He Became The Most Insane Emperor Of All Time [EN]: Chapter 43

Became the Crazy Emperor – Episode 43

I Became the Greatest Crazy Emperor 43

“According to the latest intelligence, the enemies seem to have completely fallen for our scheme.”

In the war tent for the strategy meeting, the Captain of the Guard spoke with rare confidence.

“As our forces have led them, they believe our advance has been stalled. The latest intelligence confirms they plan to bypass this point and encircle our right flank.”

The Captain of the Guard pointed to a section of the map with his scabbard.

A forest path that was difficult to call a proper road.

Moreover, taking the shortcut required passing through a somewhat canyon-like terrain.

“It’s not a place where you’d typically lead an army. Is there a chance the enemy might notice the ambush?”

“Having already fallen for the deception, the probability is low. Furthermore, bypassing this route would likely expose their encirclement maneuver.”

For an enemy who believes they’ve seized a sure opportunity, the likelihood of choosing another option was extremely low.

“But perhaps Your Majesty is considering other possibilities?”

Despite seeming confident in success, the Captain of the Guard, thanks to his cautious nature and lack of stubbornness, asked for my opinion.

“…No, it’s nothing like that. Proceed as you see fit.”

Military strategy was not something I could easily interfere with.

Even with the ‘Genius’ trait, military tactics weren’t solely about being smart.

Even Ma Su, who was hailed as a successor to Zhuge Liang [a famous strategist from the Three Kingdoms period in Chinese history], was a genius, but he insisted on superficial tactics, believing high ground was advantageous, and ended up being criticized for over a thousand years.

With the Captain of the Guard and his deputies all in favor of the operation, it was difficult for me to act unilaterally.

“Alright, let’s conclude the meeting here and have everyone move to their assigned positions.”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

“Ah, Sir Jack Forest, please come here for a moment.”

Having ended the strategy meeting without expressing any particular opinion, I called Jack aside, who was scheduled to lead the detachment for the ambush.

Once we were alone, I voiced the thoughts I hadn’t shared during the meeting.

“Jack, I will be with the detachment.”

“Is that so? I understood the original plan was for you to fight with the main force.”

“That’s right. But after the meeting, I changed my mind. Ah, by the way, don’t inform others of this decision. It would be problematic if they took it as a change to the overall strategy.”

Although the operation involved individually defeating the enemy’s detachment, the main assault force was still the primary focus.

Therefore, I was supposed to fight alongside the Captain of the Guard with the main force. Others agreed, believing it would be more suitable for my protection.

“I don’t think the Captain of the Guard will like this… May I ask why?”

“The operation is too perfect.”

“…Isn’t that a good thing?”

Jack questioned, seemingly puzzled, but I responded with a wry smile.

“I may not be an expert in military strategy, but I do know one well-established saying: A plan, no matter how meticulously crafted, is bound to fall apart within five minutes.”

“…”

Of course, we had put in an enormous amount of effort so far, making it impossible for the enemy not to fall for it.

But even so, the possibility of the operation failing couldn’t be completely ruled out.

“But I can’t just raise objections to the commander’s decision without any basis. That would create two heads [cause confusion and conflict in leadership].”

Officially, I, the ‘Emperor,’ am supposed to be in the Imperial Palace, and I am here under the false identity of ‘Shadow.’

Of course, those who need to know are aware of my identity, but the official commander is the Captain of the Guard, not me.

Unless I had concrete evidence to support my concerns, I couldn’t undermine the Captain of the Guard’s plan based solely on my unease.

“But it doesn’t matter if I move alone. I’m just a wild card, after all.”

It’s not easy for an average strong person to take on an army single-handedly. At least, it’s not easy for me ‘yet.’

Even if one possesses the power to face an army, that power must be used efficiently to minimize friendly casualties.

If I myself am a one-man army with formidable power, the most efficient way to utilize that is clear.

“To target the places the enemy is likely to target, in reverse.”

If a plan seems perfect, consider the possibility of that perfect plan failing.

In the current situation, it’s about where our weaknesses lie, which the enemy would target if they saw through our scheme.

That was the battlefield where I would be.

* * *

“Sir Robert? What are you doing here? And come to think of it, the grotesque soldiers were missing.”

“I received orders from General Gordon and was waiting in advance.”

Robert, who had moved the grotesque soldiers in advance under Gordon’s orders, informed the deputy commander in charge of the detachment advancing for the encirclement of his mission.

“Hmph, General Gordon was concerned about such a thing? But the enemy’s numbers are already clear to us, isn’t that an unnecessary worry?”

“Isn’t it possible that all of this could be a deception, even if just barely?”

“Haha, it’s good to be cautious, but judging from the enemy’s actions so far, it seems like an excessive worry.”

Despite Robert’s words, the deputy commander didn’t take his or General Gordon’s concerns seriously.

Although he felt frustrated by that attitude, given the flow of events so far, it was understandable.

However, Robert couldn’t shake off his unease, nor did he intend to neglect the mission Gordon had given him.

“In any case, I will proceed as ordered.”

“Do so. Unfortunately, it seems the credit will be mine. Haha!”

“…Good luck.”

Leaving behind the greeting laced with mockery and veiled hostility, Robert led the grotesque soldiers and moved to a location slightly away from the detachment, as ordered by General Gordon.

The main point of this maneuver was to counter-attack any ambush if the detachment unexpectedly encountered one.

“I don’t know if I should hope that the General’s hunch is right.”

Robert muttered bitterly to himself while waiting.

If one were to consider the army’s victory, it would be better if Gordon’s concerns turned out to be unfounded.

However, considering the attitude the deputy commander had shown earlier, he hoped that his concerns would become reality, giving him a chance to gain merit.

“Deputy Commander Robert! The detachment is under ambush!”

“Indeed! The General’s foresight was correct!”

As if his subtle wish had been granted, a messenger, whom he had placed as a liaison, hurriedly approached and delivered the news.

Robert immediately began to infuse aura into the black crystal used to control the grotesque beings.

Since he wasn’t using mana circuits like mages, he couldn’t issue commands at a delicate level, but he could still exert some control using aura [a form of energy or life force].

“Good, rush in and eliminate the enemies.”

The grotesque soldiers dashed through the rough forest paths with nimble movements.

The enemies who had trapped their allies would be caught off guard, unaware that they themselves had fallen into a trap.

“I’ll gain great merit with this.”

Robert wouldn’t be able to fight directly to maintain control over the grotesque beings, but he wouldn’t need to go through such hardships either, as he was set to become the top contributor to the victory.

As he imagined his path to advancement opening up, a smile naturally spread across his face.

* * *

“C-Commander Forest! More grotesque soldiers are coming!”

“Don’t be rash, send in the reserves to buy time. Quickly reinforce where the lines have been breached.”

“B-But we can’t hold out for long like this.”

Jack agreed with the veteran soldier’s report.

Although the Emperor had given him a heads-up, Jack had carried out the ambush as planned.

The Emperor had also ordered him to proceed with the operation without worrying about him.

However, Jack judged that the Emperor’s concerns were realistic enough and had prepared reserves in advance.

Thanks to that, he was able to cope to some extent with the sudden attack by the grotesque unit.

However, he couldn’t avoid being surrounded by the ambushing enemies and the grotesque unit behind them, so it was clear that they wouldn’t be able to hold out for long.

“Friendly support is expected. Buy as much time as possible-”

“B-Be careful!”

The moment Jack ordered them to hold their ground instead of retreating, one of the grotesque soldiers pounced on him.

Jack agilely rolled to evade the surprise attack, then naturally rose to his feet with a tumbling recovery and fired his bow in rapid succession.

With the sharp and rapid shots of a ranger, he accurately struck the grotesque’s torso with arrows in quick succession.

-Kyahhhhh!

“T-This can’t be!”

However, the grotesque, possessing tough vitality, charged forward relentlessly, unfazed by the arrows lodged in its heart and multiple parts of its lungs.

Jack, who had just thrown himself to the ground and had no room to evade, closed his eyes, anticipating the end.

“It’s too early to give up, Jack Forest.”

Thwack!

The arm with the grotesque’s claw-like sharp nails was instantly severed by someone and flew into the air.

Swoosh! Swish!

A man in black armor, with red light flashing between the gaps in his helmet, followed up by cleaving the grotesque with a sword brimming with aura.

His movements were so fast and precise that he resembled a lurking demon in the darkness.

“Y-Your Majesty.”

“Uh-uh, I’m not that person right now.”

Jack, who seemed dazed from surviving a life-or-death situation, accidentally called me that. Fortunately, no one heard him.

I offered him my hand and helped him up.

“Get up quickly. The battle is not over yet.”

“Y-Yes, of course. But did you break through here alone?”

“I did. That’s why I was here in the first place.”

If the enemy had seen through our deception, their intentions were obvious.

They would think of a way to force damage on us while reducing their own losses.

That was to ambush the ambush in reverse.

And I had thought the same thing. The difference was that they used a grotesque unit, but I only had myself.

“Leave the command of the soldiers to you, Jack Forest. I’ll eliminate the grotesque unit, so finish off the enemy’s detachment.”

“B-But it’s impossible to face them alone.”

As expected, Jack immediately protested at the idea of me facing the grotesque beings alone.

It was an outburst of loyalty, but I shook my head and said.

“There’s no room to support me. If you’re thinking of me, crush the enemy in front of you with all your might. And trust me.”

There’s no time for logical persuasion, like saying I can handle them alone.

I can only tell him to trust me.

“I will follow your command.”

Jack looked at me with conflicted eyes, but eventually bowed his head and followed my will.

Leaving him behind, who had made his decision, I immediately headed towards where the grotesque beings were rampaging.

“I’m sure they estimated there were 2,000 of them.”

The grotesque soldiers, each possessing combat power equivalent to a skilled knight.

To face 2,000 of those guys alone is insane.

But even though I’m an emperor, I tend to prefer insane things.

“Either lose everything, or take everything. It’s one or the other.”

Gulp-

I swallowed the concentrated potion of enhanced effects that I had prepared yesterday.

[Mana Heart Output Rapidly Increasing, Overload Initiated]

The moment I drank the potion, my heart, my Mana Heart [the core of one’s magical power], began to surge.

100%, 150%, 200%-

[Mana Heart Output Exceeds 400%]

[Mana Heart has Surpassed its Limit. Prolonged Use May Be Fatal!]

“I will take everything!”

In that moment, I had become a storm.