A Demon Lord’s Tale: Dungeons, Monster Girls, and Heartwarming Bliss

“–Demon King Finar!” (Yuki)

“Hello, Yuki. It looks like you’ve been given a tough job to do.” (Finar)

A man with a smiling face but was someone really fearsome inside… the Demon King Finar.

Well, I sure have been meeting some notable figures today.

“That’s my job to begin with, so I don’t really mind… but what about you? Are you working as well?”

“Yeah, I got a call from someone that they’re about to continue the excavation of the ruins, so I’ve been planning to come over here to see what’s going on.”

“That ruins…?”

“Yes, the place where you went to. Actually, according to Shen, there are some interesting records found in those ruins, so I took over and let the excavation continue, hoping that it would lead to future discoveries. Then, when I was on my way over there on an airship, I got a report that the defense mechanism of the ruins had been activated along with a notice that the fortress city close to the ruins was in danger, that is until I received a message that you had arrived and dealt with it.”

Shen was the current name of Former Emperor Shendra Gandhor Rogard.

Since he should have technically been executed, we had him change his name as well.

…I see.

So, the reunion with this fellow was just a coincidence, but it was half-way expected.

“So…”

And then the Demon King Finar turned his face to the Spirit King and bowed.

“Nice to meet you, my name is Finar Reginalis Saturnia. You must be the famous Spirit King.”

[I don’t know if I’m famous or not, but they call me Yg-Drasil, the Spirit King. Are you the current King of the Demon World?]

“Yes, I have been the King for a while now, though I do not deserve it. I never thought that I would meet you here, the great sage who travels around the world and appears in various historical events.”

[I have some connection with this man’s family. I met him when I visited the Demon Forest. Coincidentally, we ran into each other today. I had heard of a new country to the south, and was intrigued, so I was exploring the area.]

“I see, so…well, Yuki, your network of contacts is extraordinary, as usual, isn’t it?”

“I think so myself.”

Before I knew it, I had come to know more than half of the heads of the major countries on this continent, and I knew a lot of very powerful people.

I arrived in this world by chance, and this was where I ended up.

“? What is it, Yuki? What’s with that face?”

“Well, I’m just wondering how you can speak in such an awe-inspiring manner.”

“Oh, but I normally talk like this, I’m kind of curious what kind of impression you have about me.”

“You’re a black-hearted, shady, blonde demon in my mind.”

“Thank you for your honesty. I’m glad to see the friendship blossoming between us.”

The Demon King replied nonchalantly without losing his smiling face.

Right, that there, that shady smile… that was what I was talking about.

“So…it seems like your power has grown a lot as well, right?”

“Oh, yeah. I evolved into a [High Lord] a little while ago.”

“Hmmm…race evolution doesn’t happen so often to humanoid races, but I can somehow accept it if it was you. I’m getting more and more confused as to what I should call you, Yuki.”

I thought so as well.

My race was now a [High Lord].

But to the public, I have been called [Demon Emperor], and from a Dungeon standpoint, I would still be a [Demon Lord].

Also, there was the thing about me being a [Dragon King]. That was at first, just an honorary position, but right now, it seemed like a role I had to fulfill.

I had so many titles that I was also wondering what I should call myself.

Personally, I think I should go by [Demon Lord] as usual, or [Demon Emperor] if I was in the Rogard Empire… or rather, wouldn’t it be correct to call myself [High Emperor] now, when I appear to the outside world?

[T/N: We will be using “Demon Lord” for Yuki from now on because of all these titles.]

No matter how well it sounded, it didn’t suit me.

I mean, at the time before I became the Demon Emperor, I was pretty much considered a monster.

“I am simply going to use [Demon Emperor] for public occasions as I have in the past. [High Lord] is the name of my race, but [Demon Lord] and [Emperor] are my job titles, so I think that [Demon Emperor] will probably be the most appropriate.”

“I could make it known that you’re [High Lord] now, so you can be called a [High Emperor].”

“Don’t do that, I already think it doesn’t suit me at this point. I don’t want this to become a bigger hassle than it already is.”

“Really? I think [High Emperor] suits you well. That is if we don’t really think about the [Emperor] part. However, I don’t feel any discomfort with you being in that position. Strangely, it feels right.”

“What’s that?”

[I know what you mean. This man has something that has nothing to do with power. I can’t put it into words.]

“The King of Spirits thinks so, as well?”

I suddenly felt a slight itch at their words.

…Speaking of which, now that I thought about it, the Spirit King was visible to ordinary people, even though he was a spirit.

Or perhaps others recognized him by his robes and staff that float by themselves. I wondered… Well, even I, who had no particular power involving spirits, could see the Spirit King since the time we first met.

With so much power condensed, would one become visible even if one had no particular ability to be visualized?

Well, that was only a suspicion. As expected of a calamity class.

Disaster level.

What an accurate expression.

“…So, Demon King Finar. You’re here on business, right? You’re taking it pretty easy though, is everything all right?”

“Eh? Of course. Meeting the King of Spirits is more important than the ruins! This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me. I can leave the official business on hold for now… haha.”

“I’ve noticed lately that you pretty much do whatever you want.”

“I wish I could say I was a free man. My soul is free and everlasting. A necessary thing if one wishes to live a long and joyous life.”

After declaring so, the Demon King Finar shrugged his shoulders with an unreadable smile.

Well, I could understand that meeting an Ultra Rare character like the Spirit King might be a higher priority.

Or rather it would be a better word to call him Super Ultra Rare.

And so, in addition to the Spirit King, there was this guy.

….a good chance.

“…If that’s the case, Demon King Finar. Can I assume that you’ve got time today?”

“? Yes, I’m going to put my original plans on hold for later. So…Spirit King, may I join you on this occasion?”

[Of course, I don’t mind. Meeting new people and exchanging words is one of the pleasures of this old bones.]

The Spirit King nodded.

“All right, then. Since it’s a good opportunity, may I bring my family?”

“! Yuki’s family? Yes, yes, please invite them!”

[Oh, do so, that would certainly be fun.]