After Becoming an Evil Dragon, I Was Entangled by the Saintess - Chapter 36

Ada’s desperate and helpless voice jolted Lavise out of her culinary reverie.

Just moments before, Ada had been savoring a frost-like sweet treat. Despite the howling winter winds, the icy dessert offered a novel sensation.

Well, Lavise confessed to the Mother Goddess, I too have lost myself in the allure of food.

“Hmm?” Lavise raised an eyebrow, turning to Ada. “Where should we go next? Ah, the Lord’s Manor—the one that paid your reward, right?”

Before Ada could nod, Lavise strode forward, her robe billowing in the wind.

Ilti wasn’t at the Lord’s Manor. After receiving news from the guards, Lavise redirected her steps toward the northern district of Klein City. Before reaching her destination, she spotted a magnificent structure built against the mountainside. Though only half-Elf, Lavise had inherited some of her elven heritage, making her utterly defenseless against such breathtaking splendor.

“Could that be a temple to the Dragon God?” Lavise wondered aloud. What other reason could there be for such an exquisitely crafted edifice, if not to glorify the Lord’s majesty?

“No,” Ada shook her head. “It’s Lord Yulshi’s palace.”

Lavise raised an eyebrow, not for the first time hearing that name. “Yulshi?”

Ada nodded. “Legends about the Black Dragon circulate throughout the Red Maple Territory. Yulshi is said to be the dragon’s true name. After investigating in the city, I learned that Lord Yulshi is a friend of the City Lord. During the Red Maple Territory’s unrest, she bravely slew the bandits ravaging the city. Her courage and fearlessness rivaled that of a Great Dragon, earning her the title ‘Black Dragon.'”

This was the most plausible explanation Ada had heard so far.

Otherwise, she couldn’t imagine how a city haunted by a Black Dragon could be such a wondrous sight.

“I see,” Lavise nodded.

Ada fell silent again, but moments later, she remembered something crucial. She slapped her forehead and exclaimed, “The Lord’s Manor found the Wilderness Heart Notes, Teacher! I thought you came here for them.”

“Heart of the Wilderness?” Lavise’s eyes flickered. “That’s unlikely. The Great Druid’s travel journals make no mention of the Red Maple Territory. How could her notes have ended up here?”

“Could it be from the auction house?” Ada suggested. “Red Maple Territory used to have a small-scale auction house. Or perhaps the Lord acquired it from abroad? Before inheriting the territory, he spent years adventuring.”

Lavise remained skeptical. If the Heart of the Wilderness Notes were truly here, why hadn’t her friends in the Path of Nature Guild made any move?

As they spoke, the pair gradually approached Yulxi’s Dragon Palace.

The guards at the entrance bowed respectfully to Lavise before hurrying inside to deliver the message.

Yulxi naturally welcomed the Druid warmly.

Since Ilti and Flah were both present, the task of handling the Druid was delegated to them.

After a round of polite greetings, Yulxi remained silent, allowing Ilti to lead the conversation with the teacher and student.

She stood quietly to the side, arms crossed, her True Dragon’s Eye fixed intently on Lavise.

Name: Lavise

Race: Half-Elf

Class: Druid

Tier: Fourth-Tier

True God: Goddess of Nature and Life

Faith Level: Devout Believer

Abilities: Agricultural Master

The description in the “Abilities” section eased Yulxi’s concerns. The higher a Druid’s tier, the greater their potential to cultivate Mangshui Demon Rice. A faint smile touched her lips. A Fourth-Tier Professional showed promise of advancing to higher ranks.

Ilti chattered away, remembering the news about the “Wilderness Heart Notes” that Red Maple Territory had been promoting. She immediately retrieved the notes related to cultivating Mangshui Demon Rice and pulled a classic “switcheroo.” As for getting it wrong—she wasn’t a Druid, so wasn’t it perfectly normal not to recognize the proper lineage?

“These aren’t the Wilderness Heart Master’s notes,” Lavise immediately corrected Ilti, but she still accepted the notes and began to read them with intense focus. She had come to Mangshui Forest seeking grain seeds, and though her original goal remained unfulfilled, Mangshui Demon Rice was still a novel subject worthy of her study.

After closing the notes and pondering for a moment, Lavise said, “The Red Maple Territory doesn’t have a Natural Heart Guild branch. As an Elder of the Natural Heart Guild, I can represent the guild’s interests here.”

Lavise’s straightforwardness surprised Ilti. She paused, then instinctively replied, “Any guild establishing a presence in Red Maple Territory must first pay an establishment fee. Afterward, they’ll be required to pay an annual commercial tax of five percent on all business transactions.”

Ada’s expression shifted slightly. Professionals nearing the high-tier level, like her teacher, were typically treated with reverence wherever they went—unless they were in a place like the Royal Capital, which had an abundance of talent. But Red Maple Territory looked so barren and desolate. How could they possibly impose such conditions?

Ilti’s face flushed as she stole a glance at Yulxi. This was all the Black Dragon’s decision; she had no room to argue.

Such impartial treatment might please ordinary merchants, but to the ears of Professionals, it could sound like an insult and a sign of disrespect, violating the established customs of noble society.

“If you’re willing to become the Agricultural Officer of Red Maple Territory, you’ll be considered one of us, and your industry will be exempt from the entry fee,” Veranse said with a gentle smile, breaking the awkward silence in the room.

Her golden hair shone like sunlight, and her entire being radiated a sacred aura. She had previously used magic to suppress her presence, but once the concealment spell was lifted, she became as impossible to ignore as the sun itself—not blinding, but rather bathing the room in her radiant glow.

Ilti was bewildered. Was this a new rule? Seeing that Yulxi showed no signs of objection, she realized with a start that it was now.

Lavise turned her gaze to Veranse, finding her face strangely familiar, as if she had seen it somewhere before. After a moment’s hesitation, she asked, “Are you the High Priest of the Church of Light?”

Veranse shook her head with a soft laugh. “I am Lord Ilti’s deputy.”

Lavise had no interest in becoming an official, finding the endless social obligations tedious. After a moment’s thought, she pushed Ada forward and asked, “Would she be suitable?”

Ada froze, pointing at herself in disbelief. “Me?”

Veranse raised an eyebrow and smiled. “Lord Ada is also an excellent Druid, you know.” She winked at Ada, her golden hair catching the sunlight, radiating a saintly glow. Ada quickly averted her gaze, a blush creeping across her cheeks.

Every province under the Montan Empire had a City Hall, but its personnel were intertwined with the Lord’s Manor, making financial separation impossible. The Red Maple Territory was no exception. During the recent Black Dragon Calamity, some officials had fled, only to return after the crisis subsided.

Even if they wanted to pledge loyalty, Ilti refused to reappoint them. She seized this opportunity to implement reforms, separating the Lord’s Manor from the City Hall instead of assigning stewards or nobles to City Hall positions.

Previously, the Red Maple Territory lacked an agricultural official. A finance officer to calculate taxes and a knight captain to violently collect them had sufficed. Even a judicial officer was unnecessary, as the Lord judged cases based on the amount of tribute offered. But no matter—as long as the teacher-student pair remained in the Red Maple Territory to research Mangshui Demon Rice, an agricultural official would be needed.

“I need manpower and funding,” Lavise said. “It’s not fair to expect me to provide both labor and resources for researching the Mangshui Demon Rice.”

Ilti readily agreed. “Of course.” The Red Maple Territory might lack many things, but it certainly had plenty of people. Well, compared to the eastern provinces, even Red Maple’s population was small, but she believed more settlers would arrive in time. If necessary, they could even accept serfs or refugees from neighboring provinces.

With the agreement with Lavise settled, Yulxi felt a weight lift from his heart.

Listening to the increasingly fantastical tales about the Underdark circulating in the Gold and Silver Tavern, he decided it was time to venture there himself.

“The Underdark has Great Dragons,” Kasha speculated wildly. “Could it be that the Great Dragon sensed Little Gold and Little Silver’s presence and sent its familiars to the surface to try and bring them back?”

Though the two were still dragonlings, hunting was an innate skill for dragons. They needed to learn to hunt soon after their first brief slumber. Kasha often took the young dragons deep into the Mangshui Forest for training, leaving the tavern in the care of her cat-like attendants.

“Do you really think those goblins could capture dragonlings?” Yulxi raised an eyebrow, smiling at Kasha. “Are you so insecure about your magic?” He was certain the Great Dragon in the Underdark hadn’t reached Legendary status.

Kasha licked her paw and meowed, “Isn’t this just nervousness?”

Yulxi lowered her gaze to observe the sturdy Goldy and Silvy. Gold Dragons and Silver Dragons were among the most benevolent of Great Dragon races, living in remarkable harmony. Though occasional skirmishes occurred, such combat was inherent to their nature; they needed worthy opponents. “They’re nearing their slumber,” Yulxi added.

Dragonlings and adolescent Great Dragons received incomplete inheritances, requiring periods of deep slumber to grow, digest energy, and fully assimilate their ancestral knowledge.

Yulxi was an anomaly, but Goldy and Silvy were not.

“Slumber? They need Nest Caves? Does that mean I have to give up all the gems I’ve collected over the years to build their nests?” A human-like horror flashed across Kasha’s feline face. Great Dragons coveted treasure, and she herself adored all manner of precious stones.

“That won’t be necessary,” Yulxi assured her.

Kasha watched the two young dragons playing and snorted, changing the subject. “Yulxi, are you really going to the Underdark?”

Yulxi explained, “Creationist Society cultists are causing trouble there.”

“That’s still an underground matter,” Kasha retorted. “The Underdark is vast. Just seal the entrances from Mangshui Forest, and the problem vanishes.” As for any other entrances on the surface outside Red Maple Territory, those weren’t her concern.

“Lady Kasha speaks truly,” Veranse said with a faint smile.

“Even so, we must investigate the situation before making a decision,” Yulxi replied. If the Red Maple Territory had a strong military force, they could send Knights to scout the area. However, those fellows couldn’t be relied upon for the time being. As for mercenaries, the Red Maple Territory’s funds were needed for other purposes and couldn’t be spent on them.

“I’ve heard the Drow’s faith is fanatical,” Yulxi added.

Veranse’s lips curled into a smile. Unlike surface Elves, the Drow were synonymous with evil. Their infamous reputation had spread throughout the Fei’er Continent. The Drow worshipped Lolth, the Spider Queen and Lord of the Abyss, a Deity renowned for malice, trickery, and darkness. Her doctrine was survival of the fittest, encouraging Drow to kill their own kin to eliminate the weak from their race.

With the Gods in slumber, the Elven Deities were no exception. Without Lolth’s instigation, would the Drow suddenly become as benevolent as their surface relatives? No, that was impossible.

She replied to Yulxi, “I believe so.”

Yulxi nodded, his pupils narrowing into vertical slits that gleamed with a cold, dark light.

Could we find a Saint of Lolth in the Underdark?