Chapter : 89

Merlin said sheepishly: "Isn't it... hey, wait, how can you deny it so confidently? Could it be that you've guessed who the other party is?"

"...Not sure."

"I didn't react at first, but now that I think back, that familiar feeling wasn't brought on by Divik's scent."

Isabelle hesitated: "...When he called out my name, he sounded very much like that person."

Merlin was stunned for a moment: "That person?"

Immediately, his expression changed, and he froze for a few seconds: "You mean... Nolan?"

Isabelle said no more. Her silence was enough to express her attitude. She indeed thought so.

Merlin also fell into silence. For a time, this small space was filled only with the rustling sound of Merlin treating Nana's wounds, and one shallow, two heavy breaths.

"Are you sure?" Merlin couldn't help but confirm again.

Isabelle, however, didn't know how to answer this question. She was already beginning to doubt her own judgment.

After all, that person had been gone for over a thousand years.

Isabelle ruffled her fiery long hair in frustration, "I should have stopped him before he ran off, at least to take off that mask and have a look.

This despicable fellow, disappearing for over a thousand years, does he really think we wouldn't worry and get angry?"

"Is it really him?" Isabelle murmured, "Disappearing and reappearing so suddenly..."

Merlin sighed and comforted her: "Don't dwell on it. You also said that person suddenly appeared nearby and then ran towards Free City in the end. As long as we stay here long enough, we'll see him again sooner or later."

"If it really is Nolan, you can give him a good beating to vent your anger." Merlin secretly suggested, "Didn't you say before that you would give him a good beating after you found him when he suddenly disappeared?"

Isabelle was stunned, "Was there such a thing?"

"Of course there was!" Merlin saw Isabelle's bewildered look. "At that time, you were looking for Nolan everywhere, full of anger with nowhere to vent. Didn't you take it all out on me?"

What does this mean, were the beatings he took before all for nothing?

So he was just a punching bag?

Isabelle: "...Don't change the subject, when did I ever beat you for no reason?"

Merlin felt that he had been greatly wronged, "How could you not have! You even broke my leg before!"

"Wasn't that because you were flirting with little girls?" Isabelle snorted. "I admit, I was a little impulsive at that time, but you yourself were so flippant, promoting your 'great achievements' everywhere. How could I not beat you?"

"I didn't!"

If there was a 'Most Wronged' trophy to be awarded, Merlin felt it had to be his.

The young Merlin was handsome and dashing. He grew up in a wealthy family, was raised delicately and arrogantly. In addition to his identity as a magician, he did attract the admiration of many noble ladies.

At that time, Merlin had just founded Sigret Academy, and was still that handsome and rich magician.

As a result, many female students in the academy had a crush on him, and some vague rumors spread, but Merlin himself was not aware of these.

Because he was a shut-in. Yes, a handsome, rich, and legendary magician was actually a shut-in. His favorite thing to do was to stay in the potion room brewing strange and peculiar potions.

These romantic rumors hadn't reached Merlin's ears yet, but they had reached the ears of Isabelle, who had come to find Merlin first.

Because the war had restarted, Isabelle had taken over the throne of the dragon clan and had been separated from Merlin for a period of time.

After finally dealing with the matters of her clan, she was preparing to go out and continue searching for the Demon King's whereabouts with Merlin when she heard these rumors.

—At that time, Isabelle and Merlin had already become husband and wife. Hearing that Merlin was flirting with little girls while she was back dealing with things, Isabelle exploded.

Without a second thought, she went and gave Merlin a good beating, and broke his leg in the process.

Later, it was clarified that everything was just a misunderstanding.

"Who told you to go around promoting that you have dozens of girlfriends?" Isabelle glared at him. "If it weren't for this, how could I have misunderstood?"

Merlin's face contorted in pain: "Wasn't it because of you... you wouldn't let me publicize that we were together.

That guy wanted to introduce his niece to me. In order to refuse him, didn't I have to ruin my own reputation first!"

Isabelle coughed: "Then you could have ruined your reputation in other ways, like saying you're impotent or something."

Merlin: "...Yeah, so isn't this what I've become now? Who would introduce someone to an old man?"

Yes, after Merlin's lifespan was no longer limited to a mere few decades, his appearance had been fixed in his youth.

The reason why he now looked like an old man was purely because he was afraid of being beaten by Isabelle again due to some misunderstanding.

It was safer to look like an old man. If he walked out, he might even be helped by a kind child.

Isabelle looked at Merlin with disgust, expressing that she couldn't bear to look at his cowardly appearance.

"Hurry up and deal with this child. I'll go out and have another look." Isabelle was still concerned about the person who was suspected to be Nolan.

She stood up and said to Merlin, "After you've dealt with this child, hide her first. I can see she's in a lot of trouble. It's not suitable for us to reveal our identities now."

Merlin looked at the night sky and muttered, "You're still going out so late? Alright, alright... then come back early."

Isabelle waved her hand, cleaned the bloodstains on her body, and pushed open the door again.

Merlin watched Isabelle leave with longing eyes. Seeing that she showed no reluctance to leave, he could only lower his head and continue with his work.

He took a crystal full of life mana and placed it in Nana's mouth for her to hold. He then used a dagger to cut open the flesh that was healing over the chain, but strangely, the cut flesh did not bleed under his actions.

Merlin slowly pulled out the Soul Lock Chain, looked at the blood-stained chain, and clicked his tongue:

"So many years have passed, I thought this kind of insidious thing had disappeared, but I didn't expect it to pop up again."

I wonder how Divik's side is doing?

...Eh? Wait, Isabelle said that the person suspected to be Nolan had Divik's scent on him. Could it be because he had been in close contact with Divik?

He's also in Mandiper?

***

Having already obtained the qualification for the competition, Yan Yunqing did not plan to continue gambling in the high-stakes area.

Mandiper was currently conducting a large-scale investigation, and it was not a good time for Yan Yunqing to run out and find Isabelle.

But a few hours after he handed Nana over to Isabelle, he suddenly received a notification that the mission was completed.

[Save Nana (Completed)]

Seeing this notification, Yan Yunqing was sure that Nana was out of mortal danger and was definitely safe with Isabelle now.

Yan Yunqing simply took advantage of this last day to rest in his room for a day. He didn't specifically move to the exclusive suite for the Midas Touches.

He had just caused trouble over there. One could imagine that the guards there were definitely more numerous than here.

But just before the competition was about to start, a 『Manl』 knocked on his door.

"Sir, the competition is about to begin. For the convenience of the competition arrangements, all 『Midas Touches』 must be concentrated on the same floor. Please pack up and follow me."

Yan Yunqing didn't expect such a thing. He paused for a moment and agreed.

He and Rocco didn't have many things. Most of them were in his backpack. Yan Yunqing directly took Rocco to the place arranged by Mandiper.

As soon as he entered, Yan Yunqing noticed that something was wrong.

A [Marked] status had been added to his panel. This status had no negative effects, and the description was just a simple "You have been marked."

Even if there were more negative statuses, Yan Yunqing wouldn't have found it strange. After all, this was a routine operation in Mandiper.

In the previous few halls, there were more or less a few negative debuffs when entering. Yan Yunqing was used to it.

But this [Marked] seemed very meaningful. Why did it look like he had been targeted by some kind of indescribable thing?

Yan Yunqing glanced at Rocco beside him and found that he did not have this status.

Hiss... this is even worse, isn't it?

Why does everyone else not have it, and only I do?

If I had known that no one else had it, I wouldn't have come.

Yan Yunqing almost blurted out the classic line. The thought of running away at any time was eased when he saw that another person on the same floor also had a [Marked] in their status bar. He breathed a sigh of relief.

Fortunately, it seems I'm not the only one with this [Marked]. That's a relief.

...As if! So all the 『Midas Touches』 have this [Marked]? What is the purpose of this competition?

Yan Yunqing felt a faint sense of unease in his heart. He looked down at Rocco and made a decision, "I'll send you out later. Find a safe place to stay and don't show your face for the time being."

If he encountered anything, he could immediately activate [Unyielding Will] and teleport away. But with Rocco around, he would be a hindrance.

Anyway, he had almost finished what he needed to do and no longer needed Rocco's help.

Rocco was stunned for a moment and nodded gently.

After changing to a new room, Yan Yunqing recalled the substitute doll. There was no way to add another layer of insurance now. He directly placed the doll in the washroom, so that he could swap positions when he came back later. Then he took off his bracelet and teleported Rocco out.

As soon as he landed, Yan Yunqing keenly sensed a strong gust of wind coming from his side.

He twisted his body sharply, and an iron fist grazed past his cheek. With a push of his foot, he quickly darted out a few steps.

"Ha—you dodged it?" Isabelle looked at Yan Yunqing with great interest. Her gaze touched his black hair and red eyes, but paused on his unfamiliar face.

Her canine teeth gnashed a couple of times, and she pulled out a dangerous smile, "Same landing point, different person?"

Yan Yunqing felt the hair on his arms stand on end. He held Rocco and retreated a few more steps, cursing inwardly.

He had really forgotten that Isabelle had seen him appear here yesterday and would most likely come back to wait for him.

He was that foolish rabbit that bumped into the pillar.

"You're not surprised that I'm here?" Flames ignited in Isabelle's brownish-red eyes. She raised her fist and once again smashed it towards Yan Yunqing. "So, who exactly are you?"

Yan Yunqing threw Rocco to the side and once again dodged Isabelle's fist sideways.

He did want to try crossing blows with Isabelle, but the level gap between them was too large now. Even if Yan Yunqing wanted to counterattack, he couldn't.

Fortunately, Isabelle had not lost her reason. At least the fist she swung at him had some of its force held back. Otherwise, with Isabelle's level, this punch would probably have sent him to his grave with a smile.

Seeing Yan Yunqing dodge again, Isabelle gradually released the force she had been holding back.

Every punch she threw carried a fierce gust of wind. Every time Yan Yunqing dodged, he felt like he had just survived a disaster.

"Wait, Isabelle, calm down." Yan Yunqing couldn't help but speak after a punch almost hit him and he barely dodged it. "Are you really trying to kill me!"

Isabelle used to be very violent. So many years have passed, but this personality hasn't changed a bit!

Isabelle retracted the fist she had thrown. She squeezed her wrist and rotated it, her gaze towards Yan Yunqing was particularly complicated, "It really is you—Nolan."

Yan Yunqing raised his hands in surrender: "Yes, that's right, it's me."

Nolan, the name the Demon King had used when he first met Isabelle and Merlin.

Isabelle narrowed her eyes and threw another punch without a second thought. This time, it really landed on Yan Yunqing's body, but the force was mostly held back, not with the intention of killing him like before.

Yan Yunqing was sent stumbling back a few steps by the punch. He couldn't help but clutch the arm that was hit, grimacing in pain, "You're still so violent."

Isabelle snorted coldly, retracted her fist, and placed one hand on her hip, "Your strength has regressed too much. What?

After disappearing for so many years, did you go somewhere to slumber? And you've become like this?"

She sized up Yan Yunqing's unfamiliar face, "Is this a disguise? Was that you last night too?"

It was a disguise, that's right, but Yan Yunqing's appearance was indeed different from the Demon King's.

He couldn't possibly say that he had disappeared for so long to take the college entrance exam, right?

Yan Yunqing rubbed his arm, "Well... for some reason, I had to leave for a while. It was me last night. By the way, is Nana okay with you?"

After Yan Yunqing and Isabelle started fighting, Rocco, who had been hiding in the distance vigilantly, heard Nana's name and couldn't help but look at the violent red-haired woman.

Didn't he say he had entrusted Nana to a friend? This person who started fighting as soon as they met... was his friend?!

Isabelle stared at Yan Yunqing for a few seconds and snorted: "Me... um, he has already removed the Soul Lock Chain from that girl.

But she was seriously injured before, and it even involved her soul's origin. She's still recuperating and won't be healed so quickly."

Considering that there was another small child present, Isabelle did not call out Merlin's name.

After all, compared to the name Isabelle, the name Merlin was more famous on this continent. The greatest legendary magician Merlin, this was simply a household name.

Soul Lock Chain?

Yan Yunqing was stunned to hear this familiar name: "Soul Lock Chain? Is it the Soul Lock Chain I know?"

Isabelle rolled her eyes at him, "Don't tell me you didn't recognize it? You were the one who discovered the matter of the Soul Lock Chain back then."

Yan Yunqing: ...He really didn't recognize it.

There was still a difference between a 2D plane game and a real transmigration. At that time, Yan Yunqing had only thought it was an ordinary and sturdy chain, and hadn't even thrown an [Appraise] on it.

That's right. When he met Isabelle last night, Isabelle had said that the chain had a soul-devouring effect.

The situation was too urgent at that time, and Yan Yunqing was in a hurry to go back, so he had pushed this to the back of his mind and hadn't thought about it at all.

Yan Yunqing rubbed his nose, "I really didn't recognize it."

He glanced at Rocco, then at the time. More than ten minutes had passed since he came out. Without anyone to receive him in Mandiper, Yan Yunqing was not sure what the situation was inside, but it was best not to leave for too long.

His mission was not all completed yet!

Yan Yunqing beckoned to Rocco, "Do you still remember what I said to you before?"

Find a safe place to hide.

Rocco nodded, but then looked at Isabelle hesitantly, "Can I go see Nana first?"

Yan Yunqing paused and glanced at Isabelle, who still looked a little angry, "Is it convenient for you?"

"Huh?" Isabelle was speechless. "Why didn't you ask me if it was convenient last night? You just shoved that child into my arms?

You didn't even say who you were. If it weren't for my kind heart, humph."

This tone, it's settled. Isabelle with a heart of tofu despite her iron fists and sharp tongue.

Yan Yunqing nodded to Rocco, "Then you go with her. Stay with her for the next few days. After I've solved the matter here, I'll go find you there."

Rocco looked at Isabelle hesitantly.

Isabelle was dissatisfied: "Hey, I haven't agreed yet!"

Yan Yunqing completely ignored Isabelle's complaint. Usually, when Isabelle said that, it meant she had already agreed.

He looked at the time again, "I have to rush back to Mandiper now. If you have anything to ask, ask Rocco first. After I've solved my business, I'll go find you. Then you can settle whatever accounts you want with me."

Saying that, Yan Yunqing crushed the portable anchor point, which only had one teleportation chance left, and replaced it with a new one.

"...Humph, you always avoid the topic." Isabelle glanced at Yan Yunqing's action, confirming that it was the tool he had used to suddenly appear here. It disappeared after being installed.

Is it inscribed with a teleportation magic circle? Probably similar to the effect of a teleportation scroll?

"Forget it, I'll let you off this time. You'd better solve your so-called business quickly, otherwise, next time we meet, I'll invite you to get intimate with my fists."

Yan Yunqing almost stumbled, his heart filled with sorrow.

Isabelle is even more violent than before. Could it be that she's used to beating up Merlin?

Yan Yunqing took one last look at Isabelle and quickly rushed back. He returned to the area above Mandiper, used the substitute doll's active skill to swap positions, and successfully returned to his new room.

The time was successfully kept within half an hour. Yan Yunqing glanced at the minimap and confirmed that no strangers had entered his room.

Only then did he breathe a sigh of relief, put on his bracelet again, and pushed open the door of the washroom.

As he raised his eyes, he met a pair of cold, brownish-red eyes.

Yan Yunqing: ?!

Yan Yunqing subconsciously took a step back and looked at the minimap again. Only then did another green dot belatedly appear on the minimap.

No, can the minimap have bugs too?!

The same fiery red hair as Isabelle's, a handsome face with an indescribable sharpness, and brownish-red eyes deeper than Isabelle's, filled with a deep chill.

It was Divik.

That dragon prince who was once suspected of having Stockholm Syndrome after being beaten by the Demon King.

At this moment, he exuded an extremely dangerous aura, and his gaze towards Yan Yunqing was filled with cold killing intent.

He approached Yan Yunqing step by step. Yan Yunqing's heart skipped a couple of beats. Why didn't Isabelle tell him that her brother was also here?

No, for Divik to appear in his room, could it be because Isabelle turned around and snitched on him?

But how did Isabelle know which room in Mandiper he would appear in?!

In just a few seconds, Divik had approached him. Yan Yunqing met that cold gaze and subconsciously turned to run.

The substitute doll's active skill had already been used and was on a 20-minute cooldown. Teleportation required a 60-second cast time. Neither was an immediate means of escape.

Yan Yunqing could only first create some distance between himself and Divik and see if he needed to use [Unyielding Will] to force a teleportation cast.

However, just as he was about to move, Divik had already ruthlessly grabbed his neck, pressing him against the wall.

Yan Yunqing's face was forced against the cold wall, and the back of his neck was tightly held, giving him the feeling of being on a guillotine, his head ready to fall at any moment.

The huge level difference suppressed Yan Yunqing to the point where he couldn't even struggle. He gritted his teeth, preparing to use [Unyielding Will] to cast and escape.

Damn it, so the retainer who wanted to kill the king was you?

Yan Yunqing closed his eyes. The second before he used [Unyielding Will], he heard Divik's deep and cold voice in his ear: "Suddenly appearing in my room, what is your purpose?"

Yan Yunqing: ...?

Yan Yunqing's action of using the skill hesitated for a second.

What's going on, judging by this tone, Divik didn't recognize him? No way?

And what does he mean by his room, isn't this my own room? Yan Yunqing had left the substitute doll in his own room, right?

Yan Yunqing struggled to move, but felt the hand on his neck tighten again. He could only keep his cheek pressed against the cold wall and answer calmly:

"This is my room, did you go to the wrong one?"

"Still quibbling?" Divik sneered. Just as he was about to twist the neck of this little ant in front of him, he keenly sensed a familiar scent on the other party. The strength in his hand couldn't help but loosen.

"...Isabelle?" A hint of confusion appeared in Divik's cold, reddish-brown eyes.

He couldn't help but lower his head and move closer to the other's ear. His nose twitched slightly, and he smelled the familiar scent of fire.

It really was Isabelle's scent. As a twin brother, it was impossible for Divik not to recognize Isabelle's scent. Moreover, this scent was very fresh, left no more than an hour ago.

Divik had come to Free City with Isabelle, so he naturally knew that Isabelle was also here. But he was sure that Isabelle had not followed him into Mandiper; that was not in their plan.

Based on what Divik had seen and knew so far, he made a reasonable deduction: "You're one of Isabelle's people?"

Yan Yunqing: ...

Yan Yunqing closed his eyes. Divik's warm breath sprayed on his ear and the side of his neck, bringing a numb and itchy sensation, as if ten thousand little insects were crawling over him. This degree of close contact made him particularly uncomfortable.

The pressure from the level difference, as well as the difference in body size, all made Yan Yunqing feel a strong sense of unease.

"...I'm not, but I did just separate from Isabelle. Can you let me go first?" Yan Yunqing tried to speak nicely to Divik.

Divik frowned. Thinking of their purpose for coming this time, he pressed in even closer. Yan Yunqing felt his back completely pressed against a scorching hot chest.

"I don't believe you," Divik said. "Then tell me what you were doing just now? What did Isabelle say to you?"

The warm breath sprayed on the tip of his ear, stimulating Yan Yunqing so much that he couldn't help but shrink his neck again.

Yan Yunqing was on the verge of tears: was he going to say that he was just forced to fight with Isabelle, and that it was Isabelle who was unilaterally beating him up?

This damned level suppression. When his level went up, he would definitely give all you despicable fellows a good beating.

There's a difference between a dog that bites and a dog that bites its master, okay?