He Became The Most Insane Emperor Of All Time [EN]: Chapter 95

“It seems the dispatched Imperial Knights are doing well.”

“Yes, recruiting local sheriffs is also proceeding smoothly. It will take time to establish a proper law enforcement organization, but…”

The solution I proposed to quell the unrest and chaos in the Western Territory was the sheriff system.

Like the sheriffs in American Western movies, it was a way to create local police to be in charge of local security.

Of course, appointing trustworthy police in the provinces isn’t easy, and it’s a system that could easily lead to local collusion, but…

“Well, that’s the best we can do for now.”

Even a system of that level was advanced by medieval standards.

But regardless of whether the system is good or bad, the problem is whether it can be realized, and the way to make that possible was the Imperial Knights I dispatched to various locations.

Forged with the Imperial Soul, they abandoned their previous lives and were reborn as beings solely for serving the Empire.

They were trustworthy and could also recruit ‘seeds’ locally.

“After selecting those seeds, the sheriffs, they must be recalled to reorganize the army. Only a few should remain, and the rest should be投入投入ed into the Northern Expedition.”

“Understood, Commander.”

Van Horn, who had also become an Imperial Knight, replied with his usual faithful attitude, but unlike before, he appeared inorganic.

As he stepped back, Igrid said, watching him.

“…It’s creepy. I feel emptiness in that guy’s soul. It’s like looking at something hollow.”

“You can sense that? Well, you use a similar power, so you might be able to.”

Igrid, though not an Imperial Soul, fought me with a power very similar to it.

It wasn’t strange that someone who uses such divine power could discern its true nature.

“A warrior’s soul must be free. That is no different from the brainwashing of the demons.”

“I won’t deny that. But I gave them enough opportunities to choose. That is the form they chose willingly.”

The trials given in the soul realm when reforging them as Imperial Knights.

Those were never meant to simply train them.

It was a process of endlessly asking whether they could genuinely endure great sacrifices that ordinary humans could never make.

When their body, mind, and soul reached their limits, they could never answer with shallow motives like wealth or fame.

Only those who answered “yes” to the question of whether they could abandon everything for the Empire, even knowing they would not remain themselves, were left.

Out of 100 candidates, only 20 passed that.

Only a tiny number passed, considering the large amount of divine power consumed.

But it was still worth it.

“Because there is no one as perfect as them to act as my agents.”

There are trustworthy retainers like the Commander of the Imperial Guard or the Prime Minister, but their abilities are limited to replace me.

Those in cooperative relationships, like nobles and merchants, can be trusted when sharing benefits, but they will betray me as soon as that’s no longer the case.

Even my future children are not guaranteed to follow my abilities.

However, those connected by the Imperial Soul are not only trustworthy but can also exert their capabilities in proportion to the divinity granted to them.

“Are you going to turn all your warriors, all your subjects, into that?”

“Of course not. I couldn’t even if I wanted to.”

Divinity cannot be infinite. No matter how many achievements I accumulate, it is impossible to make all Imperial subjects like that.

Moreover, I can weaken myself by sharing my power, so I can never abuse it.

Of course, I plan to increase their numbers further by having them create ‘seeds,’ but I could never use them infinitely.

“In that sense, Jurgen, it’s not enough to just create Imperial Knights and local sheriffs. It will all be in vain if the administration doesn’t follow.”

“That’s right. So, as originally planned, we intend to seek the help of the Wizard Lord in that regard.”

“That would be good.”

The Wizard Lord, though originally a separatist vassal, could be considered to have converted by now.

Of course, the Wizard Lord is cunning and may try to leave the Empire someday.

But I don’t want an eternal empire, so I don’t care as long as he stays quiet during my reign.

“If the Imperial Knights form a faction within the Knights Order, the wizards will be kept in check appropriately. That’s something you can do better, Jurgen.”

“Of course. Then I will immediately send word to the Wizard Lord.”

It would take some time, but considering the bad situation in the Northern Territory, I couldn’t stay long, so I wanted to resolve it quickly.

However, the reply from the Wizard Lord was unexpected.

“The Wizard Lord says he is not in a position to come here now.”

“What? Is he telling me to come then?”

He invited me for a meeting, but he’s telling me to come instead.

It might be a minor matter of protocol, but the Wizard Lord should be the one in need, and it was strange that someone who knew that would give such an answer.

While I was thinking that, Jurgen added.

“It seems something has happened to the Wizard Lord. It was his close aide who conveyed this message, and he seemed to desperately want Your Majesty to come.”

“He desperately wanted me to come…”

It felt desperate rather than a scheme or trap.

In the end, I headed directly to the Magic Tower City, the Wizard Lord’s base.

* * *

I came to a world with swords and magic, but I haven’t actually seen many wizards.

It’s partly because there aren’t many opportunities to meet them, but it’s also because wizards are overwhelmingly rarer than knights.

“But the city of wizards is definitely different.”

However, the scenery of the Magic Tower City ‘Magoros’ clearly showed that it was made with magic.

From buildings made to float by imprinting levitation magic to magic artifacts that are extremely rare elsewhere being commonly traded.

Even just from what you can see, it was distinct compared to other parts of the Empire, and the proportion of scholars among the residents was high.

“The wizards who created this city are amazing.”

“Thank you for saying that, Lord Shadow. But even this is incomparably diminished compared to its most brilliant heyday.”

They say that this magical civilization was even more amazing in the past, but looking at the current Empire, I can’t imagine what it was like then.

“Well, I didn’t come here to have a historical discussion. The Wizard Lord… so Duke Elroyd is in a dangerous state?”

“Unfortunately, that is the case, Lord Shadow.”

But this beautiful city, though seemingly peaceful on the surface, was actually in great danger.

And I was now heading to the place where that danger awaited, the place that held the most secret secrets of this city.

That was the top floor of the Magic Tower, the ‘Arcane Maze.’

“The Magic Tower is not just a research facility for wizards. In fact, this place is close to magic itself.”

“Is the reason for that the Arcane Maze?”

“Yes, it is the source of all magic and mystery. Originally, it was a place ruled by the Empire’s guardian deity, Mystery…”

The Wizard Lord’s aide made that remark and then wore a dark expression.

Meanwhile, the floating elevator reached the top floor. It was a place heavily guarded by swordmasters, wizards, and Magic Tower guards.

The place they were blocking as if sealing it was a huge door that emitted an eerie blue light.

However, beyond that door, a vast magic power like an endless abyss was pouring out.

“Now it is being attacked by all sorts of unknown beings. Our wizards have the mission of preventing beings from crossing over here while maintaining the lineage of magic.”

The aide had only said that much when the magic power that had been fluctuating beyond the door suddenly erupted.

The erupted magic powers were soon creating distorted beings.

-Hoo-ooo-ooo!

“Mana Eaters!”

“Guards! Defensive formation!”

The Magic Tower guards stood against the chaotic monsters of deep blue, close to navy, whose shapes were inconsistent and seemed to transform infinitely.

-Hehehehehehehe!

Shukaaaaaak!

However, with a single swing of their elongated, transformed arms, many of the guards wearing ornate armor with magic circuits engraved on them were cut in half.

Some survived because defensive magic was activated, but it was a sight where elite soldiers, each of a high level, were being sliced like vegetables.

“Wizards, hurry and use magic-“

Hwoo-oo-oo-oop!

“It, it’s sucking up magic power! Stop chanting!”

“Cough!”

The wizards who were trying to use magic suddenly started coughing up blood as their magic circuits and mana rings broke down due to the magic power being sucked out.

Even though they were somehow enduring and retaliating despite the numerous casualties, it was clear that they would suffer great damage if things continued like that.

-Hee-eugh-ooo-ooo…….

Thwack!

After watching the situation for a bit and figuring out their weaknesses, I rushed out with high-speed movement and cut down one of the Mana Eaters.

It wasn’t a normal cut but a magic cut, so it was more lethal to a guy made of magic power.

-Haaaaaa…….

“Fortunately, these guys are easy for me.”

They have strong resistance to physical attacks, and it’s hard to defeat them with magic unless you hit their weaknesses.

But for me, who can not only cut magic power but also see weaknesses with sharp weakness detection abilities, they weren’t difficult to kill.

Shuaaaak!

“Where do you think you’re going!”

Of course, the attacks of the guys who had cut down the guards in an instant were also threatening to me.

Even though they weren’t that rare, their attacks were threatening, so they were glass cannons [powerful but fragile].

But I could avoid them nimbly with neural acceleration and high-speed movement, so I could eliminate all the guys that had been ejected from the door.

Thwack!

“I’ve taken care of them all. But this can’t be the last one, right?”

“That’s right. There are infinitely many of those things beyond the maze.”

“Do we have to keep it like this?”

“Not unless we purify the maze.”

“Can’t we just close it off forever?”

The high-ranking wizard aide answered with a very troubled look.

“If we did that, even the remaining lineage of magic would disappear.”

“Then why did the Wizard Lord go in there?”

“Even though the maze is in that state, we can’t help but enter it for magic research. But the outbreak happened to occur…”

So, he’s missing, unable to be rescued.

“Can’t you rescue him?”

“No one can enter the maze during an outbreak. Not unless they are a strong person who can withstand the dangers within the maze…”

After hearing the aide’s words, I finally understood why they had bothered to call me here.

“Lord Shadow is the only strong person of that caliber that we know.”

“So that’s why you called me?”

The Wizard Lord’s aide nodded with a very pale face.