The “Cruelty” mentioned here isn’t something like massacring innocent civilians. A good use of Machiavellism is something like thoroughly removing all of one’s political opponents. Just through one act of cruelty will stabilize one’s political power, and if a stable political power can be achieved, then the citizens would also become happy. Conversely, if he couldn’t pull off the policy well, then his political opponent would show their face and then, if he didn’t strike them down right from the start, then he would need to repeat enforcements against rebellions numerous times and lose the trust of his citizens.
To cite a concrete example, the Italian condotierro[6] Cesare Borgia, who Machiavelli extolled as an ideal ruler, built a firm position after killing the influential noble who invited him to a banquet.[7] Uesugi Kenshin’s[8] successor, Uesugi Kagekatsu[9], destroyed his younger brother-in-law, Uesugi Kagetora[10], in the succession struggle, but afterwards he lived as a loyal person and earned a reputation as a 『Honorable』 military commander.
Oda Nobunaga’s case is a little unique. He didn’t hesitate in using cruelty and used it cleverly, and it might could be said that his cruelty was well used since he suddenly catapulted himself into a strong daimyo in such a short span of time.[11] However, eventually the prolonged cruelty shortened his thread of life, as he was betrayed by his retainer and lost his life. So it couldn’t be helped to say that he had used cruelty poorly.
To sum it up, “cruelty” is a last resort sword[12] that could sever anything for the Ruler, but it is also a cursed sword that can possess him if used too much and sooner or later would bring destruction onto him.
「It is just like what you said earlier. Your plan will decide this cruelty.」(Souma)
「Yes. And then I will precede with your words 『If possible, finish it in one blow』.」(Hakuya)
「Can you do it?」(Souma)
「Certainly.」(Hakuya)
「Then that’s good.」(Souma)
Although it might be said that “it was for this country”, I didn’t have any great attachments to this country.
It also wasn’t for justice or a great cause.
But when I thought “what I do this for?”, Liecia and the others’ faces appeared in my mind.
The face of Liecia, Aisha, and Juna-san who laughed and cried for this country.
……Yes. This is enough for me.
If it was for the sake of the smiles of Liecia and the others whom I cared, then I will become a cruel king for just this once.
「The “conquest” will now begin.」 (Souma)
◇ ◇ ◇
In the future, this war was known as 『Five Days War』, then some years later, a reporter interviewed Souma about this. He made a wry smile before he began to narrate.
『It is the truth that I and Hakuya were the scriptwriters for that war. However, before I noticed it, it was Hakuya and I who were manipulated to dance on the stage…… Ah, that’s right. That war’s scriptwriters were not only us. That’s true…… I think at least there were about three others? Now that you mentioned it, I think the war reached such an ending due to such a superbly unusual concurrence that happened.』(Souma)
At the end of that interview, Souma grumbled in a low voice.
『In the end, I wonder who was the best scriptwriter……』(Souma)