An Archdemon's Dilemma: How to Love Your Elf Bride: Volume 9

by Fuminori Teshima

  And the final one to roar... was Ginias.

  ◇

  Having finally come to his senses, Ginias held his Sacred Sword at the ready and stood before Zagan.

  “I cannot understand you.”

  “Hmm, so?”

  Ginias gripped the blade of his Sacred Sword and let his blood run as he shouted.

  “However, what I must do is clear — Angelic Confession Raziel!”

  Zagan spontaneously let out a sigh of admiration.

  So there’s someone other than Andrealphus who can use that. The difference from Andrealphus’ Confession was that Ginias’ was made of green armor, and the weapon in its hand wasn’t a spear but a sword. The Confession was about twice the boy’s size and wielded a two-handed sword even larger than that.

  The Confession then pointed its blade at Zagan.

  “Cut down sorcerers, defeat the Archdemons. That’s the duty of the Angelic Knights.”

  Zagan nodded along, praising his courage.

  “That’s correct. If you understand that much, then don’t hesitate. The one standing before you is your enemy.”

  Zagan answered him in a composed tone, but he was secretly panicking within.

  I need this guy to try his best here or he won’t be able to continue living in the church. At the current rate, this boy would become the one responsible for guiding an Archdemon into the treasury, who also happened to be the primary culprit behind its collapse. It wasn’t something for an Archdemon like Zagan to be worrying about, but he really couldn’t help but feel a little responsible for it.

  “Why would a man like you...?!” Ginias yelled as he ground his teeth.

  “...Hmph, now that I think of it, she said the exact same thing to me before.”

  Zagan reflexively strained a smile. Chastille had screamed the same words when he first met her. It seemed he resembled her in more ways than one.

  Or maybe that’s the type of person the Sacred Swords prefer? If that were the case, the ones who were fighting them in rage earlier may have also possessed similar facets to them. And as Zagan mused over such thoughts, Ginias held his sword at the ready.

  “Head Archangel Ginias Galahad II! Archdemon Zagan, I challenge you!”

  “Yeah, come at me. Show me your power.”

  The green Confession brought down its greatsword, and Zagan held up the Eastern Sky to stop the blow.

  Andrealphus’ power is far greater... It may have been pitiable to compare him to a monster who wielded the power of both a Sacred Sword and Archdemon, but that’s the assessment Zagan gave his strike. However, he then realized that Ginias was not there beneath the Confession.

  “Hmm?”

  Zagan turned around and found Ginias already swinging his sword.

  “Sing — Raziel!”

  Wind blew violently from his blade. This was apparently the Sacred Sword’s power. Several sorceries that Zagan had prepared were blown away with ease. He was now in a defenseless state, unable to use sorcery. In this respect, the battle before him overlapped with the time he’d seen Alshiera training in the castle.

  How would I fight someone faster than the invocation of sorcery? It wasn’t something he could consciously move against.

  “Huh?”

  Ginias was the one to let loose a killing blow, but he flipped over and was now rolling about in midair. Zagan grabbed the back of Ginias’ wrist, threw off his center of gravity, and chucked him away. Ginias tumbled to the ground and had a look on his face that made it clear he had no idea what had happened. However, Zagan didn’t look at him with a victorious smile.

  “...In the end, I ended up using arts in the final moment... I can’t really complain about Decarabia anymore.”

  The first technique Zagan had learned to survive with was arts. He was thankful that Marc had taught him this, but there was nothing pleasant about using it here. And with a sigh, he turned his back to Ginias.

  “Hey, that’s enough. It’s my loss.”

  Seeing that Zagan was completely disappointed with himself, Ginias yelled in anger.

  “Do you mean to mock me?!”

  “Aah, no, it’s a personal matter,” Zagan replied as he scratched his head. Then he continued by saying, “An Archdemon relying on power other than sorcery is like they’re denying their own sorcery, right? That’s why you win.”

  This was something Zagan fussed over. If he couldn’t maintain his principles, then he was nothing more than the vanquished.

  “...Don’t screw with me...” Ginias said with a trembling voice. “What do you mean you lost? Do you think you’re that strong?”

  “That’s right, what of it?” Zagan arrogantly replied, to which Ginias returned a sneer.

  “How can someone who can’t even affirm themselves be strong?! You are weak. Pitifully weak! Very well. Tuck your tail and run. Cutting down such a pitiful Archdemon is nothing to boast of.”

  He might have been right on the mark. That was why it was somewhat effective in irritating Zagan. However, it was still only enough to change his opinion from, “I tricked you, so I’ll let you save face” to, “I guess I can kill you.” But in this case, it was the difference between life and death for Ginias.

  That’s because Zagan simply decided not to kill anyone in front of Nephy. It wasn’t his creed not to kill. The only reason for going out of his way to keep the Juutilainen brothers alive was because having people die on his fake honeymoon would leave a bad aftertaste. That’s all there was to it.

  Zagan simply thought of it as somewhat bothersome to deal with them without killing them. That was just the difference in terms of ability between them.

  Whether I like it or not, he may not get it since he’s a brat. And taking one moment to think it over once more, he decided to give Ginias a single warning.

  “Are you maybe under the assumption that I don’t kill people? If so, that’s a major misunderstanding.”

  “You can’t kill people. Someone as weak as you will run away even from killing others.”

  The air froze, and Michael stiffly raised his voice.

  “Hey, cut it out there Ginias. I don’t have Zachariel with me, I won’t be able to help, ya know?”

  “Looks like you’re a little late to stop them.”

  This boy likely did not intend to beg for his life, and Zagan simply found him tiresome and was planning on ending things quickly by killing him. Zagan had turned his back on him already, but he turned to face him once more.

  “I don’t really care about your reasons, but I don’t understand your actions. I’m telling you I’ll withdraw. Well, I suppose your precious treasury is in this state, and you’d end up with two Archdemons getting away at once. The church’s honor will be able to maintain itself, right? Why are you going out of your way to hasten your death?”

  Zagan could at least understand the Juutilainens being willing to give up their lives. They thought Zagan was aiming for their treasure, and their honor had been smashed. But above all else, there was hope that they could defeat him by doing so.

  However, their honor was able to maintain itself now, and the difference in power between them was clear. More importantly, Zagan had already said that he would leave. There was no meaning in dying here, and the result wouldn’t change even if he won.

  Ginias ground his teeth loudly.

  “Are you sorcerers unable to even understand this much? Giving up on a fight, yielding over victory... What would you call this if not humiliation?!”

  Zagan nodded in understanding. Even though he’d shown his power, he’d never launched an attack of his own. The Juutilainen brothers’ injuries were self-inflicted. One couldn’t even call it a fight.

  “Hmm. You certainly have a point. Sorry about that.”

  Zagan would probably do the same if someone had made such a fool of him. He ended up being unable to understand the feelings of the weak before he knew it. Zagan was in the wrong for this. Well, Zagan had gained power because he hated the thought of becoming such
a weakling, so it could be said to be a perfectly natural outcome.

  That’s why Zagan decided to wield his full power to crush this boy, as a form of apology.

  It’ll leave a bad aftertaste, but I guess I’ll accept this as my responsibility. He would have to apologize to Nephy later. And as a minimal show of pity, Zagan made his declaration.

  “Then here I come. At least try to keep your eyes open until the very end.”

  “Co—!”

  Ginias couldn’t even say that one word. Everything was over by the time Zagan swung his arm. The Eastern Sky formed its hand like a blade and crushed both the Confession and Ginias altogether.

  Just how many people were able to perceive that motion? It was probably just Michael and maybe one other. Even Chastille and Stella were holding their breaths and completely stiffened up.

  However, there was one person there who slowly got up.

  “...Good grief. It’s not like you at all to kill a child in a fight like this.”

  It was a voice like a tumbling bell, belonging to none other than the one who had obstinately refused to do anything in this grand melee: Oberon.

  She had Ginias in her arms. She apparently covered for him at the last second. However, there was no way she had gotten out of the strike from the Eastern Sky unharmed. A crack ran down her helmet, and it split in two.

  “Huh? That face is...” Chastille muttered.

  The face revealed from beneath the helmet was that of a young girl in her teens, just as her voice implied. Her large slanted eyes had azure pupils, she had little pink lips, and her hair, now released from her helmet, went down to her waist. Pure white hair. And her ears, just like Nephy’s, were pointed to a tip. The ears of an elf.

  I couldn’t stop it. Zagan knew that Oberon had jumped in. However, after having launched a strike from the Eastern Sky at full force, he had been unable to stop the strike.

  Even as a trickle of blood ran down her forehead, she laughed curiously.

  “However, the way you’ve grown angry over something so trivial truly is human. I rather like it.”

  Zagan was unsure of how he should reply for a moment, and just as he was about to open his mouth...

  “You’ve fiiiiinally showed an opening.”

  That filthy voice belonged to none other than Bifrons, who everyone thought had already left.

  “Crap!”

  By the time anyone realized this, the mithril staff had crumbled away like sand.

  What a pitiful state of affairs... Zagan ground his teeth, but Oberon shook her head like it wasn’t a big deal.

  “We’re fine here. In any case, get going already. Things have gotten a little out of hand.”

  She then picked up the dirty broom that had fallen near the pedestal.

  “...Sorry. I’ll leave this place to you.”

  Zagan bowed to Oberon, then turned to Raphael. He had also stopped his blade, and upon noticing Zagan’s gaze, he returned his Sacred Sword to his artificial arm.

  Zagan walked over to Nephy’s side. It seemed she had treated both Arvo and Julius while she was at it. The Juutilainen brothers were both laid out by her side.

  “Shall we?”

  “Yes.”

  Zagan stretched out his hand, and Nephy settled herself in his arm while Raphael followed behind them.

  “Nephy, what would you have thought if I had killed Ginias there?”

  “I would have found it pitiable, and a bit sad, but...” She then leaned against him. “If it’s something you’re worried about, Master Zagan, then I shall carry the burden with you. So it’s all right.”

  I really can’t beat her. And before leaving he took one last look at Ginias.

  A weakling who can’t affirm himself... huh?

  He was an irritatingly impertinent brat, but that statement was so on the mark that he couldn’t refute it at all.

  Zagan looked down at his own hand.

  Arts were a power he’d been granted during his childhood, which he had discarded upon becoming a sorcerer. Was it really all right to rely on them after becoming an Archdemon?

  Having lost his temper at having that nail hit right on the head was surely his loss. However, some would say he was better off that way.

  And with a slightly bitter aftertaste to end their sweet journey, the curtains came down on Zagan and Nephy’s fake honeymoon.

  Epilogue

  “It’s rare to see you out of the shadows, Barbatos.”

  A few days later, back in Kianoides. Barbatos was lounging around on a sofa in Chastille’s office.

  “Huh? Even I’ll come out when I need to take a crap.”

  “...You really would be better off learning about the concept of tact.”

  Chastille looked at him in astonishment but didn’t say anything else, seeing that this was just the same as usual.

  “You done cleaning up?” Barbatos asked as he stifled a yawn.

  “Yeah. The Juutilainen brothers managed to survive. They’ll likely get reinstated to the Archangels, too. Lord Michael... well, he was criticized, but he’ll surely slip by one way or another.”

  “And that ass, Decarabia?”

  “That’s the complicated part... Stella showed she could use Zachariel’s power during that fight, meaning she was acknowledged as the Sacred Sword’s wielder. However, they can’t possibly take it away from Lord Michael either.”

  “So they’re basically sharing?”

  “That’s how it is. Both Stella and Lord Michael are being called Zachariel’s Archangel.”

  In general, Sacred Swords only chose their next wielder after their previous one had died.

  “Well, he is an Archdemon, so it’s probably some kinda setup, right?”

  “How many Archdemons are loitering around inside the church...?”

  Chastille had somehow managed to keep it to herself during the incident, but it was still perplexing.

  Well, I guess her little faction got a bit bigger thanks to that. He wasn’t sure how much of this was calculated, but because of Zagan’s declaration of owing a debt to Chastille, it was proved that the Unification Faction had a certain amount of influence over an Archdemon.

  Having directly confronted Zagan, the Juutilainen brothers even showed adoration for the Unification Faction. In short, this was a result worth celebrating for Barbatos, who was entrusted with guarding Chastille.

  Watching that ass Zagan get talked down to like that was a masterpiece too! He then recalled that he didn’t hear what had happened to the one who had done so.

  “So? What happened to that brat?”

  “Ginias? Setting aside his thoughts on Zagan, he lost without being able to do a single thing. I think it will take some time for him to recover.”

  Ginias won from the perspective of damaging Zagan’s self-respect, but the difference in their actual abilities was like heaven and earth.

  That ass... He’s been making leaps and bounds lately. That last strike he showed them was several times faster than Barbatos would have expected. If he wasn’t fixated on devouring sorcery and had used that right away against Andrealphus, he probably would have overwhelmed him. It was curious how few people had realized that sooner.

  Those were the same movements as Decarabia... He dropped his center of gravity, planted both feet firmly on the ground, pulled back his left hand and brought his right straight down. Those were the exact same arts that Decarabia used. It was the power that Zagan had rejected as being something shameful to use.

  This proved that if Zagan used it with Heaven’s Scale, modeled after his own fist, nothing would be able to deal with it. Even Alshiera likely wouldn’t be able to deal with it using her speed if he used that power. It was a sorcerer’s principle to use everything at their disposal, so it truly was foolish of him.

  In any case, Zagan had gotten even stronger. Barbatos would have to build up his strength even more if he hoped to kill him in his sleep.

  “Haaah, what to do...?”

  That was
one of the reasons Barbatos was just lounging about here in exhaustion. And Chastille once more looked at him in astonishment.

  “Are you planning to pick a fight with Zagan again?”

  “Well, it is kinda impossible... How’d you know that anyway?”

  “How long do you think I’ve known you? I can tell by the look on your face.”

  Barbatos covered his face in a fluster. Did it show on his face so much that even the crybaby could tell? If so, that was a major issue.

  Actually, what is this? Am I feeling embarrassed? It was all Chastille’s fault for saying things like Zagan did with a straight face. And as he agonized over this in confusion, Chastille changed the topic.

  “How about things on your end? You said you had an idea of who the traitor among the Archangels was, right?”

  “Hah? That’s been dealt with already.”

  “Huh?! D-Did you kill them?”

  “Hmm, he’s probably still alive? I don’t really care.”

  “Well, you should! Explain it properly!”

  “Haaah... What a pain.”

  And after yawning back at Chastille, Barbatos recalled what had happened immediately after the incident in Raziel.

  ◇

  “Damn you... Damn you! Damn you, Raphael! You traitor! I believed in you!”

  Valjakka walked through the moonlit streets of the Holy City while cursing in anger. A proud Archangel had been reduced to nothing more than an Archdemon’s hound. Especially one like Raphael, who was popular among Angelic Knights like Valjakka and Kaltiainen due to his mercilessness.

  He was sure Raphael would sooner have killed himself than capitulate to an Archdemon. That’s why the young Angelic Knights continued fighting under such assumptions. This all made the shock of Raphael’s betrayal even greater.

  Two Archdemons known as Zagan and Bifrons broke into the treasury, and Raphael’s betrayal was made clear. That in itself was an irrecoverable shock to all the Angelic Knights who had witnessed it, which is why Valjakka was wandering the streets with a bottle of liquor in hand. He had to drown himself in alcohol to accept such a truth.

  And as he held back his urge to vomit, Valjakka suddenly came to a stop.

  “Hrm? Is that Ginias?”

  Ginias was also quite the pitiful boy. He had been deceived by Zagan’s crafty words and ended up guiding him right to the treasury. After challenging the Archdemon to take responsibility for that, he was completely and thoroughly defeated.