How a Realist Hero Rebuilt The Kingdom

Book 4: Chapter 4

It was just after noon on the day I had unexpectedly discovered Ginger Camus.

Having finished recruiting him and having left his shop, Aisha, Roroa, and I decided to wander around the castle town of Parnam. Roroa was calling it a date. I was walking through the streets with a pretty girl on each arm.

Though, even though its a date, were not really dressed up for the occasion, Roroa said, sounding dissatisfied.

I was dressed in my usual outfit for when I went out in secret, Nine-Headed Dragon Archipelago Union travelers fashion (Kitakaze Kozou style), and today the two of them were wearing hooded robes over the top of their regular outfits. Our faces were all well known to the public, so we were dressed this way to keep from making a scene.

It would seem unavoidable, Aisha said. If we are discovered, we would not be able to have our date.

Roroa stuck out her tongue. True that. Considerin my position, I really cant show my face. Im sure some folks here are none too fond of Amidonia, after all.

Roroa said that jokingly, but I was pretty sure she was right. While our two countries had been peacefully united in a way that served the interests of both, the Elfrieden Kingdom and Principality of Amidonia had been enemies for a long time. That fact wasnt going to go away so easily.

I was overcome by a feeling I couldnt quite describe, but Roroa put on a bold smile. Well, Im a real lovable gal, its only a matter of time before I grab the people of the kingdom by the heartstrings. Im more worried about you, Darlin. If you dont learn to be more sociable, the people of the principalityll hate your guts.

...I suppose youre right, I murmured. I thought Roroas ability to blast away negativity like this was wonderful. I cant act like you do, Roroa, so Ill slowly but surely protect the people of the principalitys lives and property, then get them to recognize me as their king.

Hee hee, Roroa giggled, hugging me. Also, if youre seen actin all lovey-dovey with lil ol me, dont ya think thatd put the folks from the principality at ease, too?

Aisha pulled her off of me. W-We are in the middle of a public street. What you are doing is enviably scandalous!

Hmph, whats the matter with it? Were on a date, aint we? Roroa demanded. Hows about you get all lovey-dovey with him too, Big Sister Ai?

I would love nothing more than to do so, but... out of consideration for the First Primary Queen, Liscia, who allowed us to go on this date, perhaps we should not get too carried away? Aisha pointed out.

Aisha was the Second Primary Queen, while Roroa was the Third Primary Queen. In this country where polygamy was commonly practiced by the nobility, knightly class, and wealthy merchants (polyandry, while less common, existed as well), it seemed that respecting this sort of pecking order among the queens or wives was key to preventing later troubles in the home.

Roroa seemed dissatisfied. Ysay that, but Darlin and Big Sister Lisciave been betrothed for, like, half a year, aint they? They may notve gotten down to baby makin yet, but theyve gotta have kissed, at least, right?

Roroa looked in my direction, forcing me to blatantly avert my gaze. If I were to list the romantic things I had done with Liscia, there was resting my head in her lap, a kiss on the cheek, sleeping next to each other, and that was about it.

Having discerned that from my demeanor, Roroa looked at me coldly. ...Darlin. You aint gonna tell me you havent even done that, are you?

No, you see... Ive been very busy, and...

Dont ya feel bad for Big Sister Cia, doin that to her? Roroa snapped.

So you think that, too, Roroa! Even Aisha jumped in to agree. I know you were hesitant at first, sire, because the betrothal was something decided on without either your or Lady Liscias permission. However, now, its plain for all to see that you love one another. Given our position, we cannot receive your love and affection before Lady Liscia has, so, please, flirt with her more.

There was nothing I could say in response. Aisha had watched my relationship with Liscia develop from a fairly early stage, after all.

Roroa had her arms crossed and was nodding and grunting in agreement. Yeah, yeah. Then ya can give us just as much of your love when youre done.

...I understand, I said. When the time comes, Ill take care of doing that with you properly.

Yep, thats a promise. Ya better, Roroa said condescendingly.

Here I was, being chided for my behavior by a girl three years my junior... I felt a little pathetic, but Roroa laughed and waved her hand.

But, well, here we are, on a date already, so weve gotta have fun.

Indeed, Aisha said, nodding. Lady Liscia did say to enjoy ourselves today, after all.

They had a point.

Well, it is a rare day off, I said. Was there anywhere the two of you wanted to go?

Aisha said, In that case, I would...

Also, no food until later.

Shot down before I could even speak?! Wh-Why is that? Aisha cried with eyes like a chihuahua that had been forced to wait for a treat.

When I eat with you, Im always stuffed full by the time were done, and that makes it hard to move around, I said. I promise well stop somewhere for food later, so lets go somewhere else first.

Ah, okay. If thats why...

That said, it aint been that long since I first came to the capital, Roroa said, tilting her head in thought. I dunno whats here yet. Is there anywhere youd recommend as a date spot, Darlin?

A date spot, huh... I murmured.

In my former world, the theater, the amusement park, the zoo, the aquarium, karaoke, and the arcade would all have been options, but not in this world. It was that lack of leisure facilities that had made the entertainment programs over the Jewel Voice Broadcast such a hit.

Well, if I was looking for a date spot other than a place for entertainment... Ah.

That place might be good, I said.

What, what? Did ya come up with somethin good? Roroa asked eagerly.

Its a facility we opened just the other day, actually, and I think there should be plenty of interesting things to see if we go there, I said. Though its more of an educational institution than a leisure facility.

Learnin, even though were on a date? What kinda place is that? Roroa asked, tilting her head to the side.

The Royal Parnam Museum, I said. Not that the names terribly inventive.

So huge?! Roroa cried out in surprise when we came up to the entrance of the Royal Parnam Museum and she saw what was on display there. If wed been talking about a massive display in front of the National Museum of Nature and Science in Ueno, it would have been the blue whale, but the Royal Parnam Museum had a massive skeletal specimen measuring more than 10 meters long out in front of it.

Whatre these bones from? Looks like a lizard or somethin...

Thats the giant salamander that was lurking in the area beneath the royal capital, I explained.

Salamanders get that big? The ones livin in Amidonia grew to maybe two meters at most, but... Wait, this thing was under the royal capital?!

Yeah. Talk about a surprise, huh? I said.

This salamander had been discovered when Id commissioned the adventurers guild to exterminate the wild creatures living in the labyrinth of escape tunnels under the capital so that they could be repurposed as a sewer system. Or rather, the ones to find it had been Dece, Juno, and their party. I had even been there to witness it, albeit through my Little Musashibo doll.

Neither the country nor the guild had anticipated anything so big living under the capital, so there hadnt been sufficient warning given, and Id ended up putting Juno and her group in danger. It was good that theyd managed to retreat somehow, but when I thought about how things might have taken a turn for the worst, there was a lot I had to reflect on.

Now, about that salamander: as soon as Id received the report from Juno and her party, Id dispatched a unit from the Forbidden Army to kill it. Juno and her party had struggled against the salamander because they hadnt had a mage who could use the ice-elemental water-type magic that it was weak against. When wed deployed a group focused heavily around those who could use that sort of magic, the thing had gone down easily. The slain salamander had then been dissected, then turned into a skeletal specimen.

Well, this is just a replica based on the original bones, I added as I touched the skeletal specimen all over. Wed have had to worry about thieves making off with it if we displayed the real thing outside, after all. There was a sign next to it that read: This is a 1/1 scale replica, so please try touching it to experience the size for yourself.

This sort of thing... How should I say it? It tickles my sense of adventure, Aisha said, her eyes sparkling. I think young boys would enjoy seeing it.

Hrm... I said. I thought it might be a good educational experience that helped stimulate their creativity, so I tried showing the real bones that we keep at the castle to Rou (Tomoes real little brother) and the other children at the daycare, but they bawled their eyes out... I got chewed out by Liscia pretty badly after that one.

What were you even doing? Roroa asked, looking appalled.

Yeah, itd have been important to consider their age first, huh.

That said, while we have been preoccupied with the skeletal specimen, the building itself is also quite large and impressive. Almost like a nobles manor, Aisha said, looking at the building.

That was a sharp observation. No, not almost like, I said. We actually remodeled a nobles manor.

Is that right? Aisha asked.

Yeah. I executed those influential nobles who were colluding with Amidonia and manipulating the corrupt nobles in the war, remember? This building used to belong to one of them.

It really was... one massive house.

The main building was as big as the school building of a university with a lot of history behind it, and then there were two annexes that were also quite big in and of themselves. There was a well-maintained garden, too, and I had to be impressed with the wealth this noble had managed to amass while the kingdom was in financial trouble. According to Hakuyas investigation, they had been taking a cut of the money that the corrupt nobles had embezzled.

Regardless, when this mansion had become vacant after the noble who owned it was executed, it had been remodeled as the Royal Parnam Museum. Since it was this big and impressive a building, letting any of my retainers live in it would have provoked needless jealousy, and it would also have cost a lot of money to dismantle it. This had worked out as a perfect solution.

Oh, when ya put it like that, it sounds like its probably filled with the grudge of the nobles and I dont like it... Roroa said with the corner of her mouth twitching.

Ah... ah ha ha... I laughed. Yeah, well, it looks like there are already rumors. Like that the armor on display gets up and walks around on its own at night.

Of course, said Roroa.

But, you know, using anyone and anything we can is one of those things our country does, after all.

Heres hopin you dont have to use it as a haunted house someday...

Uh, yeah, I thought. Id really rather not.

Anyway, lets go in. Its pretty amazing on the inside, too, I suggested, and we went inside.

If I had spoken to the person in charge, they would have just let us in, but in order to slip in with the regular visitors, we paid admission for three people at the entrance.

The first thing to greet us inside was a lineup of armor. These were the suits of armor that had been worn by the past commanders of the Royal Guard. They were no longer used and were gathering dust, so Id taken this opportunity to drag them out of storage and donate them to the museum.

They must have drawn Aishas interest as a warrior herself, because she was looking at them in admiration. They are old, but when you have so many lined up, it makes for quite the spectacle, doesnt it?

Hold on, Darlin, what is a museum anyway? Roroa asked.

Huh? Even that part wasnt clear to you? I asked.

Come to think of it, when Id first established the Royal Parnam Museum, Hakuya had said, I hadnt heard the idea before, but that is an interesting facility. Id very much like to go look through it myself, hadnt he?

In other words, this was the first museum to be built in our kingdom, and it was only natural that Roroa and the others wouldnt know what one was. Were there museums in the Empire, maybe?

To put it in the simplest terms, a museum is a facility that gathers various things, has academics study them, and allows the general public to see them in the form of exhibits, I said. The goal of the institution is to deepen the understanding of those who come to see their collection, but its just fun to see all the novel things on display. People went on dates there in the world I came from.

Hmm... Its like puttin the royal treasury on display for the public, then? Roroa asked.

Yeah, I said. Thats pretty much exactly it. The collection contains things with literary or artistic value, as well as skeletons and preserved specimens of animals for their value in the field of natural science.

Then, while I was explaining, I noticed a familiar set of armor in with the collection.

Is this not the armor that the Captain of the Royal Guard was wearing? Aisha noticed it, too, and asked.

It was true, though its back was turned to us, that silver armor closely did look like Ludwins.

But, thats strange, I thought. The only armor that should be on display here is the armor the state provided to the former captains of the Royal Guard. If I recall, Ludwins armor was bought with his own money...

Suddenly, that armor turned to face us.

Whoa! I shouted.

Oh, Im sorry... Ludwin said. Wait, huh? Is that you, Your Majesty?

Huh? Its actually him?! While I was still shocked by the unexpected appearance of the man himself, Genia poked her head out from behind him.

Whatre you doing, Big Brother Luu? she asked.

And Genias with you, too, I said. Are you two here on a date?

Ludwin replied No, with an exhausted look on his face. Because you said that the Royal Guard and the guards would handle security here, were here for a meeting on the shift rotations.

Oh, I see, I said. Sorry for the trouble.

Because there were a fair number of valuable objects here, I had been forced to buff up security in a big way. The people managing security needed to be trustworthy, too, so Id decided to leave it to the Royal Guard and the guards whose jobs already included watching and defending.

And Im here to set up the security system Big Brother Luu asked me to install, Genia put in. Therere places where I have spells set to go off if you get close to them, so dont try to go anywhere you shouldnt.

Now thats scary... I said.

The overscientist Genias security system... The scary part was I couldnt predict what might happen. I was imagining something like one of the complex contraptions youd see on P*thagoraSwitch. One that ultimately chucked the offenders out the front door.

By the way, are you on a date here, sire? Ludwin asked.

We sure are, Roroa jumped in, wrapping herself around my arm. Its the three of us Darlin, Big Sister Ai, and me.

Ludwin looked confused. Three of you? But... Ah! I-I see. Well, have fun.

With that said, Ludwin took Genia and left immediately.

It seemed like he almost said something... Was it just my imagination? I wondered.

Anyway, shall we go? I suggested to the other two and we moved on.

Along the way Aisha stopped and looked back a number of times. Was something bothering her?

Aisha? I asked.

...No, its nothing. Aisha rushed over and wrapped herself around my arm.

It couldnt have been that one of the suits of armor had actually started to move, and Aisha had noticed and been scared... or anything like that, right? I got worried and was about to ask, when Roroa tugged on my sleeve.

Hey, hey, Darlin. Whyre there nothin but bones on display here?

When Roroa asked me that in a somewhat bothered tone, I looked in front of me to see a glass case filled with the reassembled skeletons of various creatures. From a modern persons perspective, this was a common sight at museums of natural history, but for the people of this world, it might seem wrong.

Its like some bizarre rituals gonna start up at any moment, she complained.

Ha ha ha! Thats not it, I said. This museum collects and exhibits historical items, books, and the skeletons and preserved specimens of living creatures, along with other items of interest to the field of natural science. What we have here are the bones we happened to excavate while trying to build sedimentation pools. The ones theyve finished researching go on display like this. Its not just animal skeletons; there are monsters, too.

Monster skeletons... Is that okay? Therere monsters thatre nothin but bones, ya know? Roroa said.

Well... from what the researchers tell me, those sort of skeleton monsters need magic in their bones, and once the magic is all gone, theyre just ordinary bones, I said. I dont really get it myself, though.

They had been certified as safe by a professional mage, so I figured they were fine.

...Probably.

Still, there sure are a lot of bones, Aisha commented. Is this a giant deer? She sighed in admiration at the fossil that looked like an even more massive version of the Irish elk. I have never seen such a massive deer before, not even in the God-Protected Forest. Its surprising to hear a creature like this once lived near the capital.

Yeah, I said. The way they stir up the imagination like that is one of the best parts about museums.

Yeah, the appeal of thats not totally lost on me, Roroa said, staring at the fossilized remains of a massive water buffalo-like creature. I wonder what the goin price for a creature like thisd be. You could get a lot of meat out of it, but it wouldnt have much flavor... Though, at this size, they aint gonna be much use for farming, Im sure. I guess meat really is the best use for them...

Thats what youre imagining?! How to sell them off?!

Meat, is it? Aisha asked with an audible slurp.

Oh, shoot, I muttered. Now Aishas totally imagining them roasted whole.

W-Well, it wasnt like everyone was going to have the same reaction to seeing the same things, and making a fuss while we looked at the exhibits like this was fun, too. Even if we had to do it quietly.

Huh? I muttered.

When I stood in front of what seemed to be the bones of ancient people, something stood out to me. With a human skeleton and a beastman skeleton on display side by side, I could see quite a few differences. The beastmans skeleton had bones for the tail, as well as long canine teeth.

What is it, sire? Aisha asked, so I tried to explain it while not really understanding what I meant myself.

No, when I see them side by side... Its a mystery to me, you know.

A mystery, you say?

Yeah. Like, how did they evolve to be like this?

Id been studying the humanities, so I was no expert on biology, but I knew about the theory of evolution at least. Humans had evolved from ape-like ancestors, and those ape-like ancestors had evolved from rat-like creatures, or something like that.

So what had the many diverse beastmen, elves, and other races evolved from? Actually, did the theory of evolution even apply to this world? Though this was partly because there hadnt been much of a search for them, we hadnt found fossils from a hundred million years ago like the dinosaurs on Earth, so it was possible things had a different origin here...

Darlin. Darlin. Roroas voice brought me back to reality from the sea of thoughts I had fallen into.

Huh? Ah! What is it, Roroa?

Geez, she said. Were supposed to be on a date here, so you cant be ignorin the girls youre with and starin off with a difficult expression on your face.

Ahh... Sorry, sorry.

True, this was no time for me to be getting lost in thought and neglecting Aisha and Roroa. There was too little evidence for me to come to any conclusions anyway.

Well, shall we get movin on to the next thing? she asked.

With Roroa pulling me along by the arm, Aisha and I followed after her with wry smiles on our faces.

When we left the floor with the creature exhibit and went up the stairs, next were the various implements of civilization. Tools that people from long ago had used were lined up on display here. Ancient weapons, armor, farming implements, and even yellowed paper that looked every bit as old as it was.

Whats this floor all about? Roroa asked.

A while back, in order to find the money for war subsidies to the Empire and to fund my reforms, I reorganized the castles treasury, I said. At the time, treasures were sorted into three categories: Category A (items with historical or cultural value), Category B (items without historical or cultural value but with monetary value), and Category C (items related to magic, or which otherwise required caution in how they were used). We only sold off the stuff in Category B, and most of the stuff on display here was sorted under Category A. Basically, this is the History Floor.

Roroa furrowed her brow. Historical or cultural value... Does this yellowed paper have it, too?

Naturally, I said. Thats a letter sent by a former king to one of his retainers. Letters are an intimate part of a peoples lives. Theyre a valuable resource for information on the time in which the writers lived.

I get that its valuable, but I wouldnt go out of my way just to come see it, she said.

Well, how about this one over here? I asked. This ones a syrupy love letter written by a certain noble from long ago to the object of his affections, along with the reply gently letting him down that the lady sent back.

Sure, thats interestin, but... dont you think that nobles cryin in his grave? she objected.

...You could be right.

While it was academically valuable, we were still putting something that the man himself probably wanted to forget on display.

Roroa crossed her arms and groaned to herself. But, letters and tools, its all a bit plain. Dont ya have a chief attraction of some sort that could draw a crowd?

I have just the thing to show you. I led Roroa and Aisha in front of a certain display. When they saw it...

Fwah?! they both burst out despite themselves.

It was a cool yet beautiful suit of armor that was made of silver and ornamented with gold. It had been lit up using lightmoss, like was used in the streetlamps, making it shine almost blindingly. The bracers, the boots, and even the sword and shield were all of the same design, and the breastplate and shield bore the crest of the royal house of Elfrieden in a way that couldnt possibly have emphasized it more.

This is the chief attraction of this museum, I said, pointing to it like a tour guide might. The Full Equipment of the First Hero King.

It was the equipment of the first hero who was said to have been summoned from another world, just like I had been, and who had built the Elfrieden Kingdom. It was on display right in front of us. Incidentally, this was the genuine artifact. If wed tried to make replicas, theyd look cheap, and it would be expensive, too.

Both Aisha and Roroas eyes went wide at the majestic sight of it.

What beautiful equipment... Aisha murmured.

You said it... Wait, this is a real national treasure, aint it?! Roroa burst out.

Well, I guess you could call it that, yes.

Is it really okay for you to be puttin it on display in a place like this? Roroa demanded, holding her temples as she did, but I laughed it off.

I looked into it, and the only enchantment on this equipment is one that boosts the wearers magic resistance ridiculously high. Something like the armor the Empires Magic Armor Corps wears. Since its the armor of the Hero King, itd be problematic to let anyone but me use it, and therere probably not going to be many chances for me to use it, either. If it was just going to be sitting and gathering dust in the royal treasury, I figured having it on display here was a more effective use for it.

If more people came to the museum to see it, it would help cover the cost of running the museum. The problem was keeping it guarded, but that was what I had an elite unit from the Forbidden Army on security detail here for.

After watching me confidently explain all this, Roroa sighed. Good grief... Wouldnt Big Sister Cia pitch a fit if she heard about it?

Oh...! Yeah, that was for sure. These items could have been said to be the face of the country.

W-Well, its not like Im selling them off or anything, I said. Im putting them to good use here, so I dont think theres any need to go out of my way to tell Liscia about it...

Um... I think its probably too late for that, Aisha said apologetically, at which point I felt a tap on my shoulder.

Huh?

Sooouuuma?

When I turned around, Liscia was standing there with a smile on her face. Behind her was Juna, with her hands held together as if to say she was sorry.

Wh-What are the two of you doing here? I stuttered.

I said Id let Roroa have this one, but I never said I wouldnt secretly be following you, Liscia said, taking a tone that made it sound like she had done nothing wrong and had the right to be upset with me.

Im sorry, Juna added apologetically. We were supposed to just watch over you from the shadows...

Theyd been following us all this time?!

Aisha nodded knowingly. So the presence that I felt really was the two of you.

Aisha?! If you noticed, you could have told me...

Souma! Liscia barked.

Y-Yes?!

From the next little while, it was time for Liscia to lecture me. We would be causing trouble for the other visitors if we did it in front of the exhibit, so we relocated to a corner of the garden and she made me kneel in front of her on the lawn while she lectured me.

What did I think I was doing with national treasures? How dare I, as one who was summoned as a hero, put the heros equipment on display like some curiosity? I needed to have more awareness of my role as king! It went on, and on, and on. Liscia was too serious for her own good, so she couldnt stand it when I didnt do these things properly.

Um... Lady Liscia, its not as if His Majesty meant any harm, Aisha said.

He did it for the benefit of this country, so cut him some slack, Roroa added.

This is Lady Roroas day to go on a date, so I think youve lectured him enough... Juna murmured.

Aisha, Roroa, and Juna stepped in, so the lecture was comparatively short. Yes, her lectures were usually longer.

Honestly, Ill let it slide this time, in deference to you three, but... Listen, Souma, Liscia snapped. Some of the nobles that care about authority hate things like this. Thats why you need to consult with me properly before just doing this sort of thing. If I, as someone from the Royal House of Elfrieden, give permission, you wont needlessly upset the nobles.

...Yes, maam, I said humbly. Im very sorry.

She was so right that there was nothing I could say in response. The reason Liscia would lecture me for so long was that she truly cared for my well-being. I knew that, so I gladly accepted it.

Once the lecture was over and done with, Roroa clapped her hands twice. Now then, lets get back to that date, shall we?

Ah! Sorry, Roroa, Liscia said guiltily. Sorry for coming along after saying Id let you have it to yourselves.

Hmm, well, its not like I dont understand how you two feel. Aint much I can do about it now that youre here, anyway, so lets go around together. Roroa wrapped herself around Liscias arm fawningly. Weve got quite a crowd here, so hows about some shopping?

That sounds good, Liscia nodded. Why dont we have Souma carry everyones bags as a punishment?

I-Im starting to get hungry, you know, Aisha complained.

Hee hee! Then why dont we go to Cafe Lorelei first? Juna giggled.

Sounds good.

Before I knew it, our plans for the afternoon had been decided without my being able to get a word in edgewise.

When faced with these powerful girls, even if I was the king or the hero, I was no match for them.

Come on, Souma, lets hurry along, Liscia announced, taking my hand.

Theres more fun to be had yet, Darlin, Roroa added, grabbing the other one.

Somehow, as they pulled me along by the arms, I felt like I was being shown exactly what the future balance of power between us was going to look like.

By the way, we discussed the matter of the heros equipment later, and settled on displaying it just once a year for a limited time only. It meant less security was needed, and the event would feel like something special, so that was good.

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