I tell you to beg the Emperor!”

“I didn’t beg! I just requested legitimate protection!”

“That’s the same thing!”

The two’s fight was getting more intense.

Watching them, I hesitated whether to stop them or not, but eventually drew my sword.

Clang!

“That’s enough.”

“Outsider, this is none of your business.”

“Not necessarily. I’m here representing the Imperial Family at your daughter’s request.”

“…Has the Empire really made a move? Perhaps, do you think we are rebels and are here to suppress us?”

“Of course not, otherwise, would we be having a conversation like this?”

I blocked the axe and said that to Hildegard, but she still had a suspicious look on her face.

“Let’s go inside first. It’s not polite to keep a guest standing.”

“So you’re going to treat me like a guest? That’s kind of you.”

“Don’t get me wrong, I just don’t want to be accused of mistreating a guest.”

Judging from her still wary tone, persuasion seemed like it would be tedious, but at least I was able to get a chance to talk properly.

Hoping that I might be able to persuade her easily, I followed her.

* * *

And that expectation was far from reality.

“I refuse.”

“You refuse very sharply.”

“Of course. Why should we fight for the Empire?”

As expected, I proposed to help the loyalist forces and suppress the rebels.

And, of course, I was rejected.

“We have been discriminated against for hundreds of years. Not only discrimination, but also land was taken away, traditions and culture were suppressed, we were treated poorly, and we were not even protected from monsters or other races.”

And the most troublesome thing was that her refusal had a valid reason.

“But now that a rebellion has broken out, you want us to be loyal to the Empire? Don’t you think that’s a bit shameless?”

“That’s right. I agree with everything. Asking for loyalty now is definitely thick-skinned.”

So I didn’t deny her logic at all.

Rather, she seemed more puzzled when I acknowledged it so coolly.

“But you know, this Emperor is different. He has no intention of discriminating against you. Have you heard the news that the Western Territory has become an autonomous region?”

“There are rumors of it.”

“This place can be like that too.”

Of course, the Northern Territory is much more politically complex than the Western Territory.

The Western Territory was able to be reorganized around commoners after the rebel nobles were almost wiped out and vested interests evaporated around the Western Knights.

But what about the Northern Territory? Even if it becomes an autonomous region right away, you have to decide who will be the head of the autonomous region.

In short, whether the Northern Grand Duke will be the center of the autonomous region, or whether the tribesmen will have their own autonomy.

This alone could cause another small civil war within the Northern Territory.

“Even so, nothing changes.”

“You can’t believe it?”

“No, if it’s an Emperor who quickly resolves internal conflicts and performs divine feats as I’ve heard, I can believe it. But what about the next one?”

Is there a guarantee that the next Emperor will continue to recognize our rights?

Their distrust was so deep that they asked such a question.

And all of that was the Empire’s karma [consequences of past actions].

“So, just maintaining neutrality is already keeping faith with the Empire.”

“Well… that’s not wrong. But your fellow rebels are being corrupted by monsters. And they are hunting their own kind. Is that okay with you?”

“…That’s unfortunate.”

It felt like taking kinship hostage, but Hildegard showed a momentary wavering, perhaps because it was definitely working.

“But that is ultimately their choice. It was a tragedy that would happen someday. Knowing that, we maintain neutrality even more, so that not more of our people die in fratricide [the act of killing one’s brother or sister; also, the killing of one’s own people]. ”

She was that stubborn. Beyond simply distrusting the Empire, it was the result of a choice that mixed kinship and reality.

“As long as they are under me, the rebels can’t easily touch them. It seems that those who haven’t joined have seen blood, but I can only hope that Hathsgar makes a wise choice.”

“In the end, you’re going to watch and see. The loyalists and rebels fighting each other. Don’t you think that’s cowardly?”

“It’s a cowardly thing. But that is our reality, Imperial. No matter which one you choose, you are destined to shed blood with your own people.”

Should we be so condemned for making a choice that sheds as little blood as possible from that fate?

I couldn’t confidently say “yes” to that question.

“It’s a difficult problem. But the Emperor’s will does not change. The Emperor wants to embrace you as well.”

So how can we get you to side with the Empire?

“It’s simple, show trust and power. Have them come directly to protect the Northerners and lead the loyalists to victory.”

If they do that, they will follow, that was her word.

In the end, it was a matter of order.

I was going to protect the loyalists who were at a disadvantage with their help and counterattack as soon as reinforcements arrived.

But Hildegard wanted the Imperial army to show sincerity first.

“The loyalists are in danger of being pushed back while waiting for reinforcements.”

“Then this time again, the Empire is disappointing the Northerners. Why was the North the last to come in the war on all sides?”

Because I thought the Northern Grand Duke would be safe.

…Even if I said that, it would only be an excuse.

It was clear that the value of the North was underestimated and put on the back burner.

“There’s no room for excuses. Well, I understand. In the end, we have to endure on our own.”

“Shadow, are you going to give up persuading her?”

“I’m not giving up, I’m going to prove it, Igrid.”

The logic of the North is power.

Hildegard also told me to show trust and power.

Then I’ll just have to prove that power.

“…It will be a tough fight, considering the momentum of the rebels.”

“Of course. But I will overcome it.”

This was just another trial to endure as the Emperor of the Empire.

It was then.

“Queen! The monster army is coming again!”

“Tsk, what is the Grand Master thinking? It won’t make us join the rebellion.”

A subordinate was reporting an urgent message.

It seemed that the army was attacking again like before.

It seems to be made up of monsters, not Northerners.

“Um, but….”

“What’s wrong?”

“…This time, the Grand Master came himself. It seems… he wants to see the Queen.”

When those words were conveyed, Queen Hildegard’s expression was extremely distorted.

* * *

“It’s been a while, Hildegard. It’s unfortunate that we meet like this.”

“Yes, it’s a pity indeed, that you sided with the monsters.”

The two people, who seemed to have a connection, exchanged conversations with an atmosphere of familiarity and hostility, wearing armor and weapons.

“The Grand Duke, did you have to do that to Hector?”

“…That wasn’t my intention. I wanted to compete with him properly. Well, even if I say this, it’s an excuse.”

The one called the Barbarian Lord was a very rational person, unlike his nickname.

Of course, he was very large and had a wild appearance, so his appearance was as fitting as his nickname.

“But the essence does not change. The Grand Duke, he sided with the Empire, and I, the nominal Elector [a person who has the right to vote in an election], turned my back on the Empire. That is the essence of the conflict.”

“Was it so important that you had to point an axe at your own people and friends? What changes by siding with the monsters?”

Isn’t it just changing from being under the Empire to being under the monsters?

It was such an attack by Hildegard, but the Barbarian Lord answered at once.

“It’s different. At least we will occupy the Empire’s land.”

“…So you’re going to invade the southern lands.”

“Yes. That will be the case. With the help of monsters.”

Hildegard shook her head after hearing his goal.

“It’s not realistic. The opponents are Imperials. They are not easy to deal with, and they have more numbers than us. Moreover, this Emperor is the one who has suppressed the civil war alone.”

“I know he’s not an easy man. But it’s not just a delusion if we do our best.”

He said that and pointed to Hildegard.

“Join us. If all the Northerners join forces, nothing is impossible.”

“Maybe. But don’t you know? The blood of our people will flow.”

“It’s a necessary sacrifice.”

“There is no necessary sacrifice in fratricide! It’s been the will since Calibal. Have you forgotten that!”

It was a mutual slaughter that had been repeated countless times in tragedy.

Nevertheless, the value they never forgot.

Kinship.

The value created by the man Igrid saw 3,000 years ago.

It was connected.

I could see it.

“…I will not side with you.”

“That’s too bad, Hildegard.”

Swish-

“Then I have no choice but to kill you.”

Thud!

At the same time as those words, the Barbarian Lord rushed towards her like lightning with his twin axes.

Hildegard, who was looking at her sadly, did not try to avoid it.

Apparently, she had no intention of denying his choice.

She was willing to accept death.

Clang!

“I can’t let that happen.”

I blocked it.

“Outsider. Knight of the Southern Land. Black Knight King. Will you interfere with us?”

“Of course. To protect the Imperials.”

Northerners are also Imperials.

So I will protect them.

From those who betrayed the Empire.

“It’s pathetic. When have you ever seen us as Imperials to interfere?”

“I may have been negligent until now. But now it will change.”

“One knight’s words are not enough.”

“Is that so?”

Clang!

I put strength into my sword and pushed him away.

“Then what if it’s not one knight?”

Then I took off my helmet.

When I took off my helmet, long silver hair fluttered in the cold wind.

“You are…!”

“You recognize me. Yes, it’s me. The Emperor of the Empire, I am confronting you here. I swear such.”

From this moment on, until the moment the Empire perishes.

“Anyone within the Empire’s fence will be protected as an Imperial.”

“Lies!”

Clang! Kaang!

His enraged axe struck me again.

The holy sword blocked the axe, but it was a powerful blow that sparked a small flame.

“It’s too late to spout such lies!”

“Then I’ll just have to prove it.”

[Imperial Soul Stage 2 Open]

A pure white light began to envelop my body like armor.

“My will, the will of the Empire.”

I just had to prove it.