Chapter 179: Review (Spoilers Ahead)
“…How disgusting. How can you spout such audacious lies without even changing your expression?”
The Emperor’s face immediately sours at my words.
He looks like someone who just found a half-eaten worm in a bitten apple.
Yet, even with such open disdain and disgust, it hardly affects me. What Korean would get hurt by the praise of how filthy this game is played?
“Even worse, your method is downright foolish. Do you really think people will fall for such a ridiculous play?”
I wonder if my calm reaction is why he continues with an even more disgusted frown.
“You know better than anyone how full of holes your lies are.”
With a blatant air of contempt and a mocking tone, he continues.
But in fact, his claims are somewhat valid.
“The aircraft carrier that committed the terror act displayed your symbol, and I’m sure many witnessed me rescuing people just now.”
The symbol of the Black Fangs, hidden by the camouflage magic, was slyly released by that sinister old man, and it’s true he did block the bombardment with his bare body.
All the evidence points to my claims being false.
“Even a bug has a brain. No matter how foolish the crowd is, they can see through the truth.”
Regardless, I’ll help them anyway, and while saying that, he seized control of the screen.
Soon, a spell is formed from the Emperor’s hand.
My orders to attack, along with the recent events, are all reproduced and forcefully displayed for everyone to see.
“And still, you think your lame trick will work?”
He looks at me, but this time his emotion is slightly different from before. It’s as if he sees something lacking.
“…How shameful. It’s shameful that I was even tense for a moment over someone like you.”
As if he has no time to waste on an idiot, the Emperor immediately begins conjuring his spell with all his might.
I can feel the pressure the moment he clenches his fist.
It’s clear that a powerful attack is coming straight for me, capable of crushing me in an instant.
And why he made such a choice, knowing how much energy he has already expended, is quite obvious as well.
Normally, I could have blocked such an attack.
However, if the faith and belief of the people that sustain my power waver, the story changes.
What seemed like a negligible distance suddenly widens, creating an overwhelming gap. In such situations, strategy no longer matters.
It’s all about overwhelming strength.
With just that, the weaker will inevitably collapse without any way to resist.
‘…I can’t evade this.’
Was he resolved to finish it in one blow? The range of the attack is too absurd. There’s no chance to avoid it at all. The outcome is predetermined.
The space distorts.
Everything compresses to an extreme.
And amidst that, I just stood there.
I didn’t even bother trying to dodge.
I felt no need to.
“……”
The Emperor looks at me with a confused expression.
He can’t understand why I’m still standing here.
However, this is hardly surprising.
After all, the followers of the Black Fangs are the kind of people who hear what they want and believe what they want.
Even when I tell them I’m not the leader, they don’t believe me. So why would they suddenly believe the old man’s words?
And more importantly…
“Where did you sell your conscience? Did you really lose your mind over the past three years?”
The Empire has built a mountain of sins.
From ethnic genocide to mass slaughter.
Unimaginably heinous war crimes.
If they had expanded territory and enriched themselves to the point where the citizens lived comfortably, that might be different, but no, it’s not like that at all.
The difficulty here feels almost easy by Korean standards.
It’d be harder to point out what’s functioning well than what’s rotting away.
Meanwhile, what of our Black Fangs?
Total casualties = 0 (excluding the naturally deceased Imperial army charging in first)
A motto of equality and happiness for all.
Actively participating in relief efforts and social service.
Truly commendable, indeed.
“Who the hell would believe you? Your forte is cooking up fake knights and inciting people with manipulation. Everybody thought you’d do the same again this time!”
This is exactly the sorrow of the boy who cried wolf.
A diligent young man who always helped others suddenly sprouts a mustache and starts a genocide policy.
Who would believe such a story?
I shot him a smirk, returning his previous mockery. Once more, his face soured. He seems like he wants to say something to me, but…
There was no reason to listen to the ramblings of a senile old man. I had no intention of giving him the time to hatch a scheme that could ruin my plans.
Restoring the noise-filtering screen temporarily and resuming the broadcast.
The Emperor, who had relied on his brainwashing authority to take everything without effort, firmly believed himself to be adept at incitement and psychological manipulation.
It was high time to show him some proper incitement.
“How far do you intend to insult me?!”
For now, it’s a grim victory.
Tears can be critical evidence in trials, which is already legally proven.
I haven’t formally learned acting, but that doesn’t really matter.
The despair of spending 600,000 won and not getting a single character.
The frustration felt when I switched games for healing and there, others were pulling off marvelously while I was stuck hitting the ceiling three times in a row.
The injustice when I realized just a week before discharge that I was subject to public service due to vagal syncope.
Just recalling those moments brought tears streaming down naturally.
“That weapon was for freedom. The hearts of those who willingly supported us. It was the wish of everyone to live in an equal world!”
Did it really contain such things?
Was actual funding from regular citizens used to build that aircraft carrier?
I don’t know that either. When the final boss is about to evolve, who has time to leisurely skim through financial statements?
But that doesn’t really matter.
What’s important is that one side called the people they need to earn trust bugs while the other expressed gratitude to those who supported them.
“But you not only used it for massacre but now claim I tried to annihilate people? And you desperately tried to stop me?”
I subtly adjust the angle of the screen.
The burn I created with my camouflage magic.
It appears as if I just took the bombardment bare for everyone.
The Emperor is dumbfounded.
But what could he even do?
It’s easy to confirm someone is in the sky, but it’s hard to confirm who that someone is.
Moreover, memories can easily be distorted.
It makes far more sense that I’m the one who sacrificed for everyone rather than him.
Most of everyone will conclude that the identity of the righteous one who hurled himself into the rain of strikes to protect everyone is none other than Ian, the commander of the Black Fangs.
“I’ve thought so for a while, but you really are out of your mind. You’re clearly possessed by a demon.”
And thus, I frame the Emperor with senility.
Of course, his mind is perfectly intact, and he’s profiting from a solid coexistence without any demonic possession. But who cares about the truth?
A shadow looms behind the Emperor.
A familiar face is illuminated.
The demon I met before, Asmodeus, quickly joins in on my act.
[Kill them…! Wipe out everyone without a single survivor! They are all enemies seeking your life, so you can trust no one!!]
Asmodeus whispers such words into the Emperor’s ear.
Well-coordinated dialogue spreads through the magic of broadcasting.
What the hell is going on? Was he working for the Black Fangs from the beginning?
Was creating the bait simply to connect to that Bone and Blood Minor gallery with the intent of showing them bizarre photos your trick too?
The Emperor, smacked in the head by the truth, spouts off indignantly.
And that was the decisive blow.
The whispers of the demon, which seem to control the Emperor, echo in his ear. Fueled by the ominous words, he spews nonsense with bloodshot eyes.
The Empire’s Emperor has gone senile under demonic possession.
He genuinely intends to slaughter everyone in the Empire. This fact will surely be engraved in everyone’s minds.
I have no intention of missing this golden opportunity.
I immediately raised the Holy Sword high.
As soon as I channel divine power into it, the sword sparkles with light.
“I will never submit to someone like you. For everyone who has believed in me, I cannot lose to scum like you.”
I deploy all my wings and halo.
On one side is the old man accompanied by a demon, ranting like a madman.
On the other side is the hero fighting against him for everyone. The representative of the gods shining brightly, the black saint.
Who to support. Who to wish for victory. Who to pray for—it’s all way too clear.
I can feel power flowing into me.
Eight pairs of wings blossom. A radiance so brilliant it blinds the eye. A holy sword burning fiercely.
This means all preparations are completely ready.
“It’s time to face this fairly.”