The material world.
The heart of the dimensions, also known as the Middle World, where countless life-forms lived—humans, beastfolk, dwarves, elves, and more.
At the edge of this Middle World, the living hell known as the frozen continent began to stir for the first time in centuries.
"...Oh? So it really is an [Irregular]?"
A red-haired man seated alone upon the throne of the White Ice Palace, which ruled the frozen continent, spoke in a low voice.
His name was Guy Crimson.
Known as the first and strongest Demon Lord, he was observing Hell, his old homeland, for the first time in a long while.
"Hmm. I thought Noir finally made a move... but it isn’t him. This has become quite an interesting situation."
Before becoming a Demon Lord, he had been one of the seven masters of Hell as a Primordial Demon, and he instinctively sensed that something was being born in Hell.
Then, a blue gate opened at his side.
"Guy, is something wrong? Misery and Rain seem unusually busy today."
Stepping out from the gate was a beautiful woman with snow-white hair like falling snowflakes and clear, shining blue eyes.
Despite appearing to be in her late teens, the beauty exuded a mature, relaxed air. She was a True Dragon—Guy’s longtime partner.
"Haha, it’s nothing for you to worry about, Velzard. I was just thinking I’d take a trip to Hell for the first time in a while."
Velzard, the White Ice Dragon, was the Demon Lord’s partner of several thousand years.
One of only four True Dragons in the entire world, she was the ruler of white ice, also known as the Empress of Ice.
"Hell? ...Surely one of the Primordial Demons hasn’t acquired a body?"
"No, it’s nothing that serious. It just seems an [Irregular] has appeared."
When Velzard asked with a slightly serious expression, Guy smiled and told her no.
"An [Irregular]... Certainly, if one emerged in Hell, it could become troublesome later."
Excluding True Dragons, demons and angels possessed potential great enough to be considered the strongest of all races.
Guy Crimson himself was an extreme example, but it was difficult even to imagine just how powerful a demon could become.
It was only natural for Velzard, a True Dragon, to call it troublesome.
"Exactly. So I’m going to take a look myself. I was planning to check on the movements of those Phantoms anyway."
No living being knew Hell better than Guy, especially among the Primordial Demons, making him the right person for the job.
Velzard knew that as well, so unlike usual, she did not tell him to send Misery or Rain instead.
"...Phew. All right. But make sure you return as quickly as possible. You haven’t forgotten that Milim and Ramiris are visiting in a few months, have you?"
"I know, so don’t worry. Well then, I’ll be back."
Rising from his throne, Guy made a single gesture and instantly created a gate connecting the material world and Hell.
The gate was a small passage connected to the Underworld Gate guarded by Guy, one of the gates each Primordial Demon protected.
"Yes. Have a safe trip."
Velzard, watching the sight that would have made an ordinary mage faint with utter familiarity, waved to Guy as he passed through the gate.
Rumble...
The gate soon shrank until it was only large enough for one person to enter. Guy immediately leaped inside.
Now then, what sort of creature will this [Irregular] be?
Having found new prey, Guy wore a feral smile as he listened to his heart begin pounding fiercely once more.
**
...What the hell is going on...?
Morning in Hell, with its strikingly murky sky and air.
As usual, I had intended to spend another ordinary day and was stretching when—
Booom!!!
I got caught up in a fight that suddenly broke out in my front yard.
"......"
It was completely, utterly out of nowhere.
Bang! Boom!!
"Ghk...! You uncouth Yellow bastard!!!"
"Hah? Don’t you dare get cocky with me, a Viscount-class Arch Demon, when you’re only Baron-class!"
I had lived here for a hundred years, but I had almost never been caught up in a fight like this...
If I watched any longer, the house I had worked so hard to build looked like it would be destroyed.
The two demons had suddenly appeared and were turning someone else’s front yard into a wasteland. I nearly lost my mind, but concern for my house barely allowed me to pull myself together as I asked [Answerer].
"...[Answerer]. Tell me about those two."
[Understood. I will access their information in conjunction with [Seeker of Learning].]
About five seconds later, [Answerer]’s voice sounded again.
[Report. Of the two demons, the male demon is a Baron-class Arch Demon of the Purple lineage. The female demon on the opposite side is a Viscount-class Arch Demon of the Yellow lineage.]
...They’re both Arch Demons?
Moreover, having earned the rank of viscount or baron had to mean they were on the level of direct subordinates to a Primordial Demon.
...Is this a faction war?
Of the seven Primordial Demons, Red, Blue, and Green had already acquired bodies, while Black had no interest in either the material world or Hell. Thus, Hell was currently locked in a three-way conflict between the remaining three Demon Lords: Purple, Yellow, and White.
I had been born far from the battlefield, so I had never seen that three-way conflict firsthand. I never expected to see it like this.
I should get away, right?
The house had been covered in layers of [Protection Magic] and [Concealment Magic], so it was a shame to abandon it, but I had no desire to involve myself in the brutally vicious faction war of the Demon Lords.
After all, I had reincarnated as a demon without a defined color lineage.
I was fairly sure Greater Demons and Arch Demons were supposed to have their lineage determined by the Primordial Demons, but for some reason, I had no assigned color.
They said a demon’s lineage could usually be identified by the color of their hair, but unfortunately, my hair was ash-gray—a color not among the seven lineages.
Still, having no lineage had never inconvenienced me. If anything, it had granted me freedom.
I had never had to receive orders from Primordial Demons or high-ranking demons, nor had I ever had reason even to see what they looked like.
Until today, that was.
Boom!!
Even as I lost myself in thought, the demons’ battle grew fiercer.
Every time the spells fired by both sides passed near my house, I nearly died of anxiety.
...If this goes wrong, they’ll notice me.
Fortunately, the two demons had not yet noticed the concealment magic over my house.
This might be my only chance to escape.
My thoughts were quick, and my actions were quicker.
"...[Arc Vanishing]."
Unable to use chantless magic yet, I recited the short incantation before running for the back door I had made long ago for precisely this kind of emergency.
Whoosh!
The instant I got outside and took in the demons’ fierce battle, I spread my wings and rose into the sky.
Boom! Booooom!
Countless spells exploded through the place I had just passed.
...I put a lot of work into that place... What a waste.
But no matter how regrettable it was, I could not remain there any longer.
This was what Hell was like, after all. An ominous pit where fighting never ceased.
...I’ve spent a hundred years here. I guess it’s about time I got used to things like this...
With a helpless feeling, I turned away and flew farther from the battlefield.
As far away as possible, so I would not be caught up in the war.
**
High above the battlefield where the two Arch Demons fought.
A female demon’s voice quietly rang out in the sky, where only murky air should have remained.
"Fufufu. I was right to lure him here."
The female demon’s beautiful crimson eyes gleamed as they followed the ash-gray demon fleeing the battlefield.
"Just wait a little longer. You... I’m coming to take you with me."
Blanc, the female demon with pure-white hair billowing behind her, smiled chillingly at the ash-gray demon.
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