How a Realist Hero Rebuilt the Kingdom: Volume 1

In order to resolve the food crisis, serious reforms over a long period of time would be necessary. However, during that time there would be people starving, and there was the worry some might starve to death at this rate. What was more, the first to die would be babies of nursing age, with their weak constitutions and high need for nutrition.

Children were a national treasure. I couldn’t let them starve to death.

That said, even if I wanted to deliver food to all the starving people of the country, there were limits to how much support the country could offer. That was why, alongside longer-term strategies, short-term countermeasures with immediate effects would be necessary.

“And that’s these ingredients we don’t have a custom of eating?” Liscia asked.

“They’re eaten in other countries, but we don’t have a custom of eating them here,” I said. “If we develop those customs, it will make it harder to starve. It simply increases the food supply, after all.”

“Is there going to be anything so convenient?” she asked doubtfully.

“That’s what we’re checking…Now then, let’s change locations.”

“Change locations? Where to?” Seeing Liscia tilt her head to the side quizzically, I responded with a laugh.

“We’re deciding whether we can use these ingredients or not. We’re off to the cafeteria, obviously.”

“Hey, Souma. I understand why you want to use the cafeteria, but… don’t we have too many people?” Liscia asked.

As she had pointed out, the cafeteria was noisy, but in a different way than usual.

In this cafeteria which was used by the guards and maids (and recently, even the king), there were usually more than thirty long tables set up in order to accommodate a large number of people eating at the same time. However, at present, all but one of the long tables had been taken away to make a wide open space. Despite this, the cafeteria was full of people and equipment, and there was only a little free space around the long table.

The massive jewel floating in the room was eating up a particularly large amount of space.

“Another Jewel Voice Broadcast?” Liscia asked.

“It’s a horrible waste that they only used a handy thing like this to read out declarations of war,” I said. “I’ve got to put it to better use.”

This Jewel Voice Broadcast was kind of like television. It could relay information to the people immediately, so airing some entertainment programs was bound to help win the support of the people. I supposed it did have a couple of faults in that the lack of recording technology meant all broadcasts had to be live, and that the video was only available in larger towns and cities (though apparently sound-only broadcasts were available in even the smallest of rural villages). That was just one thing where I would have to wait for the technology (magic?) to advance.

I had been thinking of starting with Nodo Jiman, the amateur singing contest, as our first entertainment program. Through the singing cafe where Juna worked, I had been calling out to the people who had come to show off their “gift of singing” during my gathering of gifted people, and we were making preparations to have them debut as singers and idols.

Elfrieden’s first public broadcaster, huh… I thought. The dreams are limitless.

“What’re you grinning for?” Liscia asked coldly while I imagined the possibilities. “You look creepy.”

I coughed. “Ahem…For our current project, the goal is to introduce the custom of eating foods that are not commonly eaten in this country. Advertising them to the people at the same time will be more efficient, right? That’s why I brought some beautiful ladies here, as well.”

“Like Juna?”

“You too, Liscia. Oh, and Aisha and Tomoe, as well. They say the ABCs of drawing viewership are animals, beauties, and children. That’s why I have Liscia the orthodox pretty girl, Juna whose mature charm belies her young age, Aisha with her healthy dark skin, and Tomoe, who is animal-eared, a beauty, and a child, as well. With this many beautiful specimens here, the people’s eyes will be glued to the screen.”

“M-Me, too…” Liscia was blushing scarlet. As for the other three:

“It’s an honor, sire,” said Juna.

“Yes, Your Majesty! I will endeavor to meet your expectations!” Aisha added.

“Yesh! I–I’ll do my best!” Tomoe cried.

Each of them showed their enthusiasm. Meanwhile, Hakuya was quickly getting things in order for the broadcast, and Poncho was hastily double-checking the ingredients. When I saw them like this, I felt like I had gotten a good group of people together. Of course, I still wanted more.

I gave the order to everyone. “Okay, let the broadcast begin.”

◇　◇　◇

That day, every city deserving of the name in Elfrieden was packed with people.