He Became The Most Insane Emperor Of All Time [EN]: Chapter 208

208. The Emperor’s Unexpected Ally

“Thank you all for accepting my invitation. Let the meeting begin.”

Somewhere within Rasgar’s territory in the west of the continent.

It was still within the domain of the Greenskins, who rejected civilization, yet Rasgar’s fortress stood out, incongruous.

At the very least, it was elegant enough to welcome distinguished guests.

Silverware and a luxurious banquet were prepared, and even the attendants were elves brought from the far east.

Ordinarily, such hospitality would undoubtedly elicit goodwill from anyone.

“Are you the personal dog of the Creator God?”

However, a rough-looking man with hair grown long like a mane spoke with an attitude that seemed to have abandoned all manners from the start.

“…Yes, I am Rasgar, the servant of the Creator God. Kark, the Beast King.”

“Hmph, why didn’t he show himself and instead sent a lackey? Did he think I was a joke? If you want to form an alliance with me, show proper sincerity, you dog of the Creator God.”

Rasgar glared at him, his personality befitting the title of Beast King, but soon chuckled.

“That’s an amusing story. I thought I was being respectful enough. Rather, wasn’t I saving face for a loser?”

“What? A loser, you say?”

“Aren’t you a loser? I’ve heard some very interesting news lately. You had your territory stolen by the Emperor of the Empire without even putting up a fight.”

“You…!”

At that moment, the Beast King’s mane bristled, and intense killing intent filled the conference hall.

“That’s only because I didn’t know that human had the soul of a dragon!”

“That’s what you call carelessness. And carelessness is the sole domain of fools. You seem to be a fool.”

“I’ll kill you!”

The Beast King was about to jump up from the banquet table.

“Please stop.”

But then, his body was bound by a ring of white light.

The Beast King looked at a Celestial woman nearby as the light restrained him.

Enfolding herself in pure white wings like a noble angel, she spoke.

“…Minerva.”

“Maintain your dignity. It’s embarrassing to watch from the side.”

“Tch, you’re always unlucky. You arrogant Celestial.”

The Beast King gnashed his teeth and glared, but the Celestial Queen Minerva simply smiled at Rasgar and said,

“I apologize on his behalf, Green God of Wrath. Or should I call you the Wrath of the Creator God?”

“Either is fine, but I prefer the latter. The former is just a title created to control the uncivilized Greenskins.”

“Indeed. So, that unsightly appearance is just a mask as well.”

She was referring to Rasgar, who appeared to be an Orc. Rasgar looked at Minerva, sensing her persistence, and said,

“What do you want to say, Celestial Queen?”

“Oh, very well. I want authority, Rasgar. If you give it to me, I will gladly form an alliance.”

“Authority…? How much authority do you want?”

“Well? How about the very pinnacle of this ‘Game of Gods’?”

“…Hmph, you’re greedy.”

Rasgar scoffed, feeling absurd.

He served the Creator God, yet she wanted to be at the pinnacle of this ‘Game of Gods’.

Well, they were from the ‘Infinite Dimensions’. The Creator God’s power was immense, but they were also proud beings.

Minerva was just one of them.

Rasgar was beginning to regret creating this meeting, but he decided to speak nicely for now.

“I’ll think about it. It will be difficult, though.”

“Hehe, good. Think carefully. The Celestial’s mighty forces will be on your side.”

*Didn’t those Celestial beings also lose to the Empire recently?*

Rasgar managed to hold back those words that were rising to his throat. He sometimes wondered why he was the Wrathful Rasgar when he was so good at holding back his anger.

“…How boring. Was this all you invited us here for?”

Meanwhile, a man with a pale complexion like a corpse spoke quietly.

“Duke Vostok.”

“I came because you said you had an interesting proposal. Where is that proposal, servant of the Creator God?”

“Hmm, I apologize. I was too insensitive to you, the most outstanding Lord of Death. My apologies.”

Lord of Death, Duke Vostok of the East.

He was one of the pillars of the Undead Legion in the Empire’s eastern territory.

Compared to the previous two, the Undead Legion was more meaningful in that it actually produced results.

Nearly half of the eastern territory had already become a land of death or had to be evacuated, making them the ones who had actually caused the most damage to the Empire.

“My proposal is simple. If the Creator God wins this ‘Game of Gods’, I will give you half of this world. Create a world of death there.”

Half would naturally include the Empire.

“Wait a minute, are you saying you’ll hand over the Empire to the dead?”

Naturally, Minerva of the Celestial race, who sought to ‘reign over all’, protested.

However, Rasgar wanted to win over the one who would become the most powerful ally.

“Of course, Minerva.”

“But I clearly-”

“That unreasonable proposal is difficult to accept, Minerva. State a more realistic request.”

“…!”

Rasgar answered firmly. Minerva seemed to feel insulted and slightly twisted her lips.

“But-”

“I refuse that proposal.”

“…!”

But then, Vostok rejected Rasgar’s proposal instead.

“…Why, Duke of the East?”

“If you give half the world, the balance between life and death will be broken. That proposal is worthless.”

“Why should you, a being of death, care about the living?”

“Even if other Lords of Death don’t, it matters to me. I pity the living as much as the dead.”

Rasgar was surprised by the unexpected answer, but he twisted his lips.

Because the statement he had just made was by no means light.

“Do those under your command know about that statement?”

“They don’t know. Or perhaps they pretend not to know even if they do.”

“…Then I can form an alliance with them ‘individually’, right?”

“Of course.”

Vostok answered without hesitation. Rasgar was continually surprised.

Even though it meant taking away all his subordinates, he didn’t care.

“There was no reason to come here. I’ll be leaving now.”

“…As you wish. What a pity.”

It would have been good to have someone like him on his side, Rasgar expressed his regret.

Of course, he would bring all the other Lords of Death except him to join, so it was actually a gain.

“…Alright. Then I’ll have to form an alliance with those who are left.”

“Hey, who said I would form an alliance? I-”

“Shut up, you mutt who can’t grasp the situation.”

“…!”

The moment the Beast King tried to assert his dominance again, Rasgar’s form changed.

He was no longer an Orc but had awakened into a being of darkness that was difficult to describe.

The Beast King was almost overwhelmed by that power.

“You, you are…!”

“Obey my lord, Beast King. Then you too will be baptized by him. Obey or die here.”

“…!”

The Beast King felt fear for the first time in a long time.

“The answer?”

“…I will obey.”

“Good. Next, Minerva. Did you dare to claim to be the supreme being of all things?”

“I…”.

This time, the arrow turned to Minerva.

Minerva was not consumed by fear, but she felt the need to be careful with her words.

“So be it. But only in this world.”

“…! Is that true?”

“Yes, the Creator God will ascend again if he wins. He won’t need such a trivial world.”

In that case, it didn’t matter if she gave it to someone else.

“In this world, you will be the supreme being. Demons, humans, Greenskins, Abyssals, all will bow their heads. Is that satisfactory?”

“Yes, that’s satisfactory.”

“Good.”

Only then did Rasgar return to his original form and pick up a wine glass.

“Let’s all toast to the Creator God.”

The Empire’s enemies began to unite.

* * *

“The dead are coming endlessly!”

In a city in the eastern territory.

The soldiers were engaged in a desperate battle against the zombies and skeletons that were endlessly pouring in under the starlight.

“Take courage, everyone! The Empire’s sacred flame will protect you!”

Whirr-!

Stella raised her voice in a speech that boosted everyone’s morale and offered a prayer. Immediately, the swords of all were wreathed in the flames of purification, which were deadly to the undead.

“Stand up! Imperials die standing!”

“Fight to protect your families!”

“Long live the Empire!”

The soldiers and the knights of the Purification Order were all exhausted from the endless battle, but they picked up their burning swords and stood up to fight again.

The passion of their spirits had already overwhelmed the fatigue of their bodies.

Not only them but everyone in the city was offering prayers and replenishing the priests’ divine power.

Whoosh!

“…! Everyone, look there!”

At that moment, there was a burning meteor cutting through the sky.

No, to be exact, it was me looking like a meteor.

Kwaaaang!

Surrounded by the flames of purification, I fell into the middle of the undead army that was rushing towards the city.

Whirr-

“Kyahhhh!”

“Seems like it’s hot even for the dead?”

Slash! Chwaaaak!

I burned the zombies in all directions and scattered the divine power imbued with the Imperial spirit, cutting them to pieces.

The undead within a radius of dozens of meters were swept away in a single swing.

“For the Empire!”

[You have shouted a cry filled with the Imperial spirit. Everyone who hears the cry fully regains their morale and quickly recovers from fatigue.]

“The Emperor has come!”

“We’re saved!”

“Long live the Emperor!”

Perhaps it was thanks to the dramatic appearance on the hopeless front, or perhaps it was due to the influence of the Imperial spirit, they cheered enthusiastically.

I listened to their cheers and watched the undead retreat.

They were mindless corpses, but their actions were tactical.

It was evidence that they were being commanded by someone.

“These guys won’t be easy.”

The Undead Legion was incomparably stronger than the Celestial race or the Beastmen in terms of both numbers and quality.

If they fought tactically, they would be extremely troublesome.

Even if I myself continued to win, they could continue to shake the Empire on other fronts.

“Then I’ll have to find and eliminate them…”

“They are Lords of Death like me.”

“…!”

At that moment, there was a presence behind me that I didn’t know had approached. I immediately turned around and aimed Silver Rose.

The being with the silver blade aimed at his face was also undead. But he was clearly different from zombies.

“Who are you?”

“I am Duke Vostok. A Lord of Death called the Eastern Duke.”

“…Then you are my enemy. Why has such a person appeared before me?”

With a sword aimed at his face, I could take his head at any time. But I continued the conversation first because of his calm attitude.

“If you truly consider me an enemy, then strike at any time. But it would be good to hear what I have to say, Emperor of Humans.”

“…Then speak. The Emperor of the Empire is listening.”

What could a being of death have to say to me?

While I couldn’t easily guess, he began to speak.

“The balance between life and death is collapsing. Death is leaning too far, so I want to add weight to life.”

“Then…”

“I want to stand on the side of humans and fight in this ‘Game of Gods’.”

“…What if I refuse?”

“Do as you please. But I will act according to my will.”

It was absurd. An undead, a being of death, would fight for the living?

But I didn’t feel any reason to refuse.

Even if I had to find out more about whether I could trust him, there was no reason to completely reject someone who was offering to be my ally, right?

“That’s interesting. Good, then you are also an ally of the Empire. But I will be watching you. Lord of Death.”