Demon Lord, Retry! Volume 1

by Kurone Kanzaki

  Luna replied, taken by surprise. Sincerely, the Demon Lord felt like he had a grasp on something upon experiencing this city.

  “This is a lot more straightforward than some Angel nonsense. Human desire epitomized... We’re at the core of this country.”

  People who have worked hard and improved themselves to obtain power and wealth... The Holy City welcomed those who had ‘made it.’ It seemed much more real to him than some sketchy promise of a blissful afterlife.

  “Desire...? You know... Oh, we’re here. This is Artemis.”

  “Hm... Shall we?”

  The party walked through the door of Artemis. Inside was another world entirely, and that much was clear just by looking at the patrons. Dressed in obviously extravagant attire, they nibbled on their wine and meat while elegantly engaging in conversation. It was obviously a place for the social elite.

  “Why, Miss Luna. Welcome back...”

  “Hi. I’m looking forward to what you have for me, today.”

  As soon as they sat down at a table, someone who acted like the manager came to greet them. The title of a Holy Maiden seemed to carry as much weight as the Demon Lord had expected. He self-importantly told the manager to surprise him for his entrée before ordering a drink, since he was nervous he wouldn’t understand a dinner menu in this world. He smoothly ordered a drink, and Yu ordered white wine after him.

  “Now, to celebrate Aku’s recovery, let’s toast...”

  Aku was getting dizzied by the onslaught of dish after dish being brought to the table, but the Demon Lord was just as nervous on the inside. However, as table manners seemed to be ingrained in the muscle memory of Hakuto Kunai, he seamlessly kept his etiquette as if he was a born noble.

  “Aku, don’t worry about etiquette. Enjoy the meal however you’d like.”

  “O-Okay!”

  She had been eyeing each dish as it came to the table, but seemed a little nervous.

  (Maybe I’ll take her to a more casual joint next time... I won’t have to worry about much if we go alone.)

  He was the type to walk into a rice-bowl joint for a quick lunch, and wasn’t used to these fancy dinner scenes.

  The food isn’t bad, but it’s far inferior compared to what’s in our world...

  Well, that is to be expected.

  The Demon Lord answered internally to Yu’s Communication. Most of the food in the Game could be found in modern-day Japan. Naturally, the Demon Lord imagined, they would taste amazing if brought to life. Japan, after all, was a country so dedicated to food, that they would air in ingredients just for their fast food. It wasn’t really fair to compare that to the food of this world, where technology in food storage, processing, and cooking were much less developed.

  (Speaking of celebrations... We need a cake.)

  There was a cake item in the Game, but it had to be made from Food, a Craft Item. A player could choose from the following four options for healing items:

  -Breakfast Platter x1 — Heal 50 HP

  -Vegetable Soup x2 — Heal 25 HP

  -Strawberry Tart x1 — Heal 50 SP

  -Cheesecake x2 — Heal 25 SP

  In addition, players who had the Cooking Survival skill had additional options:

  -Wild Rice x2 — Heal 50 HP

  -Chicken Noodle Soup x2 — Heal 50 SP

  -Nabe x1 — Heal 100 SP

  Unfortunately, the Demon Lord didn’t possess the Cooking skill. He wouldn’t be able to craft those additional items until he unlocked the feature to earn skills, or he summoned an advisor who had the Cooking skill.

  “Craft Advanced Item... Food.”

  He created a Food under the table. Despite its name, it was a shiny white sphere. He assumed it must have taken this shape since there were options on what to change it into.

  (While we’re here, I guess I can showboat a little.)

  “Craft Item... Strawberry Tart.”

  Although he thought it might be a little corny, the Demon Lord snapped his fingers as if to perform a magic trick. The Food changed its shape as they watched, morphing into a Strawberry Tart with a flash of light. For those watching, this was real magic.

  “Wow! Master Demon Lord, is that a dessert!?”

  “W-What is that thing!? It’s so cute!”

  As expected, it seemed that sweets were well-received by women in any world. While the magic trick had cost the Demon Lord 20 SP, the smile on Aku’s face was worth it. It’s not like the Demon Lord had made it himself, but he wore a smug expression as if to say ‘yep, I’m a world-class baker. What of it?’

  “A little gift from me, Aku... Yu, can you serve them out, please?”

  “Yes, Mister Secretary.”

  As it had the effect to heal 50 SP, he expected it to wash away the stress of the long trip. He had killed two birds with one stone. A piece of tart was served to each member at the table. The Demon Lord timidly took a bite. He was confident of the quality of Empire items, but he couldn’t be certain until he tasted it.

  “It’s sweet! It’s delicious! It’s so cute!”

  Aku let out with a brimming smile.

  “Noooo! It’s so good! I can’t believe it! What magic did you use!?”

  “This makes my mouth happy, Mister Secretary...”

  “G-Good... I’m glad.”

  The Demon Lord couldn’t help but wonder if the girls were making too much of a big deal out of this. However, in a world that was scarce of sweet flavors, a strawberry tart was mind-boggling. More like a weapon of mass-dessert-ion.

  “Looks like you’re having fun... Little Luna.”

  “Fha? Madame!?”

  They looked up to find a lady in a turquoise dress who was obviously wealthy. On her fingers were rings that almost looked too clunky. One on each finger, in fact.

  (Who is this billionaire...? Her whole body is gleaming.)

  The Demon Lord moved to discover who the lady was. He had to keep a steady footing if he wanted to start off his business right. Standing, he greeted the lady with an elegant bow.

  “Ah, Madame. Pleased to make your acquaintance... My name is Hakuto Kunai.”

  “Oh, where are my manners? I’m Butterscotch Butterfly.”

  (What are you, a cartoon!?)

  The Demon Lord might have burst out laughing if he wasn’t so infuriated. What in the world were her parents thinking? He was dazed.

  Luna, who is this woman?

  Huh!? I can hear the Demon Lord’s perverted voice in my head!

  Give up the perverted thing, already. Answer me.

  She’s like the leader of the nobles’ wives... All the nobles know her, and she has a lot of influence, so she scares me...

  So, she’s the queen bee of the bored Madames of this world.

  Churning the gears in his head, the Demon Lord schemed. He was the type to stay light on his feet in these situations. Once committed, the Demon Lord had the balls to pull off any performance.

  (Give her a good pitch, and I could reap all sorts of benefits...)

  Of course, there was no world wide web in this world. So, the Demon Lord figured, a good word of mouth from someone influential would greatly aid his venture. A queen of the noble wives could possess the power to change the course of his business.

  “Madame... Will you grant me the honor of joining us at the table?”

  “H-Hey, Demon Lord!”

  “Ooh, an invitation from the infamous Demon Lord himself... How exciting.”

  (What’s she got up her sleeve?)

  The Demon Lord thought. Apparently, she had walked right over knowing full well who he was. He could imagine the headache of dealing with a bunch of nobles’ wives, and couldn’t see through what she had in mind or the skills she possessed.

  (Anyway, she looks a lot like a certain deluxe celebrity... They could be twins.)

  Her mountain-like stature showed her lack of an exercise routine. Moreover, she looked nearly identical... to a certain someone.

  (Here to get some gossip? You’re a
bout to get the horns, lady.)

  And so, they began what at least appeared to be pleasant small talk.

  Meanwhile, under the surface... the Satanists were patiently waiting for their cue in the darkness.

  You Unlocked Some Information!!

  Craft Items

  There are other examples of Craft Items, like Weapon Material and Illegal Substance. The former creates an item that added 2 to the Attack of a weapon, and the latter gives various stat boosts. Due to concerns for game balance, they were difficult to obtain, and required the Genius or Illegal Substance skill to use, respectively. Another example is the Mystery Item, which provides random effects. Items like the Mikuji and Horoscope produce positive or negative effects depending on the player’s fortune. They might even debuff the player’s stats, so they should be used with caution. Items like the Grab Bag, Small Treasure Chest, Piggy Bank, and Santa’s Bag can often produce rare items. Once in a while, though, they were sure to disappoint with a garbage item.

  Sign of Trouble

  A particular table in Artemis had garnered some attention. Elegant music from various instruments filled the restaurant for the patrons’ entertainment, but they were all focused on that table. At this particular table, there was a Holy Maiden, the man who called himself the Demon Lord, and Madame Butterfly. There were plenty of nobles who were kept under their wife’s thumb, and the big boss of those scary wives was her. Her influence was tremendous—those who ended up in her bad graces were exiled from the social scene. The unaffected patrons of the restaurant watched on, more nervous than those at the table.

  “Let me say... your beauty astounds me, Madame. I am humbled at imagining the work you’ve put into your appearance.”

  “Oh, are you flirting with an old lady like me?”

  Even as they began their small talk, their eyes remained cold. With the way they dug for each other’s information under the surface, they might as well have been holding blades at each other’s throats.

  “So, what do you think of our city, Mister Demon Lord...?”

  “It’s wonderful. So straightforward and simple.”

  “...Many of our foreign visitors are surprised when they see the city. Often, they’ll tell me that we live in heaven compared to those less fortunate — who live in hell, as they describe it.”

  “That’s a good way to put it. I have a solution for that, though.”

  At this point, the Demon Lord paused. He lit his cigarette with leisure and started enjoying his smoke without any intention of continuing the conversation.

  Eventually, Madame Butterfly leaned over the table, running impatient.

  “I would love to hear it. Lend us your wisdom, Master Demon Lord.”

  “It’s easy, really... Make it heaven, everywhere. Problem solved. Very simple.”

  “Every... Th-That’s an awfully grandiose idea.”

  “...If I were to rule this nation, I could make it happen in a few years.”

  The Madame fell speechless. This was more than blowing smoke. Most would have wondered if a screw was missing from his head. He surely wasn’t the first to talk a big game in order to garner favors with the Madame, but no one had been so cocky before. Of course, he had no way of turning this world into a utopia. If he did, he would have been a politician or something in the real world.

  (Haha! How’s she going to prove me wrong?)

  There it was. In some sense, he had embraced his situation, but this act was a Hail Mary to leave Madame Butterfly with the impression that he was a person somehow beyond their understanding. However, the Madame noticed that the gorgeous woman sitting next to him seemed to confirm his claim, without even saying a word. Her demeanor made it seem like there was no lie or exaggeration in what he had just said.

  “But national politics bore me... I want to provide you, Madame, with a different kind of heaven, first.”

  “How intriguing... What kind of heaven are we talking about?”

  The Demon Lord wrapped what he had created under the table in a fancy sheet of paper before handing it to the Madame. A bar of Soap, so popular with the ladies. The Madame, though, didn’t know what to make of it. After talking of such a big game, he handed over a bar of soap. While it did cost a few gold coins in this country, it wasn’t something the Madame wasn’t used to seeing, or even happy to receive as a gift.

  “Oh, that soap is amazing!”

  “Ah, is this what you use, Little Luna...?”

  “It cleans you up like magic! My skin glowed after using it!”

  “Ma... Glowed, you say...”

  (Thanks for the assist, Luna!)

  The Demon Lord celebrated the unexpected back-up. In fact, the word ‘magic’ from Luna carried a lot of weight. From the Madame’s perspective, Luna was just a child, and she socialized with her to admire her innocence... Except when it came to magic. She recognized that Luna’s talent for magic was the real deal. She also knew that Luna’s sense of self-esteem relied on her pride in her magic. When Luna mentioned magic, that resonated with Madame Butterfly.

  “Not that you mention it, all the ladies at the table have glowing skin.”

  Looking around at them, Madame showed a flash of envy. Every one of them were young, without a wrinkle on their face. To boot, they were all very attractive.

  “Please, give it a try. You’ll see its effects with your own eyes.”

  “I think I will... Thank you for your wonderful gift, Mister Demon Lord.”

  She couldn’t help but give a wishful gaze at the bar of soap. No matter the age, women always longed for good skin, and no amount of money could reverse time. The subject of beauty was this Madame’s only weakness.

  “Please, don’t thank me for such a trivial token. Pretty soon, I plan to set up a hot springs resort in the village of Rabbi... Your skin, and your entire body will, literally, be renewed.”

  That line was a siren’s song, befitting of the king of all evil.

  “Renewed... That’s another grandiose claim.”

  “I make no exaggerations or falsities about what I do... Everything I say will become reality.”

  He was now blowing smoke with no end in sight. This was now the Demon Lord’s solo performance.

  “There will be more than mere hot springs, but carbonated springs, one-person springs, hot rock beds, cold baths, electric baths, herbal baths, salt and mist saunas, vitality saunas and many more options. Not only will they be refreshing, but they will help with tight shoulders, back pain, and blood circulation. Of course, your skin will look a decade younger.”

  “R-Really...?”

  She didn’t understand most of what the Demon Lord had listed, but she felt that whatever it was, it was going to be nothing like she had ever seen before. She wanted to get up and go there that day, if she could have. In fact, all of that would become a reality once the facility was built. It was originally intended for healing players’ HP, but he was sure that the hot springs would really have the effects attributed to them.

  “I can’t wait... I mean, when do you think this place will be built...?”

  “Just as soon as I finish some research here.”

  “I-I-I will definitely be paying a visit Little Luna, don’t tell Buttersauce, okay?”

  (Buttersauce!? What’s with all the dairy!?)

  The Demon Lord interjected internally, without showing a hint of it on his expression. Although, his cigarette trembled slightly as he kept himself from laughing.

  “I won’t. Things still aren’t good with your sister, it sounds like.”

  “You understand, Little Luna. It’s hard for sisters to get along, isn’t it?”

  (You’re both butter, what’s not to like...?)

  Desperately holding in his laughter, the Demon Lord shook the Madame’s hand with a brimming smile. The encounter had startled him at first, but it seemed to end in success.

  After that, the party was enjoying their dinner with bright conversation, when a piercing scream echoed from outside, causing a co
mmotion in the restaurant. Then, rumbling and shouting could be heard. The people were all shouting about one thing...

  “A Satanist attack!!!”

  Hearing this, the Demon Lord’s expression shifted. He looked like a child who was given a new toy, bubbling with uncontainable joy.

  “It seems we have just the clown for our post-dinner entertainment...”

  Seeing him, Madame Butterfly swallowed audibly. There, she saw someone different than the man she had been conversing with... she saw a bona-fide Demon Lord.

  A Glimpse at the Demon Lord

  The Holy City was roughly separated into four districts. One of them, of course, was the Holy Castle. Protected by numerous holy barriers, the historical castle rejected all devils, demons, and the like. Even the best of the Hellions would have a hard time infiltrating this structure. In addition, there was the Noble District, which included the Order of Holy Knights’ headquarters and the nobles’ mansions, the Common District, which included the Holy Church headquarters and the houses of middle-class citizens, and finally the Business District, comprised of various merchants, shops, and business centers like the Adventurer guilds and the red-light district.

  The Satanists had initiated a simultaneous attack on all districts, save for the Holy Castle. They had dug underground tunnels over a long period of time, sneaking their way into the earth directly below the Holy City. Imagining the effort it took for them to dig a series of tunnels like this... One could only describe it as madness. They had devoted years to their plan in anticipation of this day.

  A crater gaped open in each of the city’s districts, and the Satanists, all wearing their uniformed garb, came flooding out of them. Three gigantic holes were agape in the Holy City with an ominous resemblance to Tartarus.

  “Coordinated assault, huh...? Not too shabby.”

  As soon as he left the restaurant, the Demon Lord leapt to the roof, observing the entirety of the Holy City from above. Screaming and shouting also came from the district they were in, and he could see two fires in the distance. Most likely an attempt to divide the city’s manpower in three. Coordinated terror attacks: a classic, really.