He Became The Most Insane Emperor Of All Time [EN]: Chapter 169

“Underground forces… are you talking about those Ratmen we just saw?”

“Yeah, well, they’re not the only ones, and there are real threats besides them. But they’re the main enemy.”

So, it’s the Ratmen again. They were definitely trying to take over Prospera’s vault.

But that’s 3,000 years in the future. Back then, the dwarves were hard to find.

I don’t know what happened, or if these dwarves survived.

“But the war with them is going well? You guys have better technology than them, don’t you?”

“Of course! Those dirt moles can’t keep up with our technology! Haa, but they have numbers. And those damn xenos [aliens] are cooperating, so they’re catching up in technology too.”

“So how bad is the war situation?”

“……”

The dwarves’ expressions hardened at my last question, and they became reluctant to speak. Oops, did I say something I shouldn’t have?

“Well, I’m sure you guys will overcome it. You’re the great dwarves, aren’t you?”

Remembering that dwarves are proud, I tried to praise them. Actually, I wanted to say I could help, but I thought it might hurt their pride, so I held back.

“O-of course! Who do you think we are! Hahaha! Anyway, the reason we cut off contact with humans isn’t because we wanted to, but because those Ratmen are launching cowardly biochemical toxin attacks. If we interact with humans, there’s a risk of spreading the epidemic…”

“Unexpected that you were thinking of humans?”

“Well, we have the best civilization. It’s only natural to guide our friends with younger civilizations. We’re not like those nasty elves or ignorant barbarian greenskins [orcs/goblins].”

Well, you guys seem to look down on humans too… but I decided to think of it as ‘good is good’.

“Then, would it be okay to ask for a little help? I came all the way here because I need your help.”

“You need help? Well, you look pretty desperate. But our situation isn’t that great right now. But there was also the Rune Bear’s oracle [prophecy], so we can let you meet the king. Reporting the oracle is the rule. Try to plead your case to His Majesty then.”

They agreed more readily than I thought. But the problem was whether the attestation of these dwarves guarding the outpost would be effective… but I had no other choice right now.

“Hey, I’m going to take this friend and come back, so guard the outpost well.”

“Oh, you’re taking away my chance to slack off. Bring back some beer and snacks when you come back.”

“I will.”

The dwarf guard, after exchanging some jokes, soon began to guide me.

I saw an entrance some distance away from their outpost, tightly shut. Surprisingly, when I pulled the lever, a bunker-like door began to open with the sound of gears turning.

“Amazing, what’s the power source? Is it electricity?”

“Electricity? Of course, it’s electricity. If you want to ask properly, you should ask what we make electricity with.”

“What do you make it with?”

“Magic, of course. Magical engineering. But of course, we don’t do the rookie thing of relying 100% on magical engineering. That’s what civilizations below the mountains try to do. For example, gears are still the best for the drive, and the engine is a steam engine linked with magical engineering…”

…The dwarf guard started excitedly telling me various things as if he had been waiting for my question. Dwarves… were they a race with TMI [too much information] as a basic feature?

“Um, thanks for the explanation. More importantly, where do we have to go now?”

“Oh, right, look at my mind. We have to go down to the city now. Here, take this elevator down.”

“Elevator…”

“Oh, that’s, well…”

“I know what it is. It’s a device that automatically goes up and down. A lift.”

“Tch, you know.”

What, why are you so disappointed? Anyway, I followed the dwarf guard, who was regretting not being able to give an explanation, and took a fairly large elevator that could easily carry a company down.

To think that this level of technology is possible, I don’t know why this technology didn’t remain after 3,000 years.

No, didn’t it remain? Clearly, Prospera’s report had the technical knowledge itself, although the amount was at the sample level.

The information left in the report said that this technical knowledge was spreading until 1,500 years ago, but then a dark age occurred due to some event, and the technology regressed again.

I was curious about what that event 1,500 years ago was, but I put it off until later since there was no need to find out right now.

“Okay, you’ll see it soon.”

“See it? See what?”

As I was thinking that, the dwarf guard said with a proud look.

“Our city, Anvil City.”

The City of the Anvil.

That was the meaning of the name. And the sight unfolding beyond the elevator was a sight that the word was not enough to describe.

“Good heavens.”

An endless expanse of steel.

A city of giant gears turning. Buildings in the city constantly emitting steam.

These guys, they were talking about magical engineering, but they’re just living in a steampunk world among themselves.

“How is it, amazing, right? The humans who visit here are always surprised. Sometimes they even try to worship those machines, which gave us a lot of trouble. Haha!”

The guard’s proud words continued, but even I couldn’t help but be amazed.

If I could bring their technology back even after 3,000 years, there would be endless things I could do.

That being said, they wouldn’t follow me willingly. That’s obvious. I had no intention of kidnapping them.

I wouldn’t be able to get proper cooperation with that method.

Well, unless I could make them owe me a debt. Rather, I was in a position where I had to ask them for help.

“Okay, we’ve arrived. Be careful not to get lost while looking around and follow me.”

“I will.”

I soon began to walk the streets of Anvil City. The war situation was said to be bad, but the city was quite vibrant.

Even in Augsburg 3,000 years later, most of those who wear such good clothes are nobles, and it is difficult to carry a small pocket watch like the dwarves seen here.

Being compared like this makes me a little sad… Of course, if I go back and fix Sarah, I plan to catch up quickly, but still.

“Because of the war, it’s not as lively as it used to be…”

“This is what it looks like with less energy?”

“Ah, you wouldn’t know. In fact, even if they pretend not to be, everyone is very worried. That’s because there are only a few underground sectors left. They’ve been almost completely occupied by the rat bastards.”

The war situation was bad, and it certainly seemed to be the case.

The fact that they fought so hard against those with this technology meant that the enemies had a large number of them, or that there were strong guys besides the numbers.

“Anyway, there’s no reason for you, an outsider, to worry too much. Okay, we’re almost at the Palace of Steel.”

After a while, we arrived at a palace that was particularly large and magnificent compared to other buildings. It was somewhat aesthetically crude, but the dwarves’ technology was evident from the exterior of the building.

“Hey, what brings you here? You’re supposed to be guarding the outpost, aren’t you? And you’re bringing a human I’ve never seen before. Don’t you know that His Majesty the King has issued a lockdown order?”

“Don’t you think I know that? But it was important. That is…”

“What? The Rune Bear’s oracle? This has become troublesome. His Majesty the King is busy, so why now…”

However, the guard couldn’t enter immediately because the guard, who appeared to be a guard, was explaining the situation.

Since it took some time, I looked around.

[The ‘Sharp Weakness Detection’ ability has detected a threat in the vicinity!]

“Huh?”

At that time, the surrounding land was caught red in my sight.

It was a phenomenon indicated by the ‘threat’ of the Weakness Detection ability.

As soon as I recognized it, I shouted to the surroundings.

“Everyone, get out of the way!”

“What…?”

Kwaaaang!

“Ugh!”

Shhhhhh-

“P-poison attack! Gas masks!”

“Evacuate the citizens!”

An explosion soon occurred, and a thick green toxin spread in all directions.

“Squeak- Commandos, attack!”

“The goal is to inflict as much damage as possible on the dwarves!”

And Ratmen, who I don’t know where they came from, showed themselves.

They were wearing gas masks and armed with magic-triggered guns. They were better equipped than the guys who used hand cannons last time.

“Cough, cough! D-damn it, the gas mask…”

“Gunnar! Are you okay!”

“G-get away, quickly! Leave me alone…”

The dwarves wanted to fight back, but they didn’t seem to be able to cope easily with the sudden chemical warfare attack.

There were some who responded with gun-spears, which were the form of guns connected to spears while wearing gas masks, but there were only a few of them.

If things continued like this, they would suffer great damage, so it seemed like I had to intervene.

[Purification Flame Deployment]

[Purifies toxins with flames.]

Whirr- Whirr-

“Huh? T-the toxin…”

“It’s burning in the flames. Who on earth?”

First of all, I burned away the toxins with the Purification Flame.

As the toxins that were suppressing the dwarves were all burned away, not only were the Ratmen embarrassed, but the dwarves were also surprised.

[Lustra’s Authority: Healing of Water Droplets]

Following that, I also demonstrated the authority based on my divinity. Water droplets, the symbol that the Purification Order originally regarded as its foundation, scattered in all directions.

“M-my body is being healed.”

“The toxins in my body have disappeared.”

“We’re alive!”

“Let’s counterattack those damn rat bastards!”

The dwarves who were hit by the toxin began to counterattack.

I also joined the counterattack.

Shushushuk- Shushuk!

[Multiple Shadow Blade Deployment]

[Shadow Storm Deployment]

[Explosive Aura Deployment]

Shakagagak! Kwagwang!

The shadow blades pierced through the guys like needles, and a huge shadow storm swept them away. Finally, the explosive sword wind extending from Silver Rose was planted in the guys’ retreat and exploded.

“Who, who is that?”

“I saw it. That friend healed us and got rid of the toxins. I guess he’s a human paladin?”

“…He’s strong, anyway, we got a lot of help, right?”

The Ratmen’s terror was eliminated. There may have been terror elsewhere, but it didn’t seem to be as large as this place, so the dwarves would be able to stop it on their own.

“Y-you. Were you this strong? Well, I guess you received the Rune Bear’s oracle because you were this strong.”

The dwarf guard who had guided me was now looking at me with reverent eyes.

Not only him, but the other dwarves as well.

“Thank you, human paladin. You saved our lives, and I don’t know how to repay you.”

“Thank you so much, I almost died. Me, and my child…”

“It was nothing. More importantly, I need to meet the Dwarf King…”

While receiving the gratitude of the people, I wondered if I could get a chance to meet the king with this.

“His Majesty the King is here!”

And that opportunity came faster than I thought.