Chapter 100: You Said No Mooches, Right?
The midnight wind stirred the ivy outside the church's stained-glass windows, and moonlight crystallized into frost on the tears of the saint statues.
Mil panted, clearly feeling a surge of magic within him.
If he wasn't mistaken, he should have already become a third-tier Black Magician.
“Saint Dragon blood isn’t that easy to digest.”
Lilith leaned against the carved pillar, arms crossed, the pearl pendant on her thorny-brown braid trembling slightly.
However, the gazes of the three people around her were all a little different. Lina clearly hadn't reacted to what had happened yet. Lilith, though aware of Mil's intentions beforehand, still looked utterly disdainful.
And Fafner, who was a bit anemic, also pouted helplessly:
“Mil, you didn’t ask to become sworn brothers just for this blood, did you?”
He knelt before the statue, his silver-white hair soaked with sweat and plastered to his cheeks, his honey-toned skin flushed crimson.
Dragon blood is also a high-grade alchemical material; due to its high magic content, it is more dangerous to use.
Mil sat on a nearby bench, facing the cold moonlight, and sneered:
“What kind of person do you take me for? I merely took a couple sips incidentally. It’s you, though—this method of improving strength through alchemy requires long-term training. Can you endure it?”
“Of course I can!”
Fafner pounded his chest, full of conviction, his eyes blazing.
Although he would come of age next month, Mil still planned to train him for a month or two, as Ibon still needed time to prepare.
Initially, they would train once a week, then gradually increase the frequency.
This magic, which strengthens through alchemy, is only effective on magical beasts, but dragons are an exception because they possess a magic core within their bodies.
After the war broke out, large numbers of dragons were thrown into transmutation arrays like livestock, becoming pure war machines.
Lina, standing nearby, applauded his bold declaration.
Mil curled his lips into a mischievous smile, turning his gaze to Lina, and said:
“Lina, the three of us will participate in the Tian Geng Beyond trial. Do you want to come with us?”
“This—”
Lina seemed hesitant. Mil pulled her over, gripping her shoulders tightly, and said with a faint smile:
“Lina, listen to me, the enlightenment fruit is crucial for Fafner, for the entire Saint Dragon Kingdom, and for the future of the entire Dragon race!”
Both Lilith and Lina looked puzzled; Fafner took a sharp breath, his gaze at Mil somewhat tense.
In the empty Divine Throne Hall, there were only the four of them, and Mil's words, like a devil's whisper, echoed through the hall:
“Moreover, if Fafner cannot become a Saint Dragon, he will become a discarded piece, thrown into the Fallen Dragon Valley like his countless older brothers before him, to dissolve the grievances and pain accumulated over billions of years.”
“Mil! Who told you all of this?!”
Fafner couldn't hold back any longer and questioned him, but Mil merely shrugged and chuckled:
“It’s not important, is it? To use the Arrow Society’s words, the most important thing is that a Saint Dragon must appear in the Dragon race as soon as possible.”
Lina frowned. Although it sounded terrifying, she still couldn't understand:
“Mil, I still don’t quite understand.”
“Simply put—the Dragon race lives by light, but after the Saint Dragon dies, no one illuminates them anymore, and they will wither like unwatered flowers, eventually perishing.”
“Are their citizens sick? Can we cure them?”
Lina, her face filled with horror, her eyes full of worry, but Mil shook his head:
“Only by letting Fafner grow stronger as quickly as possible and become the new Saint Dragon can he protect his people. Don’t you agree, Fafner?”
“Why don’t we discuss it with the school and give the enlightenment fruit to Prince Fafner?”
Hearing Lina’s question, Mil felt a bit awkward. This girl was usually a bit slow, but now she was suddenly sharp.
In fact, the enlightenment fruit wasn't extraordinarily precious; after all, it only helps a breakthrough from zero to first-tier. Even without the enlightenment fruit, it wouldn't be a big deal to spend five or six more years.
However, finding an equivalent substitute with the same effect is like finding a dark elf blood jade—unobtainable, priceless.
“Lina, for Fafner, becoming a god even one day earlier can save countless citizens, but the kindness of the Holy City nobles is limited; they won’t care if the Saint Dragon Kingdom gets out of trouble a day earlier or later, do you understand?”
However, this logic was still too complex for Lina.
Especially secretly helping Mil cheat—for the usually obedient Lina, it was a bit too thrilling.
After thinking for a long time, she still didn't agree.
Helpless, Mil sighed, only able to give up for now. Fafner, however, proactively said:
“How about we just work hard ourselves? Professor Victor also came to me two days ago, persuading me to participate in this trial. He said that in Tian Geng Beyond, there seem to be traces left by the Saint Dragon from back then.”
“Alright, alright, let’s leave it at that for today.”
“Wait! Mil, no, Big Brother Mil! I want to go to the tavern again—”
Fafner said excitedly, but Mil's expression was a bit disgusted:
“Your drinking capacity, forget it—don’t end up drinking and then hugging people and nibbling.”
“I won’t!”
Fafner's eyes were firm. As an adult male dragon, getting completely drunk after two beers and doing something embarrassing would surely be a laughingstock!
This must never happen again!
Finally, at Fafner’s pleading, Mil still took him. Lina wasn't interested in that kind of place and went back alone, so only Mil and Lilith took Fafner.
This was his third time going out at night. Fafner, having changed back into male attire, walked with confidence and a smile.
Kerosene lamps cast warm yellow spots on the oak wine barrels. Fafner straddled a high stool, lace cuffs stained with ale foam.
He arm-wrestled, played dice, and even learned how to play cards in the tavern.
Then he slapped the table, bragging about how effortlessly he killed Goblins.
Midway, a few drunkards pointed at him and said he looked like a girl, resulting in him giving them a beating.
Finally, he drank himself into unconsciousness. Fortunately, Lilith was right there this time, grabbing her staff and putting him to sleep.
“Was he like this before too?”
“More or less—”
Mil tried to push him away but found him clinging like a koala.
When Fafner woke up, it was past 3 AM again.
He sat up groggily, a silver trail of drool stretching from Mil’s neck as he looked up and met his angry gaze.
“What did you promise me before?”
“Ah—I’m sorry!”
Saying that, Fafner quickly jumped off Mil.
“By the way, where’s the flower Lina gave you?”
Fafner searched his body but found nothing.
“Maybe I dropped it without noticing while drinking?”