35
Chapter 35
A knight's true value lies in their ability to draw aggro.
That's something you can figure out just by browsing the internet for a bit.
In the end, sensationalism is king.
No matter how good the content is, if you can't draw aggro, people won't pay attention to it.
That's especially true when you're trying to incite others as a terrorist organization. Why bother worrying about conscience or journalism in a situation like this?
Therefore, let's just throw in every sensational element we can.
'For starters, children would make good targets.'
Crimes targeting young children always appear more heinous, no matter what they are.
Torture, rape, murder... I hesitated for a moment on which direction to go, but... the correct answer in times like this is always set in stone.
'I can just do all of them.'
I quickly explained the scenario for the Illusion Magic to Ciel.
This would be used as evidence footage.
A declaration that would rise here with a loud bang.
I was going to use magic to leave the video that would play alongside it right here.
Ciel, having listened to my scenario, chanted the Incantation with a dazed expression. In no time at all, a snuff film-like video was created right before my eyes.
...I feel bile rising in my throat.
There's a limit to how grotesque things should be.
It was to the point where even my modern stomach couldn't handle it.
However... this was a success in its own way.
'I made this video to evoke repulsion in the first place, anyway.'
It'd actually be more of a problem if it was pleasant to watch.
This was crucial material to be used to send the Empire's reputation into the abyss.
"But if we use something like this, won't they figure out it's fake eventually?"
I smacked Rien on the back of the head again as she stared at the video with rolled-back eyes, and she came back to her senses to ask that question.
She definitely wasn't wrong.
Ciel's skills were excellent. The Illusion Magic was implemented with a remarkably high degree of completion.
But Illusion Magic was Illusion Magic, in the end.
If they looked closely enough, they'd eventually figure out the video was fabricated.
"It's fine. Whether it's fake or not, as long as it spreads to all the imperial citizens, that's enough."
There was no way something like the internet existed in this era.
There was magic to transmit videos, but it wasn't like people who could use magic were common.
Naturally, rumors and information mostly spread through primitive methods.
Word of mouth.
Therefore, it was enough just to let people know that the Empire's crazy bastards did some crazy shit!
The Empire might try to correct it by claiming it was false information.
There will probably be people who claim this footage is fabricated.
However, it's definitely sensational.
People are instinctively drawn to stimulating things.
You can tell just by looking at conspiracy theories.
Even in such a highly developed era, in modern times where you can find all sorts of logical evidence with just a few taps on a keyboard, conspiracy theories still run rampant.
That's because they're sensational.
A Knight of the Empire who raped, abused, tortured, and dismembered a noble's child.
It would be stranger if a story with such great buzz didn't spread quickly.
Before even debating whether it's fake or not, it's almost certain that all the citizens of the Empire will hear this news.
"No one believes what the Empire says anyway."
Add the sorrow of the boy who cried wolf to that.
It doesn't matter if the Empire claims this is false information, a fake crafted with Illusion Magic.
All sorts of inciting articles.
Who would believe the words of an Empire that was always spouting nothing but lies?
People are smarter than you think.
There is no one who doesn't know that the Imperial Newspaper only spouts bullshit.
Everyone just keeps their mouth shut because they'll die if they say it out loud.
The karma they've built up will work in my favor this time. No matter how much the Empire tries to explain themselves, not a single person will believe them.
'Besides... with this level of completion, it's enough to mistake it for the real thing.'
The noble class who can command people.
The customers who fled from the Black Market are probably around here.
Not that much time has passed yet.
And if they see our footage from afar, they naturally won't be able to tell whether it's authentic or not.
In other words, this footage will be accepted as undeniable truth in noble society.
Well, even if we're unlucky and there are no nobles nearby to witness the footage, it doesn't matter.
Because I know how to use Image Transmission Magic.
I just have to pretend to be a witness, record it from a distance, and send it to the nobles anonymously.
After that, they'll probably spread it among themselves.
"O-Oh, I see!"
Rien nodded her head exaggeratedly.
Based on my past experiences, that is definitely not the face of someone who understands the current situation.
But pointing out that she didn't understand felt a bit much, so I just played along and humored her.
'This might work better than I thought.'
A smile naturally formed on my lips.
The Empire, which already had a poor reputation among the commoners, will become even more despised.
Among the nobles, the realization that they, too, are nothing more than disposable pawns will spread.
That meant the number of Nobles willing to cooperate with Black Fang would increase.
People would step up to join hands with Black Fang, if only for their own gain.
And that kind of support would be a tremendous help to Black Fang.
'I should really get some money from the Black Fang Leader for this.'
It was too efficient to be considered a favor done for the price of impersonating a name a few times. For Black Fang, there was no more profitable deal than this.
It was to the point where I felt they should be bowing down to me in gratitude.
Maybe I was more suited for a revolution than I thought.
Should I team up with Black Fang and start a revolution once I prevent the world's destruction?
I leisurely left the Black Market, entertaining such ridiculous thoughts.
*****
"......What did you say?"
The man, the Second Prince of the Empire, scowled.
The reason was incredibly simple.
A report had come up once again.
It revealed that a Spell Formula, designed to activate after a certain amount of time, had been discovered somewhere in the Black Market.
The man's face, which had been lost in thought for a moment... soon grew pale.
In a way, it was only natural.
Because he was actually quite capable.
It was a simple task for him to grasp what was about to happen.
'Black Fang.......'
The man bit his lip nervously.
He tasted the metallic tang of blood.
Just how much did they have to interfere to be satisfied? They had made a fool out of him once again.
As if to say he was dancing in the palm of their hand, they were turning his plans against him to launch an attack.
They would probably expose the truth of this incident. They would strike first and take control of public opinion.
'......I must stop this.'
I have to stop it by any means necessary.
If public opinion worsens, a possibility arises.
The possibility that Traitors will gather around Black Fang.
That was something that must be avoided at all costs.
But how?
The Holy Grail wasn't in his possession.
The Spell Formula would activate before long.
He had ordered them to dispel the Spell Formula by any means necessary, but there were no signs of it being undone.
Instead, the only report that came back was that the person who had tampered with the Spell Formula had gone mad and committed suicide by driving a sword into his own head.
As if to show off, the corpse once again bore the unmistakable mark of Black Fang.
In this current situation.
There was only one course of action the man could take.
The man's face twisted more viciously than ever before.
"I will make the contract."
It was only natural.
Everything in this world existed for his sake. Everything else was merely a tool.
For a man with such a mindset, offering his own soul to a Demon was more repulsive than anything else.
However, there was no other way.
Even if he sacrificed another's soul, he wouldn't be able to cast the Geas he intended to.
The uses of the children imbued with Divine Power didn't end with the Holy Grail.
The Holy Water crafted from them.
An object capable of raising the rank of one's soul.
His soul, having consumed it countless times, was likely the most valuable thing in this world.
To cast the Geas, he had to offer at least that much.
Before long, a sinister Demon appeared before the man.
[This one will cost you quite a hefty price.]
"I already know that, so shut up."
Even as the man spat out sharp words, the Demon merely smiled, declaring that he would watch him meet his demise.
Twenty percent of his soul.
It was certainly a heavy price.
But it wasn't an unmanageable risk.
He was different.
Different from the ordinary people scattered around him.
Different from the idiots who relied on contracts with Demons and ended up having their souls completely stolen away.
The man, convinced of this, went through the final confirmation process.
"The Geas will definitely be cast, right?"
[Of course.]
As soon as those words were spoken, the man clasped hands with the Demon.
The contract was sealed.
The Demon smiled ominously.
As if anticipating something.
*****
[A Geas has been triggered upon you.]
[Geas Details: Any information spread by the Black Fang Leader or their companions will absolutely never be recognized by the world.]
[......The Spiritual Rank of the Greater Demon Asmodeus, who cast the Geas, is vastly inferior to yours.]
[The Geas dissipates.]