He Became The Most Insane Emperor Of All Time [EN]: Chapter 162

“Leonis! There’s no time to lose. Sara is dying, please help.”

Just in time, the Guardian Gods of the Empire appeared. No, they wouldn’t have come for no reason at this timing. They probably came because of this incident.

-It is regrettable but impossible, Emperor. The curse on the Empress is a powerful curse created directly by a Demon God. It was a scheme aimed solely at her from the start.

-A scheme to shake the Emperor, I see.

Then, Lustral of Purification, standing behind Leonis, answered instead.

“Then… is there no way? Why did you show up here if that’s the case?”

-Calm yourself, Emperor. Of course, we came to guide you.

This time, Mysterium of Mystery, an old man with a sage-like atmosphere, spoke.

-There is no way to heal her immediately. But we know the principle to delay the illness.

“What is it?”

-You have already seen that method.

“I don’t have time for twenty questions. Tell me the answer quickly.”

Of course, with the soul world unfolded now, time was half-stopped, so there was no need to be too hasty.

But I couldn’t hide my impatience.

Then Leonis spoke.

-Do you remember Isborg, Emperor?

“Isborg? Why mention that place?”

-You will remember the Frostfire Brazier. And the ill-fated queen who was bound to that brazier.

“Could it be…”

-That’s right. The constitution Sara has now is the same as hers. A curse and a blessing, a blessing and a curse. The way to solve it is the same as what you know.

At those words, I felt my blood run cold.

As Leonis said, the overflowing magic of the Queen of Isborg was a blessing in that city of snow, but a terrible curse for her.

“Are you saying to make a Frostfire Brazier?”

-That’s right, Emperor. You must constantly consume the magic that will burn her up. But without the brazier, you will hit a limit.

“Wait, Kalibal destroyed the Frostfire Brazier? It wasn’t in the ruins of Isborg either.”

Instead, there was the sealed Kalibal.

For thousands of years, Kalibal had been cultivating vast Frostfire within his body.

As a result, it saved the North, but specifically why he made such a choice has been a mystery until now.

-Emperor, Kalibal’s choice was right. But that choice freed the queen but led to an ill-fated destiny. Yes, just like the current Empress.

-Kalibal therefore made a decision. In the form you already knew.

“Kalibal…”

Was that the reason?

Indeed, there was no way Kalibal would have made such a sacrifice just for the future of the North.

Rather, there must have been something that acted as a stronger motive for him, and that was the queen.

-Do you understand? The only way to save the current Empress is to go back to the past and obtain the same method.

As the Guardian Gods of the Empire said, there is only one way to go back to the past.

The Vision Labyrinth.

A dangerous but magical treasure trove and the only place where one can witness beyond space and time.

As they said, the only place I had to go was there.

“Your Majesty? Are you alright?”

Immediately after the conversation, the soul world scattered.

Stella was looking at me with a worried expression.

“I’m fine. Stella, first, I know a way to stabilize Sara’s condition.”

“What is it?”

“It’s simple. Find a way to properly consume the magic that is rampaging in her body. This won’t cure her, but it will improve her symptoms.”

Of course, this is a desperate measure. It won’t keep up with the speed of the rampaging magic, and if I overdo it too much at once, Sara’s body won’t be able to handle it and she will die.

So, a means to constantly consume magic moderately is needed. For example, like the Frostfire Brazier.

However, what I hesitated about was that the Frostfire Brazier clearly acted as an inescapable shackle for the Queen of Isborg.

If possible, I wanted to find another way.

But in any case, my destination was decided.

“Listen, everyone. I will leave the Imperial Palace immediately.”

“Y-Your Majesty. What do you mean?”

“It is to save the Empress. To save her, I must go to the Vision Labyrinth.”

Chancellor Kal Bright frowned at my answer.

But he soon opened his mouth as if he had resolved to offer loyal advice.

“It is impossible, Your Majesty. There has just been the most fatal scheme by the demons. In the midst of that, Your Majesty leaving your post is an irresponsible act.”

All the officials in the palace buzzed at Chancellor Bright’s statement.

It was the right thing to say, but it was too direct to advise the Emperor.

If I had cut off his head for the sake of authority, he would have had nothing to say. Of course, I had no intention of doing that at all.

“Chancellor, I know your loyalty. But this is reasonable and based on rational grounds.”

“Can you tell me the reason?”

“Of course. The demons targeted the Empress, not me. Of course, it may be to shake me, but this is clearly their direct aim. Sara is worth that much.”

This was not an empty statement. If Sara dies right away, the connection between me and the Orlant family, our political partner in the Imperial family, will weaken.

Of course, there is Duke Orlant, the Governor-General of the Southern Territory, but he is already old. When he dies, there will be no contact between the families except for the Grand Empress Dowager.

The Grand Empress Dowager, who has already lost influence as the Orlant family, will not be able to perform the role of ‘coordinating among the nobles’ that the Orlant family used to do.

I could say that 50% of my future grand plan would disappear with Sara’s death.

It was possible that the demons knew this and targeted her.

“For that reason, I must go to the Vision Labyrinth to save Sara.”

“Then, Your Highness, this time our Legions will accompany you.”

“That is impossible. Captain of the Guard.”

“Your Majesty…!”

The Captain of the Guard looked as if the world had collapsed at my firm refusal. He had always been deeply loyal, but since becoming a Legion, they seemed to regard me as a god.

So, it was natural for them to be heartbroken that I refused to accompany them.

“But this also has a valid reason.”

“What is the reason, Your Majesty?”

“First of all, no one but me can guarantee survival in the depths of the Vision Labyrinth. Not even the Legions.”

The place with the space-time where you can go to the past is in the deep part of the Vision Labyrinth.

Last time I went to the Vision Labyrinth, I almost died with Igrid.

I can’t go to such a place with a large force. It’s just pushing precious troops to their deaths.

“Also, there is another reason. As you have seen, the demons are actively plotting against the Empire.”

And the reason closer to the essence was none other than the demons.

“Whatever that plot is, it means that even this Imperial Palace is not a safe place. You are the only ones who can stop it while I am away.”

I don’t know how far the demons are thinking.

They may be aiming for assassination as they are now, or it may be social unrest or support from hostile countries.

At worst… it could be war.

“While I am away, you must be the shield of the Empire. A shield is only valuable when it is in the place you want to protect.”

“We are Your Majesty’s shield.”

“No, to me, you are just swords. The place where you must be shields is in front of this Empire and its people!”

“……!”

The Captain of the Guard had a rare surprised expression at my scolding.

Since he was so loyal, the following words would be even more shocking.

“I have become stronger. I can survive without you. But my Empire, my people are not yet. What are you going to do if you don’t protect them?”

“Your Majesty… but…”

“I once lectured a foolish man called the Spirit King. Without the people, your throne is meaningless. Are you going to make me a foolish commoner like him?”

“……No.”

“Then don’t break my will. Protect my precious people.”

“I will obey your command, Your Majesty.”

The Captain of the Guard and the Legions all solemnly accepted my will.

Confirming that, I turned my gaze to Igrid, who had been running with the Legions.

“Igrid, I would like you to take over the Empress’s position temporarily while I am away.”

“……Your Majesty, I am not capable of such a position. Also, this will not be a good precedent.”

Igrid replied in a tone that she had started to correct at Sara’s recommendation.

“No, it is a very reasonable thing to do. The Emperor and Empress are both absent. The person who should rightfully take my place and exercise power in my absence is the Imperial Concubine.”

Of course, the Grand Empress Dowager may be higher in rank, but depending on the interpretation, it may be right for the Imperial Concubine to exercise power in the absence of the Emperor.

The Grand Empress Dowager is only a mother, and even if the Imperial Concubine is a concubine, she is the Emperor’s wife. The political dynamics between the two were too different, and it was right to entrust it to Igrid now.

“Moreover, this is an emergency situation where a military situation may occur. So, you are more suitable than Stella or Mother. Do not refuse.”

“……I understand, Your Majesty.”

Igrid also soon agreed to my command.

I finally turned my gaze to Sara.

Sara, who was receiving Stella’s desperate care, was panting.

“Honey.”

“Sara. I’ll be back. Is that okay?”

“You wouldn’t listen even if I tried to stop you, would you?”

I smiled back at her as she smiled weakly while sweating.

“Yes, that’s what I’m going to do. So don’t think about dying on your own. You’re still very useful.”

“Ah, so terribly romantic. Can’t you say something pretty at times like this?”

“I can’t.”

If I could, I wouldn’t have been rejected before I flew into this world.

Come to think of it, I reacted very indifferently even when I was rejected.

It seems to be my nature.

“If you can’t, teach me when you come back.”

“Pfft, okay. Don’t worry and come back.”

I grabbed Sara’s hand one last time and turned away.

I didn’t have any regrets. There’s no reason to have regrets. I’m coming back and I’m going to save her, so why do I need regrets?

I left those words and walked out of the audience hall towards the outside.

“Your Majesty.”

“Your Majesty the Emperor.”

“Please be victorious.”

Every time I walked, everyone, from the palace officials, the Imperial Knights, the Legions, to the people who came to petition, bowed their heads and greeted me.

“Then, everyone. Keep your place.”

With those words, I spread my wings of light and flew into the sky. I was going to fly to the city of magicians where the Vision Labyrinth was located.

“Your Majesty… we will wait!”

“Please return safely!”

“Long live the Emperor!”

“Long live the Empire!”

The shouts of all the people in the capital, no, the capital city, faded away.