Taming The Villainesses novel Chapter 318

A statue sitting cross-legged.

It stood approximately two meters tall, with a burly frame and menacing weapons clutched in its four hands.

Of course, the weapons weren’t real, nor was the statue a living being. It was merely a sculpture carved from stone.

Who could have created such a figure in this secluded cave? As I was letting my imagination run wild trying to figure out the reason, Mirna was the first to react.

“That’s... an angel statue.”

“Angel?”

That demon-like figure was an angel?

In my mind, angels were women with wings—gentle, nurturing figures clad in pure white garments. Perhaps sensing my skepticism, Mirna added a few more words to clarify.

“The image of winged angels has only become popular over the last few centuries. During the early days of the Gwangyeom Church, during the time of the early fathers, angels were depicted as powerful guardians like this.”

I see.

A thought suddenly struck me.

“So, that statue represents one of the early angels of the Gwangyeom Church, meaning this place is connected to the church?”

“That’s a reasonable assumption. But I don’t know why a symbol of the church exists here in Mount Bilford....”

As Mirna trailed off, Narmi, who had been silently listening, spoke up as if she was inspired by an idea or simply wanting to join the conversation.

“If there’s a guardian, it means there’s something to protect. Doesn’t that mean there’s a treasure beyond that angel statue?”

Narmi’s logic was plausible.

But unlike the optimistic Narmi, Mirna was rather negative.

“In the early days of the Gwangyeom Church, angels fought against barbarism and the gods of superstition. They took on those fierce forms to wage spiritual war against horrifying pagan deities.”

“So, you’re saying these angels had to fight here as well?”

“That’s right.”

It was a rather convincing narrative—angels condemning heresy and paganism. Naturally, they would be guarding something terrible and pagan that they themselves had defeated.

From my days at the orphanage, where I attended countless services, I had heard endless stories of vile and malevolent beings. Tales of people possessed by spirits, screaming in animalistic voices.

The memories sent a shiver down my spine.

While I was thinking that, I heard Marmar’s call.

「There’s a weird statue here! It’s blue, and looks ugly and brutish! Professor Stella says it might be some kind of guardian!」

I see.

Marmar’s group also found a similar angel statue? While I couldn’t say for certain, this place wasn’t ordinary.

They must have hidden it deep in the mountains, creating all sorts of traps and winding paths so that no one could find it.

Perhaps Mount Bilford’s temple itself was merely a facade to conceal these statues. As that exaggerated idea crossed my mind—

“Ah, look here! There’s writing!”

Narmi, who had fearlessly approached the angel statue, said something quite interesting.

“Narmi, what if it’s dangerous? You shouldn’t just walk up to it like that,” Mirna scolded, brushing her hand over her face in exasperation.

Yet, curiosity seemed to get the better of her as well. Mirna also slowly approached the statue.

Gooooo—

The closer we got, the bigger the statue appeared.

Squiggly letters resembling earthworms were inscribed at its base. It looked very difficult to read, then Narmi spoke up.

“─We have sealed the evil desires in the darkness of this deep mountain. O ye who read this writing, do not approach your desires lightly. When the two lights engulf, a merciless blade shall cleave you in two.”