I rode the Underworld Dragon Belga Elfida - Bells and rode around in the sky of the demon world.

　The four regions that spread out around the royal capital.

　The scorching heat of the earth, the pure white ice field.
　Green grasslands and reddish-brown wildernesses.
　Steep mountains and vast seas.

　In this land shrouded in darkness, a variety of nature lives on.

　I could see the towns dotted with pockets.
　I realized that demons have their own life.

　When I was a human, I only perceived them as 'demons that attacked people'.
　In fact, there were many such people.

　They fought to protect people.
　But now.....

What's the matter, Demon Lord?

　Belle bent her long neck and looked at me.

'Sentimentality, you mean?　It still sounds human.
I've never had a tour of the entire demon world like this before.

　I replied.

"It's not like the human world?
''Well the races we live in are different, and there's no daylight in the demon world. The atmosphere is much different.
Okay.
But there's a lot of people, a lot of lives and essentially not much difference between them.
We're one 'world' here, you know.

　We fly further into the air, having an innocuous conversation.
　And.

'Oh, by the way, didn't you say earlier that I had 'God's power' inside me?

　I suddenly remembered and asked Belle for help.

'Hmmm ... I can smell it coming from Master Freed.
I smell...
It smells like a force that belongs to the gods, not man or demon.
A force that belongs to God?

　What do you mean?

Oh, I can see the castle.

　Belle told me to turn my attention back downward.

　A huge castle colored in jet black loomed up.
　It's the Demon King's Castle.
　Even viewed from the sky in this way, it was still large.

　A cheer could be heard from near the castle.

''That's........''

　When I looked into their eyes, I saw the demons looking up at me.

''Hmph, why don't you wave to them as they slowly turn around?　A demon king with the most powerful dragon, what a picture that would be.

　And, Belle.

'It's good to show your dignity as a demon king. 'Dignity is important. I must call your bluff.
Well, you may have a point.

　With a wry smile, I waved my hand.

　The cheers grew even louder.



　I lowered Belle down in front of the main gate of the Demon King's Castle.
　I'm getting off the dragon's back.

"Welcome home, Demon King.

　Stella rushed over.
　Behind her, her vassals' demons are lined up in a row.

　It's an atmosphere of welcoming the king with all of them.

"I got my crown back!

　And I give it to her.

'Put it back where it belongs.
''Yes........well, my Demon King. Were you with the Underworld Dragon [Belga Elfida]...?

　Asking Stella.

'You should have escaped from the earlier battle with the heroes...'
'It's rude to say you ran away. I just left the castle in disgust because everyone was so weak.

　Belle let out a puff of air from the tip of her nose.

''How can you, the Demon King's personal rider, run away from a fight?
I didn't like the idea of fighting with the weak.
''This guy has a bit of a moody streak, but he's a good fighter and flyer. He's a reassuring ally.

　I interceded for Stella.

So, that's what we're looking at with the whole hellhound thing.

　I'll explain.

"He took the crown in order to lure me in. Well, in his own way he is testing me, the new Erlanger, isn't he?
Heh, sorry to bother you.

　Bell bows his head.

'As it turns out, this is how I got my best ride. Let's just say that this time is a non-issue.
"If Your Majesty commands it,

　Stella nodded grudgingly.

''Even so, I can't believe the Underworld Dragon was able to transform into a Hellhound...''

　He knows that Belle is the rider of the previous demon kings, but he didn't know that he could also take the form of a dog.

''I don't transform much in front of anyone other than the Demon King-sama, though.

　The bell shook the huge body.
　With a pop, a puff of smoke went up, and the figure changed into a small black dog.

''It consumes a lot of energy in its dragon form, so I think I'll stay over here usually.
Yeah, do that.

　Me nodding to Bell.

Oh, the Dark Lord Dragon, Belga Elfida, is a female, right?

　Stella said.

'It's fine, Belle. 'And that's what the Demon King calls it,'
'Belle... girl?　Now that I look at it again, it's cute...

　Stella smiles.
　It's a soft smile as if her attitude from earlier was a lie.

　Or rather than that──.

I thought you were a male?

　I asked Bell.

'?　I haven't said a word about that.

　Belle nodded her head in puzzlement.
　From the tone of voice, I thought it was a male, and the sound of his voice sounded boyish.......but I didn't realize it was a female.

''Can I........touch you a bit?''

　Stella offers timidly.

'Hmm, okay.'
Okay, uh, rubbing.

　Stella hugged her dog, Belle.
　She was happily rubbing her cheeks.

'Haha, that tickles a bit,'
"Mmm, nice touch. Best fluffy...

　Belle laughing and Stella swooning.
　Seeing them, my heart was softened.



　During the audience.
　I sat on my throne with my crown on and my staff in my hand.

　'Crowned.

'It suits you, Master Freed.

　Stella smiles.

　I'm alone with her now, since it's outside of audience hours.

''It's your formal attire as a demon king, isn't it?''
You don't look very comfortable wearing a crown, do you? Thank you.
I'm sure you'll get used to it.

　Stella smiles.

'From now on, you will be expected to act more like a king than ever before.

　So you want to live as a demon king, huh?
　More than ever before...

　My heart as a human being and my position as the Demon King.
　Within me, the memories and emotions that I've spent as a human being have seeped into my mind.

　It's impossible to separate everything from each other easily.

　But I'm going to....

Stella...........
Yes, Mr. Freed.

　Stella nods reverently at my call.

'I've made up my mind,'

　I want to protect the smiles of these smiles that are in front of me.
　I want to protect the smiles of the many demon clans that are not here, and I want to protect the smiles of the many demon clans.

''The defenses of the demon world and the organization of the vassals will be arranged one by one.

　In the end, I couldn't make it when I was human - a gentle, warm place to live.
　That place may be here.

　Then let's do everything in our power to protect that place.
　And if someone destroys or hurts that place, we will fight with all our might.

　As me, as me.

　As the king of the demon world - as Freed.