Imagine it. You’re watching an anime when a particular scene hits you and you think, “I’d totally be that character’s friend.” Who would that be for you? It should come as no surprise that the character I would befriend in real life is actually a devil.

MAOU SADAO
The Devil is a Part-Timer

Does this surprise you? After thinking really hard about this one, the former demon king kept creeping up in my mind.

If you haven’t had the pleasure of watching The Devil is a Part-Timer, Maou is a devil king who had to flee his world after a failed conquest. Taking a portal, he ends up in modern day Japan. There, he has to adapt to the human world and realizes quickly that he can’t survive in the world without money. With his trusty bike, Dullahan, he manages to find work at the local equivalent of McDonald’s.

Work ethic. No matter how you slice it, Maou has exceptional work ethic. From the determination to conquer nations in Ente Isla to the determination to master his job at MgRonalds, Maou excels to the top of whatever he puts his mind to. I respect that.

Humor. He’s snarky and that endears him to my heart.

Power. He’s a former demon lord after all. While his powers are subdued on Earth, he is still able to summon flickers of his powers when he can feed off of fear. He. Feeds. Off. Fear. How awesome is that?!

Puts others before himself. As the series progresses, the conqueror slowly changes into a compassionate, empathetic, and forgiving person. Those are qualities that I value in a friend.

A shady past. There is something about a person that has walked the wrong side of the track and finds their way to redemption. In Ente Isla, Maou was a cruel, murderous demon king. I respect that. Then, he softens and becomes the ultimate friend. I respect that, too.

Ambition. He has a lot of it. From conquering nations to conquering the every day life at MgRonald’s, he shows something that I respect. Ambition.

In the end, I would love to befriend a devil king/demon lord.

How about you. Who would you befriend?