He Became The Most Insane Emperor Of All Time [EN]: Chapter 20

The Ultimate Crazy Emperor – Episode 20

“Standard tracking involves using knowledge and observational skills to patiently follow signs,” Jack explained.

Jack had been teaching the soldiers various tactical skills he’d learned as a Ranger.

Tracking was one of them. Though few were as skilled as a real Ranger.

“However, some enemies can’t be tracked with ordinary methods because they know how to disrupt or eliminate their traces.”

And now, Jack and I were chasing a very special target.

He was so difficult to track that even our escorts couldn’t keep up with our swift and stealthy pursuit.

[Track and Eliminate the King of Wolves, Silver Mane]

This was the target of the Trial of Valor I’d unlocked earlier.

But unlike the previous targets, this one was proving incredibly difficult to track from the start.

“Fortunately, there’s a special way to track even these kinds of enemies.”

A way to track them even if they erase their presence or eliminate their traces.

“What method is that?”

“It’s simple: using Aura.”

“Aura?”

Even after hearing Jack’s explanation, I couldn’t easily imagine using Aura for tracking.

I only knew Aura as a way to enhance physical abilities or infuse a sword to create an Aura Blade.

“That’s just one application of Aura.”

Jack placed his right hand on the ground.

Then, a small, thread-like wisp of Aura extended from his hand.

“With practice, you can create threads of Aura like this and extend them in all directions.”

As he spoke, the thread of Aura, a clear blue color, disappeared.

The Aura hadn’t vanished; it had simply become invisible.

The invisible thread of Aura continued to extend in all directions from Jack’s hand.

“Are you tracking with that thread?”

“Yes, by extending invisible threads of Aura in all directions to track.”

A technique to physically locate enemies who cleverly evade tracking by extending threads of Aura that share senses.

“For reference, there are almost no blind spots, and skilled users have been known to sense within a radius of up to 1 kilometer.”

“That’s amazing.”

With this skill, wouldn’t it be virtually impossible for enemies to escape tracking?

“Theoretically, yes, but the fact that it requires Aura means it’s not something just anyone can do.”

“Ah, that’s true.”

Since ordinary people can’t even use Aura, it’s a skill beyond their reach.

[The ‘Genius’ trait has understood the principle of the ‘Watcher’s Web’ skill.]

But I’m no ordinary person.

With the genius trait, I immediately grasped the skill just by hearing the explanation.

“Is it like this?”

I immediately created a thread of Aura from my hand, like Jack, forming an Aura web.

“…Incredible, to imitate something perfectly after seeing it only once.”

I heard Jack’s admiring voice, but I was too amazed by the sensation to focus on anything but extending the Aura.

The Aura web spread wildly in all directions according to my will.

The number of threads was considerable, enough to sense all the objects and creatures nearby.

“Found him.”

I immediately located Silver Mane’s hiding place.

“I’ll go alone from here, Jack.”

“Are you going to fight alone again? It’s too dangerous.”

“I’m not doing it on purpose this time.”

Last time, at the goblin village, I fought alone because the target condition was ‘solo’.

But this hunt didn’t have any such restrictions.

“You’re not exactly combat-specialized, Jack. You should call our allies while I engage.”

It was a strategic choice.

Of course, I planned to engage Silver Mane to prevent his escape while Jack called for reinforcements.

“You won’t listen even if I try to stop you. I understand. I’ll go and return quickly.”

Jack gave up trying to persuade me and quickly headed back to where the escorts had fallen behind.

After he left, I immediately moved toward Silver Mane’s hiding place.

“Then, shall we have a fight in the meantime?”

-Grrrrr…

A creature that triggers a legendary quest.

Perhaps because of that, his appearance was extraordinary from the start.

Just like his name, Silver Mane, his fur was a brilliant silver, almost like a will-o’-the-wisp [a ghostly light seen by travelers at night].

-Krrrroooarr!

“You’re impatient!”

Even on all fours, he was taller than a human.

But despite his size, his movements were surprisingly agile.

Barely avoiding his charge, I drew the Holy Sword from its scabbard and slashed down on his back.

Clang!

“He’s tough?”

The sword bounced off his hide.

It was a sword imbued with Aura, capable of cutting through even strong steel.

That meant his hide was extraordinarily strong.

“His hide can’t actually be made of metal…”

-Krrrlng!

“It was Aura after all.”

A very fast and agile speed compared to its size.

A hide that was clearly made of hide but had the durability of steel.

And just now, Silver Mane had rushed at me with chillingly blue Aura infused into his teeth and claws.

“A beast using Aura. Is it a spirit animal?”

-Krrrlng! Krrrroooarr!

Silver Mane unleashed a flurry of attacks.

Incredibly fast, strikes that left huge marks on the ground.

Attacks that would be fatal if they landed.

But I dodged them with ease.

[Nerve Acceleration Activated]

[Nerve acceleration can be adjusted due to the influence of the Nerve Acceleration Specialization skill.]

[Current nerve acceleration 35%]

A skill obtained from slicing through 400 goblins.

It enhanced nerve acceleration using Aura.

I could now freely adjust the nerve acceleration I’d been using instinctively.

“No matter how fast you are, it’s useless.”

Clack!

-Krrrhng!

“I can see everything.”

Even at a very slow speed.

As long as I have this ability, speed battles are a mismatch for me.

Clang!

Tang!

“But this is a bit troublesome.”

It was good that I could avoid his attacks, no matter how fast.

But my attacks weren’t working on him either.

Even with a sword infused with Aura, I couldn’t cut through his hide.

“I want to finish this before the soldiers arrive, if possible.”

I told Jack it was okay to mobilize the troops, but now it seemed better not to.

This guy was too much for the soldiers to handle.

If I mobilized them just to catch him, there would be casualties.

“It’s not like I care about casualties…”

It’s a waste for the soldiers I’ve trained to die.

The best option was still to take him out myself.

To do that, there was only one place to aim for.

-Krrrhuhuhuhong!

Holding the sword high, I didn’t even try to dodge as Silver Mane charged.

Instead, I aimed for his vulnerable spot.

Even if he could infuse Aura into his hide, there was one place he never could.

Thwack!

Right into his mouth.

I thrust the sword into his wide-open maw as he tried to bite me.

Crunch!

Splat!

-Krrrhng!

My prediction was correct, and the sword slid smoothly into his mouth.

Blood gushed out, and in that state, I unleashed Aura at maximum output.

The Aura infused into the sword tore through his insides like a razor blade, so no matter how strong his exterior was, he couldn’t survive.

“Ugh, I got bitten a bit too.”

It was a risky move, though I took him down easily.

When I thrust the sword in, his teeth grazed my shoulder.

It wasn’t a major injury, but if I hadn’t killed him first, I would have been in serious trouble.

-Squeak…

“Don’t think badly of it. Humans hunt and eat animals.”

If you’re upset about being hunted, be sure to be born on a planet with animal rights next time.

Slash!

Still, to relieve his suffering, I ended his life.

[Trial of Valor – Silver Wolf King Complete]

[Acquired 4,000 Divine Power]

[As a reward for Valor, the Aura output of the Mana Heart has been increased by 200 Combat Power.]

[Additional rewards for the Legendary Grade Quest will be given.]

As Silver Mane breathed his last, the Trial of Courage was completed, and rewards began to pour in.

A tremendous reward for killing a single monster.

“But additional rewards?”

While admiring the rewards, I focused on the message in the last line.

Additional rewards? It would be nice, but I didn’t know what they were.

-Whimper, whimper…

“This is?”

At that moment, a small wolf cub emerged from the bushes a little behind.

A small, pure white silver cub, just like the Silver Mane I had just killed.

[You can capture the cub of the spirit species ‘Silver Sable’.]

[It is a very rare and spiritual dire wolf subspecies, far more than a simple wolf.]

[If tamed, it can be a powerful ally.]

[*However, the method of taming is still unknown.]

“This was the reward.”

The opportunity to take in the cub of a spirit animal.

It seemed like a good opportunity, but felt a bit lacking as a legendary reward.

-Whimper…

“Well, it looks pretty cute.”

If I could tame it, it would be valuable as a pet.

-Grrr…

But it wasn’t completely trusting me yet. It was wary when I tried to touch it, even though it was small.

“Your Majesty.”

“Ah, everyone’s here.”

While I was petting the frightened wolf cub, Jack, the head of the Royal Guard, and Stella arrived with the guards.

“You’ve already finished it.”

“Well, he wasn’t that difficult.”

“…Looking around here, it doesn’t seem like it,” the head of the Royal Guard said.

Traces of a fierce battle remained, even though it was short.

Silver Mane had thrashed around in all directions to catch me, leaving tooth and claw marks everywhere.

Some trees were not just marked but completely torn from the ground.

“But what is that child?”

Stella asked, looking at the frightened wolf cub I was stroking.

“Ah, this. I found it around here. It seems like it was a cub.”

Come to think of it, was he fighting to protect his cub? Maybe he could have run away if it wasn’t for that.

I killed a mother trying to protect her cub. I feel like I’ve done something a bit too much… but what can I do? I can’t resist the quest.

“It’s a Silver Sable that disappeared a long time ago. It’s a spirit animal with a special legend.”

“What kind of legend is there?”

“The legend of the first emperor. The first emperor is the first and last person known to have raised a Silver Sable.”

Oh, that’s interesting.

There was also a first emperor among the heroes of Leonis I faced.

“Then is this a good omen? That I’m similar to that first emperor?”

“…I wish that were the case. The current empire needs such a superhuman.”

Stella looked at me with eyes that seemed to hold expectations.

“But if you’re going to raise it, have you decided on a name?”

“I have the perfect name.”

A wolf with a silver body that seems to be burning. I can’t resist that name.

“Silver. You are Silver now.”

A famous dog—no, a famous wolf, Silver.

It’s the perfect name.

Let’s ignore the minor problem that there’s a manga with the same name.