Anime Episode 20

Aping the Frown of Beauty is the 20th episode of the "Genjitsu Shugi Yuusha no Oukoku Saikenki" Anime adaptation.

''With Van, the capital of Amidonia, returned to Julius, so too returns the oppressive rule of the government. The people's dissatisfaction increases day by day, until finally they end up revolting. Julius's sister, Roroa, then comes before Souma.''

Summary
While Souma was rebuilding Parnam, improving its roads and logistics, along with building water and sewage systems, he constructed large sedimentation basins to purify the sewage. During the excavation work, bones of gargoyles, giants and other monsters were discovered. Among them were the bones of a dragon, but before they were taken to the Royal Academy, they suddenly turned up missing.

Souma recalls when the bones went missing, but wonders why are they mentioning it now as it was long ago. Ludwin apologizes, stating that while he was sorting his papers, he found a note from Genia, who had informed him back then she was taking the bones. Genia is disappointed that she just found out that note. Souma asks Genia what she needed the bones and Genia gets excited to reveal why.

Genia reveals the Mechadra, a mechanical dragon she made from monster components and mysterious parts from dungeons, patched onto a dragon skeleton. However, it doesn't work, which causes Souma to wonder why she made it. Genia explains it was an experiment to study how the joints of living things work. Ludwin states that if Star Dragon Mountain Range finds about this, it could become international incident, which causes Souma to whisper to Liscia to send them an apology letter, with Liscia commenting that they may need to rebury the bones or sent them the bones. Souma then uses his Living Poltergeist to obtain control over the dragon and starts moving it, exciting Genia her calculations were right and how smoothly it moves. Ludwin tells him that having a mechanical dragon moving around could be taken as a threat by other nations. Souma asks Genia if the dragon has any weapons, but Genia explains she isn't crazy enough to arm a model. Souma is disappointed there is no use of it and it can be used to make other country be wary of it.

Souma tells Genia that they will keep the dragon top-secret and locked down until they hear from the Star Dragon Mountain Range. Souma also informs Genia that they will build her a new state research lab and he will leave them for the research for her, however, she needs to provide ten percent of the research funding. Ludwin wishes they cover all the funding, but Souma states if they do, there is no telling what she may start researching.

At Van, people are getting unhappy with Julius return. Bridges gets destroyed, food gets rationed, gemstones broadcast gets forbidden, causing people to wish Souma would occupy them again. Julius hears about the people's complains, but states they should complain to Elfrieden as they need to pay reparations. Lord of Galua, Huddles, visits Julius and informs him that there is an uprising. As Galua is in the outskirts and Huddles refused to his trust into Julius, but instead reinforced his soldiers, Julius tells him to deal with it himself. Huddles tells him that if this continues, it will spread more towards the inner side of the country and he needs to show strength now. Julius then agrees and decides to lead his forces and puts down the rebellion in Galua.

Souma spends some time with kids. Carla who is now a chambermaid, feels embarrassed in her new outfit. Souma asks her if Serina trained her and Carla reveals the training was she being whipped, but since the whip was magical, it didn't leave any trace. Serina then appears stating that the whip is love and love must be accepted, causing Carla to tremble in fear.

Souma hears about the uprising in Galua and how Julius brutally suppressed it. Hakuya gives a letter from people's representative from Van. Souma read that people of Van express allegiance to the Kingdom of Elfrieden and requests reinforcements. As they received formal request, Souma decides to send reinforcements. Julius is angry that Van betrayed him and aligned with Souma. Julius then receives news of various noblemen families going against him and wanting to overthrown him. Souma then learns that Julius forces had lost and he took a small force and fled to the empire. Souma and Hakuya are surprised how everything suddenly worked in union, believing there is something more to this.

With the expulsion of Julius, Amidonia became a state without leader. Lunarian Orthodox Papal State and Republic of Turgis seeked to take advantage, while Mercenary State Zem wanted to keep their neutrality, but still send mercenaries to the other two countries. Lunarian Orthodox Papal State is the home of the Lunarian Orthodox Church, which worships the moon goddess Lunaria, and the pope presides over both church and state. They dispatched forces along the border with Amidonia, to defend the adherents within their nation. Republic of Turgis is a cold land where they are bound by ice and snow most of the year and any land where it doesn't snow is the envy of the nation. They invasion was stopped by the brave fighting of the aged General Herman, lord of Nelva.

Souma receives request from both General Herman Neumann and former finance minister, Gatsby Colbert, for Elfrieden to annex the whole Amidonia. Souma states that there are a lot of downsides of annexing Amidonia. Eflrieden will benefit with increasing their national strength and material resources, but in downside is that there is food crisis. As they were hostile nation until few days ago, governing it would be difficult. They will also increase the countries with which they share borders, making diplomacy more difficult. Additionally, if they annex Amidonia, they won't be getting their reparations anymore. Souma wishes to decline, but seems he can't do that, due to already intergrading Van at the people's request. And if the other countries overtake Amidonia, refugees will overrun Elfrieden. While it will be a lot of work, Souma believes it will benefit them in the long run and announces they will be annexing Amidonia.

Amidonia is then intergraded in Elfrieden peacefully. Souma gathers Herman Neumann and Gatsby Colbert. Souma commend Gatsby for bringing the people of Amidonia together and without him people would have suffered much longer. Gatsby then gives him Amidonia's internal income and expenditure reports, as well as documentation of rights. Souma then feels sorry for Julius as he was left running the country without those documents. Souma tells Gatsby he can take the documents and if he wishes to serve him. As Gatsby agrees, Souma makes him the finance minister of Elfrieden and charges him with maintaining the nation's finances. Gatsby is surprised and asks if he meant for Amidonia, but Souma confirms its for Elfrieden. Gatsby states he is Amidonian, but Souma states Elfrieden policy is using whomever is useful, no matter who they are. Souma then commend Herman for stopping Turgis. Herman reveals he also have something for Souma and reveals his region is thriving in wool industry and produces fine quality wool, and gives Souma bolts woven from wool. Souma wishes to check them and as he does, he feels they feel like carpeting. He then feels familiar with a story of a rug given as gift and asks Herman if there are woman in the rugs. Herman is then shocked, making Souma realize its true. The rugs start moving and Roroa states this was supposed to be a big surprise and comes out. Roroa wonders what gave her away and Souma states that a woman once did the same in his world, but she was naked. Roroa is disappointed she took someone else act, but wonders if that woman is a sicko. Souma wonders if she is Julius' sister and complimenting herself, Roroa confirms. Souma wonders what is she doing here and Roroa reveals she is there to marry him, which shocks Souma.

Characters in order of Appearance
Characters in italics debuted here.
 * Kazuya Souma
 * Liscia Elfrieden
 * Juna Doma
 * Hakuya Kwonmin
 * Ludwin Arcs
 * Genia Maxwell
 * Carla Vargas
 * Roroa Amidonia
 * Julius Amidonia
 * Gatsby Colbert
 * Herman Neumann
 * Serina
 * Tomoko Inui
 * Rou Inui

Changes

 * In the light novel Roroa was rolled inside a carpet, but in the anime she hid herself underneath a stack of carpets.

Trivia

 * This Episode adapts Light Novel Volume 04 Chapter 1 (Part 3) & Chapter 2 (Flashback Part 1).
 * The woman Souma referred to was Cleopatra, who did the same when she first met Julius Caesar.
 * The title is adapted from Classical Chinese philosophical literature Zhuangzi: Chapter of Heavenly Revolutions.