He Became The Most Insane Emperor Of All Time [EN]: Chapter 63

“Van Horn!”

“Ugh…”

I caught Van Horn as he collapsed, like a puppet with its strings cut, after being shot in the heart.

Jack quickly returned fire in the direction the arrow came from, and I saw the assassin, who had been hiding in the shadows, quickly fleeing.

While Jack pursued him, I examined Van Horn’s wound.

“The, the patrol…”

“Don’t talk, save your strength.”

Van Horn seemed to be trying to utter his last words, but I had no intention of letting him die. I immediately searched for a healing spell that I could use with my remaining divine power.

[Blessing of Purification – Revive]

[Stabilizes or restores a target with critical injuries.]

[If healing is successful, status ailments such as poisoning, curses, and bleeding will be recovered.]

[Your understanding of purification-healing divine spells is not sufficient, so there is a slight penalty to the effect.]

My understanding of healing spells wasn’t advanced, so the effect was somewhat diminished, but it seemed like I could save him.

I immediately cast the spell. The arrow embedded in his chest was pulled out, and the discoloration from the deadly poison around the wound also disappeared.

Van Horn, who had been on the verge of death, was now breathing steadily.

However, he was unconscious and hadn’t regained his senses.

“You there, protect the Vice-Commander.”

“Yes? H-How can I…”

“Just hide somewhere safe.”

I had saved Van Horn, so it was time to chase the assassin.

I quickly used High-Speed Movement to head to where Jack had run off.

It didn’t take long to reach Jack’s location.

“…I’m sorry, Your Majesty. I lost him.”

“If you lost him, he must be quite skilled. But it’s alright, I’m here now.”

The assassin, who had quickly escaped across the wasteland prairie, hid in a forested area.

It wasn’t a large forest, so he probably thought he could shake us off there and continue his escape, but unfortunately for him, I had excellent tracking skills.

[Watcher’s Web Activated]

[Aura Output Amplified]

[Current Skill Efficiency 300%]

Immediately, dozens of strands of aura web stretched out towards the forest.

When they collided with terrain features like trees inside the forest, they caused diffuse reflections, further widening the surveillance range in all directions, allowing me to quickly grasp the entire interior of the forest.

“Found him.”

I quickly located the assassin and immediately rushed out like the wind.

I was chasing him with High-Speed Movement, and at the same time, I also sent Shadow Blades ahead.

I was still using Watcher’s Web to avoid losing track, so there was a slight overload on my mana heart, but it was minor.

Shu-shuk, whoosh!

“…Keuk!”

The Shadow Blade grazed the assassin.

However, it wasn’t fatal, and the assassin skillfully dodged the follow-up attack.

But the very act of trying to evade the attack slowed down his escape.

“Are you the traitor?”

“…!”

I quickly caught up to him with High-Speed Movement, and with those words, I swung the Holy Sword at him.

The assassin immediately twisted his body to avoid it and instantly pulled out a rapid-fire small crossbow from his chest.

It was a modified crossbow in the form of a repeating crossbow, mainly used by rangers, which sacrificed power for rapid firing.

Soon, small bolts dedicated to the modified crossbow were scattered.

Each one had a bit of aura imbued in it and was coated with poison, making them difficult to ignore even with armor on.

“Not a chance!”

[Neural Acceleration Amplification!]

[Current Neural Acceleration Efficiency 240%]

[The ‘Sharp Weakness Detection’ skill identifies the optimal interception priority.]

Chaeng! Chaeng! Tu-du-du-duk-

The volley of bolts seemed to stop momentarily due to Neural Acceleration.

Following that, after determining the interception efficiency with the Weakness Detection skill, I swung my sword like a machine with not even an inch of error.

As soon as the acceleration effect wore off, I was able to knock down all the bolts that were flying fiercely.

Shuuuuuuk! Puk!

“Got you!”

“Keuheok…!”

In the meantime, I succeeded in stabbing the assassin by extending a Shadow Blade.

The Shadow Blade, embedded in the assassin’s right arm, bound him like a solid hook.

The assassin immediately took out a dagger to cut it, but it wasn’t easily cut even with a dagger infused with aura.

“Let’s see your face.”

The assassin was wearing a black robe and a mask, so I hadn’t been able to see his face until now.

However, judging from his fighting style, he was definitely a ranger.

If I could confirm his identity, I could find out who the traitor was.

Tuk, Puh-ung!

“Damn it!”

But as if he had no intention of being caught easily, he immediately released a thick smoke screen.

[Poisoned!]

[Your senses have been temporarily dulled due to the paralysis poison.]

[Thanks to ‘Innate Toughness,’ the effects of the poison are greatly reduced, but physical activity and aura utilization are temporarily limited.]

I immediately held my breath, but I couldn’t completely avoid the poisoning.

Fortunately, it wasn’t a deadly poison, but it was enough to prevent me from using Watcher’s Web and High-Speed Movement for a while.

Because of that, when the smoke cleared, the assassin had already disappeared.

“Did I wound him…”

There was a pool of blood where the smoke had cleared.

It must have been due to the injury caused by the Shadow Blade.

“I should return to Van Horn first.”

Even though it was a bit clumsy, the healing spell worked well, so he shouldn’t be dead.

He might have regained consciousness by now, so I returned to where he was.

“Ahem, I heard you saved me. I didn’t trust you, but you even saved my life.”

Van Horn, who had come back from the brink of death, said those words and seemed inwardly sorry.

“I will repay this favor somehow.”

“That’s kind of you to say, but it’s not over yet. I missed the assassin… the traitor.”

If I had caught him on the spot, things would have gone well, but the assassin’s skills were also not ordinary, so there was no use regretting it.

“It’s not your fault. But the way to find the traitor has become obscure. The fact that he tried to kill me means he knew he was being tracked, so he will be even more wary now…”

Van Horn was disappointed, but after hearing his words, I thought differently from him.

“No, not necessarily. At least there’s still a chance.”

“Why is that?”

“As much as we don’t know about that traitor, that traitor doesn’t know about me either.”

As I said those words, I pointed to where Van Horn had been shot with the arrow.

“For example, he wouldn’t know that I can heal a fatal wound from a poisoned arrow to the heart.”

“Certainly… that’s true. Then, could it be?”

“That’s right.”

With a high probability, he will think Van Horn is dead.

“Then, I’ll have to play dead for a while, as he wishes, Van Horn.”

The trap to catch the traitor was complete.

* * *

“Van Horn is dead, Commander.”

Having returned to the Ranger headquarters, I informed Commander Leonard of Van Horn’s death.

“…What are you talking about? He suddenly died? By whom?”

Commander Leonard asked back in a surprised voice.

I glanced at him slightly and answered quietly, as if I was feeling sorry.

“A traitor. He was assassinated by that bastard. He was shot in the heart by someone’s arrow. It was a fatal wound.”

“Where… no, why do you know that?”

“Van Horn was chasing the traitor before me; I was actually suspicious of him and was tailing him. And I ended up seeing him being murdered.”

I revealed my guilt with a bitter tone and then told him the circumstances up to ‘missing the assassin.’

“I missed the assassin, but I injured his arm. It must still be there, so immediately summon the Ranger members. We need to do a body search.”

“…It’s like suspecting the members, so it’s not a pleasant task.”

“Are you not going to catch the traitor then? Even though the Vice-Commander is dead?”

“Haa…”

Commander Leonard let out a deep sigh at my words.

“I can’t do that. I will immediately summon the members.”

The rangers immediately stopped everything they were doing and were summoned by Leonard’s command, who readily cooperated.

Those who were on sentry duty or night patrol, in addition to those who were sleeping, were all called, and they showed signs of complaining or worrying.

“V-Vice-Commander is dead?”

“There’s a traitor in the patrol…”

The commotion grew even bigger when they were informed of Van Horn’s death.

But more than his death, the fact that there was a traitor among the rangers was creating a bigger stir.

“Everyone calm down. Although the assassin was missed at the scene, his right arm was injured. So I’m going to check everyone gathered here.”

“W-We’re not traitors!”

“Then prove that you are not a traitor. If there is no fresh wound on your right arm, your innocence will be proven.”

There were those who protested against being suspected of being a traitor, but everyone willingly complied with the body search because they could prove their innocence by simply rolling up their sleeves.

“Team Leader Hermann, why aren’t you rolling up your sleeve?”

“C-Commander, that’s…”

However, Patrol Team Leader Hermann was hesitating.

Commander Leonard began to urge him on.

“Team Leader Hermann.”

Tuk-

At the same time, the commander grabbed Hermann’s arm and rolled up his sleeve.

Then, there was a wound on his arm that was still bleeding.

It was a deep stab wound caused by a blade.

“You…”

“N-No! This is because I was attacked by something during patrol just now…”

“Patrol? Hmm… You had a solo patrol mission until just now? That means you have no alibi.”

“I’m not a traitor, Commander!”

Team Leader Hermann desperately denied his charges, but the gazes of not only the commander but also the surrounding rangers were all turning fierce.

“We’ll find out in due course. First of all, I’ll have to detain you. Don’t think about resisting.”

“…I understand. Because I have to prove my innocence.”

Hermann seemed to be feeling wronged by the commander’s words, but he was quietly bound.

“The traitor was easily found, just as you said. Of course, it would have been difficult without you. The Ranger owes you a great debt.”

“Yes, but before that, I wish the commander would show his arm too?”

“Ah, look at my mind. I didn’t show it myself.”

Commander Leonard immediately rolled up his right arm.

His arm was clean without a single wound.

“Well, that’s natural. Since the culprit has already been caught. I just checked it formally.”

“I understand, it’s better not to leave any room for doubt. But what are you going to do now? Are you going back to the Imperial Palace?”

“I should, but… I don’t know when I’ll be back yet. The problem in the Western Territory hasn’t been resolved yet.”

“Well, take your time. You can stay as long as you want.”

“I will.”

The commander and I seemed to be finishing the conversation warmly, as if we were exchanging pleasantries.

“Ah, by the way, Commander. There was one thing that bothered me earlier.”

“Hmm? What is it?”

“When I first announced the fact. I clearly only said, ‘Van Horn is dead.’ But the commander said, ‘By whom?'”

“…”

Van Horn, who heard my words, showed a momentary flinch, but I shrugged my shoulders and said.

“Well, he must have guessed and said that because he already knew there was a traitor. Isn’t that right?”

“…Of course, that’s what happened.”

“Anyway, I should go to sleep. I have to follow the clues Van Horn left behind tomorrow. Who knows? There might be another real culprit.”

“…Okay, do as you wish.”

I exchanged my last words with Leonard and left him behind.

For some reason, I felt Leonard’s gaze sharply behind my back.