An Archdemon's Dilemma: How to Love Your Elf Bride: Volume 4

by Fuminori Teshima

“Nephy, I love you. That’s why I’ll bring back the Nephy that I love,” Zagan declared. He’d finally found his answer, so he continued by saying, “From here on out, you will surely experience more painful memories. But, you will always have a place to belong by my side. That’s why, um, how do I put it...”

  Nephy listened carefully, her full attention on Zagan as he struggled to find the words to convey his feelings. And as he grew conscious of that fact, Zagan struggled all the more. Still, he eventually finished what he was saying without faltering.

  “Could you stay with... No, that’s a little wrong. Stay with me, Nephy. You are mine. That’s why... from now on, I won’t allow anyone to meddle with you, and won’t allow you to lose anything.”

  It was surely a difficult topic for Nephy to understand as she was now. The little Nephy stared back at him in wonder for a moment, but nodded soon after.

  “Yes! I’ll follow Mashter Zagan anywhere!”

  “...Good girl.”

  After he brushed her head one more time, Nephy got off his lap. And, after stretching out lightly, Zagan called out to the others in the room.

  “You guys, it’s about time to blow this place away. Get ready to go home.”

  “HUH!?”

  Every single one of them let out a dumbfounded voice.

  “You mean now? It’s already dark out!” Barbatos was whining like he still wanted to knock back some more drinks, but Zagan paid him no mind.

  “If you fancy the liquor, then just bring it back with you. I’ll wait thirty minutes, so be quick about it.”

  “Zagan, I’m sleepy...” Foll came up to him while rubbing her eyes.

  “Then get some sleep. Kimaris, I’ll leave Foll and Nephy to you.”

  “As you wish,” Kimaris replied, as he placed Foll on his back with a strained smile on his face.

  “My goodness, where exactly did that troubled expression of yours go?” Gremory called out to Zagan in an exasperated tone.

  “It was just a momentary lapse in judgment. Don’t worry about it.”

  Leaving it at that, Gremory began gathering books, bows, and all sorts of goods of interest with her little body.

  “You sure brought that up suddenly, didn’t you? Is there a reason to hurry up now?” Nephteros muttered in a surprised tone.

  “There’s no real reason to hurry, but I don’t have any reason to stay under observation any longer, either.”

  Orias was likely still nearby and observing the state of Zagan’s group. Since Zagan had decided on a course of action, there was no longer any need to just go with the flow.

  “Seems you’ve finally returned to your usual self, huh?” Chastille said in a curious tone.

  “Have I?”

  “Yeah. So, what should I do?”

  “Protect Nephy and Foll. That’s more than enough,” Zagan proclaimed as he brushed Nephy’s head.

  “I’ll take care of everything else myself.”

  No matter who his opponent was, no matter what expectations they had, the fact that they meddled with Nephy was an unshakable truth. As such, Zagan had to be the one to bring the hammer down on them.

  ◇

  Upon going outside, the group noticed that the air was warm. They had finished gathering everything necessary together, and all members were now present at the plaza in front of the manor. They didn’t know what was going to happen from here, so Gremory quit playing around and took on her adult form.

  “So, what’s the plan? I thought you couldn’t devour this barrier?” Barbatos asked, which elicited a nod from Zagan.

  “Be it sorcery or mysticism, mana or aura, there’s no changing the fact that the flow of the power is being manipulated. If that is burned to ash, then a mere barrier won’t be able to maintain itself.”

  “Huh...? I don’t really understand the theory behind sorcery, but is it fine to do such a thing? Aura is the power of nature itself, you know?” Chastille tilted her head to the side in confusion as she asked that question.

  “That’s why I’ll turn the entire area around us into scorched earth. I’m killing off nature itself, after all,” Zagan nodded as his choice was obvious.

  “Th-Think it over, Zagan! This is Norden, a holy land that even the church is afraid of setting foot in! Wouldn’t it be blasphemy to turn it into scorched earth?” Chastille, who was still in work mode, turned completely pale upon realizing his intentions.

  “We’re breaking through a barrier born of mysticism, which is drawn from your dear god, so isn’t it obvious that it’s something blasphemous?”

  “Gaaaaaah! Sorcerers really are villains!” Chastille began to thrash about in tears as she said that.

  “Dammit, what a pain in the ass! If you’re gonna do it, then get it done quick!” Barbatos shouted as he pinned Chastille’s arms behind her back to calm her down.

  “Will do,” Zagan said as he slowly clenched his fist one finger at a time, and then lifted his hand up toward the heavens.

  “Burn to ash — Heaven’s Phosphor.”

  A black magic circle woven of mana took shape in his right hand. It was sorcery that made the mana it indiscriminately sucked up combust, leading the mana... no, the very essence of life itself to burn to ash. That was the power Zagan gave birth to in order to kill demons. If he fired it off twice, even the residual thoughts of the Demon Lord could be destroyed.

  “I see. You’re using the power that destroyed the Sludge Demon Lord, huh? If it’s that, then even the elven barrier stands no chance,” Gremory said, grinning broadly upon witnessing his display.

  Zagan drove his fist into the ground, which made a dull tremor that was followed by bursting black flames. And, after it spread out as if to engulf the earth, it fizzled out. However, everything touched by the flames turned black and crumbled to ash. The flames even swallowed the elder’s manor and reduced it to rubbish... Or well, they should have.

  “My goodness... A man who knows naught of holding back, I see.”

  A hoarse woman’s voice rang out from above. Looking up, they spotted a robed shadow above the elder’s manor.

  The Sigil of the Archdemon on Zagan’s right hand throbbed and pounded.

  The Sigil of the Archdemon is resonating... That meant the one before his eyes was undoubtedly an Archdemon.

  Nephy clung to Zagan’s back with a scared look on her face.

  “You asshole... How long have you been up there?” Barbatos asked as he and the others raised their guards. However, Zagan put his hand on Barbatos’ shoulder and held him back.

  “Well, look who’s finally decided to show themselves...”

  The robed shadow was floating in the air. Because it was already nighttime, it cast no shadow beneath it, so no one was sure whether she was truly there or not. Even so, that person had been lurking around Zagan and the others the entire time.

  “Gremory, there’s no mistaking that this is that teacher of yours, right?” Zagan questioned Gremory as he kept his eyes trained on the figure.

  “Y-Yeah... Without a doubt,” Gremory, who usually acted as she pleased, had a cold sweat running down her cheek as she replied in a trembling voice.

  At that point, Zagan focused his attention on the traces of his Heaven’s Phosphor that vanished before reaching the manor. It doesn’t seem like it was blocked directly... Was some sort of sorcery used to impede the flow of mana?

  For example, it was like they separated that area specifically from the rest. Heaven’s Phosphor was only able to burn through everything in one area before it vanished, which made that the perfect counter. It seemed like she had thoroughly investigated his abilities and prepared for this confrontation in advance.

  That must mean she was watching Bifrons’ evening ball... Zagan had only used Heaven’s Phosphor on two occasions in the past. Once when he fought the demon chimera, then again at Bifrons’ evening ball. At the evening ball, he’d fired it off multiple times to finish off the Sludge Demon Lord. There were a few survivors who did not enlist themselves as Z
agan’s subordinates, so that was the most likely point where it leaked from.

  In any case, Zagan was now convinced that this opponent couldn’t be torn apart by Heaven’s Phosphor. And based on that conclusion, he began speaking.

  “It’s been a long time... You’re Archdemon Orias, I assume?”

  And in response, the robed shadow returned an exaggerated nod before speaking.

  “Indeed. I am Orias, Archdemon Zagan.”

  The robed shadow... Orias, quietly answered him. Zagan then addressed Orias as if speaking to a close friend.

  “Sorry, but I’d like to blow that place to smithereens. Could you step aside?”

  “My goodness... You certainly obtained power at a terrifying rate, didn’t you? The power of a tyrant is quite terrifying,” Orias looked down at the burned region of land with pity as she said that, completely ignoring Zagan’s question. It seemed Orias had no intention of stepping aside. And so, Zagan knit his brows with a ‘Hmm.’

  “Were you opposed to me inheriting the title?”

  “I didn’t oppose it, but I warned that it would be dangerous. Although, nobody even bothered to lend me an ear. I suppose that’s only natural, since Archdemons are fundamentally selfish at heart.”

  In short, unlike Bifrons, Orias was clearly aware that Zagan represented a risk factor. It was only ordinary to eliminate such factors.

  It seemed like two Archdemons would clash upon this land, a fact that did not escape Zagan’s companions. Every single one of them had sweat pouring down their brows from the strained atmosphere. If a common sorcerer were present, they would surely have fainted from the tense atmosphere alone.

  “Will you answer one question?” Zagan asked as he carefully chose his next words.

  “Do you think I have any such obligation?”

  Zagan choked on the air. Those words must have been woven with mana. And, as if spurred on by his struggle, cracks ran down the stone walls of the house and the sound of lightning striking rang.

  Zagan could tell that several of the people behind him couldn’t endure it and fell to their knees. Bifrons was an Archdemon who carried a vague sense of eeriness, but Orias was more direct and merciless. And standing before her made Zagan take a step forward with a provocative smile on his face.

  “No, I’ll have you answer me. Even if you say that you don’t want to, I’ll drag you down from there and force it out of your lips.”

  In complete disagreement, Zagan gathered mana and struck it right back at Orias. A vortex of power broke out between the two Archdemons, which made even the trees that were rooted in the earth float up into the air.

  “W-Wait, Zagan! This one’s too dangerous! I’ll... fight too!” Chastille exclaimed despite her pale, clearly frightened face.

  Taking a glance back at her, Zagan noticed her hand was trembling as it grasped the hilt of her sheathed sword.

  “Don’t panic. We’re simply talking here. Don’t draw your blade, just know that this one isn’t some damn brute who is unable to converse,” Zagan replied to Chastille in a casual tone.

  “A cheap provocation. But, very well. Try asking what you will. I won’t necessarily answer, though,” Orias squinted as she responded to Zagan.

  A snap rang out as the stones and trees floating in the air tore apart. Their fragments grazed Zagan’s cheek and drew a faint line of blood. Even as that happened, Zagan smiled like he was enjoying it, and pointed his finger behind him... at Gremory, who was on her knees gasping.

  “That nonsensical crap called ‘love power’ or whatever that Gremory talked about... Tell me, did that come from you?”

  Gremory had arbitrarily followed along on what was supposed to be a family trip, toyed around with Nephteros while rambling about love power, and turned into a small girl to trouble Zagan all she wanted. He was curious why she went so far.

  “Huh...?” Orias let out an idiotic voice as the overpowering presence that had been dominating the area vanished.

  Gremory put her hands on the back of her head and just whistled lightly, her face still drenched in cold sweat.

  “Umm... It seems my disciple has been troubling you. Sorry,” Orias apologized with a slight bow of her head after stiffening up for a moment.

  An apology!? Zagan never expected an Archdemon to lower their head, so he was at a loss for words.

  “Miss Gremory, no matter how you put it, embarrassing your esteemed teacher in such a place really is a little...” Kimaris muttered those words, utterly destroying any sense of tension.

  “Guuuh, aaagh, Zagan! You don’t have to tell her everything!”

  “Shut your mouth,” Orias cut in.

  “Eeek...” Gremory quieted down immediately upon getting scolded by her teacher. Well, Zagan also didn’t expect it to be such a serious matter and felt somewhat sorry about it. He fully expected Orias to say, ‘Are you making fun of me?’ while rushing in to attack...

  “I truly am sorry.”

  “...No, it’s fine as long as you understand.”

  Zagan could do nothing other than awkwardly shake his head in return. And then, Orias spoke as if to revitalize herself.

  “I will make up for my disciple’s actions at a later date. Sorry, but I cannot allow you to leave this place. Can you not just stay here and live quietly?”

  In response to the old woman, who spoke as if rebuking a rowdy pupil, Zagan smiled like he’d heard a good joke.

  “I refuse.”

  “How unfortunate. I didn’t really want to turn this place into a battlefield...” Orias said, letting out a deep sigh. And that sigh signaled the start of their battle.

  ◇

  “[Thou art the one who shines like the stars. The one who embraces balance, and arbitrates over good and evil,]” Orias hummed that spell, which made Nephteros turn pale.

  “No way... That’s my...”

  Asteri Ekrexis... It was the celestial mysticism that Nephteros tried to use before. It was also a power that was only supposed to be usable by Nephy and Nephteros, the two high elves. And while gazing at the lights, which floated about the Archdemon like fireflies, Zagan spoke like the situation was no big deal.

  “Even if atavism among high elves only happens once every hundred years, both elves and sorcerers possess perpetual youth. It isn’t all that strange for a high elf to be several hundred years old.”

  “Now’s not the time for that! If we eat that, there won’t even be ashes left, dammit!” Barbatos shouted as he unleashed fire sorcery. No, rather than fire, it was a ray of heat. The stones that were touched by the incandescent band melted as if they were made of mud, and the fallen trees were burned to a crisp in an instant. This person was still one of the very few who were made Archdemon candidates at one point, and it could even be said that his power exceeded Zagan’s back when they shared that position. His sorcery was a strike that was comparable to a dragon’s breath, but... the moment it touched the light of celestial mysticism, the ray of heat was erased.

  “You’re... kidding, right?” Barbatos muttered in shock, and Zagan shook his head in response.

  “Give it up. Even that Sludge Demon Lord couldn’t do anything in the face of that power. It’s probably impossible for common sorcery to break through it.”

  “Common sorcery... That was one of my trump cards!” Barbatos screamed. It was powerful sorcery, but utterly common all the same. Unless it was sorcery that focused solely on offense that was as powerful as celestial mysticism or Zagan’s sorcery, it would be impossible to pierce Orias’ defenses. And unfortunately, that meant an ordinary sorcerer possessed no means of attacking Orias.

  “[Be that as it may, balance is broken. Order is lost, and the earth is dyed in blood. Thus, this merits retribution. By the hammer that pardons all sin,]” Orias moved to the next verse of the spell as their conversation transpired. The lights that were protecting her changed directions and rained down on Zagan and the others.

  “You lot, stay behind me,” Zagan held up his arm as he barked o
rders at his companions. And then, a single shining magic circle floated up atop it.

  “Heaven’s Scale? But how will a single one of those do anything...”

  As the counterpart sorcery to Heaven’s Phosphor, it earnestly absorbed mana from its surroundings and continued to amplify in intensity. Given enough time, it could become a shield that could withstand a single strike from celestial mysticism, but regrettably, its size was only about large enough to fit in one’s palm.

  Since the lights created by Orias easily surpassed a hundred, Zagan’s shield was far too flimsy to protect himself, let alone the rest of his companions. But even so, Zagan showed no sign of panicking and simply shook his head.

  “Well, just watch,” Zagan said as he used the small magic circle to repel the falling lights one by one. However, it was just a vain struggle in the end. The lights spread out as if to envelop Zagan. And as they did, Orias continued chanting the spell, heading into the last verse of her celestial mysticism in a booming voice.

  “[The lights of the heavens are all stars. All that shines far and wide plummets into a conflagration. With no compassion, no grief, it simply judges and brings destruction. This is the prayer of atonement] — Asteri Ekrexis!”

  The lights descending upon Zagan converged on a single point and then exploded. And immediately following that, an intense light shot out as if to pierce the heavens.

  The celestial mysticism Nephy used solemnly erased everything, but Orias’ induced a violent explosion instead.

  “Hmm... So this is the completed form of the celestial mysticism you tried to use last time, huh? What a good opportunity. Study it to your heart’s content, Nephteros,” Zagan muttered with great interest as he stared at the vivid light. He spoke casually as the light settled down without even leaving a single scratch, or even a speck of soot, on them...

  “This is... the sorcery that struck Master Bifrons?” Nephteros gulped audibly as she took in the sight. A simplified version of this sorcery was planted in the stationary that Nephteros carried. Just as she said, it possessed enough power to strike even an Archdemon dead.

  “Ridiculous... It’s a... dragon?” Orias opened her eyes wide as she said that. She saw that an enormous dragon was protecting Zagan and the others. Though, having said that, it wasn’t a living, breathing dragon, but one made of light woven with mana.