Chapter 255: Invasion of Nonoichi City ⑳

Chapter 255 – Invasion of Nonoichi City 20

On the appointed day for Mr. Hasabe’s suggestion to bear fruit, I had my subordinates surround Nonoichi’s city hall.

“You think they’re going to keep their promise?”

“Who knows? Though, according to Masako-sensei, he seems to be someone who can be trusted.”

“Even if we can trust Mr. Hasabe, it’s a completely different story when it comes to the credibility of the people trusted by Mr. Hasabe.”

“You’ve got a point. People do break their promises easily after all.” As someone distrusting humans a lot more than I do, Kanon agrees with a deep nod.

“Oh well, I suppose we should get ready for the gains we’ll achieve if it succeeds.”

“Okaaay.”

――All hands, let me do the final checks for the upcoming operation!

――Rina corps, shelter the humans who surrender to us while hosting your red flags!

“As you command!”

――Hibiki corps, Iron corps, deal with the humans pursuing them!

“Of course, Master!”

{Affirmative}

――Chloe corps, Layla corps, clean up the humans in front of the gate while protecting me!

“I shall do so even in exchange for my life!”

“I won’t let those worms touch a single strand of your hair, Shion-sama!”

――All remaining corps are to storm Nonoichi’s city hall! We’re going to settle this today!

“””Yeaaahh!”””

With Takaharu and Red’s corps as core, the remaining subordinates raise warcries that make the earth tremble.

――Let me inform you of some points of note: You’re forbidden to attack anyone who has no will to fight! Tell those who have lost their fighting spirit to sit down on the ground...and consider every other human as hostile!

“””Yeaaahh!”””

――Lastly, in case the proposed surrender proves to be false, we will overrun all humans! Teach the humans our true nature as 【Chaos】!

“””Uuoooooohhh!!”””

――The operation starts from now on!

『Mine name is Shion of the Aster Empire! In accordance with our pact, I have come to free our comrades and capture the foolish leaders Andou Hideya and Kayama Saori! Comrades! It’s time for you to make your stand! Regain your freedom together with me!』

Using my Megaphone, I urge the conspirators lurking within the city hall to start the armed uprising.

Now then, I wonder how things are going to turn out? Are the humans going to answer my call?

While embracing complex feelings of anticipation and anxiety, I look at the gate of the wall protecting the city hall.

5 seconds...10 seconds...30 seconds...1 minute...

For a minute to feel so long...if I hadn’t checked the time, I might have ordered a general attack against the humans out of disappointment.

...3 minutes later.

“...Kanon, is this a dud?”

“Hmm...let’s wait a bit...ah!”

Just when I impatiently ask Kanon――

The gate, which has been firmly locked, is thrown open, and countless humans are rushing out.

Which side is it?

Is their objective to intercept us...or to surrender...?

The human leading the charge is...carrying a weapon! So it failed, huh?

“All hands, begin the――”

Just as I’m about to give the signal for a full attack――

I see a human behind the first furiously waving a white flag, shouting something at the weaponholder.

“Y-You people...what’s the idea here!?”

“We’re abiding Hasabe-sensei’s call to surrender to the Aster Empire!”

“We can’t leave our lives in the hands of those brats!”

“W-Wait! Are you sane!? The enemy is our nemesis ―― Demon King Shion!”

“With this I’ve passed on my Grandfather’s message.” Only saying this much, Rina returns to her former position.

I decided to check Kotetsu’s situation on my smartphone. I confirm the circumstances around him through his eyes.

My subordinates are surrounding more than a hundred humans who have been driven close to a wall.

――Kotetsu, I’ve grasped the situation. What’s up?

“Shion-sama, can you hear me?” Kotetsu talks to me as if holding a monologue.

――I hear you.

“How about their words?”

Kotetsu’s eyes are directed at ―― 『Kanezawa’s Sage』 and 『Kanezawa’s Saintess』.

“P-Please...spare them...I-I don’t matter. Please just spare the lives of my comrades.”

“Please! Save us! It’s not like we fought because we wanted to fight!”

I can see the two frantically pleading for their lives.

I see. Operating my smartphone, I switch to the 《Reign》 display. They’re yellow, huh...? Despite having boasted their will to fight so assertively, both have now completely submitted. On the other hand, I can see several red dots among the humans with 『Kanezawa’s Sage』 and 『Kanezawa’s Saintess』.

Kotetsu is asking me how to proceed with 『Kanezawa’s Sage』 and 『Kanezawa’s Saintess』. If I leave them alone, they’ll become my subordinates. The arrival of a long-awaited healer and buffer. They’d be valuable assets for the Aster Empire which will soon head into a war against Kaoru.

But――they abandoned Rina. I could tie them down with orders if they become my subordinates, so I wouldn’t need to worry about them betraying us. I could limit their freedom through orders as well...however, if you turn it around, I’d need to always watch their words and deeds, always restricting everything they do with orders.

According to what I’ve heard from Rina, 『Kanezawa’s Sage』 still has some hope left. But, 『Kanezawa’s Saintess』 is a lost case. Going by Rina, she’s rotten to the core. She’d be a problem child on a completely different scale when compared to Takaharu, Sarah, Saburou, or Hibiki...no, she’d have the potential to become a calamity for me.

What would Rina tell me if I asked her? Very likely she’d leave the decision to me. Can I domesticate 『Kanezawa’s Saintess』 ?

Nope... I’m already troubled by her existence this much at this point in time. Those troubles would likely only keep growing if I turned her into my subordinate.

What is 『Kanezawa’s Sage』 going to think if I liquidate 『Kanezawa’s Saintess』? Is he going to pledge his allegiance to me? To me who slew his friend in cold blood...

In the first place, are the words of 『Kanezawa’s Sage』 to only save his friends actually his true feelings? If he had such a strong backbone, he wouldn’t have pushed Mizoguchi to his death, I’m sure. In other words, it’s an act.

And even without all that, I’ve announced to the Kanezawa Liberation Army that I wouldn’t acknowledge the surrender of 『Kanezawa’s Sage』 and 『Kanezawa’s Saintess』. Hence, I’ve got to keep my promises as a leader. Neither of them is personnel I’d desire to the extent of hurting my own credibility.

――Kill 『Kanezawa’s Sage』 and 『Kanezawa’s Saintess』.

“Are you certain?” Kotetsu confirms my order.

――I have declared that I wouldn’t allow those two to surrender.

“As you command.”

――Wait.

I stop Kotetsu who’s drawn his katana.

――Slay them after passing on my words.

“Roger.”

I take out the 【Megaphone】.

“A message to 『Kanezawa’s Sage』 Andou Hideya and 『Kanezawa’s Saintess』 Kayama Saori: I shall grant your final wish!”

“R-Really...?”

“T-That’s great to hear...”

The two are relieved after hearing my words.

“Just as you desire――I shall acknowledge the surrender of the remaining humans in exchange for your lives!”

“Eh!? T-That’s wrong!!”

“I-I haven’t said anything like that!”

Hearing my declaration, their expressions change from relief to despair.

“Kotetsu, Takaharu, kill the two!”

“P-Please wait! I can be of us――”

“Wait! Only I shou――”

“Affirmative!”

“Sure thing.”

『Kanezawa’s Sage』 and 『Kanezawa’s Saintess』 are killed while pleading for their lives in despair.

“A message to the Kanezawa Liberation Army: Discard your weapons and surrender within 10 seconds! A message to all my subordinates: Kill all armed humans after 10 seconds have passed! 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1...do it.”

Alongside the end of the countdown, tolling their death, the last remaining red dots vanish all at once.

Three hours after launching 《Reign》 all humans have disappeared from the soil of Ishikawa prefecture.

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