Taming The Villainesses novel Chapter 302

(EP-302.1) #3

302 – Home #3

After regenerating his wounds, Kubilai led me to a place that looked like a cave.

Inside, a white wolf with fur as soft and rich as silk sat calmly. The beauty and fullness of its coat were incredibly striking.

The only unusual feature was its three tails.

As I was marveling at the peculiar wolf, Stella, who was beside me, nodded and spoke a few words.

“I see. This must be the true master of the forest. I once saw a deer that ruled the Witch Forest. I feel a similar elegance.”

‘Elegance?’

Now that she mentioned it, it did seem that way...

Kubilai then addressed the wolf.

━Mother, I have brought guests.

‘Mother?’

So, this was Kubilai’s mother. The white wolf looked at us and slowly opened its mouth.

━Who’s here?

━It’s me, Kubilai, your second son. I’ve brought guests. They have some questions about the cabin.

━Who?

The white wolf was busy licking her coat. I noticed that she seemed a bit unwell, as if I were looking at an elderly person suffering from dementia.

As if to confirm my thoughts, Kubilai scratched his ear with his claw and said.

━Mother is quite old now, so she’s a bit absent-minded. She hardly recognizes me these days. But in her youth, she was the master who commanded this forest.

‘I see.’

So, Kubilai was something like the second-generation successor?

The white wolf then spoke.

━I am not the master of the forest. I merely guard it for a time. Little fairy—no, half-fairy... I’ve heard you defeated the ogre Dordor and Kubilai.

Her speech was dignified. Sensing her elderly grace, I felt it was appropriate to speak respectfully to her, even though she was a wolf.

“My name is Theo Gospel.”

━I’ve never heard of that name. But the tale of a small fairy felling the mighty one after the other... that, I have heard of.

Seuk.

The wolf extended a paw toward me.

━Come a little closer.

At her words, I bent lower in the cramped cave and approached her.

Soon, she began sniffing around my ear and shoulder. I realized that it was gathering information about me in her own way.

Animals could learn a lot from scent, after all.

━I see. So that’s how it is. There is a familiar scent about you. A nostalgic scent. She was a noble and beautiful woman. But she was stronger than anyone. I admired her strength, and I...

Cough, cough.

The wolf began to cough.

I didn’t know much about animal health, but it was obvious that this was a harsh cough, the kind that seemed to burst painfully from deep within her lungs.

Once the wolf had finally calmed after her prolonged coughing fit, I asked again.

“Was that woman the master of this forest? Was she perhaps a nymph?”