How a Realist Hero Rebuilt the Kingdom: Volume 3

by Dojyomaru

  “What method?” I asked.

  “Well, if you were a lecherous king, I thought if I had my gorgeous sister welcome you and ask really nicely, you might accept our requests quite easily.”

  “What were you planning to make the Saint of the Empire do?!” I yelped.

  “It seems my sister is not overly fond of that ‘saint’ title, but... maybe men find her being a ‘saint’ quite appealing?” she asked.

  “Well... I can sort of see that,” I said. “The Saint of the Empire, Maria”... The words themselves had an incredible impact. For one thing, if a woman is being called a saint, it makes you want to see her. It raises the expectation that she’s beautiful and noble.

  ...Wait, I had that title of “hero,” too, now that I thought about it. Even though I’d been summoned as a hero from another world, I hadn’t done anything particularly heroic, so I’d totally forgotten.

  “Titles, hm?” Juna asked. “Do you think they find ‘lorelei’ appealing, too?”

  “Why are you getting in on this, Juna?!” I cried.

  “Oh, no... I just wondered...”

  Jeanne giggled. “Hee hee! You’re more fun than I thought you’d be.”

  Jeanne was watching us banter with a smile.

  “We’re not doing it because we want to amuse you, though,” I said.

  “No, no, the closeness between you and your vassals is a mark of the stability in your country, I’m sure,” she said. “We couldn’t get away with that back home.”

  “...It’s different in the Empire?” I asked.

  “Our territory is needlessly large, and the empress’s power is great,” said Jeanne. “They call her a saint and half-worship her, so everyone is very reserved around her. About the only people she has that she can talk with casually are our family. On top of that, my sister takes being an empress entirely too seriously, so she tries to treat everyone equally, which leaves her in a position where she can’t open up to anyone.”

  Jeanne shrugged her shoulders and looked at the crowd in the plaza.

  “It was the same with this. Even though there’s no benefit to us in helping Amidonia after they ignored the Mankind Declaration...”

  “For the younger sister of Madam Maria, with all the ideals she tries to uphold, you take an awfully realistic perspective,” I said.

  “If the elder sister is a dreamer, the younger needs to be firmly grounded,” Jeanne said with a wry smile.

  Hm... It felt like Jeanne was closer to my way of thinking than Maria. Instead of embracing lofty ideals, she was the sort who could come up with pragmatic solutions.

  When you hold up ideals, people gather around you. However, if you hold up those ideals for too long, sooner or later, you lose your path. Someone has to be there to keep an eye on the ground in front of you. Having the more realistic Jeanne by her side must have been what let Maria keep holding up her ideals.

  The Empire had the largest population on the continent. I didn’t know how many extremely talented people they had there, but in terms of relative numbers, they must have had far more than my country.

  Jeanne pointed to image of Chris projected in the air above us. “By the way, that’s an incredible way of using the Jewel Voice Broadcast. By releasing information regularly, you use it to help alleviate the fears of your people. Do you mind if we do the same back home?”

  “...Do as you please,” I said.

  I mean, it wasn’t like it would be hard to imitate. It wasn’t something I could forbid her from doing, either.

  “Thank you,” said Jeanne. “How do you come up with such advanced ideas?”

  “This is advanced?” I asked. “It was pretty normal in the world I came from.”

  “The world you came from... Of course.” Jeanne’s smile suddenly vanished.

  As I was wondering what was up, Jeanne straightened her posture and bowed deeply. She bent over until her hips were at a right angle. It was a deep enough bow that, if the custom existed in this world, she might have done a formal kowtow instead.

  I was befuddled by her suddenly lower profile. “Wh-What’s wrong? This is so sudden.”

  “You’ve been horribly inconvenienced because of us,” said Jeanne. “In my absent sister’s place, I apologize.”

  “You’re apologizing?” I asked, startled.

  When Jeanne raised her face, she bore a pained expression. “This is about the hero summoning. It was our request that caused the Elfrieden Kingdom to summon you to this world. My sister Maria deeply regrets that you, who had done us no wrong, were cut off from your homeland and called to this world. Please, forgive us.”

  With those words, Jeanne lowered her head once more.

  ...Oh, is that all? I thought.

  “Raise your head. It’s all in the past.”

  “But...” she said.

  “Yeah, at first, I was mad, and I worked my hardest not to get turned over to the Empire,” I said. “Now, though... when I think about it more calmly, the Empire has no reason to want a hero.”

  At first, I thought they’d wanted a hero to fight back against the threat of the Demon Lord’s Domain, but the more I came to understand this world, the more I realized that probably hadn’t been it.

  Right now, the Demon Lord’s Domain had stopped expanding. The expansion of the border meant that the monsters that came south were spread further, and the various countries could handle them. It was a stalemate; with neither side able to push forward, the situation was more or less stable.

  In other words, the Empire wasn’t in a situation where it would want a hero. A superpower like the Empire had had no need to cling to a summoning ritual that the kingdom itself wouldn’t have been sure they could pull off in the first place.

  Besides, when they’d summoned a hero, they’d gotten me.

  While a guy who could use incredible magic with power comparable to a weapon of mass destruction would be one thing, or a guy who could equip invincible sword and armor, a guy from another world with a power that happened to make administrative tasks a little easier wasn’t going to be of any interest to the Empire with its massive population and the large number of personnel it had as a result.

  However, that being the case, the Empire had asked the kingdom to perform the hero summoning. After considering the matter with Hakuya for some time, we had come to a certain conclusion. It was...

  “That was an attempt to show consideration, right?” I asked. “Towards a kingdom that couldn’t pay the war subsidies.”

  Jeanne reacted with startled surprise. “...Yes,” she said with resignation.

  ...I knew it.

  In the Mankind Declaration, which the Empire had proposed, it said, “Countries that are distant from the Demon Lord’s Domain will provide support to those nations which are adjacent to it and are acting as a defensive wall.”

  The Empire had wanted the Elfrieden Kingdom, as a country that was distant from the Demon Lord’s Domain, to provide support to the countries adjacent to it. If they hadn’t, there would have been complaints from the other signatories to the Mankind Declaration.

  However, at the time, with the food crisis and financial crisis slowly pushing the kingdom to the point of collapse, it would have been nearly impossible to find the money for war subsidies.

  “That’s why the Empire had the kingdom perform the hero summoning, to give them the appearance of having provided support,” I said. “In order to keep down the complaints from the other signatories.”

  “...That’s exactly it,” said Jeanne.

  “Hold on,” Juna protested. “This country never signed the Mankind Declaration. Were we ever obligated to provide support to begin with?”

  I shook my head. “It’s a fact that this country was benefiting from the defensive wall the Empire built with the Mankind Declaration. Because we have the Union of Eastern Nations to the north of us, we didn’t have to share a border with the Demon Lord’s Domain.” It was also a fact that the Union of Eastern Nations was being propped u
p by war subsidies under the Mankind Declaration. “If we benefit from it, but refuse to fulfill the obligations set out under it because we’re a non-signatory, that’s going to breed resentment from the signatory countries. With that as a pretext, Amidonia might have been able to create an alliance of several nations to invade the kingdom. With the Empire taking the lead.”

  “No...” Juna said, at a loss for words, but this was the truth.

  In the recent war, because the only nation plotting to invade had been the Principality of Amidonia, we had been able to induce them to do so under conditions that were favorable to us, and defeat them.

  From Amidonia’s perspective, I was sure they’d wanted to make all of the land they occupied their own, but if they had roped in the mercenary state Zem, the Republic of Turgis, and some portion of the Union of Eastern Nations, along with the Imperial Army, there would have been nothing the kingdom could have done to avoid a total collapse.

  I looked Jeanne straight in the eye and said, “With your goal of uniting all mankind to prepare for the menace of the Demon Lord’s Domain, the Empire wanted to avoid that. That’s why you demanded war subsidies from non-signatories, and for those that couldn’t pay, you tried to find a workable substitute to appease the signatories, right? In the kingdom’s case, that was a hero.”

  “...I have no words,” said Jeanne.

  “To be brutally honest, the Empire didn’t even expect the hero summoning to work, did it?” I asked. “Okay, this being a world with magic, you might have thought they’d summon something, but you can’t have had high expectations for something the kingdom itself didn’t think would work. Even if the summoning had failed, you would have been satisfied by the fact it was performed.”

  “That’s right. But, as a result of that, you were summoned,” Jeanne said, looking troubled. “What’s more, ever since you were summoned here and given the throne by Sir Albert, you’ve worked actively to rebuild this country, even finding the money to provide war subsidies. While my sister was grateful, she also regretted forcing such a heavy burden on you when you were called here at our convenience. We truly are sorry.”

  Jeanne bowed once more.

  I sighed, saying, “I already told you, it’s in the past. Now that I now the situation, I don’t resent you for it. It’s not like I don’t have a lingering attachment to my old world, but... but...”

  I glanced from Juna, with a tense look on her face, to Tomoe.

  There was nobody left who would wait for me to come home in my old world. Since coming to this world, I had found people here who would. Whenever I returned to the castle, Liscia, Aisha, Juna, and Tomoe would be there to say, “Welcome home.” Having felt the loneliness of solitude, that was something I never wanted to lose again.

  “I’ve found people here I want to protect,” I said simply. “That’s why I’m not too hung up over it. Mind you, if you feel bad enough about it that you’ll recognize my sovereignty over Van, I’m not gonna complain.”

  When I said that jokingly, Jeanne raised her face quietly shook her head. “...Sadly, I, too, have a family to protect.”

  Neither of us averted our gaze. We each looked the other straight in the eye.

  “I see... well, we’ll have to negotiate, then,” I said.

  “Yes,” Jeanne said. “Please, go easy on me when the time comes.”

  With an “I’ll take my leave,” Jeanne turned her back and faded into the crowd. She vanished as quickly as she had appeared.

  “The presences I felt surrounding us have vanished, too,” Juna commented. “It looks like Jeanne’s bodyguards have withdrawn.”

  “She really did just come to say hello, huh...” I looked in the direction Jeanne had left. “Jeanne Euphoria... the pragmatic younger sister who supports the idealistic saint.”

  If it had only been Amidonia’s crown prince, Julius, I’d have to contend with, I felt there was no way I could have lost at the negotiations. But with Jeanne mediating, I wouldn’t be able to rely too much on his weaknesses. If I tried to get too crafty and they saw through it, there was the risk that they might turn things to his advantage by pointing it out.

  I’ll have to let Hakuya know he’s going to need to give his all at the negotiations, too...

  I slapped my cheeks, trying to psyche myself up for it.

  That evening...

  “Liscia, Aisha,” I said. “I brought souvenirs for you two.”

  Having returned to the castle, I gave Liscia and Aisha the gifts I’d bought for them. Liscia got that choker made of blue leather with silver foil scattered around like stars, while Aisha got the pale lipstick.

  Liscia immediately put the choker around her neck, fingering the bird clasp with a satisfied smile. “Thanks, Souma. I’ll treasure it.”

  The slightly shy smile wasn’t like Liscia, and I couldn’t help but stare at her, enthralled.

  Whew, I was relieved that she liked it. It suited her well, and I was glad I’d bought it.

  Meanwhile, Aisha...

  “Ohhhh, Your Majesty! To think you would bestow a gift even on one such as me, I am awed and delighted! When you left me behind, I felt down, but this has lifted my spirits as high as the heavens!”

  “W-Well, good for you... Aisha...” Juna said.

  “Yes, Madam Juna! With this lipstick, I swear I will polish my femininity! Then, His Majesty will never let me leave his side... heh heh heh.”

  “G-Good luck with that...”

  Aisha was a little too thrilled. The happy aura beaming from her entire body seemed to be enough to seriously weird Juna out. Juna, by the way, was also wearing the hair piece I’d given her.

  “Sire! Sire!” cried Aisha. “How is it? Does it look good on me?”

  Aisha put on her lipstick and started acting flirty right away. If Aisha hadn’t been a dark elf, and she had been a mystic wolf like Tomoe instead, her tail would have been wagging like crazy.

  When she saw how overexuberant Aisha was, Liscia traced the outline of her choker with one finger, looking to me. “Don’t you think the collar would have been a better match for Aisha?”

  “...Let me go with ‘no comment’ on that one,” I said.

  Chapter 3: Negotiations

  20th day, 10th month, 1,546th year, Continental Calendar — Van Castle

  “Now then... Here I come, sire!” Aisha cried.

  “Bring it on, Aisha!” I called back.

  We were in the training grounds inside Van Castle. In this space, which was open to the sky like an archery range in Japan, I stood facing a fully armed Aisha. In her usual light armor, Aisha took up a stance with her greatsword pointed towards me. I had medium-sized Little Musashibo dolls (the ones that were toy-sized were small, while the ones large enough to fit a person were large), five of those medium-sized dolls (hereafter referred to as A-E) protecting me.

  In the corner of my vision, I saw the referee, Liscia, raise her right hand.

  The next moment, Aisha made a big downwards swing with her greatsword. A visible shockwave flew towards me and the Little Musashibos.

  I put Little Musashibo A (equipped with shields in both hands) up front, having it ready its shields. The moment the shockwave hit, there was an incredible clang, but somehow Little Musashibo A managed to hold its ground.

  “It’s not done yet!” Aisha called.

  There was no time for relief. Aisha turned to the side, keeping the blade of her greatsword pointed in my direction, and then thrust with all her might. Little Musashibo A tried to overlap its shield to defend, but Aisha’s blow hit with the force of a battering ram, punching through both of the shields and Little Musashibo A.

  Uwah... She can punch through two thick shields...? I was nearly struck dumb by the absurd amount of power she had, but then Aisha stopped moving momentarily.

  Thinking this was my chance, I sent Little Musashibo B (equipped with two swords) and Little Musashibo C (equipped with a spear) around to attack her from both sides.

  Aisha stabbed her gr
eatsword, which was still impaling Little Musashibo A, into the ground, using it to fling herself into the air, like she was doing a cartwheel.

  Aisha was standing on her hands atop the hilt of her greatsword.

  “There!” I cried.

  With the remaining two Little Musashibos, D and E (both equipped with crossbows), I took a shot at Aisha, who presumably couldn’t maneuver with her feet off the ground. The two bolts fired straight towards Aisha.

  “Not good enough!” Aisha called.

  On top of the greatsword thrust into the ground, Aisha did something similar to one of those capoeira kicks where you stand on your hands (I don’t know the proper name for them), spinning her feet and kicking the incoming bolts out of the air.

  “Ow!” I called.

  With a splat sound, a light impact on my forehead that knocked my head backwards.

  In the middle of my forehead there was a smushed ball of clay about the size of a 10 yen coin. If it had instead been a throwing knife, or a stone, I’d have died instantly.

  Well, this being a practice match, the bolts didn’t have arrowheads, and we were using clay instead of stones, so neither of us could possibly have died, but still, losing this badly was depressing...

  I sat down dejectedly.

  “Aw, geez... I’m not even a match for you, huh,” I said.

  “Th-That’s not true...” Aisha stuttered, hastily trying to reassure me.

  “Aisha, an accurate analysis of his fighting strength is important, so you should be honest with him,” said Liscia.

  She was right. I was searching for a fighting style that suited me. As king, I was in a position to be protected, but it wouldn’t hurt to be able to protect myself, if it ever came to it. I’d had a narrow miss with Gaius in the battle a little while ago, after all.

  “Liscia’s right,” I said. “Give it to me straight.”

  “W-Well, then... it may seem harsh to say this, but even though you set up your dolls like an adventuring party, they didn’t feel all that strong,” Aisha said. “I feel as though giving them each two swords and having them rush me would have been more difficult to deal with.”