"...What did you just say?"

The man with a cigar clamped between his teeth, muttered this casually.

His tone was usual.

However, the attendant knew.

This was evidence that the man, the empire's Second Prince, had reached the limits of his patience.

Involuntarily, the attendant's legs began to tremble.

It was almost to be expected.

Given the current situation.

It was clear where the Second Prince's fury was directed.

"The plan has failed... Again, it was the Black Fangs..."

The attendant could not continue.

His throat hurt.

He couldn't breathe.

"...Displeasing."

A massive murderous intent was emanating from him.

An ominous aura that seemed inhuman poured out.

It was more than the ordinary attendant could bear.

Yet, the attendant said nothing.

It was impossible to do so.

To the prince, people were merely tools.

Except for himself, everyone was merely a tool, disposable at his convenience.

If the attendant did even slightly annoy him, not only would he be in danger, but his family as well.

Eventually, the attendant writhed in agony for a long time, silently enduring his screams... until he could finally be freed.

Leaving the pale-faced attendant sprawled on the ground, the man lit another cigar and sank into thought.

'...Where could the leak have come from?'

He couldn't understand it.

Where could the information about this raid have leaked from?

The security was perfect.

Yet, the Black Fangs had effortlessly ruined his plan again.

Somehow, they had annihilated the troops he had sent, right then and there.

'It's no coincidence. It can't be.'

It was by no coincidence that they were at the black market, and by no coincidence that they had killed all his troops.

There's a limit to such absurdity.

How could such an unbelievable event happen?

Fools often dismiss their own inadequacies as mere coincidences.

Those who stand above others should not adopt such a repulsive attitude. They must acknowledge what went wrong and fix it.

The man firmly believed this.

'Indeed, they are not to be underestimated.'

'Despite sealing their lips with a mana oath, they somehow discerned our plans.'

There must be some method they possess to gather information, one so cunning that it remains undetected.

The man retrieved a holy grail from subspace.

Compared to the previous one, its quality was inferior.

This was the third secret sanctuary, a place where kidnapped children, transformed into mere machines reciting prayers, were held captive.

Unlike the previous holy grail, which was crafted using children who genuinely held faith, this one was made from those deemed unworthy.

But still... a holy grail remains a holy grail.

The fact that it was crafted using the lives of over a thousand people doesn't change.

'It didn't work last time, but...'

He wasn't clumsy enough to make the same mistake twice.

He suspected that the leader of the Black Fangs had some way to avoid the power of the holy grail.

If so... it was simply a matter of changing the target.

If it wasn't aimed directly at harming the leader of the Black Fangs, there was a chance the holy grail might work.

"Find out how they're getting their information."

As he said this, a terrible scream echoed.

Well, it's just a minor side effect.

The process of turning children into praying machines inevitably involves some torture.

Naturally, the grudges from the souls melded into the holy grail would accumulate.

However, it didn't really matter.

The malevolent spirits contained here would be purified by the sigils inscribed by the priests of the Holy Imperial Court.

Once again, the holy grail emitted a brilliant light.

A smile formed on the man's lips.

A distinctly different reaction from before.

This clearly meant one thing.

It worked.

The investment of precious resources was justified.

This time, he would finally understand.

The clue to that inscrutable organization.

The brilliant light from the holy grail slowly formed into letters. Soon, an answer to the man's question appeared.

And... his face clouded with confusion.

It seemed only natural.

The characters that appeared before him were utterly incomprehensible.

[ Blood and Bone Gallery*]

"What on earth...."

Words whose meaning he couldn't fathom.

Could it be some kind of spell?

But that seems unlikely; he had never heard of a spell by such a name.

Among the forbidden spells created for the safety of the imperial family, he had never encountered such words.

What could they possibly mean?

Blood and Bone?

Gallery?

It was impossible to make sense of the connection between these words.

The man clenched his teeth.

The holy grail is limited; it's not something to be wasted this way.

Currently, he only has one holy grail left.

There's still a long wait until the next supply, as per the contract with the Holy Imperial Court.

But...

Regardless, the holy grail had been activated.

This fact drove the man to madness.

Had it not been activated, he would have been spared this frustration.

However, the holy grail had clearly worked.

That meant that this was indeed a direct answer to his question.

He just couldn't comprehend the reply.

...It was time to take a gamble.

'That must be the name of some organization.'

It's obvious.

If it's not a spell, the only reasonable assumption is that it refers to a specific organization by name.

If that's the case... there might be a rat.

Someone sneaking information to the Black Fangs, cooperating with them in some way.

"Tell me the members and the number of people in that organization."

Therefore, the man used the last holy grail he had.

And soon...

Strange circles began to wildly appear before the man. None of them resembled human names at all.

Only occasionally, bizarre and incomprehensible characters were mixed among these circles.

The situation was utterly baffling.

Yet, this was just the beginning.

'...What on earth.'

The man's expression hardened.

It seemed only natural.

The number of members in the organization.

It was far beyond the man's capacity for logical comprehension.

'What kind of intelligence organization operates with over 100,000 members?'

He had ensured the security for this plan was exceptionally tight.

The Second Prince himself could confidently say he had prepared thoroughly.

Yet, that security had been completely mocked by the intelligence organization.

An enigmatic organization of such a scale that its identity had still never been revealed.

The man felt like he might lose his mind at any moment.

Handling just the Black Fangs was challenging enough.

And now another bizarre group emerges. There could be nothing more horrifying.

'Those Black Fangs...'

Nothing ever goes smoothly once they show up.

The artifact had to be retrieved this time.

It was needed for the operation of the empire's facility that turns heroes back into corpses.

But somehow, they had stolen all the artifacts that were at the black market.

From information leaks to persistent sabotage.

There's a limit to how irritating something can be.

The man ground his teeth...

And with a deep breath, somehow calmed his mind.

He wasn't so weak as to be undone by such things.

Rigorously trained in the science of sovereignty.

As a leader, the man quickly composed himself and viewed the situation with a rational perspective.

'Dwelling on the past is pointless.'

Now... it was time to counterattack.

Fortunately, he had already prepared a plan for this.

It wasn't for nothing that he had instructed his knights to capture a young noble at the black market and kill them in the most horrific way possible.

This would be reported through the imperial news as an atrocity committed by the Black Fangs.

The image of a young child, a noble at that, being brutally slaughtered.

In a time when a few ungrateful wretches who had forgotten the empire's benevolence were weighing the Black Fangs against the empire, there was hardly a more perfect solution.

This would completely reverse public opinion.

'Certainly, this time I might have lost.'

But he had no intention of being a perpetual loser.

The Second Prince thought this as he smiled.

*****

'It's a bit dull.'

That was the only thought I could muster after seeing the statement.

I had managed to shake off that psychopathic girl, and now all that was left was to leisurely board the train and head back.

However, something kept nagging at me.

How to put it... It lacked impact.

'It really feels lacking without a video.'

The fake Black Fang was certainly one of the empire's knights.

After all, it was a massacre of their own citizens, nobility no less.

This juicy story was too significant to merely mention and move on.

That's why, after some deliberation... I called Siel.

Of course, there wasn't any video evidence.

The empire's knights weren't fools.

In a situation where they were disguising as the Black Fangs, they wouldn't have carried anything that could expose their identity.

But...

'What does that matter?'

If we need evidence, why not create it?

After all, this was a statement from a terrorist organization.

There was no need to worry about journalism.

"Could you prepare some illusion magic?"

At this moment.

There was only one thing I needed to do.

...It was time to spread fake news across the empire.

Chapter 35: Above the guy who runs, there is the guy who flies (2)

The true value of a news article lies in its ability to provoke. A little digging on the internet would reveal as much.

In the end, it's the sensationalism that really counts.

No matter how meaningful the content, if it doesn't provoke, people simply won't pay attention.

This is even more true if you're a terrorist group trying to incite others. In such cases, conscience and journalism hardly matter.

So, let's throw in all the provocative elements we can.

'Children make for a good target.'

Crimes involving young victims are perceived as particularly vile.

Torture, r*pe, murder—I briefly pondered which direction to take. But the answer was always clear.

'Just do them all.'

I quickly explained the scenario of illusion magic to Siel.

This would be used as evidence footage.

A loud declaration to be made here.

And the video to be played alongside it would be left here through magic.

After hearing my scenario, Siel recited the spell with a vacant expression. Shortly, a snuff-like video was crafted right before my eyes.

...I felt nauseous.

There's a limit to how grotesque something can be.

It was almost unbearable for someone of modern sensibilities like me.

But... it was a success in its own right.

'After all, the video was meant to be repulsive.'

It would be a problem if it were pleasant to watch.

It's crucial material intended to send the empire's reputation plummeting.

"But what if someone eventually realizes this is all fake?"

While reviewing the video, I smacked the back of Lien's head to bring her back to her senses, and she asked that question.

Certainly, it wasn't without merit.

Siel's skills were impressive. The illusion magic was crafted with great finesse.

But, illusion magic is just that—an illusion.

Eventually, a close look would reveal that this video was manipulated.

"That's okay. As long as it spreads among all the citizens of the empire, that's all that matters."

There's nothing like the internet in this era.

There are spells for transmitting videos, but not many can use such magic.

Naturally, rumors and information mostly spread through primitive methods.

Word of mouth.

Thus, it's sufficient to let people know that the empire has done some insane, screwed-up things!

The empire might claim that this information is false.

And some might say this video has been manipulated.

But, it's definitely provocative.

People are instinctively drawn to sensational content.

Just look at conspiracy theories to see what I mean.

Even in such an advanced era, where logical evidence can be found with a few keystrokes, conspiracy theories thrive.

Because they're sensational.

A story about an imperial knight who raped, abused, tortured, and dismembered a noble child.

It would be strange if such a sensational story didn't spread quickly.

Before debating whether it's real or fake, it's almost certain that all the citizens of the empire will hear this news.

"After all, no one believes what the empire says anymore."

This adds the dilemma of the boy who cried wolf.

Even if the empire claims that this is false information or an illusion crafted by magic, it doesn't matter.

All kinds of provocative articles.

Who would believe the words of an empire that has always been lying?

People are smarter than you think.

There's nobody who doesn't know that the imperial newspapers are full of nonsense.

They just keep quiet because speaking out would mean death.

This accumulated karma will now work in my favor. No matter how much the empire tries to clarify, no one will believe them.

'Besides... with this level of completion, it could easily be mistaken for the real thing.'

The nobility, capable of influencing people.

Guests who escaped from the black market are probably around here.

It hasn't been that long yet.

And if they see our video from afar, naturally they won't be able to discern its authenticity.

In other words, this video will be accepted as an absolute truth within noble society.

Well, even if there are no nobles nearby to witness the video, it doesn't matter.

I know how to use the magic for transmitting videos.

I can pretend to be a witness, film from a distance, and send it anonymously to the nobles.

After that, they'll spread it among themselves.

"That's how it is!"

Lien nodded exaggeratedly.

Based on what I've seen, that expression definitely doesn't mean she understood the situation.

But it seemed a bit much to ask, 'You didn't get it, did you?' So, I just played along.

'This might work better than I thought.'

A smile naturally formed on my lips.

The empire, already unpopular among the commoners, will become even more disliked.

Among the nobles, the realization that they too are merely expendable will spread.

This means that more nobles will be inclined to cooperate with the Black Fangs.

Those seeking their own benefit will start to join hands with the Black Fangs.

And such support will be a tremendous help to the Black Fangs.

'I should probably get paid by the leader of the Black Fangs for this.'

Considering the impact of just a few impersonations, it's an extremely effective deal. From the perspective of the Black Fangs, it's a profit like no other.

It's almost to the level where I might deserve a bow.

Maybe I'm more suited for revolution than I thought.

Should I team up with the Black Fangs and start a revolution if we manage to prevent the world's destruction?

With such frivolous thoughts, I casually left the black market.

*****

"What did you say?"

The man, the second prince of the empire, furrowed his brow.

The reason was quite simple.

A new report had surfaced.

Somewhere in the black market, a spell that would activate over time had been discovered.

The man's face, lost in thought, soon turned pale.

It was somewhat expected.

He was, after all, quite competent.

Understanding what was about to happen was easy for him.

'Black Fangs...'

The man nervously bit his lip.

He could taste the bitter blood.

How much more must they interfere to be satisfied? Once again, they had played him.

It was as if they were saying, "You're merely playing in the palm of my hand," using his plans against him to launch an attack.

They would probably expose the truth of this incident. They would strike first to control public opinion.

'...It must be stopped.'

At any cost, it had to be stopped.

If public opinion worsens, there's a possibility.

The possibility that traitors will gather around the Black Fangs.

That is something that must be avoided at all costs.

But how?

There's no holy grail in his possession.

The spell will manifest soon.

He had ordered the spell to be neutralized, but there were no signs of it being undone.

Instead, the only reports were that someone who had tampered with the spell had gone mad and committed suicide by stabbing themselves in the head.

As if to show off, the corpse bore the unmistakable mark of the Black Fangs, just like before.

In this situation.

There was only one action the man could take.

His face twisted more viciously than ever before.

"I'll make a contract."

It was inevitable.

In his worldview, where everything exists solely for him and all else is but tools, the thought of offering his soul to a demon was more distasteful than anything else.

However, there was no other way.

Even if he sacrificed someone else's soul, the curse he intended to cast could not be cast otherwise.

The children imbued with divine power served purposes beyond mere holy relics.

Holy water made from grinding them up—a substance capable of elevating the quality of one's soul.

His soul, having consumed this multiple times, was likely the most valuable thing in this world.

To cast the curse, such a sacrifice was necessary.

Soon, an ominous demon appeared before the man.

"This contract will cost you dearly."

"I know that already, so shut up."

Despite the man's sharp retort, the demon only smiled, as if amused by watching his fate unfold.

Twenty percent of his soul.

Certainly a large portion.

But not an unbearable risk.

He was different.

Not like the common criminals scattered around him.

He wasn't one of the fools who depended on contracts with demons and ended up entirely in their grasp.

With this assurance, the man completed the final verification steps.

"Are you certain the curse can be cast?"

"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 curse is placed upon you.

Curse details: Information spread by the leader of the Black Fangs or their group will never be recognized in the world.

...The spiritual rank of the Archdemon Asmodeus, who cast the curse, is far inferior to yours.

The curse dissipates.

Chapter 36: Above the guy who runs, there is the guy who flies (3)

"Explain."

The man, the empire's second prince, demanded.

However, his usual cigar was absent from his lips. Nor was his typically arrogant, confident expression visible.

Instead, there stood a man with a reddened face, his features twisted as if possessed by a demon.

"What exactly is going on here?" he shouted, forgetting all decorum.

It seemed almost inevitable.

Reports had come in from below.

The magic of the black fangs had manifested.

With a tremendous noise, the image floated up into the sky.

But that shouldn't have happened.

Such an event was never supposed to occur.

After all, he had sacrificed so much, even his own soul, regarded as the most precious in the world, in forging that contract.

The black fangs were never supposed to spread such information among the imperial citizens.

To prevent sedition.

However, it had no effect.

The content of the image, let alone the memory of the image itself, was supposed to vanish from everyone's minds.

Yet reports about the content of the image were being submitted.

No change in perception had occurred.

The implications were clear.

The contract into which he had poured his soul had no effect.

The curse had not held.

The constraint that was supposed to prevent the black fangs from spreading information had utterly failed.

"Have you lied to me!"

The second prince roared.

Before long, the demon reappeared before him.

With a mischievously wicked smile, the demon responded.

[You know as well as I do that a demon never lies in a contract.]

His brazen attitude naturally furrowed the prince's brow.

"You said the curse would take effect."

The prince clenched his teeth as he spoke.

But the reply that came back was calm.

[I definitely imposed the curse. It just didn't take.]

The prince's expression twisted demonically.

He finally realized it. The demon had deceived him.

-A curse can be imposed, right?

-Of course.

There was no lie in those words.

Thus, it wasn't technically a breach of the contract's laws.

The demon had only confirmed that 'a curse could be imposed'. He had never said it would be effective.

[I haven't told a single lie.]

Brazenly, Asmodeus wore an even more unpleasant grin than before as he spoke.

His laugh was full of scorn and mockery.

Naturally, the face of the second prince soured even further.

It was blatantly obvious that the demon was mocking him, to such an extent that not realizing it would have been odd.

Especially since he had already been thoroughly ridiculed by the black fangs.

To add insult to injury, a foolish mistake in a moment had cost him 20% of his soul.

He felt like he might go mad at any moment.

Vile curses against the black fangs and that disgusting demon were on the verge of spilling from his lips.

But...

He hadn't risen to his position by being powerless.

"Huff..."

With a deep breath, he managed to shake off his torment.

His face, which had been flushed red, slowly returned to normal.

Upon reflection... his emotional reaction had significantly contributed to this failure.

The black fangs were increasingly seen as a threat to the empire. Feeling threatened by their growth, he had prepared a plan, which led to all these failures.

In his anxiety to not fall behind the black fangs informationally, he had wasted two Holy Grails.

Moreover, in his fear of being outwitted by the black fangs again if he didn't act quickly, he had failed to properly check the contract.

A failure that could have been prevented with calm thinking and strategic planning.

Knowing that acting emotionally was the root of the problem and yet allowing anger to control him again was something only fools would do.

It was utterly unfitting for someone born to rule.

He could not afford to repeat the same mistakes.

Once a problem is identified, one must strive to solve it.

Rather than shivering in defeat and anger, it was right to keep a level head and seek to recover what was lost.

'Let's calmly assess the situation.'

In the end, the curse had not taken effect.

This meant that the soul quality of the leader of the black fangs far surpassed even that of a great demon.

...Though this thought made him feel as if he was in the dark.

'There are still cards left to play.'

The man reassured himself.

It was, perhaps, to be expected.

Upon revisiting the events with his sharp mind, he saw a way out of the situation.

'The black market is far too intact.'

A few buildings had exploded, but those were the doings of the forces sent by the prince himself.

This brought up an odd point.

Surely, the leader of the black fangs had been there. And naturally, the Archmage who ran the black market would have been present as well.

However, for two such beings to have fought there, the black market was suspiciously unscathed.

A Archmage, not unlike a natural disaster in human form.

It was inconceivable that such a being had engaged in battle there. Otherwise, the area would have been reduced to a wasteland.

The only plausible explanation was one.

'Alliance.'

The black fangs already knew of the plan he had set in motion.

His own objective for this endeavor.

He had intended to sow discord between the annoying black fangs and the Archmage, making them confront each other—a plan they had clearly seen through.

Then, it was easy to guess what the black fangs had done.

They must have explained the situation and, instead, recruited the Archmage to their side.

In that case...

'There are ways to deal with this.'

Bringing the Archmage over to his side and making him betray the black fangs seemed straightforward.

It was supposed to be a secret never to be revealed to outsiders, but... providing a part of the body from the facility would do.

The corpse of the former hero, Ian.

An object emitting the most dreadful curse in this world.

For someone immersed in dark magic, this temptation would be irresistible.

Just as the man was about to send a magical message to his subordinates...

[How about we talk for a moment?]

The demon suddenly muttered.

[I didn't mean to, but it turns out I've deceived you. Let me give you some useful information for free.]

Right after being massively deceived.

And what's more, from a demon who seemed suspiciously happy and was smiling.

Normally, he wouldn't have listened...

[I swear. The information I am about to provide will contain not a hint of falsehood.]

Those words.

Having heard them, he could no longer ignore what was said.

It was, perhaps, to be expected.

A demon is nothing if not strict about contracts. Once those words were spoken, no matter how twisted his nature, they had to be believed.

[You will probably never find the person you are looking for.]

"...What do you mean by that?"

[The man who ran the black market, he was killed by someone claiming to be the leader of the black fangs.]

Instantly, the man's face turned pale.

It was, perhaps, to be expected.

He had always been excellent at assessing situations.

The leader of the Black Fangs had killed the Archmage. Yet, there were no signs of such a battle at the black market.

The implications were clear.

There was no fight.

What occurred between them could not be called a fight in any traditional sense.

It was simply a unilateral massacre.

The strong had merely taken the life of the weak.

A natural disaster.

The Archmage, akin to a walking calamity.

The leader of the Black Fangs had effortlessly killed a power that could stand alone against nations.

...Ultimately, the man reached his breaking point.

"Fuck. Stop spouting nonsense."

Such words blurted out.

He knew.

As someone of noble birth, as someone who stood above others, he shouldn't utter such vulgar words.

But still, he couldn't hold back.

Really...

What kind of creatures were they?

With an intelligence organization of 100,000 under his command, they casually obtained even royal secrets,

They turned all his strategies against him, making a mockery of his opponents,

And even killed the Archmage in an instant?

Overwhelming intelligence.

Overwhelming strategic mind.

Overwhelming force.

It simply defied all reason.

How did such an organization suddenly come about?

Why are they so persistently hindering his path?

"Stop the nonsense! Black Fangs!!!"

*****

'Is someone talking about me?'

My ears tingled suddenly, naturally prompting such thoughts...

Well, it must be a misunderstanding.

After all, how honorably have I lived?

Who would talk behind my back?

Chapter 37: Above the guy who runs, there is the guy who flies (4)

'Indeed, the Empire is the Empire, isn't it?'

The sight before me naturally led to such thoughts.

Lately, feeling underestimated by the Black Fangs had become frequent. Yet, undoubtedly, they were not a group to be dismissed lightly.

The atmosphere at the mana train station was tense.

The reason was incredibly simple.

It was the checkpoint.

'They really are thorough to a vicious extent.'

A group like the Black Fangs wouldn't normally use a mana train when visiting the black market.

Because entry records are kept.

A secret organization wouldn't act so carelessly.

So, naturally, I thought this would be off the suspect list.

But it seemed the Empire didn't want to overlook even the slightest possibility.

'This is troublesome...'

That thought was inevitable.

Those paranoid fools were stabbing in the dark, but, coincidentally, they hit the jackpot.

At times like this, I think I shouldn't take the train.

'But not taking it would look even more suspicious.'

The boarding records of the mana train.

There, certainly, were records of Miss Rubia and us arriving here.

But not taking the train back?

That's practically inviting suspicion.

Of course, at first, one might think it was a casualty. Seeing we didn't take the train back, one might assume we perished at the black market.

But it would be impossible not to attract attention with someone of Miss Rubia's noble status.

Eventually, the fact that we survived would come to light.

Then Miss Rubia might suddenly be mistaken for a member of the Black Fangs.

So, deciding to take the train was definitely the right choice.

It was just bad luck.

However...

'Well, I had somewhat anticipated this.'

It was to be expected.

I'm not a fool. I wouldn't have impersonated the Black Fangs without any plan.

Of course, I had prepared a plan for such a situation.

I quickly surveyed my surroundings and assessed the situation.

"My child has been hurt!"

"You cannot leave until the inspection is complete."

Just then, the sound of an argument reached my ears. A noble couple with a child injured during a terror incident was clashing with a man who seemed to be in charge of the station.

It appeared urgent that they board the train quickly and head to the temple before the child's wounds worsened.

A smile naturally formed on my lips.

Was it divine intervention, or just incredibly timely luck that such a situation had arisen?

I quickly stepped between the arguing pair.

"Excuse me... how long will the inspection take?"

I asked as politely and respectfully as possible.

The man responded in his typically blunt manner, giving a typical bureaucratic reply.

A response designed to avoid responsibility.

Something like it's uncertain when it will end, or that no one can leave for any reason until the procedure is completed.

Statements about adhering to principles.

"I'm really sorry, but... my younger sibling is also very ill."

I said, pointing to Siel.

There was no need to instruct Siel to act.

After all, she really was ill.

Her stoic nature was a problem at times like these.

She seemed fine, so I thought she was okay, but it turned out she had been overexerting herself.

When she suddenly collapsed while walking, it truly frightened me.

Especially since she had exerted more energy than even during our last time at the mines, making her condition more serious than before.

'Well, fortunately, I've equipped her with three useful stamina-enhancing artifacts. She should be fine as long as she rests.'

To anyone looking, Siel appeared no different from a walking corpse.

"But still, it's not possible. We have to follow the rules."

The stubborn response came back.

These people really were tough. At this point, you'd think they might just let it slide.

Don't they feel any sympathy seeing her like this?

But... it didn't really matter.

"You're doing this inspection because you think the Black Fangs might be sneaking in, right?"

I asked again.

A lady nearby, seemingly developing a sense of solidarity, burst out.

"Does that even make sense? As if terrorists would calmly board trains! Are you trying to kill our child because of this?"

While I hadn't stepped forward like the lady, there were many others in similar positions.

And with all the self-preserving nobles around, the public sentiment quickly turned hostile.

Murmurs grew louder here and there, and the atmosphere became increasingly serious.

It seemed that just a little more provocation might spark a riot.

Instinctively, I knew.

This was the optimal moment to speak up.

"If things continue this way, my sibling might actually die... Could you let us go if I make a mana oath?"

My words made the man who seemed to be in charge slightly panic. It was a natural reaction.

A mana oath isn't something to be taken lightly.

Every living being has a trace of mana in them, a vital element for life.

To break such an oath would be akin to death.

It was essentially a life-risking pledge.

Having mentioned such a thing, my statement couldn't help but carry weight.

"I'm not from the Black Fangs. I swear on mana, this is no lie..."

I said this with a choked voice.

Mentioning a mana oath felt a bit daunting, but it probably didn't matter much.

Because this isn't a lie.

Me, a member of the Black Fangs?

There's nothing more absurd in the world.

What connection could someone like me possibly have with such a monstrous group?

"Our group has nothing to do with such an organization. So please... just let us go."

Anyone could see the desperation on my face, fearing for my sibling's life. Adding a mana oath to that plea.

I instinctively knew.

I had completely taken control of the situation.

Tears welling in my eyes, I looked at the uniformed officer in charge.

The man finally sighed deeply and ordered that our group be let go.

It was, in a way, expected.

There's no check more definitive than a mana oath, and if he hadn't accepted it, public opinion would have turned utterly against him.

Moreover, it wasn't a bad decision on his part.

It's reluctant to force a mana oath on someone, but it's also one of the most concrete methods of verification.

My initiating the suggestion probably paved the way for him to propose mana oaths to others as well.

Sure enough, as soon as our group was cleared, I heard the staff instructing the lined-up people to make their mana oaths in turn.

Perhaps they were inwardly pleased.

In a situation where they could have been vilified by detaining dozens of angry people, I had offered a simple solution.

Many are hesitant about making a mana oath.

But crowd psychology is a powerful thing.

It's awkward to refuse when everyone else is complying. Not doing so might make one suspiciously seem like a culprit.

I suspect everyone will end up making a mana oath before long.

A happy ending for the passengers, the staff, and me.

A smile naturally formed on my lips.

The plan had worked out perfectly, just as if drawn in a picture.

Has my luck really turned lately?

It seems like everything I do turns out successful.

Picking up dozens of fateful encounters in a casual visit to the black market.

Even acquiring a holy sword.

It felt as though the world was on my side.

'Maybe I should try a bit more of this and that now that it's come to this.'

That thought naturally occurred to me.

Especially since this inspection was starting to make the Empire look even more unappealing.

If I hadn't come up with a plan this time, it really could have caused a major problem.

I've been disliking their actions since the previous incidents. This time, they almost directly caused me harm.

Because of their despicable acts, I'm considering strengthening my support for the Black Fangs.

Let's make our agitation more international.

Not just stopping with this one incident, but using the footage to subtly manipulate public opinion.

'The real leader of the Black Fangs should probably come and bow down to me at this rate.'

Initially, I was the one impersonating and exploiting them. But now, they at least owe me a thank you.

Where else in the world would you find such generous support?

'At this point, I'm practically an honorary member of the Black Fangs.'

With such silly thoughts, I walked towards the train. That's when I noticed Miss Rubia's bizarre reaction.

"You, you... how... how could you..."

Her speech was stammering, as if something was broken inside her..

Her mouth agape with a look of astonishment.

What an expressive reaction.

It's as if she's seeing a foreigner react to spicy chicken stir-fried noodles for the first time.

'It was just a bit of acting. Is it really something to be amazed about?'

It was a decent attempt at method acting.

But still, that reaction seemed a bit much.

The more I see her, the more I realize she has a quirky nature.

Honestly, Miss Rubia's thoughts are truly beyond understanding sometimes.

Chapter 38: Above the guy who runs, there is the guy who flies (5)

Inside a splendid mansion, Kishua was lost in thought while sipping tea.

The reason was remarkably simple.

The Black Fangs.

It was because of the video they had spread.

That video had quickly thrown the empire into turmoil.

Of course, to avoid falling out of favor with the imperial eyes, no one dared to openly speak of it.

Yet, there was no one who didn't know of it.

The empire was more chaotic than ever before.

'This time, they definitely crossed the line.'

It was evident from the deteriorating public opinion among not only the commoners but also the nobles.

'Of course, those guys must have had their reasons.'

Perhaps those connected to the leadership, or truly high-ranking nobles, had been forewarned about the black market terror incident.

They would have been advised not to go there.

Moreover, no one plans with the expectation of failure.

The empire probably never imagined that this incident would come to light.

But the plan was completely exposed.

Various excuses are being made, but no one believes them.

It has become an accepted fact that the empire, disguised as the Black Fangs, orchestrated the terror that massacred the people.

'Well, if it had just been that, it could have been somehow smoothed over.'

Despite the worsening public sentiment, the empire is still the empire.

Even the haughtiest noble can't help but be cautious before the empire.

The massacre shown in the video.

Especially the fact that the target was a noble's child.

It was certainly horrific.

But it wasn't the first time the empire had done something similar.

After all, no fool would dare express their dissatisfaction directly to the empire.

Those who could have the power to do so would have been informed beforehand, so they would have no reason to harbor any grievances.

As time passes, things are gradually forgotten.

This incident would have likely ended up the same way.

But...

The current situation was a bit different.

If one think about it, they can see why.

'It's not just the video itself, but the fact that it spread that's crucial.'

The unprecedented chaos that has arisen in this noble society was undoubtedly exacerbated by that fact.

The video itself was shocking, but compared to the unbelievable situation of its successful dissemination, the content seemed almost trivial.

'...The Black Fangs.'

A revolutionary organization constantly terrorizing the empire.

Like any group that had risen against the empire, it was expected to soon fade into the annals of history.

But this could not be ignored.

Naturally.

This video.

The fact that it had spread throughout the entire imperial society signified the empire's defeat.

The empire, which used to eliminate those who opposed it with inscrutable powers, found that their methods did not work against the Black Fangs.

'How did they manage it?'

As the enemies of the empire faced their end, Kishua analyzed and came to a conclusion.

There must be some means within the empire for altering perceptions.

Unnaturally vanished nations.

Strange historical gaps.

And the headaches that came whenever he pondered such matters.

Kishua judged that something vast and secretive was intervening within the empire.

However... if secrecy was the measure, the other side was equally matched.

The Black Fangs were still spreading their wings.

This meant that they had discovered and understood the empire's tactics, and simultaneously knew how to nullify them.

Reaching this point in thought, most astute nobles would consider.

The Black Fangs might not be such a bad option after all.

Their power is immeasurable.

Anyone who had reviewed the outline of the black market incident could see this.

The power of the Black Fangs was so formidable that even the Archmage could be overwhelmingly subjugated.

'Plus, they are quite clever.'

While not personally receiving the video like the nobles, the common folk knew of its existence too.

In places beyond the capital, out of reach of the empire's surveillance, the appearance of the video in the sky had become a well-known story.

Kishua had also acquired and watched the video.

It dealt with the massacre by the imperial knights as usual, but this time it highlighted that the victims were children rather than nobles.

Considering the audience's potential resentment towards the nobility, it skillfully shifted the focus.

The Black Fangs were more adept at propaganda than expected.

Everyone would keep their mouths shut for fear of losing their heads if they spoke against the empire.

The public sentiment towards the empire was probably worse than ever before.

'Perhaps, they might actually pull it off.'

The empire's mysterious methods did not work this time.

The scale of the organization or its members' identities had yet to be revealed, but their might was certainly proven.

In terms of intelligence and propaganda, they had surpassed the empire.

How such a group suddenly emerged without any warning was a mystery, however...

Setting aside everything else, it is undoubtedly an attractive option.

'If the revolution succeeds...'

The power that follows would naturally belong to the heroes of the cause.

Those who clung to the empire would face a dire end as a new era begins.

Something...

Something is about to happen.

Many cowards will choose to observe from the sidelines or maintain neutrality as their refuge.

But the shrewd ones know.

Now is actually the perfect time.

It's a chance for advancement.

An opportunity to reach the top of the pyramid.

If you wait until the last minute to side with the winning faction, you'll end up despised by both and die in vain.

Better to quickly choose your side.

That's why Kishua was agonizing over his decision.

Whether to stand with the empire or with the Black Fangs. The quicker the decision, the better.

And the conclusion he has drawn from sizing up the situation thus far... is that the Black Fangs appear more appealing.

It's strange.

Kishua, a highly esteemed noble, had not been informed about the black market incident this time.

Ordinarily, it wouldn't make sense to consider such a perilous option as siding with traitors.

The empire is still the empire, after all.

There's a safer way to maintain your status. Choosing otherwise would be illogical.

Yet, strangely, he couldn't shake off his thoughts about the Black Fangs.

After some deliberation, Kishua realized something.

'...Could it be?'

Perhaps the Black Fangs intended this all along.

To provoke such a reaction.

There might have been a hidden purpose behind sending the video of a noble child being dismembered.

Initially, he thought it was just standard propaganda.

The gruesome death of a child would naturally engender resentment towards the empire.

He assumed it was merely a video meant to incite anti-imperial sentiment.

But... there might be another intention involved.

Anyone who has seen this video would have thought about it at least once.

That could have been me.

I could have died as pointlessly as that child.

Despite the plans for such an event at the black market, I received no warning.

That could have been my fate.

In the end, I'm just expendable, too.

Kishua himself thought this without going any further.

Seeing this, anyone would inevitably realize.

They too are just pawns, always at risk of being sacrificed by someone.

Even if you are a noble with blue blood, there are always those above you.

And when people start thinking this way, the Black Fangs present a solution as if they had been waiting.

Join us.

Reach the true top of the pyramid with us.

Not to be ruled, but to rule.

Kishua's face was stricken with shock.

He was already well aware of the Black Fangs' might.

But he had never imagined they would be so adept in this respect too.

They were manipulating people's psychology very naturally, so subtly that even Kishua himself hadn't noticed.

'What kind of monster are they...?'

With just this one video.

The Black Fangs had shaken the empire.

Initially, he thought it was merely propaganda to instill anti-imperial sentiment among the people.

But the deeper he dig, the more apparent the hidden political intentions become.

What kind of mindset must one have to manipulate the human heart so freely?

What kind of superhuman is the leader of the Black Fangs?

It was beyond normal understanding.

But if there's one thing he know.

"...I should attempt to make contact."

It was clear where he needed to align himself.