How a Realist Hero Rebuilt the Kingdom: Volume 1

After that, we made small talk for a while and then parted with Sir Ludwin.

When I get back to my room, I’ll send another letter encouraging Duke Carmine to meet with Souma, I thought to myself.

◇　◇　◇

“We really do suffer from a lack of capable people!” I complained.

“I–I suppose…” Liscia said.

I tried to persuade Liscia, but she looked a little bewildered.

Because I had been working my ability so hard, it might have leveled up. Lately, I could move up to four things at the same time (effectively, I could do the work of five people), but even with that, it was only the equivalent of having one extra person. A person who lacked any knowledge or skills that I myself lacked. What I needed were people with knowledge I didn’t have. People with skills I didn’t have. I desperately wanted to have people like that.

— And so, I decided to gather them.

“So, that being that, I think I’ll use a Jewel Voice Broadcast.”

“A Jewel Voice Broadcast?”

The Jewel Voice Broadcast was a system for delivering the voice of the king to all regions of the country. In the Jewel Voice Room in the palace, there was a floating jewel that must have had a diameter of around two meters. The jewel was said to be imbued with the magic of the spirits of air, sylphs, and the spirits of water, undines. It would deliver the king’s voice to all around the country, and in towns with the appropriate setup, it could even project his image. Past kings had apparently used the Jewel Voice Broadcast to unveil a new constitution, or to declare war on another nation, that sort of thing.

“I’ll bet you’ll be the first to use it to gather capable people,” Liscia said, seemingly impressed.

Was it really such a wild idea? “How do you normally gather them?” I asked.

“Through personal connections, or holding written exams and hiring those who pass.”

“Aren’t those methods pretty biased? What’s the literacy rate in this country?”

“Half the people can read, and three-tenths can write.”

“That’s no good at all. Only three-tenths of the population can take the exams.”

“Just so you know, that’s pretty average in this world…” she said.

Hmm… Guess that’s what happens when you don’t have compulsory education.

“Anyone can be taught to read and write,” I said. “Surely, the quality of a candidate shouldn’t be decided by his or her ability to afford lessons. It’s seven-tenths of the population. Just how many diamonds are you planning to leave in the rough?”

“…There’s nothing I can say against that,” Liscia said, sounding ashamed.

Though, I suppose she’s not the one I need to be telling this, huh? Really, this country needs to be fixed from the ground up.

“So, what conditions are you going to use in your call?” she asked.

“I’m considering the wording. Though, really, I intend to borrow the words of a great man I admire.”

“A great man?”

“Yeah. A ‘crafty hero in a troubled land.’”

◇　◇　◇

“If you have a gift, I will put it to use!”

Through capital, city, town, and village alike, Souma’s voice echoed.

In the capital, the cities, and even the larger towns, Souma’s image was projected, as well. The receivers in the larger areas released a mist into the air, then used the refraction of light to recreate the scene taking place inside the Jewel Voice Room.

To put it in modern terms, they were receiving a video feed from the filming location and projecting it live onto a mid-air screen. The quality was grainy, but people were excited to have their first glimpse of the new king.

Some were bewildered by his youth, others by his plain appearance. The fault for this lay with Souma, who had felt it too bothersome put on formal attire or even his crown.

Just seeing Princess Liscia standing at his side without looking particularly tense reassured the people. Though they had heard he hadn’t forced the king to abdicate and usurped the throne, until they saw him for themselves, they had still harbored some uncertainty. Especially in the case of Princess Liscia, whose dignified beauty had made her something of an idol to the people, some had voiced concern for her wellbeing.

As they went about their business, Souma’s speech continued.

“My people, our country is faced with a crisis of heretofore unseen proportions! The grave matter of the food crisis, the economic downturn which stems from it, the influx of refugees from lands seized by the Demon Lord… Any one of these things alone would be a serious malaise which threatened this country. Yet, there is still more! The Empire has expanded its influence, and some of our neighbors watch us with eager eyes, ready to pounce! The former king, recognizing that this situation was beyond his power to solve, has entrusted this country to my humble self.