Taming The Villainesses novel Chapter 408

The Fallen Monk Teodoros. The Demon Monk Basago.

The man had many names.

And he said he had lived a life worthy of those names.

A name was the title given to a person.

Just as every book or tale followed the direction set by its title—

So too, people would live a life shaped by the name they bore. That’s what he believed.

“Teo Gospel. The weight of that name is not something you can compare to anything in this world. Master, you will one day come to a crossroads.”

The Grand Sorcerer Basago of Solomon had prophesied an imperfect future.

Though I couldn’t quite grasp what he meant. Why did people in this world love speaking in such difficult riddles?

No one was ever straightforward.

Trying to make sense of it, I spoke.

“So Teodoros, to sum up what you’re saying—this ‘new millennium’ is real, and I will eventually have to make a choice.”

“Correct.”

“What kind of choice?”

In response, Teodoros held out a closed fist—then extended two fingers, index and middle.

“Between what you already have—and what you have yet to gain. One of them you’ll lose. One you’ll gain. That’s all I know right now.”

A choice between what I already have... and what I must gain.

That was when Mirna suddenly stood.

“Sir Teo, a moment please.”

She took me by the arm and pulled me around the corner behind the mansion. Then she glanced around cautiously and whispered:

“To be honest, I don’t understand a single thing that man just said.”

“Same here.”

I gave a vague «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» answer. Mirna peeked back around the corner at the man still seated near the fire.

“They say Roman priests value the spiritual and emotional above all. Their words are always full of obscure metaphors.”

“Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. He’s not exactly the clearest speaker.”

“When you overthink things, you fall into heresy. If people would just follow scripture and doctrine, none of this would happen.”

“...So why did you pull me aside?”

“Because it’s nonsense. Don’t let it get to you. That kind of talk only clouds your mind. It won’t help you in life.”

I understood what she meant. She probably thought I was falling into some weird cult. Her concern was unfounded—but I didn’t show it. I just nodded in thanks.

“I’ll be careful.”

And with that, we returned to the fire.

Since Mirna seemed uneasy, I decided to wrap this meeting up quickly. It’d be nice to get back in bed before midnight.

Plus, I was late feeding Kang-Kang the chipmunk squirrel.

“Teodoros, I’ve just got a few final questions. Let’s skip the philosophy and keep it clear.”

“Understood.”

As he nodded, I asked:

“When should we schedule the wedding? I’m trying to pick a day with good weather—no rain, clear skies. You’re good with this kind of thing, right?”

Teodoros raised an eyebrow at the question, then slowly looked up at the dark Gracia sky.

“Clear skies, huh... Lately it’s been raining all across the continent.”

Mirna jabbed me in the ribs.

“Sir Teo, is this really the time to be asking that?”

“That’s why it’s important. Surely even you wouldn’t want to have your makeup run and your dress get soaked on your one and only wedding day.”

“Well... I suppose not...”

Then Teodoros answered.

“Ten days from now would be good. Every other day will bring rain—but ten days from now, the skies will be clear.”

Ten days, huh?

Perfect.

Having gotten the answer I wanted, I turned to Mirna.

“Miss, would you give me a moment alone with this man?”

“But, Sir Teo...”

“I won the martial tournament, remember? You know no one can harm me.”

Reluctantly, Mirna nodded and stepped away.

Once her footsteps had faded, I asked the one question I’d been holding.

“Basago, I have something to ask you.”

“Then I’ll answer not as Teodoros, but as Basago.”

“I see letters. What the Church and the heroes call ‘the system,’ or ‘status windows,’ or ‘blessings’... I see them.”

I saw many such letters. They informed me of my condition. They guided me. Like revelations from the heavens.

Some say it’s just Solomon’s magic system, but I’ve been feeling... something different lately.

“Is it divine revelation? The hallucinations and voices the Angmar family used to report—am I seeing those in the form of letters?”

“That...”

Basago fell silent. That silence was enough of an answer.

Then I asked the real question.

“After I obtained Grand Sorcery Basago, the letters gave me a final objective. One of four has been fulfilled.”

That happened after I defeated Opal.

The progress bar had moved from blank to...

[Final Objective Progress: 1/4]

Seeing that had sent a chill down my spine. I felt it instinctively. I knew what the letters were truly asking of me.

But I hadn’t confirmed it. Jumping to conclusions without proof would be foolish. Still, this guy would know.

A question I’d been holding alone for a long time—

Now I asked him.