The Main Heroines are Trying to Kill Me
Chapter 323: The Emperor's Fear

"Ugh..."

"Where are you rushing off to, Your Majesty?"

As the Emperor, who had fallen outside the palace garden, writhed and put his hands on the ground, Frey, who had followed him, tilted his head.

"What's the hurry? Wasn't your majesty, the Emperor, always indifferent to everything?"

"...Hmm."

Upon hearing this, the Emperor, staggering to his feet, immediately lowered his gaze.

"This is surprising."

His legs were shattered and wobbling. Looking at his legs with curious eyes, the Emperor started speaking with a smile.

"You've become incredibly strong in a short period of time."

Frey, emitting silver smoke all over his body, was remarkably powerful even to the Emperor who had reached the peak of his strength.

"But how long can you maintain that state?"

Despite him approaching, the Emperor spoke with a calm expression.

"There is no way that a technique that provides such strength would not come with a price. It can't last forever."

"..."

"Can your emaciated body withstand it? At most, maybe for one minute. Isn't that right?"

"...Ugh."

As the Emperor finished speaking, Frey staggered and fell to his knees.

"To be honest, it's disappointing. I thought you'd show something a little more interesting."

Looking at him with cold eyes, the Emperor raised his sword.

"I misjudged you."

"..."

"Goodbye, Frey."

Watching Frey, who had sunk to the ground with his head bowed, the Emperor swung down his sword.

- Crash...!

"...Keuk!"

Frey's fist struck the Emperor's jaw squarely, right where Clana had struck the Emperor.

- Crack...

The sound of a jawbone slowly breaking resonated throughout the space.

"Ueuk..."

"Why are you playing god when you’re just a human?"

As the Emperor recoiled, holding his jaw, Frey began to approach him, his eyes flashing silver.

"It's not you who inherited the abilities of the Empress from a thousand years ago, it's Clana. You are merely the catalyst that made her awaken. Did you not notice what happened earlier?”

"..."

"Or perhaps you simply refused to acknowledge it?"

There was cold anger on his face.

"The fact that you neglected the Empire after reaching your peak… Whether knowingly or not, you even destroyed it with corruption... Did you even realize that your child could surpass the peak of your strength?"

"Ugh..."

"Why on earth did you let the Empire deteriorate to such an extent? Tell me with that proud mouth of yours."

Hearing that, the Emperor, moving his shattered jaw slowly, began his tale.

"Imagine that you... fell into a great sense of lethargy."

"Of course."

"No, it's not that simple. It's a feeling of living through endless boredom and suffering, where every day is too monotonous and painful, just living itself... Well, no one will understand anyway."

The Emperor, who initially attempted to explain but then appeared annoyed, eventually yawned.

"Anyway, in such days of agony, right before my eyes, a beautifully constructed toy village appeared."

"..."

"For a thousand years, generation after generation, tiny dwarves happily lived in that village day by day."

Frey looked at the Emperor with a vacant gaze.

"However, time could not be defeated, and it slowly began to break down. Without repairs, even a slight touch could make it collapse immediately, don't you think?"

Looking at Frey with amusement, the Emperor asked a question.

"Let me ask you one thing. Have you ever destroyed an anthill when you were young?"

"Why would you do such a thing?"

"I have. It was so much fun."

The Emperor's eyes sparkled as he continued.

"It's their entire lifetime dedication, their village, their country. If that collapses due to one creature's whim... Isn't that thrilling?"

"..."

"With one move, their lives were denied! Their entire lives were nullified by my mere step!"

The Emperor's expression as he shouted was incredibly serious.

"Then let's go back to the earlier story. If the toy village, which has prospered for generations, collapses... How great would that thrill be?"

"Hmmm..."

"It will be beyond your imagination. Because of me, a thousand years of history will be erased. And it's not even something that ends quickly like the anthill; it will crumble and rot away thoroughly over decades."

"Aha."

Frey, who was quietly observing the Emperor, clapped his hands together and muttered.

"He's just a senile perverted bastard."

"Think what you want. I've been enjoying myself enough so far. Actually, I've always had fun. I was just hiding my laughter; I was never bored."

The Emperor was truly insane.

In fact, as he claimed never to have been bored, behind his calm expression, there was a deep-seated desire.

“So that’s what true madness is like… I can’t even compare. I shouldn't casually call myself crazy anymore. It's disrespectful to the real lunatics."

Chuckling at the sight, Frey continued as he raised his scabbard.

"Anyway, a lunatic like you needs a little beating."

"So, when does your time limit end? By my estimate, it should be around now... Gah!"

With that, Frey struck the Emperor's abdomen with his scabbard, then grabbed his legs and spun him around before hurling him forcefully into the garden.

"Ugh, gah, kuh..."

Thanks to that, the Emperor, bouncing like a ball, started rolling through the garden just like before.

"Mister!! Please catch that ball!!!"

Chasing after the Emperor with a joyous expression, Frey waved to the Knight Commander, who was in the midst of a battle with Isolet.

"Pass him here!! Kick him over here!!"

"Cr-Crazy..."

The Knight Commander, who was sweating coldly as he was toyed with Isolet's sword which was persistently aiming at his crotch, staggered back with a pale expression upon seeing the Emperor bouncing towards him like a ball.

- Clang!!!

"Heh... heh... Please catch him."

As the Emperor crashed into the garden's vegetable patch, Frey rushed over and stopped beside the Knight Commander, panting heavily.

"I’m pissed. Why didn't you catch him? Did you not understand my words?"

"No... guh!"

As the Knight Commander was trying to say that it's not right to kick the Imperial Emperor, he was overwhelmed by the terrible pain in his crotch, and sank down to the ground.

“For some reason, you have the look on your face like someone who bet left and right and lost. So why did you make such a terrible bet?”

"Keuk... Ugh..."

“I was planning to hire you because you were capable, but I gave up that idea when I saw the ages of the slaves in your villa.”

“Keuakkkk...!”

Frey, looking down at the Knight Commander who was sweating coldly, kicked down again on top of the hand that covered his crotch and whispered.

“Wouldn’t it be better to die here now than to go home and be beaten to death by your wife?”

"..."

“Oh, were you still in a duel? Oh my, I almost ruined the knight’s honor.”

However, when the Knight Commander flinched but did not react, Frey took something out of his pocket.

-Sizzle…

“F-Fuck! Fuckkkk!”

As the reconstruction potion that Frey took out was slowly poured into the Knight Commander's crotch, the Knight Commander let out a terrible scream.

“Why are you screaming? You’re the Knight Commander. You should be able to endure a little sting.”

“I-It hurts! It hurtssss!!!”

“You probably made the slaves in your villa cry out, 'Daddy, Daddy!!' So, why did you play with them like that?"

Despite the Knight Commander holding his crotch and sweating profusely, Frey, maintaining his cold expression, continued pouring the potion onto it, causing acrid smoke to rise from the area of his crotch.

"Now, you should finish your duel! I'll be going now!"

Kindly handing the Knight Commander a sword, Frey then tossed him right in front of Isolet and started walking away again.

"Guh... guh... you bastard..."

"Father-in-law!!! Why are you being so mean!!! You said life has always been fun for you!!!"

"...Ugh."

"Why are you doing this!! Are you really going to treat your son-in-law like this just because I shoved you to the garden!!!"

Eventually, Frey, standing in front of the Emperor again, stopped laughing and whispered coldly.

“When Clana was kicked into the garden by her older sisters, she didn’t even show any signs of anger.”

- Boom…!

“You’re too slow!! Father-in-law!!

As soon as Frey finished speaking, the Emperor unleashed a powerful punch, sending out a terrifying shockwave, but Frey didn't even dodge it and instead screamed and used his scabbard to strike it head on to deflect it.

"...Kkeuk!"

Thanks to that, the Emperor received a direct hit, both from the scabbard and his own attack. He crashed into the wall of the palace and fell inside.

"Your Majesty, by the way, did you like the arthritis treatment earlier?"

Entering the collapsed wall after him, Frey suddenly smiled brightly and asked.

"You… Who the hell did you make a contract with?"

"Don't piss me off. Answer quickly, won't you?"

With the Emperor pinned down by debris and coughing up blood, he asked, while Frey stood in front of him menacingly, slowly tapping the palm of his hand with his scabbard.

"Who the hell did you make a contract with... to maintain such a suicidal technique for several minutes... Guhh!"

"For god's sake! Just stop talking!!!"

Still unable to regain his senses, Frey mercilessly struck the remaining healthy leg of the Emperor with the scabbard he was holding.

"Come along now, we have somewhere to go."

"Guh..."

As the Emperor, with both legs shattered, writhed on the ground, Frey grabbed his hair and began dragging him somewhere.

"...Aren't you afraid of what will happen after your technique is over?"

"Puppy, stop barking!"

"You!"

"Nu-uh! Puppy!"

When the Emperor kept barking, Frey grabbed his hair and slammed his face into the ground.

“When!! Your master!! Is speaking!! You listen!! And!! Do!! As!! you’re!! told!!”

"You, bastard, guh, Gah..."

"I rarely do this, but because your majesty the Emperor is such a piece of trash, I have no other choice!!"

Eventually, Frey screamed as he relentlessly smashed the Emperor's face into the ground.

“Did you really think that the greatest cancer and mass murderer who ruined an empire that lasted for a thousand years just for fun would have a good life?! Did you really think that someone stronger than you wouldn’t appear!?!"

"Keuk..."

"If that’s what you think, then you deserve to be beaten up! What else can I do? Your majesty is a piece of crap! You risked the lives of countless imperial citizens for your own pleasure!!"

Frey's expression showed extreme rage, more intense than anything he had ever experienced in his life.

"The boredom you hated so much, the peaceful everyday life!! To someone else, it's a wish they've longed for all their life!!!"

"..."

"Did you think you became a god just because people trembled in front of you? Too bad!! Right now, you're just a worthless little puppy! Pup, bark!!!"

“...”

Frey continued to smash the Emperor’s face until most of his teeth fell out. Then he kicked him into the air.

- Crash!!!

"Aaargh!!!"

"This, this madness..."

The body of the battered Emperor eventually crashed into a wall, collapsing it. What appeared behind that wall was a secret shelter, full of refugees.

"Mo, monster. It's a monster!!"

"Ugh, ughhh... Aaahhh..."

"Sa, save... Save me..."

Due to the hastily activated ancient magic, all the Emperor's vassals, officials, and high nobles of the palace were gathered in that vast space, unable to escape.

"The ancient magic that trapped you here was also designed by the Starlight family, there’s no way that I can’t dismantle..."

"You, Frey!!!"

"...It?"

Just as the shelter was engulfed in panic at Frey's appearance dragging the Emperor like a piece of trash, someone stood up and shouted loudly.

“How dare you treat the Empire’s Sacred Sun like that, aren’t you afraid of the consequences!!!”

The current Chancellor of the Empire and a member of the court of the imperial family was screaming, with spittle flying, his face turned red and his veins bulging.

"History will record you!! As his subject, you dared to humiliate the Emperor!! You’ve committed high treas– Kwek!"

Unfazed by the Chancellor's scolding, Frey approached the screaming pig while dragging the Emperor by his hair. Without warning, the Chancellor was struck by Frey's scabbard and collapsed with an ugly sound.

"Where's the Emperor? Where's the Sacred Sun? All I can see is a little puppy!"

"You, you bastard... Kkhek! Gah... ugh..."

"Come to think of it, didn't you bring Queen Ramie into the palace? You even joined hands with Lord Chamberlain and tried to control the Imperial Family."

"T, that's..."

"And why did you embezzle the money intended for charity? What are you doing with the orphanages operated in conjunction with the Church? Huh?"

"..."

The Chancellor, who was trying to admonish Frey even while being beaten to death, gradually lost his words due to Frey's continued revelations.

In fact, he soon fainted after being struck by Frey’s scabbard, but Frey thought that he stayed silent because he had nothing to say.

"Anyone else want to speak?"

"..."

"No one? I see."

Just like that, Frey, who instantly silenced the people inside the shelter, grabbed the Emperor's head again and began dragging him forward.

"Puppy, hand."

"..."

"Why aren't you listening! Pup!!"

- Thwack...!

"But still, I was going to let you off out of respect if you held your hand out as you were told, but I guess there’s no helping it."

Frey climbed onto the stage and attempted to force the Emperor to extend his hand. When the Emperor only glared at him with an angry expression, Frey trampled down on the Emperor's face with the sole of his foot.

"Hmm-hmm, as you can see, everyone. We've won."

Then, Frey declared as he looked at the people in the shelter.

"As of today, Raikon Solar Sunrise is stepping down from the position of Emperor and becoming a little puppy. Therefore, the next Emperor will naturally be Lady Clana..."

"Monster."

"Yes?"

Then, Frey heard someone mumbling something and asked with a puzzled expression.

"Everyone, am I a monster?"

"Uh..."

As he spoke, Frey exerted more force on the foot that was crushing the Emperor. A look of horror appeared on the faces of the people.

“Aren’t you all… the monsters?”

Frey glared at them and started speaking fiercely.

"Do you remember when the innocent former Empress, Clana's mother, was dethroned and driven away?"

"...!"

Their expressions began to deteriorate as they heard those words.

“The moment when the herbal tea given by the Emperor turned into a deadly poison, and the moment when the gentle and merciful Empress was changed to a wicked bitch in a matter of days?”

"..."

"Wasn't she dragged around with both her legs shattered, her head held by that bitch Ramie, and dragged around the imperial garden, just like the current Emperor?"

Frey threw the question with a cold voice.

“Even while being dragged and suffering extreme humiliation, she still begged all of you to spare her child? ‘Please, spare Clana. That child has done nothing wrong. I'll bear the punishment, so please spare only her’...”

"T, that's..."

"Back then, you laughed with fans and hands covering your face, why are you making such unseemly expressions now? Is it because I’m here?"

No one dared to answer his words.

“Those who laughed at such disgusting behavior simply because it was a little more beneficial to their power and self-interest, or because they were on Empress Ramie’s side, how dare you make such faces.”

“...Hiii, Heuk.”

“Right now, if any of you can open your eyes and look straight at her child, raise your hand. I will let that person go.”

Frey gazed at them with contempt in his eyes. He shouted at them and pointed at Clana, who had entered the shelter amidst the commotion.

"I understand why you couldn't stop Ramie. But if anyone has ever helped Clana, come forward!!"

Of course, no one came forward.

Those who had cared for her had already become part of Clana's faction.

The fact that they were present here clearly showed what kind of people they were.

"No matter how empty your head is, you surely know what the words of those who lost in war mean, right?"

"H-Heikkk!"

"P-please, spare us!!"

As Frey, looking at those disgusting people, began to emit his killing intent, the people in the shelter started to prostrate themselves one by one.

- Sringg...

"P-please, we beg you!!"

"Please spare us!!"

“I have a wife and children at home...”

Eventually, as Frey drew his sword instead of his scabbard, everyone in the shelter fell to their knees and begged.

They were awfully good at reading the atmosphere, but being sensitive couldn't save their lives.

"Frey, stop."

"...What?"

However, just before Frey swung his sword at them, Clana, who had stopped crying, declared in an authoritative voice.

"That's enough. Stop now."

Then, the atmosphere in the room suddenly became quiet.

"..."

The people, who had pale faces and bowed their heads, began to look at Clana with a glimmer of hope.

"It's an order, Frey."

"Understood, Your Highness."

As Frey heard Clana's words, he smiled gently and bowed his head.

- Sringg...

Then, putting his sword back into its sheath, Frey knelt quietly.

- Step, Step...

Clana slowly approached him and fixed her gaze on Frey, her eyes filled with emotions and unshed tears.

"Heh, hehe. Thank you, Your Highness."

"Well, I expected as much."

"You resemble her so much, that's why. Mmhm."

The voice mixed with relief from those around her pierced her hearts, but Clana, who maintained a stern expression to the end, stopped in front of Frey and made a declaration while looking ahead.

"The era of Emperor Raikon is over."

At the same time, the magical video recording devices in the shelter began to spread her words throughout the Empire.

"When the situation is under control, we will hold the coronation ceremony, and those who oppose it will be treated as traitors and eradicated."

As her ‘Sovereign Aura' began to emanate from her, the faces of those who were whispering and relaxing tensed up one by one.

"All imperial knights, lords, and vassals from every region must enter the capital as soon as possible to pay their respects to the rightful successor of the Empire."

With that, Clana concluded her declaration and took a deep breath, looking down.

"Bring them all out."

Finally, she uttered the words she had always wanted to say for so long.

“P-Princess?”

"P-Princess Clana?"

The people started to panic at her command, but Clana continued undeterred.

"Conduct investigations and interrogations on all those involved in the Ramie incident, and initiate an inquiry into the truth behind the former Empress Claria Solar Sunrise!"

"Princess!! No, Your Majesty!!!"

"The interrogations shall be conducted in the Empire's traditional manner."

This was essentially an order for a purge.

.

.

.

.

.

"Princess Clana!! You will regret this!! History will... Keukk."

The shelter was finally empty; as the Chancellor, who had held on until the last moment and screamed loudly, had his waist smashed by the scabbard thrown by Frey and was then dragged out.

"Phew."

Finally relaxing, Clana, approached Frey with a pale expression.

"Frey, you!"

"You were truly amazing, Clana. I almost didn't recognize you."

"What have you done to yourself?!"

But as Clana continued to scream with a fierce expression, Frey grinned and pointed downwards.

"More importantly, isn't handling this bastard more important?"

"You are more important! You fool!"

"Puhaha, haha..."

As Clana cried out in frustration, she heard laughter from below and looked down with a cold gaze.

"Hahaha! Haha, hahaha!"

Unfazed by Clana’s cold gaze, Emperor Raikon continued to laugh.

"It was truly, truly fun!"

He cried out through his missing teeth and shattered jaw, making a whistling sound.

"I never imagined such an ending! It was so entertaining!"

“...”

“It was the most satisfying moment of my life, Frey. Dragging the Emperor around like a dog! That would never happen in any other place!!”

The Emperor collapsed on the floor and burst into laughter.

“Is that so? Now, it’s time for you to die.”

- Sringg…

"Oh, do you know what, Frey?"

Frey could no longer stand the sight of him and drew his sword. Unfazed, the Emperor spoke with a pleasant smile.

"In fact, there is an afterlife in this world."

"..."

"Of course, I will go to hell. Just the thought of it gives me a thrill, hell must be such an enjoyable place!"

As the Emperor cackled, Frey's eyebrows twitched.

"Hurry up and kill me. Actually, I've always wanted to go to hell. It was part of the reason I ruined the Empire."

"You bastard, this bastard..."

"Haha, hahaha..."

As tears finally burst from Clana's eyes at his unrepentant demeanor, the Emperor looked at her and began to laugh.

- Swoosh!

Frey mercilessly plunged his sword into him.

"Then... go."

At the same time, the Emperor closed his eyes peacefully.

“...”

But soon, he began to twitch uncontrollably.

“...Puhaa!!”

When three seconds had passed, the Emperor woke up in a cold sweat.

"W-What is this?"

In contrast to his usual calm and arrogant demeanor, the Emperor, now sweating profusely, cried out in confusion.

"What is the meaning of this?"

"Time."

"...What?"

In response to his words, Frey replied succinctly.

“What are you…”

“This is the magic I cast on Ruby during the Third Ordeal, and I was so impressed by it that I asked Irina to develop it.”

"What on earth are you talking about?"

The Emperor couldn't fully comprehend Frey's words, but he understood the context and the excruciating pain he felt for a moment. Desperately, he demanded an explanation.

"Quickly, explain..."

"It's a curse that extends your one second into an agonizing eternity."

"...!!!"

"A curse that suits you very well, considering how you ruined an empire that has lasted for a thousand years just for your own amusement."

With a sly smile, Frey whispered to him.

"No external stimuli, no information, no one's intervention. Just you, writhing in the boredom you hate so much for an agonizing eternity."

Frey said with excitement, as the magic developed by Irina started to envelop his sword.

"W-Wait... Frey."

"Oh."

Then, abruptly stopping the spellcasting, Frey murmured in a subdued voice.

"If Clana forgives you... I could just kill you."

"..."

The Emperor, for the first time in his life, looked fearful, his gaze slowly turning towards Clana.

"Sp-spare... no, kill me..."

And then, in the next moment, a single word escaped the Emperor's lips.

"...Daughter."

With trembling hands, the Emperor reached for Clana's leg.

"...Who are you again?"

It was another moment of true vengeance against the true instigator of all this chaos.

.

.

.

.

.

Meanwhile, in the underground of the palace...

"Hurry! We must dig faster!!"

"Ahh!!"

Anne, along with all the maids in the palace, was attempting to escape through the secret passage. She urged the young maids at the front by whipping them frantically, urging them to dig faster.

"If we continue like this, we'll all die!! Follow my orders!"

As if possessed, she pushed the maids forward, accompanied by her own group of maids at the back, secretly smiling to herself.

I doubt even the princess knows about this. This passage was made by me in secret.

"Heh."

That idiot Frey. How dare he threaten me? I'll flee abroad and expose everything. With my influence, even that foolish princess who's so infatuated with him would be in deep trouble…

When one door closed, another opened. Continuing to pressure the maids, she entertained such thoughts.

"Hoot..."

"...Huh?"

Suddenly, she heard a familiar sound from her shoulder, causing her to freeze and turn her gaze sideways.

"Hoot~!"

"Oh."

A familiar owl sat on Anne's shoulder, flapping its wings and glaring at her.

"How did...!"

"Hooot~!"

"Uh, ugh...!"

As she tried to strike the owl with her whip, she found herself being pecked in return. Holding her forehead, she muttered inwardly.

Surely not? Can it be? Now way? Really?

"Hoot~!"

Is Frey... still chasing me even now?

Her face, which had been triumphant just moments before, soon began to be consumed by fear.

***

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