Is Iruma Related to Delkira? Demon King Theory Breakdown
If you’ve been following Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun long enough, you’ve probably noticed that the story keeps circling back to one mysterious figure: Delkira. And the more the series progresses, the harder it becomes to believe that Suzuki Iruma is just some unlucky human kid who got sold to a demon.
As someone who spends way too much time on anime forums, Reddit threads, and rereading manga chapters for clues, I honestly think the connection between Iruma and Delkira is one of the most fascinating long-term mysteries in modern shonen anime. The story drops hints everywhere — sometimes subtle, sometimes practically screaming at the audience.
So let’s break down the biggest theories fans keep debating and why many of them actually make sense.
Why Fans Believe Iruma Was Never “Just a Human”
The official story tells us something simple: Iruma was sold by his terrible parents and adopted by Sullivan, who brings him to the Netherworld and enrolls him at Babyls Demon School.
But the deeper the story goes, the more suspicious things become.
Some of the biggest clues include:
- Iruma triggering Delkira’s crest during a ranking ritual
- The mysterious intelligence inside the Ring of Gluttony
- Sullivan’s very specific interest in Iruma
- The ancient Demon King prophecy that matches Iruma almost perfectly
Individually these details could be coincidences. But together they start to look like a deliberate setup.
Theory 1: Iruma Is the Reincarnation of Delkira
This is probably the most popular theory among fans.
The idea is that the Demon King didn’t simply disappear — he was reborn as Iruma in the human world.
Several clues make this theory feel surprisingly plausible.
The Physical Similarity
While their everyday designs differ, the resemblance becomes obvious when Iruma enters his Evil Cycle.
- Similar hair shape
- Sharper expression
- A noticeably more confident aura
The transformation almost feels like Iruma is channeling something ancient within him.
The Mana Signature Incident
One of the most suspicious moments in the series happens during the rank-sorting exam, where Iruma unexpectedly produces Delkira’s emblem — the stag skull.
Later, Baal confirms something disturbing: the crest suggests Iruma carries the same mana signature as the former Demon King. Considering Iruma is supposed to have no mana at all, this moment alone raised massive red flags in the fandom.
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Theory 2: The Alikred Clue
Fans absolutely love this detail because it’s the kind of thing anime authors sneak in for long-term foreshadowing.
Inside the Ring of Gluttony lives a mysterious entity named Alikred.
Now read that name backward.
Alikred → Delkira
It’s not a perfect letter match, but the phonetic similarity is obvious enough that many fans believe it was intentional.
This leads to a fascinating possibility.
- Delkira split his essence
- One part became Alikred
- The other part became Iruma
If true, Iruma isn’t just related to Delkira — he might literally be the other half of him.
Theory 3: Iruma Is Delkira’s Descendant
Another fan-favorite theory is more straightforward.
Instead of reincarnation, Iruma might simply be part of Delkira’s bloodline.
The speculation goes something like this: at some point before disappearing, Delkira secretly traveled to the human world. During that time, he could have had a child. Generations later that lineage leads to Iruma.
This theory would explain several things:
- Why Sullivan immediately recognized Iruma’s potential
- Why the Ring of Gluttony accepted him instantly
- Why Iruma matches the ancient Demon King prophecy
Some fans even believe Sullivan didn’t randomly buy Iruma at all. He may have searched for him on purpose.
Theory 4: Delkira Planned Everything
Personally, this is the theory I find the most interesting.
Instead of reincarnation or family lineage, the story could be about inheritance of will.
Maybe Delkira predicted the Netherworld’s future and intentionally set things in motion.
Possible scenario:
- Delkira disappears intentionally.
- The Ring of Gluttony is left behind as a test.
- Sullivan searches for a worthy successor.
- Iruma — a human with compassion — becomes the chosen one.
This would fit the prophecy perfectly: a king from a distant land who heals demons. Iruma’s human kindness is exactly what the Netherworld lacks.
Iruma vs Delkira: Key Parallels
| Trait | Suzuki Iruma | Demon King Delkira | Possible Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Origin | Human world | Demon world ruler | Connection between worlds |
| Mana | None (normally) | Legendary | Shared hidden power |
| Personality | Kind and selfless | Playful but wise | Similar leadership style |
| Symbol | Ring of Gluttony | Demon King authority | Same power source |
| Crest | Triggered Delkira’s symbol | Original owner | Possible identity link |
The Prophecy Problem
One thing that keeps fueling these theories is the Demon King prophecy.
It describes someone who:
- Comes from a distant land
- Bears a ring
- Has healing blood
- Will unite the Netherworld
Sound familiar?
That is basically Iruma’s character description.
My Personal Take as a Fan
After reading the manga and following the fandom discussions for years, I don’t think the answer will be something simple like “Iruma is secretly Delkira’s son.”
That would almost feel too predictable.
Instead, I suspect the truth will be something bigger.
Iruma represents the evolution of what the Demon King should be.
Delkira might have realized the demon world needed something it lacked — human empathy. So whether through reincarnation, soul fragments, or long-term planning, Iruma was placed exactly where he needed to be.
Not as Delkira’s replacement.
But as his successor in spirit.
And honestly, that would be a perfect twist for a series that constantly flips typical demon tropes on their heads.
