He Became The Most Insane Emperor Of All Time [EN]: Chapter 297

Became the Greatest Crazy Emperor – Episode 297

Became the Greatest Crazy Emperor 297

“So, Kyle wanted to prepare for the future chaos.”

After hearing the whole story from Daphne, I felt a mix of emotions.

He wanted to create an immortal symbolism to prepare for the inevitable chaos within the empire…

Choosing me as that symbol… Frankly, seeing people of this generation calling me the Great Emperor and praising me, it wasn’t a bad choice. It stroked my ego, I admit.

Except for not asking for my consent. That was a bit of an oversight.

“Father… I’m sorry. I should have stopped Kyle back then. I guess I couldn’t make rational decisions because of your death.”

“No, there’s nothing to apologize for. You guys… just had a thought worth trying.”

Daphne apologized with a sorry look, but I found myself defending him.

Of course, whether reincarnating someone is really a thought worth trying is another matter… but for Kyle, it would have been a plausible idea, assuming it was possible.

Whether it was a good thing is another matter… but at least I wanted to respect my son’s decision.

At least in that it was a decision made for the empire, or so he believed.

“Rather, I’m amazed that you could make such a decision. Did you realize that this could be a curse for your children and descendants?”

“…Of course. But we were prepared for it. The empire exists because you are here…”

“Hmm… If it’s such an empire, it’s better to perish.”

“…….”

I was being a bit sarcastic, but there was truth to it.

Kyle’s idea wasn’t entirely wrong, but if the empire had to keep relying on the charisma of a dead emperor, it was fundamentally flawed and probably better off collapsing.

The rise and fall of a country may seem like a huge tragedy in the short term, but it’s not that tragic from a broader perspective.

If a country’s fortune declines and it perishes, those who follow might actually be better off in the long run.

Of course… it might not be. Not everything in the world has a clear-cut answer.

“I know what you wanted. You wanted me to appear and fix the empire when it was really in a precarious situation. I won’t even blame you for that.”

“Father……”

“But son, I’m afraid. I wonder if the empire that was saved in such a way will actually go on the right path.”

I might prevent the immediate crisis and even reform the declining empire.

But is that really the right thing to do? What if the empire that was destined to perish is only being artificially sustained by a resurrected old monster like me?

“…Father, if it becomes such an empire, please destroy it with your own hands.”

“Are you sure it’s okay to do that? If you do, your descendants will only inherit the curse without any gain.”

“Such descendants deserve to be cursed!”

“……”

Daphne shouted as if in despair. His words seemed to carry a heavy weight of emotions: awe and worship for me, shame, disappointment, and anger at the descendants who had tarnished my name.

“Father, please. Become the judge of this empire. If this empire is worth even a speck of existence, save it, and if not, destroy it.”

Daphne had become almost a fanatic compared to the last time I saw him.

This child, who was once deeply religious and faithful, had become an old man swept away by cynicism, anger, and frustration. The weight of leadership, and the burden of my legacy, had clearly taken its toll.

But in my eyes, he was still just a pitiful child crying out for help.

“Okay.”

I had no choice but to grant such a child’s request.

“I will now live as the judge of the empire.”

In the eternal cycle.

* * *

Currently, the empire was largely divided into three factions.

One is the Demon Realm Kingdom, also known as the Black Empire. The second is the Eastern Empire, controlled by Crown Prince Leon’s direct line.

And the third is the Western Empire, where a usurper calls himself emperor.

Of course, the Western Empire has the least legitimate claim to the throne. But paradoxically, it controls the largest territory.

Why do so many people follow the usurper? There was a very good reason for this.

“So, there were that many people who opposed the reform.”

“Yes, my brother Leon passed away from overwork while pushing for those reforms.”

“And all the reactionaries who opposed the reform joined the rebel forces… Well, it was something that could happen, but it’s still disappointing.”

To think that the empire I created was so resistant to change.

I thought I had been steadily fostering intellectuals and carrying out reforms from the top down, even when I was alive…

It seems that they were just keeping quiet because I was there, and then because my successor Leon was there to enforce my will.

To think that they would cause such a huge rebellion as soon as Leon and I were gone.

“The elder ministers were either old and dead or no longer in a position to intervene in domestic politics. In the meantime, the usurpation took place.”

“What about the Human Federation? Didn’t they intervene?”

“They declared non-intervention. However… if the additional conscription of the Legion [elite mercenary soldiers] is cut off, they may intervene soon.”

“Legion…”

Among the peripheral forces of the empire, there were those whose relationship required especially careful handling.

They were the Human Federation. The technological gap between them, who are already capable of interstellar civilization, and the empire is vast.

Originally, they could have been subjected to imperialistic invasion, but they seemed to prefer to keep the empire as an ally, or perhaps a buffer state.

Instead, they set a condition to continuously hire the Legion as mercenaries.

“If the civil war is prolonged and the supply of the Legion is cut off, they will intervene. That’s not good.”

None of the countries in civil war have yet supplied them with the Legion. Because they are too busy using it as a force to end the civil war on their own territories.

But if this situation continues, it will only give them an excuse to intervene. They were allies in the last Game of the Gods [a recurring interdimensional conflict], but now they are potential competitors or even enemies.

“The problem is that there are not many ways to militarily pressure them.”

“Is it that bad? The Demon Realm should be supporting our allies, right?”

“Yes, but the Greenskin Kingdom [a powerful orcish nation] with its strong army is supporting the Western Empire, and the dwarves of the New World are also supplying them with supplies.”

“The dwarves?”

“Yes, well, to be exact, they sell to everyone without discrimination…”

Well, the loyalty with the dwarves is only that strong, so I should just accept it. Profit is profit, I suppose.

“What about the Abyssals? Who are they supporting?”

“Fortunately, the Queen of the Abyss is supporting us.”

“Leon’s son will soon be her son-in-law, so it’s natural.”

“But the Abyssals are having a hard time contributing much to this civil war. Because the Beastmen of the Southern Continent are supporting the Western Empire…”

“Blocking them is the best thing to do, then.”

Certainly.

In this state, the balance of power is too tight militarily.

There seemed to be no way to militarily suppress the Western Empire on its own. The bigger problem is…

“If this military balance continues, the Human Federation will side with the Western Empire.”

“That’s right. They don’t care which side wins, so they will support the strongest.”

“So, knowing that, the Western Empire won’t make unreasonable offensives.”

Because they know they will win if they just maintain the status quo.

It seems that the usurper was by no means incompetent. He’s playing a smart, patient game.

“Well, that’s all for the situation report. Then we need to come up with a plan.”

“Father, what are you going to do?”

“Shouldn’t I be the judge, as you wished?”

“Then you will return to the battlefield…”

“No, I will not go to the battlefield.”

“Yes?”

I can still stand on the battlefield and defeat them. Even if my strength is not as good as before, I was regaining it quickly as time went by.

“But doing that is meaningless. When I think about it, I think I raised the empire like a flower in a greenhouse.”

Looking back, the empire in my lifetime was almost a flower on the verge of death.

To save it, I put a glass tube on it and put all my heart into reviving it. I shielded it from every threat.

Originally, the disasters that would have killed the flower were all physically cut off. I intervened at every turn.

It was good to save the empire that way, in the short term. The problem is that the historical stages that should have been naturally navigated were all skipped.

“So, there were so many people who expressed dissatisfaction as soon as I died. Even if I suppress it here again, it will only be a problem that will explode someday.”

“Hmm… Father is right. But then what should we do?”

“You want me to be a watcher and a judge. And Kyle wanted me to be an immortal symbol. Isn’t that right?”

“Yes, that’s right. Then…”

“I’m going to be those things.”

I want to make the powerful and the public always be careful, knowing that my existence can reappear at any time. I want them to live in fear of my judgment.

It can be hope for some, or it can be a terrible threat for others.

And it’s not just about punishing them militarily. That’s too straightforward.

“They have to be a truly ubiquitous and nowhere to be found existence.”

“How is that possible?”

“Actually, I’ve already done something like that before.”

“Yes?”

Daphne was wondering what that meant, but I smiled softly because I had never told my sons about it. It was a secret from my past.

“A long time ago… I often used the fake identity of Shadow. I even used that identity to plot in the Western Territory. The identity of Shadow is still shrouded in mystery.”

“Ah… then are you going to use that identity this time?”

“Well, that’s not it. I’m just giving it as a similar example… I’m going to use my current identity.”

“If it’s your current identity…?”

“Kyle Junior. I’m going to use this body’s identity as it is… to destroy the Western Empire. From the inside.”

The usurper of the Western Empire solidified his position by frustrating the reform plan. He appealed to the old guard.

Even though the era of feudal nobles has supposedly passed, the legal nobles have risen again as vested interests and blocked the distribution of power to the people. They hoard wealth and influence.

But that means that the people will be full of dissatisfaction. They are only suppressed by military power. A powder keg waiting to explode.

I’m going to liberate that.

“In a word, I’m going to be a revolutionary.”

“Re, revolution…”

“Why? Is that an uncomfortable word for you too?”

“Ah, no. That’s…”

No, your expression is definitely getting worse. You look like you swallowed a lemon.

“Don’t worry. I know that a revolution from below is dangerous. So I have to step in myself. I’ll guide it.”

“Let it be as Father wishes. But wouldn’t it be difficult for Father alone? How can I help…?”

“If you want to help, just help me with one thing.”

I will need the help of many people to start this work. But the most crucial person I need right now is just one.

“There’s someone who’s perfect for this kind of thing. He’ll still be alive.”