Evil Dragon Chapter 37: Compensate Him?

Chapter 37: Compensate Him?

Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

Editor: Kris, CaiCai

 

Returning to the royal city from the Divine City takes four days even with the horses at full speed. During these four days, Lin Nuo couldn’t help but think, Did Rennes Clement take some kind of stimulant? 

Every minute of the day, the knight would wear an extremely serious expression, tirelessly engaging in teaching. From the collision of elements to the drawing & erasing of magic circles, to exploring and setting up magical barriers, to the use of personal space… Countless topics, too many to count.

Lin Nuo even suspected that this person was trying to use these four days to cram into his head the knowledge that an ordinary person would take ten years to master. Even when Lin Nuo felt like his brain was overloaded, Rennes would simply say, “Your Highness, please repeat what I just said.”

And so it went, on and on.

Lin Nuo had to practice erasing the Transfer Array on his arm twenty times before successfully removing it. There were several times when Lin Nuo thought that if his body hadn’t been reinforced after the repair in the underground lake, he would have long been exhausted from this journey. 

The only time he could rest each day was the few hours of sleep at night. But during that time, Lin Nuo was keenly aware that the knight in the next room never slept. This was not just because Lin Nuo now had sharp senses and extraordinary hearing. But rather because, the next morning, Rennes would undoubtedly summarize all the subtle errors Lin Nuo had made the previous day, demonstrate how to do it better, and tell him why there was a mistake in a particular step.

In summary, Lin Nuo felt that this knight was either high on something or… had extraordinary stamina. Thinking of ‘extraordinary stamina’, Lin Nuo couldn’t help but recall what the magical creatures in the underground cavern had said— Rennes had excessively powerful magic and was extremely, uh, enduring in a certain aspect.

Thinking about it made him blush. Unfortunately, although I saw Rennes’s abdominal muscles, I haven’t seen what is below them. A bit regretful… What is wrong with me?!

Lin Nuo, blushing, felt he was too vulgar, bordering on disrespectful to the knight who always tied his necktie perfectly and kept his hair neatly combed.

Four days passed quickly. The carriage finally arrived outside Faro City. According to tradition, the special black camouflage used to avoid the public would be removed before entering the city, revealing the dazzling royal custom-made carriage in all its golden splendor. Moreover, after entering the city, the roof of the carriage would be lifted to allow the royal passengers inside to stand up straight and wave to the crowd.

Wearing a full set of knight’s formal attire, Rennes solemnly instructed Lin Nuo, who was also dressed in formal attire, to hold his head high, maintain a smile, and try to let his gaze sweep over everyone. He emphasized that Lin Nuo should make every citizen who came to welcome them feel the prince’s importance.

After experiencing the ‘accidents’ in the underground lake, Lin Nuo, who knew how much Rennes had endured for him, couldn’t utter any more words like ‘I don’t need that’ or ‘I don’t want to get involved’. He could only nod his head reluctantly.

Seeing the visibly nervous little prince, Rennes extended a hand with white gloves, placing it on Lin Nuo’s royal emblem-adorned right shoulder, speaking in a gentle and steady tone, “Your Highness, lift your shoulders. Straighten your back, and tilt your chin up slightly. Yes, Your Highness, your etiquette lessons seem to have paid off very well. Rest assured, Your Highness, you just need to smile at the citizens as usual. They will quickly fall in love with you.”

Lin Nuo took two deep breaths, straightened his back, and solemnly replied, “Okay.”

The city gates were right in front of them. Unlike when they were leaving the city, this time Lin Nuo could see the flags fluttering on both sides of the gate and the cannons placed atop the city walls.

A line of soldiers stood at the gate, led by the mayor of Faro City, a nobleman in his forties. In the mayor’s hands was the Key to the City, a symbol of honor.

As the carriage approached amidst the cheers of the crowd, the mayor respectfully handed the golden key to Lin Nuo, saying, “This belongs to you, Your Highness.” Simultaneously, a cannon salute roared from the city wall, the echoes piercing the sky.

Despite all the training in the palace, Lin Nuo wasn’t fully ready to see such a scene. Even with all  his mental preparation, the booming sounds made his face pale and his smile stiff.

At that uncomfortable moment, Rennes lightly placed a hand on his back. To an outsider, it might have seemed like a trivial gesture, as if a knight was steadying the prince due to the carriage’s movement. But Lin Nuo understood. Rennes was saying, ‘Don’t be afraid’ and ‘I’m here for you.’ Instantly, his heart calmed, and his breathing steadied. 

As the carriage slowly passed through the city gates, Lin Nuo could clearly see the roads packed with eager citizens. The excited crowd strained, trying to catch a glimpse of his Highness the youngest prince.

When the carriage finally made it to the city center after about two hours, more and more citizens had dressed in their best and gathered from all over upon hearing about the prince’s appearance. They crowded the roads. 

Fortunately, Lin Nuo was energetic enough to stand tirelessly on the carriage, receiving the admiration and awe of the people amidst their cheers.

Riding on horseback beside the carriage, the mayor said to Lin Nuo with sparkling eyes, “Your Highness, I haven’t seen such a scene in a long time! The people are enchanted by you!”

Lin Nuo smiled, elegantly bowing to the crowd. The people erupted into another round of cheers. Amidst the roaring noise, Lin Nuo faintly heard something else—a distant rumbling.

Raising his head, he noticed dark clouds gathering where previously there had been cotton-like fluffs. Lightning faintly streaked across the horizon. Lin Nuo felt an ominous sensation and quickly alerted the mayor, “Your Excellency, look at the southwestern sky. I fear a storm is coming. It would be better to have everyone return home. With such a crowd, I fear the rain might cause chaos, maybe even a stampede.”

The mayor hesitated. Welcoming the prince was a tradition, and disrupting it was unprecedented. Moreover, the festive mood was a boon for the city’s businesses.

Urged by Rennes’s subtle suggestion, the mayor agreed to follow Lin Nuo’s advice. Guards were deployed to disperse the crowd, but before they could act, the sudden storm arrived. The rain and hailstones fell heavily, causing panic among the crowd. Amidst the chaos, Lin Nuo took charge, guiding soldiers to maintain order and help those in need. 

But as he exerted himself to aid the people, he realized he had used up almost all of his magical energy creating a massive protective barrier. He worried about its stability and feared the consequences if it were to fail. He wanted to tell the mayor not to delay any longer and evacuate everyone immediately. But his throat tightened, and he couldn’t utter a single word. At that moment, a dry, slightly cool hand rested on the back of Lin Nuo’s hand.

Without him realizing, Rennes had removed his white gloves and was now standing behind Lin Nuo, his mouth almost touching the back of Lin Nuo’s head. Lin Nuo’s lips moved soundlessly twice, and then he said in a hoarse voice, “Teacher…”

Teacher, I don’t know what to do next. I feel like I can only do so much.

Rennes patted his shoulder with his other hand and whispered in his ear, “Leave it to me.”

In the next instant, Lin Nuo saw the protective barrier in the sky brighten tenfold, transforming rapidly into sharp, golden rays that pierced through the thick clouds above.

10 seconds, 20 seconds passed. The previously dense & unyielding dark clouds vanished without a trace. The sky became clear and radiant; the sudden storm and potential chaos dissipated into nothingness. Gradually, the people in the square regained their senses. One by one, they kneeled in the direction where Lin Nuo was. 

“May the Almighty be with Your Highness!”

“His Highness the Prince, be safe!”

The crowd’s cries were overwhelming. The mayor, still shaken, stepped toward the carriage, wiping his face with a handkerchief, his demeanor solemn, “Your Highness, there are ten thousand citizens in Faro City. Now, not only are they enchanted by your splendid appearance, but their hearts belong entirely to you as well.” 

At dusk, Lin Nuo finally returned to the palace. After a short rest, he immediately went with Rennes to officially report to the king in the Audience Hall. Even before Lin Nuo had returned, the king had already heard about how the once frail prince had used magic in the central square to stop the impending summer rain, preventing a disaster.

While the usually reserved & composed king didn’t explicitly praise Lin Nuo, his words and gestures implied commendation. With a smile, he inquired what reward Lin Nuo desired. With a nervous yet firm voice, Lin Nuo made his request. He stated that although he had regained his magical strength, there were still many details he needed to learn. Thus, he hoped Sir Rennes Clement would continue to be his teacher.

The old king didn’t seem surprised upon hearing this request. Instead, he looked at Clement, seeking the knight’s opinion.

Rennes, standing beneath the throne, bowed deeply, saying, “I will do my utmost not to disappoint.”

The news that Sir Clement would continue to be Prince Linno’s teacher, along with talk about the prince’s grand display in Faro City, spread throughout the court. Not far behind was the fact that Sir Clement had never let go of His Highness the Prince’s hand on the way back to the palace. 

Suddenly, even the most diplomatic and slippery nobles began plotting how to dine with His Highness the Prince and what gifts to offer in order to gain his favor.

After leaving the Audience Hall, Lin Nuo pondered how to thank Rennes for what he had done today, stealing glances at the knight. Hmm… Actually, it wasn’t just today; throughout this journey, in the underground cavern and even before that… He had done so much for him. At the very least, he should give him a heartfelt gift, right? But what should he give him…

Just as Lin Nuo hesitated, Rennes spoke first, “Tomorrow’s classes are postponed. I’m leaving the royal palace to get some rest and will return the day before the Summer Solstice Festival.”

Lin Nuo was surprised and hurriedly asked, “Teacher, are you going back to Faro City?”

He had forgotten that, in his human form, he wasn’t supposed to know that Rennes Clement had his own mansion in Faro City.

A hint of amusement flashed in Rennes’ eyes, but his face remained calm as he nodded slightly, “Yes.”

Furrowing his brow, Lin Nuo murmured, “Um, you can rest in the palace too…”

Rennes glanced past Lin Nuo, elongating his tone, “Why is it necessary for me to stay in the palace?”

Lin Nuo’s face turned slightly red. His gaze shifted from the majestic tapestries on both sides to the glass windows bathed in golden evening light, unsure of how to respond.

Suppressing a smile, Rennes continued, “Actually, my attendants informed me that they had recently noticed an adorable cat in need of adoption…”

Before Rennes could finish, Lin Nuo almost jumped up, “Huh? You want to get another cat? Don’t you already have a pet?!”

Didn’t you say it was an extremely cute little creature! How come you suddenly want to get a cat?! Wait, did this person originally like cats a lot? Oh right! He even said he wanted the cat to lie on its back and let him rub its belly! He wanted to cuddle the cat and sleep together under the same blanket! How could this be?!

The more Lin Nuo thought, the angrier he became, and even the tuft of hair on his head stood on end.

Ignoring the prince’s agitation, Rennes sighed, “My little pet— wasn’t cooperative. Refused to stay by my side and insisted on lounging at a place called ‘Coo-Coo Delivery’. I wonder what good this little fellow, who neither flies high nor runs fast, could possibly do at Coo-Coo Delivery. Help with speedy deliveries?”

Clenching his lips closed, Lin Nuo thought bitterly: Who said I can’t fly high or run fast? I can definitely do both!

Shaking his head, Rennes added, “When we parted ways, I did mention that if it had no toys there, it could come back anytime. But so far there’s been no message from my staff. I guess it doesn’t want to come back.” 

Lin Nuo remained silent for a while, muttering, “Even if… even if that little creature doesn’t come back, you don’t have to get a cat immediately…”

Do you want a cat to sleep beside you and eat from the tray specially made for me?! 

Seeing a fleeting vulnerability on Rennes’ face and a hint of something unreadable in his eyes, Lin Nuo suddenly felt a pang of guilt. Rennes Clement, who always presented a perfect image to everyone, also felt pain, distress and hurt. Why would someone so powerful get hurt? What could cause such exhaustion? Isn’t it because of me? If it weren’t for healing me, rushing to teach me, or helping to stop the storm, how could he be this tired? And the only solace this person seemed to have were those speechless little creatures. In that case…

Gritting his teeth, Lin Nuo said, “Maybe, after you go back, you could ask your attendants again. Perhaps Coo-Coo Delivery sent you a message, but it got overlooked?”

“Oh?” Rennes looked very puzzled and unconvinced.

Twisting his earlobe, Lin Nuo said a bit irritably, “Anyway, anyway, could you hold off getting a cat on impulse? I— I have a strange feeling that your little creature might come back in a couple of days!” 

Rennes’ expression grew slightly somber. “Your Highness, are you commanding me to not adopt another pet?” 

Lin Nuo was taken aback but stood tall, saying firmly, “Yes, this is a command from your Prince!”

“In that case, I have to obey.” Rennes shook his head regretfully. Then, with a touch of desolation, he bid farewell to Lin Nuo and left the palace.

Lin Nuo stood behind him, clenching his fists.

—

That night, Lin Nuo, who hadn’t transformed for a long time, quietly turned back into a little mischief-making dragon in his room. He checked himself in the mirror and found that his repaired magic mark seemed to have no effect on his dragon appearance. Neither his wings nor his horns, nor his claws or tail, had changed at all. 

Tch.

Lin Nuo sighed with dissatisfaction, grabbed his hidden coins, and flew out the window. Being quite adept at flying now, he could fly very fast.

As he flew, he muttered to himself incessantly, “I have a legitimate reason for this! I’m going to Coo-Coo Delivery to get Mr. Paget to investigate something for me! I’m not making excuses to accompany the knight! No, not at all!” Half an hour later, he arrived smoothly at the grand mansion where Coo-Coo Delivery was located. 

Mr. Paget respectfully welcomed Lin Nuo inside and diligently took notes on all of Lin Nuo’s requests: Investigate any connection between the Golden Bell and the Dragon Clan; Investigate who among the Dragon Clan had advised the king to send Lin Nuo out of the palace. 

After jotting down this information, Mr. Paget, while patting his chest, assured him that he would do his utmost to investigate but cautiously mentioned, “Your Highness, actually… your Dragon Clan is the most mysterious among magical creatures. Even the elders among other magical creatures refrain from mentioning your family, not daring to talk much about them. Moreover, except for you, none of us have seen any other members of the Dragon Clan. So, it might not be easy for us to find the answers to your questions— We’ll do our best!” 

Listening to Mr. Paget, Lin Nuo’s doubts deepened: What’s going on? Are the other members of the Dragon Clan hiding in treasure caves, never seeing anyone or any other magical creatures? Am I the only half-baked little dragon who was thrown into the royal family?

Lin Nuo had an even deeper layer of doubt in his heart: What exactly was the relationship between the half-baked little dragon and His Highness Royal Prince Linno Heinrich?

Of course, he didn’t dare mention this deeper doubt to Mr. Paget. Should he tell Mr. Paget: Sorry, based on my observation, I might actually be a human?

Mr. Paget felt a bit uncertain watching the young master who scratched his claws one moment and shook his head the next. He wondered if he hadn’t answered the young master satisfactorily. After a while, he bent down, trembling slightly, and asked, “Master, how else can I serve you?”

Awakening from his contemplation, Lin Nuo rubbed his little claws and said, “Ahem, it’s like this. Could you please deliver a message to Rennes Clement at 23 Bentley Street, saying— saying that, uh, the pet needs a new toy?”

Mr. Paget listened, a bit puzzled, pondering for a while before tentatively asking, “Then, should I have the pigeons bring back the ‘new toy’ you mentioned?”

Lin Nuo hesitated for a moment then shook his head, “No need. Instead, when you deliver the message, have the pigeon take me along. Um— I, I have a very important reason for arranging it this way!” 

Hearing that the young master wanted to approach the notorious knight in dragon form, Mr. Paget felt deep reverence in his heart; he almost shed tears, “I understand! The young master must have a very, very important reason for sacrificing himself like this! I’ll dispatch the pigeons to prepare immediately. I’ll make sure to send you to Rennes Clement’s mansion as soon as possible, so the young master can implement his grand plan quickly!” 

 

Author’s note:

Lin Nuo: What does that have to do with me?

Rennes: It has a deep connection.

 

 

 

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