Taming The Villainesses novel Chapter 284

(EP-284.2) King #3

284 – Bandit King #3

“I-I don’t know. I don’t even understand why they brought those noisy imps here. But you... you look familiar. Don’t you recognize me? You seem really familiar...”

The bandit was starting to take an interest in me. Was it because of the Mero Mero Beam? I frowned.

“I’ve never seen you before. And I don’t plan to see you again.”

“No, I’m not hitting on you, you just really seem... erk!”

After we extracted all the useful information, Stella lightly struck the back of his neck. With that, Crox’s eyes rolled back as he lost consciousness.

After dispelling the spell, our group continued deeper into the lower levels.

Just as he said, descending further into the cave revealed a vast area filled with countless iron cages – all of which were guarded by numerous bandits.

But these weren’t ordinary bandits—they were equipped with armor, shields, and swords, more like trained guards than simply bandits.

“Can you take them down?”

In response to my question, Stella, who was hiding behind the wall, narrowed her eyes and said, “It’s not difficult. Just hold your nose for a moment.”

She then pulled out a strange paper bag from the pouch at her waist. Placing it on her palm, she blew on it.

Thud, thud.

One by one, the guards in front of the iron bars collapsed, completely subdued. Thanks to this, we were able to approach the cages without causing any commotion.

“You are...”

━Eek...! Someone is coming...!

━It’s scary...!

Inside the cages were small imps with scruffy faces and various tails.

The moment they made eye contact with me, they began to tremble and hide in the corners of the cage.

━Eek! We don’t want to eat cold cucumber soup anymore...!

Cold cucumber soup?

I slowly scanned their faces and asked.

“Is Marmar here? Or maybe Gargar, Tartar, Purpur?”

In response to my question, the imps glanced at each other’s faces. Then, one by one, they shook their heads. Even after searching other cages, there were no Marmar, Gargar, or Tartar.

It seemed my concern was unfounded.

Perhaps they weren’t captured after all.

If there were something like a mobile communication device in this world, misunderstandings like this wouldn’t happen. If I got a chance later, I’d try making some magic tools.

“Listen, I’m going to set you free, but you have to be quiet.”

As I was /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ about to unlock the cages, thinking it would be best to free the imps, they suddenly started growling, bristling their hair and tails.

━Wh-Where are you planning to take us now...!?

━We’re tired of working without pay...! Turning the waterwheel is a lot of work...!

‘I see.’

It seemed they were forced into labor by these bandits. Imps, being creatures that are neither monsters nor humans, must have been easy targets for abuse.

Then, one of them spoke up.

━Ah! That thing wrapped around your wrist... It’s an imp tail...! I can feel the energy of a great imp from that tail...! If it’s a command from a great imp, we should listen...!

“Huh? This?”

It seemed they had sensed the energy of Marmar’s tail wrapped around my wrist. Thanks to that, I was able to handle them with much more ease.

“Alright, I’ll also remove the shackles on your wrists and ankles.”

While Stella was freeing the imps one by one, I approached a red-haired imp who seemed to be relatively clear-headed—and asked.

“Why were you captured?”