Chapter 82: The Black Dragon’s Stage

She stopped the humanoid projectile in its tracks.

The pursuing figure also paused for a moment.

Their big eyes and small eyes met. Faced with Theresia’s half-smile, Dolly swallowed nervously.

“Sister Theresia,” Dolly began, “Big Brother told me to do it. He said this way, you’d give me a Kiss of Light. You’ll forgive me, right?”

Seeing Theodore about to vanish, Theresia tucked Dolly under her arm and pursued him. Simultaneously, she spoke to Dolly.

“Dolly, dear, people always have to pay the price for their wrongdoings. Especially you, Dolly; this counts as aiding and abetting.”

As she spoke, she glanced at the snacks and drinks Dolly still clutched tightly in her hands.

With lightning speed, Theresia cleared all the food and beverages from Dolly’s grip within seconds, right before the little girl’s astonished eyes.

Looking at the utterly despondent Dolly, Theresia spoke gently. “The wrong path will never lead you to your desired destination. Take this lesson to heart, Dolly.”

Afterward, she looked around, searching for a suitable spot to set the little loli down. Finally, her eyes landed on an ideal location.

****

Meanwhile, Alicia had several events she was scheduled to attend. However, she had just received an urgent notification from the church about a major incident, instructing her to drop everything and prioritize it.

Naturally, Alicia didn’t hesitate. She gathered the relevant personnel, and without even waiting to return to her office, she began issuing instructions as they walked through the streets.

It was then that she noticed Theodore, tearing through the streets as if his life depended on it.

Mainly, a person with such a startled expression suddenly rushing out in an otherwise leisurely atmosphere was simply too conspicuous.

Alicia paused, then waved and called out, “Theodore, the Pope has entrusted me with the matter you mentioned. Would you like to hear about it?”

Theodore, however, had no time to spare for a meeting with Alicia.

The menacing figure behind him had been momentarily deterred by his projectile, but even Dolly’s extraordinary effort would only hold them back for a second.

“It’s fine, Alicia! Just proceed as you see fit. I trust you a hundred percent!”

With that, Theodore executed a highly skilled maneuver, gracefully weaving past everyone before disappearing at the street’s intersection.

Alicia and her companions watched in a daze. One of the church workers hesitantly remarked, “He looked like he was being chased.”

“How could that be?” Alicia mused aloud, puzzled. “And if he were being chased, why wouldn’t he ask us for help?”

The answer to her question quickly became apparent.

A second person appeared, running for their life, clad in a church nun’s habit. Their speed surpassed even Theodore’s, and they were clutching a small loli in their arms.

Alicia blinked in surprise. “Is that Theresia and… Dolly?”

Before she could call out, Theresia’s gaze met hers.

“Alicia, catch this big treasure!”

Theresia’s expression shifted from initial surprise to pure delight. The next moment, Dolly was launched from her arms, aimed directly at Alicia.

“Huh?!”

Alicia was completely caught off guard by this unexpected turn of events. Fortunately, Theresia’s shouted warning gave her just enough time. She summoned countless light spirits, cradling Dolly safely in her embrace.

As for Theresia, she employed the same elegant technique as Theodore, vanishing from their sight.

It seemed the answer to who was chasing Theodore was now glaringly obvious.

What role Dolly played in all of this, however, remained a mystery.

Alicia looked down at Dolly, noticing the tears welling in the little girl’s eyes but not yet falling. She softly comforted her, “Dolly, are you alright?”

Dolly buried her head in Alicia’s soft bosom, speaking with a maturity beyond her years. “Sister Alicia, you’re right. The wrong path will never lead you to your desired destination.”

“Hmm?” Alicia tilted her head, not quite understanding. Only the bare skewer and empty drink bottle in Dolly’s hand could truly convey the weight of that statement.

****

The chase between Theodore and Theresia spanned the entire City of Light, finally reaching a massive open field several kilometers outside the city walls.

Only then did Theodore halt, looking around and murmuring, “This should be the place, right?”

Footsteps sounded behind him. Theodore quickly turned his head.

“Theresia…”

“Heavenly Thunder Twin Foot Stomp!!”

His voice was cut short as Theresia descended from above, both feet striking his face, forcing an intimate communion with the ground.

As the dust settled, Theresia sat on Theodore’s stomach, her bare feet still planted on his face, seemingly attempting to flatten it.

The reason for her bare feet, of course, wasn’t to reward Theodore. It was simply that Theresia’s nun’s shoes were of a standard design, clearly not built for long-distance, high-intensity trekking. They had torn halfway through the chase, and Theresia had unceremoniously discarded them.

After all, her seemingly soft and delicate skin possessed a toughness comparable to dragon scales, making her even faster when running barefoot.

“Theodore, if you wished to exchange blessings with your dear girlfriend, you could have simply stated it openly. To resort to such despicable tactics, even involving an innocent little loli as your accomplice, is truly a heinous crime.”

With her feet on Theodore’s face, Theresia stood on the moral high ground, interrogating the shameless man. A peculiar sense of satisfaction welled within her.

Theresia only needed to consider her own satisfaction, but Theodore had many more things to consider.

For instance, faced with the ‘ice cream’ delivered to his face, should he take a lick, or continue enjoying the foot massage?

If he took a lick, Theresia certainly wouldn’t let him have a second. But merely watching the foot massage without being able to ‘eat’ was also agonizing.

*Sigh*, forget it. No more torturing myself.

He’d take a lick.

Just as Theodore prepared to open his mouth, Theresia, having apparently had enough fun, retracted her legs and squatted on Theodore’s body, surveying their surroundings.

Even on the massive open ground, which clearly showed signs of human intervention, familiar patterns and symbols were visible. These designs were not human, but draconic.

Moreover, they bore a striking resemblance to the patterns and symbols used during Dragon Tribe festivals.

Clearly, Theodore hadn’t been fleeing in a panicked, haphazard manner.

“What is this place?” Theresia inquired.

Theodore lay on the ground, gazing up at the starry sky. “When White Dragon Mobia resided at the church years ago, she would perform the Dragon Dance on important festivals to add a unique draconic flair. This place is the stage the church specially prepared for her.”

Theresia’s eyes widened in realization. “So that’s what you were talking about using the church’s communication crystal for!”

Theodore nodded. “They are also incredibly excited for this performance, after a thousand years. So I hope to project it onto the City of Light, to help publicize the glory of our great Black Dragon King. What do you say, our great Black Dragon King wouldn’t get stage fright, would she?”

*Are you kidding? Do you think all my years of performing were just for show?*

Theresia rubbed her nose. “It looks like no one has used this in many years.”

“Indeed. After Mobia left, no other dragons came to the church until you, Theresia.”

Theodore suddenly rose, and amidst Theresia’s surprised gasp, he grasped her slender waist, settling her onto his lap.

He affectionately stroked Theresia’s small nose bridge with his hand. “Then, great Black Dragon King, the stage is set for you. You may begin your performance.”

Though it was merely a light stroke for Theodore, for Theresia, such intimate gestures always sent her heart into a tumultuous frenzy. Yet, to maintain her persona, she couldn’t react too aggressively to this not-yet-over-the-line behavior.

It is a well-known fact that humans are the kind of creatures who, the more you forbid them from doing something, the more they insist on doing it.

Maintaining a facade of composure, Theresia dismounted from Theodore’s lap.

Relieved, yet also a little regretful, Theodore sat up.

He then asked Theresia, who was surveying the grounds beside him, “How is it? Does it meet your requirements? Do we need to make any slight alterations? The church is fully supportive.”

Theresia looked back at Theodore. “No need. The Black Dragon’s dance only requires a sufficiently large space; nothing else. Theodore, do you know why the Black Dragon’s dance is always the final performance at the Dragon Tribe festival?”

Theodore paused slightly, then shook his head.

Theresia, transforming into a massive black dragon amid a flash of white light, spoke with a deep, teasing voice. “You’ll understand in a moment.”

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