“I’ll tag along. Maybe we can even meet Orias while we’re out there and save some time,” Zagan replied. There was no guarantee Orias would be able to treat him on the spot, but it was still worth a shot. Zagan had to try to resolve his size issue as soon as possible, since he had a date coming up that was now in jeopardy.
“Before that, Nephy,” Foll said.
“What’s the matter?” Nephy asked.
“My feet are all numb...” Foll replied, her amber eyes on the verge of tears after being forced to sit on her heels this entire time.
Well, her senses haven’t quite caught up with the new length of her limbs yet... She even needed Gremory’s help to get changed at the moment. Left with no other choice, Nephy rushed over to Foll.
“You may be bigger than me now, but you’re still a needy child,” Nephy said in an affectionate tone. She was the very picture of motherly love.
Nephy grabbed Foll’s extended arms and somehow managed to pull her up. And after she did, it was readily apparent that Foll was the taller of the two. She wasn’t a whole head taller, but Nephy still had to look up to meet her eyes.
“I’m the bigger one now, so does that make me the mommy?” Foll curiously cocked her head to the side as she asked that question.
“I don’t think our ages are all that different, though...”
“Hm, then how about I be the big sister?” Foll’s eyes were sparkling with excitement as she said that, which left Zagan confused.
I guess nothing aside from her size has really changed... Foll was also quite pleased when the little Nephy called her ‘big shis’ back at the hidden elven village. Normally, she was always the smallest one around, so she must have enjoyed the feeling.
Immediately following that, the sound of something ripping resounded through the air.
“Oh, my clothes tore again,” Foll muttered dryly. The moment she puffed out her chest, her clothes found themselves unable to contain her body and tore at the seams.
“What should I do? I got these from Gremory...” Foll drooped her shoulders dejectedly as she said that. And Zagan, in turn, simply tapped his tiny heel against the ground. Then, a magic circle spread out at Foll’s feet that made the torn fibers around her chest reassemble. It was elementary sorcery, but Foll went ‘oooh’ in a surprised voice.
“How did you do that?”
“...Huh? Is this the first time you’ve seen it? It’s basic sorcery, so I’ll teach you later.”
“Wow... Good boy!” Foll exclaimed as she started gently patting Zagan’s head.
Goddammit... I can’t believe my own daughter’s treating me like a child... Zagan puffed out his cheeks to pout right as Foll looked down at her own chest in a troubled manner.
“I don’t get it. Why did it tear? I’ve never had this problem before...” Foll mumbled in confusion. It seemed like she still didn’t know all the ways her body had grown.
It’s a little embarrassing for me to explain... Zagan thought as he went over what to say in his mind.
“Um, it’s a little hard to explain, but you’ve grown up. And maybe because you’re a dragon, you’ve swelled in certain areas more than Gremory has...”
That’s far too direct. What the hell am I saying!? Zagan was left at his wit’s end by the problem, but Foll simply opened her eyes in surprise.
“Your clothes can’t endure it when your powers swell? I didn’t know that.”
“Oh... Well, it’s something like that,” Zagan said as he gave up on explaining it. Then, Nephy put her hand to her mouth while her ears quivered about in delight.
“In that case, both of you need to go get some new clothes. Foll, please take care of Master Zagan,” Nephy requested. And with that, Foll looked at Zagan, her eyes filled with expectation.
“Zagan, I’ll do my best as a big sister!”
“Mm. I’m expecting much of you.”
A smile bloomed on Nephy’s face as she watched the two of them. And at that exact moment, a quiet knock rang out from the door to the throne room.
“Who is it?” Zagan asked.
“It is I, my liege,” Raphael replied.
“You didn’t show up for breakfast, so I came to call you... Is there some sort of problem?” Raphael questioned Zagan in a silent voice from the other side of the door.
Well, it’s probably fine to tell Raphael... They were on good enough terms for Raphael to give him tips for his date, so he knew he could rely on him.
“Are you alone?”
“Indeed.”
“Then come in.”
Raphael opened the door without making a sound, then stepped into the throne room as if slipping through the crack. He looked around, and after noticing Zagan and Foll’s current states, his eyes shot wide-open.
“You are... my liege? And Foll?”
“That’s right,” Zagan answered his question, then went on to give him a summary of what happened.
“Oh my... What a troublesome affair.”
“It’s not that we have no leads. I hate the idea of putting myself in debt to another Archdemon, but I’m sure Orias can help.”
“Is that so...” Raphael muttered as his expression gave away the fact that there was a problem on his mind beyond the situation itself.
“Did something happen on your end?”
“...No, it isn’t anything that serious. More importantly...” Raphael trailed off as he looked to Zagan, then Foll, then Nephy and continued with, “What will you do about breakfast?”
“...Oh!” they all exclaimed in unison. They’d forgotten that Nephy had originally come to call them for breakfast. A sorcerer could easily go a whole day without eating food, but the option of not eating the breakfast that Nephy and Raphael had prepared wasn’t even something any of them considered.
“Sir Raphael. Can you bring it over to the throne room for us?” Nephy asked in a resolute tone.
“Understood. I shall also order those damn servants not to approach the throne room.”
“Good idea,” Nephy replied. Zagan and the others were in awe at his ability to read a step ahead. Shortly thereafter, he returned with their breakfast in tow.
“I shall return later to take the dishes, so you may just leave them there,” Raphael stated before he left the throne room once more. The room was equipped with a small table used for tea time, which suited their current needs just fine. After taking her seat, Nephy scooped up Zagan and placed him on her lap.
“H-Hey, what’s the big idea?”
“It will be hard for you to eat with such baggy clothing. Allow me to assist you,” Nephy responded as she picked up a spoon with Zagan still on her lap.
“I can handle eating on my own!”
“You’re heading out after breakfast, so please at least rely on me at times like this.”
Zagan found himself unable to act strong when faced with Nephy’s desperate pleas. He desperately wished to resist, but he gave in to her whims instead.
“...Just this once, okay?”
“Yes!”
“I want that,” Zagan said as he pointed at a bowl of soup.
“Okay, here you go,” Nephy replied as she joyfully scooped up some soup with the spoon in her hand and carried it over to Zagan’s mouth.
Gaaah! I’m happy, but also embarrassed! He found his childish figure utterly miserable. Who knew that being treated like a child would cut so deep? However, since Nephy looked extremely happy about the turn of events, he couldn’t show his displeasure.
Foll’s breathing grew more rough and nasally as she heard their exchange.
“Zagan, have some bread.”
“Hey, why are you doing this too...?”
“You should listen to your big sister,” Foll obstinately emphasized the words ‘big sister,’ which left Zagan with little choice. He opened his mouth despite cringing on the inside, and his daughter took that chance to toss some soft bread into it.
“Is it tasty?”
“It’s food that Nephy and Raphael m
ade. Do you even need to ask?”
“Wow... Good boy!” Foll exclaimed as a satisfied smile erupted onto her face.
Should I just act as their toy during meals...? It pained him to be treated like a child, but both his bride and daughter looked happy. Plus, it wasn’t like the two of them were making fun of Zagan. He could tell that they truly derived great joy from the situation, which left him with little to complain about. That was why he pointed at the next dish he wanted with minimal resistance.
“I want dessert next.”
“But there’s still some salad left, Master Zagan,” Nephy replied. He couldn’t tell whether she wanted to spoil him or be strict with him as Nephy broke out into a smile and scooped up some pudding into her spoon.
“Zagan, you can have my pudding too.”
He didn’t intend to be greedy, but Foll also stuck out her spoon like she couldn’t wait any longer.
Well, I guess this isn’t all that bad... A king had to keep acting like one despite any adverse circumstances.
However, from the outside, the scene just looked like a painting of a haughty child being spoiled by his big sisters.
◇
In the church’s office.
Chastille was chewing on some bread for breakfast while sitting at her desk.
“Huh? A gathering of elders?” Barbatos asked as he popped out of the shadows with a hunk of meat in his hands. He had an unhealthy looking face with large shadows around his eyes, which were really no different from usual even though Nephteros had cured them just the other day, and several amulets dangling down from his neck. Barbatos ruffled his unkempt hair as he looked up at Chastille suspiciously, who cleared her throat out with a cough.
“It’s an important conference where all the races of the continent gather. Please don’t cause any trouble, okay? Also, don’t speak while you’re eating. It’s rude.”
“Oh, come on! What kind of crap do you expect me to pull, exactly? I’ve been protecting you like a gentleman this whole time, so at least have a little faith!”
“I can tell that you’d try to capture any rare species you see, you know?”
“Huh? Well, yeah, I’m a sorcerer. Why wouldn’t I do that?”
Chastille let out a sigh as her headache set in. This man was Zagan’s undesirable friend, an ex-Archdemon candidate, and also the sorcerer who was assigned to be her escort. He couldn’t be trusted, but he was rather reliable as well.
“I’m telling you not to do that. Listen, I’m not just going on behalf of the church. They chose me to represent all humans.”
“Yeah yeah, don’t worry. Your babysitter will follow you anywhere.”
Barbatos was capable of traversing any distance in an instant. That was a fairly useful skill in practice, but it also meant she could never shake him.
He wasn’t a bad person at heart... No, he was a villain who was rotten to the core, but on rare occasions, he showed a soft side. However, that didn’t change the fact that he was normally an irredeemable individual. And just as Barbatos began cackling, a shortsword stabbed into the floor right in front of his eyes.
“The hell!?”
“Oh, sorry. My hand slipped. Next time I’ll make sure to bring it down on your neck.”
“Apologize properly, dammit!”
The one who taunted him without an ounce of timidness in her voice was Kuroka. She entered the room with a letter in hand, and was accompanied by Nephteros and an Angelic Knight. As always, Kuroka carried two shortswords. Though at this particular moment, one was in the ground in front of Barbatos and the other was at the ready to stab him in the face.
“You bitch... What the hell do you think you’re doing!?”
“Uh, I was just thinking of doing a little cleaning...?” Kuroka replied. Then, she turned her vacant eyes toward him with a cold gaze and cocked her head to the side before saying, “Please watch your mouth, Mister Sorcerer. If not for Lady Chastille, I would cut off your head here and now.”
“You got some grudge against sorcerers or what?”
“I’ll never forgive them for stealing my friends, family, and the light in my eyes...”
“Crap, this one’s serious...” Barbatos muttered as he shut his mouth. Kuroka was on friendly terms with Zagan, who settled things between her and Chastille, but that didn’t mean she had suddenly forgiven all sorcerers. In fact, she was more wary of them than ever because Chastille seemed to trust them so blindly.
“Kuroka, getting angry at him each and every time will only tire you out,” Nephteros said in exasperation.
“...You’ve narrowly escaped death, Mister Sorcerer. Still, don’t just assume you’ll make it out safely next time, okay?” Kuroka said in a dry tone as she stomped on the end of the scabbard at her feet and skillfully sheathed her swords in mid-air.
“Bring it on, bitch! Did you fucking forget I turned the tables on you last time!?”
“Geez... Cut it out, Barbatos. You said you were coming to the gathering of elders, right? You should at least go prepare for the journey,” Chastille plainly stated.
“Wait, you’re not gonna tell me to stay behind?” Barbatos asked as he stared at her in wonder.
“You’ll just follow me anyway, right? In that case, stand by my side.”
“...O-Okay,” Barbatos hesitantly responded as if he was unsure how to react. And just like that, he sank into the shadows and disappeared.
Kuroka let out a ‘hmph’ as she gazed at his shadow with her tails standing straight on end, but Barbatos had left, so there was no one left there to react to her. Chastille grew impatient as she watched her do that and decided to call out to her.
“He’s just teasing me, Kuroka. You don’t have to pay any serious attention to him.”
“Lady Chastille, I’m fully aware that it’s impolite of me to say this, but that man is a monster. He’s a villain who’s rotten down to his very core. I won’t claim that all sorcerers are evil, but he definitely is. An Archangel like you shouldn’t be associating yourself with him.”
What to do? I can’t deny any of that, but... Chastille was stumped by Kuroka’s sound argument. Luckily, Nephteros decided to throw her a lifeline.
“That’s what makes him the perfect bodyguard. Barbatos is a greedy, selfish sorcerer, so he’ll never betray you as long as you pay him well.”
“That’s certainly another way of looking at it, but...” Kuroka mumbled in discontent as Nephteros shook her head with her silver hair swaying in the air.
“Wouldn’t that guy probably protect Chastille for free?”
“Huh...? Why do you think he would do that?” Kuroka asked as both she and Chastille cocked their heads to the side. Then, Nephteros replied to her question in a matter-of-factly tone.
“I mean, isn’t he in love with you?”
Loaf...? Lobe? No, loan...? Maybe lode...? Chastille was unable to comprehend what she just heard. And after a while, vocabulary that made no sense at all in context went through her brain.
“I’m telling you he’s head over heels for you,” Nephteros piled on those words in an attempt to stem Chastille’s stalling.
“AWEGQWERGQQQ!?” Chastille blurted out some completely sounds, then said, “Wh-Wh-Wh-Wh-Wh-Wh-Wh-What are you saying!?”
“What indeed, Miss Nephteros! Love? Please. If he does feel that way, then he’s more like a disgusting stalker!”
“N-No, you don’t need to go that far...” Chastille remarked, still completely shocked.
“Am I wrong?” Nephteros said, knitting her brows.
“You’re completely wrong! I mean, it’s Barbatos!”
“What’s that supposed to mean...?” Nephteros replied in astonishment. Then, she stated, “That guy’s voice goes up half an octave whenever he’s talking to you. Plus, he even started calling you by your name recently. And above all else, he’s always in good humor when you two speak.”
“Um, uh, th-there’s no way...” Chastille muttered, looking shaken as the truth dawned on her.
Now that I think about it, he did jump in and sacrifice himself to save me back when Kuroka first attacked... A sorcerer who only cared about getting paid wouldn’t have put their life on the line. And yet, Barbatos jumped in to act as her shield and allowed himself to be cut and stabbed numerous times. Chastille knew full well that he wasn’t a man who would do such a thing, so...
“Besides, when you told him to stand by your side, his ears turned red. Doesn’t that mean he’s in love?” Nephteros delivered her finishing blow in a calm, steady manner.
“S-Stop! Please just leave it at that! I-If you say anymore, I won’t even know how to face him...” Chastilled mumbled in an embarrassed tone.
“Our best course of action is to finish him off, right? Don’t worry, thanks to my time with Azazel, I’m an expert.”
“Stop right there!” Nephteros yelled as she grabbed the nape of Kuroka’s neck, stopping her from leaving to carry out her heinous plot.
“You want definitive proof that he won’t betray us, right? Well, now you have it. Why would he ever betray the woman he loves?”
“Um, well, that’s a good point, but...”
That Barbatos... with me? Chastille thought the idea impossible, but for some reason it was also hard for her to completely deny it. And while she agonized over those feelings, the Angelic Knight next to Nephteros formed a strained smile.
“Please stop, Lady Nephteros. Most women don’t enjoy talking about their love lives in public.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. Do you not have any experience with it yourself?”
“I don’t. After all, I’m nowhere near as old as I look,” Nephteros said as she shrugged her shoulders. In truth, it hadn’t even been a full year since she was created. She was terribly hurt by the fact that she was just Nephy’s clone, and was still worried about it, but oddly enough, Chastille couldn’t sense even a hint of agony in her voice.
It seems she’s at a point where she’s fine speaking about it now... Chastille was basically praying that was true, as nothing could have made her happier.
“I’m sure you’ll eventually meet a man who treasures you more than anything else in the world, Lady Nephteros,” the Angelic Knight said in a charmed manner.
An Archdemon's Dilemma: How to Love Your Elf Bride: Volume 6 Page 7