Evil Dragon Chapter 27: Departure

Chapter 27: Departure

Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

Editor: CaiCai, Kris

 

Actually, before returning to Rennes, Lin Nuo had had the bird spirit carry him a part of the way towards the palace. For reasons he didn’t quite understand, he’d had the bird spirit turn back in the middle of their journey. He told himself that he just wanted to see the knight’s expression when he found his pet missing again—hah, this ruthless knight had dared to threaten him!

So he lay perched on the outside windowsill, waiting for Rennes to return. If the knight didn’t react much, he might as well leave, head back to the palace, and collect some coins for later. It wasn’t until the street lamps dimmed, and both the bird spirit & the round, chubby goblin lay sleeping on the windowsill, that Rennes pushed open the door and entered.

Was it due to the lighting? Lin Nuo felt that Rennes didn’t look too good. Moreover, the sense of loss in his eyes, when he looked around the empty room, mirrored the same expression he’d had when he’d found out the little prince had ‘run away from home’.

Looking at those lonely eyes, Lin Nuo’s heart suddenly pricked. Oh well, why bother rushing back to the palace? It might be better to just stay here and collect coins. Thinking this, Lin Nuo quietly slipped back in through the window crack.

While Rennes was taking a bath, Lin Nuo, listening to the gushing water, finally succumbed to sleep.

In the middle of the night, he vaguely felt someone nearby, but he was too exhausted to open his eyes. He just moved his tail a bit and continued sleeping soundly. When he woke up, it was already broad daylight, with the early summer sun peeking through the window, quietly crawling into his soft and comfortable nest.

Nest? It suddenly dawned on Lin Nuo. Where did this nest come from? Wasn’t he sleeping on the armchair?

This nest was made of cotton cloth on a round velvet cushion and accompanied by tiny pillows. Next to the pillows were coins. He was also covered by a small square handkerchief emitting a refreshing scent. Come to think of it, the last time he was rescued and woke up in the palace, he was covered in a similar small handkerchief.

So, did Rennes wake up in the middle of the night and place him in this ‘dragon’s nest’ and cover him with a blanket? Lin Nuo scratched his face with his paw, feeling an indescribable sensation. It felt like joy but also… nervousness. Tsk, if I were just an ordinary little creature, maybe it would be nice to stay by his side?

This random thought suddenly crossed Lin Nuo’s mind. Unfortunately, he wasn’t an ordinary little creature. In any sense, he wasn’t really a creature at all. Lin Nuo sighed, shook his head, and decided not to dwell on such complex issues anymore.

He used his paw to remove the small handkerchief covering him and jumped down to the carpet from the nest, wanting to see if Rennes was still sleeping—perhaps, to also catch a glimpse of what he looked like when asleep. To his disappointment, it seemed the knight had already been awake for a while. The bedding was tidied up as if no one had ever laid on it.

Lin Nuo scratched the carpet with his paw, feeling a bit bored. As he turned around, he spotted Sir Rennes, fully dressed, standing at the bedroom door. For some reason, Lin Nuo felt a little anxious and involuntarily let out a soft chirp.

The knight approached him, bent down, and lifted him entirely, bringing him close to his face, saying, “Awake? Planning to run amok again?”

Lin Nuo let out a squawk, attempting to use his tail to lightly flick Rennes’s wrist, expressing, ‘I wasn’t running amok!’

Rennes’s lips curved, “Would you like to have breakfast first or exercise?”

Lin Nuo wagged his tail uncertainly, chirping in confusion, ‘Exercise? What kind of exercise?’

Rennes pressed his palm against the little dragon’s belly, “Let’s start with breakfast.”

After that, he carried Lin Nuo downstairs. The dining room on the ground floor was already set for breakfast. Lin Nuo glanced at the table and was surprised to find the white porcelain plate he’d used last night, filled with food. Aside from the golden bowl he’d used for water, there were now bowls for milk and juice on the table. Beside the porcelain plates and bowls were laid out white napkins and another bowl of water, seemingly meant for cleaning his paws.

The treatment this person gave to his pet was exceedingly generous, wasn’t it? While inwardly marveling at this, Lin Nuo jumped onto the table, washed his paws, and dried them with the napkin. Then, he went over to a row of small golden bowls, sniffing each one until he settled on the one with milk. But seeing the bowl filled to the brim with milk reminded him of last night’s embarrassing incident of nearly drowning himself in it, so he hesitated.

He lifted his face and sneakily glanced at Rennes, noticing the man looking at him with interest, as if saying, ‘I wonder in what way you’ll manage to choke this time.’

Lin Nuo disdainfully pursed his lips and looked around. He picked up a small shell-shaped spoon from the side and awkwardly dipped it into the milk bowl. With great effort, he managed to scoop a bit and put it on the table. Then, he lowered his head and started to drink, feeling quite content.

Hmm, this milk is delicious. It’s sweeter, smoother, and more fragrant than the one in the palace. After finishing, he licked the milk foam off his lips and stared proudly at Rennes with shining bean-like eyes.

Rennes leaned against his hand, watching the spirited Lin Nuo, and unexpectedly chuckled.

Seeing Rennes laugh like that, Lin Nuo’s pink, flat face turned red again, feeling annoyed: What’s he laughing about now? I didn’t even choke this time!

Rennes extended a finger and tapped on Lin Nuo’s forehead, saying, “Alright, I know you’re amazing. Come and have some chocolate; it’s sprinkled with gold.”

Saying this, Rennes picked up a piece of chocolate from his plate and put it in front of Lin Nuo. As Lin Nuo licked the chocolate, he watched Rennes casually retract his spoon, placing it beside his own coffee cup. This made Lin Nuo feel strangely uncomfortable: Tsk, Rennes wouldn’t even dine with the human-shaped little prince, yet he doesn’t mind using his spoon to feed his pet?

When I turn back into a human, I must find an opportunity to remind him—this is just too… too unsophisticated! Yes, it must be because of this lack of sophistication that made him feel uncomfortable.

Although the table was elegantly arranged and there were various small pieces of food on the white porcelain plates, Lin Nuo couldn’t eat more after sipping some water and finishing a piece of chocolate. Rennes didn’t eat much either, only drinking a cup of coffee and eating a boiled egg.

After the meal, Rennes wiped his mouth with a napkin and looked at Lin Nuo, saying, “I’m going upstairs. Are you coming along?”

Lin Nuo blinked, thinking there was nowhere else for him to go besides following Rennes. Besides, the coins were upstairs! So, he nodded firmly and chirped obediently.

He thought Rennes would pick him up again as he did while bringing him downstairs, but instead, Rennes stretched out his hand on the dining table, saying, “Climb on by yourself.”

Again! Why is he so persistent in making me climb up by myself?! Since he had done it last night anyway, Lin Nuo didn’t feel particularly resistant this time. So, flapping his four paws, he scurried to Rennes’s hand and jumped into it.

Rennes praised him with a satisfied tone, “Good job.”

Lin Nuo: Thanks, but I don’t want this kind of praise.

Once back in the suite, Rennes placed Lin Nuo on the living room carpet and went to the bedroom, seemingly looking for something.

What was he searching for? Lin Nuo was curious.

Half a minute later, Rennes emerged holding something shiny.

Upon realizing what he held, Lin Nuo widened his eyes, bared his teeth, flapped his wings, and chirped loudly: What on earth is this?!

In Rennes’s hand was an undoubtedly genuine, cat teasing wand. Moreover, Lin Nuo recognized it immediately as the one they had bought together on their last trip to the toy store! It seemed Rennes had modified it, replacing the small shells and bells hanging at the top with… coins!

Yes, it was a cat teasing wand made entirely of coins.

Rennes twirled the wand and said, “These coins were originally meant to train my troublesome student, but a low-level little creature like you might also enjoy something like this.”

‘Troublesome student and low-level little creature?’ Lin Nuo wanted to chirp aggressively to show his dissatisfaction, but as Rennes moved the wand, causing the coins to clink together, the sound was akin to heavenly music for Lin Nuo. Also, the glimmering reflection from the coins made Lin Nuo’s heart itch.

Although Lin Nuo repeatedly reminded himself that he wasn’t a real pet, that he mustn’t show too much interest in a cat teasing wand, he couldn’t help himself. Unconsciously, he stood on his hind legs, reaching out with his two little paws, appearing as if he were about to leap into the air.

Rennes smirked and held the teasing wand’s handle at a height where Lin Nuo could just barely reach it if he jumped. Seeing the almost attainable coins, Lin Nuo couldn’t restrain himself anymore. He fluttered and flapped his wings, aiming to snatch the coins.

At that moment, Rennes swiftly raised the wand, just beyond the reach of Lin Nuo’s tiny paws.

*Squeak!* Lin Nuo roared in anger, his neck turning a delicate pink.

Rennes shook the wand and calmly said, “I told my student that if he could get these coins through his lessons, I’d give them to him. Since you’re my pet, I can’t discriminate. If you manage to get the coins off this, they’ll all be yours as toys.”

All of them? Lin Nuo’s wings, acting without his command, flapped wildly, and his tail stood erect, swaying behind him.

Rennes pursed his lips and said, “I need to go out and meet someone. Play by yourself until I return. The coins you manage to get down before I get back are yours. Use them for food or to make a nest, I don’t mind.”

With that, he let go. Presumably, the teasing wand had already been infused with magic, for it didn’t plummet after escaping Rennes’s hand. Instead, it moved rhythmically up and down, as though someone were controlling it.

All Lin Nuo could think about was, Feast time, feast time, time to eat big! He couldn’t think of anything else. Facing this fully automatic cat teasing wand, he pounced at it, using all his abilities, just wanting to grab the coins.

—

Rennes returned to the mansion after ten full hours.

The small living room was in disarray. The paintings on the walls were pulled down, the neatly arranged precious porcelain plates were overturned, fresh paw prints covered the sofa, and the books from the bookshelf were scattered all over the floor, a sight too distressing to behold.

In the corner of the sofa lay the teasing wand, already stripped of its coins, motionless and lifeless. At this moment, the curtain fluttered lightly, and the culprit quietly emerged, cautiously, somewhat nervously, chirping softly.

Rennes masked his smile and said, “Quite the commotion.”

Lin Nuo chirped hesitantly, not daring to look up. Rennes walked to the window, contemplating the music stand with sheet music and the violin standing beside it. These were the only undamaged items in the entire living room.

Rennes glanced at the open sheet music, crouching down to look at Lin Nuo, asking, “Did you avoid this spot?”

If this little culprit hadn’t deliberately avoided this corner, the music stand would have likely been knocked over. When he heard Rennes’s question, Lin Nuo just looked around, shaking his head as if he didn’t understand.

In reality, during the entire day spent in this coin-fetching battle, there were several moments when the teasing wand had almost reached the music stand. But Lin Nuo resisted the temptation, refraining from jumping at it.

Ever since he first saw the music stand, he had a vague image in his mind—a scene of Rennes standing by the window, placing the violin on his shoulder, his left hand gently cradling it, his fingers dancing on the fingerboard like an elf, while his right hand elegantly moved the bow.

The moonlight outside projected onto Rennes’s pure and tender face, serene and gentle. This scene might only exist in Lin Nuo’s imagination, but inexplicably, he firmly believed that when no one was around, Rennes would play the violin here, immersed in a different world.

So Lin Nuo didn’t want to disrupt this scene at all. Lin Nuo had absolutely no intention of admitting this. Plus, even if I admitted it, it wouldn’t matter since knights don’t understand the language of magical creatures, Lin Nuo thought.

Sure enough, Rennes changed the subject, “What about the coins? Did you get them all?”

Lin Nuo crossed his arms, nodded.

“Where did you put them?” Rennes intentionally didn’t look toward the bedroom.

Lin Nuo spread out his four paws, trotted into the bedroom, and then agilely leaped onto the high-backed armchair. On the side table next to the armchair lay yesterday’s five coins. And today’s six coins, plucked by Lin Nuo, lay quietly on the cushion of the armchair. These six coins had been carefully piled into a miniature hill, with Lin Nuo perched on top of them, lifting his head proudly and glaring at Rennes with his beady eyes, conveying the message: You better keep your promise!

Rennes didn’t pay any attention to him and just said, “Alright, time for a bath.”

Rolling off the hill of coins, Lin Nuo followed Rennes to the bathroom.

Watching Rennes fill the crystal bowl with water and test its temperature with his fingers, Lin Nuo thought absentmindedly, Will he feel sad when I leave tomorrow?

Yes, Lin Nuo had already made the decision; tomorrow, he would leave and transform back into a human. In fact, he could have left quietly this afternoon. When he had plucked all the coins from the wand earlier, the System had notified him that he had gathered enough coin magic to transform back into a human at any time. And after Lin Nuo’s strong complaint, the System also promised that if there were any shortages of coin magic in the future, it would warn him in advance and not leave him in such a sorry state.

In theory, he could have flown back to the inn and turned back into a human at any time. But after much deliberation, Lin Nuo chose not to leave directly but instead formulated a perfect escape plan with the plump goblin and the pigeon spirit.

This was the second time he had given up the chance to sneak away. Yesterday, he could have justified it by saying he wanted to stay here and collect coins. But why hadn’t he left immediately today?

Lin Nuo tapped the crystal vessel of bathwater with his paws, feeling annoyed. Argh, it must be the knight’s threatening and intimidating manner that has left me with psychological trauma, making me too scared to run away fearlessly. Yes, I’m just looking for the most proper and safe way, absolutely not worrying that leaving without notice might make the knight feel upset. Tomorrow, I’ll definitely leave discreetly without leaving any trace and never, ever appearing in front of the knight in this form again.

 

Author’s Note:

Three small magical creatures devising the escape plan:

Goblin (with starry eyes): Master is amazing!

Pigeon Spirit (flapping wings): Master is wise!

Young Dragon (clutching claws): My plan is flawless!

Goblin & Pigeon Spirit: Perfect! Master will surely fool the knight!

 

 

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