Roooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

　A roar echoed through the village square.

　Ahead of me, there was a dragon covered in black metallic armor.
　A psshhhhhhh, intermittent heat exhaustion was occurring from the gap in the armor.

　I've come here after receiving word that a mechanized dragon - an autonomous type of Miracle Armor - is attacking the village on the outskirts of the demon king's castle.

I didn't know that there was an individual who had escaped the homing ray.

　I fired a hundred shots at the homing ray before and wiped out the autonomous Miracle Armor.

　But it seems that there was an individual that was killed.

　Does it look different from the one we've seen before, was it self-evolving?
　Or it could be a different autonomous type than the one we saw before.

'Master Freed, we have completed the evacuation of the villagers.

　Stella came to my side.

'Thank you for your help. Stay back.

　I told him, and I stepped towards the dragon.

'Now all we have to do is take care of this one.



　The dragon tells me in a voice that sounds like iron creaking.
　The Miracle Armor before this didn't have the ability to talk, and I guess it's a self-evolved individual after all.

'You're the one who's going to disappear,'

　It unleashes lightning magic.

　The dazzling golden ball of light swallowed the black dragon's huge body - and made it disappear in an instant.

　In an instant, it was annihilated.

　With the huge explosion, a crater with a radius of several dozen meters was created.

"I tried to keep the power in check, but it's pretty gaily gouged...

　I didn't want to destroy the buildings in the village too much.

''Oh, the Demon King has saved our village!

''Thank you, Demon King, thank you!

　With a shout of joy, the villagers ran from their shelter.

''Wow, wow, this is the Demon Lord's advanced magic.......!

What a thunderbolt.

　The villagers are groaning when they see the crater.

　........By the way, that's not 'Mega Thunder', that's just 'Thunder'.
　It's a basic spell that isn't advanced or anything, but with my magic power, it can kill even the Miracle Armor.

''It's brilliant, Demon King.

　As the villagers returned, Stella's call had gone from 'Freed-sama' to 'Demon King-sama'.

'Defeat is complete. Let's go back, Stella.

　I turned my back on the villagers.

"Let's get rid of the rest of the paperwork.

With all due respect, would you mind if I had a word?

　Stella lined up at my side and said.

'What?'

''Your Majesty has been working very hard since the other day. I suggest you take some time off.

Rest....

　It's true that ever since I was reborn as a demon king, I've felt like I've been going through the motions every day.
　I don't feel any fatigue, perhaps because my physical strength has increased dramatically since I was a human, but I'm not particularly tired.

It's a good idea to have a party.

　Stella suggests.

'Party?'

''It's a consolation for the Demon King and a celebration of his victory in the battle against the brave men.

Okay, that sounds good.

Well, I'll take care of the details, if you don't mind.

Please.



　In the blink of an eye, Stella has quickly and deftly set up the venue, cooked, arranged the entertainment, and sorted out the invitees.
　I wouldn't have been able to do it myself.

You're really good at this.

Thank you, sir.

　At my words, Stella bowed her head reverently.

　Three days later, we held a party at the Demon King's Castle.

　A party is not as formal as in the human world.
　It was a casual affair, like drinking with like-minded friends in a town tavern.

　Ministers, aristocrats, the SS, guards, and even nearby residents of the demon tribe have gathered and are drinking here and there.

''Demon King-sama, come on, have a drink.

　Lilim, the castle guard captain, came over and poured me a drink.

'Oh, thank you.'

　This is the first time I've ever had a drink from the demon world.

　The skull-shaped cup is a bit spooky.
　The purple liquor that's poured into it is pretty spooky too.

　I only took off my masked mouth.

　Stella had altered the mask to fit the feast.
　She really is a witty aide.

''Which........''

　I fanned my cup.

"That's it!

　It is sweet on the palate, yet full-bodied.
　It soaks into your body comfortably and brings a sweet uplifting feeling.

　The sake from the demon world is good too.
　It's just as good in the human world as it is in the human world.

''Fuhihihi, it's a top-grade product prepared for the Demon King.

Well, I'll give you something back.

　This time I poured it for Lilim.



　He's already drunk, this guy.

"Demon Lord, you did a wonderful job the other day, you were really wonderful! I was so moved...

Plus, it's kind of out of tune.

"You may be rude, but you're still the Demon King. Have some sense of decorum, Lilim.

　Stella came over and warned me.

'Oh, excuse me, Miss Stella~'

Totally.... hey, watch your step.

　Sighing, Stella supports the wobbly Lilim as she does so.

'If you're not feeling well, can I get you some water?

Ha-ha, I'm feeling great. Lady Stella, gosh darn it.

　Lilim poured Stella a drink.

''Hmm.

　Stella is glamorous as she fires up her cup and breathes lightly.

'Come on, one more cup.'

Hmm....

　Stella, who pouted small, was even more lustrous.
　Her eyebrows dropped slightly, and her cheeks were slightly tinted──.

"Fufu, Demon King-sama...

　She rubbed up against me in a somewhat indulgent tone that was not her usual style.

''Stella...?''

'I would never wear such a horrible mask in a drinking session... ugh...'

　He strokes my mask with his hand.

'You made me put this on, didn't you?

Let's see your true colors.

No, that's not good........it's shifting. My mask is shifting.........

"Mmm-hmm.

　Stella mischievously grabs the edge of my mask and pulls it away.

　She's not like her usual cool demeanor.
　She has the innocence of a girl her age.

"....Are you drunk?

I'm not drunk, okay?

　Stella is laughing and laughing at me.

"I'm a genius at getting people drunk.

What's wrong with your tone of voice?

First, the Lilimu. I'll start with a softball.

"Captain, you're a slime, of course you can do that.

It's bent over more than usual.

　Over there, Lilim was in a slime state, wiggling and transforming his body.

　It's like a party trick.
　Lively and fun.
　And.

...your sudden appointment to the throne, demon king.

　Suddenly I heard a murmur with a stinging tone.

''What........?''

　I look around.

　In one corner of the hall, a few beast-type demons had gathered.
　Their expressions, glancing in my direction, were extremely grim.

''Abilities Gear.''

　I sneaked in a spell.

　This thing has the effect of amplifying all five senses and motor skills in general.
　I limited its effect and only increased my hearing several times.

　And what I heard was...

Hey, come on. You don't even know who's listening.

''Hmm, it was a drinking game. Besides, do you think the new Demon King will be able to come out strong against us, the Beast Emperor (Gigantroa) Zegert-sama's bosom swordsmen?

"Unlike his predecessor, Yulisha, who was so bitter, this new demon king seems to be more moderate.

But I hear you're a good fighter.

Hmph, it's not about strength. It's about courage. Stupid, stupid demon king...

　

　Hmmm, well, I'm a rude person when it comes to drinking.

　I'm not a bloodthirsty teenager either.
　I don't feel good about it, but I'll let it pass.

　.........but still, it's a bit annoying.

''In general, from the point of view of his strength, the next Demon King is, by all accounts, our ally - Zegert-sama.

How did he end up with a demon of unknown origin?

But he's got the devil's armband in his hand.

A sigil in the hands of an unworthy person, sooner or later...

As planned, Master Zegert will be the new King of the.........

As for the rest of the meeting...

　Their voices became even quieter, and soon even their enhanced hearing was inaudible.
　No, they seemed to have finished the conversation itself.

''Well I'm curious.

　I don't mind saying the wrong thing about me.

　But the last thing those guys said to me...

　I could smell a conspiracy.