The Demon King Keeps Trying to Escape

[Top Who Acts Extremely Submissive] x [Bottom Who Thinks He's Submissive but Is Actually Very Dominant]

A clash between two masters of psychological games: one has issues but doesn't know it, while the other knows he has issues but has no time to deal with them.

This continent is filled with wondrous, magnificent magic and miracles, but it is also covered in rules and regulations at every turn.

The definition of a "Demon King" in this world is no longer "the opposite of order," "the ultimate force of terror and chaos," and so on. Instead, it is:

"As Demon King, your position is recognized by the Supreme Association for the Governance of High-Level Magic on the continent of Yihemi. Your duties and powers will be proposed and jointly signed by the Association's Seven Saints, submitted to the Holy Master for final approval, and granted upon his signature. Your jurisdiction is to serve as [the Head of All Evil]. This includes overseeing the breeding and supply of low- and mid-level monsters, and allocating territory and resources for high-level demons. It also includes cooperating with the Association's research into [Dark Magic] within a certain degree of freedom, and disclosing all of its secrets without reservation. As for your compensation and benefits..."

"Too long. Didn't listen. Go die."

Just as the Demon King was about to strike a fatal blow, he discovered that his strength had been reset to beginner level by his archenemy and former lover, the Holy Master.

He had returned to the days when he was a freshman, an anxious overachiever on the verge of a nervous breakdown.

He had also returned to the days when the Holy Master was a defiant scion of the ninth generation who wanted nothing to do with his destined bloodline.

And between them stood fate, or rather, their friends who had died and become "Holy Spirits."

In short, this is a comedy about two former lovers who broke up and are now at each other's throats after returning to the time when their personalities were almost the opposite of how they are now, and when they loved each other most of all (emphasis on the past tense).

It's also the story of a Demon King who keeps trying to escape the past, escape weakness, and escape his clingy ex-boyfriend, who is so dominant he acts submissive, only to discover that the only way forward is to face everything head-on and change it.

The actual story may not be great, but it's definitely better than the blurb.

* Not traditional Western fantasy. Strictly speaking, this is a fantasy novel with a somewhat Western setting.

* An ensemble cast, with the aim of building a whole fantasy world. It features all kinds of "oddballs" who break stereotypes and behave strangely while remaining logically consistent. The plot focuses on friends with very different personalities, hanging out, teasing and helping one another. Feel free to see if you find a character you like.

There are also lots of emotional scenes in which the protagonist's memories of past and present lives overlap with reality, along with descriptions of his inner turmoil. It's angsty, but has a happy ending.

* I know that praising your own work can make people seriously doubt whether it's any good, but I'll shamelessly recommend it anyway: the worldbuilding should be pretty interesting. The early chapters are a slow burn, and the world unfolds gradually with the plot rather than being dumped on you all at once. If you have the time and interest, why not read a few more chapters? (Pats the melon.)

* There's a word limit on the blurb. For more notes about the novel, see the author's note in Chapter One.

Theme: Running toward everything that can still be saved