“Like I’ve been saying, why are you so hostile toward the church?” The Angelic Knights each readied their weapons, and Chastille cut through as if to mediate between them. And at that exact moment...
“Hehehe, little ones getting along, sure is beautiful, huh?” Nephy heard that creepy voice from directly behind her.
And immediately following that, a swamp like darkness expanded around her feet.
“Eh—” Completely unaware of what was going on, Nephy was dragged into the darkness, which had already swallowed her up to her waist.
“Nephy— Khh!?” Even as Chastille tried drawing her Sacred Sword, she was grasped by the mud-like darkness. With her arm pinned down, she was dragged down without ever being able to draw her weapon.
“Lady Chastille!” The Angelic Knights came rushing over, but there was no way they were going to make it in time. Even so, Chastille was an Angelic Knight.
“Run... away... Manuela.” She was being swallowed whole, but she still managed to push Manuela away.
Following that, the avian girl spread her wings to escape into the sky. However, a pitch-black feeler still launched toward her as she rose to the sky in a panic to try and run away.
“Ugh, protect the citizen!” And having finally caught up, the Angelic Knights mowed down the feeler with their swords.
“Tch, so one got away, huh? Well, whatever! Listen well, my name is Zagan! If you wish to rescue these people, then come face me at my castle!” The master of darkness said that in a voice that didn’t suit Zagan, even if it did sound like him.
Nephy recognized the voice instantly.
“Why... are you...” And within that darkness, a familiar face came to mind.
◇
A few hours later, Zagan was looking up at the night sky from the entrance of his castle.
On the evening of the day they first met, Nephy stretched her hands out toward the moon. What meaning did that action have? He had never quite figured it out, and now had no way to.
Zagan stretched his hands out toward the moon once more, but as expected, he couldn’t grasp anything.
No, at that time, I may have just grasped it.
Because at that time, the first girl to ever steal his heart stood beside him.
“This place is real quiet when I’m all alone, huh? Guess it’s always been this way...” It was far too quiet, to the point where his ears hurt.
Nephy was not a very talkative girl, but the sound of her bustling about as she cleaned or cooked here and there certainly did make the castle seem more lively.
In that uninhabited forest, Zagan stood stock-still, mulling over his thoughts. And beneath his feet, a moan rang out.
“Guoooh, ridiculous... We... Knights of the Azure Sky couldn’t put a scratch on you...” It was the three idiots... no, Angelic Knights, who trespassed some time ago. Because they came storming in, seething with anger, Zagan went out to meet them.
Did they already hear about me becoming an Archdemon? He felt like it was too early for that to be the case, but none of that really mattered.
Nephy was no longer there. And honestly, Zagan was unable to forget her pained expression as he told her to get out.
I hurt her... Yeah.
That much was obvious. It was painful to be alone, after all, and Nephy probably understood that fact far too well.
However, after an eternity of loneliness, she had finally opened her heart to him, choosing to finally show some emotion. However, after accepting her like that, and getting her to believe in him, he thrust her away at his own convenience. That act was likely far more cruel than just hurting her.
But, if it’s that lot in town, then they’ll surely treat her well.
Zagan knew that the citizens of Kianoides received Nephy favorably when she went out shopping. He felt she would likely even be able to deceive the eyes of the church, too.
In the first place, Nephy had only been involved with Zagan for a mere half a month. Once the remaining heat cooled off, even if they searched for a relationship, there would be nothing to find.
She would be able to peacefully live within the warm light completely unrelated to things like sorcerers and the church. A far better fate, in his humble opinion.
Everything would work out peacefully. Everything would simply return to the way it was before he met Nephy.
And then, just as Zagan was about to return to the castle...
“Wait...” One of Angelic Knights who was lying on the ground grabbed Zagan’s foot. His Anointed Armor had been smashed, and even his precious longsword had been broken to bits.
Zagan let out a tired sigh as he forced himself to respond.
“Listen, I’m in a bad mood right now. Don’t think I’ll be so kind as to hold back on you like I did last time, alright?”
The only reason the three of them weren’t dead was because they were defeated by a trap before Zagan had to handle anything himself. Therefore, it was a matter which didn’t even have anything to do with him holding back.
Now that I think of it, this trap is something that Nephy made... As an experiment to help control her mysticism, he tried loading in mysticism that would be unleashed given a certain condition.
They were Angelic Knights who possessed enough strength to reach the front of Zagan’s castle, so he figured the experiment was a success since it managed to defeat them. Though by that point, he had no method of relaying the success to Nephy.
As Zagan kicked away the Angelic Knight’s hand, he appealed to him in a voice that felt like he was vomiting out blood.
“We do not mind whatever happens to us! However, just our lady... Please, just spare Lady Chastille.”
“Chastille...?” Now that he mentioned it, Zagan couldn’t spot the girl who wielded the Sacred Sword anywhere. He simply thought the three Angelic Knights were being impertinent, though...
“Our lady... said that you weren’t the damn culprit behind the kidnappings, and even confronted His Eminence the Cardinal about finding the true culprit. If you truly aren’t the culprit, then it should be fine to at least overlook just her, right?”
“...I don’t get what you’re talking about.” Zagan was aware that he was being framed as the culprit behind the serial kidnappings in Kianoides. However, he didn’t feel like the Angelic Knights were speaking like they were confused, either.
“Was she kidnapped?”
“Don’t play dumb! Was it not you who dragged Lady Chastille into the shadows and told us to come here, you bastard!?”
At that, Zagan finally came to an understanding. It seemed these Angelic Knights came charging over because they were under the impression that Zagan had kidnapped Chastille.
They were being made to dance by some fraud, but from Zagan’s fight with Chastille, he showed that he could fight on an equal field with her even while holding back. That likely made it unnecessarily believable.
Or perhaps, that was a production set up to instigate these guys in the first place? If Zagan had killed Chastille at that time, the church would have likely poured all their energy into his subjugation as he’d have murdered an Archangel. Even if he spared her and let her go, just like right now, they were able to make Zagan out to be the culprit after abducting her.
The attack on that day itself may have been something devised for this exact purpose.
“If that’s the case, it’s quite well prepared, huh?” And then he thought to himself, I see. So she was kidnapped.
She was an Angelic Knight who tried to save Zagan, so he believed she wasn’t someone he had to really worry about, and also felt that he didn’t hate her.
However, he only saved her because she just happened to be on the verge of death in front of his eyes. Back then, he didn’t know where she was carried off to, and more importantly he didn’t even know if she was still alive, so if he was told to go save her, he couldn’t help but worry about it.
“Return... Lady Chastille... to us...”
It also discouraged him
to have criticism thrown at him for no real reason. And so, though just leaving her to die left a bad taste in his mouth, he lost the will to help. Originally, Zagan had that sort of uncooperative personality. He may not have been evil, but he was most definitely not good, either.
And while he was mulling over a decision...
“Mr. Sorcerer!” From the skies, that voice came down at him.
Because of the Angelic Knights’ intrusion, the barrier around his castle had lost its meaning.
“What is it this time?” While saying that, he took a single step back. And immediately following that, a woman fell from the sky.
“Yowza!” And that very same woman landed on top of the head of one of the Angelic Knights.
Looking at her face, Zagan knit his brows.
“You’re...?” What came down from the skies... was an avian with golden hair. He recalled seeing her before. It was the clerk at the store where he bought Nephy’s clothes.
The Angelic Knight who was being used as a foot stool then raised his voice in anger.
“You bitch, why are you getting in the way?”
“Like I’ve been saying, the culprit isn’t this person, right?”
“What the hell are you saying!? Didn’t you also rush here?”
“Well, didn’t we come here to ask for help!? Why are you rushing in to attack?” Seeing the girl and the Angelic Knights begin to quarrel, Zagan let out a sigh.
What a pain... I guess I’ll just throw them out. As Zagan began using a magic circle, the girl clung to him.
“Mr. Sorcerer, help. Those girls... Nephy and Chastille have been taken away!”
“What’d you say?” He didn’t know why Nephy’s name came up there, but Zagan let out a groan.
The three Angelic Knights on the ground also mentioned kidnapping. The serial kidnappings in Kianoides had yet to end. Plus, now it seemed even Nephy had gotten involved in them.
No, that’s not right. If Zagan was right about the culprit’s identity, then this was surely an attempt to provoke him. They specifically aimed for her because she was both Zagan’s servant and disciple.
It’s quite far away, but is it too late? And as he groaned, Manuela shook his shoulders.
“I’m begging you, please help. Someone as strong as you can definitely save them, right?”
“B-But...” If Zagan openly went to save her, this time around it would be known that Nephy was related to him. She would be completely thought of as one of his comrades. She would no longer be able to run away from the church.
Of course, he had no intention of abandoning her, but he had to think of a way of maneuvering that concealed his involvement. He couldn’t just fly over there right away.
And seeing Zagan conflicted like that, Manuela decided to chew him out.
“What are you wavering for? Nephy was on her way back to you... She didn’t care about the consequences and just wanted to stay by your side! How can you ignore her when she needs help!?”
“What... did you just say?” As Zagan opened his eyes wide, Manuela appealed to him in a wistful tone.
“I heard how you drove her away. But even so, Nephy said she wanted to be by your side, that she wanted to support you. That’s why, no matter how many times you pushed her away, she said she would always return.” Manuela then grabbed Zagan’s chest.
“Do you sorcerers really feel nothing when someone holds you so dear? If that’s true, Then why were you ever so kind to her!?” With a thud, Manuela struck Zagan’s chest.
It was the hand of neither an Angelic Knight nor a sorcerer, just that of a woman. And yet, it hurt. It hurt far more than any attack he’d received before.
Nephy... was coming back? Back to me, who said such a cruel thing to her...?
He didn’t even need to think of why.
Zagan had been watching Nephy carefully during their time together, so the reason why she would do that was something he knew without even having to see her ears, which were so full of emotion.
She was thinking of him. Of the horrendous villain, Zagan. Though honestly, if she was going to do so, it would have been far better if she thought of a more noble person.
Zagan quickly realized he was past the point of no return. And so, he let out a deep sigh.
“...You’re right. It’s just as you say.” Then, he laughed and continued, saying, “Sorcerers are trash, through and through. They only think of themselves, only treat others as mere tools, and think of life and death as things to play with on a whim.”
“Wh-What are you saying...”
“And, as a sorcerer like that, something must have been wrong with me.” Even if it was a momentary delusion, sympathizing with Nephy was completely foolish.
That’s right. Sorcerers... should only think about what benefits them.
There was no need for him to go through such painful feelings. After all, it would have been fine for him to just proceed onward as he pleased.
When he first met that girl, he should have done so without faltering. Just like when he reduced the torture device and bandits to ash because she was scared. Just like when he protected her without even thinking when the Angelic Knight aimed his spear at her.
And in response to the avian girl, who had turned remarkably pale, Zagan said the following:
“You have my thanks. Because of you, my mind is clear.” His path was clear since the very beginning. That was why Zagan stepped forth.
“Nephy belongs to me. I must drown the idiot who made a move on her in a pool of blood.” His own hands would be stained, but that didn’t matter at all since sorcerers were sinful creatures.
Even if he had to sacrifice all the authority and mana that came with the title Archdemon, it would’ve been fine if he could just protect Nephy from everything.
And yet, I chickened out. The twelve Archdemon... He’d lost his spirit upon meeting them because he felt they were on a completely different level. That was why he’d thrown a tantrum, and ended up hurting Nephy.
Can I still.... get her back? He didn’t know.
However, he knew there was only one thing left for him to do. And then, he remembered the dumbfounded Angelic Knights.
While I’m at it, I guess I’ll save Chastille too. If she was captured alongside Nephy, then he’d inevitably meet her.
As Zagan tapped the floor with his heel, a large magic circle spread out beneath his feet. It was the teleportation magic circle he used some time ago when he threw Chastille out of his domain.
This time around, it was connected to a certain sorcerer’s base. I know full well... exactly who the culprit is.
And then, Zagan shifted his attention to the avian girl.
“You... got angry for Nephy’s sake. Why is that?”
“Isn’t it obviously... ’Cause we’re friends, duh!” And as Manuela replied, Zagan stuck his hand out to her.
“Then, will you tag along? To go and save Nephy, I mean.”
“...Uh, sure, I’ll go.” And below them, the Angelic Knights groaned as they raised their voices.
“W-Wait... we will also... For Lady Chastille...” They should have already been unable to stand up, but the three Angelic Knights clung to Zagan’s legs and begged to join him.
“...Yeah, I get it, don’t worry. I’ll bring you along, so get your filthy hands off me.”
And just like that, the odd combination of a sorcerer, three Angelic Knights, and a clerk of a clothing store, vanished into the magic circle.
◇
“Nephy, are you... injured?”
Nephy found herself inside a gloomy prison as she came to her senses. It was likely a place that was remodeled from a cave of some sort. The ground and walls were all stone, and there were multiple pointed rocks hanging from the ceiling. Stalactites, clearly. Judging from how there were no stalagmites coming from the ground, the ground beneath their feet had likely been prepared with soil. There were no bars, but in its stead were chains hanging from the wall.
As she shift
ed her focus over to the source of the light, she could see a large chamber deep within. It seemed a magic circle was radiating light, but it was unusually large.
From her position, Nephy was unable to see each part of it, but thinking of the full size of the circle, it may have even been larger than a portion of the hall in Zagan’s castle.
The sound of clanging chains rang out. A collar had been placed around Nephy’s neck once again. She even had shackles around her hands and feet this time, and she could tell that each one of them had the power to seal mana.
Next to her, Chastille was also tied up, but her Sacred Sword and Anointed Armor had been stripped from her and she had shackles on. The girl, who was now only wearing a shirt and a skirt, looked nothing more than a normal girl, to the point where it would be hard to believe she was an Angelic Knight.
Their chains were connected to the stone wall, and it didn’t look like they could leave it to their strength to get out.
If it was the Nephy from before, then she would have just given up on everything. She was likely about to be killed, after all. But things were different now.
I decided... that I would return to Master. And so, she simply had to escape.
However, with the shackles and collar on, she couldn’t use sorcery, and there wasn’t enough nature around them to use mysticism, either. Mysticism wasn’t a power that could be used without any limitations like sorcerers thought.
After squirming for a while, Nephy took a look at her surroundings.
“Where...?”
“I don’t know. I think it’s the hideout of the sorcerer who attacked us, though.” And then, footsteps drew closer to them.
Chastille stood up to cover Nephy, but she was also chained to the wall. And so, all she could do was defenselessly expose herself.
And what showed up was, as expected, someone that Nephy knew.
“Were you not Master’s friend... Barbatos.” The sorcerer who visited Zagan as a friend. She couldn’t quite say that they got along well, but they still looked to be quite close.
Upon hearing that, a smile floated up to Barbatos’ thin face.
“Friends!? Oh, how surprising. I didn’t think there were any people out there who could look at a sorcerer and think such a thing.” While laughing, Barbatos grasped Nephy’s cheek with an eagle-clawed grip.
An Archdemon's Dilemma: How to Love Your Elf Bride - Volume 01 Page 17
