“That’s... Err...” Chastille mumbled as if trying to refute it.
Is she just timid...?
And while they were talking of such things, before long, plenty of soup was placed in front of Nephy.
“Um, I can’t possibly accept this.”
“What, you’re planning on just sitting there without eating anything? If you do that, I won’t be able to get drunk at all. You’d just kill my buzz!”
“Haaa...” It was a somewhat unintelligible reason, but overpowered by Manuela’s vigor, Nephy simply returned a nod.
Why... is this person being so nice to me...? As she took a spoon into her hand, she set aside the fragment of her collar that she had been carefully carrying around all this time on the table.
“Did your collar break?”
“No, Master... took it off for me.”
Chastille then stared fixedly at Nephy’s face.
“Despite that, you don’t look all that hap— Ow.”
“...Hey, read the air a bit here.” It seemed that Manuela kicked Chastille’s leg under the table. Her leg should have been protected by Anointed Armor, but the attack slipped through the gaps present in the design. The blow made tears form in Chastille’s eyes.
Troubled by how to reply, Nephy gripped her spoon tighter.
“...Thank you for the meal.”
“Mm.” After bringing the soup over to her lips, a somehow nostalgic taste came to her.
No, it wasn’t nostalgic or anything. It was the same taste as the soup she made just that evening.
It was lamb stew.
With a drip, a hot sensation trailed down her cheek.
“Huh...?” Tears ran down her cheeks. Even though she wasn’t supposed to feel sorrow, once she got a taste of the hot soup, tears began overflowing with no signs of stopping.
Chastille then raised her voice in a complete fluster.
“A-Are you alright? Did... I say something bad again?”
“Waaah, waaaaaaaaah!” Unable to endure it, Nephy broke into a crying fit.
Why, why, Master...
In response to Nephy having broken down into tears, Manuela spread out her large wings and embraced her as if to share her pain.
“Geez... Both of you can cry all you want and cling to your big sis here.”
“I-I’m not crying, though.” The world may have been far kinder than Nephy thought it was.
After crying for a while, Nephy began speaking of what happened at the castle little by little. Manuela listened to her silently while holding a tankard of ale in one hand. Though by the time she finished listening, there were already five empty tankards lined up on the table.
Chastille was also listening to her with bated breath. Even though she was an Angelic Knight, she may not have been a bad person.
As Nephy finished, Manuela violently slammed the tankard she had up against her flushed face onto the table.
“So, you were driven out without reason?”
Nephy returned a slight nod in response.
“Did I... make some kind of mistake?” It was far too sudden, and she couldn’t tell what was what.
Chastille, however, nodded in an indignant manner.
“And here I thought he was a promising man... How could he do something so cruel? It’s almost like he was just using you!”
“Master isn’t like that,” Nephy replied without a moment’s delay. That made Chastille falter.
“I-I at least know that much, but that’s exactly why I don’t get why he drove you...”
“What do you know about him?”
“Eek, you don’t have to get so angry...”
“I’m not angry.” After crying herself dry, it seemed that Nephy had become even more expressionless than usual, which confused Chastille greatly.
Manuela then cut in between them and pacified the situation.
“Now now, of course she’d get angry if you slander her dear master like that.”
“It’s not like I was slandering him!”
Manuela looked back at Nephy, who was watching them argue.
“So, what do you plan to do from now on, Nephy?”
“What... should I do...?” Because there was nothing she could do, she was completely at a loss for ideas.
Chastille then cleared out her throat with a cough.
“How about entering the protection of we Angelic Knights? Protecting citizens who have been harmed by sorcerers is one of our duties.”
“What? Oh, come on. If she goes with you, she’ll be put on trial by the faith! Like I thought, you really are just bullying Nephy!”
“You’re wrong! I mean, she’s just a servant, so if we treat her as a victim, then even the church should be obligated to protect her...”
“If there’s a trial, then they’ll figure out that isn’t true right away. There’s no way we can hand Nephy over to a place where she’ll be in danger.”
“Then what should we do...?”
Nephy shook her head in response to Chastille, who was wearing a sullen expression.
“I’m grateful for your consideration, but that would make Master out to be a villain. I cannot... do that.”
Chastille’s shoulders drooped down as she heard that. And then, she opened her mouth as if it were difficult for her to say it.
“There’s something that I’d like to ask you. Do you think Zagan commands several sorcerers? Is he the type of man who’d kidnap innocents to fuel sacrificial rituals?”
“I do not think so.” It was likely some sort of prejudice against sorcerers, but Nephy was able to reply immediately.
Even if such a person were to show favor to Nephy and repeat the same actions, she didn’t believe that they would yearn for individuality in Nephy herself.
“Master is... one who cares nothing for the weak. Even when he saved a carriage that was being attacked by bandits, Master said that he only did so because he wasn’t pleased with the bandits.” She also thought that, just perhaps, it was to show Nephy that she should feel at ease.
That scene reminded Nephy of when her village was attacked — though she felt fear instead of guilt. And when she was reminded of that, Nephy had grown pale, which coincided with Zagan attacking the bandits.
“Those things are just rubbish.” That was all he said. Without looking for compensation from anyone, and without expecting any sort of praise from Nephy.
...In truth, the person in question wanted to show off his good points to Nephy, but she was unable to recognize that.
Chastille then nodded and let out a groan.
“As I thought, huh...?”
“What... about it?”
“No, it’s probably just as you say. In truth, even when we crossed swords, that man held back because I’m a woman. It was humiliating, but, um, how do I put it...” As Chastille started mumbling and hesitated to speak further, Manuela emptied another tankard and made a broad grin.
“Oooh my? What’s this, Ms. Angelic Knight? What’s with that face? Are you a maiden in love, perhaps?”
“Wh-Wha, don’t speak of such insolence!” After shouting that, Chastille’s shoulders drooped back down. And then, she continued speaking.
“When I first met him, that man... looked to be in need of saving.” And from that single phrase, Nephy’s heart shook greatly.
From time to time, Master looked extremely lonely. Especially when he talked about the past, he would often make a sad expression. She didn’t know when and where Zagan and Chastille had met, but knowing that someone other than her knew of that unmasked face Zagan possessed made her feel slightly jealous and also somewhat happy at the same time.
The Master that I know... is surely not a lie. On the evening that they first met, she was able to once more look upon the moon that she never thought she would see again, and was able to stretch out her hands without hesitation. And from right next to her, Zagan gazed at the moon as well.
I can’t really grasp anything, huh, as if he was troubled, that was what
he thought. There was no way that was a lie. Or so she thought.
Doesn’t Master... need to be saved even now...? The face he made when he told Nephy to get out was far more heartbreaking than the one Nephy herself was making.
Nephy put her hand to her chest.
Thanks to Manuela and Chastille hearing her out, she was at least able to regain her composure to the point where she was clearly able to recall Zagan.
Was the Master she knew really someone who’d cast her aside on a whim or because her use had come to an end? He wouldn’t... There’s no way. There was no mistaking that he had his reasons.
Thinking of that, she recalled the word that caught her attention upon parting with Zagan.
“Um, just what is... an Archdemon? Are you aware of it?” Even when she recounted the details to them, she forgot to bring up that name.
Manuela and Chastille then exchanged glances.
“Isn’t that the top dog among the sorcerers? Even this town was being controlled by an Archdemon named Marchosias, but since public order was good he didn’t really give off an impression of being particularly scary or anything, I think?” Manuela then had one thing to tack on.
“It’s just, that Archdemon seems to have passed away recently, and since then there’s been that unpleasant incident going around.”
“...The serial kidnapping of women, you mean?”
“Yeah, that one. For the time being, the culprit was subjugated by the church, though.” Manuela nodded back to the topic that Chastille brought up. Nephy didn’t really know the details, but she had also at least heard the rumors.
Hearing that the incident was somehow resolved by the church and the Angelic Knights, Nephy tilted her head to the side.
“Considering all that, it doesn’t look like they’re well-liked by the townspeople...”
“Urgh, that’s...”
“That’s ’cause after that, they levied stupidly high donations as a rescue fee. Like that, there’s no way anyone would honestly thank them, right?”
“Even though it’s a donation, they levy them?”
“Yup, makes no sense, right?” As Manuela glanced a glare over to the side, Chastille was there drooping her shoulders in a sad state.
“Um, it’s not like she was the one who directly levied the donations, right? So, I don’t think there’s any point in blaming her.”
Hearing that, Chastille broke into tears once more as she looked at Nephy.
“You’re so kind. I can understand why that man let you stay by his side.”
“Is... that so...?” That was the first time someone had said that to her, so Nephy blankly stared back at her.
And then, Chastille tilted her head to the side.
“We’ve strayed off topic. About the Archdemon, it’s said that they are a symbol of evil that must be overthrown, even if the church must bet the lives of all the Angelic Knights on it. However, in contrast to there being only twelve Sacred Swords, there are thirteen Archdemons. And so, even if each wielder of a Sacred Sword could take one down in death, it would still be insufficient.” The greatest enemy of the church — it seemed that Zagan had become just such an existence.
“If one becomes an Archdemon, must they fight against the church?”
“That’s how it’d go. Currently, one of the Archdemons has passed away, so even the church is thinking of going all out against the sorcerers... I mean, it’s not like I personally think that, alright? Anyways, the church is filled with energy, eager to defeat the sorcerers.” Since Manuela started glaring at her, Chastille corrected herself in a panic.
“If a new Archdemon were born, then the church would likely judge it to be a good opportunity to overthrow them. After all, it’s hard to imagine how powerful they could become if they’re not struck down immediately. Or perhaps, there would be others who aim for the position.” And Zagan had told her to get away from such an Archdemon.
Will it become a massive conflict? Wasn’t that why he tried to keep Nephy far away from there?
Nephy stared at the palm of her hand. Over the course of the last week, Zagan had taught her the basics of simple sorcery. That way, she would have a means of defending herself, and it would also one day help her control her mysticism. But that wasn’t why she’d learned.
I wanted... to be helpful to Master, so I learned sorcery.
Even if she went back, there was a chance she would only burden him. But even so, Nephy stood up.
“I will... return to Master’s side.”
“I-Is that really a good idea? Didn’t you get thrown out?” As Manuela and Chastille looked at her in surprise, Nephy shook her head back to them.
“Master is strong. Surely, he already has the strength not to lose against anybody. But... that doesn’t mean he can’t be hurt.”
“The strong could not understand the feelings of the weak.” That was something Zagan said when he was opening his heart to her. He never said that those words hurt him, but he appeared awfully sad as he spoke them.
There was likely no way he was driven to hate people just from that. But still, she believed that was what made him give up on interacting with others. When she thought of it that way, Nephy was struck by the sudden urge to embrace him tightly.
“I may not... be of any real use to Master. Still, I don’t think he’ll go unhurt from now on.” With a ‘That’s why,’ Nephy continued.
“I want... to become Master’s pillar of strength.” It may have been conceited of her to wish for that. And, it was possible that he would just drive her out again if she returned. But even so, at that time, when Nephy embraced Zagan, she thought he had finally accepted her. That’s why... I want to be by his side.
They had only spent half a month together, but she wanted to believe in the memories they shared.
There was no such thing as a person who was fine with being alone. Even Nephy hated the idea, after all.
Eventually, Chastille smiled.
“I see. Then, shall I go do what I can, too?”
“Huh...? Are you planning... to challenge Master again?”
“No, you’re wrong,” Chastille yelled out with a bright red face.
“That’s not it, you see... I can’t... cover for him, but I think I can wash away the stigma around him.”
“Stigma...?” As Nephy tilted her head to the side, Chastille nodded.
“It seems there’s a sorcerer committing crimes while assuming Zagan’s name.”
Nephy didn’t know that she was referring to the culprit behind the serial kidnappings. And Chastille continued speaking, as if she meant to keep that fact concealed.
“They’re clearly trying to frame him, so I’ll turn the tables on them!”
“Aren’t Angelic Knights and sorcerers hostile to each other?”
“That’s... certainly true, but...” As if it was somewhat uncomfortable, Chastille began muttering.
“Isn’t it just frustrating to be saved twice, and then do nothing in return?” In her own way, she had likely thought about such matters for quite a while.
Manuela then gazed at the two of them with a broad smile on her face.
“Now then, seeing as the two of you are back on your feet, it’s about time we call it a night, huh? Ah, little miss knight, I’ll leave the bill to you, alright!”
“Wh-Wha, I didn’t even order anything!”
Watching Chastille get teased put Nephy at ease for whatever reason. Just what... is this feeling called, I wonder?
And while Nephy was perplexed, Manuela wrapped her arms around her.
“Well, if something ever troubles you again, you can come to my place any time. I’ll at least hear out your grumbling. In exchange, I’ll have you try on some of the shop’s goods though, ahahah.”
Staring back at her blankly, Nephy tilted her head to the side.
“Manuela, why are you being so kind to me?” It was a different sensation from when Zagan treated her kindly.
And Manuela stared back at her, as if
she was shocked that Nephy didn’t even know that herself.
“Isn’t it obviously ’cause we’re friends?” Hearing that word she was not used to, Nephy unintentionally gulped.
“Friends...”
“Eh, we’re not?”
“...I don’t know. Until now, there was never... anyone who said that to me.” The word friend made her think of the relationship between Zagan and Barbatos. Zagan would call him names, but there was a strange relaxed manner between them, and honestly speaking Nephy was just a little jealous of them. Surely, that sort of relationship was called friendship.
Manuela made a surprised face for just a moment, but then immediately began laughing.
“Then, that means I’m you first friend, right? Best regards!”
“U-Um... Yes.”
“Wow, your ears are bright red, you know? Are you alright?”
And then, Chastille timidly raised her hand.
“Um, is it okay... if I also think the same?”
“About what?”
“Um, I also... wish to consider you a friend!”
“Eeeh? Aren’t you an Angelic Knight? Is it okay to be friends with a sorcerer?”
“Come on!” Seeing Chastille moved to tears again, Manuela covered her up with her prided wings. And then, she combed through the Angelic Knight’s red hair as if there was no other choice.
“If you weren’t a friend, then we couldn’t tease you like this, right?”
“Is teasing... an essential part of friendship?” While making an awfully dissatisfied face, Chastille still looked relieved.
And then, after leaving the shop, just as they were about to split up...
“Lady Chastille!”
The ladies heard a deep voice come from across the street. As they shifted their attention toward the source, they saw three men wearing Anointed Armor rush over. Feeling like she recognized those rugged figures from somewhere, Nephy squinted her eyes.
“Erk, y-you’re that bitch from before!” Perhaps sensing that he was being glared at, a lanky man leaped out from the group.
And then, Nephy recalled who he was.
“The person... who injured Master that time...?”
“Eh, what? Did those guys also injure Nephy’s master? This is why the church is so...”
An Archdemon's Dilemma: How to Love Your Elf Bride - Volume 01 Page 16
