Chapter IV: A Tea Party between Devils and Angels Is the Very Picture of Hell

“Hmph. This isn’t amusing at all. In the short time since I last saw her, another pest has gotten attached to my precious doll.”

While making preparations to squash an enormous pest, a small one had joined the fray. What was that doll trying to do with so many pests around her?

Bifrons floated high above Kianoides, far beyond the detection radius of Zagan’s barrier. They were around six thousand meters in the air. There was almost no oxygen that high up. Violent gales blew about, strong enough to scatter Bifrons’s particulate body in an instant if not for their sorcery. With Zagan keeping an eye out for them, Bifrons couldn’t even get close to Kianoides without taking such a measure.

“Hee hee hee. It’s not amusing to have pests around her, but the situation has gotten rather interesting. I suppose there was a reason for that old geezer Marchosias to set up his base here, huh? Well, not that it really matters now.”

Several actors had gathered in Kianoides. Obviously Nephteros was among them, but then there were the people of the church and Zagan. Outside town was the Azazel girl, whom Bifrons had once thrown away, and who was currently serving Zagan. Furthermore, there was a team of two who seemed to be Shere Khan’s pawns. There was even the lab rat Bifrons had let escape just to harass Shere Khan. It was the perfect assembly to start a mad tea party.

“Come now! Let’s start the tea party! Let’s dance our broken dance!”

However, the very moment Bifrons made that declaration...

“Go do that on your own,” a voice said.

It was a quiet voice—practically like a whisper—yet it had a sharpness like a rending gale. The moment Bifrons tried to turn around, an illusion of a thousand blades cutting their body burned into their mind. Bifrons hadn’t felt it for a long time, but still immediately knew this was fear—fear caused by a bloodlust so absurd it was in an entirely different dimension from the likes of Archdemons like Zagan or Shere Khan.

“Ah... I see. Now that I think about it, you’ve also been staying in this town.”

A girl floated before them with a weapon called a Seraph Hunter in her hand. Bifrons was supposed to be invisible to the naked eye, having turned into a mass of floating crystals, but the weapon’s muzzle was pointed directly at them nonetheless. This was the world’s greatest vampire, Alshiera. Bifrons didn’t think she would come out onto the stage by herself, but perhaps she considered this particular spot backstage.

Ugh, this might be hopeless. I can’t beat her.

If Bifrons had strength in spades like Andrealphus, they could manage somehow. If they had Shere Khan’s cunning, the gap in strength would just be a slight disadvantage. However, they had none of that. Alshiera was so powerful that Andrealphus looked cute. She was so merciless that Shere Khan looked compassionate. Even an Archdemon would be obliterated for the slightest slip of the tongue.

She’s so scary that I’ve got chills!

Playing with her would probably have been the ultimate thrill. Simply imagining it made Bifrons moist. This could be the last game of their life...and the pleasure of winning an unwinnable game seemed far greater than any sorcery. Bifrons felt an irresistible urge to fight, but now was not the time. Thus, they maintained their self-restraint with what little sense they had left.

“Are you taking a walk up in this airless space?” Bifrons asked. “If so, care to have a chat with me?”

“I’m in a bit of a hurry. If you’d like to play, then come back in a week or so.”

Each and every word she spoke held traces of soul-rending mana. At that strength, someone at the level of an Archdemon candidate would have had their mind destroyed in just a few minutes. Even so, Bifrons dared to try to push things for the thrill of it.

“And what if I said I didn’t want to?” they asked.

Alshiera didn’t reply. Instead, she simply returned a refreshing smile. There was even an air of affection to her, as if she was about to teach a child how to make candy. Was there anyone out there who would smile like this when they were about to kill someone? Bifrons was aware that they were the worst of sorcerers, but it somehow felt like she was telling them that they were still far too soft.

Aaah! I can’t get enough of this! I can’t even sit at the same negotiation table as her!

Bifrons’s body took on a human shape. Then, the sorcerer who couldn’t be identified as a boy or a girl gave Alshiera a reverent bow.

“Heh heh heh. Please do forgive my discourtesy. I don’t dare make an enemy of you.”

“If you don’t try to lie a bit better, it doesn’t even come off as a bad joke.”

“Heh. How harsh. But it’s true that I don’t want to make an enemy of you. I don’t have much time either, you see.”

Bifrons started by shaking things up lightly. After all, this game couldn’t even be established until they changed the situation from that of a killer and her victim. Alshiera retained her smile at this, her expression completely unchanging as she began to speak.

“Now that I think about it, I haven’t heard your answer yet. Will you wait one week or not?”

Bifrons didn’t feel like they were speaking with a human. Even Zagan would have lent an ear if they revealed themself and showed some sincerity. That was meaningless before this girl, however, as she simply dominated this place. Bifrons had no way of making her budge. There wasn’t even room to consider the option.

Alshiera maintained her smile, exposing Bifrons to her soul-rending bloodlust. If they hadn’t taken on the form of a human, their particulate body would’ve started falling apart from its extremities already. This was probably the last chance for Bifrons to back down, but they still dared to step forth.

“Don’t you think we can cooperate?” they asked.

The Seraph Hunter’s hammer cocked back with a click. Bifrons understood the situation by instinct. They had crossed the line and could no longer step down. No matter what sorcery they used, there was no way of escaping this terrifying girl’s aim. She already had her finger on the trigger, so all that was left was to pull it.

She wouldn’t let Bifrons escape anymore. It was like they had a knife pressed against their skin both in body and spirit. Bifrons knew of sorcery quite similar to this—the Entangling Gaze, for example. Simply meeting the eyes of a sorcerer casting it could destroy one’s mind. Alshiera’s pure bloodlust had a similar effect. Even as cold sweat ran down their cheek, Bifrons dared to speak.

“Switching vessels as a homunculus. My doll didn’t wish for that, correct?”

If those words weren’t enough to attract Alshiera’s interest, it would be game over. Bifrons would be erased from the face of the world. And yet, despite their desperate attempt, Alshiera pulled the trigger without hesitation.

I screwed up?!

It looked like the hammer slowly fell down toward the firing pin. Nevertheless, Bifrons screamed in one final struggle of desperation.

“I can prolong her life!”

Silence followed. Unexpectedly, no bullet came flying at them. Timidly looking up at the weapon, Bifrons saw that Alshiera had stopped the hammer with her thumb the moment before it struck. Sweat ran down Bifrons’s face like a waterfall. However, there was the tiniest sliver of hope on it as well.

“Let’s hear what you have to say,” Alshiera whispered, shutting one eye as if giving it careful consideration. She kept her weapon raised as she waited for them to speak.

Bifrons tried to calm the terrified beating of their heart and got to the point eagerly.

“Even after swapping vessels, a homunculus is still a homunculus. Even if that extends her life, the same thing will keep happening every few years. In the end, she’ll be nothing more than a disposable tool—” Bifrons continued frankly, revealing every card in their hand and presenting all of their goals and means of achieving them. Naturally, all of this incurred Alshiera’s wrath. Even as they spoke, Bifrons caught a glimpse of their own death several times over. Regardless, they were allowed to talk to the very end.

After hearing them out, Alshiera fell deathly silent, maintaining her smile the entire time. Bifrons had been talking for ten or so minutes. During that time, Alshiera hadn’t lowered the Seraph Hunter even once. And above all else, she’d maintained her bloodlust the entire time. It was like being exposed to the Entangling Gaze nonstop. That was enough to exhaust even an Archdemon to the point where they couldn’t move a muscle.

This wasn’t because Bifrons was weak. Archdemon Furcas had also been exposed to this level of bloodlust for several days, and that had caused his mind to shatter, making him forget who he even was. It was a form of torture that could even pulverize an Archdemon who’d lived for centuries. As such, Bifrons was left wheezing for air.

“I said I would hear you out,” Alshiera said in an annoyed tone. “But I never said I would go along with your plans.”

Guess I’m done for...

Bifrons didn’t even have the spare energy to resist at that point, let alone escape. Perhaps they could fake their death by sacrificing half their body? No, such petty tricks wouldn’t work on this foe. Bifrons had failed to win this game. The fear they were hoping for didn’t even well up within them. Their mind had been shaved down to the point where they couldn’t even feel that basic emotion.

It was a fun gamble, but I still wanted to win...

Bifrons resolved themself to death, but for some reason, Alshiera didn’t fire her weapon. On the contrary, she actually lowered the Seraph Hunter.

“Tee hee hee. I don’t like your idea at all, but you may do as you please,” she said.

Bifrons was utterly shocked by the unexpected answer.

“Hmm...? You don’t like it, but you’ll let me proceed?”

“The greater the tragedy, the more passionately love burns.”

That statement had Bifrons bursting in laughter, even forgetting their own exhaustion.

“Ha ha ha. You really do have similar tastes to me, don’t you?”

“Quit it with your jokes. I simply believe in them. They’ll surely overcome this.”

In any case, it seemed Bifrons had won this game. There was no basking in victory, though. All they felt was exhaustion and relief. And with the tension in the air gone, the girl decided to whisper a warning.

“How unfortunate. If you had tried saying something as insincere as ‘I want to save her,’ then I would’ve gotten to pull the trigger for you.”

In other words, one single lie would have led to Bifrons’s death. The vampire smiled gently, twirling the Seraph Hunter in her hand, then put it away beneath her skirt. At the same time, her body dispersed into countless bats. When they could no longer see her, Bifrons collapsed into the empty air.

“Haaah... That was terrifying. I’d rather not face her for another hundred years.”

Even Bifrons didn’t understand Alshiera’s true intentions. In the end, perhaps she was only using them as a stepping-stone. Nevertheless, they could move on to the next game now. Bifrons would prove they could win the next round. Even if it would be a living nightmare for Nephteros, there was nobody left to stop them.

◇

Dexia’s body jolted as her surroundings clattered, waking her up.

“Ugh...”

An unfamiliar sturdy ceiling hung overhead...and something like a curtain draped across a window off to the side. After a short while, she figured out that she was inside a luxurious carriage. However, the moment the sleeping face of the black cat girl came into view, Dexia’s body stiffened up completely.

There was a tender sensation behind Dexia’s head. It seemed she was resting on the girl’s lap. Now that she knew this, her bewilderment only deepened. It looked like the shaking carriage had also woken the girl up. She rubbed her eyes slowly, peeking down at Dexia with red pupils.

“Mmm... Hm...? Oh, are you awake?” she asked.

“Umm, why...?” Dexia mumbled, barely able to wring out her voice. It was hoarse and her throat hurt terribly.

“You don’t need to force yourself to speak,” the girl said. “You’ve been on the verge of death for a whole day now.”

Now that she mentioned it, Dexia noticed that her body felt as heavy as lead. It was difficult for her to even raise her arm. She couldn’t even turn over in her sleep. Resting atop this girl’s lap had unexpectedly been rather helpful in this regard.

“This is our carriage,” the girl explained. “We’re currently on our way to Kianoides. For the time being, you’re under our protection as a prisoner. You’re safe for now.”

Seeing that the girl was speaking in plural, Dexia took a look around the carriage...and as she did, she spotted a young man sitting across from them who looked like a sorcerer. This one had apparently been awake the entire time. He directed a sharp gaze at Dexia. There was a large greatsword leaning against the wall next to him.

“Its wielder is dead,” the girl said upon noticing Dexia’s gaze. “We couldn’t just leave it there, unfortunately, so we retrieved it.”

“Personally, I think it would’ve been better to leave it behind,” the sorcerer said with a sigh.

“Aren’t you the one who said Shere Khan’s subordinates would probably retrieve it?”

“That’s true, but if we handle this poorly, you might not be able to return to the church.”

“If that happens, then so be it. Either way, I killed an Archangel. There’s no making excuses for that.”

Dexia couldn’t get a certain question out of her mind.

Why did she save me?

The girl had even gone as far as threatening her own position in the church. Back in Kianoides, she’d beaten Dexia soundly and had even punched Aristella. The twins had been the ones to steal the light from her eyes to begin with, which meant she should’ve hated them, so why save Dexia? Having sensed what was going through her mind, the girl flicked Dexia’s forehead.

“Well, I’m still somewhat angry,” she said. “Our day off vanished into thin air thanks to you.”

Despite what she was saying, there was a kindness to her tone as if she was speaking to a troublesome child.

“But the person I respect most once told me that any villain should be given at least one chance to redeem themselves. That’s all this is. Oh, right, I forgot to tell you something.”

Dexia started imagining what kind of abuse this girl would hurl her way. She trembled in fear as the girl stretched out a hand, then gently brushed Dexia’s head.

“Way to hang in there. The way you fought to the bitter end was inspiring.”

A tear streaked down Dexia’s cheek. She didn’t think she wanted to cry, but her tears wouldn’t stop.

“Hic... Please...save her. Please...save Aristella. Save my sister. I couldn’t do it on my own.”

The girl exchanged glances with the sorcerer, then nodded.

“Get some rest for now,” she said, still gently brushing Dexia’s head. “I’m sure things will get very busy soon.”

This girl should’ve held a grudge against her, and yet, she’d saved Dexia without a single complaint and was being so kind. The thought “This is what a big sister is like” came to mind.

I should’ve been like this to Aristella... No, it still isn’t too late. She’s still alive.

Thus, Dexia swore to save her. She didn’t want anyone to see her pathetic face right now, so she draped her arm over her head. She was wearing a habit from the church, perhaps lent to her by this girl.

Dexia closed her eyes so that she could regain her energy. The drowsiness she’d barely been able to stave off overwhelmed her immediately. It didn’t take long for her to let go of her consciousness, but the moment she fell asleep, she felt like she heard a voice.

“Kurosuke... Are you actually the type to hold a grudge?”

“I’m not, but I was thinking maybe this is like a baptism for the people who come to this town.”

Dexia wouldn’t understand the meaning of those words until the carriage reached Kianoides, where they disembarked in front of a clothing store named Pulycla.

“Yahoooooo! I haven’t had someone new worth teasing in a long time!”

“Chief! She looks injured, so please take it easy on her! Huh? Eeep! Nooo! Why Kuu too?!”

The last thing Dexia saw was flapping green wings and a screaming vulpin girl. The true terror of the town required no special powers at all.

◇

“Heya, Zagan! How’ve ya been?”

Zagan came to a stop in the middle of Kianoides’s shopping district with a grimace. He was there to check on Nephteros when he suddenly encountered a familiar face.

“What are you doing here, Stella?”

“Nothing serious. I mean, we didn’t really get to talk when you came to Raziel, right?”

Stella had officially become an Archangel after Michael had vanished. Perhaps because she wasn’t here on business, though, she wasn’t wearing Anointed Armor. She wore a uniform much like Chastille’s and had Sacred Sword Zachariel hanging from her waist, but it didn’t suit her at all. Lisette was next to her, and for some reason, Ginias was as well.

Why did this troublesome bunch have to stop by when I’m so damn busy?

Checking in on Nephteros was his primary goal, and then he had to go see Shax and Kuroka before going to pick out a present for Nephy. That last point had him especially troubled, seeing that he still hadn’t come up with any good ideas for a gift.

“Sorry, Archdemon. Are we a bother?” Lisette asked upon seeing him appear so dejected.

In complete contrast to when he first met her, she was wearing a finely made silk shirt and skirt. She had a thin blazer-like jacket on as well. Nobody would doubt her if she introduced herself as the daughter of a well-off family. She didn’t look like one of his alleyway siblings at all.

“You don’t need to worry about it,” Zagan said, ruffling his little sister’s hair upon seeing her act anxious. “She’s the one to blame for suddenly showing up like this.”

“Whaaat? Is that how you talk to your big sis?!”

“Shut it. I’m busy right now. Go home.”

“How brazen!” Ginias cut in. “Is Stella not your elder sister? How can you treat her like that? Family, and women especially, are meant to be treated with respect!”

This one was wearing his Anointed Armor much like he had been when Zagan had first met him. Perhaps it had nothing to do with being on duty. His chestnut hair looked somewhat longer than before, and his green eyes brimmed with an extremely serious light, not showing a hint of lingering over any past failures.

Zagan cocked his head at what he’d just heard.

A guy with this personality called her by name?

The last time he’d met this boy, Ginias had always referred to the other Angelic Knights as Lord or Lady followed by their surnames. Judging by how he wasn’t referring to Stella as Lady Diekmeyer, he probably got along with her rather well.

“Huh? Are you attached to Stella now?” Zagan asked with a dubious look.

“Wh-What?! I-I’m not attached! I simply respect her!”

“That’s called being attached...”

That was all Zagan needed to hear.

Oh, right, now that I think of it, Stella’s the type to comfort any depressed brat she sees, huh?

It was easy to picture this boy being another victim of hers. At the same time, he now knew that it was thanks to Stella that Ginias had managed to recover after having been horribly tricked by Zagan and nearly beaten to death.

Zagan pinched his brow for a while, and after giving it some thought, he decided to treat Ginias the same way he treated Lisette. And so, he ruffled his hair.

“Wh-What do you think you’re doing?!” Ginias protested.

“I just figure she must’ve been a bother...”

“I haven’t been a bother!” Stella cried.

“Didn’t you beat him to a pulp?” Lisette chimed in coldly.

Apparently, something had actually happened. Ginias blushed, a complicated mix of emotions on his face. Honestly, it looked like the two little ones didn’t really get along. In any case, the four of them were standing in the middle of the road, so they decided to move over to the side. After taking up a position at the entrance to an alley, Stella spoke up with a strangely serious expression.

“So, uh, what’s got you so busy?”

“Haaah...” Zagan let out a languid sigh, then answered while covering his face. “I figured out when Nephy’s birthday is, but I can’t think of a good present!”

Stella’s group froze in place, wide-eyed at the shocking confession. Unexpectedly, the one who understood him right away was Lisette.

“I get it... Must be hard,” she said.

“Hm? You understand me?”

“Yup. I mean, I’ve never had my birthday celebrated...”

Ginias suddenly bent backward as if he’d been punched from an unexpected direction.

“I guess I’ve had mine celebrated once, I think...?” Stella added. “I got that picture book my brother stole.”

“Oh, that’s where it came from...?”

During their days as waifs, Stella had always carried around a picture book. She’d even used it to teach Zagan how to read and write. However, Zagan had killed this big brother of hers, so he felt a little awkward talking about that.

“Does that mean you know when your birthday is?” Zagan asked her.

She’d gotten a present from her actual brother. If she knew the proper way of celebrating birthdays, then her help was more than welcome. For some reason, Ginias’s ears pricked up at this, but Stella scrunched up her face.

“Uhhh...? When was it again? It’s been so long that I don’t really remember.”

Well, Zagan had never seen Stella’s birthday being celebrated in the alleys. Besides, after the Decarabia incident, a portion of her memories was missing. There wasn’t much that could be done about that, so he’d mostly expected it to turn out this way.

“Everyone from the streets is like that, I guess,” Zagan said with a wry smile.

“Yup...”

“How does one even celebrate a birthday...?” Zagan muttered. He’d pondered that question countless times over the past few days.

“This really is a difficult problem...” both Stella and Lisette said, nodding along seriously.

“W-Waaah!”

Despite the serious conversation, Ginias suddenly fell to his knees and burst into tears.

“What’s wrong with you? Keep quiet.”

“Your lives have been so hard...! I’m so powerless...” Ginias said, clutching Zagan’s hand. “I’m not sure how much I can help, but allow me to be of assistance. At the very least, my father has celebrated my birthday with me.”

“Really?!”

Zagan never imagined he would get any help from this group. The three of them crowded around Ginias. Stella in particular was practically glued to his side, turning the pure little boy’s ears bright red.

“So? What do you do for a birthday?” she asked him.

“U-Umm, in my case, I’ve been giving pens and watches and such as presents. Up until two years ago, at least.”

“Up until two years ago? Why?” Lisette asked curiously.

“Two years ago, my father died in battle. I didn’t have anyone to celebrate with last year...” Ginias answered with an awkward smile.

There had been a major battle just over a year ago. Many Angelic Knights and sorcerers had died there, along with Wise Dragon Orobas. That was also when Archdemon Marchosias had suffered his fatal wounds. It seemed Ginias’s father had been among the deceased. Feeling somewhat bad for broaching this topic, Zagan plopped his hand atop Ginias’s head once more. Stella, and even Lisette, placed their hands on his shoulders to assist him.

“Umm, right. Sorry about that time in Raziel,” Zagan said.

“Don’t be. In the end, I’m actually rather indebted to you.”

The ill feelings of the past had long since vanished.

Hmm... A watch, huh? Zagan sank into thought. It wasn’t a bad idea. He’d only considered clothing and the like thus far, but more practical items like pens and watches could also work.

“Ummm, though it may be somewhat presumptuous of me to say this, would you like to go search for something with us now?” Ginias asked bashfully.

“Ah... I’d like to, but I must go meet my subordinates.”

Zagan gave Stella an eye signal. He’d already received a report that Shax had Dexia in custody. Was it really all right for her to meet Lisette? None of this actually got across to Stella, though, so she simply stared back in confusion. As such, Zagan squatted down in front of Lisette to match her eyeline.

“Someone who might be related to you is with the guys I’m going to meet. It’s just a possibility, however. It’s very likely she doesn’t know you at all. What do you want to do?”

“I-I don’t really know...”

“Nothing good can come from digging up your past. If that’s what you believe, then just kill time with Stella around here. But if you wish to know more, you can come with me.”

Lisette’s gaze wandered about in bewilderment due to the sudden question, but she still returned a firm nod.

“I want...to try meeting her. I don’t know what will come of it, but I want to know more.”

“Got it. Then come with me.”

Lisette nodded stiffly as Ginias walked up beside her.

“What do you want?” she asked.

“Stella and I are your allies. No matter who you are or what happens, that won’t change.”

“H-Hmph!”

It was hard to tell whether they got along or not, but at the very least, there was less tension in Lisette’s expression after she heard that. The four of them began walking when suddenly, Zagan turned to Stella.

“Oh yeah. Stella, I heard you ended up becoming an Archangel. How are things actually going?”

“Hmm? Well, my teacher went missing after leaving his Sacred Sword behind, so it just kinda happened really fast. I’m a complete amateur with a sword, so I wonder if this is really okay.”

That Archdemon had apparently taught Stella how to use sorcery, but not swordsmanship. Being told she was free to choose in that state was sure to confuse her. And yet, Ginias chimed in as if he’d heard something unthinkable.

“Stella. That’s not modesty. You’re mistaking reality.”

“What? You mean she can actually use a sword pretty well?” Zagan asked.

“Of course. We Angelic Knights are ranked according to our skills with a blade. Only one month after being inaugurated as an Archangel, Stella has reached second in the rankings. That’s the same rank Lord Diekmeyer held. As far as I know, no active Angelic Knight can hold their ground against her.”

By saying no active Angelic Knight, he was probably excluding Raphael. Zagan had never actually seen her wield a sword, so he had no way of measuring her abilities himself.

I suppose that makes sense, though, considering she has the powers of a sorcerer and an Angelic Knight.

Andrealphus/Michael had also been called the strongest due to that.

Seeing that Zagan understood him, Ginias continued proudly, “Even Lady Lilqvist, who is extolled as a woman of terrifying talent, is only ranked number four, so this isn’t normal by any standard.”

Hearing that, Zagan shot Stella a surprised look.

“If you went at it with Chastille with a sword, how would it turn out?”

“Hmm? Just a sword? I think it’d be an even match.”

I can see why all the Angelic Knights would be pissed at her for calling herself an amateur...

Stella was apparently on par with Chastille even without the use of her sorcery and martial arts skills.

“Setting that aside, you’ve got that Kuroka girl at your place, right?” Stella continued with a shudder. “Even if I went all out, I doubt I could beat her.”

By all out, she was implying the use of the Sacred Sword, her martial arts, and her sorcery. That was apparently the reason for Stella’s poor self-evaluation.

“She’s more at Chastille’s place... Wait, is she really that strong?”

“Mhm. I mean, not only are her eyes healed now, but you even made her Anointed Armor, right? In that case, she might be a little outta my reach.”

“Someone that far outstrips Stella? Who is she?” Ginias asked in shock.

Now that Zagan thought of it, he realized Ginias had never met Kuroka. He couldn’t quite find the right words to explain it.

Would it be a problem to say she’s Raphael’s daughter?

During the incident in Raziel, it had been made clear that Raphael had killed a cardinal. The Archangels seemed to understand the circumstances, but he still couldn’t be considered innocent by the church as a whole. If Zagan declared that Kuroka was Raphael’s daughter, it could bring unnecessary trouble to her doorstep. And honestly, she already had enough misfortune to deal with because of her disposition.

“She’s a knight from Liucaon,” Zagan said, deciding that was the safest answer. “One they refer to as a samurai. She’s currently working for Chastille as a member of the church.”

“Liucaon...” Ginias muttered with a slight tremble. “I see. It’s precisely because they possess such power that they can stand as equals to the entire continent.”

“If you’re interested, we’re actually on our way to meet her now.”

Ginias jolted on the spot and shuddered violently. Well, in truth, Liucaon’s ongoing independence was mostly because of the three Holy Treasures and the protection Marchosias had been providing them.

Incidentally, Head Archangel Ginias held first place in this ranking of theirs, while Valjakka had apparently been third. Setting aside Ginias, who could use Confession, Zagan had had no idea the traitor actually possessed that much skill.

Finishing him off might’ve been a bad idea...

He’d already received the report of Valjakka’s demise from Shax. The idiot had ignored Zagan’s warning, so it was essentially suicide, though.

The group continued to walk and talk as they made their way toward their destination.

“Nooo! No more! Someone save meee!”

Upon arriving, they were greeted by the screams of a completely brokenhearted girl.

“Ah... Maybe I should’ve gotten here sooner,” Zagan said with a tremendous sigh.

◇

Around the same time, Nephteros found herself in the plaza in front of the church, gazing up at the sky in a daze.

Love myself...huh?

She didn’t think she’d abandoned self-care entirely. She meant to put in the effort to live properly. Was that perhaps different from loving herself? She couldn’t come up with an answer by thinking it over, but she still remembered her conversation with Alshiera the other day.

Just spend my time as usual... That’s an option too, right?

That was one of the options Alshiera had presented to her. And honestly, it seemed more productive than wasting her time away in a daze.

Nephteros walked through the side entrance of the cathedral and made her way to Chastille’s office. The Archangel had spent the entire day yesterday out of work mode. The question was, had she managed to recover yet? The paperwork was going to start piling up if she hadn’t.

“Chastille? I’m coming in,” Nephteros said, knocking on the door.

“Oh. Please do,” Chastille replied reliably.

Nephteros entered the office and saw the mountain of work on the desk that had been awaiting Chastille. Nephteros had already sorted it out to an extent, but she’d also been unable to get her feelings in order, so it was hard to say whether she’d done a good job of it.

Judging by the slight blush still on Chastille’s face, it would be more appropriate to say that she’d been pulled back to reality by the work before her rather than say she’d recovered. After giving this some more thought, Nephteros realized Barbatos was nowhere to be found. Having said that, he was probably hiding in the shadows. She could see Chastille’s shadow rippling unnaturally, even.

Looks like it’ll be useless to ask for advice here.

After hearing about her life span from Zagan, the first person Nephteros had thought to consult was Chastille. She wasn’t a sorcerer, however, so she had no way of knowing how to save a homunculus and would surely end up worrying about it even more than Nephteros herself. When that thought came to mind, Nephteros had decided not to ask her.

Still, seeing that things are the same as usual is actually somewhat relaxing.

She felt like it was okay for her to be here, for her to pass her time as always, and that was a massive relief. That was why Nephteros forced a smile as she always did.

“Good grief. Do your work properly today, okay?” she said.

“Ugh... Sorry.”

Nephteros went on to split the mountain of documents into things that needed Chastille’s signature, things she had to confirm, and things that required neither. When it only needed confirmation, Nephteros read the contents aloud to her. Nephteros handled documents that didn’t require Chastille’s attention all on her own.

“Oh yeah, Nephteros,” Chastille said, raising her head from the documents. “I missed my chance to ask you yesterday. Did something happen?”

Nephteros twitched due to the sudden surprise attack.

“What do you mean...?”

“Oh, don’t mind me if it’s nothing. I just thought you had something on your mind the last few days. If I can be of any help, feel free to talk to me about it.”

This girl really was sharp at times like these despite her habitual behavior. Nephteros knew that trying to brush this off poorly would actually make Chastille worry more. And in the end, she would find out anyway, so after hesitating a little, Nephteros shook her head.

“I’ve been worrying about something...but it’s a little hard to put into words right now...”

“I-I see... Mmm... That happens every now and then, I guess.”

Nephteros couldn’t tell what was going through her head as Chastille’s blush deepened. Still, this was the same as always. If Nephteros were to spend her last moments with her loved ones, then this felt like the right place. After thinking of it like that, she suddenly realized something was missing. She looked around the office and arrived at the answer quickly.

“Oh, how strange. Is Richard late?”

Richard was the knight Chastille had assigned as Nephteros’s guard. He was basically always with her, so it was strange not to see him in the office.

“Richard requested a break today,” Chastille said with a grim expression and a shake of the head.

How strange. Usually, he’d at least say something to me...

Nephteros felt that something was wrong, but that quickly transformed into guilt due to Chastille’s next words.

“It seems he’s also troubled by something...”

“Huh?”

Nephteros had been so preoccupied with herself that she hadn’t even noticed.

Now that I think of it, Richard didn’t come back after his sword training yesterday.

He usually came to the office in the morning, so that was odd. Nephteros was embarrassed for only realizing now. Back when she’d collapsed, he’d also saved her without saying anything and had remained by her side the entire time. All things considered, her behavior was far too heartless.

“Chastille, do you know where Richard is?” Nephteros asked, putting the mess of documents back down on the table.

“Umm, sorry. I don’t... Oh, wait. Barbatos, you should know, right?” Chastille asked while looking down at her feet. The shadow there wriggled about in response.

“Huuuh? Why do I gotta...?”

“Please, Barbatos. This involves my subordinate. I’m also worried.”

“Tch... Fine, guess I can help.”

After a short while, the shadow returned with an answer, saying, “He’s out in the forest outside town for some reason.”

“The forest?”

Nephteros asked for more details and learned that he was at the location where Chastille had saved her during the incident when Bifrons’s chimera had attacked her.

Now that I think about it, isn’t that also when I first met Richard?

That location was where he’d lost several of his comrades, so something significant had to have happened that made him take a break all of a sudden to visit such a place.

If something is troubling him, I’d like to help.

She owed Richard a great debt. Plus, she still had no idea what she wanted to do regarding her own problem, which was perhaps why she wanted to try helping her friends. Yes, it was precisely because she had so little time remaining that she turned her attention to her surroundings.

“Um, Chastille...”

“You don’t need to worry about me. Kuroka will be back in the afternoon. Please go.”

“Thank you... You too, shaggy.”

“Who the hell’re you callin’ shaggy?!”

With that, Nephteros ran off toward the forest.

◇

“Hic... Why...? Why me...?”

After entering the shop where he was to meet his subordinates, Zagan found a girl crouching in the corner. She’d been thoroughly used as a dress-up doll. There was underwear made entirely of string—or perhaps it was some kind of swimsuit—some kind of suit with rabbit ears and a tail, that clothing made only of belts that Nephy had been made to wear before, some kind of animal costume, and many other such articles scattered all over the place.

It seemed playtime was over for now, so the girl was wearing a proper outfit. Beside her, Kuroka was pale to the face, as if she’d just witnessed something pitiful, while standing in front of Shax and covering both his eyes. There were clothes scattered about that men couldn’t be shown, so this made sense. The avian clerk Manuela’s satisfied face stood out in complete contrast to the disastrous scene.

Lisette gasped at the ghastly sight, then suddenly raised her voice upon spotting the crouching girl’s face.

“Huh...? She looks just like me...?”

Reacting to her voice, the girl’s head snapped up and her eyes shot open.

“Aristella! You’re safe?” she said, rising to her feet like she couldn’t believe it. She walked up to Lisette and embraced her with tears in her eyes. “Thank goodness... I thought I wouldn’t be able to save you!”

She even went as far as rubbing her cheek against Lisette’s, but Lisette could only look back at her in bewilderment.

“U-Um, sorry. You’re probably mistaken... My name is Lisette...”

The girl had likely noticed upon hugging her. She let go of Lisette in a daze and stared at her face.

“You’re...someone else?”

“Sorry.”

The girl looked like she was about to collapse to her knees upon coming to this understanding, and Lisette caught her in a panic.

“A-Are you okay...?”

“Yeah... Sorry. You look just like my little sister.”

Watching the two of them, Ginias had his hand on the greatsword on his back, but Zagan signaled him to stand down and shook his head. Ginias then lowered his hand.

“Okay then, how about you try out some clothes too?” Manuela said, walking up to the two girls to comfort them.

“Restrain yourself,” Zagan warned her.

He believed that people who couldn’t read the mood were a necessity sometimes, but this wasn’t one such time. Honestly, he felt like looking for something here that could work as Nephy’s present, but he decided to come back later.

Zagan’s group were regulars at this shop by now, so they were easily lent the use of the office in the back. It was a reasonably spacious room. There were two sofas facing each other with a small table between them. Shields and other such ornaments decorated the walls like a proper equipment store, along with some sort of certificate.

“My name is Dexia. I am...was...Shere Khan’s subordinate,” the girl said after managing to calm herself down.

Zagan, Shax, Kuroka, Dexia, Lisette, Stella, and Ginias were in the room. It was a little cramped with everyone present, but the room was sufficient for their needs. Zagan and Stella sat on one sofa, while Dexia and Lisette sat on the one facing them. Unfortunately, Zagan had to have Shax, Kuroka, and Ginias stand up. This was technically an interrogation, so this seating order was a requirement.

After listening to her simple introduction, Zagan turned to Kuroka and Shax.

“Did they follow you?” he asked.

“Yes, we were properly followed here,” Kuroka answered.

There had of course been a reason for the two of them to return by carriage instead of using Transfer despite having custody of a key figure like Dexia.

I can’t discard the possibility of extracting information from Shere Khan’s hounds.

Kuroka and Shax had naturally informed Zagan of the two men they had clashed with who appeared to be Shere Khan’s subordinates. Their goals and abilities were all a mystery, so there was a danger the carriage could’ve been attacked, but it was far too valuable an opportunity to overlook.

That was why he had them return in a way that made it easy for anyone to pursue them. Once they reached Kianoides, they were in Zagan’s barrier. Anyone who thought they could escape from an Archdemon’s palm could go ahead and try. Zagan searched the barrier for anyone who could fit the bill and had a grasp of two positive hits. It seemed they were watching this shop from afar. He didn’t have any intention of getting Manuela’s shop involved, so he was already prepared to launch a preemptive attack if it looked like they were going to try something.

“So? You were once Shere Khan’s subordinate, the one loitering around this town one month ago, right?” Zagan asked Dexia.

“Yes...” Dexia answered, nodding stiffly.

That had been the first time Zagan faced Azazel.

“I have a ton of questions for you, but let me check one thing first,” Zagan said, waiting for her to ready herself. After a short while, Dexia timidly nodded back to him. “Are you aware of what exactly you are?”

Lisette and Ginias were the only ones who looked like they had no idea what that meant.

“I’m a familiar created by Shere Khan,” Dexia answered, putting her hand to her chest. “My sister Aristella is the same. He calls us Nephilim. We were created with the purpose of serving as his arms and legs after he lost the use of his body... Or, it was our purpose...”

Lisette’s eyes shot open at this revelation, but Zagan decided to leave that for later.

Nephilim...?

It was eerily similar to Nephy’s full name, Nephelia. Zagan’s expression turned grim. He didn’t think Shere Khan was targeting Nephy directly, but was there still some kind of relationship there? It was better to be wary of the possibility. In any case, unlike Nephteros, Dexia had a firm grasp of what exactly she was. Although, in the end, she was pretty much in the same situation after being abandoned.

“You said Shere Khan made you. Do you know something about her?” Zagan asked, pointing his eyes toward Lisette.

Dexia shook her head. “I don’t... I’ve never heard of having any predecessors. If there had been a deserter before us, I don’t think I would’ve been able to get away like this either...”

Shere Khan was an Archdemon. It would be ridiculous for him to have zero countermeasures in place if one of his pets had already slipped their leash. In that case, Lisette was different from the twins. Regardless, she’d been attacked on Alshiere Imera. That was still a mystery, but at the very least, Dexia hadn’t been informed of it.

I guess it’s possible Lisette was used as a model to create them?

That was about the only conjecture Zagan could make based on what information he had.

“Lisette. How long ago did you start living in the alleys?” Zagan asked.

“Umm, I don’t really remember. I guess...about five years ago?”

Zagan held back a scowl.

The answer is always five years ago...

She had definitely gotten involved with Shere Khan somehow.

“Next question. What is your goal now?” Zagan asked Dexia.

“I want...to save Aristella.”

That was the girl Zagan had once failed to save. Back then, he’d barely managed to maintain her life, but the majority of her body had been blown away by Alshiera’s Seraph Hunter.

“Is she alive?” Zagan asked.

“I think so...”

“I see. Then, next question. If Shere Khan told you, ‘I’ll save your sister, so come back,’ what would you do?”

Dexia stiffened up. It was a cruel question, but a necessary one. Her answer would decide how Zagan would deal with her. She clenched her fists tightly over her lap and trembled, her fingers turning white from her grip. Lisette leaned over and extended her hand out to her, gently clasping Dexia’s hands. Dexia’s eyes widened in wonder, then she gathered her resolve and gave Zagan her answer.

“Aristella...cried. She said...that she didn’t want to die. She said she hated the idea of being thrown away. Despite that, Shere Khan used her as a tool. So...I can’t forgive him.”

She stared straight into Zagan’s eyes without any hesitation. It was as if she truly no longer had any other purpose for living.

“I see. Very well. I’ll place you under my protection. I’ll give you a hand in saving this sister of yours.”

“R-Really...?”

“You’ll spit out everything you know, of course. That’s my condition.”

“Thank you...very much...” Dexia said with a bow.

“Isn’t that great?” Lisette said with a smile.

“M-Mm.”

Watching the two of them, Stella poked Zagan’s ribs.

“Ha ha, it really is great,” she said with a nod, then lowered her voice so that only Zagan could hear her. “Zagan, you were planning on killing her depending on her answer, right?”

“Hmph. Of course I was. I’m not the type to protect some frivolous idiot who only says something for appearance’s sake in such a situation.”

Zagan wasn’t a philanthropist. He’d simply given her a chance because Shax and Kuroka had picked her up. If not for that, he had no need to save the likes of Shere Khan’s familiar. Actually, there was a ton of information he could get through dissection and experimentation. Now that he had a grasp of that Archdemon’s location, such information clearly outweighed Dexia’s life.

Well, I ended up saving her instead, though.

He had one more troublesome matter to handle now, but once he made this decision, Zagan wouldn’t abandon her.

“Boss, Bifrons was apparently the one who let this little miss get away,” Shax said from his position by the wall. “What do you think of that?”

The little Archdemon was a genius at harassing others. If they were involved, then there was no telling if Dexia was some sort of trap, but Zagan shook his head regardless.

“You don’t need to worry about Bifrons,” he said. “Judging by that guy’s personality, Dexia isn’t all that interesting. There’s probably no deeper meaning to this other than harassing Shere Khan a little. At most, Bifrons is probably hoping for something interesting to come from it.”

Be it against Zagan or Shere Khan, if Bifrons was seriously intent on harassment, they would create a situation with far fewer choices available. For example, throwing Dexia into town in such a way that Zagan was obliged to save her. Zagan had decided to save her mostly on a whim. The probability that he would do so had been far too low for it to be part of Bifrons’s scheming.

Well, now that she managed to get this far, it’s possible we attracted Bifrons’s interest, though.

Frankly, Zagan found it pretty unlikely that Bifrons would sprout some kind of plot at this point in time.

“If you say so, Boss. I’ll just do as you say,” Shax said with a shrug before pulling out a greatsword. “So what about this?”

“A Sacred Sword? Whose is it...?” Ginias said in a trembling voice.

“A guy called Valjakka. There was a bit of trouble...” Shax started.

“He was apparently killed by Shere Khan’s subordinate. It was highly likely it would get stolen, so I ordered them to retrieve it.”

Zagan pushed all responsibility on Shere Khan without hesitation. Kuroka was taken aback by this, but Shax immediately saw where this was going and feigned a sorrowful expression.

“Sorry,” he said. “We might’ve been able to save him had we got there a little faster, but we didn’t make it. That’s why we thought to at least take back his sword. Please use it for his memorial.”

“I’m in your debt... You have my thanks,” Ginias said, taking the Sacred Sword with a pained expression even though these words had come from a sorcerer.

This guy is really talented when it comes to anything except dealing with Kuroka...

Zagan’s instinct had been right on the mark when it came to recommending him as the next Archdemon. Zagan didn’t actually want to do so, but Shax was already capable enough to be one.

“Ginias, do you mind dealing with this?” Zagan asked, a look in his eyes as if he was respecting a departed Angelic Knight.

“Of course not... Still, to think such a skilled man could lose in battle...”

Valjakka had apparently been popular among his coworkers. There was true lamentation in Ginias’s voice.

Well, I guess I’ll keep the fact that he was Shere Khan’s spy under wraps.

Zagan didn’t have an ounce of sympathy for the man, but there was no need to rub salt in the wounds of the living. It was something like a samurai’s mercy—so the saying went in Liucaon. Kuroka seemed to find this somewhat questionable, but things settled down nicely like this.

There’s now an open seat among the Archangels. How will this affect things given the timing...?

Despite his rotten nature, Valjakka had apparently been quite skilled. Zagan couldn’t tell what kind of shadow this would cast over the church. And just as he started giving that thought...

Hm? Where the hell is Nephteros going?

The barrier covering town detected his sister-in-law heading into the forest.

◇

After running through the forest for a while, Nephteros managed to find Richard. Relieved to see that he was safe, she called out to him.

“Richard.”

“Lady Nephteros...?”

He turned around. Since he was on break, he wasn’t wearing his Anointed Armor. It was the first time Nephteros had seen him dressed casually, not even wearing the ceremonial uniform of the church. Judging by the simple bouquet of flowers in his hand, he was here to pay his respects to the dead. Seeing Nephteros out of breath, Richard ran over to her in astonishment.

“What happened?” he asked.

“What? I mean, you...”

He...what? He’d only taken a break. Taking another look at him, Richard was the same as usual. Nephteros couldn’t tell whether he was worrying about something.

But I suppose he also doesn’t know what I’m worrying about.

There was no time to dawdle about meaninglessly. Nephteros hadn’t really gotten her thoughts in order, but cut to the chase anyway.

“I heard you were worried about something... You ended up taking a break without saying anything, and you didn’t come back after training yesterday. It bothered me.”

“Oh, um, I’m truly sorry,” Richard said, his cheeks turning red.

“There’s nothing to apologize for, is there?”

Richard scratched his head, then took a look around the forest.

“I come out here whenever I’m troubled,” he said.

“It’s the spot where we fought Bifrons’s chimera that one time, right?”

After finding out about her origins, Nephteros had run away from her master Bifrons and ended up using all her strength in this exact spot, leaving her with no choice but to wait for her death. Back then, the Angelic Knights had been the ones to save her.

“Oh yeah, you were the one who first offered me water, weren’t you?”

“That did happen, didn’t it...?”

“Honestly, I never dreamed Angelic Knights would save me. It was a shock.”

Her environment nearly made her forget, but Angelic Knights and sorcerers were supposed to be mortal enemies. The knights would use whatever opportunity they had to kill a sorcerer. That was supposed to be the case, but Richard had said nothing of the sort and offered her water. That was followed by painful memories, though...

“Back then, if you... No, if all of you hadn’t saved me, I wouldn’t be here today.”

Several people had died just to save her. Among the survivors, there was one who was beyond any hope of recovery too. They had all been so young and were supposed to have bright futures ahead of them.

“That’s why, um... Thank you. Now that I think of it, I never said that.”

There was no complaining if anyone called her heartless for this.

“Thank you,” Richard returned with a nod. “I’m sure the men who lost their lives would be thrilled to hear you say that, Lady Nephteros.”

“Did you...know them well?”

“Yes... One was my childhood friend. The other I was close to ever since my days as an apprentice. After our patrols, we often horsed around with everyone in the platoon.”

They had been far more irreplaceable comrades to Richard than Nephteros had imagined. That thought sent throbbing pain through her heart.

“Sor—”

“Please,” Richard said, cutting her off before she could apologize. “Please don’t apologize. They fulfilled their duty splendidly. You shouldn’t be apologizing to them, but honoring them. So please, honor their memory.”

Nephteros couldn’t say anything about such a state of mind.

“But... It’s still sad for people to die...” she said.

I wonder if Nephelia feels this way too?

Zagan was deeply troubled when he told Nephteros about her life span. She was supposed to be nothing more than a tool that could be replaced, but he agonized over the thought the same way he would for Nephy or Foll. She knew he’d truly accepted her as part of his family.

Everyone else was surely the same. Chastille, Kuroka, Foll, Orias, Raphael, and even that weird granny. Perhaps even that shaggy sorcerer...or not. In any case, there were many people who would feel sorrow if Nephteros were to die.

Is it really okay for me to let it end like this? There’s a way to...

The moment she considered the alternative, a violent urge to vomit assaulted her. Chimeras made by plastering together bodies in an absurd manner, all with the same face as Nephteros. Those had been the unlucky Nephteroses. She’d been the slightly lucky one. They had killed Richard’s friends. She didn’t want to die, but using those bodies was an impossibility. She wouldn’t be able to bear it. Nephteros staggered, and Richard quickly supported her shoulders in a panic.

“Lady Nephteros?!”

“I-I’m fine. I just remembered something unpleasant...”

She’d come here out of concern for Richard, so why was she making him worry about her instead? Still, there was no way her pale complexion would return to normal right away. Richard didn’t really look flustered by this. Rather, his face was steeped in despair. Did something happen? A dizzy spell or two was actually rather common for her. Richard’s expression seemed somewhat excessive.

“I’m really fine,” she said, stretching her hand out and touching his cheek. “More importantly, did something happen to you? Something to make you come all the way out here?”

She had her own crisis to deal with, so she had no idea why she was saying this.

Maybe I want others to remember me as a good person before I die...?

She couldn’t deny that such shallow thoughts came to mind. Still, Nephteros felt like she couldn’t possibly ignore this man when he was so troubled by something. Her plea only made Richard look like he was going to burst into tears.

“I’d like to help you if I— Hyah?!” she started to say, when he suddenly embraced her. “Wh-What are you...? Are you crying?”

“I’m so, so sorry. I have...no way of saving you,” Richard replied in a trembling and muffled voice. That was enough for Nephteros to figure it out.

“Did you...hear about my circumstances?”

“Yes...”

That was why he was out here all on his own. He’d agonized and worried over how he couldn’t save her.

“I see...” Nephteros said, then tightly returned his embrace without really knowing why she did. “Sorry. Even though all of you saved me...”

“Please don’t apologize.”

“Mm... But I’m a little happy. About someone who will cry for me, even if only out of sympathy, I mean.”

Richard let go of Nephteros, then grasped her shoulders so hard it hurt her.

“It isn’t sympathy!” he roared. “It’s because I love you!”

Nephteros couldn’t understand that those words had been directed at her.

Huh? What did he just say...?

Love. This was what she’d been searching for ever since learning of Zagan and Nephy’s relationship. And now, it was being presented right before her.

“Wh-Why...?” she said. “There’s nothing about me worth loving...”

“Didn’t you cry for our sake too?”

Those words caused her heart to thump to a surprising extent. During the chimera attack, Nephteros had been unable to do anything but cry as she watched the Angelic Knights die before her. She’d cried at the fathomless pain of others dying for the likes of her.

I see now, someone who doesn’t love themself isn’t even able to realize something so simple...

Alshiera’s advice had been right on the mark. Nephteros had to properly love herself. By doing so, she would’ve realized long ago that he faced her with love, not just simple kindness. That was why Nephteros could do nothing but give him a troubled smile.

“Sorry... I’m going to die in two or three months, so...”

“If so, I’ll stay by your side until the very end. I won’t let you be alone.”

“Why...? Won’t that just bring you pain?” she asked, unable to believe what she was hearing.

“Isn’t that what it means for people to love each other?” Richard answered, finding her response somewhat curious.

A tear ran down Nephteros’s cheek as she clung tightly to Richard’s chest.

“I don’t want to die... I want to learn more... I want to do more... There’s so much more out there...”

“I know.”

“But I can’t stand the thought of prolonging my life like that...”

Richard didn’t laugh or get angry at her unsightly willfulness. Instead, he simply returned her embrace gently.

“Let’s look for a way,” he said. “I’m sure there must be one.”

She looked up at his face, frightened at the thought of whether it was okay to believe him. She had no idea how to answer his confession.

But if I can survive...

If her life could be prolonged, perhaps she could reply when the time came. After all, he said he would stay by her side forever despite how awkward a person she was. With him, perhaps she could truly learn what love was. In a sense, this emotion was maybe too fleeting and vague to be called a first love. Nevertheless, Nephteros finally found herself standing in front of the door with all the answers to her questions.

“You know, Richard...”

And just in that moment...

“How despicable it is, laying a hand on someone else’s doll without permission.”

A red flower bloomed in front of her with a dull thud. Warm liquid ran down Nephteros’s face. Richard froze up completely with no idea of what had just happened. She timidly lowered her gaze, spotting a hand soaked in red piercing out of his chest. It was a small hand, one that closely resembled the one of her former master. And within its grasp was a still-beating heart.

She’d yet to even give him a reply, but the man who’d professed his love to her was having his heart crushed right in front of her eyes.

Again... It’s all because you tried to save someone like me, that once more...

Thus, despair tore Nephteros apart from within.

◇

“Bifrons! You bastard!”

The first thing Zagan saw upon catching up to Nephteros was Richard getting his heart gouged out. The Archdemon who couldn’t be identified as a boy or girl transformed from particles to human form, then burst into laughter.

“Ha ha ha ha ha! I’m so happy to see you make a face like that!”

Richard crumbled to his knees. Nephteros caught him, still completely lost as to what was happening. Bifrons savored every last second of this, then turned to Zagan.

“Heaven’s Ring Shadow Sever.”

Zagan was the first to move. He absorbed the inexhaustible supply of mana from his surroundings and converted it all into speed. Bifrons was still clinging to Richard’s back, and Zagan got in range in a single step. He carried this momentum to drive in his fist, but the repulsive sorcerer transformed into particles to avoid a direct hit. This was still within Zagan’s range of expectations, however.

“Gak! Hak!”

Even if Bifrons managed to dodge his fist, they couldn’t withstand the mana accompanying it. Transforming back into human form, Bifrons keeled over and tumbled to the ground.

“Shax!”

“On it!”

Richard couldn’t be treated until Bifrons was torn away from him. Zagan’s talented subordinate understood this, so he immediately ran over to Richard once the opportunity presented itself. Zagan kept an eye on this and charged in at the Archdemon once more.

“AAAAAaaaaAAAAAaaaaAAAAAH!”

He turned around to the sudden otherworldly shriek. Pitch-black darkness poured from Nephteros. He recognized this phenomenon.

No way! Azazel?!

It was the calamity that had once taken over Aristella and had also once seeped into Nephteros’s body. It was supposed to be sealed by Alshiera, but here it was, overflowing from Nephteros. The light of reason had long vanished from her eyes, and the darkness poured out as if to swallow Richard whole. Had Nephteros’s despair been the trigger? In any case, it was dangerous to get close to her now.

“Shax! Get away!” Zagan yelled.

Shax wasn’t the type of man to escape on his own and abandon a patient, however. He was done for. The moment that thought crossed Zagan’s mind, a blade tore horizontally through the darkness, enveloping Shax.

“Kurosuke!”

“Mister Shax! Now!”

Kuroka was the girl who understood Shax even better than Zagan did. She predicted he wouldn’t try to run away and had already unleashed her shortswords. Her terrifying blades cut apart the darkness without touching Nephteros, revealing Richard’s body once more. In that instant, Shax grabbed him and leaped back.

Immediately following that, the darkness once more enveloped the spot Kuroka had torn open. Even a moment’s hesitation would’ve been too slow. Kuroka and Shax had managed to escape the darkness because of their decisiveness. However, this dilemma had also distracted Zagan’s focus for a single instant.

“Hee hee hee! You’ve brought along an interesting one! I’ll be taking it as a souvenir!” Bifrons exclaimed and lunged forth, heading straight for Lisette.

What?! Why her?! What could he possibly want with her?

“Eek!”

Lisette screamed as crystals wrapped around her body. This imagery dug up a certain girl’s emotional scars.

“Nooo!”

Dexia jumped into action faster than anyone else. Seeing the danger facing the girl who shared her sister’s face, Dexia’s body moved before her mind could process the situation.

“No way!”

Bifrons froze in shock and delight at having their pretty snatched away by someone they had once deemed worthless, and Zagan wasn’t one to let such a moment of turmoil pass.

“Heaven’s Phosphor Purple Lightning!”

This fist made of Heaven’s Phosphor had once trampled over a swarm of demons. Zagan left a vivid purple trail behind him and aimed his fist at Bifrons. Their bodies crossed for a single instant. Zagan’s fist came down, while Bifrons’s body twisted. The moment they passed each other, something fell to the ground with a splat. It was a slender severed forearm.

“AAAAAARGH!”

Zagan’s purple lightning had reaped Bifrons’s right arm.

I failed. That was far too shallow.

Heaven’s Phosphor had immediately burned Bifrons’s arm, but hadn’t reached their body. The little Archdemon had severed their own arm before it could. Looking down, the arm was also intact from the wrist down, where the Sigil of the Archdemon was.

Still, now that right arm can’t be regenerated.

“Hee hee. Having to pay an arm for this is rather pricey,” Bifrons said, the severed hand floating in the air before settling itself in their other hand.

“Do you think I’ll leave it at this?”

“Yes. You will. You’re out of time. You’ve got a fight waiting for you, after all.”

Just as Zagan was about to drive in the finishing blow, ignoring all this nonsense, he heard a scream behind him.

“Sis!”

It was Lisette. He turned around to see Stella strangled by the darkness. Judging by how Lisette and Dexia were on the ground behind her, Stella had leaped in to protect them.

“Hak... You little...”

Even as her face twisted in agony, Stella grabbed the shadowy arm and twisted it at the thumb joint with all her strength. There was enough force to yank off a human head, pulling away the darkness from her and sending it flying into the air.

By that time, Bifrons had already transformed into particles and vanished. Zagan had taken their arm, whereas Bifrons had greatly hurt Richard and Nephteros, two people he couldn’t let be. He’d been completely defeated, yet the true battle was only getting started.

“Hey...what the hell is going on?” Shax muttered in shock.

Before anyone knew it, the darkness that had covered Nephteros’s body was gone. She floated in the air with her eyes closed. It didn’t look like there was anything wrong with her body. However, wings of light protruded from her back. They were divine, yet sinister, and numbered eight in total.

◇

What the hell are those wings?!

Zagan could see their true nature through his silver eyes. Each was a crystallization of mana that stood equal to a Sigil of the Archdemon, and there were eight of them. It was like being in possession of eight Sigils at once, but Zagan didn’t believe things were as simple as that. The power here made him truly understand that the Sludge Demon Lord Bifrons had summoned once before really had been nothing but residual thoughts. He had to focus just to breathe in its presence. What could this tremendous power possibly be?

“Nephteros” opened her eyes. Her pupils were gold like the moon, and within them was darkness akin to the pits of hell. A single flap of her wings had Zagan, Stella, and Shax groaning. That was all it took to blow away all the sorcery they had prepared. It was especially bad that Shax’s sorcery had been erased, seeing how he’d been treating Richard.

“Alas...what foolish children. But I’ll still pity you,” “Nephteros” said, then began singing. “[To thee, I grant benevolence.]”

Crystal pebbles shot out of her eight wings.

Selini Chavliodous?!

This was the celestial mysticism Nephteros favored in combat, but its power was now on an entirely different level.

“Heaven’s Scale Dragon Form!”

Zagan wove his greatest shield without hesitation. Its giant wings covered all of the noncombatants like Lisette, but Zagan was left wide-eyed in shock. Selini Chavliodous pierced through the dragon-shaped armor. Even Orias’s celestial mysticism had been completely blocked by the Dragon Form, but here it was riddled with holes in an instant. Even with its armor pierced, it still ate the aura of the celestial mysticism and grew larger, but it was breaking apart faster than it grew. It was sure to shatter in just a few seconds. Still, he’d managed to buy some time.

“Keep your mouth shut or you’ll bite your tongue!”

Zagan had gone right for Lisette and Dexia in the middle of the raining crystals. Dexia was supposedly a relatively talented sorcerer, but in her current state, she was like any other unarmed noncombatant. He had to protect her.

As for Shax, who couldn’t move much with Richard in his arms, Kuroka was shielding him by cutting down the incoming crystals. The Dragon Form was at least slowing down the projectiles going through it, but even disregarding that, this girl really showed why Stella didn’t want to fight her. The two blades of the Moonless Sky shattered countless crystals. Stella and Ginias had also drawn their Sacred Swords to focus on defense.

I can’t get close to Shax!

That one flap of the wings had erased all sorcery. Richard’s current state was too much for Shax on his own. However, due to the constant rain of crystals, Zagan couldn’t get close to them while carrying the two girls.

“Angelic Confession Raziel!” Ginias shouted, springing into action.

The Head Archangel held his Sacred Sword aloft as knightly armor took shape in the air.

“Go! You can save him, right?” the boy declared, despite having been tricked, tormented, and disgraced by Zagan in the past.

“I owe you one. Don’t die,” Zagan said to the boy he’d once spared simply because it would’ve been a bother to kill him.

The green Confession lunged through the crystal rain toward “Nephteros.” Zagan used that chance to run over to Shax. Richard’s chest still had a gaping hole in it. Shax had stopped the bleeding and was using mana to manipulate Richard’s blood flow in place of the missing heart. This was the best stopgap treatment one could possibly ask for, but it wouldn’t heal him.

“What are you doing? You can’t treat him?” Zagan asked as he lowered Dexia and Lisette down onto the ground.

“Don’t be unreasonable, Boss. You can’t just regenerate a lost organ in this little time. This guy’s body won’t hold out long enough for us to remake his heart.”

A man of Shax’s caliber could treat damage to internal organs easily. However, Bifrons had cleanly plucked Richard’s heart out whole. Replacing the missing organ wasn’t just treatment, it would be an act of creation.

“Fine. I’ll do something about that,” Zagan said. “Kuroka, I’ll leave my back to you.”

“Y-Yes!” Kuroka replied in an excited tone, contrasting the desperation in the air.

Zagan began weaving the sorcery he’d meant to use for Nephteros. It was still incomplete, so he didn’t even know whether it would work. What’s more, doing this kind of work in this muddy mess was beyond foolish. Nevertheless, he’d made his decision as a king.

He drew mana from the Sigil of the Archdemon and materialized it, forming each cell and blood vessel one at a time. A normal person’s brain would be liable to rupture from the stress of the calculations he was doing. This was the most delicate of sorceries.

Behind him, Ginias made free use of his Confession to challenge “Nephteros,” but it wasn’t much of a fight. The Head Archangel’s use of Confession was in no way clumsy, but blocking the crystal rain was the best he could do. He hadn’t been able to attempt a single strike this entire time. He was still enduring the onslaught when suddenly, the crystals stopped coming.

“H-Here’s my chance!” Ginias shouted.

He readied his Confession once more and was just about to charge in as a spear of light took shape in “Nephteros’s” hand.

“Dodge it, Ginias!” Stella screamed.

“Huh?”

The instant the spear left her hand, a giant hole took shape in the middle of the Confession’s torso. By the time anyone realized it had been caused by the spear, a band of light had gone past them and reached all the way to the horizon. A moment later, a pillar of flame burst in the distance. If that had been fired toward Kianoides, the entire town would’ve been torn asunder.

“U-Ugh...”

Ginias had just barely managed to react thanks to Stella’s warning. He’d somehow escaped the spear, but his Confession had been easily defeated. He vomited blood and fell to the ground. His Anointed Armor crumbled to bits, and he couldn’t even get back to his feet. The tiniest of grazes was all it took to reduce him to such a state.

Following that, “Nephteros” closed her eyes and her lips quivered.

“[Thou art the one that shines like the stars. The one who embraces balance, and arbitrates over good and evil.]”

Celestial mysticism...and Asteri Ekrixis at that?!

Zagan’s face stiffened. This spell had once eradicated the Sludge Demon Lord. If fired by Nephteros in her current state, Kianoides was liable to get obliterated despite its distance from their battlefield. But this wasn’t the reason for Zagan to freeze. Nephteros had once attempted to cast this and had been unable to bear its power, ultimately collapsing because of it.

If she keeps using celestial mysticism like that, her body won’t last!

A tremendous light poured down over the area in reaction to the Celestian prayer. However, Zagan couldn’t move right now. If he stopped his work, Richard was doomed.

Zagan stretched out his hand, continuing Richard’s treatment all the while. He wouldn’t abandon Richard. He would protect his subordinates. He wouldn’t let the town be destroyed. That was the method of rulership Zagan believed in. And just as he began weaving Heaven’s Scale, Stella pushed his arm back down.

“Zagan. At least try relying on your big sis at times like these,” she said with a smile, her profile much like the one she had whenever she was up to no good back in the old days.

“What are you—?”

“Okay! Let’s give it a go, Zachariel! Confession!”

Stella gripped the blade of her Sacred Sword, letting her blood run down its length. A jet-black knight carrying a spear and shield took shape behind her. It was the Angelic Confession Archdemon Andrealphus had once put on display. There was precedence for this in Ginias and Michael, so her swift mastery of it wasn’t a total surprise. Stella had already reached the stage of Confession.

“Go!”

Stella held her Sacred Sword aloft, and the black Confession charged “Nephteros.” However, unlike Andrealphus, Stella rode on its back.

“You do your best too, big brother!” Stella shouted, holding her hand up to her silver artificial eye. “Antipode Whirling Wave!”

The sorcery she unleashed closely resembled the Whirling Wave her brother Decarabia had once used. It created an enormous vortex of mana, crushing everything within its range. However, what Stella used here also included the aura of the Sacred Sword within the swirling mana.

It was a raging tornado of mana and aura, a power only Stella could use as the wielder of a Sacred Sword and the King’s Silver Eye. Even Zagan wouldn’t be able to break through it. The vortex swirled with the Confession’s spear at its center, swallowing even the light of celestial mysticism. Faced with this ultimate attack, “Nephteros” continued her prayer and held up her right hand.

“[Be that as it may, balance is broken. Order is lost, and the earth is dyed in blood. Thus, this merits retribution. By the hammer that pardons all sin.]”

The light from her celestial mysticism gathered into the shape of a spear. Just a single graze had rendered a man of Ginias’s caliber incapable of standing, so how much destruction could it bring about when accompanied by celestial mysticism?

“Ugh! Just one more time! Please endure, Raziel! Confession!”

The green Confession took shape once more as if to protect Stella. Its armor was cracked and it looked like it would fall apart at any moment, but it challenged “Nephteros” alongside the black Confession.

The spear of light collided with the two Confessions, crushing them both ever so easily.

“Stella!”

Riding the back of the black Confession, Stella had no means of escaping the impact. Her body flew through the air leaving a trail of blood before someone gently caught her.

“God... That Shere Khan sure has a shitty personality. He fuckin’ sent us here ’cause he knew this would happen.”

It was a boy with scarlet hair and eyes.

“You two...” Kuroka muttered in astonishment.

“Yo, we meet again.”

The boy shot Kuroka a troubled look, then laid Stella on the ground. She was unconscious and in tatters, but still breathing. After confirming this, Zagan let out the slightest sigh of relief.

I can’t keep up with more than this...

Richard’s treatment still wasn’t done, so neither Zagan nor Shax could leave his side. They wouldn’t be able to save anyone else suffering from serious wounds.

“I do not know who you are, but it seems your enemy is one tied to us by fate,” a slit-eyed swordsman said as he walked up next to the boy with scarlet hair. “We shall provide our assistance.”

The swordsman was about to turn around, but his eyes shot wide open in shock.

“It can’t be... Are you Zagan?” he asked.

Zagan couldn’t understand the implication behind his words. How did a hero from a thousand years ago know his name upon seeing his face?

“Who the hell are you?” Zagan asked, grimacing dubiously.

The swordsman nodded, his face resolved for the inevitable.

“Sir Asura. I have found my place to die. It seems I’ll be returning to the land of the dead before you.”

“I don’t really get it, but we’re butcherin’ that goddamn seraph, yeah? I’ll keep you company.”

So the boy declared as he threw a glance at “Nephteros.”

Does that mean Azazel really is a seraph?

The swordsman had a broken sword in hand. The blade slipped out of the hilt. By the time it clanged against the ground, light poured out of the bladeless hilt. It then took the shape of a sword of light. It was closer to the aura of a Sacred Sword than any kind of sorcery. The boy also had a gauntlet of light wrapped around his right hand.

“You listenin’? The main theory for fightin’ a seraph is destroyin’ their Hex Wings. So long as they have those, no human can match them.”

“Having said that, with only two of us, getting rid of one wing would be considered most satisfactory, I suppose.”

Perhaps those words were meant for Zagan. The two of them seemed to be rather strong, but he didn’t think they could come anywhere close to stopping “Nephteros.” If so, perhaps they were trying to leave behind their knowledge. Disregarding their resolve entirely, though, “Nephteros” continued her prayer into its final verse.

“[The lights of the heavens are all stars. All that shines far and wide plummets into a conflagration. With no compassion, no grief, it simply judges and brings destruction. This is the prayer of retribution] — Asteri Ekrixis!”

And thus did the light of destruction rain down on them...or it was supposed to. Following several heavy bangs, black spheres burst around “Nephteros” and everything vanished. The clanging of several small metal cylinders falling to the ground followed a moment later.

A vampire in a black dress stood there, her hands clenching black and white Seraph Hunters. Judging by the spent cartridges at her feet, she’d fired six times. Her bullets had managed to erase Asteri Ekrixis.

“Alshiera,” Zagan said.

“Sorry I’m late.”

If the one inside Nephteros right now was Azazel, this would be a chance meeting between Alshiera and her archenemy.

“Alas, I see you stand in my way once more. What a naughty child. What a lovely child. But it’s over. I won’t forgive you anymore,” “Nephteros” said, narrowing her gaze.

“Tee hee hee. Say that after you manage to beat me once,” Alshiera said, provoking her enemy.

“Are you...Ashy?” the boy called Asura muttered in disbelief.

“We’ll talk later. Will you two lend me your aid?”

“Leave it to us!”

“As you will.”

Hearing their replies, Alshiera smiled nostalgically.

“Now then, it’s our first seraph hunt in a thousand years.”

The three of them leaped into action simultaneously. Crystal rain once more poured down from “Nephteros’s” eight wings.

“Too slow.”

Black spheres burst in front of all eight wings.

She’s suppressing them the moment the power manifests!

Zagan knew that this girl could draw the Seraph Hunters faster than any sorcery. It was the culmination of an art built over a thousand years of dedication. “Nephteros” wasn’t allowed to fire a single crystal as Asura and the swordsman leaped in at both her flanks.

“And that’s—”

“One each!”

Mana erupted from the elbow of the boy’s gauntlet, accelerating his fist with explosive force. His entire arm became a loosed arrow, piercing through one of the wings on the right. On the other side, the swordsman swept up his sword of light and cut off one of the left wings. The boy’s movements were boisterous, while the swordsman’s were quiet. Their tandem attack had succeeded in destroying two wings.

“Tch!”

“Nephteros” clicked her tongue and fell back. Seizing that opportunity, Alshiera dropped the empty magazines from her Seraph Hunters. Zagan was wondering how she would manage with both her hands occupied when black chains came out of her sleeves, pulling new magazines from her skirt. The chains then went on to reload her weapons.

That meant she was going to follow up with her quick shots that far defied human understanding. Her enemy understood this too. “Nephteros” floated through the sky, soaring in an arc to get around Alshiera, but the vampire’s eyes tracked her perfectly.

“Kee hee hee. A pampered fawn as always! You should learn to keep your distance!” “Nephteros” shouted with scorn.

“Thanks to that, you haven’t been lonely these last thousand years, have you?” Alshiera replied, a hint of affection in her voice.

“[He who rules over the journey to death. He who blows over the reeds, and passes wisdom down to man.]”

“Nephteros” started singing the verses to Algea Pathi. It had less destructive force than Asteri Ekrixis, but as it was shapeless noise, it couldn’t be blocked. The barrier of sound obscured “Nephteros’s” figure, and Alshiera fired without hesitation. However, both her shots were slightly off target.

“Where do you think you’re aimi—?!”

The two bullets collided right in front of “Nephteros’s” eyes. Unable to withstand the force, the bullets let out an ear-shattering roar and burst apart. Even Algea Pathi couldn’t withstand the sound, so cracks formed on its surface. It wasn’t enough to break through completely, but that was enough of an opening for the two seraph-hunting heroes.

“Number two!” the two shouted as they shattered another wing each.

That’s what he meant by aiming for the Hex Wings?

Zagan was amazed. He could tell that “Nephteros’s” power was dropping drastically with each wing lost. With only four left, her power was far below half of what it originally was. Nevertheless, her total output was still tremendous.

Is this how they fought a thousand years ago?

Alshiera closed in as if in a rush to bring an end to the fight. It would be no trouble for Alshiera’s quick shots to shatter the remaining four wings now that “Nephteros” was so drastically weakened. Or well, that was supposed to be the case...

“Please. Save me. Alshiera...” “Nephteros” said in the elf’s actual voice.

Alshiera averted her aim on reflex, pointing her barrels at the empty sky. Using that decisive opening, “Nephteros” drove her knee into Alshiera’s waist...right where her old wound was—the one that constantly sapped her immortal life span.

“G-Gah...!” Alshiera groaned in pain.

“Don’t approach so carelessly, Ashy!”

Asura caught Alshiera as she was blown back. By that time, however, “Nephteros” had escaped from the Seraph Hunters’ effective firing range. Alshiera fell to her knees, her weapons still held at the ready.

“Hee hee hee... Kee hee hee... Ha ha ha ha!” “Nephteros” cackled. “You’ve gotten rather soft. My old fawn would have never fallen for that.”

With that, “Nephteros” flew up into the sky.

“Wait!” Alshiera screamed.

“How cute. How lovely. My dear Ashy. Even having lost your power, you’re such a strong child. Even with this body, I’m at a disadvantage,” “Nephteros” said before flashing a nightmarish smile. “Chase me as you will. Until I destroy this very world. Aaah ha ha ha ha ha!”

Leaving those last words behind, “Nephteros” vanished, taking Zagan’s precious sister-in-law’s body. So much had been stolen from him here, but all he could do was gnash his teeth so hard that it felt like they would break.