He Became The Most Insane Emperor Of All Time [EN]: Chapter 122

Became the Crazy Emperor – Chapter 122

The exploration team that Igrit belonged to was, in reality, more of a mercenary group hired to protect settlers than an actual exploration team.

Mercenaries don’t gather without clear compensation, and these mercenaries earned their keep by defending the surrounding settlements in exchange for reasonable payment.

Of course, they were also simultaneously pursuing their original goal of exploring the western regions.

“But Go Tae-sik, I didn’t expect to see you here too.”

Among the diverse group of people, there was Go Tae-sik, a goblin whom I had converted.

“I came along as a guide, Your… I mean, Shadow.”

“You’re from the Demon Realm, right? Do you know the way around here?”

“Even if I don’t know the exact paths, I’m more familiar with the general ecosystem. And I can lead the other goblins who do know the way.”

Go Tae-sik gestured subtly towards the other goblins besides himself.

When we repelled the Greenskin invasion last time, there were goblins we captured and used as slaves.

Under Go Tae-sik’s influence, they had also become naturalized citizens of the Empire. Of course, they still faced a lot of discrimination.

“But it’s much better than living in Greenskin society. Back then, our lives were worth less than flies.”

“Well, I’m glad you’re satisfied.”

After joining the exploration team and reuniting with Go Tae-sik, I soon attended the team’s meeting.

“It’s an honor to meet the renowned Lord Shadow. I am Indias, the leader of this exploration team.”

“Nice to meet you. You don’t have to worry too much about my reputation; just treat me comfortably.”

“Oh, I like your straightforward personality.”

At the meeting, I was able to quickly make introductions with the exploration team leader.

Indias was a nobleman with the title of Count, but he had sold his territory in line with the policies being promoted after the civil war and jumped into exploration.

I heard that he had always been very interested in exploration and frequently went on adventures.

“The Empire has endured the civil war and will rise again as it did during its golden age. And to do that, pioneers are needed. Like us.”

“The significance of exploring the west, I see.”

“Of course. In that sense, we are explorers and pioneers. Of course, the remnants of the old Empire and the secrets of the Greenskins may be hidden in the west.”

Uncovering those things was also the purpose of this exploration team.

It was a very good purpose. But my purpose for being here was a bit more specific.

“By the way, I heard that people witnessed the people of the old Empire.”

“Ah, you mean them. Unfortunately, they are being enslaved by the Greenskins. The reconnaissance team has confirmed it several times.”

“Liberating them would help with the development of the Western Territory.”

“Ah, that’s true. But fighting the Greenskins is not an easy decision. It could stir up a hornet’s nest.”

I gave a wry smile at the exploration team leader’s cautious opinion.

If it were the same Greenskins as last time, there wouldn’t be any who could stand against me now.

Of course, it wasn’t wise to be careless, as the Greenskins might have hidden some power or become stronger.

“Indias, what about that report about the Greenskins from last time?”

“Ah, right, that’s right. Thank you for mentioning it, Igrit.”

At that moment, Igrit mentioned something, and Indias nodded as if he had forgotten for a moment.

“What are you talking about?”

“Well, there have been continuous reports that the Greenskins’ movements have been strange lately.”

“Strange in what way?”

“They seem to be… somewhat at odds with each other.”

“Greenskins fighting each other isn’t a new thing, is it?”

“It didn’t seem like a simple tribal conflict. It was as if the Greenskins were divided into two factions.”

“Two factions?”

Hearing that, I also frowned, feeling a bit of doubt and bewilderment.

The Greenskins are a tribal society, so there’s endless infighting among them.

I couldn’t forget that we used that very fact to repel them during the last civil war.

But the fact that they seemed divided into two factions meant that their forces had been consolidated to the point of being divided into two factions.

If that were really the case, it could be a serious problem.

“Could it be that the Greenskins might unite?”

“I doubt they would… but you never know.”

If so, there was no choice but to check it out myself.

* * *

“Wooooaaaaaaaah!”

“Kill them!”

The vast plains that were once the territory of the old Empire.

This vast land, with its scattered ruins, wastelands, and mountain ranges, was a land that called for endless struggle.

For the Greenskins, who had been the masters of that land for over a thousand years, that struggle was all too natural.

“For King Golrak!”

“Long live the Gork Kingdom!”

“To the plains of the green gods!”

But the current scene was somewhat strange.

The Greenskin orcs on one side were shouting concepts that were foreign to orcs and Greenskins.

Things like ‘king’ and ‘kingdom.’ It was a bit strange for them, a tribal society, to be shouting such things.

Even the armor they wore was somewhat strange.

No, rather than strange, it was relatively more solid.

Originally, they lacked the skill to handle iron properly, so they couldn’t make proper iron armor, but now they were wearing armor that was rough but somewhat better.

It was as if they were imitating human knights.

“The traitors are coming!”

“Children of the true green god! Kill the traitors!”

“Uwooooooooooo!”

Conversely, those who opposed them were typical Greenskins.

Ragged armor and weapons, but with undeniable natural vitality and a terrifying number, they fought against the enemy.

At first glance, it seemed reckless for the former to charge at the latter.

“Kwooooaaaaaa!”

“Fight honorably!”

“Chaaaaaaarge!”

However, the momentum of the former was too strong.

Riding wolves and wielding huge battle axes, they began to trample and charge through the latter’s Greenskins with terrifying charging power.

The latter’s Greenskins tried to resist with numerical superiority, but as the former’s Greenskins showed tactics of repeated breakthroughs and retreats, they were closer to being swayed.

That, too, was a sight that was usually hard to find among Greenskins.

“Amazing. Is that a Greenskin? Who taught those guys tactics?”

Watching it from afar, I was honestly impressed.

Of course, it wasn’t that Greenskins didn’t have tactics before.

It’s just that the tactics they preferred were brawls, so they were very far from human tactics.

But now they were showing refined tactics as if a human knight had taught them.

“I should go and ask what’s going on.”

“What are you going to do?”

“The enemy of my enemy is my friend, right? Let’s find out if those guys understand that saying too. Let’s go, Silver!”

-Woof woof!

Silver, carrying me in the saddle, began to run.

Starting with that, the wolf cavalry, raised from wolves tamed by Go Tae-sik, and traditional cavalrymen followed.

My goal and theirs was the latter Greenskins, that is, the common Greenskin group.

“Kwark? Enemies behind us!”

“Humans are attacking us!”

Slash, thud!

-Kyaaauuuul!

Standing at the forefront of the cavalry charge, I scattered shadow blades in all directions and simultaneously spread aura without restraint.

At the same time, Silver also pounced and bit, so the Greenskins couldn’t put up much resistance.

At least, there didn’t seem to be any guys here who could stand up to me or our forces.

“Feel the cold of the north!”

Jjeojjeojjeojeok!

Igrit was also freezing and breaking the Greenskins with her rune sword, putting on an overwhelming battle.

Other exploration team mercenaries also showed their own veteran combat power, proving that they were elites.

“They’re retreating!”

“Don’t chase them. There are other guys besides them. Don’t show your backs to them yet.”

The Greenskins, attacked from both sides, quickly collapsed and began to rout in all directions.

Originally, it would have been right to hunt down the stragglers against them, but I didn’t do that now.

Because there were still people in front of me whose identities I didn’t know.

Whether it was the same for the other party, they were confronting us with a very wary attitude.

“I want to talk. Who’s the commander?”

I took the lead and asked them first.

If an attack was launched, I would just wipe them out without asking any further questions.

But surprisingly, they responded with a conversation.

“I am called Baron Galark. I am commanding the warriors.”

It was also unexpected that a Greenskin would respond so rationally with a conversation.

But since the nobles of the Western Territory had also colluded with the Greenskins, it wasn’t impossible to understand the conversation itself.

“Baron?”

But it was even stranger that he called himself a noble title.

A Greenskin a baron?

“Since when did Greenskins call themselves noble titles? Is it a human imitation?”

Looking at the fiery attitude of the orc knight, he seemed to have a very strong pride in his title.

I felt a tremendous sense of incongruity, but rather, that made me wonder what was going on.

“…Well, I didn’t mean to offend. I’m sorry. I sincerely apologize.”

“Hmph, seeing that you know honor, I will forgive you this time.”

Oh my, now he’s even talking about honor.

I looked at the Greenskin as if I was looking at something that was giving me a headache, but he didn’t seem to notice at all.

But not only him, but the other Greenskin warriors also seemed endlessly serious.

No, rather, their eyes showed admiration for the baron’s appearance.

What the heck is going on? I couldn’t help but think that.

But I decided to put on a straight face and continue the next words.

“Then, could I possibly meet that King Golrak? I want to have a conversation with him.”

“Do you think you can meet His Majesty the King as you please!”

“Hmm…”

Well, he wouldn’t meet me if I just asked to meet him.

I wondered if I should reveal that I was the emperor here, but I soon gave up.

There weren’t many people who could vouch for me even if I suddenly revealed it like in the north.

It was highly likely that the Greenskins wouldn’t believe that I was the emperor. Furthermore, I didn’t want to let the exploration team know that I was the emperor either.

“Isn’t there any way? I can provide some tribute if necessary.”

Even if it took some time, I could procure tribute through the Western Knights if necessary.

Then the orc baron finally showed interest.

“You’re offering tribute? What can you offer?”

“Anything you want. I want to know more about the Greenskins… no, ‘you guys’.”

“Then…”

Greed flickered in the orc baron’s eyes.

What is he going to ask for… food again? No, it would be troublesome if he asked for people to use as slaves…

“I need human clothes.”

“…What?”

“Human clothes. The clothes that nobles wear.”

“…Why do you need that?”