He Became The Most Insane Emperor Of All Time [EN]: Chapter 150

Misty night sea.

Usually, it’s best to avoid sailing in such conditions.

But tonight, the Empire’s fleet pressed on, braving the fog.

“Goodness, I never thought I’d be sailing with the help of the Naga,” Sarah said.

“Life is full of surprises, Sarah. Just accept it,” I replied quietly.

Sarah, watching the sea lane from the bow, grumbled softly.

“Well, I don’t have any complaints, not really. Not if His Majesty guarantees it.”

“Good things are good, right? Thanks to them, we’re retaking the islands seized by the Fishman cult, one by one.”

The island we were heading to this time was also one of them.

The fog in front of us was magical, designed to prevent ships from approaching the island.

However, we were breaking through with the guidance of the Naga sailors, who could see through it.

“But, I do have one complaint.”

“What is it?”

Sarah avoided looking at the sea for a moment, then turned back to me.

“I’m unhappy that Your Majesty has to sacrifice so much.”

“That’s because I am the Emperor.”

“Is it to protect the Empire? Then who protects the guardians who sacrifice for the Empire?”

I felt a tremendous sense of déjà vu at Sarah’s words.

That was what I had said to Stella. I never thought I would hear it in reverse.

Thinking about it, my feelings have changed a lot since then.

Of course, I still remember my life in the 21st century on Earth, but my identity as an Imperial, especially as the Emperor, has become much stronger.

“Many people are already protecting me. Even the Imperial Guard does.”

“But Your Majesty is running into danger even more directly than they do. And now you’ve even made an oath, mortgaging your soul.”

Sarah seemed genuinely concerned that I had made the oath with Ktallion [likely a powerful sea entity or god] and the sea.

“Hmm, you’re acting a bit strange today.”

“What do you mean?”

“You weren’t usually one to worry about me so much. Well, I appreciate you caring.”

“…”

“Well, don’t worry too much. The oath was equal, and in a way, it put a leash on the Naga and Ktallion.”

As long as Ktallion doesn’t break the oath first and doesn’t harm the Empire, I don’t have to break my oath.

Rather, if Ktallion forcibly breaks the oath and has to offer me divinity, that would be even more beneficial.

“I hope so. Huh? Th-This! Everyone, prepare for battle!”

Just as our conversation was ending, Sarah looked at the sea and shouted urgently.

“They’re attacking from underwater!”

“R-Really! From the water- Keuk!”

“It’s a Fishman attack!”

The Fishmen were cunning, and they were attacking by climbing onto the ship from underwater in a coordinated surprise.

They swarmed onto the deck and began attacking the sailors.

“Don’t back down! Fight honorably, like the Imperial Navy!”

Tang!

“F-For the Empire!”

Sarah fired mana bullets, raising the morale of the sailors. Emboldened, the sailors, who had initially been frightened by the night raid, began to fight back.

Shu shu shuk! Shu shuk! Chwaak! Seokeok!

“Hmm, there are quite a few of them.”

Of course, I joined the fight as well. Multiple Shadow Blades rampaged, and Silver Rose, transformed into a blade whip, danced, splitting the Fishmen apart.

But the number of Fishmen appearing from the water continued to increase. They were waging an all-out war.

I’m worried about the other ships if this keeps up…

Kwajik! Jjeojeojeok!

-Kalibaaaaaaal!

-For the glory of the North!

“No, I don’t need to worry.”

Looking at the other ships, I could hear the shouts of the Northern mercenaries who were with Igrit on her ship.

They had never been on a ship before, but they quickly adapted, and now they were fighting freely, like amphibious Vikings.

Igrit was even creating ice, making footholds on the water, and massacring the Fishmen as they emerged.

“Imperial Guardians, take courage!”

“The night sky has brightened…! The Empire’s flames protect us!”

Meanwhile, Stella supported the allies by illuminating the night sky with purifying flames, negating the Fishmen’s advantage.

The Fishmen, who lost the element of surprise, began to be pushed back.

Chwaaaaaak-

“A ship has appeared from the seabed! It’s a Naga ship!”

“Blackbeard has arrived just in time.”

As a finishing blow, Blackbeard’s fleet arrived, the ships suddenly soaring from the seawater, filled with sea wraiths and Naga sailors.

“Slaughter the Fishman trash!”

“Aye Aye Sir!”

Blackbeard was happily drinking rum and firing his new magic-triggered pistols.

He seemed quite pleased with the new armament he had acquired thanks to the treasure he had obtained last time.

“They’re retreating to the village. Sarah, raid the village with the fleet as quickly as possible. I’ll open the way first.”

“Okay!”

[Light Wings Deployed]

Shuuuuuuuk-

I immediately spread my wings and flew into the sky. Cutting through the cold, salty sea breeze, I headed to the island hidden by the fog.

“Magic-triggered cannons. Oh, they even have large harpoon launchers?”

The Fishmen weren’t just focused on the sea battle.

Amphibious landings are always vulnerable, so they had fortified the coast to make it difficult for the fleet to land.

But now that defense was about to crumble.

[Imperial Soul Stage 3 Unlocked]

[Silvatein, Flamethrower Type Deployed]

Peoeong! Hwareureureureuk-

I transformed my armor with Silvanstein [likely a magical metal or artifact] and loaded the flamethrower, a modified version of the Silvan Cannon, and fired.

The magic cannon, filled with flames, spewed fire, engulfing the Fishmen stationed on the ground.

-Keueeeeek!

-It’s hot! Jump into the water!

-You fools! Come out and prepare to defend!

The area below was in chaos.

The Fishmen, who lived in the water and had little experience with fire, were suffering more than any other race.

The smell of grilled fish is probably not just my imagination.

Peoeong- Pung!

The fleet’s firing followed soon after. The Fishman defense force, caught in a double whammy, had no choice but to retreat.

But where could they retreat to on the island? They might be running to the sea, but maybe there was another place to escape to.

“Land quickly!”

“Drop the anchor!”

“We must seize the port first!”

As the resistance faded, the mercenary knights, acting as marines, quickly disembarked.

They were hired with money, but their combat power was comparable to that of ordinary knights.

“It’s going smoothly. I don’t think I need to do anything more.”

Some resistance occurred during the seizure of the island’s port, but it was quickly suppressed.

“Blackbeard, as you said, we secured this island first.”

I approached Blackbeard, who had also docked his ship at the port.

“I want to know why you specifically requested the capture of this island? From what I can see, the Fishmen defended it desperately… but there’s nothing special about this island.”

It was originally just a quiet, small fishing village island.

It’s unknown whether the original residents are dead or alive, but I couldn’t understand why everyone was focusing on this island, which had no valuable resources.

“Certainly, this island is worthless. But that’s why the Fishmen chose this place.”

“Chose? What did they choose?”

“As a gateway. Connecting the Abyss and the land.”

“…!”

Come to think of it, I’ve always been curious.

Both the Fishmen and the Naga.

These races originally live in the Abyss [a term for the deep ocean or another dimension].

Of course, I’ve heard that there are bases on the continent where the beastmen live across the sea, but their original home is the Abyss, the bottom of the sea.

But how are so many of them wandering around on land like this? The Abyss doesn’t seem like such an easily accessible place.

“It’s because they create a subspace connecting the Abyss and this place. This is the passage that the Fishmen created for their operations in the Empire.”

“I see. So, you suggested attacking to eliminate that passage?”

Naturally, that was my first thought. If we blocked the passage that the Fishmen were using to travel in and out of the Abyss, we could definitely suppress their activities.

“No, even if we just get rid of it, unless we solve the fundamental problem, they will just create another passage.”

“If it’s a fundamental problem…?”

“We need to strike their base and inflict fatal damage, if possible…”

Blackbeard made a gesture of slitting his throat and continued.

“Even if it means taking the Sea Queen’s head.”

“So, you’re saying we should use the passage in reverse.”

“You understand quickly, as expected. Yes, then, Emperor, are you ready to go to the Abyss?”

“The Abyss…”

I don’t know what kind of place it is. The literal meaning seemed to be the bottom of the sea.

“If I go there, I won’t just drown and die, right?”

Naturally, I suspected it was a subtle trap.

A trap for Blackbeard to screw us over.

“Hmph, you don’t trust us. Well, we don’t completely trust you either, so let’s call it even. But such ‘betrayal’ is impossible as long as we have made an oath.”

“Well, fine. I’ll trust you for now.”

Soon after, as Blackbeard assured, a portal gate was found on one side of the island.

It seemed that the fleet could advance through the one created in the sea.

“What I see beyond the portal is… it really looks like the Abyss I’ve only heard about. All black sky, turbulent waves…”

“Can you navigate such a place?”

“I wouldn’t normally do it, but… I don’t want to send Your Majesty alone, so I’ll go.”

Sarah said, sounding determined. Hmm, Sarah seems to be paying a lot of attention to me today for some reason.

“Okay, let’s finish the preparations and go right away.”

As Blackbeard said, we decided to move forward with the goal of annihilating the Fishmen or killing the Sea Queen.

Soon, the fleet began to pass through the huge portal gate.

As seen beyond the portal, the sea was shaded and dark.

“There is no sun anywhere.”

“That’s why this place is called the Abyss.”

“…Blackbeard?”

At that moment, Blackbeard’s voice was heard. But it wasn’t his usual raspy voice.

When I turned around, I saw a young man with a black beard.

“Who… are you?”

“Hahaha, my appearance may look unfamiliar.”

“It’s not just unfamiliar. It’s a completely different person. What happened?”

It was strange. But he wasn’t the only one who had changed.

The sea wraiths and Naga sailors who were with him had all changed.

Most of them were handsome men.

“This is our true form, freed from the curse of the sea. We can live in this form in the Abyss.”

“The curse has disappeared…”

Was that the secret of the Naga?

But Blackbeard, you weren’t that young in my memory?

Where are you trying to scam me?