Evil Dragon Chapter 21: Are You Not Angry?

Chapter 21: Are You Not Angry?

Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

Editor: CaiCai, Kris

 

“No, um… I…” Lin Nuo stuttered out a denial, subconsciously pinching his reddening earlobes, too afraid to look at Sir Rennes. Perhaps due to extreme nervousness or an innate inability to lie, Lin Nuo struggled there, only uttering some meaningless interjections.

It was Rennes who, unexpectedly, smiled gently and said to Nana, “Linno draws very well, doesn’t he?”

Hearing Rennes’ gentle tone and catching a glimpse of his smile, Lin Nuo wondered in confusion: Could it be that this person isn’t angry? He’s actually this magnanimous?

Nana nodded vigorously, with stars in her eyes, and said, “So pretty! Big Brother Linno draws so beautifully!” Then, Nana looked up at Rennes’ delicate face and glanced at Lin Nuo, who was turning pale beside her, puzzled, “But why did Big Brother Linno draw the handsome brother as a demon?”

Rennes turned his face slightly, looking at Lin Nuo, still with that rare gentleness, “Yes, why?”

Lin Nuo didn’t dare mention how terrifying Rennes had seemed to him in the past. His expression was as if he would start crying, murmuring, “Um, just… casual… doodling…”

Watching the extremely embarrassed little prince, Rennes lightly tapped his forehead and said, “Since you like drawing so much and you’re good at it, bring your sketchbook along for missions in the future. This skill might come in handy.”

Lin Nuo raised his head abruptly, surprised by Rennes’ approach, thinking: Huh, does his statement mean he’s letting this matter slide? He quickly agreed repeatedly, then wiped the sweat off his forehead sneakily, saying to Nana, “Alright, alright, let’s think of a name for your teddy bear and play a game together, okay?”

That’s how they managed to steer away from the topic of the sketchbook.

After bidding goodbye to Nana and walking back a bit along the garden path, Rennes asked, “Can I see your drawings?”

Although he sounded cheerful, Lin Nuo was once again embarrassed, and his ears were about to catch fire. Finally, feeling guilty, Lin Nuo decided to ask outright, “Teacher, are you angry?”

As per Lin Nuo’s expectation, no matter what Rennes said, he was prepared to kneel and apologize, a ‘I’m sorry,’ ‘I was wrong,’ ‘I won’t draw you again,’ trio to eliminate any future repercussions.

Unexpectedly, Rennes calmly replied, “Angry? Guess what would make me angrier: secretly drawing me or drawing me but not showing it to me?”

This response completely exceeded Lin Nuo’s expectations. He initially thought Rennes might be angry because he was slacking off, secretly drawing things unrelated to their lessons, or maybe because he didn’t show enough respect by drawing him as a demon behind his back despite addressing him respectfully as a teacher. But from Rennes’ statement, it seemed like… none of the aforementioned reasons?

Once again, Lin Nuo stood there, feeling unable to process everything, not knowing what to say.

Rennes also halted, turned back, gently brushed Lin Nuo’s stray hair— ensuring not to touch his forehead— and said, “Let’s go have lunch and prepare for the afternoon classes. Today, our lesson is going to level up.”

Level up… Could it be that he’s seeking revenge and planning tougher training to get back at me? Lin Nuo thought in despair.

Three o’clock in the afternoon, Lin Nuo nervously entered the training room. As usual, Rennes sat in the armchair, a coin pulsating between his fingertips.

This time, Rennes didn’t toss the coin and let Lin Nuo chase after it, but instead placed it in Lin Nuo’s hand, saying, “Try to summon your magic and make the coin fly to a place with a magic circle.”

Lin Nuo’s pupils contracted, nearly dropping the coin. His lips trembled as he murmured, “Teacher, I… I can’t do this.”

He wasn’t a true royal member; how could he summon magic and make a coin levitate?

Instead of reproaching him, Rennes supported his chin with his hand and asked, “Your Highness, do you know the weight of the floor lamp base you swung with one hand at the Marquess of Troix’s mansion?”

Recalling it, Lin Nuo hesitated, “About… seventy to eighty pounds?”

He remembered his arm had gone numb afterward, so it must have been quite heavy?

Rennes gently shook his head, “That lamp base weighs 316 pounds. An average person of Your Highness’s physique cannot wield it with one hand.”

Lin Nuo was stunned for a moment, then asked in disbelief, “No, that’s not possible, right? I can lift 316 pounds?”

Rennes nodded firmly, “Your Highness, there are signs of magic awakening within you; otherwise, you wouldn’t be able to lift such a heavy object or achieve such precision in the first phase of training.”

“But… the lesson…” Towards the later stages, Lin Nuo did have some vague feelings, but these were as elusive as intuition, so how did it become proof of magic awakening?

“Alright, Your Highness, stop resisting and trying to avoid the lessons.” Rennes stood up and clapped his hands, “Now, make this coin fly.”

Lin Nuo inwardly screamed: It’s impossible, I definitely can’t do it! While resentfully staring at Rennes, he unintentionally turned bright red.

Seeing Lin Nuo’s appearance, Rennes’ lips curved into a seemingly meaningful light smile as he drawled, “If Your Highness can’t do it… perhaps Your Highness could draw me a picture here instead, live. Remember to add horns to represent a demon? After all, Your Highness seems to focus on these meaningless trivialities…”

Meaningless trivialities?!  Hearing Rennes’ mocking words, Lin Nuo felt his blood boiling and stared harshly at Rennes, loudly retorting, “Teacher, you’re being too stingy!”

This was the first time in a long while that Lin Nuo had spoken to Rennes in such a disrespectful tone. Listening to Lin Nuo’s outburst, Rennes showed no signs of annoyance. He simply pointed upward, saying, “Your Highness, look.”

Lin Nuo followed Rennes’ finger and saw the coin flying upwards without any external force, soaring almost to the ceiling.

“Is… this? You made it fly…” Lin Nuo stuttered, forgetting even his anger.

Before the coin could reach the ceiling, it suddenly dropped with a clatter, narrowly missing Lin Nuo’s face.

“It wasn’t me.” Rennes said calmly. “It was Your Highness. When Your Highness experiences emotional fluctuations, you unconsciously release magic.”

“What you’re now training is to turn this ‘unconsciousness’ into consciousness.”

Looking at Lin Nuo’s startled and hesitant expression, Rennes gently continued, “Of course, initially, this will be very challenging. Your Highness could try thinking of something that frightens or excites you—like me with demon horns.”

As soon as Rennes finished speaking, Lin Nuo blushed again, and the coin flew up once more.

For the next two hours, Lin Nuo practiced manipulating the coin. Although he didn’t have to run around the room or worry about being hit by the coin, the exercise wasn’t easy at all— it was even more physically demanding than dodging.

Perhaps due to excessive focus or tension, every successful attempt at making the coin fly made Lin Nuo’s whole body tense up, causing a feverish sensation. Not only his face but even his neck and collarbones turned red due to the intense heat. By the end of the lesson, he was drenched in sweat, unable to articulate due to exhaustion.

Approaching him, Rennes handed him a glass of water, saying, “You’ve done very well, Your Highness.”

Without a word, Lin Nuo took the water, tilted his head back, and gulped it down. Though completely exhausted, Lin Nuo wasn’t injured, so Rennes didn’t draw a magic circle to heal him as he had done before. After sitting on the floor for a while, feeling a bit recovered, Lin Nuo stood up, preparing to head back.

Rennes stopped him, saying, “I’ll walk back with you.”

Lin Nuo was too drained to refuse. Besides, walking back to his room would take about half an hour, and he was concerned he might not make it.

Perhaps due to exhaustion, they walked in silence, without the awkwardness or tension from before.

When they reached the door of the south wing of the palace, Rennes didn’t enter but simply said, “Give me your hand.”

Dazed, Lin Nuo extended his hand, not understanding.

Rennes placed two coins in his hand, saying, “One is a gift, as agreed. The other one is for your practice.”

Lin Nuo’s eyes lit up, “Are they both for me?! Two?!”

So, I don’t have to return them?!

Seeing Lin Nuo’s bright eyes, Rennes showed a faint, almost imperceptible smile and said, “Yes, for you.”

Immediately, Lin Nuo tucked the coins into his pocket, grinning, “Then I’ll accept them— oh, don’t worry, Teacher, I’ll practice diligently!”

Lin Nuo hurriedly dashed away after saying that, as if afraid Rennes might change his mind, his hair bobbing up and down.

For the next three days, they continued the same training. At the beginning, Lin Nuo felt almost exhausted after each class. By the third day, he had improved a bit. At least, he didn’t collapse and gasp for air sitting on the floor. Lin Nuo himself didn’t understand why he could make the coin fly— perhaps it was because he slept with those coins every night, altering his physical condition?

One day, at the end of the class, Lin Nuo and Rennes walked out together, as usual.

Upon stepping outside, a servant approached, respectfully bowing, “Your Highness, Sir Clement, the king invites both of you for breakfast tomorrow.”

Lin Nuo wasn’t surprised; it had been a month, and it was time again for the old king to have a meal with his family. Thinking about meeting his two older brothers again made him feel a bit frustrated.

Similarly invited, Rennes remained silent for a while, then slowly said to Lin Nuo, “Your Highness, whatever the king requests tomorrow, don’t refuse. Can you do that?”

Lin Nuo was somewhat surprised. He thought, What demands could the king possibly have for a waste like me? He didn’t dare to ask more of Rennes, only nodding obediently, “I can.”