Is Iruma the Grandson of the Demon King? Deep Dive into the Derkila Connection
If you’ve spent enough time watching or reading Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun, you know the story begins with one of the funniest and most chaotic premises in modern anime. A painfully unlucky human boy, Iruma Suzuki, is sold by his irresponsible parents to a powerful demon. Instead of eating him, the demon—Sullivan—decides to adopt him and send him to a demon school.
Simple, right?
At first glance, the series is just a “human in the demon world” comedy full of absurd situations, friendship, and wholesome chaos. But if you follow the manga closely, it becomes clear that there’s a deeper mystery quietly building in the background: Who is Iruma really?
Many fans—including myself—have noticed that the story keeps dropping subtle hints that Iruma might be connected to the missing Demon King, Derkila.
And honestly? The more you look at the clues, the harder it becomes to believe Iruma is just a random human kid.
The Hidden Mystery Behind Iruma’s Origin
Officially, Iruma is 100% human. He has no natural demonic powers and survives in the Netherworld thanks to the Ring of Gluttony, which channels Sullivan’s magical energy.
But several events in the story make that explanation feel incomplete.
For example:
- Certain high-ranking demons react strangely to Iruma.
- The spirit inside his ring, Ali-san, evolves as Iruma grows stronger.
- Iruma’s personality sometimes shifts into a commanding, king-like presence during his Evil Cycle.
These moments have fueled countless fan discussions and theories about his true identity.
Let’s break down the most interesting ones.
1. The Reincarnation Theory (The Fan Favorite)
This is easily the most popular theory among fans, and I’ll admit—it’s also the one that feels the most convincing.
The idea is simple: Iruma might be the reincarnation of Derkila.
One major clue comes from the mysterious spirit in Iruma’s ring.
The spirit is called Alikred, which is literally “Derkila” spelled backward.
That alone might just be a clever wordplay… but things get more interesting.
As Iruma rises in rank:
- Alikred grows stronger
- His personality becomes more defined
- His appearance slowly changes
Many readers believe that the ring is gradually restoring Derkila’s essence, with Iruma acting as the vessel.
Another suspicious moment happens during Iruma’s Evil Phase.
His usual shy and kind personality suddenly transforms into something far more confident and charismatic. The way he carries himself feels incredibly similar to how people describe the former Demon King.
Coincidence?
Maybe.
But in anime storytelling, coincidences like that rarely happen by accident.
2. The Secret Demon Bloodline Theory
Another popular idea is that Iruma might actually be related to Derkila by blood.
Fans supporting this theory point out something obvious yet strangely overlooked: Iruma’s parents are ridiculously awful.
They are portrayed almost like cartoon villains—selfish, greedy, and completely irresponsible.
Because of this, some viewers suspect they might not be his real parents at all.
One possible scenario looks like this:
| Element | Theory Explanation |
|---|---|
| Iruma’s birth | He may be the child of Derkila and a human woman |
| Human world upbringing | He was hidden there for safety |
| Sullivan’s actions | He secretly monitored Iruma until the right time |
Under this theory, Sullivan didn’t randomly pick a human child.
He already knew exactly who Iruma was.
Buying him from his parents might have simply been the easiest way to bring him back to the Netherworld.
3. The Solomon Parallel
This is where things get really interesting for fans who enjoy mythology.
The story has subtle connections to demonology and ancient legends, especially the myth of King Solomon.
According to folklore, Solomon was a human king who could command 72 demons.
That concept mirrors something in Iruma’s story.
The prophecy about the next Demon King describes someone who:
- Forms bonds with all beings
- Heals the Netherworld
- Unites demons instead of ruling through fear
That description fits Iruma almost perfectly.
Unlike most demons, Iruma’s leadership style is based on empathy, cooperation, and kindness.
Ironically, being human might actually make him the only person capable of ruling the demon world properly.
Demons in the series constantly struggle with something called “Return to Origins,” a violent instinct that pushes them toward chaos.
Iruma, as a human, is immune to that.
Which means he might represent a completely new kind of Demon King.
4. The Sullivan Family Secret
There’s also a smaller but intriguing theory that Iruma might secretly be Sullivan’s biological grandson.
At first it sounds strange—but consider Sullivan’s behavior.
From the moment he meets Iruma, he’s:
- extremely affectionate
- oddly protective
- almost suspiciously obsessed with spoiling him
Some fans speculate that Sullivan might have once fallen in love with a human woman who returned to the human world.
If she had a child, that child could eventually become Iruma’s parent.
That would technically make Iruma Sullivan’s real grandson, explaining the emotional attachment.
While there’s less evidence for this theory, it would definitely fit the story’s theme of family and belonging.
Why This Mystery Is So Important
The question of Iruma’s origin isn’t just a fun fan debate.
It’s actually tied directly to the biggest future event in the story: the selection of the next Demon King.
Characters who once knew Derkila—like the demon Poro—have already shown strange reactions when meeting Iruma.
Some even feel a sense of familiarity they can’t explain.
That kind of narrative setup usually leads to a major reveal later.
And if the story follows typical anime storytelling patterns, Iruma’s true identity will probably become one of the biggest twists in the entire series.
My Personal Take as an Anime Fan
As someone who genuinely loves this series, I think the story works best if Iruma is still technically human.
His humanity is what makes him special.
But I wouldn’t be surprised if the truth ends up being a mix of multiple theories:
- Iruma might carry a fragment of Derkila’s soul
- The Ring of Gluttony might contain the king’s lingering power
- And Sullivan may have known about Iruma long before bringing him to the Netherworld
That combination would explain a lot of the strange hints we’ve seen so far.
Either way, one thing is certain.
The story of Iruma Suzuki is slowly transforming from a goofy school comedy into a full-blown Demon King origin story.
And honestly?
I can’t wait to see where it goes.
