Evil Dragon Chapter 9: Injury

Chapter 9: Injury

Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

Editor: CaiCai, Kris

Since meeting Nana, Lin Nuo’s schedule had a new item added: spend time playing with this elegantly dressed yet noticeably unwelcome little girl. With this new fixed arrangement, Lin Nuo’s schedule became even tighter. Sometimes, he had to stay up until midnight just to complete the political essays assigned by Count Kaunitz.

Thankfully, no matter how exhausted he felt, transforming into a dragon and cuddling his coins overnight rejuvenated him the next day, ready and spirited for Sir Rennes’ training.

The daily training routine remained the same: running around the room chasing a coin, finding the concealed magical arrays before the coin did. With each day of training, Lin Nuo became more convinced that this knight was scarier than any demon, so brutal. By the time they finished, almost every day, Lin Nuo ended up battered by the coin.

Meanwhile, Rennes sat or stood with folded arms, calmly watching Lin Nuo dash around the room, getting pelted by the coin. During the lessons, Rennes allowed short breaks for water or questions but didn’t permit long rests. Only at the end of each day’s session did Rennes use healing magic to treat his injuries.

To lengthen the break time, Lin Nuo bravely fabricated numerous questions to ask Rennes. Fortunately, regardless of how foolish his questions seemed, Rennes never grew impatient, always answering each one.

Most of Lin Nuo’s queries revolved around the coins. For instance, he once asked why the Clement family had such peculiar coins. Rennes casually replied, “We have various coins; this is just one type.”  

This response left Lin Nuo dumbfounded, unable to continue probing further.

Lin Nuo also indirectly inquired whether these coins, besides being sensitive to magic, could store magical energy. According to the System, the little dragon needed to absorb magic from the coins to maintain his human form and continue growing. Therefore, theoretically, these coins might store magic, similar to crystals.

In response, Rennes asked, “Is there such a theory? Your Highness, how do you know?” Lin Nuo panicked and quickly bluffed his way out, fearing exposure.

After a month of this anxious ‘training’, Lin Nuo gradually confirmed two things: Firstly, his disguise should be secure so far, or else, according to the System, he would’ve run into a BE by now. Secondly, Rennes must have noticed his uselessness; why else would there be only training on finding coins and no other lessons?

Soon, Rennes would believe that Lin Nuo was truly beyond help. The proud paladin would eventually realize the futility of this training, allowing Lin Nuo to request leaving the palace, and then he could fly away without a care— Of course, if he could scam a few more coins from Rennes before then, it’d be even better.

In summary, although Lin Nuo endured physical hardships daily, his mindset remained particularly positive, content with his current progress.

From early in the morning, Lin Nuo had a constant smile on his lips. Just yesterday, he had found out that due to Rennes needing to undertake a mission, the training would be paused for about two days until Rennes returned to the royal palace.

When Rennes informed him of this news, Lin Nuo had to use tremendous effort not to burst into laughter. In other words, after just one more training session, he would have a brief holiday! Finally, some rest time! Drawing, taking walks, idling around with nothing to do!

After the morning equestrian class concluded, Lin Nuo changed out of his riding attire, humming an off-tune melody, and dressed appropriately for lunch in the small hall adjacent to his dormitory. His two elder brothers, each holding positions besides their titles, had territories to manage. They usually had a lineup of nobles waiting for their audience, so their lunches and dinners were part of their work and often took a long time.

Lin Nuo was different. He was still an idler. While the nobles were curious about him, they merely sent occasional gifts or greetings. Conversing intimately during meals carried implications of taking sides, and no noble was that impulsive.

Hence, Lin Nuo’s breakfasts, lunches, and dinners were mostly enjoyed by himself in the small hall, away from the slippery nobles. Although he dined alone, etiquette was meticulously observed, and the variety of dishes was rich. Every meal included at least two different soups, three cold dishes, two main courses, along with separate grilled meats, fresh vegetables afterward, and finally, desserts & beverages.

The attendants serving Lin Nuo during meals stood around politely and respectfully, responsible for handing towels, pouring drinks, changing utensils, and any other trivial task.

Lin Nuo disliked being surrounded and observed this way. This dining style was part of the royal protocol. He had refused the arrangement of a personal attendant due to the need for absolute quiet during sleep. Disrupting the dining etiquette might attract more attention, possibly even prompting personal inquiries from the old king. In Lin Nuo’s view, any excess attention was too risky.

Thus, Lin Nuo obediently followed the meal protocols before the attendants. On this particular day, the roasted venison was accompanied by mushroom slices, perfectly baked, emitting a steamy, aromatic fragrance when brought to the table.

Sitting up straight, Lin Nuo picked up the freshly changed knife, preparing to cut the venison. just as his fingers wrapped around the handle, he felt a sharp pain. Lowering his head, he noticed the knife was unusually rough, completely unlike royal utensils. The handle still had numerous metal burrs, cutting a gash in his palm, causing crimson droplets to emerge and wind along the knife, forming a thin line.

“Your Highness!” The meal steward responsible for Lin Nuo’s dining rushed over with a shout. Just like with the other two princes, his meal steward was a well-mannered but lesser-ranked noble. Now, seeing the blood on Lin Nuo’s hand, the young noble forgot all decorum, shock evident on his face, his powdered cheeks trembling.

“It’s just a minor cut. Don’t worry, Baron Duval.” Lin Nuo put down the knife and used a clean napkin to press against the wound on his hand, reassuring the startled noble.

Despite this, the attendants around were in a panic, calling for a doctor, searching for bandages, scolding the serving maid for carelessness, creating a chaotic buzz. In the midst of this commotion, that bloodied knife was silently wrapped in a napkin and disappeared from the dining table without a sound.

—

It was 3 PM.

Lin Nuo, dressed in a comfortable cotton shirt, close-fitting trousers, and wool & sheepskin slippers, entered the training room right on time. Lately, for some reason, his accuracy in judging the coin’s path had improved significantly.

It wasn’t that he saw anything unusual on the walls or made guesses based on the trajectory and speed of the coin. Instead, there was a subtle feeling when he stared at the wall, an inclination to look a bit longer. Guided by this ‘feeling’, he guessed right about eight times out of ten, a remarkable improvement from his initial one in ten attempts.

Today, relying on this elusive feeling, he rushed to the wall just before the coin, stood there, and raised his hand. His right hand had been carefully bandaged by the royal physician, coated with a specialized healing ointment and wrapped in white gauze.

As usual, he focused on the incoming coin, fingers spread apart, ready to intercept. This time, the coin stopped its flight early, circled once, then returned to Rennes’ hand.

Lin Nuo looked at Rennes, somewhat perplexed, wondering if this was a new test or if there was a change in the game today.

Rennes, staring at Lin Nuo’s hand, furrowed his brow and asked, “Are you injured?”

 

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