How a Realist Hero Rebuilt The Kingdom

Book 3: Chapter 7.1

Intermission 2: What the Black-Robed Prime Minister was Doing Then

That day, when Souma the provisional King of Elfrieden welcomed new candidates to be his queen, there were two people in other places holding talks over the Jewel Voice Broadcast.

Elfriedens Prime Minister Hakuya Kwonmin was speaking to the image of the younger sister of Empress Maria of the Gran Chaos Empire, Jeanne Euphoria, projected by the simple receiver on a desk.

Your signal is clear, said Hakuya. It looks like the simple receiver you sent us is in good working order. Thank you very much, Madam Jeanne, for going out of your way to have it delivered by griffon.

My sister understood how important the hotline Sir Souma was talking about establishing will be, Jeanne said. With this, the Kingdom and Empire can coordinate as need be. Its only natural we would hurry to get things in place.

The Jeanne on the screen smiled broadly.

After the conference with Amidonia, Jeanne had reported back to her sister, Empress Maria, about Soumas proposals: A secret alliance with the Elfrieden Kingdom, establishing a hotline between the two countries, and the exchange of plenipotentiary ambassadors from each country, as well as the establishment of embassies for them to be stationed at.

Hakuya had assumed that Maria wouldnt refuse these ideas, and, as hed expected, Maria had gladly approved all of them. In fact, she had even rolled around in bed laughing as she did.

Ive never seen my sister like that, Jeanne said. She must have been very pleased.

Pleased...? Hakuya asked.

To find someone who shares her values... a person who understands her, if you will, said Jeanne. There arent many of them inside the Empire. People who are able to understand my sister, that is.

I see.

Geographically they were west and east, ideologically they were an idealist and a realist, and yet Maria and Souma, who appeared to be polar opposites, understood one another.

That might be interesting, thought Hakuya.

With a response like that, I want to arrange for my sister and Sir Souma to be able to talk over the broadcast as soon as possible, said Jeanne.

Theyre both very busy people at the moment, and its hard to make their schedules agree, Hakuya said. When things eventually settle down, lets arrange a time for them to talk.

Yes, absolutely.

After that, they made small talk (Including venting their frustrations about their respective leaders) for a little while, then Jeanne said, By the way, theres been something bothering me for a while now. I see many books behind you there, Sir Hakuya. Where are you now?

...Oh, these are books we have on loan from Amidonia as collateral against the war reparations, he replied. There are a good number of them that I want to have copies made of before they have to be returned. I was working on categorizing them until just a little while ago.

The Prime Minister himself is sorting them? Jeanne asked in surprise.

Of course, I have people to help, but its something of a hobby of mine, said Hakuya. I actually like to sort books. I divide them into categories, line them up in order, sometimes flipping through one that catches my attention, then derive pleasure from looking at the well-ordered bookshelf when my work is complete. Books are human wisdom. The progress of a country. When I think of them arranged before me on a shelf, available for me to read whenever I please...

When she saw Hakuya wax eloquent about books, Jeannes eyes opened wide.

If you mentioned the name Hakuya, the pride of the kingdom, the Black-robed Prime Minister, he was famous as one of the geniuses discovered by Souma, the man who had used his trickery to make sport of Gaius VIII of the Principality of Amidonia.

Having met him herself, Jeanne had had an impression of him as a clever individual. However, when Hakuya spoke about books, his eyes were those of a young boy. That gap made Jeannes heart skip a beat.

...I take it you like books? Jeanne asked.

Hakuya came back to his senses. He quickly regained his usual clever expression, but the tips of his ears were a little red. ...Pardon me. I can get carried away when it comes to books, you see...

Hee hee. I feel like Ive seen an unexpected side of you...

Is it that unexpected? Hakuya asked. I think I would make a better librarian than a Prime Minister, personally.

The reason Hakuya had received an audience with Souma to begin with was that his uncle had said, At your age, you need to stop sitting around doing nothing but read books. Go do something useful to society! and entered him into the If You Have a Gift events Gift of Wisdom section without asking for permission.

He had won that competition, and when hed had his audience with Souma, he had been charmed by the young king. Thinking that, just maybe, Souma could get this country that was on the verge of failing back on its feet, Hakuya had given up being a bookworm and volunteered his services, only to find that at some point he had become the Prime Minister.

The truth of the matter was, while Hakuya did want to support Soumas reign, he had meant to do it as an advisor to Souma and the then-Prime Minister Marx. However, that Marx had gone and recommended him as a better Prime Minister than himself. Thanks to that, Hakuya couldnt read the books he wanted to, and his days had become very busy.

Hmm... Then if we were to arrange a post for you as Chief Librarian of the Imperial Archives, would you come to our country? Jeanne asked. I imagine our archives have a more extensive collection of books than the kingdoms.

Ahh. That is an alluring proposal, yes.

But you cant do it? Jeanne asked.

Had you asked me before I volunteered my services, Im sure I would have jumped at the offer without a moments hesitation, he said.

Nowadays, Hakuya thought these busy days werent so bad. There had been a time when, for Hakuya, history was a thing to be found in books. However, now he felt it was a thing that they themselves would make. When he was serving under Souma, the one trying to push this country forward, he felt like he himself was one of the characters in history. It wasnt a bad feeling.

But now, I wish to move forward into a new era alongside His Majesty and the others, he continued. Then, once I raise my successor, I hope to become a historian and record what happened in these times.

A comfortable retirement, huh... Jeanne said. That may be a luxury in the times we live in.

She was most likely right. The times were too hard to allow for an easy retirement.

The threat of the Demon Lords Domain was slowly encroaching from the north, and various countries were forging alliances to advance their own goals, or opposing one another. For Hakuya to have his quiet retirement, all of that would have to be resolved. As for whether that was possible, even with all of Hakuyas wisdom, he couldnt see the answer to that.

Well then, I will be looking forward to our next talk, Sir Hakuya, she said.

Yes. Lets speak again sometime, Madam Jeanne.

The transmission cut out on Jeannes side.

Whew... Hakuya exhaled, then rose to his feet. He reached out to the pile of Amidonian books.

These precious books had been paid no attention while they were in Amidonia, and were now sorely in need of repair. If Hakuya hadnt taken custody of them, some of these books might have been lost forever.

With a sigh, Hakuya reached out and picked up one book. As soon as he did...

Prime Minister.

There was a man in black clothes kneeling in one corner of the room. There was a black cloth wrapped around his face as well, and he looked like he was melting into the darkness of the closed off, dimly lit room.

Hakuya asked the man, How are the preparations?

They proceed apace. However... The man seemed to hesitate.

Hakuya furrowed his brow. Did something happen?

The thing is... I feel as though things are going entirely too well, said the man. Almost as if there was the will of another actor in play here...

I see...

Hakuya dismissed the man, then flipped through the book he had picked up.

When he had taken the books in Amidonias archives as collateral against the war reparations, Hakuya had had a certain expectation. He had expected there would be family registers and materials regarding rights and ownership. Those sorts of writings tended to be in the archives in a nations capital, after all. To have those books in hand was to grasp the heart of the nation itself.

When hed advised Souma to take the books as collateral, it had been because the Amidonian royal family was more inclined towards military matters, and hed hoped they wouldnt realize the importance of them. However, contrary to Hakuyas expectations, there was only one book of that variety in the collection hed seized.

That book, the one Hakuya held now, was on the recent genealogy of the royal family of Amidonia. When he flipped through it, there was a folded piece of paper stuck between the last page and the cover.

When Hakuya unfolded the piece of paper, he saw there was a drawing of a small animal with black circles around its eyes holding down one of its eyelids as it stuck its tongue out at him.

When he saw that, Hakuya blinked a few times, then chuckled to himself. I see. There would have to be someone like this in Amidonia, yes.

What is it, teacher? a sudden voice asked.

Hakuya turned and saw Tomoe there, looking at him blankly. He was embarrassed to have been caught with his guard down, and he cleared his throat loudly to mask it.

Why, little sister, Im sorry I didnt notice you there.

No, I just got here, Tomoe said. I came in because it seemed like you were done talking. You looked like you were having fun, right? What were you looking at?

Oh, this? Hakuya showed Tomoe a picture with a little animal drawn on it.

Tomoe held the piece of paper up to her face, then held it at a distance, then held it up to the ceiling to look at it, before finally tilting her head to the side. Was this animal what you found so funny? Ill admit its cute.

Its a drawing of an animal called a bronze raccoon. Taking the piece of paper back, Hakuya patted Tomoe on the head and said, They are commonly said to play tricks on people.

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