An Outing in Hell.
When demons in Hell went on an outing, it usually meant searching for materials for forbidden dark-magic research, fighting like fiends to build up their strength, or interfering with the material world through temporary summons.
The Primordial Demons were no exception—especially Jonne (Yellow) and Viole (Violet), who did that sort of thing often.
Compared to those two, Blanc (White) was relatively well-behaved.
However, that apparently meant that whenever Blanc did make a move, something major almost inevitably happened.
Just like with Noir (Black).
"..."
...The reason I was suddenly talking about such pointless things was that I had not known any of this until now.
Not until I followed Blanc out here.
*
The place I arrived at with Blanc was an unknown domain that could only be called mystery incarnate.
A massive volcano that kept erupting without end, as if time were rewinding; a splendid field of flowers brimming with vast life force; countless stone pillars that looked as though they belonged amid ancient ruins...
As if several different spaces had been split apart and stitched together, things that could never coexist were gathered together unstably, bordered by the magicules flowing through the land and sky.
"Lady Blanc, where exactly is this...?"
"Hehe, are you very surprised? This is the battlefield in Hell with the greatest concentration of lingering magicules, and a truce ground where Jonne, Viole, and I meet from time to time. It is the only place in Hell where no fighting occurs."
Before a sight that could only be described as the embodiment of fantasy, I was at a loss for words.
Blanc smiled as she watched me, then held out her hand before her.
"This place was first formed more than tens of thousands of years ago. This land, now a symbol of truce, was originally born from the battle between two demons."
Her fingertip pointed toward a patch of void-black land where the magicules surrounding this place were densest, so dark that nothing could be seen.
Even after at least tens of thousands of years had passed, it still looked like that. The two demons who had created this place must have been monsters beyond comprehension.
[Report. There is a high probability that this battlefield was formed from the magicules of [King]-class demons.]
...Yeah. If there were two Kings with magicules powerful enough to make a battlefield like this, they must be those two.
As that thought came to me, two faces rose in my mind. The faces of the two demons I had first seen in a novel.
"Hehe, yes, what you are thinking is correct. The two demons who fought here were Primordial Demons—two particularly outstanding ones among us."
As she said that, Blanc gave a chilling smile.
Even though they were fellow Primordial Demons, she seemed to dislike them quite a lot.
"..."
She deliberately did not say who the two were, but I knew. No, there was no way I could not know.
One was the demon who had become the absolute ruler of this world after the death of God, while the other was the strongest demon in Hell today.
Rouge (Red) and Noir (Black)...
The Red King and the Black King.
The master of the red lineage and the master of the black lineage.
Monsters among monsters, ranked among the top ten beings in this world whom one must never make an enemy of.
They had both been among the few characters I liked because they were so cool in the novel, but now that I knew they existed in reality, they were demons I dreaded meeting.
"...This does not seem like a place that holds particularly pleasant memories for you. May I ask why you specifically chose to come here for an outing?"
I realized I might have misspoken even as I asked, but I had a bad feeling and could not help asking.
"Hehe, I told you earlier, did I not? This is a truce ground where ‘we’ meet."
Instead of answering my question directly, Blanc's chilling smile faded as she began erecting a barrier around herself and me.
...A barrier...?
"...Don't tell me."
...No, right? It was not like those people were suddenly going to show up, was it...?
No matter how often my bad feelings came true, surely not to that extent...
Wooooong...!!!
Apparently, it was...
Kwwwaaaaaang—!!!!!
Apparently, it was...
Tap... trickle... tap... trickle...
A tremendous explosion surpassing a nuclear blast.
As Nuclear Magic, specialized in mass slaughter and destruction, detonated, space warped even further.
Fortunately, Blanc had deployed a barrier, so the side where I stood was unharmed. But the other side was in no condition that could be called all right, even as a figure of speech.
"That Nuclear Magic was... [Gravity Collapse]..."
The prediction that Nuclear Magic had made half-certain was completely confirmed by the voices that reached me moments later.
"Hey~!! Blanc! Was ambushing our people out of nowhere a few months ago not enough? Now you have summoned us here whenever you please? Are you looking for a fight?!"
"For once, Jonne is right. Why exactly did you interfere in the battle between our subordinates back then? I hope you have an answer that will satisfy us."
As the immense smoke from the blast subsided, two human figures began to come into view.
One was a beauty whose looks rivaled Blanc's, with radiant golden hair and blue eyes like mine.
The other was an adorable girl no less beautiful than the first two, with violet hair that gave off a slightly gloomy air and sharp golden eyes.
"..."
If meeting three absurdly beautiful women at once had happened on Earth, I might have been delighted at the feast for my eyes. But I knew who they were.
"...I'm screwed..."
That was the only thought in my mind.
The first reason was that [Abyss Cores (Black Flame Cores)] containing Nuclear Magic floated above the two women's hands.
The second was that the killing intent radiating demonic energy from those two demons was aimed at Blanc and me.
And the final reason was that those two were none other than the Primordial Demons Jonne (Yellow) and Viole (Violet).
...Could I really die today?
"My, you two should calm down. I came today to share some very good information, you know."
Yet our mistress was remarkably confident, as though she had some way to persuade them.
If she could be that confident before two beings equal to herself, then she must have some kind of plan.
No, she had better have one.
Otherwise, an ordinary demon like me would be stripped clean down to my soul.
"...Heeey~? So you do have a reason?"
"Hmm, then let us hear it. This information of yours."
The two demons began to show some interest at Blanc's provocative words.
"..."
And so, the audience with the rulers of Hell began.
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