Dungeon Battle Royale ~ Since I became a Demon King, I will aim for World Domination-Chapter 256 – Invasion of Nonoichi City ㉑

Chapter 256 – Invasion of Nonoichi City ㉑

One hour after I launched 《Reign》.

The clean-up of the enemy forces outside Nonoichi’s city hall has been completed. We also gained total control of the second floor within the city hall, making the third floor the last contested area.

Looking at my smartphone, it’s filled with yellow dots ― surrenderers. The number of red dots ― hostile forces ― has drastically fallen below a thousand. Sometimes we overcame the opponent with power, other times we used clever strategies, but at the very end it’s an internal fallout that wraps it all up, huh…?

Hasn’t the final act arrived awfully quickly? The powers within the Ishikawa prefecture I need to defeat for a complete unification have dwindled down to one more…

Demon King Kaoru…might require special means to be dealt with. As far as I can tell from what I’ve seen of his troops during the invasion of our sectors, their individual power is quite high.

The enemy main force very likely consists of baron-class subordinates ―― the same class as Izayoi among my subordinates, and insubordinated former Demon Kings. I couldn’t confirm any former humans like Rina or Kotetsu, but the chance for him to have some isn’t zero.

If you take the difference of armament into account, Takaharu, Kotetsu, and Rina would likely win in a one-on-one. However, what about Chloe and Layla? If they fought Kaoru’s main force, they’d most likely lose.

A battle against Demon Kings greatly differs in style and type of interpersonal combat. Unlike a battle against humans which depends on numbers and strategy to achieve victory, a battle against Demon Kings depends on the strength of the individuals and teamwork within a platoon-sized team to achieve victory.

The advantage of the defending side is really way too lopsided in a Domain invasion…

Contrary to the numbers limitation of the attacking side, the defending side can field as many troops as they want. This becomes an extremely big constraint. Invading while whittling down the enemy forces bit-by-bit and leveling at the same time is the best option, I think.

As I’m repeatedly simulating scenarios of the coming battles in my head as I’m bored from merely holding up my hand during a Reign…

“Shion, do you have a moment?”

…Rina, whom I’ve entrusted with the protection of the surrenderers, calls out to me.

“What’s wrong? Did some kind of problem occur?”

“I received a message from my Grandfather.”

“From Kotetsu? What’s the issue?”

“He’s merely asking whether you’re up to date on their situation.”

――?

If I’m asked whether I’m following what’s going on the battlefield, I must admit I haven’t done so. The war situation is already a lost cause for the humans, and troubles are unlikely as well.

“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.

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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.