English Dub Review: The Misfit of Demon King Academy “The Demon King’s Duel of Intellect”

Overview (Spoilers Below):
Anos and his classmates search around Demon King Academy for the “Child of God”. While Anos’ comrades are fending off the attacks from the demons of two thousand years ago, Anos himself faces the King of Death’s Army Officer, Ziek Ozma, in a duel of intellect. In this duel, Anos must speculate who the “Child of God” is and make the correct guess. However, the number of times he can make his guess is limited. What was Anos’ answer, and what is Ziek’s motive?!

Our Take:
When we last left off, the Demon King Academy was under attack by the demons from Anos’ past life. Additionally, Anos is challenged by Ziek to a duel that’ll determine the fate of his friends and the academy itself. However, it’s not a fight to the death using their magic or fists. Instead, it is a guessing game in which Anos has to choose who the real “Child of God” is. The catch is that Anos has only nine guesses to reveal its true identity.
After finding the time to watch the show’s first season, I clearly understand its world-building as well as the characters and their relationships. It’s more than enough to get me more interested in its second season compared to my experience with last week’s episode. As for how I feel towards season one, I can only say that it’s an entertaining take on the reincarnation/magic academy concept reflecting class discrimination regarding the demons.
Because of that, I grew more attached to the Demon Academy students as they faced the invading demons. While Anos narrows his guesses down to those closest to him, the episode focuses on three sets of two characters battling and almost dying to their opponents. First, we have Misa and Lay fighting the demon with a magic shield curse that can destroy one’s sources. Then, there’s Sasha and Misha battling the demon with a magic sword which Misha destroyed with her head. Finally, we have Eleonore and Zeshia combating another demon with an army of possessed people.
Unsurprisingly, Anos’ friends barely survive to fight another day, but that doesn’t make this episode any less intense. With its well-paced fantasy action and suitable stakes for its characters, “The Demon King’s Duel of Intellect” marks a solid improvement that’ll get more exciting as the season progresses. One reason is that Anos and his comrades are going to Hartarn to meet with his right-hand man Shin Reglia. It looks like we’ll be going on a field trip next week.