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

Vol 2 Chapter 10: Let’s Get Married!

“Huh?” Abyss was dumbfounded. Who asks for a kiss right after waking up from death?

He looked at Flora and Leona, but they were equally confused, unsure of Rebecca’s intentions.

“Should I…” he mumbled, hesitant.

Leona grimaced. “No! But if there’s no other way… I… It’s none of my business…”

“Do as she says,” Flora said, nodding at Abyss. “We shouldn’t waste any time. Miss Rebecca is a genius. She must have a reason for this!”

Abyss scratched his head. “This is the first time I’ve kissed a girl… Do I kiss her on the lips?”

“Just her cheek! Don’t even think about kissing her lips!” Leona shouted, jumping up and down. “No! I forbid it!”

“Alright…” Abyss said, lowering his head, then hesitantly leaned towards Rebecca’s cheek.

“Whoosh!”

Just as his lips were about to brush against her smooth skin, Rebecca’s mouth opened, and a puff of pink vapor escaped her lips, hitting Abyss squarely in the face.

The sudden gust of vapor startled him. He instinctively inhaled, drawing it into his lungs. Rebecca, lying on the ground, her consciousness mostly restored, smiled faintly, a hint of satisfaction in her eyes.

“Abyss!” Flora exclaimed, alarmed. “What are you doing?!”

“What was that?!” Leona asked, confused. “What did you inhale?”

“Wait… Calm down…” Abyss said, taking a few deep breaths. The pink vapor smelled pleasant, a sweet floral scent, like a girl adorned with flowers. He felt the vapor entering his lungs, quickly absorbed into his bloodstream, a surge of magical energy rushing towards his brain!

*Buzz!*

His ears rang, then the ringing subsided. The scent vanished, and the sensation of the potion coursing through his body disappeared.

And with it, his persistent suicidal thoughts vanished as well.

“You… Cough… Cough… You trust me that much?”

A soft, slightly raspy voice came from below, making them look down.

Rebecca, her beautiful face adorned with a slightly stiff smile, her eyes now bright and lively, looked at Abyss.

“I don’t need to doubt you. You’ve always been a kind person,” Abyss said, smiling back at her. “Welcome back. And thank you for the antidote.”

“You came to rescue me? Cough… Lannis really found some capable people… Traveling to another world to find me. I’m surprised…” Rebecca said, struggling to sit up. Abyss quickly reached out, supporting her with his hands.

She sat up, leaning against him, and continued, “You’re safe now. Your companions might need some potions to counteract the toxins… Do you have a way to return? Did Lannis figure out how to create those crystals? How did she become so skilled… Cough… How long have I been gone? It must have been a couple of months. My body is so stiff… Give me a moment… I need to recover… Oh, right, the alchemical ingredients I brought, I remember…”

“You’re dead,” Abyss said, interrupting her, his voice gentle. “Forty-three years have passed. You don’t need to worry about potions. I’m a necromancer. My name is Abyss. They, like you now, are my followers. Undead are immune to toxins.”

Rebecca’s smile faltered. She stared at him, speechless.

“Hello? Are you still there?” Abyss asked, waving a hand in front of her face.

“I’m dead?” she finally mumbled. “You’re a necromancer?”

“Yes. Don’t worry, I treat my followers well. They can vouch for me,” Abyss said, trying to reassure her with his most comforting smile.

“I… I can vouch for him,” Flora said, raising her hand.

“He can be a bit of a pervert sometimes… But… Overall… He’s a good person… Just a little bit,” Leona said, her voice barely audible.

“Eeeeeeek!!!” Rebecca shrieked, her voice cracking. “I’m dead?!”

“Yes, yes, you’re dead. But you’re undead now, so it’s not much different from being alive,” Abyss said, patting her back gently.

“And another thing!” Rebecca exclaimed, her voice regaining some strength. She could now raise her hands more freely. She pointed at Abyss. “They used ‘he’ when referring to you, right? You’re a man!”

“Uh… Yes, but I didn’t intend to deceive you. I just heard you didn’t like interacting with men, and I was worried you might have a phobia or something… So I wore this dress…” Abyss explained calmly, summoning his magical catfish and retrieving the flowers he had purchased earlier. “And it’s your birthday today, so I bought you some flowers. I hope you like them—can you hold them? If not, I can give them to you later.”

“Ah…” Rebecca stared at him, her eyes wide.

“What’s wrong with her?” Flora whispered to Leona.

“Looks like Abyss is about to be labeled a pervert,” Leona said, smirking, enjoying the situation.

“Miss Rebecca? We have plenty of time to get to know each other…” Abyss said, offering her the flowers.

“No need to get to know each other!” Rebecca said suddenly, her voice firm. She grabbed his hand, her eyes fixed on him, her grip surprisingly strong despite her still-recovering body.

“We don’t need to get to know each other. You’re my prince charming! Let’s get married! I have a lot of money! I can give it all to you as a dowry! Really… I-I-I-I… I’ve never been in love before, so please be patient with me… I’ll be a good wife!”

Her eyes, bright as stars, were filled with a fervent longing, as if she had discovered the most precious treasure.

“Huh?!” the three onlookers exclaimed in unison.

Vol 2 Chapter 9: “Kiss Me”

As they approached the submerged figure, all three were captivated by the girl’s beauty.

The potion in the pool possessed remarkable preservative properties. Even after forty years, the girl in the white dress looked as if she were merely sleeping peacefully beneath the surface, her features as vibrant as in life.

Her long, black hair swayed gently in the current, her delicate, pretty face a masterpiece of nature. Her eyes and mouth were closed, her long eyelashes fluttering slightly, her pink, slightly pouty lips pressed together in a serene expression.

But what truly caught their attention was the piece of paper clutched in her hands, crossed over her chest, a single phrase written in ancient language: “Kiss me.”

“Is that Rebecca?” Leona asked, her eyes wide with wonder. “She’s so beautiful… I thought all alchemists looked like Lannis.”

“I’m glad I didn’t expand the range of my soul-summoning spell back in the graveyard,” Abyss said, patting his chest. “If I had, I might have accidentally summoned Rebecca’s soul. She would have become a wraith, and I would have had to guide her soul back to her body. It would have been troublesome, and she might have been angry.”

“Should we resurrect her now?” Flora asked, looking at the paper in Rebecca’s hand, puzzled. “Why does it say ‘Kiss me’?”

“We’ll ask her after she’s resurrected,” Abyss said with a smile. “Let’s take her outside. Then I’ll kill myself.”

“Are you insane?!” Leona exclaimed, startled by his words.

“Ah…” Abyss smacked his forehead. “The toxins in the air are affecting my thoughts, but they haven’t impaired my actions yet. Just follow my instructions. We need to get this done quickly.”

Flora looked at him with concern. “Abyss… Maybe we should try to detoxify you first…”

“ABC, I think you need to rest… This poison seems quite potent. Did everyone in this world die from it?” Leona asked, her hand on his arm.

“I don’t know anything about this toxin yet. I can only feel its effects within my body. I drank an antidote earlier, but it didn’t seem to work. If we want to forcefully detoxify me, I might have to resort to unconventional methods. It wouldn’t be a problem for me, but it might be stressful for Lannis. So, we need to resurrect her first.”

“I understand. She’s a genius alchemist. Maybe she can help us!” Flora said, quickly grasping his reasoning.

Abyss crouched down and gently lifted the sleeping beauty, his arms supporting her knees and back. Her body was still soft and supple, water droplets clinging to her skin. Her flawless black hair, cut to her shoulders, released a fragrant scent of potions. Her wet white dress clung to her curves, outlining her slender figure. She was breathtakingly beautiful, even without any makeup, a true beauty emerging from the water. Even Abyss, who wasn’t particularly interested in women, couldn’t help but admire the exceptional genes of this transmigrator’s descendant.

“Leona, make a hole in the wall. We’ll jump out and kill ourselves… Find a suitable spot,” he instructed.

Leona looked at him, worried, but she obeyed without hesitation. Dou Qi flames surged around her, coalescing into a meteor hammer. With a flick of her wrist, she smashed a hole in the wall.

Fortunately, the buildings in this world were far sturdier than those in Hai-Teweru. Leona’s powerful blow hadn’t destroyed the entire structure.

She understood Abyss’s plan. Without waiting for further instructions, she scooped up Flora and leaped through the hole. Abyss followed, chanting a wind magic spell, carrying Rebecca’s body as he jumped out of the giant factory.

As they descended slowly, the urge to stop the spell, to end his life, intensified. Abyss forced himself to accelerate their descent, minimizing their exposure to the toxic air.

Leona, gliding gracefully with her Dou Qi wings, landed beside Abyss.

“This area is open and well-lit. Rebecca will be more comfortable when she wakes up,” Abyss said, nodding at Leona and Flora, gently laying Rebecca’s body on the ground.

The potion that had preserved Rebecca possessed unique properties. Her body was already dry, despite their brief descent from the altar. Abyss smoothed out the wrinkles on her dress, then began chanting the resurrection spell.

“Rebecca Nastya Viper. With me as your master, obey my command, through the cycle of reincarnation, your soul shall return.”

He touched her forehead with his finger.

The spell took effect. Rebecca’s eyes, previously closed, fluttered open.

They were beautiful hazel eyes, their focus still blurry. Even though her consciousness hadn’t fully returned, her mind just beginning to awaken, Abyss could see how bright and lively her eyes had been in life.

They crouched beside her, waiting patiently for her to regain her senses.

Leona and Flora, anticipating the arrival of their new companion, felt a mix of excitement and nervousness. What kind of person would she be?

“How are you feeling? Here, let me help you up,” Abyss said with a warm smile, offering her his hand.

Rebecca’s eyes gradually focused, her gaze shifting around, taking in her surroundings. She looked at Abyss, her expression confused, then shook her head firmly.

“Hmm?” Abyss was surprised. This was the first time an undead had refused his help. He had thought Leona’s immediate aggression upon resurrection was unusual, but this was even more unexpected.

He watched as Rebecca struggled to move, her body stiff and unresponsive after years of inactivity. Her upper body trembled as she raised her arms with great effort, finally reaching her forehead.

She placed the piece of paper on her forehead and pointed at the words with her still-stiff fingers.

“Kiss me.”

Vol 2 Chapter 8: A Factory with an Unknown Purpose

Abyss and Flora exchanged surprised glances. What had Leona discovered? They rushed to her side, eager to know.

“Hmph, see? I told you I’m amazing!” Leona said, standing proudly before the hole she had punched in the altar’s wall, pointing inside. “Look, what’s inside this altar?”

Abyss and Flora peered inside, their eyes widening in surprise. It wasn’t a sacred temple or a grand palace, but a factory?

Although Abyss didn’t recognize the machinery or its purpose, he could tell it was a production facility. He saw pipes, valves, gears, even conveyor belts—a novelty in Hai-Teweru, found only in large, well-equipped factories in Lavoisier City. After all, most factories didn’t have the production volume to justify such advanced equipment.

“This is a factory?” Abyss said, leaning forward, intrigued.

“Step aside, puny human! Let me take the lead. What if there’s something dangerous inside?” Leona said, grabbing Abyss’s dress and pulling him back. His current attire, adorned with delicate lace, provided a more satisfying grip than his previous cloak.

With Leona leading the way, they entered the altar. As they walked, Leona explained her discovery.

“I didn’t expect to find a factory inside this altar. But when I circled around the back, I heard faint sounds, like running water and a low hum. The altar’s walls are soundproof. I couldn’t hear anything from outside. If I were an ordinary person, I probably wouldn’t have noticed anything. But I’m a super genius! My hearing is far superior to ordinary humans. That’s how I discovered it.”

“You mentioned that you haven’t found any signs of life in this world. So any sounds must be natural, like wind or water. But these sounds were coming from inside the altar, not from nature. That’s what made me suspicious.”

“And you remembered the images that flashed through your mind when you activated the portal. One of them was a girl lying in water, with sunlight reflecting off the surface…”

Abyss nodded. “Yes, you’re right. I initially assumed the sunlight meant she was outdoors, but it could have been sunlight shining through a window!”

“Hehe, see? I’m quite perceptive!”

“As expected of Leona!” Flora said, her voice filled with admiration.

“Ah, my dear Leona, you’re truly reliable, as sensitive as a wood elf’s eardrums!” Abyss said, giving her a thumbs-up, his praise unique as always.

Leona glared at him, then continued walking.

The factory had no entrance. Abyss wondered how the workers entered and exited this place, likely through windows. But the interior was well-equipped. At the end of the floor, they found a staircase leading upward. This massive structure, dozens of meters tall, not only had stairs but also a vertical lift, its power source unknown, resembling the platforms used by workers in high-rise buildings.

The lift had no roof, offering a clear view of the tracks leading upward. Abyss, not wanting to waste time climbing stairs, levitated himself and the girls using wind magic, ascending towards the next level.

“I hear water too!” Flora exclaimed.

Abyss nodded. He also heard the sound of running water, a gentle flow. The low hum Leona had mentioned was also audible, like a heat-powered machine operating at low capacity.

With sounds to guide them, finding the source was easier. Abyss stopped their ascent at the middle level, exiting the lift shaft through what was likely intended as a passenger exit, stepping onto solid ground.

The sight before them made them gasp in unison.

It wasn’t another factory floor, but a vast pool filled with a clear liquid. The pool spanned the entire width and length of the altar, dwarfing even the largest public bathhouses in the Eastern Empire. The sounds of running water and machinery originated from a device within the pool, drawing liquid from one side and releasing it on the other, a gentle current preventing stagnation.

And as Leona had predicted, a window at the far end provided the only source of light in this otherwise dark space. The liquid near the window shimmered, reflecting the bright light.

The liquid clearly wasn’t water. Abyss, wearing his gas mask, couldn’t smell it properly, but Leona and Flora instantly noticed something unusual.

It had a faint medicinal scent, mixed with a pleasant floral aroma. But they knew nothing about potions or the ingredients used.

“Abyss, this isn’t water,” Flora said, tugging at his sleeve.

Abyss casually removed his gas mask. It was clear that it couldn’t effectively filter out the toxins in the air. He had been battling suicidal thoughts ever since arriving in this world. He might as well take it off and utilize his sense of smell. He had to act quickly, before the toxins fully impaired his judgment. Otherwise, he would waste precious time on detoxification.

“Hmm… I’ve never smelled this potion before. But this floral scent… It’s from a flower found in Hai-Teweru, used in perfumes,” Abyss said, walking towards the pool. “We can’t see clearly from here. Let’s go in!”

Without hesitation, they stepped into the pool.

The liquid possessed unusual properties. It didn’t feel wet, more like stepping on air, a faint magical energy flowing through it.

As they approached the window, the scene before them became clearer.

A pair of pale, delicate feet, submerged in the liquid, caught their attention.

 

Vol 2 Chapter 7: Mind-Altering Toxins

In Hai-Teweru, every soul was unique. After death, unless influenced by external forces or consumed by powerful obsessions, a soul would leave the body, gradually releasing its spiritual energy, eventually settling into a low-energy, stable state. Such a soul possessed minimal cognitive abilities, no sensations, existing in a state of absolute tranquility. This was called “Rest.”

A soul at rest had no impact on the living. People died every day in Hai-Teweru, but thanks to this low-energy, stable state, the world wasn’t overrun by ghosts. In ancient times, people believed in reincarnation, but it was later proven to be a fallacy. Each life was unique and finite. Based on this understanding, the Necromancy school emerged, albeit with a complicated history. However, out of respect for ancient beliefs, some necromantic spells still invoked the concept of reincarnation—it was merely a formality, not affecting the spell’s effectiveness.

“Soul Recall,” a crucial aspect of necromancy, relied on this characteristic of souls. Souls were difficult to destroy. Human magic couldn’t harm them, only specific Divine Arts could achieve this, and even then, it came at a significant cost. Annihilating a soul wasn’t a trivial matter. Few were willing to pay the price.

This was why necromancers, even before they turned to evil, were ostracized and persecuted. Before their emergence, the dead kept their secrets. But necromancers shattered this rule. If the dead could speak, many powerful figures would be in jeopardy, their secrets exposed.

However, as Abyss attempted to summon the souls of the deceased in this graveyard, he discovered that not only was this world devoid of life, but it also lacked any souls to summon. It was as if they had vanished.

He had only witnessed such a large-scale disappearance of souls once before, among the followers of the Lord of Submergence. They had offered their souls as sustenance to the giant jellyfish, in exchange for power.

What had happened to the people of this world? Not only were they dead, but their souls had vanished as well? Abyss stared at the massive altar, a sense of unease creeping over him.

But his priority was to find Rebecca, resurrect her, and escape this place. He would return to investigate the mysteries of this world later, if he had the opportunity. He sensed something unusual about this world, a lingering dissonance that he couldn’t quite grasp, although everything about this place seemed wrong.

“Finding Rebecca might not be easy,” Abyss said, stroking his chin thoughtfully. “The flow of time in this world seems similar to ours. If she arrived here and died over forty years ago, any traces she left behind would have vanished. We’ll have to rely on other clues to find her. Let’s split up and search. I could summon more helpers, but I can’t seem to use my rings to summon my undead friends in this world. We’ll have to manage on our own.”

“That’s easy. If Rebecca left any intentional markings, we’ll find her,” Leona said confidently, patting her flat chest. “She’s smart, she must have left some clues.”

“Not necessarily. She probably didn’t expect anyone else to follow her to this world,” Abyss said. “There aren’t many geniuses in this world, especially not those who can combine alchemy, mechanics, and spatial magic.”

“Let’s analyze the clues we have,” Flora said, encouraging them. “If we focus our efforts, we’ll find her.”

They divided the tasks and began their search. Abyss, naturally drawn to graveyards, focused on the tombstones. Leona went to investigate the altar. Flora attempted to use Divine Arts, but her prayers went unanswered. Her connection to the gods was severed in this world, making her no different from an ordinary girl (except for her superhuman strength). Her task was to search the area around their current location.

Abyss walked through the graveyard, a truly silent place, devoid of any life, not even a single undead. He felt a sense of relief having Leona and Flora by his side.

Without their company, he might have been driven to suicide by the overwhelming silence.

“Wait… Why am I thinking about suicide…” he thought, a sudden unease gripping him.

He chanted a spell, summoning his magical catfish. He retrieved a bottle of antidote from its mouth and drank it without hesitation.

There was something wrong with the air here!

The potion, enhanced by magic, quickly took effect. He felt a warmth spreading through his stomach, and he started sweating. He wasn’t sure how effective the antidote would be, but he had to act quickly, before the suicidal thoughts consumed him.

The graveyard was empty, devoid of any offerings or signs of visitation. Each tombstone had a stone slab before it, covered in dust, but nothing else.

Abyss found no clues here.

Flora also seemed to have come up empty-handed. She had meticulously searched the ground for any traces, but found nothing.

Leona, meanwhile, was nowhere in sight. She was the fastest and most physically capable among them. She had already circled the altar and was now searching the surrounding area. Abyss wasn’t worried about her missing any clues, but he was concerned about her carelessness.

He would check on her later. Perhaps with three pairs of eyes, they might notice something he had missed.

“ABC! You said Rebecca was lying in a pool of clear water, with sunlight reflecting off the surface, right?” Leona suddenly shouted from afar.

Abyss looked up and shouted back, “Yes! Did you find something? There doesn’t seem to be any water source nearby.”

“Of course I did!”

Leona rushed towards the altar and smashed a hole in its wall with a single punch.

“Stop destroying things!”

“Get in here! I’m a princess! I’m not crawling through a tiny window!”

Vol 2 Chapter 6: Abyss’s Paradise

Flora nestled in Abyss’s arms, her hands wrapped around his neck. Leona, although initially wanting to be carried as well, had opted to ride on his back after some consideration.

They were both light, barely a burden for Abyss. He chanted a spell, a gust of wind enveloping him, lifting him gently into the air.

He stopped ascending at a height of about one or two hundred meters, the view now clear enough to survey the surrounding area.

“There’s a factory in the distance!” Leona exclaimed, pointing in one direction, her hand gripping Abyss’s shoulder for balance. “I’ve never seen buildings like those before, but those look like chimneys!”

Abyss followed her gaze. It was the same cluster of structures he had seen earlier, the ones at the end of the road leading from the town. He had initially assumed they were towers, but Leona’s observation made him realize they were indeed chimneys, tall and thick, reaching for the sky. Perhaps, when this world was inhabited, those chimneys released smoke and fumes from the factories below, just like the potion factories in Lavoisier City.

“They needed such massive chimneys for their emissions?” Leona said, impressed. “They must have burned a lot of coal.”

“The toxins I’m breathing right now are probably related to those chimneys,” Abyss said, staring at the distant structures. “Releasing so much waste into the atmosphere must have polluted the air, affecting the health of the residents. I saw those children working in the Goat Eyes Gang’s factory. Most of them had health problems. And I’m noticing that this gas mask can’t completely filter out the toxins in this world’s air. I’m feeling slightly fatigued.”

Although Leona’s affection had granted him superhuman strength, his body was still mortal. And his resistance to toxins, honed through years of exposure to dangerous substances, seemed ineffective against this world’s chronic pollutants.

He would need to rest soon and consume a detoxifying potion. Even though these toxins wouldn’t cause any immediate harm, it was best to be cautious.

“Abyss, look behind you. Is that an altar?” Flora said, patting his arm, directing his attention.

Abyss turned in mid-air, following her gaze.

“Ah, I didn’t notice that before,” he said, impressed. “My god, it’s not just an altar… It’s my dream come true…”

“What is it?” Leona asked, her curiosity piqued. She climbed higher on Abyss’s back, resting her chin on his head, trying to see what he was looking at.

It was a massive altar, dozens of meters tall, wide, and long, hidden behind a hill. The altar was bare, its top adorned with neatly arranged cylindrical structures. It resembled the smaller altar he had seen in the town, except for the cylinders.

But it wasn’t the altar itself that had elicited Abyss’s exclamation, but the countless stone markers surrounding it—tombstones, thousands of them, neatly arranged in rows, radiating outward from the altar, forming a giant semicircle.

“Such a huge graveyard!” Leona exclaimed, then her voice turned suspicious. “You’re not planning to dig up their graves, are you?”

“I’m a bit ashamed to admit…” Abyss said, chuckling sheepishly. “Seeing this graveyard, my fingers are itching.”

“You won’t even spare the graves of people from another world!” Leona said, her voice filled with disdain. “You necromancers are all perverts!”

“If Rebecca entered this world near here, she wouldn’t have ignored such a massive altar,” Flora said, her voice hopeful. “Let’s go there. We might find some clues.”

Abyss nodded. As they flew towards the altar, he observed the rivers below. This world seemed to have abundant water resources, numerous rivers flowing through various settlements. But whether they passed by abandoned factories or deserted towns, the water remained consistently bright yellow, unlike the clear pool he had seen in his vision.

Flora was right. Rebecca had come to this world to explore. She wouldn’t have missed such a grand structure. They might find clues to her whereabouts there.

With a clear destination in mind, Abyss wasted no time. The wind carried him towards the altar.

As they approached, the altar’s details became clearer. It was made of a white material, resembling jade, adorned with shimmering purple patterns. It wasn’t just a giant cube. Upon closer inspection, it resembled a large building, not simply a scaled-up version of the altar he had seen earlier. The cylindrical structures on top, now visible, were hollow, likely chimneys.

The people of this world were obsessed with chimneys. He wondered what their purpose was.

Abyss landed near the altar, within the graveyard.

“Since we’ve found a graveyard, I’ll try to summon their souls. Perhaps we can learn something from these deceased inhabitants of this world,” he said, setting Leona and Flora down.

He chanted a spell, tendrils of magic swirling around him, then expanding outwards, enveloping the entire graveyard.

After a moment of silence, Abyss shrugged, disappointed.

“What’s wrong? They’re not cooperating?” Leona asked.

“It’s not that. I don’t simply reanimate bodies, turning them into mindless puppets. I recall their souls, allowing them to regain their consciousness,” Abyss explained. “But it seems the deceased in this world have no souls to recall… Perhaps their souls have dissipated, or perhaps they’ve gone somewhere else…”

Vol 2 Chapter 5: The Deserted Ghost Town

This world was once highly advanced.

That was Abyss’s conclusion after reaching the town.

It wasn’t a large town, nor was it a bustling hub of activity, but it was unlike anything he had seen in Hai-Teweru. The houses were neatly arranged, the streets clean and well-maintained. Compared to this, towns of similar size in Hai-Teweru were as filthy as a ghoul’s mouth. Abyss could sense a well-designed sewage system beneath the streets, a luxury only found in major cities in Hai-Teweru. Smaller towns were lucky to have a few functioning gutters.

Most of the buildings were two-story structures, some likely shops, others residential houses.

Their architectural style was uniform, with a minimalist aesthetic, but Abyss felt something was missing—the residents.

This seemingly idyllic town was completely deserted. He cast a heartbeat detection spell, but it returned no results. There wasn’t even a rat in sight.

“Could this be a world that has already been destroyed?” Abyss wondered, walking down the empty street.

Only remnants of civilization remained, but no one lived here. No animals, no plants, perhaps not even microbes… This utter silence, this absence of life, even Abyss found it unsettling. Even graveyards, despite being filled with the dead, were teeming with life: microbes, insects, scavengers. They were all part of the ecosystem.

He continued walking, then spotted a building that stood out.

Unlike the other houses with their silver roofs, this one was larger and had a shimmering purple roof. It was a single-story structure with small windows and a large double door. It didn’t resemble any of the shops or houses he had seen earlier.

“What is this place…” Abyss wondered, approaching the building and pushing open its wooden doors.

Dust covered the floor, suggesting it had been abandoned for a long time. The interior was spacious, with only a few support pillars obstructing the view. A large, square platform in the center resembled an altar, but it was empty, devoid of any statues. Perhaps the statue had been removed, or perhaps the people of this world worshipped a deity without a physical representation.

Abyss knew he couldn’t decipher the mysteries of this world so easily. He shook his head and stepped outside. His priority was to find Rebecca. She had explored this world. He could ask her directly.

He chanted a spell, summoning his magical catfish.

Summoning familiars was a form of magic. Since he could use wind magic in this world, he could also summon his familiar. He reached into the catfish’s mouth, grabbed something, and pulled.

The catfish’s body expanded, its mouth widening, and Abyss pulled out a petite girl with long, silver twintails, her hand clasped around another girl’s hand, a blonde one.

Leona and Flora stood before him.

“What now?” Leona asked, her voice filled with annoyance. “I already crawled into your giant catfish’s belly. What more do you want?!”

“Abyss, is there anything else… Huh? Leona, wait, we’re here?”

Flora, about to ask Abyss what he needed, noticed the unfamiliar buildings surrounding them. They were standing on a street. She realized they had arrived at their destination. They had assumed they were pulled out immediately after entering the catfish’s belly, but time was frozen within the catfish’s internal storage space, creating a disorienting time discrepancy.

Leona also realized where they were. “What is this place? Is this the new world Rebecca discovered? Why are there houses?”

“Yes, this is the new world. There are buildings, but I haven’t found any signs of life,” Abyss shrugged. “Not even a single insect. You noticed the barren landscape, right? There aren’t even any plants.”

Flora wrinkled her nose. “The air smells strange…”

Undead could breathe, but they didn’t need to. They primarily used their respiratory systems for speech and smell. They didn’t absorb any substances from the air, so they were immune to toxins. Flora and Leona didn’t need to worry.

“There might be toxins in the air. Look, ABC is wearing a gas mask,” Leona said, sniffing the air. “Are you sure that thing can filter out alien toxins?”

“Not sure, but it should keep me alive for a while,” Abyss said, shaking his head nonchalantly. “Rebecca had time to activate the World Conduit after arriving here. If there are toxins, they can’t be that deadly.”

“You really have no sense of danger, do you?” Leona rolled her eyes.

Abyss had explained everything to Leona and Flora on their way to Lannis’s house, so they knew about Rebecca’s journey.

“Now, we need to find Rebecca. I told you, when I activated the portal, I saw some images in my mind. The last image was a girl in a white dress lying at the bottom of a clear pool of water… And the water’s surface was reflecting light, like sunlight, so it’s probably an open area…”

Abyss paused, organizing his thoughts.

“The river flowing over there is bright yellow. It looks like paint,” Flora said, noticing the unusual color of the river in the distance. “So either the water is polluted, or this is what water looks like in this world?”

“Then we just need to find a place with clear water to narrow down our search, right?” Leona said, chewing on her finger thoughtfully.

“Exactly!” Abyss said, clapping his hands excitedly. “Hold onto me! I’m going to fly up and survey the area, looking for a place with clear water!”

“I can fly using my Dou Qi!”

“Alright, then Flora can hold onto me, and Leona can fly using her Dou Qi…”

“…No! I’m too lazy to fly! Help me, stupid ABC!”

“Why are you angry again…?”

Vol 2 Chapter 4: A Silent World

“Just come inside, it won’t be uncomfortable, really. I swear, if I’m lying, you can hit me all you want!”

“I’m not going in!” Leona said, her voice firm.

“Flora, talk to her.”

“Leona, come with me. Abyss won’t lie to us. You know he cares about us.”

“I refuse to crawl into that giant catfish’s belly!”

Abyss’s method for transporting Leona and Flora was, of course, to have his magical catfish swallow them. The catfish’s internal storage space was vast, and it wasn’t limited to its usual size. It could grow larger, or simply expand its mouth, to accommodate larger objects. But Abyss, not wanting to frighten the girls, had opted for a full-body enlargement.

Even then, Leona was reluctant to enter the catfish’s belly, even though its open mouth revealed a shimmering portal of magical light.

Abyss, determined to overcome her resistance, made several promises involving delicious food, exciting adventures, and luxurious accommodations. Finally, with Flora’s encouragement, Leona reluctantly stepped into the catfish’s mouth. The giant catfish closed its mouth, its body shrinking rapidly before vanishing. Abyss had also stored Lannis’s potentially useful equipment inside the catfish’s belly.

Lannis’s devotion to Rebecca was truly remarkable. When she learned about the magical catfish’s storage capacity, she had fed it almost everything from her laboratory. If not for the catfish’s size limit, she would have asked it to swallow her entire lab.

Abyss, unsure about the effects of the catfish consuming living creatures, had declined Lannis’s offer to activate her home’s automated defenses and join them inside the catfish’s belly.

“Alright, we’re ready,” Abyss said, holding a gas mask, nodding. “Rebecca successfully activated the World Conduit after entering the portal, suggesting there weren’t any immediate threats to her survival. I don’t think we need to worry too much. Lannis, I’m ready to go.”

“Sigh, I’m entrusting such a dangerous task to you,” Lannis said, staring at Abyss. “Hey, listen, gray-haired boy, you know this is practically suicide, right? Miss Rebecca at least had three magic crystals for her return trip. You have nothing. You still have a chance to back out.”

“There’s no turning back,” Abyss said, smiling. “Both my long-term plans and my current goals hinge on successfully resurrecting Rebecca. I have to go.”

“Ha! Then go! I’ll handle things here!” Lannis said, laughing, waving her hand dismissively, then turned and headed towards the basement exit.

The explosives enthusiast was already preparing a grand fireworks display for any unwelcome visitors. Abyss smiled, turned, and stepped into the portal.

Arcs of magical energy crackled around him as he entered, the portal shaking violently from the unstable magic. The last remaining magic crystal embedded in the archway shattered with a snap, and the portal flickered, then vanished. The only connection to the world Rebecca had entered was severed.

…

As Abyss stepped through the portal, he felt an immense force pulling him forward, like falling face-first from the sky. He was surrounded by darkness, unable to see or hear anything. Only the constant pulling sensation reassured him.

The journey felt both brief and eternal, his perception of time and space distorted by the portal.

Then, he felt a rush of air, wind swirling around him.

The next moment, his feet touched solid ground, and the darkness before him vanished, replaced by blinding light.

Cool, fresh air filled his lungs as he looked around, taking in his surroundings.

“This world… It seems it was once prosperous,” Abyss muttered to himself, observing the landscape.

He stood on a hilltop, the view unobstructed, allowing him to see for miles. About five or six kilometers away, a town with silver-roofed buildings, their architecture unlike anything he had seen in Hai-Teweru, stood beside a winding river. The water flowing through the river was bright yellow, clearly not potable. The sky was a brilliant blue, dotted with a few green clouds.

A wide road led from the town towards a larger settlement in the distance, where several towering structures, likely towers, pierced the sky.

He had never seen anything like this. This place had buildings, suggesting the presence of inhabitants.

Abyss was curious. What did the people of this world look like? Were they friendly? Did they resemble humans? Could they be resurrected as undead? What were the differences between their internal organs and those of humans?

He rubbed one of his rings, attempting to summon his undead steed, but as expected, it didn’t appear.

“Well, I guess I’ll walk,” he said, chanting a spell. Fortunately, magic still functioned in this world. A gust of wind lifted him off the ground, propelling him towards the nearest town.

He put on the gas mask Lannis had given him. Although the air was breathable, he sensed the presence of unknown toxins. Prolonged exposure might have unforeseen consequences.

What had happened to this world? The further he traveled, the less likely it seemed that any living beings remained.

There wasn’t a single tree or blade of grass on the ground, not even moss or lichen. The only sound he heard was the wind whistling past him.

Silence. A desolate, lifeless silence.

vol 2 chapter 3: The Strongest Crossdressing Boy on the Surface

Leona and Flora watched, puzzled, as Abyss placed the flowers in his magical catfish’s mouth and picked up the dress Flora had bought.

“Could you two excuse me for a moment?” he asked, smiling.

“Absolutely not! You wouldn’t leave earlier when I asked you to, and now you want me to leave? No way! I demand equal treatment!” Leona retorted.

“Oh, alright, you can stay,” Abyss said, starting to unbutton his shirt, revealing his white undershirt.

“Wait! What are you doing?!” Leona exclaimed, her eyes widening in alarm.

“I’m changing into this dress,” Abyss said calmly, gesturing towards the garment on the bed. “You heard about Rebecca’s aversion to men, right? She even wears gloves and a gas mask when interacting with them. If it’s just a physical allergy, it’s manageable, but if it’s a psychological aversion, I think she’ll be more receptive if I meet her dressed like this. That’s why I asked you to buy a dress that Flora could wear—our sizes are similar. She’s slightly shorter than me, but she prefers loose-fitting clothes, so what fits her should fit me as well.”

“What is going on in your mind?!” Leona exclaimed, increasingly convinced that she was on a wild adventure with a lunatic. “This is the first time I’ve met someone who willingly wears women’s… Wait a minute, this kind of thing is actually quite common among the nobility.”

Even Flora, usually composed and accepting, was surprised. She hadn’t anticipated this approach to gaining Rebecca’s trust.

But she had to admit, it might actually work…

Abyss continued undressing, soon revealing his pale, smooth chest, lacking any defined muscles.

Leona, abandoning her demands for equal treatment, shrieked and covered her eyes. Flora, chuckling wryly, turned away, unable to watch.

Abyss, unfazed by his followers’ reactions, calmly removed his remaining clothes and awkwardly put on the dress.

As he had predicted, the dress, which would have been loose and comfortable on Flora, fit him perfectly. He fumbled with the buttons, finally managing to fasten them, then combed his hair with his fingers. His slightly long, messy hair, now framing his face, gave him a boyish, androgynous look.

Abyss, with his delicate features and his newfound attire, was truly androgynous.

“Alright, you can look now. How do I look? Do I pass?” he asked.

Leona peeked through her fingers, while Flora turned around, her curiosity piqued.

“Who is this?” Leona asked, barely recognizing him. “You look completely different in that dress.”

Flora nodded in agreement. Leona was right. Abyss looked like a girl, a very pretty one at that. If he walked down a busy street, he would surely attract a lot of attention. As long as he didn’t speak, no one would suspect a thing.

Abyss nodded, satisfied. “I initially considered using a transformation spell, but it felt wrong. I want Rebecca to be my follower, a lifelong companion. Deceiving her with a transformation spell during our first meeting seemed disrespectful.”

“You’re still deceiving her! In noble circles, this is called crossdressing. Some do it for pleasure, others use it to sneak into people’s homes and cause mischief!” Leona said, her tone scornful, but her eyes kept darting towards Abyss. She couldn’t deny his feminine charm in that dress. He looked like the tall, slender girl she always wanted to be.

“This isn’t deception, Leona. The moment he speaks, they’ll know he’s a man,” Flora said. “But I’m worried Rebecca might find this creepy and be repulsed by him.”

Abyss, hearing Flora’s concern, paused, thinking. “Ah… I didn’t consider that.”

“You really are an idiot!” Leona said, rolling her eyes.

…

Abyss stored the clothes Leona and Flora had purchased in his magical catfish’s belly, readily accessible whenever they needed them. Undead didn’t sweat or produce body odor, so changing clothes was a hassle-free affair.

He led the girls into the Shadow Realm, summoned his undead steed, and returned to Lannis’s house.

Dawn was approaching, the eastern sky turning a pale gray. Mr. Eugene would likely receive news of the factory raid soon.

As they entered Lannis’s property, Leona sniffed the air. “This place smells… dangerous.”

“Don’t touch anything. It might explode,” Abyss warned. “This is Lannis’s home. You heard her story from Givia.”

Leona shuddered, intimidated.

Abyss, having been here before, led Leona and Flora down the ladder into the basement, entering the laboratory, where Lannis sat, seemingly bored.

Lannis looked up, her eyes widening as she burst into laughter. “Haha! You ridiculous boy! You’re wearing a dress!”

“I remember Miss Rebecca’s aversion to men. I thought this might lower her guard and make communication easier,” Abyss said, unfazed.

“You actually look quite convincing in that dress. If your hair were a bit longer, you’d be even prettier,” Lannis said, circling Abyss, observing him closely. “Miss Rebecca did avoid contact with men, but she claimed it wasn’t because she hated them. I’m not sure if this will make her more receptive, but if you resurrect her, she’ll definitely find it amusing.”

“That’s good to hear. This dress is quite uncomfortable,” Abyss said, tugging at his waist. “It even has a corset. It’s so tight.”

“I’ve set up all the defenses. No one can enter this house without my permission. Are you ready?” Lannis asked, looking at Leona and Flora. “These two lovely young ladies are your followers, right? You’re quite lucky. But I don’t think you can take them with you. That magic crystal can’t handle the strain of transporting three people.”

“That’s not a problem, Lannis. Bring me all your potions and ingredients. I’m taking them with me, and I need extra supplies, just in case,” Abyss said, turning to Leona and Flora, a mischievous glint in his eyes. “I need you two to bear with me for a moment. It’ll be quick.”

Leona, sensing trouble, instinctively spread her arms, shielding Flora.

This couldn’t be good!

Vol2 Chapter 2 : A Bouquet for You

Leona usually heard Abyss approaching, but she was too engrossed in the joy of trying on new clothes with Flora. She hadn’t expected him to barge in without knocking. The Black Hats’ secret base was hidden in a fake sewer, a place rarely visited by outsiders, so she had let her guard down. This was the first time a man had seen her in her undergarments.

Her face flushed crimson, and she stammered, pointing at Abyss, who stood there, bewildered. “Y-You-You-You-You! How dare you barge into a lady’s room! Close the door!”

Flora, who had her back to Abyss, quickly turned around, her front properly covered. But her cheeks flushed as she lowered her head, unable to speak.

“Oh, alright,” Abyss said, obediently entering the room and closing the door behind him.

“I didn’t tell you to come in and then close the door!” Leona exclaimed, collapsing onto the bed and covering herself with a random garment. “Turn around! Don’t look!”

“Well… Could I please not turn around?” Abyss asked sincerely. He was holding a bouquet of flowers behind his back.

“No!” Leona shrieked.

Abyss reluctantly shielded the flowers with his body, waiting for Leona and Flora to get dressed and settle on the bed before turning back to face them.

“I’m sorry… Clothes are much cheaper in Lavoisier City… So Leona and I bought a lot of pretty clothes…” Flora explained, her face still flushed. “We wanted to try them on…”

“Why are you apologizing to this pervert! He’s the one who should apologize!” Leona interrupted, glaring at Abyss. “Damn it, why didn’t you knock?!”

“Ah… Sorry, I found Rebecca’s burial site, and I was so excited that I rushed over to tell you,” Abyss said, scratching his head sheepishly. Even he, accustomed to seeing female bodies (dead ones, that is), had to admit the scene he had witnessed upon entering was quite captivating. Flora’s exposed back and neck were as beautiful as a work of art, and Leona, standing on the bed in her undergarments, although lacking in certain areas, possessed a delicate beauty, her slender frame accentuated by her long, flowing silver hair, now freed from its usual twin braids.

Even he, oblivious as he was, knew he had just witnessed something incredibly precious.

“You found Rebecca? Where is she buried? I hope she wasn’t cremated,” Leona asked, combing her long silver hair, trying to forget her embarrassment.

“Her body is well-preserved. I’m confident I can resurrect her once I reach her. But her burial site is a bit difficult to access,” Abyss said, smiling. “She created a device that transported her to another world—and she died there. The only way to reach that world is through a one-way portal that can only be used once.”

“Ha? She was really just an alchemist… Oh, but I guess advanced alchemy does involve some magic. She really went to great lengths to die,” Leona said, surprised.

“Have you figured out a way to return?” Flora asked, looking at Abyss with concern. “And if it’s a one-way portal, can we go with you?”

“Well, I have a plan for returning, but I’m not sure if it’ll work. But there aren’t many other options, so we’ll figure it out when we get there,” Abyss said, waving his hand dismissively. “As for you two coming with me, don’t worry. I have a clever plan to transport you, and it’s quite simple. You won’t even need to wait.”

“Why so secretive? Can’t you tell us now?” Leona asked, sensing something was amiss.

“Ah… Well, before that, I wanted to give you two a little gift,” Abyss said, suddenly blushing.

Leona and Flora didn’t see him carrying anything, but a faint floral scent hinted at his intentions. As he revealed a bouquet of vibrant pink flowers, their eyes widened.

Leona, her face flushed once more, covered her mouth with her hand. Flora gasped, her eyes sparkling with delight.

“I bought some flowers from the potion shop. They’re one of the most beautiful and fragrant alchemical ingredients I know,” Abyss said, approaching them with a smile. “These are for you three. I hope you like them.”

“Tha… Thank you… Hmph, that’s more like it… We’ve been working so hard for you… You… Hmm…” Leona said, her voice a mixture of shyness and defiance, as she accepted the flowers Abyss offered her.

Flora, more straightforward, accepted the flowers with a beaming smile. “Thank you… This is the first time I’ve received flowers from a boy in a personal setting…”

Leona tried to maintain a stoic expression, but her heart skipped a beat. She had read many popular novels among noble ladies, including her ancestor Star’s “Language of Flowers.” In it, Star assigned meanings to various flowers, making it a guide for expressing emotions through floral gifts. And roses… Especially pink ones… Symbolized first love…

How dare he! That stupid ABC gave both girls pink roses! What a terrible boy!

She tried to suppress her smile, pinching her thighs whenever she felt like laughing, her Dou Qi flames flickering around her arms. But as an undead, her pain receptors were dulled, making her efforts ineffective, resulting in a rather bizarre expression.

Wait a minute…

Leona suddenly realized something.

Abyss had said he bought flowers for “three” of them. Who was the third recipient?

“The rest of these flowers are for Rebecca,” Abyss said with a smile. “If we go through the portal today, we’ll arrive just in time for her birthday. Isn’t that a coincidence?”

“Coincidence my ass! You don’t care about me at all!” Leona shouted, throwing her shoe at Abyss.

Abyss, bewildered, caught the shoe, unsure why she was suddenly angry. Did she not like the flowers?

“Abyss, I also bought the clothes you requested. I wasn’t sure what you needed them for, so I chose a simple design. I haven’t tried it on… What do you think?” Flora said, unfazed by Abyss’s obliviousness. She seemed to tolerate his lack of romantic awareness. She placed the flowers on her lap and retrieved a sea-blue dress from the bed.

Flora and Leona, as a Saint and a princess, possessed impeccable taste in clothing, far exceeding that of most women. Although the dress was simple, its delicate patterns and elegant lines were captivating. Lavoisier City, as the potion capital, boasted world-class dyeing techniques and materials. The clothes here were not only affordable but also vibrant, beautiful, and well-made, making the dress even more appealing.

“It would look beautiful on you,” Abyss said, nodding in approval. “But I have another use for it.”

Vol 2 C1: Departing for a New World

Abyss blinked, confused. He knew that embedding the crystal and channeling magic into the device would activate the portal, but he hadn’t expected to receive visual information from the magical fluctuations.

“Boy, what’s wrong? You look like you’ve discovered something,” Lannis asked, tilting her head, her single working eye fixed on Abyss.

“Did you see anything when you activated this portal?” Abyss asked, scratching his head. “Like images appearing in your mind… I think… I saw Rebecca.”

Lannis’s eyes widened, and she jumped up, grabbing Abyss’s collar and clinging to him. “Eee! Tell me! Where is Miss Rebecca? What’s she doing? Is she alive?!”

“Answer my question first,” Abyss said, gently detaching Lannis from his collar and setting her down, careful not to trigger any accidental explosions. “Did you see any images?”

“Images? No, I didn’t see anything! All I see is a brat who knows the whereabouts of my mistress but won’t tell me!” Lannis seemed unconcerned about what Abyss had seen. She was fixated on Rebecca’s location, pacing back and forth, her voice frantic. “Tell me!”

“Rebecca is… dead,” Abyss said, shaking his head. “She’s lying at the bottom of a clear pool of water, her expression peaceful.”

Lannis stopped pacing, her face falling. “Ah… I see. I knew it… I knew it…”

“But I’m a necromancer. There’s no need to be sad,” Abyss said, patting his chest. “Give me some time, and I’ll resurrect your mistress. For some reason, her body is perfectly preserved. That will save me a lot of effort.”

Lannis nodded slowly. “I understand. I can’t help you directly, but my laboratory is your safest haven. Until you successfully resurrect Miss Rebecca, I’ll ensure no Goat Eyes scum can reach this door. If they push their luck, I’ll blow them all to smithereens.”

“That’s a great help. I was planning to leave one of my companions behind to guard you, but it seems unnecessary now. I can trust you, right?” Abyss asked, smiling gently. If Leona saw his expression, she would accuse him of manipulating Lannis.

Lannis, not betraying his trust, headed towards the basement exit. “I’m going to set up some explosives to deter those Goat Eyes thugs. You can take care of your business. We need to hurry. Dawn is approaching.”

“Oh, right, Lannis, what’s today’s date?” Abyss asked suddenly.

Lannis thought for a moment. “It’s March 18th. Why?”

“Ha, what a coincidence,” Abyss said, clapping his hands. “I need to return to my companions. I’ll be back soon.”

…

As a necromancer, Abyss had a connection to his followers. He didn’t need to contact the Black Hats gang members to know where Flora and Leona were staying. After leaving Lannis’s house, he entered the Shadow Realm, summoning his undead steed and galloping through Lavoisier City’s wide streets. He stopped before a potion shop, exited the Shadow Realm discreetly, and walked towards the entrance.

Despite the late hour, a scruffy-looking young man sat outside the shop, likely a Black Hats gang member without any identifying markings.

“Hey, what’s your business… Oh, the boss told me to expect a young man with gray hair,” the gang member said, recognizing Abyss. “Go inside. The place is full of our men. Talk to the fat guy behind the counter. He’ll take you to our secret base.”

So Titus had arranged for them to stay here. It seemed safe enough. And the potion shop wasn’t publicly associated with the Black Hats Gang, making it less likely to attract the Goat Eyes Gang’s attention, minimizing risks for Givia and her companions.

Abyss entered the shop. A chubby young man sat behind the counter, likely the night shift clerk, but also responsible for security and communications.

“Ah, Master Mage, you’re here. I’ll take you to the ladies,” the chubby man said, standing up.

“Wait a moment, friend,” Abyss said, stopping him. “Do you also sell alchemical ingredients?”

The chubby man was surprised. Why was this mage asking about ingredients instead of joining his companions? But he quickly recovered. He was both a Black Hats gang member and a genuine potion shop clerk. “Yes, Master Mage, we do sell ingredients. What do you need?”

“Give me a large handful of dried Dream Roses. Preferably the ones with vibrant colors,” Abyss said.

Dream Roses were a common ingredient. Adding a small amount to a potion could induce calmness and enhance the effects of mind-altering substances. Lavoisier City, as the world’s potion capital, boasted advanced drying techniques. The chubby clerk quickly retrieved a large handful of pink Dream Roses. Even though they were dried, their color and shape were preserved, their texture slightly firmer than fresh flowers.

“Thank you. I’ll pay you later,” Abyss said, nodding.

“No need to pay, sir. The boss instructed us to cover all minor expenses as a token of gratitude for your assistance,” the chubby clerk said with a smile.

“Then thank you even more,” Abyss said, taking the flowers, clasping his hands behind his back, and smiling. “Now, please lead the way. I need to see my friends.”

Givia was asleep. After greeting the guards outside her room, Abyss entered the room where Leona and Flora were resting.

As he stepped inside, their laughter caught his attention.

The two girls, surrounded by piles of clothes they had purchased, were trying on various outfits. Leona, her silver hair cascading down her back, was down to her child-sized undergarments, while Flora, her back to Abyss, was struggling with the buttons of a beautiful, lace-trimmed light blue dress. Her smooth, white back and neck were exposed.