Taming The Villainesses

Episode 311.1

(EP-311.1) Afterstory of the South #1

311 – Afterstory of the South Wall #1

Soft breathing-.

Stella was asleep.

Even though we had planned to set out early this morning, it seems she’s too exhausted. So I decided to let her sleep for an extra hour or two.

Swoosh.

I gently placed the Angmar robe over Stella’s bare body.

Then, using the nymph technique ‘Sneak’, I tiptoed out of the tree hollow. The chill of the morning air welcomed me as I stepped outside.

Should I have slept a bit more?

Even though my stamina has improved noticeably recently, last night’s exertions until early morning was a bit tiring.

It’s said that reaching a man’s peak uses as much energy as sprinting around a track at full speed—.

I don’t know how reliable that information was, but I felt it quite plausible.

“But I feel pretty good right now.”

Clench.

I clenched and released my fist into the empty air.

Not long ago, I’d been burning with such fever that my vision blurred, but now my body felt comfortably tense, like simmering magma.

It was probably thanks to Stella nursing me back to health.

“So, how long do you plan on hiding?”

My voice echoed in the quiet dawn.

In response, something rustled in the dark thicket nearby. A flash of red light gleamed, which might have seemed like a fearsome beast aiming for me, but I wasn’t worried.

“As expected of Theo-nim. I cant escape your eyes.”

Pasussuk-.

From the bushes, a woman with her hair and shoulders covered in leaves emerged.

Not only that, she also wore necklaces and bracelets adorned with fangs and bones of some unknown beasts.

Was that a staff made from a skull in her hand?

“Ah, th-this is something I received from the cold-blooded tribe Yan-Dor of the west. They said it was the mark of a chieftain.”

“I’m glad to see you’re in one piece, Balan.”

“I, Balan de Sabrnak, will go wherever you go. However, I suggest you reconsider.”

“Why’s that?”

“There’s definitely something bad there. I don’t know what it is, but Balan’s body is afraid of going there.”

Balan seemed rather serious.

Just like the other creatures, she was dissuading me from heading north. It must be because of the master of the north.

I asked.

“What are the chances that Solomon is still alive in there?”

As one of the Demon King’s close aides, Balan could probably offer a meaningful answer. Narrowing her crimson eyes, she spoke softly.

“Absolutely impossible.”

“You’re saying it’s impossible?”

“─That’s right. If it were the old me, I would have said so. But now that I’m beyond the wall, here in the vicinity of the old fortress Gargata, I understand a little. What’s there...”

Seuk-.

Suddenly, Balan stopped, pressing a finger to her lips.

Shh.

Someone must be listening. As if to prove her point, Stella, looking rather tired, emerged from the entrance of the tree hollow.

“Theo-kun, who are you talking to so ear... Ah? You’re...!”

* * *

Two and three.

It was simply adding one more person, yet the sense of security felt more than doubled.

After a few days since falling off the wall, we were now back to a three-person party. And at last, we arrived at the ruins in the east, where we’d been told they were waiting for us.

Compared to the towering walls built by the city of witches, Sandora, the eastern wall was not that high.

About 10 meters.

Of course, that was still quite a tall wall. But having faced an ogre, wolves, and a centipede beyond the wall, this high wall felt as light as paper to me.

In fact, it’s often attacked by monsters.

━Gyaaaaaaak-!!!

Even now, a group of monsters was assaulting the fortress over there. Four-legged creatures with mantis-like scythes for limbs.

Thunk, thunk-!