"So? What does that have to do with us?"
Blanc instantly restored the burned whip, then widened her crimson eyes and smiled with chilling menace.
She looked every bit like a madwoman.
The madness of someone driven insane by love.
"Even if some races suffer, at most it'll be humans, elves, and dwarves. Do you really think angels, beastfolk, giants, fairies, vampires—and we demons—would care whether those three races fall into chaos or not?"
The answer was no.
The single difference between the former and the latter—whether a race belonged to humanity or to monsters—decided the answer.
Angels and giants had almost no ties to other races, while beastfolk and fairies lived under the protection of Demon Lords.
As for vampires and demons, they did need blood and contracts respectively, but those were things they could obtain from other monster races as well.
Guy, the leader of the Demon Lords, knew that perfectly well too.
"But humanity is necessary for the balance of the world."
However, he was an [Arbiter], and also a Demon Lord, which meant he had to take responsibility for the balance of a world sustained by both humanity and monsters.
That was the duty entrusted to him as the proxy of this world's creator god, his very first friend, [Holy Emperor Dragon] Veldanava.
"Then what you're saying is that for the sake of the world's balance, you're going to kill my subordinate?"
Whoooosh...
Blanc's furious magic power gradually stained the land.
Pure white magic power, cleaner than anything else.
A brilliant white radiance was bleaching everything around us.
"I admit you're the strongest, but do you think that means you can just ignore me?"
She might not measure up to Rouge or Noir, but she was still undeniably one of the queens of demonkind.
A powerhouse worthy of being called one of the strongest—and not nearly kind enough to let a rude guest run wild on her own territory.
"...Come on, wait, Blanc. I just got back from a three-month mess dealing with those Phantom bastards, and I can't be bothered fighting you too. Besides, it's not like I especially want to kill this one anyway."
So Guy decided to take a step back for the moment.
Even in his current state, defeating Blanc wouldn't be especially difficult, but considering the demonic trait of reviving endlessly, she was an extremely troublesome opponent.
Jonne and Noir were already enough of a headache. If he added even more irritating demons to the list, he'd be exhausted from stress before the fight even started.
"...You don't want to kill him?"
Blanc had known Guy for a very long time, and she could tell he was sincere.
That was why she eased her killing intent, if only slightly.
It was only a tiny amount, but considering her personality and values, even that was a major concession—a sign that she was willing to talk.
"That's right. Humanity's side has been getting weaker lately, and it's been a problem. Leon Cromwell, that otherworlder, is active as a Hero, but the aftereffects of the fourth True Dragon being born and the kings of the elves and dwarves dying over the last two thousand years have been too severe."
Guy Crimson shook his head as if it were all a tiresome nuisance.
He was talking about the flow of world affairs, something tied to the lives of countless beings, yet to him humans were little more than pets convenient to keep penned up, so it hardly mattered.
And Blanc, too, listened as though the flow of the world were nothing important.
But for me, their conversation was packed with valuable information.
'...Leon is still in his Hero days? Then the era I'm in has to be at least about two hundred years earlier than the main story.'
There wasn't really anything in hell that could tell time. To demons, time was just one concept among many that flowed onward.
I already knew this was before the original story, since Blanc, Jonne, and Viole still didn't have names yet, but I hadn't expected the story's starting point to still be several hundred years away.
'Having lots of time is nice, but I didn't need this much...'
Thanks to that, I had even more things to worry about.
"...So I want to make that one my subordinate and send him to humanity's side as both an observer and a Hero. In return, I'll give him a body and a small gate—a replica Netherworld Gate—so he can come here from time to time. That's not a bad deal, is it?"
"...Put simply, you want to share him."
"Well, more or less. And..."
While I was muttering to myself, Guy and Blanc's conversation was already nearing its end.
The topic was my future, yet I was just standing here watching.
Interrupting while two demon kings were talking was practically suicide.
"...I get the gist of your offer. But I don't want to accept it."
"...Hey. If I remember right, you were the sharpest thinker out of that lot. Why are you refusing this? You know perfectly well it'd be a huge benefit for you too."
Guy glared at Blanc as if telling her to stop joking around, but Blanc's eyes were serious.
"Yes, it would be a huge benefit. If I used it well, I might even obtain a body before the other two."
"And knowing that, you're still..."
"Even so, I refuse."
"...Why?"
Obtaining a body was the cherished wish of every demon.
Aside from that oddball Noir, there wasn't a single demon in this hell who didn't want one.
That was why Guy had assumed Blanc would be no different.
But...
"Because that child is worth that much to me."
Blanc already had something even more precious.
Her most beloved subordinate—the one who reminded her of her first friend.
"As long as I have him, that's enough."
*
Yes, in the past, she would have accepted Guy's offer without a second thought.
Back when she hadn't known him.
In those days, she had always wanted to leave this dark hell behind and go to a world with a bright sky.
There were so many beings and things there that stirred amusement and curiosity.
But after losing her friend Blanche, she lost interest in that world.
Because she had come to treasure bonds far more deeply.
And now, she had found such a precious bond again.
It had been forged once more.
'This time, I never want to lose him.'
Even if she were defeated, even if she were killed, she never wanted to lose him.
'Because now... he has become my everything.'
He was everything to the demon called Blanc.
*
Thinking that, Blanc smiled.
A pure, spotless white smile, free of contempt, arrogance, or anything unsettling.
"..."
The two demons' eyes widened in surprise at the sight.
Because they had never once seen her smile like that before.
"...Then I suppose I have no choice but to kill him after all."
After confirming that Blanc meant every word, Guy found himself curious how that ash-gray demon had managed to change her heart so completely—but then he remembered the more important issue: the irregular.
'To think he'd move even Blanc's heart. If she'd just accepted the offer, I could've taken him in as a subordinate... What a waste.'
But no matter how regrettable it was, he couldn't set aside his original purpose and role.
With that thought, Guy summoned a longsword.
Wooooong...
The sword that suddenly appeared in midair was clearly no ordinary weapon. Even at a glance, it radiated a bizarre and dangerous demonic aura.
'[Answerer]. That sword is...'
[Report. Unable to determine the grade of the sword summoned by the individual Guy Crimson. It is estimated to be, at minimum, a top-tier legendary blade of Legend class.]
'...So basically, it's as good as a God-grade weapon.'
"Do you think I'd just stand by and watch that happen?"
Blanc also created an [Abyss Core] for battle. She was preparing to use Nuclear Magic.
Both sides were completely serious. They were ready to kill each other to achieve their own goals.
If this kept going, it was obvious the whole area would be reduced to scorched ruin.
"P-please, wait! Stop!"
I shouted with every bit of magic power I could force into my voice, trying to stop them.
"Hairo..."
"What is it? You want to join the fight too?"
At once, both demons turned their eyes toward me.
"..."
Suppressing the crushing pressure of those two gazes, I made the best move available to me.
"...Primordial Demon, [Rouge]. I will go with you. So... please stop this fight."
The best possible choice—one that would harm neither side.
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