The Emperor's Iron Fist

Kim Hwang-je activated World Observation the moment he boarded the drillship.

First, he checked Gemini's laboratory.

Through World Observation, he saw Gemini buried in research on the Book of Rifts while simultaneously examining Catiyu's headless body floating inside a glass jar.

When Kim Hwang-je pressed down on Gemini's head, she looked up toward the sky.

"Poyu. Can you pass this on to Gemini?"

"Ung, Ahjussi! What should I say?"

"Let's see… Tell her Bahu is under my supervision after some education. Ask her to prepare a special infiltration team to break Lavanus out. That should do it."

"Hehe, Ahjussi sounds like a kidnapper!"

"Huh? Do I?"

Regardless, Poyu relayed Kim Hwang-je's message exactly as requested.

Gemini leaped to her feet and sprinted at full speed toward Dave's office.

Dave, who was conversing with his ministers in the absence of a proper chancellor, welcomed the breathless Gemini.

She shouted something while pointing at the sky and hopping about in excitement. At first Dave watched in confusion, but soon his eyes widened in shock.

"Why is she so surprised?"

It was because the very Bahu they had mourned had become Kim Hwang-je's slave and ally.

Of course, Kim Hwang-je had no idea.

Those in high places sometimes remained unaware of such things.

"Gemini says she got it! She says she can have everything ready in half a day at the earliest!"

Kim Hwang-je sent a text to Seo Jun-seo.

[Kingdom preparations are nearly complete. They say it'll be done in half a day. I'll message ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠you again the moment it's finished.]

[Understood, sir. I've finished negotiations with the Righteous Sword Sect. I played the weak card as much as possible, but in the end they drew the losing hand. A large-scale expedition team will be coming.]

Kim Hwang-je nodded.

It was fortunate that Seo Jun-seo was so good at acting weak.

Poyu continued, wings fluttering.

"And Gemini says she's grateful for the Book of Rifts and Catiyu's body. She used the Book of Rifts to delay the wave a little, and she's researching Catiyu's body in secret from Dave!"

"Huuuh! Really?"

Kim Hwang-je was moved.

Finally! The wave had been postponed!

Ah, what a relief… what a relief!

Yet at the same time, a creeping sense of unease began to form.

Research was one thing, but why did she have to do it in secret?

"Ah, this feels suspicious."

In the end, Kim Hwang-je subtly informed only Dave through the tribute trade.

[Gemini is researching Catiyu's body. If anything unusual happens, please report it to me.]

He had suffered enough from secrets linked to the castle gates.

Friends could keep secrets, but his vassals could not!

Through World Observation, he watched Dave storm into Gemini's tower.

Gemini shrieked and tried to cover the naked Catiyu's body with a curtain, but Dave caught her red-handed. She raised both hands and dropped to her knees, tears rolling down her cheeks.

"…I'm sorry, but Gemini. If Dave charges into danger, your problem is running wild with research. From now on, help each other without secrets."

Thus Kim Hwang-je enacted justice.

It was petty to tattle, but it was justice nonetheless.

"Heh heh…"

He could just give Gemini something nice later to cheer her up.

Kim Hwang-je chuckled as he watched the scene.

Benedict spoke from atop his head.

"Catiyu's body is over there. Hmm, I hope that blue-haired witch doesn't use it for anything wicked."

"Dave is the Knight King. He'll manage it well."

Ah, had that sounded too cold?

But Benedict shook his head.

"The body is nothing more than an accessory. That aside, Your Majesty, will you now summon those Righteous Sword Sect fellows and begin the assault?"

"Yes. I need to attack the containment facility and rescue Teacher Lavanus."

"I see. Then there is something I must tell you. It concerns the Ancient Facility."

Kim Hwang-je nodded.

Benedict leaped from his head onto the table.

"I saw the heavenly mandate upon Your Majesty. Since I have certified it, the facilities of the Empire will accept you as imperial blood."

Kim Hwang-je's Emperor's Robes bore the emblem Benedict had engraved: Chamyo Jema Jeganseoak.

This emblem granted ownership of the Ancient Facility (Lv.1).

"The Demon King's dominion and yours will clash. If you purify the facility's Pollution Furnace, you can seize control. Therefore, your primary objective must be the destruction of the Pollution Furnace."

"Purifying the pollution…"

Did he have to swing his groin again?

"Do not be so alarmed. You may keep your front covered if you wish."

Benedict used a different term, perhaps finding it difficult to say "groin" directly.

"Of course, it would be better to open it. But you must also consider your successor… or do you perhaps intend to continue the Empire through adoption…"

"I do not."

Kim Hwang-je cut him off firmly.

If he covered the castle gate again now, it would vanish forever.

The whirlwind was still rotating faintly.

Benedict nodded.

"Then we must devise a new strategy. Tell me the powers and techniques you possess. An army grows stronger under proper command. As a general, I wish to see what advice I can offer."

Kim Hwang-je had been thinking the same thing.

Attacks needed to land precisely where they belonged, yet everything felt haphazard.

Though his eyes had been too slow to follow properly anyway.

"Well, first of all, with The Castle Becomes Me I can buy techniques for the people of the royal capital. As the level rises and territory is reclaimed, it even pulls in natural features. Like the sea?"

Kim Hwang-je then listed every skill he possessed.

The Castle Becomes MeWorld ObservationResident SummonTribute TradeManpower InputLife LinkEmperor's Iron Fist

After listening to the explanations, Benedict looked astonished.

"So that was it. All those arrows, catapults, and magic. It was impossible for a single individual to wield them. Now I understand."

"Yes, something like that."

Benedict pondered for a moment before speaking.

"What happens if you eventually command multiple powerful fortresses?"

Benedict's eyes gleamed brilliantly.

Far more intense than any sparkle could describe.

"I don't know either. Maybe it'll cost even more money?"

"If you could obtain mobile fortresses… but does your world also possess aerial mobile fortresses?"

"Huh? What's that?"

What on earth?

What exactly had the Empire been building?

"There were fortresses of His Imperial Majesty that floated on demon essence stones. The aerial fortresses were filled with tall magic towers rising from obsidian foundations. The spires gathered light through various magic mirrors and fired it."

Benedict's eyes grew dreamy ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠as he recalled the past.

"When an aerial fortress cast its shadow from the distant heavens, the people would rise in awe and praise the Emperor's achievements. If you could create several such structures and make them your castles, your power would be truly immense…"

It did sound impressive when he put it that way.

Kim Hwang-je's eyes also grew dreamy.

But Benedict quickly returned to reality.

"However, the magic within your body is far more powerful and dignified than those aerial fortresses that fell in defeat during the war."

"Hehe, is that so?"

"It is. What ruler in this world would link their own pain to the common folk they govern and the castles they live in? I have never heard of such a noble spell."

"Ah, in that sense…"

Kim Hwang-je had never heard of it either.

If such magic had existed on Earth, there would have been no corrupt officials.

How desperately would castle lords who felt pain when their gates were struck have devoted themselves to politics?

They probably wouldn't even have waged war among the nobles.

While thinking this, Kim Hwang-je's entire body trembled.

A horrifying thought flashed through his mind.

Wait.

What would happen if the number of castles increased?

Don't tell me all ten fortresses' gates would…?

Kim Hwang-je's eyes widened.

That eunuch bastard.

Had all that talk of "vassal states" been part of some grand scheme?

Benedict nodded in satisfaction.

"Indeed. That thrill you feel. Never forget it. That is the moment a true ruler experiences nobility. Savor it!"

"…No…!"

While Kim Hwang-je took deep breaths, Benedict spoke again.

"By the way, the one who developed this spell was the eunuch, and the great mage who discovered and used it was Gemini. Then I am curious about the eunuch's true identity."

"He looked like a plump baby pig with a bald head. That bald bastard… his head was so shiny that I regret not being able to rip out the remaining hair."

"You are sometimes too cruel…"

Benedict frowned.

Regardless, Kim Hwang-je told Benedict what he had seen of the eunuch in his dream.

"An approaching apocalypse… How strange. Why would he appear as a bald adult human? If he witnessed the Nephilim's destruction, it would be reasonable to consider him one of those giants as well."

Now that he mentioned it, that made sense.

"The eunuch clams up whenever this question comes up. Normally he rings alarms noisily, but…"

See.

Even now the status window remained silent.

The eunuch always feigned ignorance on such questions.

"Hmm, I see. He may or may not be a Nephilim. In any case, dimensions are diverse and origins are grand."

Benedict said,

"We can learn more in time. However, there was one technique name that truly intrigued me. What is this Emperor's Iron Fist? Compared to the plain names of the others, this one is truly majestic."

"Uh… well…"

"Hmm, do not be embarrassed. A sovereign requires dignified techniques, does he not?"

"When I… hit my own stomach…"

"…?"

"The attacking enemies die."

"What?"

"A magical fist appears and crushes the enemy army."

Even as he spoke, Kim Hwang-je worried whether Benedict could properly understand this.

Poyu ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠opened her eyes.

"That's right! When he did that, Ahjussi was in so~ much pain. He screamed and kept punching his own stomach with his fist. But Ahjussi ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠said it was something he had to do. My dad would have done the same."

"Hmm…"

Kim Hwang-je glanced at Benedict's expression.

Benedict suddenly began shedding tears.

He pulled a handkerchief from his breast and blew his nose loudly.

"Indeed! A parent's wish is to suffer in place of their child, and a ruler's wish is to suffer in place of the people! The fairy dragon has also chosen a noble path!"

"That's right… My dad would have done the same! I have to live like that too!"

Poyu began thumping her round belly with her jelly-like paws.

Kim Hwang-je immediately scooped Poyu into his arms and stroked her to stop her from going down a bad path.

No. Poyu… don't do that. Please…

"If I had possessed such power, I would have gladly taken my own life…! Truly, Your Majesty, you are overflowing with the blessings of light…!"

Ah…

Kim Hwang-je realized Benedict had just opened a forbidden possibility.

"Eunuch, answer this. If I really commit suicide, will the enemies die? No, right? Please say no…"

Ah, this guy was definitely not a democrat.

Kim Hwang-je felt considerably relieved.

So he soothed Benedict.

"Come now, Sir Benedict, don't cry so much. Thanks to you, I feel a bit stronger. I'll keep doing my best from now on."

"Hmm… Forgive me for showing such disgrace… But it reminded me of old times…"

"Of course. Now then. Just don't use a sword. That wouldn't be an iron fist, would it?"

"…Of course. With people I must protect, I cannot easily choose death! Then I must immediately begin training in fist techniques and obtain gauntlets."

What?

Look at this man's face.

It was wrapped in holy madness.

"…What do you mean?"

"Gauntlets are far stronger than bare hands. And a trained girl's fist is stronger than an untrained man's."

"Yes?"

"Why do you hesitate? Once the containment facility becomes your territory, you should naturally judge the Demon King's subordinates with the iron fist, should you not?"

Whoa, this guy seemed to have started his engine.

"I am not deeply versed in fist techniques, but as an imperial knight I have mastered the basics of the Guardian Iron Fist. If Your Majesty desires, I would be honored to teach you!"

No, ah…

A trained fist striking my stomach…

Directly. Ah…

Benedict assumed a knight's salute before the table.

"Ugh… What about holy magic?"

Run away! Run away!

Just teach me that instead!

"Holy magic is a technique that uses a sword or hammer. Both are difficult to use on one's own stomach. I understand your resolve is great, but…"

So it was either getting hammered or punched. Those were the choices.

"Just a moment! Wouldn't it be better to strengthen my body first! If my body is sturdy…"

"Of course! The Guardian Iron Fist also includes external arts that strengthen the body. It would be a great honor to impart its effects to you. Your jade body is the body of the nation itself!"

No.

There was no escape.

Kim Hwang-je looked around.

But the hunters, fishermen, and bandits were merely watching the conversation between the far superior Kim Hwang-je and the holy knight with admiration.

"Hwaaaang…!"

"Ahjussi, cheer up…"

"Heh heh. Come on in."

Who would understand this urge to cry!

In the end, Kim Hwang-je had no choice but to be dragged toward the helicopter landing pad.