I thought I had tamed the villain

I thought I tamed the villain Chapter 16

[Iris]: We’re at least trying. It was not about doing nothing and being dragged along the path you’ve been given.

I did not think that the children who would remain in the Temple of Hyllis after fourteen were foolish or bad. But if you ask me to choose…..

[Iris]: If you fail, what you’ve studied won’t go away. We’re going to get valuable experience. If I pass, I will have the courage to try endless other things besides entering the academy.

I will never sit still.

[Iris]: But not at the level of getting a rough acceptance letter, because we’re going to need tuition to really go to the academy.

[Theo]: That’s why we have to be good enough to get a scholarship.

Theo added, seemingly anticipating my afterthought. He seemed to remember what I had said back then when I told him to take the academy exams.

[Iris]: Exactly. That’s why we’re studying, weren’t we?

[Theo]: What if only one of us passes?

Theo asked, his jaw clenched.

[Iris]: You always ask me that.

[Theo]: Because it’s the most important thing to me.

[Iris]: Well…..It’s good that you’ve already decided something. What are you going to do?

Theo stared at me in silence for a moment. I could feel it in that gaze. Theo will choose the option to stay with me no matter what.

[Iris]: I think I know what you’re going to say.

I replied with a grin at that gaze. Theo smiled slightly

[Theo]: Exactly. My answer is so obvious so I want to hear what you think. Iris, what would you do?

[Iris]: I….

If one of us failed then….

[Theo]: You’ll choose to break up in the end, right?

Theo intercepted when I’m about to answer. He was still smiling as he said that, but there was a hint of sadness in his eyes as he glanced at me slightly.

[Iris]: Breaking up….Talking like that makes me a bad person.

[Theo]: Shall I say it your way, then? You’ll choose to stay apart for the sake of each other’s future, right?

Theo, who spoke in a calm voice, returned to his sarcastic expression when he finished speaking.

[Theo]: Isn’t that the case?

Theo shrugged regardless.

[Iris]: You’re already a lot taller than me.

I smiled sheepishly at Theo, who was beaming shamelessly. Before I knew it, Theo was not a kid anymore.

[Theo]: ……. If only I were the only one going to the academy.

For a long moment, only the sound of a quill rolling filled the silence when Theo spoke to me.

[Iris]: Huh?

[Theo]: If that happens, I might catch you.

Theo still had the story in mind after some time.

[Theo]: I know if I do that, you’ll be disappointed in me. But I’m still going to catch you. If that happens….How about you, what exactly are you going to do?

I swallowed dryly at Theo’s question. So far, Theo had subtly avoided questions that seemed to have an answer against him. Therefore, I couldn’t help but be greatly puzzled by now. I had never expected Theo to ask such a direct and sensitive question.

[Iris]: Why are you suddenly asking so bluntly?

[Theo]: Because I’m curious about what you think.

Theo seemed unwilling to let this one go. I felt heavy as he put down his quill, staring into my eyes. I bit my lip and avoided Theo’s eyes.

[Theo]: Can you really abandon me?

Then Theo’s sullen voice flew in.

[Iris]: What?

I couldn’t react immediately and panicked. Theo’s comments were an attack on me.

Besides, he even carried a weapon of compassion that I couldn’t resist.

[Theo]: If it really happens, can you abandon me, Iris?

I couldn’t answer that in the end. Can I really leave Theo alone? In fact, I wasn’t confident in doing so. Although I said that a breakup wasn’t that bad, that it might be better to be apart for a while for each other…

If that really happens, if Theo grabs me and tells me not to break up, I…

[Theo]: I hope you don’t.

Theo, who was looking at me in distress, took my hand. It was as if our intertwined fingers were holding each other.

[Iris]: ……. That’s enough for today.

I let go of Theo’s hand and sorted out the books. For some reason, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was going wrong. I wanted Theo to laugh that it was a prank, but it never happened.

[Frey]: You’re interested in history?

I stopped flipping through the books with my fingertips because of Frey’s voice.

[Iris]: It’s not like that, it’s because I’m studying.

[Frey]: Studying?

[Iris]: I’m going to take the academy entrance exam next spring.

I noticed Frey’s expression change strangely at my answer. I had an ominous premonition as I looked at it and wondered if I had given a good answer. Anyways, I still had doubts about him.

[Frey]: I’m really happy. Can I help you?

But Frey had an unexpected answer. I looked back at him with my eyes wide open.

[Iris]: Have you ever studied for exams?

[Frey]: I don’t know if it has anything to do with the academy, but I got basic training.

I was stunned with regret. But anyone who could help was welcome. After all, there was no proper teacher in the nursery school.

[Iris]: So, if you don’t mind, can you help me a little?

Self-study of all subjects in depth was limited. At the end of the day, I have to find a helping hand.

[Frey]: Of course.

Thankfully, Frey agreed to become my temporary tutor. At his suggestion that we start studying today, Frey and I sat down in the library and opened our books.

[Frey]: That’s probably the only book in the nursery that is properly organized about history.

With that said, Frey picked out the book and opened it, and began to sort out the important passages. However, Frey’s tutoring skills were unusual. I had to be take down notes quickly in order to catch up with what he is discussing.

[Frey]: So, after the negotiations between the third emperor and the high priest broke down, the political sphere was divided into what is now the Latras Empire.”

[Iris]: Incredible! Now, I understand a lot.

Frey saw my notes and smiled broadly.

[Frey]: You already know about the founding myth of the empire, right?

[Iris]: Well, whoever is inside the Hyllis Nursery will have to hear it to have a scab in their ear.

[Frey]: Well, I’ll tell you some little-known stories.

[Iris]: A little-known story?

[Frey]: Wouldn’t it be better to know it in detail than to know it roughly?

It was a bit of a strange suggestion, but when I heard it, he has a point. I nodded obediently to Frey and listened to him.

[Frey]: A long time ago, in a time when humans were enslaved by evil demons, a goddess born with light appeared.

Frey began to tell me stories in a low voice, as if reading a fairy tale book.

[Frey]: The goddess’s name is Lilia, and she came down from the celestial realm to look down on humans who were enslaved by demons.

So far, it’s a story I’ve been familiar with.

[Frey]: She had special powers. The ability to purify any evil and the ability to heal any wound.

[Iris]: Heal wounds?

But this was the first time I had heard of it. All I knew was that she had the power to purify even the evil heart of the devil. Was this that little-known story? Frey looked at me who had a surprised face on my face, and continued.

[Frey]: Yes. Lilia, with her hair like gold threads and blue eyes, had the ability to heal people’s wounds.

I silently shut my mouth. Frey was just telling an old myth. So, if I’m feeling weird right now, I’m probably mistaken.

Frey turned his head away from me and continued.

[Frey]: The goddess who used her powers to save humans began to feel affection for those who followed her.

The myth went back to what I was familiar with.