The day after career counseling, Rei declared it just like that.

“…I’ve decided. I’ll become a Demon Lord.”

“EEEEHHHHHHHH!?”

I spat soup all over the cafeteria table and shot to my feet.

“What does that even mean!? What did they teach you in career counseling!? What’s Lorl-sensei doing letting this happen!? And why Demon Lord of all things!?”

Rei answered calmly, as if it were obvious.

“I don’t want attention. If I’m at the very top, maybe I can live quietly.”

“No, no, no, no—that’s just dictator logic! That’s messed up!”

I grabbed his shoulders in a panic.

“Besides, don’t you think the word ‘Demon Lord’ is biased? It sounds like a final boss title!”

Right in the middle of our commotion, Teacher Lorl wandered into the cafeteria and cheerfully announced:

“Actually, this week we’re hosting a lecture from active Demon Lords. Listen first, then decide!”

—And so, the auditorium stage filled with Demon Lords.

“The Agricultural Demon Lord, Lord Barbados!”

“The Welfare Demon Lord, Lady Salamandra!”

“The Economic Demon Lord, Sir Drake!”

…Uh. This was not what I imagined.

Their talks were surprisingly enlightening.

About working for their nations, structuring taxes, and stabilizing people’s emotions.

“A Demon Lord can’t just be strong. You need popularity, knowledge, and patience.”

“In disasters, we use mana for immediate relief.”

“Without the people’s trust, our mana would dwindle.”

—Wow.

Okay… wow.

After the lecture, I leaned toward Rei.

“…So, you really want to be a Demon Lord?”

“Yeah. At least now I know it doesn’t mean being someone who attacks people from the start.”

I let out a small laugh.

“But hey, instead of ‘Demon Lord’… why not just be an ordinary king?”

“…Huh?”

“The title ‘Demon Lord’ is too heavy. If you start as a plain old ‘king,’ it sounds softer, doesn’t it?”

Rei thought for a while, then nodded.

“…Then maybe I’ll aim to be… a ‘chill king.’”

“That sounds like a mascot character, so no! Absolutely not!”

Macikado Mai, age eight.

The day she learned what being a Demon Lord truly meant—and realized that living without clinging to titles was the real key to the future.