A Second Look: "Niehime to Kemono no Ou"

Synopsis

The Demon King is a feared figure amongst the humans and for their safety, a sacrifice is chosen for him. Saliphie is the 99th sacrifice but she is the first to discover that not is all that it seems and the demon king holds two secrets. One, he does not, in fact, kill his sacrifices, and second, he is half demon. In getting to know him better, Saliphie hopes to become the King’s pillar of support and thus begins the tale of a half-demon king and a young girl who was meant to be a sacrifice.

First Read

There’s an endearing quality to be found with the series in how it presents the characters and gives a softness to certain scenes. The plot doesn’t stand out all that much but there is good flow with some solid drama and a good dynamic between the characters. For some, a romance between Saliphie and the Demon King is either going too slow or may be awkward. Other than this, there are some rather predictable points to be found with the characters. What makes this point rather clear is in how Saliphie is portrayed as the protagonist. Still, the supernatural elements of the series are interesting and there is some good comedy here and there,

Second Read

The first thing to note that the series is not necessarily a work of romance though it does present an endearing relationship development between Saliphie and Leo. Rather it is the story of Saliphie and her growth within the demon realm in her path to stand by the King’s side. Still, there is a soft romance to be enjoyed between Saliphie and Leo which is rather nice though there are some points to it that were expected such as Leo being highly protective and Saliphie willing to risk herself for the sake of the King.

Another highlight of the series is the setting, the world-building of the series has some interesting points to it and the different and unique designs of the demons helped. The story does also has some interesting arcs to it and does well in exploring the characters, but it does seem to rush at certain points.

Conclusion

It’s a heartfelt tale that goes beyond the romance story between a human girl and a demon king. There is a soft romance to be appreciated with the main characters and the way they seemed to be both established but still developing is an enjoyable point of the series. Other than the romance, the world-building and beast designs also give a unique touch to the series. Story-wise, there are interesting arcs that explore different aspects of the characters and the realm, but it does come off as rushed at times. Overall, this is a supernatural romance that takes a step away from what is expected with a strong point in terms of characters and their development.

Rating: 7.5.10