V1C8

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Alfra’s Conquest and Instant Kill

In the early morning, it was Takashiro who visited Alfra’s room.

“Good morning, Milady.”

He gave a courteous bow in the same manner as usual.

Having been awakened by Takashiro’s voice, Alfra sat up in a fluster.

Before she knew, she had exhausted herself from crying and had fallen asleep in front of the door while crouching.

Seeing Alfra in such a state, Takashiro sighed deeply.

“My goodness, you have wept your eyes out.”

Takashiro gently lifted Alfra and carried her to the bed.

“I will have Felmar prepare water, it would be better to cool your eyes for a while. Madam would be saddened if she saw your face like that.”

“Ah…Byakuren! Where’s Byakuren?!”

“Madam is still resting.”

Takashiro said with a mournful expression.

“She seemed to be in quite low spirits last night.”

“Yesterday…she didn’t come.”

Tears started to slowly well up in Alfra’s eyes.

“Madam must have her thoughts too.”

“That guy…what did that guy tell Byakuren?! That guy, that guy……..!”

“That person is said to become the leader of Demon Kings. You must not call him ‘that guy’.”

“But, it’s because that guy came…that man….”

“Calm down a little bit. First, the priority is preparing water and the meal. Please wait just a minute.”

Takashiro swiftly left the room.

――It’s that guy’s fault. Because that guy came……

In the end, Alfra still did not eat breakfast.

The dishes, that were placed on the table, were left to get cold and Takashiro did not reproach her either.

Alfra laid on her bed with her joints hurting from sleeping on floor. Takashiro put a cloth soaked in cold water on her face.

“Hey….is that guy Byakuren’s…husband?”

“No――”

Alfra’s way of saying ‘that guy’ made Takashiro’s face slightly stiffen. However, he did not mention anything.

“I have heard that Master has already passed away.

“Eh? Is that so?”

When she had asked Byakuren about it before, the talk was quickly over with a single “I don’t have one” from her. So Alfra had thought that he lived somewhere else, in a different castle.

“Then, what kind of relationship do that guy and Byakuren have?”

“I do not know details, but he does seem to be quite infatuated with Madam.”

“That…I understood somehow just from looking at him, but Byakuren seemed like she hated it…right?”

“I wonder. I cannot make a conjecture.”

“What did you talk about yesterday?”

“……Originally, this is not something that I should say, however, I will talk while fully prepared to receive a scolding from Madam.

Takashiro said indifferently.

“Senka-sama will soon ascend the throne and reign over Demon Kings. He has said that after the coronation ceremony, he would like to welcome Madam in the Imperial Palace where Demon Emperor resides.

“How could that be…”

“Thinking logically, I think he means welcoming her as Empress or a concubine. However, Senka-sama has said that for him Byakuren-sama and the imperial throne are equally important, so it should be okay to assume that he means welcoming her as the Empress.”

Alfra jumped out of the bed.

“What about Byakuren? What did she say?!”

“To let her think.

“I…see.”

A little relieved, Alfra collapsed back on the bed.

“Senka-sama has also said that he would come for her after completing the coronation ceremony.”

“…..When will he come?”

“We have only been told that it would be by the end of the year.”

“Byakuren won’t be going, right?”

“That…I do not know.”

Takashiro, which was very responsive so far, unusually hesitated to talk.

Thinking that Byakuren could possibly disappear, Alfra cried once again.

Takashiro was aware that his recent conduct was somewhat deviating from his professional duties.

And so was what he was going to do at the moment.

――However……

Takashiro thought.

That madam had changed.

It was an astonishing change.

And in addition to that, it was a work singlehandedly done by Alfra.

It was understandable.

In those four years, he had taught her various knowledge, passed down his techniques, interacting with her for a long time.

Bright, honest and selfless. Cheerful, clever and very obedient.

Even if he was a demon, his appearance, together with his insides, were no different from humans.

Takashiro also found Alfra lovable ―― and did not want to make her feel sad. He wanted her to be happy instead.

He had thought that if he had a grandchild, this might have been how it would feel.

Normally, humans would be happy living among humans, while demons would be happy living among demons. Both are only similar on the surface. Their lifespans and values are also largely different.

There is no end to fighting even among humans and demons, so there is no way that those of different species could coexist.

If they were separated, Alfra would feel sad at first, but in the long run, she would be happier if she was surrounded by other humans like her.

However, Takashiro thought.

Alfra’s admiration of Byakuren. Takashiro recalled Alfra’s sorrowful voice while saying that “she didn’t need anything as long as Byakuren was with her.”

Wouldn’t something irreversible happen if they were separated?

The same applied to Byakuren. Her change in those 4 years. He could not imagine how she would change if Alfra was gone.

Takashiro made up his mind to do everything he could, to the extent he was allowed, to help out the two.

The Sun went down and the darkness inside the room deepened. Byakuren had sunk in the throne and was personally pouring wine into the goblet.

The sound of knocking resounded inside the room.

“I haven’t called for you.”

Takashiro, who was denied entry, apologized from outside the room.

“My deepest apologies. You did not call for me today, so I had a foolish thought that I would at least make a detailed report.”

Byakuren sighed at his courteous words and allowed him to enter.

“Excuse me.”

Emotionless, deadpan voice commanded bowing Takashiro.

“Make it short.”

Byakuren coldly looked down on Takashiro in a listless manner. Her appearance looking as if she had reverted to her cruel self before the encounter with Alfra.

“It’s about Alfra-sama…”

Takashiro made the ending of his sentence ambigious and calmly observed Byakuren’s expression.

“Continue.”

He noticed that the moment she heard that name, Byakuren’s eyebrows slightly twitched.

It was a weakness that she would never show before, Takashiro thought.

“I beg your pardon. Milady has not had a meal since last night.”

“…..I see.”

“I suspect that she is going to refuse to eat until madam will go to see her.”

The breath that spilled from Byakuren’s mouth was exceedingly close to a sigh,

“Presumptuous as it was, I have told Senka-sama’s words from yesterday, albeit roughly, to Alfra-sama.”

“Doing an unnecessary thing…oh well. Is that all?”

“……She had been crying.”

“……..”

“Her eyes were red and swollen, and she was calling madam’s name.”

With an expression gloomier than the dead of night coiling around the surroundings, Byakuren hung her head down.

After a whisper asking if she was still crying, a long silence fell.

The air inside the room was stagnant and one couldn’t even hear the sound of breathing. However, only the hint of hesitation could be felt from Byakuren on the throne.

Takashiro waited silently, with his face pointing down.

Even more time passed ―― and abruptly, Byakuren stood up from the throne. The complexion of her translucent skin looked even blue now.

“You can withdraw.”

A pitter-patter of the footsteps from the room reached Byakuren, who was standing in front of the door.

Yesterday, being unable to fully sort out her feelings, she couldn’t bring herself to open the door.

She knew that there was no way they could stay together forever….

It was quite unusual for her to be at a loss when it was time for her to make a decision. However, her feelings still weren’t settled. She probably wouldn’t be able to have a convincing talk with Alfra in this kind of state.

Still, she had made Alfra feel very sad.

The moment she opened the door while thinking that if this was what happened in a mere single day, the future would be worrisome――Alfra jumped at Byakuren’s waist in a flash.

“Byakuren! Byakuren!”

It was indeed an expected reaction ―― however, if there was something outside the scope of expectation, it was that Alfra was already crying her eyes out.

―― This is hard…

Gently embracing her shoulders, Byakuren sat her down on the bed while soothing her.

“It looks like you haven’t eaten.”

“…..Yeah.

“You won’t get taller if you don’t eat properly.”

“Are you not going to that imperial palace place?”

“I don’t know yet.”

“….Is there a chance that you might go?”

“I really don’t know. Even I have times when I don’t know what to do.”

Byakuren had made a promise with Senka. He had begged her to live with him in the Imperial Palace when he would take the place of the Demon Emperor.

However, if she weighted her promise with him and her promise to Alfra together, she thought that, she could fully discard the former.

Still, that wasn’t Byakuren’s only “chain”.

“Then…if you decide to go, it would be okay for me to tag along too, right?”

“That’s impossible. Imperial Palace is a place where Demon Kings assemble. If a human wanders in, they’ll be killed immediately.”

“….Then, I don’t need food! I won’t eat!”

Big drops of tears welled up in Alfra’s eyes.

“Look here, Alfra. I’ve said before that magical power is pure force right

“Mhm….?”

“Magical power can also compensate for the energy consumed by the body. That’s why demons don’t need much food.”

“That’s….amazing.”

Byakuren softly stroked astonished Alfra’s hair. Because her hair was soft, it quickly became disheveled.

“You have plenty of my blood in you, so you won’t die immediately even if you don’t eat, Alfra. You’ll just be making yourself uncomfortable by feeling hungry.”

Tears welling up in Alfra’s eyes became even bigger.。

Byakuren anxiously waited for those droplets to spill out.

“In that case, give me blood.”

“….No.”

Byakuren made up her mind to make a single breakpoint there.

4 years ago when she met Alfra, Byakuren was wandering through the forest near the human village. She wanted to confirm the scale of the Orc troops that had surged into the human kingdom and the damage on both sides with her own eyes.

Being attracted by the light of the war, she reached a poor village. The ones who had lit fire to that village were not the Orcs, but the human soldiers.

The fortress along the read had fallen, and the retreating border guards were setting fire to the villages and settlements in vicinity.

It was a scorched-earth strategy against Orcs who had assaulted humans to plunder them due to the shortage of food.

If they weren’t able to plunder, their famine would get worse and their numbers would decline.

It was truly a reasonable decision.

―― As expected, humans are smart

Byakuren’s mouth twisted into a mocking smile.

The soldiers that they thought had come to protect them set the village on fire.

In a flash, the villagers found themselves in the middle of hellfire.

Then, a group of Orcs that were chasing the guards massacred the villagers.

Without even being able to escape from the disaster that assaulted them out of nowhere, the village was destroyed in a very short time.

The girl buried in rubble and looking up at her was truly in a miserable state.

Half of her face was hideously burnt, her lips were almost fully destroyed by the fire and her exposed gums were dark brown with blood and soot.

「Goddess?」so whispered “that” thing which looked so repulsive that it couldn’t be looked at for the second time.

―― Goddess? The demon me? I am the exact opposite of that.

She laughed in spite of herself.

However, what kind of whim was that?

Byakuren wounded her own hand and dripped several drops of blood in the mouth of the girl, that had turned into dark brown cavity.

It’s not like she had a clear idea of what to do.

She knew that the blood that carried magical power could improve resilience and vitality.

However, “that” was a half-baked lump of meat that was giving out a horrible stench and the fact that it was still alive seemed akin to a miracle.

Byakuren couldn’t even dream that she would live on.

She observed her for a while but her breathing didn’t stop.

Byakuren brought that thing, that was letting out an annoying wheezing sound, back to the castle.

Taking an opportunity, she would sometimes let her drink blood or smear it on her wounds. As she did so ―― astonishing results were brought forth.

Merely a few days after.

―― That lump of meat with a terrible stench turned into a human child…

At first, the only thing moving Byakuren was a simple curiosity.

If anything, she had slight unpleasant feelings towards Alfra herself.

――Children are annoying

Why did that…turn into this?

The current Byakuren was wincing at Alfra’s moist eyes that were looking at her.

The tears, that were about to fall at any moment, hurt her heart.

―― I’ve become weaker

In the past, she rarely experienced fluctuation in her emotions. She was always calm and could appropriately deal with everything.

She trusted her own strength.

She thought that she couldn’t forgive her current self.

There was still some time left to spare.

She would put more distance between them little by little and persuade her.

First, she would reduce their time together and refrain from giving her blood.

Even Alfra should eventually become happy if she lived among humans.

Then everything would return to how it was before ―― that would be fine.

―― I will be able to return to my past self. To my strong self.

There is no value in existence of a weak demon.

“……………..”

She was also tormented by a horrible guilt.

―― Should I not be allowed to be with Alfra, as expected?

Byakuren gritted her teeth at her own heart’s coldness and its scarcity.

―― I mean, just look. Even at this moment…I am only thinking of myself.

If she wished for Alfra’s happiness, she had to send her back to a human village, Byakuren thought.

“Byakuren…..?”

Her consciousness that had sank into contemplation was brought back to reality.

“A-anyway, no blood for you. Eat some proper food.”

“No way, I won’t eat.”

The corners of Alfra’s eyes were already at their limit.

However, having firmly made up her mind, Byakuren hardened her heart.

“In that case, you won’t be getting any blood or food.”

“Nooo….I’m so hungry I might die.”

Tears that had accumulated in Alfra’s eyes finally spilled out.

The surface tension lost to the gravity and Byakuren was also on the verge of losing to Alfra.

―― I’m finished!

Unable to shift away her gaze, Byakuren looked straight in her eyes. desire to protect and feeling of guilt weighted on her chilled heart.

“W-well then, only a little bit.”

The words left her mouth unconsciously.

In the end, Byakuren gave her two days worth of blood.

She was not as strong of a woman as she had initially thought.

—

Notes:

I can’t make up my mind if I want to keep the character titles or not.

How do you guys prefer it? Title or not? big heading? or just small bold text like in the previous chapter?

Good news is that they made up but the bad news is that full blackening will come in 2 more chapters. The cuter they are together, harder it is to take what’s going to happen soon :”<

About the title this time, in original it’s アルフラ攻略 そして瞬殺

攻略 can also be used as capturing the enemy territory, defeating the enemy or attacking

瞬殺 can also be winning in a flash instantly defeating the enemy

You can probably guess the connotation on what it means here.

P.S Since I mostly translate with the help of google, please notify me about mistranslations, awkward grammar and typos so I could fix them asap.

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