Epilogue

“Hee hee hee... Aaah, that was fun.”

Bifrons returned to their hideout, dragging their beloved doll along all the while. Zagan’s Heaven’s Phosphor had devoured the whole right half of their body. It had even eaten half their face. It was bizarre that the Archdemon could still stand, let alone walk around.

I won.

Alshiera had even sent a pawn to get in their way, but it hadn’t mattered in the end. It was a little annoying that they’d been saved by Naberius, but it really had felt good to escape that place successfully.

Bifrons chucked their doll onto the ground. They’d thought the hair they’d been grasping had torn off, but it was actually Bifrons’s own left hand that had fallen apart.

“Oh. It’s finally reached this side... Well, whatever.”

The right hand they’d been hauling around had also finally crumbled not long after the Sigil of the Archdemon transferred to its new owner. Well, it was good that it had held out until they’d succeeded in drawing Azazel out at least. Bifrons had no use for it anymore.

They reached their destination. This was Bifrons’s laboratory. At its center was a standing glass vessel big enough to snugly fit a person inside that was filled with elixir. A human figure floated idly within. It was a girl with dark skin, her silver hair spreading out like a curtain. It was, without a doubt, Nephteros.

“Shere Khan’s Nephilims are incomplete because he failed to get cait sith blood to the very end.”

Created forcefully with the mana of mithril, those Nephilims were just a little stronger than conventional homunculi, but couldn’t really be described as having reached the next stage of progress. He’d gotten close to completing them by including Aristella’s cells after she’d transformed into Azazel, but that still hadn’t been enough. They could function without being supplied with mana, but their life spans were at most four or five years. The greater the power they wielded, the shorter their lives lasted. They weren’t vessels fit for wielding celestial mysticism.

It seems he conquered that flaw five years ago...

However, Marchosias had destroyed that work. Thus, there wasn’t a single usable specimen left.

Above all else, the Nephilims couldn’t defy their creator. Even if Shere Khan died, someone would one day appear that would make use of this system built into them. There was no possibility for the future there. That was why Zagan had also had no choice but to grant them a warrior’s death.

However, even if it had only existed for a short while, Kuroka had worked as Bifrons’s pawn. They had already secured her cells. They also had cells from “Aristella” and Dexia. In other words, the vessel in front of Bifrons contained a completed Nephilim, the very thing Shere Khan had been reaching for but could never obtain.

“Creating a reproduction of Nephelia as a Nephilim. That’s karma for you.”

Bifrons chuckled, then started the last step—the transplantation of the soul. The method for doing so with a homunculus had been established centuries ago. Bifrons, having toyed with and ruined many homunculi to date, could do it with their eyes closed. They could even do it with no arms.

Yes, the most important part here was the whereabouts of the soul. Shere Khan had made light of this, but the soul was proof of the ego. This didn’t change even if one replicated all memories perfectly. The soul was the record where one’s very existence was engraved. That was why Bifrons never truly accepted Shere Khan’s Nephilims. The Archdemon refused to believe a simple tool could become human after implanting someone else’s memories into it. Even disposable homunculi were several times more charming than that.

On that point, Aristella and Dexia were pretty interesting.

Despite being Nephilims, they’d opposed Shere Khan’s expectations, showing Bifrons the slightest glimpse of a miracle. If Bifrons had cornered them even more, perhaps they would’ve produced an even greater miracle. However, that wasn’t what Bifrons wanted to see. The will of Azazel that had forced its way into Nephteros had been excised by those high elves. As such, her homunculus body was starting to crumble away into nothing. Bifrons’s body was in an even worse state, but they didn’t really care about that.

In the end, they’d upstaged Zagan, Shere Khan, and even Alshiera. Bifrons was the only actual victor in that battle.

It really was the funnest of games.

If death was the price of that, then what of it? They doubted they would ever taste such satisfaction again, even after a couple more centuries of life.

Before long, the transplantation of the soul was complete.

“Now then, I’ve done everything on my list.”

Leaning against a wall, Bifrons slid to the ground. The remnants of what had once been Nephteros rested next to them, but after Bifrons’s leg touched it, the last vestiges of human shape crumbled away.

Elixir emptied from the vessel, and the new Nephteros groaned.

Now then, what kind of face will you show me?

This Nephteros was no longer “collared” by her creator. If she was so inclined, she could easily throttle Bifrons to death. So, released from her shackles, what would go through her mind? How would she act? Would the first thing to come out of her mouth be curses? Or would she stubbornly ignore Bifrons’s presence? Returning to their service would’ve been the most boring of choices. She would’ve been fine as a regular old homunculus in that case.

If possible, Bifrons wanted her to say something totally unexpected. And faced with the former Archdemon’s selfish affection, Nephteros finally opened her eyes. Upon spotting the source of all her trauma right upon waking up, she stiffened. Seeing such an adorable reaction, Bifrons returned a smile that seemed to have no ill will behind it whatsoever.

She quickly realized that she was inside a glass vessel. She tapped the glass a few times to check it, then took a small breath and stretched out her arm. The vessel shattered noisily, sending glass fragments tumbling to the floor.

“Yo. How does it feel to wake up, Nephteros?” Bifrons asked with a sneer. “I’ve made a new body just for your adorable sake.”

Did she truly understand what kind of body she had now? Nephteros gritted her teeth, then, for some reason, all strength drained from her body.

“...Are you dying?”

Those were her first words upon waking up.

Hee hee hee... Now that’s a question I never expected.

Bifrons shrugged. Or, well, they tried to shrug, but they didn’t really possess the shoulders to do so.

“Hee hee... Zagan is merciless, after all. He really retaliated with quite the harsh blow.”

Nephteros stomped on the ground with long strides as if swelling with rage. Bifrons figured she would keep up that pace and punch them, but then she let out a deep and exasperated sigh as she walked up to Bifrons’s side, said nothing, and sat down.

“What are you doing...?” Bifrons asked.

“You’re dying, right?” Nephteros answered as if she’d been left with no other choice, still refusing to meet Bifrons’s gaze. “I’ll at least keep you company to the end.”

Bifrons’s eyes turned to saucers upon hearing her utterly unforeseeable answer.

“Oh? What’s this? You’ve grown to be rather kind, haven’t you?”

“Not really... It’s just, my big bro once told me...that it’s okay for any villain to get at least one chance to redo things,” she mumbled. She then turned her gaze to Bifrons with neither scorn nor sorrow and continued, “It looks like you never even got that chance, so I’ll stay with you... It’s pretty painful to be alone at times like this...”

Bifrons actually felt deeply moved by her actions.

Aaah, she truly is wonderful...

Even after experiencing three hundred years of life, Archdemon Bifrons hadn’t been able to predict a single one of this girl’s actions. For some reason, what kept going through their heart now was joy mixed with loneliness due to this girl leaving the nest and becoming independent.

I see. She really has become human in the truest sense...

“Hee hee hee... About your new body, you don’t need to worry,” Bifrons said, suddenly feeling great. “You don’t need maintenance or a supply of mana. You can even have sex. In theory, you should be able to birth children as well.”

“You truly are insensitive...”

“Oh? I figured you’d be happy. More importantly, I didn’t think your ego would remain in such a complete state. How did you restore it? Give me a full report.”

“You wouldn’t understand.”

“Ha ha ha... That’s why I want to know. Come on, quit putting on airs and tell me.”

Their frivolous conversation continued for just a few minutes.

“Bifrons...?”

Before she knew it, nothing but a pile of sand remained in the spot Bifrons had once occupied. Watching the pile crumble away into nothing, Nephteros muttered in a low whisper, “I really, really hate you, but I don’t regret you giving birth to me.”

And with that as their last memory, Archdemon Bifrons’s consciousness vanished.

◇

“This is your sister...?”

Zagan stood in a room filled with human flesh. After settling things with Shere Khan, he’d immediately gone to save Aristella. Dexia was, of course, behind him, and Kimaris also stood next to her with Gremory in his arms. Gremory had been in serious danger after being released from her petrification, but Zagan had already finished treating her with Prayer’s Shell, so she would regain consciousness soon.

I didn’t think he’d bring Lisette along, though.

That girl was probably watching over Shere Khan in his final moments.

“It hadn’t spread this much when I escaped...” Dexia said with a gulp. “Aristella...”

This lump of meat had apparently propagated.

So this is the Nephilims’ womb, eh?

It was a repulsive scene, reminiscent of hell itself. Zagan took a step into the room. There didn’t seem to be any defensive sorcery in place, so he managed to enter without any opposition. He then tore apart the meat in front of him. Pink fluids splashed about, giving off a whiff of noxious meat. After digging through for about a meter, he finally found a familiar face.

“Aaau...uugh... Ah...”

“Ari...stella...?”

It was an atrocious sight. She likely hadn’t been treated at all. She was covered in flesh, but the damage to her torso from Alshiera’s Seraph Hunter and the arm she’d torn off at the time were exactly the same as when Zagan had last seen her.

She had no limbs, so only her body from the chest up remained. Her throat throbbed in sync with the pulsations of the flesh in the room, and once in a while, she let out a groan. Her vacant eyes were golden and didn’t reflect anything. It didn’t look like she had an ego left at all.

Can she really be described as alive? Dexia is convinced she is, at least.

As such, his only choice was to live up to his promise. He tried touching Aristella’s neck, where he felt a pulse. It turned out this mound of meat worked as some kind of life support system. Thus, it was possible to regenerate her body. The main problem, however, was her ego. This girl had been eaten by Azazel. When last he fought her, it hadn’t looked like she had an ego left at all.

But back then, Dexia tried to keep a hold on Aristella’s soul.

It had looked like sorcery that made use of a sort of resonance between twins. If the decay of Aristella’s ego had truly been held back by that act, then there was still a chance to save her.

“Good grief... I developed this power for Nephteros’s sake, not this.”

How many times was he going to use it before he got around to applying it for its intended purpose? Zagan placed his hand against the girl’s slender chest and resolved to do it at least one more time.

“Heaven’s Scale Prayer’s Shell.”

He went on to create her lost limbs, entrails, nerves, bones, and muscles in minute detail.

It really is a lot of work to create nearly an entire human from scratch...

Even so, he reconstructed her body within a few minutes. Heaven’s Scale Prayer’s Shell had been an emergency measure, but after unexpectedly running trials multiple times now, it could be considered complete.

Zagan pulled the pitiful girl out from the mass of flesh. Her brand-new limbs were still transparent and colored like Heaven’s Scale. Still, she’d been physically resurrected. Her heart was beating, and she was breathing again. All that was left was her soul.

“Aristella!”

Zagan laid her down on the ground, prompting Dexia to immediately run up and cradle her sister in her arms.

“The rest is up to you,” he said. “Call her back.”

“Yes!” Dexia exclaimed, then gripped Aristella’s hand and muttered as if in prayer. “Please come back to me, Aristella.”

Dexia placed her lips against Aristella’s. A “path” opened between them as a light similar to mana flowed from Dexia into Aristella. Zagan’s eyes could see it. Perhaps this was what a soul looked like. It felt far too fleeting and far too pure to be some fabricated being’s soul, anyway.

“Aristella...” Dexia called out to her, and Aristella’s eyelids trembled. Aristella faintly opened her eyes, revealing not golden pupils, but the same deep blue eyes Dexia possessed.

“Aristella. Can you tell who I am?”

“De...xia...” she mumbled. Her voice was hoarse, but her answer was unmistakable.

Dexia’s lips quivered, and unable to withstand it anymore, she threw her arms around her little sister.

“Aristella... Aristella! Waaaaaah!”

She began bawling at the top of her lungs, and Aristella placed her still-transparent hand on Dexia’s head to comfort her.

With this, I now have one less thing to worry about...

Zagan’s thoughts then shifted to the other girl who shared their face.

◇

“Lisette...” the tigryn lying on the ground called out before she’d even introduced herself. He had a huge hole in his chest, so it was clear he couldn’t be saved anymore.

This man has done a lot of bad things.

Even though she’d only heard of it in passing, it had been enough for her to want to cover her ears. But even so, he was someone who knew her.

“You know me, right...?” she asked timidly.

They’d said that Dexia and Aristella had been created by him.

So does that make me the same...? Am I not human?

Perhaps that was actually a trivial matter for someone who’d lived by crawling through the alleyways. In all likelihood, she would’ve been fine even if she wasn’t human. She just wanted proof of who she was.

“You’re...an orphan...I picked up...”

She hadn’t expected that answer.

“An orphan...?”

“Yes. You look...a lot like...a certain girl... That’s why...I kept you...by my side... That’s all...”

His trembling hand reached out to Lisette’s cheek. She grasped it, and for some reason, felt like this had happened before.

No. Back then, I was the one holding my hand up to him.

Hadn’t she been injured just as badly as he was now, and knowing there was a chance to save him, she’d offered a terribly cruel suggestion? But her unfamiliar memory ended there. No matter how hard she tried to dig up what had happened next, she couldn’t remember.

“Sorry,” Lisette said as a tear rolled down her cheek. “I’m supposed to know you... I was supposed to be there for you...but sorry, I can’t remember.”

She was supposed to love him with all her heart. He was blunt, but couldn’t be left alone, so she was supposed to give him everything she could.

I don’t know. None of this makes any sense. But...

But he was supposed to be something dear to her. Lisette covered her face and began sobbing as that thought crossed her mind.

“Even though I told you I’d love you... Even though I told you I’d stop you if you made a mistake...”

Lisette didn’t understand the meaning behind her own words, but Shere Khan’s eyes widened.

“Why...do you...?” he muttered, before sighing in understanding. “I see... The whereabouts of the soul... So you...kept your...promise...”

The tigryn then flashed an affectionate smile and concluded, “You...are you... Please...live a happy life...”

The hand pressed against Lisette’s face fell to the ground limply. His dying expression was far too tranquil for a genocidal villain.

◇

By the time Zagan returned to Archdemon Palace, it was the next morning. Even though the damage to the town had been kept to a bare minimum, traffic to and from the outside had been shut down during the battle. Having been cut off from trade for three days, supplies such as foodstuffs were running low. It seemed martial law damaged a town that much on its own.

The Angelic Knights were beyond busy, so he hadn’t seen Ginias or Stella yet. By the time he gathered his subordinates to give them his thanks, Nephy had returned. She wasn’t just accompanied by Orias either. Chastille was with her too. In the end, Chastille had learned of Nephteros’s predicament and had gone to save her. The three of them looked gloomy, however.

“Master Zagan...”

“Welcome back, Nephy.”

Thinking back on it, perhaps this was the first time Zagan had welcomed Nephy back. For the most part, Nephy always went straight to the kitchen after returning from town, whereas Zagan was usually the one going out. Zagan’s welcome had come out rather awkwardly, after which Nephy looked up at him like she was about to start crying at any moment.

“Wh-What’s wrong, Nephy?” Zagan asked. “I’ve settled everything in three days, just as promised, right?”

After he said that, a lone tear finally ran down Nephy’s cheek.

“I’m so sorry, Master Zagan... Nephteros... Nephteros is...”

Zagan blinked in confusion before replying, “Nephteros? She got back ahead of you.”

Zagan pointed to where Nephteros was standing awkwardly. Nestled right next to her was Richard, who’d woken up before anyone knew it.

So Valjakka’s Sacred Sword chose him...

The missing blade was now hanging from his waist.

“Umm, I’m back,” Nephteros muttered.

“Nephteros!” Nephy and Chastille cried in unison.

“Eep?! Wait!”

The two of them hugged Nephteros without hesitation. The three girls fell to the floor as Nephteros began flailing about.

Shortly after Zagan had returned to Archdemon Palace, Nephteros had also returned. Her body wasn’t that of a homunculus now, but apparently that of a Nephilim.

Bifrons outdid me... No, maybe that damn Alshiera made use of them?

Zagan wasn’t sure when the two had conspired, but Alshiera probably knew of Bifrons’s plan beforehand. That was why she’d made use of that to grant Nephteros a new body. As for the state of Nephteros’s mind...

“It seems we don’t need to worry about her anymore,” Orias said with a wry smile.

Her charmed gaze was fixed on Nephteros being jostled about by Nephy and Chastille, as well as Richard.

“H-Hang on, you two! Let me go!”

“No! I’m never letting you go again!”

“That’s right! Do you know how worried we were?!”

“No, I mean, you’re smothering me... I’ll die. Richard, save me...”

Zagan then noticed the Sigil of the Archdemon glowing on Nephy’s hand.

“Sorry... I gave it to her,” Orias said.

Honestly, Zagan didn’t approve of that, but...

“If you had no other choice, then there’s no helping it.”

He had no intention of blaming her if that was the price to save Nephteros.

Exactly how many Archdemons were replaced over these last few days...?

The same Sigil shined on the right hand of Shax, who was running about treating the injured, and Foll, who was running up to Nephy.

“Nephy, it’s time,” Foll whispered quietly as she helped Nephteros to her feet.

“Oh no! What should I do? I haven’t gone to retrieve it yet...”

“It’s okay. We have a substitute.”

“Really?”

“Huh? What are you talking about?”

“Nephteros. Actually...”

“Huh? Hang on. I haven’t prepared anything...”

The group continued whispering to each other out of earshot, then lined up in front of Zagan. They’d even dragged Lilith and Selphy along.

“Come on, Alshiera, you too,” Foll said.

“...Do I really have to?”

“Just give up and join us already.”

For some reason, Alshiera was now standing front and center.

“What’s this about?” Zagan asked.

“Look, Zagan is confused. Do it quick,” Foll said, mercilessly urging Alshiera on.

Alshiera grimaced as if she’d been placed in an unprecedented crisis. But even so, she resigned herself shortly after and started whispering with trembling lips, saying, “M-My Silver-Eyed K— What?!”

Foll relentlessly jabbed her elbow into Alshiera’s waist.

Isn’t she wounded there?

She wouldn’t die from it, but Zagan still sympathized with her.

“Alshiera?” Foll said with slow emphasis.

“F-Fine... I get it already!” Alshiera yelled with tears in her eyes, then took a deep breath despite being undead. And then... “Zagan.”

She spoke his name for the very first time. She then continued as if she’d committed the gravest of sins by stating, “Today...is your birthday...”

“Really...?” Zagan asked with wide eyes.

“Yes.”

Zagan scratched his head, having no idea how to react to that statement.

“That’s a rather sudden confession from you...” he said.

“I had some circumstances that held me back...” she said before timidly hugging him. “Happy...birthday...”

Nephy had surely wanted to be the first to say those words. Seeing how she’d yielded that to Alshiera, he could guess that she’d realized the truth as well.

In that case, I can’t act cruel...

Having said that, he didn’t exactly know how to respond.

“Ummm. I suppose...I should say thanks?”

“Yes, please do as you like.”

“I see. Then...” Zagan paused, then brushed Alshiera’s head. “Thank you, Alshiera...”

“Um, Master Zagan,” Nephy began hesitantly. “Lady Alshiera is...”

“Ah... Well, yeah. I know.”

Honestly, all of this was far too sudden, so he had no idea how to react. However, unfortunately for him, there was someone here who had no idea what was going on and was incapable of reading the atmosphere.

“Huh? Hey, Lilith?”

“Shhh! What’s up, Selphy?” Lilith whispered back.

“Hey, is Miss Alshiera maybe Mister Zagan’s mom?” Selphy asked with no ill intent whatsoever.

“Wh-Wh-Wh-Wh-What in the world are you saying? That can’t possibly be... Huh?”

Lilith was the only one trying to deny it. Nephy covered her mouth as if saying, “Oh, as I figured,” while Orias watched everyone with a knowing gaze and a wry smile. Foll looked at Alshiera with a lukewarm gaze as if relieved that someone had finally said it. It seemed everyone had had a faint idea already.

“Until we meet again, my friend.”

Zagan recalled the promise he’d made to the father who wasn’t his father, but a friend.

“If possible, please take care of her.”

If not for that, he would’ve rejected her. Still, as he continued petting Alshiera’s head, Nephy began fidgeting with her skirt restlessly.

“Um, Lady Alshiera...? Is that not enough already?”

Wanting to monopolize me at a time like this? Nephy’s so damn cute...

An extraordinary throbbing assaulted Zagan’s chest, while Alshiera jumped away from him with a start as if sensing an imminent threat to her life. Realizing the absurdity of her own behavior, Nephy covered her face, but still stood before Zagan with determination.

“Happy birthday, Master Zagan. But, um...I still haven’t gotten your present...”

“Uhhh, well, in that case, there’s one thing I’d like. Do you mind?”

“Not at all! Ask anything of me!”

Nephy smiled like a blooming flower as Zagan pulled her in for an embrace. He then kissed her on her pink lips. Nephy’s eyes shot open in shock, but she still tightly wrapped her arms around his back. The first birthday he’d ever experienced was a truly happy and special occasion.

◇

In the deepest tunnels of the now abandoned mine, two sorcerers gazed down at the corpse of the man who had once been the Tiger King. One was a man wearing a mask that revealed a single eye, while the other was an old man.

“Hee hee hee... I’ve been waiting for you. Though honestly, I never thought you’d actually return.”

The old sorcerer didn’t respond.

“Good grief, you’re as unsociable as ever. Well, whatever. Here’s your order.”

With that, the masked sorcerer handed over a pair of round glasses. The old man put them on, his figure rapidly turning youthful as a result.

“What should I call you? The Great Eldest Marchosias? Or perhaps...Marc, just like the good old days?”

The now-young old man didn’t spare the other sorcerer even a single glance as he adjusted the position of his glasses with his right hand, revealing a sigil glowing with sinister mana, the Sigil of the Archdemon that had once belonged to the Tiger King.