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Reincarnated Into a Game as the Hero's Friend: Running the Kingdom Behind the Scenes Novel #4
Reincarnated into a Game As the Hero's Friend Running the Kingdom Behind the Scenes (Light Novel) Vol. 4
A DIVIDED FRONT
With Lord Werner’s ability to predict the future thanks to his knowledge of the classic RPG in which the world is based, saving the kingdom should be a walk in the park. But politics rarely makes things so simple… Now, along with protecting Mazel’s family and devising plans to defeat the demons, he takes on yet more responsibility by attempting to unmask the villains who threaten to destroy the kingdom from within. Will he ever get a break?
With Lord Werner’s ability to predict the future thanks to his knowledge of the classic RPG in which the world is based, saving the kingdom should be a walk in the park. But politics rarely makes things so simple… Now, along with protecting Mazel’s family and devising plans to defeat the demons, he takes on yet more responsibility by attempting to unmask the villains who threaten to destroy the kingdom from within. Will he ever get a break?
283 pages, Paperback
Published April 22, 2025
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5 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
May 28, 2025
Despite the overly long and annoying tangents veering off into Medieval toilet behavior and sheepskin paper, I am still into this series and pre-ordered the next one.
Also, NO HAREM and we are four volumes in, WOOT!! A few possible love interests, but I LOVE how the MC H is all, “Let’s focus on surviving the Demon Lord and his Demon Army, THEN we can focus on other things.” YES! That is the right attitude to have when facing a foe that can literally wipe out the human race and you. Triage, survive first, love/carrying on the family name second.
3, I highly suspect the author is a Medieval times scholar trying to educate his readers about that time period but it’s written well enough I still want to find out how the fantasy story ends, stars.
Also, NO HAREM and we are four volumes in, WOOT!! A few possible love interests, but I LOVE how the MC H is all, “Let’s focus on surviving the Demon Lord and his Demon Army, THEN we can focus on other things.” YES! That is the right attitude to have when facing a foe that can literally wipe out the human race and you. Triage, survive first, love/carrying on the family name second.
3, I highly suspect the author is a Medieval times scholar trying to educate his readers about that time period but it’s written well enough I still want to find out how the fantasy story ends, stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 28, 2025
This was a fine addition to the series, although not enough to prevent the slumpy feeling I often encounter around Book 4 of a series.
I think the main issue I had was that I didn't feel any significant progress, whether it be for Werner or for the plot. The hero and his party don't even make an appearance in this volume. I'd say this book was 25% historical trivia tangents, 25% minor skirmishes to let the reader know there's still a larger demon plot unfolding, and then 50% kingdom politics.
While this wasn't a bad volume by any means, I can't ignore the fact that light novels are some of the more expensive reads I engage with, so when nothing really happens, I end up with that mild feeling of regret. If the next volume gives us some payoff, then I'll be back at neutral, but if things continue to coast along like this, then it won't be a good indicator for my continued support of this series.
I think the main issue I had was that I didn't feel any significant progress, whether it be for Werner or for the plot. The hero and his party don't even make an appearance in this volume. I'd say this book was 25% historical trivia tangents, 25% minor skirmishes to let the reader know there's still a larger demon plot unfolding, and then 50% kingdom politics.
While this wasn't a bad volume by any means, I can't ignore the fact that light novels are some of the more expensive reads I engage with, so when nothing really happens, I end up with that mild feeling of regret. If the next volume gives us some payoff, then I'll be back at neutral, but if things continue to coast along like this, then it won't be a good indicator for my continued support of this series.
June 26, 2025
Recollecting the health and wealth of the land following multiple, repeat battles against demon-kind means a mountain of paperwork — inflation, taxes, immigrant work policies. And for Werner, the break in warfare also means lending a strategic eye toward the inevitable conflicts to come.
HERO'S FRIEND v4 pivots around Werner's return to the capital (as well as the Zehrfeld fief) following the battle to save the Temple at Finoy. Things are quieting down, in terms of the kingdom's battle-weariness and imminent quest for survival at the hands of assorted demon creatures. But as often happens in such interludes, external stressors accumulate, small internal obligations metastasize, and the value of future-proofing one's land cannot be overlooked.
The author flips the narrative balance. Whereas the previous volume heavily relied on battlefield exploits, interspersed with administrative knowhow, the current volume focuses squarely on Werner's duties at home and how the ongoing threat of the Demon Lord frames all future encounters. The change of pace is neither good nor bad, but the author has certainly improved their ability to mix and match narrative exposition, action, and political intrigue. For example, readers likely don't care much for a random visit from Lord Erdoğan Witthöft, who commands the fief home to Arlea Village. But what happens if Lord Witthöft makes a play to outwit the young viscount? To run an end-around of House Zehrfeld's political obligations? A brief and boring conversation between four characters sipping tea suddenly turns quite tense.
The current volume also makes a concerted effort to move the broader story along. Another Demon Commander (Gezarius) was reportedly sighted, but nobody can track the guy down. Does the kingdom have the resources and manpower to stop him before he strikes? And what about those black gems various soldiers recovered in the previous volume? Crown Prince Hubertus has a few ideas.
REINCARNATED INTO A GAME AS THE HERO'S FRIEND v4 invokes much of the spirit of the novel series' initial installment, focusing on the minutiae of an administrative aristocrat whose talent for solving multiple problems simply means he's called upon to solve more and more challenges throughout the kingdom. Fortunately, at this stage, the narrative has propelled itself in such a way that the paperwork doesn't get in the way of the story, the paperwork is the story (e.g., documenting weapons materials acquisition). Readers can forgive Werner's vague comings and goings with the full knowledge that in another 50 pages, he'll surprise the war council with a clever weapon's demonstration.
Unfortunately, the author's affectation for narrative digressions and worldbuilding notes still, occasionally, interrupts otherwise evenly paced conversations. Debates on noble causes and ruminations on the scheming affairs of local and foreign actors are frequently interrupted with commentary on feudal taxation structures, business district organization, coat of arms presentations, human labor transportation logistics, budgetary inflation measures, and so forth.
Readers eager for another military conflict to better flatten the story's pacing and goal-setting will have to sit tight for much of this novel. Werner eventually gets into a tussle with assorted orcs, gargoyles, and gnolls ("bipedal hyenas"), but only after expending a world of energy trying to outsmart a new enemy with new resources. HERO'S FRIEND v4 is another fun volume, if much slower-moving.
HERO'S FRIEND v4 pivots around Werner's return to the capital (as well as the Zehrfeld fief) following the battle to save the Temple at Finoy. Things are quieting down, in terms of the kingdom's battle-weariness and imminent quest for survival at the hands of assorted demon creatures. But as often happens in such interludes, external stressors accumulate, small internal obligations metastasize, and the value of future-proofing one's land cannot be overlooked.
The author flips the narrative balance. Whereas the previous volume heavily relied on battlefield exploits, interspersed with administrative knowhow, the current volume focuses squarely on Werner's duties at home and how the ongoing threat of the Demon Lord frames all future encounters. The change of pace is neither good nor bad, but the author has certainly improved their ability to mix and match narrative exposition, action, and political intrigue. For example, readers likely don't care much for a random visit from Lord Erdoğan Witthöft, who commands the fief home to Arlea Village. But what happens if Lord Witthöft makes a play to outwit the young viscount? To run an end-around of House Zehrfeld's political obligations? A brief and boring conversation between four characters sipping tea suddenly turns quite tense.
The current volume also makes a concerted effort to move the broader story along. Another Demon Commander (Gezarius) was reportedly sighted, but nobody can track the guy down. Does the kingdom have the resources and manpower to stop him before he strikes? And what about those black gems various soldiers recovered in the previous volume? Crown Prince Hubertus has a few ideas.
REINCARNATED INTO A GAME AS THE HERO'S FRIEND v4 invokes much of the spirit of the novel series' initial installment, focusing on the minutiae of an administrative aristocrat whose talent for solving multiple problems simply means he's called upon to solve more and more challenges throughout the kingdom. Fortunately, at this stage, the narrative has propelled itself in such a way that the paperwork doesn't get in the way of the story, the paperwork is the story (e.g., documenting weapons materials acquisition). Readers can forgive Werner's vague comings and goings with the full knowledge that in another 50 pages, he'll surprise the war council with a clever weapon's demonstration.
Unfortunately, the author's affectation for narrative digressions and worldbuilding notes still, occasionally, interrupts otherwise evenly paced conversations. Debates on noble causes and ruminations on the scheming affairs of local and foreign actors are frequently interrupted with commentary on feudal taxation structures, business district organization, coat of arms presentations, human labor transportation logistics, budgetary inflation measures, and so forth.
Readers eager for another military conflict to better flatten the story's pacing and goal-setting will have to sit tight for much of this novel. Werner eventually gets into a tussle with assorted orcs, gargoyles, and gnolls ("bipedal hyenas"), but only after expending a world of energy trying to outsmart a new enemy with new resources. HERO'S FRIEND v4 is another fun volume, if much slower-moving.
May 3, 2025
This is probably my most favorite volume of all the books so far, I LOVE INTERNAL POLITICS!!! I grow fonder of Werner as I proceed with the book… I hope he will be alright in the next book…. I miss Mazel but Werner’s tale as a count is too good 😭💖
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews