Evil Dragon Chapter 35: Golden Bell

Chapter 35: Golden Bell

Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

Editor: Kris

 

Lin Nuo’s eyes, already moist, were now even more misty. His lips had turned into petal-like shades of bright red from the earlier ‘accident’. If not for Rennes gently wiping the corners of his mouth with his thumb, there might have been dewdrops on the petals, making them even more alluring. 

“That… that…” After a long time, he managed to regain his senses from his state of complete daze and the fireworks exploding in his mind, and he made eye contact with Rennes, somewhat panic-stricken.

Rennes’s captivating eyes remained unhesitant, still staring at Lin Nuo’s eyes. Rennes’s hand still cradled his cheek, not moving. Moreover, even after Lin Nuo reluctantly regained his composure, this person’s cool fingertips lightly played with Lin Nuo’s earlobes. Mischievously poking at the cute round earlobes until they turned a deep shade of red.

Lin Nuo half-opened his mouth, unsure of what to say or how to react. A vague thought crossed his mind: Is this considered a genuine kiss? After all, um, tongues were involved? But the tongue had only been circling around the lips, without further penetration. Also, he recalled from videos that for a French kiss, the tongues would entwine, right? The most crucial part was that the System, which treated intimacy as its arch-enemy, hadn’t threatened or punished him this time. So, perhaps, it didn’t count as a real kiss?

Just when Lin Nuo was confused, the System chimed in:  [Ding dong! System detected a kiss!]

Lin Nuo immediately felt his blood pressure rise. Was he going to be punished again?

[As this kiss was not initiated by the host, the System deems no punishment necessary. Please be cautious in your future actions and try to avoid such intimate contact. The System will further explore solutions on how to control non-host-initiated intimacy.] 

After the cold and indifferent announcement, the System went offline once again. Although the System’s attitude was cold and ruthless, Lin Nuo couldn’t help but almost burst into laughter: Heh heh, as long as I don’t initiate a kiss with Rennes but he initiates it with me, then it’s fine?! Ahahaha, this is a huge loophole! So, in the future… Wait, what future? What did I want to do in the future? In the end, wasn’t it Rennes who, um, did that to comfort me during the emergency? Would this ‘accident’ happen again?

After thinking such things, Lin Nuo quickly refocused his thoughts, gathered himself, and looked at Rennes seriously. To his surprise, the usually stoic knight had a hint of amusement in his eyes as he calmly observed Lin Nuo.

Seeing the prince with such an expressive face, Rennes asked in a soft voice, “What are you thinking? Hm?” 

Thinking about whether the previous incident could be considered a kiss and if there would be more kisses in the future, Lin Nuo answered in his mind while avoiding eye contact in embarrassment. Rennes continued to stare at him without saying a word.

“What are you thinking about?” Rennes asked again with a raised eyebrow, gazing at the prince with a mix of reproach and warning, lowering his voice.

As Lin Nuo struggled to voice his thoughts, Rennes, noticing his abnormal silence, suddenly changed expression and shuddered visibly.

Lin Nuo, who had just been lost in all sorts of chaotic thoughts, immediately noticed this awkward pause. His arms, one resting on Rennes’ shoulder and the other on his back, withdrew reflexively. He took a step back, breaking all physical contact between them.

Steadying himself, Lin Nuo anxiously asked, “What’s wrong, Teacher? What’s happening?! Could it be that the effect of the Transfer Array hasn’t passed yet, and there might still be something causing pain?”

But that shouldn’t be the case, right? Even if the Transfer Array was still active, he didn’t feel any pain anywhere on his body now, just a bit weak in the legs and a little dizzy.

After two seconds of silence, Rennes’ complexion gradually returned to normal. He lightly flicked Lin Nuo’s nose with his index finger, saying, “I wasn’t holding your hand. The Transfer Array is inactive. Do you feel any pain?”

Lin Nuo vigorously shook his head. Rennes’ abrupt change in complexion was undoubtedly off. Could it be that after setting up the array the caster might experience some side effects? But Rennes clearly had no intention of explaining further. He just motioned for Lin Nuo to follow him out.

To return to the surface, they had to pass by the Guardian again. Seeing both Lin Nuo and Rennes, the golden relief spoke in its resonant tone, “Heinrich, congratulations. You can now freely control the power within you. May you, with Clement’s help, exert your utmost power for the benefit of Saros.”

Hearing the Guardian’s words, Lin Nuo felt somewhat helpless: Why did it sound like I must do something specific? 

He stole a glance at Rennes beside him, trying to gauge his expression or see if he was as unreadable as usual. To his surprise, Rennes was gazing upward, his eyes displaying a mix of reprimand and warning aimed at the Guardian.

What’s up with Rennes?

The Guardian’s gaze shifted aside, seemingly focusing on Rennes, and thundered, “Clement, please remember your family’s duty and oath. You have experienced the consequences of neglecting your duty to the Supreme God. Please do not deviate further.”

Rennes’ lips curved into a mocking arc, and without responding, he strode away. It was Lin Nuo who, startled, first asked the Guardian what ‘neglecting duty’ meant and what the ‘family oath’ was.

The Guardian ignored his questions, slowly closed its eyes, transformed into countless rays of light, and finally sealed the door. Frowning, Lin Nuo grabbed Rennes’ arm urgently, asking, “Teacher, what did the Guardian mean just now?!”

Something significant enough for the Guardian to specifically remind Rennes couldn’t be trivial. Rennes turned to look at Lin Nuo, his eyes showing complex emotions. After a while, he sighed, slightly regretful, “In our oath, there is a part about assisting the royal heir in honing their character and not intentionally reducing their suffering. My casting of the Transfer Array likely counted as reducing your suffering, which, to some extent, violates the oath.”

This explanation sounded consistent and logical, not far from Lin Nuo’s earlier speculation. Thus, Lin Nuo didn’t doubt it. He widened his eyes and exclaimed, “Ah! So, your sudden change earlier was because you violated the oath and got punished?”

No wonder Rennes’ expression was off earlier, and he even trembled. Rennes wore a rare look of embarrassment and finally admitted after a pause, “Yes.”

“This punishment… will it happen only once, or will it occur periodically?” Lin Nuo urgently asked.

Rennes confidently stated, “The Transfer Array was cast only once, so the punishment will also happen only once.”

Even though Rennes sounded utterly confident and trustworthy, Lin Nuo had been fooled once before. He thought angrily: This guy already lied to me once about the Transfer Array being a tracking magic array. Now, is he lying again?

Therefore, Lin Nuo demanded sternly, “Regardless, I request you immediately erase the Transfer Array.” After saying this, he felt his momentum was still not enough, so he straightened his chest and added, “No, not a request—a command!”

Watching the seemingly serious prince, Rennes calmly replied, “Okay. Your Highness now has restored his magic, so please, Your Highness, use your own power to erase it.”

Lin Nuo stared at Rennes, dumbfounded. “Huh?!”

“This is the task I have assigned to Your Highness— Any problems?” Rennes said naturally.

“N-No, Teacher, but, uh, at my current level, when will I be able to erase the magic array you drew?!” Lin Nuo anxiously followed Rennes, saying in a rush.

Rennes stopped and turned around, giving Lin Nuo a side glance, saying, “Then Your Highness should work twice as hard. Speaking of which, it’s also a part of honing Your Highness’ character.”

After saying this, Rennes continued to walk ahead, leaving Lin Nuo standing there, clueless about what it would mean for him to work twice as hard.

—

“So, wind, fire, water, earth; these four are the most basic elements. Corresponding to the elemental crystals, they contain the purest and most powerful magic. As long as used properly—” Four colored crystals were floating above Rennes’s hands, shining brightly in the dim carriage compartment.

His student, the always attentive young prince, sat there with his hands in his lap, looking absent-minded, clearly lost in thought.

“Linno, are you listening?” Rennes’s voice lowered and even the address changed.

“Ah, yes! I’m listening!” Only then did Lin Nuo startle, bouncing up from the seat, almost hitting his head on the carriage roof. “Uh…” Realizing he was on a carriage, Lin Nuo, post-fright, touched his head, feeling embarrassed.

“Listening? Then what was I just saying?” Rennes retrieved the four elemental crystals from the air, looking at Lin Nuo expressionlessly. 

“Uh…” Naturally, Lin Nuo couldn’t fabricate a single word. He had indeed zoned out just now. He had been trying hard to remind himself to pay attention in class so that he could master the ways of magic use sooner and erase the magic circle on his right arm as quickly as possible. But his thoughts uncontrollably drifted back to the lakeside, to those ‘accidents’. The more he thought about it, the more embarrassed and flustered he became.

“Your Highness, what are you thinking?” Seeing Lin Nuo’s reddening ears and unfocused gaze, Rennes sighed, switching to a slightly softer tone of inquiry. 

Lin Nuo certainly dared not express what he was really thinking. He swallowed hard, trying to appear serious, speaking earnestly, “Teacher, why did you draw the Transfer Array for me in advance to endure the pain? And why did you deceive me after drawing this array?”

Rennes looked at Lin Nuo, staring straight into his eyes. He shifted slightly, crossing his arms over his chest, casually crossed one leg over the other, and just said three words, “Take a guess.”

What kind of answer is that?! Furious thoughts raced through Lin Nuo’s mind as he stared with wide eyes, almost turning into a pufferfish.

Suppressing a laugh, Rennes manipulated the crystals in his hand again, saying, “Your Highness, rather than pondering such trifles, focus on the lesson and think about how you can master magic faster. After all, you still have a task to complete— erasing the magic circle.”

Chastised by Rennes and unable to show any temper, Lin Nuo could only sit back in frustration and earnestly focus on studying.

—

At dusk, the carriage finally arrived at the foot of the Divine City after racing all the way there, which, to put it accurately, loomed atop a precipice. Lin Nuo peeked out of the window, shading his eyes with his hand, and could clearly see a city shrouded in mist atop the towering cliff, grand and majestic.

Through the hazy mist, he could see dozens, if not hundreds, of clock towers within the city. Each tower corresponded to a Saros city; the clock faces embedded in them, driven by magic, ticked ceaselessly, symbolizing the supreme order of the gods, maintained in each city.

Surrounded by these exquisitely crafted clock towers was a vast, octagonal ancient clock tower. At its top, a pure gold, gem-encrusted ancient bell hung from the frame, dazzling in the twilight, asserting its presence. Lin Nuo knew that this priceless bell was the landmark of the Divine City: the Golden Bell.

As the carriage began to ascend the winding mountain road, it struck six o’clock. Hundreds of self-ringing bells in the Divine City began to chime, startling the white birds & crows perched on the cliff into flight then circling the cliffs in the lingering sunset glow. Amidst these ringing bells, the magnificent Golden Bell wasn’t among them.

This ancient bell was never rung in daily life. Over the course of several decades, this bell might ring only a couple times: when the Clement House Head chose a royal heir, completing the Sword Bestowal Ceremony under the auspices of the pontiff, and when a new king ascended the throne.

It was said that when this Golden Bell rang, its resonant sound soared through the sky, echoing across every corner of Saros, letting every inhabitant know that the royal house had gained Clement’s support & the church’s blessing, ensuring stability and prosperity, as solid as gold. For some reason, amidst the echoing chimes from the cliffs, glimpsing that dazzling Golden Bell, Lin Nuo felt an odd longing. A gem-encrusted gold bell— How I wish to see it up close, to touch it…

How strange. Why do I have such a strong reaction to the Golden Bell? Could it be because of the Draconic fondness for gold? But I don’t feel any longing for other gold, silver, or jewels.

As the carriage gently traversed the mountain path, Lin Nuo’s gaze gradually became fixed, immersed in thoughts of the Golden Bell.

Until Rennes’s voice sounded, “Your Highness?”

Only then did Lin Nuo snap out of it, scratching his head, looking at Rennes. “Teacher?”

Seeing Lin Nuo’s slightly bewildered eyes, Rennes frowned, hesitating to speak. As the sun was about to set, the carriage finally stopped outside the gates of the Divine City. The walls of this city were built entirely of large ochre-colored stones; in the middle of the wall stood a bronze gate carved with intricate patterns.

Next to the gate were four priests clad in black robes head to toe. Perhaps it was because the corners of the robes fluttered in the wind, resembling two large birds, but as Lin Nuo looked at these blurry-faced priests, he couldn’t help but recall the giant black crow that had attacked him at the palace.

After the carriage stopped, a well-dressed priest in a red robe hurriedly emerged from the city gates, smiling, walking briskly toward the carriage. Judging by his attire, this priest should be a high-ranking bishop in the Church of the Supreme God.

Lin Nuo, looking at the warm and friendly smile on the red-robed bishop’s face, felt a strange sense of familiarity. Actually, not just this red-robed bishop, but the yellow walls and the flower-carved bronze door too— Lin Nuo felt a strange sensation, as if he had seen them somewhere before.

As Lin Nuo and Rennes alighted from the carriage, the red-robed bishop stood in front of them, already welcoming them with a respectful yet not humble posture. Rennes had a faintly sour expression when looking at the red-robed bishop who had come a few days earlier with the pontiff’s orders to stop. He immediately regained his calm expression and introduced Lin Nuo, “Your Highness, this is Bishop Eugene Harigan.”

Due to the Church’s special status, bishops did not need to wait for royal members to speak first when meeting. Therefore, this red-robed bishop, smiling, took the initiative to greet the two, “Your Highness the little Prince, it’s been years. Sir Clement, it’s been a while.”

Hearing Bishop Eugene’s greeting, Lin Nuo felt a bit puzzled: Years? Did this person meet the original owner of this body? But the storyline didn’t have any hints.

Lin Nuo hesitated for a moment, choosing the safest greeting, “Your Eminence, you’ve worked hard.”

Upon hearing Lin Nuo’s words, Bishop Eugene’s smile widened a bit, speaking in an extremely warm voice, “Your Highness, no need to be formal. You can call me Eugene.”

Beside him, Rennes, looking at the bishop who smiled so warmly, furrowed his brow. Lin Nuo, feeling a bit puzzled by this person’s attitude, didn’t know if it was because this person was too familiar or if there was some connection between him and the original body.

Unable to figure it out, Lin Nuo didn’t know what to say for a moment, glancing at Rennes for a bit of help.

Rennes took a step forward, conveniently blocking Lin Nuo, and addressed the red-robed bishop, “Bishop Eugene, thank you for the personal reception. When can we begin the blessing ceremony?”

Eugene then averted his gaze from Lin Nuo’s face, looking at Rennes. “Sir, there’s no rush. The pontiff won’t preside over the ceremony after sunset. Therefore, I request both of you to stay in the dormitories for the night. We can start the blessing ceremony tomorrow, early in the morning after sunrise.”

After Eugene finished speaking, several priests in black robes immediately came forward and helped the carriage drivers lead the horses away. Eugene turned to make a gesture. “Your Highness, Sir, please follow me.”

Although he addressed the two, his eyes were continuously smiling at Lin Nuo. Whether because of this person’s welcoming smile, his clear facial features, or perhaps due to the sacred aura emanating from his red robes, his unreserved gaze on Lin Nuo didn’t seem lewd but rather exceedingly friendly. Lin Nuo carefully scrutinized the man’s face again but couldn’t recall any details of the original owner’s encounters. The intense feeling of familiarity within him was particularly strong.

What could this be…?

Looking at Lin Nuo’s confused expression, Eugene smiled and said, “Your Highness, it seems you don’t remember me.”

Lin Nuo could only mumble a vague “Ah,” completely unaware of what the other person was talking about.

Eugene adjusted his steps, walked around Rennes, and approached Lin Nuo, saying, “Your Highness was so young back then. About 17 years ago, Your Highness fell seriously ill. Following the Pope’s request, I went to the royal palace to deliver specially made medicine for Your Highness and suggested that the King send Your Highness to another province for recuperation. At that time, Your Highness was a cute little child— Yes, back then, Your Highness used to tug at my robe and even throw yourself into my arms, casually calling me ‘Brother Eugene.’ Many years have passed, and now Your Highness has become a graceful young man. It truly makes me sigh in admiration.”

After speaking, he looked deeply at Lin Nuo and said, “Therefore, I may have shown a bit too much excitement. Please don’t take offense, Your Highness.” 

Eugene’s words left Lin Nuo somewhat bewildered. According to the plot he knew, the one who suggested Lin Nuo leave the palace for recuperation should be someone from the Dragon Clan, right? Why is it Bishop Eugene Harigan instead?

Puzzled, Lin Nuo thought about these matters while saying, “No, no, I didn’t feel offended at all.” After saying this, looking at Eugene’s expectant emerald eyes, Lin Nuo felt that his attitude was too casual and added, “Actually, when I saw Bishop Eugene just now, I also felt a strong sense of familiarity, as if I’d seen you somewhere before.”

Eugene immediately smiled with curved eyes and said, “Your Highness Linno, as I mentioned earlier, you can just call me Eugene.”

Lin Nuo frowned slightly, feeling it was inappropriate, but he didn’t know how to refuse. At this moment, Rennes spoke up, “Bishop Eugene, back then, you were just following orders. You have no personal relationship with His Highness. Please refrain from using such trivial reasons to engage in disrespectful actions.”

Eugene turned his head to look at the frosty Rennes and pursed his lips, changing the topic, “Knowing that you two were coming, I’ve already prepared rooms. Though not as luxurious as the palace rooms, they are still comfortable. Please don’t mind.”

As they spoke, the three of them had entered the Divine City. The city, which an ordinary person would need to climb the mountain all day to reach, finally revealed its full appearance to Lin Nuo’s eyes. This exclusive-to-the-Church city looked more like a giant monastery.

Upon entering the city gate, a broad road paved with white stones stretched ahead. At the end of the road stood the grand and centuries-old cathedral— the Hall of the Supreme God.

The cathedral’s entrance was a row of large arches, each side carved with images of saints covered in gold leaf from the history of the Supreme God’s teachings. Behind the arches were tall walls with hollowed-out patterns and towers pointing straight to the sky.

Both the tall building walls & the towers used white marble for their exteriors. Perhaps because the priests used magic to maintain the cathedral, after hundreds of years of wind and sun, the white walls remained pure, elegant, and awe-inspiring. To the west of the cathedral was the tower for the Golden Bell. The nearly hundred-meter-high bell tower has stood for centuries, echoing the dome of the cathedral.

Apart from the grand cathedral, the city also housed several smaller bell towers, libraries, and dormitories for the priests. In the entire city, besides the servants serving the priests, there were no other permanent residents.

As the three walked along the main road towards the cathedral arches, Lin Nuo noticed a few common-looking believers devoutly kneeling under the main arch, hands clasped in prayer, their intentions unknown.

“Your rooms are in the dormitory on the south side of the cathedral,” Eugene said, leading the two up a small path while introducing the cathedral and the bell tower.

Lin Nuo had already learned about these things from textbooks, so he wasn’t paying much attention.

After about fifteen minutes of walking and listening, the two finally arrived at a two-story building and saw the ‘less luxurious room’ Bishop Eugene had mentioned. Lin Nuo had thought that since it was the priests’ dormitory, the room must be extremely simple. The so-called ‘comfortable’ might just be a polite phrase. Perhaps there would only be a table, a chair, and a bed inside.

When he actually saw the room, he was stunned. This room was almost identical to the one he stayed in at the palace. The same woven carpet, the same bronze column bed, the same silver wardrobe, the same peach wood round table, even connected to the same bathroom and featuring the same window.

What’s going on?

Behind him, Eugene struck a humble pose and said, “Upon hearing that you were coming, we tried to replicate the style of your room in the palace as much as possible. I hope that in a familiar environment, both your body and mind can find solace.”

Lin Nuo scratched his head, expressing his thanks verbally, but in his heart, he wondered why they went to such lengths for just one night. It seemed extravagant and wasteful.

After Lin Nuo entered the room, Eugene gave some considerate advice and then closed the door, leaving. Outside the door, Rennes Clement’s face was covered in frost.

Eugene did not take Rennes to his own room but asked, “Sir, knowing that you were coming, I specifically prepared some exquisite red tea. Would you care to indulge?”

Rennes raised an eyebrow slightly, saying, “Get to the point.”

Eugene chuckled and said, “What I want to say, I’m afraid you wouldn’t want His Highness, the Prince to hear— Aren’t you worried he might suddenly come out or eavesdrop through the door due to concern? After all,” Eugene took a step forward, tilted his head back, took a deep breath, and with an intoxicated expression, said, “you and His Highness, the Prince have quite a close relationship. Though it’s very subtle, your body still carries a faint scent unique to His Highness.”

At this moment, Eugene’s expression no longer resembled that of a bishop, but rather that of an addict. Rennes restrained his expression of disgust, walked away without saying a word.

—

After a quarter of an hour, Rennes was already sitting in Bishop Eugene Harigan’s private reception room. This reception room, like the room Lin Nuo was temporarily staying in, showed no restraint or simplicity typical of a priest; instead, it exuded an air of extravagance everywhere.

In front of the red velvet sofa adorned with golden threads was a low table with mother-of-pearl inlays. Just this tabletop alone would probably cost a fortune, equivalent to the lifelong savings of the believers who had kneeled outside the cathedral earlier.

On this tabletop were two exquisitely patterned ceramic teacups, filled with bright red tea emitting steam. From the aroma of the tea, it was easy to tell that this was the ‘Dream Tea’, of which less than 1 pound is produced per year in all of Saros. Even the royal family struggles to obtain a small amount of it, let alone other nobles or commoners. Rennes glanced at the table & the red tea upon it, frowned, and showed no intention of picking the teacup up. 

Eugene chuckled lightly and didn’t try to persuade him. He simply said, “Sir, when you got out of the carriage, I noticed a hint of His Highness the Prince’s aura on you. I just want to remind you… if you’ve already chosen His Highness the Prince in your heart, to swear to protect him with a sword in the future… Before the formal Sword Bestowal Ceremony confirms the covenant between both parties, if you have an excessively intimate relationship with His Highness the Prince privately, the Supreme God will see it as you crossing the boundary with the royal family, unable to impartially choose the heir. They will punish you continuously, even escalating it until you repent.” 

These words weren’t unfamiliar to Rennes. Ever since he learned to walk, started handling a sword, the Clement Family’s Teachings were drilled into him countless times: Never act biased, never retreat from a challenge, never be inconsistent, never break a promise, never harm the royal family… Always protect the one you’ve chosen, even if it costs you your life. And the last rule of the teachings: Never form private feelings for a candidate before the Sword Bestowal Ceremony as it will interfere with your choice. 

To these well-heard words, Rennes only raised an eyebrow slightly and responded coldly, “So what?”

It’s just enduring a bit of physical pain every once in a while. If enduring this pain could allow me to follow my heart, to make the little guy happier, why not? Moreover, everything will cease to be a problem after the Sword Bestowal Ceremony.

Looking at the knight devoid of remorse, Bishop Eugene Harigan dropped all smiles, his face devoid of any mockery, speaking with extreme seriousness, “Perhaps you believe you can bear such consequences yourself. But there’s one thing the Clement family doesn’t know. You know that you’ll face retribution, but you don’t realize that His Highness the Prince will also be punished. If the heir and the Clement family head have private feelings, the heir will be seen as lacking determination, misleading the Clement family through deceitful means. They won’t gain the Supreme God’s approval, therefore unable to become the master of the Clements and certainly not the ruler of Saros. Can you handle such consequences?”

 

 

 

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