Taming The Villainesses-Chapter 407: Leader (4)

Elga furrowed her brow after hearing everything.

“A new god? That’s one hell of a weird story. And they seriously believe that crap? Sounds like a bunch of lunatics. You’re telling me there are idiots like that swarming all over the Church?”

Elga spoke as if she couldn’t believe it. And I understood her reaction. To most people, it would just sound like the nonsense of fools.

Mirna added:

“How deeply heretical and blasphemous. There have been plenty of cults spreading such talk before... But for the Roman Main Sanctuary itself to be tainted by heresy—that’s unthinkable.”

As a devout follower of the Church, it was clear Mirna couldn’t tolerate this sort of thing. From her perspective, it must’ve sounded like nothing but the rantings of heretics.

That was when Stella spoke up.

“Hey, that scroll you mentioned—did you bring it? Mind if I take a look?”

Stella was an adventurer, and something of a scholar in her own right. If she got a look at the scroll copied from the tablets, maybe she could say something meaningful about it.

So I pulled the scroll Antiek had given me out from the [Squirrel Vault] and spread it out in front of them. Stella examined the illustrations one by one, humming softly.

“These are definitely ancient-style pictographs. And if an elf like me calls something ‘ancient,’ you know it’s really ancient. A thousand years? Nah, some of these might be even older.”

I asked her,

“Can you tell if it’s real or not?”

“That, I can’t say for sure. But I know a guy back in Ark who’s been studying similar stuff. If I send him a copy, maybe we’ll get something useful out of it.”

I see.

So we won’t know right away. Then again, maybe we can find out. My eyes shifted to Ayra, who was /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ quietly watching butterflies flit through the air. She didn’t seem interested in the conversation.

But I knew Ayra had a special kind of sight.

She could see into the distant past. If anyone could tell whether the illustrations on the scrolls were real, it was her.

...But I couldn’t ask her here. Ayra didn’t like letting others know about her gift. Maybe because it was that very gift that entangled her fate with Solomon in the first place.

I’d ask her later, when it was just the two of us.

Then Elga said:

“So what now? Whether the story’s true or not honestly doesn’t matter that much. But it is true the Church is split and fighting. Shouldn’t we cancel the wedding?”

Cancel the wedding. That... was a valid point. Holding a wedding in the middle of this kind of mess might be difficult. But then Ayra, who had been silent, spoke up.

“I disagree. We should go through with the wedding. Of course, if you don’t feel up to it, Elganes, you don’t have to join us.”

“What do you mean, I don’t feel up to it? I’m just saying the timing sucks. And this bastard Teo went out and brought back some new hassle again. Seriously, what a pain.”

“I-I’m sorryyy....”

“Cut it out with that weird-ass apology already.”

Still.

Talking it over with them made me feel a little better. Just knowing I had people to consult with and lean on gave me strength to keep going through all this.

I found myself thinking—I really wanted them to be my family already. If they were, then no matter how hard or complicated life got, I’d be able to overcome it.

Yeah. Especially because times were hard, we needed to go through with this wedding.

I said:

“We’ll go ahead with the wedding. Invite everyone, bring in the nymphs and imps, let it get loud. Big enough to shake the whole kingdom with joy.”

Instead of answering, everyone just looked at one another. But even without words, I could tell they agreed. It brought me some relief.

“But before that, I’d like to stop by Gracia—”

“This damn half-elf—”

Before I could finish, Elga reached out and grabbed my cheek.

“Where the hell do you think you’re going again right before the wedding?! Huh?! You don’t want to marry us, is that it?! Just say so!!”

Streeetch— She pulled my cheek up so hard I thought I’d cry.

“That hurts...!”

***

“Ugh...”

I rubbed my swollen, red cheek.

“You’re going to let me go in the end anyway. So what’s with all the acting tough?”

I had my fairy technique: [Puppy Eyes]. When I looked at them with eyes clear and shiny as stream water, they couldn’t help but grant my request.

Thanks to that, I was granted permission for a same-day trip to Gracia. Time was tight—the sun was already starting to set—but I was grateful just to be allowed to go.

“Open—Gate of Dimensions.”

With a simple incantation, I opened the palace’s dimensional gate.

My body rose as the world blurred around me. In just a moment, I’d be at my destination, probably thinking “whoa” again.

Ah, I’m already here.

“Man, this really is an amazing spell.”

Solomon had created plenty of brilliant spells, but for me, this dimensional gate was the best of them. If it could be commercialized, people’s lives would be so much easier.

Sssnnff—

I inhaled deeply, breathing in the scent of Gracia’s air for the first time in a while.

“Mmm. That Gracia smell.”

“Sir Teo, what’s with all the mumbling? Did Elga pinch your cheek so hard you lost some brain cells?”

That was Mirna, pinching my side from behind. Yes. Mirna had come with me to Gracia. It was her suggestion.

—“I’ll go to keep an eye on him. I need to stop by Gracia anyway to pick up a few things.”

Gracia was the hometown of both Mirna and Narmee. This was just as much her trip as mine. Honestly, I was happy to have her with me.

“I’m glad I came with you, Miss Mirna.”

At my honest remark, Mirna twitched.

“Wh-what are you saying all of a sudden?! If you think you can butter me up with sweet talk, it won’t work! I’m keeping a close watch on you today!”

“No, I mean it. I’m really glad.”

“...I didn’t think you were the type to be so expressive. They say nymphs get sentimental in the fall. Are you getting like that too, Sir Teo?”

She gave me a strange look. But I understood. I wasn’t someone who expressed myself well.

I was stiff, cold, selfish—because I’d never had anyone express their feelings to me before, I’d never learned how to express mine.

And I’d always vaguely thought, once all the craziness ends, then I’ll be better. I just had too much on my plate to worry about emotional stuff.

But today, I had a thought.

If Archbishop Antiek was right, and we didn’t have much time left—then maybe there was no “later.”

So I tried, awkwardly, to show my feelings in the moment. Maybe, like Mirna said, I was just getting autumn-sentimental.

I asked:

“Was it weird?”

“Hmm... well... It was nice, I guess.”

Mirna gave a flustered little snort and turned her head.

“Anyway, let’s get this done and get back. We still have to paint our honeymoon portrait in Monarch City, and find dresses. There’s a lot to do.”

“Right.”

With five brides, I’d probably have to do five times the usual prep. I really didn’t have time to be hanging around.

We hurried off toward the mansion of a certain man. I expected to find Marmar and Professor Balan, whom I’d sent ahead.

But for some reason, they were nowhere in sight. All I saw was a man tending a bonfire made of fallen leaves.

Crackle, crackle.

Was he roasting sweet potatoes in it? Smelled good. Just then, the man spotted us, stood up, and removed the hood from his head.

His face looked to be in his early thirties—sullen features and a pale, shaved beard gave him a drained, decadent look.

Teodoros, the monk corrupted by grand sorcery, bowed his head to me.

“Master.”

“Teodoros.”

“I had a vague sense you’d come. Though you’re a bit earlier than I thought. The sweet potatoes will be ready soon.”

Sssht.

He gestured toward the two tree-stump seats already prepared for us. Mirna and I sat by the fire, warming our hands in the gentle heat.

Gracia’s autumn nights were chilly, and the fire felt just right. The smoke stung a little though.

Squinting against the sting, I asked:

“Teodoros of Roman—do you know why I’m here?”

“I can guess. You’ve come to reprimand me for failing to extract the grand sorcery from Saint Friga’s soul, correct?”

“That’s one reason. But I’ve encountered some troubling things today. I’d like you to answer me truthfully this time. Otherwise...”

I let my words trail off. But Teodoros had mild precognition—he likely knew what I meant. He stroked his pale chin.

“You intend to erase me.”

“Depending on what you say, yes. I’m giving you a chance. Professor Balan believes you betrayed me. I don’t... not yet.”

“Betrayal...”

Teodoros only stared into the flames.

Then he poked through the leaves and pulled out a baked sweet potato. Wrapped in newspaper, blackened skin peeling at the ends, the golden flesh looked tempting.

I didn’t eat it right away. I just held it to warm my hands.

And decided to press further.

“I visited Roman. I learned more about your past there. The Church is fractured—Roman and Gracia are in open conflict. Did you know?”

“...Roman and Gracia. History repeating itself. I know. Friga and I were caught between those gears.”

“Teodoros, be honest. Is this ‘new millennium’ truly real? You must know.”

He stopped stirring the fire.

His blue eyes flickered as he gazed into the flames.

He said:

“Teo Gospel. Do you know what that name means? Do you know why I tried to give it to myself? Master, do you understand its weight...?”

Before I could reply, it was Mirna who reacted first.

“There’s... meaning behind that name?”

Teodoros nodded lightly.

“I was meant to be the vessel of that name. But that’s in the past. The world has changed. My master—no, Teo Gospel. You must now bear the weight of the name you chose.”