“If I’m the top authority in this country, you’re number two,” I said. “We estimate the trip abroad will last about a month. We can’t have the top authority and his number two both away for that long. I’m sure there’s no risk to our lives, but think what would happen if something delayed our return. In the event that happens, I need to have left behind someone who can run the country for me.”
“…You’re right. It’s unfortunate, but… I can accept that,” Liscia said with a sigh.
I regretted it, too. She was a reliable girl, and I really did want to bring her.
Liscia brought a hand to her chest, as if trying to shift her mindset. “I’ll hold down the fort while you’re gone. In exchange, can you try not to be too reckless?”
“Yeah. I’ll be relying on you.”
With Liscia having accepted it, I turned to Juna next.
“As for Juna, who can handle both fighting and intelligence gathering, I’d really like to have you along, but we can’t take you off the educational program for too long, now can we?”
“…That’s right. It’s a shame.”
“Oh, oh! Me! Me! I wanna go!” Roroa raised her hand and started hopping up and down trying to get my attention.
Colbert immediately pinned her arms behind her back. “Y-You can’t, Princess! We’ve expanded to so many different enterprises, I need you here to help manage them all! Besides, you have to appear with Juna on the educational program, don’t you?”
Roroa’s shoulders slumped. “Aw… but I wanted to go on vacation with Darlin’, too.”
“It’s a trip abroad, okay?” I said. “We’ll all go on a family vacation together eventually.”
“We’d better, darlin’!”
Of the remaining members, I looked to Carla.
“Carla, I want you to come as a bodyguard, too.”
“M-Me?!”
“Out of everyone here, I’m looking for someone with martial ability and nothing important to do, so you’re the most appropriate choice.”
“U-Understood, Master!” Carla cried.
“Carla, take care of Souma for me, would you?” Liscia walked over to her and took her hand gently.
Carla let go, took a step back, and saluted her. “Leave it to me, Liscia. I swear my master will come back unharmed!”
While watching that exchange between two friends out of the corner of my eye, I addressed the group.
“For the rest, they’re not here, but I think I’ll take Hal and Kaede. Hal’s martial prowess comes guaranteed, and I know him well. Kaede’s a powerful earth mage, too, after all. For now, I think I’ll take those four as my companions. Everyone, work on that assumption and…”
“U-Um! Big Brother.” Tomoe hesitantly, but using a clearly audible voice, raised her hand.
“Tomoe? What is it?” I asked.
“T-Take me with you, please!”
“““Whaa?!””” everyone cried out in surprise.
The timid Tomoe, who did everything she could to stay out of the way of the adults in the castle, was suddenly acting aggressive. Maybe the only one who wasn’t surprised was her teacher, Hakuya.
“Um… it’s outside the country, you know?” I said. “It could be dangerous, too…”
“I–I want to see more of the world! Not just the castle. I want to see more of everything, and to eventually be someone who can support my big brother and sister!” Tomoe clenched her fists tight as she made her appeal.
We had been protecting Tomoe up until now, but she’d said she wanted to be able to support us. Tomoe was eleven years old now. If she’d been a boy, it’d be a period in her life where she’d still be doing stupid stuff; and as a girl, she was about to hit a sensitive period. I was happy to see this change in her as a member of the family, and also concerned.
“Sire…” Hakuya said. “If possible, I would like you to take your little sister along.”
I was still at a loss for words.
“During this period, I have judged that broadening her horizons will help her to grow,” he continued.
“Well sure, even in my world there was a saying, ‘If you love your child, let them go on a journey,’ but still.” I crossed my arms and thought about what to do.
“Please, Big Brother…” Tomoe pleaded with teary eyes.
When she asked me with those cute puppy dog eyes that reminded me of this old commercial with a chihuahua, I really struggled to come up with my answer.
We had things covered in terms of martial ability. With Aisha and Halbert there, we could respond to almost any situation.
But still… it could be dangerous…
I was conflicted between my concern for her as as her big brother, and my desire to grant her wish as her big brother. After nearly two minutes of agonizing over it… in the end, I gave in to the earnest look in Tomoe’s eyes and raised the white flag.
“Okay… I’ll allow it. But only after you’ve gotten permission from Tomoko.” That was Tomoe’s mother. “If you can’t get her permission, I can’t take you with me. Also, none of us will be talking to her about this matter. You need to convince your mother on your own. Is that still okay?”
“Yes!” Tomoe energetically nodded.
I don’t know what happened between Tomoe and Tomoko after that. However, in the end, Tomoe managed to convince her.
When Tomoko appeared alongside Tomoe later, she must have been worried deep down. “Your Majesty, please take care of my daughter,” she said, and bowed her head to me resolutely.
It seemed the apple didn’t fall far from the tree. I meant that in a good way, of course.
Well, my companions for the trip were decided.
Off we would go.
Onward to the country of dragons, the Star Dragon Mountain Range.
Maps
Afterword
Thank you for purchasing the fifth volume of Realist Hero.
This is Dojyomaru. Because of the generation I come from, Zyuranger is the sentai hero team that I’m most attached to. I wanted a Zyusouken…
Now then, in the web version, this was where the title changed to How a Realist Hero Redeveloped the Kingdom and a new chapter began. From here on, the number of supporting characters in the cast fills out, the number of stories focused on supporting characters increases, and the story turns into an ensemble cast piece. There are an awful lot of characters, and I’m sure I will be causing Fuyu a lot of trouble to come up with designs for all of them, but I hope to continue working together in the future.
It was right just around this point in writing the web novel that illustrator Mizuka Sasa sent a drawing to support me, and I received an incredible map from a person called Tofu-chan-san. It made me aware that all sorts of people were reading my work. There are people who point out typos, missing words, and inconsistencies, too. I’m grateful to everyone.
Now then, a teaser for the next book.
Souma departs for the Star Dragon Mountain Range, but then it turns into a tale of boy-meets-girl that’s unusual for this story. That black girl will be making an appearance, too.
…What am I going to do about the Ensemble Arc? I’ll need to think of a good way to work it in.
Now, I give my thanks to Fuyuyuki for the wonderful illustrations, my editor, the designers, the proofreaders, and everyone who now holds this book in their hands.
This has been Dojyomaru.
Copyright