I had a sudden epiphany regarding Welcome to Demon School Iruma-Kun, and I need to talk about it. It does contain spoilers for the manga!
In the manga, it is pretty obvious that Iruma has some sort of connection to Derkila (spelling based off the official translation), but it is not told to us what that connection is. BUT I was thinking about it today and made some connections. Namely Ali-San.
I always thought that Ali's full name, Alikred, had to be important somehow. They way he says it at first is so solemn. So I took a second really look, and it felt like someone slapped upside the head. Alikred is just Derkila backwards. Maybe others noticed that, but it just hit me.
In the manga, before the Heartbreaker arc, Iruma uses the mana readout machine, and everyone thinks it broke when he used it. Later, though, we learn that it actually has Derkila's seal and accordingly to Baal, this means Iruma has Derkila's mana.
Little things start to make sense when you look back at it then. Like how the first time Ali-San uses his mana to have Iruma experience his evil cycle, Iruma comes up with the plan to open Royal one, AKA the classroom that Derkila used during his time at Babylus. One that has been held in perfect suspension for Derkila and no one else to use.
Once Royal one is opened, he sits on Derkila's throne, and Asmodeus alludes to the fact that in that moment, Iruma looked like Derkila.
During the Harvest Festival, Iruma uses the rings mana (and Lied and Clara) to have the Legendary Leaf bloom. When it blooms, he gets a vision of Derkila saying, "So, it's you." At that same time, Ali-San 'goes to sleep.'
Ali-san is not woken up until Amducias plays Purson's trumpet after the musical festival arc. Earlier in that arc, Amducias mentioned that only Derkila could hear their music, but after the Misfits win, they play the trumpet to begin the promotion ceremony. (Amducias also mentions that Iruma reminds them of Derkila for some reason). Overall, it was Amduias's music that woke up Ali-San.
In the end, Ali-San is mostly definitely a part of Derkila. Whether he is actually Derkila, who knows, but I think Ali is more than a manifestation of the mana in the ring. It is really interesting to look back and start to make connections for this idea. The writing is so well done, and I am so excited to see where the manga goes and how everything will be explained one day.
