After Becoming an Evil Dragon, I Was Entangled by the Saintess - Chapter 29

Curiosity overcame caution, and Veranse found herself unconsciously trusting Yulxi. She hadn’t anticipated the elemental surge that would erupt after the Little Succubus took the potion. While casting magic for the succubus, Veranse suffered a silent setback. Yulxi couldn’t allow the elemental force to ravage the room; if Veranse withdrew, Yulxi would have to take over. But Veranse didn’t falter. She intensified her magic power output, her smile growing even more radiant.

Yulxi kept a close watch on Veranse, expecting her to feign weakness given her inherently malicious nature. Yet, to his surprise, she stubbornly maintained her “Holy Maiden” facade. Veranse truly lived up to her title as the Chosen of God. Her talent for magic was unparalleled—not only did she master a diverse range of spells, but her proficiency in each was remarkably high.

Could it be that her entire life has revolved around magic?

Yulxi frowned slightly, pondering what the Holy Maiden of the Church should be doing. After a moment, she realized it made perfect sense. The Holy Maiden was the embodiment of the God of Light, and the Light Church was constantly proselytizing. A charismatic Holy Maiden would be an invaluable tool for reaching the common people. She could engage in lively conversations with the lower classes, using Light Magic to win their hearts, while also attending noble balls and becoming a coveted figure among the aristocracy.

If Veranse were a Priest of the God of Light, she could rely on unwavering faith to draw power from the Gods and perform “Divine Miracles.” But Veranse was an Unbeliever. To wield magic, she had to elevate her spellcasting skills, striving to become the best among her peers. Otherwise, how could she ever truly become the Holy Maiden?

Veranse closed her eyes, the gentle breeze from the window lifting strands of her golden hair. The magic she cast always carried a purifying, sacred quality. Yet Yulxi had glimpsed her darker side, knowing even her magic was a facade. A Dark Sacrifice, disguised as the Sword of Light’s Judgment.

At first, Yulxi worried that Veranse wouldn’t be able to withstand the elemental surge. Gradually, her suspicion shifted to Veranse secretly trying to pull a fast one. Fortunately, everything went smoothly. At least in this matter, Veranse lived up to her title as Holy Maiden. The turbulent elemental energy within the Little Succubus had been completely drained, the pain vanishing from her face as she closed her eyes and drifted into a dreamless slumber.

Veranse, committed to maintaining her facade, made the sign of the cross and intoned reverently, “Light…” After a deliberate pause, she added, “Lord Yulxi will bless you.”

Succubus Samir watched, transfixed, as the miracle unfolded before her eyes. The Medicinal Powder and potion had worked! Her sister would no longer be tormented by the rampaging elements. She knelt before Yulxi and Veranse, but Yulxi immediately helped her up. Gazing intently at Samir, Yulxi said, “To create a magical potion, both the success rate and efficacy must exceed eighty percent.” A high success rate allows for price control, while the latter… well, Yulxi simply couldn’t tolerate flawed products.

Ilti hissed at the doorway. Is this even humanly possible? At that level, it would be a top-tier Magic Potion, something even the most gifted Alchemists wouldn’t dare claim they could achieve.

Samir couldn’t reach that level yet, but her gratitude and admiration for Yulshi ignited her determination. She nodded firmly. “I will definitely achieve it! I won’t let Lord Yulshi down!”

Yulshi pondered for a moment, then retrieved a scroll of parchment. Inscribed in magical script were the formulas and brewing techniques for Medicinal Powders suitable for the Fei’er Continent, which she had developed during her seclusion. These powders were also for internal consumption. While the Holy Domain Purification targeted the Gray Demon itself, these powders were designed to expel its lingering corruption.

With the Source of Life residing within her, the Gray Demon and the Evil God behind it were her greatest enemies.

Her path to godhood allowed no obstacles. Anyone who stood in her way would meet only death.

“Take this back and study it,” Yulshi said casually. If Samir’s status hadn’t suddenly displayed the word “Inheritor,” she would have been searching for a suitable mage elsewhere.

Ilti sighed in relief as the atmosphere gradually calmed. Remembering her grand culinary plan, she turned to Yulxi and said, “Lord Yulshi, the Red Maple Territory may lack distinctive industries, but perhaps we could develop one from scratch?”

Yulxi: “Hmm?”

Ilti continued, “Your culinary skills would be immensely popular even in the Royal Capital. Ah, no, what I mean is, if you could teach your recipes to the residents of the Red Maple Territory, it would surely flourish.” She blushed slightly at the end, realizing that no matter how she framed it, she was essentially asking the Great Dragon for something.

Lord God above, I’ve really grown up! she thought. Not only am I freeloading off the Great Dragon’s meals, but I’m even daring to reach into her pockets!

Yulxi nodded. “Very well.” The Red Maple Territory was in complete disarray, a place where everything needed rebuilding. Amidst the chaos, Yulxi had chosen a simple, direct path: urban reconstruction. While this was primarily for her own comfort, construction was also the foundation for everything else. After all, even the most delicious food would lose its appeal on streets reeking of foul odors. “I’ll copy my cooking recipes for you tomorrow.”

Ilti beamed with delight, her eyes sparkling. “I’ll immediately start searching for someone worthy to inherit your culinary skills!”

Samir stayed in the room to care for her ailing sister, while Ilti dragged Flah out at a run. Yulxi and Veranse emerged from the room and stood in the dimly lit corridor. “How are you feeling?” Yulxi asked Veranse.

Veranse had been silent, focusing on harmonizing her Magic Power. At Yulxi’s question, a strange emotion flickered in her beautiful eyes. A smile played on her lips, but the aura radiating from her was far from cheerful, as if she had fallen into darkness. “I thought you would only remember your loyal follower—the one who shielded you from the elemental storm—when you finally faced the broken stone tablet engraved with ‘Veranse’ in your eternal slumber.”

She leaned closer to Yulxi. “Would you mind giving me your arm?”

Yulxi didn’t mind.

But before she could answer, Veranse had already taken her arm. A faint, static-like tremor lingered on her skin for a moment. Yulxi observed Veranse calmly for a long moment before saying, “I’ll take you back to rest.”

Veranse scoffed, pressing closer to Yulxi. “Won’t Lord Yulshi offer me some restorative potions?”

Yulxi brushed aside Veranse’s hand and stepped back, creating distance between them. She said coolly, “With the Holy Maiden’s mastery of magic, your so-called ‘wounds’ will heal with just one night of meditation. Or—” Yulxi’s gaze darkened slightly—”shall I send you to the Red Maple Territory’s prison and let you use Dark Sacrifice to drain the life from the prisoners?”

Veranse completely ignored Yulxi’s last remark, murmuring softly, “I was injured for your sake.”

Yulxi scoffed. “I thought you were paying the price for your own curiosity.”

Veranse stared intently at Yulxi. “Your words wound me deeply.”

Anyone witnessing Veranse’s sorrow would instinctively want to comfort her, but Yulxi, with her heart of stone, remained unmoved. “What do you want?” Yulxi asked.

“To explore your heart,” Veranse replied. Having grown up within the Holy See, she had first been fascinated by its institutions, only to uncover its corruption. Later, abandoning her faith in the Holy See, she had embraced the pure Holy Light, becoming the Lord God’s most devout follower. Her curiosity about the Divine Realm had led her to witness its decay. Now, she sought to penetrate Yulxi’s heart. She didn’t know what questions she had, nor what answers she sought.

What she wanted, she would obtain.

“Do you truly believe you’ll reveal the secrets you harbor?” After a moment of silence, Yulxi’s tone grew increasingly mocking.

Veranse flicked her golden hair. “What do you wish to know? Evidence of Pope Engeno VI’s corruption and decadence? The location of the Lanster Family’s hidden treasures within the Montan Empire? Or perhaps the unspoken love-hate relationship between Princess Emerald and her lady-in-waiting?”

“None of that concerns you,” Yulxi replied, her gaze drifting casually over Veranse. “Why not tell me how an Unbeliever like yourself was elevated to the status of Holy Maiden by the Holy See?”

The moment Yulxi finished speaking, Veranse’s expression shifted. The shadows behind her seemed to stir, but in the blink of an eye, everything returned to stillness. She approached Yulxi, her mage’s robes billowing without wind. “How dare you question my devotion to the Lord God? My position as Holy Maiden was ordained by divine will.”

Yulxi remained silent, the expected silence descending. Veranse chuckled, completely unbothered by the thickening tension in the air. Her languid voice echoed through the room. “I was once a Saint.”

Yulxi’s eyelid twitched at the word “Saint,” a flicker of regret crossing her face.

If there were a Saint of the God of Light present, she could have seized control of the God of Light’s Faith Network. Throughout the Fei’er Continent, the God of Light and his Subordinate Gods commanded the largest number of worshippers, meaning the Faith Network could have provided immense power.

But that was all in the past.

At least, there were no signs of the Faith Network’s revival on Veranse’s status panel.

Yulxi had already seen through Veranse’s secrets, yet she remained indifferent. Veranse had been waiting for Yulxi’s questions, her emotions coiled tightly within her, eager to shock Yulxi. Instead, Yulxi responded with silence. Irritation stirred within Veranse, and her smile grew increasingly perfect and artificial. “You won’t ask why?”

Yulxi casually replied, “I don’t want to know.”

Veranse frowned.

She was desperate to pry open Yulxi’s heart, but Yulxi couldn’t reciprocate her fervent devotion.

Occasionally, Yulxi would crack open a sliver of her inner world, only to glance lazily inside before turning away.

Veranse loathed this feeling.

If this were a game, how could she be the only one pouring her heart into the performance?

Veranse herself declared, “Lord Yulshi, I have glimpsed the Divine Realm.” She savored the flicker of surprise in Yulshi’s eyes, yet felt a pang of inexplicable disappointment. With a faint smile, she continued, “The Divine Realm is a place only the Divine Favored can glimpse. You’ve likely never seen it, have you? After all, all the Dragon Gods perished at the end of the Dragon Era. And with their demise, the Divine Realm naturally ceased to exist. However, while Gods may fall, their Divinity is eternal and can be inherited. As long as someone remembers them, even fallen Gods can awaken from their slumber, though who that final inheritor will be remains unknown.”

Yulshi was well-versed in the Dragon Gods’ demise, but the claim that the Great Dragon’s Divine Realm no longer existed was a lie.

After a God’s fall, their Divine Realm might become dilapidated, but it never vanished entirely. Through the Source of Life, Yulshi had inherited the Dragon Gods’ Faith Network. Whenever she wished, she could ascend to the Divine Realm.

Veranse’s cryptic remarks missed the mark entirely, and Yulshi had no patience to listen. She turned to leave, feigning disinterest.

With the swiftness of a gust of wind, Veranse seized Yulshi’s hand, shoved her against the wall, and pressed close to her ear, whispering, “In the Hall of the Sun, the Gods have fallen, their power corrupted. The Lord God’s Holy Emblem lies shattered, everything tarnished by dust. With the Gods’ demise, their followers will inevitably descend into madness and death.”

Yulxi: “……” During the Second Divine War, the pantheons clashed fiercely with the Dragon God, shattering the Fei’er Continent into fragments. The Dragon God fell, and the remaining deities, wounded, sank into slumber. Could they have been corrupted by evil during their slumber? Yulxi gazed at Veranse, her violet eyes swirling with a hint of madness. She finally understood why Veranse had become an Unbeliever. When the Saint of the God of Light reached the Divine Realm and witnessed the Hall of the Sun’s corruption, her faith had inevitably collapsed. But how had she come into contact with corrupted Divine Power without being tainted?

“How can mortals glimpse the Divine Realm?” Veranse asked, reading Yulxi’s expression. She chuckled. “Even those favored by the gods see it only for a fleeting moment. What can one comprehend in the instant before consciousness fades?” She continued, “Before the gods fell into slumber, my prayers never received a true response. Later, I learned that the occasional Divine Miracles performed by the Holy See were merely the mechanical workings of Divine Artifacts or echoes of the gods’ past whispers. I used the Light Church’s Divine Artifacts to successfully access the Divine Realm.”

Yulxi spat out two words: “Madwoman.”

Veranse had recounted her past experiences with a detached air, but attempting to glimpse the Divine Realm through forbidden means was a grave transgression.

Even before her faith had completely faded, she had already become abnormal.

“Are you curious why I wasn’t corrupted into a monster by the Divine Power?” Veranse asked again.

Yulxi raised an eyebrow. “A Divine Artifact?”

Veranse smiled warmly. “Exactly.”

Yulxi stated firmly, “Impossible.” Divine Artifacts originate from the Gods and cannot surpass them in rank. While they can resist corruption from Divine Power, they cannot block the decaying power of a fallen Divine Realm. Veranse must have done something else. But what could it be? In a corrupted Divine Realm, it couldn’t be devout prayer hoping to awaken the Gods’ power, could it? Yulxi suddenly recalled the “Unknowable” status on Veranse’s panel. Only things related to the Gods were unreadable, but if the Divine Realm was as dilapidated as Veranse claimed, the residual power of a Divine Artifact couldn’t possibly outrank the True Dragon’s Eye.

Therefore—

Yulxi’s brow furrowed even deeper.

An absurd hypothesis leaped into her mind.

Veranse had devoured the remaining Divinity within the Divine Realm! The Hall of the Sun was the Divine Realm of the God of Light and his Subordinate Gods. By consuming fragments of Divinity, Veranse had become directly linked to the Holy Light itself. This explained why, even as an Unbeliever, she constantly radiated a brilliant holy glow.

But for a mortal to devour Divinity was equally impossible.

Even a trace of uncontrolled Divine Power could corrupt a person into a monster. How could she maintain her existence after devouring a Divinity? Or perhaps she was inherently a being of higher status?

It was also possible that she hadn’t actually devoured the Divinity; this was merely her speculation.

What if the God of Light’s consciousness hadn’t been completely extinguished and had personally sent His Holy Maiden back to the mortal realm?

Seeing the probing look in Yulxi’s eyes, Veranse felt satisfied.

She smiled faintly. “Now that you know my secret, shouldn’t you reciprocate by revealing your true feelings?”

Yulxi replied calmly, “Everything is your own choice, not the result of my questioning.” Her secrets and purposes were hers alone to keep.

“You refuse,” Veranse said with a hint of regret, licking her lips. “Of course, I won’t force you. But please grant me a chance to unlock your heart, even if it’s just a secluded corner. I would be eternally grateful.”

“What are you two doing?” A sudden, shocked voice shattered the silence.

Ilti grabbed Flah and dragged her away. The spectacle was indeed intriguing, but were they really in a position to pry into the Lord Black Dragon’s affairs? What if they got caught in the crossfire? After a few steps, Ilti added, “Carry on. We saw nothing.”

The atmosphere of the conversation shattered as Yulxi finally realized she was pinned against the wall by Veranse in an undignified position. She pushed Veranse away, who was standing far too close. “You should rest properly,” Yulxi said.

Veranse’s expression brightened, and she smiled as she watched Yulxi’s retreating figure.

Even knowing some of the truth, she thought, I can’t help but marvel at how remarkably even-tempered Miss Black Dragon is—far more so than I ever imagined.

Klein City was buzzing with construction, and Thorn Manor was equally lively.

Flah was assigned to train the manor’s knights.

After receiving the recipes from Yulxi, Ilti began teaching the territory’s most skilled cooks. Anyone who mastered even a single dish could set up a food stall in Red Maple Territory. She believed that even a fraction of her culinary expertise would astound those warriors who subsisted on excrement.

Veranse appeared idle, but when she noticed Samir constantly trailing Yulxi, asking about Medicinal Powder and potion brewing, she abandoned her composure and began tutoring Samir in alchemy. Though Samir’s talent seemed mediocre—she couldn’t grasp the techniques in one go—Veranse reminded herself of Ilti and Flah’s pig-headedness and regained her composure, meticulously maintaining her Holy Maiden persona.

Sharpwhite Town.

Immediately after Veranse brewed the Holy Domain Purification Potion, she sent it to Keira.

Armed with the Holy Domain Purification Potion and the subsequent Medicinal Powder, Keira and her companions found it much easier to deal with the Gray Demon and its corrupted creatures. The Gray Demon’s true threat lay in its “undying” and “corrupting” properties; its inherent abilities were unremarkable. With the Creationist Society’s followers absent from the mountains, the solitary Gray Demon posed no match for Keira’s Third-Tier Warrior skills.

A month later, Keira and her companions located the Gray Demon in Mount Oms and completely eradicated it using the Holy Domain Purification Potion. The wandering, corrupted creatures proved no challenge either. Keira’s group quickly cleared the former mining camp. The Beastman Tribe had vanished, and the mineral veins hidden deep within Mount Oms once again fell under the control of the Red Maple Territory.

Yulxi took time to visit Mount Oms. This time, she ventured even further, reaching the Western Continent. Her gaze swept across a desolate landscape. No Beastman Tribes would arrive anytime soon, and as for trade routes—there was no immediate need to reestablish them.

Sharpwhite Town had originally thrived on mining and trade routes. Yulxi saw no need to change their industries, allowing them to reopen their steel factories and smelting furnaces. The wealth seized from the confiscations wouldn’t last forever, but at least the Red Maple Territory now had a glimmer of hope. By the time Yulxi departed, Sharpwhite Town was no longer just a collection of shops; every household proudly displayed the Black Dragon Flag.

By winter, Klein City in the Red Maple Territory had been completely rebuilt through the combined efforts of artisans, mages, and citizens. The same policies had been communicated to other towns and villages, but without mandatory enforcement, they were largely ignored. Chefs who had learned new recipes opened food stalls in Klein City, finally giving the place a semblance of order.

The Lord’s Manor and City Hall had been renovated, but the most magnificent structure in Klein City was undoubtedly Yulxi’s Dragon Palace. Built into the mountainside on the site of the former Thorn Manor, the palace’s pavilions and towers rose majestically. Yulxi’s designs were entirely in the style of the Primordial Realm, with carved beams, painted rafters, vermilion roofs, and jade-green tiles, creating a breathtaking spectacle that resembled a Divine Realm. As a product of the Primordial Realm, it stood out starkly among the castles and stone houses of the Fei’er Continent. Yet the overwhelming beauty of the palace silenced any sense of incongruity among onlookers. Despite lingering fears about the Great Dragon, people often passed by the palace, drawn by its splendor.

As for Ilti and Flah, especially the latter, even though she was considered a disgrace to the Elves, she still possessed the Elven pursuit of beauty and refinement. Had the Dragon Palace been built a few months earlier, she believed her kin would have cast aside their fears of the Black Dragon and evil. As they put it, “Evil creatures are unworthy of embracing beauty, and those who appreciate beauty cannot be evil.”

“I wonder how Veranse managed to live there,” Ilti said, her face filled with envy. “Why does Yulxi get to enjoy such luxury?”

“She’s Lord Yulshi’s lover. Are you?” Flah shot Ilti a sidelong glance, also longing to reside in the palace permanently.

At that moment, Veranse was trailing behind Yulxi.

“Black Dragons typically dwell in swamps, yet you’ve defied the very nature of your kind.”

“Dragons hoard treasure, yet Lord Yulshi, your Nest Cave contains not a single gold coin.”

“But if you ask me, this palace is worth more than any gold. Finally, you possess a trait that aligns with the Dragon race! Isn’t everything before us a form of wealth in itself?”

Yulxi: “……”

Why has Veranse suddenly become even more garrulous than an Elf?

Unable to bear the incessant chatter, Yulxi snapped, “Shut up.”

Veranse’s face lit up with amusement at the rebuke. She cleared her throat and asked softly, “Lord Yulshi, where do you hail from?”

The moment the words left her lips, a ferocious force pressed down on her like a towering wave crashing overhead. Veranse stumbled backward, taking an involuntary step. She met the Dragon’s icy gaze, her smile deepening. “Lord Yulshi, allow me to follow you. What do you say?”

Yulxi stared coldly at Veranse. “Very well. Become my Familiar and pledge your loyalty.”

“Loyalty?” Veranse’s expression turned regretful as she met Yulxi’s gaze. “I can offer you my heart, my love, but alas, not my loyalty.”

What am I loyal to? I don’t know.

Yulxi wasn’t surprised by this answer.

She strode forward. Ignoring the surging Magic Power coursing through her body, Veranse caught up with Yulxi and launched into a new topic. “Have those two dragon eggs hatched yet? Why are you still keeping them? Their faint vitality might not last until birth. Perhaps we should just scramble them?”