Narnar invited into her personal parlor.
The room overflowed with luxurious gifts from the baron, refined and elegant. The {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} teacups were ornate, and the tea leaves within them fragrant beyond compare.
Just a day ago, her hospitality toward had been almost nonexistent. The reason for this sudden change in attitude was obvious.
“I heard from the baron. Sir Teo, you’re apparently quite an extraordinary figure.”
Narnar chuckled softly—huhu. Her smile was quite enchanting. It made sense that if soone saw that smile every day, they might fall in love.
Of course, having seen Ayra and the other ladies—won fad for their beauty—the charm had less of an effect on .
“So, Sir Teo. You said you had sothing to ask ?”
“Well... Miss Narnar, you’ve grown into a large imp. I’ve encountered quite a few imps in my ti. So I can say with confidence just how unusual you are.”
At my words, Narnar gently spun her teacup with her long, slender fingers. Then, as if murmuring to herself, she said quietly:
“You’ve seen many imps... Well, of course. You’re supposedly Teo Gospel of Angmar. I heard from Marmar that you claim to be the protector of all imps.”
“You could say that.”
At my answer, the headmistress Narnar suddenly laughed. It was a small, delicate laugh, like wildflowers swaying in the wind.
“How amusing. Then would you also try to protect an imp like , one who’s grown so large?”
“If you were willing, Miss Narnar.”
“But I don’t need that anymore. I no longer need anyone’s help. I protected this monastery with my own strength. With my own hands.”
Narnar overflowed with self-assurance. You could call it the unique confidence—or even arrogance—of soone who had built themselves up from nothing.
Imps usually took to quite well. But I hadn’t expected that there might be one who didn’t show any goodwill. Was a grown imp truly sothing else entirely?
She said,
“You asked how I grew so large. But I’d rather ask the opposite. Sir Teo... Marmar... How is it that you two have managed to remain such small children in this world?”
“What do you an...?”
“I envy you. People like you who can remain ignorant—who get to stay children. If I had t you instead of them... maybe I too could have ended up like Marmar...”
Whatever she was about to say, Narnar abruptly fell silent.
Then she pulled out a thick cigarette from sowhere, placed it between her lips, and lit it. The sight made her seem less like a monastery headmistress and more like a glamorous spy from an old movie.
If Marmar had never t , would she have beco like Narnar?
I tried to picture a grown-up Marmar in my head—but the image refused to form, so I gave up.
Nhhh.
Blowing out a stream of smoke, Narnar said,
“You’ve probably heard already. About how the monastery’s residents were scattered because of Baron Voltaire.”
“I’ve heard, yes.”
“It’s easy to imagine what happens to children suddenly cast out into the streets. That winter, I had to bury my own siblings in the frozen ground.”
“.......”
“I could have ended up the sa way. But too many children believed in . So I couldn’t die. I did whatever it took to survive. So things... I would’ve preferred death over.”
“Were you... experinted on or brainwashed by the Roman Anti-Ekk monks?”
Narnar’s expression faltered briefly. She hadn’t expected to strike so directly.
Did she underestimate ?
Well, I’ve been through my fair share too. To reclaim the lead in this conversation, I pressed forward.
“There are movents to enthrone the Archbishop of Roman as the new Saint. You’d know about that, wouldn’t you?”
Narnar gave a small smirk.
“I didn’t even know your na, Sir Teo. I want to say I couldn’t care less about archbishops and saints. But yes, I’d heard sothing... vaguely.”
“Then you probably know what they’re up to. The world could fall into chaos. If you cooperate, you’ll be well rewarded.”
“Hmm... a reward...”
At my words, Narnar elegantly crossed her legs. My eyes instinctively shifted as the firm lines of her thighs ca into view. She was doing it on purpose. She knew n well.
She said,
“You don’t need to go to such trouble. You could just make talk. I’m sure soone like you has the power and authority to do that.”
“Soone once said forcing a woman is hardly gentlemanly behavior. I agree with that.”
“Voltaire. That stupid, idiotic man.”
Suddenly, her face was filled with pure contempt. I was surprised. When Baron Voltaire spoke of her, he seed like a shy schoolboy—eyes sparkling, mouth awkwardly smiling.
But when Narnar spoke of him, she sounded like soone talking about her worst enemy. Maybe to her, he was.
I asked,
“You’re using Voltaire. You couldn’t forgive the man who drove you out of the monastery, could you?”
“I’m sure he knows. That I’m using him. Marmar probably figured it out too. That’s why she was angry with . She’s that kind of friend.”
She was far scarier than I’d imagined.
I spoke with Narnar for quite a while.
***
About how she, as a child, ended up in the Holy See of Roman. And all that she witnessed within. She claid her growth into an adult imp was due to various experints.
“Teo Gospel, do you know why nymphs—and their offshoots like imps—remain childlike in appearance?”
“...No.”
“They say it’s a divine curse. That nymphs were once a depraved and licentious race. So the god of light and salt cursed them to remain forever as children. That part... is half true.”
“Half true?”
“Nymphs were cursed. About a thousand years ago. Their numbers dwindled over ti. Now there are hardly any left. But the curse... is weakening.”
The curse is weakening? Talk of gods and curses felt unreal to . Honestly, I’m an agnostic.
I’ve never had ti to contemplate gods or higher powers—life has always thrown more imdiate concerns at .
Narnar continued.
“A new millennium will begin soon, Teo Gospel. Even without the Holy See’s interference, the world is headed for chaos. Roman just wants to control it.”
“You know a lot more than I expected.”
“The age of David and the Long Light is coming to an end. A new age of rules will begin. I’m telling you all this so easily because... well, as individuals, we can’t stop it anyway.”
She laughed like it was all just amusing. A cruel, primal laugh—like soone stomping a sandcastle their friend had worked hard to build.
I asked,
“Is this monastery also involved in all of this?”
She shook her head.
“This place... is a final refuge for soone who’s tired. A ho where I can watch the end of everything. Believe it or not, the people here have nothing to do with it. And what I know... ends here.”
Then, Narnar stood and pulled out a sheet of paper. She wrote sothing down, then handed it to and snuffed out her cigarette in the ashtray.
“If you go find the person written here, you’ll probably learn more.”
Slide.
I took the paper. A na and address were clearly written.
“.......”
This grown imp was highly capable.
As a mage, I could sense she was quite skilled in her own right. I had half-expected that we might end up in a fight—but instead, she was surprisingly cooperative.
Was it because she was wise enough to judge our difference in strength?
Or perhaps, as she had said earlier, she already knew that no matter how much I learned or how I tried to respond... the outco wouldn’t change.
As I sat in silence, she stared down at the cigarette ashes and spoke.
“I wish I’d t soone like you sooner. Though I doubt it would’ve changed anything. Take good care of Marmar.”
Swish.
Her chestnut-bur-like tail rose—
“─So she won’t grow up into soone like .”
And she swung it—slamming it against her own neck.
“...What the—!!!”
Slash—
A spray of blood erupted from the wound. The suddenness of it drained all the color from my face. My mind went blank.
***
“She survived—barely. But she’s lost too much blood...”
Professor Balan examined Narnar’s condition and murmured, subdued and solemn. She lay in bed, staring blankly at the window, her eyes devoid of life.
“Lord Teo, in her office... I found correspondence with inquisitors of the Holy See. Notes labeled ‘L’... plans for large-scale protests and military actions across Angmar...”
According to Balan, Headmistress Narnar had been plotting rebellion. Treason is always a grave cri—no matter the ti or place.
This monastery would soon be dismantled.
Creak.
The door to the headmistress’s room opened. I saw a trembling diamond-shaped tail—it was Marmar. At the sight of her, life returned to Narnar’s eyes.
“Ah—Marmar...! Marmar’s here...! What should we play today? Cat’s cradle? Or tag like yesterday?”
“...Narnar.”
She spoke brightly, her deanor childlike and playful—utterly at odds with her adult appearance. Marmar’s eyes, watching her, were uncommonly dark.
“Narnar...”
Balan whispered,
“She... she lost too much blood. She went into shock. There’s brain damage. Even if her mories return... it’ll take ti...”
So now I could ask Narnar nothing more. She’d been stronger and more determined than I ever imagined. She had caught completely off guard—it had been a long ti since soone had done that.
I walked the hallway outside the room. The children and nuns were huddled together, shivering with uncertainty.
━I can’t believe it... that the headmistress is a traitor...
━What’s going to happen to us now...? Are we going to be scattered...?
━I... I don’t know...
Their fears reached my keen ears. What would happen to them now? Normally, the monastery would be disbanded, and everyone investigated.
And the children...
Would they beco another Marmar? Another Narnar?
“So the future can’t be changed, huh...”
You’ve got so nerve, saying that in front of . I’ve rewritten fate plenty of tis. Whoever’s planning this—things won’t go as you expect.
So I spoke to the fearful people watching .
“From today onward, we’ll take over managent of this place. A lot has happened, but you won’t need to worry about your lives being disrupted.”
An older-looking nun hesitated, then asked,
“Um... who exactly are you people...?”
Ah, I guess they don’t know yet. I answered casually.
“The Angmar Compa—”
No. Thinking about it... we’re going to face so rough business from here on out. The na needs more bite. So I revised it slightly.
“The Black Angmar Company.”
...
We climbed into the carriage to return. Unlike yesterday’s mild excitent, the setting sun today cast a heavy silence over us.
Marmar, especially, was quiet for a long ti. Only after the horses were galloping down the darkened road did she finally speak.
“...If I hadn’t insisted on coming... would Narnar still be okay...?”
Was she blaming herself? For soone as tenderhearted as Marmar, it wasn’t surprising. I answered,
“It’s not your fault.”
“Then...?”
“If anyone’s to bla, it’s . I cornered your friend Narnar.”
“But, Comrade, you only did what had to be done. Still... it’s hard to believe. That kind, brave Narnar... beca like that... Is that what it ans to grow up?”
At her question, I looked at my own reflection in the window. I didn’t look like much of an adult. Honestly, I don’t know what it ans to grow up either.
“Why is it we must beco adults...?”
I couldn’t answer her question. I was far too lacking to give an answer to that.
Why do we grow up? Why are we born? Why do we die?
Only one being could answer those questions fully. I looked up at the darkening sky. Thick clouds gathered. Was the answer hiding up there?
Rustle.
My gaze dropped to the paper in my hand. A bloodstained note from a grown imp.
On it, in clear handwriting, it said:
“Theodoros Gospel – Roman City, Covenant Street, 3rd Ave, 2nd Floor.”
Theodoros Gospel. A man I know.
I could never forget that na. He was supposedly raised within the Church, alongside Saint Priga.
I realized too late.
Folding the paper neatly and slipping it into my pocket, I turned toward the coachman.
“Balan. I think we’ll need to pay a visit to Basago—no, to Theodoros. But first... let’s check out the address written here.”
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