It’s a bit late to be saying this now, but—our organization, Carmen, is quite the peculiar group.
We have enough wealth and intelligence resources to plan a large-scale terror attack on one of the world’s top academies.
Our communication and security networks are so solid that we have branches all over the world regularly exchanging information.
But politically?
We’re surprisingly fragmented.
“Everyone has their own reason for holding a grudge against the world, so I guess it’s only natural.”
Some want to eliminate landlords and nobles.
Others dream of toppling the monarchy like it’s their mortal enemy.
There are even a few pure nihilists who are so disillusioned with the world, they just want to destroy everything.
Everyone’s motives, values, and origins are completely different.
They all have different hopes and ideals—and are ridiculously stubborn about them.
“Well, you’d have to be pretty intense to even try something like this.”
It’s not all that strange, really.
Think about it : Most people, even if they’re frustrated with politics, won’t go as far as to fight back.
Putting your life on the line and risking your family and possessions—that’s not something just anyone can do.
But these people are doing it.
They’re so fed up with a corrupt and contradictory society that they’ve actively joined an anti-establishment movement.
You’d have to be fierce and hard-headed to even consider that.
“The downside is, we can’t reach internal consensus easily.”
But maybe that’s actually a good thing for a secret shadow organization—at least at the grunt level.
The problem is when the higher-ups are like that too.
“We can’t even come up with long-term goals, damn it.”
The overthrow of the current regime and ruling class—aside from that core mission, our organization is completely lacking in any concrete future strategy.
Every time we try to hold a meeting to set direction, it ends in factions splitting off, everyone shouting what they want to say, and the conversation just falling apart.
Still, up to now, it hasn’t been a huge issue.
Defeating the current regime is such a monumental task that even dedicating decades might not be enough.
So focusing only on the present and ignoring the future didn’t feel like a big problem.
We figured future generations and successors would sort it out when the time came.
But now?
“Is it really okay for me to come up with such an important plan all by myself? I appreciate being given such an important task, but I don’t think it’s something I should decide on my own.”
“Don’t take it too seriously. Ishmael, you’re just creating an example for reference.”
“Well, that’s a relief.”
Thanks to me, everything went wrong.
Mostly, in a direction that benefitted the organization.
The world descended into an unprecedented large-scale war, and society became drenched in madness.
The order that preached morality lost its power, and twisted ideologies became national policies.
It was a time when, for the first time in centuries, the livelihoods of ordinary people were more devastated than ever, with countless lives lost.
Countries with the military might to influence world affairs, without exception, poured their national strength into war, endlessly consuming resources, funds, and manpower.
The chaos and fragility of society that the organization had longed for was now right at our doorstep.
“Even though it’s just an example, the content Ishmael came up with will likely be heavily referenced. No matter what anyone says, you are our organization’s top expert in politics and diplomacy.”
“If you put it that way, the pressure becomes overwhelming…”
And all of these changes, I created them.
Professor Kang Cheonsu, no, writer Ishmael.
The butterfly effect created from scribbling a few books and pamphlets in a small room and distributing them.
The goal was advanced, which was good, but in exchange, the future of our organization became suddenly unclear.
Because of this, my influence and status in the organization skyrocketed, and I ended up taking on the huge task of planning the organization’s future.
Under the pretext that no one else but me could do it.
Why does it feel like they work exactly like the Korean style?
Anyway, they’re like ruthless bosses.
If you’ve earned achievements, you should reward me, but instead, they just keep piling on more work.
What kind of etiquette is that?
But now that the task has fallen on me, I couldn’t slack off.
After all, I was part of this organization and recognized as a somewhat important figure.
I’ve received enough help to survive, so I had to give back.
*****
“First, weaken the capabilities of the existing nations to create the conditions where our organization can operate publicly.”
It’s still in the conceptual phase, but my plan is as follows.
The organization is strong for a secret society, but compared to a country that has hundreds of millions of people, we’re just a drop in the ocean.
If we unknowingly show ourselves above ground, we’d be quickly crushed and obliterated.
So, the goal is to weaken nations to the point where they can’t suppress groups with their own military force.
Not even a force with a few thousand armed soldiers and weak foundations should be able to be dealt with.
This isn’t going to be difficult.
It’s nothing I can’t handle with my expertise.
I can escalate the current active wars even further and combine the right ideologies and terrorism—just like I’ve done before.
By adjusting the flow of the war, I can ensure that neither the winners nor losers come out with anything left.
As for countries that haven’t participated.
I’ll need to take separate measures.
“Alcyone, there’s a civil war planned, so let’s skip that for now.
The small island nations in the south can’t even muster a division’s worth of troops, so they won’t influence the general trend.
Hispania… well, even though they haven’t been at war, the damage is already so severe that it’s seeping through.
If we just touch it a little, it’ll explode on its own.
Once the environment is created where our organization can act freely…?”
“We’ll start expanding in earnest.”
“Huh?”
“Oh, just talking to myself. Don’t mind me.”
We’ll take control of the land we’ve already secured—those territories borrowed in exchange for food supplies—by force.
Then we can conquer nearby territories.
If everything goes smoothly, we should be able to secure territory comparable to a large duchy.
Once we have local manpower, achieving independent sovereignty will also be possible.
“Kalia.”
“Yes?”
“How much military equipment and gunpowder do we have in stock?”
“For this branch? Or for the entire organization?”
“The entire organization.”
“Well, at the very least, we could arm tens of thousands of people. We’re not lacking in resources, and it’s not like we’re short on manpower either.”
Thanks to the 115 rebuttal documents, many new recruits have joined, which will be helpful.
Even if they’re not the most trustworthy, they can still be used as soldiers, right?
However, this will likely draw the attention of the entire continent.
Therefore, I’ve been considering some supplementary strategies.
First, there will likely be riots or coups.
We could also support anti-war nobles or political factions.
If necessary, we can also go for unlimited assassination and terrorism.
Or perhaps… the construction of a demon kingdom.
“If we have that many weapons, it would also be possible to support other factions, right?”
“That would depend on approval from the upper echelons. But why do you ask?”
“I just wanted to confirm. I was thinking of doing something you might like.”
“… Stop with the unnecessary flattery.”
Kalia, trying to act cold, had a slight blush on her face.
She’s such a cute girl.
But I was serious.
The creation of a demon kingdom is objectively advantageous in many ways.
‘They’ll take all the bad reputation that belongs to us.’
It would be the first demon kingdom to be established since the era of the Demon King.
Just that fact alone will cause many people to remember the ancient legends and fear.
There will be plenty of idiots coming out of the woodwork, shouting to stomp it out before it gets bigger.
What that means is that a significant portion of the resources used to oppose our organization will be diverted to the demon kingdom.
‘If necessary, we could coordinate with them.’
Not to mention, during the early stages of nation-building, both the demons and we will inevitably experience diplomatic breakdowns.
If we support their nation-building and establish a cooperative relationship, we can navigate this crisis relatively smoothly.
It also significantly reduces our security burdens.
“In many ways, it will be a mutual benefit.”
“Honestly, I can’t say there are no personal feelings involved.”
Of course, if I’m being honest, it’s an idea mixed with a bit of personal emotion.
About 70% gratitude, 30% sympathy and pity.
“I just don’t want to keep seeing someone who’s done so much for me suffer every day.”
Inside the academy or at the organization’s hideout, Kalia prefers casual clothing.
But whenever she goes outside, she always wears a large robe.
And she never takes it off until she returns.
The reason is simple.
She’s a demon.
The moment her large horns by her side are exposed, she would be caught by the military police and killed.
Even when she’s just going out to buy groceries or eat at a restaurant, she has to risk her life on the streets.
Every day, she has to survive under the constant threat of death, like a Jew in a concentration camp.
I found that disgusting.
I didn’t want to leave a dear colleague who always makes me food to keep suffering.
So, I’m going to create a place for her.
A country where she can live freely among her kind.
A place where she doesn’t have to hide her true identity.
“I hope she’ll be happy.”
Since I’ve put in this much effort, a kiss of gratitude would be nice.
*****
Meanwhile, while Ishmael was deep in thought, Kalia, who had quietly withdrawn, muttered,”…What a foolish person.”
She was complaining, though it wasn’t from the heart.