Taming The Villainesses novel Chapter 396

The fire spirit scorched the northern lands beyond the barrier, including Fortress Gargarta, for an entire week.

Then, the lingering heat of that magic triggered localized monsoons that brought rain for another week. Altogether, half a month passed.

Now, half a month since we returned to Sandora, not even the tail end of summer could be seen, and everyone had started pulling out the leather coats and fur garments they had respectfully stowed away in their wardrobes.

Take that imp Tartart over there, with the giant armband on her left arm.

“Comrade Marmar! Tortort’s winter coat is lacking, you see...! If things go on like this, Tortort will catch a cold, I’m telling you...!”

“What should we do? We don’t have any spare fur clothes left! Purupuru, go check the cloth shop nearby and see if they have any leftover leather! We’ll have to make the clothes ourselves!”

“Bring back something made of warm deer hide...! We’ve received plenty of support this year for the Imp Sisterhood, so everyone will be able to spend this winter in warmth and abundance...!”

The imps were especially busy preparing for winter. After all, nymphs—the original form of imps—were said to be weak against cold wind and chill, making them prone to catching colds easily.

...Some of them even dig warm burrows and hibernate through the winter.

Even though imps are a subspecies that evolved through various transformations from nymphs, their vulnerability to cold seems to be a common trait.

“Achoo!”

Of course, being half-fairy myself, I wasn’t any better when it came to the cold.

At the end of autumn and the beginning of winter, I always lived with sneezing and a runny nose.

My immune system didn’t even have a chance to improve since I was constantly under stress, and I hadn’t been taking care of myself due to how busy I was.

I thought maybe this year would be different, now that I’d trained my stamina and massively increased my mana... But sure enough, the moment I started to feel a chill, the sneezing began.

“Achoo!”

Maybe it was because this northern city of Sandora was just that cold. I heard that it starts snowing as early as September here, and it can keep snowing all the way until May.

Not an easy place for fairy-folk like me to live.

“Achoo!”

“Hey.”

Someone smacked me on the back with a pang. When I turned my head, I saw Elga glaring at me, bundled up in a thick fur coat.

“Hey, what’s with all the sneezing? Don’t tell me you caught that Nymph Flu—Koronoi or whatever.”

“...Can we please stop talking about that Koronoi thing.”

Even now, just thinking about the chaos of fleeing around the royal capital during the Nymph Flu outbreak still sent a chill down my spine.

It was a relief everything had worked out. If even one thing had gone wrong, or if I had said the wrong thing back then... just imagining what might’ve happened was already a massive source of stress.

“A grown man, still whining about the past like that. I hope Leonoi doesn’t end up as petty as you.”

Swoosh.

Elga rubbed her fur-clad belly.

Because she was dressed in a parka-like winter outfit, most of her body was covered, so it was hard to tell how big her belly had gotten.

“Is your body doing okay?”

“I’m not sure whether I’m fine or not either. But according to that red-haired apothecary’s checkup, everything seems to be growing without a hitch.”

She must’ve meant Lady Kalira. Though an apothecary, she was also an extremely skilled healer. If Kalira had said things looked good, then there was probably no need to worry.

Still, I added a small word of caution.

“From now on, you absolutely can’t do anything too strenuous.”

“Well, it’s not like anything major is gonna happen. We’re leaving here and going back to the capital anyway.”

Swoosh.

Elga’s gaze shifted toward the people loading up a wagon full of baggage.

After spending several months here in the north, everyone was now busy packing up the things they had used during their time here to return to the capital. It was just as hectic as if we were preparing for another expedition beyond the barrier.

Elga asked me,

“So? What are you gonna do after we get back to the capital? Planning to go back to Ark?”

“Under normal circumstances, that’d probably be the right choice.”

The Ark educational institute’s vacation was probably ending soon. Once the term resumed, as enrolled students, we’d be expected to return to Gracia, the city where Ark was located.

But now, I wasn’t so sure there was any point in continuing with Ark’s curriculum. I’d already learned everything worth learning there and gained everything I could.

It’s not like I needed a diploma, so going back to Ark would probably just be a waste of time. That was the conclusion I had reached.

So then what should I do next?

“......”

I thought about the portraits in my inventory.

Once I got back to the capital, I was planning to investigate them further.

I wanted to find out what kind of magical function they held. I also wanted to research more about Demon King Solomon.

Swoosh.

My eyes now wandered toward a sunny windowsill inside the building. Sitting there was a flowerpot—not with flowers or saplings, but with the tail of the imp Mormor growing inside it.

According to Marmar, imp tails are their very life force or essence itself. So if you plant one in good soil and shower it with care and nourishment, it’s said to grow.

That’s right.

They say imps grow from their tails.

Frankly, it’s hard to believe. But Marmar wouldn’t lie to me. Still, I couldn’t help but feel a bit skeptical.

What exactly is an imp?

Why did Solomon turn nymphs into imps? And if he treasured them so much, why did he torment them, drive them to suffering, and end up using them as tools of his curse? The questions burned within me.

“So, what’s your opinion?”

Elga’s sudden question snapped me out of my thoughts.

“...Opinion on what?”

“What the— You weren’t listening to a single word I said this whole time? I told you like three times that I need your opinion because this is important.”

“......”

Did she?

She must’ve said something important while I was lost in thought. As I fumbled for a reply, Elga scoffed at me like she expected it.

“Forget it. I’m not good at explaining things twice, so just ask Mirna or Ayra. Or go bother Professor Stella. I’m busy too.”

Whoosh.

With that, Elga turned and walked away. Looked like she was sulking because I hadn’t paid attention to what she said. She’d probably forgive me later if I gave her a little affection when we were alone...

***

The room Mirna and Narmee had shared was completely cleaned and organized. Everything the two women had decorated and packed together had been neatly arranged.

“Lady Mirna, are you nearly ready for your return to the capital?”