Taming The Villainesses

While it seemed unbelievable, knowing about the powerful nymphs Punchinoi and Yujinoi, I found it plausible enough.

━Finally, Yan-Gir of the west fell to that little nymph’s hand. Marduk of the central forest did too. I was the only one left, Tasagan.

The white wolf Tasagan described the lengthy battle with the nymph that lasted for days. Though hard to believe, what mattered was that the nymph ultimately won.

━Having conquered all the forests, the nymph soon grew bored. She became curious about the world beyond the southern wall and the rift in the north. That’s when that man appeared.

“A man?”

━A man with red hair and eyes as crimson as blood. Tall and handsome, and most importantly, powerful enough to capture the attention of the nymph who ruled the forest.

“When was this, roughly?”

━Since then, around twenty-five winters have passed. So, about 25 years, I’d say.

25 years ago. A man with red hair and blood-red eyes. At that detail, a name came to my mind.

Isaiah Gospel.

So, he’d been to this forest as well.

━They fought many days, spilled much blood. Those days of battles are still unforgettable. And finally, the victor was decided.

With that, Tasagan fell silent. A few seconds of silence passed…. Growing restless, I finally asked.

“Who won? What happened?”

━Well, I don’t know who won. But, one thing is certain—after that day, our fairy began to bloom like a flower.

Huuuu—

The wolf’s breath came out in a warm huff. Yet, with unfocused eyes, she just gazed into the distance as if unaffected by it all.

━Ah, she was truly beautiful. Like gods from the ancient tales. Life danced at her fingertips, flowers and butterflies blossoming in her presence…

A small bud blooms into a flower, kissed by dew and rain.

Whereupon, a butterfly was sure to alight on the blossom.

They said the man and the beautiful fairy made a lovely pair, like butterfly and flower. Even fierce monsters would sheath their claws and open a path for them upon seeing them.

It must have looked like a scene from a fairy tale.

A refined prince from a city beyond the wall.

An ancient fairy princess raised in the wild forest.

Their meeting was perhaps as inevitable as that of flower and butterfly. And so, the bright flower would eventually bear fruit.

━That’s enough for today. I’m tired from talking….

Before long, the old wolf Tasagan had drifted back to sleep. I tried nudging her and snapping my fingers to wake her, but she wouldn’t budge.

Zzz, zzzz-.

I hadn’t learned to read a wolf’s expressions, but she seemed to be lost in a very pleasant dream. Perhaps waking her from such a dream wouldn’t be the kindest move.

Kkwak-.

I simply clenched and opened my palm. Moving fingers, joints, skin, and beneath it, bone, muscle, and blood all felt vivid.

The earlier story was part of this body’s history—of Theo Gospel. Thinking of it that way felt oddly surprising and, somehow, made me a bit envious.

This body was born of love, surrounded by blessings.

How could such a person end up in a slave market…?

And why am I in this body?

* * *

When we stepped outside the cave, the world was already dark.

Under the gradually rising moonlight, Stella was doing something peculiar.

She was crouched in a strained horse stance, hovering in mid-air while stacking wolves on her head and shoulders like blocks.

“What are you doing?”

“Ugh, I don’t know. Don’t talk to me. My balance… is slipping.”

It seemed even Stella didn’t fully understand what she was doing. The one who clarified was the giant wolf Kubilai, lying down nearby.

━It’s training for immortal art. This long-eared fairy has a knack for rigid body art. She was poisoned by a centipede and ate an evening primrose, didn’t she? That might have cleared her qi channels.

“Ah, now that you mention it, that did happen….”

Since recovering from the centipede’s poison and taking the evening primrose, Stella had appeared noticeably healthier. So, had her constitution changed?

━If she diligently hones her rigid body art through training, she will no longer need crude arrows or tools.

Training?

While I was feeling a bit puzzled, Stella asked.

“What are you talking about now?”

“They’re training you, Stella-nim. By the end of this training, they say you won’t need arrows or other tools.”

“Interesting. Being trained by wolves… Hmm, this is probably the first time in the long history of Bellhawk. Quite the unique experience—”

Stella couldn’t finish her sentence as yet another wolf leaped onto her body.

━Keong!

It was like a circus act where chairs are endlessly stacked one on top of another. More and more wolves climbed onto Stella’s body.

One, two, three…

I counted roughly twelve in total.

Shaking-.

Stella, with what seemed like at least a few hundred kilos of wolves stacked on her, now looked as if even speaking was a challenge. Sweat poured down her face like rain, and veins stood out on her forehead.

“Ugh—”

Yet, her ability to maintain balance was impressive. The balance of the wolves stacked atop her was equally remarkable.

━These wolves are my disciples. They’re rookies, of course, but at least they won’t topple over somewhere out there.

I didn’t know much about it, but they seemed like some formidable wolves.

Then Kubilai added.

━Half-fairy. I can help you with some simple immortal art training as well.

“Training for me?”

━Perhaps Angala-nim sent you to me for that very reason. It will take a few days to hear all of my mother Tasagan’s story. Wouldn’t it be a good way to pass the time?

It seemed like a reasonable suggestion.