Even if it was temporary, he did manage to restore Kuroka’s vision. If that sorcery was to be completed, it would be possible for Kuroka to see even if her eyes weren’t healed. Kuroka likely also understood this, and she was the only one who could decide what to do. All gazes converged on her as she gulped.
And unable to watch that go on, Shax scratched his cheek and mumbled as if speaking to himself.
“Ah... It doesn’t really need to be decided on right away...”
“No. I’ve decided to have my eyes healed,” Kuroka replied with resolve.
Shax plopped his hand atop her head as if praising her determination.
“Okay. Even if something happens, I’ll manage it one way or another. So just relax and get healed.”
“...Yes!”
Even Zagan felt relief seeing the two of them like that.
Looks like Kuroka really is all right now. Kuroka had once belonged to an assassination squad of the church meant for hunting sorcerers. As such, even though they gave her a place in the world, she never relied on Zagan or Chastille. And now she was able to rely on somebody so clearly.
Be it her unfortunate disposition, her turbulent past, or her blindness, this girl was just a bundle of anxiety for others. And he could finally feel some relief about her. The two of them could surely overcome whatever Kuroka was unable to manage by her own strength. That’s precisely what Nephy was to Zagan, so he felt this was true for them as well.
Is the problem here actually Nephy? She fundamentally tried to keep her distance from mysticism, and Kuroka’s wound was deeper than imagined. Zagan could tell that this chipped away at her confidence.
Nevertheless, Nephy was a strong girl. She took a small breath then replied in a clear tone.
“Please give me a little more time. I’ll find a more definitive way to heal your eyes.”
“Understood. I’ll be in your care.”
Kuroka bowed down and answered Nephy without showing a single hint of fear.
◇
Shax led Kuroka by the hand and the two of them left the throne room. After seeing them off, Zagan turned over to Nephy.
“Are you okay, Nephy?”
“Yes. I’ll definitely show that I can heal her.”
“That’s not what I’m talking about...”
I’m more worried about Nephy feeling uneasy about this. And as he worried about how to get that across to her, Nephy smiled ever so slightly.
“It’s all right. I properly understand your concern for me, Master Zagan.”
“I-Is that so...?”
“Yes. But I don’t want to give in.”
“...Got it. Then I won’t say anything.”
Nephy rarely showed such self-assertion, so Zagan didn’t want to say anything to stop her. After a short while, Nephy calmed herself down and bobbed her head with a bow.
“Then I shall return to work. I cannot just leave the kitchen and laundry to everyone else.”
“Mmm...”
Zagan watched Nephy leave the throne room with quick strides, then narrowed his eyes.
Although, it’s not like I can just stand by and do nothing... The distress of trying to heal someone was the same as their life being in your hands, which meant Nephy was under enormous pressure at the moment. That was why, in his mind, choosing to do nothing was out of the question. And so, after thinking it over for a bit, Zagan walked over to the garden.
She should be around here... When he left his castle and exited out to the garden, Zagan found his subordinates running about busily. This was because they were ordered by him to continue their usual business while also gathering information on Shere Khan. After passing through the busy sorcerers, he found a suspicious-looking granny all on her own, breathing raggedly while hiding in a thicket.
“Keeheehee, what bittersweet love power! Let’s see how long that wily Shax can hold on desperately pretending not to notice Lady Kuroka’s bravery! He possesses an innocence different from my liege’s that none can stop.”
Her gaze was fixed on the backs of Kuroka and Shax as they returned to the church hand in hand. Judging by how Shax was somewhat pale, he was likely hoping to quickly get back before provoking Raphael’s wrath.
And so Zagan called out to the old peeping Tom.
“Gremory, sorry for bothering you while you’re busy, but I’ve got work for you.”
“Oh, wait just a moment longer! Lady Kuroka just stumbled and is clinging to his arm!”
“What?! Hmm, supporting her by the waist I see... Not bad...” Zagan muttered.
“Keeheehee, it seems Lady Kuroka is unable to bear it. The way she’s completely shaken and resisting by bopping him with her fists doesn’t seem to have an ounce of strength behind it!”
“It’s no different from simple frolicking like that. Though I suppose that’s exactly what it is.”
“Oh my! Now that she finally fell to her knees, that damned Shax is carrying her in his arms!” Gremory exclaimed.
“...That idiot. He’ll get killed by Raphael if he’s seen like that.”
“Worry not, my liege. It shall be over soon.”
After Zagan, against his better judgment, joined the granny in the thicket, a butler ran past them at full force with the gentle expression of an affectionate father.
“Ah... Wait. I understand your feelings, but wait. I’m begging you here, don’t kill him.”
Zagan grabbed the back of Raphael’s neck as he passed by, and sensing the bloodthirst in the area, Shax began running away as fast as he could.
“My liege! Please grant me your benevolence! I must cut that bastard down!”
So even Raphael ends up like this... Zagan also had a daughter in Foll. He couldn’t think of this as somebody else’s problem entirely. And setting aside his butler, who was still kicking about violently, Zagan turned to Gremory.
“So, are you done now, Gremory?”
“Keehee, so what do you desire, my liege?”
Gremory’s fingers wiggled about as if expecting a new toy to come within her grasp, and Zagan cut forth to his business emotionlessly.
“I’m going to see Orias. Guide me to—”
“—Eek! I don’t want to die yet!”
Gremory began putting her sorcery to use to escape before Zagan could even finish speaking.
Well, I guess this is pretty much what I expected... About a month had passed since then, but Gremory escaped from her teacher Orias despite angering her quite thoroughly. It was pretty easy to imagine what kind of scolding she was in for were they to reunite. That’s why her reaction just now could be said to be fairly natural.
As such, Zagan could predict her reaction. He immediately stretched his free hand out to grasp Gremory by the neck.
“Mrrr! So you really won’t let me out of this?!” Raphael said as he squirmed about.
“Ah, you idiot, if you do that—”
Zagan’s posture crumbled because Raphael was still kicking about. Even with that, he should have been able to grasp Gremory were she to move as he expected her to.
“I’m going to live! I still must love strike so many maidens!”
Gremory’s evasive skills when she mustered all her strength in desperation exceeded Zagan’s expectations. His hand missed her, and the granny escaped into the forest with agile movements that one wouldn’t expect for such an old woman.
“She got away from me...? Damn her... She’s gotten even better at fleeing.”
Setting aside her personality, Gremory was quite talented, so she was given plenty of “recompense” by Zagan. And now, he was suspicious of whether she used everything he gave her to fortify her ability to run away.
“Kimaris, are you there?” Zagan asked with a sigh.
“Did you call for me, Sir Zagan?”
A giant sorcerer appeared only a few seconds after Zagan called for him.
“Gremory ran away. Could you catch her for me?”
“I wonder... It’s possible to pursue her, but Miss Gremory
has lately improved her ability to erase her presence again, so I do think it will take some time.”
“So even you’d have a hard time...?” Zagan asked, completely taken aback. However, he then shook his head and said, “Whatever. I do know where Orias is, so I’ll probably be fine on my own.”
“What shall we do about Miss Gremory?”
“Please go and catch her for now so that she can be punished. She’s been teasing Kuroka and Shax too much lately.”
“Leave it to me.”
Zagan watched his reliable right-hand-man take chase after Gremory immediately, then looked over to his now awkwardly silent butler.
“Keep it in moderation.”
“You won’t condemn me?”
The fact that Gremory had gotten away was half this butler’s fault. Raphael was making an unusually surprised expression, and Zagan replied to him in a serious tone.
“I don’t believe a man who forces a subordinate to do something he is incapable of doing himself can call himself a king.”
In the off-chance that Foll found a lover, Zagan’s reaction would likely exceed Raphael’s. Actually, if she wasn’t able to find one, that would be an entirely different source of concern, but that known as human emotion couldn’t be explained by such simple logic.
“If that time were to come, I would surely act the same.”
“I see. Then we’ll need whoever she picks to become quite strong...” Raphael folded his arms and groaned.
It was difficult to imagine someone capable of withstanding the wrath of an Archdemon and a former Archangel, but Zagan couldn’t leave his daughter to any less of a man. Unfortunately, nobody was present to fault the two men for their lack of maturity.
“Now then, I’ll be absent for a while.”
Zagan didn’t inform him of the full details, but Raphael had surely heard the name Orias before. The butler turned a sharp gaze to his king.
“Hmm. Orias is the name of an Archdemon, right?”
“Yeah. Her power has become a necessity. I’m going to see her.”
She’s the one who will be of most help to Nephy... That Archdemon was likely the only person in the world who was more well versed in mysticism and celestial mysticism than Nephteros. Moreover, Orias was Nephy’s mother.
I’ve put it off for a while, but the day has come to introduce Nephy to Orias. Nephy might be shaken by such a meeting, but nevertheless, he wanted the two of them to meet. Zagan himself didn’t have anybody he could call his parents, so he couldn’t really picture it. However, he believed that a parent was one who would unconditionally protect and support their child. Those were the feelings he had for Foll, at least.
That’s why Orias would surely support Nephy. He had indirectly mentioned these things to Raphael before, but he fundamentally didn’t talk about it. Such was the case, but the loyal butler replied with a worried expression.
“Could you allow me to accompany you?”
Zagan found this request rather unexpected, so he simply stared back at the butler in wonder for a short while.
“Hmm? And why’s that?”
Raphael held out his armored left arm.
“There is another stage of the Sacred Sword. That Archdemon may be able to give me the hint for reaching it.”
The Confession that Archdemon Andrealphus... no, that Michael used. It was said to be the final form of the Sacred Sword, accomplished by unleashing the Seraph that was sealed within.
There was once a battle where the preceding Archdemon Marchosias, Wise Dragon Orobas, and several Archangels all lost their lives. It was likely a battle against demons, or perhaps the Demon Lord. Raphael was one of the few survivors of that battle. This man went as far as supping on the blood of the Wise Dragon and starting the Unification Faction in the church to cooperate with sorcerers so that victory could be grasped the next time those enemies were to show up. His battle was far from over.
Zagan came to know of Azazel and the names of all Sacred Swords from the journal he found in Nephy’s hometown. There was a fairly high probability that Orias knew something as someone who came from the same hidden village.
Zagan hesitated for a moment. There wasn’t any inconvenience in having Orias meet Raphael.
But the castle’s defenses will weaken. The ones he granted Heaven’s Phosphor to, Gremory and Kimaris, were currently indisposed. He couldn’t count on his guest Alshiera. Meaning the only ones left at the castle to protect his subordinates were Nephy and Foll.
It was the height of folly to weaken his defense while an Archdemon, even a crippled one, was taking an aggressive stance against him. And yet, Zagan nodded.
“...Very well. Come with me. I don’t know if you will find the answers you seek, but I’ll allow your company.”
As she is now, she won’t fall behind even an Archdemon. This was Zagan’s domain. The barriers around the area worked to protect his subordinates and family. Even if the carpet was pulled out from under his feet, they would surely be able to hold out until he returned.
“You have my thanks.”
And so the two awkward men left the castle behind.
◇
“Yay! And that’s, like, all the morning’s work done! Time for a break!”
Selphy threw up her arms in joy in the castle’s kitchen. All the post-breakfast cleaning and preparations for lunch were now complete, so the three girls could relax.
There were usually more people in the kitchen at this time, but Nephy and Raphael apparently had business to attend to and took their leave in the middle of work. Lilith was also absent because she wasn’t feeling well. Fortunately, Alshiera had been added to the kitchen crew, so they had enough people on hand to deal with the work regardless. Foll admired how Selphy was capable of fully expressing her emotions like this when they were doing the same thing every day.
Maybe that’s why Zagan hired Selphy at the castle... neither Nephy nor Foll were particularly good at expressing their emotions. Having someone like Selphy around who reacted to everything so purely on reflex was like a form of stimulus to them. In truth, Foll used Selphy as a basis sometimes when she wanted to express her feelings to Zagan... Though it would be rather embarrassing to mimic her exactly.
And as Foll continued to observe Selphy, the other girl left in the kitchen giggled lightly.
“Teehee, I see the young dragon has learned to observe the world.”
“Huh? What are you talking about?”
“I’m speaking of Shax and Kuroka.”
“Oh,” Foll replied with a nod, then said, “Anyone who has watched Zagan and Nephy would gain that skill.”
“Those two are totally awkward, after all,” Selphy added.
“Mm. But they’re still way more honest than before. When I first came here, it was much worse.”
“...That Silver-Eyed King... What is he doing?”
“But ya know, seeing my childhood friend being all awkward like that is kinda irritating, huh?”
Having a girl who was pretty much the definition of thoughtlessness say such a thing meant it was quite serious, and Alshiera nodded gravely.
“There’s no other choice. That child clearly never had any leisure to infatuate herself with love, seeing the life she had. It seems she’s trying to pull along that dense man, but he has no idea what to do when pulled along like that...” Alshiera said, then clapped her hands upon realizing something and continued, “Oh my, this is quite amusing.”
“You’re speaking like Gremory,” Foll muttered with a sigh.
Selphy then raised her hand vigorously.
“Oh yeah! Miss Alshiera! Are you okay with tea? I’m gonna brew some.”
“Wine will do for me.”
“Uhhh, maybe you should cut that out? Mister Raphael was kinda angry this morning, right? You’ll be in for a good scolding when he comes back ya know?”
“Oh well. Then I’ll content myself with some tea.”
“Eheheh, even Mister Raphael praised my tea before, so loo
k forward to it! Now what to have for a snack...”
Selphy happily placed a kettle on the stove then began searching for snacks. And before she knew it, Foll found herself alone with Alshiera.
“Oh yeah, I haven’t shown my thanks yet,” Foll mumbled to herself, and Alshiera cocked her head curiously.
“Thanks? Did I do something to earn your gratitude?”
Alshiera looked up to the ceiling as if searching for an answer. It really did appear that she wasn’t playing dumb and actually didn’t remember. Foll put both her hands on her lap and straightened her posture, then bobbed her head down.
“You were the one who saved me back then. Thank you.”
And having recalled what Foll was talking about, Alshiera narrowed her eyes reproachfully and put her finger to her lips.
“So you remember. But that’s something you mustn’t speak of. Please forget about it if you can. That is something which must not exist.”
Just what feelings lay behind her warning? Foll silently thought over the meaning of those words then returned a slight nod.
“Got it. Then I won’t talk about it.”
“What a clever girl.”
“Then let me ask something else.”
Alshiera smiled in a troubled manner.
“Oh my, there’s much I am unable to answer, you know?”
“I just want to ask. It’s fine if you don’t answer. Alshiera, why don’t you call Zagan by his name?”
It was supposed to be a perfectly natural question. Alshiera only ever referred to Zagan as the Silver-Eyed King. This was also on Selphy and Lilith’s minds, but they looked like they just decided it couldn’t be helped.
However, Foll’s question wasn’t out of simple curiosity. It came from a certain conviction of hers.
Alshiera’s eyes shot open widely.
“...I expected no less of the Silver-Eyed King’s beloved daughter. You’ve identified the exact question that I don’t want to be asked,” Alshiera whispered quietly, then she listlessly smiled as she brushed Foll’s head.
Her hand wasn’t all that much larger than Foll’s. Plus as a vampire, it had no body warmth and was cold to the touch.
An Archdemon's Dilemma: How to Love Your Elf Bride: Volume 9 Page 6