WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Episode 23 of How a Realist Hero Rebuilt the Kingdom, now streaming on Funimation.
In How a Realist Hero Rebuilt the Kingdom, King Souma Kazuya solves a fantasy kingdom's problems with modern world solutions. One of the biggest issues facing Souma's recently united kingdom of Friedonia is hygiene; its denizens are as unfamiliar with microbiology as they are familiar with magic. Friedonia's magic may have its benefits, but its shortcomings in the world of healing have been revealed.
In Episode 23 of the isekai anime, Souma told his party about the existence of pathogens, and how the help of a race of three-eyed people would be instrumental in treating Friedonia's illnesses. Even though their collaboration with the extremely hygienic scientist Hilde Norg is likely to save many lives, there could still be more obstacles to public health and safety.
Episode 23 began with Souma, Princess Liscia, the noble Owen Jabana and Carla Vargas, who was enslaved as a maid as punishment for treason, walking to the city's "old slums". What were once dangerous streets are now clean and filled with children playing. The newly clean appearance initially seemed like a superficial metaphor for how Souma "cleaned" the streets of crime, the streets' literal cleanliness is important for another reason: sanitation.
Souma improved the neighborhood by providing free housing for the people who lived there and hiring them to keep it clean. Nobody in Friedonia knew about the existence of microscopic pathogens because light magic healing was so prevalent. Light magic "augments the ability to heal," but unfortunately it struggled to treat the elderly, "whose natural ability to heal is diminished." This is why Friedonia's citizens generally only have a life expectancy of 60.
Souma told his group there was a race of three-eyed people who could see pathogens, and described how he enlisted their scientists to develop this world's version of a microscope. The animal whisperer Tomoe was also helping to mass produce their version of antibiotics, made from slime-like "gelins." Souma understands that pathogens are an objective reality, but even if he can prove their existence beyond a reasonable doubt, he may still have difficulties convincing others. His frank description of microscopic organisms as "Tiny creatures (...) in countless numbers," though factual, is a reminder of how bizarre the concept must seem to those unfamiliar with it.
Friedonians who haven't had the benefit of following microbiological science over a period of years would be bewildered by the revelation, and may perhaps instinctively reject it. Even in real life, people do not always trust scientific proof if it contradicts their instinctive feelings. The people in Realist Hero's region have depended on light magic healing for so long, they could be so protective of it that they reject Souma's transition toward antibiotic treatments as disrespectful to the old ways.
Even so, Souma has never been overly concerned with perceptions or traditions, as evidenced by his selling of the kingdom's royal jewels in Episode 1. What may worry him is the resulting number of unemployed light magic healers with no other skills. Episode 23 also did not explore some of the shortcomings of modern antibiotic treatments, namely the risk of diseases becoming resistant to them. Fortunately, there is no reason why light magic's ability to bolster people's natural healing couldn't be used in conjunction with these more modern treatments depending on the case. This would allow antibiotics to be used sparingly, as they are in real life, whilst also letting the kingdom continue to take advantage of its incredible magic.
Hilde Norg, a scientist and doctor of the three-eyed race, wore a face mask and carried a nozzle of sanitizing spray. Her appearance made her avoidance of germs seem obsessive, but it plainly conveyed the chasm in attitudes between the three-eyed people who could perceive the germs and the Friedonians who could not. Hilde sprayed various doors in the neighborhood, declaring "sanitize the unclean!" It's lucky that she was soon sidetracked by Souma's party; the citizens who were paid to clean their own streets may have taken her behavior as an insult to the work they'd already done.
Souma, his group and Hilde soon moved on to check in with Ginger Camus and his job training center, and ended up helping to prevent a kidnapping at a refugee camp. Future episodes will surely explore Hilde and her misanthropic colleague Brad Jocker in more detail, but this was a good introduction to her and her perceptive people. Souma clearly has long-term aspirations for the health and sanitation of Friedonia, and he is fortunate that the three-eyed people are providing aid. Magic healing may always have a place in the kingdom, but a true Realist Hero cannot rest until there are healthcare solutions that work for everyone.
