Tags: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Comedy, Romance, Harem, Slice of Life, Isekai

Sub-Tags: Cute, Heartwarming, Dungeons, OP, Game Elements

Yuuki’s Royal Problems Return!

What Makes a Hero

Continuing his demon lord antics in a new world, my latest review calls back upon Yuuki as he faces a problem of royal proportions.

After discovering that the threats in Alisia are far from over, the seventh volume of Now I’m a Demon Lord finds Yuuki and Nell in the royal capital. Far from a visit to his old friend, the king, Yuuki’s visit concerns a nefarious scheme surrounding Nell. Someone within the royal courts is pulling the strings to undermine Nell’s actions as a hero by throwing all sorts of problems her way, from monster attacks to vicious societal ploys. With his wife under attack, Yuuki will do anything within his power to stop these fiends before they succeed.

Back in the royal capital, and it quickly becomes clear that Yuuki and Lefi aren’t the only power couple in the series. With the focus switched away from the dungeon, it allows the second official coupling of the series, Nell and Yuuki, a chance to stretch their wings and become closer. Investigating a new scheme that involves Nell proves to do a world of good for their blossoming relationship. To stop these schemers in their tracks, the two must fight, think and dance together to get an edge on their opponents.

As for the schemers themselves, whilst most are easily brought down by Yuuki’s clever use of theatrics, their leader makes an interesting introduction to the series. Surviving relatively unscathed from the incident, his ideology revolving around the nation’s survival beyond all else will cause a fair few challenges for Yuuki as the series presses forward.

Upon closing the incident in the royal capital, these events give Nell some pause for thought, whether to stay in the dungeon or continue to be a hero. Deciding on a hybrid between the two, the climax of the volume finds her leaving the dungeon.

Nell’s departure brings out a rare sentimentality in Yuuki, a man normally seen as a hedonistic thrill-seeker. It’s a touching moment that shows, behind the jokes, that he cares about those he loves deeply.

A Dungeon’s New Guest

In the interim, there are also plenty of slice-of-life moments to enjoy in this volume as well. These are best highlighted when the dungeon plays host to a new guest, the king’s daughter, Ilyr.

With the others so used to their life in the fantastical place, it’s nice, once in a while, to get a new first-time perspective on the comfy life the dungeon provides. Moreover, this experience is especially poignant for Ilyr. As a member of the royal family, playtime comes as a rare occurrence, and life in the dungeon offers an opportunity, however small, for Ilyr to act like any normal kid should.

Overall, the latest volume of Now I’m a Demon Lord continues to let the series shine. This time around, its main highlights surround Nell and Yuuki’s relationship and the new guests hosted in the dungeon.

Quickly giving the original couple a run for its money, the development between Nell and Yuuki shows just how much of a natural fit the two of them are together. By the end of the volume, the author showcases several clear reasons why their relationship should be seen with as much merit as Yuuki and Lefi’s.

Furthermore, even the slice-of-life sections in this volume aren’t without their purpose. With Ilyr’s first introduction to the labyrinth, we’re given an interesting perspective on what a fluffy dungeon life could mean to those who could have everything they could possibly ever want.