Evil Dragon Chapter 33: Very Painful

Chapter 33: Very Painful

Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

Editor: Kris

 

Out of fear, Lin Nuo buried his head deeply, tightly closed his eyes, and clenched his teeth. His arms were tightly wrapped around the other person, and his legs involuntarily squeezed together. The anticipated tearing and dragging did not occur. Instead, in an instant, Lin Nuo felt like he had turned into a feather, drifting in the warm and gentle spring breeze. This sensation, like hot spring water, gradually permeated him, dissolving the fear within him.

“Your Highness, we’ve arrived.” A clear but gentle voice echoed in Lin Nuo’s ears.

Huh? Arrived? Gradually recovering from his panic, Lin Nuo wondered, Am I still alive? I’m alive and well, without being torn into poker-sized pieces? The fake Heinrich actually evaded the recognition of the magic circle?! Why?

Lin Nuo opened his eyes in confusion, lifted his head, and only saw Rennes looking somewhat resigned but with a hint of indulgence.

“Your Highness, we’ve arrived,” Rennes repeated.

“Oh…” Lin Nuo responded with difficulty, his mind not fully recovered. Could it be that because this genuine Clement brought me down, the magic circle thought it was a ‘buy one get one free’ deal, and that’s why it let me in?

“You can get down now.” Rennes’s voice was somewhat hoarse, with a strange undertone.

Get down? It was only then that Lin Nuo reacted. His current position was like a koala on a eucalyptus tree, limbs used for support, tightly hugging Rennes. His position was truly, indescribably awkward.

“Ah, I’m sorry, I’m sorry!” The sudden embarrassment made Lin Nuo temporarily forget all of his fears. He apologized repeatedly, then hastily released his legs, let go with his hands and jumped off Rennes like a rabbit, trying to leap several meters away—

But he couldn’t successfully jump off.

As he let go of his hands, jumping off Rennes in that instant, a piercing, bone-chilling pain seized him. It felt as if thousands of steel needles were piercing him from all directions, ruthlessly stabbing into his skin and stirring in his flesh. He was in so much pain that his vision went black, the scene before him blurred, his knees weakened, and he couldn’t stand steady.

For a few seconds, Lin Nuo seriously doubted whether or not he was about to die suddenly again. Just as he couldn’t suppress the painful sobbing and was about to collapse to the ground, Rennes took a step forward, then firmly grasped his arm. Following that, Rennes forcefully grabbed his hand, inserting his fingers one by one into Lin Nuo’s trembling fingers, intertwining them again.

Strangely, as soon as this small action was completed, that bone-penetrating feeling instantly disappeared.

Lin Nuo was covered in cold sweat, his body still trembling, his heart still pounding rapidly. He looked at Rennes in a daze and, with a dry voice, asked, “Teacher, I, what just happened?”

“Just now, it was a disturbance caused by external magical forces,” Rennes said solemnly while looking at him steadily. “Being the area with the highest concentration of special crystals in all of Saros means the magic is very strong here, often forming whirlwinds in the air. That’s why Your Highness would feel particularly uncomfortable. Your Highness, please rest assured. After we visit that place, you won’t have to endure such pain anymore.” Rennes’s tone was extremely certain.

“Really?” Lin Nuo was pleasantly surprised. “So, what kind of place is it?”

“You’ll see shortly,” Rennes replied casually.

Lin Nuo knew that Rennes was not someone who spoke a lot and had become accustomed to his style of not explaining much. Therefore, he didn’t ask further.

“In addition,” Rennes suddenly changed his tone, becoming unusually serious. “Your Highness must not let go of my hand before we arrive. Do you understand?”

“Uh-huh, I understand.” Lin Nuo nodded while thinking, The knight must be using this time to adjust my magical power. In this situation, I dare not let go of his hand.

So, Lin Nuo obediently let Rennes lead him forward. Although his body was no longer in pain, the previous suffering left him trembling, and his heart continued to thump incessantly. He remained in a tense state.

At this moment, he heard Rennes say in front, “Your Highness, take a look around. This is the Crystal Collection Site you learned about in your textbooks.”

Rennes’s words momentarily made Lin Nuo forget his fear. Turning his head in all directions, he sincerely exclaimed, “This collection site is much more magnificent than the illustrations in the books.”

Indeed, this collection site could be described as spectacular. The ‘collection site’ was actually a mine that had taken shape thousands of years ago. The internal space was surprisingly vast, reaching hundreds of meters from the ground to the top of the cavern. At the top of the mine, countless crystals were firmly embedded in the rocks, shining like myriad lanterns, illuminating the underground mine as if it were daytime.

The bottom of the mine was even more astonishing: countless crystals of various shapes grew from the earth, some as sharp as sword blades and others as round as goose eggs, all sparkling brilliantly in the light, dazzling and magnificent. Moreover, as if conscious, these crystals gathered together according to different shapes and sizes.

Looking around, there were clusters of ‘crystal swords’ standing like cacti, ‘crystal fortresses’ built from piles of pebble-like stones, and countless diamond-like small pieces forming dazzling ‘crystal towers.’ This sight was truly captivating.

While Lin Nuo was admiring, he heard a series of crisp and cheerful laughs, “Hee-hee… hee-hee…”

Lin Nuo was two hundred percent sure that this strange laughter definitely did not come from Sir Rennes. Could it be the soldiers who were mining here earlier? Were there still people down here? No, the officer who was introduced earlier clearly stated that there were no more people below.

He looked around with some confusion—

Only Rennes’s back was visible. The knight still didn’t turn around, only holding his hand and walking forward step by step. Just as Lin Nuo was hesitating whether to stop and ask Rennes if he heard the strange laughter, a small discussion reached his ears, “Wow, there’s a newcomer today!”

“Has a newcomer finally arrived? Let me see, let me see.”

“Wow, both of these people are so handsome!”

“Ah, I like the tall one! Look at his eye sockets, so deep! Look at his fingers, so long!”

“The shorter one is not bad either. His eyes are round and bright, and his skin is so fair, looks like he’s fun to pinch!”

“Hee-hee, I really want to pinch him…” 

“How would you pinch him? Do you have hands or feet?”

“Sob, sob, I can only think about it… Oh, so cute, such a tender newcomer…”

What on earth was happening here? Lin Nuo furrowed his brow and then gradually smoothed away the puzzled expression from his face. He already understood the situation: those speaking were probably not human. 

The magical power in this crystal mine was so abundant that it was likely similar to the Summerset Hills, inhabited by creatures that could speak after absorbing magical energy. Before consuming that ‘dried strawberry’, he would not have been aware of these creatures’ voices. But now, their discussions were entirely transmitted into his ears, every word intact.

Lin Nuo could only pretend he hadn’t heard anything. He had no intention of letting Rennes know that he could understand the conversations of these magical creatures. How could he explain that he had fortuitously ended up in that valley, unearthed a dried strawberry from underground, and fearlessly consumed it?

So, Lin Nuo had to remain silent and continue following Rennes forward.

Listening to the discussions of these creatures along the way, Lin Nuo roughly guessed: these incessantly chattering beings were indeed the spirits formed by the crystal ore bed.

They had been in this mine for who knows how many years, providing humans on the surface with countless crystals. They couldn’t move or leave. Their only way of understanding the changes outside was by eavesdropping on the conversations of the humans who came down to gather.

Perhaps due to their loneliness in the cave, they greatly enjoyed human touch. Moreover, if a human with goodwill touched them, they seemed to grow brighter crystals. If the humans who came to collect had ill intentions or were crude, they would stop growing, and even after several months, not a single crystal would form.

How incredible! Lin Nuo thought. But what if it wasn’t a human touching them but a creature? Would these crystals instantly wither? Lin Nuo suddenly felt concerned and raised his foot more cautiously, avoiding accidentally stepping on any crystals.

“Your Highness, have you seen the crystal ore beds nearby?” Rennes asked ahead.

Lin Nuo obediently nodded, “Yes, I saw them. They’re beautiful.”

“Would Your Highness like to try touching them?” Rennes asked slowly. “I heard that the beds here have a peculiar trait: if touched by someone they favor, they’ll grow even better.”

Huh? Why did the knight say something different from what I just heard? The crystals clearly said that it required a person with good intentions to touch them to grow better, not someone they favored. Perhaps this discrepancy was just a rumor?

Lin Nuo paused and softly said, “Uh, maybe not.”

Rennes stopped, turned back, and looked at Lin Nuo. “Your Highness, give it a try,” his voice lacked the usual commanding tone and instead was full of encouragement and trust.

Lin Nuo, who had always been obedient, was swayed by Rennes’ words. He bit his lip and said, “But what if after I touch them, these crystals suddenly deteriorate, I mean… wouldn’t that imply…”

Lin Nuo didn’t dare to finish his sentence.

Rennes looked at Lin Nuo intently, as if he could see into his soul. “At most, it only indicates that the crystals don’t favor someone like Your Highness. It doesn’t prove anything else.”

Hearing Rennes’ explanation, Lin Nuo took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and said, “Okay, I’ll try.”

Lin Nuo slowly squatted down, suppressing his nervousness, and lightly tapped a smooth, mirror-like, light-blue crystal in the bed near his feet.

“Wow! He touched me! He touched me! I’m so happy!”

Lin Nuo heard bell-like laughter. Huh? The crystals didn’t wither? He used his hand to pat the surface of the bed and heard a series of giggles. At the same time, this light-blue bed began to emit tiny dots of light from within, like a plant unfolding its leaves after drinking rain in the drizzle.

Once these dots burst out of the bed, they floated in the air, swirling around, gradually coming together to form a pale blue crystal, which fell in front of Lin Nuo. Looking at this crystal in front of him, Lin Nuo wondered, “Teacher! Did this… did this crystal suddenly grow?”

“Mn, it seems the crystals really like Your Highness,” Rennes said with a smile. “This is probably a gift they’re giving you.”

A gift for me? At that moment, Lin Nuo heard clear laughter saying, “This crystal is for you. Make sure to use it well!”

Ah, it’s really a gift for me! With some surprise, Lin Nuo picked up this small crystal and examined it carefully: The shape and size were almost identical to the portable crystal the king had sent before. This one was more transparent and had a purer hue.

Lin Nuo asked uncertainly, “Is this… a portable crystal?”

“Yes,” Rennes said, “Your Highness, put it away.”

Lin Nuo hesitated and pocketed the gift. After a few more steps, Lin Nuo thought for a moment and said, “Teacher, just like two months ago, I still can’t use portable crystals… so, would you like me to give this crystal to you?”

Rennes glanced at Lin Nuo, a hint of amusement in his eyes. “Oh? You’re giving me a gift?”

Lin Nuo hesitated, his cheeks slightly flushed. “Um, such a precious crystal shouldn’t be wasted in my hands.”

Rennes chuckled softly, “No, you’ll be able to use it soon.”

Huh? What does that mean? Lin Nuo was about to ask when Rennes stopped in front of a narrow passage.

“This passage,” Rennes explained, “can only be seen by those who jumped down the hole we just came from.”

Oh, how magical. Lin Nuo stood behind Rennes, peering into the passage. Unlike the colorful glow prevalent in the mine, this passage was dark and eerie, with only a field of crystals at the top, spreading across like a galaxy, emitting speckles of light in the air.

“In the deepest part of the passage, there’s an underground lake called the Starry Dream,” Rennes continued explaining. “The lake isn’t filled with water but with primal magical power.”

“Primal… magical power?” Lin Nuo repeated this rather convoluted term, feeling puzzled.

“Primal magical power is the origin of all magical energies,” Rennes patiently explained. “Our ability to use magic comes from the projection of the original magical power into our bodies, creating ‘marks’ within us. Simply put, those with these ‘marks’ are recognized by the original magical power and can use magic. Once the ‘marks’ in the body are destroyed, the only way to repair them is by immersing one’s body into this lake.” 

Hearing Rennes’ explanation, Lin Nuo began to feel a vague unease, but he could only force a smile and say, “Ah? That’s amazing…”

Rennes didn’t speak further, merely holding Lin Nuo’s hand and entering the deep passage. Inside, it was remarkably quiet. The mischievous, giggling voices of the creatures didn’t follow them inside. Lin Nuo guessed there might not be large beds of crystals in the passage, so there were no talking creatures.

Amid the silence, Rennes spoke again, his voice softer than before. “Your Highness, don’t you find it strange that the magical power in your body is very unstable, difficult to control, and sometimes even suddenly out of control?”

Lin Nuo hesitated, “Uh…”

Rennes paused for a moment and continued, “The ‘mark’ in your body was completely destroyed by external forces over a decade ago. So, I need to take you to the Starry Dream to repair it and allow you to regain control of your magic. After that, you’ll naturally be able to use the portable crystal.”

Lin Nuo was stunned, involuntarily gripping Rennes’ hand tighter, his throat tightening. “Ah, this… can’t be. I always thought I naturally had little to no magic.”

Even if I did, my magic isn’t the royal family’s magic; it’s the magic absorbed by the dragon from the coins.

At this point, Rennes said solemnly, “Your Highness, the magical power in your body should be the most abundant among all the princes. You are undoubtedly a descendant of the Heinrich family.”

Rennes’ tone was too certain, leaving Lin Nuo deeply doubtful. Why was the knight so sure? What he said was completely different from the storyline I know. According to the setup, this body is clearly a transformation of the dragon race, unrelated to the royal family. How could it be a descendant of the Heinrich family? Could this be a hidden bug?

Lin Nuo’s mind buzzed, even attempting to ask the System— Of course, the utterly indifferent System wouldn’t respond to him.

Geez, dog of a system, it only knows how to punish me when I’m affectionate. Where is it the rest of the time? Lin Nuo inwardly complained.

After walking a few more steps, the area before them suddenly brightened. The previously dim and deep passage revealed a shining ‘door’. This colossal door, about ten meters high and five to six meters wide, was not made of wood or metal but woven from countless golden light rays. On the door, there were shimmering moving light dots and dancing light rays, enough to make one dizzy.

As the two approached the door, these light dots and rays rapidly changed, eventually converging into a human face. The massive face floated on the door like a relief sculpture. The eyes of the relief sculpture’s face moved slowly, looking down at the two from the tall door. The lips moved, speaking in a thunderous voice, “Intruders, why have you come here?”

Normally, this scene would be eerie and frightening, but Lin Nuo didn’t feel too scared, just instinctively holding Rennes’ hand a bit tighter.

Rennes, on the other hand, raised his head and said loudly, “Guardian, we are not trespassers. I am a descendant of the Clement family, and my companion is a descendant of the Heinrich family. We’ve come from the distant city of Faro, hoping to access the most mysterious and precious power of Saros to heal the injuries my companion has suffered.”

The face did not speak further; instead, it slowly faded into light and reverted into countless light dots. These dots flew out from the door, dividing into two streams and flying toward Lin Nuo and Rennes.

Lin Nuo couldn’t help but want to take a few steps back, but Rennes exerted a slight force on his hand and whispered, “Don’t be afraid.”

Lin Nuo mimicked Rennes’ demeanor, standing still and watching as one bundle of lights gradually approached him, stopping in front of him. He dared not breathe, watching as these dark golden dots circled around him, even winding several times around his right arm. Lin Nuo glanced at Rennes and found another bundle of light dots enveloping him, creating a cocoon of dark gold. 

What are these light dots doing?

The light dots slowly dissipated from the two after about two minutes, returning once more to the door. The face sculpture, referred to by Rennes as the Guardian, reappeared and began murmuring to itself, “Indeed descendants of the Heinrich and Clement families. The magical imprint in this Heinrich has been shattered. Repair can only be done using the original magical power in the Starry Dream.”

Rennes spoke, “Guardian, since you’ve verified our identities, please open the passage and allow us to proceed to the Starry Dream.”

The gigantic face appeared to fluctuate on the door, continuing its self-reflection, “The Transfer Array on the Heinrich’s right arm is drawn so perfectly. Without this Transfer Array, the Heinrich might have succumbed to agony long before reaching here.”

Hearing this, Lin Nuo was surprised and blurted out, “Transfer Array? What Transfer Array?”

There was indeed a magic array on his right arm. But wasn’t this array for tracking? Didn’t Rennes say it was to prevent him from running away again? Why was this magic array called a ‘Transfer Array’? And how did it relate to me ‘succumbing to agony’?

Rennes furrowed his brow, his patience wearing thin, “Guardian, open the passage!”

Observing Rennes’s expression, Lin Nuo gritted his teeth and loudly addressed the relief sculpture on the door, “Guardian, please tell me, what does the Transfer Array refer to?”

The Guardian, long unused to conversations but now receiving commands from both the Heinrich and Clement families, seemed bewildered. It paused for a few seconds, eventually deciding to comply with both orders. It silently opened the door for the two while simultaneously responding to Lin Nuo’s inquiry, “The magic array on this Heinrich’s arm is an ancient formation known as the ‘Transfer Array’. The function of this array is to transfer all the suffering from a person to the one who drew the array. The activation method is quite simple— both parties need to touch each other’s palms.” 

At this point, the door had fully opened, revealing a spacious path before them. Rennes wore an unpleasant expression. He stepped forward and urged, “Hurry.”

Lin Nuo stared at Rennes in surprise. Contrary to his usual behavior, he didn’t follow immediately, attempting to withdraw his hand from Rennes’s grip. Noticing Lin Nuo’s movement, Rennes turned to him, speaking in a serious tone, “Your Highness, what did I say? You must not let go of my hand.”

At that moment, the light from the door fell directly on Rennes’s face, accentuating every contour. Lin Nuo finally saw it— Though Rennes had been conversing with apparent ease, his brow was actually furrowed in an unnatural angle, as if enduring some pain. His lips, when he didn’t speak, were tightly pressed together, suppressing any signs of discomfort.

Lin Nuo’s heart sank. He bit his lip, his voice trembling as he asked, “Teacher, is what the Guardian said true? The magic here is too intense, constantly pressing on me… That excruciating pain I first felt, is it because of the magic’s pressure?”

That sensation, as if every bone in his body was being crushed, as if every vein was being torn within him.

“And then… and then…” Lin Nuo’s eyes reddened, his tone shifting, “And then, you used that Transfer Array to transfer that pain onto yourself, right?!”

Rennes didn’t respond. Even though he said nothing, Lin Nuo already knew it was the truth.

Watching Rennes’s pallid complexion, tears welled up in Lin Nuo’s eyes, streaming down his cheeks. He didn’t press Rennes for more answers or linger in place. Instead, he wiped his eyes with the back of his hand and said to Rennes, “Teacher, I’m sorry for delaying us. Let’s hurry.”

Whatever reason Rennes had for doing this, every extra minute he spent here, every question he asked, would only prolong Rennes’s suffering. The only thing he could do now was to quickly immerse himself in this ‘Starry Dream’ and repair the magic mark Rennes spoke of. Only then could his suffering end.

As he shed tears, Lin Nuo walked briskly alongside Rennes, his head bowed. The knight beside him, observing the silent and teary-eyed young prince, seemed as though he wanted to explain something but ultimately chose to remain silent.

As the two continued down the path, the Guardian from behind suddenly spoke in a muffled voice, “Heinrich, if you want to quickly repair the mark in your body, remember this method— Increase the speed of your heartbeat. The faster your heart beats, the better it can absorb the original magical power.”

Lin Nuo paused for a moment, his steps uninterrupted, as thoughts swirled in his mind: How can I make my heart beat faster? What method could I use to achieve that?

 

 

 

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