The Orc of Social Media (4)
The comments flooding my account were filled with concern from my fellow orcs.
Most of them were worried about the day I got struck by the elves' suppression baton.
Their words were so transparently sincere that I could see right through to their true feelings.
No matter how much they dressed it up in those archaic, high-flown phrases, their intentions were obvious. They were orcs, after all.
Since I'm a smart orc, I simply played along with the act.
Sure, I'd been hit with an electric suppression baton, but thanks to my tough orc body, it only left me slightly tingling.
I'd only pretended to be in pain to reassure the elves!
To the orcs who didn't know any better, the suppression baton must have looked like a truly terrifying weapon.
Especially with two security officers carrying those very weapons standing right beside the elf, ready to subdue anyone at a moment's notice.
'I did tell them to stop, but when they wouldn't listen I ended up swinging without thinking...'
I'd clearly ordered them to stop, but the elves kept going, clearly enjoying the sight of a big, threatening orc writhing in pain. That's what had pissed me off.
I'd edited that part out, of course.
The real problem was how little effect the baton actually had on orcs. The two terrified elves had even wet themselves on the floor... If other elves saw that video...
"No way. Absolutely not."
Just imagining it was horrifying.
Far from restoring the group's image, my actions might have dragged it through the mud. I wouldn't have been surprised if Elicia stuffed me into a drum barrel for it.
Still, since I'd edited the video before uploading, the clueless orcs would assume the suppression baton was some fearsome device.
They were members of society too, in their own way. No matter how strong their instincts, they wouldn't dare attack an elf protected by security officers wielding those batons. At least not for the next few days.
That would give me enough time to tell President Remnon he needed to deploy stronger suppression batons.
For now, even though my body was aching and sore, I posted that I was fine.
"It's not forced. Civilized people strive to endure by punishing themselves to overcome their instincts."
I carefully explained to these orcs exactly what it meant to be civilized.
Yes. The orcs who had viewed elves not as fellow civilized beings but as walking onaholes seemed to fully agree with my words.
I'd shown them that the excellent security meant there was nothing to worry about regarding the elves.
Now it was time to let the orcs know just how wonderful the Eclipse Department Store truly was.
"I am truly free here."
I left that single line alongside the next video.
It showed me removing my hijab right in the middle of the department store, surrounded by customers walking about.
I wanted to show that orcs had the freedom to take off their hijabs too.
*
Karzuk Wood, a member of the orc community and Crown Prince of the Elvenheim Empire who carried the most noble bloodline, was already following Rascal's newly created SNS account.
For orcs, following a sworn brother's account was the most natural thing in the world if one used social media.
Besides, Rascal was a dear friend who attended the same university and shared classes with the Crown Prince.
Even so, Karzuk was worried about Rascal.
"Orc Delivery…"
Very few orcs engaged in SNS. There simply weren't any orcs working as influencers like humans, beastmen, elves, or dwarves.
Only a handful of nobles or self-employed individuals with unavoidable circumstances, like Crown Prince Karzuk himself, participated.
And yet here was Rascal's account, openly stating he worked for Orc Delivery?
He might be collared by that monster called money, forced to do things he didn't want to do.
But even knowing that, what could Karzuk possibly do to stop him?
After all, Rascal had chosen this difficult path for the sake of his younger sisters…
'Could I do the same?'
Could he bring himself to share meals and travel with someone he didn't love, all for the sake of his own younger sisters? Such a horrible thing.
The only thing Crown Prince Karzuk could do was offer his support.
"Hm?"
Karzuk's eyes widened as he watched the video Rascal had uploaded.
Rascal being struck by the suppression baton. The two elves clearly enjoying the sight.
'Such a horrible act—!!'
No matter the money involved, to be subjected to something akin to queen play by elves…!
How humiliating. How degrading.
What made it even more vicious was that this was being used to advertise the Eclipse Department Store.
It was as if the store was condoning elf violence within its walls.
"This must be condemned alongside our brothers—!"
But then Rascal posted that he had deliberately taken the hits to demonstrate how powerful the baton was, and Karzuk felt a surge of admiration.
"To personally demonstrate for his brothers' safety…!!"
Since he could not demonstrate on elves who had committed no crime, he had sacrificed his own body.
While Karzuk was still moved by Rascal's noble self-sacrifice, the next post left him stunned once again.
Rascal removing his hijab and revealing his face in a corridor where elves were walking past.
Every elf nearby was staring at him, their eyes filled with greed and twisted lust.
Crackle!!
Beside him, security officers holding crackling electric batons stood ready to subdue any elf at a moment's notice.
Perhaps that was why.
Despite so many elves present, none rushed toward Rascal.
"Hmm… so he feels no fear."
Karzuk found himself applauding Rascal's bold decision to walk around without his hijab.
He knew exactly how difficult and painful that choice truly was.
Wearing the hijab was incredibly inconvenient. It blocked one's vision and made breathing difficult. Yet it provided a sense of psychological safety.
Because by covering his face, he committed no sin of arousing the elves.
It wasn't their fault.
The fault lay with the orc who had given them even the slightest opening!!
But…
That post made Karzuk reflect deeply on himself.
Wearing the hijab did provide psychological comfort.
But separately from that, ever since orcs began wearing them, incidents of elves committing rape had actually increased.
It was likely because the orcs, driven by fear, had refused to give elves even the minimal outlet they needed.
"Rascal. You put me to shame."
As Crown Prince, he felt ashamed that he had failed to solve this problem and had instead tried to suppress the elves as the only solution.
Oppressing an entire race would inevitably breed backlash.
No — from the very beginning, oppression itself was wrong.
Yet in the name of orc pride and honor, he had left not even a single outlet for the countless elves.
Photos, drawings, videos — none of it.
He had treated elves as potential criminals and shown nothing to those who were not family.
Despite research clearly showing that denying outlets for sexual desire only increased sex-related crimes, he had willfully ignored it.
In trying to prevent elves from committing sins, he had committed an even greater sin himself.
All while dismissing it with the excuse that there was no other way.
As Rascal had demonstrated, one solution was to station powerful security officers in specific areas and have noble orcs personally reveal their faces to elves.
Until now, the noble orcs — including the Crown Prince — had grown complacent and abandoned their duties.
How dishonorable.
With one small action, they had tarnished the honor of all their brothers.
"For what have I sought and studied knowledge all this time? Not merely to satisfy a desire for learning, but to better understand others and create a world where we can live together… I must visit the Eclipse Department Store myself for the sake of the elves. I shall reveal my face without a hijab for all to see!!"
Inspired by Rascal's courage, Crown Prince Karzuk decided to visit the Eclipse Department Store as soon as possible.
*
"Huh?"
Suddenly some orc claiming to be the Crown Prince posted that he would visit the department store.
"Crazy bastard."
An orc crown prince in an empire ruled by elves? A passing dog would laugh at such nonsense.
The only way elves gave birth to orcs was through marriage with orcs, after all.
Did that mean the Empress had married an orc?
"These orc bastards slap on every fancy phrase in the book, but they're all liars with heads full of nonsense."
Still, the social media advertising seemed to have been quite successful, so I was satisfied.
"Lord Rascal. Today's advertisement was extremely satisfying."
"Thank you, Countess Elicia."
She was smiling at me with that bewitching, seductive smile as she praised me!!
"But… must I sleep here again tonight?"
"Yes. Is there a problem?"
"Ah, no…"
If I had one complaint, it was having to sleep yet again in the chairman's office, even if it was fairly spacious!
There was a bed, but only one.
Yesterday Elicia had fainted, so we'd been able to share it, but now…
'I can just make her faint again.'
"Hah!"
Crackle!!
The moment I pulled out the Perception Blocker to knock Elicia out, a suppression baton suddenly swung toward me.
The familiar tingling sensation — it was the same baton I'd been hit with earlier for the advertisement shoot.
"This… female?"
