King Koopa shuffled in his seat awkwardly. He wasn't used to having a woman sit next to him at the dinner table … not caged or tied up at the very least. "SO TO WHAT DO I OWE THE PLEASURE? I'M DOING MY BEST TO PUSH OUR KIDS RELATIONSHIP FURTHER! GAAKO HASN'T EVEN FORCED HIM TO PROPOSE YET!"

"Why doesn't she just propose? She has the option." Right, how could he have been so blind! Have her kidnap him, role reversal was always a win when done right. "Also, as much as I would love to talk about that afterwards, right now I figured you should just be here for the meeting. You're the parent after all."

"Ugh, can for once my relationship with Azz just stay between me and him?" Gaako was pounding her head on the table. "My brain's already split into a thousand pieces, and that's not even mentioning the new school year."

"Yes, I somehow feel the impending danger of instinct by this point." Asmodeus spoke, looking as annoyed as his daughter. "So you might as well drop whatever bombshell you have at this point."

"I'd like to nominate Alice and Gaako for candidacy of Demon King." Gaako's head went through the table with how hard she banged it out of shock.

"DEMON KING!? SHE'S GONNA BE …. OH MY DEVI, ONE MINUTE THEY'RE DOING THEIR NAILS, THE NEXT THEY'RE TAKING OVER THE WORLD!" Tears of joy began to form. "THEY GROW UP SO FAST, YOU KNOW?"

"Hey, hey, hey! Hold on a minute! What the heck is this all about?!" His little pride and joy shouted. "Last time I checked, I'm not the one in the Calamity Cult aiming for the throne!"

"Yes, I know I said drop the bombshell, but a little explanation wouldn't hurt!" Asmodeus spoke, looking frazzled and on fire.

"Okay, well let's start from the beginning. Recently we held a Crows Dinner, and during said meeting, it was announced by the three lords that the next Demon King would be decided through a Trickster Gambit, and just so nobody would accuse them of Nepotism, they agreed that all the Crows were free to nominate who they felt deserved a shot."

That was a lot to take in. So crows could decide candidates for the next king, from a young age … incredible opportunity.

"You said you accused them of Nepotism yet here you are clearly indulging in it." Asmodues deadpanned.

"Hey, I'm nominating your girlfriend too, and not just because you're close to sharing a bed." Amaryllis laughed.

"I DO HAVE SPARES IN THE BACK FOR THEM." The two groaned louder.

"Back to the matter at hand…!" Gaako was quick to shut down his idea. "I would make a terrible Demon King! I'm only rulership worthy when I'm scaring the ever-living shit out of people, and I don't want that!"

"Yet you still managed to make a kingdom and get people to call you lord even after you stopped being scary." The mother smiled. "Besides, you are fully in your right to say no, both you and Alice … however, I should let you both be aware that the Three Lords already had their grandsons attend the Crows Dinner."

"So Izuku's finally taken the first step towards his goal." Asmodeus looked thoughtfully. "A year ago I would've said yes in an instant, mainly for the recognition and respect...but I've learned a lot of things about myself that needed to change. My ambition is to see to it that Izuku succedes, to be his spear...I don't think I can accept this…regardless of if I'm worthy or not."

"I'm so proud of you, my little cotton candy." She smiled at the boy. "You've matured so much in so little time." For once in all the time Koopa had noticed, Asmodeus smiled back genuinely at his mother. "I thought as much. Still, my offer stands if you ever change your mind. No one said you couldn't use it to help your friend succeed."

"Wouldn't that be cheating a little?" Gaako asked.

"I mean it couldn't hurt, who knows, support your friend from the inside, outside, compete, get inducted by another Crow Member." She shru-wait what was that last one. "Now then, who wants to talk about your relationship's future? Is there gonna be a third one added on?"

"Kill me now." The boy muttered.

Sabro smiled. "Ah, rival, thou hast seen the greatness of the Demon King Battler. Truly, a worthy time to live!"

"Sorta. I'm aiming to be the Demon King now too, and this is the one place with the most information on him. Without the Ranking Exams, I need to do something to keep my mind focused." Izuku entered, looking out for the other students. "No one's going to attack me like last time, right?"

"No, the new scrolls came in so they'll be fed for the next hour." He pointed to the pile of students on the scrolls, making animal noises of an unnatural tone. "So then, how about my favorite book, the tale of Delikra?"

"Sounds perfect actually. Whenever I hear Demon King, his name is usually the one everyone refers to." Izuku nodded as Sabro grabbed the book. "So since it's a title and not a royal line, have there been more than one Demon King?"

"Yes actually. The first Demon King was Lucifer Morningstar, a far away Demon that was said to forge the world with his own bare hands. Following him was Satan, the Demon King that created the crows and set the rules to the world … you know, instead of just the fire and brimstone."

"I'm not complaining. To think I'd get comfortable living in hell." Izuku laughed. "Huh, the third Demon King was Mesphestaphales?"

"Yeah, real shady guy, most people just called him Mesphesto. He established the contracts of servitude that eventually became the familiar seals." He gestured to the scrolls. "Each king added their lot and deeds in, adding regulations and rules, being the only being capable of controlling any and all demons in existence. However, the latest one was a very special man. Unrivaled in Magic, Strength, and Charisma from any demon in his time."

"So he was just the best, with no comparison?" Izuku looked down. "Like All Might?" Who was All Might … oh, this was it! Sabro opened up a scroll.

"My favorite story, the legend of the Spiked Mountain. There was once a war going on, two armies fighting over western territory in death square, due to a drought removing the soil and preventing fertile growth of crops."

"So the losing army would die due to starvation, right?" Izuku asked. "Then they wouldn't stop for anything."

"Yep, they both rushed in, ready to fight it out … until Derkira strolled onto the battlefield and absorbed every weapon into his body, from every soldier's slash, stab, shot. After that, his words were 'Playtime is over, now get along, everyone.'"

Izuku looked absolutely in awe, the same look on his face when he read the story for the first time. "Every weapon..so at the beginning of the year with the prank…?"

"I copied him to the best of my ability, to become what everyone called the man that day … the spiked mountain." Sabro smiled brightly. "But … I've been thinking. Originally when you faced off against Asmodeus, I admired you for taking the hit, thinking you were exactly like me. But now knowing you did it to spare Eiko the pain, I've wondered if Derkila was thinking the exact same way."

"That to end the war, he'd have to sacrifice himself?"

"Well, like that too but … maybe the only way he could end the war was understanding the pain of the soldiers." Izuku titled his head. "Maybe the only way to be a king that stops wars was to learn first hand the pain war can cause to oneself."

"I can believe that." Izuku nodded understandingly. "I've felt the pain of rejection, of failure, of people putting you down before you even stand, and I've been striving to make sure no one else felt the same why I did growing up. That kid asking for help back at Walter Park, once upon a time that kid was me."

"And now you're getting strong enough to shoot arrows at monsters and demons without even flinching in fear, an impressive growth spurt I'd say." Sabro gave a teasing grin. "Thou was such a shivering little guy in the beginning of the year."

"Yet everyone assumed I did that because I was excited." Izuku returned the grin in full. "Can't say a part of me doesn't get excited when I face a challenge now. You've grown a lot too, Sabro. Working with Azz, willing to not take the lead in the Music Festival, just helping us out in general."

"Well helping others grow has worked out for you, so I decided, 'eh, what the hell?'. You ranked Clara up just by letting her kiss you." It was amusing to see his Rival's face that day, even if he lost the bet in the end.

"That was a total out of nowhere surprise, but I see your point." Izuku only looked half as bashful as he would've been. He would've made a great demon king if Sabro wasn't going to win in the end.

"You know I also grew physically too, Thy is a full meter taller than before."

"HOW!?" Protein shakes and weight lifting.

Ameri walked to the front door, standing there and looking down at her phone. 'Talk to your dad please, he'll explain everything'. From Izzy. She didn't trust this, the boy wasn't blackmailable … but then again she never actually tried to blackmail him before. Hm..there was an opportunity here that she never considered…although all she probably had to do was hold him until he relented.

Still, Izzy was rarely wrong despite how much he was willing to risk his life. Their entire relationship has changed, and she had to trust his judgement as much as he trusted hers. If there was something Izzy thought she could gain here, then it was worth checking out.

"Father..I'm home." She opened the door slowly, immediately seeing her father sitting at the table, presumably waiting for her. "Go ahead, give the big speech or whatever you're going to say to get me to appeal to your logic."

He's silent for a while, unusually so, adjusting his glasses. "The Three Lords have come into an agreement about the next Demon King." He speaks up suddenly, shocking her.

"What..how.." This wasn't good news regarding Izzy's ambition, unless Sullivian was the next choice, in which case all Izzy needed to do was ask for the throne, but that seemed too easy for her boyfriend.

"A Trickster Gambit. Any crow is allowed to nominate anyone they deem worthy to compete as a candidate for the Demon King's throne. All three grandchildren of the Demon King have been added already."

"So Izzy is already a viable candidate." She held a smile. She would've preferred hearing the news from Izzy himself, but it was nice all the same. "That's great news."

"Hold on. To make it absolutely fair and unbiased, ALL of the Crows are allowed to nominate candidates that they deem worthy. Baal, Amaryllis, and myself already have people in mind."

Really? Who would her father have in mind that was in the same age range as-oh, he meant her. She frowned. "I won't be taking Izzy's dream away from him, father."

"So here is the deal." He continued like he didn't hear her. "Midoriya can never become the Demon King, the world will turn on itself and become worse off then Delikra ever intended. They won't accept a human as their leader. However, if you become the Demon King, then accepting a lone human under your rule is … manageable."

"So...you'll only allow Izzy to live here...if he becomes my servant." That image made her angry. Well, it first sent several roleplay scenarios through her head that she wished to enact, but that wasn't the point...the main point that is. "You'll only allow him to be with me if he's seen as some sort of exotic pet for demons?"

"Can you name a single, non bonded demon, unaware of the loop, that wouldn't eat a human given the chance?"

"Clara Valac. Eiko Oni. Gaako Koopa. Alice Asmodeus!"

"Non Bonded, Strangers, these people have spent so long they might be able to overlook it, but do you really think that the majority of the world won't try and kill him, despite the risk Sullivan brings?"

"The world was already trying to kill Izzy long before he lived in the Netherworld. You know he's Quirkless, you know Humans nowadays are no different than Demons. The only difference is that Izzy is capable of doing something about it now."

"We can argue all day in circles, but that wouldn't change the problem at hand." He had a point. "What can change is the situation, I'm giving you a chance here. You may take it, or leave it."

"Before I give my answer, let me remind you of what happened at Walter Park. Several Demons running around scared, giant Magical Beast running rampant. A whole structure full of children about to die from the rubble crumbling down on them." Ameri stared directly at her father's eyes. "And you can confirm this with Balam-sensei and his group, they saw it. Kids were crying out for help, yet not a single demon heeded their crying. It was too inconvenient'."

"Ameri…"

"Only Izzy chose to go help them, and it was with that single act of compassion, of determination, that reached the hearts of the demon around them, demons who had no obligation to help out, who had no need or desire to concern themselves with anything. It was that same determination that saved a whole shelter full of demons, that inspired someone as selfish and stuck up as Asmodeus to take a hit for him...that brought smiles to everyone that survived."

"Ameri, would you just…"

"But if you want my answer to your offer, the answer is yes." Her father was taken back. "I'll take it, because I want you to know that Izzy can overcome anything. We're constantly pushing each other to be better, so as he motivates me to be stronger, I'll motivate him to do the same."

"... For his sake, I hope he motivates you more." The man stood up and walked away, just like that. She felt this was going to be a thing for a while … a broken family.

Barbatos rushed into the hall, a furious look in her eyes. "Izuku, you son of a bastard!" She saw Inko give her a look. "I said bastard, not bitch."

"You're still insulting my child."

"He actually deserves it this time!" She shouted, turning to the boy eating unlucky hexes cereal, looking at her with a raised eyebrow. "I can't believe you did this!" She revealed a poster of him as 'Izumi', or more actually, Izumi drawing a bow. "You do remember what I said about demons being incapable of learning a bow, right!? Don't show it off in public, especially if you decide to crossdress!"

"I would argue more, but that is a legitimate argument." He relented. "It's not like they can't trace it back to me anyways." The boy gave a cheeky grin.

"Oh you think you're funny you little shit? Guess what!? It's now 'family priority' to locate Izumi the Archer for a forced marriage between 'her' and Robin Balse!" She screamed at him.

"Fuck that, are you kidding me!?" Izuku slammed his head against the table. "Damn you Kerori for roping me into this, and damn myself for agreeing!"

"You mean you did it without blackmail … does he actually crossdress often or-" She asked the mother.

"No, not that I'm aware of. He did it to help a friend, if I understand correctly." Inko sighed. "Ask him to do something and he'll almost always do it."

"Great, the world's biggest bleeding heart also happens to be the world's biggest troublemaker." Barbatos huffed. "Yeah, so unless you're fine spending the rest of your life living with Robby, I recommend never putting on a dress again."

"I will … try my hardest." Izuku growled. "If I can manage to argue out of whatever contract Dekiru signed me up for!"

"Who would've thought taking care of a human would be this much of a hassle?" She snided, looking back at Inko. "You have all my sympathy for raising this hell-raising rascal. Can't even give my grandson a present without some sort of commotion."

"You have a grandson?" The mother asked.

"So the density is genetic. That's nice to know." Barbatos laughed. "You're always causing some sort of chaos with a smile on your face, and you did well during the Harvest Festival, not to mention getting He(5), so here.." She handed him a gift wrapped present that was slightly dented and falling apart. She didn't have much experience making these for students.

"Oh, Master, you don't have to.." And there he went doing his nice guy shtick.

"Don't be so modest now, ya damn brat." She shoved the box into his hands. "There isn't a single Master in the Netherworld that wouldn't be happy as hell when their student does a great job!"

"I see." The boy stared at the present, then at her. "Thank you, master." He smiled, reaching into the box and pulling out an earring with a white feather on it. "An earring?"

"It's my crest. That way people know you're my pupil." Barbatos sent a light punch towards his shoulder. "Think of it as a sign that guarantees I'll be there if you ever need help."

"Master…" Izuku stared at the earring and her back and forth with light tears, before wrapping his arms around her. "Thank you, thank you so much."

"No problem kid, the least I can do … just promise me you'll never get caught, it's gonna be a nightmare to explain."

"I went a whole year with only two people finding out, I feel my next year is gonna be much easier." Well he just guaranteed a whole year of pain and trial, but his determination was something else.

Baal sat down in front of one of the two top candidates he had in mind. Did he like the path that prevented him from being Demon King? No. Did it have its own merits in order to bring the Netherworld back to its origins? Yes. Kiriwo would be a bit of a slow job, but that boy was still his top pick. However, it didn't hurt to have someone else … plus Sabro was a good kid in his eyes, time to be a good uncle.

"You really passed the entrance exam!?" He heard the voice of Sabro shout joyfully, carrying his little sister Sylvia on his shoulders. "That's amazing!?"

"Now I get to be as cool as you and Midoriya! I don't know who to cheer for, you're both going to be so awesome next year!" Damn it, seems the brat even infected her. So idealistic, if he was king then all demons would be pansy heroes and helpers.

What made it all the more irritating was that Baal could sense all the spite and envy the quirkless bastard was holding in, probably what drew Kiriwo to him so much. If the runt stayed in the human world, he probably would've been something terrifying. Either way, the kid was going to end up some demon's lunch if he had anything to say about it.

"So how's my nice little nephew doing?" Baal asked with his smirk.

"Oh, Uncle Baal! It's awesome to see you again, I thought you were busy lately." Sabro asked.

"All the crows have found themselves with a bit of free time, we have a little event going on. Something I'd like to bring you in on." He saw the excitement building up in the teen. Perfect. His hero worship of anyone notable made him slightly nauseated, but there was definitely a spark he could use to his advantage. "Say, where's your father? I haven't seen Aniki in years."

"In the forge, he's been working on a project." Sylvia spoke up. His spear probably would definitely help in combat … especially with those modifications Midoriya so graciously offered. Oh Amy definitely knew what it was like to turn the boons of his enemies against them. Almost was a shame the brat was human...almost, he'd take a good meal over another ally by this point.

"Is he now?" Sabro looked down. "Of course he's more focused on work than anything else, the bastard." A bit of resentment was good, lovely little emotions to use up.

"You haven't seen him in a while either, have you?" Whatever his brother was up to, he presented the perfect opportunity for Baal on a silver platter. "Still hasn't said anything other than the same old speech?"

"'You can't be the Demon King.'" The anger on Sabro's face was almost too much to take in. "There's no getting through to him on anything. Just the same old shut in doing nothing all day. I hate it!" Sabro smashed his fist against the wall, creating a small crater within it.

"Sabro, don't!" Sylvia cried out.

"It's alright Syliva." Baal reassured. "Why don't you leave me and your brother alone for a minute? There's something important we need to discuss."

"Ah, alright." The little girl spoke hesitantly, but otherwise obeyed without question.

"Sorry about that Uncle..I shouldn't have acted so unsightly.."

"Don't you dare apologize, Sabro. You're not in the wrong here." He recalled how he spoke similar words to Kiriwo years ago, and he meant every word. "It's your ambition. Who's anyone to say you can't do what you want. I'm rooting for you."

Sabro was stunned. Exactly the reaction he was going for. The bait was catching his attention.

"Sabro, what if I told you, I could make you the Demon King?" The boy's wide eyed attention was on him, good. "If you leave Babyls and come with me, I can bring about your best potential."

"Leave Babyls …" He looked contemplating, better give something else to entice him.

"The greats proposed a Trickster Gambit for the next Demon King, candidates selected by them and by the crows. Currently three reside Bellial-Berry Razberry, Leviathan Leiji, and Midoriya Izuku."

"Izuku…" Guess the brat didn't tell Sabro about it. Even more he could use against him.

"And soon others will be added, like Koopa Gaako and Asmodeus Alice, possibly Azazel Ameri if the father really does have a thing for his little girl." He knew well about the competitive streak. "Soon everyone will leave you behind, but with me, you can go far beyond them all."

"Going Beyond...that's what we're always saying." Even the human's own words were working against him. "But if I accept this...would it even be cool?" What? "I mean, the biography would say I'm the Demon King because of my uncle's power, but that doesn't sound cool at all." Right, he almost forgot he was talking to a child.

"This isn't the time to talk about being cool. This is an opportunity that few can fail to miss." He needed to get the point across face. "The truth of the matter is these kids are using their gramps power to claim the throne. Are you really willing to let Midoriya jump that far ahead of you while you just stand here?"

"Izuku isn't like that." Sabro spoke very seriously. "I've seen him, weak, wanting to prove and grow himself without the help of others as if his life depended on it. To see himself evolve beyond what he is every second. He rarely, if ever, has asked for favors when he runs to a goal." Great, someone with 'integrity'. What Bullshit. "Also Sullivan is a terrible Grandpa, Izuku would never rely on him for anything."

Baal held back his full blown laughter. The brat thinks Sullivan is a terrible grandpa, does everyone think it? Oh that was just too rich, alright, brownie points have been earned. "Okay then." He chuckled, letting out something. "If you really think like that, at least let me introduce you to some crows."