He Became The Most Insane Emperor Of All Time [EN]: Chapter 259

The Unfathomable Sea, the World’s Edge.

A name that calls to the abyss. Though called the sea below the sea, it’s actually a maritime dimension existing beneath the ocean, so it’s not exactly underwater as the name suggests.

Of course, the Abyssals who live in the Abyss are a race that can live and fight underwater, but even so, the world of the Abyss wasn’t that different from the world above.

“My son.”

“Yes, Father.”

“You must have heard the story from your mother.”

Looking out over the serene sea of the Abyss, I asked Crown Prince Leon on the deck of what was now a steamship, not a sailing ship.

“I know. That I might have to marry the Queen of the Abyss.”

“Are you perhaps unwilling?”

“No, not at all.”

Ktallion is known as the Queen of the Abyss, but at the same time, she’s an image surrounded by various urban legends.

In fact, she was known to the seafarers as an evil god from beneath the sea.

“Are you really? I’m not saying this to pressure you. I am-”

“I know what you mean, Father. But I’m really okay.”

Leon’s expression was calm. No, in some ways, it was resolute.

“I may inherit your empire, Father.”

“Not may, you will inherit it.”

“Yes, that’s why I will do anything. Even if it means marrying the evil god of the sea.”

“Even if your soul is bound to the Abyss forever?”

The reason I hesitated to connect Leon and Ktallion wasn’t just because I disliked arranged marriages.

Ktallion had a history with the first emperor.

She fell in love with him, but it didn’t work out, and she cast a curse on herself, becoming an evil god.

The way to break that curse is to be connected to the bloodline of the Imperial Family.

“I probably won’t tell you to live in the Abyss for the rest of your life, but still, you never know what Ktallion’s whims might be. She’s immortal, so she might want your soul even after death.”

“Let her have it. If that’s the case, I will protect the empire’s seas even in death.”

…Are you some kind of West Sea Dragon King [a reference to a powerful dragon deity in Chinese mythology]?

I was worried that he was too motivated. But it was also admirable.

“It’s a commendable thought, my son. But everyone must know how to take care of themselves. That goes for those who become emperors as well.”

I will give my life for the empire.

It’s a good thing to say. In fact, it’s still a lacking concept.

Because, although I abolished the feudal system and created an absolute monarchy, people now are loyal to the ’emperor,’ not to the ’empire.’

In other words, they are loyal to the ’emperor’s empire.’ Strictly speaking, the empire is not a nation-state.

In that state, it’s all the better for a member of the imperial family to have patriotism.

But if that patriotism is so excessive that it hurts oneself, then it’s time to remember the old saying that too much of a good thing is not good.

“Father.”

“Hmm.”

“I am always grateful to you, Father. That you are the emperor of the empire and at the same time my father.”

“…My son.”

“But I am afraid that I, your son, might ruin your empire.”

“That will not happen.”

“Perhaps I won’t. But my son, my grandson, my grandson’s grandson might.”

Leon sighed deeply.

“Of course, I know what you’re thinking, Father. You would say that there is no eternal empire. I agree. Someday the empire will decline.”

“But does knowing fate mean we must obey it? Even if the empire without you is left alone and dying in tatters, the imperial citizens must live within it. How much pain will they suffer?”

I am not eternal.

I might die of old age, I might die in battle, or I might leave on my own.

When that time comes, as the Crown Prince said, the empire will decline, and in that declining empire, the imperial citizens might suffer even more than before.

“You know this too, Father, so you told me not to resist the flow of fate and not to cling to the empire’s territory. But I am worried that a foolish person will become emperor or king and plunge the people into misery.”

“…Your concern is truly right.”

Even the empire that drove out the Creator God and accomplished everything could fall apart in the future.

In preparation for that time, I plan to make it a legacy to consider independence or autonomy for the empire’s territory as needed.

But will that seal all conflicts?

“It won’t. The divided empire will fight each other in a divided state, and perhaps everyone will be blinded by the empty name of imperial unification and fight.”

Just like the next era of the game I possessed, the original of this world, .

“But that is not something that should be prevented at the cost of your unhappiness.”

“Father. I am the Crown Prince of the Empire. My personal unhappiness is meaningless for the sake of the empire’s grand plan.”

“Heh…”

My son was unwavering. This steadfast and stubborn point doesn’t seem to resemble either me or Sarah, but still, I find this child admirable.

“I understand. Then do as you wish. It’s not the answer to just block the vigor of youth.”

I looked at the sea again.

The sea was calm. As if everything was irrelevant to the sea itself.

* * *

The Abyss distinguishes the outside world by calling it ‘the land,’ but in reality, there is land in this world as well.

However, the Abyssals are people who are familiar with water, so the sea is close to the base of their lives.

Some places even live with the sea submerged.

But that scenery is quite beautiful.

“To ask me to meet you in a place like this instead of the palace. Is there any particular reason, Ktallion?”

“I just wanted to show you the changed capital of the Abyss for once, Emperor.”

Ktallion, whom I hadn’t seen in a while, had a very different atmosphere.

Before, she was alluring but somehow decadent and tired, but now she was somehow brighter.

It was as if she had broken free from the shackles of the past.

“As the heart of the Abyss regains its form, everything is getting better. The appearance of the Abyss, the appearance of the people living in the Abyss.”

“That’s a relief. The seafarers no longer need to fear the sea below.”

“Hehe, yes. If the empire doesn’t abandon us again.”

“Hmm, I’ve never abandoned you.”

Not joking, I really never have. The first emperor didn’t abandon Ktallion either.

“Hehe, that’s right. You’re right.”

“That’s why your face has brightened a lot.”

“Is that so? Maybe so. Certainly… I’ve relieved a burden from my heart.”

Ktallion had a truly refreshed expression.

“So, I don’t need to be attached to the blood of the imperial family anymore.”

“But the curse-”

“It’s meaningless now. In the first place, I wasn’t abandoned, was I?”

“…I suppose so.”

Then is the problem being solved more easily than I thought? It seemed like there would be no problem even if Leon didn’t have an arranged marriage with Ktallion.

“By the way, I heard that you have found the sea route to the legendary West Continent.”

“We found it. But there’s a slight problem there. We need the empire’s help.”

“What kind of help do you need? It sounds like you need the navy’s help.”

“That’s right.”

The Abyssals are a powerful navy in themselves, so why would they need our help?

Soon I could see the reason.

“The route is blocked by mutants called Behemoths. They came from the South Continent.”

“The Beast King……”

Is it you again, Beast King?

“Without removing them, navigation is impossible. And… if possible, I want to destroy their spawning grounds as well.”

“It sounds like you’re suggesting we strike the South Continent.”

“Yes, that’s right. In effect, we’re hitting their naval port. It’s impossible for us alone.”

“Hmm……”

It’s a large-scale military operation. But it’s also necessary for us to grasp the situation in the West Continent, so it’s hard to refuse.

Because I don’t know what the Celestial Race is doing there.

“It’s still too early to strike the South Continent, but… it’s not like we’re in a truce in the first place. Well, okay. I’ll approve the operation. There’s no reason not to. Instead.”

I can’t do it for free. Of course, we must also benefit.

“I’d like you to assist the expedition heading to the West Continent.”

“Of course. We’ll help you so you never get lost on the route.”

This is a win-win deal for each other. In the first place, it’s not a bad thing to carry out military operations together since we are allies.

“Then the business is over. But where did the Crown Prince, who was said to have come with you today, go?”

“I don’t know. It seems like he’s touring the city.”

“Hmm, well, okay. I’ll be going now. I have an appointment.”

“Appointment?”

“Yes, I met a pretty good person a little while ago. From the looks of it, he seems to be from the empire, and he’s someone who interests me.”

Ktallion, disguised as an ordinary woman – the standards of ordinary are a bit different because the Deep Sea Race are all handsome men and beautiful women – went out into the street.

I kept watching Ktallion from the balcony where we were talking, and an amazing sight came into view.

“Huh? Isn’t that Leon?”

The person Ktallion was heading to meet on the street was none other than Leon.

The two seemed to be meeting for the first time, as if they didn’t know who each other was.

“Hmm, so it turns out like this.”

The story about arranged marriage was meaningless.

Of course, there was also the fact that I didn’t know what state Ktallion was in.

“Looking at it like this, they seem to get along quite well.”

It seemed better to leave it as it was.

Now that there was no reason for Leon to be tied to the Abyss even if the two were connected, there was no reason to object.

“Father. I’m back.”

“Oh, you’re here.”

“Yes, I was late because I was looking around the market.”

“Hehehe, that’s not all, is it.”

“…Father?”

Leon was anxious, wondering if I knew that he was secretly walking with a woman.

“It’s okay. A grown man can do that.”

“Father, I just happened to meet someone I could talk to and talked for a while. I am-”

“You don’t have to worry about the arranged marriage with Ktallion. So don’t worry about it and continue to have a good relationship.”

“Father, that’s not it-”

Hehehehehe.

Why is it so fun to tease my son?

“Anyway, I finished the consultation with Ktallion while you were away. There’s something that requires mobilizing the navy.”

“Is that so. Then I’ll call the admiral right away.”

“Okay. But in the meantime, you’ll be working with Ktallion here.”

“Yes, I will deal with her on behalf of Father.”

Leon seemed to think that he was having diplomatic talks with Ktallion while I was out on an expedition.

In fact, I was just curious about what would happen if the two met each other as Crown Prince and Queen.

I just had a feeling that something interesting would happen.