Chapter 840
Chapter 840
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 840
Chapter Title: The Tyrant for You
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“Advance!”
My army continued its march toward the capital of the dwarf kingdom, Tolto s.
The dwarf forces and their walls stood in the way of the imperial army, but as long as I was there, defeat was not an option for them. Not even walls or gates forged from steel could withstand the spears I hurled.
The imperial army racked up victory after victory. They plundered countless treasures and took tens of thousands of dwarves prisoner.
Whenever a dwarf village came into view along the way, they never just passed it by. They killed and looted. Before long, the imperial soldiers saw pillaging as a matter of course. They gladly raped the ugly women I bestowed upon them, and at my command, they massacred even children.
Killing people brought in money. That equation had been drilled into the soldiers' heads. Of course, many still hesitated at the slaughter. But disobeying my orders meant death, so they had no choice but to comply.
The imperial army had already conquered seven cities, and now they aimed to take the eighth.
“No signs of life. A trap?”
The eighth city was utterly devoid of presence. I sent soldiers ahead to approach it. Normally, the dwarves would open fire with their magic guns upon getting close, but this time, there was no reaction at all.
It was most likely a trap. With their technology to craft bombs from magic stones and even steel golems, they could easily make explosives powerful enough to level a city.
“Your Majesty. I shall dispatch soldiers and mages to scout the city interior. Please wait a moment.”
“Do so.”
Waiting was no big deal. I could pass the time playing with a beauty knight or a beautiful dwarf. Using Mirror Tunnel to return to the imperial palace and frolic in the gardens for a bit wouldn't be bad either.
Two hours later, Luteon reported back to me.
“Your Majesty. The city is completely empty. They've taken not only food but all valuables that could fetch a price.”
“They've abandoned the city strategically and fled. After one defeat after another, it's only natural. Have they given up the war? Surely the capital of Tolto s isn't in this state too?”
“I doubt it, Your Majesty. Dwarves are stubborn and obsessive; they won't yield easily. Even in defeat, they won't fully surrender—they'll point their spears at you until the end. In my opinion... they're likely preparing an all-out defense in the capital.”
“An all-out war... They think they can beat me if they gather everyone. Fools. No bombs or anything in the city?”
“Our mages and specialist scouts have searched thoroughly. This city is empty—no traps.”
“March to the next city. Burn this one to the ground. It's a luxury these future slaves of the empire don't deserve.”
“As you command.”
A few hours later, we spotted a dwarf village. Like the previous city, it was completely deserted.
The ninth, tenth, and eleventh cities were the same.
Luteon’s face hardened as he confirmed the cities were emptying out one after another.
“Your Majesty. A temporary retreat from here could be wise.”
Luteon explained that even retreating now would inflict massive damage on Tolto s. With all nearby cities evacuated, they'd suffer enormous economic losses.
“If we resume the conquest of Tolto s in half a year, victory will come more easily. Time is on the empire's side.”
“You want me to pull back after coming this far? I have no such intention. I've already decided to conquer Tolto s. Advance.”
The imperial army pressed on.
And a week later, we finally arrived before the capital of Tolto s.
Tolto s's capital was unique. It had been built by turning a massive mine into a city. The steel walls towered high, and some magical presence emanated from the gates.
The imperial army seemed overwhelmed by the enormous walls and the mine-city, shrinking back. They gazed in awe at Tolto s's capital from afar, exhaling sharply.
Siege weapons atop the Tolto s walls swiveled to aim at the imperial army. Giant ballistae. They made our own siege engines look pathetic—massive, majestic, and menacing.
“Don't panic! The ballista bolts can't reach us here! Stay calm!”
Luteon steadied the panicking soldiers.
I stepped down from the carriage, draped in my red cloak. The imperial army's eyes fixed on me. Until now, I'd only shattered gates and walls from the rear with my spear throws; I rarely stepped forward personally.
As I emerged, the army's mood shifted. The battlefield fell silent, but morale soared even higher.
I was the one who had single-handedly massacred the 300,000-strong army of Hármel Kingdom. To them, I was no longer human—I was a god.
Step by step.
With the soldiers' gazes on my back, I took position at the forefront of the imperial army. I didn't stop there; I advanced even further.
The ballistae on the walls activated. Ten massive bolts launched straight at me.
I gripped Arondite and swung it horizontally. A blue slash obliterated the ballista bolts.
I looked up at the gates. A dwarf with an extraordinary presence stood there.
A white-bearded dwarf clad in white armor. A gleaming golden crown rested on his head, and he held a holy warhammer in his hand.
The leader of the dwarves, the king of Tolto s. Mountain King Utemo Doltos.
“Emperor of the Empire! Do you see this shining warhammer?!”
Utemo raised the holy warhammer high. It glowed like a star. Its brilliance was probably comparable to a lighthouse.
“I see it well. It's fit for my collection. I'll kill you and take it.”
“You're the one who'll die! This Galatin is a sacred relic bestowed upon the Doltos Kingdom by the Earth Goddess! It shines when facing invaders, when facing evil foes! I've never seen or heard of it shining this brightly! Not even when I faced demons crawling from the demon realm! Emperor! You're eviler than any demon!”
Galatin.
I knew of it. Luteon had explained it to me before we arrived.
It was the weapon of the first king of Tolto s. The first king claimed it was a relic of the Earth Goddess, and indeed, it brimmed with her divine power.
Galatin had several abilities, one of which was glowing against evil—the stronger the evil, the brighter it shone, and it granted immense power to its wielder.
“Now that I look closer, it doesn't seem all that bright.”
I stepped forward. Utemo swung Galatin. Its second ability activated. Massive rock spikes materialized in the air and hurtled toward me. I parried them with Arondite. My right arm tingled. The force in those spikes was no joke—even I couldn't dismiss it lightly.
The rock spikes crashed into the gate, only to be blocked by a defensive magic circle and crumble away. The rocks summoned by Galatin vanished without a trace.
“Emperor! I will slay you and protect the continent's peace!”
“I'll slay you and enslave every dwarf.”
“That will never happen! Attack!”
Arrows, magic bullets, and bombs rained down from the enemy. Still, I charged forward. My red cloak billowed over my shoulder. It was a bit annoying, but I endured it. Because it looked cool!
‘Stormbreaker!’
I summoned Stormbreaker and donned it. Arrows and magic bullets couldn't pierce the Stormbreaker armor. Bombs were the same. Their firepower wasn't enough to harm me.
I conjured duplicate spears and hurled them at the gates. They were blocked by the defensive magic circle and fell. Cracks formed in the circle, but dwarf mages swarmed to repair it in an instant.
I kept throwing duplicate spears. The result was the same. It couldn't breach the defensive magic circle.
‘Impressive defense against ranged attacks.’
No matter if spear throws didn't work. I'd smash it up close. I sprinted toward the gates.
“Attack! Keep him from closing in!”
Utemo issued commands while relentlessly assaulting me with more attacks. He summoned rock spikes and flung them my way. His spikes, at least, demanded caution.
‘No need to parry them. Dodging is enough.’
I twirled my cloak and weaved left and right.
I reached the gates. The defensive magic circle activated to bar me. I swung Arondite. Blue mana shards scattered as the circle shattered. The absurd ease of it came down to one thing.
Arondite's power: Blessing of the Lake.
A magic circle was still magic—and to me, it was nothing.
“Gates are mere paper before me.”
I gripped Arondite with both hands. An aurablade surged along the blade. I swung it wide horizontally. Not just the gates—the walls were sliced too. Part of the wall collapsed, and the gates flew backward.
‘Lightning.’
Lightning crashed down on the walls, killing dwarves. That neutralized some of the forces atop the walls.
Toooooooooot!
A horn blared from behind me. The signal for a knightly charge. Countless hoofbeats shook the earth.
The startled enemy unleashed arrows, magic bullets, and ballista bolts at the charging knights. My presence had halved their fire, but the threat remained. However, mages weren't exclusive to the enemy. Our imperial mages cast defensive spells to cover the knights.
I leaped onto the walls and eliminated the pesky dwarf archers. Every swing of my sword felled five or six foes. Lightning continued to strike relentlessly.
“Emperor!!!”
Utemo appeared, swinging his warhammer at me. The sheer power behind it. The shockwave pulverized everything around.
I struck diagonally downward at an angle. The warhammer's trajectory shifted, slamming into the ground instead. That alone caused the walls to crumble.
Utemo staggered, off-balance. I seized the opening. Arondite's blade aimed for his neck.
Clang!
A rock suddenly blocked my strike. I cleaved it instantly, but it bought Utemo just enough time to dodge narrowly. The sword tip grazed his neck. A trickle of blood flowed from the cut.
“Another ability of Galatin?”
“Indeed!”
Utemo gripped his warhammer tight. Twelve rock shields materialized around him, shielding his body. Likely some automatic defense mechanism.
“Tch.”
If it were magic, no problem. But this was power rooted in divine force. It'd give me some trouble.
Toooooooooot!
“Heh. Utemo. The horns are drawing closer. My knights will soon breach the walls. Won't you stop them?”
“...I have loyal subordinates and golems prepared for this day!”
“If golems could stop my knights, you'd be the emperor, not me.”
“Don't try to shake me! I have one task: to execute you, Emperor!”
Utemo lunged at me. I dodged without clashing. With telekinesis, evasion was child's play. And while his strength might match mine, my agility was superior.
“...?! What are you doing?!”
“Heh.”
I cut down dwarf soldiers and warriors on the walls. Fighting Utemo head-on right now wouldn't kill him easily. Better to thin out the dwarf warriors instead. Plus, it would enrage Utemo.
“You bastard!!”
Face flushed red, Utemo roared and chased me. Boom, boom boom. The game of tag on the walls was thrilling enough.
“You vile scum!!”
Utemo hurled his warhammer. I was in the midst of cleaving a dwarf warrior in half, caught off-guard by the unexpected move. The flying warhammer smashed into my side.
Cough.
The shockwave made me spit blood as I flew into the city, crashing into a house.
No time to rest. I rose. From the impact, it felt like I'd fallen underground.
“Eeeeek!”
Six nearby dwarves huddled together, trembling. They'd been hiding underground.
“Vermin. You dare look down on me?”
I swung Arondite. A flying aurablade bisected their bodies.
Immediately after, the sky flashed. Utemo, gripping the glowing warhammer, plummeted toward me.
‘Acceleration, Moment.’
I shot up at high speed and burst out of the house. The warhammer struck where I'd been, triggering a small earthquake. The house collapsed from the shockwave.
Utemo burst from the rubble, aiming his warhammer at me and venting his rage.
“You bastard, Emperor!! Those were civilians. Women, children! There was no need to kill them!!”
“Women? They were so ugly I thought they were men. If they wanted my mercy, they should have been prettier.”
“Unforgivable wretch! I will kill you!”
The warhammer aimed at me shone even brighter.