Intruder?

Yes, a strange presence has suddenly appeared on the top floor of the Demon King's Castle.

　Stella explains.

'We've sent guards out to meet you, but they look like they're having none of it.

Who is this guy?

''It appears to be a demon race that looks like a black mist but even my clairvoyant eyes couldn't see through it completely. It seems to have considerable magical abilities.

Well, if there's an intruder, I'm in.

　Lilim exclaimed cheerfully.

'As the captain of the guard, I'm going to go get them~'

'No, wait. It could be dangerous if they're so bad that Stella's clairvoyance isn't working.

　I stopped Lilim.

'I'll go with you.'

Then I'll go with you.

　Stella advances out.

　........So the three of us came to the top floor of the Demon King's Castle.
　We proceeded along the corridor that made a gentle curve.
　And.



　A chill went down my spine.



　Suddenly, I felt a chill run down my spine.

What's this feeling...

　My hand was hot.
　When I looked at it, the demon king's pattern floating on the back of my hand was emitting a faint light.

　This is...?

Demon king...?

　Stella looks at me quizzically.

'Well no, I'm fine.'

　I said flatly.

"You two, stay behind me.

Don't. My job is to protect this castle and the Demon Lord.

I'm going to be your shield, too, if the need arises.

I'm just grateful for the thought.

　I nodded to both of them.

But I want to protect you guys, too. So you have to follow me here.

Your Majesty...

'And Stella knows what I can do (status), right?　After all, I'm the greatest demon king of all time, you know.

　I chuckle under my mask.

'....Okay.

Yes, sir.

　Stella and Lilim seemed to be convinced somehow.

　As I continued on, I saw a figure lying in front of me.
　It's the guard demons.

''Hey, are you okay?''

　I'm calling out to them.
　From the looks of it, he doesn't seem to be injured....

Mmmmmm...

Supi..................

You mean you're just sleeping?

　I let out a small breath.
　I was relieved that he seemed to be in perfect condition for now.

"Five more minutes, five more minutes........

Wake up, all of you.

　I say with a bitter smile.

'Oh, when did I...?

Hey, this is Demon Lord...!

　The soldiers woke up in their sleep.
　When they see me, they all fall upright.

'What happened?'

　While asking, he braced himself.

　The room in front of you - there was a strange presence on the other side of the door.

　Someone is there.
　Someone with strong power.

"I have come here to repel intruders, but...

　One of the soldiers replied.

'When we got to the door, I suddenly became distant and unconscious...'

'Yes, I found out I'd fallen asleep...'

　The other soldiers nodded.

'All right. I'll take it from here.

　He made his way to the door.

''Wha.........?''

　Suddenly my consciousness drifted away and a sense of sleepiness swept over me.
　So this is what made the soldiers sleep?

The resist wall.

　It's a spell that prevents all kinds of state magic, including curses, paralysis, poison, and mental attacks.
　My sleepiness was instantly blown away.

''Well......... I'll have you come out.

　I put my hand on the door.



　The next moment, the scenery around me changes drastically.



"What the...?

　I look around in surprise.

　I'm not in a castle.
　Around them, the darkness that seemed to have been poured out of the ink stretched everywhere.

　It was all black.

　In front of me there was something even darker than the surroundings.
　Something stagnant, like a fog.

''I've been waiting...''

　I heard a muffled voice from the black fog.
　An indistinct voice, indistinguishable from a man or a woman.

''Are you...?''

　The demon king crest on the back of my hand was glowing.

　I feel like I've seen this guy ... somewhere.

　Something inside me is telling me that I know this guy.
　I know this guy.

"Follow me ... and you will follow me...

　I followed that guy, wondering.

　The fog leads me through the darkness.
　Keep going.

　How many minutes have we walked like that?

"We meet again, brave - no, Demon King Freed.

　Suddenly, my eyes became brighter.
　The black fog converged and burst.

'This is a space slightly off from this world. This is the space I created for you and I to talk alone.

Talk to me...?

　But the voice is nowhere to be found.

Not here, not here.

Hmm, where are you?

　I scurried around again.

'Yeah, I told you I was here!

　A voice like a little girl's, awfully pretty, like a little girl.
　The voice comes from my feet.

'........Ah, there you are.

　She was just a girl who was only about my waist in height.
　Apparently she was just too short to be in view.

　The black hair that reaches to her feet and the light green eyes that have a mysterious glow in them.
　And a lovely doll-like appearance.
　The black robe she wore was too long and downy.

''Listen!　Surprise!　Fear and respect!　My name is Yulisha!

...Yes?

You don't mean to tell me you've forgotten your straw, do you?

'By all accounts, we haven't met before... hmm, Yulisha?

　I stare at the girl sullenly.

'You have the same name as the previous demon king.

Of course. The previous Demon King, Yulisha, was the one who ruled this world. She used to rule this demon world.

　The girl turns her flat chest upside down and declares.

'No, you don't look at all like that.

　The Demon King Yurisha that Lyle and I fought was a bewitching beauty.
　She was a formidable opponent who manipulated powerful magic.

"She wasn't this little girl.

Don't tell me you're tiny!

　Julisha (?) snapped.

''So, what does this predecessor Demon Lord want?''

　The self-proclaimed previous Demon King.

"Mm, he's not very responsive.

　Yulisha scowls in dissatisfaction.

''I don't feel any respect for my predecessor you irreverent son of a b*tc*.

　I'm just a girl on the outside.......
　There's not a shred of the Demon King's dignity.

　And the encounter was so sudden that I still can't catch up with it.

So what is it that you want to talk to me about?

　Anyway, back to the topic at hand.

Mmm.

　She nodded and spoke.

"I wanted to pass it on to you. The true... the power of a demon king.