He became the most insane emperor of all time

“I’m saying this now, but this seems like a pretty sloppy plan.”

Between the Pope and Stella, it’s clear that the Pope’s plan is the sloppy one.

While Stella is prepared to reveal solid facts, the Pope needs to create false facts to deceive Stella.

“I don’t think the person you’re trying to deceive is likely to fall for it.”

No matter how you look at it, the Pope is on the losing side.

So, should I make a preemptive move and align with Stella?

“The Pope, the matter with the Cardinal is already settled. Well, it’s not really my concern, but I hope things go well.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty. The Church will remember your help.”

The Pope seemed to have no doubts about the plan.

If I pointed out the issues now, the Pope might avoid embarrassment.

But why should I do that?

If the Pope fails, the Church will be vulnerable to the Purification Sect’s growing influence.

If I help the Church at that point, they will become my loyal subordinates.

From my perspective, it would be better if the Pope failed spectacularly.

“Well, I’ll wish you good luck.”

I’ll wish for their luck, but they shouldn’t blame me if they fail.

***

“Courage, Justice, Purification, Prosperity, Mystery. May the five gods of the Empire protect its rightful ruler. And also…”

White marble.

Vibrantly shining stained glass.

Symbols of the Empire’s faith, including crosses.

And the Pope and the Emperor.

This ceremony was filled with symbols that could invoke faith in any Empire citizen.

“Emperor Franz, step forward and swear before the gods.”

The Pope, as the representative of the gods, commands the Emperor.

And the Emperor steps forward to swear before the gods.

As I took a step forward, hymns resonated, and the knights on both sides raised their swords in salute.

From here, I would swear my oath before the five guardian gods, and I would be blessed by them.

…This was the plan for the ceremony.

“I ask the ruler of the Empire, Franz, do you swear to dedicate yourself to the Empire?”

Even if this was all just a formal ritual, it was necessary.

Even if it was nothing more than theater, it was something everyone desired.

“I swear.”

So I swore.

-That’s a lie.

“…?”

Kneeling before the Pope and praying, I reflexively opened my eyes at the voice that sounded out of place.

Only then did I realize the eerie silence around me.

-You don’t really intend to dedicate yourself to the Empire, do you, Franz? Or should I call you Lee Hyun?

“Who are you?”

In this frozen world, a voice spoke.

I stood up and looked in the direction from which the voice came.

There, five beings appeared, who hadn’t been there before.

-This one has neither belief nor faith.

-But there is a great desire to be seen.

-Desire can be a motivation for prosperity. I quite like it.

-No talent for magic, disappointing.

The first speaker was a sturdy man with red hair and eyes.

Next, a handsome knight with blonde hair.

Behind him, a woman with aquamarine hair, resembling a priestess, and a woman with a scholar-like appearance, as well as an elderly man dressed like a wizard.

-Wait, this guy’s getting flustered. Let’s not push him too hard.

In this world that had come to a standstill, only they moved.

Even their presence felt different from that of ordinary people.

It felt as if I were standing before supreme beings.

Not metaphorically, but literally.

-This might be sudden, sorry about that. I’m Leonis, of Courage. You probably remember my name, right? I’ve been kind enough to help you.

That’s right.

They were truly supreme beings.

The five guardian gods of the Empire.

I was truly standing before them.

[Due to the “Loved by the Gods” trait, the five guardian gods are watching you.]

Only then did I start to guess the reason.

It was probably because of that trait I had chosen.

-That’s part of it. They all wanted to meet you in person to see what you’re like.

“You— No, are you talking about me?”

They were beings who could erase me at any time.

I couldn’t maintain my usual arrogant attitude.

As unafraid of death as I may be, there was no point in being defiant before gods.

-Yeah, we’ve all been watching up to now, but it’s better to meet face to face if we want to truly observe you.

“Then what is your impression of me?”

-We already mentioned it, didn’t we?

No belief or faith.

A great desire for oneself.

The larger the desire, the higher the ambition.

No talent for magic.

Even I can see this is pretty pathetic. My first impression must be totally disastrous.

“But there is one thing that hasn’t been said yet.”

It was the person who was speaking to me right now.

Only Leonis hadn’t yet evaluated me.

-I don’t judge based on first impressions.

With those words, Leonis drew the sword from his waist.

The silver holy sword gleamed beautifully, revealing its blade.

Even that alone caused the surrounding divine energy to stir.

-Now, I will test you, Emperor Franz.

He threw his holy sword at me.

I reflexively caught the sword.

As soon as I did, white spirits appeared around me.

A knight with a great sword, a monk wielding a large battle hammer, a barbarian warrior with double axes, and a warrior with sword and shield exuding willpower…

I instinctively realized these were beings like me.

They were all individuals chosen by the gods, just like me.

-Prove your courage before your predecessors.

[‘Gods’ Trial’ has begun.] [Fight against Leonis’ warriors.]

As soon as Leonis finished speaking, the spirits moved without hesitation.

Clang!

The first attack came from the long sword of the knight with the great sword.

I barely blocked the long sword as it descended, drawing a white arc.

But I couldn’t afford to relax.

Whoosh!

A monk wielding a battle hammer, as tall as a person, spun the hammer skillfully.

If I hadn’t read his movement and dodged, my body would have been shattered by that hammer.

Kriiiiii!

The barbarian warrior’s ferocious roar echoed around me.

The pillars of salt shattered with the roar of the creatures frozen in time.

The world felt just like reality, but this place itself wasn’t reality.

“Ugh!”

Fast, powerful, and merciless attacks.

Each one was a powerful, overwhelming strike.

Eventually, I staggered and collapsed after being hit by the shield-bearing warrior’s charge.

Facing them, winning was impossible.

-Courage is the strength of the soul, Franz. It is the unique strength of humans who do not bow even before terrifying and powerful enemies.

So get up and face them again.

Leonis whispered to me.

His whisper, as if it were courage itself, made me rise once again from where I had fallen.

[The ‘Innate Willpower’ trait activates, displaying unyielding determination.] [Temporarily increases your presence in the soul world.]

This world was not reality.

It was a world created by the deities to test me.

The strength I possessed here didn’t come from my body.

It came from the power of my soul.

And now, I was filled with courage.

“Now I understand.”

Boom!

Clang!

The shield of the shield warrior who had tried to strike me cracked under the silver holy sword I swung.

The holy sword quickly pierced his neck.

I easily shattered someone who had been boasting about their sturdy defense.

The same happened with the others.

Slash—

I cut down the barbarian warrior’s fierce swing with a single strike.

Craaack!

I no longer feared the monk’s battle hammer with its terrifying destructive power.

Clang!

Finally, the knight with the great sword.

His speed, balanced strength, flawless defense, and courage didn’t match my awakened form.

-Hoh, impressive.

We exchanged dozens of attacks.

A few times, I had to allow myself to be hit.

I felt pain at the soul level, from being stabbed and slashed.

But eventually, with a lightning-fast ambush, I succeeded in piercing his heart.

[You passed the Gods’ Trial.] [You can now use faith to call upon divine blessings or powers.] [Faith is influenced by your diplomacy stat, and can be obtained through special actions or achievements.]

-Well done, Franz. Thanks to you, others have recognized you.

“Is it over?”

-Of course. Although you were just a beginner, you are the first to win against the soul of the first emperor.

With Leonis’ words, the soul world began to shift back into reality.

-I look forward to the future. I trust you will take care of the empire.

“Ah… this… this is…!”

And when I returned to reality, a radiant light surrounded my body.

No one in the cathedral could help but worship in the presence of this light.

Even the pope, who had tried to maintain his authority through deception after losing his divine power.

Even Stella, who had come to accuse him.

And all the monks and believers who had attended the worship service.

They all knelt before the divine presence of the newly appointed emperor.

“Hey, continue with the ceremony.”

“Ah, yes, Your Majesty. L-look! The guardian gods have blessed the Emperor!”

The pope began to preach as if the religious fervor that had once waned within him had reignited.

In a way, I had unintentionally restored the pope’s authority, which had been the opposite of his original intention.

Stella would likely not be able to accuse the pope here.

No, now the pope was no longer a problem.

“Praise! Praise the empire! Praise the Emperor!”

I had gained absolute sanctity, and the church could only submit before me.

***

“This… this can’t be real…”

Archbishop Stella couldn’t help but doubt her eyes, even though she had witnessed it firsthand.

The divine descent.

It was an overwhelming experience for her to witness the divine beings of the five guardians descending before her.

Though she had often encountered the divinity of Lustra, the presence of all four other guardians together was something she had never experienced in her entire life.

And this caused the religious ecstasy within her to erupt.

“The emperor… the gods truly are blessing the emperor.”

Her heart raced and wouldn’t stop.

Having walked the path of faith after seeing the crumbling empire and the suffering people, she had devoted herself solely to the vows of protection and healing.

Even if she couldn’t save everyone.

Even if she couldn’t change the fate of the collapsing empire.

She had done what she could.

But now, truly, at last, the longed-for hope had appeared.

“I must work with him.”

The emperor, blessed by the five gods.

The first emperor, and now the smallest yet still a superhuman allowed only to humans and the empire.

Stella didn’t doubt that she had to work with him to save the empire.

“What should I do? I need more time to learn about him.”

It was time to return to the Purification Church, but Stella was troubled.

She needed to stay a little longer, to learn more about the emperor.

If possible, she needed to form connections with him.

In the end, Stella decided to stay a little longer for the sake of the future.