Chapter 253: Invasion of Nonoichi City ⑱

Name：Dungeon Battle Royale ~ Since I became a Demon King, I will aim for World Domination Author：
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Chapter 253 – Invasion of Nonoichi City 18

“””Shion-sama! Shion-sama!”””

My subordinates loudly celebrate my victory.

“N-No way...Mizoguchi-san has...”

“Someone as powerful as Kousaka-san...in an instant...”

“T-They are this powerful, huh...?”The source of this content nov(el)bi((n))

“C-Can we win this...?”

The humans despair over Mizoguchi’s loss.

The stage is set.

――All hands! Begin a general offensive!

“””Uuooooooohhh!”””

My subordinates launch their attacks against the crestfallen humans.

――《Dark Night Tempest》!

“Go, go, go, go!!” I spur my subordinates on while attacking myself as well. “Make noise! Come on! Clang your shields!”

Responding to my call, Iron and Hibiki’s corps clang their shields all at once. The humans, who have fallen into a state of panic, are drawn to those sounds like moths to the light.

――Saburou, take your unit and eliminate Mizoguchi’s party members.

“At your command! Team J, time to sortie!”

Now that they’re discouraged and off-balance, we can finish them off!

Saburou’s unit assaults the high-ranking humans who watched Mizoguchi’s battle full of worry. It immediately turns into a scene from Hell, the air filled with agonizing screams. All I can hear are the screams of humans, the many humans who fall to the ground.

We’ve harvested far more from the two duels than I anticipated.

◆

One hour after our victory in the duels.

As a result of us pushing the attack, we lost many subordinates, but at the same time we succeeded in killing a bigger number of humans. We’ve advanced the frontline up to a distance of 100 m from the gate leading into Nonoichi’s city hall. I wanted to destroy that gate by today, but there’s still lots of humans left.

After casting a look at the wall protecting the city hall, I begin with the finishing touches.

――《Reign》!

I close my eyes and chant in my mind while holding my right hand towards the ground. The ground trembles, and at the tip of my right hand forms a black vortex with a diameter of around 30 cm, as if swallowing the space around it. The usual array of messages streams down across the display on my smartphone.

『You have started 《Reign》』

『《Reign》 has been announced to the hostile entities within its effective range』

『Please remove all hostile entities in range within 180 minutes』

『Alert! Hostile forces confirmed within the effective range. Please eliminate them at once.』

『Display map of effective range? 【YES】 【NO】』

Messages stream down across my phone’s screen. I tap 【YES】.

What’s reflected on my smartphone is ― 70,000 people in total by a rough estimate. The yellow dots amount to 10 percent of the whole. 20% are neutral ― white dots. And the remaining 70% are red dots.

For close to 70% to still remain hostile under these circumstances...just how much do these people hate me? I feel a light dizziness assailing me due to the breakdown of hostility grades harbored by the humans.

Having said that, I’ve got no intention to act like an honest fool and pass on this information to the enemy. I take out my 【Megaphone】.

『To all humans of the Kanezawa Liberation Army! Did you hear the 《Reign》 alert!? It’s really amazing! I underestimated them...I truly underestimated the bonds between you! For sure I hadn’t expected that only 40% of your entire force would lose heart and desire to surrender to our Aster Empire, even after being cornered into such a hopeless situation!』 I lie to the humans.

『Let me ask you, humans! Has the heart of the comrade next to you already broken? Will you be able to support those of you who lost their will to fight? What kind of feelings are the 40% harboring about this battle as they’re being forced to participate by the 60% who willfully chose death?』

I continue my speech while observing the reactions of the humans.

『You folks of the Kanezawa Liberation Army are truly magnificent! Did you decide your current course of action ― to oppose me ― by majority vote? 60% vs. 40%. It’s somewhat disappointing that not all of you have banded together to challenge me as one, but...those willing to resist are the majority! The majority even under these circumstances! Even if 40% of your comrades wish to live, it’s just the opinion of a minority!』

“Mrs. Tamu――”

“My name is Masako Shion, got it?”

“...E-Excuse me. Thank you, Masako-san.”

Seeing Mrs. Tamura’s graceful smile, my body shivers.

“So, what is that you want from me?”

I ask for the details of their consultation, also in order to avoid the conversation shifting into a dangerous direction.

“A little while ago I was contacted by my friend. If I start with the conclusion of our talk ―― they want to surrender.

“Hmm?” I cock my head in puzzlement after Mr. Hasebe finishes.

If they want to surrender, they just need to do so. We’ll accept anyone except for 『Kanezawa’s Sage』, 『Kanezawa’s Saintess』.

“We are not talking about my friend alone here. He has approached me about the wish of the entire Kanezawa Liberation Army to surrender.”

――!?

I’m shocked by this unexpected statement.

“I don’t mind that, but...is all of the Kanezawa Liberation Army on board with this?”

Since I’ve launched a Reign earlier, I’m grasping the mental state of the Kanezawa Liberation Army better than anyone else. 30% have lost their will to fight, and even when including the neutrals, it’s just 50% who are unwilling to fight. Even if those numbers grew as an effect of my recommendation for surrender...there’s still a long way to go for it to reach 100%.

Above all, I can’t believe that their leaders 『Kanezawa’s Sage』, 『Kanezawa’s Saintess』 would accept a surrender.

“No, unfortunately the number of people openly vying for surrender is less than half of the total.” Mr. Hasebe shakes his head in disappointment.

“Isn’t it impossible then?”

“Yes, therefore I wanted to talk with you, Shion-sama.”

“About what?”

“If you could give us your permission, after three days...they will start an armed uprising when you resume your invasion.”

“Is that going to work out?”

“If you give us three days’ time without invading during that period...it will show our friends in the Kanezawa Liberation Army that you are going to accept their will to surrender, Shion-sama. We will gather those of the same mind in the meantime.”

“Are three days going to be enough?”

“Yes. Currently the internal state of the Kanezawa Liberation Army is in a mess. We will try to persuade the others quickly without wasting time.”

“How high are the chances for success?”

“I think the chances are high that we will manage. Many people within the Kanezawa Liberation Army have raised complaints about the way how the sage and saintess interacted with Mr. Mizoguchi.”

“I see...On another note, you mentioned an armed uprising, but what exactly are you planning?”

“After three days, we will throw the gate open upon your signal, Shion-sama.”

I analyze Mr. Hasebe’s proposal in my mind.

“I understand. But, are you fine with that?”

“What do you mean?”

“Your friends who are going to pull off the armed uprising...will need to betray mankind, you know?”

“If we can save even one life with that...we have resolved ourselves to get slandered for this.”

“It’s possible that it won’t stop at slander, isn’t it?”

“Rather than continuing the battle just like this...I believe this method promises us a higher probability of survival.”

“...Indeed. I’ll go along with your proposal. Please tell me if there’s anything I can help you with.”

“You have my gratitude for your kind offer.”

Mr. Hasebe and Mrs. Tamura deeply bow their heads, and leave the room.

An armed uprising, eh...? If Mr. Hasebe’s idea works out...Nonoichi’s city hall is likely going to fall after three days. A coup d’etat at the end of an internal collapse, huh...?

I chuckle all by myself in my room in light of this unforeseen, great opportunity.