The King, The Vassal, And Love’s Awakening.

Stella was the very first demon I encountered after being reborn as the Demon King. She had always supported me by my side. She had always supported me with everything she had. I couldn’t thank her enough. It was entirely thanks to her that I, a former human hero, could still manage to keep going like this as “Demon King Fried.”

Because of that, my feelings toward Stella were strongly those of a comrade-in-arms or a partner. Of course, I recognized that she was an exceptionally beautiful girl, and I also found her attractive as a woman. However, when I carefully thought about whether those feelings amounted to romantic love, I started to lose my certainty.

What do I truly think of Stella?

There was certainly a sensation that made my chest ache with a bittersweet pang, setting my heart racing with a pounding excitement. But whether that was distinctly a romantic feeling or not, the more I pondered it, the less I understood. I felt a fresh wave of surprise at myself for getting as bewildered as a young boy, despite being a man over forty.

“I have harbored feelings unbefitting of a vassal. Please, hand down my punishment,” Stella implored once more for disciplinary action.

“Why would there be a need to punish you?” I smiled at Stella. “Your feelings make me happy.”

“…You are altogether too kind. Merely comforting me.”

“It isn’t comfort. What I just said is how I truly feel.”

Even as I spoke, a corner of my mind whispered that I might just be running away behind a safe answer. Was my response a cowardly one? Was I merely procrastinating?

But even so—

“…Thank you,” Stella smiled back at me. “The battle against the heroes will also come to an end eventually. At that time, please let me convey my feelings to you once more.”

Stella’s smile softened into a bashful one. As I thought, she was lovely. More so than any woman I had ever met in my entire life.

“Until then, I shall serve you with everything I have—not as a woman, but as your vassal.”

“Understood.” I gazed at her. “I will do everything in my power to ensure that day comes as quickly as possible. As the Demon King.”

“To change the subject, what exactly was that power you used back then, Stella?” I asked her. “It was clearly quite different from your usual Third Eye.”

“About that… I was completely caught up in the moment as well, so I don’t have any certainty, but…” Stella declared. “It was highly likely the 《Apocalypse Eye》.”

The Apocalypse Eye…? It was a term that sounded familiar from somewhere.

“I see, it’s from Stella’s past…!”

During our search for the Succubus Princess Feria, we had once ended up trapped inside Stella’s hometown—the Fiefdom of Duke Aselvain. In reality, that had been a world inside a dream created by Feria. Within it, I had experienced Stella’s dream—her past.

Her mother, who was also the confidant of the previous Demon King, was Marcella Di Aselvain of the Demon Eye. In order to draw the attention of her perpetually busy mother, the young Stella had continuously honed her own abilities. Stella had been a genius. She had continued to master all kinds of ocular arts at an astonishing pace, until she finally began to awaken to a power deemed forbidden among the Evil Eyes. That was the Apocalypse Eye.

Marcella had suppressed Stella’s growth and placed a powerful seal over her third eye. Because of that, the power of Stella’s ocular arts had waned.

“However, it appears that seal is beginning to unravel,” Stella noted. “The Apocalypse Eye is an invincible ocular art that might even threaten the throne of the Demon King itself. Therefore, the Evil Eyes have treated this power as a taboo. All out of loyalty to the Demon King-sama.”

“Even the throne of the Demon King…”

“Though my eye is currently incomplete… I may eventually fully awaken to the complete Apocalypse Eye.” Stella’s face suddenly grew heavy with resolve. “Before that happens, please use your own hands to—”

“Stella?”

“If it is by your hands, I… would have absolutely no regrets.”

“By my hands, you say? There’s no way I would ever do such a thing.” I shook my head quietly. “Besides, I owe you a massive debt, Stella. We were only able to exploit an opening in Rearvelt after he gained the Power of God because of your eye.”

I pulled her into a shoulder hug. “I have nothing but words of gratitude. Not just for this time, but always.”

“No, that is…” Flushed with embarrassment, Stella smiled bashfully.

“I believe in you. I want you to stay by my side from here on out as well.”

“…According to your heart’s desire, Lord Fried.” Stella stared at me with glistening eyes. “I shall stake this life to serve you.”

Having finished my conversation with Stella, I headed to the highest peak of the Demon King Castle. It was to meet “her” after a long time and ask for answers. I had to ask the previous Demon King, Yulisha, about that power hidden deep beneath the underground of the castle.