He Became The Most Insane Emperor Of All Time [EN]: Chapter 299

I Became the Crazy Emperor – Episode 299

I Became the Crazy Emperor 299

“Welcome, Your Majesty.”

I had anticipated fierce resistance upon entering the Imperial Palace, but the reality was quite the opposite.

A considerable number of officials—those who had served under the usurper—were already there to greet me.

“Are you calling me Your Majesty?”

“Of course. How could we not address the Great Emperor as such?”

Surprisingly, they recognized me as a reincarnator. I wondered how this was possible, and Mira explained.

“Some of them were also aware of the plan. There were successors to the elder statesmen.”

“But those guys sided with the usurper?”

“Well, the reasons varied. Some had political ambitions, and others were in contact with me. The important thing is that they are on your side now.”

“I don’t know… I don’t particularly like those who switch sides so easily.”

Moreover, I was planning to push through reforms. Would they really remain silent?

“It doesn’t matter if they don’t, does it? Now that you’ve returned and the Legion has turned, they should be grateful just to keep their lives. You can replace them all if you wish.”

If that’s the case, I should pick out those who are useful and get rid of the rest.

“The problem is that it deviates slightly from my intention. It becomes merely obeying my authority.”

“Either way, as long as you’re here, it’s inevitable to some extent. And… you’re not the only one who has entered the Imperial Palace, are you?”

Mira said, pointing behind me. Behind her, the crowd was filled with people gaping at the Imperial Palace for the first time.

“That’s right. I almost forgot. This isn’t just my revolution.”

My intention had already been achieved. History would record that the people entered the Imperial Palace and overthrew the corrupt emperor.

That was enough. My existence was merely secondary.

‘It’s actually a good thing. The symbolism of immortality siding with the people could be seen positively.’

If I hadn’t been there, it wouldn’t have succeeded, or even if it had, it would have been after countless bloodshed and failures.

If I reduced or eliminated that with my authority, that’s enough. Of course, relying on the authority of an already dead emperor might be an uncomfortable truth, but…….

‘Actually, it’s better than Earth’s history. The French Revolution eventually led to the worst outcome: Emperor Napoleon.’

At least I’m not going to Russia and decimating my army. Wouldn’t that make me better?

With that convenient rationalization, I led the crowd toward the emperor’s audience chamber.

But surely, even that usurper doesn’t know my true identity, does he?

“You traitors! How dare you betray me! I am the Emperor of the Empire!”

Ah, that’s not the case.

Seeing him ranting in the audience chamber, I could guess that he most likely didn’t know my true identity.

Perhaps he didn’t even know how things had turned out this way. He had usurped the throne but failed to grasp the empire better than the officials he controlled.

“Emperor.”

“How dare you! I am the Emperor of the Empire! Show respect!”

“Stop playing around, come down from the throne, and beg for forgiveness. Then I’ll spare your life.”

“You…….”

The usurper, my uncle whose name I didn’t even know, twitched his nose hairs and then revealed his firm will.

“Spare me, you say!”

“…….”

It was a moment when I felt dizzy that the empire had once been swayed by such a person.

* * *

Having overthrown the emperor didn’t mean that I would suddenly be crowned emperor again. It shouldn’t happen, either.

“We have secured the capital, but it will take time to secure the entire Western Empire.”

“How is the organization of the revolutionary government going?”

“The framework of the government organization has been roughly established, and negotiations with the Eastern Empire are ongoing. There is still a difference of opinion regarding… constitutional monarchy.”

The chancellor of the Western Empire, who had defected as soon as I entered the Imperial Palace, glanced at me.

He must be wondering what my position is on this constitutional monarchy.

“I also support a constitutional monarchy.”

“But, Your Majesty…….”

“First of all, don’t call me Your Majesty anymore. I am now Prince Kyle again.”

“…Yes, Your Highness.”

From the moment the emperor of the Western Empire shouted, “Spare me!”, the empire was nominally reunited. The emperor is now only one person, Leon’s son.

So, when I had them change the title, the chancellor bowed and continued.

“Your Highness, but isn’t it too dangerous to have the king’s authority taken away by subjects?”

“It’s not taking away, but distributing. It will be a good choice for the empire in the long run.”

The advantage of the monarchy is that the succession of power is stable. But the disadvantage is that if an incompetent king appears, the country is likely to fall into ruin.

“The parliament is a device to prevent that. If many people reflect public opinion and discuss different opinions, it will not be easy to lead the country to ruin.”

“But the disadvantages are also clear. Will that public opinion always be right? Won’t they create factions and plot only for power? Above all…….”

The chancellor, who had been loyal to the usurper, looked at me with longing eyes and said.

“Won’t unqualified people try to exclude those who are rightfully qualified?”

“Who are you referring to as qualified?”

“Your Highness, no, I mean Your Majesty!”

The chancellor shouted as if he were spitting out words he had kept in his heart.

“I was a disciple of the late Chancellor Bright. The empire was able to soar because he was able to assist Your Majesty. Not the other way around! A parliament will someday obscure the eyes of the wise for political reasons.”

“…….”

I couldn’t answer his words. Of course, as someone who had experienced 21st-century democracy, I could refute him if I wanted to.

But can I say that his words are 100% wrong? Didn’t even the world I lived in have the kind of evils he mentioned?

There were countless times when someone pointed out a problem, but it was only accepted politically and not resolved in time.

And if they reflected on it belatedly, it would be fine, but there were many cases where it was glossed over. Democracy itself was not flawless.

“Your words are right. But at the same time, you are wrong.”

“Your Majesty… I am foolish and do not understand Your Majesty’s will. Please give me guidance.”

“Obscuring the eyes of the wise is possible for anyone in any system. For example, weren’t you the same when you sided with the usurper?”

“That, that is…….”

“A well-maintained system is not at fault. Only the person who uses it is at fault.”

Democracy is the same. Democracy is an essential system for a nation-state, for the happiness of the absolute majority.

But at the same time, it is a difficult and challenging system to function properly. As the chancellor said, side effects may occur.

“That’s why what is most important is people. Wise people, brave people, righteous people, all of them are important.”

For democracy to not fail, the voices of all those good people must come together. Their voices must grow louder to suppress those who try to abuse or undermine democracy and lead it on the right path.

“Chancellor, do you understand? The era when one crowned person is important is over.”

It was the moment to announce that the old era was over and a new era had begun.

* * *

“You’ve done something interesting.”

Having returned to the Demon World, I met my father, the king of the Demon World, who is the biological father of this body.

“Is it really something to call interesting?”

“Of course, it is. I didn’t expect you to overthrow the Western Empire so quickly with only that much support. Moreover…….”

He pointed to a newspaper. There was an article with an illustration of me performing miracles.

“…The revolution blessed by the Great Emperor, it is clearly on the lips of the people of the world.”

“Well, that’s what I intended.”

I made it known to the world that the soul of the Great Emperor was dwelling in the prince and protecting the revolution…

That was just the right amount. It prevented me from interfering too much and, conversely, prevented the revolution from going wild.

“Wouldn’t it be better to ascend to the throne of the emperor in that case?”

“Are you telling me to make the empire start another civil war with my own hands?”

If I really ascended to the throne again, it might be peaceful for a while, but it would split again when I died.

What’s worse, it might give the impression that ‘whoever ascends to the throne, the Great Emperor will continue to protect them,’ and make them go even more wild.

If I didn’t want that, I had to step back.

“Wouldn’t that be the same even if you introduce a parliament? There will be plenty of people who think, ‘Even if I mess things up, the Great Emperor will take care of me,’ or ‘The Great Emperor doesn’t scold me because I’m right.'”

“I guess so. But it doesn’t matter because it’s the same even if I’m not there.”

To be blunt, even if Jesus or Buddha were real in this world, there would be many who would act the same way.

What’s more important than those individuals is whether society is functioning healthily.

Whether more people can live healthier lives and properly voice rational opinions.

This is not an easy task. Even rational voices are not always right.

For example, is patriotism always right? What if someone incites and argues that we must wage war for the sake of some nation, some country, or to reclaim some lost territory?

Those with patriotism will easily agree with it. They may even borrow the name of God for that war.

Of course, a few intellectuals will see that it is wrong and criticize it, but such voices are easily buried.

And as a result, a terribly large number of people will die and be injured before they stop. Perhaps even such history is inevitable.

“That’s why I’m going to be an eternal monitor and judge.”

“One who does not rule but monitors and judges… I see, if there are such people, everyone may be able to have a sense of alertness. But…….”

The king looked at me sadly as he said that much.

“What are you going to do? You, who have to watch the rise and fall of the empire in an endless cycle?”

“…….”

“If you were involved in the empire, wouldn’t you not have to watch the collapsing empire? Conversely, you don’t have to live like a shadow in a reviving empire, do you?”

But as long as I claim to be a monitor and judge, that is impossible.

The monitor and judge should only intervene when necessary, and at other times, they should only watch everything.

That could be a terrible loneliness.

“That is a burden I must bear.”

“Why do you try to bear everything alone?”

To his question, I smiled bitterly and replied.

“Because that is the way of the Emperor of the Empire.”