By the way, there were no children’s clothes whatsoever in the castle, so Zagan was still wearing his now baggy robes. Thanks to that, he was unable to move properly, and couldn’t even escape from Nephy’s lap. Looking upon that scene, Gremory pinned down her chest and gave him a big thumbs up.
“Hnnngh, nice love pow— Erk, n-no, it’s nothing.”
Why was this granny unable to learn her lesson? Gremory was reduced to a trembling mess as Nephy glared at her with a cold gaze that felt like a dagger of ice. The scariest part of all was that Nephy was still smiling the whole time, which made even Zagan break out into a cold sweat.
In any case, she knew the situation wouldn’t get resolved even if they continued bullying Gremory, so Nephy pinched at her brow as she cut to the chase.
“...Well, from what I’ve gathered, you’re unable to return Master Zagan to normal, correct?” Nephy inquired. The three of them had performed a ritual to help Foll grow older. The fact that Zagan also became younger was an unforeseen side effect. When mana that was separated from the control of circuits ran wild, it often transformed into a ‘curse’ that differed in nature from sorcery. In such a case, even Zagan’s ability to devour sorcery could not nullify it. Normally, anyone who possessed as much mana as an Archdemon wouldn’t get cursed, but...
“My liege’s and Lady Foll’s power both went berserk at the same time. That is already something outside the realm of sorcery. I can’t return him to normal with my power... If I say this is a situation where a dragon and an Archdemon collaborated to cast a curse, would you understand?” Gremory said with a humiliated expression on her face.
“A curse...” Nephy mumbled. Back in the hidden elven village, Nephy was ostracized as a cursed child, so that word made her body tremble.
Even Gremory looks depressed... Normally, she just screwed around without a care in the world, but there was still no mistaking the fact that she was a powerful sorcerer. Not only did her specialized sorcery run wild, but she was unable to put things back in order. It truly must have been humiliating for—
“Even though I brought about such an awesome display of love power, I can’t even reproduce it! How humiliating!”
“Miss Gremory,” Nephy said flatly.
“...Sorry. I’m joking. I shall devote my body and soul to finding a way to fix this,” Gremory replied. Nephy’s emotionless voice had reduced Gremory to prostrating herself on the ground, begging for forgiveness. Nephy, on the other hand, looked to be having a headache, and was pinching her brow once more.
“For the time being, explain this in a way that even an amateur like me would understand,” Nephy asked. It was only natural that Gremory was unable to do anything but make incoherent noises with Nephy on her case, so Foll spoke on her behalf.
“Zagan wouldn’t give me power because I’m small, which made me decide to get bigger. But we didn’t have enough power with just me and Gremory, so I asked Zagan to help out.”
Nephy looked troubled, seemingly not sure how to react to the fact that her daughter was now bigger than her.
“And then we failed, and this happened,” Foll said as she held up the back of her right hand. The Sigil of the Archdemon that Zagan possessed floated up on the back of Foll’s right hand. However, he looked down at his own hand, and spotted the sigil woven of mana was still there. The one on Foll’s hand was the same in that it was woven with mana, but it was more like a birthmark than anything.
“This is likely something known as a stigma. Since I opened a path to share mana with Foll, the sigil was transcribed on her hand,” Zagan stated.
“A stigma...?” Nephy said, tilting her head to the side.
“It’s a phenomenon where your scar shows up on somebody else as if it’s theirs. Seems they treat them as something sacred in the church, but it’s troublesome when these show up on sorcerers. If handled poorly, it’s entirely possible that once one of you dies, the other will have to tag along for the trip... Having said that, the path I opened with Foll is a one-way street. If there are any effects, it’ll likely only transfer from me to you.”
“Could it be... Is that what this nice, warm feeling on my back is?” Foll asked as she looked about in confusion.
“Ah, it probably is,” Zagan replied. Since Zagan was sitting on Nephy’s lap and couldn’t get away, an indescribably pleasant sensation ran up his back. The reason he was unable to calm down was because he noticed the things pressing into him.
“Anyway, my mana is currently flowing to Foll without any restrictions. That’s probably the cause of this ridiculous age swap. Makes sense, since all of this went wrong during Gremory’s ritual.”
The core problem was the stigma of the sigil that Foll showed them. Foll’s body had grown, but it wasn’t like there was any effect on her mind, so her explanation was a little lacking. And after Zagan supplemented her explanation, Nephy nodded in a convinced manner.
“We used the Sigil of the Archdemon to amplify sorcery that originally had no effect on a dragon. It was my carelessness that allowed it to run rampant like that. It’s meaningless to blame Gremory at this point.”
“...My liege. Aren’t you strangely fixated on that point? It isn’t like I’m the only one being blamed here,” Gremory asked. However, Zagan completely ignored her peculiarly discontent voice, and continued his explanation.
“I came to the throne room because I thought that if I recovered some of my powers, I’d be able to find a solution, but... well, it looks like that won’t work.”
There were countless barriers that strengthened Zagan’s powers surrounding his domain. And the place where his power was strengthened the most was his throne room, but it seemed the situation was far more troublesome than he initially thought, since returning here didn’t change anything.
Nephy was listening to his explanation intently, but she was unaware that she was stroking Zagan’s head the entire time. Moreover, he found it unexpectedly comforting and didn’t bluntly tell her to stop either.
I feel like I understand Foll a little more now... Being treated like a child should have proved vexing, but there was something so comfortable about it that he just couldn’t resist.
“Wait, does that mean your powers have weakened, Master Zagan?” Nephy remarked, completely taken aback.
“Shhh...” Zagan whispered as he put his index finger up to his lips, then said, “Well, I’m not quite as powerful as before, yeah. For example, if I had to rebuild the barrier around this castle, it would take several days instead of several minutes. And right now, I may not even be able to devour sorcery depending on my opponent’s abilities.”
As he was, even the Heaven’s Phosphor he intended to teach to Foll was out of reach. They couldn’t allow such a fact to be known by others, so Nephy covered her mouth in a panic. Fortunately, the only ones present here were Zagan, Nephy, their daughter Foll, and Gremory. Gremory was a trusted retainer of Zagan’s, so he could assert that she wouldn’t speak of this to others. Having said that, it didn’t change the fact that Zagan was in a rather perilous position.
“Master Zagan...” Nephy muttered in a grief-stricken voice, then cocked her head to the side as if a certain doubt just came to mind before saying, “If the source of this incident is the one-way street, why not change it to go both ways?”
Well, even if they didn’t kiss on the lips, they could get the same result if Foll kissed Zagan’s brow or cheek or something to open the other path. However, Gremory simply shook her head.
“Did I not say already? This is a curse, not just some simple malfunction. Actually, the fact that the flow of mana is only one-way may be precisely what’s keeping it from getting any worse. There’s a chance we’ll throw off the balance of the situation if we act too rashly.”
“What could happen if we do?”
“In the worst case, Zagan may die.”
Nephy gulped down, then squeezed Zagan tighter.
Well, can’t say I blame her. I would make the exact same face if some
one told me that Nephy was in grave danger...
“In other words, it’s completely different from when I became smaller... right?” Nephy wrung out those words in a trembling voice.
“Though I regret to say it, you are correct.”
Back when Nephy was transformed into a child, every aspect of the sorcery was under the complete control of Archdemon Orias. In that sense, it was safe.
And as he mulled over such things, a thought came to mind.
Hm? Orias is Gremory’s teacher, right? In other words, Orias and Gremory used the same sorcery, and as an Archdemon, Orias’ power and experience was on an entirely different level. She was the one who turned Nephy into a child before, and her power encompassed both sorcery and mysticism. It may have been possible for her to do something about this troublesome curse. Gremory also seemed to have realized that possibility, and stared fixedly into Zagan’s eyes.
“Let’s see... Shall we rely on your teacher?”
“I’ll try to get in touch with her.”
“Master Zagan, are you acquainted with Miss Gremory’s teacher?” Nephy asked, looking astonished by their exchange.
“Huh? Ah...” Zagan was at a loss for words upon realizing that his statement was rather careless.
Crap. If I tell her I’m going to rely on Orias, Nephy will definitely tag along. Even now, she was hugging him so tightly that it was clear she never wanted to let him go. There was no way she would allow him to travel alone in his current state.
Orias was Nephy’s actual mother. However, Nephy’s memories of that fact were hazy, and she still didn’t know the truth. Zagan had met her by chance the other day, but because of the ongoing dispute with Archdemon Bifrons, they ended up parting ways there for the time being.
That was why Zagan didn’t want their reunion to be under such grim circumstances. And while he was racking his brain for a solution to the problem at hand, Gremory shook her head in a grave manner.
“My teacher is also an Archdemon, so my liege has met her in the past. However, it may be better for you not to meet her, Lady Nephy.”
“Why is that?”
“Did I not say so already? She is my teacher. The very same teacher who drilled the essentials of love power into me. A high elf like you, who is full of love power, may not get away from her safely.”
“Eeek...” Nephy screamed, seemingly left at a loss for words.
Hey! Stop that! It’ll just make things even more complicated when Nephy and Orias meet again! However, they now had a reason to keep Nephy at a distance. And though it pained him greatly to do so, Zagan gave a slight nod to affirm Gremory’s statement.
“...You’re quite correct. Even I can imagine what would happen if that Archdemon were to meet Nephy,” Zagan said, meaning he could imagine the heartwarming reunion between mother and daughter.
“Is it alright for that kind of person to meet Master Zagan when he’s in this adorable form?” Nephy added timidly.
“Huh? Uh, I wonder...? My teacher has no interest in mankind, so I think it should be fine.”
Hey! Don’t actually sound worried! And Nephy, don’t call me adorable! Zagan believed that Orias was a perfectly respectable person. He had no confidence that he could pay respect to that old woman if she started blurting out things that Gremory often said like love power. And though she had turned pale from all the talk, Nephy still mustered her willpower.
“Let’s talk through all our options. What are your thoughts on how to return Master Zagan to normal?”
“Like I said, relying on my teacher is our first option. My age manipulation sorcery is something my teacher developed, so she would be best suited to help,” Gremory said as she stuck up a finger to start counting the options. When she lifted her second one, she said, “Next is to somehow sever the path that was created earlier. However, this runs a similar risk to reconnecting the path, since it’s possible to cause a further outburst of mana that could endanger both their lives. We may think of it as an option, but it should be our last resort.”
Nephy held her breath as she nodded, and Gremory raised a her third finger in response.
“And finally, we can rely on techniques from another continent.”
“Another continent...?”
Gremory simply nodded as Nephy tilted her head to the side.
“All sorcery on this continent shares the same root. Nothing more can be done with it if my teacher is unable to return him to normal. However, power that differs from sorcery exists on the island nation of Liucaon. That’s why there’s some value in shifting our focus over to it.”
“In that case, can’t something be done with Nephteros’ mysticism or even celestial mysticism?” Nephy replied.
“Perhaps, but I think that may be hard. Mysticism is certainly powerful, but you and Nephteros don’t have full control of it. As for celestial mysticism...” Gremory hesitated to speak any further. However, Zagan, and even Foll, understood what it was she was trying to say. That was why his now-grown daughter hesitated as she opened her mouth to speak.
“I feel like... celestial mysticism is a power that only exists for battle...”
In a fight, it was an overwhelming force that could obliterate a castle in a single blow. Combine that with its healing power, and celestial mysticism was far too powerful. It was as if it was a weapon developed to fight something beyond human understanding.
Upon hearing that, the tips of Nephy’s ears quivered greatly.
“A power... that only exists for battle...?” Nephy repeated in a hesitant voice. Sorcery was originally a means for sorcerers to fulfill their desires. It wasn’t a power developed for the purpose of destruction or battle. However, because there was a direct connection between gaining knowledge and gaining power, all experienced sorcerers ended up becoming powerful. In a way, Zagan was a freak among the freaks, since he had only ever developed his sorcery to become more powerful.
Although Nephy was still a beginner, she understood that fact. And because of that, her eyes widened in shock.
Oh, I see. She must be thinking her power is only meant to hurt others... Zagan cleared out his throat with a cough in an attempt to grab her attention. And then, once he succeeded, he began to speak.
“Don’t misunderstand, Nephy. Most technology in the world is unlike sorcery in that they were developed during times of war. Conflict gave rise to skilled swordsmiths, and their efforts gave birth to techniques like forging and casting. Then, those techniques, in turn, gave rise to the development of farming tools, metal fittings, and all sorts of other things.”
“Is... that true?”
“It is. Essentially, Foll’s saying that celestial mysticism is currently in that preliminary stage. She just means it’s something that has yet to be applied in other fields. Isn’t that right?” Zagan asked as he looked over to Foll, who nodded her head with a bob.
“Yeah. That’s why even though celestial mysticism is strong, it isn’t suited for delicate matters,” Foll replied.
Nephy’s expression loosened up as she heard that. And then, for some reason, she began petting Zagan’s head.
“Fufufu, thank you for cheering me up, Master Zagan. You’re certainly smart.”
“N-Nephy? Why are you treating me like a child?” Zagan began whining.
“My apologies. It almost felt like I was dealing with Foll,” Nephy responded with an apology, though that still didn’t make her stop petting Zagan’s head.
This doesn’t feel bad, but... This wasn’t the first time Nephy had brushed his head, but before she did so in a far more reserved manner. Right now, she was acting rather bold, to the point where it felt like his entire body was being caressed. As a result, Zagan unintentionally let out a satisfied sigh.
“Huh!? No, now’s not the time for this!” Zagan yelled as he regained his bearings.
Forget the date, I won’t even be able to buy clothes for it like this! He only had a week left to prepare, so time was of the essence.
“We have n
o time to spare, Gremory! Get in contact with Orias immediately!”
“As you wish,” Gremory replied. Then, she stood up and gave him a deep bow before walking out of the throne room.
◇
Zagan looked up at Nephy after seeing off his trusted retainer.
“That’s the situation, Nephy. I’ve got a little business to attend to, so I’ll be leaving the castle. Take care of the place while I’m gone,” Zagan ordered as he sat atop her lap.
I need to make full preparations for when Nephy and Orias finally reunite!
“As you wish...” Nephy sounded somewhat taken aback as she responded. And she simply nodded as he jumped off her lap.
“What’s wrong?”
“Master Zagan, meeting another Archdemon in such clothing is a little...”
Zagan’s usual robes were far too large for him in his current form. Frankly, it looked less like clothing and more like a large blanket.
“Why not wear my clothes, then?” Foll inquired as she clapped her hands together.
“...Do you know what you’re saying, Foll?” Zagan replied, sounding completely exasperated. It was true that her clothes would fit his new size, but there was no way he could wear girl’s clothing. Even Nephy shook her head at the idea.
“I would enjoy seeing that, but he needs formal clothing.”
“Hold it, Nephy. What do you mean you’d enjoy it?” Zagan asked. She’d been acting rather strange since he reverted to his young form, which had him confused. However, no one present paid her behavior any mind.
“It’s my fault that Zagan shrunk, so I’ll head into town to look for clothes,” Foll gallantly volunteered to take action, but that just made Nephy’s ears quiver anxiously.
“Will you be alright on your own?”
“I’ll do my best.”
Even if her body was now bigger, Foll was still Zagan and Nephy’s young daughter on the inside, which was why both of them were nervous about the thought of her traveling alone.
An Archdemon's Dilemma: How to Love Your Elf Bride: Volume 6 Page 6