"'Master Theon!　Lord Zion!

　My men were elated by my victory.

"Oh, no........Mizoguchi-san.......
"Kosaka-san........it only took a moment.......
So much for this...
Can you win...

　Humanity despairs at Mizoguchi's defeat.

　The stage is set.

　--Tell all members!　Launch a full attack!

"'Oooooohhhh!'

　The despairing humanity was enveloped in despair as their men launched an all-out attack.

　--The Dark Knight Tempest!

Go!　Go!　Go!　Go!

　I inspire my men with my own attacks.

'Ring!　Clang!　Strike the shield!

　In response to my voice, Iain and Hibiki's troops hammer their shields in unison. Humanity in a state of panic is absorbed by the sound of the beating shields like insects gathering in the light.

　--Saburou, mobilize your troops and take out Mizoguchi's friends!

Yes!　Team J, let's go!

　Discouraged and out of step, I can kill you now!

　Saburo's troops launched an assault on the high-ranking humans who were looking at Mizoguchi with concern.

　The hellscape of an a-hole.

　It is the scream of humanity that can be heard. Many human beings fall to the ground.

　One-on-one combat - two dueling one-on-one battles have brought more results than expected.


　◆


　An hour after their single combat victory.

　They had lost many of their subordinates as a result of their continued forceful attacks, but they had managed to defeat many more humans.

　They had succeeded in pushing the front line up to the remaining 100 meters to the gate in the wall that covered Nonoichi City City Hall.

　I wanted to destroy that gate today, but there were still too many enemies.

　I look at the gate in the wall covering Nonoichi City City Hall and begin to put the finishing touches on it.

　--《Governance》!

　I shut my eyes, held my right hand out to the ground and chanted.

　The ground shakes and shakes, and a black vortex about 30cm in diameter is generated at the end of my right hand that seems to swallow the space around it.

　The familiar text appears on the smartphone screen.

『Ruling has begun』.

I have declared you to be sovereign over any hostile force within your effective radius.

"You have 180 minutes to eliminate all hostile forces within your effective range.

Hostile force in range, we have confirmed hostile presence. Eliminate them immediately.

Do you want to show a map of the active area?　[YES] [NO]

　Messages flowed on my smartphone screen one after another.

　I tapped 【YES】.

　What was projected on my smartphone was--

　The whole number was sensibly 70,000.

　Meaning surrender -- the yellow dots made up 10% of the total number.

　It means neutral -- the white dots made up 20% of the total number.

　And the red dots -- which means hostility -- were 70% of the total.

　Even in this situation, nearly 70% of the population is hostile - how much do you hate me?

　I'm lightly giddy at the breakdown of emotions that I've learned about humanity in my reign.

　However, I don't intend to tell you this situation in a foolishly honest way, though.

　I took out my [loudspeaker].

''To the humanity of the Kanazawa Liberation Army!　Did you receive an alert for the reign?　Great!　I underestimated ... I underestimated the bond between you!　I didn't think that even in such a desperate situation, only 40% (...) of the total number of people who are brokenhearted - those who succumb to the Astor Empire - would be in such a desperate situation!''

　I am informing mankind of the consequences of a lie.

"I call upon mankind.　Doesn't your comrade beside you have a broken heart?　Are you able to support your broken-hearted comrades?　How does the 40% of humanity that was forced into the path by 60% of their friends who chose to die in arrogance feel about this battle?'

　I continue to speak, watching humanity's reaction.

''Truly, you Kanazawa Liberation Army are amazing!　The majority decided to act now - to resist us?　60 percent to 40 percent. It's a little disappointing that we haven't all been able to take on the challenge with a sense of unity... but those willing to rebel are in the majority!　Even under these circumstances, the majority!　Even if forty percent of your friends are heartbroken - even if they want to live, it's a minority opinion!'

　I make an exaggerated gesture of listening.

'Hmm?　Too many?　You're all in this situation and the majority of your people are....?　Not so many broken hearts?　Is that right?　This smartphone is indeed marked as 40% of humanity's heart broken!　Perhaps you guys have discovered a deeper level of psychology that you are not even aware of?　The technology of the godd*mn mastermind who created this world is amazing!

　Now, what happens when you assume that 40% ... about half of your friends' hearts are broken?

　I think we all feel united in our efforts to challenge us. In fact, 10 percent of us were brokenhearted.

　Sympathetic pressure. But humanity - especially the Japanese - has a strong tendency to be swayed by the opinion of the majority.

　I'm not the only one who thinks it's impossible. You're not the only one who doesn't want to die. 40% of you what if you believe that nearly half of your peers do?

　I look down at my smartphone screen again.

　It means surrender - the yellow dots had changed to 30% of the entire screen.

'Hm?　This is a strange phenomenon!　I thought I was applauding your efforts, but I'm afraid the number of broken hearts has risen.　The number of broken hearts has increased by more than half?　What's going on?　Have you learned that you are not the only one who wishes for life?　If we took a majority vote now, which way would it go?　Do you hear The Wise Woman of Kanazawa and The Saints of Kanazawa?　Half of your people want to live... and surrender to the realm of Astor?　Why don't we take a majority vote on this one?　Or do you want to send them to their deaths, like the brave man I just mentioned?''

　I give a shaking word.

'Hmm......... It would be easy for me to overrun you guys at this point, but being generous, I'll give you guys one last chance!　Forty-eight hours from now, we will not attack. All those who wish to live, disarm and come to my domain!　Finally, I understand that any attack on our retreating party will be an act of sacrificing the lives of tens of thousands of our comrades. So long, humanity!　I expect you to make wise decisions!'

　--All hands, retreat!

　I said the words of recommendation and retreated with my subordinates, who were at the peak of their fatigue, to the territory of control.