Bonus Short Stories

Lisette’s Home

“In the end, I never found out anything about myself...”

After watching over Shere Khan’s final moments, Lisette had returned to Kianoides. It looked like Dexia had found her little sister. Those two had regained their place in the world. In contrast, nobody would tell Lisette who she was. She had no idea where to go. The first place her feet took her was the church, where Stella was supposed to be, but...

“You bastards! Explain things properly! What the hell was that with Lillqvist?!”

Lisette was startled by the sound of a seething Angelic Knight. They had also been fighting a battle of their own. What was going on now? She looked at the crowd in front of the church from afar, eventually finding a familiar face.

“Hm? Oh, Lisette. It’s you.”

“Ginias? What happened?”

Apparently, he had also been in quite the serious fight, as he was covered in wounds.

“Umm, how do I even begin to explain?” Ginias said. “There was a bit of trouble with Lady Lillqvist during the battle.”

“By Lillqvist, you mean the lady with the same hair as my big sis?”

If Lisette remembered correctly, her name was Chastille. She’d never spoken to her, but Lisette knew what she looked like, and that woman was currently nowhere in sight. Had she deserted during the battle or something?

“An Archangel fraternizing with a sorcerer is unheard of!” one of the knights roared.

“Uhhh...” Lisette groaned in astonishment.

“Y-You’re wrong. That guy’s just a guard.”

“Yeah! Like hell Lady Chastille would fawn over such a lousy man!”

“What the hell were you two watching?! They practically eloped!”

“Our Chastille would never elope with a scoundrel like him!”

“Stop turning your eyes away from reality!”

As the knights continued shouting, Lisette continued to wonder what had happened. She didn’t really get it, but if Chastille returned while things were like this, it could get pretty bad for her.

“Ha ha...” Lisette laughed dryly. She felt silly for worrying about her origin when things were like this.

“Are you all right?” Ginias asked with a serious expression on his face. “You look horrible.”

“It’s insensitive to say that to a girl... It’s not my problem if my big sis hates you for it.”

“I-I was just wondering if something happened to you...”

As the awkward boy started panicking, Lisette noticed the blood running down his arm.

“Hey, you’re bleeding, you know?”

“Huh? Oh, this is nothing. The blessing from my Anointed Armor will stop it shortly.”

His Anointed Armor was also a mess though, making it questionable whether this blessing was actually working.

“Haaah... Come here,” Lisette said. “I’ve at least learned how to treat simple wounds like this.”

She tore up her sleeve—something that was unexpectedly possible due to her strength—and used it as a bandage to stem Ginias’s bleeding.

“Have a doctor take a proper look at it later,” she said.

“R-Right. Thank you,” Ginias replied before flashing her a relieved smile.

“What?”

“It’s nothing. I’m just glad to see you back to your usual self.”

“Hmph...”

“Oh, right, I almost forgot. Welcome home, Lisette.”

Lisette’s eyes shot wide open, then she pouted to the side before saying, “Thanks. I’m back...”

She never did learn who she truly was, and that was sure to remain unknown in the future as well. And yet, perhaps she actually did have a home to return to. Still pouting, Lisette didn’t even realize that she was also smiling.

Reminiscing

“Master Bifrons. Do you know what it means to clean up?”

“What a strange question, Nephteros. Of course I know of the concept. Do you require an explanation?”

There were grimoires, experimental devices, drugs, and clothing scattered all over the place. The Archdemon smiled at their grimacing attendant amidst that mess.

“So long as you understand,” Nephteros replied. “I only hope you can put that knowledge into practice.”

“Ha ha ha. Another strange thing to say. What do you think you’re here for?”

A fist woven of sorcery suddenly flew out, forcing Bifrons off their chair. This was a fragment of the power Archdemon Zagan had created to kill the other Archdemons. The chair Bifrons had been occupying shattered into tiny pieces. This girl had been acting this way ever since Bifrons had used her in a certain experiment the other day.

“Can you stop dodging already?” she asked. “You’re just making the mess worse.”

“H-Hee hee... Nephteros, it seems you still need to learn to respect your master.”

“I’ve learned that thoughtlessly paying respect to someone is the act of a fool. You should learn to behave like someone who deserves to be my master first.”

“Hmmm...” Bifrons muttered, wide-eyed with admiration.

“What is it?”

“Oh, nothing. Hee hee hee... I get it. Telling me to learn, huh? What a refreshing complaint.”

“I believe it’s normal for people to hope for better treatment.”

This only improved Bifrons’s mood even more. It was pleasant enough that they regretted dodging the earlier attack.

Even if they possessed an ego, a homunculus was still a puppet. One would never rebel against their master, yet here was one giving their master this much lip, and even attacking them when angered. Homunculi who possessed egos were rare, but Bifrons had never heard of one like this. It was ever so interesting. They wanted to see all sorts of reactions from her. They even started wondering how to mess with her next as a result.

Just then, Bifrons woke up. They’d apparently passed out at some point in time. The wound they’d suffered from Archdemon Zagan was fatal, devouring their right arm and continuing to encroach on their life.

“A dream... It feels like that was all so long ago.”

Those events had only taken place half a year prior. For someone who’d lived for three hundred years, that was practically yesterday. And yet, it felt like the distant past. What kind of reaction would that puppet show after everything ended?

Bifrons prayed that all their expectations would be overturned as they continued waiting for the end.

Mother and Daughter

“M-Mother, may I have a moment?”

“What is it, Nephteros?”

After finishing her daily lesson in celestial mysticism, Nephteros called out to her mother Orias. Orias’s other daughter, Nephelia, had already excused herself to prepare dinner.

“I-I tried baking these things called cookies. If possible, I’d like you to sample them for me...”

Despite apparently being for a taste-test, the cookies were neatly wrapped up with a cute little ribbon, so Orias could tell that Nephteros had made them as a present.

“Hmm, then allow me to try one,” Orias replied. “May I open it?”

“Y-Yes!”

She undid the ribbon, revealing several cookies that were resting within. They were somewhat uneven, conveying the hardships her daughter had gone through to make these. Orias took a bite, and a mild sweetness spread through her mouth.

“Mmm... They’re very good, Nephteros.”

“Really? Thank goodness...”

“But why do this all of a sudden?”

Nephteros’s dark skin turned red as she twiddled her fingers.

“I’m learning celestial mysticism from you, but I haven’t given you anything in return. Also...” Nephteros paused there to gather her courage, then said, “I-I felt very happy...when you called me your daughter.”

“Hnnngh!”

Orias clasped her chest and nearly fell to her knees.

What do I do?! My daughters are way too cute!

Had Zagan always been on the receiving end of such shocks? Orias got her ragged breathing back in order, then returned a gentle smile.

“Nephteros, if you have the time, would you like to accompany me? Some tea would go well with these cookies.”

“Yes, mother!”

Nephelia and Nephteros. The two of them were Orias’s beloved and irreplaceable daughters. This had taken place several months before Orias would risk her life for their sake.