Ch 69: Guide to Running a Shop in Another World

Luo Yao quickly gathered a few essentials and followed the twin fairies out the door. Using the teleportation array, they headed to Bribis City, listening to Merulu and Puxiu explain what had happened along the way.

Today was the centennial celebration of the Royal Academy of Magic, a rare day when the public could enter the school to visit. Ambrose and Edward were curious about the battle capabilities of the magical nails and suggested a trip to Bribis City for some fun. Annie had mentioned that she would be wearing her magical nails while participating in the Silver Rose Badge competition.

The nail salon had been fairly quiet the past few days, and today was particularly slow, with the shopkeeper still resting. Everyone was a bit bored. After some persuasion by Ambrose and Edward, everyone agreed to go.

Harold had even mentioned buying some snacks in the city, hoping that by the time they returned, Luo Yao would have woken up.

Apart from Eugenia, all the employees were of different races, each with some level of interest in combat.

Upon arriving in Bribis City, the group stayed together and headed to the Royal Academy of Magic. Their timing was impeccable, as Annie was just stepping onto the battle stage, and her opponent was Zelan Rui.

Annie was already quite famous at the Magic Academy, and after Zelan Rui and Helena got involved, the three of them became well-known. When the two stepped onto the stage, the crowd erupted in cheers.

Zelan Rui had actually already been dumped by Helena, but now, unexpectedly facing Annie in battle, a hint of embarrassment crossed his face.

Due to cheating and then being dumped, Zelan Rui had become something of a pariah at the academy, constantly mocked wherever he went. If he lost here, it would only invite more ridicule.

Believing he could defeat a mage one-on-one, Zelan Rui drew his sword first, saying, “Annie, I don’t want to hurt you. If you forfeit, we can both walk away with dignity.”

Annie almost laughed out loud.

Because Zelan Rui was always so sensitive, she had never sparred with him seriously when they were together. Her words were always gentle, unintentionally boosting his confidence.

Without wasting any more time, she raised her hand and launched an attack spell.

Zelan Rui scrambled, rolling on the ground, unable to fight back against the “meek and mild” ex-girlfriend he had in his mind. Annie dominated the match, relentlessly knocking Zelan Rui around, and she didn’t even use her battle-ready magical nails.

The employees from the nail salon sat in the audience, looking bored, not understanding why the crowd was cheering.

“This opponent is too weak. She didn’t even need to use her battle nails.”

Annie easily won her way to the semifinals, where she faced Helena Kinkley.

By now, it was the semifinals, and Annie was somewhat surprised that Helena had made it this far.

Just as the match was about to begin, there was a commotion outside the arena, and soon everyone rose to their feet and bowed. The emperor had arrived.

High Priest Carlos accompanied Emperor Bais III as they made their way to the center of the arena. With them were the empress, the newly adult third prince, and several nobles, with the Kinkley family being the most prominent among them.

Duke Berth Kinkley sat to the emperor’s right, while even the High Priest had to stand by the side, with the other nobles even further back.

Once Bais took his seat, his eyes fixated on Helena in the arena, and he said meaningfully, “She is indeed young.”

Berth Kinkley smiled and agreed, “My daughter is only seventeen, naturally young. It is the High Priest who truly defies age.”

Carlos, the High Priest, and the emperor were the same age. While the emperor looked younger than his actual age, the High Priest still appeared almost youthful, his face untouched by time.

Carlos lowered his head respectfully, saying nothing.

Berth Kinkley felt a twinge of displeasure but suppressed his emotions, focusing instead on the day’s purpose, pretending to watch the battle intently.

On the battlefield, Annie and Helena exchanged magic spells, with neither gaining a clear advantage at first.

Helena was more formidable than Annie had expected. Despite being known at school as a spoiled rich girl with average grades, always protected by guards and giving off the impression of a decorative flower, she showed no obvious weaknesses in battle.

Realizing the need to step up her game, Annie activated her magical nails, imbuing them with power, and donned a set of armor while her magic staff was immediately enhanced. The spell enchanted on her pinky provided healing, instantly restoring her to full strength.

The audience was stunned.

“What kind of artifact is that? It’s totally unfair!”

“It seems like… fingernails?”

“Her magic surged at her fingertips, instantly forming armor, enhancing her staff, and even removing all her negative status effects… What kind of item is this? Can we buy it somewhere?”

The staff from the nail salon overheard this and silently took out a stack of flyers, starting to distribute them.

The past few days had been slow with the shopkeeper resting, leaving them incredibly bored. While cleaning the shop, Mumu had found some old sample flyers that the shopkeeper had made and had doodled on them during breaks.

Seeing this, the others got some paper and pens and made a few flyers of their own, even adding a new section to promote the magical battle nails.

The audience, bewildered by the flyers, glanced at them and stuffed them into their pockets, planning to check them out later so they wouldn’t miss the exciting match.

Helena had also drawn her weapon, but she still couldn’t defeat Annie. Holding her staff, Annie knocked Helena to the ground once again, her expression cold: “So much for the Kinkley family.”

Helena, her hair disheveled and looking quite defeated, slowly got up from the ground, turning a bone bracelet hidden in her sleeve. Her face was dark: “Don’t get too arrogant. You think a mere human can bark at me?”

No one knew what Helena had done, but the air began to tear apart, and a massive skeletal claw emerged from another dimension.

Someone in the crowd screamed, “A bone dragon! It’s a bone dragon!”

Panic broke out in the audience.

At that moment, Harold began to act strangely. His deep blue eyes flickered red, unable to control his magic, and he transformed into his dragon form. He lost his sanity, attacking even his colleagues.

The Holy Knights, Royal Knights, and court mages formed layers of protection around Bais III. However, the emperor’s eyes gleamed as he stared at the black dragon now raging on the battlefield: “A dragon indeed.”

Berth Kinkley, hiding behind Bais, also gazed at the dragon with ambition in his eyes. Though Helena’s loss of control happened a little sooner than anticipated, if the contract could be successfully transferred to this black dragon, the Kinkley family’s glory would continue to flourish.

Luo Yao followed the twin fairies to Bribis City and encountered a light magic barrier outside the academy. She raised her hand, and black flames burned through the barrier as she marched straight in.

Inside, the academy was in chaos. When Luo Yao arrived, she saw dozens of dragons surrounding the arena. Harold seemed to be locked in a fierce battle with the bone dragon.

The human king and nobles were trapped on the high platform of the arena, trembling with fear, with no escape.

The shop staff, somewhat disheveled, were taking cover in a clearing. Before they could approach their boss, a green dragon noticed Luo Yao and flew to her side, lowering its body. “Shopkeeper, you’re here.”

Luo Yao looked up at the dragon. “You are… Muxin?”

The green dragon nodded, her emerald eyes filled with worry. “Harold has been corrupted. The dragon elders are discussing how to deal with him.”

Luo Yao was shocked. “Deal with him? What do you mean?”

Muxin explained, “A corrupted dragon loses its sanity and brings chaos to the world. It’s uncontrollable. The only solution is to destroy it.”

Back when Harold became a guard at the nail salon, Muxin had secretly breathed a sigh of relief. She had thought Harold had found a place where he could belong and wouldn’t become the evil dragon foretold in the prophecy.

Luo Yao exhaled, remaining calm as she questioned, “Destroying him already? Isn’t that a bit too rash?”

Muxin replied, “You don’t understand how dangerous a corrupted dragon can be. Letting him live would bring endless disaster. Dragons are powerful, and with that comes the responsibility to act.”

In the distance, the dragon elders had not yet made a move. The small black dragon was locked in a savage fight with the bone dragon, their battle causing the ground to shake and mountains to crumble.

“What’s with the bone dragon?” Luo Yao asked.

Muxin shook her head. “It seems to be controlled by humans, but I’m not sure about the details.”

Puxiu chimed in, “It must be Drex, Harold’s father. The one controlling the bone dragon is someone from the Kinkley family. Harold’s father Drex and mother Alia both died at the hands of humans.”

Muxin’s eyes widened in shock. “What? How did that happen?”

Merulu squeezed through and recounted the story of Clarissa questioning Mickey that day.

Muxin immediately turned to fly back to report, but Luo Yao grabbed her arm. “Take me with you.”

Not far away, Bais III spotted Luo Yao being lifted into the sky by the dragon and his eyes gleamed with interest. “Who is that person? Why can she command dragons?”

Berth Kinkley, trying to suppress his fear, forced himself to remain calm. “Just a commoner, Your Majesty. No need to worry. Helena will soon tame that black dragon.”

Bais gazed at the dragons circling in the air around him, raising his hand in awe. “So many dragons… It seems my empire is still favored by the dragon race. If only they could all form contracts with my people.”

Berth Kinkley coughed nervously, terrified that the king’s bold words would be overheard by the dragons. He only hoped the dragons would leave quickly. If the events of the past were exposed, there was no telling what disaster might follow.

The dragons were deep in discussion, puzzled as they saw a human riding on Muxin’s back.

A golden dragon at the forefront asked, “Muxin, why have you brought a human up here?”

Luo Yao stood up calmly. “I am Luo Yao, the shopkeeper of the small black dragon below. I heard you are deciding his fate. Can you entrust him to me?”

A nearby green dragon growled, “Hand him over to you? What can a mere human do?”

Luo Yao tried to respond, but the dragons turned their heads away, ignoring her.

Another giant green dragon, Dominic, glanced at Luo Yao. Realizing she hadn’t recognized him, he remained silent. This was a matter for the dragons, and they would never let a human interfere, even if she was the shopkeeper.

The dragons formed a circle to continue their discussion, even excluding Muxin. Moments later, six dragons descended and surrounded Harold, beginning to chant a magic incantation.

Luo Yao, lying on Muxin’s back, shouted loudly, “Harold, your nails!”

Amidst the chaos of the bone dragon and six dragons attacking, the small black dragon heard the call. Stirred, the black scales on his claws rose up, aligning themselves on his body to form an impenetrable shield.

With a deafening boom, the dragons’ attack collided with the golden shield, causing magic to clash violently. At the center of the battlefield, the black dragon wielded the enormous magic sword, its nine embedded gemstones gradually lighting up. A colossal surge of energy tore through the sky, sending the attacking dragons flying through the academy’s magical barrier, crashing into the streets beyond.

As the dust settled, the bone dragon curled up as if protecting something, but only the black dragon remained, donned in golden armor, wielding the mighty Nine-Star Magic Sword, its body wrapped in dark energy, roaring into the sky. No one dared to approach.

The remaining dragons stared in disbelief, their dragon eyes wide.

“That’s the Magma Dragon Armor and the Nine-Star Magic Sword! How does he have these artifacts?”

“Weren’t the Magma Dragon Armor and the Nine-Star Magic Sword destroyed long ago? How have they resurfaced?”

“The doomsday dragon… The prophecy was right. He’s not only corrupted, but he’s also obtained the strongest weapons and armor. We must deal with him before he grows any stronger, or it will be catastrophic.”

“But he’s dark-aligned. How is he wielding the Light Shield without being burned?”

Luo Yao crossed her arms and proudly declared, “Because I made the weapons. I inscribed a special protection spell on the Light Shield—it won’t harm Harold.”

The dragons turned their heads to stare at her, their large eyes filled with confusion. Was this human making a joke?

The Magma Dragon Armor and Nine-Star Magic Sword were sacred artifacts of the dragons, yet not even they could control them. But a hundred years ago, the main ingredient needed to craft these artifacts, the soul-devouring grass, had gone extinct. These relics should no longer exist in the world.

For these sacred artifacts to suddenly reappear was unfathomable, but they certainly weren’t crafted by a human.

The golden dragon who had first spoken asked, “Why would you do this?”

He was one of the oldest dragon elders, wise and perceptive. Instead of doubting Luo Yao, he was curious about her motivation.

Luo Yao replied, “I accepted a commission from Harold’s parents to craft the strongest weapons for their son.”

The parents of the doomsday dragon?

Muxin took the opportunity to speak up: “Harold’s parents are Drex and Alia. There seems to be a deeper secret behind what happened back then.”

The rumors of a proud dragon submitting to a subordinate contract with a human had spread like wildfire, bringing shame to the dragon race. No dragon had ever sought to verify the truth, as it was seen as a disgrace.

Now, a century later, Drex’s name had resurfaced, but under very different circumstances.

The dragons gathered once again for discussion.

The dragons that had been knocked away by the Light Shield returned. The green dragon that had taunted Luo Yao earlier flew alone to attack Harold but was promptly swept away by the black dragon’s tail. It crashed into the stands, flattening buildings, sending nearby nobles fleeing in terror.

Growing impatient with the slow-moving dragons, Luo Yao waved to her shop assistants below, and Si Jin, in dragon form, flew up to her.

She jumped onto Si Jin’s back and ordered, “Take me to Harold.”

Si Jin flapped his wings, flying toward the black dragon at the heart of the battlefield.

The bone dragon stretched out once more, its bony claws swinging at Harold in attack. In the center of its skeletal frame was a human girl, with something on her wrist linking her to the bone dragon.

Luo Yao tapped Si Jin and said, “Don’t rush. Fly closer to the bone dragon.”

Si Jin moved like a flash of light, darting past the bone dragon.

An idea struck Luo Yao. She pulled out the bone pen from her warehouse and the bottle of soul-binding blood she hadn’t yet used. She poured the blood onto the pen and slashed it toward the connection between Helena and the bone dragon. A black blade of blood flew out.

Crack—a crisp sound echoed. Something was severed.

The bone dragon collapsed with a thunderous crash, burying Helena under its massive skeleton.

Harold continued to roar and rage, dark energy swirling around him.

Luo Yao patted Si Jin and urged him to fly closer as she yelled, “Harold, Harold!”

The black dragon’s blood-red eyes turned in her direction, hissing in agony.

Si Jin landed in front of Harold.

Luo Yao stood up, enduring the scorching magic around him, and gently patted his snout. “Harold, let’s go home.”

A soft whimper escaped the black dragon as if something had touched his heart. His massive form deflated like a balloon, rapidly shrinking.

Si Jin landed on the ground, and Luo Yao leapt down, running toward Harold.

The black dragon had transformed into a small form, still wearing his golden armor. Curled up with his tail and the shrunken Nine-Star Magic Sword, tears glistened faintly in the corner of his eyes.

The other dragons looked on, still unsure of what had just transpired.

The bone dragon, unnoticed by most, suddenly rose again, its claws stretching out toward Luo Yao.

Luo Yao scooped up the small black dragon into her arms and started running.

Though he was small, he was heavy. Luo Yao stumbled as she fled, narrowly avoiding the bone dragon’s claws, which slashed through the air by her ear, sending a gust of wind.

Suddenly, a scream of pain echoed through the chaos. The sharp bone claws had pierced through Helena’s chest and flung her to the ground.

A gaping hole opened in her chest, and black flames ignited at the wound. Helena writhed on the ground in agony.

The bone dragon opened its skeletal jaws, letting out a long sigh. It cast a glance at Harold, asleep in Luo Yao’s arms, before turning toward the elevated seats where it swiftly grabbed Berth Kinkley and King Bais III.

Berth Kinkley met the same fate as Helena—his chest pierced, falling lifeless. Bais III, still in the bone dragon’s grip, dangled helplessly in mid-air.

The attacks from the Holy Knights and mages were futile against the bone dragon. Desperately, Bais twisted his neck, shouting, “Carlos! Carlos! Save me!”

When he finally managed to turn his head, he saw the Imperial High Priest Carlos slumped in one of the seats, his face lined with wrinkles, his once-glossy silver hair dull and lifeless.

The High Priest was dead.

A wave of terror washed over Bais. The last person capable of protecting him was gone.

When had he and Carlos grown so distant? Perhaps it was ten years ago when he forced Carlos to create the elixir of immortality. The elixir had been crafted, but it had cost Carlos his eyes as a sacrifice. Since then, he had lost the High Priest’s loyalty.

And now, even the hollow shell of the priest standing beneath his throne was no more.

The bone dragon’s empty sockets turned toward him, its voice deep and resonant: “Where is Alia?”

At first, Bais didn’t know who Alia was. After being shaken violently in the air by the dragon, he finally remembered. “In the vault! Her body was too large for the sacrifice to succeed, so it was left in the vault.”

Crack

The bone dragon snapped Bais’s bones and discarded him like a rag doll.

For a moment, there was absolute silence within a five-hundred-meter radius.

The bone dragon stood there motionless, then slowly turned toward Luo Yao. It approached her and finally stopped, its hollow eyes fixed longingly on the small black dragon sleeping peacefully in her arms.

Harold, in his overexerted state, had reverted to his juvenile dragon form.

He was still wearing the golden armor Luo Yao had made for him, his front paws clutching the Nine-Star Magic Sword tightly, his head nestled trustingly in Luo Yao’s embrace.

This was the child Drex and Alia had longed for, anticipated even before he hatched from his egg.

Seeing him now, so small and soft, was exactly as Drex had imagined.

Sadly, they would not be there to watch him grow.

After a long pause, Drex slowly raised his head to look at Luo Yao. “I am Harold’s father, Drex. I am going to reunite with his mother, Alia. Thank you for accepting our request. Luo Yao, I entrust my son to you.”

With those final words, Drex’s bones turned to white sand, scattering into the wind.

…

Harold slept for three days before finally waking up. By then, the truth of what had happened a century ago had spread throughout the dragon race. In their fury, they had annihilated the entire Kinkley family, and for three days, the royal palace flowed with blood.

In the quiet of the resting room, the little black dragon lay listlessly by Luo Yao’s side, his blue eyes staring at the black scar on her wrist, the mark left by his magic’s burning touch.

The memories of his parents’ sacrifice, the way they had slowly walked toward their deaths to change his fate, had triggered his transformation.

“Yao Yao.”

“What is it?”

“It would’ve been better if I didn’t exist.”

The black dragon remained in his juvenile form, unable to even shift back into his human shape. His small, dark head pressed against Luo Yao’s belly, while his tail swished restlessly on the cushion.

Luo Yao pulled him closer into her embrace. “Don’t say that. You were Drex and Alia’s most precious child, and you’re also my favorite little black dragon. Without you, none of us would be complete.”

Her shirt was soaked in tears. The little black dragon sobbed silently, his small body trembling with emotion.

A few days later, the little black dragon disappeared.

Luo Yao asked everyone she knew, but no one could find him.

Packing her things, she planned to visit the seaside the next day to consult a mermaid for a divination.

Late that night, there was a knock at the door. When Luo Yao opened it, Harold, now back in his human form, stood there.

“Luo Yao, I’m home.”

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