Chapter 0143: I Choose You, Heathcliff
In the courtyard of Sky City, Hayashi and the Bloody Emperor sat across from each other at a table, but their states of mind could not have been more different.
In Hayashi's eyes, the Bloody Emperor was an extremely intelligent ruler who knew how to adapt to circumstances. After witnessing the display of his faction's power, the emperor's heart should have already surrendered.
In the Bloody Emperor's eyes, Hayashi had been scheming everything from the moment he invited him over… no, from the moment Hayashi arranged for the Theocracy's army to appear at the Empire's borders. He was a mastermind of unfathomable cunning, controlling everything—the most terrifying part being his attitude of not treating the emperor as an enemy at all. Had he already decided the outcome? Was this a sign that he was certain the emperor wouldn't dare resist?
Damn it, the gap between them is just too vast!!
At this moment, the Bloody Emperor felt like he had entered a game holding a peasant, ready to make his mark, only to find his opponent's peasant was Farmer Thanos—how the hell was he supposed to play this? One snap and he'd be done for!
Both peasants, yet the difference is this huge?
Don't ask. Just ask whosyourdaddy.
"Is something wrong, Your Majesty?" Hayashi asked with concern, noticing the Bloody Emperor's increasingly grim expression. "Are you feeling unwell?"
"No, I'm fine. Thank you for your concern, Supreme One." The Bloody Emperor forced another strained smile and said quietly, "Supreme One, I have a small question. Might you enlighten me?"
"Hmm? Go ahead—" Hayashi took a sip of juice, and the dog-eared maid beside him immediately wagged her tail and refilled his glass. "I'll tell you everything I know!"
Upon hearing Hayashi's words, the Bloody Emperor felt cold sweat forming on his forehead once more.
'To speak without reservation—does he mean that even if he lays all his plans bare before me, I still wouldn't have the power to resist?' The Bloody Emperor couldn't help but clench his teeth. 'What terrifying confidence! This man is truly dreadful!'
At this moment, the Bloody Emperor felt like an ant placed in a petri dish, with its owner casually informing him, "I'll pour boiling water into the dish in three minutes—prepare yourself." The message was clear: I've told you my plan, so what can you do about it? How will you resist? Go on, show me!
Pressure—overwhelming, unparalleled pressure!
"Your Excellency..." After carefully considering his words, the Bloody Emperor spoke solemnly, "Are you planning to conquer both the Kingdom and the Empire simultaneously?"
"Hmm, yes—and no!" Hayashi stroked his chin with a smile. "Just a Kingdom and an Empire alone won't satisfy my appetite. My goal is the entire world, you see!"
"Gasp—"
Not only the Bloody Emperor, but even the Four Knights beside him couldn't help but inhale sharply.
World conquest!? Is this man serious!?
...
...
After spending several hours in Sky City that were oppressive (Lightning), suffocating (Gale), stifling (Heavy Blast), despair-inducing (Bloody Emperor), and waku-waku (Fluder), Bloody Emperor and his group were escorted back to the imperial border villa by Kayle.
"Hah… haha…"
Sitting in a room that still maintained its skylight (read: no roof), Bloody Emperor clutched his forehead and let out a laugh teetering on the edge of collapse, causing Gale and Lightning beside him to exchange worried glances.
As for Heavy Blast? Sorry, but she had no sense of loyalty—well, unless you counted her loyalty to "money." So she just leaned against the wall, wiping the pus oozing from the wound on the right side of her face with a handkerchief, her expression still shaken.
"Your Majesty, are you alright?"
Lightning crouched halfway to the ground, eyeing the visibly broken Bloody Emperor with concern. "Are you okay?"
"Hah, haha, am I okay? Of course I'm okay!" Bloody Emperor lowered his right hand, panting heavily as he spoke through gritted teeth. "I'm just—just unwilling! Unwilling!!"
In Bloody Emperor's eyes, the noble problem of the empire had already been resolved in his generation. Given just a little more time, as the empire's strength grew further, they would inevitably swallow the declining kingdom whole!
But then—just then—out of nowhere, Sky City's power emerged without warning. And the sheer, overwhelming might they displayed plunged him into utter despair. Damn it all! He just wanted to scream at the heavens—what a fucking joke fate was playing on him!
You damn goddess of fate, is screwing with me that much fun?!
Just as Bloody Emperor's emotions reached their breaking point, Fluder slowly entered the room and made his way to the emperor's side, sitting down leisurely before asking, "Your Majesty, what are your thoughts on today's experience?"
Exhausted in both mind and body, Bloody Emperor turned to Fluder beside him. "Old man, what do you mean by that?"
He truly had no energy left to think too deeply.
"What I mean is—do you plan to submit, or do you intend to continue challenging Sky City's authority?" The old man's eyes gleamed with deep curiosity and amusement. "Let me make this clear—anyone from Sky City could render me utterly powerless to resist."
This was a lie—yet also the truth.
When Fluder said "utterly powerless to resist," he wasn't referring to combat prowess. As a magic fanatic who sought the abyss of the arcane, he was naturally Sky City's most loyal lapdog. Of course, he wouldn't dare oppose them.
But to Bloody Emperor's ears, those words became: "Anyone from Sky City is stronger in combat than the empire's greatest mage." Instantly, the weight on his shoulders grew even heavier.
Bloody Emperor: I've given up. I've given up on this world and its deus ex machina nonsense!
...
...
That night, Hayashi sat cross-legged on the carpet, grinning smugly as he turned to Hisako. "So? How'd I do today? Facing a big shot like Bloody Emperor, and I didn't even flinch!"
There was no denying it—having confidence really made all the difference!
Here's a simple example: if an ordinary person saw a little golden figure, they would surely be so frightened they'd collapse to the ground, trembling all over, worried the other might crush them underfoot. But what if it were Noah or Legend? Not only would they not be afraid, they'd laugh heartily while flicking the little golden figure's forehead with their fingers, then proceed to roll it into a tiny golden ball.
"Truly worthy of the young master, such remarkable progress!" Hisako clapped her hands enthusiastically and said, "To already hold a conversation with a genuine emperor without being outmatched! Incredible!"
This was encouragement!
In truth, both Hayashi and Hisako knew that the Bloody Emperor's docility was entirely due to Hayashi's overwhelming strength—just as in the original story, where he had been equally submissive in the face of Ainz Ooal Gown.
But "overwhelming strength" was itself one of Hayashi's assets, and showing respect to those stronger than oneself was one of the most fundamental principles—there was nothing to argue about.
"Now that the Empire should be behaving, what's next..." Hayashi stroked his chin and mused, "Aside from the Dragon Kingdom, there's still the matter of the Kingdom's people, right?"
Hisako reminded him, "Young master, strictly speaking, there's also the Holy Kingdom."
"Ah! I nearly forgot—" Hayashi smacked his forehead—it wasn't his fault he'd overlooked the Holy Kingdom, as he was an anime-only fan, and the Holy Kingdom only appeared later in the novels.
Erina propped her chin on her hand and said, "Let's deal with the Kingdom first—one step at a time is best!"
Hayashi nodded. "True! Aiming too high won't do! Hmm, how should we handle the Kingdom's affairs..."
Hisako remained silent at his side. After all, the purpose of this trip to the New World was for Hayashi to grow, so even if she had ideas, she would wait for him to come up with his own solution before offering subtle "hints" and "guidance"—not outright giving him the answer.
"If I recall, among the Kingdom's heirs, only the second prince is somewhat reliable, right?" Hayashi pressed a finger to his temple, recalling the anime's plot. "The eldest prince is an idiot, and the Golden Princess is practically a mental alien."
Hisako nodded. "The young master is absolutely right!"
There was no need to even mention the brain-dead eldest prince, who was wiped out by General Enri (the Juice Extractor). As for the Golden Princess being a mental alien—who would argue? She was the type who, for the sake of staying with her "little dog," would unhesitatingly betray her family and even her entire country—a truly twisted personality. Of course, one could argue she simply had a firm grasp on reality.
That said, if utilized properly, the Golden Princess could be a useful asset.
"Hisako, what do you think of this plan—" Hayashi turned to her and said, "The Theocracy and the Empire join forces to pressure the King into negotiations—preferably resolving things without bloodshed. What do you say?"
Hisako thought for a moment. "Young master, if the Kingdom were like the Empire, where the King's word was absolute, it might work. But nearly half the Kingdom's power is divided among the nobility. I fear the King's agreement alone wouldn't accomplish much."
She might as well have outright said Hayashi was being too idealistic.
"In my plan of achieving victory without bloodshed, I never said anything about sparing those damn nobles." Hayashi shook his head and said, "Among the kingdom's nobility, at least eight out of ten are scum who deserve to die. I won't have any moral qualms about it."
"If Young Master can think this way, then nothing could be better—" Hisako let out a relieved sigh and whispered, "Without those nobles causing trouble, the kingdom should be able to be taken peacefully, just like the empire."
"Then it's settled!"
Hayashi stretched lazily with satisfaction and said, "Ah, with this, our mission to conquer the world will soon be accomplished, and we can leave with peace of mind."
Erina moved closer to Hayashi and asked, "Aren't you worried that after we leave, the hard-won peace might collapse again?"
"Hiss, that is a possibility..." Hayashi scratched his chin in frustration, murmuring, "What should we do about that? We can't just leave the guardians behind to babysit... Hmm? Wait, there is one person who could stay, right?"
I choose you, Heathcliff!
Since you love this fantasy world so much, you wouldn't mind staying here for a year or two, would you?