He Became The Most Insane Emperor Of All Time [EN]: Chapter 140

“Now, we clash with the Elves once more.”

I briefly parted ways with Nakan and returned to the Imperial Army’s base.

There, I gathered Commander Wolfman of the Guard, Stella, Igrit, and other knights and commanders to hold a war council.

As soon as I declared the decisive battle with the Elves, everyone except Igrit looked excited.

Although we inflicted severe damage during the last expedition, it wasn’t enough to fully avenge the long-standing grudges against the Elves.

“We must burn them all!”

“Death to the accursed other races!”

Knights and crusaders spouted fanatical remarks.

I gestured to calm them down and said,

“Of course, we will. But we must solidify our objectives.”

I understood their anger, as the Elves had often raided humans for slaves and sacrifices throughout history. However, war must be waged with strategic goals in mind.

“Let me make it clear first: we cannot occupy all of the Elves’ land. More precisely, we don’t need to occupy it right now.”

As of now, the Empire wasn’t even able to properly populate the land it already held. Simply put, there was a shortage of people.

“So, the idea of massacring the Elves or burning them all is rejected. That’s a waste of unnecessary labor.”

(I thought to myself that) Nazi Germany’s massacre of Jews was morally wrong and pragmatically stupid.

If they had spent the time and resources on the war, it would have been the right thing to do.

“Therefore, what we should aim for is victory, the wealth and possessions they have, and slaves.”

The Elves are making a fuss about the famine, but in reality, the ruling High Elves are still accumulating enormous wealth and living in luxury.

I plan to take that. I have no intention of yielding that to Nakan at all.

“If there’s one thing to burn, it’s the World Tree.”

The original of the World Trees, which they call the ‘Mother World Tree’ [a massive, spiritually significant tree at the heart of Elven culture].

We will burn the one that grows in their capital.

“It’s not just about burning a big tree; it’s about burning their spirit.”

“That’s right. If we burn it down, the Elves will realize that times have changed, and they will despair.”

Stella’s eyes blazed like fire.

Originally a compassionate and gentle person, she became fiercely aggressive towards the Empire’s enemies after becoming the Apostle of Purification.

I wonder if it’s too much, but if it helps the Empire, I guess it doesn’t matter.

“The World Tree… It is the Elves’ spiritual symbol. But if we burn it, they might resist even more, don’t you think? At least I would.”

In the meantime, Igrit raised a somewhat meaningful objection. What she said wasn’t wrong.

“Of course, they will. But Igrit, we’re not here to make peace with them. What I’m giving them is only the sword.”

The sword of punishment, and at the same time, the sword of eternal hatred.

“Of course, if it were possible like the Greenskins [a race known for their simple nature and willingness to negotiate], we would have made peace with them. But the Spirit King is not like Golak [likely a reference to a Greenskin leader].”

The Elves aren’t simple-minded like the Greenskins.

Humans and Elves already have deep rifts, but this fight will deepen them further.

In that case, we must thoroughly crush them and collapse their society so that they cannot recover, or if they do, they cannot catch up with us.

The reason we don’t just do indiscriminate massacres is not only for moral reasons, but also because massacres are unnecessary physical and mental exhaustion and are not practical.

“So, you don’t have to worry about that.”

“I understand. A convincing reason.”

Igrit nodded, and the agenda moved on to ‘How to conduct the war specifically?’

“Your Majesty, strategically speaking, our advantage is clear. We don’t even need to confront them head-on. Just confronting them will starve them out.”

I nodded at Commander Wolfman’s words.

As he said, the Elves are suffering from famine, so they can’t afford to have enough food.

If we just don’t fight and drag out the time in the long term, they will starve to death on their own.

“That’s right, Commander. But there are two problems with that.”

One is our strategic goal.

“The essence of our strategic goal is to collapse the authority of the Spirit King.”

But we can’t achieve that by simply avoiding the fight and letting them starve.

Rather, it may give them a nominal victory and prevent us from achieving our goal.

“And one more thing: they’re not fools either.”

They know better than we do that they are struggling with food.

The Spirit King won’t be unaware of that, so he will definitely attack.

“It’s absurd to just avoid fighting when they’re even thinking of launching a preemptive strike.”

“Then, Your Majesty, a lure is considered the best strategy.”

The Commander of the Guard immediately gave an answer. I nodded this time as well.

“Of course. They’re willingly running into it, so why wouldn’t we fight in a place that’s advantageous to us?”

As I said that, I raised the corners of my mouth and added.

“So, let’s torment them even more viciously.”

* * *

“Your Highness! Please reconsider! Now is not the time to plan a war!”

Before the Spirit King led his troops to battle, his vassals shouted at the top of their lungs for the last time.

Regardless of victory or defeat, there was nothing good for the Elven Kingdom to wage war now.

Even if they had to gather an army, it would have been better to negotiate than resume the war.

“Step back.”

However, the Spirit King did not listen. The Spirit King could not accept that, whether it was because of his authority as a king or because of his personal grudge against the Empire and the Emperor.

In the end, he and his army faced the Imperial Army that had advanced to the vicinity of the capital.

“Your Highness, I am sorry to say that our army’s situation is not good.”

Not only the vassals but also the Elven generals did not see the war situation favorably.

Rather, as generals, they saw the state of the army accurately.

“Especially… the food situation is bad, so a long-term war is impossible.”

“I know.”

The Spirit King, who had a war council with the generals, nodded obediently to their opinions.

“Therefore, a quick victory is the only answer.”

“However… unlike last time, the Imperial Army will not be easy to deal with.”

It was not the Imperial Army that had suffered from the last civil war.

Now, the Imperial Army has overcome the civil war and is fully equipped with morale and equipment.

Moreover… the Emperor, who single-handedly annihilated the Elven Kingdom army and defeated the Spirit King in the last civil war, would also be there.

Bang!

“This time is different. This time, I will personally defeat the Emperor.”

The Spirit King trembled and expressed his anger, slamming his hand on the table.

It was not pleasant that the defending Royal Army had to launch a preemptive strike, but the generals could not object to the Spirit King’s momentum.

“So, we strike quickly. Right now.”

Fortunately, Elves are naturally agile and quick.

And except for food, the Elves were not inferior in terms of armaments.

If they were going to fight anyway, a quick surprise attack was the answer, as the Spirit King said.

Therefore, a night raid was decided for that night.

“Emperor, wait there. I’m going to defeat you now.”

On a moonless night, the Elves moved extremely quietly and quickly for the night raid.

The Spirit King even used the spirit of the wind to eliminate the sound of footsteps of the cavalry and infantry.

Shushuk!

“Ugh!”

“Guard duty complete.”

The snipers and assassins of the Elven vanguard eliminated the sentries of the base.

Of course, none of the enemies had a chance to respond.

Sreung!

“Charge! It’s time to slaughter them!”

The Spirit King, who drew the sword of the spirit, stood at the forefront, encouraging the soldiers himself.

Kwarreung!

Soon, the palisade of the base was instantly destroyed by spirit magic, and Elven soldiers and knights raided the base.

At that time, they were high-spirited.

“T, this is strange! There are no enemies inside the base!”

But soon they could realize that it was empty.

However, the base was not empty.

“This is… the smell of oil! It’s a trap!”

Whirrreureureuk!

At that moment, the sky turned red, and a firestorm fell on the Imperial Army’s base where the Elven Kingdom army had invaded.

Kwang! Kwang!

Inside the base, there were oil bottles or oil-soaked straw scattered everywhere.

When a firestorm fell on the place where the tinder was gathered, it was instantly engulfed in flames.

“L, look over there! In the sky…!”

Although the Elves were out of their minds with the flames bursting everywhere, they could clearly see the existence that was turning the sky red.

An existence with pure white wings spread out, wielding a burning sword.

The Emperor of the Empire was there.

He had thought of this from the beginning and made all the arrangements.

“Ugh, fire!”

“Everyone, don’t act rashly!”

Amid the soldiers panicking as the surroundings burned, the Spirit King began to cast spirit magic.

Chrarararak-

The spirit magic of water was activated and devoured the fire.

It was even extinguishing the flames of purification, which were not easily extinguished.

Not only that, but it was also healing the wounds of those who were burned.

The Spirit King’s spirit magic had become stronger than before.

“Oh! Your Highness is protecting us!”

“Now is the time! Shoot the enemy’s leader! He’s alone!”

The Elves, who immediately came to their senses, launched a counterattack.

Even though he was far in the sky, the Elves’ shots accurately aimed at the Emperor.

However, the Emperor brushed off the arrows by scattering fire with a swing of his sword or knocking them away with his sword, and then fled far away.

“You! Are you running away…!”

The Spirit King saw the Emperor running away and tried to fly after him.

“Your Highness! Something terrible has happened!”

At that time, his aide stopped him. He would have ignored it normally, but he could not ignore what he said next.

“Our base is on fire! The enemies have launched a night raid in reverse!”

“What?”

“Surely, if it’s the enemy…”

The aide trailed off.

If the enemies had been planning this from the beginning, there was only one thing to aim for in the empty base that they had raided in reverse.

“Hurry back!”

The Spirit King, whose thoughts had reached that point, immediately withdrew his troops.

Fortunately, there was no pursuit, but unfortunately, they were not pursuing because they did not have the ability to do so.