After Becoming an Evil Dragon, I Was Entangled by the Saintess - Chapter 16

Night fell, and the sky was cloudless.

The bright moon shone clearly, and stars scattered across the heavens.

Having left the Gold and Silver Tavern, Veranse seemed like a devout follower of the God of Light, remaining in the church to pray until darkness enveloped the land.

After her prayers, Charlotte, the newly appointed High Priest of Red Leaf Province, personally escorted Veranse to the door.

“You should return now,” Veranse said, smiling warmly at Charlotte.

Charlotte nodded. “Miss Veranse, you needn’t worry about the church’s finances. The previous High Priest left behind considerable wealth, and we own extensive lands. Even without the Tithe, we can continue operating.”

Though Charlotte had been elevated to the position of High Priest, she came from humble origins and naturally supported the Lord’s Manor’s policies. As for the priests and clergy who opposed these changes, they had been abandoned by the great Gods for defying the will of the God of Light.

Veranse walked through the night, her eyes narrowed, a sense of contentment enveloping her. Unlike most who feared and shunned the darkness, she reveled in wandering through the boundless night. But suddenly, her aura shifted, like a dagger drawn from its sheath, its blade gleaming with a cold, sharp light.

“Who’s there?” Veranse called out. She didn’t need her staff; with a flick of her wrist, she cast Dancing Light, illuminating the surroundings.

Yulxi emerged from the shadows, arms crossed, scrutinizing Veranse. “You used Mind Domination on her.” This wasn’t a spell a righteous mage should learn, especially one who held the title of Holy Maiden of the Church.

Just as Veranse was eager to uncover Yulxi’s unique qualities, Yulxi felt a mixture of wariness and curiosity toward Veranse. She approached the silent Veranse. Without the radiant sunlight, the Holy Maiden’s aura of divine sanctity faded, replaced by an entirely different presence—deep, mysterious, like the heart of the night.

But the moment Veranse smiled, that strange aura vanished. She stepped closer to Yulxi, her hands clasped behind her back, and rose slightly on her toes. “I did it all for you, Lord Yulshi.”

“Oh?” Yulxi raised an eyebrow, subtly distancing herself from Veranse.

Veranse smiled faintly. “To control the Red Maple Territory, convincing Ilti alone isn’t enough. It would be disastrous if the Church’s priests reported everything to the Holy See. That’s why the High Priest needs our own people in place, wouldn’t you agree?”

“I suspect someone else reported the news to the Holy See,” Yulxi said pointedly.

Veranse feigned ignorance. “Oh? Who might that be? The Lord God certainly has many followers, but few would make the long journey to the Royal Capital, let alone gain an audience with high-ranking Church officials. The Church trusts only its own members implicitly. While complete secrecy is impossible, given the Red Maple Territory’s established customs, delaying matters for a few years shouldn’t be a problem.”

Yulxi chuckled softly. “Lord Veranse speaks truly.”

Having had her identity exposed once by Yulxi, Veranse knew this wasn’t mere guesswork. She sighed, shedding some of her pretense. Her seductive, gentle voice instantly turned cold and sharp. “Lord Black Dragon, you seem remarkably well-informed about the Holy See.”

Yulxi raised an eyebrow.

If not for the True Dragon’s Eye, she would never have known Veranse’s true identity. After all, she had no time to concern herself with the Holy Maiden of the Church’s appearance.

“What do you want?” Yulxi asked bluntly.

“Whether you believe me or not, I harbor no ill will toward you,” Veranse replied. “As for the Red Maple Territory’s affairs, I have no intention of reporting them to the Holy See.” Seeing Yulxi’s continued skepticism, Veranse added, “I can swear an oath to the God of Light.”

“If you can master Forbidden Magic, evading oaths should be child’s play for you, right?” Yulxi said.

“You overestimate me,” Veranse replied, blinking and stepping closer to Yulxi. Even in human form, Black Dragons retained a draconic aura. Black Dragons dwelling in swamps and dark environments should carry a damp, rotting stench, yet Yulxi emitted no foul odor. He lacked both the repulsive stench of dragons and the overwhelming, spice-laden scent of some nobles that assaulted the senses. “If you’re worried, you can keep me by your side. It’s simple—just provide me with three meals a day.”

Yulxi chuckled briefly. “Invite you back as the young lady of the manor?” He pressed his hand against Veranse’s shoulder, strands of her silky golden hair sliding across the back of his hand like flowing liquid gold. “Wouldn’t it be more efficient to simply eliminate you? What do you think?”

“If you intended to kill us, Ilti and I would have become ghosts in Mangshui Forest long ago, wouldn’t we?” Veranse showed no fear of Yulxi’s threat. “For a powerful Black Dragon seeking to conquer Red Maple Territory, a proxy lord isn’t necessary. You could have crushed everything with brute force.”

“In Mangshui Forest, you didn’t kill the adventurers who dared to offend you. You gave them a chance to leave, didn’t you? Only those who recklessly disregarded their own lives still wander the Rotting Swamp. Since they fearlessly embraced death, the Reaper’s scythe falling upon them is actually a reward for their courage. This is not your fault.”

Veranse’s words were honeyed and persuasive.

Yulxi withdrew her hand from Veranse’s shoulder, but Veranse swiftly seized it. Before Yulxi could react, Veranse lowered her head and pressed a light, fluttering kiss to the back of Yulxi’s hand. “Lord Yulshi, I am honored to serve you.”

Yulxi’s pupils constricted slightly, a faint warmth spreading across the back of her hand.

Veranse raised her gaze, meeting Yulxi’s eyes. Her golden hair stirred in the breeze, framing a soft, gentle face. Violet eyes radiated an alluring, mysterious light. She was breathtakingly beautiful, like a perfect creation of the Gods.

Yet Yulxi caught a flicker in Veranse’s eyes, a persistent strangeness she couldn’t ignore. Now, that strangeness intensified. A moment later, realization dawned. The flawless facade she had witnessed was merely a mask worn by Veranse, the “Unbeliever.” Without faith, having mastered Forbidden Magic, could she truly embody the light?

The back of Yulxi’s hand felt as if it were burning, and she suppressed the urge to gently stroke it.

Her voice came out cold and detached: “What do you want?”

“I merely wished to offer a humble suggestion,” Veranse replied, stepping back. Her tone was light and airy. “Besides flatbread and roasted meat, might we try other dishes? The Gulu Pigs of Mangshui Forest would be excellent. But as a delicacy, it seems to lack something, falling short of perfection.”

Yulxi glanced at her, wondering how Veranse had jumped so abruptly from one topic to another. Since she couldn’t pry anything of value from her, Yulxi’s interest waned. She offered a dismissive remark: “It probably needs more chili peppers.”

That casual comment, however, opened the floodgates of Veranse’s chatter.

Each of Yulxi’s responses spawned new tangents, from chili peppers to garlic paste to spiced salt—

Finally, Yulxi interrupted her.

“Where did you get the Magic Crystals?” Yulxi asked, remembering Veranse’s previous poverty, when she hadn’t even possessed a single gold coin.

“They were generous gifts from the former Priests,” Veranse replied.

Yulxi nodded.

She understood.

They had been stolen.