He Became The Most Insane Emperor Of All Time [EN]: Chapter 48

Became the Greatest Crazy Emperor – Episode 48 (48/300)

Became the Greatest Crazy Emperor 48

Orlo, the free port city in the Southern Territory.

As the base of the Orlant family and the wealthiest city in the Southern Territory, it was, in some ways, more splendid than the capital itself.

However, with the atmosphere strained with the lords, this place was practically enemy territory. Nevertheless, I came here myself.

“Hey, why did you bring me here?”

However, I didn’t come alone.

Rather, unlike my usual simple escort, I arrived with the most extravagant procession possible.

Though it was Mirror, not me, who was in the guise of the Emperor.

“Why? Don’t you like it here? You can have more luxurious fun than in the Imperial Palace or the capital, you know?”

“No, it’s not that I don’t like it… I’m just wondering why you suddenly let me out.”

Mirror said with a dubious expression. Usually, he wasn’t allowed to leave the Imperial Palace, so he seemed puzzled by this long trip.

“Of course, I came here to work. I’m scheduled to meet Duke Orlant. Well, you can have as much fun here as you want.”

“Anyone who hears that would think I do nothing but play and eat!”

Isn’t that all you do? And you’re completely accustomed to that life.

The rebellious spirit you showed at the beginning is nowhere to be found, yet you still talk so well.

Even while saying that, Mirror had the expression of a puppy wanting a walk.

“Do you perhaps want to see the outside world?”

“Huh? Ah, no, not particularly…”

Mirror’s eyes shook, as if I had hit the nail on the head.

I chuckled at his funny 모습 [appearance] and said,

“Really? I was going to show you around the city since we came all this way, but I guess there’s no need.”

“Wa, wait! Are you really going to show me? I want to go! I want to see!”

Mirror jumped up and down, making a fuss in his boyish form.

Clearly, we were half slaves… no, in a cooperative relationship, but seeing this, he really was no different from a pet dog.

“Alright, but there’s one condition. Change back to my appearance. You can only wander around in that state.”

“Okay. But why do I have to? Is it some kind of official schedule?”

“No, it’s not that. If it were an official procession, you wouldn’t be able to see the city properly, right? Making you look like me is just for surveillance purposes.”

“Ah.”

In his current form as a demonic boy, he would be too conspicuous, so the reason was that my appearance was easier to recognize and monitor.

When I gave that reason, Mirror nodded without much suspicion. It seemed he didn’t care as long as he could see the city.

“It’s amazing, the city is beautiful, and even the commoners seem to have 余裕 [leeway/breathing room].”

After a while, I walked the streets of Orlo with Mirror.

Hiding my face with a mask and disguised as a guard, I watched Mirror, who was enjoying himself like a child.

More precisely, I was watching to see if anyone was targeting Mirror, who had transformed into my appearance.

“They haven’t started following us yet, huh.”

“Huh? What?”

“No, nothing. There will be more to see at the harbor, why don’t we go there?”

“Okay!”

The reason I brought Mirror here in the first place was this.

Even the separatists wouldn’t openly attack me.

If they did, it would immediately start a civil war, and if they wanted a civil war right now, they would have revolted already.

However, they wouldn’t do nothing to me, who had entered enemy territory, so I thought they would attempt an assassination.

If that’s the case, it was better to openly throw out bait and wait for them to take it.

Using Mirror as bait was a bit unsettling… well, not really, it’s the same as using him as my stand-in normally.

“Look over there! They sail the sea with such big ships…”

“Is this your first time seeing a ship?”

“Yeah, I’ve never seen the sea in the Demon World… no, I’ve never had such a relaxed time in the first place.”

Mirror said with a slightly lonely tone.

He hadn’t talked about his past, but as I said when I persuaded Mirror, he probably lived a harsh life in the Demon World.

Even if I’m using him as bait, honestly, his quality of life is much higher here, being treated well and enjoying luxury.

Bang! Pow!

“Ugh! What is that! Did someone use explosion magic!”

At that moment, Mirror was startled by the cannon fire from the ship he was looking at.

It was like a medieval person hearing a cannon for the first time, but the reaction was subtly different because magic existed in this world.

“A cannon, I’ve only read about it in books, but it really exists.”

“Huh? A cannon? What’s that?”

“What, you don’t know? There’s probably one in the Demon World too. That’s a magic-triggered cannon.”

Although it doesn’t use gunpowder, there are cannons here too.

In fact, in a world where explosions can be caused by magic, it’s not difficult to implement firearms with magic.

However, it couldn’t be compared to using gunpowder in terms of production efficiency or utility.

“It’s quite a powerful weapon, but it’s expensive and not necessarily stronger than knights. At least, not yet.”

“Still, it’s amazing, look at that waterspout.”

Mirror watched in amazement as the cannonball fired in the test shot hit the surface of the sea, creating a long pillar of water.

After that, we looked for various other attractions.

Even in an era where transportation wasn’t very developed, there were surprisingly many things to see in a port where it was easy to enjoy the benefits of transportation.

“I didn’t know they sold these things.”

“It’s delicious, this 튀김 [fried] thing!”

Especially snacks.

Thanks to the supplies coming into the port, things like sugar and oil, which were considered precious in inland villages, were relatively abundant, so there were many street food vendors.

Of course, compared to the 고급 [high-class] food served in the Imperial Palace, the cooking method was very simple and crude, but this side used plenty of precious ingredients.

I was surprised that there were many things similar to what I had seen on Earth, but is it that people live similarly everywhere?

But more than that… it seemed like those guys were starting to tail us.

“Hey, you there. You’re the 귀하신 [honorable] one from the Imperial Palace, right?”

“Huh?”

Mirror, who was engrossed in the food being sold on the street, didn’t notice the group of thugs surrounding him.

He only noticed when they called out to him like that, and even then, he was still munching on the food already in his mouth, causing the thugs to snicker.

“Ha, this guy is the Emperor? He’s a complete idiot.”

“He’s wandering around without guards…”

“Let’s quickly grab him and take him away. They said they’d give ten times the reward if we capture him alive.”

The thugs, who were obviously hired to kidnap him, immediately reached out to grab Mirror.

Thud.

“Huh?”

“I was wondering when you’d come.”

Crack!

“Ugh!”

“But to send these 잡것들 [worthless things/trash], I must have been seriously underestimated.”

I had deliberately kept the guards away and only stuck with him, but still.

They didn’t send formal assassins or knights, but only scraps like these guys. Well, maybe they didn’t have time to hire assassins.

“Let go! Let go, you 개자식 [son of a bitch]-”

Thump!

“Kuaaaak!”

I roughly threw down the thug who was struggling to let go of his twisted arm.

His arm seemed to be more damaged as he fell, but it was none of my business whether a kidnapper became disabled or not.

“They’re not even worth a bite…”

“Hi, hit him!”

Swish, Pow! Pow pow!

“That should be enough of a warning.”

“Cu, cough!”

The thugs, who immediately rushed at me with knives, were no threat to me even if I fought them with my bare hands, without even drawing my sword.

To me, who had rampaged against 괴인 [monsters] on the battlefield, they were no threat at all even if I fought them with my bare hands.

“What’s going on? The 괴한 [thugs] are getting beaten up?”

“Amazing! He’s taking them all down with his bare hands!”

“He must be a great knight from the Central Territory.”

Before I knew it, people had gathered and started watching the beating of the 괴한 [thugs].

Originally, the purpose was to repel the assassins sent by the lords and break their spirit, but this felt like a power show.

“Mo, monster!”

Only one thug was left.

He was holding a cutlass that pirates would use, but it seemed he had no way to do anything to me with it, just like the other guys who had been hit and fallen.

“Wa, wait! I’ll quietly back down, please spare me!”

“Then disappear by the time I count to three, one.”

He immediately surrendered, having lost all will to fight.

“Ju, just a moment, my body is stiff-”

“Two.”

“Okay! I’ll go right away!”

He turned around as if to run away while hesitating, but it was a clumsy trick.

“You didn’t know about this!”

Click-

Suddenly turning back again, he took out a magic-triggered pistol that he had secretly taken out from his chest.

To trigger it, you need at least a little bit of magical talent, but even commoners can use it for one or two shots.

“Die-”

Slash

“…ra?”

However, he didn’t get to shoot the gun.

Because his wrist had already been cut off by my sword, which I had drawn at some point.

“Three.”

Bang!

Instead, I snatched the gun and shot him.

“Kuh-heok…”

I coldly looked down at the thug who fell dead, and threw away the pistol I was holding.

“Amazing!”

“That was so cool!”

“Good for you, you 깡패 [gangster]!”

Violence and even murder had occurred, but the people gathered around were 오히려 [rather] enthusiastic.

Well, violence is common in this era, and it’s not strange to be enthusiastic if it’s directed at criminals.

“Anyway, I should go back now. Follow me.”

“Ah, okay.”

However, it wasn’t good to attract too much attention like this, so I grabbed Mirror and left the scene.

If I got involved with the city guards, I might have to stage a 도주극 [escape drama], but fortunately, I dealt with it quickly, so the guards didn’t even get to see it.

“Those bad guys ruined my sightseeing.”

“You saw enough, didn’t you?”

“That’s true, but I’m sad because there are still places I haven’t seen… who on earth sent those bad guys?”

Well, who else but the lords. But to be honest, I was the one who half-induced this situation, so I felt a bit guilty.

“Could it be the lords? I guess that’s likely.”

“That’s right. Who else would try to kidnap me, that is, the Emperor, here besides those guys.”

I don’t know what their next plan was after kidnapping him, but maybe they were just thinking of doing it and seeing what happens.

They’re guys who are trying to separate the Empire and create their own kingdom, so there would be many things they could do if they took the Emperor hostage.

However, Duke Orlant, the owner of this city, seems willing to listen to the conversation.

“That’s outrageous. Well, anyway, thank you for saving me.”

“…Don’t worry about it. It’s also a problem for me if you get kidnapped anyway.”

He still didn’t seem to know that I deliberately used him as bait. And in fact, losing a valuable stand-in would be a waste.

“So, in that sense… is there anything I can help you with to repay the debt for helping me?”

“You’re going to help me?”

“I’m no, not helping you because I like you! It’s just that I’m repaying the debt from what happened just now.”

He was showing a somewhat typical reaction, but it was unexpected that this guy would step up to help.

Strictly speaking, what I ‘agreed’ with this guy was more or less forced or passive.

Well, it seemed that he was already satisfied with the treatment he was receiving, but it was the first time he had shown loyalty.

“Really? Then there is something I need you to do.”

I came here to try to persuade Duke Orlant.