He Became The Most Insane Emperor Of All Time [EN]: Chapter 209

“To side with the dead, Your Majesty? Even so, this is….”

Unsurprisingly, when I returned to my vassals, everyone voiced their opposition.

But I shook my head and said,

“It’s merely to keep an eye on them for now. And I will join hands with any being, regardless of their piety, if it benefits the Empire.”

Come to think of it, I’ve already employed a large number of Doppelgangers, who are demons. The ‘Doll Spies’ are already operating in the shadows, so what’s so different about allying with the Undead now?

“But….”

“I will not entertain any further objections. Of course, the Undead Legion will never invade the city. Refrain from excessive worry.”

“……Understood, Your Majesty.”

“Then, Vostok, speak your mind.”

Vostok attended the meeting without a single guard, yet he began to speak without losing his composure.

“I am Duke Vostok, Lord of Death. As a vanguard who has set foot in this world, I am the first Lord of Death to side with you.”

“You’re saying you’re a vanguard?”

“That’s right, Saintess of Purification. Not only us, but also the Celestial Race and Beastmen who have arrived in other parts of your Empire are all merely vanguards from their respective dimensions.”

His remarks caused a stir among the vassals of the Holy Order.

If it were the Imperial Palace, they would have already known this to some extent through the Human Alliance or the Knights of Darkness, so they wouldn’t have been so surprised. But it was difficult for the Purification Order of the Eastern Territory to readily accept such news.

“But rest assured. There are no immediate plans for further intervention from the Underworld dimension.”

“Even so, your numbers are terrifying. Moreover, if they die, they are resurrected as Undead….”

“Let me clarify one point. Not everyone who dies is resurrected as Undead.”

Vostok began to provide more detailed information. Soon, the knights and priests were captivated by his words.

“Those who are resurrected as Undead are those who have been abandoned or cursed by the gods, and whose souls have succumbed or fallen. The former is more common, while the latter occurs in cases of extreme torture.”

“Then we are….”

“You clearly have divine beings protecting you. So, as long as you receive a proper funeral or are not abandoned on the battlefield, you will not become Undead.”

In short, it was more important to be wary of losing faith or being abandoned and isolated on the battlefield than death itself.

Upon receiving this information, the Holy Knights and priests seemed somewhat relieved.

They believed that they would hardly ever lose their faith.

“It’s still strange that there are so many of you?”

“Most of them are Undead summoned directly from the Underworld. Do you think you could amass such numbers with just your own people in the first place?”

“I suppose that’s true.”

The number of Undead is literally in the millions.

Of course, most of them are zombies or skeletons, but if you look closely, they are not hastily made, but elites with proper armor and swords.

It’s not a quantity or quality that can be achieved by simply killing and raising Imperial citizens. So, they must have brought them from somewhere else.

“Even so, the Undead are still a threat. Their large numbers are a problem, and they fight without eating, drinking, or getting tired. Moreover, they even get back up after being knocked down.”

As someone pointed out, the strengths of the Undead were still formidable.

Divine power or fire are weaknesses, but the problem is that those resources are not infinite.

“That’s right. But this Undead Legion also has weaknesses.”

Fortunately, Vostok also revealed those weaknesses and how to overcome them.

“First, they are controlled by Lords of Death like me. That means if you defeat the Lord of Death, the remaining Undead will wander.”

“What do you mean by wandering?”

“They will lose their master and fight each other or attack anything alive indiscriminately.”

“Sounds like simply killing them isn’t enough?”

“That’s right. So, to control them after they lose control, a Dark Relic is needed.”

With those words, Vostok retrieved something from his chest.

He produced a blood-red chalice.

“This is the Blood Chalice, one of the Dark Relics.”

“……I sense a very impious energy.”

As the Blood Chalice appeared, an uncontrollable evil energy permeated the Holy Order.

It was as if there was a strong smell of blood. Moreover, I had the illusion that the smell of blood was sweet.

A feeling that it was blaspheming faith and tempting me to crave blood just by its mere existence.

Stella and everyone else gathered in the Holy Order considered the relic blasphemous. Some were furious and insisted it should be destroyed.

“……Can you control the Undead Legion with that?”

“That’s right. However, relics change their appearance according to their owner. I can control vampires with this.”

Vostok returned the relic to his chest.

“Unfortunately, I can’t give you mine.”

“I’m not asking for it. Then where can I get mine?”

“There are two ways to do this as well. One is to take it from a lord who has a relic. But it won’t be easy. The Lords of Death aren’t stupid enough to give up their relics easily.”

“What’s the other one?”

“Create your own.”

Before I could even ask how, Vostok continued.

“Emperor of the Empire, I ask you, where do you believe people go when they die?”

“Well….”

I was about to answer, ‘to the Empire Guardian God,’ but I stopped myself.

Do they really go to them? The Empire Soul exists, but strictly speaking, I don’t know exactly how that Empire Soul functions in the afterlife.

As I pondered that, Vostok smiled, revealing his fangs.

“That’s it, Emperor. That’s what you need. Distrust, wariness, and doubt about the afterlife. That will be what you need to create a relic.”

I felt as if my inner thoughts were being laid bare as Vostok continued.

“You are a nonbeliever, like me.”

As he said, I was undeniably a nonbeliever.

* * *

When you think about it, isn’t it obvious?

Since my past life, I haven’t been a particularly religiously devoted person.

I was just an unemployed man who got dumped by his girlfriend one day and played a game, only to be sucked into it.

It’s funny to expect great faith from such a person, but it’s also strange to suddenly become a fervent believer in the Imperial Church when I have no ties to this world.

Of course… as time passed, I became aware of my role as Emperor and felt the Empire Soul, and something about my attitude changed.

But that doesn’t change the fact that I’m basically a nonbeliever.

In the first place, this world is a ‘game,’ right?

“No, is it not a game? Rather than a game… a small world in the form of a game?”

I don’t know. I don’t know how to define it. I could have called Leonis and asked, but I didn’t think a great answer would come back, so I quit.

The important thing was that, as Vostok said, I met the conditions to create a relic.

“So, if I’m a nonbeliever, how can I get a Dark Relic?”

Since there were many listening ears, I dismissed most of the people, and then I asked Vostok how to make a relic.

“The method is simple. Desecrate a relic that holds your faith. The moment you abandon your faith and deny everything that faith represents, that relic will be stained with darkness.”

Vostok’s method was simple.

Fall.

That’s how it could be summarized.

“No!”

And that was naturally opposed by Stella, who was next to me. Even after dismissing the others, Stella remained with me just in case.

“Losing faith is like death! Your Majesty, even for the sake of the Empire, you must not lose your faith!”

Stella, who was usually fanatical but docile, vehemently opposed this time. It was only natural.

“As Stella said, that seems difficult. Even if I’m a nonbeliever, it’s distinctly different from denying faith and falling.”

I can use the Empire Soul right now as long as I don’t ‘fall.’ Of course, if I deny that, I can’t use it.

Just based on a calculation of gains and losses for me, it’s impossible to deny faith.

“Even if it makes your Empire stronger?”

“I think you’re mistaken about one thing. I can protect the Empire without ‘necessarily’ borrowing the power of the Undead.”

It’s just that the damage will increase if I do that, so I’m just trying to choose a better strategy.

“And one more thing. I already have such a relic.”

Swish-

With those words, I took out Black Rose, which was dyed black with Dark Blood.

[Black Rose resonates with the dark power of the Blood Chalice.]

“……It’s the power of darkness.”

“Your Majesty, what is that….”

Vostok and Stella showed different reactions.

Vostok was surprised but also intrigued, and Stella was somewhat horrified when I revealed the power of darkness.

“Don’t worry, Stella. I’m not fallen. Rather….”

Chuck-

I pointed Black Rose at Vostok.

“Vostok, now I will answer your question. You asked where we go when we die?”

“That’s right, Emperor. Are you now saying that you have faith?”

“No. I am still a nonbeliever. I am merely a human being. But-”

Swish swish swish-

[Black Rose unleashes the Empire Soul.]

[The Empire Soul connects with the dimension of the Underworld.]

“Because I am human, because I am not a god, I understand and love humans. You asked where the souls of the Empire go?”

As an Emperor who is not a god. As one who guides them. As the embodiment of their will.

“Wherever that place is, I will be there.”

[Lost souls recognize the existence of the Empire Soul.]

[From now on, you can use Black Rose to control the Undead Legion that has lost control.]

“Is this…… the world you see……!”

The spirit world unfolded.

But it wasn’t the usual world of pure white light.

A world like the universe, where starlight fell on an infinitely black world.

A world where the dead would be drawn to that light in the darkness of the abyss.

“One who wanders between the balance of life and death, Duke Vostok of the East. Now it is my turn to ask you.”

He asked me, so it was my turn to ask him.

I pointed Black Rose, which had a gray appearance with a mixture of light and darkness, at him and said.

“Where is your end? Where will you go at the end of the balance of life and death?”

“I am…… no, Emperor of the Empire. I am one who has lost his way.”

“Then you too, come to us.”

Even if it is the soul of the dead, it is fine.

If that soul truly desires salvation, I will gladly accept it into the Empire Soul.

“Will you do that?”

I asked him. And he answered.

“I will gladly do so.”

Vostok knelt before me, and I spoke to him as if baptizing him.

“Then I will accept you as Imperial citizens as well.”