is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by . It has been serialized in Kodansha's manga magazine Monthly Shōnen Magazine since October 2021. An anime television series adaptation produced by Project No.9 is set to premiere in January 2027.
Plot Following the Demon Lord's defeat, peace leaves a young boy named Villager adrift. With no more battles to fight, demand for potions and adventuring gear vanishes, and his shop, The Nest, stands nearly empty. Facing closure, he struggles to find purpose in a world that no longer needs his trade. One day, a mysterious girl named Mao arrives, bringing unexpected change. Her presence disrupts the quiet stagnation of the shop, and her enigmatic nature hints at deeper secrets. Though the world believes the age of conflict has ended, her arrival suggests that new challenges may yet emerge, forcing Villager to reconsider his role in a changing land.
Characters
Media Manga Written and illustrated by , The Fledgling Demon Lord's Starter Shop started in Kodansha's manga magazine Monthly Shōnen Magazine on October 6, 2021. Kodansha has collected its chapters into individual volumes. The first volume was released on May 17, 2022. As of July 16, 2026, thirteen volumes have been released.
In August 2025, Kodansha added the series to its K Manga digital platform.
Volumes
Anime In June 2026, an anime television series adaptation was announced. The series will be produced by Project No.9 and directed by Jun Hira, with series composition by , character designs by Katsuyuki Sato, and music composed by . It is set to premiere in January 2027 on Tokyo MX and other networks.
Reception The series ranked 12th in the 2022 Next Manga Award in the print manga category; it placed fifth in the 2023 edition.
See also Im: Great Priest Imhotep, another manga series by the same author
References
External links