One hundred years.
In the span of a single century, the state of the world had changed drastically.
It began when a suddenly appeared [Hero] drove back a [Demon Lord] of the Phantoms. Then that [Hero], together with the strongest [Hero], sealed away the master of the great forest, [Storm Dragon], and one of the [Primordial Demons] was released from hell by the [Demon Lord]'s right-hand man.
At the same time, the [Hero of Flash] suddenly vanished. Not long after, the [Curse Lord] died, and the Platinum [Demon Lord] took his place as a new [Demon Lord].
Meanwhile, the [Hero] who had defeated the [Demon Lord] and [Storm Dragon] built his legend as the "Guardian of the West," holding back the demonic armies of the frozen lands...
...and now, hidden away on the southern continent beyond the reach of idle gossip, he was raising the girl who would become the West's new hero.
Alongside his lover, unknown to the wider world.
**
The southern continent.
The domain of a [Demon Lord], known by another name: [Eldorado], the golden paradise.
Ruled by the new [Demon Lord] Leon Cromwell, known as the "Platinum Saber," this [Eldorado] was where the [Hero] the world had its eyes on... yes, where "I" was staying.
"Even thinking about it again, it's ironic. The one called the [Grand Duke of the Underworld], 'Guy Crimson's right hand,' is actually playing the role of the West's guardian. It's the kind of truth even gossipmongers wouldn't believe."
Leon, dressed as usual in a dark blue cloak and golden armor, looked at me and spoke in disbelief.
Which was rich, considering he himself had once been a [Hero] before becoming a [Demon Lord].
"...I don't think that's something I should be hearing from a man who went from [Hero] to [Demon Lord]... no, from a Demonoid."
Maybe my counter hit home, because Leon closed his eyes and let out a sigh.
"Fair enough. We're hardly in any position to talk."
I had played a part in steering Leon toward defeating [Kazaream], the [Curse Lord], and becoming a new [Demon Lord]. But since Leon had been the one to devise that plan from the start, he was in much the same boat.
That said, it wasn't as if I had done nothing.
I had recommended Leon to Guy as a new [Demon Lord], and I had secretly planted a "curse" in Kazaream, who had been reduced to a soul after losing to him.
Right as I was thinking, I hope the curse I put on Kazaream is working properly, Leon seemed to remember something and changed the subject.
"Come to think of it, I heard there was a huge uproar in one of the Empire's vassal states because of the [Grand Duke of the Underworld]. What exactly happened?"
He was asking about what had happened recently in the [Eastern Empire].
The Empire's swordsmen—or more precisely, the emperor's close aides known as "monsters"—were so good at controlling information that even Leon, who possessed one of the best intelligence networks in the West, knew little about the East.
Though, to be fair, part of that was simply because he wasn't all that interested in world affairs.
"Ah... it wasn't anything major. I just brought over a few more of Ria's servants from hell. And while I was at it, I drove off some [Demon Hunters] hiding nearby too."
The white-aligned demons of hell.
Roughly two hundred demons, including Moss and Cien, had already been brought to the middle world decades ago, so they were now living on the frozen continent.
For the record, Guy had said the timing was perfect when I brought in the troops, then went ahead and built a few small villages near the [White Ice Palace].
He said that if nothing else, seeing fellow demons bustling around together was pleasant in its own way.
"...I'd already heard there were over two hundred in each lineage, and you brought in even more...?"
"Well, if we're going to keep that lunatic Empire in check, this kind of activity is necessary."
"...As I thought, you're no saner than Guy."
Leon muttered that, then added that unless I was already planning to challenge the Empire head-on, it would be safer to show some restraint... but that wasn't really an option.
The war between the [Eastern Empire] and the [Ten Great Demon Lords], and the [game(??)] between the [First Hero] and the [First Demon Lord], had already begun long ago.
...Lately, the [Aggressors] and those Double-O Numbers have been showing up more and more often.
Leon didn't know it, but this wasn't my first trip to the East.
I had gone there at least dozens of times already, and every time, I had fought the Empire's warriors or the Phantoms.
And among those warriors of the Empire—
"My, my. It seems that [Demon Lord] made quite an interesting servant, didn't he?"
—there had even been the world's third [True Dragon], Velgrynd, the [Scorch Dragon].
Thankfully, I hadn't fought her directly, but even though it had been only one of her many parallel existences, the pressure she gave off had been overwhelming.
That was why, even after spending a hundred years training until I could handle [the body of a saint] almost perfectly, I still hadn't reached the same level as the First Hero.
...If I fought at full power, I could probably beat most opponents... but making that kind of gamble already would be dangerous.
No one knew my strength better than I did.
In terms of level—pure skill—I was confident I had already reached heights above even Velgrynd. But carelessness was forbidden.
As long as I hadn't fully reached the level of [Catastrophe], it was safer not to create a situation where I had to fight a [True Dragon] head-on.
No matter what happened in the future, the day would inevitably come when I would have to clash with a [True Dragon] with everything I had.
"...Whew."
Letting out a short sigh too quiet for Leon to hear, I brushed those thoughts aside and followed him into the royal castle of [Eldorado].
Today wasn't for schemes of war.
It was the day I was supposed to teach my "first disciple," [Shizu], who should be with my lover by now.
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