Less dicks, but more like the characters in the story who know little, so just go rambo on killing (or holding at gun point) those who goes against them. I can understand Licorice wanting to free her parents and boyfriend, but yeah, they are still being arses for not asking the why.
Brainwashing or nuclear destruction by the hands of nobles who don't care about anything but their own safety.... as crazy as it sounds, in ways, the father should really brainwash the nobles who'd have an inkling of taking advantage of the new world citizens, but maybe not the ones who are the supposed "better nobles." Defending them from brainwash is the same as Yuu befriending people like Brant and Licorice in the sense of story.