So there are matters that she can’t just leave to civil officials, then... And what immediately came to mind regarding that...
“Are you looking into the incident involving Foll?”
As Zagan pointed that out, Chastille’s eyes widened.
“...I see I can’t hide anything from you, huh?” Chastille replied as she began fidgeting with her hair. Then she continued, “There are far too many inexplicable aspects to that incident. According to all of you, that person called Alshiera is the primary suspect, but she’s completely vanished and we haven’t been able to track her down. Even if she were the culprit, just what was her goal? Did she fail? Or did she accomplish it?”
The unpleasant vampire Alshiera. It seemed she was deeply involved with the root cause of Foll’s rampage, but at the same time, she showed signs of helping Zagan’s group deal with it. So, just what was she? Zagan himself wanted to quickly chase her down and finish her off, but...
Nephy seems to think she isn’t an enemy... In that case, he had reservations about outright killing her, though that wasn’t really the appropriate wording to use with a member of the Night Clan. In any case, since he was unable to meet with Alshiera directly, trying to gather information was as useless as trying to grasp a cloud. However, since there was a high probability she would meddle with Foll again, Zagan planned on cooperating with Chastille on this.
“Her character is completely unknown to us, after all. However, she mentioned a name that bothers me.”
“Azazel...?”
Zagan nodded in return. It wasn’t clear whether it really existed, but that was the name of the thirteenth Sacred Sword. At the very least, the church did not possess it. There was an organization in the church which shared the name, but that didn’t necessarily point to evidence of Azazel’s existence.
It really does seem to be something quite special though... It didn’t seem like a Sacred Sword that the church had simply lost, anyway.
“She knows something about Azazel. If we pursue it, she’ll surely show herself once more.”
“That’s... probably true. I’ll leave that part to you.”
“So you say, but I haven’t found any leads yet.”
The same likely applied to Chastille. She crossed her arms and let out a groan, then raised her voice as if suddenly remembering something.
“Oh yeah, there was something that I had to talk with you about. The investigation seems like it’ll take a while, so the church is going to send over reinforcements.”
“Hmm, so you’re being relieved?”
“That would be nice... But they’re not my subordinates. Since we’re all the way out here, I don’t think there are many members of the Unification Faction that would get sent out. It might be better for you not to show your face.”
There were all sorts of people who were part of the church. Chastille was quite amicable, but her subordinate Kuroka was originally part of Azazel, the faction within the church that especially hated sorcerers. Moreover, the organization known as the church itself held sorcerers as enemies, and those within the church who were friendly to sorcerers were surely in the minority.
Nevertheless, Zagan simply shrugged his shoulders.
“This is already my domain. If they’re such idiots that they don’t understand what it means to offend me in this place, I don’t think they’ll live all that long either way.”
“People get reckless even when they’re afraid. Angelic Knights are people too. There’s not all that many people who can look an Archdemon in the eyes and stay calm here.”
“Hm...? Is that so? I feel like your subordinates are all relatively calm, though...”
Well, when Zagan intruded on the church because he had business with Chastille, they were afraid, but nevertheless, none of them lost themselves and attacked him due to that fear. Zagan even admired how scrupulous her subordinates’ training was.
And, as he tilted his head to the side, Chastille shook her head in astonishment.
“That’s because they’re stationed in Kianoides. Even if they don’t want to, they’ll spot you if they walk through town.”
Even without an enemy like Bifrons causing incidents in town, Zagan went to town once every three days to go shopping or to visit the Archdemon Palace. When he had first become an Archdemon, he did so intentionally as to establish his authority of the place, so his face was known even to children like Kuu who had nothing to do with sorcery.
“It’s true that I’ve never done anything cruel there, but is that enough to disperse things like fear and hostility?” Zagan asked. There was no purpose to scaring people meaninglessly, but it was also troubling if they looked down on him. If it was just Zagan, he didn’t really care. But if Zagan’s reputation was harmed, then Nephy, Foll, and his other subordinates would also be exposed to danger. It was perhaps better for him to arbitrarily show himself in public. And, as he worried about such things, Chastille scratched her head.
“No... If you show such a charming display with Nephy so often, or how you’re so indulgent with Foll all the time, there’s no way anybody would be afraid. It’s already a famous sight in Kianoides, you know?”
“Wh-What...? No way... Impossible...”
Zagan was struck by a dizzy spell.
Charming...? Wait... is she saying that the townspeople were watching...? He understood that he conducted himself in a manner where he couldn’t really properly take the lead with Nephy. Just inviting her on a date took an entire week of mulling about in confusion. By the time he invited her and went on the date, he didn’t have any clothing prepared and ended up shrinking. All he ever did was show off his embarrassing side.
But that was something he allowed because it was fine for Nephy to see it. And yet, it wasn’t only exposed to Chastille, but was even a famous sight in town. As Zagan was struck down by an unprecedented shock, Chastille realized her mistake and began panicking.
“Th-That’s not it! I didn’t mean to make fun of you! How do I put it? That in itself has a good influence on the surroundings, so it’s actually a big help to me!”
Zagan’s spirit was beaten down even further by being consoled by Chastille of all people, but he was still an Archdemon. He mustered his willpower and stood back up.
“H-Hmph... An Archdemon cares not for such trifles no matter what the masses think.”
“Y-You’re right.”
Somehow, Chastille agreeing with him out of pity was bringing Zagan to tears.
“Hyahyahyaah. You’re looking real shitty there Zagan. If you’re more of a wreck than the crybaby, you’ve got nothing left to stand on.”
A grating voice came from Chastille’s feet. Or, more specifically, it was from the shadow at her feet. And, as Zagan’s face spasmed with a twitch, Chastille scratched her head as if things were just getting more and more troublesome.
“Barbatos, why do you keep saying things like that when you know you’re going to get punched?”
“He punches me without any reason at all on a regular basis. May as well get a few hits in at times like this.”
And with that, the face of a sorcerer with scruffy looking hair came out of Chastille’s shadow. Due to their location at the bottom of the sea, his unhealthy looking face with shadows under his eyes looked even gloomier than usual.
“Do you not think that’s exactly why you keep getting punched?”
“The hell? You’re taking Zagan’s side even though he makes fun of you all the time?”
“I do believe you’re the one who calls me a crybaby the most!”
Even Chastille had a vein popping on her brow, to which Barbatos cocked his head to the side curiously.
“Huh? Crybaby isn’t an insult, right?”
“I know it’s inevitable that common sense doesn’t apply to sorcerers, but that’s really too farfetched.”
“Huh? If we took the crybaby part away from you, you’d just be some boring ass female knight. Like hell I’d keep you company if you weren’t even a c
rybaby.”
“Huh?”
“Huh?”
Barbatos finally realized what it was he had just said. And, after sinking into silence, his face turned both red and white as he began shaking.
I’m surprised you can insult anyone like that... Zagan also thought of Chastille as a crybaby, but since she was Nephy’s good friend, he never said it aloud. Barbatos then began panicking as he waved both his hands in front of him and tried to gloss it over.
“W-Wait! You’re wrong! This is that. Um, when you’re a crybaby you’re weaker than me, so I’ll protect you! Or, um, I’m kinda better than you like that, so that’s why—”
A sharp slap rang out through the corridor, making Zagan’s eyes shoot wide open. Chastille had slapped Barbatos right across the cheek full force.
“Ow...”
Perhaps having been pulled out of the shadows entirely by the force of her slap, Barbatos was now sitting on the floor in a complete daze, unaware of what had just happened. It seemed his behavior just now had crossed the line even for Chastille. Calling her a crybaby was par for the course, but this was the first time she had clearly shown how it angered her.
Wouldn’t it have been fine if he’d just said being a crybaby was one of her charms? Why did it end up so complicated? Well, Zagan wasn’t really one to criticize others when it came to honestly saying what was on his mind. Incidentally, Chastille was making a surprised expression on a level with the one who had just been slapped. It was as if she had just been struck herself.
Is this what they mean when they say two people are close enough to fight...? Or maybe she was just getting angry to hide her embarrassment?
Despite appearances, Chastille was quite the realist. She understood that there was a light and dark side to the church... Well, she was also an awkward girl who couldn’t forsake anyone despite knowing of that clear divide. In any case, she wasn’t supposed to be one to lash out like this. Chastille held down the hand she used to hit Barbatos, then spoke out in a trembling voice.
“I didn’t mean to... But you should stop looking down on others like that.”
Unable to bear her bewilderment any longer, Chastille left the two of them behind. And, unable to understand just what had happened, Barbatos rubbed his cheek as he opened his mouth. It was like his soul had departed him.
“...Ow.”
And he repeated the same thing as before, to which Zagan nodded in exasperation.
“Well, you did get hit.”
“It hurt... way more than when you punch me. Why’s that?”
This man received punches from Zagan’s fist that could sunder bedrock as if it were an everyday thing. Compared to that, Chastille’s open palm slap should have been like a mosquito bite, but Barbatos was left extremely shocked.
Unable to bear the sight of his undesirable friend sinking into this watery grave at the bottom of the sea, Zagan scratched his head.
“Ummm... That reminds me. Seems there’s an uninhabited island nearby, Barbatos. I’m taking Foll there for a change of pace, so go call that lot from the church. All of them should be getting fed up with being at the bottom of the sea by now too.”
Barbatos raised his head, still looking like a dead fish.
“An island...? Why go there?”
“You may not know this, but when you anger another, you need to apologize. And when you apologize, it’s more efficient for them to be in a good mood.”
“A-Apologize? Why do I have to...”
“Do you really not know why Chastille was angry just now?”
“You saying it was my fault!?” Barbatos snapped at Zagan out of reflex, but even he himself understood this, and sunk back down to his knees completely crestfallen.
“...Apologize? Me? Listen, I’ve never apologized to anyone in my life... so what’re you telling me to do here...?”
Zagan never thought Barbatos would brood over it so seriously and was completely taken aback. He then tried to give his undesirable friend a good smack on the back.
“Well, good for you. It’ll be a fresh experience. Expanding one’s field of view is directly connected to elevating one’s view as a sorcerer.”
“Quit messing around, Zagan. Have you ever apologized to anyone?”
“Huh? Ummm, I have... probably.”
Like when he once cast Nephy aside and ended up hurting her.
Huh? Did I even properly apologize that time? He felt like he was in a complete haze at the time from Nephy returning to his side, so he did not remember. Both Zagan and Barbatos let out an involuntary sigh. They really were birds of a feather.
“A-Anyway, you were in the wrong. If you don’t properly apologize, it’ll be too awkward to even look her in the face.”
“What do you even know about us!? Crybaby is a compliment here!”
Mm. I’m not as bad as this guy, so I’m okay... Having revised his perception of himself, Zagan squatted down next to Barbatos.
“I don’t think that’s why she was angry. Do you remember ever seeing Chastille get truly angry from just being called a crybaby?”
“N-Never. So, what was that all about?”
And just as Zagan was about to answer his helpless, undesirable friend...
“Master Zagan.”
He suddenly heard Nephy’s voice behind him.
“Nephy? Were you watching?”
“...Yes. My apologies. But... just a little.”
As she beckoned him over, Zagan brought his face close over to Nephy’s.
“Master Zagan, if you tell him the reason Chastille is angry, it will have the opposite effect.”
“Why?”
“I mean, um... I think even Chastille believes that she went too far and is regretting it. So, if Lord Barbatos were to go apologize to her because you told him to, don’t you think it would just anger her further?”
“Hmm... is that how it works?”
In truth, Zagan didn’t truly understand, but if Nephy believed it, then it must have been true. And having been convinced, he suddenly remembered something.
“Nephy.”
“Yes, what is it?”
“Have I... ever angered you?”
Nephy’s pointy ears quivered at the question, as she then smiled in a happy manner.
“Hmmm, I wonder about that...”
“Huh, wait, Nephy?”
And leaving the bewildered Zagan as he was, Nephy turned around with a laugh.
“I will go speak to Chastille. Lord Barbatos, I will be secretly cheering you on, so please do your best.”
With that, Nephy left the two of them behind.
“...Hey. Hasn’t your elf’s personality changed somewhat?”
“Ummm... Mm. Well, I wonder?”
What do I do? This was supposed to be a good breather for Foll, but I feel like something’s going to happen.
And just like that, Zagan’s group holiday began with a turbulent atmosphere in the air.
Chapter II: An Uninhabited Island Means the Beach! Swimsuits! And...
“I-Impossible...”
A few days ago, in the castle of one of the thirteen Archdemons, Andrealphus, who was the oldest, and also considered the strongest, sorcerer among the Archdemons... was down on his knees coughing up blood. All around him was blood, blood, blood, along with masses of meat which couldn’t even be recognized as animals or chimeras. Archdemon Andrealphus was among all that. And within that disastrous scene, there stood a single man all on his own.
“HEEHYAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAA! Is this an Archdemon!? The peak of all sorcerers!? The strongest existence!? He who rules over all!? Nay! Archdemons deserve no such fear!”
The man looked odd. Half of his face was covered with an eye patch, and he had bandages wrapped all over his body. The bandages were covered with intricate crests like some sort of seal. His exposed left eye was bloodshot with madness, and he basked in the joy of watching the Archdemon spurting out blood.
“Have you lost your mind, Decarabia? Revolting against
me is... GHAAA!?”
The sorcerer, Decarabia, casually kicked the already-vanquished Archdemon.
“You can cut that out already, great and almighty Archdemon,” he said. And, after scratching his ear in boredom, Decarabia let out a laugh and asked, “Ummm, how’s it go? Erasing everything you’ve ever known, be it people, objects, or anything that would leave your name behind, erasing your very existence itself. Such is the retribution of an Archdemon... was it?”
Decarabia crushed the old Archdemon underfoot, then brought his face closer with a twisted smile.
“So whatcha gonna do to someone like me who’s got nothin’ but strength? You gonna trample on my strength? But if an Archdemon is here on the ground, grovelin’ before me, who’s gonna trample on my strength, huh? Come on! Tell me! I wanna hear the answer so much it’s drivin’ me nuts!”
Decarabia’s left eye sparkled with a fiery blaze as he grabbed the Archdemon’s right arm.
“Wh-What are you doing!? Sto... STOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOGHYAAAH!?”
Decarabia ripped off the arm as if plucking a weed.
“Hmmm? So this here’s the Sigil of the Archdemon, huh? Do I get to keep it ’cause I beat an almighty Archdemon? Will I get stronger if I use this?”
His eye sparkled like a child looking at a new toy, but that immediately clouded over.
“But, I don’t need it. I won’t prove I’m the strongest if I use this crap. I wouldn’t actually be stronger myself.”
Strangely enough, his train of thought was the same as the newly appointed Archdemon Zagan. What differed here was that Decarabia was hopelessly twisted.
“AAAAAAH! It’s not enough! Even after defeatin’ an Archdemon this achin’ won’t stop! The eye that guy gouged out is so painful and itchy that I’m gonna go mad!”
His eye patch seemed to be quite sturdy and Decarabia’s nails began to tear from scratching against it. After apparently coming back to his senses, he lowered his gaze to the Archdemon on the verge of death.
“Oh yeah, great an’ almighty Archdemon. Another Archdemon died recently, right? Who’s the new guy? What’s he like? He stronger than you?”
And even while wheezing roughly, the Archdemon answered with trembling lips.
An Archdemon's Dilemma: How to Love Your Elf Bride: Volume 7 (Premium) Page 2
