Iroha felt like a pet rabbit lost inside a slaughterhouse. The smile on her face had completely frozen, and her sweet voice became dry from fear.
"Um... Senpais..." She tried using the remnants of her last professionalism to save the situation, but her voice trembled. "I-I've thought about it carefully. Becoming Student Council President seems too difficult for me... I might not be suitable, how about we just cancel it?"
She wanted to run. Right now. Every inch of air in this place radiated an aura of danger.
That ice beauty named Yukino was holding a wooden stick that was beginning to radiate cold glints. That innocent girl named Yui was watching her with a gaze as if seeing "experimental material."
And that madman in front of her, Darius, even more so made her feel physiological fear.
However, Darius only listened to her words calmly, then showed an expression as if having understood everything.
"I understand."
(What do you understand?!) Iroha's inner voice screamed.
"This is a test." Darius's tone was very confident. "You're using a retreating attitude to test our resolve. Good, a worthy king indeed needs to ensure the loyalty of knights under their protection before ascending the throne."
(No, that's not it! I really just want to flee!) Iroha's inner voice screamed, but her mouth couldn't produce a single word. Darius's gaze was too sincere, so sincere she began doubting whether her way of conveying was wrong.
"Darius-kun, I think what Isshiki-san means is..." Yukino tried to mediate. She felt if this continued, this unfortunate junior might faint on the spot.
"No need to speak further, D-Class Personnel." Darius raised his hand to stop her. "The queen's will I have fully understood. Now, begin compiling the operation plan."
He turned back to face the blackboard full of crazy words, then picked up a red marker.
"The core of elections is the struggle for definition rights. We don't need to make the majority like her, we only need to make the majority believe there's no other choice but her."
He drew a giant sound wave symbol on the blackboard.
"Scheme A: Mental Induction. Utilizing the school broadcast system to play infrasonic waves at certain frequencies during lunch break. These waves will bypass the human auditory system and directly work on the cerebral cortex, implanting the subconscious command 'Must vote for Isshiki Iroha'."
Yui's eyes sparkled: "Wow! Cool! Like a sci-fi movie!"
Iroha's face was already deathly pale.
The vein in Yukino's temple throbbed: "School broadcast equipment can't possibly emit infrasonic waves!"
"Equipment can be modified." Darius dismissed her doubt without looking back, then marked an X on that sound wave symbol. "But the risk is too high, easily detected by enemy forces (Physics teacher). Cancelled."
He then drew a skull.
"Scheme B: Physical Cleansing. Creating a series of 'accidents' that are reasonable and don't attract police attention for other candidates. For example, food poisoning making them unable to attend on election day, or accidentally slipping on stairs until breaking a leg and needing three months rest."
"This one is good!" Yui raised her hand enthusiastically. "My anti-matter cookies can be useful! Just one small piece, guaranteed they won't have energy even just to go to the toilet!"
Iroha's body began trembling uncontrollably. Enough, truly enough. Now she just wanted to turn herself into the police station, confess to attempting to manipulate the election; she'd rather be expelled from school than have to be with these people again.
"Stop!" Yukino finally exploded, she slammed the table and stood. "This is no longer just playing around, this is announcing a criminal plan! Darius-kun, I won't let you do this!"
Darius also marked an X on that skull drawing.
"I also feel this scheme lacks elegance. Violence is the method of barbarians, we must win with intelligence." He seemed to completely ignore Yukino's anger, instead actually agreeing with her opinion.
He pondered briefly, then in the center of the blackboard, right next to Iroha's name, he wrote two large words.
"God Creation."
He turned around, his gaze sweeping the three people present.
"We will no longer promote her as a 'candidate,' but shape her into a 'symbol,' a 'belief.' We will write legends for her, create miracles for her. We must make everyone at Sobu High believe that Isshiki Iroha's election is God's destiny, an inevitable historical choice."
He pulled out his phone and called a number.
"Hello, Heavy Infantry? This is Commander."
From the other end of the phone came Zaimokuza's voice trembling with enthusiasm: "General! Ready to receive orders!"
"Phase one of 'Puppet Queen Project,' namely 'Saint Legend,' begins now. I need you to mobilize all your online resources. Starting today, on school forums, social networks, and all corners we can reach, spread legends about 'The Queen'."
"Legends?"
"Correct. For example, she once saved a stray cat in the middle of a storm, and that cat had golden eyes. Or for example, she can predict the next day's weather with one hundred percent accuracy. Then, supposedly anyone who sees her smile, their next exam score will rise ten percent."
Darius's tone was calm, but the content was very sensational.
"Remember, the stories must be made very detailed until they seem real, insert many details that can't be verified. We will use an ocean of information to drown all rational voices. Go, let the internet become our preaching holy land."
After ending the call, Darius nodded with satisfaction. "Information warfare begins."
Iroha stood frozen in place. She felt her worldview was being forcibly dismantled and reshaped by an incomprehensible force. This was no longer an election. This was a heretical cult seeking followers. And she was the fake idol being pushed onto the altar.
Just then, Yui who was looking at the school forum on her phone suddenly shrieked in surprise.
"Ah! Look at this! There's a new candidate registering for the Student Council election!"
She directed her phone screen to everyone. On that screen, a face looking innocent and sweet was smiling toward the camera. The caption next to her photo read: Class 1-C, Iino Miko. Recommender: Student Council Vice President, Satou Tanaka.
Upon seeing that name, Yukino's brows immediately furrowed tightly. She not only knew this person, but she knew who stood behind her.
"...My older sister (Haruno) seems to be very supportive of her." Yukino's voice sounded somewhat heavy.
Darius approached, staring at that unfamiliar girl on the phone screen. In his eyes there wasn't the slightest surprise, instead a gleam of excitement radiated.
"A new variable has appeared." He whispered softly. "World correction force begins to resist. Good, this way it feels challenging."
He looked up, staring at Iroha who had nearly lost her soul, then gave an encouraging smile.
"It seems, on the road to your throne, the first challenger that needs to be sacrificed has appeared."