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How a Realist Hero Rebuilt the Kingdom Light Novel #7
How a Realist Hero Rebuilt the Kingdom, Volume 7
Having returned from the Star Dragon Mountain Range, Souma heads to the next destination on his diplomatic tour, the Republic of Turgis. While he is there to investigate the possibility of forming cordial relations with a neighbor they currently have no interaction with, Souma finds his attention drawn to the high level of the local blacksmiths, and a plan occurs to him.
Sensing that state level negotiations will be necessary to make his plan a reality, he succeeds in arranging a meeting with the republic's head of state. In order to make the negotiations fruitful, Souma demonstrates the kingdom's power to the republic.
"I will show the republic the 'gain' to be had from working with us, and the 'threat' to make them hesitate to oppose us."
Can Souma's secret plan move the republic?!
The revolutionary administrative fantasy series, volume seven!
Sensing that state level negotiations will be necessary to make his plan a reality, he succeeds in arranging a meeting with the republic's head of state. In order to make the negotiations fruitful, Souma demonstrates the kingdom's power to the republic.
"I will show the republic the 'gain' to be had from working with us, and the 'threat' to make them hesitate to oppose us."
Can Souma's secret plan move the republic?!
The revolutionary administrative fantasy series, volume seven!
239 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 25, 2018
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218 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
June 17, 2021
The otherworld tour continues in this volume, with King Souma and his entourage looking to clinch a business agreement with their neighbor Republic of Turgis located in the frigid south of the continent.
The Realist Hero series continues to be a great read for me, especially the manga adaptation. This review is for the seventh volume of the light novel. As a reader, I'm all in for Souma's realist approaches to problem solving diplomacy and statecraft, and there's certainly enough here for it to be interesting. However, I do prefer the worldbuilding to the harem-building. It seems that every other male character is looking to build their own harems, which is a shame, because it distracts from the main draw. It also makes the cast unwieldy. So much so that the main female lead, the princess of the kingdom had to take a maternity leave to allow the other romantic leads their own chance to snuggle to the main character.
This expanded cast is going to be a problem, aside from the sloppy writing, there's barely enough pages in the main story that multiple epilogue chapters had to be done to give the reader an update on what the other characters were doing.
I mentioned the sloppy writing and mediocre dialogue, which isn't a problem with the more condensed pacing of the manga adaptation. Thus, the Realist Hero manga is still my preferred way to enjoy this series.
The Realist Hero series continues to be a great read for me, especially the manga adaptation. This review is for the seventh volume of the light novel. As a reader, I'm all in for Souma's realist approaches to problem solving diplomacy and statecraft, and there's certainly enough here for it to be interesting. However, I do prefer the worldbuilding to the harem-building. It seems that every other male character is looking to build their own harems, which is a shame, because it distracts from the main draw. It also makes the cast unwieldy. So much so that the main female lead, the princess of the kingdom had to take a maternity leave to allow the other romantic leads their own chance to snuggle to the main character.
This expanded cast is going to be a problem, aside from the sloppy writing, there's barely enough pages in the main story that multiple epilogue chapters had to be done to give the reader an update on what the other characters were doing.
I mentioned the sloppy writing and mediocre dialogue, which isn't a problem with the more condensed pacing of the manga adaptation. Thus, the Realist Hero manga is still my preferred way to enjoy this series.
July 12, 2024
I think this is where my reading journey with this series ends. I love the world building aspects of what Souma is trying to do, but the story is being completely taken over by the harem building. Other characters are starting to do it as well and it's just getting to be too much. Too focused on that one thing versus everything else. I love the political aspects of the story but there's not much there compared to the harem. The writing also suffers because there are way too many characters being introduced with their own POV.
November 12, 2025
In this volume Souma and friends travel to the Republic of Turgis in the frigid south, a nation which in the past eyed Elfrieden and Amidonia, but in general lacks resources to truly pose a threat or an attractive target of conquest. Souma's main goal is to assess the country and determine whether they make good allies while also doing some sightseeing of the world and staying away from the bothersome marriage proposals at home. What follows is typical for the series, a bit of entertaining slice-of-life, a few info dumps on the world and a bit of action. It makes for an entertaining read even if some of the world building is a bit cringe whether it is beastfolk were the women just have ears and a tail while the men have more animal features, how everybody loves Japanese food (and more so then the local cuisine) or calling a republic a "primitive" way of government and monarchy being a natural next step. So, a solid addition to the series that fitted expectations.
August 25, 2025
I listened to the audiobook, so here's my review.
What I like:
- The performer does an excellent job. My only complaint is the way he voices the character Kaede. He sounds like he's got something in his mouth as he speaks and it drives me nuts every time she's in the scene - despite her being one of the more likable characters, for me. She mind as well be wearing braces or something.
- The progression of the world, technology, and education. This was the main hook for me since book 1 and is still one of the 2 reasons I'm still listening through this series. The second reason is because I bought the volumes up to 10 thinking that I'd enjoy them, however...
What I hate about this series as the books progress:
- "Hey, did you bring that thing?" What feels like 10 minutes later, the author finally tells you what the **** "that thing" is. This sort of crap happens WAY too many times that it drives me nuts and I end up not caring what the heck "that thing" is every time this mystery box crap pops up. What's worse is that it's popping up more and more with each volume!!
- Descriptions of female characters come off a bit creepy at times. I won't touch the fact that the 5th wife looks like a 14 year old, apparently (as literally described by the author) and acts like one. Every time there's even something remotely wholesome, the author has to describe the breasts or the "slim figure" of the women. An example from a previous volume is something like: "She puffed out her not so ample bosom with pride." Maybe it's because I'm a gay man, but pointing out breasts, butts, and "slim figures" all the time when there's really no need to is creepy to me.
- There are moments throughout the series that really point out the author's fragile masculinity. In this one, the main character gets disgusted and uncomfortable when another male character slings an arm around his shoulders for a one sided bro hug. Like, really? Really, dude? Snowflake ****.
- The constant "Huh?", "Hm?", "Eh?" This sort of thing only works in visual mediums like animation or live action because you get to see what's making the characters confused. In novels, it's just aggravating. You're not showing us anything with these exchanges. If the character is confused, just say so like 'Souma was confused by the sudden appearance of Abraham Lincoln' or some such.
- The sheer lack of communication between characters. In the previous novel, 2 characters walk off stage to talk in private. Those same 2 characters pop up unexpectedly during the cube thing and we get an unnecessary flashback to when they were talking and Kaede is with them. Kaede says "I'll tell Souma about the plan", but did she? No. Instead she tells Souma "Oh, they're preparing for something." ZERO marks for communication. She could have just broke it down before all that and you could have just forgone having this unnecessary flashback. On top of that, she gets angry after at her fiance AFTER AGREEING THAT HE SHOULD RIDE RUBY. She agreed, and yet she gets pissed off at him. That is some manipulative mental abuse crap right there (and she became less likable in my eyes at that point). This isn't even the worst offender. Souma CONSTANTLY never tells his wives what's going on. He basically just winks and says, "You'll see!". This sort of crap is what fuels divorces, my dude. By not communicating with them, he's treating them more like trophy wives instead of like people who should be involved in what's going on. Absolutely awful!
- The amount of unnecessary flashbacks. Good lord, there are so many as the series progress. I don't need to know why the familiar adventurer party is visiting this country. I don't give a crap. They're adventurers, so of course they'll be adventuring. You don't need to tell me the exact details.
- I can't recall if it happened in this volume, but in the last volume Souma and the gang are staring at a floating cube, wondering what they should do for 10 minutes before said cube starts dropping bombs. This slow drag in momentum is aggravating because it's obvious the author is forcing tension. I swear, Souma could be driving towards the edge of a cliff and he'd be humming and hawing before slamming his foot on the breaks right after he flies off the cliff. All the while, the reader - primarily me, judging from the reviews - is screaming at him to do what is so obvious to do. I told my husband "It's like the author is taking writing style notes from Blue's Clues."
- The Otaku. I GET IT, YOU LOVE ANIME. Good lord, Souma references an anime at least 4 times per novel and it's getting really old. It's not cute, anymore, it's just incredibly cringe and takes me out of the novel. "I started whistling to -that- anime opening as we flew through the sky." All this does is continue to add my idea that Souma is a self insert of the author.
- Souma never grows as a character. He's always got the perfect plan or the perfect thing to say at just the right time. The man has no flaws - at least, according to his wives and the people around him (outside of him being a workaholic, which only plays into the "he's perfect" argument because "he cares so damn much about our country"). This makes him a really boring and unrelatable Gary Stu - which is one of the biggest problems in this genre. The man isn't interesting nor complicated, he just talks about interesting and complicated subjects to make him seem like he's interesting and complicated. He is a bland character for all the hetero men to project themselves onto.
What could be improved:
- I don't mind poly relationships in fantasy - when done believably. I understand this is fantasy and aimed as escapism for hetero men, but poly relationships can be so much more interesting and complicated. Once Souma acquires a wife, they become background noise - blending in with the family unit without any friction. I can count on one hand the amount of times there were any interesting friction scenes, however those scenes ended anticlimactically. Everyone dotes on Souma to his every whim despite him treating them like trophy wives. He's even told them to get him water, at one point, in an earlier volume without saying "please" or "thanks". He's also put them in real danger in the last volume and he gets away with it without them complaining (the scene where they fly into the storm). This plays into my last point: Souma never grows as a character.
I really want to enjoy this, but it's just making me miserable the more I progress through the series.
What I like:
- The performer does an excellent job. My only complaint is the way he voices the character Kaede. He sounds like he's got something in his mouth as he speaks and it drives me nuts every time she's in the scene - despite her being one of the more likable characters, for me. She mind as well be wearing braces or something.
- The progression of the world, technology, and education. This was the main hook for me since book 1 and is still one of the 2 reasons I'm still listening through this series. The second reason is because I bought the volumes up to 10 thinking that I'd enjoy them, however...
What I hate about this series as the books progress:
- "Hey, did you bring that thing?" What feels like 10 minutes later, the author finally tells you what the **** "that thing" is. This sort of crap happens WAY too many times that it drives me nuts and I end up not caring what the heck "that thing" is every time this mystery box crap pops up. What's worse is that it's popping up more and more with each volume!!
- Descriptions of female characters come off a bit creepy at times. I won't touch the fact that the 5th wife looks like a 14 year old, apparently (as literally described by the author) and acts like one. Every time there's even something remotely wholesome, the author has to describe the breasts or the "slim figure" of the women. An example from a previous volume is something like: "She puffed out her not so ample bosom with pride." Maybe it's because I'm a gay man, but pointing out breasts, butts, and "slim figures" all the time when there's really no need to is creepy to me.
- There are moments throughout the series that really point out the author's fragile masculinity. In this one, the main character gets disgusted and uncomfortable when another male character slings an arm around his shoulders for a one sided bro hug. Like, really? Really, dude? Snowflake ****.
- The constant "Huh?", "Hm?", "Eh?" This sort of thing only works in visual mediums like animation or live action because you get to see what's making the characters confused. In novels, it's just aggravating. You're not showing us anything with these exchanges. If the character is confused, just say so like 'Souma was confused by the sudden appearance of Abraham Lincoln' or some such.
- The sheer lack of communication between characters. In the previous novel, 2 characters walk off stage to talk in private. Those same 2 characters pop up unexpectedly during the cube thing and we get an unnecessary flashback to when they were talking and Kaede is with them. Kaede says "I'll tell Souma about the plan", but did she? No. Instead she tells Souma "Oh, they're preparing for something." ZERO marks for communication. She could have just broke it down before all that and you could have just forgone having this unnecessary flashback. On top of that, she gets angry after at her fiance AFTER AGREEING THAT HE SHOULD RIDE RUBY. She agreed, and yet she gets pissed off at him. That is some manipulative mental abuse crap right there (and she became less likable in my eyes at that point). This isn't even the worst offender. Souma CONSTANTLY never tells his wives what's going on. He basically just winks and says, "You'll see!". This sort of crap is what fuels divorces, my dude. By not communicating with them, he's treating them more like trophy wives instead of like people who should be involved in what's going on. Absolutely awful!
- The amount of unnecessary flashbacks. Good lord, there are so many as the series progress. I don't need to know why the familiar adventurer party is visiting this country. I don't give a crap. They're adventurers, so of course they'll be adventuring. You don't need to tell me the exact details.
- I can't recall if it happened in this volume, but in the last volume Souma and the gang are staring at a floating cube, wondering what they should do for 10 minutes before said cube starts dropping bombs. This slow drag in momentum is aggravating because it's obvious the author is forcing tension. I swear, Souma could be driving towards the edge of a cliff and he'd be humming and hawing before slamming his foot on the breaks right after he flies off the cliff. All the while, the reader - primarily me, judging from the reviews - is screaming at him to do what is so obvious to do. I told my husband "It's like the author is taking writing style notes from Blue's Clues."
- The Otaku. I GET IT, YOU LOVE ANIME. Good lord, Souma references an anime at least 4 times per novel and it's getting really old. It's not cute, anymore, it's just incredibly cringe and takes me out of the novel. "I started whistling to -that- anime opening as we flew through the sky." All this does is continue to add my idea that Souma is a self insert of the author.
- Souma never grows as a character. He's always got the perfect plan or the perfect thing to say at just the right time. The man has no flaws - at least, according to his wives and the people around him (outside of him being a workaholic, which only plays into the "he's perfect" argument because "he cares so damn much about our country"). This makes him a really boring and unrelatable Gary Stu - which is one of the biggest problems in this genre. The man isn't interesting nor complicated, he just talks about interesting and complicated subjects to make him seem like he's interesting and complicated. He is a bland character for all the hetero men to project themselves onto.
What could be improved:
- I don't mind poly relationships in fantasy - when done believably. I understand this is fantasy and aimed as escapism for hetero men, but poly relationships can be so much more interesting and complicated. Once Souma acquires a wife, they become background noise - blending in with the family unit without any friction. I can count on one hand the amount of times there were any interesting friction scenes, however those scenes ended anticlimactically. Everyone dotes on Souma to his every whim despite him treating them like trophy wives. He's even told them to get him water, at one point, in an earlier volume without saying "please" or "thanks". He's also put them in real danger in the last volume and he gets away with it without them complaining (the scene where they fly into the storm). This plays into my last point: Souma never grows as a character.
I really want to enjoy this, but it's just making me miserable the more I progress through the series.
March 8, 2022
There is uncertainty and not logical thought behind having the Republic of Turgis a tundra and icy land if they are on the same latitude of Friedonia Kingdom and border them almost completely from north to south. if the author would have explained the extreme cold weather as something magical, that does not follow scientific/natural rules, then maybe. But the way the map is illustrated it is impossible for 2 territories in the same latitude to have radically different climates.
More than importing and exporting hypodermic needles, they should have transported the technicians that can manufacture them all the way to Friedonia, so that they do not have to talk to anyone. More than giving away the doctors work, training and medical formulas, they should have hired the artisans and industrial technicians to have everything done in Friedonia. yes, they would not have helped or made their bonds stronger with their neighbors and allies, but a territories duty is not to foster the welfare of other countries. Who pays for everything in the end is the taxpayers of Friedonia, because Souma does not have a salary, does not really have an official job, and is just managing other people's money.
I originally liked the fact that this author imagined an alternate reality world that urgently needed to be improved. It was all positive. No perverts, underachievers, non-committal, main characters that seek revenge. This light novel is different than most of the rest of the Isekais.
I find it contradictory that everywhere the main character goes (Souma), he lies about his name and his profession. There is no honor in lying constantly to everybody you meet. As if the people he encounters somehow have geopolitical and current events knowledge about everybody and everything that goes on in this Landia continent. It is self-centered and naive to think that everybody is going to know or care about Souma. So he is a future king not confirmed yet from another kingdom, so who cares? No one, maybe some of the citizens of Friedonia, but none of the readers and none of the foreigners, for sure.
Half of this Volume 7 are side stories. I have yet to understand the meaning of them. They deepen the secondary characters, but do not push the plot arcs along. So they are a filler, common in light novels. Sort of like the extra packaging you always throw away from all the things you buy. Some say side stories are fan-service, a way to deepen the bond between fictional characters and their fans. It's really more an alternative way to fill the space quotas that the publishers create for the authors.
Anyways, this light novel series is slow. One action adventure and one objective per volume. The ogres in the Republic were defeated here, and a health treaty was inacted between Friedonia, the Grand Chaos Empire and the Republic of Turgis.
More than importing and exporting hypodermic needles, they should have transported the technicians that can manufacture them all the way to Friedonia, so that they do not have to talk to anyone. More than giving away the doctors work, training and medical formulas, they should have hired the artisans and industrial technicians to have everything done in Friedonia. yes, they would not have helped or made their bonds stronger with their neighbors and allies, but a territories duty is not to foster the welfare of other countries. Who pays for everything in the end is the taxpayers of Friedonia, because Souma does not have a salary, does not really have an official job, and is just managing other people's money.
I originally liked the fact that this author imagined an alternate reality world that urgently needed to be improved. It was all positive. No perverts, underachievers, non-committal, main characters that seek revenge. This light novel is different than most of the rest of the Isekais.
I find it contradictory that everywhere the main character goes (Souma), he lies about his name and his profession. There is no honor in lying constantly to everybody you meet. As if the people he encounters somehow have geopolitical and current events knowledge about everybody and everything that goes on in this Landia continent. It is self-centered and naive to think that everybody is going to know or care about Souma. So he is a future king not confirmed yet from another kingdom, so who cares? No one, maybe some of the citizens of Friedonia, but none of the readers and none of the foreigners, for sure.
Half of this Volume 7 are side stories. I have yet to understand the meaning of them. They deepen the secondary characters, but do not push the plot arcs along. So they are a filler, common in light novels. Sort of like the extra packaging you always throw away from all the things you buy. Some say side stories are fan-service, a way to deepen the bond between fictional characters and their fans. It's really more an alternative way to fill the space quotas that the publishers create for the authors.
Anyways, this light novel series is slow. One action adventure and one objective per volume. The ogres in the Republic were defeated here, and a health treaty was inacted between Friedonia, the Grand Chaos Empire and the Republic of Turgis.
April 20, 2023
Good political developments here as we see the republic of Turgis and souma goes to explore some of the other bordering countries. A lot of side stories about small encounters involving the minor side characters. As the author's note mentioned, having the main heroine away for most of this book due to a very uncommon reason would probably not happen in most other light novels. The acquisition of Kuu as a friend is nice and a good male addition to the story. Lots of ears and tails in this one cause it focuses on the beast nation.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 13, 2023
A good entry in the series, my only disapointment being that Tomoe is still not relevant to the story events, despite being on the cover. I'm sure she will get her time to shine but now wasn't it. ^^; Half of the book is the actual story, and the second half is a whole lot of short and bonus stories that form an epilogue for the most part, which is much better than the haphazard bonuses we got on some previous volumes. The new characters are fun and it's nice to see a country with a very different way to live.
June 2, 2023
Pas mal mais, je ne comprends toujours pas qui est la fille sur la page de couverture. Je trouve que ce tome parle pas mal des voyages à l'étranger mais, également dans les after story la prends pas mal de choses qui est aussi intéressant. J'ai également été très content d'apprendre que Liscia est enceinte est également apprécié le fait que les autres financées fassent leur possible pour se rapprocher de Souma.
October 27, 2021
Entertaining Read
Souma is continuing his foreign visitations to the cold country in the South. He finds craftsmen whose skills he wants for the kingdom. He has technology that the Republic could use, so it comes down to bargaining with the head man of the nation. I like the action, humor, intrigue, and romance. I look forward to the next book.
Souma is continuing his foreign visitations to the cold country in the South. He finds craftsmen whose skills he wants for the kingdom. He has technology that the Republic could use, so it comes down to bargaining with the head man of the nation. I like the action, humor, intrigue, and romance. I look forward to the next book.
October 29, 2023
This book is much, much better than the previous one. Here we have Souma traveling to another kingdom and meeting some interesting new characters. Luckily, there is no new girlfriend. I-m afraid the author will keep going with that until he ends up with the 8 wives Liscia said he was allowed to.
Anyway, this book is fun, the new scenery is lively and the drama is entertaining.
Anyway, this book is fun, the new scenery is lively and the drama is entertaining.
February 7, 2024
A super fun series and the way it continues building its universe is really different and might be the thing that keeps me coming back.
Souma continues to not only build up his nation but also is now recruiting Allies. Its a great story.
Souma continues to not only build up his nation but also is now recruiting Allies. Its a great story.
July 24, 2018
that was a very exciting book
September 25, 2018
the main story in this volume was a real snooze; could've just sold me the epilogues and i'd be about as happy.
January 29, 2020
Great Story
June 13, 2020
Seamed like a filler novel
February 12, 2021
A solid volume i like how well it explored the culture of the republic
August 5, 2021
Friendship with another nation + medical evolution. Next will be interesting.
August 26, 2021
I love rereading this series
I like the way problems are solved in this series. It appeals to me I know they aren't the perfect solution but it's a fun story.
I like the way problems are solved in this series. It appeals to me I know they aren't the perfect solution but it's a fun story.
September 16, 2021
4/5. Este volumen estuvo bueno. Poco enfoque en el harem, mucho en política y en la vida de los personajes secundarios. Realmente se siente vivo el mundo.
October 10, 2021
0 value added.
August 3, 2023
Great book series
This book was amazing, I love the plot twists, i love the whole story I'm looking forwards to reading the next book.
This book was amazing, I love the plot twists, i love the whole story I'm looking forwards to reading the next book.
February 15, 2024
Good book
Good book . I love this book . Thank you for this book . . . . . . . . . . .
Good book . I love this book . Thank you for this book . . . . . . . . . . .
June 13, 2024
It's alright but the epilogue had more canon than the chapters.
November 11, 2018
Having returned from the Star Dragon Mountain Range, Souma heads to the next destination on his diplomatic tour, the Republic of Turgis. While he is there to investigate the possibility of forming cordial relations with a neighbor they currently have no interaction with, Souma finds his attention drawn to the high level of the local blacksmiths, and a plan occurs to him.
Sensing that state level negotiations will be necessary to make his plan a reality, he succeeds in arranging a meeting with the republic's head of state. In order to make the negotiations fruitful, Souma demonstrates the kingdom's power to the republic.
"I will show the republic the 'gain' to be had from working with us, and the 'threat' to make them hesitate to oppose us."
Can Souma's secret plan move the republic?!
The revolutionary administrative fantasy series, volume seven!
**
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews