How a Realist Hero Rebuilt The Kingdom

Book 6: Chapter SS2

Side Story 2: Nameless Heroes

Every evening in the Kingdom of Friedonia, a number of variety programs aired on the Jewel Voice Broadcast.

Depending on the day, it may be a singing program, or a serialized drama, a performance program centered around comedy and tricks, but all of them had a firm grip on the peoples hearts. With the high praise those programs received from the people of the kingdom, the number of fixed broadcaster receivers kept rising. Now they were even placed in small towns, and in the large cities there were multiple installations, increasing the number of places where people could watch. There were no means of recording, and all broadcasts were live, so there was a lack of freedom there, but broadcasts had taken solid root as part of this countrys culture.

Out of all those broadcast programs, there was a documentary drama currently on that had become a hit with the people.

The name of the program was Nameless Heroes.

[Nameless Heroes Episode 3: The Closers of the Gap]

What set this drama apart was the black curtain set up at the back of the screen.

Because the Jewel Voice Broadcast still only allowed for live broadcasts, drama programs involved the actors acting out the scripts the moment the broadcast began. Because of that, it was normal to have a proper set (backdrops, and such) behind the performing actors, to make it feel as little like a play as possible; but this drama was shot in front of a black curtain.

The other thing that stood out was that the characters all wore black hoods like the kuroko stagehands in a kabuki production. This, despite them wearing outfits appropriate to their role from the neck down.

Now, as for the effect this had: In combination with the black curtain, it made them appear to have no faces. Because it was a thin black cloth in front of their faces, the actors could see well enough to act, but the viewers watching the broadcast couldnt see the actors faces.

I believe you will see why this manner of presentation was used as we watch the program.

Now then, on the stage for todays drama there was a scene overflowing with the sorts of things seen in an experimental laboratory.

There were two young researchers, a man and a woman, wearing white coats, who were using a set of balance scales to measure out an amount of powder, or peering up into a round-bottomed flask being heated with an alcohol burner.

Oh, geez! The male researcher who had been measuring with the scales pounded on the table.

Hey, Toto, those chemicals are dangerous, so dont go shaking things, the female researcher said critically when she saw how her junior colleague was behaving.

The male researcher she called Toto wasnt done being angry yet. But, Momo! When we graduated from the Royal Academy, we entered Cosno Labs out of a passionate drive to develop something that will help the people of this country! Like Madam Genia of the House of Maxwell does! And yet... the work that comes our way is always just to research her research...

Unable to refute his words, the female researcher called Momo sighed. ...Its true, Genia has produced a lot of incredible inventions. But didnt Dr. Mattis always say that basic research is just as important?

Yeah, see, I cant accept that! Totos knuckles were white with frustration. Dr. Mattis is a great researcher! A great researcher whos produced results with slow, steady progress... but the only one who gets public praise is Genia, for her string of eccentric inventions!

...Yeah, Momo said. Well, I can understand the feeling...

Were you talking about me? While the two were talking, an elderly male researcher appeared.

This person was also wearing a black hood. In order to bring across the idea that he was elderly when the audience couldnt see his face, he wore his white coat a little more loosely than Toto or Momo, as if he was used to it, and he was wearing worn-out shoes, too.

Dr. Mattis! Toto and Momo cried out in unison.

This man was the chief researcher of this lab, Mattis Cosno.

Seeing the two of them stand bolt upright, Mattis laughed. Please, dont praise me so highly, Toto. I know better than anyone that Madam Genias imagination is far greater than my own. It suits me better to slowly build upon my studies, rather than come up with revolutionary ideas like hers.

But, Doctor!

Toto was about to say more, but Mattis held up a hand to stop him.

You want to develop something that will help the people of this country. You just said that, didnt you? The greatest wish of researchers and engineers is, and ever shall be, to create the things that will make tomorrow better than today. I cant say we dont want to be praised for what we do, but its not our primary motivation.

Doctor...

Now, if you understand that, lets work hard on our research again today. I hear weve just received another object of research from the capital. With that, Mattis placed some sort of lump on the table.

Looking at the reddish-black object that was kind of like a brick, Momo furrowed her brow. What is it, Doctor?

This, here, is a shock-absorbing material.

Shock-absorbing material?

Yes. When His Majesty asked Madam Genia, Id like you to develop a system for reducing the amount of shaking on the rhinosaurus train, she came up with the idea of using these sorts of shock-absorbing materials on the wheels.

Madam Genia again, huh... Totos voice had a displeased tone, but Mattis laughed it off.

Thats the researcher from the House of Maxwell for you. Keen insight, as always... However, because this shock-absorbing material uses the flesh from the inside of the giganto armadillos hard armor shell, it cant be mass-produced. It is hoped that the rhinosaurus trains will develop as a means of shipping freight, and of travel for the people. But without the ability to mass-produce them, theyre meaningless. The research request we received was to develop a viable alternative for this material.

It might seem like he was overexplaining things, but the fact was that Mattiss lines were explaining things to the viewer.

Momo banged on the shock-absorbing material. Its awfully hard, isnt it? she commented.

With that level of force, you arent going to do anything to a lump of this stuff, said Mattis. More than that, if a powerful force is exerted on it, it will change form to disperse the shock. In other words, the important properties of this material are toughness and elasticity.

Tough, but elastic... Wait, isnt that contradictory? Toto exclaimed.

Mattis laughed. Contradictory or not, were looking at it. The task entrusted to us is to find a mass-producible alternative to this material. Ill be counting on you two for your help.

Yes, Doctor!

With that, all the members of Cosno Labs (though, for the purposes of this play, there were only three actors) searched for a material that could be used as a replacement for this shock-absorbent material. However, they tried every material they could think of, and still couldnt find it.

Tough, but possessing elasticity. If they tested things with toughness, they lacked elasticity, and didnt function as shock absorbers. If they tested things with elasticity, they might function as shock absorbers, but they quickly broke.

These were parts to be used on freight and passenger cars drawn by massive rhinosauruses. If they failed one in a thousand, or even one in a million times, it would be a great tragedy. Because of that, they had to choose the materials carefully and strictly.

The three of them gradually showed greater and greater signs of fatigue.

There was a fade to black, and when the lights returned to the stage, Toto collapsed on his desk. Its hopeless! We just cant find a material thats both tough and elastic!

Yeah, Momo said with a sigh, putting a hand on Totos back. Im starting to think it was a miracle that this material was found in the first place.

Seeing the two of them so exhausted, Mattis let out a wry laugh and tried to encourage them. Now, now, theres no need to be in such a hurry. If you push yourselves too hard, youre not going to come up with good ideas. Lets try having a hot cup of milk, okay?

With that, Mattis rose from his seat... and it happened.

Hm? ...Whoa?! D-Doctor! Toto shouted and suddenly fell out of his chair.

Wh-Whats gotten into you, Toto?! Momo cried.

Is something the matter? Mattis asked.

When Momo and Mattis came over next to him, Toto was pointing in one direction, seeming frightened somehow. What he was pointing at, incredibly, was a pen that had fallen to the floor, and was seemingly floating in midair. The other two were flabbergasted.

No way... Is this magic? Momo asked.

No, we shouldnt have any mages in this lab who can use gravity manipulation magic, said Mattis.

B-But, Doctor, that pen is floating as we speak!

Hm... But the way it floats is strange. As if its been caught by something.

With that said, Mattis got closer, and passed his hand over the top of the pen. When he did, the pen moved with his right hand, as if it were attached to the bottom of it.

Huh?!

I see... So thats it.

While the two researchers were reacting with surprise, Mattis nodded sagely. Then, grasping the floating pen with his left hand, he had them take a good, close look at the space between the bottom of his hand and the pen.

Look closely. Dont you see something in between?

...Ah! Its very fine, but I do see something like a thread!

Hey, youre right! Its super thin, but there is a thread!

Hearing the two of them say that, Mattis smiled and nodded. Precisely. This is a spiders thread. If I were to guess, Id say that the falling pen got stuck to a strand of spider silk hanging from the desk.

O-Oh... It surprised me... Toto collapsed and exhausted to the ground. But a spiders silk is amazing, you know. Even though its so thin, it can hold up a pen.

I know, right? Even though its so soft, too.

...Ah! Mattis acted as though a jolt of electricity had rushed through his head.

They had been working with objects with a fixed shape up until this point, but what about this thread? Spider silk was tough, but also elastic. What if they were to try hardening it?

Fortunately, this world had all sorts of spiders, large and small, and there were other creatures that produced silk, too. If they could find a viable candidate for the shock-absorbing material from one of them, it might be possible to mass-produce.

Weve found it! Weve found it at last!

As Mattis shouted that, the screen faded to black.

When the stage lit up again, the scenery had changed.

They were in a place that looked like a reception room, with two people sitting on chairs facing each other.

This time, the two people werent actors, and both their faces were visible.

One was Juna Doma, who was known widely as the Prima Lorelei, who recently took up singing for children on the educational program.

The other was a relaxed man in his forties who was wearing a white coat. He had a bushy gray mustache that matched his hair. This was the real (not played by an actor) Head Researcher, Mattis Cosno.

Juna held a black lump in her hands and asked Mattis, So, after that, you created this shock-resistant material, right?

Exactly. When we tested the silk produced by a variety of creatures, a certain type of silkworms was found to be the most suitable. That would be what youre holding there, Mattis responded confidently.

Now, the dialogue segment with these two began.

The earlier drama had been a reenactment of events. This documentary drama, Nameless Heroes, had a two-segment format. First, the achievements of the person being focused on in that episode (in this case, Mattis) would be explained with a reenactment, and then the person in question would have a dialogue with Juna.

Now then, Mattis, Juna said. Is it possible to mass-produce this material?

Yes. It uses the cocoons of silkworms as its base material, so mass-production is possible, just like with silk. However, it responds poorly to heat and flames, so we apply an anti-fire, anti-heat process to it as part of the processing. As for the method... Thats considered a national secret.

I see. Cutting-edge technology is a national treasure, after all. Honestly... I think youve made something wonderful here. His Majesty must have been very pleased.

Yes, said Mattis. When I was summoned to the castle, I wondered what it might be about, but I was then praised for my work in developing this material. Its not common for us researchers to see recognition for our work, but that time... Yes. Im glad to have done the work on this.

Hearing Mattis sum things up, Juna bowed her head. Thank you for taking the time to have this important talk with us today, Doctor.

Mattis was hooked by that into bowing himself.

When Juna raised her head, she turned to the Jewel Voice Broadcast jewel and said, Now then, we will have a reenactment of the time when Mattis met His Majesty, King Souma, and then close out this program.

When Juna said that, the screen faded to black again.

Good work, Big Sister Juna, said Roroa.

When the broadcast was finished, Juna said her goodbyes to Mattis, then headed off stage to a spot where the broadcast jewel wouldnt show her. She was greeted there by a smiling Roroa.

Juna returned the smile with one of her own. Thank you, Roroa. How was I?

Ya did good. Its a cryin shame we couldnt let Darlin and Big Sister Cia see it.

Souma and Liscia had currently left for the Star Dragon Mountain Range with Naden. They were apparently going to confront a storm that was about to hit the Star Dragon Mountain Range.

Roroa and Juna were worried about Souma and the rest, of course, but these two who had been left behind in the kingdom had their own things to do, and they would hold down the fort while Souma and the rest were away. This program that she embarked on in that spirit had turned out to Junas satisfaction.

It seemed Roroa was disappointed about one thing, though. Oh, but the guy playin Darlin who came out at the end? I wasnt so keen on him.

Roroa was talking about the Souma who appeared in the final reenactment scene, calling out Mattis and his team to shake their hands one by one, and to praise them for developing a mass-producible shock-absorbing material.

Roroa crossed her arms and said, That actor, he was wearin a crown, he had a fancy cape on, and he was holdin a scepter in his gloved hands, ya know? I aint never seen Darlin in a getup like that.

That was, well... to make it easy to understand.

The coronation ceremony had yet to happen, so the former king Albert was still holding onto the crown, and Souma didnt like capes and scepters. That said, if the actor had worn Soumas usual casual outfit of a shirt and pants, it would be hard to think of it as a scene about an audience with a king.

Ya got a point, Roroa said with a laugh. Still, this Nameless Heroes programs lookin mighty popular.

I think, for the common people, it must be easier to identify with a highly capable craftsman like Sir Mattis than it is to identify with a true genius like Madam Genia, said Juna.

Normal people had an easier time empathizing with those who came by their gifts through hard work, rather than those who had natural talent.

Well, I think its a good thing, said Roroa. When ya look at Darlins policies, it feels like they were all made possible by a small group of geniuses, but the public should know therere actually these sorts of Nameless Heroes workin behind the scenes, too.

Yes. I think youre absolutely right.

I hope the people get it, they both thought, looking at one another with a smile.