At this moment, Makima had long lost her former detachment and composure.
Her pupils trembled uncontrollably, even her body slightly shaking… it was a sign that the core belief that had sustained her existence until now was crumbling piece by piece.
She truly did not understand the creature called human, but she was never foolish… on the contrary, she possessed extremely high intelligence.
She knew that even if a Devil was consumed by the Chainsaw Man and its corresponding concept temporarily vanished, it would never be completely eradicated as time passed.
Everything she had done was merely a superficial remedy, ultimately futile.
Even from certain perspectives, her plan was inferior to the Infinite Tsukuyomi.
"Makima, have you ever heard a story?"
Makoto's voice carried a gentle, almost compassionate tone.
Makima slowly looked up, her gaze hollow as she stared at him.
"A long, long time ago, humans still walked barefoot."
"A king traveled to a remote countryside. The roads were covered with sharp stones that painfully pierced his feet, making them sore and numb."
"After returning to the palace, he issued a decree: cover all the roads in the country with cowhide, so that he and his people would no longer feel pain while walking."
"But even if they slaughtered every cow in the nation, there wouldn't be enough leather to pave the roads. It would also cost countless gold and require immense manpower. But everyone feared the king's control and dared not disobey."
"Then, a man boldly offered advice: 'Your Majesty, why go through the trouble of slaughtering so many cows and spending so much money? You only need two small pieces of cowhide to wrap around your own feet, and then you won't feel pain wherever you walk."
"The king suddenly understood. He immediately revoked the order and adopted the suggestion."
"It is said that this is the origin of leather shoes."
Makoto's gaze deepened as he looked at Makima. "Don't you feel your ttempt to eliminate the concept of control by changing the world is the same as the king in this story? Instead of painstakingly trying to change the world, why not try changing yourself."
Makima lowered her head. Her wine-red hair fell, covering her eyes and brows. She remained silent.
After a long while, Makima looked up again and slowly leaned closer to Makoto's face. Finally, their lips met once more.
Yu and the others quickly turned their faces away.
After a moment, Makima pulled back from Makoto, her expression still filled with confusion. "As expected, I still can't understand it... why humans feel pleasure from something like this..."
As she spoke, Makima's other hand reached into Makoto's collar, and with a 'Vromm', she actively pulled the ring.
In an instant, Makoto's right hand transformed into a buzzing chainsaw, its sharp, serrated blade glinting coldly in the setting sun.
"Next time we meet, could you let me experience it? Without control, without manipulation, eating together as equals, walking the dog together as equals, hugging together as equals... and let me feel that pleasure, that kind of thing again."
"Yeah."
…
The Tokyo Public Safety's headquarters had long since been reduced to a heap of rubble.
Makoto sat atop the highest broken wall. Yu, Beam, the Animal Brothers, and other subordinates stood respectfully below, their postures like servants awaiting their king's command.
"Senpai, I still don't quite understand."
Yu spoke first, his tone filled with confusion.
"Yeah?" Makoto turned his head to look at him.
"You just said that attacks against Makima would be automatically transferred to Japanese citizens in this world. So why was your attack just now able to..."
Makoto leaned against the cold stone wall and began to explain: "To be precise, not all attacks against her are transferred, only those she 'recognizes' as attacks. And just now, her faith had completely collapsed."
"At that moment, she herself had the thought of 'let it end like this'. So just now, she didn't recognize my chainsaw as harm, but rather as a form of release."
Teddy Devil suddenly understood and couldn't help but exclaim: "So that's it! I didn't expect there was a way to counter the Control Devil's invincible ability!"
Footsteps approached, chaotic but urgent.
Makoto and Yu simultaneously turned their heads. They saw Aki, Himeno, Kobeni, and a large number of colleagues from the Public Safety department rushing over. Denji was also among the crowd, his face full of excitement.
"Big Brother God!"
Denji's eyes lit up. He excitedly tried to pounce forward, but as soon as he took a step, Yu's right hand instantly transformed into a heavy machine gun, its cold muzzle aimed directly at his forehead.
"What do you think you're doing?!"
Denji froze in terror and fell flat on the ground.
"Ishigami-san, you..."
Aki looked at Yu in disbelief.
'Wasn't he dead?'
'Hadn't he been possessed by the Gun Devil, turned into a Gun Devil-man?'
'How could he be standing here completely unharmed?'
"Himeno, go notify the Metropolitan Police Department and the Cabinet. Have them send people to clean up the aftermath."
Makoto suddenly spoke, interrupting Aki's thoughts.
Himeno was taken aback for a moment, then quickly snapped back to attention and nodded. "Ye, yes! I'll go right away!"
"Hayakawa."
"Uh... yes!" Aki hurriedly shifted his attention away from Yu and turned to look at Makoto.
"Go find people from the TV stations. Tell them that the Tokyo Public Safety Department's battle against the Gun Devil is over. After great sacrifices, the Gun Devil has been successfully subjugated. The current strongest Devil Hunter, Nishikawa Makoto, has announced that the players scattered across various countries can return."
"Pla, players?"
Aki looked bewildered, frowning as he asked, "Nishikawa-san, what are 'players'?"
"Shut up! Senpai's orders just need to be executed unconditionally!" Yu scolded, displeased.
That sycophantic look of absolute loyalty to Makoto was undeniably Yu himself.
Despite having a stomach full of questions, Aki, seeing Ishigami Yu's expression, dared not say anything more. He could only obediently accept the order and quickly left to carry it out.
Subsequently, survivors led by Kobeni began methodically cleaning up the battlefield under Yu's command.
After the news broadcast, players who had been scattered around the world for 13 years began gathering in Tokyo.
Although many truths had not been disclosed to the public, the Public Safety Department's official announcement that the Gun Devil had been subjugated was undoubtedly an event that would cause the entire world to celebrate.
Cabinet representatives, led by Kishibe, the former strongest Devil Hunter, hurriedly arrived. Upon learning that not only the Gun Devil but also the Control Devil had been completely defeated by Makoto...
Even Kishibe, usually calm and composed, was stunned speechless.
The Cabinet representatives tried desperately to persuade Makoto to stay, hoping he would lead the Tokyo Public Safety Department in the future.
But Makoto firmly expressed his intention to resign and leave.
No matter how they tried to persuade him, they couldn't change his mind.
In the end, the Cabinet had no choice but to appoint Kishibe as the interim supreme commander of the Tokyo Public Safety Department.
Several days later, the turmoil had completely subsided.
Players from various countries had also gathered in Tokyo.
Unlike the gathering before Soe and others were killed, this time the Yukinoshita sisters and Shizuka also came, as they had seen the news reports immediately.
Upon learning that the Control Devil had been defeated, many players embraced and wept. Having lived in fear in this bizarre, messed-up world for thirteen years, they finally had hope of returning.
Players with good cooking skills, like the two Nakiri mother-daughter pairs, Mrs. Yukinoshita, Mrs. Yuigahama, rolled up their sleeves and headed into the kitchen to get busy. A grand celebration banquet commenced.
The fear, grievances, and longing that the players had suppressed for over a decade were finally released at this moment, transforming into laughter and joy.
In addition to the players, many others had also received invitations from Makoto to attend the banquet.
For example, Denji, Himeno, Aki, his younger brother, Hayakawa Taiyo, and all the acquaintances Makoto had made in this world.
Needless to say, Beam, Teddy Devil, and other loyal subordinates of Makoto had been waiting in the yard since early.
Looking at the yard filled with a variety of beautiful women, each with their own distinct charm, Aki and his group were stunned. Their eyes were full of surprise… they hadn't expected Makoto to know so many pretty girls.