An Archdemon's Dilemma: How to Love Your Elf Bride: Volume 8 (Premium)

by Fuminori Teshima

  “It’s a little easier for me since I’ve been using sorcery to suppress the static, though. Should I teach you later?”

  “Please, by all means!”

  Nephy clasped her sister’s hand and returned an emphatic nod. Static electricity was apparently a term only used by sorcerers, but it wasn’t sorcery itself. It was a natural phenomenon which was also the reason why some small stones could gather small amounts of debris around them. It wasn’t well known to the public, but the human body also discharged static electricity.

  Apparently, it was easier to manifest when objects were rubbed together and when the temperature dropped. For people with hair like Nephy and Nephteros, it would cause their hair to rise up as if it had a will of its own and was greatly troubling to deal with. Seeing such a passionate exchange between them, Chastille shrank back, completely overawed.

  “I-I just kind of comb it back and tie it up, so I don’t really have any trouble with it...?”

  “...That’s why you get called an amazon, you know?”

  “Why do you know that, Nephteros?!”

  It was about a month ago now. Nephy and the others were having fun taking a vacation on an uninhabited island near Liucaon. At that time, Chastille and Barbatos had a talk with each other, but apparently the two of them thought nobody heard them.

  After she writhed in agony for a while, Chastille fiddled her fingers together finding it difficult to say anything, and turned to look at Nephy and Nephteros.

  “Ummm... Should I really pay more attention to my appearance?”

  “Is it not better to? Even I would like to please Master Zagan even if just a little.”

  “...A complete maiden.”

  Chastille’s eyes shot wide open as if she was suddenly struck with shock.

  “A maiden? I don’t do it to the same extent as Nephelia, but even I pay attention to my own appearance, you know? I’m at least aware that elves have a tendency to attract attention here.”

  “Ugh, now that I think of it, both of you do wear really cute underwear.”

  “...Please don’t stare.”

  Both Nephy and Nephteros covered their faces. Even Nephy wanted to wear something that wouldn’t embarrass her as a woman when she was with Zagan, but having it said right to her face was embarrassing in of itself.

  “Does Zagan know? Um... that you’re putting in all this effort I mean.”

  Being asked that, Nephy reflexively exchanges looks with Nephteros.

  “There’s no way he does, right? Big Bro isn’t the type to go snooping around a girl’s bedroom on his own.”

  “Rather, it’d be embarrassing if he found out...”

  Even Nephy’s ears were drooping down. Chastille was left feeling like she was completely defeated and bit down on her lip.

  “Ugh... Is this what they call feminine motivation? P-Please tell me, Nephy, Nephteros. What should I do? What is a girl supposed to pay attention to?”

  “Huh? Ummm, I’m not all that familiar with it myself, but for example, I try all sorts of perfumed oils when taking a bath. Scent is something that people get used to, so I cannot just keep using the same one forever.”

  “Perfumed oil? Is smell that important?”

  “I-It might just be me, but I feel like Master Zagan is pleased when I choose something that smells good? Besides, isn’t it embarrassing if I simply stink of my own body odor?”

  Incidentally, the one who suggested using perfumed oils was Nephy’s other friend, Manuela. It was apparently easier to use perfume, but it was difficult to use moderately so she felt like Nephy wouldn’t be able to put it to full use yet. After hearing Nephy’s explanation, Nephteros nodded along as well.

  “Now that I think of it, you always smell good, huh?”

  “Would you like me to share some with you, Nephteros?”

  “Yes... Could you teach me more about it next time?”

  “Of course. You’ll be teaching me sorcery about suppressing static electricity after all.”

  It may have been the first time that these two siblings hit it off so well. And as they smiled at each other, Chastille turned pale and began sniffing at her own clothes and arms.

  “...What should I do? I feel like I stink of sweat.”

  “You do have your duty to attend to, so would it not be somewhat inevitable?”

  “Grrr, but once I start worrying about it, I can’t get it off my mind now...”

  I don’t think Lord Barbatos would mind such a thing, though...

  Nephy somehow managed to swallow what she was about to say, and smiled back at Chastille.

  “Then I will share some perfumed oils with you next time. I can’t be helped if you worry about it now.”

  And having that pointed out to her, Chastille drooped her shoulders and gave up.

  “Now that I think of it, your place is fully equipped for baths, huh...?”

  It had already been close to half a year now. When Chastille’s life was being targeted by the church, she was being taken care of at Zagan’s castle, though only for a few days. That was also a difficult time for Foll, so Chastille’s screams were rather common there too. It was somewhat nostalgic, so Nephy ended up replying carelessly too.

  “I mean there’s no way I could be dirty when I sit on Master Zagan’s lap or let him sleep on mine now could I?

  Nephteros opened her eyes wide like she couldn’t believe Nephy’s casual confession.

  “So lovers really do that sort of thing...?”

  “No, Nephy and Zagan were like that before properly being lovers...”

  “Why do you know that, Chastille?!”

  “Huh? I mean, you have a tendency to speak of your private life quite openly...”

  Nephy fell to her knees and covered her face.

  I didn’t mean to!

  However, perhaps because Chastille was worried about how awkward Zagan was, she used to have a tendency to ask about how he was doing quite a bit, so Nephy ended up telling her things exactly as they were.

  “Anyway, perfumed oils in a bath, right? I’ll give it a try too.” Chastille jotted down a memo with a dead serious expression. “What else do you think I should be doing?”

  “How about wearing some cute clothes? You’re always just wearing a uniform aren’t you?” Nephteros commented.

  “Ugh... I just don’t have any other clothes. About the only other thing I have is a formal dress.”

  Both Nephy and Nephteros were left completely perplexed by her answer.

  “So, shall we all go look at clothes after we’re done work today? I’m certain Manuela will lend her assistance.”

  “Is that alright? Don’t you have something to do Nephy?”

  Nephy wasn’t working at this tavern because she had money problems. Such was the case, but she nodded anyway like it was only a matter of course.

  “It’s fine. On the contrary, I’m the one being helped by the both of you here.”

  “O-Okay! I’ll do my best!”

  “Now that it’s decided, let’s get to work.”

  With that, Nephy started to head toward the kitchen, when Chastille called her to a stop.

  “Ah, wait a sec Nephy. Isn’t it troublesome to have your hair like that in the kitchen?”

  “Is it?”

  “Yeah. Just wait a bit. I’ll tie it up for you.”

  Chastille walked up to Nephy’s back and skillfully tied up her hair.

  Having a friend do this kind of thing for me... somehow makes me happy.

  Fully self-aware that her face was loosening up with a smile, Nephy turned around to show her gratitude.

  “Th-Thank you very much.”

  “So even you can do something more or less womanly, huh?”

  “The more or less is unnecessary Nephteros... It’s because long hair gets in the way during missions. I’m just used to tying it back up whenever it becomes undone.”

  “I didn’t really mean to belittle you. It’s just, um...”

  Chastille was
glaring at her, but Nephteros’ lips were simply quivering as if she couldn’t really put what she meant in words. She wanted to say something, but what exactly was it? As Nephy cocked her head to the side in curiosity, Chastille simply nodded, having come to a sudden understanding.

  “Do you want me to tie yours up too Nephteros? We can’t have your hair getting in the way when you need to run about on the floor now can we?”

  “...Well, if you insist, please do.”

  The tips of Nephteros’ ears turned the slightest bit red as she turned her head to the side in a huff. The sight of her little sister doing so was ever so charming to Nephy.

  I see. This is how Nephteros acts spoiled then.

  Would Nephy also be able to act spoiled like that one day? It had been a month since she was informed that this girl was her real sister. She felt like the distance between them had shrunk a fair amount, but nevertheless, she felt like she couldn’t rival Chastille here. Even so, it was quite a pleasant experience to have her best friend do up their hair like a matching pair.

  All that’s left is to find ‘that’ without any problems coming up.

  Nephy had been going behind Zagan’s back doing these things for quite a while, and she knew she didn’t have much time left. Yet she had yet to find what she was searching for.

  And so, Nephy prayed that the day would end peacefully.

  Chapter II: Those who Get Lost Always Seem to End Up in an Alley

  “Why?! Why are you doing this boss?!”

  The one wailing in a voice like he was vomiting out blood was a young sorcerer. Flames wrapped his entire surroundings, the suffocated smell of blood and a mist of blood itself lingered all over. It was the scene of a massacre. There was a small village here. They possessed no power, lived in peace, and yet, it was also the home of a special group of therianthropes. And now, it was the sight of an atrocity, covered in corpses.

  The man screamed, bewildered by the hellish scene of fire and the dead.

  “Didn’t you say so yourself!? You’ll create a happy world! One where nobody dies unreasonably! That’s why I followed you!”

  But there was no reply to his screams. The man was surely the foolish one here. Sorcerers were the very pinnacle of villains who couldn’t live proper lives to begin with. The ones who believed the honeyed words of such villains were the crazy ones.

  But even so, I wanted to believe it.

  The man himself was no exception, he lived his life crawling along the ground as a sorcerer. He stole from others like it was perfectly natural. He would even beat people to the point where they lost consciousness for just a single slice of bread. And of course, he had the same done to him. He was the trash of society, and his boss taught him the sorcery to ‘save people.’

  Even as human trash, he was shown a dream that maybe he could start his life over again. And the result of all that was the hell before his eyes. The boss he believed in gave him no answer, and before he knew it, his screams changed from verbal abuse to pleading.

  “Someone! Is someone there!? Anyone!? Someone answer me!”

  The one to give birth to this hell was none other than this man himself. Even he knew that his screaming was completely to his own convenience.

  Even so, even just one is fine. Someone answer me!

  If someone were alive, even he didn’t know what he wanted to do, what he wanted them to say to him, or what he wanted from them...

  “Uuh... ah...”

  He sauntered around like a corpse himself when he suddenly heard a groan. He looked around in a panic, and found a single woman leaning against a crumbled wall.

  “Hey! Are you ali...”

  After running over, the man strained his face.

  It’s no good. She... can’t be saved...

  There was a dark red puddle at the woman’s feet. Looking closely, her shoulder was torn off with the wound going all the way to her chest. He could tell that it went all the way to her heart. It was far too unmanageable a wound for this man’s pitiful sorcery. Nevertheless, the woman was still breathing.

  “Please... save... this child...”

  The woman was embracing a small girl in her arm. The girl was wrapped in a wet blanket to protect her from the flames. She had lost consciousness, but she was clearly still alive.

  “I got it. It’s alright, you don’t need to...” he trailed off. By the time he ran over to her, the woman stopped breathing altogether, making him utter “...Fuck.”

  Just why did he learn sorcery, anyway? He looked down at the unconscious girl.

  Just this one. No matter what... I need to save just this one... If I don’t...

  That may have been the one and only form of atonement permitted to this man. And just as the man was about to take the girl in his arms...

  “Hey, you. Explain what exactly happened here.”

  A voice called to him from behind. It was a cool-headed voice that also contained a burning rage to it. Just from hearing it, the man felt like his heart had been suddenly grasped. He trembled violently, but turned around nonetheless. And the one standing there was...

  The man suddenly woke up. There was no fire, no blood, all he could see was the wooden ceiling above him. When people on the floor above him walked about, pieces of debris would fall down. He turned his head to the side, and on the dirty table next to him he saw an ashtray with a mountain of cigarette butts along with two fallen liquor bottles. Though it was temporary, this was his home here in this town, and the cheap sofa he was sleeping in was his bed.

  “...Shit. That dream again...”

  Five years had passed since that hellish day. And even five years later, this man lived in misery.

  I drank a little too much yesterday...

  Today was one of his few days off work. And apparently his choice of letting loose was some heavy drinking. The man pushed himself up, and was suddenly assaulted by a severe headache and nausea, finally making him aware of his hangover. He endured the pain, used sorcery to stimulate his liver and waited for all the alcohol to leave his system. And now finally able to get up somehow, he spotted shining green letters on his table.

  “...Seriously?”

  It was a magical message sent by sorcery, and it informed the man that his day off was an empty dream. He didn’t feel like his headache or nausea would go away any time soon, but the man took his robe with unsteady movements and vanished into the blindingly bright townscape.

  ◇

  “You hear me brats? Your opponents are fundamentally bigger than you. That’s why you should consider it over the moment you’re caught. Your opponent will think the same.”

  About half an hour had passed since Zagan left the castle. He was now in the alley where Kuroka Adelhide would later collapse, passing on the truth indifferently without an ounce of compassion in his voice. And crowded around him were dirty looking children. They were all waifs, the homeless children of Kianoides.

  He was in an alley of Kianoides’ shopping district. There was trash scattered here and there with a pungent smell lingering in the air, but this was their gathering spot. It also happened to be Zagan’s old haunt.

  Zagan was squatting down to bring his gaze down to theirs, and the waifs nodded along, completely absorbed in what he was saying. One of them then raised their hand.

  “Hey Archdemon. What do we do then?”

  “Be a man and die... is what I’d like to say, but I didn’t come here to talk to such standup guys. There’s tons of ways of greedily pawing for life.”

  The waifs all raised their voices in admiration and leaned in.

  “You’re gonna teach us sorcery?!”

  “Don’t be conceited. How am I supposed to teach you lot sorcery when you can’t even read?”

  “Awww...”

  One could not even begin learning sorcery until they were at least capable of reading a grimoire. Setting aside the dejected waifs, Zagan then grabbed the arm of one of the nearby girls.

  “What would you do if you were c
aught like this?”

  “Cry.”

  “...There’s not all that many people who would let go just from you crying. I’m asking how you would protect yourself.”

  “Kick ‘em!” “Bite ‘em!” “Kick the dirt up!” “Spit!” “Throw a stone!”

  The children yelled out everything that came to mind, to which Zagan shook his head in astonishment.

  “All of those are just stopgaps. None will lead to protecting yourself,” he said as he turned to the girl he was still holding and continued, “You, try twisting your arm toward yourself and pulling back. You don’t need to put strength in it. Give it a try as if you’re trying to point your thumb down.”

  “Huh...? Like this? Ah! I got out!”

  Her arm smoothly slipped through Zagan’s grip. A bunch of the children looked on in surprise, but one among them was skeptical.

  “No way. He just let go, right?”

  “If you think so, then try grabbing her yourself.”

  “I’m definitely not gonna let go... Uwah! You got out! Why? Is this sorcery?”

  Watching all the children get excited, Zagan shook his head.

  “Like I’d teach something so dangerous to a bunch of brats. This is called arts. It’s something anyone can do once they get the hang of it.” Having said that, Zagan then made the children grab their arms again. “However, this just lets you escape, it doesn’t protect you. Here, you grab their arm in return and counterattack. Just like how you shook them off, now you grab their arm... Yeah, like that. Grab them at the wrist, though. Like that...”

  Zagan corrected the position of the child’s hand, making it grip the other child’s wrist like it was a hand cover.

  “Remember this well. While you’re grabbing them, try circling around to their side while stepping in toward your opponent... You fool. Why are you trying to roll? I’m telling you to circle around.”

  As the child span on the spot like a ballerina, the other child softly fell to the ground.

  “Huh...? What?!”

  “Okay, not bad, huh? That’s good.”

  Zagan honestly praised the child, who shyly smiled back at him.

  “Can we finish off adults with this too?”