Chapter 849
Chapter 849
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 849
Chapter Title: The Tyrant for You
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I glanced behind Luteon. The head of a giant over 5 meters tall was frozen solid. Its eyes were wide open in death, brimming with resentment.
"Well done."
I was quite surprised.
Honestly, I hadn't led the army myself, so I never expected to conquer the Solamit Kingdom this quickly. Sure, I'd stepped in once midway and wiped out about 100,000 troops, but that was it.
The rest had been handled by Luteon and Prince Raist leading the army to subjugate the Solamit Kingdom.
'The flying twin-winged squadrons and the dwarves' technological prowess must have been a huge help.'
Luteon and Prince Raist. Both were among the empire's top commanders. Conquering the north wasn't all that surprising.
"You've earned your merits, so you deserve fitting rewards."
I casually granted them territories from the conquered Solamit Kingdom. I could always snatch them back later on some pretext, and managing them sounded like a hassle anyway, so I dumped it on them.
A quick glance.
I shifted my eyes sideways. Ernel was sitting beside me. It was a foregone conclusion that she would become empress, and she was already acting the part. I had no intention of stopping her.
'She's pissed that Grand Duke Raist didn't die.'
Grand Duke Raist's participation in this war had been at Ernel's insistence. She wanted her father dead. She'd sent countless assassins and poison attempts his way, but Prince Raist had survived to the end, won the war, and now stood before me.
"Cough, cough."
Prince Raist bowed his head and hacked up a storm. His complexion was ghastly.
I furrowed my brow, and Ernel's eyes sparkled.
Ernel rose from her seat and settled onto my lap. Flashing a seductive smile, she ran her palm over my body. Ignoring her temptation, I lifted my fan to half-cover my face and spoke.
"Coughing in His Majesty's presence? How rude, Grand Duke Raist. Your Majesty, you must punish him to uphold the imperial dignity."
Squish.
Ernel's breasts pressed against my torso. She cupped my cheek, stroking it softly, and whispered in a sweet breath.
"Your Majesty. Punish Grand Duke Raist."
"Ernel is right. Can't you even hold back a cough before Us? I can see that wild horse prancing in your skull. General, beat Grand Duke Raist's head in until he dies."
"……!!"
Everyone in the audience chamber gasped in shock. Luteon, and even Ernel—who had called for punishment—were no exceptions. No one had imagined I'd order death over a mere cough.
"General. Did you not hear Our command?"
"...I shall obey the imperial decree."
Shiiiing.
The chilling sound of the general drawing his sword echoed.
"General. We said beat him to death."
At my gesture, a royal guard fetched an iron mace. Luteon accepted it with sunken eyes.
I looked at Prince Raist. He was composed. He didn't beg for his life. It seemed he'd long prepared for death.
"Grand Duke. If you have last words, speak them. We'll grant you that much."
"Your Majesty, I have nothing to say to you. Might I speak to my daughter instead?"
"Granted."
Prince Raist turned his gaze to Ernel.
"I raised you wrong. I never should have brought you as my disciple back then... If she had lived... would you have turned out differently?"
Grit.
Ernel ground her teeth. Her face twisted in fury.
I raised my hand and grabbed her breast. It was larger than my palm, impossible to fully grasp with one hand. Ernel composed her expression and spoke.
"Father. You should have made me the family head instead of Abel. Do you regret that choice now?"
"...I have no regrets. I only feel guilty for the many who will die because of you."
"Noble to the bitter end. Impressive. General! What are you waiting for? Kill this criminal at once!"
The general didn't react. His eyes were on me.
"Do it."
The mace came down, and Prince Raist's head exploded.
"……."
I looked at Ernel. I'd thought she'd be pleased, but her face was full of irritation. I leaned down and kissed her.
"...Ah, Your Majesty...."
The brief kiss ended, and Ernel gazed at me with heated eyes. She wrapped her arms around my neck. She seemed to love me even more now.
As I moved to rise and indulge her, Luteon called out.
"Your Majesty."
"What is it?"
I wondered if he was going to condemn me for killing Prince Raist, but I dismissed the thought at once. Luteon was mad in his own way. For the empire, he could kill his own child or friend.
And the mighty empire he envisioned existed only because of me. Without me, the colonial nations would revolt, and the empire couldn't handle it.
"The Slade Empire, Grand Kingdom, and Mailroad Kingdom's movements are suspicious."
Beastman Empire, human kingdom, elf kingdom.
Three nations the empire hadn't conquered. They had now allied against us. I'd heard it from Linda, attending their emperor-slaying meeting, and my spies. Accurate info. And Morgana backed the alliance.
"Ignore them. You're not suggesting those pests pose a threat to Us, are you?"
"...No, Your Majesty. I merely worry they might trouble you."
"We could sweep them away anytime. We're holding back because the empire isn't ready yet."
The empire had grown wealthy and powerful. But it lacked leisure. Smooth colonial rule needed time first.
"We shall prepare as best we can."
"Preparing is the prime minister's job. You'll be busy again, Prime Minister."
Before leaving the great hall, I asked him.
"General. The Heavenly God and Earth Mother God are bothersome. How do I kill them?"
The two gods of this world.
Leaving them be offered no benefit, so I planned to hunt them down. Killing them would yield massive Tyrant Points.
Especially the Earth Mother God.
Her, I'd capture and ravage. Turn her into a flesh toilet, but even if I killed her, it'd be after fucking her. So I swore.
"I know nothing of the gods. But I've heard the Heavenly God dwells in the heavens, overlooking the continent, while the Earth Mother God embraces us from the earth."
Some say gods don't exist. But they do here. The first emperor's holy grail proved it. And in the original story, the Heavenly God appeared. The protagonist's regression? That was the Heavenly God's doing.
I had a rough idea where the Heavenly God was.
The Earth Mother God's location intrigued me more. She was only mentioned in the original, never detailed.
"Your Majesty. If you're curious about the Heavenly God and Earth Mother God, summon the High Priestess. Born with divine power, she's the empire's top theologian."
"Ah, right. An expert was right here. Forgot about that girl; she has zero presence."
I left the great hall with Ernel.
Might as well shake up the Heavenly God Church. I even had the perfect pretext now.
'I wonder how many Tyrant Points she'll give.'
???
The empire had an annual event uniting the imperial family and the Heavenly God Church.
The Grand Heavenly Festival.
The emperor visited the church's main temple to pay respects and offer sacrifices to the Heavenly God. But I'd ignored it as tedious and meaningless. The church hadn't dared suggest it to me.
Beyond that, there were many events. The biggest was post-coronation: the church performing sacrifices to inform the Heavenly God of my ascension. Ignored, of course.
On a whim, I decided to hold the Grand Heavenly Festival. I entered the church's main temple. Not far from the capital, a short carriage ride sufficed.
Priests lined up to greet me upon alighting. As if rehearsed, they knelt and bowed.
"We pay respects to His Majesty the Emperor, sun of the great empire."
An elderly priest knelt before me. High Priestess Penelope was beside him. I recognized the old priest.
"You're High Priest Oblang."
High Priest Oblang. He managed the church headquarters. In other words, the most powerful figure in the Heavenly God Church.
"Yes, Your Majesty. All preparations for the Grand Heavenly Festival are complete. You need only a brief ritual."
"Brief ritual?"
"Purify your body with the prepared holy water and don the ceremonial robes."
"Hmm. I was just thinking of a shower. I hear the church has a saintess. She'll do for bathing me. Bring her. Oh, and the other beauty nuns too."
"...Your Majesty. The saintess plays a key role in the Grand Heavenly Festival. She's preparing the sacrifices for its success. Please consider the church's position."
"What does the saintess do in the festival?"
"She blesses Your Majesty with us high priests and crowns you with the imperial diadem."
"Is that so? Fine, whatever."
I grinned and nodded, and Oblang sighed in relief.
Penelope's eyes shook with unease. Living in the palace, she knew me well. She knew I never backed down easily when it came to women.
"Your Majesty. I shall guide you."
"Lead on."
I followed Oblang alone. The prime minister was busy, and I'd ordered the guards not to follow out of annoyance. Guarding me with knights who couldn't even beat my pinky was absurd anyway.
I stopped mid-walk, and Oblang asked quizzically.
"Your Majesty? Is something not to your liking...?"
"Look at this one."
I pointed at a prostrated priest.
"...What offense has he—"
"He just lifted his head, met my eyes, and lowered it. Most displeasing. You, raise your head."
Oblang's face stiffened. The priest trembled as he lifted his head. A young man, freshly ordained, with a mischievous vibe.
"Y-Your Majesty. Marco is still young. Likely just curious about your visage. This is the Heavenly God's main temple. He watches over us—please show mercy!"
Penelope, quietly trailing me, rushed forward desperately.
"We are most displeased. Penelope, I'll give you a chance."
I summoned a longsword and handed it to her. She took it. Heavy, but Penelope wasn't ordinary. A high priestess, former saintess. Stronger than most adult men.
"Execute him yourself. Erase Our displeasure."
"...Ah, aaah... Your Majesty... please, mercy...!"
Penelope trembled. The prone youth lifted his head and cried out.
"Your Majesty! Forgive me! Spare me! Spare me!"
"Filth sullying Our ears. What are you waiting for, Penelope? Kill him."
Someone dashed out then. The prostrated priest. A handsome man brimming with righteousness.
"Your Majesty! I am Antonio Blantis! Second son of Duke Blantis's house, and a high priest candidate! Please forgive this child's rudeness!"
Simple enough. Invoke Duke Blantis's name to calm me. I sneered and used telekinesis.
"Gasp? Hrk! M-my body!"
Antonio's body floated into the air and burst midair. Blood sprayed, guts rained down. Oblang's face went ashen.
"Penelope. Want the Heavenly God Church painted in blood? We said kill."
"...I shall obey His Imperial Majesty's command."
Penelope shed tears as she slew the young priest.