As the Demon King, I have married a slave elf. How should I express my love?

He knew he was sweating profusely.

Just being stared at like that sends shivers down your spine. It's a kind of heavy malice, like the atmosphere congealing into mud, and just standing in it makes your stomach acid almost rise.

Are these people really the same kind of creatures as us?

It was beyond just being watched like a tiger. He felt like he was in the jaws of a tiger.

The twelve remaining Demon Lords have now gathered here.

They are the end and the pinnacle of magic.

Become one of them, or decay and wither away—the magician's end is only these two.

Soon after, one of them spoke in a solemn voice.

"Are you Sagan?"

Then, a woman's voice appeared.

"I've heard you're young, but you could even be considered young."

Another voice followed.

"Interesting. He should have broken the record for the youngest."

The Demon Lords looked at Sagan and laughed, finding it amusing.

It wasn't pleasant to be treated like a rare and exotic creature. Although they were respectable figures, Sagan had no time to entertain the elderly.

—If we don't go back soon, we'll miss Neferpitou's dinner.

At this moment, Neferpitou was the only person in the castle.

Although the castle's barrier has been restored, it cannot withstand a paladin wielding a holy sword-level weapon, or a magician with the strength of Barbaros. Since Nefi's 'magic' is still unstable, he cannot leave the castle for too long.

Therefore, Sagan arrogantly said:

"You summoned me here just to observe exotic animals? If you've seen enough, can I go home now?"

To speak such arrogant words to someone far stronger than oneself—even if one were killed, one would have no one to blame but oneself. But the Demon Lords, far from being angered, even expressed their admiration, saying:

"Hehe, that's really offensive."

"After all, this is the first time anyone has ever seen a magician like you. Please forgive our curiosity."

"You really have guts to talk back to us in this kind of situation."

Everyone laughed, and the figure among them who seemed to be the leader finally spoke:

Let's get straight to the point.

Just listening to that deep, unassuming voice gave him a sense of unease and pressure.

Sagan, fighting off a cold sweat, faced the figure directly in front of him.

Then, the figure announced:

"Sagan the Magician. We hope you will become our thirteenth ally—that is, join the ranks of the Demon Lord."

The abrupt remark left Sagan speechless.

—Did I hear that right? They want me to be the Demon King?

Before he could feel happy, he couldn't help but wonder if the other party was playing a trick on him.

But before he could speak, a huge emblem formed of condensed light appeared behind the Demon Kings.

No, that was not light, but magic. An extraordinary quantity and density of magic formed the emblem. The unprecedented power almost made him kneel in awe just by witnessing it.

He also sensed the same power as the emblem from the twelve people present.

The leader-level figure said:

"This is Magasiia's 'Mark of the Demon King.' To succeed as the Demon King is, in effect, to inherit this mark."

A swallowing sound came from the throat.

--So the so-called "Demon King" is not just a title after all?

If one inherits the emblem—if one inherits such power—it's no wonder magicians are no match for the Demon King. The reason why magicians throughout the world have to obediently follow the Demon King's orders is not simply based on seniority.

Since they showed this to Sagan, it seems that asking him to inherit the Demon King's title is not a joke.

When he came to his senses, he found his throat was so dry it felt like it was about to burst into flames.

Sagan, his voice hoarse and trembling, replied to the figure before him:

"You're saying you want me to be the Demon King?"

"Aren't you satisfied?"

"It's not that I'm dissatisfied, it's just that I can't understand it. There are always other magicians in the world whose skills surpass mine, aren't there?"

For example, Barbarossa was one of them.

The magicians I met at the auction where Neferpitou was bought were all older than Sagan and possessed extensive knowledge and great strength.

Moreover, putting everything else aside, Sagan doesn't even have a title yet.

"No wonder you asked that. Sagan, your power is far too insignificant."

"We could just blow a breath at you and you might disappear without a trace."

However—the figure continued:

"Though you are insignificant, no magician can kill you."

He clicked his tongue in disapproval.

So they've figured out all my tricks?

Sagan's magic was indeed as the Shadow and the others had described.

"Wasn't the first magician you killed Antoine from 'Grievance'?"

That's the name of the magician who captured Sagan and used him as a human sacrifice.

"His strength may not be as great as yours now, but he is not a weak magician either."

"At the very least, he is not an incompetent person who would lose to an eight-year-old child."

"However, you turned around and killed him, absorbing all his wisdom."

That was just a story of a desperate rat gnawing on a cat.

But at this moment, the Demon Kings praised it highly, regarding it as a great achievement.

"In your past life, you've never had the chance to experience magic."

"The only magic trick you've ever seen was the one that Antoine performed on you."

"And how did you, someone like that, manage to kill that titled magician?"

One of the figures said in a tone of affection:

"—You actually remembered that magic trick after only seeing it once."

"No," another figure continued.

"Thanks to that one opportunity, you even figured out the principles of magic."

"That one magic trick was created."

Sagan had a magic trick of his own, which he neither obtained from Antos nor learned from existing magic tricks.

No one can replicate Sagan's unique magic.

That was the first magic trick he learned, and the one that defeated Antoine.

"Terrifying magic, and—"

"A detestable talent."

The twelve figures murmured their praises.

"That means that if you want to take it, no one can stop you."

"That means if you want to kill, no one can survive."

"If you desire power, all the magicians in the world can offer you anything."

"If you give the order, all magicians in the world can only obey unconditionally."

"Worthy of the title 'Demon King,' the power of a tyrant."

Although everyone praised them, Sagan sensed a certain conviction in them, like, "But they are still far behind us."

And their next sentence was indeed aimed at this point.

"It sounds contradictory, but you are still insignificant now."

"He possesses an extraordinary talent."

"And talent is potential."

"Sooner or later, you will become the greatest magician in history."

"Therefore, we deign to classify you, insignificant as the Demon King."

"Everything is for the sake of elevating wisdom."

"It's all for the sake of exhausting magic."

The chorus of "The Demon King," which was being sung in a eulogistic manner, ended here.

Sagan knew that he had already been overwhelmed by the imposing presence of the figure.

To rid herself of that oppression, Sagan glared back and said:

"If what you're saying is true, then I can take everything from you right now, can't I?"

Sagan was certainly not foolish enough to challenge them here. But to ascertain their true nature, Sagan deliberately provoked them.

And the Demon King, as if waiting for him to say that, all laughed.

"Indeed. But you must be careful."

"Because compared to what you take from us, you may lose something far more valuable."