The Name Is Judas

I turned around to find a young boy standing there.

He radiated a vague, detached aura, his features impeccably refined. He had beautiful silver hair, charcoal skin, and a slender frame draped in violet garments.

“I brought them back a long time ago, after I defeated some Heroes in the human world. I kept them as a little secret,” the boy said with a refreshing smile.

This guy… could it be?

“You’ve done well to make it this far. What happened to the monsters along the way?”

“I defeated them.”

“Heh… all of them? I tuned them to be difficult even for the Demon Commander class. You’re quite something.”

“I am Fried. This is Stella and Bel—the Emperor Dragon Bel-ga-Elfieda.”

I showed him the Demon Lord’s Crest on the back of my hand.

“Hmm, so you’re the Demon Lord of this era. I suppose Yurisha is dead, then.”

The beautiful boy spoke in a flat, nonchalant tone.

“Are you… Judas?”

“That’s right. I am Judas Lugis. A pleasure to meet you, little New Demon Lord.”

The boy—Judas—laughed.

The oldest demon, having lived through eternity. I had heard the description, but the Judas before me looked exactly like a young boy. Since he was a demon, I supposed outward appearances didn’t mean much.

“Since the Demon Lord himself has come, let me guess? Another ‘I want to take you into my service’ sort of deal?” Judas shrugged. “Every time the Demon Lord changes, they come all the way out here.”

“That’s right. I wish to borrow your strength.”

“I refuse.”

His response was instantaneous. It was so fast it left me feeling a bit slighted.

“Serving in a court sounds tedious,” Judas continued. “I did lend my strength to Velpher, the Primal Demon Lord, back in the day—but that was as a friend.”

“Velpher?”

“The first Demon Lord,” Stella whispered, filling me in. Come to think of it, I might have heard that name before.

“Basically, my reason for living is to spend my time idling around here. Occasionally, if an interesting mage pops up, I might train them. Over the last few hundred years, there’s only been Estram and Ziraam,” Judas said.

The former Demon Lord Estram, known as the “Magical Emperor,” and the previous Demon Commander Ziraam, who held the title of “Master of Sorcery.”

“Estram had a talent for magical combat, and Ziraam for magical research. They were both quite rewarding to teach.”

“Then what about me? Does that not pique your interest?”

In terms of stats, I was the strongest Demon Lord in history. A being with my mana should have some pull with him, especially since he seemed to be the type to judge things based on his own likes and dislikes.

“It doesn’t.”

Again, the answer was immediate.

“I certainly feel a strong power from you… but I’m just not feeling it. Your presence—your aura—it rubs me the wrong way, for some reason.”

“Rubs you the wrong way?”

“Just a feeling. Haha.” Judas laughed airily.

“You have been nothing but disrespectful to the Demon Lord since we arrived…!”

Stella looked like she was finally about to explode in rage. “Unforgivable…!”

“Easy, Stella. It’s just his personality.”

“But, my Lord…”

“You’re quite tolerant,” Judas chuckled. “Among the past Demon Lords, there were those who snapped and attacked me just for talking to them like this.”

He giggled softly. “I counter-slaughtered all of them, though.”

So his combat ability really was high. It made sense why he was graded ‘S’ in every category on the candidate list. And the information about his “difficult personality” was also proving to be spot on.

“Hmm… there really is a strange aura about you,” Judas muttered.

Right then—

Kiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinnn…!

A high-pitched ringing sound echoed through the area.

“What’s that—” I looked around.

The swords and spears thrust into the ground were flickering with light.

“Tch…!?”

Suddenly, my chest felt hot. It was burning—scaldingly hot.

“Hoh… it’s resonating with the Miracle Armaments.”

Judas’s eyes narrowed. He was still smiling, but his eyes weren’t. It was the sharp, piercing gaze of a magical genius.

“I see. So, there is a Miracle Armament dwelling inside you too.”

“…!”

“You—you’re a former human, aren’t you? Is that why you rub me the wrong way?”

“You can tell!?” I blurted out, shocked.

He didn’t answer, instead staring at me intently.

“…It’s true. I am a former human.”

“My Lord!?”

“No, it’s fine, Stella. I came here to scout him. If I want his help, I should start by showing some sincerity and telling the truth.” I held her back as she gasped.

“Go on, continue,” Judas prompted.

“I invaded the Demon Realm as a Hero and fought the previous Lord, Yurisha. A lot happened, but it ended in a double knockout… and I was resurrected as the Demon Lord.”

“Hmm… Yurisha certainly had a resurrection spell cast on herself. It probably interfered with your Miracle Armament in a strange way,” Judas muttered, half to himself. “And when you were reborn as the Demon Lord, the Miracle Armament you were holding was likely absorbed into your body. Don’t you remember?”

“…There have been times when a power similar to the one my Miracle Armament possessed was activated.”

Still, between Bel and now Judas, those who could see through me really could see through me.

“I assume your origins are a secret? Well, it’s not like I’m going to go around broadcasting it, so rest easy,” Judas chuckled. “That aside… I’m starting to find you a little interesting.”

The smile faded from his face. His gaze, growing even sharper, pinned me down.

“Then, won’t you come and serve under me?” I asked again. His power was clearly the real deal. I desperately wanted his help.

“I still refuse. Just because you’re interesting doesn’t mean I want to cooperate.” Judas’s reply was blunt. “It’s about time for my nap. I’ll be taking my leave.”

He turned his back to us. Wait, a nap? He was a fickle, elusive one.

“That’s enough! The Demon Lord is acting out of concern for this Demon Realm! He has protected us time and time again! Do you feel no desire to assist him!?” Stella shouted in anger.

“Assist? What a strange word.” Judas turned back.

“What supports us demons is ‘Power.’ The strong live, and the weak die. Culling is the truth of the Demon Realm. Survival of the fittest is the only commandment we have. Am I wrong?”

“Are you saying it’s fine for weak demons to die?”

“Of course.” Judas nodded. Again, the answer was instant.

“In fact, the history of the Demon Realm has always been a history of struggle. Many demons have been killed in wars against the Heavenly Host or the Hero Army, and many sacrifices were made in the power struggles to become the Demon Lord. It will surely continue that way. Our essence is ‘Power’ and ‘Struggle.’ Perhaps it is the same for gods and humans.”

Judas continued. “Or perhaps you intend to make me submit by force? From what I can see, your stats are far beyond any of the past Demon Lords. Even Velpher wouldn’t be able to stand against you. You are, without a doubt, the strongest in history.”

“Judas…”

“If we fought, I would likely die. Well, I wouldn’t mind. As I said, the weak dying is the rule of the Demon Realm. I am no exception.”

He was a demon who remained entirely aloof through it all. An attitude that suggested he didn’t even care about his own death.

I wondered—was there actually a way to make this guy submit?