Chapter 463. Blue Dreams, The Emperor's Dream
Ryuen did not agree with Horikita Manabu's assessment.
He believed that in a contest of strategy and wit between Hikigaya Hachiman and Ayanokouji Kiyotaka, the ratio should be four to six; the "Masterpiece" was still slightly more formidable.
However, in an actual fight, it would likely be a fifty-fifty split. This was because Hikigaya Hachiman's excellent insight as a "human observer"—those eyes that saw through the genuine and the fake—should allow him to see through Ayanokouji Kiyotaka completely.
Deeply understanding what kind of person Ayanokouji was would allow Hikigaya Hachiman to make specific targeted arrangements during their competition.
Moreover, when fighting against a "pure sham," Hikigaya Hachiman might just explode with 120% of his usual strength—not to mention the opponent wasn't just a sham, but a perverted fanboy obsessed with him.
That called for 150% output, otherwise, his "purity" might not survive the encounter.
In other words, Hikigaya Hachiman possessed a "special attack" bonus against Ayanokouji Kiyotaka.
"If he has an extra outburst, it won't be just fifty-fifty, right? But since Ayanokouji likes Hikigaya Hachiman so much, maybe he'll have an extra outburst of strength too..." Ryuen thought to himself as he continued watching the video, anticipating the Masterpiece's performance.
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「The title of Earth Emperor was thus established.」
「His subordinates saw only the results of his battles; no one knew what he did in private.」
「In reality, the villagers had been afflicted with a time-delayed lethal poison by the Second Princess Norn. Regardless of whether Ayanokouji Kiyotaka could protect them from the army, they were destined to die.」
「However, during Ayanokouji Kiyotaka's nighttime visits, he had already used his potions to detoxify every single villager.」
「Furthermore, the arena had originally been covered by a barrier, waiting for Ayanokouji Kiyotaka to walk into the trap so it could drain his strength and blood, leaving him a shriveled corpse.」
「The reason the General collapsed in terror without resisting wasn't entirely because the soldiers fell, but because he tried to activate the barrier only to find it had been dismantled at
some unknown time. Seeing his ultimate trump card fail so spectacularly was what finally drove the General to despair.
「"These two little tricks... hmmm, they're somewhat interesting. At least they're ruthless enough."」
「Ayanokouji Kiyotaka looked forward more and more to playing with that vicious Second Princess. He hoped she wouldn't disappoint him.」
「...The heart-gouged General was trampled and torn apart by Ayanokouji Kiyotaka's subordinates as a display of their unwavering loyalty. The remaining soldiers were stripped of their weapons and armor and dispatched to slave camps.」
「There, they not only performed the most backbreaking labor and had their dignity trampled into nothingness, but they couldn't even preserve their "purity"—there were quite a few perverted fanboys among the bandits.」
「Even so, with fear rooted in their souls, they didn't even dare to flee.」
「While smilingly accepting the title of Earth Emperor, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka processed the residents of the arena, assigning them various roles as ordinary subordinates in his base.」
「The residents hadn't expected to confusedly become rebels against the Kingdom, but looking at the smiling tiger that was Ayanokouji Kiyotaka, no one dared to say they didn't want to join.」
「Afterward, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka performed a fine tradition—one forged in Hell, inherited by Shounan (The First Man), and carried to its peak by the Bai Imperial Family—testing his "Strongman Rights" as the Earth Emperor.」
「That behavior gradually became Ayanokouji Kiyotaka's daily habit, which naturally included the mandatory segment: "I love you, Lord Hachiman."」
「After his enjoyment, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka stepped into the pitch-black dungeon.」
「"You idiots, you swine. I possess absolute, invincible power; I possess unpredictable, world-shaking wisdom; I am the one and only Earth Emperor of this world. My decisions are undeniably correct—yet you, you swine, had the nerve to offer 'advice'?"」
「He looked down on the world with utter disdain. Every word, every action, carried a surging, powerful, and overbearing charisma. "To distrust my absolute strength, to question my world-shaking wisdom, to dare think my decisions were flawed... what do you swine know?"」
「"It was this subordinate's fault! This subordinate was blind! This subordinate actually doubted the invincible Emperor! Waa-yah! Kill me! Emperor! A subordinate who harbored doubt toward you is not qualified to follow you!"」
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「Several of those fanatical believers, whose loyalty to Ayanokouji Kiyotaka had reached the limits of human devotion, bowed and kowtowed repeatedly in apology.」
「When they had been thrown into the dungeon after offering advice, they had only worried about Ayanokouji's safety and held zero resentment. Now, having witnessed the Earth Emperor's domineering display, they realized the magnitude of their error and wept bitter tears.」
「Ayanokouji Kiyotaka said indifferently: "What are you saying? Swine, I haven't ordered you to die yet, so how dare you decide to die on your own?"」
「They confessed their sins with sincere loyalty. "Waa-yah, I wouldn't dare! I wouldn't dare! I have no intention of overstepping! I absolutely wouldn't dare to die without permission! I just... I simply have no face left to serve the Emperor..."」
「"Die? Can your offense against me be repaid so easily? You think you can escape through death? You think it would be that simple?"」
「Ayanokouji Kiyotaka made them lift their heads. Then, he reached out and gouged out their eyes. Throughout the process, these five or six "loyalists among loyalists" didn't make a single sound of protest, allowing the pain to ravage them.」
「Because they believed that every action of the Emperor was the most correct thing in the world; whatever he did to them, the swine, was only right!」
「"You are exactly right; you were indeed blind. Since that is the case, you have no need for these eyes. But it is not that simple. Remain as blind men and work hard for me to atone for your sins!"」
「These loyalists never expected they could still be forgiven. They wailed loudly, tears and snot flowing, even losing control of their bodily functions as they were moved to tears and consumed by shame that transcended the limits of loyalty.」
「"Yes! This subordinate will spend a lifetime atoning for my sins! I will never let the Emperor down again!!"」
「This group of loyalists was released from the dungeon. Upon their release, they constantly brainwashed those around them, gradually convincing many others and strengthening their loyalty to Ayanokouji Kiyotaka.」
「And Ayanokouji Kiyotaka naturally wouldn't let them stay blind forever... He would simply find some occasion on some random day to praise these loyalists for doing a good job, declaring they deserved a reward.」
「He would then activate his Healing magic, restoring their eyes and bringing them back to the light.」
「This method won people's hearts even more, proving the omnipotence of the Earth Emperor. From then on, these loyalists became the "one above tens of thousands" under Ayanokouji, helping him manage his domain.」
「"Waa-yah! This subordinate will give everything for you, to fulfill the Emperor's dream of unifying the world! To fulfill it!!"」
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