Sigh... how long does he plan on staying cooped up in the castle...?

"My Lord...? Are you here?"

He's not in his room, where on earth did he go...? The moment I closed the door to the Demon King's bedroom, I heard a rustling sound from somewhere.

"...My Lord?"

An alarm rings. It seems an intruder has entered. Dammit... an intruder now, of all times, when the Demon King is missing...!

Just then, the communication crystal began to glow, and a voice came through.

"Guest...! Where are you...?" "I'm scared, come quickly, please...! The Hero has arrived...!!" "Eek!! He's trying to attack me...!!"

"Please wait just a moment, I'll be there shortly."

"What took you so long... hic..."

"Don't cry. My Lord, you're losing your dignity as the Demon King."

There are four members in the Hero's party... I'll have to persuade them to leave somehow...

Anyway...

"My Lord?"

"Yes...?"

"That doll, please put it down for now."

"N-No...! You know I can't handle this without it...!!"

Sigh... that coward... what am I going to do with him... I should deal with the enemies in front of me first.

"Understood. For now, please take refuge in your bedroom."

"Okay... I'm counting on you, Guest..."

I'll have to ask for hazard pay later.

After persuading the Hero's party to leave, I knocked on the Demon King's bedroom door and entered. A large lump was curled up on the bed. ...He's the Demon King in name only; he's basically just a giant cat.

"Did... did they go...? They're gone, right...?"

"I've sent them all back." "And I told you not to get on the bed with your shoes on."

"I was so scared I couldn't think of anything else..."

"...If you keep doing that, I'll have to punish you."

"Nooo..."

He's unnecessarily cute, honestly... I'm about to sigh... How can I raise this cute little brat into a proper Demon King...?