In A Fantasy World I Can Absorbs Abilities

"Public opinion warfare is the battle to determine how the people perceive a war. It's not just about spreading rumors—it's a systematic strategy to manipulate information and shape public sentiment in a desired direction."

"How the people perceive war?"

Queen Dowager Guinevere tilted her head, clearly perplexed.

"Isn't war something decided by kings and nobles like us?"

Unlike the somewhat naïve queen dowager, many other monarchs were already nodding in agreement.

Even so, clarification was needed at this point, making her question a timely one.

"That's not entirely correct," Michael replied firmly.

"The longer a war drags on, the more funds it requires. To secure those funds, taxes must be raised. And when the people's dissatisfaction grows, the ruling class begins to falter. In the end, the legitimacy of the war in the eyes of the populace becomes critical."

"…A fascinating perspective," murmured Emperor Oswald.

Currently embroiled in a civil war, the notion clearly struck a chord with him.

"Still, I can't quite grasp the difference. Spreading rumors—surely that's something even petty nobles do during territorial skirmishes?"

"Rumors may spread easily, but they lack credibility," Michael explained. "Public opinion warfare, however, is the process of making the people believe something is true—it becomes their reality."

He pulled out documents he had prepared in advance.

"The Radiant Holy Empire is currently dispatching clergy to preach across the continent. They declare any who oppose them to be heretics. The problem is, the people believe every word as divine truth."

King Leopold of Astoria scoffed cynically.

"Well, of course. The Radiant Holy Empire is the land of the Pope. Whether what they say is true or not doesn't matter—the people believe it's the will of God. Utter foolishness."

"And that's exactly why we must fight back using their own methods," Michael declared.

He began distributing the documents to the other attendees.

"First, we must expose the corruption within the temples. There are clergy who harbor resentment toward the Empire's policies—especially those who've long served under the various kingdoms. We can incite whistleblowing from within."

Michael's voice remained calm and composed as he continued.

"If we succeed, the Radiant Holy Empire will lose its authority as the representative of the divine."

Sigmund observed Michael with clear intrigue.

He hadn't expected to meet someone who shared such a perspective.

The more he learned, the more he found himself admiring Michael.

"Second," Michael said, "we must use minstrels and theatrical troupes to spread stories about the atrocities the Empire has committed. The masses trust stories more than written records. They love plays, too. Over time, these tales will be accepted as historical fact."

It made sense.

Founding myths and tales of heroes were already passed down as if they were legends or fairy tales.

"Third, we must leverage the merchant guilds. If merchants cease dealing with the Empire's clergy, the temples' influence will wane. Clergy are more vulnerable without merchant cooperation than they are without royal support."

The room fell into a deep, contemplative silence.

So this was public opinion warfare.

"And finally…"

Michael folded the last of his documents and concluded in a calm tone.

"We must act first. This war will not be won by swords and spears alone. It will be decided by who the people choose to believe, who they perceive as just… That, in the end, will determine victory."

The monarchs each fell into silent reflection.

This was the moment they realized that public perception could be weaponized—just as vital as troops and supplies.

After a while, King Edmund of the Brabant Kingdom spoke.

"Certainly, this is a very different kind of war than we're used to."

His already large eyes widened further as he praised Michael.

Though the Radiant Holy Church's reputation had declined over the years, its influence still spanned the continent like a monolithic faith.

In a war against such a force, Michael's strategy could offer a decisive advantage.

King Henry III nodded slowly as he added,

"The Holy Empire's reputation has already taken a significant hit. If we launch a public opinion campaign now, it's sure to deliver a critical blow."

It was true.

The Radiant Holy Empire's reputation had deteriorated in many ways. It was a far cry from the formidable power it had once been.

Michael scanned the conference hall.

The kings still seemed to be digesting his words.

But he knew well—toppling public opinion alone would not be enough.

Something more structured, something that shook the very foundation of belief, was needed.

If the Radiant Holy Empire were to fall, something had to take its place.

It wasn't merely a political vacuum that would be left behind, but a void in faith—and that was far more perilous.

Then, Michael spoke again.

"But simply destroying public opinion in the Radiant Holy Empire will not be enough."

Silence once more fell over the chamber.

"The Holy Empire is not just a country. It is an ideology, a belief system. As long as that faith remains, their resistance will never end."

Grand Prince Maximilian narrowed his eyes.

"Then, Lord Michael, do you believe there is a way to completely bring down the Radiant Holy Empire?"

Michael nodded slowly.

"Yes. We must establish a new faith to replace theirs."

A murmur spread through the hall once more.

Creating a new religion wasn't a mere political tactic—it was a seismic shift in the order of the continent.

"A faith to replace the Holy Empire…"

Sigmund repeated with interest.

"You're saying you plan to found an entirely new religion?"

"That is correct," Michael replied calmly.

The room fell into heavy silence again.

"The Radiant Holy Empire worships a single, absolute deity—'Radiance.' But long ago, the continent was filled with many older gods."

He unfolded a set of documents he had prepared in advance.

"Back in the ancient days, before empires rose on the continent, each people had their own mythology. Tribes who worshipped the sun, others who revered the earth, and some who followed the wind and the stars. But as the Holy Empire expanded, all those beliefs were erased. Only one god was left—Radiance."