Taming The Villainesses Chapter 841 - 840 - 839 - 838 - 837 - 836 - 835 - 834 - 833 - 832 - 831 - 830 - 829 - 828 - 827 - 826 - 825 - 824 - 823 - 822 - 821 - 820 - 819 - 818 - 817 - 816 - 815 - 814 - 813 - 455: Side Story – Everyday Life Is Always Honey-Colored (4)

"Outsider. Is Emperor Jinshinoi still alive?"

"Is the Nymph-hating Forced Labor Act still in effect in the outer world?"

The black-haired nymph uttered words that were beyond my comprehension.

Emperor...? A Nymph-hating Forced Labor Act?

That strange phrase stirred a flicker of recognition, and my hands quickly moved to the documents Stella had provided.

Flipping through the pages.

They detailed the ancient kingdoms and empires that once governed this continent, predating the Angmar Kingdom's establishment—a time when Angmar was merely a fledgling city-state.

What I sought was within these pages:

"The Ancient Fairy Empire."

It was recorded that the very area now known as Angmar's Monarch City was once the seat of an empire founded by Nymphs. The continent's very first emperor, it was said, originated from this empire.

"However, the Fairy Empire, rife with illegality and idol worship, was ultimately overthrown by the martyrs and crusaders of the Church of Radiance."

That was the written account.

As I read the passage aloud, Tartar, who had been listening intently beside me, shuddered.

"But... Jinshinoi! That's the name of the ancient Nymph emperor! Then surely—this black-haired Nymph must be a survivor from that ancient empire!"

Tartar, the imp sporting an orange armband, displayed an inexplicable surge of excitement. Before I could even inquire, he elaborated.

"There might be precious ancient relics nearby, remnants from the Nymphs' era of dominance...! There could even be the height-growth mushroom here...!"

Oh.

Could such a thing truly be possible?

A survivor from an empire that vanished a millennium ago? I had heard tales of the Nymphs' long lifespans. Yet, the oldest Nymphs I had encountered were only around a century old.

Could a Nymph genuinely live for a thousand years?

The thought left me in a state of bewilderment.

"━━─."

Whoosh.

At that precise moment, the black-haired Nymph murmured an unintelligible phrase and darted away with astonishing speed.

She wasn't merely running; her velocity rendered pursuit impossible. In a blink, the distance between us became a chasm, and she vanished into the depths of the tunnel.

Marmar finally spoke.

"Looks like she wants us to follow! Let's get going!"

"Right."

Was it truly wise to follow her? It felt incredibly dubious, but our options were rather limited.

Furthermore... if I introduced her to Stella, I was certain Stella would be absolutely delighted.

Thus, I dashed off in pursuit of the vanishing Nymph.

Whoosh!

However, her speed far exceeded my expectations. She disappeared completely into the recesses of the cave.

Only Punchnoi, the Iron Fist, managed to maintain a semblance of pursuit, barely keeping her in sight.

"Tch—! I lost her! Her footwork was astonishing...! With such refined martial arts, she might even possess knowledge of how to defeat Yujinoi...!"

Even {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} Punchnoi couldn't sustain the pace and had to concede.

But the difficulties didn't end there.

Upon finally catching our breath, a chilling realization dawned—we were thoroughly lost.

"Where are we...?"

We had blindly navigated past numerous junctions in the tunnel. Now, our sense of direction was completely gone. Which path led deeper, and which led to an exit?

More than that—the cave hadn't appeared nearly as expansive from the exterior. Yet, within, it felt like a treacherous labyrinth. It was as if we were traversing a maze meticulously designed to disorient intruders.

"My poor legs can't take it anymore...!"

Imps and Nymphs began to falter, succumbing one by one to exhaustion from the frantic chase. Consequently, we resolved to pause, finding rest on nearby rocks and boulders.

It was, after all, lunchtime. A meal break seemed prudent.

Just as I reached into the bag secured at my waist, intending to retrieve the lunch Mirna had prepared that morning—

"Ah...!?"

A Nymph or an Imp—someone—emitted a peculiar cry.

"Ah—!"

"Aaah!?"

A chorus of startled exclamations erupted from all directions.

And I was no different.

"...Wait, Mirna's lunch for me—"

...It was gone!

The very lunch I had meticulously double-checked in my bag earlier that day—vanished without a trace!

In a panic, I frantically searched every pouch and compartment of my pack. Nothing!

"Hiiiiik...!"

I felt an overwhelming urge to unleash a destructive beam, fueled by sheer Nymph-hating fury!

However, I was not alone in my distress.

Other Imps and Nymphs, discovering their own lunches had also disappeared, began to tremble and voice their outrage.

"Who pilfered Moromoro's sandwich container?!"

"My lunch has vanished too...! Tartar's entire meal disappeared as if it never existed!"

"Even my sugar stars are gone, every single one! This—this Nymph-hating theft of our provisions is utterly intolerable! Punchnoi is FURIOUS!"

"Garrururu! Garrururururur!"

"Ah—! Even Gargar is enraged! I've never witnessed Gargar utter such vile profanity before!"

The cave was engulfed in a cacophony. The shouts echoed back from every corner, exacerbating the chaos.

But it was entirely understandable.

Lunchtime represents the very heart of any picnic or excursion. It's the cherished moment for communal dining, sharing side dishes, exchanging fruits, and engaging in warm conversation.

That precious joy had been cruelly snatched away from us.

Naturally, we were incensed!

—Hiooong...!

Bael stirred gently within my heart.

I really ought to regain my composure.

Anger alone will accomplish nothing.

"Hmm..."

The simultaneous and coordinated disappearance of multiple lunches.

There was only one plausible culprit.

That suspicious outsider.

Just as this deduction formed, Punchnoi exuberantly raised a fist and bellowed,

"It absolutely had to be that black-haired Nymph who pilfered our provisions! Such a wicked little food snatcher! Let us pursue her and deliver a fitting reprisal!"

Rumble...

The collective fury of the gathered party reverberated within the cave.

***

Our arduous trek in pursuit of the black-haired nymph commenced—however, the cave indeed proved to be a labyrinth. Had monsters or brigands emerged, classifying it as a dungeon would have been straightforward.

After what felt like an hour of being utterly lost, my thoughts began to shift towards prioritizing our escape from the cave over continuing the pursuit.

Still, that sentiment was easier to hold than to enact.

Lost in contemplation, I then detected a faint glimmer upon the cavern floor.

It was a soft, downy—

"...Feather?"

No, it was down. White, fluffy down. Quite substantial in size, too. Initially, I surmised it might be fur from a rabbit, but the texture and delicate softness felt more akin to the plumage of a duck or goose.

In truth, though—there was far too much of it to have originated from merely ducks or geese.

Rustle, rustle.

The down I clutched wavered slightly.

"...!"

At that precise moment, a realization dawned upon me.

Swipe.

Instantly, I moistened my finger and extended it into the ambient air.

—Nymph Technique: Pathfinding!

Rustle, rustle.

A gentle breeze caressed my fingertip.

The presence of wind signaled that an exit to the outside world must be situated somewhere in the vicinity!

"Everyone, follow me in this direction!"

I guided the irate contingent of Nymphs and Imps toward the source of the gentle airflow.

And at last—we discovered it. An opening that resembled either an entrance or an exit, brilliantly illuminated by an ethereal glow.

As we stepped into the light, brilliant sunlight enveloped me, causing me to flinch and instinctively narrow my eyes.

"Ugh..."

The intensity was blinding. The sun's rays pierced my closed eyelids as if they were needles. Yet, once my vision adjusted to the overwhelming brightness, an involuntary gasp escaped my lips.

"...Wow."

Stretching out below the hill was a village. A river gracefully snaked through its heart under the radiant sun, and wisps of smoke ascended serenely from the chimneys adorning each dwelling.

It presented an image of utter tranquility.

However, a peculiar detail caught my eye. Even from this vantage point, I could discern—the houses were resplendent. Their rooftops gleamed with an emerald luminescence.

Were they emeralds? Jade? Or perhaps some other form of precious gemstone? I couldn't be certain.

Closer inspection would be necessary to ascertain the truth.

Rustle.

I retrieved my map as we drew nearer to the village.

Could such a sizable village exist near the ancient forest we had been exploring? To the best of my recollection... no river was present anywhere in this region.

What was this place?

It felt… fundamentally alien.

"━━──."

"━─?"

As our group approached the village boundaries, the children and adults engaged in activities on the streets all turned their gazes towards us.

They had clearly recognized us as strangers.

The distinction between our groups was starkly evident. All of them possessed black hair and were attired in garments crafted from either silk or coarse linen.

Conversely, our peculiar attire and vibrantly colored hair must have made us stand out conspicuously.

Would soldiers suddenly emerge and surround us?

A sense of tension filled me.

Yet, the Imps and Nymphs appeared overwhelmingly delighted.

"So many Nymphs with black hair everywhere! There must be someone here possessing a secret martial arts scroll, I am absolutely certain...!"

"That dreadful Nymph who absconded with Tartar's lunch is certainly somewhere within this vicinity too, without a shred of doubt...!"

While we stood there somewhat awkwardly, a figure emerged from the gathering crowd.

She was clad in black and white silk robes, her neatly trimmed bobbed red hair framing a slim, elegant physique. Her features were composed and graceful—undeniably beautiful.

She spoke,

"It has been a considerable duration since any outsiders have traversed the passage through the cave. Are you emissaries dispatched by the Emperor?"

She comprehends our language?

The fact that an individual here could communicate with us, after hearing only unintelligible utterances until this point, was more than encouraging.

Assuming the role of our leader, I stepped forward.

"No, we are not emissaries of the Emperor. We are subjects of a Queen."

"A Queen?"

"Indeed. The Queen of Angmar."

"Angmar?"

The woman tilted her head infinitesimally, as if neither name held any prior recognition for her.

"Very well, if you are not imperial envoys, that is acceptable. We shall arrange suitable lodging for you within the village. Please, rest yourselves for the time being. The passage back to your realm will become accessible on the morrow."

"...Hold on. Are you suggesting we cannot depart today?"

My vision began to blur.

I had assured Elga of my return by the end of this day.

Should I remain absent without making contact, the noble ladies would undoubtedly be furious, eager to exact retribution.

This was particularly true since today was Thursday—Narmee's designated day.

If I failed to return this evening, Narmee would be left awaiting my arrival, utterly alone.

I absolutely could not permit such an outcome.

Narmee transforms into a truly formidable figure when angered.

"Is there genuinely no alternative to returning today?"

"None whatsoever," she replied with unvarnished directness.

"If this barrier is lowered now, soldiers eager for our mushrooms will invade. Then, the peace we’ve painstakingly built will inevitably be shattered."

Her words didn't fully register at first.

However, a single word stood out distinctly:

"...Mushrooms?"

In response to my query, the woman lifted a hand, gesturing towards nearby structures that appeared to be cultivation beds.

Upon closer inspection, numerous vibrant and unusual mushrooms could be seen thriving in various containers and trays scattered throughout the area.

Naturally, it was Marmar who showed the most enthusiasm.

"There are so many mushrooms! I bet they would taste incredible grilled or in a hearty stew!"

The mere thought made my stomach rumble loudly.

Having skipped lunch and with my bento box long gone, even discussions of food were enough to make me intensely hungry.

I gulped audibly and posed a question to the woman:

"Do you happen to have the kind of mushroom that helps you grow taller?"

"...If you are referring to the legendary Max Mushroom of the Ancients, then yes, we do."

After stating this, she fell silent.

The surrounding villagers began to whisper amongst themselves in an unfamiliar tongue.

"━─Ancient Max..."

"Go-Dai Max..."

Their complexions turned ashen, their bodies quaking as if gripped by profound fear.

The woman let out a sigh.

Then, she declared:

"It does exist. However, acquiring it will prove impossible for you. The area where the Max Mushrooms flourish lies downstream... beyond the Little Fairy River. And that particular location..."