How a Realist Hero Rebuilt the Kingdom: Volume 5

by Dojyomaru

  Well, no, I don’t imagine she would have. Thinking about it, Castor had initially approached Excel, hadn’t he? Had she been cold to him because he’d gone after her first? It was definitely true that she was a breathtaking beauty. If I hadn’t built up a resistance to that by being around Liscia and the others, I might have been at risk of falling for her myself.

  “So, now that you know what’s up, I’d like to ask you to accompany me,” I said. “Can I count on you for that?”

  “...I understand. I will do my utmost to protect you, sire.” Juna saluted me, her face filled with resolution.

  Protect me from what? ...Yeah, the answer to that went without saying.

  Juna looked to me as if she wanted to say something, but she was having a hard time saying whatever it was and she looked away. I wondered what it could be, so I waited for her. Juna seemed to resolve herself, then opened her mouth and said, “Um... About the issue you’re having, well... Wouldn’t it be solved if you just laid your hands on one of us? It could be the princess, or Aisha, or Roroa, or even... um... me...”

  When she said that with her face looking down and her eyes upturned, it hit me hard, but I gulped and restrained myself. If Marx had his say, this might be exactly the problem.

  “I’m... uh... not ready to be a father yet,” I said. “Listen, I love all of you, of course, and I’m definitely interested in doing that sort of stuff with you, but... when they tell me I absolutely have to make a baby, I’m hesitant. With me as I am now, with this country as it is now, I question if I can make all of you, and the children to be born, happy.”

  “I see...” Juna looked a little disappointed, but she quickly covered it with a gentle smile. “That’s very much like you, sire. I can feel how much you care for all of us.”

  “Of course I do!”

  “In that case, I will be looking forward to it when you’re ready.”

  Juna’s smile was so wonderful that I hugged her tight. She seemed surprised, but she didn’t resist.

  She was soft and smelled good.

  I wasn’t ready yet, but... I could do this much, at least, I figured.

  ◇　◇　◇

  A few days later — Lagoon City

  Lagoon City was the central city of the Walter Duchy.

  It was located in the northeast of Friedonia, and as the name would lead you to assume, it was a city built in a lagoon. Because of the high heat and humidity, it was built much like Venice in Italy, and there were canals running everywhere in the city.

  When I looked at this city, it reminded me of a certain iyashikei manga I had read a long time ago, but unfortunately there were no cute girls acting as gondoliers here. Instead, I could see burly men loading and unloading cargo from little boats all over the place.

  It was winter now, so the men were bundled up tight; but if this had been summer, they’d probably have all been practically naked. (Like, wearing nothing but a loincloth.) Even the thought of it was suffocating.

  I was there, watching the scenery of Lagoon City from inside a carriage with Juna.

  “Were you born here, Juna?” I asked.

  “No, I was born a little further to the northwest, in a small port town near the border with the Union of Eastern States. It’s not as lively as it is here, but we do catch lots of delicious fish there, you know?”

  “Oh, yeah? I’d like to go there someday.”

  “Yes, I hope you will.”

  While we were having that pleasant chat, the carriage arrived at Excel’s manor.

  At Lagoon City, the Navy’s stronghold, there was a base, but there was no castle. That was because they didn’t anticipate the city being besieged by a land-based force. It reflected the fact that the Navy was able to show its fullest power at sea, and if this land were ever invaded by a foreign enemy, they would simply board the ships and eliminate the enemy, city and all, with coastal bombardments.

  The sea serpent race loved this land more than anyone, and if they couldn’t have it, no one could. They were pretty yandere when it came to their feelings for this land.

  When we rode onto the grounds in our carriage, I saw that Excel was standing in front of the manor, awaiting our arrival. Her blue hair shone in the sun, her beautiful face peering out from behind it.

  Like always, Excel was so beautiful, you could tell even from a distance. You could really tell she was Juna’s grandmother. (Though there were few people whom the word “grandmother” would have suited less.) The blue outfit she was wearing that was like a kimono crossed with a dress looked good on her.

  When I looked over, Juna had a grim look on her face.

  “Juna? What’s wrong?” I asked.

  “That kimono...”

  “The kimono?”

  “It’s Grandmother’s favorite. It seems... caution may indeed be warranted.”

  “Um... Technically, my only goal here is to survey a military facility...”

  When I said that, alarmed, Juna wrapped her arm around mine, holding it tight, then looked at me with a serious expression. “Sire, when you are in front of a sea snake, you never show an opening to strike. If you do...”

  “If I do?”

  “You’ll be gobbled up.”

  “...”

  ...I didn’t know exactly what that was supposed to mean, but I made a mental note to be careful.

  ◇　◇　◇

  When we disembarked from the carriage, Excel met us with a smile.

  “It’s been too long, Your Majesty. Welcome to Lagoon City.”

  I knew what Juna had said, but for now, she didn’t seem any different from usual. I tried not to make my wariness evident, responding in a friendly tone. “We haven’t seen each other since I appointed you as Supreme Commander of the National Defense Force, right? I’m glad to see you’re in good health.”

  “Hee hee! Oh, sire, you do love pushing off major duties onto this old lady.” (She seemed to be fine with calling herself that.) “But thank you. I hope you’ve been well, Juna.”

  “It’s good to see again, Sea Princess.” Next to me, Juna gave a graceful bow.

  Excel had been called “Sea Princess” in the former Navy. It was probably similar to addressing her as “ma’am” for them.

  But Excel shook her head. “Juna, you’ve been discharged from the Navy. You will be marrying His Majesty, even if it is as a secondary queen. The only positions we have relative to one another now are the ones we have as family.”

  “Sea... No, I understand. Grandmother.”

  Yeah. This was a good scene, one that brought across their bonds as family... or so I thought.

  “Hee hee hee. So, Juna, that means you and I are equals now.”

  ...What was that? Had I imagined that she’d stressed the word “equals” there?

  Also, when she heard the word “equals,” I thought I noticed a vein rise on Juna’s temple. “...Hee hee hee. Whatever do you mean by that, Grandmother?”

  “You see, the key to not getting tired with a life that goes on for too long is to always take an interest in someone or other.”

  “Is it now?” Juna asked. “By the way, do you have an interest in His Highness?”

  “He’s the first hero we’ve had since the first king, after all. I find him fascinating.”

  Excel was smiling. But I sensed a strange pressure behind that smile. Juna was responding with a similar smile of her own.

  ...What was this atmosphere? I really wanted to get out of there.

  “A-Anyway, do you mind if we go inside?” I suggested. “There’s no need to stand out here, surely.”

  “Hee hee! I’m sorry about that,” said Excel. “Please, come right this way.”

  In any case, with the formalities (?) out of the way, we were led into the building.

  Inside it was like a classy Western-style manor. The furniture on display wasn’t excessively gaudy, instead melting into the relaxed atmosphere. Even I, who was by no means artistic, could appreciate Excel’s good aesthetic sense.


  Eventually we were led to a room bearing a plate that identified it as the parlor.

  There was already one person in the parlor, standing at attention.

  That tall man, who was wearing the uniform of a non-commissioned officer in the Friedonia National Naval Defense Force, had bat-like wings and a lizard-like tail. The man saluted me, then began preparing tea.

  Even once we had seated ourselves and he’d finished distributing tea to everyone, that man continued to stand behind Excel, waiting for orders.

  I massaged my temples. “If he’s just going to stand there, it’s going to bother me too much not to think about it.”

  “I did tell him he could just act like normal,” Excel said with a wry smile.

  The man standing behind her was Castor. He had formerly been one of the three dukes and the General of the Air Force. He was also Carla’s father.

  Having been held responsible for defying his king and stripped of his post, he had been forced to retire and leave the family headship to his young son Carl, while he himself had been put in Excel’s custody.

  Incidentally, the one acting as Carl’s aide was, at the man’s own request, the former steward of the House of Vargas and current General of the National Air Defense Force, Tolman.

  Anyway, from what Excel had told me, she was working Castor hard as a rank and file soldier of the National Naval Defense Force.

  Perhaps becoming a defeated general had stripped him of his stubborn pride and made him more meek. Or perhaps he was simply making a show of acting only as a rank and file soldier of the National Naval Defense Force out of stubbornness.

  If he met them on the streets, he bowed even to those who had been ranked far beneath him until just recently, and when it was his day on cleaning duty, he cleaned all of the toilets on the ship.

  I thought this about Carla, too, but the members of his bloodline tended to be far too loyal to the positions they found themselves in.

  “...This is an order,” I said. “Sit down, Castor.”

  “Yes, sir! Pardon me, sir!” Castor finally took a seat.

  Good grief.

  “Also, it kind of creeps me out, so drop the excessive formality,” I added. “Unless we’re in public or there are other subordinates around, I want you to talk normally when it’s on a personal basis. That’s an order, too.”

  “Yes, sir... But...”

  “Castor, does a non-commissioned officer defy his king’s orders?” Excel demanded.

  “...Understood.” Castor reluctantly acquiesced.

  Whew... Now we can finally have a relaxed talk, I thought.

  “Anyway, it’s been a while, Castor,” I said. “How’s life in the Navy treating you?”

  “Quite well, sir. I have already grown accustomed... I’ve gotten used to the smell of the sea. Also, um...”

  “Hm? What’s up?”

  “How is Carla doing?” He seemed concerned for his daughter who was now my slave. Well, he was her father, after all.

  “Relax. Carla is... Uhh, she’s getting along fine.”

  “What was that pause?! What was that ‘Uhh’ for?!”

  “No, I’m sure she’s doing great and all, it’s just...”

  If I recalled, back in the castle right now, Carla would be...

  ◇　◇　◇

  Meanwhile, in the studio back in Parnam Castle...

  “Bwahahahaha! Silvan, today I end you! Get him, Wheel Monster Dialgon!”

  “Dialgoooon!” (Moltov had taken over playing the monsters from Aisha.)

  “Curse you, Miss Dran and Dialgon! I will protect peace in this country!”

  ◇　◇　◇

  “...Yep. She’s (probably) doing fine. Physically, she’s the very picture of health. I know she’s a slave belonging to the Royal House, but I haven’t laid my hands on her or anything like that.”

  Now, as for her being mentally fine, I wasn’t so sure. I mean, Serina was always toying with her...

  “You haven’t done anything to her... When I hear that, I’m actually more worried.”

  “Hm? Why does that make you look so depressed?” I asked.

  “Because if you had laid your hands on her, I’d think that would make Carla safer.” Castor let out a little sigh. “I’ve heard from Duchess Excel. You’re the kind of man who values his family, and you’d do anything to protect them. In the time since I was left here, I’ve come to hear rumors of what you do, and... I hold the same opinion. That’s why I figure that if Carla became pregnant and you recognized her as family, nothing could make her safer.”

  Not so that he could become a relative of the Royal House, but so that his daughter would be safe. It made me think about how complicated a father’s feelings were.

  But...

  “I have zero intention of taking Carla as my queen.”

  He was silent.

  “Still, Liscia would be upset if anything happened to Carla,” I said. “I’d rather not have to see Liscia sad. I can guarantee you I won’t do anything too bad to her.”

  “You won’t...? I’m relieved to hear that. Please, I ask that you take good care of my daughter.” Castor bowed his head deeply.

  I’m sure he took on that more formal tone at the very end because it was a sincere, heartfelt request. With the way Excel had been treating him, maybe it had helped him to grow somewhat as a human being. (Well, as a dragonewt, actually.)

  I looked over to Excel. “So, Excel, do you think we can use this guy?”

  “Hee hee! I’ve prepared him well. As you would expect from a man who once led armies, he learns quickly. The way things are going... I’d say it’s possible.”

  “I see... Well, let’s go then.”

  Having finished that exchange which only the two of us understood, Excel and I rose to our feet. When they saw us suddenly stand up, Juna and Castor’s eyes went wide.

  “Um, sire? Where are we going?” Juna asked me with a blank look.

  I smiled wryly. “Did you forget already? Our plan for the day is to survey a military facility, remember?”

  “Oh, now that you mention it... That’s right.” Juna’s cheeks flushed red with embarrassment.

  Her mind must have been preoccupied with staying on guard against Excel. When she was embarrassed, she actually acted her age. It was really cute. I wished I could just watch her forever, but I had king things that needed to actually get done.

  “Now then, first order of business...” I turned to Castor, who looked like he had no clue what was going on. “For now, let’s put a blindfold on Castor.”

  ◇　◇　◇

  With Castor blindfolded, we got onto a wyvern’s gondola, then traveled an hour or so, including the time transferring over to a ship midway.

  When we finally reached our destination, I said to Castor, “Okay, you may now take off the blindfold.”

  “...Why do you sound so high-handed?” Castor grumbled.

  Even as he grumbled about it, Castor took off his blindfold. When he did, he found himself in the middle of the woods.

  The only ones there were Juna, Castor, Excel and me, and the only thing in sight was a bunch of trees.

  “What are we doing in a place like this?” Castor seemed dubious, but then he suddenly seemed to realize something and furrowed his brow. He asked me, “Is this... an island or something?”

  “Oh...? Why would you think that?”

  “I can smell salt water in all directions. We’re near the sea, right? We did get on a boat in the middle of the trip, after all.”

  “...Perceptive,” I said.

  Even though he had been blindfolded the whole time, he had managed to immediately figure out that we were surrounded by the sea. That was impressive. I could see Excel had trained him well.

  That’s when I noticed that Juna was dumbfounded by what she was seeing.

  “What’s the matter?” I asked.

  “Oh, no... It’s just, on the way here, I’ve seen a lot of incredible things...” Juna said a little em
barrassedly, realizing I’d caught her with her guard down.

  Ohh... Come to think of it, I never had told Juna about this place, did I? I had been leaving it totally in Excel’s hands, after all.

  Seeing Juna like that, Castor looked even more suspicious. “Just what is this place supposed to be?”

  “Hm? Well, to put it in the simplest terms I can... It’s our secret weapon, and a testing ground for a type of troops, maybe?”

  “Secret weapon?” Castor repeated.

  “It’s faster to just show you. Come this way.” I started walking and led the way for everyone.

  When we had walked a little ways, we came to a clearing. It was a meadow covered in short grass.

  There was nothing high up, so the blue sky spread out over our heads. When I looked up to the sky, there were wyvern knights flying in formation.

  I pointed up to those wyvern knights. “Castor, what do you think when you see that?”

  “They’re very... fast, huh...” Castor said, narrowing his eyes as if it were bright. “Too fast, if anything. That’s not a speed wyverns can fly at. Are they using magic or something?”

  “Well, when it comes to magic... you could say they’re using it, in a way, yes. But, if they used magic to create a tailwind, do you think they could still fly in formation like that?”

  “...No, not possible. If they were accelerating themselves with magic, they’d be less synchronized.”

  Like Castor was saying, people had varying skill levels when it came to magic. Even if they used magic of the same type, the power, range, and cost depended on the person. That was why, even if we gathered a bunch of people with the same ability to manipulate wind, they probably wouldn’t be able to fly in neat formations like that while accelerating with magic. So that speed didn’t come from magic, it came from technology.