How a Realist Hero Rebuilt The Kingdom

Book 6: Chapter 6

In the northwest of the Kingdom of Friedonia was what would, in later years, come to be called the Plains of Grief.

It was said that the name originated with a beautiful girl who, crying for her lover who would not return, had created a pond with her tears. There was, as a matter of fact, a pond in the Plains of Grief, and the local farmers used it as a source of water for agricultural purposes. It is said that this dramatic legend of tragic love has made the heart of many a young maiden who visited this land flutter.

However, those who knew the truth behind the legend could only smile wryly.

Wow, Liscia said, admiring the view outside the window of the gondola.

Right now, we were up in the air. I could ride on Nadens back, but if Liscia joined me there, the ryuus protection wouldnt cover her, and she would be exposed to the wind and cold. Because of that, Liscia and I rode in a gondola designed to be carried by wyverns, and we had Naden carry it in her ryuu form.

Naden swam through the sky far faster than a wyvern could fly. Watching the scenery race past, Liscia said somewhat excitedly, Look, Souma. Shes way faster than a wyvern.

Gwah! I exclaimed.

Hold on, whats wrong?! Why are you suddenly grabbing your chest?

No... I only know it as a line from an old RPG, but hearing it come out of your mouth was a shock...

But why?!

Yeah, she was never going to understand why I felt so pained to hear it, and she didnt have to understand it. I hugged Liscia close as she looked at me with a perplexed look.

Please, stay with me, I told her.

I dont know whats gotten you so worried, but... of course Im going to. Liscia rested her head on my shoulder. The two of us... will be together forever.

Liscia...

Heyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy! When we started getting a good atmosphere going, there was an angry roar from up top. You make me carry you around, then you go and flirt with each other?!

Oh, sorry, I said. Couldnt help myself...

What do you mean you couldnt help yourself?! For a start, you could ride up on my back!

Then the three of us couldnt talk, though.

In her ryuu form, Naden spoke using something like telepathy, so she could talk without regard for the walls of the gondola, or the sound of the wind whipping by. But if I rode on Nadens back, I couldnt talk to Liscia in the gondola.

Liscia leaned over and whispered in my ear, Youre doing this on purpose because Nadens reaction is so cute, arent you?

Nah, I whispered back. Well, maybe a little.

Youve developed a bit of a nasty streak yourself, you know that?

Well, being surrounded by such a difficult group of girls, Ive had plenty of training.

...Are you including me in that?

Come on, I told you not to leave me out of the... Huh...? Nadens complaining cut out midway. While I was wondering why that might be, Naden suddenly added, Hey, could you two look at the ground for a moment?

I opened the window, and Liscia and I looked down at the ground below while flinching at the wind that rushed into the gondola.

Wha?!

In the fields beneath us, there were a number of big holes. Craters, big and small, had formed there. It looked like the area had been hit by a localized meteorite storm.

Its like the area was bombarded by a wyvern unit... Liscia whispered.

Bombarded?! I never heard anything about that from Hakuya! I cried.

Wait, Souma! This is right next to the village where Aisha and the others were waiting, isnt it?!

Ah! Lets hurry. Naden, Im counting on you!

Roger that!

Naden performed a sudden dive down to the village where Aisha and the others were waiting.

We had Naden let us off near the village and assume human form, then we went through the entrance to the village. Unlike the beaten-up fields, the village showed no sign of being any different from how it was when I was last here.

Well, what were those big holes all about, then? While I was wondering that...

Stomp, stomp, stomp, stomp. I heard the sound of heavy footfalls, and then, Your Majestyyyyyyy!

I saw Aisha racing toward us at an incredible speed.

With the amount of inertia she had behind her, she was almost like a runaway horse or a wild rhino, and as she got closer, I could hear alarm bells sounding in my head. This was bad. I tried to turn and run the other way, but...

Your Majestyyyy! I finally caught youuuu!

Gwah!

Souma?!

Without even the time to fully turn, she rapidly closed in on me, and I caught a flying tackle-hug with my side. The impact was like being run over by a small car.

...Is this going to be okay? Did she just break, like, two of my ribs?

However, my hell had only just begun.

Why did you suddenly disappear?! That was so mean of you, deserting me like that! Let me stay with you always! Aisha hugged me tightly through her tears.

The words she was saying were cute, and she looked like a young girl trying to get me to indulge her; but this was Aisha, the mightiest warrior in our entire country. With her strength, when she squeezed me tight, I could feel my bones creaking.

Aisha! This isnt just a hug anymore! Its a bear hug! I wailed.

Ohhhhh, sirrrrrrrrrrrrrre! she cried out, squeezing me even harder.

I give, I give, I give! I tried tapping the ground, but Aisha wasnt about to stop.

Unable to watch us any longer, Liscia said to Naden with sigh, ...Naden, would you?

Can I? In their current state, Ill end up hitting Souma, too, you know?

Id say its partially his own fault. You have my permission.

...Roger that.

With that, Naden leveled a finger at us. Huh?! What was she planning to do?!

Its okay, I can adjust the power level.

No, no, thats not the issue...

Take that! Bzzap!

Gyahhh!

Taking a hit from Nadens electric shock, both Aisha and I ended up sprawled out on our backs.

Though I had finally been released from that bear hug, I did wish she could have saved me in a more peaceful way. Honestly... Id gotten tackled, squeezed, crushed, and finally electrocuted. These past few minutes left me completely exhausted.

When we arrived at the inn where Aisha and the others had been staying, Tomoe welcomed me with a smile that was like a flower blooming.

Big Brother! Thank goodness you were all right!

I gave her a gentle pat on the head. Sorry for worrying you. Wheres everyone else?

Tomoe said, About that... glancing behind her.

Following her line of sight, I saw Hal, Kaede, and Carla passed out at a single table. The three of them had looks that seemed to say, Im burned out, like white ash, with all the energy and vitality gone from their faces. Their clothes looked a little beat up, too.

Wh-What happened...?

All three of them... They tried their best.

Tomoe got a far-off look in her eye as she related what happened in the time I was gone.

The story turns back to a few days earlier...

Sire... Sirrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrre!

Halbert narrowly dodged Aishas greatsword which she was swinging around as she cried. Whoa! That was dangerous!

Having cut through nothing but air, Aishas sword continued on to slam into the ground, leaving an indentation about five meters across. Seeing that power, Halberts cheeks twitched.

Th-Thats getting into one-hit kill territory. Wasnt this supposed to be training?

Stay on your toes, Carla said, holding her sword at the ready. She was standing beside Halbert. This is genuine combat now.

Oh, cripes. How did it come to this...? Halbert said with a sigh, holding his favorite short spear in both hands. Honestly... Im holding a grudge for this one, Souma.

Its not Masters fault, but... I cant say I dont understand the feeling, Carla agreed.

You can say that again, Kaede added. She was behind the two of them with both her hands on the ground. I think Ill be asking His Majesty Souma for hazard pay... you know!

Crack! Crunch.

When Kaede pressed down with both hands, the ground around Aisha swelled up, forming walls to surround her. They thought that would be enough to bind her, but...

Why, sire... Why...? With teary eyes, Aisha swung at the walls enclosing her again and again.

Seconds later, the earthen walls came tumbling down, falling apart like a carelessly assembled pile of wooden blocks. On closer inspection, the earth had been cut into brick-sized chunks. Hard rocks and soft earth were both cut into exactly the same shape. This couldnt have been done without a sharp edge and a frightening degree of strength.

When they saw that sight, all three of them felt their cheeks twitch.

I like to think Im pretty strong myself, but... Halbert began.

I can feel my pride as a military woman weakening, Carla confessed. Though, I do realize Im a maid now.

Im seriously considering a strategy where we just throw Madam Aisha into the middle of an enemy army on her own, said Kaede.

Without paying any mind to her three clearly disturbed companions, Aisha wailed, Sirrrrrrrrre! Why, why did you leave me and go on by yourseeeelf?!

She makes it sound like Souma/Master/His Majesty is dead! her three companions exclaimed.

What am I to do now that youve left me behiiiiind?!

No, Souma/Master/His Majesty isnt dead, okay!

The three of them kept pointing that out, but Aisha wasnt listening.

Now, as to the question of why Aisha and the other three were fighting, it had all begun the day before yesterday, when Souma ended up going to the Star Dragon Mountain Range alone. Even though the people from the Star Dragon Mountain Range had circumstances that made it inevitable, the fact was still that Souma had suddenly been abducted. Aisha, who was also Soumas bodyguard, in addition to being the candidate to become the second primary queen, was distraught over it.

When one of the dragon priestesses in the service of Mother Dragon Tiamat had been dispatched to meet with her, Aisha tried to grab the envoy with a focused look in her eyes. Thankfully, Halbert and Carla managed to restrain her, so it hadnt turned into a major incident.

Because the fault lay with the Star Dragon Mountain Range in this case, the dragon priestess had been apologetic, but it was a situation that could have easily developed into a diplomatic incident.

Even after receiving an explanation, Aisha was still crestfallen. She was soon so worried about Souma that her mind always seemed to be elsewhere.

When Tomoe became concerned about her, she consulted with Carla about what to do, and they decided that training would help take her mind off things.

Yes, this had started as training.

Wahhhh... Sirrrrrre...

Once they had gotten started, though, it turned into Aisha blowing off steam.

Aisha had always been known for her martial prowess, but it turned out shed been holding back. Now, with her feelings let loose, and the limiter that kept her true power in check not functioning, the ground was pounded full of holes by her unrestrained prowess, and her training partners, Halbert, Kaede, and Carla, were beaten up and exhausted.

While watching Aisha cry like a child, Carla smiled dryly. If she feels that strongly about him, Master is a lucky man.

Its a heavy love, Halbert said, spinning his shoulders in circles to loosen up his body. In an itll-crush-you-in-one-hit sort of way. Wait, dont we get any backup? You sent a messenger kui to the castle, didnt you?

It seems the best they can manage is to put up a safety cordon and keep the general populace away from this whole area, said Kaede. They must be relying on us to work something out on-site. They cant let people who dont know the situation into a place where the future second primary queen may do something to embarrass herself.

Halberts shoulders slumped. You make it all sound so easy. They dont know the suffering we go through out in the field.

Whining will get us nowhere, said Carla. Focus on the matter at hand for now, Sir Halbert. Though she was just as beat up as he was, Carla seemed full of life for some reason.

Hey... Why are you so energetic? Halbert asked.

I can feel the warriors blood inside me seething for the first time in a long while. Ive done nothing but maid work lately, so Ive been getting close to forgetting I was once a military woman. Oh, dont you fret. Compared to the humiliation of being forced to wear that sexy costume (designed by the utter sadist, Serina) and play Miss Dran (the evil female commander who appeared in the tokusatsu program Overman Silvan, now airing to rave reviews all across the Kingdom of Friedonia) in front of a Jewel Voice Broadcast crystal, this is nothing!

...Youve got it hard, too, huh.

For Halbert who had, until just recently, been forced to do descent training as part of the dratrooper unit that Souma had proposed, he couldnt help but sympathize with another person being run ragged by their superiors.

Looking at the two of them, Kaede shrugged her shoulders in dismay. I think thats enough of that silly conversation, you know.

Dont call it silly! This is important to us, okay?!

Im telling you, now isnt the time! If you let your guards down... youll wind up dead, you know.

Augh, geez! Having been warned, Halbert looked at Aisha, who had her greatsword at the ready. Whatever! Lets do this!

Halbert and Carla kicked off the ground, charging toward Aisha.

Halbert and Carlas battle had only just begun.

...And thats how we got to where we are now, said Tomoe.

Just how much of a rampage did she go on to leave Hal and the others in that state? I asked.

They tried to avoid troubling the villagers, at least, by leading her into the fields near the village and fighting there. But it was still scary, with explosions like there was a war going on.

What, you were the one who left all those holes in the ground? I said jokingly, with a look at Aisha, despite not having meant to. But Aisha was deliberately looking away and pretending she couldnt hear me.

When Aisha was let totally loose, she caused changes to the areas topography? I thought of her as a loyal dog before, but when she took it this far, she was more like a weapon of mass destruction.

Ill contact the castle and have them fill the indentations back in, I thought.

For the time being, we waited for Hal and the others to recover, then went up to the four-person room where they were staying. I introduced Naden to everyone.

This is Naden Delal, a ryuu from the Star Dragon Mountain Range who Im going to be forming a contract with. The contract is one that is premised on us getting married, so shes planned to be my second secondary queen. Naden, this dark elf warrior is my future second primary queen, Aisha. The little mystic wolf girl is my honorary little sister, Tomoe. The other three are my vassals, Halbert, Kaede, and Carla.

Carla was actually my slave, but explaining all the details behind that would be too time-consuming, so just calling her my vassal was good enough.

Naden turned to everyone and bowed her head slightly. Im Naden. Nice to meet all of you.

Ohh, Madam Naden, is it? As fellow queens, lets work together to build up His Majesty. Aisha shook Nadens hand in a friendly manner.

...Huh?

I was pretty sure you were going to be opposed to it...? I asked.

Hm? Why would that be?

No, its just, you almost tried to kill the envoy from the Star Dragon Mountain Range, didnt you?

That was because they just went and took you away! Aisha explained with a snort. I was angry at the Star Dragon Mountain Range because they took my sire away from me. But Madam Naden bought me my sire back. I have every reason to be grateful to her, and none at all to be angry.

I dont really get the basis for that reasoning...

People who take your food are bad people, said Aisha. People who bring you food are good people.

Its that simple?! And, wait, Im like food now?!

Well, considering how devoted Aisha was to eating food, I didnt feel bad knowing she loved me just as much. I was a bit worried that my second primary queen was becoming more and more like a puppy, though.

So... you dont want to hog all the food to yourself, then? Liscia asked Aisha.

What kind of question was that?!

Aisha gave her a blank look and tilted her head to the side quizzically. Hm? Rather than hog the food to myself, wont it taste better if we all eat together as a family?

Liscia laughed. Ahaha! Im glad thats the kind of person you are, Aisha.

???

Liscia smiled as a bunch of question marks floated over Aishas head.

I feel bad saying this when they had such a harmonious accord going, but it was a bit chilling that I was being treated like everyones food.

...Well, it was better than them drawing daggers at each other, at least.

While I was thinking that, Tomoe introduced herself to Naden. Im Big Brother and Big Sisters adopted little sister, Tomoe. Its a pleasure to meet you, Naden.

Nice to meet you, too. You seem like a cute girl with a good head on your shoulders, just like Liscia was telling me.

Hee hee! Am I really?

Yeah. It feels like a real perk, getting a cute little sister like you!

Eek! That tickles!

Naden hugged Tomoe. Naden was petite, but still much larger than the eleven-year-old Tomoe, so the younger girl fit in right against her chest.

Now then, with everyones introductions out of the way, I explained the flow of events so far to everyone whod been left holding down the fort. I told them about the reason Madam Tiamat called me, and the storm that she (?) was worried about. That, and about how Naden was a special kind of being called a ryuu.

Thats my sire, always sniffing out talented individuals wherever he goes! Aisha declared.

Shed chosen a weird thing to be impressed with. What was I? A pig sniffing for truffles...?

Anyway, once they had heard everything I had to say, Carla was the first to raise her hand.

I understand that Liscia is able to come with us now, but the limit on the entourage you bring with you to the Star Dragon Mountain Range was five people, wasnt it? Doesnt that leave us with one too many?

Yeah... About that, I was thinking Id leave Tomoe here in the village.

Wha...? Tomoe was dumbstruck when she heard shed be left behind.

I felt guilty seeing the look on her face, like that of a kid whose field trip just got canceled because of rain, but her safety really did have to come first.

Now that we have the unknown element of the storm in the Star Dragon Mountain Range, I cant bring Tomoe with us anymore, I explained. Pathetic as it is, Im in a position where I have to have others protect me. There could be a situation where they cant protect both of us. Nothing can be allowed to happen to me, but if anything were to happen to Tomoe, I wouldnt be able to keep a level head.

...I understand, Tomoe said, being the reasonable girl that she was, but the way that her ears and tail drooped communicated her disappointment all too clearly. Ill wait here for you and everyone else to come back.

I patted Tomoe on the head. Even when this matter with the Star Dragon Mountain Range is settled, I intend to keep traveling until the number of marriage proposals I receive at the castle dies down. I want to try visiting other countries, too, and Ill definitely bring you with me, so Id like you to be patient for now. Thats a promise.

Okay... Big Brother.

When I wrapped my pinky finger around hers to seal our promise, Tomoes ears and tail perked back up just a little.

Once everyone was relieved to see Tomoe taking it a little better, Liscia asked, I understand what youre saying, but are we just going to leave Tomoe alone in the village like this? Im a little worried.

Its okay, I told her. Though they havent shown themselves, members of the Black Cats have been deployed to this village. So she wont be alone.

Really?

Yeah... Inugami.

The door to the four-person room opened, and a man wearing a black dog mask entered. This was Inugami, a member of the clandestine operations unit called the Black Cats, and the leader Kagetoras second-in-command.

Inugami came to stand in front of me then dropped to one knee. I have come at your behest.

Indeed, I said. While we are away in the Star Dragon Mountain Range, I want the Black Cats to look after Tomoe.

By your will.

Also, Inugami, as for you personally, instead of watching her from the shadows, I want you to stay by Tomoes side and give her someone to talk to. Your face is not widely known by the common people. You are permitted to remove that mask while youre in this village.

...Understood.

With that, Inugami removed the black dog mask he was wearing to reveal the face of a male beastman with a wolfs face. When he saw that face, Hal shot up from his chair.

Y-You! Youre Beo

Mind your tongue, Officer Halbert, he said sharply. I am only Inugami.

... Hal looked to me.

No, he could look all he wanted, but I wasnt about to give him an explanation. The only ones familiar with Beowulf were Liscia and Hal who had been in the Army, after all.

Looking at Inugami, Tomoe tilted her head to the side. Are you a mystic wolf, too, Mr. Inugami?

No, my people call themselves the gray wolf race. Because our faces arent human, after all.

But were both fellow wolf people, right? Lets be friends, please.

You are too kind, Little Sister. Inugami bowed his head to Tomoe.

They were a gray wolf and a mystic wolf, two races with outwardly similar appearances, and their ages were twenty years apart, so anyone looking at them would see them as a father and daughter. Despite that, they were in a weird position where the father was bowing to his daughter. Well, it looked like theyd get along, so itd probably be fine.

With that all sorted out, I turned to the others. Naden will be taking us to the Star Dragon Mountain Range. If we left now, wed arrive in the middle of the night, so well be setting out first thing tomorrow morning. Plan accordingly.

Then are we staying in this village tonight? Kaede asked, and I nodded.

That would be what it means, yes. Lets see, as for how well split up the rooms...

Lets get one room for two and two rooms for four, Liscia said before I could get any further. Halbert, Kaede, Carla, and Inugami will take one room. Naden, Tomoe, and I will take another. Souma and Aisha, you take the two-person room.

Can we?! Hearing shed be sharing a room with me, Aisha wore a full-face smile.

I couldnt argue with that face, so I whispered to Liscia, Erm... Are you okay with this?

You had her worried sick, so be sweet to her for today, at least.

...Okay.

I didnt know what to say. Liscia was shaping up into a lovely woman, one suited to her role as the first primary queen.

It wasnt just Liscia, I guess. Juna, Roroa, and even Aisha had each grown with every passing day since I met them, and they were all growing more attractive. I was sure Naden would probably be the same...

I needed to grow, too, to make sure they wouldnt desert me.

That night, Aisha and I ended up sleeping in the same room.

You had her worried sick, so be sweet to her for today, at least. I remembered what Liscia had whispered to me.

...Shes right, I thought. I caused her a lot of worry this time, so today, Im going to be really sweet to Aisha. Ill do anything I can for her, whatever she wants.

I was prepared to do that, but...

Aisha had a surprising request.

This is all you want? ...Youre sure? I asked.

Yes! This is the best, sire.

So now I was sitting on the bed, while Aisha lay sideways with her head resting in my lap. In other words, this was a lap pillow. What Aisha had asked for was a lap pillow, and a head pat. Even just patting her head like shed asked, and running my fingers through her hair, which was currently down, was enough to get Aishas face to melt. It was kind of cute.

With an entranced look on her face, Aisha gave me a satisfied smile. When I was giving you a lap pillow in the wagon ride here, I thought, Id like His Majesty to do this for me, too. Im very satisfied to have you doing it now.

...Im getting off cheaply, huh? I couldnt help but smile wryly, wondering if something so simple was good enough. I was ready to do anything for you, though. Liscia told me to be sweet to you today, so if you want to, Aisha, we could do something more... sexy...

Oh, geez! It was embarrassing just saying it!

But given that Liscia had put us in the same room... that had probably been her intention.

If Aisha gave birth before Liscia it could result in a succession crisis, but Aisha was from a long-lived race, so it wouldnt be that easy for her to conceive. Even if we did it here, it was practically guaranteed that she wouldnt conceive before Liscia.

Thats probably why Liscia put the two of us alone together, after all, I said shyly.

Aisha chuckled. Hee hee. Thats so like Lady Liscia. Not only does she think about the two of you, she also considers me, Madam Juna, Madam Roroa, and... was it Madam Naden? Its strange for me to say it, but I think shes a lovely woman.

...She sure is.

Thats why I want to be just as lovely for her. Well, of course, Id like to have you make love to me, but if I let myself give in to desire here, Id just be indulging in Lady Liscias kindness. I dont want that. Aisha snorted. Thats why Ill wait until after you and Lady Liscia have a child. In any contest, no matter who my opponent is, and even if its a battle for love, I want to win straight-up in a fair fight.

Fighting fairly in a battle for love, huh. That was so like Aisha.

I think youre plenty lovely yourself, Aisha, I said.

Hee hee... Youre embarrassing me.

Then Aisha sat up and turned over, looking at me with upturned eyes as she said, But, sire, Im still thinking about how I want you to make love to me, you know? When you suddenly disappeared, I felt so lonely.

R-Right...

So, please, hurry up and make a baby. As fast as you can.

...Ill do my best.

Aisha brought her face close, pressing her lips to mine.

Come to think of it... this was my first kiss with Aisha.

While my eyes were still wide with surprise, Aisha grinned and said, Allow me this, at least. And... when youve made that baby, be sure you make love to me, too, would you? Darling.

It went without saying that that cute gesture left me as red as a boiled octopus.

The next day...

Now then, Your Majesty! Lets head off to the Star Dragon Mountain Range!

Aishas face was beaming as she declared that, full of energy, so Liscia and Naden gave me a knowing look.

Remembering our conversation from the day before, I felt embarrassed.