I wake up fairly early in the morning and get ready for the day, per usual. Duke Hasslerouge seemingly has already left somewhere. One of the palace maids brings me a breakfast of pastries. She stands nearby with a stoic expression. I see her eyes the quite large amount of food every now and again and I have to practically order her to take one if she is hungry. She does and thanks me profusely. I eat my portion and tell her to not let it go to waste, and that she should share it with her friends if she won't get in trouble for it.

With a somewhat good deed done for the day, I leave the apartment and ask a servant to help me find the library. They dutifully lead me to the massive room and leave me to my own devices. I begin going shelf to shelf looking for books that would interest me. Most books are fairly terrible romance or heroic tales, very trope-filled and empty characters. I do find a few interesting epics though, but I set my sights on a large and old book. It appears to be about ritual-based magic. I sit down at a table and begin reading the massive thing. It's a difficult read but I slowly begin to understand it more and more. I am pulled from the pages with a jump when someone places a hand on my shoulder. I turn around a bit startled still and find Duke Hasslerouge along with Henna and Sertean who is in full royal guard armor. I smile upon seeing them and ask,

"What's up?"

Duke Hasslerouge explains,

"I got that woman for you... and its time to formally make the Hero's Party."

I nod and stand up. I shoot a sly grin at Henna who returns it. Sertean is unable to return the look as his helmet covers his entire face. We walk through the halls at a brisk pace, no one speaks a single word. Eventually, I am led into a room and am pretty much tackled by two servant women who drag me into what is effectively a salon. My screams of agony fall on deaf ears as I am tortured through the application of makeup, hair styling, and being forced into awful formal clothing. Eventually, my experience is ended and I think I look stupid. I am assured by Duke Hasslerouge I look good and am in the newest dress for my position. I can't see Serteans face but I can tell he is laughing. Henna doesn't hide her enjoyment at all. I look stupid, I knew it.

I am escorted to a very open room with one wall being a large glass door covered by a curtain. In the room with me is the Princess, Karl, and Blake. All the men are dressed in a similar way, while the princess is in one of those Queen Victoria-style dresses, and made up heavily. None of us look good, at least in my opinion. I'm not normally a vain person, but I hate all these frills and puffy things. There is a loud sound outside, I understand it is most likely a crowd. I hear a loud booming voice address the crowd and slowly begin to realize it's the King. He speaks to the crowd excitedly and then the glass doors open. I can hear everything clearer and he begins announcing the Hero's Party. The Princess lines us up, with Blake in the front. Then after a cue, we march out from behind the curtains and onto a balcony overlooking the palace grounds which is filled with a few thousand people. The crowd explodes in cheers as we are revealed. We all wave to the crowd and smile. I look across the crowd and then lock eyes with someone. They are too far away for me to recognize or even see clearly, but I can feel their malice being projected toward me. I keep this staredown for a time still smiling and waving until we are dismissed and sent back into the room.

I don't know who that was, but I don't like this at all.

The glass doors close and Blake shoots me a glare before quickly leaving without being dismissed. The Princess then says to me,

"My Father has granted us a nearby castle as a base of operations. We will be going there in a few hours. Please begin gathering those you wish to join us, and once we meet there once again we can begin our planning."

I nod and leave back into the hallways and return to the apartment. There I meet Henna and the Duke. We greet one another and I tell Henna to prepare for departure. I then go through the halls to find Sertean. I eventually find him alongside the head guard. The both politely bow to me and I ask the Head guard,

"Sir, can I please request Sertean to join the hero's party? He is one of the people I trust most."

the head guard thinks for a moment before he says,

"Of course! It will work as a good experience for him. Upon his return, he will actually be able to become an officer of the guard!"

I smile and tell Sertean to get ready for departure as well. I then go back to the apartment and prepare my own things for departure.

I don't have much to pack, but I get Duke Hasslerouge to send Mekare a message to gather my things and take them to the castle. Aside from that, I don't have much to do. My boredom is interrupted when a servant comes by and tells me I am needed immediately by a member of the royal family. I assume it's something important the Princess has to tell me. I begin preparing myself for something horrible as we walk through the halls of the palace. I am shocked when I enter the small study.

It's the King. I quickly genuflect and he tells me to rise immediately. The door shuts behind me and he motions for me to sit. I do as told and sit across from him. He is leaning back in his chair and eyeing me with an unreadable expression. He then asks me,

"Now Isa... tell me. If you were to receive a boon for your actions... what would you ask for? Anything in my power."

I let my mouth get ahead of me and I quickly answer,

"I would ask for the freedom of my people. The Stella Coyote."

He raises his eyebrows and leans forward. He then says questioningly,

"Wow, something selfless. Women, money, or social rankings are what I offer, but you asked for something... else."

I nod and reply,

"Well, it's hardly selfless sir. It's selfish of me to only ask for them."

He nods, vaguely understanding what I mean by this. He leans back once more before he starts explaining,

"Now Isa. I still haven't figured you out, and I don't like that. Your loyalties are unknown, you are... very perceptive, and you aren't easily tempted by simple pleasures... well as far as my information goes this is true.

I am not accusing you of anything, instead quite the opposite. I can tell you have one loyalty, and that is to yourself and your... Stella Coyote. After that, I haven't a single clue who you answer to, because Duke Hasslerouge only has so much control over you, and after hearing about your little... brawl with him, you clearly don't love him as a father.

So I don't know what to do with you, because you will be near my daughter, you will stand beside her on the future battlefield as I cannot stop her from going into battle. That girl is way too hard-headed. I only love one thing in this world, my light, my daughter."

I nod and respond,

"Now... what is it you require of me?"

He gives me a half-smile and finishes his point,

" What I require from you is my daughter's safety. I don't care about anything else you do. Your only task from me directly is her safety. If you make sure she comes back alive during our campaign against the Demon King, you will receive that boon. Is this deal fair?"

I nod and reply,

"As you have asked it shall be done."

He smiles and motions for me to leave. I stand up, bow, and then leave back to the apartment again. I don't plan on letting her die, Duke Hasslerouge has already requested this as he believes the Princess is much easier to control than the king. From what I gathered from our talk, he wants her on the throne. I guess it's time to leave for my new home for the foreseeable future...

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

The airship ride is as always quite comfortable, with large cabins and a smooth ride. It's rather windy today so the sound of rushing wind and creaking boards fills the rather small ship. I am forced to share a cabin with Blake who tries to ignore me the whole time. I am happy to ignore him as well. He breaks the silence with a question in English,

"So. What is it you are planning?"

I shake my head with a sigh and answer him in English,

"Well, aside from what I told the King I don't have much thought out until I have intelligence. Remember GI joe, Knowing is half the battle."

He laughs and asks,

"How fucking old were you? Mr.Dinosaur."

I reply,

"Thirty-five."

His eyes go wide and he says,

"Damn, old man then."

I laugh and then tell him,

"I'm going to try and divide us four into different divisions. Each of us to our own. "

He cocks his head and asks,

"What will that do for us?"

I respond,

"Well since we are a new organization we start with nothing. If we all separate into different focuses and then pool them together we can divide the labor and get four things done at once. That's the idea at least.

The princess is well-liked and has authority so she can take the more political front. Karl is well versed in high society, way more than either of us, he can deal with more social aspects of things. I was thinking since you're like a messiah or something to these people the church is on your side so you can deal with all the religious and magical aspects, also I'd say the demon stuff too. I can focus on our finances and the militaristic side of things."

He nods along with my divisions and then replies,

"That does make sense. Despite how much of a deplorable person you are, I trust your ability to make a plan and execute it well. I don't know if you support the Demon King or not, but I'll go with that you are human and therefore you go against him due to wanting to live. I will also assume your terrorism is based on purely political reasons."

I reply,

"Well, you're more right than wrong and I'll leave it at that."

He nods and we sit quietly for a while before he then says,

"Okay... I'll trust you for now. I won't stop trying to reveal to the world what you've done, but you have your uses."

I just nod and the ship suddenly docks nearly making me fall out of the chair I am sitting in.

We exit the ship and I get my first look at my new headquarters.

The castle is on top of a small mountain and is overlooking vast plains and farmlands on one side, and on the other side is a beautiful mountainscape. The airship docks are a few hundred feet below the castle proper and there is a staircase built in a tower that leads all the way to the castle.

The castle itself is made of tan stone, and the main body of the castle is circular with ten towers on the outer wall. I walk up the hundreds of steps and enter the building properly. While it is well designed, with the wind completely silent within the walls, it's rather plain and there are few decorations. I am led to a room which I am told is mine. Inside is a large bed, a desk with a chair, an empty bookshelf, and a large window overlooking the mountains. It's actually quite nice. I am told my things will be brought up later in the day.

I then begin exploring the large building. I come across multiple dining areas, and many large balconies, and I even walk along the walls for a time to get a feel for everything. I learn the castle has its own well and actually has a water wheel-powered elevator that goes all the way to the foot of the mountain which allows for supplies to be brought up in more ways rather than the docks. I then find a large circular room in the center. I declare it the war room or the meeting room and have the furniture for this room brought up. I also find the castle has its own forge. I inspect it and find it lacking, but it's better than nothing.

With the castle explored I simply wait inside my room until all the staff and supplies arrive. I lie down on the bed and take a couple hour-long nap to pass the time as I hadn't brought any books or other entertainment along with me. When I wake up I find a trunk of stuff in my room and Mekare is sitting on the chair. I nod at her in greeting as I stand up and stretch. I then decide to head to the conference room and start setting things up.

Inside the circular room aside from the main table is now a bunch of crates, barrels, and chests of random materials and supplies. I begin by securing a large map I found, of the Kingdom of Alrius, to one of the walls. Then I roll another large map across the table and secure each corner with some random heavy objects. Using other random supplies I begin making this conference room into a true war room, or strategy center. After a couple of hours, I am happy with the way everything looks. It's not exactly pretty or aesthetically pleasing, but it is very practical with everything in its specified area and on display while still allowing for ease of movement around the room.

I stand there with my hands on my hips proud of what I did then the main doors open and in comes a fairly large group. Leading the group is Duke Hasslerouge. He seems surprised to see me and he states,

"Oh! Isa, I was about to send someone to get you. Looks like you beat me here and even unpacked. Way to go."

I smile at him and he and the others take a seat. I know most of the group. It's Duke Hasslerouge and Donnerstein, the Princess, Karl, and Blake, but then there are two others I don't know. I go ahead and pick and random seat and say to the two I don't know,

"Hi, I'm Isa Hasslerouge, nice to meet you, and you are?"

One is an old man, and by old I mean ancient. He is shaking constantly and has baggy skin hanging off his face. He smiles at me warmly and he says,

"I am Sir Frederick Kaiser, I was once the head of the Royal Knights... A long time ago that is. I have been asked to come out of retirement due to my wisdom on various subjects."

I nod and reply,

"That's wonderful! Your experience will be greatly appreciated."

The other person is a very plain-looking woman. I can't really tell what age she is exactly, but she is at least thirty. Everything about her is overly normal. Brown eyes, brown hair, peachy skin, and a somewhat round face. There is nothing offputting or really overly attractive about her, but when we meet eyes I can see a fierce intelligence behind them. She then says to me,

"I am Sarah Brecken, I am the spymaster of the kingdom."

I am a bit surprised at first as I hadn't expected someone so plain, but it makes far more sense for her to be average looking. She could blend in far better as well as not draw attention to herself unwanted or otherwise. I smile seeing that she is here even. I say to her,

"I am honored to have you here. Your skills and connections will be greatly appreciated."

She smiles thinly and then tells me,

"I am here now due to formalities, I will assign a liaison here to take my place. You will speak through them to me as I will need to remain by the King's side."

I nod understanding that will be the best, and will not waste her time and skills.

With those introductions in place, Duke Hasslerouge addresses the whole group,

"Alright. Listen up.

Today is the first day of operations for the Hero's Party. You will answer to me and Duke Donnerstein, and you will receive special missions or duties directly from us of the King. Sir Becker will be our liaison and will report back to us, as well as work as our mouthpiece. Now for your structure.

This group will work autonomously for most of the time so long as results are shown, and there are no pressing matters. I trust you all will do what is best for the kingdom as a whole. Now you will be in charge of recruitment yourselves, but funding will be through the royal treasury. Now the structure of leadership will be as such, or until someone can no longer fulfill their duties.

Blake, as the hero you are the one in charge, you will work as the head of this whole group. Your main role is to be the people's hero, as well as work with the church whom you will gain much support from. Karl will work with allied nobles and will work on rooting out potential enemies of the state within the nobility. Princess, you will work with the military with whom you have a good relationship and the greater population as a whole due to your popularity. Lastly is Isa, my plan is for you to act as the head of operations. You will gather all intelligence and information back here, and will overall create plans and other things as such, and as needed. I know from experience with you that you are quite capable of this, and unlike the others, you have few outside connections.

That is all I have to say. I will leave you all be to begin your work. Good luck."

After finishing, he and Duke Donnerstein stand up and leave the room along with the spymaster. The room is quiet for a while and I think old man Sir Brecken fell asleep in his chair. I then get up suddenly and start talking,

"Alright, let's get started, we have lots of work to do and so little time."

I grab a container of this world's version of chess pieces and set it down next to the map on the big table.

I clear my throat and begin explaining,

"Alright, first things first is how I kinda want things to be run. This is to make it a lot easier for us in the future.

First I want Blake to gather some zealots from the church, I don't care what their duty is but they need to be absolute fanatics, this is in order to make sure they are absolutely loyal. Next, I want Karl to begin infiltrating as many social circles in the upper crust as possible. You don't need to convince them to join us or anything, all we need is for them to trust you. This is the easiest way to gather information.

Princess, I want you to go and gather some officers from the military, especially educated scribes and the like, we will need a workforce of people to do paperwork. Also, try to gather a group of somewhat elite soldiers or knights to work as specialized troops we can use to help fight. Of course use only those you can trust.

I will speak to Duke Hasslerouge to get all the paperwork I need, things such as budget, numbers, and intelligence. I will sort through all of it in order to get a better grasp of the situation. When you do something please write it down and get it to me so I can keep everything organized, hire a scribe if you have to, but I need every metric on paper and in my hands or my plans can fall through easily.

This is our first operation or first mission. All of this is to get us set up and ready to go. I am designating it Operation Black Crown, as we are fighting against the Demon King. Now, let the operation begin."

Everyone is silent and remains seated for a bit. I sigh and motion toward the door and say,

"Please begin doing your work. We can't waste time."

This time they stand up and leave, off to wherever they are headed. I hope my orders weren't too vague... but that's a problem for another time.

As they leave, two servants enter the room with their arms loaded with two crates full of official documents. Looks like Duke Hasslerouge understands what I need. I get ahold of a quill and ink and take a seat... I'm going to be here for a while...