by Dojyomaru
In the expression of Julius who had broken the bonds of his past and was now looking to the future, I felt like I was seeing the proof that he had grown as a person.
“I don’t want to fight you as you are now, Julius,” I said. “I’ll bet you’d make a far more fearsome enemy than before.”
“I could say the same of you. If I tried to tussle with your country now, I’d have to take on both you and Roroa. That could only be a hassle.”
“If we find ourselves at odds again, I’d like to settle it peacefully next time. How about a drinking contest?”
“I’m sick of alcohol. In a test of arms...there would be too much of a gap. How about a race?”
“Can I use Naden?”
“That’s not fair, and you know it.”
While we were verbally sparing, I noticed Roroa, who was next to me, seemed a bit fidgety. It seemed like she had been able to fit in with Julius and Princess Tia during yesterday’s banquet, but she was still a bit stiff around them when everyone was sober.
Taking her feelings into consideration, I put my hand on her lower back and pushed Roroa forward.
“Eek?!”
“Go on, you say your goodbyes too, Roroa.”
“Y-Yeah...”
Having stepped forward a little awkwardly, Roroa turned to Julius and Tia then saluted.
No, why did she salute there? Was she that tense?
“Well, I’ll be headin’ back now,” Roroa said. “You take care, Big Brother, Big Sis.”
“O-Okay! You take care too, Roroa!”
Whether she was dragged along by Roroa doing it, or it just came naturally, Princess Tia saluted too.
It was a strange scene with two adorable princesses saluting each other.
Julius and I watched over the two of them, wry smiles on both of our faces.
◇ ◇ ◇
It was the same day, at the same time, in the central city of the Duchy of Chima, Wedan.
In this region with many small to medium-sized nations, this city was home to the castle that housed the Duke of Chima, a nation who had used diplomacy to join influential factions and protect their house. It was as solidly built as you would expect. It bordered on mountains to the south, and a river that was connected to the Dabicon to the north.
The historical dukes of Chima would dig in here when attacked by hostile forces, and while repelling enemies in a siege battle, they awaited allied support to overcome the difficult situation.
Because this city backed onto the mountains, the castle of Duke Chima, Wedan Castle, was halfway up a mountain, in a position where it could look down on the city and what lay outside the city walls.
In Friedonian terms, the castle of former General of the Army, Castor, Red Dragon Castle, was the closest comparison in terms of layout.
There was a single child up on the walls of Castle Wedan.
That child, who looked to be about ten years old, sat on the edge of the wall, a piece of charcoal racing across a piece paper on a wooden board. Where the kid was looking now, on the other side of the wall, the armies of the Union of Eastern Nations were fighting with the monsters.
There were so many monsters they seemed to blot out the earth. However, Duke Chima’s unusual diplomacy had gathered many reinforcements, and they had somehow lasted through the enemy’s offensive.
There were many sounds coming from the battlefield. There was the sound of metal striking metal, the sound of magic exploding, the sound of monsters roaring, the soldier’s battle cries. Those sounds were all reaching this castle.
In the middle of those sounds, the kid silently kept dragging charcoal across the paper.
“You’re drawing again, Ichiha?” Turning to the sudden voice, there was a beautiful girl of about twenty years of age with black hair going down to her waist standing there.
The woman wore an outfit that was like a hakama, and she gave off an impression like a traditional Japanese beauty, but she wore leather armor over that outfit and carried a longsword over her back.
When the kid saw her, he narrowed his eyes. “Mutsumi?”
The beautiful, strong woman was Mutsumi Chima, the eldest daughter of the current Duke of Chima, and the kid was the youngest of her five brothers, Ichiha Chima.
Ichiha cocked his head to the side. “You didn’t go to the battlefield today?”
“Yeah,” she said. “Father insisted I not let the lords see what a tomboy I am. I’m staying home today, since I have no other choice.”
Seeing how dissatisfied Mutsumi looked, Ichiha giggled. “I can’t blame him. The lords out there are fighting because they want you to come be their wife.”
The Duke of Chima had sent a notice saying, “For countries which send us reinforcements, in response to your performance, I will give each of you one of my six children, other than my eldest son, who is my heir, to serve as your retainer,” to every country in the Union of Eastern Nations.
This was a strategy the old and wise Duke Chima was using to save his own country, also positioning his sons and daughters into powerful factions that could be effective on the battlefield.
He said he’d offer them as retainers, but the boys and girls of House Chima were well-known to be beautiful. If they would accept, a marriage could be arranged for them to go to any country as a bride or groom. If that happened, Duke Chima would become a relative of many influential powers, so it would be all he could ask for.
Of all the Chima brothers and sisters, Mutsumi was the most popular.
With her excellent ingenuity and martial ability, the lords were fighting to distinguish themselves on the battlefield in order to make her their wife, or their son’s.
While watching the battlefield, Ichiha asked Mutsumi, “I’m sure that whoever is fighting the best out there is going to say they want you to be their bride. How do you feel about that?”
Mutsumi’s answer was very simple. “It doesn’t matter to me. I like people with power after all. I’m fine if it’s someone who is personally strong. Or someone who can upend the battlefield with their ingenuity. Someone who can command a lot of soldiers would be fine too. Whoever they are, I want to watch someone whose name can make the world tremble from the closest spot to them. If I could marry someone like that, that would be the best.” Her words became tinged with glee.
Sensing the words came from her heart, Ichiha smiled wryly. “Is that how it works...?”
Mutsumi mussed her little brother’s hair. “You’ve become a good man too. Instead of just staying here drawing pictures, why don’t you work out?”
“Don’t ask for the impossible. My body is weak.”
Ichiha had been born with a body that was not naturally strong.
He often grew sick at the change of seasons, when temperatures changed most, and would be confined to his bed. Because of that, he didn’t practice martial arts like his elder brothers, instead staying cooped up in his room reading, drawing pictures as a hobby, and becoming more and more introverted.
He said, “Besides, the world has forgotten I exist.”
She was silent.
It was said that the House of Chima had seven highly capable brothers and sisters.
Hashim (Age 25) — Eldest Son: An excellent politician.
Nata (Age 22) — Second Son: Muscular man who wielded a giant ax.
Mutsumi (Age 20) — Eldest Daughter: Really beautiful, with excellent martial abilities and ingenuity.
Gauche (Age 18) — Third Son: The best archer in the world.
Yomi (Age 17) — Second Daughter: Elder twin sister, excellent mage.
Sami (Age 17) — Third Daughter: Younger twin sister, also an excellent mage.
Nike (Age 16) — Fourth Son: Beautiful boy. His spear moved faster than the eye can follow.
This was how the seven of them were known, but Ichiha Chima, the fifth son who had just turned ten this year, was not included among the capable brothers and sisters.
He had the same regular features as his older brothe
rs, but he was still a kid, the scrawny, sickly introvert who was always drawing pictures, so he was not known throughout the world.
Naturally, he was not included as one of the rewards offered by Duke Chima.
Mutsumi was at a momentary loss for what to say, but she forced a cheerful smile, and slapped Ichiha on the back.
That sudden hit made Ichiha’s head arch backward. “Wh-What would you do if I fell?!”
“I didn’t hit you that hard. You were feeling down, so I did that to put some spirit in you.”
“Urgh...”
Then Mutsumi hugged Ichiha from behind, whispering in his ear, “You don’t need to worry. I’m sure you’ll be a great person one day.”
“...On what basis?”
“A woman’s intuition. I feel like, out of all us brothers and sisters, you’re the only one who’s seeing something else. That goes for what you’re drawing now, too. I think you probably have something the rest of us would never think of.”
“Something...? I don’t think I have anything.”
Ichiha was sulking, but Mutsumi smiled at him. “Well, of course you don’t. The hardest thing to see is yourself. So... Ichiha, get more involved with other people. I’m sure it will be one of them who realizes your true value.”
Ichiha still looked sulky, but he took Mutsumi’s words about involving himself with others to heart.
Afterword
Thank you for buying volume 8 of Realist Hero. This is Dojyomaru, who is relieved to be writing the afterword in the place an afterword belongs.
This volume mainly focused on the battles in the Kingdom of Lastania, which makes up the first half of the Union of Eastern Nations Arc.
It’s also where their former enemy, Julius, makes his reappearance. He’s grown a lot as a person after getting seriously beaten by Souma, Hakuya, and Roroa.
This is probably a matter of taste, but I’m not fond of having the same character show up as a weak villain over and over. Personally, when a person suffers a defeat, or makes a major mistake, I want them to use that to really grow up. As humans, we have a lot to learn from our mistakes after all. I know I’ve made my share of them...
That’s why the story is structured to allow Hal, Castor, Ruby, and Julius, the members of the cast who’ve messed up, to grow a lot.
I’d like for them to become characters people love.
I am often asked, “Does Souma consider the battle in the Union of Eastern Nations a war?” The answer is no. It’s purely the removal of dangerous beasts, so it doesn’t count as a war.
Now then, I give my thanks to the illustrator Fuyuyuki, to Satoshi Ueda for the manga adaptation, to my editor, the designers, the proofreaders, and everyone who now holds this book in their hands.
This has been Dojyomaru.
Bonus Short Stories
Liscia and Cookies
Mix, mix, mix...
Liscia was mixing a bowlful of batter with a spatula.
This was the kitchen of the former king and queen’s home. Liscia was pregnant with Souma’s child, so she’d chosen her father Albert’s old domain as a place to rest. While she was resting there, in order to become a better mother to the children that were on the way, Liscia was learning to cook from her mother Elisha.
At the moment, she was applying what she had learned to make cookies on her own.
“Liscia?!” Carla cried out in surprise when she came in and saw her. “Wh-What do you think you’re doing?! Cooking alone!”
“Practicing, that’s what. I need to be able to cook alone, don’t I?”
“Don’t give me that!” Carla strode over to Liscia and pointed at her belly. “Look at that belly! What if something happened?!”
Liscia was six months pregnant, and her belly had grown to the point that it was readily apparent she was with child. Having Liscia, who was bother her master and friend, standing alone in the kitchen with a belly like that, Carla was clearly beside herself with worry.
“If you had a fall when no one was around to see...” Carla began.
“Geez... No need to be so dramatic, Carla.” Liscia put a hand on her hip with a wry smile. “Doctor Hilde was saying that if I kept moving around up until the birth it would make it easier on me. This much exercise shouldn’t be any problem.”
“The problem is that you’re doing it where no one can see you! Keep someone with you at all times, in case the unthinkable should happen! I mean, you can just call me!”
“...Sorry, Carla.” Seeing the tears in Carla’s eyes as she pleaded with her, Liscia gave her a heartfelt apology. Carla was getting angry for her sake. Given how often she had scolded Souma out of concern for his well-being, Liscia could relate. “I’ll reflect on what you said, but... there’s a reason I didn’t want to call you.”
“Why?!”
“Come on, Carla, we both know you’re improving faster than I am.” Liscia puffed up her cheeks and started mixing the batter again. “We started learning from Mother at the same time, but you’re better than me. You’ve always been just as much of a tomboy as me, so it feels kind of unfair.”
“I-I’m not sure what to tell you...” Carla faltered.
Carla’s duties here were to look after and protect Liscia. That said, her duties as a maid were already being done by the servants here, and Souma had the Black Cats keeping a thorough watch on the area around the mansion, so there was no need to be on constant guard. Basically, all that was left for Carla to do was to give Liscia someone to talk to.
When she heard Elisha would be teaching Liscia to cook, Carla had decided to learn, too, for lack of anything better to do. It was a skill it wouldn’t hurt to have, she figured. But once she tried it, it turned out Carla had a surprising knack for this sort of housework, and she improved rapidly. To the point Liscia that was jealous.
“Hey, they say cooking is all about love, right?” Carla said, trying to mollify her friend in a hurry. “I’m sure that since you have a husband you love, and kids on the way, you’ll get better than someone with no partner like me.”
“...By that logic, shouldn’t I be getting better faster than you?”
“Ah! Er...”
While Carla was trying to figure out how to respond, Liscia let out a sigh.
“Whatever. We know I have no sense for housework. But I’ll work hard so that, someday, I can bake delicious treats for Souma and the kids!”
Watching her friend work herself up, Carla scratched her cheek. “That’s a fine thing to aspire to, but why limit yourself to sweets?”
“Well, Souma’s good at all kinds of cooking. I want to be able to beat him at one thing, at least.”
“You’ve set a kind of low bar for yourself... Hold on, Liscia.”
“What?”
“Haven’t you mixed the batter too much? Elisha was saying if you mix it too much, it’ll be hard when cooked...”
“Ah!” Liscia looked down at her bowl of batter. She’d been mixing it the whole time they’d been talking.
She tried cooking the batter anyway to see how it was, but...
“They’re so hard...” she mourned.
“And overly sweet, too,” Carla said.
It seemed she had put in too much sugar, so the cookies had come out both hard and excessively sweet. Liscia rested her elbows on the table with her face on top of her hands. “How am I so bad at this...?”
“W-Well, if you dunk them in tea until they’re soggy, they’re edible, at least.”
“That’s not how you eat cookies.”
Still, it would be a waste not to eat what she had made, so they slowly ate them little by little using the suggested method. It was an odd tea time.
“By the way, Carla, didn’t you come because you had some business with me?” Liscia asked.
“Oh! That’s right. We received word from the castle that the master will be coming tomorrow.”
“Souma will?” Liscia perked up. She hadn’t been able to see Souma in an awfully long time.
Liscia
had come here soon after Souma left for the republic, and since his return, she heard he had been spending his time buried in work. That was why she was pleased to be able to see him. Still, the timing of it made her feel uneasy.
“I’m happy to see him, but...”
“Huh? Why do you look so unhappy?” Carla asked.
“I know how busy Souma is. If he’s coming so suddenly, he must have something important to tell me.” Liscia bit into one of the hard cookies, then looked at it. “Does he need to go abroad again? Is he pushing himself too hard again? Honestly, I wish he wouldn’t worry me so much.”
“Liscia...”
“If he worries me again, I’m going to make him eat these failed cookies.”
Liscia giggled to herself, imagining the look on Souma’s face was he tasted her botched batch of cookies.
Roroa and Tia’s Girls’ Talk
Around the time when Souma, Julius and the rest were executing their plan to liberate Lasta, Roroa was in Tia’s room in the castle, the two of them waiting for the men’s return.
This time it wasn’t a siege battle, but a sally to exterminate the lizardmen in the area around Lasta. It was therefore expected that the lizardmen and chimera monsters wouldn’t come over the walls, but the non-combatants were holed up in the castle for safety’s sake.
Perhaps Tia, who was sitting beside Roroa, was feeling uneasy, because her hands were clasped in front of her chest as if she were praying.
She must be thinkin’ about my brother, Roroa thought as she looked over.
The two of them were alone in this room. Roroa found it suffocating to share a room with someone who spent the whole time looking so pathetic.
Roroa was concerned for Souma, too, of course, but acting glum here wasn’t going to change the outcome, now was it? Even if she wasn’t confident, a cheery smile would bring in good luck and customers. That was Roroa’s view as a hardy merchant.
That was why Roroa, the older little sister (to be), didn’t want Tia looking like that.