Evil Dragon Chapter 61: Extra 1-4: Help me

Chapter 61: Extra 1-4: Help me

Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

Editor: Aika

 

When Lin Nuo woke up, it was early morning. He vaguely remembered having a very strange dream where he turned into a lava white chocolate cake. A gentle tap would crack the surface, letting the white chocolate sauce flow out like tears.

Why was this so strange? What was even stranger was that he remembered something sweet, yet this cake could be eaten continuously. Lin Nuo scratched his head, wondering if this world had suitable kitchens and utensils. Maybe he should try making a lava cake himself; perhaps Rennes would like it just as in the dream.

Speaking of… where was he? He looked around in confusion. A bronze pillar bed, golden tapestries, crystal chandeliers, gilded furniture… a magnificent sight. Where on earth was this? He distinctly remembered going to the mine, encountering bird-like creatures, and then Rennes appeared… Those bird-like creatures addressed Rennes as ‘Your Highness’?

Just as Lin Nuo was full of doubts, the bedroom door opened. Rennes walked in. Rennes, without the mask, had clear eyes and a gentle smile as he asked, “Awake?”

Lin Nuo nodded, blinked, and tentatively asked, “Um… Your Highness?”

Rennes smiled even more, “You can continue to call me Rennes.”

Wide-eyed, Lin Nuo exclaimed, “Ah! Are you really royalty?”

Where did the system take him? There’s no information about any of these characters in this world!

Rennes approached his bed, elegantly sat down, and said, “Yes, I am the crown prince of this country.”

Lin Nuo hurriedly got off the bed, attempting to mimic what he’d seen in historical dramas, wanting to bow, but his legs gave way, and he knelt on the floor. What’s happening? Why don’t I have any strength? It feels like my knees are sore from excessive exercise.

Rennes immediately stood up, supporting Lin Nuo’s arm, asking with concern, “Are you okay?”

For some reason, Rennes’s simple action made Lin Nuo’s heart race. The chill on this person’s fingers, the strength in his hands, all made Lin Nuo’s mind whirl. Faintly, he heard himself almost crying, “Don’t touch me, please…”

Lin Nuo froze, shook his head quickly, trying to chase away the strange and impure images from his mind.

Meanwhile, Rennes, noticing Lin Nuo’s confusion, gently guided him back to the bed’s edge, full of genuine concern, “Are you still feeling unwell? You were in the mine, encountered a group of creatures, and exerted yourself excessively.”

Only then did Lin Nuo come to his senses. “Ah, right! The mine! The medicine! There was medicine in the mine! That medicine could warm you up. Aren’t you sensitive to the cold? I heard that just a bit of that gem in your food could make you warm.”

Rennes pursed his lips with regret. “That medicine… perhaps the creatures used their magic on it. When you emerged from the cave, that ‘gem’ in your hand had turned to ash. There’s no way to use it.”

“Oh…” Disappointment filled Lin Nuo’s eyes. So, it couldn’t be used.

Seeing Lin Nuo’s dejection, Rennes lightly caressed his head, saying softly, “Thank you for desperately trying to find the medicine.”

Lin Nuo shook his head in frustration. “But the medicine is still ruined.”

He thought for a moment, then suddenly realized something was amiss and fired off a series of questions, “How were you so powerful yesterday? You easily defeated those creatures! What were those creatures, so bizarre… Moreover, where exactly is this place? Is this your palace?”

Rennes chuckled. “So many questions. Which one should I answer first?”

Lin Nuo stuck out his tongue playfully.

Rennes tapped his nose and said, “Firstly, it wasn’t ‘yesterday.’ You’ve been unconscious for three days.”

Looking at Lin Nuo’s incredulous expression, Rennes explained, “Three days ago, Pedro and I waited in the mine for a long time, but didn’t see you. At that time, there were rumors about humanoid black crows around here. These black crows are the lowest-ranking shape-shifting creatures, up to no good. I was worried and went to the mine to find you. I saw you fighting alone against those black crows. These creatures that can take human form can’t be subdued by swordsmanship alone; they require some magical power to destroy. So, as a knight without magic, you weren’t a match for them, but I, as someone with magic… a prince.”

Looking at Rennes, Lin Nuo’s eyes were filled with admiration. “So, Your Highness can use magic! No wonder you dared to enter that dangerous forest alone.”

Rennes smiled again and continued answering Lin Nuo’s previous questions, “After that, due to excessive exertion, you fainted. I carried you on horseback and brought you back to the palace.”

Palace? Upon hearing these words, Lin Nuo couldn’t help blushing once again. He had a feeling that besides being on the horse, the two of them had embraced each other. Moreover, it was a tighter, more intimate embrace. Not just embracing, he felt like he was saying something continuously, and the other person seemed to be whispering something in his ear…

But what exactly were he saying? He couldn’t recall. Hmm, probably just a dream. One of those weird dreams that come in the spring.

Rennes didn’t seem to notice Lin Nuo’s distraction. He stood up casually and started a new topic, “By the way, about the horse and the knight you wanted…” 

Lin Nuo immediately pushed aside those absurd dream-like thoughts and looked up at Rennes with eager anticipation.

Seeing the spark in Lin Nuo’s eyes, Rennes chuckled again. “Would you be willing to join the Royal Knights?”

“The ‘Royal Knights’? Me?! I can join the Knights?!” Lin Nuo was thrilled, his eyes shining brightly. The name itself sounded grand!

“Of course,” Rennes nodded slightly, a captivating smile playing on his lips, “As long as you pass the Knights’ training, you’ll have your own horse and the title of a knight. Meaning, you can become a real knight, and one of the most respected ones—a Royal Knight.”

Lin Nuo jumped up excitedly. “That’s fantastic! I’m willing, completely willing! This is what I’ve always wanted to do! How can I thank you enough, Your Highness!”

There was a flicker of hesitation on Rennes’s face. Even in the midst of his joy, Lin Nuo noticed this unusual hesitation. He quickly toned down his overly bright smile and asked, “Rennes, is there anything I can help with?”

Rennes bit his lip, seemingly very troubled.

Lin Nuo hurriedly patted his shoulder. “Don’t worry, Your Highness. You’ve already helped me so much. If there’s anything I can do for you, please don’t hesitate.”

Only then did Rennes slowly extend his hand, placing it in front of Lin Nuo. “Touch me.”

Huh? Rennes wanted Lin Nuo to touch his hand? Well, that wasn’t too odd. But… why did this phrase sound like something he’d heard in a dream? And… it seemed like he said it to Rennes while crying?

Lin Nuo shivered and shook off these thoughts, placing his hand in Rennes’s palm and gently touching it back and forth.

“Doesn’t it feel less cold now?” Rennes asked with genuine concern.

Lin Nuo suddenly realized, “Yes! It’s not cold—when you rushed into the cave to save me, your hands were freezing, it was terrifying. And that night, your hands had no warmth…”

Suddenly mentioning ‘last night’, Lin Nuo involuntarily remembered the ‘key relative’ incident and blushed again, unconsciously stopping himself from continuing the topic.

Seeming to overlook Lin Nuo’s pause, Rennes continued, “As for why you’re not feeling cold… I asked the physician, and he said, maybe these past two days, frequent contact with someone warm like a fire made you gradually lose the feeling of coldness.”

Huh? Frequent contact with someone warm? Lin Nuo was bewildered for a few seconds before pointing at himself, dumbfounded. “Are you talking about me?”

Rennes seemed a bit embarrassed as he spoke softly, “Yes, after all, after you fainted, I carried you for a while. On the way back, I held onto you. You’ve been asleep these two days, and I’ve been by your side…”

Lin Nuo’s ears felt hot as he replied softly, “Oh, I see… sorry for the trouble, Your Highness…”

Observing his expression, which carried a hint of melancholy and helplessness, Rennes gently addressed Lin Nuo, “The physician mentioned that to maintain the warmth, it might require continued close contact. So, Lin Nuo, even if you join the Knights, would you be willing to… Would you be willing to stay in the palace, next to me, letting me hold you every day?”

Lin Nuo was completely stunned. Was Rennes seriously considering him as a human heating pad? However… though it was strange, it didn’t seem entirely unreasonable? And, considering he had tried to find medicine for Rennes, which unfortunately was unusable, just letting him hold on for a while… it seemed fine?

As Lin Nuo hesitated, Rennes didn’t rush him, not even looking at him, as if afraid of being rejected. Seeing Rennes’s somewhat melancholic appearance, Lin Nuo gritted his teeth and said, “Of course.”

As if to reinforce his credibility, Lin Nuo opened his arms and repeated, “Of course.”

Then Rennes, extremely gentle yet intimate, embraced him, his amber eyes shimmering as he softly said, “Thank you so much. You don’t feel cold at all.”

Unconsciously, Lin Nuo caught a faint scent of roses from Rennes and replied, “It’s nothing. After all, you’ve helped me too.”

Rennes smiled faintly but didn’t continue the conversation. He had indeed helped Lin Nuo. But his idea of “help” didn’t specifically refer to arranging him into the Knights.

Three days ago.

“Quack! Quack! It’s His Highness! It’s His Highness!”

The goblins eagerly waiting at the entrance of the cave finally saw a glimpse of gold in the dark cave and immediately became excited, jumping and shouting.

When their highly respected Highness truly walked out of the cave, the goblins were so frightened that he froze, even forgetting to cheer. In the arms of His Highness, covered by a cloak, there was a humanoid figure, a human? Why would His Highness hold this person in his arms?

The chubby goblin had not recovered yet, and His Highness had walked to the side of the white horse, Pedro. He gently placed the cloaked person on Pedro, then swiftly mounted the horse himself, saying, “Pedro, fly directly back to the palace.”

Upon hearing this, the round goblin’s jaw dropped, What?!

Pedro was not an ordinary mount; he was a flying horse that only His Highness could ride, a majestic creature more esteemed than any other horse, only responding to His Highness’s commands, more noble than any duke or prince!

Others, whether kings or knights, were not even allowed to touch a single strand of his mane! And now, His Highness was letting Pedro carry this human back with him? The round goblin vividly saw the large blue eyes of Pedro filled with sorrow. Those eyes seemed to say: Oh no, His Highness actually let someone else ride on me. I won’t be exclusively His Highness’s anymore. Oh no.

But Pedro was a well-trained and disciplined horse.

No matter how sad he felt, he obediently spread his wings and soared into the sky.

As he glided through the clouds, Pedro couldn’t help but ask, “Your Highness, why the sudden urgency?”

Rennes, cradling Lin Nuo tightly against his chest, simply said, “I need to interrogate him.”

“Interrogate him?” Pedro was surprised.

Rennes slowly explained, “I suspect he has connections with the Black Dragon.”

“The Black Dragon!” Pedro’s wings trembled, and he hurriedly asked, “You mean, this person named Lin Nuo and those black crows… they are sent by the Black Dragon?”

Rennes pondered for a moment before saying, “We’ll find out during the interrogation. Anyway, fly faster. Steady flight.”

Pedro silently flapped his wings, thinking to himself: Your Highness, listen to what you’re saying. If you’re really in such a hurry to interrogate him, why not set up a barrier in the woods? And look at the way you’re holding this human. Hmph, even when the silver dragon princess fell into your arms before, you never looked this affectionate.

 Before Lin Nuo patted the bizarre stone onto Rennes’ mouth, Rennes had already sensed that this was something extraordinary, something called “Sacred Crystal,” the most potent and least detectable aphrodisiac in the entire kingdom.

It was given such a name because even a small amount of powder could turn the purest devotee into a willing slave.

Moreover, this kind of aphrodisiac didn’t need to be ingested directly. Just prolonged contact with the skin would gradually release its effects. If the person who took the drug didn’t receive relief and assistance in time, their sanity would collapse within a short period, ranging from 24 hours to three days, until he could no longer maintain their human form.

Years ago, Rennes first learned about this “Sacred Crystal” and immediately issued a ban, completely prohibiting its use within the kingdom. This was not only because of its dangerous and degrading nature but also because Rennes, being a dragon, instinctively abhorred any kind of aphrodisiac. For dragons, direct confrontation or subtle schemes were acceptable, but drugging someone, especially using aphrodisiacs to force intimacy, was beyond their principles.

This kind of low-level tactic was only employed by thoroughly corrupted dark creatures. These rotten black crows somehow managed to obtain this substance and secretly stored it in the cave. But…Why did Lin Nuo say the medicine was for himself?

This sudden, seemingly skyfallen pure-blooded human, this human who doesn’t even know the names of royal families, who talks about slaying dragons but can sleep peacefully in the arms of a dragon. This human, who appears to have no combat abilities, sporting an extremely innocent face, yet can neutralize the combat capabilities of high-level creatures like goblins in an instant.

If that’s the case, why did he appear so distressed during the battle with the black crows? Are those black crows, obedient to the Black Dragon, merely hiding in this cave, or were they already waiting here? Did Lin Nuo pick up this medicine on his own accord, holding onto it tightly until the drug permeated his skin? Was it intentional, or was he deceived by the black crows, or is there a bigger scheme at play?

If it’s a scheme… Then the goal of this scheme must be against himself. These kinds of things, even the Black Dragon has done them before. Those assassins disguised as beautiful attendants, those disguised as civilians, almost every year there are. So is this naive-looking human also sent by the Black Dragon?

Rennes was somewhat confused. Moreover, the scene he just witnessed in the mine made him even more restless.

In the dark mine, the flock of salivating, despicable crows surrounded Lin Nuo, their lecherous gaze constantly scanning him, each waiting for the drug to take effect to claim a share… Even if Rennes knew it was a setup, he couldn’t just stand by and watch. Why? Where did his calmness go? Why couldn’t he wait a little longer to see how things unfolded? Could it be that he valued this herb too much and didn’t want it to be damaged even slightly? Is it really just that?

Rennes’ beautiful dark gold eyes narrowed slightly, displaying a hint of unprecedented confusion. According to protocol, anyone suspected of colluding with the Black Dragon should be sent to the dungeon. But Rennes directly brought the person to his own bedchamber.

Seeing Rennes cast a protective barrier around the bedchamber after closing the door, Pedro shook his head, lethargically strolled off to the stables.

Forget it, it’s none of his business what His Highness does.

Better go have a chat with the frog goblins.

Lin Nuo was placed on a smooth sheet, already starting to feel feverish. His fair skin was heating up. His pretty cheeks had turned an alluring shade of pink. Rennes frowned, ripping off all the tattered cloth Lin Nuo had clung to, including those worn-out lantern pants, throwing them onto the carpet. Then, like the most meticulous physician, he examined every part of Lin Nuo’s body.

After the examination, Rennes concluded: at this stage, it should be possible to undo this without going to the very end.

Rennes focused, conjuring frost on his hands, gently soothing Lin Nuo’s overheated skin.

This spell could temporarily alleviate the symptoms of a poisoned person, but ultimately, the drug’s effects had to be completely dispelled for recovery.

The spell quickly took effect.

The sudden bone-chilling sensation made the previously dazed Lin Nuo regain some consciousness.

He faintly opened his foggy eyes, looking puzzled at the person in front of him.

“Rennes…?” he murmured hoarsely.

His mind was muddled, his body extremely uncomfortable, feeling like countless ants crawling on his skin and as if he was being roasted by fire.

Seeing Lin Nuo’s unfocused eyes, Rennes hesitated for a moment, not using a truth spell, but directly asked: “Lin Nuo, who are you exactly?”

Lin Nuo shook his head inexplicably, continuing hoarsely, “Who… I am, I am… the future knight.”

Rennes frowned again and asked, “Why did you go to that mine?”

Lin Nuo, whose eyes were initially blank, finally showed some emotion at this question. But what surprised Rennes was that it wasn’t fear or panic; it was… grievance? This Lin Nuo, who had almost no control over himself now, had a hint of tears in his eyes, his voice carrying a sob, “I, I wanted to go find medicine for you. I heard that inside the cave, I could find medicine to keep you warm, so I went.”

Rennes was stunned, carefully observing Lin Nuo’s eyes and expression, slowly asking, “Are you really… going to find medicine for me?”

Lin Nuo almost choked out, “Yes. The cave is dark and chaotic. It’s not easy to find a gem that can warm people’s hearts. I wanted to bring it back for you, but, but I encountered a group of bird people! I wanted to send them all flying, but my skills were neutralized! I’m afraid I might die and lose your medicine! Sob, sob…”

Lin Nuo, a newcomer who encountered a boss battle for the first time and almost got defeated, felt both aggrieved and ashamed. Combined with the uncomfortable tingling sensation, he ultimately chose to curl up in his blanket and cry out loud.

The words spoken by Lin Nuo were disorganized and unusual. But precisely because they were unusual, they didn’t sound like lies.

Rennes fell silent for a moment, sighing, “I understand, you… you’ve been affected by some medicine. Let me help you neutralize it first.”

Lin Nuo, wrapped up like a dumpling, heard Rennes offering to neutralize the effects of the medicine. He nodded, both confused and hopeful. He didn’t know what kind of medicine he had taken, but his current condition was severely problematic.

Clutching tightly to his blanket, he refused to let go. He didn’t want Rennes to notice his current “problem.” It was too embarrassing, too shameful. He had assumed Rennes might give him a red pill or a blue potion, something that would provide an instant remedy and restore his condition to normal.

Rennes simply uncovered Lin Nuo’s blanket, and then—

?! 

“No!” Lin Nuo curled up even tighter, shielding himself and preventing Rennes from noticing a particular area that was both exposed and drawing his attention, with a slightly hoarse voice, “This medicine, if not neutralized, will gradually erode your sanity, turning you into a mindless creature.”

Lin Nuo shook his head desperately, only able to say, “No, no.”

Frowning, Rennes asked, “If I don’t help you, will you do it yourself? Do you know how?”

Lin Nuo continued shaking his head vigorously. He wasn’t unaware of what he should do; he simply believed that such actions shouldn’t occur in this world. But…

As the coolness brought by Rennes just now began to fade, his condition became even more unbearable. Those ants that had been crawling superficially on his skin were now biting and gnawing randomly. His shrimplike body trembled incessantly, tears uncontrollably streaming down.

All he could do was bite his lip tightly and then fiercely clamp down on his own fingers, preventing himself from making inappropriate sounds, avoiding touching the wrong areas. This was a world for friends, not to behave this way! Being the protagonist, doing this and that would be cursed by the heavens, wouldn’t it?

Seeing Lin Nuo persistently biting his fingers despite bleeding, Rennes rubbed his forehead and asked, “Lin Nuo, you won’t let me help, nor will you help yourself—what are you so worried about?”

Choking from his throat, Lin Nuo murmured, “I can’t… be seen…”

Seen?

Rennes pursed his lips, sighed, and reached out, lightly tapping Lin Nuo’s forehead. He used the “illusion spell.” This spell could make him enter Lin Nuo’s dreams or make Lin Nuo unable to distinguish between dreams and reality.

A few seconds later, Lin Nuo stopped the meaningless struggles and the torment that led to no results. His hand, slowly emerging from the crumpled blanket, moved toward the face of the man that he couldn’t tear his eyes away from. His breathing grew heavier. In a feeble voice, he pleaded, “Help me…”

 

 

 

 

 

 

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