Taming The Villainesses novel Chapter 287

(EP-287.2)

287 – Archmage

Tefer’s mistake will be buried. After all, the White Mage Tower had enough power to make that happen. Moreover, it wouldn’t benefit anyone if the blunder of Tefer, who was next in line as Tower Master, were to become public knowledge.

Dolches and I agreed on that.

Tefer, being smart enough to be called a genius, quickly realized she had no choice in the matter and fell silent.

“So, I’d like to ask you about the Crown of Dominion.”

“Ah.”

I asked Tefer various questions, starting with how she came to wear the Crown of Dominion and what led ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) her to the bandits’ hideout.

“At some point, I started hearing a voice. It was like a hallucination. A voice that only I could hear...”

“Was that Solomon, the one who took control of your body?”

Tefer nodded in response to my question.

“Yes.”

“But, it didn’t quite feel like the real Demon King Solomon. It seemed... a bit more lacking.”

At my words, Tefer appeared to drift into thought for a moment. As she had been connected to the Crown of Dominion, it seemed there was a lot for her to contemplate.

A brief silence fell between us.

As I used that moment to quietly observe the bustling party hall, Tefer spoke up, as if she had made a decision.

“It was a residual thought.”

“A residual thought?”

“Solomon created several objects with a portion of his life force and will. For various purposes.”

“And that crown was one of them....”

Tefer nodded.

“Are there more of these items?”

“I’m not sure myself... But just as the voice was able to look into me, I was able to catch a glimpse of the residual thought’s memories.”

Memories of Solomon?

“Can you tell me what it is?”

“Baby..., I saw something like a baby’s cradle placed in a giant magic circle. But I don’t know what that means.”

“A baby...?”

“It seemed like a deep memory... It felt like a very important memory. The baby was crying...”

A baby in Solomon’s memories?

“Is there anything else you can remember?”

“Just a burning desire for revenge and hatred... The residual thought in the crown was a manifestation of pure hatred. It harbored murderous intent towards all living things...”

Tefer grimaced, as if the memory itself was painful.

It seemed that the trauma from being controlled hadn’t yet subsided. So, I decided to offer her a moment of respite. Just as I was about to get up, Tefer asked me.

“When you fell into the river...”

“Yes?”

“The magic I saw then... If you had used that against me, you could have easily won. But you didn’t. Why?”

The memory of falling into the river wasn’t something I was eager to recall. But Tefer’s expression was so earnest that I couldn’t leave her hanging.

“That’s because... Great magic isn’t meant to be used on people.”