Category: This Necromancer Wants to Capture the Hearts of Deceased Beautiful Girls

v2c20 : Mr. Eugene Is Not Happy

A middle-aged man with a grim expression strode down the deserted street of Lavoisier City, his heavy cane striking the pavement with a rhythmic thud. A large entourage of menacing men followed closely behind. The man wore an elegant fedora, his neatly trimmed mustache framing a thin, cruel mouth. His ornate golden jacket shimmered in the sunlight, and his polished leather boots gleamed with every step. A closer look revealed an unusual ring on his finger—shaped like a goat’s eye.

It was well past midday, a time when Lavoisier City’s shops should be bustling with activity. But every shop along the man’s path was shuttered, their doors and windows tightly closed. The streets were empty, save for his entourage. The usually vibrant city was eerily silent.

“Mr. Eugene! We caught a Black Hat!”

A voice called out from behind him. The man, known as Mr. Eugene, didn’t turn around, merely slowing his pace.

Several burly men, each wearing a goat-eye necklace, approached, dragging a bruised and bloodied young man. They forced him to kneel before Mr. Eugene.

Mr. Eugene stared coldly at the young man, who had clearly been beaten. He prodded his face with his cane.

“Boy, where is your cowardly leader, Titus, hiding? Tell me, and I might spare your life.”

“Heehee…”

The young man, his eyes swollen nearly shut, grinned at Eugene.

“Quickly, don’t test my patience,” Eugene said, his voice laced with boredom. He raised his hand, admiring the goat-eye ring glinting in the sunlight.

“In your mother’s bed,” the young man said, chuckling.

Eugene’s gaze snapped towards the young Black Hat. He raised his cane and brought it down on the young man’s head with a sickening thud. The heavy metal cane caved in his skull.

The young man’s body convulsed and went limp. Eugene, without a glance at the dying man, continued walking. His entourage followed, some even stepping on the young man’s body as they passed.

“I apologize, Mr. Eugene, but every Black Hat stronghold is heavily fortified. Our men can’t breach their defenses. They must have been preparing for this,” one of the burly men who had brought the young man said, hurrying to keep up with Eugene. “Titus’s whereabouts are unknown. Shall we initiate a city-wide search?”

“Bribe the officials first, then begin the search. I shouldn’t have to tell you this,” Eugene said, his voice cold and sharp. His long strides and towering height made him an intimidating figure. “Don’t attack the Black Hats’ strongholds directly. Tell our men to be patient. I want to kill that insane Lannis first.”

“Understood!” the burly man said, backing away. Despite Eugene’s slender frame compared to his own muscular build, he couldn’t help but feel a surge of fear, unable to meet his gaze.

Eugene and his entourage were heading towards Lannis’s house. He had already sent a group of men to deal with her, but they hadn’t returned. It was obvious what had happened to them. That madwoman had turned them into fireworks.

News of the impending war between the Goat Eyes Gang and the Black Hats had spread throughout Lavoisier City early that morning. No merchant or civilian dared venture outside, regardless of their errands.

Gangs usually avoided harming innocent bystanders, but anyone who got in their way risked losing their lives. Even though the citizens coexisted with the gangs, they never underestimated these ruthless criminals, never doubted their capacity for violence.

Eugene, who had been planning a luxurious facial treatment that morning, was enraged when he received the delayed report of his losses from the previous night. He had killed the prostitute who had shared his bed, smashing several expensive vases in a fit of rage.

The machine that produced unlimited alchemical solvents had been dismantled, rendered useless. His factory had been infiltrated, and all the child laborers had been stolen. And the foreman’s body had just been discovered—the unfortunate dwarf, covered in bruises, had been found dead in a patch of grass in the cemetery, his cause of death: suffocation. It seemed he had been so terrified that he had dug a hole and buried his own face in the dirt. Lannis, who had been imprisoned in the factory, was also missing. And that crafty bitch had even blown up several machines before leaving.

It was a personal attack, a direct assault on his pride and his profits. That solvent machine was the secret to the Goat Eyes Gang’s success! Although they had established themselves in Lavoisier City and didn’t strictly need it anymore, it allowed him to cut costs! Eugene hated spending money, hated paying for anything. That machine, with its free, high-quality alchemical solvents, had saved him a fortune!

He had immediately ordered his men to attack the only suspect: the Black Hats Gang. But their attacks had been ineffective. As the burly man had reported, those Black Hats bastards had been preparing for this. Their strongholds were heavily fortified. That cunning Titus was probably hiding somewhere, laughing at his misfortune.

The more Eugene thought about it, the angrier he became, his resolve to kill Lannis hardening.

That madwoman was incorrigible! She looked down on everyone, her loyalty unpurchasable! The only way to stop her was to kill her!

But even killing her wouldn’t be enough! Eugene envisioned soaking her wrinkled head in a vat of corrosive potion! He would make her regret ever being born!

Titus had anticipated many things, but he hadn’t grasped the full picture. A cruel smile twisted Eugene’s lips.

The Goat Eyes Gang had the power to crush the Black Hats within a day. First, he would kill Lannis, then he would find Titus and make him suffer!

…

The sound of the Goat Eyes gang members’ footsteps faded, leaving the young man Eugene had killed lying motionless on the ground.

But as the footsteps became inaudible, the young man, his skull caved in, slowly sat up.

“Ugh… This bone-softening potion still needs work… My head is killing me…” He grabbed his hair and pulled, his dented skull popping back into shape like a rubber ball. He stood up, muttering to himself. “Damn it, I need to report to the boss. What the hell… Where did the Goat Eyes Gang find those helpers…?”

v2c19 : Abyss Opens the Door to a New World

“But thankfully, thanks to you, we have plenty of magic crystals to work with.” Rebecca wasn’t discouraged by the repeated failures. A person who thrived on research wasn’t easily defeated. She smiled at the three girls (including Abyss in his dress), assuring them she wasn’t upset. “Let me try something else.”

Flora, standing beside her, held a jar filled with the newly crafted magic crystals. She silently offered the jar to Rebecca.

Rebecca, with a grateful glance at Flora, took a crystal from the jar.

“Perhaps I was channeling mana too quickly. This time, I’ll try a more gradual, controlled approach.”

She embedded the crystal into the Gateway’s slot, then turned to Abyss. “Abyss, you’re the most experienced mage among us. Could you observe my mana flow? If you notice anything unusual, please let me know.”

“Of course,” Abyss agreed readily. As the world’s undisputed strongest necromancer, he was a ninth-tier, ninth-grade Supreme Mage. Mages could use a spell called “Mana Visualization” to make mana visible to the naked eye. The difference between a high-ranking mage and a low-ranking one was the level of control over this spell. High-ranking mages could precisely manipulate Mana Visualization, displaying only what they wanted to see, instead of revealing every mana flow in the area, creating a chaotic mess of swirling energy.

Abyss chanted a spell, and a shimmering ribbon of light, adorned with magical runes, appeared before Rebecca. She nodded, placing her hand on the mana input plate.

A faint stream of mana flowed from her hand, glowing white under Abyss’s spell. It was slowly absorbed by the plate, then traveled through a complex magical circuit within the Gateway, showing no unusual fluctuations or interruptions. The mana gradually accumulated on the magic crystal, filling its etched patterns.

Crack! Snap!

The moment the crystal’s patterns were filled with Rebecca’s mana, it shattered, falling from its slot and crumbling into dust.

“Another failure…” Rebecca frowned, stroking her chin. “I didn’t notice anything wrong. Everything proceeded according to my design. I initially thought I might have made a careless mistake, causing a malfunction in the portal’s magical circuit. But it seems that’s not the case? Abyss, did you notice anything unusual?”

Abyss shook his head. As a master mage, his judgment was reliable. If he hadn’t detected any problems with the mana flow, there likely weren’t any.

“What else can we adjust?” Rebecca wondered, then her eyes lit up. “Leona, you know magic, right?”

Leona was surprised. She hadn’t expected to be consulted on such a technical matter. She had always considered herself a simple warrior, a “musclehead” with little understanding of magic.

“Ah, I know a little, but I’m weak. I can only do simple things like lighting a fire or creating a light,” she said. These basic spells were mandatory for nobles, but even these simple spells had been a challenge for her tutor. She was a mischievous child, often skipping magic lessons.

“That’s fine. As long as you can channel mana, it’s enough. This machine only requires a mana input to function, regardless of its strength,” Rebecca said, retrieving another crystal from the jar Flora was holding and embedding it in the Gateway’s slot. “Could you please pour some mana into this plate? Relax and don’t force it.”

“Oh… Okay,” Leona said, nodding, stepping forward and taking Rebecca’s place. Abyss cast the Mana Visualization spell again, revealing Leona’s mana flow, fainter and less controlled than Rebecca’s, a testament to her lower skill level.

Leona stood on her tiptoes, placing her hand on the mana input plate. She carefully channeled her unfamiliar mana, trying to be gentle…

Crack!

“Aah! I’m sorry!” Leona exclaimed, startled by the sudden shattering of the crystal. “I broke it!”

“It’s alright, it’s not your fault. It seems your mana doesn’t work either…” Rebecca said, about to ask Flora to try, but Abyss interrupted her.

“Let me try before Flora,” he said with a smile. “I think I know why you can’t return home…”

Rebecca was surprised. How had he figured it out? There seemed to be no pattern to the crystal malfunctions.

But she set aside her doubts and nodded. “Alright, give it a try.”

Abyss stepped forward, casually placing his hand on the mana input plate and channeling his mana.

Rebecca held her breath, watching him intently. He wasn’t deliberately controlling the mana flow, simply pouring his mana into the plate. But the expected shattering of the crystal didn’t occur. Instead, a pleasant humming sound filled the air as a certain threshold of mana was reached. And before her eyes, the portal she had been waiting for forty years materialized.

“It worked!” Rebecca exclaimed, covering her mouth with her hands in disbelief. “How did you do it?”

“I just channeled my mana into the plate, ordinary mana, the kind any apprentice mage can produce,” Abyss said, smiling. “But the explanation is a bit complicated. Let’s return home first. I’ll explain everything after we’ve dealt with the situation there—we have plenty of time.”

Rebecca nodded, her cheeks flushed with excitement. “Yes! Take me home!”

“To be safe, you need to…”

Abyss summoned his magical catfish, enlarging it, then gestured towards its gaping maw.

“…Enter here. Hey, Leona, don’t run away! We’re going home!”

v2c18 : Rebecca’s World Transformation Plan

“It seems my initial assessment was correct,” Rebecca said, glancing back at Abyss as she led the way. “The moment I arrived here, I realized these structures, disguised as altars but functioning as factories, must be connected to the toxins in the air.”

They had entered the factory within the altar through the hole Leona had created, granting them easy access.

Abyss recounted his vision, describing the scene he had witnessed upon touching the statue. Flora expressed concern for his safety, while Leona, intrigued by the deity worshipped by the inhabitants of this world, was eager to learn more. Having subdued the Lord of Submergence, she was experiencing the benefits of controlling an Outer God and was eager for more power.

Rebecca, meanwhile, connected Abyss’s account to her own observations and theories, confirming her suspicions. Although she couldn’t verify the authenticity of the vision, she doubted a civilization on the brink of extinction would bother with elaborate deceptions. If her deductions were correct, these altars, each containing a factory, were strategically placed throughout the world, releasing toxins into the atmosphere while the inhabitants worshipped a mysterious “Lord of Silence.” They had embraced these toxins as sacred, ultimately leading to their self-inflicted demise.

Even before Abyss confirmed her suspicions, Rebecca had already taken action. While crafting the magic crystals, she had also brewed a potion, intending to introduce it into the factory’s machinery.

She led Abyss and the girls to a massive machine, its presence dominating the altar’s top floor.

The machine, now silent and still, occupied the entire floor space. Numerous chimneys extended from its top, connecting to vents that led outside the structure.

“I found the storage tanks for the toxin-producing potion earlier, but I was too afraid of its potency to open them. But now, as an undead, I’m immune to toxins,” Rebecca said, holding the vial she had been carrying on her belt. “Abyss, you need to stay back. I’m going to open one of the tanks and conduct an experiment. Keep your nose buried in that antidote bottle I gave you. The toxin concentration will increase rapidly once I open the tank.”

Abyss nodded, acknowledging her warning, and stepped back, holding the antidote bottle to his nose, inhaling the pink smoke.

“This world might be uninhabitable for humans, but I believe it can be transformed… If I can make it suitable for living, I can travel back and forth freely, turning this place into my personal potion factory!” Rebecca said, her voice filled with excitement, as she slowly opened a heavy hatch on the machine. Leona, initially wanting to assist her, realized that Rebecca, now undead, possessed enhanced strength and managed to open it effortlessly. A pungent odor wafted from the tank, making the girls wrinkle their noses.

Then, Rebecca poured her potion into the tank.

Bang!

An explosion echoed from within the tank, shaking the machine. The original potion reacted violently with Rebecca’s concoction, a bubbling sound emanating from the tank as hot gas erupted, its odor less offensive than before.

“Success! My concentrated potion neutralized the toxins!” Rebecca exclaimed, clapping her hands. “Abyss, I need your magical catfish!”

Rebecca had used her previously developed antidote as a foundation, creating a more potent and effective version. Introducing it into the factory’s toxin supply seemed to have successfully neutralized some of its toxicity. But this was just the beginning. The machine had multiple tanks. She moved to another tank, carefully extracting a sample of the toxin using a tool. The toxin, after years of storage, was murky and discolored. Rebecca sealed it in a tightly sealed bottle—she didn’t want it to leak and contaminate Hai-Teweru.

Abyss, unconcerned, casually tossed the bottle into his magical catfish’s mouth. Time was frozen within the catfish’s belly, so the toxin wouldn’t change or degrade.

Having completed her experiment, Rebecca was ready to return home. With the World Conduit dismantled, there was no urgency to repair the factory’s machinery. She would deal with it later.

…

The Gateway to the New World was also located within the altar, closer to the bottom level. Upon arriving in this world, Rebecca had assembled the portal in a suitable location, even improvising a base for it using scavenged parts from the factory’s machinery.

They stood before the Gateway, Rebecca nervously embedding the magic crystal into the slightly rusted device.

The crystal settled into the slot, seemingly stable.

Then, Rebecca placed her hand on the metal plate, the mana input point, and carefully channeled her magic into it.

The embedded crystal glowed, then shattered with a crack, falling from its slot and crumbling into dust.

“Ah… It happened again… What’s wrong…?” Rebecca sighed, turning to face them. “This happened before I died, and I ended up using all my crystals… Something is interfering with the mana flow within the crystal… What could it be…?”

v2c17 : A Misguided Love

Clang!

The heavy stone slab was lifted aside, revealing a tomb adorned with intricate carvings.

The occupant’s attire differed from the others. Instead of the usual tight-fitting tunic, this individual, curled up in the tomb, wore a loose-fitting purple robe. Their body wasn’t pierced by a dagger, but they seemed to be clutching something in their arms.

Abyss apologized to the deceased, then chanted a spell, manipulating the desiccated corpse to open its stiff hands, revealing the object it held.

It was a small statue, but it didn’t resemble the native inhabitants of this world. It depicted a slender humanoid figure with smooth, featureless limbs and a blank face, like a cheap wooden doll—except this one seemed to be made of metal.

Intrigued, Abyss jumped into the tomb and took the statue from the corpse’s hand.

Boom!

The moment his fingers touched the statue, a vision surged into his mind!

“Praise the great Lord of Silence!” Countless natives prostrated themselves before the massive altar, chanting in a language Abyss had never heard before but could somehow understand.

A colossal figure stood silently atop the altar, plumes of thick smoke rising from the chimneys and converging around it, merging into its form. The figure resembled the statue Abyss held in his hand.

“Lord of Silence, save us from this calamity! Grant us rebirth!” In the vision, a figure in a purple robe stepped forward. It was the deceased from the unique grave, its fanged mouth wide open, its voice a desperate cry. “The sacred smoke has risen! The world is ready to receive your blessings! Lord, grant us your will!”

But the “Lord of Silence” atop the altar remained motionless, unresponsive to their prayers and praises…

The vision ended abruptly, fading into a memory. Abyss shook his head, the influx of information causing no discomfort. It seemed to be a form of magic embedded within the statue. He tossed it into his magical catfish’s mouth, deciding to examine it later.

Although the vision was brief, ending before he could grasp the full context, Abyss had gleaned enough information to understand the likely cause of this world’s destruction.

These people had worshipped a deity called the Lord of Silence, their devotion so fervent that they had released toxins into the world, driving their population to suicide. But their god had offered no salvation, passively witnessing their self-inflicted annihilation.

Abyss sighed. What kind of desperation had driven these people to such extremes? He felt both pity and sadness for them. Their god hadn’t cared for them, their worship and devotion unacknowledged, perhaps even misunderstood.

Entrusting one’s fate to a deity, surrendering control over one’s destiny, was, in Abyss’s view, the ultimate folly.

He copied the inscription on the tombstone, then stopped his excavation, chanting a spell to reseal the graves he had disturbed. He then returned to the three girls, who were no longer working, but sitting in a circle, chatting.

Rebecca’s charisma was truly remarkable. She had managed to bond with Flora and Leona in such a short time, their laughter filling the air. Abyss silently acknowledged her social skills. This intellectually gifted girl was also emotionally intelligent.

He had been worried about potential conflicts between them.

“Abyss, you’re back!” Rebecca exclaimed, waving enthusiastically as she saw him approaching. “We’ve been waiting for you! The crystals are ready. We can try to return home now!”

Abyss smiled and waved back. “I’m done with the graves. And I’ve figured out how the native inhabitants of this world died.”

“Wonderful! Tell us everything later. I’m so curious!” Rebecca said, beaming at him. Her smile was as bright and cheerful as the morning sun.

“Hmph, ABC, just so you know, Flora and I are protecting Rebecca now. If you try to bully her, we won’t stand for it!” Leona declared, puffing out her chest. “If you want to bully her, you’ll have to go through me first!”

“Your dress is dirty,” Flora said, approaching Abyss and gently brushing the dust off his skirt.

Abyss looked at the three girls, a sense of accomplishment washing over him. He had gathered three out of the five geniuses, and although he had no leads on the other two yet, he had completed more than half of the first stage of his plan. And he had earned the trust and respect of Flora and Leona. He couldn’t help but feel a surge of happiness.

He realized he needed to be more considerate of their feelings, provide them with a better life.

He decided to start looking for a suitable location, a place with mountains and rivers, to build his grand graveyard.

The portal had been his biggest concern, but with Rebecca’s expertise, everything had changed.

Once they resolved Rebecca’s situation here, they would head towards the Elven Kingdoms, a land of breathtaking beauty. He would find the genius druid there and perhaps purchase some land, establishing his base of operations, giving these girls, who had been disconnected from the world for forty years, a place to call home. They wouldn’t have to follow him on his adventures, enduring hardships and uncertainties. They could come and go as they pleased.

“Let’s pack up the equipment and head to that altar,” Rebecca said, starting to gather her belongings from the alchemy table. “My portal is inside. And besides returning to Hai-Teweru, I have another important task to complete.”

She winked, her hips swaying slightly, drawing attention to a glass vial filled with a clear liquid hanging from her belt.

v2c16 : Abyss’s Favorite Activity

Leona was once again basking in Rebecca’s praise.

After brewing the antidote for Abyss, the only one who needed it, Rebecca turned her attention to the contaminated magic crystals he had provided.

These crystals differed from ordinary ones in that they had been tainted by the energy of another world, granting them the potential for interdimensional travel. According to Rebecca, these contaminated crystals shattered upon receiving mana because their internal structure (too small to be observed with current technology, based on her ancestor Bottel’s theories) had been destabilized by the alien energy, making them unable to handle the influx of mana. However, etching specific patterns onto their surface, creating pathways for mana to flow, could restore their conductivity.

It was a time-consuming process. Rebecca, working alone, would have needed days to prepare a single usable crystal. But now, with Flora and Leona’s assistance, the task became much easier.

Flora was meticulous. Although it was their first time working together, she followed Rebecca’s instructions flawlessly.

Leona proved to be an invaluable asset. Her lack of strategic thinking didn’t mean she was unintelligent. As a top-tier Dou Warrior, she excelled at precise movements. Rebecca usually etched the patterns onto the crystals using corrosive potions, but with Leona’s help, that was no longer necessary. Rebecca simply drew the patterns on each crystal with a special pen, then handed them to Leona, who used her razor-sharp Dou Qi to carve the patterns directly onto the surface.

Magic crystals were incredibly hard, resistant to most tools, but they were like butter before Leona’s Dou Qi blade.

Thus, Rebecca, Flora, and Leona formed a production line, churning out magic crystals. If one crystal proved unreliable, they could create more, allowing Rebecca to troubleshoot any potential issues.

Abyss, having supplied the raw materials, was no longer needed. He observed them for a while, satisfying his curiosity, then excused himself.

“Your Dou Qi is amazing, Leona! You must show me your combat skills sometime. It must be an awe-inspiring sight!” Rebecca said, admiring the crystal Leona had etched.

Leona giggled, her cheeks flushed, pleased by the compliment.

“Rebecca, these crystals are ready. I’ll bring them over,” Flora said.

“Thanks, Flora,” Rebecca replied.

Leona, engrossed in her work, hadn’t noticed Abyss’s departure. She looked around and spotted him standing in the graveyard. “Rebecca, what’s Abyss doing in the graveyard?” she asked, curious.

“He said he’s digging up some graves for research,” Rebecca replied, then whispered, “Is that his hobby? Do all necromancers enjoy that? He seems quite enthusiastic…”

“I should have known…” Leona said, rolling her eyes, watching Abyss crouching among the tombstones, intently studying the inscriptions. “Yes, he loves it. He once said he prefers the company of the dead.”

“That’s kind of cute,” Rebecca said, giggling.

“Cute?! How is that cute?!” Leona exclaimed, shocked by Rebecca’s peculiar definition of “cute.”

Flora, beside them, struggled to suppress her laughter.

…

Abyss crouched before a tombstone, carefully examining the inscription.

The writing wasn’t in any language he recognized. Its form and structure were completely different from the languages of Hai-Teweru. He retrieved a notebook from his magical catfish’s mouth and meticulously copied the inscription. Although he doubted this short inscription held any valuable information, recording anything from this world might prove useful later.

While the three girls were busy crafting magic crystals for their return trip, Abyss continued copying tombstone inscriptions. When he felt he had collected enough data, noticing repetitions in the writing, a new thought emerged.

It was one of his favorite activities—grave robbing.

Since the deceased in this world had no souls, he couldn’t seek their consent. He bowed respectfully before a tombstone, then used wind magic to meticulously clear away the dust covering the grave. Finally, he covered his hand in bone armor, grabbed the stone slab covering the grave, and lifted it aside.

A desiccated corpse lay before him. There was no stench of decay. This world was devoid of bacteria to decompose the body.

It was a small humanoid creature with bluish-green skin, resembling a goblin, but with three eyes. Abyss had anticipated the differences in appearance between the inhabitants of this world and those of Hai-Teweru, so he wasn’t surprised. What intrigued him was the creature’s posture and the dagger embedded in its chest.

The deceased wasn’t lying peacefully in the grave. It was contorted, its body twisted sideways, its limbs splayed, its face turned upwards, the dehydrated skin preserving its final expression—a mixture of bewilderment and a hint of joy. A sharp, slender dagger protruded from its chest, likely piercing its heart or another vital organ, causing instant death.

It seemed this individual had committed suicide right beside the grave, then fallen into it, the stone slab placed over its body by someone else.

Remembering the potent, suicide-inducing toxins in the air, even Abyss shuddered at the thought of what might have happened in this world.

Perhaps the inhabitants, driven mad by the toxins, had gathered in an eerie, orderly fashion and committed mass suicide. Then, the toxin spread, killing every other living creature, even microbes, leaving behind a silent, lifeless world.

But who had created this toxin and released it into the world? And why?

Driven by these questions, Abyss excavated several more graves, each containing a native inhabitant, dead by their own hand, a dagger embedded in their chest, their bodies contorted in various postures. But he found no further clues.

Then, his gaze fell upon a unique grave. Its tombstone had shimmering purple decorations, unlike the others.

v2c15 : The Unassuming Tycoon

Flora and Leona, during their time with Abyss, had always assumed he wasn’t wealthy.

They understood. He was a necromancer, after all. Necromancers were a shunned profession. No one would hire them for legitimate work, and Abyss wouldn’t resort to robbery or murder for money. Besides, excluding frivolous expenses, a necromancer’s lifestyle wasn’t costly—their primary tools were corpses, readily available in graveyards. The dead rarely complained.

So, they had thought Abyss lived a simple, albeit financially constrained, life, acquiring funds only when necessary.

But when Abyss pulled a large chest from his magical catfish’s mouth and opened it, their perception changed drastically.

It was filled with magic crystals! And not just any crystals, but the rare, black-hued, contaminated crystals found only in the Shadowed Depths!

“I acquired these from a merchant during my travels with my master—a deceased merchant, that is. He told me these were contaminated magic crystals he brought back from the Shadowed Depths. He initially thought they were usable, albeit of lower quality, so he planned to sell them at a discount. But when he processed them and tried to infuse them with mana, they shattered. He almost went bankrupt,” Abyss explained, retrieving a crystal from the chest and handing it to Rebecca for inspection. “Unwilling to give up, he kept a chest of them, almost two thousand, he said. They were buried with him when he died. I acquired them from him. In return, I took him to see his descendants. But that’s another story.”

“These are incredibly rare and valuable on the continent! They’re practically priceless!” Rebecca exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with delight as she examined the egg-sized crystal. “I went through a lot of trouble to acquire a few. The Shadowed Depths are too dangerous. No one wants to travel there and bring back worthless garbage crystals, so they’re incredibly difficult to obtain. And you have so many!”

“I also have ordinary magic crystals and unprocessed crystal ore. Perhaps seven or eight chests worth,” Abyss said, nodding. “Feel free to ask if you need any. You’re my follower now. We share everything.”

“What else do you have?” Leona asked, unable to contain her curiosity. “I thought you were a pauper.”

“I have a lot of things: weapons, armor, supposedly valuable artifacts. All gifts from the deceased. Especially when I was younger. They found me adorable and showered me with gifts. My master couldn’t stop them,” Abyss said, thinking. “I also have a few chests of jewelry, gemstones, and ancient coins. They’re quite heavy, a few tons, perhaps. But I don’t find them useful, so I’ve kept them stored in my catfish’s belly. I can give you some if you like—as long as you don’t mind them being burial goods. My little fire dragon loves gemstones. I often give them to him as gifts.”

Leona’s jaw dropped. “You’re rich?!”

“They’re not exactly money, but they can be exchanged for it. I was planning to give some gemstones to the Black Hats Gang to exchange for funds. Pawnbrokers usually don’t accept burial goods, but gangs have their ways.”

Observing Abyss’s nonchalant demeanor, Leona couldn’t believe she had endured a life of poverty with him for so long.

He wasn’t poor, he just didn’t carry cash! He was so accustomed to his frugal lifestyle that he hadn’t realized it was inappropriate for a Saint and a princess!

But Flora seemed to be enjoying it?

No, I, Leona, will not tolerate this injustice any longer! From now on, ABC has to pay to touch my head! He’s a tycoon! Leona decided, her mind made up.

Ten imperial coins per touch, three times a day: morning, noon, and night! That’s settled!

“Then we’re a perfect match! I was worried about our financial compatibility,” Rebecca said, suddenly setting aside the contaminated crystal and retrieving a red potion bottle emitting pink smoke from her alchemical apparatus. She handed it to Abyss. “The antidote is ready. How does it smell?”

Abyss wafted the smoke towards his nose, taking a whiff. “Hmm, it’s even more refreshing than the one you had in your mouth earlier. It clears the mind.”

“I didn’t expect the potency and aroma to fade after forty years,” Rebecca said, sticking out her tongue. “I thought if someone rescued me, they would pull me out of the potion first, and I would wake up and exhale the antidote into their mouth, potentially saving their life. I didn’t actually expect anyone to kiss me… But if it were you, I wouldn’t mind a kiss…”

“You should trust your own judgment more than a fortune teller’s,” Abyss said with a smile. “Spend some time with me, then decide.”

“Of course, I’ll consider it carefully,” Rebecca said, blushing slightly. “I’m just eager to fall in love, and you seem perfect, so I…”

Abyss didn’t reply, but he knew Rebecca’s feelings weren’t love, not even friendship. It was a sense of dependency, fueled by a fortune teller’s prediction and her sudden rescue by a boy her age.

Perhaps she thought they could develop feelings for each other over time. Abyss wasn’t convinced.

The necromantic link hadn’t transferred any power to him. He didn’t feel any significant improvement in his mental acuity or his alchemical skills. Rebecca’s loyalty was still low. He knew that if he were truly unworthy, she wouldn’t hesitate to leave him.

A woman of her caliber wouldn’t settle for someone who couldn’t earn her respect and trust.

v2c14: The Best Laid Plans…

“Flora, could you pass me that red potion? Thanks.”

Rebecca, her movements precise and efficient, worked on brewing another potion, this time an antidote for the toxin in this world’s air. The process was far more complex than the one she had used to revitalize her body, but it gave her an opportunity to recount her experiences in this world. Abyss stood behind her, assisting her, their movements synchronized despite their recent acquaintance. Perhaps it was due to the necromantic link, or perhaps Rebecca’s genius intellect allowed her to adapt quickly. Leona, having completed the tasks Rebecca had assigned her, grinding the ingredients into fine powder and meticulously processing them with her Dou Qi, sat on the ground, her chin resting on her hands, listening intently.

Although her skills were somewhat overkill for such mundane tasks, Leona basked in Rebecca’s praise. Her initial hostility towards Rebecca had dissipated, replaced by a sense of camaraderie. If she had a tail, it would be wagging furiously.

Despite multitasking, Rebecca still had the mental capacity to tell her story.

“Lannis might have told you, I’ve always been fascinated by spatial magic. After years of research, I realized that spatial magic wasn’t something mages could achieve through traditional methods, relying solely on spells and mana.”

“So I developed a new approach—etching magic crystals with potions, then soaking them in other potions to alter their properties, embedding spatial magic within them. My idea was considered unorthodox. Abyss, as a necromancer, you must understand how those ‘righteous’ mages look down on alchemy-assisted magic. But I succeeded. I initially thought these enchanted crystals could help me create a stable and convenient teleportation device, but it exceeded my expectations. It connected me to another world.”

“I was ecstatic. If I could use this technology to access other worlds, I could achieve so much more. Blinded by my success, I immediately began conducting numerous experiments—in secret from Lannis. I knew she wouldn’t approve of my obsession.”

“I used countless magic crystals, countless experiments, and finally achieved my goal. I discovered that this world contained an abundance of natural, high-quality alchemical solvents. It was an alchemist’s paradise. Overjoyed, I used potions to ward off fatigue, working tirelessly to create two devices. You’ve seen them both: the Gateway to the New World and the World Conduit. The inspiration came from my ancestor, but most of the design was my own. Spatial magic didn’t exist in his time.”

“Then, I foolishly entered this alluring world, equipped with everything I thought I might need. I was so naive. I saw only the abundant solvents, assuming this world was uninhabited, unaware that everyone here was already dead… This world is devoid of life, not even microbes remain. It’s completely silent.”

“As you can see, this world is filled with factories, abandoned millennia ago. Even this altar is a factory. The other factories produced various potions, some on a massive scale, with vast stockpiles of ingredients. They could operate continuously once activated. I found one such factory and assembled the other end of the World Conduit there, successfully activating it and sending a steady stream of solvents back to Hai-Teweru. That was the first step of my plan, a complete success.”

“Then… I realized my gas mask wasn’t as effective as I had thought. There’s a toxic element in this world’s air. It affects the mind, inducing suicidal thoughts. And it somehow bypassed my gas mask’s filters.”

Rebecca pointed at the gas mask Abyss was fiddling with, its straps dangling from his fingers.

“The gas mask I brought was better than yours. I activated its isolation function, breathing the stored fresh air, when the toxin’s effects were still mild. But I soon realized that if I didn’t retreat, this mind-altering toxin would kill me. I immediately started assembling a new portal, but… My other two magic crystals inexplicably shattered when I embedded them into the Gateway.”

She sighed.

“With limited air in my gas mask, time was running out. I had been exploring as I traveled, so the factory with the World Conduit was too far away to reach in time. It was the first time I faced a truly desperate situation… I had prepared extra crystals, but the best-laid plans often go awry.”

“I did manage to create an antidote, but I didn’t have enough materials. It wouldn’t last long. I was worried about the last remaining crystal. What if it also shattered? So, instead of retrieving it, I decided to try another approach.”

“I had discovered this factory within the altar. I analyzed the substances they produced here and, using the available materials, created a potion that could induce a temporary death-like state, stopping my breathing for a certain period, allowing me to wait for rescue. If no one came, it would awaken me before my life truly ended, giving me a final chance. It seemed like a safer option. I submerged myself in the potion… But no one came, and for some reason, the potion didn’t wake me up. I died.”

Abyss’s eyes narrowed. Rebecca might have regretted her recklessness, but her preparations had been meticulous. She had stayed up for days, creating an extra magic crystal specifically for unexpected situations. But those situations had occurred repeatedly, cutting off all her escape routes.

Who had guided Rebecca to this world, and who had orchestrated these accidents? Only one suspect came to mind: the Creator God!

Rebecca chuckled wryly. “But it’s alright. At least a necromancer came to rescue me in the end, a kind and gentle one at that.”

“I’m going to try again. I have enough materials now. Once I finish brewing the antidote, we’ll retrieve the last crystal and attempt to return home! But I’m not sure if it’ll still work after all these years. Hopefully, it won’t fail.”

“If that crystal isn’t reliable, can we create more?”

“Do you have magic crystals? No, that won’t work,” Rebecca said, shaking her head. “I need crystals from the Shadowed Depths(Shadowfall Wasteland)—people think they’re useless, that they shatter upon absorbing mana, but they’re actually the key to creating world-traveling crystals. No one would have those.”

“Actually, I have a few,” Abyss said, smiling. “A few thousand, actually. You can have them.”

v2c13 : Without You, I Have No Future

Although Rebecca had initially appeared fragile and lovestruck, a damsel in distress blinded by romantic infatuation, the moment her hands touched the alchemy table, her entire demeanor transformed. Her posture straightened, her eyes gleaming with focus as she surveyed the equipment. Forty years of slumber hadn’t dulled her skills. Every tool felt like an extension of her own hands.

“You three will be my assistants for now. First, I need to brew a potion to accelerate my body’s recovery. Abyss, how much will my undead status affect the potion’s effectiveness?” she asked, turning to Abyss, who was retrieving ingredients from the sack, her voice calm and professional, as if they had been working together for years.

“It might be significantly reduced for ordinary undead. But you’re my follower, and my necromancy is modified. Generally, beneficial potions retain about seventy to eighty percent of their effectiveness. And you can consider yourself immune to any toxins,” Abyss replied with a smile. He appreciated her straightforwardness.

“Alright, I understand,” Rebecca said, nodding confidently. While Abyss was speaking, she had already formulated a plan.

She listed several ingredients, and Abyss, familiar with them, handed them to her without hesitation.

“Flora, please ignite the potion furnace, add a bottle of solvent, and heat it. But before I add the ingredients, control the flame to prevent it from boiling over,” Rebecca instructed, her voice calm and authoritative. “Leona, you’re skilled in physical combat, so please grind these ingredients into powder.”

“Okay.” “Got it!”

Flora and Leona, now fully on board with Rebecca’s plans, followed her instructions diligently.

Rebecca, having delegated the tasks, began processing the ingredients and equipment with incredible speed and precision. Her movements were a blur, her mind working on multiple tasks simultaneously, her efficiency almost superhuman.

“I’m undead now, so I need a more potent potion. Purification takes too long, so I need to create a new potion to enhance its effects…”

She muttered to herself, her eyes darting between the equipment and the ingredients, her hands never stopping. She even kept track of time, announcing the elapsed seconds every five seconds.

Flora, despite being a Divine Arts user, knew some magic. After igniting the furnace, she meticulously controlled the flame, maintaining the solvent at a precise temperature, just below boiling point, without a single error.

Leona, using her Dou Qi to solidify objects, effortlessly ground the ingredients into fine powder, placing them in small bowls.

“Thank you, Leona. Your grinding is more precise than any machine. Now, please hand the ingredients to Abyss. Abyss, I’ll need your assistance with some of the procedures.”

“Of course,” Abyss said, nodding, taking the bowls from Leona.

Rebecca began brewing the potion. The preheated equipment and the furnace, carefully maintained by Flora, were now filled with ingredients, working in perfect harmony. One after another, her instructions flowed seamlessly, keeping Abyss busy with various alchemical tasks.

“Now, if we do this… Flora, increase the furnace’s heat to maximum for five seconds, then extinguish the flame… Five, four, three, two, one, now!”

She swiftly transferred the potion, now infused with various ingredients, from the furnace into a cooling container. The moment it reached the desired temperature, she grabbed the container and drank the potion in one gulp.

Her skin glowed with a soft light as the magically charged ingredients took effect. A warm breath escaped her lips. Then, she began moving her limbs, a series of satisfying cracks echoing through the lab as her joints, stiff after forty years of inactivity, regained their flexibility.

“Success! Two minutes and fourteen seconds,” Rebecca said, smiling, striking a playful pose. “I’m back in action! Thank you for your help! I’ve memorized the new potion’s formula and procedure. I’ll share it with you, Abyss, if you need it.”

“You invented this?” Abyss asked, raising an eyebrow. “And you succeeded on your first try?”

“When you understand the properties of all ingredients under various conditions as well as I do, you can achieve this too,” Rebecca said, flexing her wrist, now supple and flexible thanks to the potion. “And thank you for your necromancy. It’s truly advanced.”

Rebecca was surprisingly polite. It was difficult to imagine that this charming and brilliant young woman had once run the continent’s largest adult entertainment and health supplement business.

“Now for the antidote. I’ll brew a volatile potion. You just need to inhale its fumes occasionally. It has a pleasant scent, you won’t mind it,” she said, tucking a strand of her black hair behind her ear, winking at Abyss. “While I work, I’ll tell you how I died. Then we can discuss our escape plan—I’m guessing you came here without a return ticket. You don’t have any of those world-traveling crystals, do you?”

“Ah, you’re right. I don’t,” Abyss shrugged. “I used the last one. And if Lannis hadn’t intervened, that ‘World Conduit’ would have been used as a free solvent machine by those gangsters until it broke down.”

Hearing the word “gangsters,” Rebecca’s eyes hardened, but she quickly regained her cheerful demeanor. “Well, I guess I’m lucky. I was rescued at the last moment, and by such a capable young man.”

“Actually, I’ve wanted you for a long time. And I need you,” Abyss said casually.

Rebecca blushed, surprised. “Ah… Really? You need me that much?”

“I can’t do it without you,” Abyss said, nodding. “Without you, I have no future.”

Rebecca beamed, while Flora and Leona, beside them, closed their eyes, wincing.

v2c12 : The Belator Moving Company

Abyss nodded, not doubting Rebecca’s words for a moment.

He knew his own tolerance for toxins was exceptionally high.

Necromancers, as a unique school of magic, employed unconventional methods. For example, they didn’t rely solely on their own mana for spellcasting but also utilized potions and herbs as catalysts. In particular, they often brewed a potent, slightly toxic potion called “Life’s Tribute” to induce a near-death trance, enhancing their affinity for the undead—although Abyss didn’t need it, he had consumed plenty of it as a child.

His master frequently used this potion and kept a large supply on hand. Young Abyss, drawn to its sweet, spicy, and slightly sour taste, had secretly consumed it on numerous occasions. By the age of seven or eight, he was already immune to small doses, experiencing only drowsiness even after consuming larger quantities. This was how his master discovered his extraordinary tolerance for toxins.

Now, at sixteen, his resistance was even more remarkable. Potions that would make ordinary people ill had no effect on him. Potions that would kill ordinary people merely gave him hiccups. Even potions potent enough to poison a two-headed ogre only caused him mild dizziness, and he recovered quickly.

But he couldn’t withstand the toxins in this world’s air, suggesting their potency. Abyss felt a shiver of fear. If he had listened to Lannis and brought her along inside the magical catfish, she might have succumbed to the toxins and attempted suicide, even within the safe confines of the catfish’s belly. When a toxin that could influence even his thoughts permeated the air, killing everyone was a trivial matter.

“The antidote I gave you is over forty years old. Its potency must have degraded. We need to find the equipment and ingredients I brought with me and brew a new batch quickly. Hopefully, they haven’t been damaged by time…”

Rebecca tried to stand up, her joints stiff, but Abyss gently placed a hand on her shoulder, stopping her.

“Your physical condition is similar to that of an ordinary human. Your joints are still stiff. Sudden movements might injure your legs,” he said, his voice concerned. “It might not be painful, but it would be uncomfortable.”

“Would you mind fetching them for me?” Rebecca asked, her eyes hopeful.

“No need. I have everything you need right here.”

Abyss smiled, chanting a spell, summoning his magical catfish. As Rebecca watched in astonishment, he reached into the catfish’s gaping maw and pulled out a large sack, filled to the brim.

He opened the sack, revealing bundles of alchemical ingredients, all from Lannis’s laboratory. Although Lannis seemed obsessed with explosions, her collection of ingredients was diverse, capable of producing most potions in the world.

He then retrieved numerous bottles and vials, placing them on the ground.

“This sack contains ingredients from your assistant, Lannis. They might be useful to you. And these containers hold some of my ingredients. They might not be as diverse as Lannis’s, but they’re rare and valuable, gathered from all over the world by my master and me. I hope they’re of use to you,” Abyss said.

Rebecca’s eyes widened. “Wait, what is this catfish? Your familiar?”

“Yes, it’s my familiar. Its belly can hold a lot of things, as long as it can swallow them,” Abyss said, proudly stroking the catfish’s massive head. However, this familiar, used primarily for storage, lacked intelligence, only wiggling slightly in response to his touch.

“Amazing! Now that I’m your follower, can I use your familiar to carry my things?” Rebecca asked, her voice regaining some of its strength, her excitement palpable. “You know what’s the biggest problem for an alchemist? Too many tools and ingredients, impossible to carry them all, limiting our freedom to travel! But your familiar! It’s a dream come true!”

“Feel free to use it,” Abyss said, smiling, granting her request.

Before Rebecca could ask for anything else, Abyss continued retrieving items from the catfish’s belly. This time, it wasn’t just ingredients, but various alchemical equipment. Lannis had generously provided everything that might be useful and could fit inside the catfish, including a complete set of alchemical tools, bottles, vials, heating elements, even a heavy stone alchemy table.

“Leona, Flora, a little help, please!” Abyss said. Flora, seeing Leona’s jealousy, quickly grabbed her and joined Abyss in setting up the equipment.

Within minutes, a fully equipped alchemical laboratory materialized before Rebecca’s eyes.

Rebecca, who had never witnessed such a convenient and unconventional moving method, clapped her hands, her delight genuine. “My god! Thank you! You’re so thoughtful! You brought everything I need, and so efficiently! I can start working immediately!”

“Let me help you up,” Flora said, approaching Rebecca with a smile, wanting to distract Leona from her jealousy.

“Thank you,” Rebecca said politely, then paused, her eyes widening as she looked at Flora. “You look familiar… Abyss called you Flora, right? Are you the Saint of the Church?”

“Hmm? You know me?” Flora asked, surprised.

“Of course! The kind and beautiful Saint Flora is a popular topic of conversation,” Rebecca said, nodding enthusiastically.

She then turned her gaze towards Leona.

“Leona… You must be Princess Leona, the genius princess of the Western Empire!” Rebecca exclaimed. “Strong, brave, kind. Bards often sing about your deeds!”

“Ah… Really?” Leona, who had initially been wary of Rebecca, felt her animosity fading.

“My god, Abyss, how did you manage to make such talented individuals your followers… No, no, I need to brew that antidote for you immediately!” Rebecca said, her excitement overwhelming her. Flora helped her towards the alchemy table.

“Well… Since… Since it’s for ABC’s safety… I guess I can help…” Leona said, blushing, a forced smile on her face, as she walked towards Rebecca, her arms crossed.

Even Abyss could see that Rebecca, sensing Leona’s jealousy and Flora’s distrust, was trying to bridge the gap between them—and it seemed to be working on Leona. Was she really just a child, both physically and mentally?

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…”