He Became The Most Insane Emperor Of All Time [EN]: Chapter 224

It has been over a decade since the Western Territory was pacified once more.

Was that enough time to change a person? During that time, I focused on my duties to an astonishing degree.

That meant hardly ever leaving the Imperial Palace and dedicating myself solely to matters of state.

Thanks to that, or perhaps because of it, the Empire developed as quickly as I had hoped.

Now, people probably can’t imagine living the way they used to.

“But I feel like I’m going stir-crazy.”

I keenly felt why people who transition from physical labor to office work sometimes miss being in the field. It’s like I’m missing the battlefield.

Well, that’s probably because past memories always become idealized as nostalgia, but the reason is a bit different for me.

To be sure, going out and getting into sword fights is much more refreshing and, in some ways, easier.

“I wish another war would break out soon.”

“Your Majesty, what an ominous thing to say.”

“Just kidding, Prime Minister. But strictly speaking, we’ve been at war, in a sense, since ten years ago.”

There haven’t been any major conflicts since the Beast King fled to the Southern Continent by ship.

But that meant that minor skirmishes have been steadily occurring.

In the Eastern Territory, the Undead have become as familiar as common monsters, and in the North, the Demon race has been launching local wars like annual events.

“Indeed. Recently, the situation on the Green Skin [Orc] side doesn’t seem to be very good.”

“Is Golrak reaching his limit?”

“It seems reasonable to think so. Rasgar’s counterattack has been fierce, and, above all, they are now actively using new-style armaments.”

Rasgar, a powerful minion of the Creator God.

Though he’s called a minion, he was once one of the Green Gods, so it’s not strange that Golrak can’t easily handle him.

Perhaps it’s amazing that he’s held out this long.

“What does Golrak say he’ll do? Will he seek asylum?”

“I advised him to seek asylum, but he refused. He is burning with the will to fight to the end.”

“Tsk. That means we don’t have much time left either.”

I bought as much time as possible for the development of the Empire, and now that allotted time is over.

Now, what remains is not a choice but a decision.

“We cannot let our ally Golrak be destroyed. Consider military support. If necessary, I may go myself.”

“There is no need for Your Majesty to go right now. Rasgar has not shown himself directly either. Moreover……”

“Other places are starting to show ominous signs.”

The Celestial Race, which had been unable to take any significant action due to internal turmoil for ten years, is slowly raising its head.

They are a problem, but the Elves beyond the Eastern Territory are also unsettling.

After the Great Cataclysm [a world-altering event], our influence over them has declined sharply, and it is estimated that they have received a large amount of support from the Demon race in the meantime.

All the currents and trends pointed to war. And that war would determine this ‘Game of the Gods.’

“The question is where to strike first, or where to concentrate our forces for defense……”

“Your Majesty, the Crown Prince wishes to see you.”

“Oh, it’s time already, Prime Minister.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

While I was focused on work, it was already time for the Crown Prince to visit.

As usual, around the time the Crown Prince’s education ended, we had a mandatory time to talk.

It was an attempt to play the role of a good father, but also to indirectly talk about what the Emperor does.

“Father.”

“Speak comfortably.”

“Yes, Father.”

Sarah’s son, Crown Prince Leon, had bright aspects. But he often seemed to lack confidence.

Especially, he wasn’t particularly on bad terms with his younger siblings, but he seemed a bit intimidated by them.

As if he wasn’t as brave as Igrid’s son, or as devout or smart as Stella’s son.

“Father, I have something to tell you.”

“Yes, tell me. What is it?”

“That is……”

Leon hesitated, looking like he was wondering whether to speak, and then opened his mouth.

“Do I really have to become the Emperor?”

“…Leon, what are you talking about?”

If you don’t, who will be the Emperor?

“Father, no matter how much I think about it, I lack the ability as the Crown Prince… as the next Emperor.”

“That’s too much to say. Have confidence.”

“I’m not just saying this because I lack confidence. I can’t keep up with Kyle in terms of bravery, and I’m not as good as Daphne in terms of knowledge.”

Kyle and Daphne are the sons of Igrid and Stella, respectively.

“Yes, Father, you probably can’t deny that fact either.”

“Hmm, do you think so?”

After saying that, I stared at Leon, who was standing nervously, for a long time.

“I just thought you lacked confidence.”

“Father, this is……”

“I know. I know what you’re saying, and I understand that you are well self-aware.”

Rather, that was a necessary quality for a king, but I didn’t bother to mention it.

It wasn’t a problem that could be solved by just praising him.

“But rather, I want to ask you in return. Leon, what do you think are the qualities of a king?”

“That is, of course, to defeat the enemies of the country and govern the country wisely.”

“So you’re talking about force and wisdom. Do you really think that’s the quality of a king?”

“Yes.”

“Why? Those things can be entrusted to vassals [subordinate leaders].”

The king doesn’t need to be a one-man army or smarter than anyone else. Originally, that is.

“But Father, look at the Empire you have built. Is that an Empire built solely by the power of vassals?”

“……”

I had nothing to say to Leon’s words.

Certainly, that wasn’t the case. If it weren’t for the irregular existence of ‘me,’ this Empire would probably have collapsed without incident.

The problem wasn’t just the Empire’s demise, but it would probably have led to the decline of humanity… Anyway, the achievements made so far were having a major side effect at this moment.

“Isn’t it? Almost, no, purely, it was achieved by Father’s ability and charisma. If the Emperor after that is worse than that… a disastrous result will come out.”

Hmm, I can’t say anything because it’s not wrong.

In fact, this kind of concern is a common concern for kings who have a deep shadow of their predecessors.

“You’re right, Leon. No one who succeeds me will easily follow my achievements. They will probably make many mistakes.”

“Then……”

“That’s why I want to put you, not anyone else, on the throne.”

“Wh-Why? I……”

I smiled at my son, who was getting impatient, and said.

“Would you like to go outside with your father for the first time in a while?”

“Ah… Yes, Father.”

Leon, who had been serious until just now, seemed strangely pleased to hear that we were going out together.

At the age of 16, in the prime of his life, he is the Crown Prince who can hardly leave the Imperial Palace, so he will be happy to go out.

He’s not the type to be so reckless as to openly come and go outside, saying he wants to become a knight like Kyle.

In fact, Kyle is the one who resembles me in that respect… But I don’t like him because he resembles me, haha…….

“Is there any place you want to go?”

“I want to see the downtown area. The train station too……”

“Hmm, more modest than I thought.”

“Yes?”

“No, it was just me talking to myself.”

The downtown area isn’t bad either, but I heard that Kyle frequents the entertainment district, so I felt that Leon’s character itself was pure.

Conversely, Daphne only goes to church, so I’m more worried about that. Leon was the one who was balanced in the middle.

“Do you see that over there? There’s a shop run by Elves. It’s a jewelry store. Those friends are skilled at making accessories. Do you have a girlfriend to give a gift to?”

“Ah, no, I don’t. The Crown Prince of a country can’t do that recklessly……”

“Tsk tsk… You’re so shy……”

“……”

Leon’s face turned slightly red, but he was still busy looking around.

On the neatly arranged road, it was now hard to find buildings made only of wood, and almost all of them were brick houses.

There were also streetlights, so it would be bright even in the evening, and the street with the sidewalk and carriage road separated was extremely wide.

Moreover, carriages were still the main mode of transportation, but occasionally there were people driving steam cars.

Cheeeeeek!

Some time later, Leon and I were quietly talking on one side of the train station where the train could be seen.

“It’s a lively place, isn’t it? At one time, our capital wasn’t this big either. Now it’s almost as big as Seoul.”

“Where is Seoul?”

“There is such a place.”

Of course, it was a bit of an exaggeration, but as a result of steadily developing technology within the rules allowed by the ‘Game of the Gods’ for 10 years, the scale of the capital has grown tremendously.

Not only did the capital grow, but now trains were connected to almost all imperial cities, and with that, transportation and logistics became more dense, and national development could be pursued.

Of course, a large part is still farmland, but that’s natural at the medieval level… No, now that trains are running, it’s a bit much to call it medieval, but.

Anyway, the Empire has developed this much. From now on, it will continue to develop in some form, whether it likes it or not.

“But it’s a mistake to think that the essence of that development is only force and wisdom.”

“Why? If we hadn’t defeated the enemies of the Empire, if we hadn’t had the knowledge to lead the Empire, it would have been impossible.”

“You can see it that way. But when I first took the throne, the first people I faced were the same imperial people. Do you think I only faced them with force?”

Of course, force was also needed when ‘getting rid of’ the enemies inside the Empire, including Karstein.

But the essence was not to eliminate the enemy, but to make them my allies.

“It was the same for the enemies inside, but it was also the same externally. It was all the same with the Green Skins, the Elves, and when accepting the Abyssals.”

Just like now, not only humans but also various races are mixed in the capital.

Not only did I make enemies inside and outside the Empire, but I also made friends.

What the Emperor, the King, needed in the end was not power or wisdom.

“It’s tolerance. The ability needed by the Emperor or King after me is tolerance.”

Not only the Emperor or King, but all leaders are like that.

The ability to clearly distinguish one’s enemies while at the same time making as many friends as possible.

The ability to accurately see and handle all the various public opinions of the country you govern or operate.

Such tolerance is often called politics. It’s a very basic story, but if those who don’t have this basic ability are in the position of the country’s leader, all kinds of accidents happen. Whether it’s a monarchy or a democracy.

“You not only know how to see yourself objectively, but you are also good at listening to other people’s opinions. So I think you are more qualified than other children.”

“……”

If you only consider strength and wisdom, it’s better not to expect someone as strong as me to succeed me, and honestly, there are more people who are smarter than me even now.

So the ability needed by the person who will continue the fate of the Empire is none other than the ability to increase the Empire’s friends and take care of the Empire’s public opinion.

If that doesn’t work… the Empire will probably split soon as I expect. If that’s fate, I have no choice but to accept it.

“Can you do it?”

I asked Leon. Even if everything is good, if he can’t bear the burden in the end, it’s hard to force him.

Even if it’s the duty of the royal family, wearing an unwanted crown only out of duty is also a tragedy.

“…I will. With all my strength.”

But fortunately, my son soon revealed his determination.

His eyes were better than before.