He Became The Most Insane Emperor Of All Time [EN]: Chapter 191

“You’re putting the spirits inside them? Why would you do that?”

“You wouldn’t understand, being human. The Spirit Realm is decaying. No, it’s being polluted and collapsing.”

“Polluted?”

“Yes. The Emperor of the Empire has tainted the Spirit Realm.”

Ah.

Only then did I understand what he was talking about.

I remembered indirectly damaging the Spirit Realm with the Imperial Soul during the last battle with the Spirit King.

The World Tree burned because of that, too. Maybe the flames of purification are still burning in the Spirit Realm.

“Spirit magic is the foundation of the Elves’ power, but those spirits are dying. So, we have to move them somewhere else.”

“That somewhere else is inside dolls?”

“More precisely, we’re making it possible for them to live directly in this world, giving bodies to the spirits that didn’t have them.”

“……And your own kind are being used to make those bodies?”

The resistance elf chuckled at my question.

“Those slaves aren’t our kind. They’ve lost their pride and chose to become slaves to live pathetically… It would be a good thing if those guys could die for the greater cause.”

The eyes of the guy saying that gleamed with madness. There was no use in trying to reason with guys like that.

“If that’s what you guys are into, then so be it. You’re planning to create an army with them, right?”

“That’s right. We’ll reunite the kingdom with it and stand against the Empire again.”

“I hate to say this, but doesn’t that seem a little reckless? It’s impossible to catch up with the Empire’s ever-increasing national power with just that.”

I’m not saying that because I’m the Emperor, but it really is impossible.

Of course, saving and preserving the spirits in that way was an unexpected idea.

But to challenge the Empire again with that? I could wipe them out with just the army, without even having to step in myself. Of course, I don’t want to do that without a cause.

“Of course. But it would be a different story if we had allies.”

“If you’re talking about allies, there’s only one place.”

The Demon Realm.

These guys, they were planning to join hands with the Demon Realm after all.

“Are you serious? What’s better about the Demon Realm than the Empire?”

“There wouldn’t be. But they are the enemy of the Empire. Almost the only one left.”

“That’s true.”

From the perspective of the Elf resistance, they wouldn’t have any other choice. They can’t stand against our Empire with just themselves, and they need allies, but the only ones who would do that are practically the Demon Realm now.

“I think I understand now. It’s quite an elaborate plan.”

“Are you satisfied?”

“To be honest, I’m not really satisfied. It’s reckless and clumsy. But isn’t that what all rebellion plans are like?”

It’s funny that I, the Emperor, am evaluating it, but that’s what all rebel plans are like.

Only successful rebellions are remembered, but the form of rebellion is always a reckless and clumsy plan that is no different from gambling.

“That’s harsh, but true.”

“Well, so you better trust me. Shouldn’t you receive at least the weapons I hand over so that your reckless plan has even a little chance of success?”

He nodded, as if he had nothing to say to my logic.

“Then I’ll be on my way. Just tell me who to contact.”

“I never said I’d let you go, did I?”

“Oh, really? Then how are you going to get the weapons? You won’t be able to get even a single dagger without my instructions.”

“……Okay, I’ll trust you.”

They tried to be stubborn somehow, but they couldn’t get anything out of it. In the end, I was able to leave them and walk out confidently.

And a while later, it was around the time I returned to the lodgings.

“Your Majesty, the guys who were tailing you have fallen off.”

“The Elves, trusting me my ass [a sarcastic remark indicating disbelief].”

They didn’t trust me, so they even tailed me. They’re guys who have had no faith since they were born.

“What are you going to do now? The Counterintelligence Knights are ready.”

“It’s not time to attack yet. I’m going to give them some weapons and supplies appropriately. Put some tracking magic on them appropriately.”

“That’s not difficult, but that will improve the rebels’ armed state.”

“We’re not the ones who are going to bleed anyway.”

The Elves are. Of course, the Dark Elves, who are nominally allies, will also bleed.

But they are allies who are completely untrustworthy. Not just because they are Elves, but because their value is lower than that of the Greenskins [Orcs] or the Ktarion Abyssals [demonic creatures from the abyss].

“Of course, it would be troublesome if the rebels win… But if the Demon Realm gets involved, it’s not a problem that we can solve just by blocking them. Unlike the Greenskins, the Elves are uncooperative.”

I once brought down the Elf Kingdom, but I didn’t think I could completely bring this place under the Empire’s rule.

So, I had the Dark Elves rule it instead, like a puppet state.

Of course, civilian exchanges took place and rights were sucked up, but I had no intention of taking care of them one by one just because a rebellion broke out.

That would be like being swayed by a tributary state? I can’t stand to see the Empire playing the role of the real Empire and breaking its back.

“What we have to do is thwart these guys’ ridiculous plan. So, we’re just giving the Demon Realm a burden.”

“A burden, you say?”

“Yes, if the Elves’ plan regarding the spirits is thwarted, the Elf rebels will just be a bunch of mouths to feed for the demons. It’s not like the demons are short of that much power.”

Of course, it would be a shame to have those guys as meat shields.

But even if they get their hands on the Elves who have been devastated by the civil war, the effort to arm them will be entirely the demons’ responsibility.

If you do the math, it’s more beneficial for the Empire to do that.

“So, we have to adjust the pace. Give them some weapons to fatten them up, and then make them kill each other more diligently. Meanwhile, we aim to remove only the important things.”

For example, thwarting or… stealing their precious doll plan.

“I don’t know if the Baron will do his job properly.”

Moreover, they had no idea what the Baron was thinking.

The enemy within is not just me.

* * *

“Baron, the Shadow you introduced me to really handed over the weapons. Humans are still hard to trust, but he seems to be a useful guy.”

“Is that so? That’s a relief.”

Somewhere in the rebel camp.

The Baron was talking to the leader of the Elf resistance.

He met Shadow in person and was able to get his hands on a large amount of weapons and supplies as promised.

He went to the Baron who introduced him to express his gratitude.

“But Baron, there’s one thing I’m curious about.”

“What is it?”

“Why did you burn your house down? You didn’t tell us the reason properly.”

“Isn’t the plan nearing completion now? Of course, it’s to avoid leaving any evidence behind.”

“……Is that really all?”

“Of course. Or are you suspecting me now?”

“……No. There’s no way. Never mind. I misspoke. Then keep up the good work.”

The leader still looked suspicious, but the Baron snorted at him.

“What are you thinking, Baron?”

To him, his daughter, no, the Doppelganger Marionette [a magical puppet that can perfectly mimic someone] in the form of his daughter, said.

“That man, he’s a spy, isn’t he? Why did you do that when I told you?”

“Cooperating with the Elves is just to get what I want.”

“Hmph. How foolish. I could tell on you, you know?”

“Go ahead.”

The Doppelganger Marionette puffed out her cheeks as if she was slightly sulky at him, who didn’t care at all even when she said she would report him.

“Well, whatever. In fact, we demons don’t care about the Elves’ plans at all. No, it’s better if they fail.”

“Why?”

“Because they’ll depend on us more.”

“Isn’t that more of a burden? Wouldn’t that just increase the number of useless freeloaders?”

“That would be the case if the Elves were really useless. But they are useful in their own way. For example, even now, the Elves are stepping up to offer their own kind for doll research, aren’t they?”

Both the Empire and the Demon Realm were cold in their logic. The Empire was willing to throw away the Elves as sacrifices to buy time for their country, and the demons were willing to use the Elves as research sacrifices, even at the cost of losses.

The only ones who would be sacrificed to the cold logic of the two forces were the Elves. But they were the ones who had ruled over many races like tyrants for thousands of years, just like the demons, so it was close to karmic retribution [the principle of cause and effect where actions determine future consequences].

“Well, do whatever you want. I’m not going to save you even if you get into danger.”

“Thank you for your kind words.”

“Hmph.”

The Marionette said those words and left his workshop.

After she left, he turned his gaze to a doll he was painstakingly making.

It was a doll in the form of his daughter, Loretta, whom he had shown to Shadow.

It was almost identical to the Marionette’s appearance, but the one in front of him had a more lively and human appearance.

He stared at it for a while as if he was feeling sorry for it, and then left the workshop.

“I’ve come to see His Majesty the Spirit King. It’s time to check on his condition.”

“Please come in, Baron.”

The rebel’s hideout was not a place where the Spirit King, who was once a king, could be. To put it nicely.

The Spirit King, sitting on a makeshift throne in a corner of the dark and damp hideout, stared at the Baron with dying eyes.

“You’ve come…… Dollmaker.”

“Your Majesty the Spirit King.”

“My body…… is breaking. This doll is…… incomplete…….”

The Spirit King had the appearance he had before he was killed by the Emperor, but it was cracked like a doll with cracks all over.

“This is not a problem with the doll. Your Majesty’s soul is already reaching its limit. Now we must sever the connection with the Spirit Realm.”

“I can’t…… do that. The fate of our race…… is at stake in the Spirit Realm…… I cannot give up…….”

“…….”

The Spirit King spoke as if he was determined, but the Baron sneered inwardly. In his lifetime, he thought of his subjects, his own kind, as less than consumables, so it was ridiculous for him to make such a statement. It seemed that the side effects of doll magic were serious.

“You are not giving up forever. You are just temporarily moving the Spirit Realm and Your Majesty’s soul to a new body. You must recuperate there.”

“Baron…… are you really telling me to give up my body, the body of a noble Elf. Even into the body of a insignificant young girl…….”

There was conflict and urgency in the Spirit King’s voice. The Baron felt that he had almost crossed over. He would have no more choice.

“That’s right. The body modeled after His Majesty’s soul can no longer be maintained. This is because the damage imprinted on the soul is transferred to the body as well. It is also impossible to model it after an Elf. To erase the damage in Your Majesty’s soul, you must become a completely new being.”

“Keu, keuheuheuhe…….”

The Spirit King laughed as if he was mocking his own situation.

“My state is terrible. Good…… If this is also for revenge, I will gladly endure it. Do as you wish, Dollmaker.”

“Thank you.”

The Baron laughed inwardly. With this, the last puzzle for the reunion was completed.