After gazing at her panicking figure for a while longer, Zagan spoke to her in a tone that made it seem like he was confused by the fuss.
“...I’m kidding. Learn to doubt what others are telling you a little.”
Well, even without Zagan telling her, Chastille likely knew it was a joke. And after holding her cup normally again, she glared at him fixedly.
“...No matter how you put it, wasn’t that one just now in bad taste?”
“You think?”
“Of course it is. This tea... it was made by Nephy, right? And I was just about to spill it all over, you know?”
Upon hearing those reproachful words, Zagan tilted his head to the side.
“Nephy isn’t... the one who made that tea, you know?”
“Eh? Wait, really...? Then, who made it?”
“Who knows,” Zagan shrugged to dodge the question, but naturally, he didn’t know how to make tea at all.
And while Chastille remained bewildered, she shifted her focus over to the only other one in the room, Foll. Well, it was possible that Nephy taught her how to make tea, but it wasn’t likely that she would pour some for Chastille. Even Chastille surely knew at least that much herself. Still, in order to confirm the situation at hand, she knelt down in front of the young girl.
“In the end, I never got to have a proper talk with you, huh?” Chatille claimed, then stretched out her hand to try and touch Foll’s head. Unfortunately, Foll immediately ended up hiding behind Zagan.
“Haha, ha... Well, looks like it’ll be difficult to get along,” Chastille laughed, clearly full of mirth, then stood back up.
“Come... again... Chastille,” Foll spoke in a quiet, nervous voice. And as she suddenly started sobbing loudly, tears welled up in Chastille’s eyes in response.
“Hic... F-Finally... You finally called me by my name!”
“So in the end... you’re crying?” And with that, Foll also let out an exasperated sigh.
When her tears eventually stopped, she started to walk out of the room.
“It was only for a short period, but I’ve been in your care. I don’t know if I can carry the burden of Lord Raphael’s Unification Faction, but I will exert myself just a tiny bit in order to create a world where you can live more peacefully.”
And then, a hoarse voice hung over her.
“I see. So you’ve finally made up your mind.”
“I think it is beyond my means, but I’ll do my best nonetheless.”
“If something troubles you, you may call for my assistance anytime. Since I am one-handed, what I can do is limited, but I will still lend you my strength.”
The owner of that voice, who entered the room without a sound, was missing an arm and carrying a tea set.
“I am in your debt, Lord Raphael...?” Chastille started speaking, then suddenly raised her head in confusion. And loitering before her eyes... was a giant man that most would have had to look up at.
“Is it alright for you to get up already, Raphael?”
Yes. The one before them was none other than... Archangel Raphael. And as thanks for treating his wounds, he prepared tea in the morning.
“Indeed. From the beginning, I had Orobas’ divine protection. If you even cast elven mysticism on top of that, such a shallow wound is not even worth mentioning.”
Despite that, the arm he lost could not be recovered, which greatly impacted Raphael’s power as an Angelic Knight. Pitying him for that, Zagan turned a fleeting glance toward him.
“Can you still swing your Sacred Sword with an arm like that?”
“I’m not yet at the point where I cannot fight. Besides, I am already old. The Sacred Sword will surely choose its next wielder soon enough.”
“I see. Then, until it does, I’ll be making full use of you.”
“Heh, the compensation for using me is quite high, you know?” That was likely his way of saying that he would be taking a salary. The way he worded it was certainly hard to understand, but honestly, Zagan and this man may have just been the same in that regard. Thinking of it that way utterly depressed Zagan, though.
“Wait, what are you two talking so calmly about!?”
Zagan then made a grimace.
“Blahblahblah, shut it. Do you have a problem or something?”
“Isn’t it obvious? I fully believed Lord Raphael had died...”
When they last parted, Zagan had thought much the same. However, this man had faithfully presented his head out to Foll, so Zagan brought him over to the castle. Since Chastille had collapsed from total exhaustion, he never told her about it, though.
Zagan then pointed his finger at Raphael as spoke.
“Oh, come now. How else do you think I learned the details of Cardinal Clavwell’s death?”
“Wait, really?” Chastille questioned, clearly surprised.
If not for that, there was no way rumors of a cardinal’s assassination could make it out all the way to his castle. Even the church was surely scheming to conceal the scandal.
Chastille weakly sank to the floor as the truth dawned on her.
“Well, I’m rather relieved you’re still alive.”
“You’re still too damn naive. If you act like that, then you won’t even be able to complain if you’re cut down from behind, right?”
As he spoke in a tone implying that he was going to cut her down right there, Chastille’s face suddenly spasmed.
“Ah... You’re saying that acting so kind without knowing people’s true intentions could be the death of her, right?”
After Zagan calmly remarked on that, Raphael let out an exaggerated nod.
“As one would expect of my liege. The difference in your caliber is admirable.”
“No, even I get it more or less... Wait, my liege you say?”
Seeing Chastille completely shocked, Raphael nodded like it was nothing at all.
“Now that you mention it, I haven’t told you anything about it, I suppose. I have been hired as Lord Zagan’s butler. As of this day, I have retired as an Archangel.”
“EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEH?”
Plugging his ears at Chastille’s shriek, Zagan recalled the conversation he had with Raphael and Foll.
“Just as I promised, I have returned to present you my head.”
Sensing Raphael, who had used up all his strength at the entrance to the castle with Zagan’s barrier, everyone excluding Chastille ran out to meet him. And the very first thing that came out of his mouth as they did were those words.
This man was not the one who killed Orobas. However, it was also possible to call him the target of revenge. That was why Foll got to decide Raphael’s fate.
After worrying over it for a minute, Foll came up a rather unique answer.
“Then, exhaust yourself for Zagan and Nephy’s sake. That will be of benefit to me.”
And just like that, Raphael also ended up working at Zagan’s castle. With this, my research into the Sigil of the Archdemon should progress rapidly.
Zagan had acquired some knowledge regarding the Sacred Swords from Marchosias’ legacy, but as expected, there was a big difference between having the real thing and not having it. If he was able to decipher the crests engraved on the Sacred Sword, then one day he would likely also be able to identify the true nature of the Sigil of the Archdemon.
Besides, even without that, with the maintenance of the castle and the management of Archdemon Palace, no amount of helping hands were enough.
If it was a subordinate that he could put his trust in, then be they sorcerer or Angelic Knight, he had no complaints. Plus, there’s more to someone than their first impression. He knew that because if he hadn’t met Nephy, he may have ended up just like Raphael.
Foll then looked up at Raphael inquisitively.
“Need something?”
“Is not having an arm... inconvenient?”
“Hmph... It is not something for you worry about.”
“Hold on a sec...” Foll left Chastille’s room with those
simple words. Chastille had said that she was returning to the church, but having lost her opportunity to leave, she awkwardly stood in place and twiddled her thumbs.
Before long, Foll returned. And in her arms was an enormous left arm made of armor. She had put it away ever since coming to this castle, but it was the papier mache armor that she used when taking on the appearance of Apparition Valefor.
“...Crouch down.”
“Hmm?” Raphael knelt down as he said that, puzzled by her actions, and Foll fit the armor around his left shoulder. Then, she muttered some phrases quietly, which made the empty armor shine with a pale light.
“With this, it should move.”
“Oooh...” Raphael let out a sigh of admiration.
It was the same sorcery that Foll used to manipulate the armor. And it seemed she made it so that even Raphael could use it.
“To think that aside from Orobas, I would be greatly indebted to his daughter as well. I shall devote this life to thee.”
“...That’s a bit much.” Though she turned her face away with a huff, Foll cheeks were just slightly dyed red.
And then, Chastille let out a somewhat dissatisfied voice.
“Um... Then... the only one leaving... is me?”
“Well, that’s just how it is.”
“No, but...” Chastille was on the verge of tears once again despite the fact that it was her decision to leave in the first place.
And since he was left with no other choice at that point, Zagan opened his mouth to speak.
“It’s fine if you just come here whenever you want, right? Nephy and Foll would be glad.”
“...Me too?”
“You too, right?”
Foll was making a face as if she wouldn’t, but she didn’t say anything to deny his claim outright.
And even then, Chastille looked up at Zagan’s face.
“And you...?”
Since he never thought she would say such a thing, Zagan simply stared back in wonder. And after that, while scratching his head, he replied like it in a rather mundane tone.
“...Well, I wouldn’t mind mingling while drinking some liquor... is about what I think of it.”
With that, Chastille’s face became enthusiastically cheerful.
“Okay! I’m also going to do my best!” After saying that, this time, the Maiden of the Sacred Sword went off on her way.
“Seriously, what a noisy... Huh?”
While Zagan was saying that, Nephy stood next to him, but turned her face away in a huff for some odd reason. Her cheeks were subtly puffed out, and he could tell that she seemed to be somewhat miffed.
“Nephy?”
“Whatever do you need?”
“...Why are you so angry?”
Nephy tilted her head to the side as if she didn’t comprehend his question.
“Do I... appear angry to you?”
“I’m asking because you do...”
After Zagan said that, Nephy tightly embraced his arm as if she planned to trap him.
“Then, please figure out why.”
Two soft bulges were pushing against him. And from them, he heard the sound of her heart beating awfully fast. Also, the tips of her pointy ears were slightly red, and he could see that they were quivering as he looked on.
She’s angry, but expecting something too? Zagan worried over her difficult demand for a bit, and then touched her cheek.
“About last night, and how I left you behind... Sorry.”
Nephy stared back in wonder as if she was astonished, then nuzzled her face gently against his arm.
“...Master Zagan, that’s unfair.”
And so, was Zagan’s answer correct? Regardless of the answer, Nephy’s mood seemed to have drastically improved.
“...Raphael, I can’t see.”
“Hear me, Foll. This is still too damn early for you.”
Whatever the case, that exchange between the two of them could only be seen by the new resident of the castle.
Afterword
It’s good to see everyone again. This is Fuminori Teshima speaking! I have come to deliver volume two of ‘An Archdemon’s Dilemma: How to Love Your Elf Bride.’
This time around, a daughter has been added into the hijinks of this awkward couple! And just like that, there’s stuff like the young girl who’s bad at expressing herself going ‘Guess whooo’ from behind, as well as the continued investigation into demons and the Sacred Swords. Plus, there’s even a broken down female knight and a scary older knight getting saved or beaten up!
As for my plans from now on, I have some new works coming out next month, but I don’t have much leeway with the pages this time around, so I’ll omit the details.
Now then, allow me to give my thanks to everyone that I am deeply indebted to. To the one responsible for me, K. To the illustrator, COMTA. (Foll is too damn cute, I swear!) To everyone who took part in the cover design, proofreading, publicity, and such. To my children. And to you, my dear readers who have picked up this book. Thank you very much!
April 2017: On a Saturday where I can’t really enjoy a day off
— Fuminori Teshima
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Copyright
An Archdemon’s Dilemma: How to Love Your Elf Bride: Volume 2
by Fuminori Teshima
Translated by Hikoki
Edited by DxS
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.
Copyright © 2017 Fuminori Teshima
Illustrations Copyright © 2017 COMTA
Cover illustration by COMTA
All rights reserved.
Original Japanese edition published in 2017 by Hobby Japan
This English edition is published by arrangement with Hobby Japan, Tokyo
English translation © 2018 J-Novel Club LLC
All rights reserved. In accordance with the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, the scanning, uploading, and electronic sharing of any part of this book without the permission of the publisher is unlawful piracy and theft of the author’s intellectual property.
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The publisher is not responsible for websites (or their content) that are not owned by the publisher.
Ebook edition 1.0: October 2018
An Archdemon's Dilemma: How to Love Your Elf Bride: Volume 2 Page 18