Chapter 329. Hikigaya Hachiman's Showboating Broadcast
Afterward, Crusch, in short, felt more bitter the more she thought about it... Why was it that her confession was spoken aloud, while Anastasia's was intercepted, allowing her to escape a disaster?
This stark contrast, combined with the previous "snatching" incident, left Crusch unable to keep from suspecting that she might simply be ill-fated when it came to Anastasia.
But in terms of feeling cold, the few Crusch supporters in both worlds felt even colder than she did; their teeth were practically aching with frustration.
They almost suspected the entire world was conspiring against Crusch—the woman who, if she were the first to meet Hikigaya Hachiman, would undoubtedly have the best compatibility and an unbreakable bond, yet who now suffered setback after setback.
"If this keeps up, even the strength to support Crusch will..."
If they couldn't see a dawn of victory soon, they might have to jump ship to another faction! For instance... Anastasia?
As for Capella's open scheme and threats, few people actually cared. Just as Hikigaya Hachiman said, they now had Liliana. With everything ready, it was time to lure the enemy into a trap and fight a beautiful battle of reversal.
Against a mere Capella, Hikigaya Hachiman had nothing to fear.
Compared to Capella, who was already looked upon as a rotting corpse in a tomb or a fool offering his head for sale, Shirogane Miyuki, Kousaka Kyousuke, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka, and Roswaal were all more looking forward to Hikigaya Hachiman's counterattack.
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「Upon hearing Capella's announcement, everyone in the City Hall gathered in the broadcast room, including even the amnesiac Julius.」
「Even with his memories gone, he was still the Finest Knight. Though still confused, out of sheer disgust for Capella, Julius declared his intent to join the battle against the Witch Cult.」
「Garfiel and the others were filled with righteous indignation, suggesting that Hikigaya Hachiman use the broadcast to viciously insult Capella.」
「Priscilla sat leisurely to one side, playing with her fan and watching Hachiman with a playful glint, curious to see what kind of speech this fool would deliver.」
「Hummm—」
「The broadcast sound reappeared, causing the tens of thousands of citizens—already at their breaking point—to grow even more frantic. The shelters were on the verge of turning into living hells of panicked trampling.」
「In the next second, a man's voice, different from Capella's and completely unfamiliar, caused all those locked in dispute to involuntarily stop in confusion and listen blankly.」
「"—My name is Hikigaya Hachiman."」
「This abrupt self-introduction didn't just stun the tens of thousands of citizens. In the broadcast room, Crusch and the others were dumbfounded, shaken to their core.」
「At this moment, Hikigaya Hachiman's voice was deliberately crafted to be coarse, his tone extremely overbearing and domineering. He projected an aura of immense arrogance, as if he were a male version of Priscilla.」
「"The Chief Knight of Royal Candidate Emilia, Hikigaya Hachiman."」
「"The one who slew the legendary White Whale that ravaged the world for four hundred years; the one who captured Petelgeuse of the Witch Cult; the one who banished the Great Rabbit, one of the three Great Mabeasts. The world's new hero, the Lugunica Kingdom's new God of War—that is me, Hikigaya Hachiman."」
「Thud!」
「Heartily proclaiming his own achievements, Hikigaya Hachiman crossed his legs and slammed his foot onto the table. The sound caused by this action was transmitted via the broadcast to tens of thousands of people.」
「Though these people had never seen Hikigaya Hachiman, through the sound of this uninhibited gesture, they already felt he was unlike any typical knight. In an instant, they conjured the image of a defiant and incredibly brash General.」
「"The Water Gate City is going to sink? Tens of thousands of cowards are going to be killed? Ha—" This arrogant General sneered with contempt. "Whatever happens with that is fine. The lives of cowards have nothing to do with me. People who lose their wits to the mere Witch Cult are truly pathetic to look upon."」
「The citizens in the shelters glared with bloodshot eyes, cursing this heartless General with a roar that shook the heavens.」
「"BUT!"」
「The massive noise was suppressed in the next instant. The entire Water Gate City fell deathly silent. Everyone heard it clearly; the volume of this heartless General's voice suddenly surged, turning grim and filled with murderous intent.」
「"I have arrived. I am here. All you bastards, all you gutter rats, should be scurrying away in disgrace. Those who cannot even do that—those so-called Sin Archbishops who lack even a shred of self-awareness."」
「"You offend my majesty, provoke my patience, and spoil my mood."」
「"Sirius of Wrath, Batenkaitos of Gluttony, Regulus of Greed, and you—Capella, the idiot hiding in the dark gutter talking big."」
「"At the hall of the City Hall, I will throw your heads here to serve as the lowest form of decoration until they rot."」
「Naming all four Sin Archbishops in one breath, this General, whose intent to kill was decided, spoke with cold, merciless words filled with a confidence that bordered on narcissism.」
「...And yet, listening to this declaration of war so full of confidence, strangely, the tens of thousands in the shelters felt a sudden wave of relief.」
「A General so arrogant, so self-centered, who had already subjugated two of the three Great Demon Beasts and captured a Sin Archbishop... with such a record, such a resume, and such a temperament, could he possibly be an ignorant blowhard?」
「He already has it.」
「The certainty of defeating the Witch Cult and killing the Sin Archbishops—he already has it. How could a General this prideful be so boastful in the ears of the entire city if he didn't have absolute certainty?」
「If he were to lose, this General Hikigaya Hachiman would lose a lifetime of fame and a lifetime of honor. For a General of his temperament, that would surely be more terrifying than death.」
「Therefore... therefore...」
「"This is not for some Water Gate City, nor for you cowards who fall into madness so easily. My offended majesty—I shall reclaim it with my own hands. That is all."」
「"——You cowards who are so easily frightened, hmph. I even feel disgusted that I happen to be saving such hopeless weaklings—fools who, because of a mere Witch Cult, fall into such total disarray that they turn on fellow helpless cowards to mask their own fear."」
「"Saving cowards who only know how to fight amongst themselves is a stain on my eyes! Be grateful! Be glad! Be glad that among you, there still exist warriors of reason and courage who will fight the enemy, maintain order, and uphold morality."」
「"If it weren't for them, I would simply wait until you were all dead before cleaning up those bastards in the gutter—be glad to your hearts' content, cowards!"」
「The message arrived with wilful intent and left with arrogant pride.」
「The incredibly angry citizens, the citizens with pent-up frustration, the citizens filled with a sense of shame.」
「All of them... everyone... roared. They roared at that powerful, arrogant, defiant General Hikigaya Hachiman, declaring their own anger and dissatisfaction.」
「—And so, immediately following this, among the tens of thousands of citizens filled with shame, in every single shelter, not a single dispute or brawl broke out from that moment on.」
「The powder keg that was ready to explode, after being accelerated to ignition...」
「Everyone was now willing to become a warrior that the General, that Hikigaya Hachiman, would look upon with respect!」
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