Evil Dragon Chapter 11: The Fever

Chapter 11: The Fever

Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

Editor: CaiCai, Kris

At 1 am, Lin Nuo put down his pen and read through the homework he had just finished writing. Hmm… logical flow, accurate expression; it should be good enough to submit to Count Kaunitz. He rubbed his eyes, stood up, and stretched lazily. Writing made him a bit hungry, but just then, a servant knocked on the door, delivering supper.

Tonight’s supper was the usual – a plate full of small snacks, along with rich chocolate milk. But the appearance of the snacks was a bit peculiar, all dark and somewhat resembling rocks or coal. Were they coated in a chocolate crust?

The palace chefs often racked their brains to create novel foods. There had been cakes shaped like birds and fish before, so seeing snacks resembling coal, Lin Nuo didn’t hesitate. He picked one up and put it in his mouth. Hmm… This chocolate’s taste is a bit strange, especially sweet and cloying, almost uncomfortably so.

After eating a piece, Lin Nuo didn’t want any more. He finished the milk, went back to his room to freshen up, transformed into a young dragon shape, and snuggled into the nest, clutching a gold coin, drifting off to sleep.

Just after 3 am, Lin Nuo struggled and rolled in the soft nest, panting heavily, waking up abruptly. He was extremely, desperately thirsty now. His whole body felt feverish, his throat parched as if it would spew smoke.

Water. He needed water, ice-cold water, not just to drink but to soak his entire body in the coolness, craving the touch of ice. Lin Nuo, shaking his dizzy head, made a decision with the remnants of his consciousness: He had to turn back into his human form immediately, drink some water, and maybe even see a doctor if he had a fever.

Back to human, back to human… minutes passed, and his body remained unresponsive, still in that dumbfounded young dragon form.

What’s happening?! Lin Nuo panicked. Instinctively, he tried to rub against the gold coin again, but the moment his little claw touched it, it sizzled, causing him pain. 

Ouch! He bewilderedly raised his paw to his eyes, witnessing a horrifyingly swollen, reddened patch on his once pink paw. Simultaneously, his body seemed to get hotter; his breathing became more labored. His whole body felt like it might burst into flames any moment.

Water! Water! I need water! Flapping his wings, stumbling, he flew onto the small round table. Normally, among these silver vessels, there was always a bottle of clear water and one of chilled fruit juice. He clasped the first bottle’s mouth with his hind paw, then used both paw and mouth to tug at one stopper after another. But today, all the jars contained piping hot beverages!

Growing more frantic, Lin Nuo accidentally knocked over a bottle, and the intensely aromatic hot chocolate spilled out like scorching lava. The heat forced Lin Nuo to not linger for even a second more. Struggling to flap his wings, he flew towards the bathroom.

The bathtub had already been drained, but it didn’t matter as long as he could turn on the faucet with his claw—

Where was the water?! Usually, a twist of the tap would release gushing water, right?! The pipes made hollow, hoarse rumbling sounds, as if trying hard, yet after what felt like an eternity, not a drop emerged.

Off, the water is turned off?! At this moment, of all times, the water is turned off?! Lin Nuo was both frantic and desperate, even starting to spin in place, his already not-so-bright mind further muddled. Where could there still be water? Where could there still be water? Right! The garden’s artificial lake and fountain!

Lin Nuo desperately jumped onto the windowsill, using mouth and paw to push the curtain aside, squeezing out through the window crack, flying toward the backyard. After what seemed like an incredibly long flight, Lin Nuo finally heard the sound of running water.

There was a large, round-the-clock fountain in the backyard. During the day, many noblewomen would sit under parasols here; at night, some couples would cuddle, sheltered by the water curtain, accompanied by the gushing sounds. Normally, Lin Nuo wouldn’t come near this fountain, and if he were still clear-headed now, he would deliberately avoid it, choosing an empty pool instead.

Unfortunately, his mind was now completely mush; all reason was almost gone, leaving only one thought: water!

Finally reaching the airspace above the fountain, Lin Nuo couldn’t flap his wings anymore. plop He fell straight into the water.

“Ack!” A noblewoman, entangled with her lover, was startled by this sudden commotion and jumped off the marble balustrade, letting out a cry.

“What’s in there?!” The young nobleman with makeup on his face, drew his decorative sword, ready to defend his lover, aiming at the bubbling water surface.

gurgle gurgle After choking on a few mouthfuls of water, Lin Nuo realized that, as a winged creature of the land, he couldn’t swim… He desperately paddled his four limbs, flapping his wings, finally managing to barely lift his flattened face above the water’s surface, taking a breath.

“Gross! There’s something in the fountain! What is it?!” The noblewoman screamed, rising away onto her tiptoes.

“Don’t panic! I’ll strike it down!” The young noble waved his sword erratically at the pool.

In the cool water, Lin Nuo’s body temperature cooled down, and his rationality gradually returned. He finally realized: I flew out in front of people and landed in a pool?! Oh no, what if they fish me out and capture me?! I have to escape!

Lin Nuo quickly took a deep breath and floundered toward the pool’s edge.

Suddenly, from above, came a hoarse caw.

The noble youth, who moments ago was all set to strike down the little creature in the water, looked up with his mouth agape, watching an object circling down from the sky. The wealthy woman also looked up, her face contorted in fear, clutching her chest and trying to catch her breath.

In the air was a giant crow with a wingspan of about five meters. Its feathers shone black under the moonlight, and its two eyes emitted an ominous green glow. The crow circled once more, emitting a spine-chilling, hoarse cry, then flapped its wings, diving downward.

“Ah!” The youth immediately threw away his sword and, disregarding his earlier affectionate moment, ran for his life.

The crow’s target was not him. The crow was aiming for Lin Nuo, who had only half of his little head above water. It leaned forward, mouth wide open, seemingly about to swallow Lin Nuo whole.

Chirp chirp!! Exhausted, Lin Nuo let out a despairing cry. He could already smell the disgusting stench emanating from the crow. Hah… So my fate isn’t to be chopped down by the knight but to be swallowed by a crow…

A few seconds passed, and Lin Nuo realized he hadn’t been eaten. Huh? He opened his eyes, looking up through the water surface, only to find the crow frozen in mid-air, completely motionless. And under the moonlight, he could clearly see the crow’s black feathers being rapidly covered in frost, as if the air around it had suddenly dropped to minus fifty degrees.

This, this is? 10 seconds later, the crow had turned into a complete ice sculpture. Then, with a crash, the ice sculpture shattered from within, breaking into extremely fine particles. For a moment, white snow powder silently fell.

The young man, who hadn’t gotten far, and the wealthy woman, who hadn’t had time to flee, stood rooted to the spot, their eyes wide with shock at this unprecedented sight, unable to move or even look away.

A lean figure emerged from the darkness, reaching out to lift Lin Nuo, who was about to sink, out of the water and cradling his small body in their hands. The figure turned to the shocked young man and the wealthy woman and nodded slightly, saying, “This is my little creature. He accidentally got lost.”

 

 

 

This Title is available for faster chapter releases through paid Patreon membership. Any proceeds go to keeping the website running. Check it out HERE.