Taming The Villainesses-Chapter 398: Black Angmar Company (3)

Marmar Marnoy said she’d grown up in a monastery.

A place of rigid, austere rules. But she’d always said the nuns and monks there were warm and kind-hearted people—so her childhood had been more joyful than one might expect.

“But... I heard the monastery was torn down so nobles could expand their estates. So how can this be here?”

Marmar’s finger pointed to a label on the map:

「House of Saint Ordo」

Was it just a coincidence that it shared the same name as the monastery she grew up in? Duplicate names weren’t uncommon, after all.

“The location is exactly the same...!”

But Marmar’s tail quivered with certainty. Swoosh. Professor Balan glanced toward me, seemingly expecting an explanation. So I spoke casually.

“Marmar’s a monastery orphan. She’s lived her life hoping to reunite with the scattered friends and family from back then.”

“It’s not u-unusual for p-postwar imps to have been raised in Church-run facilities.”

According to Professor Balan, life after the war with Solomon had been a brutal era. A world overflowing with orphans, with graves dug by the wounded and widowed.

Lady Kalira added her voice.

“I also received aid from the Church when I was young. My younger sibling and I managed to survive thanks to that.”

It was said that after the war, the Church dedicated itself to education and relief work.

But according to Professor Balan, the Church also used orphanages to study Solomon’s forbidden sorcery through the children...

Of course, this still needed confirmation—but it was a deeply disturbing claim.

“Comrade, I want to go see this place!”

Swoosh.

Marmar pointed to the monastery’s location on the map. I’d already had a hunch she would say something like this.

“No. It’s too dangerous. We don’t know what might happen.”

There were only about two weeks left until the wedding in the capital, Monarch City.

As one of the main people involved, I already had far too much to do. And I didn’t want to cause a stir—or trigger a disaster—right before the most important event of my life.

Even aside from that, our investigation into Church facilities was still too shallow. If Marmar rushed in and got hurt, I’d never forgive myself.

“But...”

Marmar looked deeply downcast. For a moment, I saw the shadow of her long-lost friend, Mormor, overlapping with her expression.

Watching that gloomy, childlike look made my heart melt like sugar soaked in water.

“...Alright, Marmar. But just to check it out quickly, okay?”

“Yeah! And it’s close to Monarch City, so I can go and be back today!”

If I sent Professor Balan along with her, she could prevent most potential issues. Despite her eccentricities, Balan was capable when it counted.

“Then let’s wrap up for today.”

The meeting ended quickly.

“Alright. Let’s meet at this time weekly from now on and give updates. For now, everyone return to your stations and duties.”

Clatter, scrape...

Everyone began pushing back their chairs and standing up one by one. At that moment, a thought flashed through my mind. I turned to Professor Balan, who was gathering her things.

“Professor Balan, would you stay a bit longer?”

“Me?”

“Yes.”

She flinched, checking my expression. Perhaps she thought I was about to scold or lecture her? If I were in her shoes, I might have thought the same.

“It’s just—I wanted to ask you about Basago.”

Only then did Professor Balan seem to relax slightly. As everyone else left the meeting room, leaving only the imps sweeping and chattering among themselves, I asked her quietly:

“How has Basago been doing lately?”

“That guy’s probably still in Gracia, the Church’s city. He’s trying to breach Saintess Friga and the Ars Nova embedded in her...”

As she said this, Professor Balan’s expression darkened. She was already a naturally shadowy person, but this felt heavier than usual, and I began to feel a twinge of suspicion.

“Is something wrong?”

“Well...”

“Did Basago betray us or something?”

At that, Balan waved her hands frantically in shock.

“Betray?! N-no, that’s absurd. He may be a fool, but—how could he possibly dare to betray Lord Teo? If he did, I, Balan de Sabrunach, would personally purge him...!”

It didn’t seem like Balan was lying to me.

Basago had once been a guide in the Hero’s party, and had caused me quite a lot of grief.

Because of that, I had always worried he might eventually betray me or cause trouble. Fortunately, it didn’t seem like that was the case.

“However...”

Then, Balan added in a low voice,

“...He does have problems.”

“What kind of problems?”

“He... He still clings to the emotions he had as a normal human... F-foolishly, he hasn’t accepted what he’s become...”

This sounded like it was going to be a long conversation. Still, I was glad I asked. It was a basic responsibility of any superior to manage their subordinates properly.

***

“I see.”

After listening to Balan’s explanation, I nodded slightly.

“I didn’t realize that was the issue behind the difficulty in conquering Agharess. I suppose I’ve been too busy to notice.”

Basago had originally been a peer of Saintess Friga. They had grown up together and studied together—almost like childhood friends.

Though he’d fused with the third-ranked grand sorcery and become something no longer human, it seemed his lingering human emotions were complicating things.

Unlike Professor Balan, who had fully merged with Kamigin.

I asked,

“Then is Basago connected to the unrest occurring within the Church?”

“Well... since Saintess Friga is involved in this, he probably can’t avoid being involved too. Things are about to ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) get chaotic.”

According to Balan, who had informants scattered everywhere, the Church was now split into two factions.

The first was the Friga faction centered in the city of Gracia, where the Saintess resided. They valued doctrine and strict spiritual discipline.

Essentially, they were like a bunch of Mirnas—rigid and reverent.

The second was the Antiech faction, centered around the Archbishop of the city of Roman. They emphasized internal faith, personal inspiration, and spiritual intuition over doctrine.

More like Narmis—people who followed their emotions and instincts.

“They’re complete opposites, huh.”

To that, Professor Balan added,

“Indeed. There’s even talk that Archbishop Antiech of Roman may soon be installed as the new Pope. Traditionally, the Church’s Pope is chosen from among Roman’s archbishops...”

But something didn’t sit right. Having lived as Teo Gospel, I had some familiarity with this world’s faiths and religious systems.

“But, Professor Balan... wasn’t it customary for the appointment of a Pope to be delayed when a Saintess is active?”

The Saintess was the leader of the Church. The Pope held that position too. But just like a creature can’t have two heads, the Church only acknowledged one supreme leader at a time.

So, when a Saintess was active, a Pope could not be appointed. And when there was a Pope, the Church would not ordain a Saintess.

Which meant only one thing.

The Church was now literally divided in two. And I was only just learning about it now.

Balan continued:

“According to my investigation... the orphanage where the executioner Andromalli grew up was established by the Roman faction. I suspect they may be involved in some very unsavory things...”

“I need you to investigate this more thoroughly. Bill the costs to me. Just send out more people and find out whatever you can.”

“Understood.”

With that, Balan bowed and exited the room. I began packing up the maps and documents I’d laid out on the table. That was when I ran into Marmar, carrying a large backpack, in the hallway.

“Marmar? You’re already heading out?”

“Everyone’s busy, so I figured I’d go while I still had time. And, well... I kept thinking maybe the head nun or someone I knew might still be there. I just couldn’t sit still...!”

“Yeah... I get it.”

I understood how she felt.

If I had been separated from the teachers, older sisters, brothers, and younger siblings I’d grown up with...

And if I had the chance to meet them again—I don’t think I could sit still either. Especially when I knew that reuniting with old friends was Marmar’s greatest dream.

“Still, you can’t go alone. Go with someone else.”

“Then... would you come with me? You’re an amazing wizard, after all.”

“Me? I...”

I wanted to. I really did. But I was a groom with barely two weeks left before the wedding. If I got involved in something dangerous now and messed it all up... my brides would probably eat me alive.

When I hesitated, Marmar scratched the back of her head awkwardly.

“No, I get it. You’re busy. Sorry for asking something so selfish...”

She looked so guilty. Even her tail—which normally bounced and fluttered nonstop—was hanging limp. Watching her like that made something sharp rise up in my chest, like a thorn poking through my heart.

“...Maybe one or two days wouldn’t hurt. I’ll have to ask the others about their schedules, but...”

“Really? Wow! Comrade! Thank you!!”

Marmar wrapped her arms around my waist and hugged me tightly. Then the imps who’d been cleaning nearby all rushed over and started grabbing my limbs to lift me up.

“I don’t know what’s happening, but let us toss the comrade in the air in celebration for helping Marmar the First...!”

The imps wanted to toss me into the air?! Bad memories started flashing through my mind. I began thrashing to escape them.

“Ahhh—!! Teonoia is running away—!!”