An Archdemon's Dilemma: How to Love Your Elf Bride: Volume 5

by Fuminori Teshima

  That’s why Nephteros was unable to withstand celestial mysticism that Nephy could use... He didn’t know how Bifrons had given her an ego, but Nephteros was definitely a clone of Nephy. That was precisely why they had the same face. And it was also why Zagan couldn’t forgive Bifrons. After all, Bifrons had used the girl he loved to give birth to someone who had a mind of their own.

  Her first memory is probably the one where she first saw Nephy... It was the image of Nephy being persecuted by other elves that Bifrons showed her in the crystal ball. That was likely a record of the past, but she probably mistook the flow of time when it was shown to her, making her think it had just occurred.

  “And you just revealed the truth to Nephteros?”

  “...Sorry,” Orias replied. It wasn’t like Orias was in the wrong. All she did was answer Nephteros’ question. Sure, that girl had the same face as her daughter, but she had no obligation to care about the feelings of someone she had just met.

  “My request concerns that girl,” Orias said in a sincere voice.

  “...And what would you have me do?” Zagan asked with a grimace.

  “Zagan. Could you somehow save the girl that I ended up hurting?” Orias replied as she bowed her head deeply. This left Zagan wide-eyed in disbelief.

  “Do I look like a man who would save others?”

  “I’m asking you because you do.”

  And how exactly am I supposed to save someone who’s found out that they were artificially created? Zagan thought as scratched his head at her reply, which seemed full of conviction. Sorcerers were beings who only ever thought about themselves. Even Zagan was utterly selfish, in that his only desire was to be loved by Nephy. Or at least, that was what he believed, but...

  Dammit! Like I can just shut up and go home to Nephy after hearing that!

  “Hear me, Orias. I may pay respect to you, but it’s arrogant to just assume someone needs to be saved by another. Especially when even the person in question has no way of knowing how to best help them,” Zagan responded as he mussed his hair around. He himself had been saved upon meeting Nephy. However, it wasn’t something he actively desired at that point. He never even thought of what he truly wanted back then. At the time, he would never have even dreamed that it would be to love and be loved by another.

  Everything came from an unexpected encounter, and all of it completely surpassed his expectations. It was essentially a miracle. He wasn’t confident that he could replicate that for another person. Plus, it was foolish to try and bestow that upon someone who seemed unwilling, as that would only cause harm.

  And yet, even though it was something he should have rejected... he knew he would feel different if it were Nephy, Foll, Raphael, Chastille, Gremory, Kimaris, or any of his subordinates at the castle... If they were suffering, he would do everything in his power to assist them. He was certain of that simple fact.

  “I believe that someone who knows that, yet is willing to try regardless is the exact type of person who can save others,” Orias claimed as she looked on at Zagan’s reaction with a satisfied expression on her face.

  “I know I’m just repeating myself at this point, but I’m really not fit for that position,” Zagan said as he let out a snort. The one Orias wanted to save was Nephteros. And honestly, he didn’t have the slightest idea how to help a girl who possessed a far more ghastly past than even he or Nephy.

  But that’s exactly why I can’t turn my back on her... Regardless of what he said, Zagan had long since made his decision. He wouldn’t become a monster. Instead, he would become a king. He would give Nephy a place to live under the sun, he would bury the other twelve Archdemons, he would force the church to stop hunting down sorcerers, he would annihilate the demons, the Demon Lord, or whatever else, and he would change the world.

  If he couldn’t save one pitiful girl, then there was no way he would ever succeed in any of his more lofty goals. And so, after taking a deep breath, Zagan turned to face Orias once more.

  “...Nephteros is a clone of Nephy. Right?”

  “Yeah. Though it’s painful to admit, that’s exactly what she is,” Orias replied.

  “Then... we can think of her as Nephy’s sister,” Zagan said. His bride’s sister was no different from his own sister. That made her family.

  “Well, I suppose we can say that I’ve been blessed with another daughter,” Orias’ mouth loosened up with a smile as she responded to his statement. Zagan, in turn, simply nodded back at her. And then, he let out a shout.

  “Hey, Barbatos! You can hear me, can’t you!?” Zagan yelled. And as he did, the shadow of a tree in the plaza wriggled about.

  “Keep it down, dammit... I’m injured here. You could at least show me a bit of sympathy.”

  “Like I care. More importantly, take me to Nephteros.”

  The shadow remained silent for a moment after being commanded. After a few moments, an annoyed voice rang out from it.

  “Crap, it’s looking pretty bad over there. I’ll take you over, so you better do something fast.”

  “...Huh?”

  “I’m begging you here!”

  This guy’s... relying on someone else? Zagan doubted his ears upon hearing that. Barbatos had once said that Zagan had changed, but it may have been that he was also changing and just wasn’t aware of that fact. That was why Zagan leaped into the shadow immediately.

  “Leave it to me,” Zagan replied to his peerless undesirable friend.

  And what greeted him on the other side was...

  ◇

  “...Wait, what the hell is going on here?”

  A blade came flying in at Zagan when he arrived on the other side. Before his eyes was a pitiful chimera with Nephteros’ face, and Chastille who had fallen to the ground. It seemed she was in the middle of a battle with the chimera. And the one who was slashing in at him was... Kuroka. She was wearing a strange mask, but he could tell that it was her by her clothes and ears.

  He caught the shortsword on the spur of the moment, but he couldn’t avoid getting hit by the edge of the blade. It seemed to be a weapon of the church, as it hurt quite a bit as his blood ran down the blade.

  “Huh...? That voice... Mister...? Why are you here?” Kuroka, still wearing that strange mask, let out a bewildered voice. Zagan didn’t answer her and looked around for Nephteros instead. This seemed to be the plaza in front of the church. Angelic Knights were surrounding the area, and Nephteros was on her knees somewhat far away from the chimera itself.

  Well, it’s good that she’s alive... After he finished verifying her safety, the chimera slowly got up.

  That damn Bifrons... Did he make clones other than Nephteros? It was more apt to say that Bifrons had failed countless times in the process of creating Nephteros, and all those failures were turned into chimeras, but Zagan had no way of knowing that.

  The chimera unleashed a barrage of limbs toward Zagan. The limbs were strong enough to turn an Angelic Knight into minced meat in a single blow, but Zagan lightly swung his arm into the air in response. It was a seemingly meaningless gesture, as he was nowhere close enough to the chimera’s limbs let alone the chimera itself, but...

  “Shut it. I’m in the middle of talking here!” Zagan exclaimed. Remarkably, his meaningless gesture drove the chimera into the ground as if his fist had hit dead center. This wasn’t anything like specialized sorcery. He simply slammed his mana into it like a hammer. With just that action, the chimera was crushed and ceased moving, leaving the Angelic Knights in the area astir.

  “He did in that chimera... with just a single blow...”

  Apparently Chastille and the others had quite the hard fight against the chimera. All the Angelic Knights looked confused by how easily he won, and Chastille called out to him in a reproachful voice.

  “Z-Zagan, that chimera is...”

  “Like I care. It may look like Nephteros, but it’s not actually her,” Zagan replied. The one he had decided to save was Nephteros, not Nephy’s clones. Even if they w
ere pitiful existences created using the same method, there was no reason for Zagan to hesitate.

  “So Kuroka, what are you doing? Is this the ‘duty’ or whatever you had to do?” Zagan asked as he turned to look at Kuroka.

  “It has... nothing to do... with my duty. I’ll take revenge... on this person... and kill her,” Kuroka spoke in short intervals, but still managed to reply in a cold voice.

  “What did you do to this girl?” Zagan asked as he looked over to Chastille.

  “I-It’s a misunderstanding. Um, it seems she’s... uh, Lord Raphael’s relative...”

  From that statement alone, Zagan understood the full breadth of Bifrons’ trap.

  Impressive. It’s the first time I’ve seen such intricate harassment... The daughter that Raphael spoke of referred to Kuroka. That was why Bifrons went so far as to guide her here and attack Chastille. Naturally, Raphael was unable to make a move, since he was in hiding as Zagan’s butler.

  My goodness. The number of people I have to save here has just increased to two... He was still fully convinced that he wasn’t suited for such a troublesome role, but for whatever reason, only troublesome folk ever showed up before him.

  “Well, I suppose if it’s arrogant to just assume someone needs saving, then there’s no problem with an Archdemon taking up that role...” Zagan unintentionally spoke to himself, then looked down at Kuroka and said, “In other words, you’re after her head because you believe Chastille killed Raphael?”

  “It’s the truth. I heard... that person... talk about killing him,” Kuroka claimed as she glared at Chastille. Zagan didn’t know how things had gotten so complicated, but Chastille was simply sitting there, unable to provide a real answer.

  “You’re wrong, Kuroka. She’s not the one who killed Raphael.”

  “No, that can’t be!”

  “I’m telling you you’re wrong, and I have undeniable proof...” Zagan struck his own chest, then continued, “After all... I’m the one who killed Raphael!”

  “You’re just covering for that person, right...? Please stop that, Mister. If you say such a thing, I’ll...” Kuroka began trembling as she hesitantly responded to him.

  “Now that I think of it, I never once told you my name, did I? Hear me, Kuroka! My name is Zagan!”

  “...” Kuroka’s shock was visible even through her mask.

  “Confused? Well then, is it easier to swallow if I name myself as one of the Archdemons? Raphael foolishly dared to raise his hand against my daughter. That’s why I killed him. Tell me, would you like to know exactly how he died?”

  “Zagan! Why are you saying that!?” Chastille yelled as if criticizing him, but Zagan merely shook his head in response.

  Raphael himself wanted us to fake his death... That loyal butler had decided to keep it a secret, even if it meant abandoning the only person he considered family. What kind of king would he be if he didn’t respect that wish?

  “WAAAAAAAAAAAAH!” Kuroka let out a scream and swung her other shortsword as Zagan casually flung her aside. And that lone action made Kuroka’s mask tumble to the ground.

  The cait sith twisted and turned in the air, managing to somehow land gracefully. But as one would expect, she could sense that she would be struck down mercilessly if she charged in directly again. Though her breathing had grown rough, she didn’t attack.

  “Now then, Chastille. It looks like Kuroka is my problem. I’ll take her on. If you’d like, I’ll even clean up that chimera over there. It wouldn’t really take all that much work for me, you see... It’ll likely take some time, but I’ll even take Nephteros back with me and save her... So, what are you going to do?” Zagan called out to Chastille, almost goading her with his questions, as he watched Kuroka wait in place.

  “I...”

  Zagan was generous to his own subordinates, but Chastille wasn’t counted among them. She was Nephy’s friend, not Zagan’s. In that case, what was she, exactly? Was she one of the weaklings that Zagan had to protect? Or was she not?

  Chastille wasn’t such a fool that she failed to understand what he was implying. She remained silent for but a mere instant before gathering her resolve and getting up on her own two feet.

  “That’s none of your business, Zagan. I promised to protect Nephteros, so this child is also someone I must defeat myself,” Chastille claimed as she pointed at the chimera.

  It seems I’m not even needed here, Orias.

  “Very well. That’s what makes you my sworn ally,” Zagan said. This girl was a sworn ally that he could entrust his back to and fight alongside. That was why he would believe her. And just as Zagan turned to face Kuroka once more...

  “Hang on now, don’t you think it’s unfair for you to cut in here?” Bifrons spoke through the chimera’s mouth, continuing with, “Zagan, allow me to give you a word of advice as your elder. You have far too many weaknesses. Your talent is monstrous, but its not like those who follow you have kept pace with your strength... You understand what I mean, don’t you?”

  Several lights rose up around the plaza as Bifrons unleashed his criticism. And projected within those lights were Zagan’s castle and Archdemon Palace, two location in Zagan’s domain.

  “No, it can’t be...” Chastille spoke in a trembling voice. Zagan’s subordinates were over at Archdemon Palace, and Nephy and Foll were left behind at the castle. It was likely the same scenario had occurred back when Orias defeated an Archdemon. She had lost everything she wished to protect and ended up keeping Nephy at a distance as a result.

  Now it was Zagan’s turn to go through that pain. He had once cast aside Nephy because he feared such a fate, but that attempt had failed entirely. Bifrons listened in on the silence as if it were pleasant, then broke into laughter.

  “Fufufu, don’t tell me you thought this was my only chimera? I’ve sent ones that are just as powerful as this one to your castle and Marchosias’ Archdemon Palace. Unfortunately, there’s only one of you. So, what’ll you do?”

  Zagan looked down at the chimera that had collapsed to the ground. He didn’t know how many failures were created before Nephteros was born, but it surely didn’t stop at just one or two. If all of them were turned into chimeras, then there was likely a whole hoard of them out there. And if all of them were infused with that sludge, then they were practically unstoppable.

  However, I knew that from the very beginning... That was why Zagan just casually shrugged his shoulders.

  “Do whatever you want. I have my hands full here already.”

  “Oh my... Do you think that’s an idle threat? Look, I know hostages are only useful while they’re alive, but I don’t really care.”

  “Quit yapping. If you want to attack, then go right ahead. I’m busy here,” Zagan coldly cut off any further part of Bifrons’ speech with those words. At that, Bifrons let out a ‘hmph’ as if coming to an understanding.

  “...I see. You’ve prepared for this already, huh? Well, I wonder who’ll win between my chimeras and your little trap... How fun.”

  A chimera with countless limbs appeared within the projection. It used all of them to charge straight toward one of the two castles.

  “Zagan! What are you planning? Aren’t Nephy, Foll, and Ra... er, your subordinates all there!?” Chastille was all flustered, but Zagan said nothing as he simply looked up at the projection. The first one to show activity was Archdemon Palace. A golem modeled after a demon appeared from inside it. And riding on its back was Gremory, who had taken the form of a beautiful woman.

  “Keeheehee, so it really showed up.”

  “Huh, isn’t that... the golem from that time...?”

  It was the golem that had previously ripped off Raphael’s arm, which Zagan had repaired. The husk of the demon itself was destroyed entirely during that encounter, but techniques used to create it were left behind in Marchosias’ legacy.

  To put it another way, this was a fusion of the assets of two Archdemons, Marchosias and Zagan. The beam of light fired out by the golem p
ierced through the chimera. However, the chimera also had a fragment of the Sludge Demon Lord inside it, which instantly restored its wounds as a pitch black sludge scattered about the area.

  “It’s futile — Balor’s Evil Eye!” Gremory’s eye flashed a deep violet and reduced the chimera’s sludge to ash as she let that cry loose. Unfortunately, it didn’t seem to possess enough power to finish off the chimera’s main body, as it still managed to charge in and reach the golem despite the damage it took. However, by that time, the golem’s preparations were already complete.

  “You did well to get this far. Here, you may claim your reward — Heaven’s Phosphor!”

  It was the name of the sorcery Zagan gave birth to that burned away at life itself. As Gremory yelled that name, the golem opened its mouth and fired a beam of light for the second time. However, the color of the light this time was as black as the void. This was something Kimaris mentioned before, but Gremory’s sorcery had poor compatibility with Heaven’s Phosphor. That was why Zagan granted this golem to her. It was something he remodeled so that it was capable of firing Heaven’s Phosphor. And, as the black beam of light came in contact with the chimera, the chimera was vaporized.

  “Impossible...” Bifrons muttered in shock.

  “Zagan, there’s a chimera at the castle too!” Chastille shouted at him. There were two projections, and the other one was showing a chimera charging in at Zagan’s castle. However, this particular chimera was being even more reckless than the previous one.

  Tree roots crept out of the ground at its feet and held it in place. This was a trap created using Nephy’s mysticism. To escape it, one would have to use a teleportation technique like Barbatos’, or possess enough raw power to compare to an Archdemon or high elf.

  I guess it was about time to teach them all a lesson... Previously, Zagan had a need to hold back against any intruders, since he wanted them to survive and tell others how little value there was in trying to attack the new Archdemon. However, there was only meaning to such a method in the beginning. By this point, those who hadn’t already learned their lesson would never learn. An Archdemon like Bifrons was a perfect example of that fact.