How a Realist Hero Rebuilt the Kingdom: Volume 1

“…It is no longer an era where we can survive just by protecting our forests. If this country falls, the forest will be threatened. Some feel that we dark elves need to change. I am one of them,” Aisha said clearly.

“Well… That’s a rather liberal statement for one from such a conservative race,” I said.

“True, I am seen as a heretic. However, if we don’t do something… King Souma?”

“Yes?”

“I do not need the prize money. Instead, I ask you to allow me to address you directly.”

The hall was abuzz. Aisha was trying to make a direct appeal to the king. Even in Japan, there was a time when that would have been a capital crime. It seemed this country was no different.

Liscia and Ludwin’s hands went to their swords, but I motioned for them to stop.

“I will allow it. Say what you will.”

“Souma?! That’s not—!”

“She was ready to risk a lot to say this to me. As king, I should hear her out.”

“Thank you. I will speak, then.” Aisha puffed out her chest with pride and spoke. “Recently, there have been a large number of incursions into the God-Protected Forest by other races. They harvest mushrooms and other edible wild plants, hunting down the forest beasts. I understand that you have a food crisis; however, if you steal these things from us, we will be the ones who starve! We have had no choice but to take up arms against the intruders. Even now, there are clashes taking place throughout the forest. King Souma, please, crack down on the offenders!”

“I see…”

Basically, she wants me to forbid the people who are going without food from hunting or harvesting wild plants in the forest. When there’s a food crisis, if you go to an area where distribution is limited, the crisis is even deeper there. If there just so happens to be a forest with plentiful resources nearby, I guess they might enter it even in the face of dark elf attacks.

“Sure, you’ve got it. In regards to the God-Protected Forest, there are already laws restricting entrance, so I can’t issue a new ban, but I’ll see to it that food aid reaches the people in the vicinity at once. If, even after that, there are still those trying to enter the God-Protected Forest, we will recognize them as poachers and prosecute them.”

“Thank you. You have my gratitude.”

With those words, in place of bowing, Aisha brought her hand to her chest and closed her eyes. I wasn’t sure if that was a gesture of gratitude or just a pose showing relief at accomplishing her task.

“Still, Aisha, poaching is an unspeakable crime, but if we think about the future, would it not be wise to consider trade with those outside the forest? Aren’t there things in the outside world that draw your interest?” I asked.

“Well, yes, but… We have no likely trade goods.”

“Hmm… What about lumber? Don’t you have some from periodic thinning?”

Living in a forest, they must have had more wood than they knew what to do with. In the outside world, on the other hand, demand for it was high. It ought to make a decent trade good… That was what I thought, but…

“Periodic thinning… What might that be?” Aisha asked with a serious look on her face, and I couldn’t help but be dumbstruck for a moment.

Huh? Don’t tell me they don’t do periodic forest thinning in this world?

“I’m referring to the periodic felling of a set number of trees in order to maintain the forest…”

As I said this, I glanced to Liscia, Marx and Ludwin, but all of them shook their heads. Apparently, this was the first they’d ever heard of it. It was the same with Aisha.

“To protect the forest… you cut down trees?”

“Of course. If you leave trees alone, they just keep getting bigger, and their leaves and branches spread out. If they block out the sunlight, young trees can’t grow. Besides, if they’re growing too densely, it impacts their lifespan, so you end up with with nothing but old trees that are thin and weak, like beansprouts. That sort of beansprout forest is easily be destroyed by snow and wind. On top of that, if the sun doesn’t reach the undergrowth, it all dries up. That causes the land to lose its ability to hold water, which can be a cause of landslides. This is all common knowledge… right?”

Looking around me, it was like seeing a collection of bobbleheads that could only shake their heads left and right.

Aisha suddenly prostrated herself before me. “King Souma… no, Your Majesty!”

“Wh-What?!”

“I humbly beg your forgiveness for my earlier rudeness!”

“Uh, I didn’t even care, but… Wait, is it okay for you to lower your head like that?”

“I do not mind! Because, from this very moment, I pledge to serve you loyally for the rest of my life!”