—Several years ago.
The Hell of that time was the best era imaginable for lower-ranking demons to live in.
The strongest of the Primordial Demons, Rouge (Red), had ascended to the material world with Blue and Vert, drastically reducing the number of high-ranking demons. Meanwhile, Noir was holding back the Phantoms, bringing the war with the otherworld to a halt and greatly reducing the fighting.
Furthermore, Blanc (White) had begun to settle down little by little, and as a result, Hell entered an unprecedented era of peace since its birth.
On the surface, at least.
*
Only Blanc herself and her subordinates knew why Blanc—the Demon Empress, rumored to be the cruelest demon in Hell—had suddenly become so quiet.
"...Secretary."
"Yes, Lady Blanc."
"There is somewhere I need to go for a while. Guard this place while I am gone."
"...Understood."
About a hundred years earlier, Blanc had lost her only friend—the one she had regarded as a younger sister—in the Kingdom of Silveria, a vassal state of the Empire. Enraged by that loss, she had caused the tragedy known as the Crimson Lake Incident.
Ever since causing that tragedy, she had carried a hollow feeling every day, as though something inside her were missing.
"..."
For countless long ages, Blanc had never once found a friend with whom she could truly let down her guard and speak openly. Then, when she finally gained her first friend, she could only helplessly watch as that friend, betrayed by her fiancé, sank into grief and died.
For Blanc, who had always ruled from on high, helplessness was an incomprehensible emotion—a virulent poison that brought nothing but emptiness.
That was why, ever since that tragedy, she had continued to wander outside for no particular reason, just as she did now.
Disguised as her friend.
*
...How dull.
She felt empty.
...How boring.
Everything felt futile.
...I miss her...
She hated the fact that the girl was gone.
...The thought that she should never have grown attached to her in the first place kept rearing its head.
But that thought quickly vanished.
I want to see Blanche again.
Because there was already a thought that filled her mind completely.
"...Sigh..."
At first, she had even considered using forbidden magic to resurrect her.
But perhaps she had been tainted by the human world, or perhaps she simply did not want to dishonor her—she did not want to force Blanche back to life.
"...Blanche..."
Blanc continued wandering Hell without destination.
Searching for something that would fill the void inside her.
.........
......
...
...Then, by pure chance, she found him.
.........
"...This place..."
A desolate but quiet stretch of land far removed from the battlefield.
It was ordinary land, utterly worthless to Blanc, who had lived in abundant and splendid places. Yet she stared at it with an intrigued expression.
It is similar...
Because this place resembled that place—the ground of the Kingdom of Silveria where she had buried Blanche.
"..."
Blanc's lonely footsteps echoed through the quiet land.
......
How much time passed?
Another sound began to carry across the land that had been filled only with Blanc's footsteps.
The sound of metal being honed.
"...[Arch Demon]...?"
At the source of the sound was a strange demon.
A demon seated atop a massive rock, carefully maintaining a rough, jet-black longsword as though it were precious.
"...Huh?"
That demon, with unusual ash-gray hair, noticed Blanc as well.
"Who are you? I don't think I've seen you around here before."
A beautiful voice flowed from the demon's lips as he looked at Blanc with curious eyes.
...That was the first meeting between the two demons.
*
A brief silence passed before Blanc finally spoke.
"...I... I do not particularly have a name. You can just call me Ria..."
Having introduced herself as Ria without thinking, Blanc could not hide her bewilderment.
Ordinarily, she would have killed that demon ten thousand times over for casually speaking to her without respect. Yet answering him without any sense of distance, as though they had known each other for years, felt strangely natural.
More than that—
He resembles her...
His hair, his eyes, his gender, and even his species were all different, yet instinctively, she found herself thinking that he resembled Blanche.
Blanche had been a human with white hair and red eyes, exactly like Blanc's own.
In contrast, that demon had slightly dark ash-gray hair and blue eyes.
They were perfect opposites.
And yet, why did she feel that demon was like Blanche?
"Hmm... I don't have a name either... I'll just call you Ria, then. How did you end up here?"
At his innocent question, Blanc hesitated for a moment. She seemed to consider her answer, then opened her mouth with vacant eyes, as though recalling something.
It was something she would never normally have done, but for some reason, she wanted to answer him.
"...I do not know either... I am searching for something, but I do not know what it is, so I keep... keep wandering."
She revealed feelings she could not tell anyone as a queen.
"...Even though I know I cannot remain like this forever... ha, it does not get any better."
She drew out feelings she had never shown anyone.
She did not know why, but she felt it would be all right to expose her true feelings to that demon.
......
"...It sounds like you've got a pretty complicated situation."
After mulling over Blanc's answer, he gave her an awkward smile.
"..."
Watching him, Blanc's eyes held a mixture of intrigue and disbelief.
...What a strange demon.
It would not be an exaggeration to say that two supreme demons of different lineages almost never met and conversed this normally.
Demons were born fighters by instinct, a proud higher race.
It was fortunate enough if a fight did not break out immediately.
Yet far from being hostile toward a stranger, that demon was listening intently to words that were practically a lament.
She had lived since the birth of Hell, but she had never seen a demon like him.
"...Why are you not hostile toward me?"
"...Hm?"
"Another demon suddenly appeared in your territory. Why do you not intend to fight?"
It was a question any demon would wonder about in such a situation.
"Um... because you don't seem to have any intention of harming me?"
But to him, it was simply obvious.
"...Just because of that?"
As Blanc's tone gradually became one of incredulity, he scratched his head sheepishly.
"Well... I wanted to try talking to another demon, too. And you're beautiful, so I didn't feel like I had to be hostile toward you."
"...?!"
—Beautiful...
—Would you be my friend?
—I will give you my body, Sister. So please be my friend! Could you... not?
At his words, a scene flashed through her mind. The memory of when she had first met her—when she had first met Blanche.
The memory of that day, which she could never forget.
Blanche...
Blanche had been just like him. She too had not been hostile toward Blanc upon first meeting her, and had called her beautiful.
"...Pfft..."
A genuine laugh, as though the absurdity of it had caught her off guard.
That brief conversation with him, who resembled Blanche, absurdly made a smile she had lost for over a hundred years naturally spill forth.
Blanche had been the most precious thing in Blanc's life, and his answer resembled the answer she remembered. That was why the laugh escaped her unconsciously.
As I thought... he is far too much like her.
"...Thank you."
She, who had never expressed gratitude to anyone, spoke words of thanks.
It was such an astonishing expression that, had the other Demon Lords seen it, they would have doubted their own eyes.
"...? For what?"
But he, unaware of who she truly was, could only look confused.
"...Hehe... Who knows? Think about it carefully."
The ash-haired demon tilted his head, but Blanc... no, Ria merely kept smiling.
"Heh... I will come again, so listen to my troubles then, too."
"...Huh?"
*
After that, their connection continued through Blanc's sudden visits.
—...Ria. My house isn't your house, you know? It's already been weeks. How long are you going to stay...?
—Oh my? Have you forgotten who procured all the furniture, ingredients, and books here?
—My apologies. Please stay as long as you like.
They shared idle chatter.
—Hmm, cooking is your hobby? You have quite a refined hobby.
—It is better than having fighting as a hobby. What is your hobby, then?
—Hmm... perhaps games? Wars, that is.
They asked one another about the things they were curious about.
—...You are offering to teach me swordsmanship?
—Yes. I may not look it, but I am quite strong. It is not my specialty, but I can handle a sword as well.
—...If you are willing to teach me, I would be grateful.
—But there is one condition. Whenever I teach you swordsmanship, you must teach me cooking.
—That is all? That much is easy.
They shared their strengths.
—Do you not want to leave this place?
—...? Why are you asking that all of a sudden?
—Rather than living in such barren land, somewhere nicer would suit you better. If you wish, I could use my power to arrange a place for you to live. What do you say?
—Hmm... I am sorry, but I want to live here. I worked hard to make this home, and all my memories are here.
Sometimes, she tried to persuade him.
—...Were you a reincarnator?
—Yes. When I opened my eyes after dying in my original world... I was here. I think the reason I have no lineage might be because I am a reincarnator.
—...I see...
They shared a few secrets.
—Is there a demon you like?
—...What are you talking about all of a sudden?
—It seems some demons date or even marry, like the races of the material world. Do you have any intention of doing that?
—...I do not know. I have never thought about it yet.
—Then... what about me? To use the words from your world, I could make you my kept man.
—.........Pardon?
—...Pfft, I am joking.
And through teasing jokes that were half sincere, their connection continued for years.
Thanks to that, they made many memories.
They made many memories together.
It was a very short time for demons, yet a deeply long communion formed between them.
...........
However, that connection was not their final destination.
...........
One day, as unremarkable as any other.
Blanc, whose face had grown noticeably brighter in recent years, as though she had set down a heavy burden, thanked him and turned away.
...It was her last farewell as Ria.
For that day—the day she had assumed would be ordinary—was the day she returned to being Blanc.
"...You cannot come anymore? Didn't you say you were searching for something here?"
A very sudden farewell.
For him, who retained human memories, it was a sad day.
"Hehe, I found it already, thanks to you. Now I intend to make plans to have what I found."
As she spoke, Blanc's eyes pointed only at him, though he himself did not seem to notice.
"Really? ...If something does not work out, come find me again. I may not be as strong as you, but I should be useful enough."
Having grown attached to Ria, he considered stopping her, but chose to respect his friend's wishes.
After all, he had suspected for some time that she was no ordinary demon.
"...Yes, thank you."
"What are you thanking me for? We're friends."
"..."
Friends...
They had never deliberately put it into words, but the two demons had already become worthy of the title of friends.
"You are right... Hehe, this is not goodbye, so do not worry. I will come find you again someday."
"...All right."
With those words, Ria... no, Blanc and he went their separate ways.
Until the day they would meet again as queen and subject.
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