If I had to describe The Devil is a Part-Timer! Volume 11 in five words or less, I’d say, “Explanations and a new job.”
After a major battle, it’s very common the characters to be given a break, maybe regroup. Well, this isn’t a brief downturn but a lengthy one that takes up all three chapters. Plus, judging from the final pages, there is going to be even more exposition in the next. If you looked forward to Emi and Maou transforming to blast some evil villains, then volume 11 is going to be disappointing. Barely any magic is even used. Instead, expect huge chunks of text told in first person point-of-view that don’t even use quotation marks.
On one hand, some of this is necessary, and, even more importantly, interesting. The light novel doesn’t get into who the true villain(s) is or anything like that, but the characters — not to mention the readers — start getting some real answers. Olba’s plan is revealed, and we learn how his betrayal wasn’t something he came up with on the spur of the moment. Nord, a nearly magic-less individual, narrates how ended up in Japan, and yet another section dips into what’s at stake for the two worlds of Ente Isla and Earth.
While all that information covers what has happened up to now, the other main focus here is Emi. Most of the story revolves around her either indirectly (Olba’s betrayal) or directly (her future outside of being the Hero). As readers of the series know, Nord, her father, has been in Japan, but the father-daughter reunion is a bit awkward considering how much time has passed. Plus, with her unexcused extended absence, Emi has lost her job, and she has plenty of bills to pay. That includes reparations to Maou, both of whom are a little unsure of their current (and already strange) association now that Emi knows he didn’t murder her father. They don’t outwardly bring it up, it’s obvious their relationship has entered a new phase — to Chi’s delight and perhaps future disappointment.
Really, the whole series appears to be entering a new phase. The author even takes time to introduce a couple of part-timers at MgRonald’s, although they probably won’t be around for too much longer. With even the landlady’s identity being revealed, the characters will probably stop being dragged into random magical events and start preparing for a large-scale conflict with the angels, even if they’d all secretly wouldn’t mind continuing their casual days at New Devil’s Castle.
So, even though the volume has a couple of major revelations, no doubt these will be brought up repeatedly in the future. But despite this volume being heavy on story, I like how we see some subtle or short character interactions to make this volume more interesting than I thought it would be. Rika remains close to Emi despite her true identity, Nord is frustrated that Emi won’t turn to him for help, and Chi even chews out Maou for his invoice to Emi. There’s just the right amount of characterization that makes this volume of The Devil is a Part-Timer! worthwhile, particularly if you’re an Emi fan like me. I was surprised to find I enjoyed it more than the adventure to Ente Island, but I could see why some fans would see it as lacking its usual showy flair.