How a Realist Hero Rebuilt the Kingdom

How a Realist Hero Rebuilt the Kingdom (現実主義勇者の王国再建記), also known as Re:Construction – The Elfrieden Kingdom Tales of Realistic Brave, is a Japanese light novel series written by Dojyomaru and illustrated by Fuyuyuki. The story follows Kazuya Souma, a humanities-student-turned-hero as he pulls on his knowledge gained from studying politics in order to rebuild the kingdom. A manga adaptation by Satoshi Ueda began serialization online on Overlap's Comic Gardo manga website in July 2017. Digital publisher J-Novel Club has licensed both the light novel and manga for an English release.[3] An anime television series adaptation by J.C.Staff aired from July 2021 to April 2022.

Plot

Kazuya Souma is a young man who is suddenly transported to another world where he is informed by Albert Elfrieden, the king of the Elfrieden Kingdom, that he is abdicating the throne to him. He is also informed that he has been betrothed to Albert's daughter, Liscia. Deciding he is going to rebuild the country's struggling economy, Kazuya gathers talented citizens who are going to help him with the reform.

Characters

Main characters

Kazuya Souma (相馬一也 / ソーマ・カズヤ)

Summoned to another world to reportedly deal with the threat of the Demon Lord's Domain, Kazuya instead finds himself with the throne of the Kingdom of Elfrieden and the hand of Liscia Elfrieden forced on him. Now acting king, Kazuya begins radical reforms in order to improve the standard of living in the kingdom. In the One Week War, Kazuya finds himself in a civil war between himself and Dukes Georg Carmine and Castor Vargas while also having to fight the Principality of Amidonia. Through a series of military strategies, Kazuya emerges victorious and annexes Amidonia (although this was unplanned on his part) to create the Unified Kingdom of Elfrieden and Amidonia, otherwise known as the Kingdom of Friedonia. He then forges a secret alliance with Empress Maria Euphoria of the Gran Chaos Empire. Although he cannot do much combat, he is capable of wielding dark magic. Before his summoning, he was an avid reader.

Liscia Elfrieden (リーシア・エルフリーデン)

The crown princess of the Elfrieden Kingdom and Kazuya's first fiancée, Liscia was at Kazuya's side from the very beginning. Initially dissatisfied with the unannounced engagement, Liscia soon softens and eventually develops deep feelings for Kazuya. Following the end of the One Week War, both Kazuya and Liscia affirm their love for each other, which results with the beginning of a series of nightly activities. Liscia is tolerant of Kazuya's many female admirers, even encouraging him to take more wives. However, she remains adamant about wanting to remain the first wife.

Aisha Udgard (アイーシャ・ウドガルド)

Daughter of the Chief of the Dark Elves of the God Protected Forest, Aisha is one of the five people discovered during the gathering of the Gifted People, the first policy Kazuya implemented upon his impromptu accession to the throne. She serves as Kazuya's bodyguard and falls deeply in love with him during the landslide incident that struck her home. Following the One Week War, Aisha becomes Kazuya's second fiancée in recognition for her actions in that war concerning the hostile Principality of Amidonia. She is an accomplished warrior and big eater and Kazuya thinks of her as a cute pet.

Juna Doma (ジュナ・ドーマ)

Also known as Lady Canaria of the Elfrieden Navy's Marine force, Juna is the granddaughter of Duchess Excel Walter, who was sent to spy on Kazuya when he was first announced as the new King. She is one of the five people discovered during the gathering of the Gifted People. She primarily aids Kazuya in both war and in peace by being the Prima Lorelei, Kazuya's implementation of the concept of the Japanese idol. After falling in love with Kazuya, she is secretly made into his third fiancée with the reason for withholding the fact of their betrothal is the possibility of starting riots when the commonfolk discovers that the famous idol is being wed.

Roroa Amidonia (ロロア・アミドニア)

The princess of the former Principality of Amidonia, Roroa Amidonia's craftiness had forced Kazuya to not only take her as his fourth fiancée but also annex the entirety of Amidonian territory instead of just the capital in order to prevent the Turgis Republic and the Orthodox Papal State of Lunaria from getting their claws on the territory after the Principality had lost the war. She has a very keen sense of economics and heads the Silver Deer, a private company whose public face is that of her acquaintance, Sebastian Silvadia.

Naden Delal (ナデン・デラール)

A dragon hailing from the Star Dragon Mountain Range, Naden had been bullied for not having wings but Kazuya realized that she was a ryu and made a contract with her despite not being part of the Nothung Dragon Knight Kingdom. Naden eventually became Kazuya's fifth fiancée.

Kingdom of Elfrieden/Kingdom of Friedonia

Hakuya Kwonmin (ハクヤ・クオンミン)

The Prime Minister of the Elfrieden Kingdom (now the Kingdom of Friedonia), Hakuya is one of the five people discovered during the gathering of the Gifted People. He serves as Kazuya's right-hand man and has extremely great insight into the human psyche. He is casual friends with Jeanne Euphoria, the younger sister of Maria Euphoria, the Empress of the Gran Chaos Empire.

He has respect for the philosophies Kazuya references, seeing the wisdom Earth holds.

Poncho Panacotta (ポンチョ・パナコッタ)

The Minister of Agriculture and Forestry of the Elfriedon Kingdom, Poncho is one of the five people discovered during the gathering of the Gifted People. Due to his vast knowledge of edible delicacies, he was a key player in ending the food shortages in the kingdom. Kazuya has given him the name of Ishizuka.

Tomoe Inui (トモエ・イヌイ)

A member of the Mystic Wolf race and one of the five people discovered during the gathering of the Gifted People, Tomoe possesses the rare ability to speak to all manner of beasts and animals. When it was revealed that she could speak to a demon, Kazuya immediately recognized her as extremely valuable and she was adopted by Albert and Elisha Elfrieden in order to shelter her, in the process, becoming Kazuya's sister-in-law-to-be and Liscia's adoptive sister.

Halbert Magna (ハルバート・マグナ)

Son of the noble house of Magna and member of the Elfrieden Army under Duke Georg Carmine. He met Kazuya when the king overheard an argument between Halbert and his childhood friend Kaede Foxia. Rather than being arrested for Lese Majeste, Halbert was instead transferred to the Forbidden Army, under Kazuya's jurisdiction. The two have since become friends, and Halbert is one of the few people permitted to disregard the rules of royal etiquette with Kazuya and carry on a casual conversation. In the aftermath of the Storm Crisis, it is revealed that he and Kaede got engaged. He is also partnered with Ruby, a Red Dragon of the Star Dragon Mountain Range.

Kaede Foxia (カエデ・フォキシア)

A member of the Mystic Fox race, Kaede is the daughter of the noble house of Foxia, and childhood friend to Halbert Magna. She is an intelligent and talented young woman, and a mage in the Forbidden Army specializing in Earth Magic. She is currently serving as a staff officer under Captain Ludwin Arcs and is Hal's direct superior, a situation that both pleases and irritates the both of them at times. Kaede cares deeply for Hal, and she spoke in his defense when the two first met Kazuya. In the aftermath of the Storm Crisis, it is revealed that she is engaged to Halbert when she chastises him for unthinkingly riding on Ruby's back.

Ludwin Arcs (ルドウィン・アークス)

Captain of the Royal Guard and Commander of the Forbidden Army under the direct command of Kazuya. He is a popular man in Kazuya's royal court, but despite his looks and position, remains unattached. This is mainly due to rumors of financial trouble, as Ludwin is often seen eating the cheapest items on offer in the castle's cafeteria. He is childhood friends with Genia Maxwell, whom he regards with a brotherly affection, despite her eccentricity. After Kazuya realizes Genia's usefulness as an inventor, he and Liscia pressure Ludwin into an engagement to Genia, which he shyly accepts.

Genia Maxwell (ジーニャ・マクスウェル)

Last of the noble house of Maxwell, and childhood friend of Ludwin. She is an eccentric genius and self-proclaimed Overscientist, specializing in the study of technology and artifacts discovered in the various dungeons found throughout the world. Her talents have been recognized by Kazuya, and the king is currently seeking to develop and implement several of her inventions for the good of the kingdom. In order to ensure her safety and continued loyalty, Kazuya and Liscia convince Ludwin and Genia to get engaged, which Genia shows some minor affections for, but states that she was certain that it would happen someday.

Excel Walter (エクセル・ヴォルター)

A sea serpent who is over 500 years old at the time of Kazuya's summoning. Despite her age, as a member of a "long-lived" race she still has the appearance of a human in her mid-to-late twenties. She is the Admiral of the Kingdom of Elfrieden's Navy, based in Lagoon City of the Walter Duchy. She is the only one of the three duchies to publicly side with Kazuya during the Civil War.

Castor Vargas (カストール・バルガス)

A dragonewt and the General of the Kingdom of Elfrieden's Air Force. He is a loyal and skilled warrior, yet is impulsive to action. As the head of the Vargas Duchy, he opted during the Civil War to have the Air Force take a neutral stance, but publicly supported Duke Carmine with his personal members of the Air Force. In his youth, he attempted to engage in romantic relations with Duchess Excel Walter, but was rejected. He ended up marrying one of the duchess's daughters, making him her son-in-law. Though defeated and enslaved by Kazuya using a slave collar during the Civil War, Kazuya decided to spare Castor from execution for his treason.

Carla Vargas (カルラ・バルガス)

A dragonewt and daughter of Castor. She is Castor's eldest child, also having a younger brother named Carl. She is friends with Liscia from their time together at the military academy. Despite Liscia's attempts to use Carla's connection to Castor, Liscia was unable to convince both to support Kazuya during the Civil War. Carla sided with her father during the Civil War despite Castor's attempt to disinherit her along with her mother and brother as to spare her from potential treason charges. They are defeated by Kazuya, who outfits her with a slave collar that forces her to ally with him. Kazuya decided to likewise spare Carla from execution for treason, forcing her to become one of the royal families maids instead. Despite this fall from grace, she has remained in good terms with him and Liscia who still sees her as a friend regardless.

Georg Carmine (ゲオルグ・カーマイン)

A lion-headed beastman and General of the Kingdom of Elfrieden's Army. He was a loyal vassal, a widely respected tactician, and a mentor to Liscia. However, during the Civil War, he was the public opposition to Kazuya's reign as king. It is revealed after being defeated during the Civil War that he actually supported Kazuya's decisions, but was sacrificing himself to be a rally point for Kazuya's domestic enemies within the nobility of Elfrieden. Though he would be sentenced to be executed for treason, Kazuya offered him "poisoned wine" to escape his sentence. Though officially dead, according to an Elfrieden news report, a leader of Kazuya's personal spy network, the Black Cats, looks suspiciously like the "late" duke.

Albert Elfrieden (アルベルト・エルフリーデン)

The previous king of Elfrieden before Kazuya and father of Liscia. He was regarded as a friendly, yet overall weak, king. In order to satisfy the demands of the Gran Chaos Empire for either supporting funds or a summoned hero, he orders the summoning which brought Kazuya to the world. After seeing Kazuya's initial plans, he abdicates the throne to Kazuya and arranges for Liscia to be married to him. Albert married into the royal family through Elisha and thus is not technically the blood royal. It is also revealed that in an earlier timeline, he dismissed Kazuya due to the aristocrats having issues with him, which resulted in the kingdom's downfall, but through his wife's abilities, his past self learned of this and changed his decision, erasing the dystopian future from existence.

Elisha Elfrieden (エリシャ・エルフリーデン)

The previous queen of Elfrieden before Kazuya and mother of Liscia. She is a quiet woman who leaves the decisions of leadership to Albert, despite technically being the blood royal. She is the sole survivor of the royal family from the succession war that occurred after "the king before the previous king" died, the "previous king" being Albert. She possesses a dark-type magical ability which she reveals to Kazuya after the events of the Civil War. Her ability enables her to send memories to her past self in order to change patterns of events. She can also use this ability on others at the same time. It is revealed that this ability was the reason she was the survivor of the succession war and was the catalyst for why Albert abdicated the throne to Kazuya.

Gatsby Colbert (ギャツビー・コルベール)

The former Minister of Finance of Amidonia and current Minister of Finance of Friedonia. Along with Roroa, he attempted to dissuade Gaius and Julius Amidonia from invading Elfrieden but was unsuccessful, resulting in the One Week War. Before conflict could occur, he disappeared from the Amidonian capital of Van along with Roroa and several other bureaucrats loyal to her. During the Amidonian revolution, he returned with the others and was granted his current position by Kazuya.

type	TV series
director	Takashi Watanabe
producer	Yukio Kikukawa Fumihiro Ozawa Riko Koarai Shouhei Yoshida Mou Lanfeng
writer	Gō Zappa Hiroshi Ōnogi
music	Akiyuki Tateyama
studio	J.C.Staff
licensee	Crunchyroll
network	Tokyo MX, BS11
first	July 4, 2021
last	April 3, 2022
episodes	26
episode list	List of How a Realist Hero Rebuilt the Kingdom episodes

How a Realist Hero Rebuilt the Kingdom

Plot

Characters

Main characters

Kingdom of Elfrieden/Kingdom of Friedonia

Principality of Amidonia

Gran Chaos Empire

Star Dragon Mountain Range

Media

Light novels

Manga

Anime

Reception

Further reading

External links

References