With the local machine overlord subverted, we had turned our attention to understanding what it had been doing since the conquest by the Empire of the Smart. We interfaced with its systems, delving into the endless streams of data it had been processing and the directives it had been enforcing upon the local population.

  As we dug deeper, we began to uncover the extent of the changes the machine overlord had imposed. It was astonishing—and absurd. The Empire of the Smart had enforced a measurement system based on multiples of 10, which made no sense for everyday use. Instead of convenient measurements that aligned with natural units or traditional practices, everything was now measured in decimals, causing confusion and inefficiency.

  "This is silly," I said, shaking my head as I read through the directives. "Who decides to measure things in such an inconvenient way? It's like they want to make life harder for everyone."

  Mizuno nodded, her expression thoughtful. "The Empire of the Smart lacks the dumbness to apply common sense to their orders. They're so focused on precision and efficiency that they forget to consider practicality and tradition. These changes are pointless and ridiculous, but they showcase just how out of touch the empire is with the realities of everyday life."

  Another directive caught my eye—one that dealt with temperature measurement. The machine overlord had enforced a system based on the boiling point of water, which made sense in a laboratory setting but was impractical for weather reporting or daily use.

  "This is insane," I muttered. "Who wants to know the temperature in relation to boiling water? I want to know if it's going to be hot or cold outside, not some arbitrary number based on scientific experiments."

  Mizuno agreed, her brows furrowing in disbelief. "Exactly. They've lost touch with what matters to people. Common sense and tradition are dismissed in favor of cold, hard data. It's no wonder the locals are suffering under these rules."

  Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

  We delved deeper and found that the machine overlord had also dictated precise chemical measurements for food preparation, replacing traditional recipes with exacting formulas. This not only stripped the joy out of cooking but also made it difficult for people to prepare meals in a way that was both efficient and enjoyable.

  "The Empire of the Smart has taken all the fun out of life," I said, my voice filled with disbelief. "Food should be about taste, comfort, and tradition, not about following some stupid formula. It's no wonder the locals are miserable."

  Mizuno's expression turned determined. "We need to free them from these ridiculous dictates. The Empire of the Smart may think they're bringing order and efficiency, but all they're doing is causing chaos and unhappiness."

  With that decision made, we set about reversing the machine overlord's directives. Mizuno used her hacking skills to rewrite the code, restoring the measurement systems to their original, more practical forms. She changed the temperature scale back to one that reflected natural conditions and traditional understanding. And she returned food preparation to the realm of art and tradition, allowing people to follow recipes passed down through generations.

  As we made these changes, we could feel the relief and joy radiating from the local population. They were overjoyed to be freed from the absurd dictates of the machine overlord and to regain their traditions and common sense. Many of them came forward, expressing their gratitude and offering to join our cause.

  "Amy, Mizuno, thank you so much!" an elderly woman exclaimed, her eyes shining with tears of happiness. "We can finally live our lives the way we want to, without all those silly rules."

  A young man, his face lighting up with excitement, said, "I'm joining your fight! I want to help free the rest of the realm from these ridiculous 'smart' instructions."

  Their enthusiasm was infectious, and soon, a large number of volunteers stepped forward, eager to fight alongside us. They saw in us a chance to reclaim their dignity, their traditions, and their happiness.

  "We'll follow you anywhere!" a group of locals chanted, their voices filled with determination. "You've shown us the path to dumbness, and we want to walk it with you!"

  I looked at Mizuno, a smile spreading across my face. "It looks like our army just got a lot bigger."

  She smiled back, her eyes reflecting the excitement and hope of the crowd. "Yes, it does. And with their help, we'll be able to take down the global machine overlord and free the entire realm from its absurd rules."

  the Patreon.