Succession

“The true power of the Demon Lord…”

I repeated her words. So, does that mean my current power is incomplete? Well, before getting into all that—

“No matter how I look at it, you’re a different person from that Demon Lord Yurisha.”

I mean, if I squint, I can see a resemblance, but…

“Mega Fire!”

“Whoa!?”

She suddenly fired a top-tier flame spell at me, and I hurriedly deployed a defensive spell.

“What was that for!?”

“Hoh, to think you could block that.”

“Anyone other than me would be dead right now!”

“That is because you mocked me. Disrespect toward the Demon Lord—it is a crime worthy of ten thousand deaths!”

The girl pouted, sticking out her lips. Is she sulking? I’d really appreciate it if she didn’t fire ‘Mega Fire’ just because she’s annoyed.

“Besides, did you not try to kill me? Though the one who actually dealt the finishing blow was that other fellow…”

…Lyle. If she knows about that, then is she really Yurisha after all?

“But the Yurisha I fought had a bit more… Demon Lord charisma. You just look like a little kid.”

“Ragna Bomb!”

“Hey! I said stop firing attack spells so suddenly!?”

I chanted another defensive spell to weather her magic.

“…Hm? Is that—the Demon Lord’s Crest?”

I noticed the pattern glowing on the back of her hand. It was the same design as my own.

“So, you really are Yurisha…?”

“Hmph, you finally believe me?”

The tiny Yurisha crossed her arms importantly and gave a haughty sniff.

“Well, I originally intended to construct my Astral form in my adult appearance. However, for some reason, I’ve been fixed in this state. It may be the influence of that Miracle Armament you were using.”

“You mean Gram?”

The Miracle Armament ‘Gram,’ which possesses the ability to jam magical effects. It was my favorite weapon back when I was a Hero. I looked for it after the battle with Yurisha, but I couldn’t find it. I found my other favorite weapon, my pistol, though…

“It interfered with my resurrection magic and brought you back as the Demon Lord instead of me. You brought a truly disastrous weapon into my house.”

Yurisha glared at me. Her resentful gaze actually made me flinch.

“By the way, didn’t you die?” I asked, trying to change the subject.

“My flesh perished. But my soul is immortal. This form is an Astral body—think of it as a temporary body made of spiritual energy.”

Yurisha puffed out her chest proudly.

“My current self cannot influence the physical world. You must work hard on my behalf as the Demon Lord.”

“As the Demon Lord…”

“Does your former humanity make you loathe fighting for the sake of demons?”

“I was betrayed and killed by those humans.”

It’s not that I hate all humans, exactly.

“And—I don’t feel like I don’t want to protect them just because they’re demons.”

It hasn’t been long since we met, but meeting Stella, Rilim, and the others has given me a warm feeling. The desire to protect them rose naturally within me.

“Fumu. I still see hesitation, but—your heart seems genuine. Shall we begin, then?”

Yurisha gave a wicked grin.

“The rite of Demon Lord Succession—from the predecessor to the current. If the Demon Lord’s power remains incomplete, it will hinder your battles.”

“It’s not that bad, you know? I held off the Heroes’ invasion with plenty of room to spare.”

“Wh-What? Are you truly that strong? Let me see your Status.”

As she spoke, Yurisha chanted “Status Display.”

Name: Fried

Class: Demon Lord

Total Level: 4742

HP: 35766

MP: 91205

Attack: 70530

Defense: 45400

Evasion: 31985

Accuracy: 55739

Equipment:

Robe of the Overlord

Staff of the Demon Lord

Mask of the Demon Lord

Skills:

Intimidation (LV 261)

Miasma Wave (LV 553)

Demon Army Obedience (LV 19)

Crest of the Demon Lord (LV 2)

Hm? My level has gone up a bit since the last time I saw it.

“Wh-wha… WHAAAAT IS THIS!?”

Yurisha cried out in shock.

“Impossible… this is far too impossible! These numbers are overwhelmingly higher than any Demon Lord in history! Even I was only Level 631. How can a mere human reconstruct like you possess…!?”

“Even if you ask me…” I don’t know either.

“Perhaps this is also the influence of your Miracle Armament? An error in the stat transcription during resurrection… No, even so, the values are too high…”

Yurisha groaned.

“Well, that isn’t something to worry about right now. The priority is—passing the true power of the Demon Lord to you.”

“The true power, huh? But I’m doing just fine as I am.”

“When I say ‘power,’ I am not talking about simple combat ability.”

Yurisha shook her head.

“‘Passing the true power’ means ‘obtaining the qualifications of the Demon Lord’.”

“Qualifications…?”

“For example, the qualification to wield Radis, the Purgatory Demon Blade, which is the essence of the Demon Lord’s power. Or the right to command the Emperor Dragon of the Abyss, Bel-ga-Elfieda. And the acquisition of the ability to activate the Demon Castle itself, which is the ultimate defense mechanism of the Demon Realm—among other things.”

This was all news to me. I find it hard to believe Stella would forget to mention this; it might be information known only to successive Demon Lords.

“I shall hand them over immediately. Hold out your hand.”

“Like this?”

A small key appeared on the palm of my outstretched hand.

“This is the activation key for the Demon Castle. Do not lose it.”

“An activation key…?”

“There are several other things to pass on. I shall explain them all at once.”

Yurisha raised both hands high.

“Next is the granting of Radis, the Purgatory Demon Blade!”

And so, the “Demon Lord Handover Protocol” from Yurisha to me began.

“Where is the exit…?”

The Hero Lyle continued to trudge through the darkness. He no longer had any sense of time or days. No matter how far he walked, the only thing stretching out before him was darkness.

Darkness, darkness, and more darkness—.

“Is this… Hell…?”

The thought suddenly crossed his mind. Was this the price for the sin of killing his master? The punishment for forgetting his debt and betraying Fried for the sake of glory?

“…So what!?”

He gritted his teeth. Lyle felt no regret for his actions. From the moment he had been taken in by Fried, what he sought was to “stand above others.” That was all.

Ambition and the desire for dominion were everything to Lyle. Yet Fried had done nothing but preach about the “justice” of a Hero and the “compassion” to save people. Lyle had mocked him in his heart, thinking it was rubbish.

However, Fried’s skill was the real deal, and he was excellent as a teacher. Therefore, Lyle had followed him, feigning the role of a submissive disciple. Eventually, Lyle grew—and was chosen as one of the hundred Heroes for the desperate mission into the Demon Realm. He reached the Demon Lord, arriving at the point where victory was just a step away.

At that moment, he realized: if he defeated the Demon Lord like this, the lion’s share of the credit would go to Fried. Simultaneously, he had an epiphany. Now was the chance to fulfill the ambition and desire for dominion he had held since childhood. If he killed Fried here along with the Demon Lord, he would be the Hero who slew the Demon Lord—.