He Became The Most Insane Emperor Of All Time [EN]: Chapter 124

Having exchanged blows with axes and swords, Golrak hosted a feast as a token of friendship.

“Ughahaha! Drink, humans! Enjoy yourselves to the fullest!”

If it were humans, it would have been a banquet demanding elegance, grace, and dignity.

And perhaps the person who taught Golrak this wanted such things as well…….

“Let’s test our strength! Are you scared?”

“Not at all! Come at me!”

……Their feast was somewhat ‘Greenskin-esque.’

For example, instead of dancing, they engaged in sweaty wrestling or arm wrestling, and instead of sweet wine or food, they served roasted wild boar and strong liquor.

Naturally, most of the humans attending the feast wore bewildered expressions.

“A warrior’s feast. Quite something for Greenskins.”

“……Igrid, you seem to like this.”

“It’s not that I like it, but I just feel it’s a bit similar to the feasts in the North.”

At least Igrid was drinking with a slightly cheerful look.

Even so, she was just watching, as even Northern-style feasts didn’t involve fighting so fiercely during the banquet.

“Hmm, it seems our feast is still lacking in your human eyes.”

“It’s not lacking, but it feels different. Well, it doesn’t necessarily have to be the same as humans. Isn’t that what you want?”

Adopting human methods to overcome the limitations of the Greenskin tribal society.

But not completely copying it, but rewriting it in their own way.

I could easily tell because I felt such intentions in various aspects.

“Indeed, you have good insight. That’s right. We can’t completely follow human ways. But it’s also true that we’ll follow anything that’s useful to me and my kingdom.”

“Hmm…… Good luck.”

I refrained from offering any particular evaluation or well-wishes to Golrak’s words and kept my words to a minimum.

It wasn’t because of any liking or disliking for the Greenskins, but because adopting a system is not as easy as it sounds.

Whether it was luck or skill, Golrak succeeded in following the feudal system, but even this had side effects, such as conflicts with those who opposed it.

“More than that, there’s something I want to ask.”

“What is it?”

“I know that you have humans who have been enslaved since ancient times…… I mean, the old Empire people. I can see them in your tribe right now.”

When I brought up that topic, Golrak’s expression slightly hardened.

He seemed to have guessed why I was mentioning it.

“Are you asking me to release them?”

“If they want to.”

The reason I came on this expedition was to reintegrate them into the Empire and increase the Empire’s capabilities.

To be precise, it was to increase the capabilities of the Western Territory.

“That’s a bit difficult. If they were slaves from enemy tribes, I’d be happy to let you take them. But it’s difficult with the slaves of me or my subordinate tribes.”

“Then I have no choice but to reconsider my ‘friendship’ with you? Unlike you, I don’t want to see ‘Imperial citizens’ enslaved by other races.”

Of course, unless those slaves want to live with the Greenskins…… But I didn’t think that was likely, even as a formality.

Because they didn’t seem to be treating them very well.

“Grrr…… I thought I had a good deal with you.”

“A good deal is when what you give and take is equal.”

Helping the Greenskins, even as a formality, doesn’t particularly help me much on its own.

Preventing the Greenskins from looting? I’m not stupid enough to just trust that promise.

Anyway, Golrak seemed to be in a bad mood and growled softly.

“Then let’s do this, Lord Shadow.”

At that moment, a noblewoman in a dress next to Golrak joined the conversation.

The woman, who would have originally been a noble lady, was now Fiona, Golrak’s wife and queen.

“We still need humans. Not only for farming and making things, but recently, we’ve also been giving noble humans to vassals.”

“The latter is quite refreshing, I must say.”

When I made a sarcastic joke about the story that nobles captured by the Greenskins were being sold as trophies among the Greenskins, Fiona gave a bitter smile.

Because she was one of those people. But she didn’t get angry, so she seemed satisfied with her situation.

No, she even seemed enthusiastic.

“So I can’t just give you the humans. But I won’t keep them as slaves.”

“You won’t keep them as slaves?”

“Yes, instead, I’ll maintain them in the form of employment. As Lord Shadow said, those who want to leave can leave. Then you won’t have any complaints, right?”

“Hmm…….”

It’s not a bad story.

In fact, I was trying to get them back to increase the capabilities of the West and make development easier, but that wasn’t going to be a cost-free task.

It would cost money to support them, who would be no different from refugees.

But if it was as Fiona said, that burden would be greatly reduced.

“But what you want is not just that, right? A deal must be equal.”

“You’re quick to notice. That’s right, in exchange for freeing them, I want to introduce human technology and knowledge. Of course, I’m not asking you to give it away for free. I’ll buy it with a price.”

Hearing Fiona’s words, I chuckled at the fact that I liked the proposal.

“How strange. Don’t you want to return to human society?”

“……If I go back, I’m just the daughter of a traitor.”

Fiona then leaned somewhat seductively on Golrak.

“But here, I am the king’s wife.”

“……I see.”

Does power make the walls of race meaningless?

I felt a bit dizzy, but I could tell that her ambition was enormous.

I turned my gaze back to Golrak.

“That’s what she says, what do you think?”

“My wife is truly wise. Her proposal is my proposal.”

“But is it really okay? Even if you don’t, your subordinates might be unhappy if you tell them to hire slaves for money, right?”

“Hmph, no one dares to challenge my authority. And if I give out appropriate rewards, the complaints will disappear.”

“You know how to handle your subordinates quite well.”

Thinking I had made a good deal, I toasted Golrak with orcish strong liquor.

After emptying the drink in one go, I said cheerfully.

“Deal.”

It was the moment when an alliance with the Greenskins was formed.

* * *

I formed an alliance with Golrak.

So, what is our common goal as allies?

First of all, it is for Golrak to defeat the Greenskins and gain hegemony [leadership or dominance].

What should I do to achieve that?

“It’s simple. I just need to defeat all the champions of the Green God and become the strongest.”

I smiled wryly at Golrak’s words.

Is he thinking of getting recognized by the god by using me? He’s trying to get a free ride.

But there’s no need to bother opposing it.

I just need to take appropriate profits.

“So, who should we hit first?”

“The tribe of Suraik would be appropriate. He’s a cunning and treacherous guy, but other than that, he’s a weak goblin shaman’s tribe.”

Golrak set a suitable first target.

I decided to just follow along since I didn’t know anything about the Greenskins in this area.

And without delay, I marched with Golrak’s forces to attack that tribe.

“It’s heavily fortified. They must have ambushed using the surrounding terrain. Since he’s a shaman, he must have made some magical preparations as well.”

Golrak said he was an easy opponent, but the opponent responded by not coming out of the thoroughly fortified place.

Of course, it’s not like I can’t break through, but I didn’t want to increase the damage or use excessive force.

Unless I get a special benefit.

“Hmph, I didn’t expect you to be at the forefront anyway. We’ll take the lead.”

“That’s only natural. Since they’re not thinking of coming out. But is that tribe leader also a guy chosen by the Green God?”

Golrak clearly said he would defeat the champions of the Green God.

Is the guy I’m facing now also one of them? When I asked because I was curious, Golrak nodded.

“That’s right. Suraik is the champion of Gobomein, the Green God of conspiracy and trickery.”

“……Gobomein? Really Gobomein?”

“Did you know him?”

I chuckled at his question.

“Of course, I do. He’s a guy who got beaten by me once.”

It seemed like things would be a lot easier.

* * *

The champion Great Shaman Chief Suraik of Gobomein raised the corners of his mouth as he looked at the forces beyond.

“It’s as Gobomein-nim [a respectful suffix in this context] thought. He’s targeting me after all.”

In fact, it was a natural thing.

Although he is good at scheming, the society of the Greenskins is determined by the level of force rather than scheming.

He can use sinister magic, but these tough Greenskins often push it away with force.

“But I won’t be easily defeated. Keuheuheuh…….”

However, Suraik was confident.

At least in this thoroughly prepared fortress, he could deal with the enemies no matter how many he faced.

He had prepared arrows and weapons that had been strongly reinforced, and he had also prepared spells of poison and curses.

Not only that, but Gobomein had also promised to share his power.

With this much, anyone could be caught off guard if they recklessly set foot in the fortress.

“Rather, I might get a sacrifice to offer to Gobomein-nim – huh?”

While thinking that far and being happy, Suraik saw something beyond the ramparts.

A human riding a large wolf was approaching the fortress.

“Ha, Golrak, that bastard, is now joining hands with humans. A son of a bitch without any guts.”

Suraik guessed so when he saw a human knight coming out of Golrak’s army, not Golrak.

But he didn’t know why he was walking alone.

He could have shot an arrow, but it was a waste to pour arrows at just one person, so he decided to leave it alone.

“Hey, you there, Gobomein. Are you listening!”

But that human knight was impiously calling Gobomein’s name.

But the level of impiety didn’t stop there.

“I met you here again after getting beaten by me! Your divinity was awesome!”

Suraik had a puzzled expression.

Beaten? Divinity was awesome?

He couldn’t understand what he was saying.

However, he seemed to have heard that Gobomein had once done something in the Demon Realm and failed, so he wondered if it was about that.

“He’s an impious guy. But there’s no value in dealing with such provocation…….”

-Suraik! Kill that guy right now!

“……Yes?”

Suraik, who was going to ignore the ridiculous provocation, soon heard Gobomein’s frantic voice.

It didn’t sound like Gobomein, who was always calm and meticulously planning.

-Kill him right now! Hurry! Quickly! Aaaaaaaa!

“G, Gobomein-nim, but I can’t go outside the fortress…….”

-Shoot an arrow, then! Aaaaaaaa!

“A, I understand!”

There was no way he could help it since the god who was giving him strength was furious.

Suraik immediately ordered to pour arrows.