An Archdemon's Dilemma: How to Love Your Elf Bride: Volume 6 Read online

  Prologue

  “What’s the meaning of this, Chastille!?” Nephteros burst into Chastille’s office and immediately began shouting. She jumped up from her chair, which made her red hair, that was tied to the left side of her head, go flying about, and the quill pen in her right hand sent droplets of ink flying through the area. Since she was in her office, she was wearing an ultramarine uniform instead of her usual Anointed Armor.

  The woman facing her, Nephteros, had silver hair and golden eyes. Her dark skin and pointy ears were characteristic of dark elves, who were said to possess considerable power even among the elves. The documents that she threw down on Chastille’s desk seemed to be related to the Angelic Knights’ salaries.

  “M-Miss Nephteros, please calm down. What happened?”

  “Please wait, Lady Nephteros, I’m sure Lady Chastille had much to consider.”

  Behind her was Kuroka, a young girl with black hair who seemed all flustered, and a young Angelic Knight. The triangular ears atop Kuroka’s head were twitching about. She was a tabaxi. Her red eyes had no light in them, and she held a long cane in her hand. She was blind.

  “Eeek!? D-Did I do something wrong!?”

  “Don’t just go, ‘did I do something wrong?’ Why did you cut down the personal expenses of the Angelic Knights!?”

  “W-Well, I mean, the donations have gone down, so I have to manage the funds somehow...”

  “Then don’t let the donations go down! Do you think these people put their lives on the line for a mere pittance!? Are you stupid!? Do you want to cause a revolt!?” Nephteros began arguing vehemently with an extremely menacing attitude, putting Chastille on the verge of tears. And as she did, the three knights who served as her subordinates cut in.

  “W-Wait, please calm down, Lady Nephteros.”

  “Please leave it at that. We do not have any complaints regarding our current... Sorry, it’s nothing.”

  The brawny knights were pitifully rendered silent by a single glare from Nephteros.

  Is she trying to make me confess the real reason why I did this? It seemed she hadn’t burst in just to reject her decision without even listening to what Chastille had to say. And so, Chastille nervously opened her mouth while twiddling her index fingers.

  “My predecessor solicited quite a large sum of donations from the people. If we attempt to raise more, then the people won’t even be able to live. Having said that, it would be absurd to cut down the condolence fees we send to the families of those who’ve died in the line of duty, so there was no other way to cut costs...”

  Just a few days ago, because of the chimera Archdemon Bifrons threw into town, several Angelic Knights perished. There were also a number of casualties several months ago, so the cost of condolence fees to their families and the cost for replacing them had put a lot of pressure on their finances. In that case, the only possible course of action was hiking up the cost of donations, but there was also a reason they couldn’t do that.

  I know it’s wrong to feel this way, but I can’t have them favor Zagan... Archdemon Zagan was a king among sorcerers. However, contrary to his villainous countenance, the trust the people had in him ran deep. That was because despite being an Archdemon, he would wander around town aimlessly, look after the people, and would even incidentally protect the weak. Quite a large amount of people in the town had been saved by him already.

  Moreover, he always had his elf lover by his side... and the way they awkwardly built up their love for one another had somehow become one of the town’s famous sights. Seeing him acting the fool made their hate for sorcerers dissipate. And since the church and sorcerers were enemies on the surface, an increase in trust toward Zagan also meant a decrease in trust toward the church, which would only make the donations worse.

  Nephteros let out a sigh and picked up an unfinished document from Chastille’s desk.

  “In that case, stop using this stupidly expensive parchment. It takes fifty whole sheep just to make a single book out of this stuff, you know? There are also far cheaper inks out there, right?”

  The parchment they used was made out of sheepskin. They could only get about six sheets worth out of a single sheep, so even four sheets of it were equal to the wage of a regular citizen. It was far cheaper to use paper made out of plants, but since those were largely manufactured by sorcerers, it was considered more meaningful to the church to use parchment for official documents.

  “No, sorry. That’s something the church headquarters has decided as absolutely necessary, so I can’t just substitute them for something cheaper...”

  “That doesn’t apply to everything, right? Besides, if you’re lacking in donations, then you should be selling that parchment or thinking of other ways of making money.”

  “I-I doubt the people would be interested in this parchment...”

  “If you just sell it as is, then it probably won’t sell. But why not write about your scriptures, or saints, or the heroic tales of Angelic Knights and turn it into a book? Those rich collectors would probably buy them, and if you spread books around like that, then you’ll be able to regain some trust, right?”

  Nephteros has really thought this through, huh? Chastille had no way of refuting that idea. Something like making books and selling them had never even occurred to Chastille. That was why she honestly showed her gratitude for the idea.

  “I see. Making books sounds like a great idea. I’ll put it to the test right away. Thanks Nephteros.”

  “H-Hmph! It’s fine as long as you get it,” Nephteros stated that and turned to the side as her pointy ears were dyed red right to their tips. Upon seeing her reaction, the faces of three knights who were trembling in fear loosened up. And perhaps because she was the only one unable to keep up with the conversation, Kuroka had been staring blankly at them the whole time, and after a short while, she finally smiled.

  “Miss Nephteros, you were getting angry on behalf of all the Angelic Knights, right? You really are kind.”

  “Wh-Why do I have to worry about you lot!?” Nephteros roared. It had been about a week since Nephteros and Kuroka took up residence at the church. And before they knew it, the position of an official aide that Kuroka came to fill in the first place was being done by Nephteros. Since the other Angelic Knights were worried about the idea and volunteered to explain everything to her, she was already capable of managing the church’s finances.

  “It’s nothing... I’m a freeloader, so I’ll at least help out,” Nephteros said that paper-thin excuse repeatedly. But even so, she often went too far with her words, and at such times, Kuroka would cut in to mediate.

  “But, you were thinking of everybody in town, right Lady Chastille? I’m sure everyone will be happy about it!”

  “...” Chastille covered her face, clearly embarrassed by Nephteros’ caring attitude. Thanks to these girls, her burden at the church had lightened a fair bit.

  The misunderstanding with Kuroka was resolved, too... That was what Chastille was most happy about. When they first met, Kuroka only thought of Chastille as a target and tried to kill her. She was a girl who, on top of being blind, had a gentle personality and seemed completely unrelated to any forms of violence, but with a sword in her hand, she became a master who could rival Chastille. She even possessed enough skill to completely overwhelm Chastille when they were in the confined environment of the office, so it wasn’t all that appealing a situation to have this girl aiming for her life.

  She was being led on by Archdemon Bifrons, but the biggest cause of the misunderstanding was Chastille’s own misleading speech and conduct. It was t
o the point where she was astonished at how confusing the words she said were, and her sorcerer escort, Barbatos, roared with laughter, exclaiming, ‘Now there’s the usual Chastille!’ Just remembering that somehow made her sad.

  Huh? I feel like Barbatos has been calling me by my name lately... In the end, she wasn’t all that happy about being treated like a useless crybaby, but did that mean the sorcerer with a foul personality had acknowledged her in some way? Chastille shook her head as if trying to shake away such thoughts, then looked down at the order written on the document before her.

  Archangel Chastille Lillqvist. I request your attendance at the Continental Interracial Elders Conference as a representative of the church.

  That was the name of the gathering which would assemble all the continent’s races. I wonder if they’ll all attend?

  Chapter I: A Daughter’s Rebellious Phase Is Scary Enough to Even Terrify an Archdemon

  “Clothes... for a date?”

  Nighttime. Zagan found himself at a loss for words upon being informed of something by his butler Raphael. Three days had passed since he invited Nephy on a date, but they hadn’t actually gone yet. There was a large increase in the number of residents in his castle thanks to the aftermath of Bifrons’ attack on Kianoides, which left them all swamped in work. Nephy herself was busy running about, dealing with all the housework in the castle.

  Bifrons still manages to get in my way even after their defeat. Archdemons are really something else... It wasn’t like it was all Bifrons’ fault, but that was where Zagan decided to point his resentment. And with all that going on, it was decided that the date would finally occur one week later, but... Raphael had suddenly brought up the topic of clothing as if he had remembered something.

  As always, Zagan had a fiendish countenance that could make a child cry on sight. His black hair, which he had previously disregarded entirely, was at least combed down and tied back, but it didn’t really change much, and he wore a completely plain black robe underneath his red mantle. Zagan looked down at his own clothing in shock, then turned back to his butler.

  “I can’t just go in these?”

  “...My liege. Think it over. Between Lady Nephy showing up to your date wearing her usual maid uniform, and Lady Nephy showing up after putting all her effort into her appearance... which would make you happier?”

  “Isn’t it obvious that both would make me happy!?” Zagan replied with a serious expression on his face. That was his immediate reaction. Zagan had no intentions of making Nephy wear something embarrassing, and she already looked stunning in her maid uniform. Naturally, the dress she was wearing when he first met her was also quite lovely, but that didn’t really matter. It was impossible for Zagan to assign a ranking to how she looked.

  “That is not what I mean... Then, are you perhaps saying that you do not care what Lady Nephy wears?” Raphael asked as he put his hand to his forehead in a troubled manner.

  “No, that’s a different matter altogether. Well, I certainly do wish for her to wear new clothes on our date, but... I see. So that’s what you mean.”

  His butler certainly had a point. Zagan definitely wanted to see Nephy getting all worried about what clothes to wear for his sake... Plus, he genuinely wanted to see her dressed up as well. In that case, Nephy would surely also be happy to see Zagan wearing properly selected clothes.

  But... aren’t these the only clothes I possess? The reason sorcerers wore such unfashionable robes and mantles wasn’t because of their whims or to create some sort of atmosphere. They were fortresses which were implanted with all forms of magic circles for defense, offense, physical reinforcement, and regeneration. It wasn’t something that could be planted into the flimsy shirts or fancy trousers that nobles and commoners wore. However, that wasn’t a good enough reason for Zagan to go on his date dressed like a slob. He still had a week, so he still had time to do something to remedy the situation.

  “Tell me, Raphael. What should I do? What sort of clothing would be appropriate?”

  “I am also not well versed in this area. However, you may wish to start by fixing your hygiene.”

  “My hygiene!?”

  Now that he mentioned it, Zagan realized that he wore the same clothes every day. If they got dirty or began to smell, he could deal with it using sorcery. And because he could decompose sweat and dirt in the tiniest crevices down to the last bacteria, it wasn’t like he was in any way filthy. However, whether or not it was hygienic was a different issue.

  “Also, a gentleman would surely at least wear a tie,” Raphael added.

  “A tie? I don’t even own one of those,” Zagan groaned. The only thing he owned that was even close was a rope used to hang people.

  Surely, when the time came that Nephy and the others could live freely under the light of the sun, Zagan would have to wear normal clothes and live out a normal life. And so, his current hurdle was acquiring that first ‘normal’ set of clothes. A date was apparently something a normal couple did, after all.

  “Then... I guess I have to go out and buy some clothes...” Zagan quietly muttered, seemingly resigning himself to his fate. Though, he was certain he would have to do it without letting any of the other sorcerers in his castle find out. Especially Gremory.

  “Raphael, you understand what it is that you must do, right?” Zagan asked as he aimed a sharp gaze over to Raphael.

  “A foolish question, my liege. All I need do is keep your true intentions hidden from everyone and seal the movements of those damn sorcerers, right?”

  On one hand was the youngest Archdemon in history with a villainous countenance. On the other was the most dreadful ex-Archangel with an enormous scar across his face, who had a body count that neared 500. The scene of the two of them having a confidential conversation was enough to make one think they were plotting dastardly deeds. But, in truth, they were just discussing the small worry of ‘what should I do to look good?’ In any case, Zagan nodded in satisfaction at Raphael’s response, which perfectly lined up with his own intentions.

  “I see that my butler is as impressive as ever. I’ll leave the castle to you.”

  “Understood.”

  All that was left was procuring clothes fit for a date. Having said that, it was a little late in the evening to head out, since it was just about time for dinner. He realized that if he wanted to head into town, it would have to be rather late in the night or during the following morning.

  I don’t have time for this... This may be a dangerous move... but should I count on Manuela...? Thinking back on all the times she picked clothes for the others, he knew he ran the risk of being used like a toy, but that suspicious clerk’s eyes could be trusted. She would definitely pick out clothing suitable for a date... Or rather, there wasn’t really any other store where he could even ask for such a thing. Zagan’s name was too well known in Kianoides. If he were to order them to choose clothes for an Archdemon at their own discretion, most clerks would just cower without giving him a proper response.

  It was good fortune that Raphael had pointed it out to him with a week to spare. He truly was rather useful. And right about when he was deciding on what the optimal timing would be to slip out of the castle unnoticed...

  “This is all, like, a total misunderstanding, little missy! I was just, like, kind of interested in what was inside! Or, like, I thought maybe it was addressed to me!”

  “What’s going on...?” Zagan and Raphael knit their brows upon hearing that headache inducing scream. Shortly thereafter, the door opened along with a knock. The one who entered after that was Foll, and she was dragging Selphy along by the neck. As always, Foll had her green hair in braids running down her back, and she had dragon horns sticking out behind her ears. Her amber eyes were sparkling, and judging from the rough breath coming from her nose, she seemed to be mad about something. This young girl was a descendant of dragons, and was also Zagan’s adopted daughter. She had Selphy in her left hand and an envelope in her right.

 
; As for Selphy... Well, she was a girl with blue hair. She had quite the pretty face when silent, but right now she was letting out a waterfall of tears while begging for her life. And perhaps because it was drenched by her tears, the lower half of her body had transformed into that of a fish’s tail and was wriggling about. She was a siren. And, as one might expect, her specialty was singing. However, even her crying voice was abnormally noisy.

  “Can I come in?” Foll looked up at Zagan and Raphael, came to a stop, and asked that question. Apparently, she could tell that they were talking about something serious, and was asking whether she was being a nuisance.

  Well, it’s not like it was anything too important. I was just asking for dating advice... From the outside, there was a sense of tension in the air that made the meeting seem extremely serious and dangerous, but Zagan himself did not know that.

  “Yeah. We’re just about finished. You may come in.”

  “Here. A letter for you,” Foll walked all the way up to Zagan with her baggage in tow.

  “Oh. Good work... By the way, what is that?” Zagan inquired as he cast his gaze over to Selphy.

  “It’s totally a misunderstanding, Mister Archdemon! I wasn’t, like, trying to read your letter or anything, I swear! I’m not that brave!” Selphy began appealing to him in a booming voice as tears streamed down her face.

  “Then why were you opening it?” Foll asked with a glare.

  “...I don’t really get what’s going on. Did she try to read my letter or something?”

  “Yeah,” Foll replied. It seemed she had caught her red-handed.

  “Well, I doubt anything important would get sent to me by letter, but you still shouldn’t open other people’s letters without permission. If it was a letter from a sorcerer, it could’ve exploded the moment you opened it.”

  “That’s not it, okay? The sender of that letter’s from my home, right? So I thought, like, maybe they sent it here for me...” Selphy mumbled in a cracking voice. She had turned ghastly pale and began trembling violently upon hearing Zagan’s earlier warning. She probably wasn’t lying or anything. This girl was rather thoughtless on occasion, but she at least understood that she was working in a place where she could die just by Zagan’s whim. However, in that case, the letter itself was rather incomprehensible.