Prepare for peacekeeping.

In the morning, you go through your usual routine. After cleaning up in the royal bath, you make sure your belly is nice and full of a hearty breakfast. You need to feel and look your best for your first real political meeting as Demon King that isn't with others who call themselves by the same. This is a good practice run to find out what people can think of you. Maybe if this goes well enough, you can convince the people of Tivera that you're on their side as well.

You step out into the courtyard with a shiver as a breeze wafts by. Already prepared, Niki, Eva, and Amara are speaking with one another, and Peony is near them as well. She has a big pack slung over her shoulders that looks to be stuffed. The other three have supplies of their own of course, so you wonder what's inside.

"Winter is really coming sooner than I thought," Eva says. "Oh well. I actually don't mind the chill."

"Me neither," Amara says. "The elements do not bother me too much."

"I don't feel a damn thing!" boasts Niki.

"Of course. Sunhearts have a natural resistance to **** cold and heat."

"You betcha, Amara. I could stand naked while it's snowing and probably be all right."

To be fair, I feel like my growing strength has increased my own resistances as well. Being this high up in the fall should be less bearable to a normal man. "Are you all ready? And it's good to see you again, Peony. I didn't mention it, but I did want you to be our guide."

The dryad salutes. "Of course, m'lord. And I have everybody's outfits here. When we get close, we'll change. Otherwise they could get all dirty and torn before even arriving. We'll be traversing mountains and forests after all. It'll be a bit of a trip, but we'll get there midday since we're heading out pretty early."

Niki slaps you on the back rather hard. "It's just like old times. I've been waiting to travel as a party finally again."

"Well, there shouldn't be any fighting. Just remember why we're going," you explain.

"Boo..."

"Maybe someone at the village will want to spar, Niki," Eva says.

"No, no. You'll destroy anyone you fight," you say. "We don't want to intimidate these people into submission."

Peony giggles excitedly. "I can't believe I get to travel with all of you. I've always dreamed of this. I promise that I'll get you there safe and sound!"

Good. We're ready to go. I just have to take a deep breath and not overthink it. Act friendly and casual. I don't need to march in like some sort of actual king. If they end up on our side, we could even have a trade route between us. I imagine all they'd really export is fish, but that actually sounds amazing. I wouldn't mind having lobster all the time.

"Then let's go!" Niki yells. "I hope I'm not rusty." Though as she swings her shield arm outwards and flexes, a sudden spotlight of sparkling red illuminates from the face of her shield to completely bathe Amara in its effects.

The elf gasps and cups her hands between her legs, though it only lasts a second. Niki retreats the shield with a nervous laugh.

"You did that to her on purpose!" Eva accuses.

"I did not!" Niki replies.

"How did you not? You have to activate an item like that."

As they squabble, Amara tugs on her choker and shifts uncomfortably. "P-Please be... more careful in the future, Niki."

"Sorry." Niki bows her head low.

Hmm. Come to think of it, when did she start calling them all by their first names? I feel like she didn't used to do that. Well, I guess we all really are way closer than we once were. In fact, I don't know if we could get any closer after what we've all been through.