Actually, Zagan was only able to stop the initial attack because he combined the power of his Heaven’s Scale with his ideal positioning. And yet, his strike had sent Raphael flying back to his ideal range.
Lowering his back, Zagan pushed forward as if digging the ‘Heaven’s Scale’ into the ground. And once he closed in on his foe, he pushed up his palm toward him.
This time, however, Raphael was ready, and he swung down his Sacred Sword with both his hands.
Zagan’s Heaven’s Scale and Raphael’s Sacred Sword collided, making sparks scatter with a clang. And after a moment, Heaven’s Scale shattered and the Flames of Purification dispersed.
It seemed the Heaven’s Scale and Flames of Purification were dead even.
“Impossible.”
“I see. Three shots is the limit, huh?” Zagan muttered, seeming utterly unimpressed.
He exchanged three upfront blows with a Sacred Sword. It was magnificent power, but it still wasn’t enough. If there were two, or even three opponents, then it would prove useless.
It was superb for the first performance experiment, but it was still far from complete. And as Zagan calmly verified the efficiency of his sorcery, Barbatos shouted at him.
“You dumbass! Now’s not the time to be so easygoing, dammit!”
Raphael’s stance was in shambles, but he still hadn’t let go of his Sacred Sword.
And as he saw that, Zagan let out a small sigh.
“I told you before, didn’t I? I have the leisure to do these things.”
With his posture broken, Raphael’s abdomen was wide open. And also, with the Flames of Purification gone, other sorcery could now be woven together.
Faster than Raphael could swing down his Sacred Sword, Zagan drove his left fist into Raphael’s side. There were already several magic circles wrapped around that arm, and they were rotating. This was the very same sorcery that finished off Barbatos once before. Even without using something like Heaven’s Scale, Zagan’s fist could crush mere Anointed Armor without difficulty.
He could feel the sensation of bone’s breaking with a snap. The shockwave from the strike surely even pierced through his entrails.
“GHAAA?” Raphael vomited out blood as he was blown away, and after crashing into Archdemon Palace’s gate, he collapsed inside the entrance hall.
It was settled. Zagan had grasped victory... though he still curiously tilted his head to the side.
“How weak. Is this really the Angelic Knight who’s killed nearly 500 sorcerers?”
Even the most dreadful Archangel was unable to inflict a single wound on Zagan. In other words, it proved that the church had no means to oppose an Archdemon.
Zagan then took a fleeting glimpse behind him at Foll. The young dragon was making a befuddled expression, but before long, she came to her senses and suddenly began clapping her hands.
What’s this? It’s not bad... Or rather, it somehow feels good, huh?
Zagan snuck in a wave back to her. And as she noticed that, Foll’s eyes began sparkling.
All he had done was crush and grind an eyesore into the ground, and yet, Foll’s straightforward envious gaze felt almost pleasant to him. Even though up until now, when the riffraff pointed such gazes at him, he never felt a thing.
And as Zagan’s face slackened up all on its own from that, Barbatos groaned, sweat running down his brow.
“...You damn monster. You’re not even short of fucking breath, are you?”
Well, that was surely the normal reaction. Certainly, Raphael’s sword skills were sharp enough to overwhelm someone around Barbatos’ level, but Angelic Knights were different from sorcerers. If they received even one fatal wound, then it was all over.
Back when Zagan beat down Barbatos, even after striking him in the same way, he was able to stand back up given the time, but the same did not hold true for Raphael. Or well, that should have been the case, at least...
“I... see. What terrifying... power.” Even while spitting out blood, Raphael stood up with his Sacred Sword acting as a crutch.
Seriously, what’s this guy? And in turn, Zagan readied himself and gathered mana in both his hands once more.
◇
A little while earlier.
“I should go...” Foll had probably rushed out because of Chastille. And sure, Chastille knew she hadn’t done anything wrong, but telling such a young child to forgive her was unreasonable. Zagan should have driven Chastille out.
Naturally, she was grateful that he was sheltering her, but she still felt there was no point if it ended up hurting Foll.
Zagan rushed over to Foll’s room as soon as he heard Nephy’s cries, and Chastille tried to follow him, but...
I’ve become too hesitant... to grip my Sacred Sword. That was why she had gotten a late start, and by the time she finally reached Foll’s room, Zagan was no longer anywhere to be seen.
“Nephy, where’s Zagan...?”
“Master Zagan... has gone off to bring Foll back.” The snow-white elven girl tightly pursed her lips, gazing at the ominous shadow spread across the ground as she spoke.
The sight made Chastille recall the past. She remembered the incident where they were abducted by a sorcerer named Barbatos. At that time, they were swallowed by a similar ominous shadow. And it seemed Zagan had reached Foll thanks to that very same sorcery.
“Are you... not going?”
“Master Zagan ordered me... to wait here.” And that was the only reason she didn’t pursue them.
“Then I will...” Chastille started speaking, but her feet came to a stop.
I’ll go... and do what exactly? Even though the poison had already left her system, Chastille couldn’t put strength into her arms and legs. And even though her Anointed Armor was left beside her bed, there was no time to go get it and put it on. Moreover, she was a target of the church despite being an Archangel.
Having said that, living under the protection of Zagan, who she had been hostile to in the past, was also out of the question.
But still... do I even have a reason to wield the Sacred Sword? She questioned herself, then sank to the floor with a thud when no answers came to mind.
“Are you alright? If you’re not feeling well again, then...” Nephy immediately ran over and supported her body.
“No, I’m... fine...”
“Are you certain...?”
Honestly, nothing about Chastille looked fine in the least. And while Nephy was expressionless, the tips of her ears quivered as if she was worried about her.
Eventually, Chastille let out a small sigh.
“This may be the wrong time to say this, but I am a little... jealous of you.”
As Chastille unintentionally let out a complaint, Nephy stared back at her in wonder. And seeing that change in her from her expression alone shocked Chastille.
Compared to when I first met her, she’s far better at expressing her feelings. That was surely also thanks to Zagan.
Even to Chastille’s eyes, which were not all that familiar with them, the harmonious relation between those two was clear as day.
To love, and be loved... For such a relationship to be permitted... It makes me jealous.
There was likely something wrong with Chastille for thinking such a thing of an enemy. But even so, she wanted to be the person who healed that man’s loneliness.
However, Nephy shook her head.
“Is that so? As for me, I am jealous of you, Chastille.”
“...Haha. What about me could you possibly envy?” As Chastille deprecated herself, Nephy tightly gripped her skirt and continued.
“I mean, Chastille, are you not able to run over to Master Zagan’s side?” Those were words filled with strong emotion, which was unusual for Nephy.
“The only thing I can do is wait for him here. Master Zagan is extremely strong, but he may be forced to go through painful things. And in the end, Foll might even leave without me being able to convey my feelings to her.”
The anxiety of those who had to wait for their loved ones to return from the battlefield wasn’t known to those who could join them. And Chastille was not among those who had to wait.
But what do you think I can accomplish by going...?
While Chastille remained unable to say anything, Nephy kept speaking.
“I cannot even go to his side to comfort or support him.”
Even I’d like to do that sort of thing... And yet... For some reason, Chastille shook her head as if she was extremely frustrated.
“So what, are you saying I should go do that? I’m your enemy, you know? Wouldn’t it be better if you just ignore Zagan’s order and chase after him!?”
As Chastille raised her voice, something soft and white gently wrapped around her face.
“I cannot do that.” It was Nephy. Chastille was now being embraced by Nephy.
“After all, my duty is to greet Master Zagan with a ‘welcome home’ when he returns,” while saying that, Nephy gently brushed Chastille’s head.
“Besides, I must protect the castle while Master Zagan is absent.”
She likely did not mean that in the sense of fighting. Those words meant that she would create a space where her master could relax upon his return.
And having her head stroked while being embraced, all strength left Chastille’s body. She had let the complaints that she should have never spoken of rush out of her mouth. Even if she tried to endure it, having lost her way as she did now, it could no longer be helped.
“Even I... didn’t want to point my sword at him...”
“I know,” Nephy said, quietly nodding while brushing Chastille’s head.
“But I’m an Angelic Knight and all...”
“I know,” Nephy remarked once more, then simply nodded without denying or affirming her actions.
In that moment, Chastille found Nephy’s chest to be comfortingly warm and clung to her.
“I’m forced to suffer through all this just because I was honest about not wanting to fight Zagan...”
“I know.”
She’d had her Sacred Sword revoked for a while, was glared at by an Archangel stronger than her, and then was poisoned and on the verge of death. When Chastille thought of all that, tears came pouring out drop after drop, staining Nephy’s pretty nightgown. And yet, Nephy didn’t look displeased at all and continued to soothe her mind. The sight made Chastille unable to bear it any longer, so she lashed out.
“I didn’t want to defeat him. I wanted to fight by his side!” Chastille’s words were heresy considering her position as an Archangel. Any normal person would scorn her for having such selfish thoughts about a sorcerer. And yet, Nephy nodded as if to praise her.
“So you do understand after all.”
As Chastille raised her face to look Nephy in the eyes, Nephy simply gazed back at her with her usual expression.
“Back when I first talked to you, you said that Master Zagan appeared lonely... It appears you really do understand him well, Chastille.” Nephy was surely talking about when they met after she was driven out by Zagan. And though she spoke as if the meeting was nostalgic, her ears also quivered in frustration.
“In truth, I felt a tad envious. I mean, I thought that I was the only one... who could understand Master Zagan.”
Chastille and Zagan’s first meeting ended with him saving her, but Zagan never sought any compensation from her for the act. On the contrary, it wasn’t even clear if Zagan remembered the incident.
Still, the profile of his lonely face remained burned into Chastille’s mind. At that time, it almost seemed as if the one that needed to be saved was not her, but him. And Nephy... saved Zagan.
As Zagan was now, that shadow of loneliness was nowhere to be found. Unlike Chastille, who had noticed it but did nothing, Nephy returned to save Zagan even after being driven out of the castle.
As Chastille remained in a daze, reflecting on such thoughts, Nephy brushed aside her bangs and spoke once more.
“But... I also felt equally happy. I mean, why wouldn’t I after finding out there was another person who understood Master Zagan.”
Nephy’s encouraging words somehow charmed Chastille. You’ve... become strong, huh?
She had finally reached the point where she could say such words to someone other than Zagan. And after pausing for a moment, Nephy struck Chastille’s shoulders with a thud.
“Are you alright now?” Nephy inquired.
“Ah... Y-Yes...” Chastille responded. And though she was feeling better, the long embrace had turned her face red. Working up the courage, she timidly asked a question in turn.
“Could it be... that you were trying to comfort me?” There was no real need to confirm it. Still, she wasn’t so sure of herself that she felt comfortable assuming things.
And in response, Nephy tilted her head to the side with a puzzled expression on her face.
“Yes... Um, could it be that I didn’t do a good job?”
“That’s not what I mean. Just... why? Um, aren’t I an enemy to all sorcerers?”
Over the past few days, they’d shared meals, cleaned together, and slept under the same roof, so even Chastille thought it was strange to bring that up all of a sudden.
Nevertheless, at the root, they should have been enemies. And in response to that, Nephy tilted her head to the side as if she found the question silly.
“I mean, aren’t we friends?”
So this girl... also feels that way? That was the precise moment Chastille realized there was no winning against her. And at the same time, she decided she wanted to protect the things Nephy cherished.
After all that, Chastille wiped away her tears and stood up.
“Sorry. I’ve shown you something disgraceful,” she said.
“It’s fine,” Nephy replied. And as she continued with a ‘besides,’ her lips loosened. It was still awkward, but that was most definitely a smile.
“Clearing away sources of Master Zagan’s concerns is another one of my duties.”
“By concerns, you mean me?”
“Yes. He has been quite worried about you since the incident with Lord Barbatos.”
Chastille doubted her ears as she heard those words.
“He didn’t even remember my face, you know?”
“There’s no way that was true. Or at least, that was how it appeared to me.” If Nephy was the one saying it, then it was likely true. And with that, Chastille resolved herself, cementing her decision in her mind.
“Thank you. I’m also... heading out now,” Chastille said, realizing that she no longer had anything to lose at that point.
Then, at least this one last time, I’d like to do as I please.
That man may not have truly needed her, but Chastille wanted to lend him her aid regardless. That was why she took a step forth into the shadow. She wore no Anointed Armor, but she was carrying her Sacred Sword in hand.
“Yes. Take care, Chastille.”
Chastille vanished into the shadow as those words echoed around her.
◇
Back at Archdemon Palace, Raphael stood up, ignoring his smashed Anointed Armor and fatal wound.
Surprised, Zagan observed his state without letting his guard down. It’s... not sorcery, huh? Is this the power he obtained from slaying a dragon? If it were sorcery, then Zagan could ‘eat’ it, but honestly, it was hard to imagine an Angelic Knight would stain their hands with it.
An Archangel who could stand back up after suffering a fatal wound truly was a nightmarish existence to sorcerers. Even an Archdemon candidate would have trouble defeating him. However, a delighted smile crept up on Zagan’s face.
“Thank goodness, right, Foll? Seems he won’t go down so easy. Put some thought into how to punish him.”
“Er, um...” Foll gulped down as if recoiling at his words, but she immediately nodded, her eyes filled with a sharp wrath.
Raphael quietly gazed at Foll as she did that. It was probably just Zagan’s imagination, but h
is eyes looked to be colored by compassion and grief as he stared at her. After staring at them for a while, he threw out a question in a severe voice that also somehow sounded like a sigh.
“It seems I am quite detested among you lot.”
“You raised your hand against my daughter, so of course I’m angry. Plus, you yourself have killed nearly 500 sorcerers, right? Saying you don’t like being resented is like saying they’re no better than insects.”
“Well, what’s your damn reason?” Raphael said, then shifted his focus over Foll.
And gritting her teeth, Foll glared back at him and spat out some venomous words.
“The Wise Dragon, Orobas... That’s the name of the dragon you murdered.”
That was the first time Zagan heard Foll speak that name.
It’s a name that’s etched into history when it comes to sorcery and folklore, a legendary dragon. Using sorcerers as an example, he was on the same level as Marchosias.
Zagan never dreamed that Foll would be that dragon’s daughter. However, he had some reservations about the idea. Is a legendary dragon something that can be struck down by someone so weak?
In all fairness, Raphael’s power approached the very limits of human potential. Unfortunately for him, however, his strength paled in comparison to Zagan’s. Under normal circumstances, it would have taken an army of a thousand average sorcerers or humans to strike him down.
Still, Raphael was able to stand back up after taking the full brunt of Zagan’s blow, which was most likely due to the power he gained upon slaying Orobas. But in that case, how had he even managed to defeat the dragon in the first place? The power he showed Zagan was clearly nowhere near enough...
Upon hearing Orobas’ name, Raphael’s eyes shot wide open.
“...I see. Orobas’ child, huh?” For whatever reason, his voice sounded tired as he said that. And pulling his Sacred Sword off the ground, he focused his strength into his hands.
“Then there’s no way I don’t kill you here!” Raphael exclaimed, brandishing his Sacred Sword and charging at Foll as he did.
An Archdemon's Dilemma: How to Love Your Elf Bride: Volume 2 Page 14
