After Becoming an Evil Dragon, I Was Entangled by the Saintess - Chapter 30

As a long-lived species, Great Dragons could remain dormant within their eggs for years, even decades, without harm. After bringing the eggs back, Yulxi left them to hatch naturally. It would be ideal if Great Dragons emerged, but even if they were just Dragon Beasts, raising them would still provide a valuable combat force—far superior to Dragonkin.

Upon hearing Veranse’s words, Yulxi glared at her, warning, “Don’t even think about touching the dragon eggs.”

“Alright,” Veranse replied, a hint of disappointment in her voice. “What about eggs from other demonic beasts?” Driven by the promise of wealth, the culinary apprentice had thrown herself into learning several dishes, including scrambled eggs with demonic leaves. Veranse had tried the new street stalls, but none could match the flavor of Yulxi’s cooking.

For various reasons, Yulxi wouldn’t drive her away.

If that’s the case, it’s not unreasonable for me to make a few requests, right?

After all, Lord Yulshi is quite the gracious Dragon.

Ignoring Veranse, Yulxi turned her attention to the dragon eggs. Since Veranse had mentioned them, she might as well check on them. After the Dragon Palace was completed, Yulxi had moved the eggs to a grand hall and arranged magical formations around the perimeter—to prevent newly hatched Dragons from accidentally damaging her palace in their clumsy first moments.

The hall had originally been empty except for the dragon egg, but now Yulxi saw only chaos. A long table had been placed behind the egg, piled high with glass tubes, boxes, and small medicine bottles filled with mysterious powders. The floor was littered with smooth stones, pelts from various demonic beasts, and parchment scrolls… But what truly left Yulxi speechless was the tiny cat, dwarfed by the massive dragon egg.

“Kasha, what are you doing?” Yulxi asked.

“Researching ways to accelerate the Great Dragon’s hatching,” Kasha replied, licking her paw. “If the Great Dragon sees me first when it hatches, will it think I’m its mother?”

Yulxi: “……” Well, this cat is just bored. She rubbed her forehead. “Great Dragons receive the Dragon Heritage upon hatching. They’ll only see you as food. As for Dragon Beasts… there might be a slight chance of taming them.” Yulxi glanced at the alchemical equipment scattered across the floor, refusing to believe Kasha was merely “helping the egg hatch.” Recalling Veranse’s words and the occasional similarities between the woman and the cat, she asked, “You wouldn’t be planning to eat the dragon egg too, would you?”

Kasha’s eyes darted around nervously. “Did I?” she asked, her voice tinged with guilt. After a pause, she patted the dragon egg with her paw. “I just wanted a piece of the shell! Dragon shells are food for Great Dragons, but surely we can afford other sustenance? Give me the shell, and I’ll hunt demonic beasts to supplement their nutrition.”

A sharp crack echoed through the air.

Yulxi immediately turned his gaze to the dragon egg.

A fissure had appeared on the flawless shell, the mysterious patterns vanishing within the crack. A tiny claw emerged from the gap, slowly widening it. Startled, Kasha leaped off the eggshell and landed on Veranse’s shoulder, securing herself a stable perch.

“It’s hatching,” Veranse observed.

As if infected by the hatching egg, another Great Dragon egg began to tremble slightly, a hairline crack forming on its surface. Under Yulxi and the others’ watchful eyes, the fissure steadily widened. The cracking sounds grew crisper and louder as the hatchling devoured its shell to replenish its energy. The first to emerge was a Gold Dragon, its scales a dull yellow mottled with metallic flecks—a temporary phase, as the scales would gradually transform into a noble golden hue as it matured.

“Why isn’t it revealing its True Name? Is it a Great Dragon or a Dragon Beast?” Kasha asked curiously. Only Dragons who speak their True Name are considered Great Dragons, inheritors of the Dragon Heritage.

“The Dragon Mother isn’t here. Why would she reveal her True Name?” Yulxi said casually. The Little Gold Dragon, barely a meter long, chewed on its eggshell while staring at them with wide, round eyes. Unconsciously, it assumed a combat stance, as if ready to break free from its confinement at any moment—though at this stage, the hatchling struggled even to stand steadily.

Yulxi ignored her, her gaze fixed on the Silver Dragon egg. The tiny claw had retracted, and the cracked shell had even been partially resealed. Yet the fissure remained, and a strange, viscous fluid clung to the shell’s surface, slowly trickling downward.

“She’s clever, playing dead at such a young age,” Kasha said, hopping to the egg’s edge and tapping politely. “Hello? Little Silver Dragon?”

Curled up inside the egg, the Silver Dragon trembled with fear. The moment she hatched, the overwhelming Dragon Heritage had nearly burst her mind. Her draconic instincts kicked in, temporarily sealing the heritage to await gradual assimilation. At this critical stage, she desperately needed to speak her True Name, lest her mother abandon her as a mindless Dragon Beast. But when she tried to utter it, she sensed not her mother’s presence, but an unfamiliar aura. There was a Dragon nearby—

But it was no sister of hers.

She was devouring the dragon egg with gusto, showing no fear of being dealt with.

The Little Gold Dragon was indeed afraid, but Gold Dragons were both kind and brave. Moreover, the eggshell contained an immense amount of energy, enough to sustain her through her vulnerable newborn phase. She needed to grow strong quickly. Even as a Great Dragon, a newly hatched hatchling remained fragile.

“She’s a Dragon who has inherited the Dragon Heritage,” Yulxi said. Noticing Kasha’s interest in the hatchling, she added, “Kasha, would you like to take care of them?” Even if Kasha’s combat prowess was the laughingstock of the Legendary, she was still a Legendary, more than capable of handling two newborn hatchlings.

Kasha eagerly agreed, pointing at the Gold Dragon and declaring, “Goldy.” Then, tapping the Silver Dragon hiding in its shell, she added, “Silvy.”

Before the two tiny hatchlings could even learn their True Names, they had already lost them.

While the Gold Dragon continued to munch away, the Little Silver Dragon could no longer resist. Newborn dragons needed to feed, and the eggshell was their only source of sustenance and energy. Without a mother to hunt for her, she would starve to death if she didn’t eat soon. The Silver Dragon decisively cracked open her shell, licking off the sticky fluid to reveal scales shimmering with a blue-gray light. Her sharp teeth had already grown in, allowing her to devour the shell with remarkable speed.

No matter how deep their hostility towards strangers, the hatchlings would always enter a brief period of “dormancy” after devouring their eggshells.

“Gold Dragons and Silver Dragons are inherently benevolent races, naturally opposed to evil. How do you plan to nurture them?” Veranse asked, following Yulxi as she left, a smile playing on her lips and her eyes brimming with curiosity.

“Kasha will care for them,” Yulxi replied. Great Dragons required little additional training; the Dragon Heritage provided sufficient knowledge for them to navigate the mortal realm. Of course, some knowledge remained beyond the scope of the Heritage, but with Lady Kasha’s vast erudition, she was more than capable of handling such matters.

“You trust Lady Kasha implicitly?” Veranse pressed.

Yulxi didn’t answer, her gaze fixed intently on Veranse. After a long pause, she said slowly, “She’s more trustworthy than you.”

Veranse sighed dramatically. “Your words wound me deeply.”

Yulxi scoffed softly. Veranse’s heart was as twisted as a demon’s.

Soon after, Ilti and Flah learned of the Great Dragon’s hatching.

The two hurried to the Dragon Palace to see the hatchlings, conveniently timing their visit to coincide with mealtime.

Only after they had eaten their fill did Ilti remember something. “Our friends from the Emerald Territory will be arriving soon.”

Ilti found herself speechless. After sending word of Viscount Byron’s capture to the Emerald Territory, they had replied with an immediate departure. While the Red Maple Territory lacked a Teleportation Array, the journey from their neighboring territory to Klein City shouldn’t have taken this long. Perhaps Viscount Byron held little significance to them. Ilti couldn’t be bothered with the Royal Capital’s convoluted politics anyway. Since the Red Maple Territory hadn’t faced any inquiries from the capital after Byron’s capture, she figured the Emerald Territory could take its time.

“This timing is actually quite opportune,” Yulxi remarked calmly.

As winter deepened, heavy snow fell relentlessly.

The ground was blanketed in a thick layer of white, while icy winds howled through the forests like the roars of wild beasts. Amidst the swaying shadows of the trees, a group of mounted warriors advanced through the blizzard, led by a young woman with elegant bearing. She was clad entirely in black, save for the silver glint of her ring armor. Her helmetless crimson hair blazed like fire under the pale sunlight.

This was Rina, the envoy from the Emerald Territory.

“Klein City is just ahead,” one of the knights following Rina said, exhaling a plume of frosty breath.

Rina stared at the city walls ahead, her body nearly frozen by the snow and ice. She knew the knights were eager to find a tavern and warm themselves by the fire, but their mission wasn’t complete. Their objectives weren’t just to retrieve Viscount Byron, but also to secure the friendship of Lord Ilti, ruler of the Red Maple Territory. Whether the territory was prosperous or barren, having a friend was always better than an enemy.

“To the Lord’s Manor,” Rina commanded.

Guards stood at the gates of Klein City, inspecting everyone entering and exiting. Rina raised an eyebrow, a hint of surprise in her eyes. In her experience, the Red Maple Territory had no such strict controls. As their group gradually entered the city, Rina’s astonishment deepened, even tinged with a hint of solemnity. The orderly streets were free of snow; the main thoroughfares had been cleared, revealing smooth, clean stone paths. Though less bustling than the Emerald Territory’s capital, the city exuded a vibrant, lived-in atmosphere. Before arriving, Rina had braced herself for filth and stench, but instead, she was greeted by an enticing aroma that made her stomach rumble.

“What’s that amazing smell?” one of the knights asked, his mouth watering. They had been subsisting on dry rations during their journey and hadn’t had a proper meal in days. Now, the tantalizing scent had awakened their hunger, and they longed to follow it.

“Don’t disgrace Lord Orlandi and His Highness,” Rina warned. Before their departure, Lord Orlandi had given casual instructions, treating the Red Maple Territory as an insignificant matter. But the moment they entered Klein City, Rina’s keen instincts elevated the Red Maple Territory’s importance. This was no longer the Red Maple Territory she knew, notorious for its filth and disarray.

“Why are Black Dragon Flags hanging everywhere? Hey? Could the legends of the Great Dragon be true? Has the Red Maple Territory already fallen into the dragon’s clutches?” another knight asked.

Rina remained silent.

She harbored skepticism toward the dragon legends. The bards’ tales of the Red Maple Territory’s dragon varied wildly, eventually claiming Lord Ilti was the dragon’s son. Those storytellers loved embellishing everything; they’d probably mistake a lizard for a Black Dragon. As for the Black Dragon Flags—she believed Ilti was simply seizing the opportunity to use the dragon’s reputation to intimidate those with ill intentions. Who would have thought that Unos, that spineless fool, could have such a formidable daughter?

At the Lord’s Manor,

Ilti received news of the Emerald Territory’s envoy’s arrival.

For those who come with good intentions, a grand feast is always in order. After teaching the chefs, Ilti’s Lord’s Manor cuisine underwent a transformation. Bread remained, but now came in a variety of forms, no longer the rock-hard, choking kind. Bacon and cheese were removed, while stews and steamed dishes were retained and refined. Ilti personally preferred stir-fried dishes from iron woks, but fearing the foreign guests wouldn’t accept them, she stuck to steaming and boiling.

“The Emerald Territory is the princess’s direct fiefdom,” Flah asked curiously. “Do you think they’re really rich?”

Ilti saw through her immediately. Her lips twitched. “They just arrived, and you’re already trying to pick their pockets?”

Flah retorted, “This is about boosting Red Maple Territory’s revenue!” She hadn’t opened any shops herself, but she had borrowed money from Ilti to invest in several businesses. Every extra customer meant a bigger cut for her.

Ilti: “……”

Does the Moonlight Forest even know their Highness is so obsessed with money?

Red Maple Territory prepared a lavish banquet for Rina and her delegation. In return, Rina brought precious gifts from the Emerald Territory: four High-Grade Magic Cores. These alchemical creations, etched with nested magic arrays, served as the core components of Magic Towers. Their exorbitant cost required the expertise of an Archmage. Red Maple Territory had four Magic Towers, but their low-grade cores consumed excessive Magic Crystals to operate.

“I sincerely apologize,” Rina said, bowing to Ilti. “We encountered members of the Creationist Society shortly after setting out, which delayed us.” Naturally, news of the encounter had been sent to the Emerald Territory. As for the Red Maple Territory, they hadn’t considered requesting their assistance. This back-and-forth communication had further delayed their journey, and the newly captured Creationist Society members had already replaced Viscount Byron’s role, successfully stirring up a storm in the Royal Capital.

“Those Creationist Society members are becoming increasingly detestable,” Ilti said, sharing Rina’s righteous indignation. However, she showed little interest in the details of the encounter and didn’t ask for further explanation.

After the customary formalities, a welcoming banquet was held.

Rina maintained her composure, but her companions couldn’t resist the overwhelming aroma that surpassed even the street’s enticing scents. Heaven knew how long they had been craving such a feast! The food not only smelled divine but also seemed to cleanse the soul with its flavor, banishing all traces of fatigue. Lord God above, how did the Red Maple Territory find such treasures? The knights, unable to restrain themselves, devoured the dishes with ravenous abandon. Rina rubbed her forehead, her warning glances proving futile. She could only offer Ilti an apologetic look.

“If you’re not in a hurry, please stay in Red Maple Territory for a while and sample our local specialties,” Ilti said.

Rina: “……” This is too direct. None of the nobles I know would ever approach people like this.

In the past, hearing about Red Maple Territory’s “specialties” would have made Rina suspect the Lord was colluding with evil forces to harm them. But after a meal of soft, fragrant rice with a hint of meat, she no longer doubted Ilti’s sincerity. Hesitating for a moment, Rina pointed to the rice and asked, “Lord Ilti, what kind of food is this?”

“Mangshui Demon Rice,” Ilti replied. Although the territory lacked Druids to cultivate high-yield strains, the wild Magic Rice was still edible. After learning how to process it from Yulxi, Ilti had some brought back. The steamed rice was both fragrant and soft, and she now eagerly anticipated the even greater flavors that improved strains would bring.

But we lack Druids, Ilti thought, sighing inwardly.

With no hidden secrets in the territory, Ilti allowed Rina and her companions to move freely after the banquet.

The knights, acting on Rina’s orders, dispersed to gather intelligence, while Rina herself remained in her estate room, contacting Orlandi through a crystal ball.

The city’s appearance revealed much.

The Red Maple Territory’s rapid transformation hinted at even greater potential in the future. Compared to this, the Black Dragon Flag seemed a trivial matter.

“My lord, there’s no foul odor in Klein City,” Rina reported, addressing her primary concern. In the past, her exceptional sense of smell had been a burden, forcing her to wear mage-crafted perfume vials. Yet even then, she could still detect faint, unpleasant scents. Having visited the Royal Capital, she knew the Emerald Territory was nearly as advanced. Her knowledge told her that such odors were signs of human habitation; only the Divine Realm possessed true fragrance. But the Red Maple Territory… had proven her wrong.

This place was different.

And that place was none other than the Red Maple Territory.

“Then let’s extend our stay in the Red Maple Territory,” Orlandi replied warmly.

After the Emerald Territory’s envoys dispersed, Ilti sought out Yulshi and Veranse to discuss matters.

Handing four High-Grade Magic Cores to Yulxi, she remarked, “The Emerald Territory is truly generous.” After a pause, she added, “Rina mentioned so much, but never once mentioned Viscount Byron. Could it be that he’s no longer useful to them?”

Veranse smiled faintly. “Didn’t they encounter Creationist Society cultists on their journey?”

Ilti nodded, still puzzled.

Veranse’s expression remained gentle. “Then we have our proof.”

Ilti didn’t quite understand. “What do you mean?”

Flah tapped Ilti’s head, sighing, “Human hearts are truly filthy.” She stared at Ilti. “For now, you’re not human.”

Ilti: “……”

“The truth doesn’t matter. In the Royal Capital’s power struggles, the accusations that stick are always a mix of truth and lies. Viscount Byron’s collusion with the Creationist Society is the key—focus on the Creationist Society.” Veranse’s lips curved into a smile. “First, pin the blame. We’ll deal with the rest later. The Prince must be feeling guilty too; the palace is already in chaos.”

Yulxi remained noncommittal.

The mage escorting the Elves for Viscount Byron was indeed a Creationist Society cultist. But if she remembered correctly, Veranse herself had fabricated the entries in the account book.

It seemed the Byron affair was a fabrication, but the Prince’s connection to the Creationist Society in the Royal Capital was genuine.

The Emerald Territory and the Royal Capital were quite distant. As Ilti savored the memory of her dinner, she grew more concerned about the Red Maple Territory’s dietary structure. She brought up the matter of Mangshui Demon Rice again. “Lord Yulshi, where should we look for a Druid?”

Yulxi turned to the Elf. “Flah?” Druids were closely connected to nature, sharing a common lineage with Elves. Many Druids existed among the Elves, but given the previous group’s attitude, they likely wouldn’t be willing to come to the Red Maple Territory. However, Flah was an exception among her kind. Could she possibly know other Elves who were considered outcasts?

“The Druids I know would never leave the Moonlight Forest,” Flah said with a shrug. The Mangshui Forest was indeed a forest, but why would anyone living comfortably in the Moonlight Forest venture into such a dangerous place? Besides, her relationship with those Druids wasn’t good. As a destroyer of saplings and a disgrace to nature, she was only met with long faces from her kin. This was why she hadn’t mentioned Druids earlier.

Ilti asked, “Are there no Half-Elf or human Druids?”

Flah shook her head, looking helpless.

Yulxi pondered for a moment, then asked, “Who was the greatest Druid in human history?”

Ilti remained silent.

If the mage could name a few titles, such as “Death Star,” “Red Dragon Lord,” or “Staff of Termination,” the Druid… well, who cared?

Veranse said slowly, “Heart of the Wilderness.”

Flah: “That name sounds familiar?”

Veranse glanced at Flah and said gently, “The Life Tree of Moonlight Forest once withered. The Elven Priests tried everything but couldn’t revive it. In the end, the Heart of the Wilderness healed it with a potion.”

Flah paused, then exclaimed, “So that was her!” The Life Tree was the symbol of the Goddess of Life and Nature, the mother of the Elves. When Elves died, their souls returned to the Mother Tree’s embrace, entering a new cycle of reincarnation. The first generation of Royal Elves had been born from the Life Tree, crystallized from the Mother Goddess’s power. But now, the Life Tree seemed to have lost its ability to bear fruit. When Elves died, they returned to the Mother Goddess’s Divine Realm, never to be reborn. To continue their lineage, Elves could only rely on biological reproduction.

Yulxi nodded and instructed Ilti, “Release the news. Say Red Maple Territory has found the Heart of the Wilderness’s notes.”

Ilti: “?” She rubbed her forehead. “Will anyone believe that?”

Veranse smiled. “The world is never short of busybodies.”

A few days later, news of the Heart of the Wilderness’s notes appearing in Red Maple Territory spread like wildfire. Even guests in Emerald Territory heard the rumors.

Rina showed little interest in the Heart of the Wilderness notes. Instead, she spent her days exploring Klein City firsthand. Beyond sampling a variety of unfamiliar yet delicious foods, she observed the city’s architecture. The most striking structure was the magnificent palace complex in the north, arranged in a staggered layout. Though distinct from the royal palace, it shared a similar grandeur and imposing presence.

Some claimed it was the residence of the Black Dragon Yulshi, while others insisted it belonged to the Legendary Wizard Kasha.

Rina had met Yulshi—a young man with black hair and eyes. Their face-to-face encounter had stirred the battle lust in her bl00d, and she acknowledged him as a formidable warrior.

But the Black Dragon?

Rina remained skeptical, suspecting it was merely Yulshi’s title.

As for Kasha, she had also seen her—emerging from the palace itself.

The rumors circulating in the Red Maple Territory now had a basis in reality.

Ilti did indeed have a powerful backer, but it wasn’t the Black Dragon. Instead, it was the Legendary Wizard Kasha, who claimed to belong to no faction.

The Dragon Palace was her residence.

Having pieced this together, Rina continued her observation of Klein City.

Her subordinates also returned with gathered intelligence.

“The sewers are undergoing a complete overhaul, spearheaded by Steelheart and the Mage Guild.”

“Trash bins have been placed at regular intervals along the streets, prohibiting citizens from littering or dumping waste. Church priests are constantly patrolling the streets, promoting civilized behavior.”

“Waste is centrally processed using alchemical incinerators and wastewater treatment plants.”

Rina listened quietly.

Could the Emerald Territory not achieve this? No.

But no one would ever do it.

Relying solely on the power of the common people wouldn’t reach this level, and incorporating alchemy would inevitably drive up construction and maintenance costs, requiring a massive amount of Magic Crystals.

For the nobility, any other use of Magic Crystals would be more beneficial than city redevelopment. After all, they had their own ways to isolate themselves from pollution.

Yet, standing in the redeveloped Klein City, one couldn’t deny the invigorating sense of clarity and freshness that washed over them.