Chapter 6

Name: Orel

Race: Majin

Rank: B

Occupation: Magic Warrior

Equipment: Cursed Steel Great Axe

Cursed Steel Armor

Grudge Leather Pants

Technical Skill: Void Curse C

「……Does you like curses or something?」

「It isn’t anything like that though.」

As Orel tried to shrug his shoulders at Vermudol who was confirming Orel’s status with a bored face……noticing that it was impossible to do, he ended up only making a slight movement.

This place was the Demon King’s Castle, the throne room.

The one that was lying down in front of Vermudol as he sat on the throne was Orel who was tightly tied up enough that he couldn’t really be considered lying down.

At both of his sides, two Magic Operated Armors were standing at attention.

「Still, to be able to confirm Status without the use of a 『Reveal Crystal』……You seriously are the Demon King-sama, aren’t cha.」

When Orel said that, he fixed his eyes on Vermudol who was sitting on the throne.

It is said that even the predecessor Gramfia was a black haired young man similar to Vermudol at first.

Orel, who was a novice among the Majins, only knew about Gramfia’s appearance after losing all of that but……Compared to that stifling dreadfulness, the lethargic looking Vermudol that was before his eyes seemed unreliable.

「Well, that’s true. So, there is something I want to ask you but. May I?」

Accepting Orel’s gaze from the front, Vermudol continued the conversation.

Vermudol also knew the meaning of Orel’s gaze.

He was fully aware that he was being looked down upon.

In actuality, the one that beat Orel up was Ichika, and not Vermudol.

However, Vermudol considered that there was no meaning to this fact.

What was important was the fact that the one with the highest position in this place right now was Vermudol.

It was only that one point that was important.

「……It’d be nice if it’s something that I can answer though.」

And then, Orel also understood the meaning of Vermudol’s gaze.

That’s right, upon being made to understand everything, the current Orel was being looked down on.

As Orel was lying down like a worm, Vermudol was looking at him with eyes that seemed like he was truly looking at a worm.

「No, you don’t have to worry about that. It’s fine if you don’t answer to things that you can answer.」

Mixing in even a smile, Vermudol made such a consideration.

It was a lightheartedness that was similar to talking with a close friend or something.

For example, if it were a situation where they were talking facing each other at a desk, there was no doubt that Orel would look down on Vermudol from the bottom of his heart.

But right now, despite being under this abnormal situation, Vermudol talked to Orel with a lightheartedness and intimacy that was similar to that.

Even if both of their positions were reversed, Orel thought that Vermudol would contact him in the same way.

He was able to clearly imagine that scene.

Orel shuddered while not tearing down his fearless attitude.

Or maybe, that was the way the spirit worthy of being the Demon King should be.

Even while he felt like he was going to be overwhelmed by Demon King Vermudol who was before his eyes, Orel showed that he braced himself.

「For the time being, I was thinking of trying to unify the Dark Continent. Would you have any good ideas for that?」

「……Ha?」

Unable to determine if Vermudol’s words were serious or a joke, Orel replied like that.

Unification of the Dark Continent.

That wasn’t accomplished even by the previous Demon King Gramfia.

Before the unprecedented crisis known as the Hero’s invasion of the Dark Continent, the Mazoku only joined hands temporarily, and fundamentally, the Mazoku were self-centered existences that prioritized their own desires.

Although not as much as the other Mazoku, there was no mistake that Orel was also self-centered.

After all, on the verge of the previous battle, he was disgusted with Gramfia enough that he immediately ran away.

That monsterous Demon King, having been driven into a corner by the Hero, ended up finding fault in his loyal subordinates. It seemed like it wasn’t from cowardice, but from self-protection.

「Oーi, Orel?」

「Answer Demon King-sama’s question.」

Orel, who had unintentionally became immersed in memories of the past, was brought back to reality by a kick from a Magic Operated Armor that received Ichika’s signal.

The place where he was severely injured by Ichika was hurt even more, but he didn’t even feel like speaking out a complaint.

「Let me see……」

Since he couldn’t stand being kicked again, Orel tried searching for the appropriate words.

With no good ideas on the unification coming to mind, he could only say that in all honesty.

「As long as a Hero isn’t invading, I think that solidarity is impossible. And even if it did come to the Hero invading, I think that there’ll be guys that will hide in holes in the ground and won’t come out.」

Holes in the ground……this was about the so-called dungeons and Majin bases.

They were created by Majin as symbols of their own strength, and also served as a means of offense and defense.

In cases of Majin that fixated on fighting in their own field right to the bitter end, they won’t thoughtlessly come out from there.

To the type of Majin that would do the attacking themselves like Orel, they were ridiculed as cave Majin, but except for the ones that were unfortunately attacked by the Hero, they unexpectedly had a high survival rate.

He didn’t think that Majin that did that would obediently cooperate.

After all, because the monsters that made their nests in the dungeons are included as their subordinates, there are many that misunderstand that and call themselves Demon Kings.

From what Orel knew, there were several tens of self-proclaimed Demon Kings.

According to even more stories that he heard, on the verge of the previous battle, it was said that the Hero party called Gramfia the Grand Demon King.

He didn’t think that there was any grander or lesser Demon King, but Orel considered that there were surely some self-proclaimed Demon Kings in the Human’s continent.

「Self-proclaimed Demon Kings huh……If that’s the case, then I guess that would mean that my current state is also that of the Grand Demon King.」

「There is only one title worthy of the Demon King. Please do not speak of such reckless things.

Being rebuked by Ichika, Vermudol pondered while making a wry smile.

Certainly, in the games and manga of the world Vermudol was in when he was Human, there were many cases where there were multiple 「Demon Kings」.

If there were cases where a Grand Demon King was lying in wait after the Demon King, then there were also cases where there were also Grand Demon Kings that had multiple Demon Kings obeying them.

Underneath the Demon King would be more powerful subordinates, and under them would be more powerful subordinates……There were many patterns where there would be plenty of people from top to bottom like a mountain.

If he remembered correctly, there should have also been cases where the Demon King’s subordinates defeat the Demon King and take their place.

If there was a difference in patterns, it would be like this.

First, the natural born Demon King. Established as the Demon King, they were an existence that would create and command Mazoku.

And then, the Demon King as a title. This was a title used for targets of fear or the chief of a group, and it didn’t matter if they were a Mazoku or not.

Vermudol was without a doubt the former, and was an existence produced by the Demon God as the Demon King.

However, according to Orel, although it’s self-proclaimed, it seems that there are some here and there with the title of Demon King.

In this situation, what should be done to bring Vermudol the most profit.

What should be done for him to be able to grasp the reins.

「……As I thought, I guess it’ll be that.」

Ichika and Orel curiously stared at Vermudol who muttered that while looking up at the ceiling.

「The fact that they are claiming themselves as a Demon King, that probably means that everyone wants to swagger about…… I guess I should try going with that?」

After saying that, Vermudol looked at Orel who was still tied up, and expressed a smile.

Chapter 07