"HOW... Just how could I have FORGOTTEN ABOUT THAT!".

My party stopped their rummaging through the new items in store and looked at me in complete surprise, while Wiz looked confused and Vanir was smiling demonically.

"Those bastards lied to me".

Without even turning towards Aqua, I lifted my hand and pointed at her. "Aqua...". I pointed down, right next to me. "Here...". I moved my hand slightly up and down. "Now...".

"Okay okay". Aqua was too giddy. "So it goes like this". Since when did she listen to me?. "And like this". Wait, what is is doing? WAIT!. "And voila!". I didn't move and Aqua seemed shocked, as if something had gone wrong.

"Incredible, Lady Aqua". Wiz?.

"Magnificent, Lady of reckoning". Vanir?.

Ehhh?

"Seeeeeeeeee". Aqua already had thrown herself at me. "See Kazuma, my tricks are still amazing". Ohhh, I get it now, only humans receive fear and terror from her party tricks. "Even if they are some lowly demons, they appreciate my amazing party tricks". At least she's happy... For now.

Hold on, that's not what I wanted her to come here for.

"Aqua, I killed the demon lord, no?". She nodded a few times.

"Yes you did".

I got closer to her ear. "Then want happened about you going back to heaven and me reincarnating in Japan?". She looked completely dumbfounded.

"It... It is... It is true...". As per tradition, she grabbed me by the shoulders and started shaking me. "WHY KAZUMA... WHYYYYYYYYY?". Felt my party staring at me.

"Kazuma, stop toying with poor Aqua". If only you knew Megumin. Sigh.

"True, toying with me. YEAH, you're toying with me". Ehhh? What is Aqua talking about. Then, she giddily went to check more items around the shop. I guess she broke down again.

So as usual, lots of confusion and chaos. I'll let her be, for now. Also, I'll talk with Eris about this later.

"So Wiz and Vanir, what will you be doing now that Axel has become my fortress and I the demon lord?". They looked at each other, then at me, then at each other again. They started laughing.

"You're so silly my lord. We'll make a barrier around the city and keep it up for you". Really?

"But Wiz, didn't you want to leave all of this in the past?". She looked confused.

"Yes, my lord, but you're different, I'm certain that you want to do a lot of good in this world. You took out the previous demon lord after all". It makes and doesn't make sense at the same time. How can she think that a demon lord can do good stuff in this world? Anyways.

"What about you Vanir?". Hey made a gesture referring to money. "I still have some stock to sell, especially for the religious event". Damn you, you persuasive and convincing demon.

"Kazutrash". I know, I know.

So to summarize... I still... Know nothing... About what is going on... Nevertheless, I have to save my little sister Iris at all costs. That should be my priority. Whenever Eris comes to meet us again, I remember to ask her about the endgame situation.

BAM!

"There you are Kazuma". Mitsurugi alone entered the shop, while drawing out his sword. "I won't let this world go crazy under your influence". Crazy? That's a bit much.

"Cra...zy? Kazuma, how crazy you want this world to get". There was only one proper answer to that. "Keep asking questions, and you'll be the first to get a taste of it". There, Darkness was squirming... so she won't bother us.

"Musurigi, are you certain that you want to fight me?". Mitsurugi stopped.

"At least don't mess my name, damn it". Heh.

"Not only you're facing the demon lord of this world, but also in his fortress and surrounded by five of his most precious generals". I made a pose and noticed Megumin blushing, as she does when she's praised, while Wiz seemed a little embarrassed, very cute, and Vanir... Vanir was... blushing?... Why... Is... He... Blushing... Anyway.

"More importantly, I have demo... I mean lady Aqua by my side too". Mitsurugui grit his teeth. "Aqua, show him".

Strangely receptive, she approached.

"Like this. Like that. And voila!". I laughed preemptively, knowing what would happen. But, to my surprise he stood there, unshaken. Quite incredible for a looser.

"Did you like my party trick?". Strange, he didn't reply to Aqua. Then he simply fell to the group. PFFFFF... I laughed even harder. He was in such a shock that he lost consciousness while standing.

"Kazumaaaaa". Yes yes, that's my name. "What happened to him?".

I put my hand on Aqua's shoulder. "I think he loved it too much". I nodded harder than usual. "If he loves it so much, make sure to show him your best party tricks every time you see him".

As Aqua continued bothering Vanir giddily, I heard Darkness squirming. "Kaz-z-zuma, you're such a demon". But then, Darkness was shocked, which in turn shocked Megumin.

"I just realized... I'm already at the mercy of the demon lord... And...". Darkness looked completely confused. "And my dream of being tortured the the forces of the demon lord... Just... Just... Won't happen". Now she looked deeply saddened by the realization. This pervert.

"Worry not... I'll make sure your name will be remembered for a thousand years as the one who planned the the most degenerate religious festival in the history of mankind".

She started moving aggressively towards me. "How...". She seemed dizy. "Dare...". She seemed to struggle to walk. "You...". She fell down. "Ahhh... Damn you Kazuma... Ahhh". As if I'll let her be. "It is my lord, you understand?". After a few more deep breaths, she fainted.

Enough for today. "Let's go back to our home and get some rest". I grabbed Darkness by her hand in order to drag her home.

"Yes, my lord". That was unexpected. It was Megumin, happily calling me is such a way. I wonder why.

So we went to sleep.

What a nice dream I'm having. The kingdom in ruin and me holding Iris in my hands, as her saviour. Wait, why in ruins? I bet I can do it without so much damage. I could sneak in or something. What a strange dream. I hear some murmurs. Mmmmh? Why is everything suddenly turning into a violet-red fire?.

BAAAAAAM!.

I felt a ridiculously powerful blast. I'm barely opening my eyes, but why can I move?.

"WHAT THE HELL!"

I saw Darkness picking up Megumin, to put her on her back. Did she just pop an explosion?. I looked around. "Why are we outside the city?". Then I looked at myself. "Why am I rolled into a mattress and wrapped with cord?".

"UN...". I felt lots of energy burst inside me.

"UNACCEPTABLE!" I broke through the restraints and stood up.

"Good morning Kazuma", Darkness and Megumin said in unison while looking around, away from my eyes, as kids that were trying to hide something they did... As if you could hide that massive freaking explosion.

"Good morning my ass, what the hell did you do?".

"Well, you see...". Megumin was speaking in a childish tone. "I felt how much more powerful was my explosion thanks to your demon lord boost, so I wanted to do it again... And... And... The boost only works when you're nearby". You little...

"You maniacs! We have so many other troubles to solve, like saving Iris... doing something about the Crimson psychos... saving Iris... Making sure the Axis cults doesn't go about of control... Saving Iris... Preparing a religious festival... And...". Oups. "Kazutrash".

So we went back to the city.

I went to open our home's door. Hopefully Aqua didn't go out terrorizing humans by herself... I don't want to miss that.

"Kazuma, guess what?". I really don't want to know. "I looked through my skills and among the new skills that appeared, I found an amazing new skill". Oh, for once she's useful in reminding me to do so too. "It is the Surprise Party Skill". Of course it is. "Once a day, I can pop up an instantaneous and super powerful party trick". That... That... That is stupid... "I can't wait to show it to Katsurugi". PFFFFF.

"I would love to see that too, Aqua". Can't wait.

So I went to my room while the girls went to discuss what we should eat. Shouldn't a demon lord have a fancier room? Whatever.

Let me see, what are my new skills.

Self Boost is a passive ability that increases the strength and the area of effect of my skills. Interesting. It would work well with stuff like create water or ice, but I'm not sure how something like snipe would have an area of effect. I'll have to try.

Power Boost is a passive ability that increases the strength of my subordinates within a range of 20 meters. So that's why Megumin and Aqua dragged me to make some cool explosions.

Resistance Boost is a passive ability that increases my resistance to all attacks. Cool.

Raw Strength is a passive ability that improves my physical strength. So that's how I could carry the goddess of violence so easily... Wait, where is she now? Damn, I bet she'll come back to us soon.

Speed is an activated ability that boosts significantly the speed. So that's how I could move so fast at times. Nice. I wonder what is it's limit, like if I could look at something or enter a room quickly enough to not be noticed. I will definitely test it out.

Raw Magic is a passive ability that increases my mana multiple folds. Now that's awesome.

Teleportation is an activated ability that let's me teleport four people in total to any location I desire as long as I remember it properly. I need to practice that, in order to not make the same mistake as I did with the Crimson village.

Let's see, what else...

"Knock knock". It was Chris, at the window, so I let her in.

"Chris, I mean Eris, why haven't you come back earlier? Were still in such a confusion here".

"Well, let's say that for now, I shouldn't, I mean, I can't come back in my...". She sobbed a little. Suspicious.

"Heavenly... Form". What happened? Maybe I shouldn't pry.

"So did you mange to make more sense of what is going on?"

"No really". She sighed a little. Something is definitely off. "It is above the level of Aqua or mine". She sobbed a little again. "I even go scolded by our supervisor". How does that even look, i wonder". A moment of silence passed. "When Aqua and I got assigned to this world, the demon king was already there, so we never knew how he had gotten to that position". Again, in the end, we know nothing. "And my supervisor isn't willing to say anything, simply saying that I have to deal with it". Another sob. "She... She never acted that way with us". Eris was clearly saddened.

"What about my promise when I achieved the mission?"

"Well, I was told that it didn't apply in this situation..."

"What... the... HELL!". I can't believe it, those liars. "What am I supposed to do?". Seriously. "What? Am I to stay in this world... And... wait... to... be... defeated?". That wouldn't make sense, at least I hope not.

"Emmm... Kazuma... Why are you smirking like that?".

"Tell your supervisor the following"

"Calm down Kazuma, you're scaring me". She actually looked terrified.

"If they want a demon lord... They'll get one"