An Archdemon's Dilemma: How to Love Your Elf Bride: Volume 15 E-Book

Fuminori Teshima

• Herausgeber: J-Novel Club
• Serie: An Archdemon's Dilemma: How to Love Your Elf Bride
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2023

Seitenzahl: 311

Beschreibung

The battle between Archdemons may be over, but Zagan still has plenty of problems at hand. He doesn’t have a birthday present for Nephy yet—and the special day is closing in fast!
What’s more, now that the group knows of Shere Khan and Lisette Dantalian’s fates, they’re also determined to mend the relationship between Angelic Knights and sorcerers. Their solution? Leaving it all to an unrestrained Gremory!

And most pressingly, hundreds of Shere Khan’s Nephilim survived the conflict. Since these resurrected heroes of the past can’t be left to roam, Zagan creates a town for them and decides that his beloved daughter Foll will be in charge! She’s extremely motivated to succeed at her first big job, but then a wounded girl with no memories appears out of nowhere...

Leseprobe

Table of Contents

Cover

Color Illustrations

Characters

Prologue

Chapter I: A Parent-Child Relationship is Bothersome for All Parties

Chapter II: It’s Better to Clean Up Quickly or It’ll Just Get Worse

Chapter III: Every Villain Was Once Innocent

Chapter IV: Wanting to Be with a Loved One Must Be a Fundamental Desire

Epilogue

Afterword

About J-Novel Club

Copyright

Landmarks

Color Images

Table of Contents

Prologue

“The time has come.”

In the depths of Archdemon Palace, Zagan swung back his mantle and spoke with all the majesty of an Archdemon. His battle with the other dreadful Archdemons, Shere Khan and Bifrons, had come to an end after great difficulty. It was finally time.

“We shall now draw up plans for Nephy’s birthday present!”

Yes. Several days had passed since Zagan’s birthday celebration. Nephy’s birthday was quickly approaching now. There were over forty days until then, to be precise, but he still couldn’t afford to be negligent.

Two men stood in the room. One was Zagan, unable to suppress the tremendous mana building up within him. The other was Archdemon Naberius, who wore a mask and had a large enough frame that Zagan had to look up at him.

“You people...” Naberius said with a groan, his steely muscles quivering. “Haven’t you been using me too much like I’m at your beck and call?”

Archdemon Naberius’s second name was Mystic Artisan. He was the only sorcerer of this age capable of forging mithril. He’d originally come to Zagan for help with saving Archdemon Furcas from the nightmare realm, but ever since, Zagan’s group had pushed all sorts of crafting requests onto him.

Zagan shook his head in lament, then thrust out a finger with a snap. “How effeminate, Archdemon Naberius! Do you think I’m the type of man to cut corners when it comes to a present for my bride?!”

“What’s wrong with being effeminate? I’m a maiden at heart,” Naberius protested, a single crimson eye trembling behind his mask. In all respects, his voice was deep and manly.

“Is that so...? Sorry about that,” Zagan said.

I don’t really understand, though... Naberius was actually a beholder. His transformation into human form was similar to how Zagan’s daughter Foll did it. They didn’t imitate someone else’s image, but took on the shape of what they would look like were they actually human.

As such, Zagan had been careful not to touch upon his muscular form. In terms of sex, at least, he was completely a man. Zagan couldn’t understand why he behaved like a woman. Not that he really cared either way, so he didn’t push the topic. It didn’t make sense, but it was definitely important to Naberius.

Zagan cocked his head, then got the conversation back on track. “Hmm. I heard Nephy had you make my ring. Was there anything else?”

Zagan wasn’t planning on leaving this present entirely to Naberius. He’d come to this man for support and had even prepared recompense. There was no need to criticize Zagan for this. And yet, Naberius’s one eye was filled with a reproachful light.

“Didn’t you receive a mithril chessboard?” Naberius asked.

“Aah, now that you mention it, yeah,” Zagan replied somewhat bitterly.

That had been a present from a certain girl—the vampire Alshiera—Zagan’s mother. He had no idea how to come to grips with a parent he’d never known of until recently, though.

“Don’t tell me... You made that too?”

“Who else could have?”

There were thirty-two chess pieces in total. What’s more, the board itself had also been made of mithril. Each piece was worth as much as an entire castle. As such, it was fair for Naberius to complain about it. Nevertheless, he was on board with Zagan’s unreasonable request. That was because Zagan had a grasp of a significant weakness of his.

Naberius had “lost” Shere Khan’s Sigil.

The recent battle had been a major enough incident for four Archdemons to be replaced. Zagan’s group had secured three of these seats, but the last one—the one Barbatos was meant to inherit—had gone missing.

Naberius had been the one managing the Sigil, so in exchange for Zagan refraining from prodding into specifics, he’d taken on Zagan’s request. A present for Zagan’s beloved bride simply had enough value to balance that out.

Besides, I’m not clueless about who has that Sigil right now.

“I see,” Zagan said, folding his arms. “That chessboard certainly is well-made. That’s just how much I value your skills.”

He was pleased with the chessboard and used it every night to play a game against Raphael or Foll.

“Hmhmm! I rather like that honest side of you,” Naberius said, sounding rather pleased.

“Hmph! Everything else about you makes me want to puke,” Zagan replied.

The two Archdemons exchanged a stiff handshake, not really getting along at all, then got to work on their collaborative project.

“In any case, Zagan,” Naberius suddenly muttered, “if you have precious treasures, then you should at least lock them away in a treasury. It seems you’re just tossing everything into subspace, but that detracts from their worth as a collector.”

“Hmm, a treasury? I’ve never thought about it.”

It did make sense for him to have one as an Archdemon. He had Nephy’s birthday present and the wedding ring he’d yet to give her. There were also the gifts he’d gotten from Foll and all the others, as well as Memorandums of Nephy.

“Archdemon Palace should at least have a treasury already, right?” Naberius said with an exasperated shake of his head.

“It does. The doors are wide open, so anyone can go in,” Zagan said indifferently.

“Hwuh?”

That meant anyone was capable of putting their hands on the Eldest’s legacy. There were of course reasonable restrictions on taking anything out.

There’re a lot of unusual things in there that I have no idea how to use or what they even are.

Zagan had dispatched the majority of his subordinates here to analyze and manage Marchosias’s legacy to begin with. It would be detrimental to restrict access.

A sorcerer’s true treasure is their recorded knowledge, after all.

The items in the treasury didn’t have much worth. Many were actually dangerous to even touch. That was why, if his subordinates so desired, he would grant them said treasures in exchange for ongoing analytical data on them. The empowerment of Zagan’s subordinates had a direct link to his own interests, as could be seen in examples like Shax, Leviathan, and Behemoth.

“Well, I suppose the security is still tight. It might not be a bad idea to throw out what’s left inside and store my personal effects there.”

He’d have to think of a new place to seal away dangerous goods. If he had a room that nobody was allowed to enter, he could even plaster an entire wall with Memorandums of Nephy. It was actually a pretty good idea.

Well, if anyone does see it, I’ll have no choice but to kill them.

Naberius put his hand to his brow, holding back the onset of a headache. “Personal effects...? That’s not what I—”

“They’re my treasures, so they’re my personal effects. They have the value to be stored in a treasury.”

The terrific idea brought a smile to Zagan’s face—with no way of knowing how this misleading suggestion would bring about the troublesome incident to follow.

Chapter I: A Parent-Child Relationship is Bothersome for All Parties

“Yo, Zagan! This old man’s here for a visit.”

“I see. Heaven’s Phosphor Single Petal.”

In Archdemon Palace’s throne room, Zagan let out a sigh and fired a blade of his greatest sorcery. It’d been some time since he’d started working on Nephy’s birthday present. About half a month had passed since things were settled with Shere Khan, but there’d been many failures in making the present, and though it still wasn’t complete, progress was smooth.

Cleaning up after the last battle, however, wasn’t going so smoothly. They’d avoided any physical damage to the town, but the cessation of all traffic for three days had brought on major repercussions. Kianoides thrived on commerce. To put it simply, with no goods flowing in or out, the entire town had ceased functioning. Even just counting the merchants, the damage done was unfathomable.

Zagan had to compensate for such damages and treat all of his injured subordinates and Angelic Knights. They had to tally up all the tools and catalysts consumed by the extensive use of sorcery during the battle, especially for Heaven’s Phosphor Showers of the Wailing Dead. Then there was all the food that was needed and the current state of the emergency stores to consider. What’s more, he even had to decide on what to do with the surviving prisoners of war. There was no end to it all.

Normally, it would be around time for everything to be handled, but they were currently short on hands. Those who’d contributed greatly during the battle had all been given a long vacation in recompense. This included those who usually handled such affairs, like Raphael. Work and relaxation had to be kept in balance. This was especially the case for Raphael. Not only was he made out to be dead, but the fact that he’d killed a cardinal had come to light. Officially, he had to remain hidden.

It was of course up to everyone how they spent their free time. There were a fair number of sorcerers who immersed themselves in their research in Archdemon Palace. This was relaxation for them, so he couldn’t drag them out to do work. That was why Zagan was stuck holing up in Archdemon Palace instead of his own castle.

I want to go on dates with Nephy and have some tea! I haven’t even really seen her lately! And it wasn’t just Nephy. His daughter Foll was now an Archdemon and was receiving lessons from Orias and Alshiera, so she was also rarely by his side.

I want to take a relaxing family vacation too! As such, short on hands everywhere and having to work on the cleanup himself, he’d gotten a visit from this carefree geezer. That was why it was reasonable for Zagan to have reflexively fired a killing blow his way.

The old man twisted his body and leaned back, planting a hand against the floor for support, just barely managing to dodge the black flame.

“You just seriously tried to kill me,” he grumbled.

“Hmm... It certainly is hard to kill you with a frontal attack. As is to be expected of a former Archdemon, I suppose. Whatever. Just kill yourself for me, then.”

Much like Zagan and Kimaris, this man stood at the peak of all sorcerers who specialized in direct confrontation. On the other hand, he’d specialized in it so much that crafty opponents like Shere Khan and Bifrons had easily been able to bring him low.

“You’re not even this mean to Purgatory when you beat him black and blue. Why are you so damn harsh with me?”

“Barbatos is an idiot, and trash, and a villain, but he’s talented. Unlike you.”

A vein popped up on former Archdemon Andrealphus’s brow and he trembled in anger. Having heard the uproar, someone threw open the door to the throne room and several people rushed inside.

“Boss! What’s going on?”

The first to enter was Shax. He was one of the new Archdemons, but due to his pessimistic nature, he’d refused to take a vacation and had remained as Zagan’s advisor. He was even managing the treatment of all the injured. He really was an impressive man.

Well, I guess it’s also because Kuroka’s on a family vacation with Raphael... Those two were currently in Raziel enjoying some hot springs as a father and daughter. It was unlikely the church would ever imagine that their missing former Archangel was taking a vacation right under their noses.

As for Kuroka, having finally gotten into a relationship with Shax, she was sure to want to spend more time with the sorcerer. But if Raphael’s feelings on the matter weren’t put in order, Shax was in serious danger of getting killed. As such, this was a necessity.

Besides, after hearing about Raphael’s past... Zagan hadn’t intended on eavesdropping but had overheard the conversation at the time. Even if they weren’t related by blood, Kuroka was Raphael’s daughter. Zagan wanted them to cherish the time they had together.

Still in the posture of having dodged Heaven’s Phosphor, Andrealphus waved to Shax. “Yo, if it isn’t my beloved successor. Mind lending me a li’l hand? Your master is seriously trying to off me here.”

“What did you do this time...?” Shax asked with an exasperated sigh.

Andrealphus hummed in admiration, but bent backwards as he was, he had no dignity.

“You’ve grown awfully calm in the short time I haven’t seen you, huh?” he said to Shax. “I guess the little cat lady not being here plays a part in that, though.”

“Kurosuke’s got nothing to do with it...is what I’d normally say, but if I act indecisive all the time, I won’t be able to protect her.”

“That’s a good look on your mug,” Andrealphus said, straightening himself back up.

Judging by his tone, he had business with Shax. Just as Zagan was about to press him for answers, more people came into the room. Rather than hurrying in because of the commotion, they’d come out of curiosity.

“You’re, umm...Andre...raffle?” Foll asked.

Now that Zagan thought of it, Foll had met Andrealphus before, but she’d never really spoken with him. It was understandable for her to barely remember his name. It was his fault for having a hard-to-remember name to begin with.

“So close!” the no-good geezer said with a snap of his fingers. “It’s Andrealphus.”

Foll nodded meekly, then repeated after him. “Anderafulus?”

“Hm... I guess it’s a little hard to pronounce. Then just call me your kind uncle!”

“That’s...instinctively unpleasant.”

She was clearly put off by the idea. Tears of sorrow pooled in Andrealphus’s eyes.

“That’s rude, Foll. There are times when your honest opinions can hurt others.” Holding up a finger, Nephy gently rebuked her daughter and came into the room. She’d likely been in the middle of studying Celestian. She wasn’t wearing her usual maid outfit and was instead clad in a bluish white robe.

She looks so dignified like that! Zagan smacked his chest a few times to calm down.

“I see... I didn’t realize. Sorry,” Foll said.

“Hang on, little lady. Apologizing like that hurts too,” Andrealphus said with quivering lips, desperately holding back his tears.

“Aah, so it’s you,” an enormous figure with a splendid mane said. “It has been a long time, Sir Andrealphus.”

“Sob... You’re the only one who treats me like a person here, Kimaris!”

“I don’t think that’s true... Um, is something the matter?”

Even while deeply moved at being greeted properly, Andrealphus jolted back and began trembling.

“I-It’s nothing. Nothing at all...”

Kimaris’s punch the other day had had quite the effect. This man was supposed to specialize in close combat, but that strike had taken him hours to regain consciousness from. There was no blaming him for that, though.

Well, they say the quiet ones are far scarier when angry...

Zagan at least had room for some sympathy, but seeing how Andrealphus had brought it upon himself, he didn’t say anything.

“Andrealphus?” Gremory said, entering the room in her form as an old woman, having finally recovered from her wounds. “Hmm... Is he actually here? He has so little love power I can’t even spot him...”

She squinted like she was trying to read some very small writing. She didn’t get cut down by Andrealphus back then because she seriously can’t see him, right...? In this granny’s case, it wasn’t out of the question. It left Zagan feeling somewhat uneasy.

Just as Zagan figured that was everyone, one more person peeked into the room from the door’s shadow.

“What the hell are you doing there, Alshiera?” he asked.

“It just doesn’t seem like a conversation I need to participate in.”

She averted her eyes coldly, but it was clear she was very conscious of Zagan. Much like him, she had no idea how they should interact.

“If you’re curious, then just come in,” Zagan said with a sigh. “We can’t get started until the door’s shut.”

“......”

Alshiera still looked hesitant.

“You don’t know when to give up. Just get in here, Alshiera,” Foll said, tugging on her hand.

“Aaugh...”

With that, the doors to the throne room closed.

◇

Gathered in the throne room were Zagan, Andrealphus, and the new Archdemons—Shax, Foll, and Nephy—as well as Kimaris, Gremory, and Alshiera. These were the strongest forces remaining in the palace. In Zagan’s castle, a gathering this large would be a little cramped, but this was nothing for Archdemon Palace.

Oppressive velvet curtains hung behind the throne, the opening between them showing signs of something like a large painting having once been there. It’d already been gone by the time Zagan took the place over, but it had likely been someone’s portrait. The space was rather luxurious compared to Zagan’s castle. This was simply a matter of the previous owner’s tastes. Nobody had bothered changing anything about it since.

I feel like it’s been a while since I got to sit down and have some quiet time with Nephy. Their relationship had at least progressed to the point where they could exchange kisses, but given a short period of separation, this man was one to regress back to the days when they’d just met. Well, she was the same in this regard. Zagan took a fleeting glance her way just as Nephy was doing the same, and their eyes met.

“Heh heh heh...”

The two could only laugh at the situation. Zagan desperately stopped his knees from buckling, while Nephy covered her cheeks as the tips of her pointy ears turned red. Seeing her like this, Foll tugged on her robe.

“Nephy, it looks like we’re gonna have a serious conversation here...” she said.

“Aaugh... I know. I know, okay?” Nephy replied.

“You have it rough, little lady,” Shax muttered sympathetically.

“You should reflect on this too, Shax,” Foll retorted.

“I’m pretty sure I’ve been putting in a lot of work on that front lately!” Shax yelled, daunted by her cold gaze.

“So?” Andrealphus cut back in. “Can we get started yet?”

“Right. You were about to kill yourself,” Zagan answered. “Well, I’ll overlook some stains on the floor. Get it done already.”

“I’m not killing myself!” Andrealphus yelled between wheezes. “The town for the six hundred surviving Nephilim is ready.”

That was the proposal Andrealphus had made some time ago regarding the Nephilim.

“A town?” Foll asked, her eyes wide. “You made a town for the Nephilim?”

“Damn straight. The majority of that lot are from hundreds of years back, or even a thousand,” Andrealphus said. “The guys from our current age are supposed to be dead too, so we can’t have them wandering all over the place.”

Above all else, they’d been resurrected for the sake of destroying the world. Nobody would look kindly upon Shere Khan’s harbingers of destruction.

Shax nodded. “If they’re gonna live here, we need to fill in that gap in cognition they have between the past and present.”

They also needed the knowledge to survive in the modern world. Even just considering the education they needed in this regard, it was a pretty good idea to make a town for them.

“I’m surprised there are any survivors to begin with, given what happened,” Alshiera commented curiously.

“They’re the ones who couldn’t even regain consciousness using Shere Khan’s puppetry,” Zagan answered. “Specifically, they’re the ones who were so close to dead that puppetry was meaningless.”

Heaven’s Phosphor Showers of the Wailing Dead distinguished its targets based on hostility. This included the hostility of the puppeteer, Shere Khan. There’d been no other way of separating friend from foe on a battlefield where ten thousand bodies had been jumbled together. As such, it hadn’t hit anybody who’d been unconscious at the time.

“There are also those Sir Zagan freed from the puppetry,” Kimaris added.

“Hmph.”

This was one reason Zagan had gone out of his way to diligently punch them one at a time. With each strike, he’d broken the sorcery’s ability to pass commands. Those who’d had the puppetry undone had surely lost all thoughts of hostility upon witnessing the cruel form of Orobas and the way Foll’s group had fought against him.

Well, it doesn’t change the fact that I destroyed their bodily functions through force. There’d also been those who’d died from the shock. The lucky ones had survived. Zagan could only scoff at the outcome.

“You have something you want to say?” he asked Alshiera, who looked rather surprised.

“Tee hee hee. I’m simply glad to see that the Silver-Eyed King is still the Silver-Eyed King,” she answered, relief and affection in her voice.

It really is hard to handle this... Bewildered by her statement, Zagan turned his eyes back to Andrealphus.

“So? I doubt you came all the way here just to give a damn report. What do you want?”

“That makes things quick,” Andrealphus said, smiling bitterly before getting serious. “I want an Archdemon to support them.”

Everyone aside from Zagan was shocked by his request.

“Don’t they have you?” Shax asked. “You were the Head Archdemon.”

“Were ain’t enough. They’re basically Shere Khan’s refugees, and that asshole went around pissing off the whole world. To top it off, there’re a whole lot of rare species among them that’re supposed to be extinct. That makes them a big old target for sorcerers.”

The very existence of the Nephilim already made them valuable research subjects. After all, they could be considered improved versions of highly prized homunculi.

Zagan nodded in irritation. “What’s more, the Angelic Knights can’t leave the survivors at large. Even if it was on a small scale, this was the first war with an Archdemon.”

The church had deployed three hundred knights in battle. This wasn’t much compared to Shere Khan’s army, but only one hundred Angelic Knights were stationed in any single town—150 when including the retired vets and young knights in training Chastille had mustered. Taking this into consideration, it was impressive they’d managed to adapt in a single day. They couldn’t afford to neglect the defenses of other towns, after all.

In short, the Nephilim were targets for both sorcerers and Angelic Knights. Andrealphus had lived up to his name—even if he was retired now—by maintaining things up to this point. But now that he was here, it meant he was at his limit. Even then, Zagan didn’t agree immediately.

“I understand the circumstances,” Kimaris said, his expression grim. “But won’t it be difficult to bring them under Sir Zagan’s protection?”

“What do you mean?” Foll asked, cocking her head.

“Regardless of the situation,” Gremory answered, “the Nephilim see our liege as the sworn enemy who slaughtered many of their brethren. I doubt that lot will obediently accept him as their protector.”

“Even though Zagan saved their lives?”

“Think of how annoyed we feel when it comes to this guy,” Zagan said, brushing Foll’s head and pointing at Andrealphus. “Do you understand now?”

“Aah...”

Everyone in the room, including Andrealphus, nodded in agreement. Andrealphus had taken it upon himself to challenge Shere Khan, ultimately failing and becoming Shere Khan’s puppet. This wasn’t worthy of praise, of course, but there was no reason to constantly criticize him for it either. Being irritated by the outcome was a different matter, though.

“Hey, why’re you nodding along too?” Shax said, coming to his senses.

“I mean, I’ve been wondering why everyone hates me so much when I’ve been putting in so much work...” Andrealphus answered.

In any case, this was a problem. Zagan couldn’t take them in like he usually did.

Orias is retired now, and she’s antisocial to begin with... When it came to her daughters, her heart throbbed hard enough to bring her to the verge of death, but she was fundamentally a hermit. There was no reason to throw strangers, and six hundred of them at that, under her wing.

Furcas can’t pull it off either. As he was now, he was nothing more than a novice sorcerer. Besides, he could turn into an enemy if his memories returned. Entrusting the Nephilim to him could lead to them being used as weapons. Even disregarding that, the boy clung to Lilith’s back whenever Selphy glared at him. The thought of leaving anything under his protection made Zagan uneasy.

Naberius...is out of the question. He was cooperating with Zagan now, but that was because they had a “contract.” Once that was over, it wouldn’t be strange for him to turn on them. What’s more, he calmly colluded with the enemy when it didn’t affect the contract. He couldn’t be trusted.

That leaves... Someone with power and fame. Someone who wouldn’t turn against Zagan. Also, someone who had a friendly rapport with the Angelic Knights, or who at least wasn’t hostile toward them. Furthermore, they had to be an Archdemon that the Nephilim didn’t resent. Did someone so convenient actually exist?

Zagan let out a sigh. This wasn’t because nobody came to mind. It was because there was nobody better suited to the task.

Don’t cower, Zagan! You made her an Archdemon because you recognized her as an adult!

He then turned his eyes toward the person in question.

“Foll. Do you want to try taking this on?”

The little dragon’s eyes shot open. “M-Me?”

“Hmm, I get it,” Andrealphus said. “The little lady did protect both the Angelic Knights and the Nephilim during the battle. Being Wise Dragon Orobas’s child also gives her an affinity with them. What’s more, she’s the Archdemon who put on the biggest display of power there. Can’t complain with your choice.”

He’d likely come here with the intent of picking her from the very beginning. Zagan glared at Andrealphus reproachfully.

“Please wait a moment, Master Zagan,” Nephy said in a fluster. “I don’t think Foll will be completely free from the anger of others. We can’t possibly allow her to go somewhere so dangerous...”

Zagan nearly backed down because of his beloved bride’s plea, but immediately strengthened his spirit and shook his head.

“It’s definitely dangerous, but I believe she can do it,” Zagan said, then looked directly into his daughter’s eyes. “What do you think, Foll? If you don’t want to bother, then you are of course free to refuse. Just as Nephy said, it could stir up trouble with the other Archdemons or Angelic Knights.”

Nevertheless, Zagan believed Foll was the best candidate. She clenched her fists in front of her chest and thought it over, but she didn’t spend all that long worrying about it.

“Got it. I’ll give it a try.”

“Foll!”

Nephy unintentionally raised her voice but knew she was barking up the wrong tree to blame her daughter for this. Nephy agonized over the thought that this was too early for Foll while also wanting to acknowledge her daughter as being able to stand on her own. Her pointy ears quivered about as she reflected over this inner conflict.

This is the first time I’ve seen Nephy like this! Zagan’s heart pounded at the sight of her expression, and he used all his power as an Archdemon to keep it under control.

“Hnnngh... What love power! It’s accumulating even in such a situation?!”

“Miss Gremory, please control yourself.”

Gremory shrank back, overawed by what was going on, and Kimaris held her in place.

Before long, Nephy slumped her shoulders in resignation. “Make sure you come back in time for dinner, okay...?”

That was her point of compromise.

Foll strained a smile. “Heh heh. Mm. I’ll come back in time.”

Nephy stowed the splendid figure of her daughter in her heart and somehow managed a smile of her own.

“Lady Nephy, there’s no need for concern,” Alshiera said, sidling up to her. “I will remain by Foll’s side for a while. The majority of them are my acquaintances.”

“P-Please take care of Foll, Lady Alshi—” Nephy shook her head as if suddenly remembering something, then continued with her usual smile. “Please take care of Foll, mother.”

Now it was Alshiera’s turn to stare wide-eyed in astonishment. She then picked at the hem of her skirt and curtsied.

“Please leave it to me.”

Zagan’s gaze also wandered about awkwardly, but he eventually nodded.

I can’t leave things like this forever. He reluctantly gave in to the thought when Andrealphus gave him a pleasant smile. It appeared this man also knew Alshiera’s identity. Zagan decided to vent his anger at the man and glared at him.

“This sits poorly with me,” he said. “You’re making a face like all your burdens have been taken from you, Andrealphus.”

“Haven’t they? I’ve never been fit for this stuff. Being the Head Archdemon or an Archangel or anything else where I’m in charge of others, I mean.”

That was why he’d contented himself with being the number two Archangel. Even had he not lost to Shere Khan, Andrealphus would likely have treated that as his last job and yielded his Sigil to someone else. It was unexpected for that to be Shax, though.

“The Angelic Knight Michael is being treated as KIA,” Andrealphus added. “I’d like to move on to retirement already.”

“Do as you want...once everything is cleaned up.”

“Hah, as harsh as always.”

Looking after the Nephilim wasn’t a job that would end so easily. Andrealphus smiled bitterly, having taken it on himself, then took out a wooden box to have a smoke.

With that pause in the conversation, Gremory meekly raised her voice.

“Are you done with this topic, then? I have something to speak of too.”

“Go have your talks at your weird meetings,” Zagan said.

“It’s serious!”

The granny treated her “love power” as serious business, so she was utterly untrustworthy on that front. Having said that, it was a king’s duty to listen to his subjects. With no other choice, Zagan waited for her next words.

“It’s about Shere Khan’s past,” Gremory started gravely. “We cannot leave the animosity between sorcerers and Angelic Knights be.”

Zagan had already received her report regarding Shere Khan’s memories. The information had also been shared with everyone in this room. The incident in question could be said to be the reason behind all of Shere Khan’s violence. The late Archdemon’s teacher, Lisette Dantalian, had once kept the world in check. Due to Marchosias’s betrayal, sorcerers and Angelic Knights had gone down decisively different paths.

Shere Khan had personally settled that score. The one he’d fought—the one known as “Marc”—had been erased from the world. The two had struck each other down. Even if that was an unsatisfying conclusion, it had been Shere Khan’s score to settle. It was absurd for Zagan to barge in from the sidelines.

Shere Khan hadn’t wished for someone to avenge his death. But as Shere Khan’s friend, Zagan wanted to grant the wish those two had failed to see fulfilled.

“Even Chastille and I managed to become friends,” Nephy said with a pained expression. “I’m sure sorcerers and Angelic Knights can live hand in hand.”

Kimaris nodded. “You’re right. It might be difficult, but I don’t think it’s impossible.”

As one of Shere Khan’s former friends, Kimaris also wanted to salvage the late Archdemon’s dreams. Setting aside whether there was actually a way of achieving it, Kimaris was optimistic.

“I feel the same way,” Shax joined in with a grimace, “but the problem is how to do it. There’re Angelic Knights who took up the sword out of hatred toward sorcerers, and sorcerers aren’t the type you can really rein in either.”

“Is it really that hard?” Foll asked curiously.

“Well, you might not really get it hanging around here, but the world is pretty complicated,” Andrealphus told her.

“Why? There’s a way to do it.”

“Hm...? What do you mean?”

Even Andrealphus’s smile faltered at how convinced she was. Foll turned to Zagan, who nodded back to her.

“You’re right,” he said. “The ideal uproar just took place. There’s no point in leaving it unused.” With that, he turned to Gremory. “You may do whatever the hell you want. Use my name and whoever and whatever else you need.”

Gremory’s lips and eyes curved into crescent moons. It was as if she’d been given the most spectacular of treasures.

“Kee hee hee! If my liege so commands, then I must devote all my energy to seeing your will done.”

“Cut the shameless act. You planned on this from the very beginning.”

It was clear as day. This granny had acted all meek, but she’d simply wanted Zagan’s permission to make moves on a grand scale. The others finally realized what Gremory was planning. There was a mix of emotions in the room, some putting their hands to their heads, while others smiled wryly.

“Although, in that case, I would’ve liked another Sigil of the Archdemon,” Zagan said. “That guy being an Archdemon would’ve been really convenient for this.”

“Indeed,” Gremory replied. “Failing to seize Shere Khan’s Sigil was quite the loss.”

“Whatever. We can take their lack of complaints about us claiming three of them as a point of compromise.”

Zagan attempted to move the conversation forward, but the one person who didn’t seem to follow cut in.

“Uh, can you hang on a sec?” Andrealphus asked. “This old man doesn’t really get what you’re talking about.”

“What? And you call yourself our liege’s subordinate?” Gremory retorted. “Now that I look at you, your face certainly lacks in love power.”

“When did I become Zagan’s subordinate?!”

“If not, you’d probably be dead by now.”

Disregarding how he was viewed within this circle, to the world at large, former Archdemon Andrealphus had capitulated to Zagan.

Not that I have any intention of protecting this guy... Still, Zagan didn’t deny it. Annoyed by having to keep this conversation going, he cut to the chase.

“Andrealphus, what do you think is necessary to get these two antagonistic groups to reconcile?”

“I’m scratching my head ’cause I got no clue. What? You planning on making up some convenient enemy for them or something?”

“That would be simple and easy, but it’ll leave the fundamental problem at large. There’s a more peaceful way that the people can get behind.”

It was comical for an Archdemon to speak of peace, but Zagan was dead serious. Andrealphus still had his head cocked in confusion, so Foll answered for him.

“We just get a sorcerer and Angelic Knight to fall in love and stick them together.”

“Ha ha. That’s a pretty good joke, little lady. You can’t...” Andrealphus paused, noticing he was the only one laughing. “Huh...? Seriously?”

“Well, after spending time here, you come to realize that this method is the most appropriate and reliable choice,” Kimaris said.

“It’ll probably work,” Alshiera added with a sigh. “Marchosias never would’ve considered this method. As such, he shouldn’t have any countermeasures in place.”

She sounded somewhat sorrowful about that.

“This was your suggestion to begin with,” Zagan said.

When Nephteros’s lifespan as a homunculus had been running out fast, Alshiera had been the one to suggest having Nephteros fall in love to save her. The problem now was who to stick with who.

“It’s better to have multiple candidates. Will Nephteros and Richard work?” Foll asked.

“Richard isn’t a bad choice,” Zagan said, “but Nephteros is too close to the church. She has little influence with sorcerers.”

She still had her title as Bifrons’s disciple, but Bifrons was gone now. Not only that, Nephteros had never been nominated as an Archdemon candidate. In other words, she was unknown to the world of sorcerers.

“Nephteros has finally found someone to depend on. I’d rather leave her be.”

With Nephy’s disapproval, it was now impossible to use them.

“Kee hee, the new Tiger King and Lady Kuroka are more or less right for the job,” Gremory said.

“Gimme a break... Besides, Kurosuke’s part of the church’s dark side. She stood out too much in the recent incident too. She’s got no idea how to even show up at the church anymore, ya know?”

This pair had a major influence on sorcerers, but little on the church. At worst, it was possible the church would excommunicate Kuroka.

“My Silver-Eyed King,” Alshiera said. “Lady Stella, I think her name is? How about your elder sister?”

“Stella...?”

Zagan folded his arms.

In terms of harmony between sorcerers and Angelic Knights, her very existence was a valid answer. But that was exactly why there was a problem too.

“She’s in a weird position where it’s not clear whether she’s a sorcerer or Angelic Knight. Decarabia was the one to be given the name Archdemon Killer. Stella herself is unnamed.”

In terms of strength, she was definitely on the level of an Archdemon candidate. If another seat opened up, it was possible for her to take it. However, Andrealphus had left her more on the Angelic Knight side of things. Because of that, they couldn’t place much hope on her influence on sorcerers.