He Became The Most Insane Emperor Of All Time [EN]: Chapter 14

Became the Crazy Emperor of Unprecedented Level – 14

[Prospera’s Favor Stage 1]

[Efficiency in all internal affairs increases by 20%. Development, production, the probability of talent appearing, and the probability of intelligence success are improved.]

[Currently held skills: Imperial Swordsmanship Level 4, Stealth Level 1, Ambush Level 1, Mana Heart Level 2, Ranger Tactics Level 1…….]

[Currently applied effects: Merchant Sponsorship, Leonis’s Favor Stage 1, Prospera’s Favor Stage 1]

I briefly reviewed the achievements I had steadily accumulated.

In many ways, my progress was going well.

Not only was my personal training and growth on track, but I was also steadily building up the army and conducting external intelligence operations.

It was still fair to say that things were proceeding smoothly.

If only this particular matter could be resolved successfully.

“It’s been a while, Your Majesty.”

“Indeed, Cardinal. It feels as though I’m seeing you for the first time.”

In fact, it was true that I was seeing him for the first time.

But I deliberately spoke ambiguously, just in case he suspected something.

The Cardinal, whom I was meeting for the first time, gave a very favorable impression, as one might expect from a religious figure, but I could easily tell it was a facade.

[The Emperor’s Eyes have successfully read the other person’s mind.]

[Current thoughts: Will the Emperor try to act according to our will? The imperial power is not what it used to be, so there is a possibility…….]

Tsk, this guy was already brimming with thoughts of trying to manipulate me.

If this guy was like this, what about the Pope?

The fact that he didn’t come himself seemed to indicate that he wanted to engage in a battle of nerves with me.

I didn’t know what he wanted from me, but he must be in a precarious situation, so this attitude was unwelcome.

“So, what brings you here? Surely you haven’t come simply to enjoy a cup of tea on a pleasant day.”

Of course, my intentions weren’t pure either.

As soon as the Cardinal arrived, I dispatched intelligence agents to gather information from within the church.

Devout clergymen are difficult to sway, but there are more people in the world who lack faith than those who possess it.

The Cardinal himself might be upright, but not all of his attendants were.

It wouldn’t be difficult to cultivate an informant within the church.

“I wouldn’t dare impose on Your Majesty, who is occupied with affairs of state.”

No, I’m not particularly busy.

I’m simply enjoying myself every day.

It’s my subjects who are burdened with work.

“Spare me the formalities and get to the point. Why have you come?”

I couldn’t simply chat with the Cardinal leisurely, so I spoke as if urging him to continue.

At the same time, I quickened our pace as we walked through the garden.

As the pace increased, the Cardinal, whose physical stamina was poor due to his clerical lifestyle, had to speak without much time to consider his words.

“His Holiness the Pope wishes Your Majesty to attend the upcoming Mass.”

The excuse was to encourage attendance at Mass?

It felt no different from a religious person trying to persuade me to attend church on the weekend.

But someone of the Cardinal’s stature wouldn’t have traveled all this way for such a trivial matter.

“That’s not a problem, but what is the reason for desiring my attendance?”

I asked the reason directly, though I didn’t expect him to be truthful.

“His Holiness wishes to personally bestow a blessing upon Your Majesty for the future of the Empire.”

[The Emperor’s Eyes attempt to read minds.]

[Opponent’s Diplomacy 6 vs My Diplomacy 10]

[Dice result]

[Opponent: 4]

[Me: 6]

[Mind reading successful!]

The Emperor’s Eyes automatically activated as soon as the Cardinal uttered the lie.

The opponent possessed a diplomacy stat of 6, but I am a stat bully with 10.

Since a 6-sided die and a 10-sided die were involved, I held a significant advantage.

Mind reading was successful immediately, and his thoughts were completely revealed.

[Current thoughts: If I give a direct blessing in front of the Emperor, no one will suspect that the Pope has lost his divine power.]

Oh.

So, there was such a secret.

The Pope’s divine power is failing… He was trying to borrow my authority to conceal it.

Not all clergymen wield divine power, but it would be a rather significant disqualification for the Pope.

However, he believed that if he staged a scene in front of everyone where he bestowed a blessing upon me, he could dispel the suspicion.

“Then I want to ask you something.”

“What is it, Your Majesty?”

“The Pope is unable to use divine power, so how do you plan to disguise it?”

“……!”

As soon as I asked nonchalantly, the Cardinal’s expression paled.

I smirked at his reaction and pressed him further.

“Ah, besides that. I’m also curious about the reason why you’re going to such lengths to disguise it.”

Of course, this action stems from suspicion, but is it necessary to put on such a show in front of ordinary believers?

Commoners will simply attend church out of habit, regardless of such suspicions.

Perhaps there is someone else who needs to have this suspicion resolved.

“If you tell me honestly, I’ll consider cooperating.”

If you don’t like it, you can turn back now.

Of course, now that I know the Pope’s secret, you can’t simply return empty-handed, can you?

I might want to assassinate you, but you can’t retaliate even if you’re upset, right?

“That’s… In fact, Bishop Stella is scheduled to attend this Mass.”

“Bishop Stella.”

A bishop is an elector, referring to those who are clergymen.

And Bishop Stella was one of the seven electors of the Empire.

At least for now, she was classified as my enemy.

“It’s a play to deceive her. No, to be exact, it’s not her.”

The real enemy who made her a bishop.

“You’re planning to deceive the Purification Order.”

“…That’s right, Your Majesty.”

Perhaps because I had guessed everything, the Cardinal readily admitted the truth.

Purification Order.

They are the rivals of the Imperial Guardian Church, whose power naturally declined as the Empire collapsed.

Originally, it was merely a sect under the Imperial Church, but now it was an independent order.

“The Pope didn’t appreciate being constantly questioned by them.”

But no matter how rampant the Purification Order is now, if I, the Emperor, am involved, they will not be able to criticize easily.

The Purification Order also has rivals, and they don’t want to give them an excuse.

“But you dared to deceive me, even though you needed my help.”

“Yo, Your Majesty…….”

If I hadn’t noticed, I would have been used and taken all the blame.

Feeling a little displeased, I unleashed my murderous intent, and the petals and leaves of the garden we were walking through were severed by the aura filled with murderous intent.

The captain of the guard, who was attending next to me, also gestured to summon the guards.

I could have held the Cardinal accountable for daring to insult the Emperor in this place.

“Go and tell the Pope. I’ll play along for now.”

It wasn’t difficult to attend that Mass.

“But if I see you acting out of my sight again.”

The price will be terrible.

Therefore, obey me.

I conveyed such a warning.

* * *

“Your Majesty, we shall begin then.”

“Come anytime.”

When I first came to this world, I sparred with a squire, not even a knight of the guard.

And that was only 1:1 with one person.

But now I was sparring with four knights at once.

“Aim for the back!”

“It’s this way!”

“The right side is open, Your Majesty!”

Clang! Chaang! Kakang!

A sparring session simulating a multi-to-one battle.

In fact, this itself is a training method that soldiers also employ.

But there is no way that knights would train at the same level as soldiers.

Unlike soldiers who typically use wooden swords, they use real swords and even utilize aura.

Aura Blade is avoided, but it is a dangerous training that uses aura to enhance physical abilities.

Thud!

“Alant! Eliminated!”

Thud! Chaeng! Klang!

“Wilhelm, Reinhardt, Kain. All eliminated. Your Majesty’s victory. You guys need to improve more.”

The master overseeing the sparring, Wolfman, the captain of the guard, scolded the new guard knights who were unable to fight well even in a 4:1 situation and were helplessly defeated.

But he didn’t scold them excessively. It wasn’t because they were lacking, but because my skills were exceptional.

“Let’s stop here for today.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. The guest you’ve been waiting for will be here soon.”

“Guest, huh.”

If it’s a guest, it’s a guest.

Because Bishop Stella had decided to visit the Imperial Palace.

I left the training hall and arrived at the Imperial Palace, and after washing away the sweat with a bath, I casually asked the captain of the guard.

“Do you attend church often, Captain of the Guard?”

“I don’t go often.”

“Is it because you lack faith?”

“No. I am also a believer in the Imperial Guardian Church. It’s just that I don’t have time to go.”

Imperial Guardian Church.

A religion that believes in the five guardian gods associated with the founding myth of the Empire.

Leonis of Courage.

Justia of Justice.

Lustra of Purification.

Prospera of Prosperity.

Mysterious Mystery.

Each guardian god has different doctrines, and it is a polytheistic religion where believers choose and believe in the god that aligns with their occupation.

It is quite an unfamiliar feature compared to Earth, where monotheistic religions are the mainstream.

“In your opinion, which of the five gods should I, the Emperor, believe in?”

“As a knight, I recommend Leonis of Courage…….”

The captain of the guard hesitated slightly while recommending Leonis.

“I am cautious because it seems presumptuous to compare His Majesty to an ordinary knight.”

That’s definitely true.

If I had to choose one, Prospera of Prosperity would be the most suitable guardian god for the Emperor, who is the ruler.

“Then how about Lustra of Purification?”

As this conversation unfolded with the captain of the guard,

A beautiful voice was heard from the side.

There stood a black-haired beauty wearing a simple priest’s robe.

“Nice to meet you, Your Majesty. I am Stella von Reichshire, the Archbishop of the Purification Order and the Elector of the Eastern Imperial Territory.”

[Name: Stella von Reichshire]

[Status: Imperial Bishop, Archbishop]

[Stats: Governance 7, Diplomacy 9, Combat 4]

[Disposition: Devoted, Logical, Cautious]

[Traits and Skills: Strong Divine Power, Excellent Insight, Possesses Purification and Healing Divine Power]

At this level, she’s S-class.

If you were to rank the talents, she would probably be one of the top figures in this empire.

A character that you would be desperate to recruit or eliminate in the game.

If she’s this pretty, you’d usually try to recruit her.

I would have wanted to do that too if she wasn’t my enemy.

“Thank you for accepting the invitation. I wanted to meet you.”

“I also wanted to see Your Majesty.”

[Mind reading successful]

[Current thoughts: The Emperor probably doesn’t know the Pope’s secret yet. Then it would be better to reveal the secret in front of the Emperor tomorrow…….]

Ah, so she already knows the Pope’s secret.

Well, the Pope’s plan seemed a bit sloppy.

Now that the power of the Purification Order is growing, they may have discovered it by some means.

I’m not the only one running an intelligence organization.

“I’m attending the Pope’s Mass tomorrow, and I heard that the Bishop is coming too, so I invited you. In times like these, there aren’t many opportunities for the Emperor to interact with the electors.”

The Pope is trying to use me to deceive her.

“It’s an honor, Your Majesty. I hope that the relationship between our Purification Order and the Imperial Family will be firmly maintained.”

The Bishop is also trying to use me to expose the Pope’s weaknesses.

Two people were plotting with me in the middle.

Things were about to get very interesting.