An Archdemon's Dilemma: How to Love Your Elf Bride: Volume 8 (Premium) Page 2

  And with that, Zagan realized that Raphael’s body had stiffened up entirely.

  “Hm...? Raphael, what’s wrong?”

  “Mm... It’s nothing, the timing for it is just poor.”

  “The timing...? Did something happen?”

  “Nothing serious. But... depending on how things go, those damn sorcerers may be in danger of dying.”

  Raphael was once more speaking in a difficult to understand way, leaving Zagan racking his brain for the meaning behind it.

  “Uhhh... So you just urged them to do their work faster, and if we urge them on any more they may not be able to take the stress anymore?”

  “Mm! Precisely!”

  Raphael clapped his hands together, confirming that Zagan was right on the mark.

  ...Honestly speaking, Zagan would have preferred it if this butler could say things in an easier to understand way, though.

  Zagan held back his sigh, and took a single piece of paper from his pocket. It was the one with himself, Marc and their other childhood friend drawn upon it. Or rather than drawn, it was projected onto the paper using the sorcery known as Memorandum by extracting one of Zagan’s memories, so it was somewhat different from a painting.

  “Then pass this along to those subordinates of mine for me. If you just mention that I want to know more about him, someone who has any information will surely come to tell me something.”

  The recompense Zagan granted to his subordinates for their service was in no way frugal. His subordinates also understood this full well, so he could expect them to take on individual action to investigate this themselves.

  Raphael accepted the piece of paper with a sense of relief about him.

  “Understood. Will losing this be a hindrance in your own investigations, my liege?”

  “This picture was created with sorcery. I can make another in no time.”

  Even when he was investigating in town, this Memorandum was quite useful.

  “Oops, now that I think of it, I’ll need to pass this around to my subordinates in town too.”

  Zagan had about twenty sorcerers working for him at Archdemon Palace, and a few others who knew how to heal others stationed at the church to assist his sworn ally Chastille. Those sorcerers rarely came by Zagan’s castle, so there was a need to communicate this to them by letter or telepathic communication or the like. In any case, Zagan was heading to town, so he figured it was just faster to hand it to them directly.

  And after Zagan mumbled that, Raphael narrowed his eyes like a hunter spotting his prey.

  “My liege. If you’re going by the church, I have a request of you.”

  “Hmm. What is it?”

  In a rare turn of events, Raphael averted his gaze as if he found it difficult to reply. And after knitting his brows, the loyal butler eventually resolved himself.

  “I’d like you... to check on how Kuroka is doing...”

  I was thinking something was off about him today... so this is the reason, huh?

  They weren’t related by blood, but Kuroka was still Raphael’s daughter. She was working at the church to this day, but because of a certain incident, Raphael was made out to be dead, so he couldn’t just publicly visit her there.

  “...Seriously,” Zagan said with a sigh, “You two really are awkward. I told Kuroka to come visit you too, but from the looks of it, she never came either, huh?”

  It had already been a month since Zagan told her to do so.

  “I can’t refute that.”

  “Well fine. I keep you by my side knowing that full well. I have no complaints about your work.”

  “I am honored.”

  Zagan held his hand up to stop Raphael’s reverent bow, and rose to his feet.

  “Now then, it’s about time I get going. I’ve got some extra business to take care of now, after all. I’ll be back later than usual.”

  “As you will.”

  Raphael started to leave the throne room with a cruel smile as if he was off to kill his prey. And seeing that expression that looked like he was scheming some sort of rebellion, Zagan cocked his head to the side.

  Hm? He looked somewhat relieved.

  For a person who had never met Raphael, it truly looked like he was going to draw his sword at any moment, but Zagan could tell this was how he looked when he was relieved. It may have been because Zagan was going to check on his daughter, but he still seemed to be in far too good a mood for that. Well, he was a man whose actions and expressions all brought about misunderstanding, so all of this may have just been Zagan’s imagination. In any case, he had much to do today.

  “Oh yeah, is Nephy in the kitchen right now? I want to see her before I head out.”

  Ever since the incident in Liucaon, he felt like the distance between them had gotten even closer. A large reason for that was likely because they were both able to boldly declare in public that they were lovers. And as Zagan cheerfully asked that, his butler replied with a troubled expression.

  “Lady Nephy left the castle moments ago.”

  “Huh?”

  Zagan’s expression clouded over entirely like an abandoned puppy.

  “I do not know where she went, but she said that she had business with Chastille and Nephteros. Well, there are things that are easier to discuss between women, right?”

  “Th-That’s... certainly true...”

  Zagan was prepared to grant any of Nephy’s desires, but that girl lacked any sense of self-assertion to begin with. She even kept quiet when it concerned her own livelihood, or she would just put it off entirely.

  He didn’t know what they were, but there were definitely things that Zagan couldn’t consider precisely because he was a man. There was even a precedent for creating unpleasant memories, like when she first came to this castle precisely because of that. Having Chastille and Nephteros at her side was everything he could wish for in such a case, but...

  I wanted to talk to and touch Nephy even if just a little...

  It was no exaggeration to say all his energy in the morning lately came from this desire.

  And so, the Archdemon left his castle with slumped shoulders.

  ◇

  “Raphael, are Zagan and Nephy gone?”

  Shortly after Zagan left the throne room, a voice called out to Raphael who was seeing his lord off. It was a young voice, that of Zagan and Nephy’s daughter Foll.

  As always, her green hair was braided and she had twisting horns poking out of her head. She had large amber eyes, and wore a native dress using white and scarlet as basic tones. She looked to be just around ten years old. However, her amber eyes were filled with a strong light of determination.

  Raphael replied to her with the tone of an affectionate father.

  “Worry not. Both of them have left. I have arranged it so that both of them will be returning late. They surely won’t be back until nighttime.”

  “Thanks.”

  Foll bobbed her head down, and muttered in a severe voice.

  “I can’t allow the two of them to find out... no matter what.”

  The young girl looked to be brooding over it seriously, so Raphael gently brushed her head with a smile on his face.

  “Do not get overly agitated, Foll. I am here with you.”

  Foll’s tiny shoulders jumped with a start.

  “Sorry, Raphael. I got you caught up in it.”

  “I’m telling you not to worry. My king is Zagan, but my damned life is dedicated to you. It is absurd for you to carry any worries at all.”

  “...Mmm.”

  Foll walked up to the throne and plopped herself down in it.

  “Lilith and Selphy are working just as we expected. We have the tacit consent and cooperation of Kimry and the other sorcerers. As long as Gremory moves just as I expect, she will not betray us. All there is to worry about is Nephy, but she’s not in the castle.”

  In other words, this young girl had a grasp of all authority in this castle.

  “I’ll definitely make A
lshiere Imera a success. Even if it doesn’t make Zagan and Nephy happy.”

  Seeing that young girl who was just as awkward as her parents, Raphael put on a helpless smile.

  “Fear not. Those two will surely rejoice over the things you do as a sign of your damned growth.”

  He was able to reply to her with firm conviction.

  “That... would be nice...”

  It was the first plan that Foll had thought of and put into motion herself. It was only reasonable for her to be anxious. However, Raphael chose to serve under Zagan precisely so he could support this girl. That’s why he once more petted the young lady’s head.

  The one I’m more worried about here is Lady Nephy...

  He honestly kept Foll’s secret and supported her, but Raphael was burdened with another secret as well.

  It’ll be nice if Lady Nephy does not bump into my liege...

  It wasn’t a coincidence that Nephy left the castle today. She had her own goals to accomplish. She conferred with Raphael about her secret half a month ago. It was strangely just around the time that Foll came to him for support. Her secret was so that she could leave the castle to accomplish ‘a certain something.’

  That’s why even as Raphael answered Foll’s request, he pretended that Nephy was always in the castle. However, Nephy left the castle today earlier than usual. That’s why he was unable to hide it from Zagan. That was also precisely why he needed a reason to keep Zagan out of the castle longer. He had no other choice. However, Raphael hadn’t taken any measures to help Nephy.

  Well, Gremory will surely handle that side of things.

  It was something Foll mentioned in passing, but Gremory was cooperating with her. Her character was difficult to understand, but she was far and beyond all of Zagan’s subordinates when it came to this sort of work. She truly had a talent for scheming.

  ...Well, he didn’t really want to rely on her all that much since there was a high probability that she would also create extra unnecessary problems.

  It all led him to want to let out a big sigh.

  But... Alshiere Imera, huh...?

  It was originally something related to the church and had nothing to do with sorcerers. Nevertheless, that word was now giving birth to unprecedented chaos within Archdemon Zagan’s circle. It was far too ironic.

  And so, Raphael instinctively looked to the heavens, knowing full well there was no way the day would end peacefully.

  ◇

  “Nephelia, you came here because it’d be bad if big bro found out, right? Go do that further inside.”

  The tip of Nephy’s pointy ears quivered upon being called. Her white hair, which was proof that she was a high elf, flowed straight down to her waist, and she had large azure eyes. Just as always, she was wearing her ultramarine one-piece dress and a pure white apron, along with her boots which had sorcery cast on them to relieve fatigue. She also wore a boorish looking collar around her neck even to this day.

  And after her younger sister whispered to her in the middle of all the hustle and bustle, Nephy bobbed her head down in return.

  “Thank you very much, Nephteros. Chastille, you as well.”

  This shop had many customers during the day, and there were many people who knew Nephy’s face.

  Master Zagan is sure to come to town again today in his search too...

  Chastille shook her head as if it wasn’t all that big a deal.

  “Don’t worry about it Nephy. I had a vacation practically pushed on me all of a sudden, so I had more time than I knew what to do with. Today’s Alshiere Imera, after all, so my subordinates are strangely worked up to do everything they can for me.”

  “...In your case, is it not because you overwork yourself too much, so they want you to take a break?” Nephteros replied in exasperation.

  Nephy gazed at her sister and best friend and let out a laugh of her own.

  “What? Nephelia.”

  “Nothing. Those outfits suit you two very well.”

  Nephteros and Chastille were both wearing showy red outfits. The collars and sleeves were decorated with white fur, and they had cute little green ribbons tied up at their chests. Men would wear trousers with this outfit, but the girls were wearing short skirts. Nephteros began squirming about as if paying attention to her dark thighs sticking out.

  Nephteros’ dark skin and Chastille’s scarlet hair and eyes suited the outfits quite well, which made Nephy want to narrow her eyes and smile. She would be wearing the same outfit herself shortly, but would it really suit her just as well as it did these two?

  The three of them were currently in a tavern in Kianoides. It was the place where Manuela brought Nephy during a certain incident where she was feeling down, and also where Zagan and Raphael first met. Nephy was working here during the day whenever she found the chance, but that was a secret.

  Nephteros then combed her hand through her silver hair and let out a sigh.

  “That doesn’t sound like anything but sarcasm. Why do I have to wear this...?”

  “Huh...? Are you embarrassed even though it has less exposure than your usual clothes?” Chastille asked with a tilt of her head.

  “That’s not the problem! Aren’t you embarrassed wearing something like a clown would?!”

  “What are you talking about? Is this not the traditional outfit for Alshiere Imera passed down in the church? What need is there to be embarrassed?”

  “...Even if you imitate big bro with your haughty speech, you don’t sound convincing at all, you know?”

  Chastille didn’t have any of the majesty that Zagan did when he said such things, and it felt more like a child innocently getting excited about wearing new clothes. And with a strained smile on her face, Nephy stretched her hand out to Nephteros’ clothes.

  “Nephteros, your ribbon is coming loose. You’ll be serving customers, so you must pay attention to your personal appearance.”

  “I-It’s none of your business.”

  As Nephy fixed her green ribbon for her, Nephteros puffed her cheeks and looked to the side. However, her ears were just slightly dyed red, and were quivering about in a somewhat happy manner.

  Does this mean she’s happy I wonder?

  Her cute reaction left Nephy charmed, and Nephteros looked around the area to try and avert the topic.

  “More importantly Chastille, Barbatos hasn’t noticed yet, right?”

  The man named Barbatos was the sorcerer who served as Chastille’s guard. He was Zagan’s undesirable friend, and Nephy had also met him on numerous occasions. If he were to know of this, it would definitely reach Zagan’s ears. But Chastille puffed her chest out in pride and nodded.

  “We’re all covered there. Apparently Barbatos has some business to take care of, so he won’t be around all day.”

  “...It’d be nice if that’s the case...”

  Nephteros didn’t get along with Barbatos, and was plainly making an annoyed expression.

  “Lord Barbatos isn’t all that bad a person. It’s rude to speak so poorly of him.”

  Nephy figured that speaking ill of Barbatos too much in front of Chastille may cause her to take offense, so she admonished Nephteros as much as she could manage. However, Nephteros’ face just grew even more weary.

  “He’s only like that in front of Chastille, you know? He’s so irritating when he’s with me or Kuroka that it just makes you want to kill him.”

  “Ummm... Well, that may be true.”

  Nephy couldn’t say anything back to that. However, Nephy brought her face close to Nephteros and whispered in her ears.

  “That’s no good, Nephteros. You can’t say things that’ll make Chastille more conscious of Lord Barbatos.”

  “Huh? Richard said the same thing to me too. I didn’t go all that far this time, but is that still no good?”

  “...You can tell by looking.”

  Nephy pointed Nephteros’ gaze over to Chastille, who may have been making an effort to stand steadfast, but was bright red right up
to her ears and trembling. Looking closely, she even had tears in her eyes.

  “Well, mm. I get it.”

  Nephteros looked to be somewhat at a loss, and shook her head.

  “Anyway, how long do you plan on just chatting here? Wouldn’t it be bad to get spotted out here?”

  Nephteros took Nephy’s hand and pulled her further into the shop.

  The reason Nephteros is able to hold my hand like this is also thanks to Chastille, isn’t it?

  Thinking back on it, her first encounter with her sister was the worst. They faced each other as enemies and hurt each other. And to think a day would come where they could hold hands like this. They would likely never have believed it at the time. Nephy didn’t notice that her own ears were quivering about happily at that fact.

  There was a locker room for employees near the kitchen. Nephy stripped out of her usual clothes. These clothes and her fatigue abating boots were her precious treasures, the first presents Zagan had ever given her. She stood them up carefully within her own locker.

  She then took out a red outfit identical to the one Chastille and Nephteros were wearing and changed into it. As she stooped over to put on her skirt, her long hair looked like it would touch the floor, so Chastille suddenly got behind her and held her hair back. Before she knew it, her hair had grown longer than she thought it was.

  I see. Foll’s hair has grown, so it’s natural for mine to have grown as well.

  After buttoning up completely, Nephy turned to Chastille and nodded.

  “Thank you very much, Chastille.”

  “No worries. Anyway, your hair is so fine and beautiful Nephy. Do all elves have such beautiful hair?”

  And the one to reply with a sigh was Nephteros.

  “There’s no way they do, right? How hard do you think it is to keep it in such good condition every day? It’s even worse lately with the cold because of the static electricity.”

  “Aah, that’s been bothering you too Nephteros? I also have to spend a good while brushing my hair in the morning.”