How a Realist Hero Rebuilt the Kingdom (2021–2022): Season 2, Episode 9 - A Man Without Learning Is Unwise; a Man Without Wisdom Is a Fool - full transcript

We are so short of staff.

You can say that again.

For example, we need people
with Roroa's economic acumen.

You are certainly right there.

Having said that,

there is no way that Roroa can
look after the whole economy on her own.

That's true.

I need someone in my organization
who is a whizz at mathematics.

We're desperately short of people

who can read and write,
and do basic arithmetic.

It is a sad fact, but
the literacy rate is very low.



The only people who can deal
with numbers are the nobility,

knights, and after that
only really the merchants.

You are right there, Juna.

If so, we need to
start recruiting from a wider pool.

A country that can avail itself
of good resources

can be a strong country
with concentrated wealth and authority.

Having said that,
finding large numbers of such people

is no easy task.

So what can we do?

We need to get resources
from other nations,

and get moving on "that."

"That"?

ORIGINAL STORY BY DOJYOMARU

SLAVERY



Slavery.

The greatest infringement on
human rights and

one that continues to this very day.

People owning people like possessions.

Without recognizing
their rights or freedom.

Buying and selling them like common goods.

The philosopher Aristotle

talked about them as "living tools,"

but it is not a system
that should be allowed to exist.

Sadly, however,

this system remained in the
great continent of Landia.

The Kingdom of Friedonia was no exception.

Some of the slaves here were slaves
because they had committed a crime.

The majority, however, were
forced to sell themselves

due to the weight of poverty.

If their masters agreed, they
were able to obtain freedom,

and physical and sexual
abuse was forbidden.

Even so, female slaves were
sexually abused

and male slaves were forced
to work until they died.

Here, we find a single slave owner,

named Ginger Camus.

My name is Camus.

I inherited you all
when my grandfather passed away.

Nice to meet you all!

I wonder why all of you look so fearful.

Don't you know, store owner?

Are you a Mystic Tanuki?

No, I am a Raccoon Person.

If you are interested, the
difference lies in the tail.

There is nothing ornate about
the Mystic Tanuki's tail,

whereas our tails have
more elaborate patterns.

And you are?

Excuse my rudeness.
I am the slave, Sandria.

Then, can I call you San?

I guess so, yes.

It's a pleasure to meet you.

For me too, store owner.

By the way, San,

why does everyone look so despondent?

It is because of the passing
of your grandfather.

You mean that even though you are slaves,
you are mourning my grandfather's passing?

Yes, we feel sad.

It is because your grandfather
treated his slaves well, compared to

other slave traders.

Is that right?

He always made sure that we
were clothed and fed.

That is unusually kind for a slave trader.

Sorry.

I really have no idea about slave trading.

That figures.

Your grandfather said,
before he passed, that he

couldn't see you taking on the business.

He said that you were too kind
and gentle for that.

That the burden of it would be too great.

My grandfather read me like a book.

I never wanted to take on any slaves.

I wanted to just sell them all

and start a new business.

At least, that is what I thought.

Store owner?

Sorry about that.

I was thinking about my grandfather.

We slaves will just be
sold on to another slave owner

unless you take us under your wing.

What is more, no one owner
will be able to accommodate this number.

That means that we will get split up.

That is another reason

we are mourning the passing
of your grandfather.

Store owner.

What is this, San?

I was rude as a mere slave to
voice my opinions to you.

I want you to punish me.

You're kidding. Why?

It is not a problem.

This is a special whip
that does not leave marks on the body.

My value as a product won't
decline as the result of the beating.

That's not the point.

If you thought you would get punished,

why did you voice your opinion
in the first place?

I hoped that when you finally folded
up the business, you would

deal with us favorably.

At least,

if you could find a way for the

families to stay together.

Do you have family here too, San?

You really look out for these people.

I understand the situation facing you.

However, I have no wish to
take on the business.

Having said that,

I will do my best for you all,
until the point you are sold.

Of course,

I have no wish to sell you
to disreputable traders.

So, I will look over them carefully
first, before reaching any decision.

I'm sorry, San,

to ask you to help me
carry all this stuff.

You don't need to be
so considerate to us slaves.

Give me any order you want.

By the way, can I ask you, Master Ginger,

why you are giving your slaves ample food,

and buying us new clothes?

What do you think people value most?

Clean things or dirty things?

That would be

the clean things, I suppose.

It's the same thing in this case.

If a slave trader is only buying
slaves for their working potential,

I doubt they would be interested
in clean slaves.

Are you all ready?

Let's work on the 3's row.

Start with 3.

3 times 1 is 3

3 times 2 is 6

3 times 3 is 9

Master Ginger.

What are you doing?

Ah! You are back.
Did you get me what I asked for?

Yes, here you go.

I can use these to teach
everyone how to read and write.

May I ask, Master Ginger,

why you are teaching slaves arithmetic,
and how to read and write?

Well, I was thinking,

when it comes to tools, those
with some kind of added value

are prized more greatly.

So I thought that the added value
that can be applied to humans is

probably education.

Well, that certainly is the case,
but only a limited number of

slave owners want slaves who are educated.

If it means that we are not sold,
or only used for physical labor

I don't really see the point in it.

That may be so,

but I have no intention of
continuing on with this business.

I want the people here to be
bought by the best owners possible.

Would you like me to teach
you as well, San?

There is no need.

Our family were merchants,
so I can read and write

and do calculations.

In that case, how did you become a slave?

Do you mind if I ask?

The merchant was cheated and forced to
take on a massive debt. To protect the

store and his family, he was forced
to sell off one of his daughters.

That's all.

That's all?

It's not such an unusual tale.

This kind of misfortune
is happening all around us.

Thanks!

How is the sale process going?

Not so great, but…
well, I mean, we haven't sold anybody yet.

I wonder why.

Some customers came before.

Why didn't you manage to sell us?

I'm not boasting, but

I think I can read people quite well.

All the people who have come
so far only seem to

want to treat slaves as if
they are disposable items.

Even if they appear to be
gentlemen on the surface.

I see.

I promised I would find
a reliable place for you to go.

I need to select them carefully.

If you do that, you may go broke
and become a slave yourself.

Well, that wouldn't do.

My grandfather used to say,

"One day the wind will stop blowing
and the tide will turn."

So, you mustn't give up,
however rough things seem.

You must wait for your opportunity
and be ready to

grasp it with both hands when it comes.

It is strange, but when
I am with you, Master Ginger,

despite being a slave, I feel
hope for the future.

Excuse me.

I heard there were literate slaves
here who could also do arithmetic.

Is that the case?

We need them right away.

Just name the price.

We need some too.

Just let me know your demands.

I have the money.

What's going on?

Please, Sir.

We really need slaves
who can read, write, and count.

All of the slaves here can
read and write and do arithmetic.

All of them?

Really?

Thank you, Lord!

Please.

Please sell them to us too.

I was first.

I'm worried about our territories.

Just calm yourselves down.
What exactly is going on?

Now I see.

King Souma has decided that skill
at governing one's territory

shall be added as a criteria
for whether the status of

noblemen and knights be elevated.

That is about the size of it?

My lord told me that
the way to climb the ladder of life

is to become a nobleman
and participate in state affairs.

It seems it is not enough
for knights to win in battle.

Now they need to govern
their own territories.

Clerical skills are necessary
for such governance.

So, we need people with literacy
and calculation skills.

Well…

at least I understand the situation now.

We have parents and children,
and siblings here.

If possible, we want you to
take in family units as a set.

In other words,

if we take family members, we can
prioritize getting at least two slaves.

Is that right?

On that basis, I would be happy
to take as many as necessary.

I just said that I was first.

-Who said so?
-Hold on.

Please calm down, everyone.

Please, everyone.

CLOSED

Suddenly, it is all very quiet.

You are right, there.

At the end, Hans and Shiho
were sold to Viltori Saracen.

Not only will they be free,
but she will be taken as a wife too

This was not expected
in their wildest dreams.

Right.

All of a sudden, I am the only slave here.

I wouldn't say

it's a huge amount

but we have raised a tidy sum.

Maybe, you spent too much on

teaching us to read and write,
and do arithmetic.

I guess I am not cut out
to be a slave trader.

At least it means
I will be able to start a new business.

A new type of business?

If so, what will become of me?

San, you don't need to stay
standing all day. Take a load off.

Really, I couldn't.
I have the status of a slave.

It would be unthinkable to sit
in front of my master.

Is that right?

Well, what if I ordered you to sit?

Then, I would be forced to comply.

Let's take a break.

That's my job. You don't need to do that.

It's fine, really. It's just a simple way
of showing you my appreciation.

Appreciation?

That's right.

If you hadn't had
the courage to speak up at that time,

I may have just passed you all on
to another slave trader.

I'm a pretty hopeless slave trader,

but I taught you to read, write, and count
to give you some added value as slaves.

The timing was perfect
considering the King's decree,

and things worked out perfectly.

This is all the result of your
courage at that time.

Not really.

We are the ones who have
to be grateful to you.

You talk about added value, but
Master Ginger, you took on the role

of a parent and gave us new
clothes, food, and even education.

You even dipped into
your grandfather's fortune to do so.

You gave us so much.

There is nothing commonplace
about it at all.

Thank you so much. We are truly grateful.

The thing is…

Welcome to our abode.

Interesting head covering.

I guess he is from
the nine-headed dragon union.

I have a request.

Could you please sell me this slave?

Well…

Did you see the signboard outside?

I'm sorry, but we are closed.

I am sorry for the inconvenience.

I just fell for that Raccoon person
and felt that I just had to come.

Isn't there any way you can
let me have her?

Naturally, I will pay more than
a reasonable fee for her.

After buying her,

I will release her
from her status as a slave.

Well, the thing is…

What would be the sum
you would be willing to pay for me?

San!

Master Ginger, has treated us
very well as slaves.

I am the only one left.

As a final service to him,
I would like to fetch a good price.

Master Ginger, please use the money
as funds to start your new business.

Just hang on!
Think about what you are saying!

Understood.

I will pay ten large gold coins
in addition to 50 standard gold coins.

Does this price suit your requirements?

It is a very generous price.

We should seal the deal.

Glad to hear it.

I haven't agreed to anything yet.

Sorry for your trouble,
but I'm not selling.

She is not a slave.

When I start my new business venture,
I want her by my side as an employee.

Master Ginger.

Sorry, San.

It's possible that you will be happier

if you are sold to this person.

He appears to be a man
of significant means.

But, I…

It may be my selfishness,
but I don't want to let you go.

Master Ginger.

I hope you will let me stay by your side.

Of course I will.

In that case…

Right?

It is just as Sebastian said,
he is quite a fun slave trader.

Completely.

Are you…?

Sorry about that. I was just testing you.

Testing me?

In a world teeming with people,

good talent is hiding in plain sight.

For that reason, I can never
stop my hunt for good resources.

Your Majesty!

The three of us are here unofficially,
so you don't need to be so formal.

I've always wanted to say that.

But, what are you
doing here, Your Majesty?

Your reputation precedes you.

It seems you taught your slaves
reading, writing, and arithmetic

and sold them only to people
who would treat them well.

Slave traders throughout the Kingdom
are following your lead

and educating their slaves.

But…

By the look on your face, you

seem completely unaware of the
great work you have performed.

Great work?

I am constantly mulling over

whether it is possible to abolish
the slave trade system in the Kingdom.

However,

drastic policies enacted
through royal decree have the

potential to throw society into chaos.

It could even lead to civil war.

That's a bit of an exaggeration.

In the world where I am from,
it actually led to a war.

So, to start with

I want to make it so that
it exists in name only.

You mean…

the "that" which you talked to the
princess about was this?

That is correct. Education.

You were prepared to protect
the socially weak class.

You improved their quality of life,
and provided work for them to do.

The result was that
slaves were no longer actual slaves.

That is the great work
to which I referred.

But, Sire…

I just wanted to protect
the people who were here.

Somebody who would do that is
the very resource I am looking for.

From now on, the slave trade

will be put on a socialist footing
in the Kingdom.

Socialist footing?

The slave traders will be civil servants.

There will be a proper review
of activities.

Based on this, I will set up
a job training scheme so that

slaves are not merely burnt out

performing manual tasks,
and can get other jobs.

I would like to abolish it right away.

But at the moment,
this is all that I can do.

You mean…

You are a bit slow on the uptake.

The country will do
the very thing that you just did.

I want you to be the first head
of the job training scheme.

Me?

As far as I can see,
you are the only man for the job.

Use this money to get started.

Won't you use this money
to get the business running?

The wind will stop blowing sometime.

And the tide will finally turn.

I accept, Your Majesty.

Leave it to me!

Subtitle translation by: Simon Way