Taming The Villainesses novel Chapter 372

The noblewomen who had come to the forward base were first guided by the messengers to tour the facilities and grounds.

Lastly, they ascended the tall and sturdily built watchtower and took in the surrounding terrain at a glance.

“So this is the garrison set up beyond the barrier. It’s surprisingly well-formed and organized, more so than I’d expect from something seized in such a short time.”

“Unni, look over there! You can see the fortress! The walls are super high, and it’s huge!”

Swish.

Where Narmee was pointing, there stood a large and imposing fortress. Even from this distance, it was so massive that it seemed to ignore the laws of perspective.

Gargarta.

Long ago, it was said to be the final stronghold of the Demon King's army. As if she had some knowledge about it, Stella—who was fiddling with a telescope—added a few words.

“It used to be a tiny rural village. But after the monsters of the Shadow Army began garrisoning there, it was reborn overnight into a massive fortress. Seeing it like this really brings it to life.”

Click-clack.

“Opal seriously tried to charge into a fortress like that? It looks completely impregnable. And it’s crawling with monsters—hardly looks like an abandoned fort.”

“Professor, I want a look too!”

Narmee took the telescope from Stella and stared at the distant fortress. Then she suddenly shuddered.

“There really are tons of monsters on the walls! But I heard the Demon King is dead. Why are monsters still guarding that fortress?”

Of course, I knew Narmee was wrong.

The Demon King Solomon isn’t dead.

He lived ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) in the past. With divine eyes that pierced through time, he manipulated his forces and the world from past to present.

He likely already knows we’ve established a stronghold near Gargarta. Perhaps he’s even deliberately luring us in.

Ayra lives in the present while seeing the past.

Solomon lived in the past while seeing the future.

Is this a war that transcends time between the two?

Throb.

Just then, a sharp ache flared in my ankle. It was the same spot where I had once been grabbed on the observation tower Ayra described as a place that observes the flow of time.

Though the scar had disappeared without a trace—

The pain lingered.

Because it was a wound engraved not on the body, but on the soul.

Saaaaa—.

A breeze blew, making the watchtower creak. Though it was a solid structure and wouldn’t collapse from mere wind, the unsettling air made me gently press my palm against the women's backs.

“Let’s go down now.”

And so, we descended to ground level and entered the tent prepared for me as envoy and court magician.

A spacious tent, large enough for multiple people to comfortably enter. I liked the space quite a bit. Of course, it wasn’t my doing—soldiers had built it.

Rattle. Rattle.

The women pulled out chairs in front of a broad table and took their seats one by one. Watching them all gathered in one place gave off an intense presence.

A moment of silence fell as they exchanged glances, until the first to speak was Mirna Draco.

“So, I presume you had a justifiable reason for sneaking out of the infirmary and acting on your own? You have no idea how shocked I was last night.”

Mirna seemed a bit upset that I had come to this forward base without informing her.

But I had little choice—if I’d told the truth in advance, she would’ve surely prevented me from moving at all, considering my condition.

Then Stella cut in.

“Before that, I have a lot of questions, actually. Honestly, I think I have the most to say here. There’s a pile of things I want you to explain, Teo.”

Hearing that, Narmee added her two cents.

“I’m thirsty! I’ve been holding back since earlier, but I can’t anymore. Where can I get some water? I need to give Yingying water too!”

—Yingying-yayeeeng.

“Yingying’s angry ‘cause she can’t drink water!”

What chaos.

Naturally, it got noisy when you seated such strong personalities around the same table. I’d expected this, so I was relatively calm.

“All right, I know everyone has a lot to say. But I think I need to sort things out a bit first. Starting with the most urgent...”

Swish.

I looked at Stella. Her brow was furrowed, as if she had plenty to say but was holding it back. Truthfully, I had nothing to say in my defense to her.

That incident during Ayra’s duel—when Stella had stepped forward with the crown and confessed to me—was a completely spontaneous act. No plan at all. Stella had every right to be stunned. I’d have to accept all her reproach.

“I think this is the right time and place to finally tell you everything, Lady Stella.”

***

“So, you’re telling me all of you knew?”

Stella sighed deeply, covering her face with one hand.

I wasn’t sure how she’d taken my explanation, but it definitely wasn’t something you could just accept and move on from in a day.

“Uniting your houses into one? And you all just went along with that plan? I really can’t keep up with how you young folks think these days. Is this that generational gap thing?”

I didn’t think it was a generational gap issue. So I stayed quiet. Stella, on the other hand, began to spill her thoughts like a broken dam.

“But really—who would’ve guessed you’re that Isaiah’s son? You don’t resemble him at all. And now I look like some shameless woman who went after her friend’s son!”

Elga added a comment.

“Elves live so long, it’s not uncommon for them to marry the children of their friends. There are tons of stories of elves raising much younger brides or grooms and marrying them.”

“That’s exactly the problem. I don’t want to be just like all the other elves. This is a serious blow to my delicate fairy sensibility!”

Fairy sensibility was an important matter. Perhaps because of that, Stella couldn’t calm down. She muttered to herself endlessly, prompting Elga to throw a pointed jab.

“Just accept it. What’s done is done. You can’t undo it. A person needs the heart to accept the irreversible.”

Mirna narrowed her eyes at that.

“Lady Leones isn’t one to talk. Who was it again who caused a panic during the nymph flu coronoi fiasco?”

“...That was in the past, wasn’t it? There’s no point clinging to what’s already happened. What we should be talking about is the future.”

Elga’s words were quite valid, so Mirna didn’t argue further. Of course, Stella still looked utterly shocked, and I felt deeply sorry for her.

Maybe when we’re alone later, I could stroke her head or back? No, that wouldn’t really fix it. Either way, I’d need to find time to soothe her.

Then Mirna asked,

“So, Sir Teo, I assume you’ve met with the Queen. How are things progressing? Technically, you are married on paper. Though I can’t accept the fact that she was the first to be listed.”

Everyone turned to me. All of them clearly eager to hear what I had to say.

Most men might hate talking about another woman in front of others—but as members of a harem, these women had either adapted or evolved past that.

Or perhaps, they were starting to enjoy dragging other women into the same situation as themselves...