Typically in isekai hero stories, a bland male character is reincarnated or summoned into another world. This hero then usually has to deal with some kind of world-ending threat involving demons. He often finds himself going on an adventure with buffs granted to him by the divine powers that be. Regardless of whether it is powerful weapons, strong companions or a unique ability, it makes him near invincible. With these powers, said hero will achieve great deeds and be accompanied by an increasing number of attractive women complimenting his party/harem. The audience generally becomes accustomed to the terms ‘‘fate’’, ‘‘death flags’’, ‘‘events’’ or ‘‘don’t give up!’’. Here is some jargon that are not in the isekai lexicon: ‘‘agricultural policy’’, ‘‘economic development’’ and ‘‘public finances’’. That said, those are the terms that the audience will become familiar with in How a Realist Hero Rebuilt the Kingdom.
‘‘Kazuya Souma was a student minding his own business when he was spontaneously summoned to the Kingdom of Elfreiden.’’
Kazuya Souma was a student minding his own business when he was spontaneously summoned to the Kingdom of Elfreiden. Granted an audience with the king, he learns that the human kingdoms on the continent of Landia are being overrun by armies of the Demon Lord.
Far from a glorious hero’s destiny, Kazuya’s summoning substitutes the aid money owed to the main human military power holding back the demons, the Gran Chaos Empire. Fearing what might happen to him, Kazuya decides to appropriate the funds. To save himself, he would not go on an adventure or anything nearly as heroic.
‘‘He may have just wanted to save himself, but Kazuya now has a whole kingdom to govern.’’
Kazuya was a simple student on the path to becoming a civil servant. But now, all those readings are going to be of use to him. Consequently, he spends several days reviewing the country’s finances and eventually finds a way to pay the aid money. Over those days, the king became impressed with the summoned hero’s competence. Therefore, he decides to abdicate in favor of Kazuya and offers his daughter Liscia’s hand in marriage as well. He may have just wanted to save himself, but Kazuya now finds himself with a whole kingdom to govern.
‘‘If anything, the source material’s humoristic elements make the jargon and more serious scenes extremely digestible for the average consumer.’’
Politics is far from a foreign theme in anime. Legends of Galactic Heroes and Code Geass are two classic franchises that get quite political. That said, instead of the usual foreign and military policies, this anime is centered much more around administration and domestic policy. After all, the average person is much more interested in Julius Caesar crossing the Rubicon than his land reforms. For that reason, this unexpected adaptation pleasantly surprised fans of the manga. That said, both the light novel and manga have hilarious passages that leave the reader in stitches. If anything, the source material’s humoristic elements make the jargon and more serious scenes extremely digestible for the average consumer.
Overall, based on the source material, How a Realist Hero Rebuilt the Kingdom promises to be a solid adaptation with both humoristic and instructional value. It’s also a nice departure from the typical hero journey that isekai protagonists usually undertake. Perhaps the way to defeat the Demon Lord is a good economy, sound immigration policy and agricultural reforms.
You can watch the trailer for How a Realist Hero Rebuilt the Kingdom here.