He became the most insane emperor of all time

Having played a lot of games by Parallel Interactive, I was quite familiar with their interface.

And for me, being thrown into one of their games, this familiarity worked in my favor.

[Policy Decisions] [Domestic Situation] [Foreign Affairs] [Religion and Faith] [Character Status]
…

There were so many elements that it would be difficult for beginners to grasp, which could be considered a high barrier to entry.

But fortunately, because I was familiar with Parallel Interactive games, I was able to quickly learn the majority of the interface.

It did take me a week to review the functions, but I managed.

“However, this is something I’ve never seen before.”

[Character Status]
Unlike previous games, this was not an interface for deciding national policies but rather a feature to develop the leader—me.

“Your Majesty, may I ask why you suddenly wish to train?”

“Why do you ask such a thing? Is there a reason I shouldn’t be training?”

“It’s not that, but I’m worried it might be too much of a strain if you suddenly engage in it after avoiding it for so long.”

The captain of the guards asked with genuine concern.

I also didn’t particularly enjoy physical activities back on Earth.

But in this world, most of the entertainment revolves around physical pursuits.

Of course, in this world, those pursuits are not just for fun but serve as actual self-defense martial arts.

Still, I wanted to learn it.

I had come to a fantasy world where swords and magic exist, and I didn’t want to just sit behind a desk.

“Don’t worry about it. Despite what you might think, I’m quite confident in my physical abilities.”

“Is that so?”

The blunt captain of the guards openly showed some doubt.

It was a bit rude for him to show such a demeanor toward the emperor, but I didn’t mind his honesty.

But I wasn’t boasting without reason.

[Combat Power 10] [You possess extraordinary military talent. You excel at commanding and training soldiers, developing weapons and tactics, but you also have the highest natural talent in direct combat and martial arts.]
My three main attributes as a ruler—leadership, diplomacy, and combat—were all at the maximum value of 10.

And that wasn’t all.

[Natural Warrior] [Your body is in peak condition. With constant training and practice, your body will transform into one with no limits, capable of mastering any martial art.]
Not only were my basic stats at their highest, but due to the trait [Natural Warrior], I could already feel that my body was different from before, even without any training.

I was so confident in my ability to learn anything quickly, my body felt light and full of energy.

At this point, I wondered if I could easily reach the level of 3,500 push-ups.

“Alright, then let’s start with the very basics.”

The captain immediately ordered a practice wooden sword to be brought over.

“After warming up lightly, swing the wooden sword to strike the training dummy.”

“Don’t you plan to teach me some stances?”

When I asked that, the captain answered, still blunt, but kindly.

“As some martial arts masters say, no sword style is exactly the same. Since everyone is different, how could there be one universal way?”

“Ho, is that so?”

“Yes, even if the movements seem similar, they can vary subtly or greatly depending on a person’s physical differences and talent. Therefore, it is right to consider the individual’s characteristics first.”

The captain of the guards was saying quite interesting things.

I had never really seen martial arts, but whether it’s fantasy or martial arts, I thought there would typically be basic forms or stances involved in swordsmanship.

Hearing such words made it seem reasonably convincing, so I followed his request and struck the training dummy with the wooden sword, using my own judgment.

“Ho?”

Indeed, my body felt light, and the force behind my strikes with the wooden sword was different.

Soon, adrenaline kicked in, and I felt a pleasant excitement.

Comparing myself to my previous, poor physical condition, I felt like I had become Superman overnight.

Thud!

“Please stop for a moment, Your Majesty.”

“Hoo, how was that?”

“Excellent, Your Majesty.”

“There’s no need to flatter me just because I’m the emperor.”

Despite my words, the captain shook his head and spoke.

“No, truly, Your Majesty’s movements were beyond my expectations.”

“Is that so?”

“Although your movements weren’t refined due to lack of experience or training, I’ve never seen talent like yours recently. Have you secretly been practicing martial arts?”

It didn’t seem like he was trying to flatter me, but his praise almost made me uncomfortable, so I couldn’t help but smile.

Honestly, it was due to my cheat abilities, but as a person, I should at least not mind some flattery.

“I’ve never done such a thing. You of all people should know that better than anyone.”

“Then it must indeed be talent. Though I’m being rude, it seems there’s a lot of potential here for me to teach.”

“Haha! Feel free to say that as much as you like.”

At the captain’s words, I laughed heartily and soon began a variety of training exercises.

The training was quite practical, with immediate sparring against the guards’ trainees using wooden swords.

Of course, as a beginner, I wasn’t just thrown into sparring without preparation.

“When attacking, do it with the restrained movements like the trainees showed. Your movements should neither be too big nor too passive.”

“Defense should not just block the sword but redirect it, creating openings for a counterattack.”

“Counterattacks should be decisive! Also, anticipate the enemy’s counterattack!”

After learning the basics of offense and defense, the training quickly escalated to more intense sparring.

The trainee didn’t use overly aggressive techniques against the emperor, but at the same time, he didn’t let his guard down, perhaps because he thought he couldn’t afford to lose to a beginner.

Out of the ten sparring sessions, I lost nine, and in the final one, I barely managed to finish in a draw.

[You have acquired the skill ‘Imperial Swordsmanship Level 1.’]
[Your physical conditioning has greatly improved.]

“Hoo, it was impossible to win on the first day.”

“Considering this is your first time, this is already quite impressive.”

“Well, even if he’s just a trainee, it would be an utter disgrace for a member of the Imperial Guard to lose to a complete beginner, even if that beginner has cheat-level talent.

No matter how much the Empire is in decline, this is still the Emperor’s guard. That should not happen.”

“Let’s end it here for today. Continuing would be overdoing it.”

“Alright.”

“However, may I ask once more, is there a particular reason you suddenly started focusing on training?”

The captain of the guard seemed curious, so he asked the question without being too rude.

Now that I thought about it, I had shown confidence but never actually mentioned the reason for my sudden training.

“What do you think the future holds for the Empire, Captain?”

“That’s a sudden question. As a soldier and merely your guard, I’m not sure if I should answer so casually.”

“It’s fine, just tell me. I like honesty.”

Though the captain was cautious about giving political opinions, my insistence on honesty seemed to give him some courage, and he finally gave a sincere answer.

“Honestly, the outlook isn’t very good.”

“I think so too.”

Of course, the captain and I shared the same opinion.

I had spent the past week learning a lot about this world and the history of the Empire.

“Internally, a rebellion or coup could break out at any moment, either from peasant uprisings or ambitious local lords.”

The external situation wasn’t any better. To the north, there were the demon clans, elves, greenskins, and to the south, the Lizardmen leading the Beastman Alliance.

Humanity had once ruled the entire continent, but that time was long past. Now, humans outside the Empire’s borders lived as slaves or in client states.

“At this rate, the Empire’s downfall is only a matter of time. I’m going to stop it, but I’m not going to hide in the palace like a coward.”

What kind of ruler does a crumbling nation need?

A kind, benevolent, and wise ruler?

That’s what the ministers would want, but I don’t necessarily agree.

In troubled times, when war becomes a daily occurrence, a mad ruler, who might be called a tyrant, is needed.

Like King Richard the Lionheart.

“Are you saying you’re going to the battlefield yourself?”

“Are you suggesting that I, as Emperor, shouldn’t go if I want to?”

It’s a common belief that rulers shouldn’t rush to the battlefield, but in the medieval era, it was somewhat different.

A ruler who didn’t fight alongside their soldiers couldn’t earn their trust, but if the ruler did fight, the soldiers would gain much higher morale than those without their leader in battle.

In a fantasy setting where personal combat skills are more important, the difference would be even more significant.

“The wars the Empire will face in the future—I intend to lead them all from the front.”

They say that if you’re not smart, your body suffers, but in fact, that applies both ways.

If your body is weak, your mind will suffer too.

Now that I’m the Emperor and can live however I want, if I don’t want to struggle with strategy, I have no choice but to focus on strengthening my body.

And I already have the perfect talent to do so.

“Actually, I think this might be more fun.”

What’s the point of using modern knowledge in web novels like fiefdoms or alternate history?

It’s not that it can’t be done, but is it really necessary?

There’s the practical issue of whether I need to rely on that at all, but I’m not planning to just sit at a desk, lost in thought.

I want to get into the battlefield myself and become stronger than anyone else.

Some might ask if I’m really from Earth, but right now, I’m very much a person from a medieval fantasy world.

And not just anyone—a ruler at the top of the power structure, the Emperor.

I can do anything I want. I no longer want to hold myself back from doing what I desire.

Of course, in doing so, people will die.

Whether directly or indirectly, as Emperor, someone will inevitably die because of me. If I want to live, it must happen.

“But I don’t want to move according to the sensibilities of a modern Earthling.”

If I get bogged down by that kind of thinking, it’ll be hard to live as I wish.

I became an Emperor, so I shouldn’t be shackled by the past.

“Then I’ll count on you again tomorrow, Captain of the Guard.”

I praised the Guard for their hard work and returned to the palace to rest.

***

“Has His Majesty truly made that decision?”

Captain Ulfram von Mainhartz, the captain of the Imperial Guard, was deep in thought as he observed the Emperor, who had changed completely since his ascension.

When he remembered the young Emperor, the Crown Prince before his coronation, he was just an intelligent enough boy who didn’t stand out to anyone.

He had never shown any interest in physical training, so neither the Imperial Guard nor any of the Empire’s soldiers or generals had ever paid attention to him.

“But what we saw today was the exact opposite.”

In the captain’s view, the Empire had been in bad shape for a while, but now it was headed toward even worse times.

Whether internal rebellions or external invasions, the Empire was facing its greatest crisis since its founding.

At times like this, a weak leader wouldn’t get anywhere.

While a wise ruler capable of reforms and administration might be needed, in extreme situations like this, the Empire needed an Emperor who could overcome the crisis through sheer strength.

And today, the captain saw that hope in the Emperor, which made his heart beat faster, even though he hadn’t realized it.

“Not only ambition, but I also glimpsed a depth of talent that’s hard to measure. It’s clear that he’s no ordinary man.”

Even when picking up a sword for the first time, his stance was different, and although he lost all but one of the ten duels, the guard trainee was nearly exhausted after the ten battles, while the Emperor only seemed slightly winded.

If the captain hadn’t intentionally stopped the duel, the guard trainee would have lost a few more times.

He had stopped the match out of respect for the trainee’s honor.

The captain had never seen such natural talent and potential for martial skill before.

“If His Majesty is properly supported, he could definitely become a powerful ruler. If that happens, perhaps there’s still hope for the Empire.”

To make that happen, the captain knew he would have to serve him even more diligently.

He felt a deep sense of destiny and reaffirmed his resolve.