Reincarnation as a Great Demon Lord - Chapter 1

Chapter 1 – The Great Demon Lord Reborn

When I opened my eyes, I found myself seated upon a throne.

A throne—yes, a throne. With luxurious armrests and a tall back that reached up to the ceiling, its glossy black surface gleamed dimly in the shadowy light. It wasn’t the most comfortable seat, but it radiated majesty—clearly a chair meant for someone important. In other words, for me.

Somehow, I just knew that. And it felt good.

Still… where on earth was I?

It looked like the audience hall of a Western-style castle, but the dim light and eerie atmosphere gave it a chilling, almost sinister air. The walls were crumbling in places, holes scattered across their surface, yet overall, the setting appealed to me. Even so, it was entirely unfamiliar.

Come to think of it, what was I doing just a moment ago?

Actually… who am I?

“—Have you awakened, my Lord?”

A woman’s voice called out to me as I searched my memories.

That’s when I finally noticed someone standing before me.

A woman in a long, black maid outfit. Her glossy raven hair cascaded down to her waist, spreading like a night sky without stars. She knelt gracefully on one knee before me, head bowed low in reverence.

Judging by her posture, she must be my servant.

Well, of course. A person like me having one or two—or even a thousand—attendants wouldn’t be strange at all. I couldn’t remember why, but I was sure of it.

“To be granted an audience with you once more is the highest of honors, Maou-sama.”

The maid lifted her head.

Her face was delicate and ethereal—beautiful enough to be called otherworldly. Her features were so perfect they almost felt unreal. Even without my memories, I could confidently say I had never met a woman this stunning before.

And, well… she had quite the figure. Long, shapely legs, a slender waist, and yet, in certain areas, she was generously endowed. She was the living embodiment of the phrase “the ideal woman.”

And this perfect beauty… was addressing me with deep respect. Why?

“…I’m the Maou?”

“Yes! You, my Lord, are the one our people have long awaited—the hundredth Demon Lord!”

“…The hundredth, huh? Quite a nice, round number.”

I still couldn’t make sense of it, but the maid quickly added, her expression suddenly flustered—adorably so.

“It is no wonder that your memories remain clouded, my Lord. You have only just awakened from a long slumber. Those twin horns upon your brow—the Crown of the Abyss—are proof that you are indeed the ruler of all demonkind.”

She smiled radiantly as she said it, and instinctively, I reached up to check.

…They were there. Two horns protruding from either side of my head, L-shaped and sharply pointed. Rather stylish, if I might say so myself.

Looking down, I saw I was wearing a red-and-black robe that radiated an ominous aura—but somehow, it felt just right.

I see… she’s telling the truth. Which means, I really am the Demon Lord.

A Maou, huh…

That would make me the ruler of demons and monsters—the same “Demon Lord” that appears in myths and RPGs.

…Strangely, that felt familiar somehow.

“You are His Majesty Gaiserios, ruler of the Demon Realm Coreheim and savior of all demonkind.”

The moment she said those names, something snapped inside my mind.

The words Demon Realm, demonkind, Gaiserios—I knew those names. They were from that game—

“Ah.”

Memories surged back like a flood.

Those were names from the RPG I used to play in my student days.

The title was Mythrologia. It had multiple sequels, and I’d played every one of them. In that series, the protagonist was a hero—and the final boss was the Demon Lord.

The final boss… the final boss! That’s right, I’m the final boss!

And in that instant, everything came rushing back—who I was, what I had been doing before this, and how I’d ended up here.

My name is Souichirou Sano. Born in modern Japan, I lived my life aspiring to become the ultimate final boss.

A final boss—the being that every protagonist must defeat or surpass at the end of a story.

When there was an evil syndicate to the east, I would be its shadowy leader. If there was a great empire of darkness in the west, I would be its emperor. That was the kind of person I sought to become.

Why? Several reasons—but above all, it was admiration.

Because there’s a kind of romance in being the final boss.

Unlike heroes who can only “save” the world, a final boss can do anything—rule it, destroy it, or even save it in their own way. They can commit petty evils that make people sneer, or weave grand schemes that make adults pale. They can even perform acts of kindness if they choose.

Even if they appear bound by fate, they do so by their own will. That’s what makes them free.

But even final bosses are shackled by one inescapable fate: in the end, they are always defeated by the hero.

I had watched that ending play out countless times in fiction—raging, despairing, and finally resolving.

I swore to myself: I would be the final boss who defies even that fate.

I would become the true final boss—the one who is truly free.

I dedicated my life to that path.

In elementary school, I served as both class president and local gang leader. In middle school, I became captain of both the debate and kendo clubs, winning the prefectural championship. In high school, I graduated at the top of my class while managing the baseball team all the way to Koshien.

I ruled over school life completely. A flawless regime of my own making.

I never tolerated bullying or unjust authority from teachers. A final boss cannot abide evil other than his own.

Some people glared at me as if I’d killed their parents, but that was fine—hatred is proof of power.

After graduation, I set my sights higher: politics. The final boss of society itself.

Politics was perfect. To rule the rules—to control the world from the shadows.

Fortunately, Japan’s a democracy. With money and connections, anyone can become a politician—and those are easy for a final boss to obtain.

I invested in a classmate developing “non-unpleasant paper straws,” made a fortune, founded an NPO, and built political ties. By twenty-five, I was ready to run for office.

And then… I remembered the last moment before waking here.

It was election night. I had just been declared victorious. I gathered my staff and raised our arms in triumph—

“Maou-sama…? Is something wrong? You look pale! Did I… do something to offend you!?”

Her panicked voice brought me back. She clung to me desperately, worry written all over her face.

Apparently, she thought I was unwell.

She really seems to care about me… though I’ve no memory of her at all.

Still, she’s a bit too close. Something soft just brushed my knee.

“…It’s nothing. But, step back.”

“Y-Yes! I’m relieved to hear that…”

I kept my tone regal and authoritative—proper for a Demon Lord—and she quickly retreated.

I may be a final boss, but I still respect workplace boundaries. A Demon Lord accused of harassment would lose all dignity.

Anyway—back to that final memory.

Right after my victory, as we were cheering… I died.

A sharp pain in my chest, and then darkness.

It must have been a heart attack. I’d been running on no sleep for three days, chugging energy drinks for a week straight.

How frustrating. To die then of all times.

I had planned to reshape the nation itself—to manipulate factions, craft policies that would shake the state, and rule from the shadows… But my heart couldn’t handle the load. Damn it.

“Maou-sama!? Why do you look so crestfallen? I—I’m so sorry! You deserved a far grander awakening ceremony than this!”

Her tearful apology snapped me back to reality.

What was I doing, showing weakness before my subordinate?

My personal Final Boss Code—three rules: Never grovel. Never flee. Never waver.

To forget that over something as trivial as death… disgraceful.

I died—that much was certain. But this wasn’t a dream. My instincts as a final boss told me so.

I had reincarnated.

And not just anywhere—into Gaiserios, the very Demon Lord from Mythrologia.

In other words, I’d been reborn into the world of the game—or something very much like it.

Looking around, I realized this throne room matched the one from the game perfectly. Worn down, yes—but unmistakable.

I’d played Mythrologia after securing my university admission—mostly out of boredom. By then, it was already considered a retro title, but its rich story and dedicated fanbase made it a classic.

Of course, I hadn’t played it just for fun. I’d studied it—to learn what it truly meant to be a final boss.

Among the series, Mythrologia III: Light and Darkness Begin left the greatest impression on me. Its layered story, tragic yet burning character arcs, and the hero’s journey—it was the series’ masterpiece.

But one thing had infuriated me: the final boss, Demon Lord Gaiserios, was utterly pathetic.

A muscle-headed brute with the cunning of a brick, cruel and petty beyond belief. Even recalling him now makes my blood boil.

He’d charge headlong into obvious traps, execute capable subordinates out of jealousy, and abuse his own troops. He was the very definition of a failure.

I’d sworn never to be like him. To treat him as the ultimate example of what not to be.

And now, here I was—reincarnated as that Gaiserios.

Absurd? Maybe. But a final boss accepts reality as it is.

…How fitting. Perfect, even.

Precisely because I studied him so deeply, I now knew exactly how to surpass him. My game knowledge would be my greatest weapon.

Everything was falling into place.

Still, merely being a “Demon Lord” wasn’t enough for me.

No—a true final boss deserves a title worthy of his might.

There was only one fitting name.

“Maou-sama…?”

“Heh. No, my servant. I am not a mere Maou… I am the Great Demon Lord—one who stands above all others, the true ruler of this world!”

Before the bewildered maid, I proudly declared my identity.

Yes… I am the Great Demon Lord.

This isn't just reincarnation—it’s The Great Demon Lord’s Rebirth!

And this time, I will shatter even the fate that decrees the Demon Lord must fall to the Hero!

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