After Becoming an Evil Dragon, I Was Entangled by the Saintess - Chapter 32

The Watchers’ Guild was not a religious order devoted to the God of Magic, and mages held diverse beliefs. Yet, high-ranking mages who revered the God of Magic sensed something profound stirring in the depths of their souls. After a moment of intense spiritual agitation, nearly all mages who worshipped the God of Magic gathered, staff in hand, to divine the future.

In the past, they had observed the future of the Fei’er Continent, a vision of encroaching darkness, rampant demonic energy, and the sudden shattering of divine statues within the Holy See, leaving behind only ruined shrines. Because their observation had touched upon forbidden knowledge, the mages paid a terrible price: two Legendary Mages perished under mysterious circumstances. Now, as they attempted to understand the Gods once more, the Watchers knew they had to proceed with utmost caution.

An hour later, a mage opened her eyes and gazed at the white-haired elder before her. Her lips moved silently as she whispered, “Teacher.” She couldn’t pierce the mist ahead, but she noticed the Holy Emblem’s glow had intensified slightly.

The elder was a Legendary Mage of the Path of Prophecy, renowned for her mastery of divination. As her eyes opened, the light in her pupils gradually faded to stillness. After exhaling slowly, she declared, “To the west.”

“Does our Lord wish us to go to the westernmost reaches of the Empire? The Emerald Territory?” The mage spoke after a moment of silence. The westernmost region of the Montan Empire was, of course, the Red Leaf Province, but it was notorious for its chaos, so she subconsciously dismissed it. Beyond Red Leaf Territory, the only other option was Princess Emerald’s direct domain. “If that’s the case, we need to reevaluate some things.”

Most guilds based in the Royal Capital were composed of superhumans. Some remained neutral in the succession struggle, while others eagerly sought power. Among Princess Emerald and the Second Prince, the latter leaned toward the Church and divine authority, while the former’s stance remained unpredictable. There was also the Third Prince, favored by the Emperor, whose goal was to eliminate any obstacles to imperial power, refusing to allow the Church or guilds to encroach upon it. Naturally, the guilds had largely dismissed him.

“Send someone to the Emerald Territory,” the Legendary Mage said slowly. The Watchers’ Guild had a branch there, but its members might not necessarily be followers of the Goddess of Magic. After speaking, she murmured, “Perhaps I should communicate with our Lord’s Priest.”

Far away in the Red Maple Territory, Yulxi remained unaware of the Watchers’ Guild’s unusual activity. Throughout the night, she pondered the anomalies surrounding Veranse and the Goddess of Magic. The revival of a deity wasn’t a spontaneous event triggered by mere prayers; otherwise, the Gods would never have fallen into eternal slumber. Only a forbidden act could disturb such a sacred boundary. What exactly had Veranse done yesterday? After repeated contemplation, a hypothesis formed in Yulxi’s mind.

Veranse had attempted to alter the fundamental rules of magic, thereby transgressing a forbidden boundary.

In other words, on the Fei’er Continent, “Bigu” belonged to the divine realm. Veranse’s research into it inevitably led her to pry into the domain of the Gods. As someone who had witnessed the fall of a deity firsthand, it was remarkable she hadn’t completely lost her sanity. If the Gods hadn’t truly perished, Veranse might very well have awakened them.

But a hypothesis remained just that—a hypothesis. To confirm whether Veranse was connected to the changes in the Goddess of Magic, further investigation was necessary.

The next day, Yulxi knocked on Veranse’s door.

The radiant Holy Maiden had regained her luminous aura, shining like a brilliant sun amidst the harsh winter.

Yulxi remained unmoved by Veranse’s smile. She retrieved a parchment scroll and handed it to Veranse, revealing the formula for the Bigu Pill. The required Magic Plants had been adapted based on the resources of the Fei’er Continent, and Yulxi had only jotted down a few rudimentary notes on the preparation method, having yet to test it herself. Achieving a more refined, higher-quality product would require Veranse’s own experimentation.

Veranse’s gaze lingered on Yulxi’s face. “What is this?”

“A medicinal powder that temporarily eliminates hunger,” Yulxi replied bluntly.

Veranse’s smile faded slightly. “Hmm?” Though the previous night’s lesson had dissuaded her from pursuing forbidden research, she couldn’t refuse what Yulxi offered. She took the parchment, leaned lazily against a wooden pillar in the room, and asked, “Where did you get this?”

“If you can think of it, so can I, right?” Yulxi said pointedly, watching Veranse fall silent. A faint smile curved her lips. “But unlike you, I understand the existence of ‘limits.'” Just as the Bigu Pill’s short-term effects differed from true long-term fasting, the former was within the realm of magic, while the latter belonged to the power of the Gods. To Yulxi, the Bigu Pill was a useless trinket; she herself had no intention of abandoning her obsession with delicious food.

Veranse scoffed coldly, no longer bothering to conceal her disdain for all things, even the Gods. “How can you know if what lies beyond the barrier is the Divine Realm or Hell if you don’t break it?” she asked.

“Whether you wish to go to the Divine Realm or the Abyss, I won’t stop you,” Yulxi replied casually, her gaze fixed on Veranse. “I simply don’t want my Dragon Palace to be destroyed.”

“As you wish,” Veranse said.

For the next few days, Veranse didn’t appear at the dining table.

Ilti and the others were shocked.

Despite Veranse’s elegant demeanor, she was ruthless and efficient when it came to seizing food, resorting to any means necessary. She had repeatedly used her Charm Spell, which Lady Kasha was immune to. Even after Flah and Ilti mentally conditioned themselves, they still fell under its influence. Later, to avoid being magically brainwashed, they would ask Lady Kasha for help before any chance to taste Yulxi’s cooking. The price, however, was steep—they had to pamper Lady Kasha to her heart’s content.

“Ignore her,” Yulxi said.

Veranse’s absence from the dining table didn’t mean she wasn’t eating. She often simply took her portion directly from the kitchen.

While Veranse was researching Bigu Powder, Yulxi observed the changes in the Goddess of Magic’s Faith Network. Though there was a faint shimmer, the light neither intensified nor diminished. Yulxi could see the Goddess of Magic’s emblem in the Star Sea, a vision granted by the Source of Life. Without a Saint serving as an intermediary, her consciousness couldn’t penetrate that celestial body to scrutinize the flow of faith. Forcibly breaking through using Divine Power might be possible, but the resulting backlash would be catastrophic. After pondering for a moment, Yulxi abandoned the idea. The immediate priority remained developing the Red Maple Territory.

“Has the town’s reconstruction begun?” Yulxi asked Ilti, arms crossed.

“It has,” Ilti nodded. When Klein City first implemented these policies, the town’s residents had predicted disaster. But after witnessing Klein City’s transformation, they felt a pang of envy. With Sharpwhite Town leading the charge in heeding the Lord’s call, the remaining towns refused to be left behind. Of course, the most crucial factor was the direct financial allocation from the Lord’s Manor—a golden opportunity they couldn’t afford to miss. Steelheart and the Mage Guild already had experience, and with the towns being smaller, progress was even faster.

“As you requested, a Magic Tower has been constructed in the town center. However, we can’t afford a High-Grade Magic Core yet, so we’re making do with a retired Low-Grade Core for now.”

“Another Mage Guild has recently entered the Red Maple Territory—the Beast Hunters,” Ilti said, curling her lip. “At first, they refused to pay the required fees or display the Black Dragon Flag.”

The Beast Hunters were a group of mages with a keen interest in biological knowledge. They required vast numbers of demonic beasts for research and would sometimes venture into dangerous territories to hunt them personally. While not a small guild, the Beast Hunters who came to Red Maple Territory were unlikely to be Archmages. Ilti didn’t care about their pride; if they wanted to operate in Red Maple Territory, they had to follow the rules.

Yulxi asked, “How did you get them to submit?” Major guilds were typically courted by administrators eager to invite them into their territories, as the presence of mages and warriors provided a sense of security. Mages, however, were notoriously arrogant and naturally resistant to paying fees.

Flah quickly answered, “Suppressive fire.” Even she could see that Yulxi didn’t treat Professionals with the same deference as the great nobles. Since taking control of the Red Maple Territory, her focus had been on the common people who lived there. Professionals, as a transcendent group, could theoretically defy the laws of worldly powers, but as long as those powers held sway, the Professionals would ultimately submit.

Yulxi nodded. “As long as it doesn’t escalate into something major.” After a moment’s thought, she added, “The arrival of the Beast Hunters will attract more adventurers.” The fact that they were deterred by the Red Maple Territory’s overt military strength suggested that the mages among them were of low rank. To obtain more demonic beasts, they couldn’t rely solely on their own abilities; they would need to offer bounties. The adventurers who once roamed the Mangshui Forest had fled in terror after the Great Dragon’s appearance, but several months had passed. Not only had the Red Maple Territory survived the dragon’s wrath, it was now flourishing with construction. This would lead adventurers to dismiss the dragon as mere legend.

As for those claiming to have witnessed the dragon firsthand—

They were probably just drunk.

“How can we pry the Magic Crystals and gold coins from their pockets?” Ilti suggested. “Should we impose a forest tax in the Mangshui Forest?” She recalled that one of her ancestors had done just that.

“Are you stupid?” Flah flicked Ilti on the forehead. “Mangshui Forest isn’t a castle with a single gate to guard. Do you really think the Red Maple Territory has the resources to cover the entire forest with surveillance? Besides, the Fei’er Continent isn’t just this one forest. If we block access here, people will just find other routes.”

Ilti made a face. “I was just thinking out loud.” After a pause, she added whimsically, “If only we had a magic crystal mine…”

Yulxi glanced at her. The Red Maple Territory didn’t have one now, but that didn’t mean it never would. Composing herself, she retrieved a stack of blueprints and handed them to Flah. “Please have the blacksmiths forge these.”

“Ugh, I’m an Elf! Am I just a messenger?” Flah grumbled as she stuffed the blueprints into her tunic. She couldn’t understand them anyway, so she didn’t bother looking. But Ilti leaned over and intercepted her movement. “What are these?” she asked, staring at the blueprints for a long moment before exclaiming in disbelief, “Plows?”

Yulxi nodded.

They were all farming tools.

The Fei’er Continent had alchemy, but its products weren’t accessible to everyone—certainly not to farmers. Yulxi still remembered the world’s low agricultural yields. Now that her basic needs for food, shelter, and transportation were met, she finally had the time to focus on more pressing matters. Since farming tools directly impacted agricultural productivity and alchemy was out of the question, modifying the tools was the only option. As for the final product’s effectiveness, that would depend on the farmers in her territory continuously experimenting and refining it.

Ilti scratched her head, puzzled by Yulxi’s plan. She shoved the blueprints into Flah’s arms and asked Yulxi, “Do you need me for anything?”

“Yes,” Yulxi replied.

This time, the blueprints weren’t for farming tools but for an alchemical magic product.

Finally, something within Ilti’s area of expertise! Though she hadn’t yet succeeded in creating it, she already felt a surge of pride. She took the blueprints and studied them intently for a long while before saying, “A magic energy weapon?”

Magic energy weapons differed from simply enchanted ones. When used, their effects resembled a mage’s bombardment, though at a lower level, typically employed in mundane warfare. However, they had a limitation: only those with some magical aptitude could wield them—meaning at least some Magical Talent, or even becoming Professionals. While barren territories couldn’t produce many Professionals, fertile lands were different.

“Relying solely on Magic Power for control is a major flaw,” Yulxi said. “I need a magic energy weapon that ordinary soldiers can use.”

Ilti froze.

As a wild mage who hadn’t received formal training, could she possibly accomplish this?

The fledgling confidence she had just gained as a professional was instantly crushed by Yulxi’s demanding expectations, leaving nothing behind.

Yulxi calmly explained, “I’ll teach you some runes. You’ll connect them to the magic energy weapon.” These runes were actually modified versions of talismans from the Primordial Realm. The traps the Kobold Tribe had set in Mangshui Forest were based on her research. Magic energy rifles already existed on this continent; all they needed was a simple activation mechanism—a button—to allow ordinary people to safely trigger them.

“If Lord Ilti can’t handle this, perhaps I could give it a try?” Veranse’s face held a smile as she gracefully entered the council hall, bathed in the morning light.

“I can do it,” Ilti gritted her teeth, clutching the blueprint to her chest. She couldn’t afford another failure after her potion-making debacle. She was a self-taught mage, after all! She turned to Veranse, forcing a smile. “You’ve been out of sight for a while. We’ve all been missing you.”

Veranse blinked, her voice light and cheerful. “I haven’t forgotten you either.”

Though she addressed Ilti, her gaze lingered on Yulxi, making it seem as though the words were meant for her.

Yulxi raised an eyebrow. “The research was successful?” She had expected Veranse to lock herself in her cottage for a month or two.

Veranse: “Praise Lord Yulshi! Your generosity allowed me to enter a new realm of understanding, dispelling the fog of ignorance.”

Ilti asked curiously, “What did you discover?”

Veranse fixed her gaze on Ilti. “A miraculous medicinal powder. Would you like to try it?”

Ilti shook her head, about to refuse, but as Veranse produced the Bigu Powder, her stomach rumbled loudly. The powder emitted an irresistibly enticing aroma, making her mouth water. “I… could I try it?”

“Of course,” Veranse replied softly, her eyes filled with encouragement.

Hearing Veranse’s words, Ilti immediately accepted the powder. Having shared both hardship and prosperity with Flah, she didn’t forget to divide half with her.

Yulxi watched helplessly as the clueless, foolish roe deer swallowed the Bigu Powder, their faces showing a lingering satisfaction as if they had just tasted something delicious. She couldn’t help but sigh.

“Is this Medicinal Powder… for replenishing energy?” Ilti asked, her eyes sparkling as she licked her lips.

“Sort of,” Veranse replied with a cheerful smile. “This abundant energy should sustain you for several days.”

“How magical!” Ilti exclaimed.

Flah reacted faster than Ilti. Her curved blade flashed from its sheath, a gust of wind sweeping toward the smiling Veranse. After being magically restrained by Veranse, Flah glared at Ilti’s bewildered expression and huffed, “After taking this powder, we can’t eat anything else! That wretched Veranse! She must have a demon from the abyss living in her heart!”

Veranse blinked, her smile innocent. “I’m just saving rations for the impoverished Red Maple Territory. Besides, you were the ones who insisted on trying it, weren’t you?”

“That Magic Plant is far more expensive than grain,” Yulxi interjected coldly. The Bigu Powder, once refined, was too costly for ordinary commoners; it was meant for adventurers.

“You were the one who taught me the Medicinal Powder, Teacher Yulshi,” Veranse said with a smile, dragging Yulxi into the fray. “You didn’t stop Ilti and the others when they wanted to try it, did you?” She approached Yulxi, her hands clasped behind her back, and stood on tiptoe to look at her. Her warm breath condensed into a white mist in the frigid winter air, spreading between them. The last few words were almost a whisper, soft and gentle.

Yulxi met Veranse’s mesmerizing violet eyes, her heart fluttering like the last green leaf on a tree branch, stirred by a gentle breeze.

“Teach it to Samir,” Yulxi said.

“I would never defy your wishes,” Veranse replied. “Samir is our mutual student, after all.”

Nearby, Ilti freed Flah from the magical restraints that had bound her.

The two had set aside their anger and were now listening intently to Veranse and Yulxi’s exchange.

What’s this about “you’re my teacher, your student is also my student”?

Ilti and Flah exchanged a glance and clicked their tongues.

What game are these two playing? Their relationship is so complicated.

Half a month later, at the Sisters’ Potion Shop.

The younger sister had fully recovered. After the Magic Potion Shop was renovated, the Succubus Sisters moved out of the Lord’s Manor and into the shop. Samir kept herself busy, dedicating her time to caring for her sister and studying Magic Potions. As she crammed vast amounts of knowledge into her mind, Samir experienced the pain of learning, yet it was mingled with a strange sense of joy. Logically, the shop should have focused on selling Magic Potions, but in reality, few customers came. Adventurers typically ordered potions from the Mage Guild or carried their own supplies, rarely purchasing from her. Instead, the citizens of Klein City would buy potions to repel vermin or treat livestock. Samir patiently fulfilled these requests, showing none of the haughtiness often associated with Alchemists.

Night of the Bitter Winter.

Thick clouds blanketed the sky, and a biting wind whipped through the streets, swirling countless snowflakes into a frenzied dance.

Samir and her sister sat by the warm fireplace, enjoying slices of cake.

Having finally mastered the “Bigu Powder” taught by Teacher Velanthe, Samir had bought a cake as a reward. This popular Klein City dessert was even more delicious than soft white bread, each bite as comforting as being cradled in her mother’s arms. These delicacies had all been taught to them by Teacher Yulshi.

The Fei’er Continent was rife with rumors about Great Dragons, all painting them as malevolent beings.

But these were lies, undoubtedly fabricated to ostracize outsiders, just as the Succubi were born burdened with the stigma of evil and sin.

As Samir was telling her sister about Lord Yulshi’s kindness and generosity, a rapid series of knocks echoed at the door.

Samir’s eyes widened in confusion. Who would be knocking at this hour? After whispering a few words to her sister and wiping the corners of her lips, she rose to answer. Peeking through the peephole, Samir saw several tall, muscular women. She wrinkled her nose, detecting a strong, metallic scent of bl00d. Had someone been injured? Yet the figures outside looked dangerous. After a moment’s hesitation, Samir opened the door.

The hinges creaked.

A “Succubus” burst in with a gust of icy wind. Samir’s face paled, and she instinctively shivered, her body recoiling.

“Greetings. We mean no harm,” said the woman with a ponytail, glaring at her startled companions. Forcing a warm smile, she continued, “We’re from the Crimson Flame Mercenary Group. Do you sell antidotes here?”

Samir had never heard of the Crimson Flame Mercenary Group. She stood frozen for a moment before cautiously looking up at the tall woman who had spoken. The woman’s ringmail armor was stained with dried bl00d, and snowflakes melted on contact with her body’s intense heat. Her smile was stiff and terrifying, but Samir sensed no malice. “Yes, we do,” she replied, slipping into shopkeeper mode. “What injured your companion? What kind of antidote do you need?”

The person standing behind the woman watched Samir intently, frowning slightly at her young age.

Their companion was on the brink of death, and they had exhausted their supply of Magic Potions. Without an antidote, she wouldn’t survive until dawn. Initially, they had planned to seek help from the Mage Association, but after nightfall, the proud mages refused to receive them. Forcing their way in would likely not only fail to secure the potion but also antagonize the entire mage community.

Lost and desperate, they spotted a brightly lit Magic Potion Shop.

Never heard of it.

At least, it hadn’t been here the last time they visited Red Maple Territory.

“Are you an apprentice here?” the Crimson Flame Captain asked.

Samir straightened her posture. “I am an Alchemist.”

The Red Flame Captain hesitated for a moment, then nodded to her companions, signaling them to bring forward the injured member, Bl00d Song.

Bl00d Song was fading fast. They had no other choice.

Taking a deep breath, she said, “It’s the lich poison from the Graveyard of the Undead.”

Samir hissed, shaking her head. “I don’t have an antidote for lich poison here.”

Red Flame wasn’t too disappointed. “Then do you have any potions to delay the poison’s effects?” she asked. They didn’t need a full antidote, just enough time to reach the Mage Guild’s gates.

“I do have those,” Samir nodded slowly.

“Hurry up!” the mercenaries behind her urged.

Samir went inside to retrieve the potion. Noticing the group’s anxious expressions, she added, “But we also have a medicinal powder that can neutralize the poison.”

“Powder?” A woman’s shrill voice boomed like thunder, her eyes glaring at Samir. “Are you joking?! Medicinal powder is just dregs! It’s garbage for animals!”

The woman’s face darkened, barely suppressing her anger.

Red Flame Captain, Red Flame, remained calm. She followed Samir into the shop, her gaze sweeping over the potions before settling on the more expensive medicinal powder. She narrowed her eyes. As a warrior, she possessed a certain intuition. The powder, stored in an Alchemy Glass Bottle, was clearly different from ordinary dregs.

“The powder!” Red Flame declared decisively.

“Captain!” The mercenaries behind her gasped, their expressions shifting in alarm.