The story moves to the Republic of Turgis, with Souma taking his entourage to the country to the south. Thanks to its weather, Turgis tends to be more isolated, so Souma takes the opportunity to try and understand the place better to help future relations with them. Due to the cold, Naden and Carla stay behind in Friedonia, while Liscia stays back as well due to feeling sick. This changes the traveling party to Souma, Juna, Roroa, Tomoe, Aisha, Kaede, and Hal. The trip almost ends as soon as it starts, as Souma gets a letter from Liscia saying that she's pregnant, but her letter and Aisha literally holding him down keeps things under control.
With a different sense of purpose, stopping at a random merchant's stall puts the trip on a different track. Turgis has a number of very skilled blacksmiths, and Souma seeks out one of them, Taru, to discuss a secret project for the kingdom: making syringes for medical purposes. While meeting with Taru, however, they're interrupted by the arrival of Kuu Taisei, son of the leader of Turgis and Taru's childhood friend, alongside his companion Leporina. After some misunderstanding, Kuu takes it upon himself to show everyone around the country while they wait to meet with his father to discuss the project of making syringes.
After a few days of touring and celebration, things take a turn when a monsters break out of a dungeon and start overrunning the countryside. Kuu and Souma team up, taking the fight to the mutant ogres that are terrorizing a small town, though pushing back the meeting with Gouran, the head of state in Turgis. The meeting proves fruitful, showing off the Kingdom's secret alliance with the Empire and their advanced technology, laying the groundwork for forming a medical alliance between all three countries. Arrangements are also made for Kuu, Taru, and Leporina to stay in the Kingdom, at least for a few years.
Tropes
- Bathtub Bonding: Juna sets one of these up with Souma in the hot springs.
- Democracy Is Flawed: Gouran plans on turning Turgis into a monarchy so that Kuu is guaranteed to take over after him. This isn't out of trying to keep his family in power out of greed, but because Kuu is the right leader for the future and democracy would only get in his way.
- Hidden Depths: Kuu often acts like (or just is) a real idiot, but when he gets serious he's actually quite insightful.
- Monkey King Lite: Kuu, as lampshaded by Souma multiple times.
- The Tape Knew You Would Say That: Liscia emphasizes in her letters to Souma and Aisha that Souma should continue his trip because she knows that, the moment Souma finds out she's pregnant, he'd try to rush back without a thought. He does so, not even bothering to finish the letter, with Aisha literally having to hold him back.
