She had pitch-black hair and triangular ears of the same color. And yet she also had human ears to the side. Her hollow eyes were crimson, and she was still wearing the black dress she’d had on during Alshiere Imera. It was none other than Kuroka, who was supposed to be at the church.
Shax hid her clothes in a panic.
“K-Kurosuke? Why are you here?”
“Why? Didn’t I tell you I was going to have my eyes healed? So, I came here for Lady Nephy to have a look.”
Her comment stirred his memory. Kuroka’s eyes were impossible to heal with sorcery. However, it was entirely possible that Zagan’s bride, Nephy, could pull it off, and Kuroka had finally resolved to attempt the treatment.
“You came to have her take a look? On your own? Ain’t that kinda dangerous? This castle is full of sorcerers, right?”
“I’m a friend of the lord here, so I don’t think it’s all that dangerous...”
“Don’t be so naïve. It might be kinda hard for you to ask, but next time ask someone to give me a call. I’ll come along with you...”
And for some reason, Kuroka puffed out her cheeks in discontent.
“...What are you even saying? I thought to call for you, but you’re the one who’s been avoiding me, haven’t you?”
Shax’s body stiffened up with a twitch.
Oh yeah, I’ve been so desperate to hide her clothes that I might’ve been making sure we didn’t see each other...
Kuroka squinted her red eyes and sniffed at the air.
“Also, didn’t you hide something just now?”
Her senses were far sharper than his. She’d managed to find the clothes by scent alone.
“Uhh, umm, anyway, you’re still wearing that dress, huh?! I think it suits you!”
“R-Really...?”
He forcibly changed the topic and Kuroka’s expression softened up ever so slightly. She shyly fiddled with the hem of her clothing for a few seconds, but then she made a somewhat odd expression.
“I was told to wear these as much as I can for some reason. I don’t really get it, but is there maybe some sort of sorcery cast on it?”
“Did the boss say that? I wonder what that’s about? It doesn’t look like there’s any sort of sorcery cast on it though.”
Shax strained his eyes to take a closer look, and Kuroka’s cute little face turned bright red.
“Hm? What’s up?”
“Wh-Wh-Wh-What? Um...”
After cocking his head, he noticed that he was rather close to her face while observing her clothes. It was his instinct as a sorcerer to want to probe further into the secret, since Zagan was the one who fixated on this. That Archdemon’s spells were jaw-droppingly delicate and precisely detailed, after all.
Oh crap. Doesn’t it look like I’m trying to get a look at her tits?
Objectively speaking, he looked completely guilty of taking a peek at a blind girl’s breasts. And the moment he noticed his careless action, he could hear metal clanking behind him.
“Hmm. My apologies. I meant to come receive you, but it seems I’m too late.”
Shax turned around and found an old butler smiling at him like a gentle old man. This man was already in his fifties with white hair, but even so, his back was arched straight back. His posture and bearing made it feel like he hadn’t aged a bit. He had a gruesome scar running across his face, and his left arm was a boorish looking artificial arm made from armor. This was Raphael, a former Archangel, Zagan’s current butler, and Kuroka’s foster father. The palm of his artificial arm was split open, and the hilt of a sword could be seen poking out of it.
“Eek! Hang on a sec, chief! This is a misunderstanding! I wasn’t, um, this is...”
“Worry not. There’s no need for excuses for what I am about to do. I shall content myself with my liege’s punishment, so feel free to depart on your journey.”
“Do you really have to work up courage just to kill someone like me?!”
Shax wailed on the verge of tears, and Kuroka placed herself between him and the old man.
“It really is a misunderstanding, father. I had Mister Shax come here today to be my chaperone. It’d be troubling if he disappeared.”
“Urgh...”
It seemed he was unable to put on a strong front with his adopted daughter saying that. His right hand was trembling while still gripping the hilt of his sword, but after a short while, he gave up and let out a deep sigh.
“...You’ve become quite the adult in the time I haven’t seen you.”
Raphael returned his artificial arm to normal, moved to tears by his daughter’s growth. He then pointed a terrific smile at Shax.
“Shax. You’ll do well to drop by my room later. I’ll allow you to enjoy your last supper.”
Oh, nope. He’s really not planning on letting me outta this alive.
Shax began trembling, and Kuroka let out a curious laugh.
“Okay. Have a good talk with him, he’s an upstanding person.”
“Hang on, Kurosuke. How did you come to the conclusion that we’re gonna have a nice little chat?”
When did she become such an optimist? And now that Shax was dizzy at the thought that his life was over, Raphael let out a snort.
“Hmph. I admit you have a chivalrous spirit. However, that’s a different matter from allowing such shameless behavior.”
“That’s... well... it was a bit embarrassing...” Kuroka strained a smile as Raphael left.
I’m... saved? For now? I guess? Shax stood there dumbfounded as Kuroka tried to cheer him up.
“Come on. We’re heading over to see Lady Nephy, so please stand up. You’ll escort me, right?”
“R-Right...”
After somehow getting him back to his feet, Kuroka squinted her eyes as if to glare at him.
“But I don’t intend on being protected by someone who has no worth in being killed, you know?”
“Huh? What’s this about?” Shax cocked his head, and Kuroka put her hand to her brow in exhaustion.
“...Well, even if there wasn’t that incident from five years ago, that’s just the kind of person you are, I suppose.”
“What’re you going on about?”
“It just means I also have to put in some effort.”
“Huh...? That so? If you’ve got something on your mind, feel free to tell me about it. I’ll gladly give you any advice I can.” Having this girl be able to live her life with a smile was Shax’s form of atonement. Or perhaps, it could even be said to be the very meaning of his life. “...Haaah. I at least get that I’ve got a whole lotta work to put in I guess.”
“It seems Lady Nephy should be in the kitchen at this time.”
Shax followed her to the kitchen, somewhat incredulous about that information, and unexpectedly found Nephy exactly where Kuroka claimed she was. Taking a look around, he could see Raphael and a siren wearing servant’s clothing alongside the elf who was carrying tableware around. There was even a young girl with dragon horns and a lion-faced sorcerer running about. Upon closer inspection, the vampire Alshiera was also in the corner of the kitchen.
Huh? That’s Kimaris and the boss’ daughter, right? Ain’t this the kitchen? The hell’s going on?
Why were the Archdemon’s wife, daughter and an Archdemon candidate all working in the kitchen? But before all that, a former Archangel, the sworn enemies of sorcerers, working as a butler was beyond strange. Shax was always working at the church, so he couldn’t understand what was going on here.
“Oh, forgive me Kuroka. I lost track of the time.” Nephy noticed Kuroka and called out to her.
“Lady Nephy, we can manage here, please go ahead.” Raphael urged her on, and Nephy bobbed her head down to him as she left the kitchen. She then held out her right hand to Kuroka.
“Please, this way... Oh...” Just as she began to speak, she looked over to Shax with her azure eyes, as if she’d just remembered something, then said, “Ummm, Sir Shax. Could you guide Kuroka please?”
&
nbsp; “Sure, that’s what I came for.”
“Huh? Uh, um...” Kuroka’s face turned quite red at his reply.
“Please take hold of her hand and escort her properly.”
And in that instant, Raphael once more pointed a bloodthirsty smile towards him.
Hey! Isn’t it pretty bad to do that here?!
Holding hands didn’t bother him much, but doing so in front of Raphael was dangerous. He just barely escaped being killed moments ago. It wasn’t certain that Kuroka would be able to stop the butler this time around.
“Huh...?”
And yet when Nephy turned around with her head tilted to the side, the bloodthirst vanished entirely.
“Lady Nephy. Please take care of Kuroka.”
“Of course. Please leave her to me.”
Raphael was clearly grinding his teeth behind his gentle expression, but it seemed he wasn’t going to make a move to draw his sword.
Huh? Does that mean this little princess is more powerful...?
She sealed Raphael’s bloodthirst, regardless of whether it was deliberate. She really was the bride of an Archdemon.
And with his hope for life restored, Shax became somewhat embarrassed to hold Kuroka’s hand. She was also blushing profusely, so it left him quite perplexed as to what to do. However, while the two hesitated, Nephy took both of their hands and put them together.
“I may not know the full circumstances, but Kuroka requires your aid. Is this not something quite important for you as well?”
Shax’s eyes shot open upon having that pointed out to him.
I’ve pretty much never talked to this little princess, right...? And nevertheless, she saw right through him. The reason Shax could face forward and continue living was because Kuroka was still alive. That’s because she was the only survivor who managed to escape that hell five years ago.
If she was capable of smiling, then that would give meaning to Shax’s mistake-filled and rubbish life. He wanted to support her so that she could lead an upright life. It took him a long time to realize his own feelings, and here Nephy saw through everything with a single glance.
Compared to Shax, who could almost boast of being inferior to none when it came to being incapable of reading others, her ability to do so was far beyond the realm of sorcery, and pretty much a miracle.
Shax froze up in shock as he heard whispering coming from the kitchen.
“Aah, so Kuroka really is like that with that old guy?”
“Selphy, even if it’s clear to see, don’t say that in front of Raphael.”
“Such unnecessary consideration. That one’s death has already been settled.”
“Keeheehee, there’s no need to be so angry. Is it not something to rejoice in? For these past few days, I’ve felt the sweet aroma of love power coming out of the church, luring me towards it.”
“When did you get here Miss Gremory...? Wait. I thought I hadn’t seen you in the afternoons lately, is that where you’ve been?”
Having perhaps sensed the danger to Shax if this was allowed to continue, Nephy yelled while turning red in the ears.
“That’s enough of that, everyone! Please get back to work!”
And as expected, with Nephy yelling at them, everyone in the kitchen scattered and returned to work, leaving Shax completely dumbfounded.
“Uhh, hey, princess?”
“Nephy is fine.”
“Okay, hey Nephy? Is it always like that over here?”
“Ummm, yes. More or less.”
“Must be tough.”
Shax strained a smile, and Nephy looked at him with a cold gaze, fully implying, “Aren’t you the one who will have it tough from now on?” Not that he noticed. As for Kuroka, she was well beyond the point of being able to think anymore, and her eyes were trembling violently.
“Well, we won’t be able to talk quietly here, so please follow me to my room.”
It really did seem like this was a frequent occurrence. Despite being red in the face from shouting, Nephy showed no particular sign of being perturbed and walked ahead.
“Aah... Can you walk, Kurosuke?”
“Oh, yes...” Kuroka was clearly quite thrown off by all this and was rather unsteady on her feet.
“Here.”
“...Th-Thanks.”
Shax squeezed on her hand, and she timidly gripped it back.
That reaction just now... I hope she doesn’t get any weird ideas...
After being told, “You love him, right?” by someone, humans were the type to get the impression that it was true. Because of the event from five years ago, Kuroka thought of Shax as her savior, and he did understand that much. He could also tell from their earlier exchange that she had some kind of yearning for him. And seeing that it came from such an incident, her yearning was something like the admiration for an older neighbor.
If she were to feel love for someone, there should have been a far more suitable person out there for her. Even if Raphael wasn’t around, Shax wasn’t so depraved that he would put his hands on a minor either.
But even so, her hand was so slender and soft that one wouldn’t think it belonged to a master of the blade.
As a slight digression, Shax loved cats to the point that if he didn’t become a sorcerer, he fully considered spending his whole life researching folklore on cats and just fooling around with them all day long.
◇
“Please have a seat and relax.”
“Thank you, I’ll be in your care.”
After arriving in the throne room, Nephy began examining Kuroka’s eyes. That being said, she didn’t move at all and was simply touching Kuroka’s cheeks as she peered right into her pupils. Unlike sorcery, which was an accumulation of knowledge and precise techniques, mysticism manifested by praying to “something” like spirits and fairies which couldn’t be seen.
And Nephy believed that “something” to be a flow of many powers similar to mana or life force running through the earth. Zagan thought it to be a manifestation of power meant for destroying something out there, but she wondered if those within the flow were more like beings with a will that one could converse with. So in short, Nephy was searching for a power she could borrow to be able to heal Kuroka’s eyes.
Mmm... Nephy having such a serious expression on her face is both unusual and cute! Zagan gazed over Nephy boldly without a hint of hesitation, causing Nephy to look over at him in discomfort.
“Um, Master Zagan, it’s embarrassing if you stare so much.”
“Huh? Oh! Sorry...”
He really was overdoing it. In fact, Nephy probably knew this was exactly what was going to happen, which is why she planned to use her room. Such was her plan, but it was inevitable that she had to pass through the throne room to reach it. And upon doing so, Zagan had called her to a halt.
I mean, even I haven’t been to Nephy’s room. Kuroka would be borderline acceptable, but she’d petitioned to have Shax accompany her. This was beyond permissible, so he ended up lending them the throne room instead. Incidentally, both Kuroka and Shax seemed to have sensed this and simply nodded when he told them to stay.
Zagan began looking around restlessly as he gauged how things were going since just staring at Nephy was causing her trouble. He did have a table prepared for them, so Nephy and Kuroka were sitting across from each other. As for Shax, he was sitting next to Kuroka holding her hand.
Ugh...! Damn him! They only met recently and are already naturally holding hands?! Just how much time did it take Zagan to reach that stage? He did hold Nephy’s hand sometimes without intending to do so, but it took an entire month for him to be able to do so by his own will. He truly couldn’t make light of this man despite him being Zagan’s subordinate.
Oh, but Shax will probably get killed if I don’t give Raphael a warning... He was a rather troublesome subordinate, but Zagan couldn’t bring himself to actually hate him. Besides, Zagan also wished for Kuroka’s happiness.
He continued to look over them
from his throne for a while longer when he noticed that Nephy’s expression suddenly stiffened up.
Is the condition of her eyes that bad...? Zagan had heard that the issue was well beyond Shax’s capabilities and couldn’t be healed through sorcery. That’s why they tried to rely on Nephy’s mysticism, but it looked like it was possibly out of her reach as well.
The others also noticed the subtleties in Nephy’s expression, and Shax questioned her in a hesitant tone.
“Does it seem too hard for you, too?”
“Oh, no, I do believe it’s possible to heal them. But...”
Nephy stopped there as if she didn’t want to say it in front of Kuroka. However, Shax understood her and nodded anyway.
“I see. So there’s still a risk even if we use mysticism. Something like that?”
“...Yes.”
“It’s all right. Please tell me, Lady Nephy. I came here having properly resolved myself.”
That’s why Shax was with her. Nephy looked up to Zagan with a troubled gaze.
Ah... Having her rely on me like this kind of makes me a little happy... It was possibly impudent of him, but being relied on when she was stumped didn’t feel bad at all. So Zagan stood from his throne and walked over to Nephy.
“Tell her, Nephy. Kuroka and Shax are strong. They can accept the truth.”
Nephy grasped Zagan’s hand as he urged her on and then took a deep breath before speaking.
“It’s possible to heal your eyes. However, this wound is very deep. There is a risk that there will be side effects from being healed.”
Kuroka’s body stiffened up ever so slightly, but she immediately nodded.
“What sort of side effects specifically?”
“I can’t tell that much...” Nephy replied and shook her head.
“If there’s a side effect, it’ll probably be to your memory,” Shax said in her stead.
“My memory...” Kuroka put her hand to her chest.
“Yeah. Even now, the structure of the brain hasn’t been fully clarified by sorcery. But we do know that the optic nerves in the brain are adjacent to where memories are stored. That’s why it’s possible to reproduce visions of memories... But I guess all that’s not really relevant right now.”
Shax’s explanation was outside of Zagan’s field of expertise, but he understood he was implying that there were other ways to approach the problem.
An Archdemon's Dilemma: How to Love Your Elf Bride: Volume 9 Page 5