The Laid Off Demon King

After his own subjects file too many complaints about his rule, a demon king named Merlin gets fired. Not defeated in some epic battle, not sealed away by a legendary hero — just straight-up laid off. Meanwhile, on the other side of the conflict, a rookie hero named Alice gets dismissed after botching her very first crusade against the demons. Both of them are now broke, jobless, and drowning in debt. Naturally, they end up crossing paths and forming the most awkward alliance possible — a demon king and a hero teaming up not to save the world, but to make rent. This 26-episode ONA from Studio Skyloong leans hard into the comedy of two disgraced legends trying to reintegrate into a society that wants nothing to do with them. The dynamic between Merlin and Alice carries the show — they bicker constantly, but there's genuine warmth underneath. The action scenes are solid when they happen, but the real draw is watching these two stumble through odd jobs and misadventures while the world around them stays locked in a war neither of them is invited to anymore. If you liked The Devil is a Part-Timer for its "overpowered being stuck in mundane life" premise, or Maoyuu Maou Yuusha for its demon-king-meets-hero romance angle, this hits a similar sweet spot. It's lighter than either of those, though — closer to a buddy comedy that happens to have swords and magic in it.