Light Novel Volume 01

"Genjitsu Shugi Yuusha no Oukoku Saikenki I" ( 現実主義勇者の王国再建記Ⅰ, How a Realist Hero Rebuilt the Kingdom Vol. 1 ) is the 1st volume of the Light Novel series written by "Dojyomaru" and illustrated by "Fuyuyuki". It was first published in Japan on May 25, 2016; with the English digital version released on February 23, 2017 and printed version released on September 11, 2018.

Blurb
"O, Hero!" With that cliched line, Kazuya Souma found himself summoned to another world and his adventure--did not begin. After he presents his plan to strengthen the country economically and militarily, the king cedes the throne to him and Souma finds himself saddled with ruling the nation! What's more, he's betrothed to the king's daughter now...?! In order to get the country back on its feet, Souma calls the wise, the talented, and the gifted to his side. Five people gather before the newly crowned Souma. Just what are the many talents and abilities they possess...?! What path will his outlook as a realist take Souma and the people of his country down? A revolutionary transferred-to-another-world administrative fantasy series starts here!

Chapters

 * Prologue
 * Chapter 1: Fundraising
 * Chapter 2: Start From X
 * Chapter 3: Let's Create a Broadcast Program
 * Intermission 1: Serina and the Death Spirit
 * Chapter 4: A Day Off in Parnam
 * Intermission 2: The Sighs of Duchess Excel Walter
 * Chapter 5: The Legendary Old Man
 * Chapter 6: Relief
 * Epilogue
 * Extra Story: The Story of a Certain Group of Adventurers

Premium Version Bonus
Special Bonus content added in Premium version release (6 store exclusive short stories) *,
 * The Little Tanuki Princess of Amidonia
 * Aisha: Day of Departure
 * Tomoe's People-Watching Diary
 * Juna - Better Days Are Coming
 * What They Wanted to Be
 * Liscia: Picking an Outfit

Synopsis
Kazuya Souma is brought before the king and queen of the Elfrieden Kingdom. The king is envious of Souma being relaxed and explains that he was the target of the hero summoning. He talks about the world and how mankind if fighting against the demons that appeared 10 years ago. The Gran Chaos Empire vowed to fight them but required compensation from the nations that didn't border the Demon King's Domain. They were going to send him instead of funds to the Gran Chaos Empire. Souma decides to discuss what was going to happen next privately with the kin, queen and the prime minister, Marx. They discussed various topics and the king left enlightened. The next day, Souma is declared the new king of Elfrieden and is also engaged to marry Liscia Elfrieden, the king's daughter.

Liscia herself came rushing home wishing her parents were okay. She quickly learned from them that the king abdicated of his own free will. She assumed Souma was up to no good but quickly learned that he only wanted to save the kingdom to save himself. He also learned that he could use magic known as living poltergeist. He sold off some of the national treasures to pay off the debt, but also told Liscia that there were many reforms that needed to happen including limiting the acreage of cash crops that weren't cotton. He also hoped for the kingdom to grow food again and hoped Liscia to run the kingdom when he was done.

Liscia thinks about her 'failures' as a leader as they eat breakfast. There they meet the captain of the guard, Ludwin Arcs and they talk about how the three dukes (Georg Carmine, Excel Walter and Castor Vargas) have remained in their domains. Souma also wants to find better subordinates and decides to use the royal voice broadcast to help with the recruitment.

There were many individuals that took part with Valor, Beauty and Public Entertainment being the most crowded categories. Competitions were held for each being the Kingdom's Number One Fighting Tournament, Elfrieden Bishoujo Grand Prix (with some rumors floating around) and Kingdom of Talents. Five individuals who were the most exemplary stood before the king. Aisha Udgard, the dark elf, was pronounced the best when it came to combat. Souma looked over what the dark elves were with his glove and book with his living poltergeist. She wanted the king to deal with the human trespassers coming into the god protected forest. Souma says he'll do what he can because of the food shortage and suggests trading for lumber from periodic thinning. Aisha doesn't know what thinning meant but when she does, she bows in respect asking for the king to visit them to teach them the 'art of thinning.' She was made into the king's bodyguard.

Hakuya Kwonmin is next and was shown to have great knowledge. He's made into a castle librarian after rejecting the first recommendation. Gyna Doma was next as the winners of both the Elfrieden Bishoujo Grand Prix and Kingdom of Talents. Souma asks to demonstrate with a lively song, but Gyna cannot accommodate. Souma gives her a song to listen to via his music player and she remembers it. She sings the song very well and wants to hear more songs at a later time.

Next up was the mystic fox Tomoe Inui who was a refugee. She gives the fact that she can talk to demons to the king only, and he manages to keep his cool. He calls for a break and for Gyna to sing for the kingdom in the meantime. He gives the information to the others in a private room and to compensate for her new importance she's allowed to be adopted by Albert and Elisha with her old family allowed to work at the castle. When they reconvene, Poncho Panacotta is up next for his gift for gluttony and Souma is delighted. After Poncho is declared to be a retainer, Hakuya speaks up saying that he no longer wants to be a librarian but someone similar to a strategist and later the prime minister. After the big meeting, Liscia and Souma talk in the back.

As rumors of a mannequin circulate the castle as Souma mentions that his magic increased to the point where he can manipulate four inanimate objects at once. As Souma thinks about the day care that is now active in the castle, Liscia confirms that the rumors were Souma testing out his magic. In the conference room, Poncho talks about how he got the items he was looking for using the hero's bag of holding and a royal flying dragon. In the dining room, a setup is made for a cooking show to help the short-term food situation. They learn how they can make an octopus, burdock root, red bear's paw, sword tiger's liver, grilled salamander and Zelring (slimes) edible. Souma is delighted by the Zelring Udon but the locusts are an odd choice. Later Hakuya and Souma talk about the neighbors and that the Principality of Amidonia were likely going to attack them while they were at odds with the three dukes.

Eventually Hakuya tells Souma to take a day off and take Liscia and Aisha with her. Souma learns about combat while promising to visit to the god protected forest to help with the thinning. As they talk about various projects, Liscia also learns that Souma would want to marry someone for love's sake. In Gyna Doma's cafe Souma learns that he can have up to eight wives. He also meets up with Kaede Foxia and Halbert Magna and learns about Georg Carmine's intentions. Souma asks them about it and when Halbert tries to grab Souma he's held by his face, neck and back by Aisha, Liscia and Juna respectfully. After his highness is revealed, Souma reveals that he's going to take down the three duchies' without help from the Mercenary State Zem and mentions indirectly that Kaede won't be protected and Halbert needs to think about what he's fighting for. The trio leaves apologizing for the disturbance. They meet Halbert's father, Glaive Magna, the following day who apologizes for his son's behavior and gives some news to Souma. Everyone is stunned in their own way before Kaede is promoted and Halbert is transferred to serve under him.

Souma meets up with his staff who are exhausted. He mentions that they will stand as the unsung heroes for finding all the hidden funds. Souma announces that Venetinova will be built and they'll have five days off and they'll each get a bottle of wine from the cellars. Liscia and Souma go back to his office where Liscia mentions that they could get another hero but it wouldn't be Souma. Souma explains that Venetinova will be a trading town while Lagoon City will remain the hub of the navy. While looking over the construction site, Souma hears word of an old man named Urup that building at this location was a bad idea because of a legend of the sea god's wrath. Taking the legend into consideration, Souma knows that tsunamis will happen in this area after earthquakes. He adjusts the building process with input from flood control specialists and makes Urup a government servant responsible for telling the legend.

Meanwhile the forbidden army does civic projects like road construction to Halbert's dismay. He does enjoy the lunches though and Souma eventually checks up on them. Halbert is very formal until Souma tells him to cool it. Souma gives a tour on how the road is built from the roman concrete to the warding trees. During this time, Aisha gets a letter concerning that her home had experienced a landslide recently.