V2 c11: A Genius Girl Longing for Love
Before venturing into this world with Abyss, Leona had envisioned various scenarios following Rebecca’s resurrection, based on the information she had gathered.
Perhaps Rebecca would obediently follow Abyss. Perhaps she would be repulsed by his masculinity, requiring Abyss to exert considerable effort to convince her. Or perhaps they wouldn’t even find her, returning home empty-handed. But never had she imagined that this eccentric alchemist, known for her aversion to men, who even wore gloves and a gas mask during interactions with them, would propose marriage to Abyss upon learning his name?
What was going on? This woman was definitely not normal!
Flora glanced at Leona, who was crouching on the ground, her face a mixture of shock and disbelief.
“Why marriage?” Abyss asked, scratching his head. “I’m only sixteen. I’m not old enough to get married… So…”
“You’re using that as an excuse?!” Leona hissed, grinding her teeth.
“Ah… You’re only sixteen? That’s fine! We can have an engagement first, then get married in two years! You’re a necromancer, and I’m your follower. We’re a perfect match!” Rebecca insisted, her eyes sincere, her voice leaving no room for doubt.
Abyss, who had never received a marriage proposal before, looked at her, unsure how to respond.
“Miss Rebecca, could you tell us why you want to marry Abyss?” Flora asked, her voice calm and curious, unlike Leona’s indignant tone.
“Ah, I almost forgot to mention,” Rebecca said, as if reminded by Flora’s question. She cleared her throat, her voice still raspy. “I apologize, I didn’t make this public knowledge, but after puberty, my body started producing a toxin. I researched it extensively, but I couldn’t determine its origin. It only affects men. Any man who touches my skin or inhales my breath experiences hallucinations.”
She seemed to have accepted her current situation, her initial shock replaced by a calm demeanor.
“So the gas mask you wore when interacting with men wasn’t for filtering the air?” Abyss asked, surprised.
“It was a device I developed that utilized potion reactions to store a certain amount of air and filter out toxins,” Rebecca explained. “Since I couldn’t identify the toxin in my breath, I had to resort to isolation. Fortunately, the toxin dissipates within an hour, so it doesn’t contaminate the environment.”
Abyss was intrigued. He sat down across from her, their eyes meeting. “Then why am I unaffected by your touch? Is it because you’re undead now?”
“I don’t know,” Rebecca said, blinking her bright eyes. “But a fortune teller once told me that a man would eventually touch me without being poisoned, and that man would be my soulmate! And that man is you!”
“Another fortune teller?” Leona said, her voice laced with disapproval. “Why do you believe in such things?”
“Of course I believe it!” Rebecca said, her enthusiasm unwavering. Instead of being offended by Leona’s skepticism, she eagerly tried to convince her. “Do you know how blood types affect love? I invented a potion that can quickly determine a person’s blood type… Oh, right, and astrological compatibility. Let me think, what’s my zodiac sign…”
Leona instantly recognized Rebecca’s archetype—a lovestruck girl, obsessed with romance, devouring books about love, hoping to find her prince charming.
Unbelievable! The genius alchemist who had once monopolized the continent’s adult entertainment industry, a woman who had stood at the pinnacle of success, was a hopeless romantic?
“I’ve always wanted to fall in love, but I never had the opportunity to interact with boys!” Rebecca continued, releasing Abyss’s hand, realizing her grip was perhaps a bit too enthusiastic. “Please, give me a chance at love! I’ll be a good girlfriend! And a good wife! Undead can’t get pregnant, right? But I think I can develop a potion to overcome that…”
“How did you die?” Abyss asked suddenly, a mischievous glint in his eyes.
Leona and Flora winced. Abyss was clearly not cut out for romance. She was talking about having children, and he was asking about her death.
“You can ask me later if you don’t want to talk about it now, but I won’t give up!” Rebecca said, undeterred. “I didn’t know I was dead at first. I created that potion in the pool as a last resort. It could sustain my body’s vital functions for about three months, giving me time to be rescued. I wasn’t sure if anyone would come, but if they did, I might have survived… But it seems my world-traveling technology was ahead of its time. Even Lannis couldn’t reach me…”
“She tried to rescue you, but your laboratory was raided by gangsters, and they stole the ‘World Conduit.’ It resurfaced after many years,” Abyss explained. “Don’t blame Lannis. She’s not incompetent. She’s loyal to you.”
“I see… Well, I never blamed her,” Rebecca said, shaking her head, her black hair swaying gently. “I was blinded by my ambition and made a reckless decision.”
“This toxic air… Can you tell me more about it? It must be related to your death,” Abyss asked.
Rebecca’s eyes widened, as if remembering something. “Well… Could you help me up first? I need to find the materials and devices I brought. We can talk while I work.”
“Hmm? Why the urgency?”
“You have one hour to live, starting from the moment I gave you the antidote. In fifty minutes, you’ll need to find a way to kill yourself… Everyone in this world is dead because of this toxin…”
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