Chapter 3: Let’s Create a Broadcast Program (part 3)

Not seeming to realize this at all, Souma stood in front of a board that had been

prepared for the occasion, explaining things with charts and maps. He was especially

thorough about the causes of the food crisis.

"...In response to this increase in demand, it created conditions where you could

sell as much as you could produce, so farmers shifted from growing food crops to

growing cotton, and that is the cause of our current food crisis. Of course, this isn't

solely the fault of the farmers. Responsibility also lies with the merchants who

coerced them to do it in order to sell their products, the soldiers who benefited from

those products, and the royal family for ignoring this until it became a problem. For

this, I deeply apologize." With those words, Souma bowed his head.

For a king to bow to his subjects and retainers... this was unheard of. The

situation hadn't even been caused during Souma's reign.

"At present, our kingdom is making the switch from cash crops back to food

crops. However, I don't expect to see the effects of that until autumn or later. We are

considering the importation of food from other countries, but the situation there is

not favorable, either. One reason is that we have nothing to replace our primary

export, cotton, and so we can't secure foreign currency. The other reason is that

every country is in a similar situation. They can't sell us what they don't have."

Souma's words were more than enough to depress the people. But they were

more surprised that Souma had released this information to the public. Normally,

those who stood at the top didn't disclose such information to those beneath them.

Sometimes it was because that information included mistakes they themselves had

made; many times, they also believed that those below them wouldn't understand

even if they were told about matters of national policy.

As a matter of fact, the king's explanation had been simple enough that a middleschooler from Japan could understand it, and yet only around three-tenths of the

people of this country could. However, this young king had disclosed the

information.

The more educated a person was, the greater their surprise. Why had he exposed

such a national disgrace, one that could lead to his own loss of power, to the people?

"Um, er... Is that something that's okay to tell the people?" Poncho hesitantly

asked the question everyone was thinking. However, Souma's expression didn't

change in the slightest.

"The more you hide, the more people doubt you. There are things we need to

hide when it comes to foreign affairs, but for internal policy, I intend to continue

disclosing such things. You see, I want my fellow countrymen to use their heads.

What is best for this country? Are my policies correct? I want them to think along

with me."

"I've never seen a king like this before..." someone whispered.

It was unheard of for a ruler to ask his people to think about politics with him.

Technically, even in this country, there was a Congress of the People which

represented their will, but it was, to put it simply, "a place to decide on the people's

pleas to the king." The king was free to implement or not implement them as he saw

fit, and the content of these congresses was limited to things like requests to correct

the inflation in prices for X or requests for public works spending. It was about as

useful as having a suggestions box, and it was not a place for debating political

decisions.

The feudal system was also still strong in this country. To put it at its simplest,

the political system in this country was "Those below pay their taxes. Those above

protect the lives and property of those below." That was all there was to it.

Commoners paid taxes to their lords, and the lords guaranteed their lives and

property. Their lords (the nobility) paid taxes to the king, and in exchange for them

serving in the military in times of crisis, the king guaranteed their lives and

property. It was a society with a complete class system.

When there was rot at the top, the rot risked spreading throughout. However, to

look at it the opposite way, so long as the people above them were on the level, the

people didn't need to think about national policy; they could think about nothing but

themselves. So it was an easy system to be part of in that way.

However, this young king had asked the people to use their heads. He had asked

them to think about his policies with him.

There was no clear path yet for political participation from the people. And even

if they were to be given that right, it was clear to see that the uneducated citizenry

would descend into mob rule. However, even so, he sowed the seeds.

"This country's going to change..." someone said.

"I envy young'uns who'll be able to see that change," an old man added.

"Oh, we're not done yet," another one said.

While looking at the young king, the old squinted their eyes, as if blinded by his

radiance.

Without any way to know this, Souma continued his explanation.

"As you see here, we will have to wait until autumn for a fundamental solution to

the problem. It goes without saying that we intend to provide support, but there are

issues of volume and geography preventing us from reaching every person in the

kingdom with it. Not everyone lives in the flatlands, after all."

This was a country with many races living together. From the dark elves who

lived in the forest, to the dragonewts who preferred to live at high altitudes like in

the mountains, to the dwarves who lived in underground caves, there were those

who lived in places supply lines did not pass through, and it would be difficult to

deliver relief supplies. It was the same for those who lived in marginal villages deep

in the mountains.

"That is why I come to you, my countrymen, with a request... no, an order." Here,

Souma stopped. Then, after a breath, he said clearly: "Everyone, survive until

autumn."

When they heard those words come from the young king's mouth, the people

gulped. The words' meaning was simple. However, his intent behind them was

inscrutable.

"Because we have no cards to play, you will all need to survive for yourselves,"

the king said. "Go into the mountains, into the rivers, into the sea, in search of food.

Cooperate with each other and bow your heads to others if necessary, no matter

how humiliating it is, because I want everyone to survive until autumn."

Those words could have been heard as an abdication of responsibility. He was

telling those who were suffering to go work hard on their own, after all. However, it

was also true that only those who worked hard would be saved.

The young king bowed his head sincerely. "Please. When I say everyone, I mean

every last one of you. Don't lash out at others because you're suffering; don't send

away children because you have too many mouths to feed; do not throw away the

old and frail. I want you all to greet the bounty of autumn together. This broadcast is

something we've put together in the hopes that it will be some help with that."

Souma went into the objectives of the current broadcast. As a means of buying

time until the food crisis could be solved, they would introduce ingredients not

commonly eaten in this country and show the ways to prepare them. These

ingredients could be obtained cheaply (or freely where they grew in the wild).

Furthermore, by eating those ingredients on air, they would demonstrate that they

were edible.

Even those citizens who had been indignant at his earlier statement, which had

seemed to abdicate responsibility, felt their anger cooling as they listened to

Souma's explanation. Because this king truly was thinking about them. They could

feel that keenly.

"...So, there you have it. Now then, I'll hand the show back over to your hosts,

Poncho and Juna." With his explanation complete, Souma returned to his seat.

Souma couldn't have known this, but at that moment, roaring applause erupted

through plazas around the country. It was spontaneous applause from those citizens

deeply impressed by Souma's words. Without knowing it, Souma was slowly

beginning to gain recognition as their king.

The video returned to Poncho and Juna hosting once more.

"Now then, let's get right to it," Juna said. "Poncho, what's our first ingredient?"

"Y-Yes! Our first ingredient is right here!"

With that, Poncho brought over a cloth-covered box, placing it on the table where

Souma, Liscia, Aisha, and Tomoe were seated like guest commentators.

It was a box big enough to hold a largish aquarium.

Pausing a moment for dramatic effect, Poncho pulled back the cloth.

◇ ◇ ◇

We were in the cafeteria at Parnam Castle for the live broadcast.

"Urkh..."

"Eeeeeeeeek!"

"Wai— What?!"

When they saw what had appeared on the table, Aisha, Tomoe and Liscia each let

out their own cries of shock.

Juna, on the other hand, looked at it and seemed to be thinking, "Ohhhh, so that's

it."

"That's an octopus."

"It sure is an octopus."

The thing in the box in front of them was the eight-legged wriggly soft-bodied

creature you all know to be an octopus.

While many of the creatures in this world had a touch of the fantastic about them,

such as even the cows and chickens having armored carapaces, this was just a

straight-up (though rather large) octopus. Well, even in fantasy worlds, giant

octopuses are often a thing, so I guess it's okay?

By the way, in this country, they called octopuses "ocatos," but that's just

confusing, so we'll stick with octopuses. I mean, with my mysterious translation

ability, the word sounded like "octopus" to me, anyway.

"Huh? You people don't eat octopus in this country?" I asked.

"We do not! Hold on, Souma, have you actually eaten one of those creepy things

before?!" Liscia looked at me incredulously.

Come on, it's just an octopus, you know? I'm having a hard time accepting this

reaction.

"Well, considering how they look, I'm sure they're only eaten in some coastal

regions. My hometown is one of them, though," Juna gently explained.

Well, even back on Earth, in Europe (excluding Italy and Spain) they're called

"devilfish," and in some countries people refuse to eat them... I guess? I thought.

"But they're so tasty..." I said.

"A-Are they?" Liscia asked.

Once she heard they were delicious, Aisha was ready to dig in. Her being my

bodyguard meant we often ate together, so I already knew this, but this girl was

quite the glutton. She had a special weakness when it came to sweet foods (like the

snacks that came as offerings for the king and maids), and she would munch away at

them to the point that the maids jealously grumbled, "How does she eat so much and

still maintain that figure...?"

"Yeah. There are divergent opinions about how good it is raw, but if you just rub

salt into it, wash off the mucus, and boil it, it's good like that. Cooked, fried, served

with rice, it's delicious any way you like it."

There was silence.

"Aisha, you're drooling," I added.

"Whoops... Pardon me."

"Honestly, it's high-protein, low-calorie, so it's great if you're on a diet, too."

"High-pro? I-I'm not sure what that is, but my ears pricked up when I heard the

word 'diet'..." Liscia seemed to be ready to dig in now, too.

Honestly though, I thought Liscia could stand to put some more meat on her

bones. Maybe it was because she was in the army, but she was pretty slender.

"I don't think you need to worry so much about your weight," I told her.

"Souma... A girl stops being a girl the moment she stops caring about her weight,"

Liscia admonished me with eyes that seemed to be staring off into the distance.

Since Juna and Tomoe gave firm nods as well, I guessed that was just how it was.

Aisha was the only dissenter, with a face that seemed to say, "Forget that, I want to

eat already..."

"Okay, then... For now, shall we get to cooking?" I asked.

We moved to the kitchen attached to the cafeteria and began to prepare the

octopus. The cooks who worked there protested, "If you had just said something, we

would have done it for you ourselves..." but I liked cooking, so I decided to do it.

First, I put the octopus in a large bowl, cutting out the guts, ink sack, and eyeballs

with a kitchen knife. (This elicited an "Uwah..." from the girls, but I ignored them.)

Then I rubbed salt into it, waited for the slimy surface to harden, then washed it well

with water. I cleaned the suckers thoroughly, as well, because there can be mud in

them sometimes.

After that, I brought water to a boil, dropped it into the pot legs first, and then

that very octopus-shaped creature (I mean, it was an octopus) boiled up. Watching

until its yellowish-brown flesh turned a firm reddish-purple, I pulled it out, and a

fine example of a boiled octopus was ready. After it had cooled a little, I cut the legs

into bite-sized pieces. It would already be delicious like this.

"Eh, good enough. Time to eat," I said.

"Wha?!" Liscia and the others were shocked to see me nibbling at it already with

zero hesitation.

When I popped a bite in my mouth, yep, it sure tasted like octopus. That slightly

salty taste was great. And because it was so great, I couldn't help but lament that

there was no soy sauce in this world yet!

"...Is that really edible?" Liscia murmured.

"Come on, Liscia. You could just try it and find out, you know?"

"Uh, no... I'm not emotionally prepared just yet..."

"You sure? It's delicious."

Ignoring the hesitant Liscia, Juna popped a slice in her mouth.

"Ahh, no fair, Madam Juna!" Aisha cried. "Fine then, me too!"

Seeing that, Aisha went chomp, and—

Hey, wait! Don't just bite right into the head! Just how much of a glutton is this dark

elf?!

"Oh! It's crisp and delicious!"

"...Is it now?"

...Okay, time to get back in control of things.

I coated the bite-sized pieces of octopus in wheat flour, egg, and white flour,

putting them on skewers three at a time. Then I put the whole skewers into a pot of

hot oil. I let them fry until the batter was light brown and crispy. I pulled them out of

the pot, and once I had put on the finishing touches with Worcester sauce, which

they had even in this world, and a homemade mayonnaise I had made with eggs,

vinegar and other things, they were done.

"'Fried octopus skewers'... is what you'd call them, I guess. Go on, try eating

them." I offered each person one skewer.

Liscia and Tomoe timidly brought them to their mouths. The moment they took a

bite...

"What is this?! It's delicious!"

"It really is... very delicious, Brother."

Their eyes went wide at how good it was.

Nice! I thought, giving myself a mental thumbs up.

"It really is delicious. The octopus hidden inside the crispy batter is very juicy,"

Juna said.

"I-It really is! Even I didn't know octopus would go this well with Worcester

sauce!" Poncho cried.

"This white sauce goes well with the octopus, too. Splendidly done, sire," Juna

added.

"Y-You can cook, too, sire! That surprised me, yes."

Juna and Poncho gave commentary like professional food critics. Since both of

them had eaten octopus before, they could both take the time to properly savor it.

Meanwhile, Aisha was chomp, chomp, chomping away and producing a massive pile

of empty skewers.

...There's nothing more I can say about that.