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

Chapter 40: Immersing in Outer Gods, Increasing Happiness

“Young man, your glass is empty. Want another drink?” the dwarf, Dar, asked, his stubby fingers tapping on the counter.

Abyss, engrossed in a notebook, simply nodded without looking up. Dar, not one for idle chatter, turned around and expertly mixed a colorful drink for Abyss, placing it before him.

Leona sat with her legs crossed, leisurely savoring the wine in her glass. Flora, still learning how to drink, took small sips. She didn’t enjoy the taste of alcohol but appreciated the aroma of spices and flowers infused within it.

“Abyss, you’ve been staring at that notebook all day,” Leona complained. “Is it really that interesting?”

“You’ve only read one diary. If you took a look at the notes I’ve been reading, you’d understand. Your ancestor’s research on the monsters was quite thorough,” Abyss said, taking a casual sip of his drink, his eyes fixed on some simple illustrations in the notebook. “He often dreamed of an upside-down man walking on his hands while searching for a solution. So, he recorded his lingering dream memories every morning, detailing the upside-down man’s behavior and personality. This is invaluable information.”

“That was meant for me,” Leona grumbled, taking a large gulp of wine in defiance and letting out a small burp.

Dar was quite fond of these seemingly young patrons. One was a little runt barely taller than him, another a delicate and seemingly fragile girl, and the grey-haired boy always looked pale, as if he had been drained by the two girls—yet, these three unassuming individuals had accounted for eighty percent of his sales from yesterday afternoon to today at noon.

All three had impressive alcohol tolerance. They drank non-stop, their faces never flushing, nor showing the slightest sign of intoxication. Especially the little girl with the silver pigtails, she had consumed almost her weight in wine.

They could drink, they could afford every drink, and they didn’t cause any trouble when drunk, just sitting there quietly, chatting and bickering playfully. What tavern owner wouldn’t like such customers? He’d have to be kicked in the head by a giant.

Leona’s homecoming yesterday morning had gone smoothly. After exploring the basement, Abyss respectfully took all of Star’s research notes on the Outer Gods. Leona couldn’t carry a whole bookshelf of books and scrolls anyway, so she readily handed them over, keeping only a silver necklace she found in the secret room, a memento of her mother, which she wore around her neck.

They never figured out when Leona’s mother had passed away. Except for the hidden basement, the house had been emptied of all personal belongings. According to Western Empire law, if no heir claimed a property within fifty years of the owner’s death, it would be nationalized and auctioned off. Perhaps Leona’s mother had sold everything except the house before she died, leaving it empty—without her only daughter, she must have been very lonely when she passed.

Fortunately, Abyss didn’t detect any lingering spirits in the house, suggesting that Leona’s mother had died peacefully.

From the moment they left the house, Abyss had been eagerly devouring Star’s research notes. The Outer Gods were mysterious and didn’t communicate normally with humans. Star had meticulously recorded every encounter with the upside-down man. When these records reached a certain volume, a qualitative change occurred, and a comprehensive, three-dimensional image of the Outer God emerged. Abyss was ecstatic, clutching the notes like a beloved possession.

Flora was worried that Abyss was becoming too obsessed with these things and would eventually be mentally controlled by the Outer Gods—if Abyss was determined to destroy the world, few could stop him. Although she and Leona were powerful, they were still his followers. Abyss could compel them to do his bidding at any time, but he currently disdained using such methods.

Contrary to Flora’s concerns, Leona was quite optimistic. Since her ancestor had researched the Outer Gods for so many years and remained sane until his death, Abyss would be fine.

“Oh, my heavens, this illustration is as beautiful as a unicorn’s heart… Look…” Abyss said, shoving a drawing in front of Flora and Leona.

It depicted an upside-down human face, but not entirely human—its tongue was forked, like an octopus in its mouth. The eyes had no whites, completely black, and the forehead was much shorter than a human’s. It was both ugly and eerie.

“Beautiful my ass! Put that away!” Leona said, kicking Abyss in the backside.

“Welcome! What can I get you?”

Dar, the dwarf, called out just as the tavern door opened with a gentle push from a delicate, white hand. A slender, graceful figure entered, bringing with her the scent of bilberry and rose.

“Your tavern… has so few customers,” the newcomer said in a soft, youthful female voice, her tone soothing and pleasant.

“Oh, beautiful lady, are you from out of town? There was a murder in my tavern a few years ago, so people are afraid to come here,” Dar said, stepping out from behind the counter, a rare occurrence, to greet the woman. “It’s a quiet time at noon. Whatever you desire, I can mix it for you.”

Abyss looked up from his notes and glanced at the newcomer.

It was clearly a young girl, not yet an adult, with a slender and graceful figure. She wore a grey robe and a grey cloak, her bright emerald green eyes peering from beneath the hood. Her long, silky silver hair was tied in a ponytail, cascading down her back, swaying slightly as she sat down at a table.

“Hmm… I’d like a glass of Eregia Knight,” the girl said after a moment of thought.

“Oh, look at me, my tavern is mostly frequented by commoners. I didn’t think to stock any high-end drinks,” Dar said with a feigned chuckle. “I’m sorry, we don’t have that drink here.”

“Ah… I apologize. Then I’ll have your signature drink,” the girl said, seemingly embarrassed.

“Huh… This person…” Leona muttered softly.

Abyss wasn’t interested in the fragrant girl. His eyes were glued to the notebook. What beauty could compare to the face of an Outer God? Look at those scales around the eyes, simply mesmerizing!

“Excuse me, the gentleman reading, are you from out of town?”

Abyss wanted to continue reading, but the girl, speaking fluent Common Tongue, addressed him.

Chapter 39: Trading Freedom for Power? Maybe Next Time

Unlike Flora and Leona, who were on high alert, Abyss was intensely curious about the diary, which chronicled Star’s thoughts and experiences. He grabbed Flora’s shoulders, like an eager apprentice seeking knowledge. “Quick, keep reading! Let’s see if there’s anything valuable in there!”

“This is a monster that manipulates people and wants to destroy the world. Why are you acting like you’ve found a long-lost relative?” Leona said, her tone laced with disdain.

“Being pessimistic won’t change anything,” Abyss said with a grin, revealing his pearly white teeth. “This diary shows that your ancestor from three hundred years ago was already researching the Outer Gods. And your ancestor was on our level. Maybe this diary contains valuable information!”

Leona didn’t quite understand Abyss’s enthusiasm. She sat on the chair in front of the desk and continued flipping through the diary.

“Hmm… The later entries record many strange events caused by the crown… Here, let me read this one. August 24th, the crown I hid outside the city returned on its own. I don’t remember bringing it back at any point, but when I woke up this morning, it was on my bedside table. It scared Eve, who was sleeping next to me. This crown, although beautiful and exquisite, constantly exudes an aura of evil.”

“August 27th, I tried to destroy the crown. After repeatedly punching it, I even hammered it flat. Then I threw it into the furnace—at night, it returned to me, hanging on my coat rack without my knowledge.”

“September 6th, I’ve tried various methods that could destroy ordinary objects, but the crown always restores itself inexplicably, and its reappearance seems perfectly normal, as if it had never been damaged. I even suspected I was under an illusion, but that’s impossible. I’ve exchanged for 100% illusion resistance in the System. I can’t possibly experience illusions.”

“September 8th, I saw that upside-down man again in my dream. He was wearing the crown on his feet and smiling at me wickedly. I tried to attack him, but as soon as I touched him, I woke up.”

“November 10th, my body is getting weaker by the day. I’ve accumulated too much stress from this crown. This is not good. I feel like I’m aging faster. So, I’ve decided to give up on destroying the crown and try a different approach.”

“December 15th, I succeeded. I spent a fortune obtaining a chain blessed by the God of Order and Judgment from the Church. I chained the crown deep in the mountains of the Eastern Empire. The crown didn’t reappear when I returned home.”

“December 17th, the upside-down man appeared in my dream. I didn’t attack him this time. I noticed that this strange being seemed to possess divinity. He was trying to control me with his divinity. I knew he wasn’t human, but this was the first time I noticed his divinity.”

“December 21st, I’ve tentatively concluded that he’s from a destroyed world. His rank might be similar to the Nine Gods of Haitville, below the Creator God but above mortals. His power is channeled through the crown, like a conduit to this world. I might not be able to kill him, but perhaps I can redirect his power to somewhere harmless.”

“January 2nd, I failed. It is indeed divine power, but I’m just a mortal. Even with the Creator God’s blessing, I’m still a mortal. I can’t influence his power. Fortunately, he doesn’t seem to be targeting anyone else but me. I must ensure my resolve remains strong. The offer he made in my dream was very tempting, but there’s no such thing as a free lunch.”

“January 30th, I must accept my age. My back has been hurting terribly these past few days, but the upside-down man hasn’t reappeared. I think it’s time for me to enjoy my retirement and stop dwelling on these matters. Jolene is pregnant, and I need to prepare to be a good grandfather. I’ll end this diary here. If my descendants find this diary and possess power equal to mine, you may choose to continue my research. If your power is insufficient, please don’t risk your life. I’ve hidden the crown very well, somewhere within the Eastern Empire. Follow this riddle to find it. If you can’t solve the riddle, then you’re not qualified to continue my research.”

Leona turned to the last page with writing and read the poem:

“Three giants raise their cups,
Under the setting sun’s golden drape.
A sword cleaves the serpent’s spine,
A clear spring flows, departs, and returns.”

Leona solemnly closed the diary and turned to look at Abyss, who was lost in thought.

“What does this riddle mean?” she asked.

Abyss, his train of thought interrupted, shrugged. “We’ll figure it out when we get to the Eastern Empire and study the local geography. I don’t know now.”

“Then what are you thinking about?” Leona asked, puzzled.

“He said the Outer God actually possesses divinity. So, I have a bold idea,” Abyss said, a hint of excitement in his voice. “Their power might be usable for me.”

Flora, who had been listening quietly, gasped and protested, “That’s not a good idea, Abyss! Their power is meant to tempt people with greed and then control them! If you use their power, won’t you become their puppet?”

“Yeah, ABC, that’s not a very mature idea,” Leona added, shaking her head as if she understood.

“Of course I don’t want to become their puppet or host,” Abyss said, crossing his arms. “I’m wondering if it’s possible to take their power without giving them anything in return.”

“That’s shameless,” Leona rolled her eyes.

But Abyss wasn’t joking. He was genuinely contemplating how to acquire the power of these so-called Outer Gods without paying the price.

From the information gathered so far, the Outer Gods’ primary method of influencing people in this world was through unfair deals, making promises and using mental manipulation to create a horde of fanatical followers who would do their bidding.

But who said they had to play by the rules?

That’s right, Abyss was thinking of getting something for nothing.

If he could find a way to steal the power of these Outer Gods, it would increase his chances of overthrowing the Creator God. His own power might not be enough to directly challenge a god, but he had two super geniuses by his side, and there would be three more in the future.

A driver who doesn’t want to be a tailor isn’t a good cook!

Thus, a new plan formed in Abyss’s mind: find a way to rob the Outer Gods!

“Flora, his smile is creepy,” Leona whispered.

Flora glanced at the expression on Abyss’s face and nodded. “Indeed.”

Chapter 38: Secrets in the Diary

Abyss possessed an uncanny intuition for subterranean spaces. Just by standing near them, he could sense the presence of man-made cavities underground. This ability had manifested during his childhood when he traveled the world grave-robbing with his master and had been honed to perfection over the years.

According to his master, this was because the flow of magical elements was influenced by the terrain, and Abyss was particularly sensitive to the flow within subterranean spaces—in other words, he was a natural-born grave robber.

Under the cover of Abyss’s illusion spell, Flora used Holy Light to cleanse the dust-filled room, making it spotless, as if someone still lived there. Once Flora finished cleaning, Abyss entered a room on the second floor.

It was clearly a bedroom. A simple bed stood inside, along with an empty wardrobe and a dressing table with a mirror. These were the only pieces of furniture in the room. It seemed that someone had cleaned up after Leona’s mother’s death, removing all her personal belongings.

“Where’s the secret room?” Leona asked, looking around. The room was empty, with no visible mechanisms for opening a hidden door.

Abyss pondered for a moment, quickly chanted a spell, and snapped his fingers.

A spot on the wooden floor lit up. It was a circular scar on the wood, seemingly just part of the grain pattern, but under Abyss’s magic, it glowed, indicating a magical reaction.

Abyss crouched down and placed his finger on the spot, but nothing happened. He wasn’t surprised, however. He stood up and said to Leona, “Press your finger on it.”

“Is it a magically activated mechanism?” Leona asked, crouching down and placing a finger on the glowing scar.

Before she could react, the floor beside her flipped and transformed, revealing a downward staircase just wide enough for one person to pass through.

“Let’s go, let’s see what’s down there,” Abyss said with a faint smile, leading the way.

He had to admit, the secret room was cleverly designed. Unlike the cliché mechanical contraptions that were easily guessed and opened, this magically activated mechanism that recognized its owner was both highly concealed and impossible for outsiders to access. Leona, as the biological daughter of the owner, might have been granted access at birth, but her mother never had the chance to tell her this secret before she died.

They descended the stairs, walking about five or six meters before reaching a pitch-black basement. Despite its depth, the air circulated slowly, avoiding the usual stuffiness of underground spaces. It seemed the mechanism that opened the entrance also activated some ventilation system, a thoughtful touch.

Abyss casually summoned a wisp of ghost fire, its bright green light illuminating the basement.

The most prominent feature was a desk. Several books and parchment scrolls were neatly arranged on the bookshelf above it. A closed notebook lay on the desk, along with a few quill pens and a capped inkwell. A small, dust-covered picture frame stood beside the desk.

Surprisingly, the basement wasn’t very dirty. There were no signs of pests, and thanks to the still air, only a thin layer of dust covered everything. The air was dry, with no signs of mold.

The basement wasn’t large, and it felt a bit cramped with three people inside.

Leona immediately noticed the small picture frame on the desk and picked it up.

After blowing off the dust, a palm-sized but exquisitely painted oil portrait was revealed. Only a few artists could create such small, detailed portraits, making them quite expensive. The one who likely commissioned this painting was the Emperor who had loved Leona’s mother. The portrait depicted a beautiful silver-haired woman with features strikingly similar to Leona’s. She held a white cat in her arms, her expression gentle and serene.

“Is this your mother? You really look like her,” Abyss said, looking at the portrait. “Your face is almost identical to hers, just… a few sizes smaller.”

“It’s not like I chose to be short!” Leona said, clutching the portrait protectively and pretending to hit Abyss.

Flora followed behind, using Holy Light to cleanse the basement. The dusty books on the bookshelf were cleaned, their covers regaining their original vibrancy.

“This just looks like a small study. Do these books contain any secrets?” Flora asked, voicing her doubts.

Her question was valid. If this was just for reading, there was no reason for a three-story mansion to lack a proper study. There was no need to use a secret room and strain one’s eyes reading by candlelight in this dark place.

“Abyss, hold onto this. I want to see what’s written in these books,” Leona said, handing Abyss her mother’s portrait. She was careful with it, showing that although she had no memories or feelings for her mother, she still cherished the opportunity to see her in the portrait.

Abyss solemnly took the portrait. Leona picked up the notebook from the desk and examined it. The cover was blank, without any writing.

She opened the notebook to a random page, revealing a page filled with tiny, densely packed handwriting.

“Ah, it’s a diary,” Leona realized and began reading.

“April 4th, I feel my body weakening. It seems even the power of Dou Qi can’t prolong life. Even heroes grow old. The world continues to turn according to its own order, but its future still worries me.”

Everyone’s expressions turned serious.

“Let me see what’s next… May 7th, Jolene got married today. I’m very happy for her, but she doesn’t have the strength to complete this task for me. I can only hope to live until her child grows up. Hopefully, her child will possess my strength.”

“This is Star Platinum’s diary,” Abyss said in astonishment. “I thought it was your mother’s. Why does his writing sound so worried?”

“June 1st, I finally managed to contact the Creator God through the System. I pleaded with him to prevent artifacts from other worlds from entering Haitville, but he didn’t seem interested. In fact, he seemed annoyed by my request. I haven’t been able to contact him since, which is disheartening. I must hide this crown. I can’t let anyone with less resolve than me obtain it. If it starts manipulating people, it will only lead to disaster. I can sense the pure destructive will within this crown. Its will is aimless, foolish, and slow, but it has an instinct to destroy everything.”

“Outer God?!” they exclaimed in unison.

***

Outer God : 域外邪神 – Can be translated to: “Outer Realm Evil God”, “Transcendent Evil Deity”, or “Outer Abnormal God”. I used the term in a general sense without specifying “Evil” because “” (邪神) can imply both “Evil” and “Abnormal”. Additionally, in many novels, Outer Gods are commonly depicted as malevolent beings, which is why I think it’s not necessary to add that term.

Chapter 37: Leona’s Old Home

Leona’s ancestor was a transmigrator summoned by the Creator God from another world called “Earth.” When Abyss told her about this, Leona showed no surprise, only disdain. She even remarked that without the power bestowed by the Creator God, her ancestor, with his playful mind, would have been crushed by the harsh realities of the world.

The people of the continent were familiar with Leona’s ancestor. He had lived a remarkable life, and many romantic tales in the knightly novels popular among noble girls were based on his exploits.

Star Platinum, originally the son of a disgraced knight, had witnessed his family’s honor and dignity stripped away after his father deserted during a war. At the age of fifteen, heartbroken after being rejected by his fiancée due to his father’s downfall, Star attempted suicide by jumping into a river. Everyone assumed the desperate young man had drowned, but three days later, he returned home, soaking wet, a changed man. He abandoned his former life of idleness and dedicated himself to training his Dou Qi, making rapid progress. Typically, a fifteen-year-old Dou Warrior, even with training from a young age, would only reach the third tier. However, in just two months, Star went from a mediocre first-tier, fifth-grade Dou Warrior to a fourth-tier, second-grade warrior.

Thus began Star’s legendary journey. To restore his father’s lost honor, he participated in various martial arts tournaments across the nation and even the world. His initial battles were arduous, but he grew stronger with each defeat. It seemed that every time he was defeated, he would become stronger within a few days, even creating new martial techniques. More bizarrely, he was often beaten to a seemingly fatal state in no-rules matches, yet he would always recover after a period of bed rest, emerging even stronger.

By the age of twenty, Star had become a ninth-tier, ninth-grade Dou Warrior, the highest rank achievable. The people of Haitville believed that the tenth tier was the realm of gods, attainable only by those who could perform miracles without relying on Divine Arts. Even so, his impressive achievements earned him recognition from the Emperor of the then-undivided Mynian Empire. He was knighted and later even helped a courageous Mynian princess, who had lost her claim to the throne due to court intrigue, establish the Western Empire and rule over half of the Mynian territory.

He was a ladies’ man, rumored to have a dozen mistresses even after his marriage, with his wife’s consent. Some even whispered that he had an affair with the Empress herself, but it was kept secret for the sake of the royal family’s reputation.

Despite being surrounded by beautiful women, he didn’t have many children. He only had a son and a daughter with his wife. His son died in infancy, leaving only his daughter, Jolene, to grow up healthy.

Star was not only a renowned warrior but also a pioneer in entertainment. He invented the popular card game played across the continent, with variations like Cranium Stone, Gwent, and Slave Master. He also revolutionized the continent’s drinking culture, introducing the practice of blending different wines and spices. Leona’s favorite “Blazing Elk” was created using this technique. He single-handedly revitalized the Western Empire’s theater, novel writing, and other cultural industries. It could be said that Star was the most playful noble in the entire Western Empire.

After Star died of old age, his daughter, although intelligent and capable, didn’t inherit his extraordinary talent. Coupled with the new Emperor’s inexplicable suppression of the Platinum family, the family gradually declined. By the time Leona’s mother came of age, they were just an ordinary, fallen noble family.

However, this unmarried noblewoman later met and fell in love with the previous Emperor, Roman III, during one of his outings, eventually giving birth to an illegitimate daughter, Leona. Although Leona, as an illegitimate child, didn’t have the same status as the Emperor’s legitimate offspring, she was still a princess, giving her mother some hope for a better future for her child.

She could never have imagined that her kind, innocent, and talented daughter would die in a court intrigue, a collateral victim of someone else’s ambition.

“I remember, this is my mother’s house… I sneaked here once when I was little, but my mother didn’t seem to want to see me. She didn’t even open the door. I never came back after that.”

Leona led Abyss and Flora to a dilapidated courtyard. Peering through a small window in the wall, they saw that the courtyard had been abandoned for a long time. The snow was thick and undisturbed. A three-story mansion stood alone, covered in withered vines. The surrounding trees, untrimmed, had grown wild, some branches even piercing through broken windows and into the house.

“When did your mother pass away? After your death?” Abyss asked Leona, noticing the sadness in her eyes, though it wasn’t overwhelming, more like a touch of melancholy. Having been taken to the palace at a young age, she didn’t have many memories of her mother.

“Yes, she died after me,” Leona said. “I don’t even remember what she looked like.”

“Let’s go inside and see,” Abyss said, gently patting Leona’s head. “This house seems to have been abandoned for a long time—by the way, do you want me to arrange a meeting with your mother?”

“If you dare resurrect her, I’ll shove that lamppost up your ass,” Leona glared at him, swatting his hand away.

“I can use Holy Light to clean the house,” Flora offered.

“Look at Flora, then look at you. Are those words fit for human ears?!” Leona said scornfully, glaring at Abyss. However, she didn’t hesitate. With a light jump, she cleared the two-meter-high wall.

Abyss supported Flora’s feet, helping her over the wall with a bit of awkwardness but little effort.

Abyss, on the other hand, casually cast a spell and walked straight through the wall.

Crossing the snow-covered courtyard, he used his Wall-Walking spell to enter the house and opened the door for Leona from the inside.

“This place has truly been abandoned for a long time. It’s covered in dust,” Leona frowned, stepping cautiously into the house.

The furniture was neatly arranged, and there were no unpleasant smells, but a thick layer of dust covered everything. It hadn’t been cleaned in years. Leona wasn’t familiar with the house, but as the daughter of the owner, she carefully examined every object.

“Any interesting discoveries?” Abyss asked with a smile.

“No, nothing here triggers any memories… I was too young when I left,” Leona said, her voice laced with disappointment. “But I want to take some of my mother’s belongings with me.”

“I do have a small discovery,” Abyss said mysteriously. “I just found two basements in this house. One is obvious, the other, hidden.”

***

斯塔尔·普拉提努 : Star Platinum(Pronunciation) or Sitaer Pulatinu – (Sītǎ’ěr Pǔlātīnū)

Chapter 36: The Entire Court in Turmoil

Early the next morning, all the high-ranking nobles of the Western Empire received shocking news.

Empress Dowager Siana, mother of the current Emperor, had summoned her trusted ministers overnight and signed a series of documents, making several arrangements: confessing to her schemes to eliminate the heirs of the previous Emperor, Roman III, and orchestrating her son’s ascension to the throne; ordering her intelligence network to cease surveillance of Golden Griffin City and its surrounding areas; and donating all the thirty-four million imperial coins and countless jewels she had embezzled to the national treasury. The jewels hadn’t been appraised yet, but they were undoubtedly worth a fortune.

With their financial support cut off, Empress Dowager Siana’s followers scattered like birds, seeking new opportunities.

And at dawn, the Empress Dowager was found dead in her bedroom. The court physician determined the cause of death to be old age, but for some reason, her body seemed like that of someone who had been dead for a long time.

Although Empress Dowager Siana had used ruthless methods to put Emperor Beos on the throne, her actions didn’t implicate him. He remained Emperor, but he seemed lost and confused, having suddenly lost his mother. The Empress Dowager had held too much power during her lifetime, and now that she was dead, all that power reverted to the Emperor, leaving him, accustomed to a life of leisure, unsure of what to do. The sudden influx of money into the treasury further overwhelmed him. This money could certainly be used for many things, but the great Emperor had no understanding of the Empire’s current needs and didn’t know where to allocate it.

While the Emperor was unsure of what to do, his ministers knew exactly what they wanted. They gathered at the palace early in the morning, clamoring over how best to spend this windfall.

Some even skipped breakfast and rushed over. Everyone knew that when the Emperor was indecisive, they had a chance to influence the allocation of funds, directing them towards areas where they could personally benefit. Thirty million imperial coins, plus the jewels, were enough to cover the expenses of the entire population of Golden Griffin City for a year. The potential for personal gain was immense.

Fortunately, despite his incompetence, the Emperor wasn’t a fool. Although the nobles and ministers were all vying to convince him of the great benefits of spending the money on their respective domains, he didn’t make a hasty decision. Instead, he chose to hold onto the funds for the time being, waiting for a truly good idea to emerge.

“ABC, haven’t you ever thought of taking a cut from the Empress’s personal funds?”

Leona asked Abyss casually, leaning against a leafless tree, basking in the warmth of a bonfire, snuggled up with Flora, and enjoying some roasted meat. It was from the boar Abyss had hunted in the forest. Its meat had been stored in the Magic Catfish’s stomach, preserved in a state of suspended time, so it was still fresh and delicious.

Abyss had received an update on the situation in the city from a ghost he had dispatched. This invisible ghost had wandered around the palace all night, observing the chain reaction triggered by Empress Siana’s death.

“Take a cut? Why? I don’t need money,” Abyss said, gnawing on a bony pork rib. “It’s not like I can dig up graves just because I have money.”

“Don’t you have anything you want to do with money?” Leona asked, comfortably resting her head on Flora’s chest. “Like buying some rare herbs or opening a shop.”

“I do have a dream. I want to buy my own cemetery and build a large castle underground as an inn, a place for weary travelers to rest and tell me their stories,” Abyss said, his imagination taking flight as he gazed at the midday sun. “But my current goal is to obtain divine power and overthrow our dear Creator God. Opening an inn will have to wait.”

“Who would stay in a cemetery?!” Leona retorted.

Flora, feeling ticklish as Leona nuzzled her chest, asked, “Abyss, you said we should camp outside the city and rest, but nothing happened all night.”

“Yeah, yeah, I don’t even feel tired after you resurrected me, but you insisted we get a good night’s sleep.”

“Well, no one knows you’re undead,” Abyss shrugged. “I’m waiting for someone. He should be here soon, but I don’t know exactly how long it will take.”

“Who is he?” Leona asked curiously. “Your person?”

“I don’t know. He’s not one of us,” Abyss said, pulling out three gemstones from his pocket. “He’s from the Council of the Dead. He’ll definitely come to retrieve these gemstones at all costs. I’m staying outside the city to avoid harming the people inside.”

“You mean, the Council of the Dead will definitely come for you, to get the three gemstones and complete their ‘Face of Hell’?” Flora said.

“Yes, that’s right,” Abyss nodded, casually tossing the clean rib bone aside. “If we set off to do something else now, they wouldn’t be able to catch up. It’s better to wait here patiently. Even if they know I’m waiting for them, they’ll have to act. Otherwise, how will their Lord of Submergence be resurrected? We’ve already ruined years of their efforts. They won’t give up so easily.”

“So we just wait here? Is there nothing else we can do?”

Leona was bored and nuzzled Flora’s chest again. Even though Flora, as an undead, had a low body temperature, the soft, bouncy feeling against her head was quite pleasant.

“If you don’t mind, you can enter the Shadow Realm with me and be my assistant, developing some novel and fashionable necromantic spells,” Abyss said seriously.

“No way! Ugh! Are all necromancers so disgusting?!”

“Don’t generalize the actions of a few individuals to the entire group—but yeah, we necromancers are all like that,” Abyss said, even sounding a bit proud. “If you don’t like that, we can also go into the city during the day. If they’re from the Council of the Dead, they probably won’t attack during the day. As far as I know, almost all necromancers except me are nocturnal.”

“Why do you have to go out at night? For stealth?”

“Stealth is one factor, but the biggest reason is the vitality of the undead during the day. Undead are inherently photophobic, especially to sunlight. In strong light, necromantic spells can even collapse—of course, my unique necromancy is immune to sunlight, so you don’t have to worry about that.”

“If there’s no problem, then why aren’t we leaving? Let’s go into the city and have some fun!” Leona exclaimed, jumping to her feet. She had already eaten half a pork chop and was full. “I want to go to my mother’s house. Although I don’t remember much about her, I still want to see what happened to her!”

 

Chapter 35: What is a World-Class Divine Arts User?

“Flora, do you know the Repentance Light spell?”

Ignoring Empress Siana’s wails and struggles within the bone cage, Abyss turned to Flora. It was a rhetorical question. Of course, Flora knew the spell. Repentance Light was a staple in the Church’s arsenal, a skill every priest had to master.

The spell’s name was self-explanatory: a light that induced repentance in the target, amplifying their guilt and anxieties. The Church often used it to interrogate uncooperative criminals. The greater the crime, the more susceptible the criminal was to the spell’s effects. However, sometimes they encountered psychopaths who felt no remorse, in which case the spell was useless. It worked well against common thieves, murderers, and the like, but against hardened criminals with strong mental fortitude, it was less effective.

A mentally unstable person like Empress Siana wouldn’t feel any repentance even if a high-ranking priest cast the spell on her. Her earlier justification for killing Leona had been clear—she felt no guilt, only pride.

“First tell me why you want to sleep with me!” Leona shouted, her face flushed.

“I’ll explain later. You won’t lose anything,” Abyss hushed Leona, gesturing for her to be quiet.

Leona grumbled, stepping aside. “This… This is a matter of a lady’s honor… Spending the night with a kidney-deficient man…”

“I know the Repentance Light spell, but will it work on her?” Flora approached. Empress Siana was still a terrifying sight, but knowing the bone cage was secure and she couldn’t move, Flora mustered her courage.

“Oh, wait a moment,” Abyss bent down and plucked the Eye of Envy from the Empress’s eye socket.

The gemstone hadn’t fused with her socket, so removing it was effortless. The Empress tried to dodge his hand, but a wave of cold from Abyss immobilized her briefly.

“It’s safe now. Try it. I’ve cast an illusion spell, so don’t worry about the light from your Divine Arts being seen,” he said.

“Okay, I’ll give it a try,” Flora said, pursing her lips and pointing her index finger at Empress Siana.

Deprived of the Eye of Envy, the Empress writhed within the bone cage, her withered body contorting in anger and despair. She cursed loudly, even though her frail throat could barely handle the strain. “Aah! Curse you! You’ll all dissolve into pus and blood under the glory of the Lord of Submergence! I’ll kill you! Rip your throats out! Devour your flesh! Leona! My Leona! Why are you just watching?! Have you truly abandoned our master?!”

“Repent, Siana,” Flora said softly, completing her prayer. A bright light erupted from her fingertip, then a dazzling radiance, ten times brighter than the midday sun, engulfed Abyss and Leona, turning their vision white.

“ABC! I’m blind! I’m blind! Help me!” Leona’s panicked voice came from the blinding light.

“Calm down, Flora’s spell isn’t finished yet!”

“You never told me Flora’s Repentance Light was this powerful!”

“Didn’t I tell you she’s a super genius, just like you?”

“Abyss, I’m sorry! When you said you wanted to sleep with me, I was thinking of castrating you!”

“Why are you repenting for that?! Repentance Light is a single-target spell!”

“I just suddenly felt very sorry for you!”

As Leona continued repenting for her violent thoughts, Flora’s spell ended. She maintained her elegant crouching position, her slender, white index finger still pointed at Empress Siana.

The Empress, who had been cursing moments ago, was now silent. Her remaining eye stared blankly at Flora’s face, her mouth hanging open foolishly.

“Is it over?” Leona asked, rubbing her eyes, finding her vision unharmed.

“Leona… Leona…” the Empress suddenly burst into tears. “I shouldn’t have killed you for power… They promised that if I used the Tongue of Greed to kill you, they would help me eliminate the other heirs and put my son on the throne… I was jealous of their claim, jealous that they were more capable than my son, but I ended up dragging you into this…”

Her wrinkled face contorted in grief, tears streaming from her single eye, her voice trembling, devoid of her previous madness and malice.

“It’s so effective…” Leona murmured, impressed by Flora’s Divine Arts, but she didn’t accept the Empress’s apology.

“You were an illegitimate daughter with no claim to the throne. You could have lived a happy life as an unassuming princess, grown into a beautiful young woman, found a loving husband, and lived peacefully,” the Empress sobbed, her voice choked with tears, but her words continued to pour out like beans from a bamboo tube. “It was I who stopped your growth at the age of twelve, I who ended your happy life… It was me… It was me…”

“I don’t want to forgive you, but I want you to listen to me,” Leona said.

The Empress clutched the bone cage, her hands bleeding from the sharp barbs. “I will! I’ll do anything!”

“I don’t want to overcomplicate things. You have three things to do,” Leona said, crouching down and holding up three fingers. “First, tell your confidant to stop inspecting my tomb and set those tomb guardians free. Second, transfer all the money you’ve embezzled over the years to the national treasury. Third, reveal the location of those fools who worship this ‘Lord of Submergence’ that you’ve been harboring in the city. I’ll personally eliminate them all.”

“I can do the first two, but I can’t do the third,” the Empress said, not agreeing immediately.

“Flora? Your Repentance Light wasn’t thorough enough?” Leona asked, surprised.

“…I’ve completely repented, but I didn’t create the Submergence priests in the city. Someone else is responsible… I… I don’t know the details,” the Empress said, trembling with fear.

“Tsk, forget it then. Summon your confidant tonight and give them the new orders. Figure out the details yourself, and make sure there are no mistakes. And about the second task, how much money have you embezzled over the years?”

“Thirty million imperial coins… not including jewelry and other valuables…”

“You’re quite audacious,” Leona said, grimacing. “I don’t want to talk to you anymore. Just get to work.”

Chapter 34: She’s Just a Pawn

The moment Empress Siana removed her eyepatch, Abyss realized what was going on.

All the strange events he had encountered seemed to be connected by a single thread, suddenly pulled taut.

“Are you looking for this?”

Abyss clapped his hands, attracting the Empress’s attention, then pulled out the blood-red gemstone he had extracted from Leona’s stomach and dangled it before her.

“Ah… Tongue of Greed… Why do you have it?! My master’s arrival… My master’s arrival is being hindered by this despicable wretch… Ah!”

As Abyss had expected, Empress Siana’s remaining eye widened in shock upon seeing the gemstone. She mustered all her strength, letting out a desperate scream. If Abyss hadn’t prepared beforehand and cast a localized silencing spell, the Empress’s scream would have alerted the guards.

“My mission… My mission is incomplete… My master won’t let me go… I must continue… I must continue…” The Empress, her spirit broken, changed direction and crawled towards Abyss, her mouth wide open, wailing with all her might. “Give me the Tongue of Greed! Give it back!”

“Don’t be so hasty,” Abyss said, flicking a finger. Several long bones sprouted from the ground, forming a cage around the Empress, trapping her. “Let Leona settle her issue first, then we’ll talk about your pathetic master.”

Leona looked at Abyss gratefully, finally willing to approach the immobilized Empress.

“What were you planning to do with me?” she asked, crouching before Empress Siana, staring into her cloudy, bloodshot eye. She couldn’t help but feel a sense of irony. This withered, pathetic old woman had secretly cursed and killed her forty-two years ago and then helped her son ascend the throne—Leona didn’t need to ask to know what had happened to her estranged siblings.

Such meticulous planning, such ruthlessness, and yet, here she was, reduced to this state.

“Leona, beautiful Leona, you were meant to be the vessel for my master’s arrival…” the Empress said, her struggles proving futile against the bone cage. She slumped back, gasping for breath. “You consumed the Tongue of Greed, your body slowly eroded by Dou Qi, turning into a hollowed-out cheese. When the time was right, the Eye of Fear and the Eye of Envy would meet you by fate’s design, allowing my master to descend. When my master dons the Face of Hell, the entire world will be redeemed…”

“What kind of bullshit is that?” Leona looked up at Abyss. “Come on, ABC, translate this for me. What does ‘arrival’ mean?”

“I think I’ve figured out the sequence of events surrounding you,” Abyss said, crouching beside Leona. Flora wanted to join them, but after a moment of hesitation, she decided to stay standing, wary of the monstrous old woman.

“The Council of the Dead used this power-hungry Empress. They, or some of them, orchestrated a scheme. The Empress wanted her son to ascend the throne, so she had to eliminate the children with higher claims, the offspring of the Emperor’s previous Empress. And the Council of the Dead wanted your body for their master to possess and descend upon Haitville. They had similar goals, so the Council gave Empress Siana two treasures: the Tongue of Greed and the Eye of Envy.”

Abyss pointed to the blood-red gemstone in his hand and then to the orange gemstone embedded in the Empress’s eye socket.

Leona frowned. “Why me? Wouldn’t it be better to find a slimy sea monster as a vessel?”

“Remember what I told you? Part of your power comes from the highest god of this world, the Creator God. This power made you an unprecedented Dou Qi genius. With the support of divine power, your body’s strength surpasses even that of sea monsters. The only thing that could kill you was your own Dou Qi, and the Tongue of Greed in your stomach achieved that. It caused your Dou Qi to grow abnormally, bypassing the process of physical tempering, ultimately eroding your internal organs and leading to your death.”

Leona instinctively covered her stomach. The Empress’s description of her body being “eroded into cheese” made her shudder.

“After your death, the Council of the Dead continued with their other plans. Forty-two years later, their plans seem to have reached a stage of success. So, Leiner, carrying the Eye of Fear, set off towards your tomb. Poor, foolish him, he didn’t realize he was just a pawn. When the Eye of Fear met the Tongue of Greed, it would gradually control Leiner, turning him into your nourishment somehow. Then, that ‘master’ would parasitize your body, its tendrils spreading through your ravaged body, completing the first stage of its arrival.”

The thought of being parasitized by an unknown creature made Leona’s expression even more troubled.

“Then, the two gemstones, now part of your body, would guide you back to your former home, the palace, to find the Empress. The Empress and her gemstone were also meant to be your nourishment. After consuming the Empress, it would complete the second stage of its arrival.”

“That’s disgusting…” Leona started to regret asking Abyss to translate.

“Next, it would either return to the Council of the Dead or have them deliver the ‘Face of Hell.’ Once it wears that, it will completely possess you, completing the final stage of its arrival.”

Abyss finished explaining with a smile, then shook his head. “Such a shame, such a shame. It was meant to be a seamless operation, potentially completed within days, perfectly executed. Leiner’s Eye of Fear could have made him invincible on the continent, and after your resurrection, you would have been unstoppable. This mission shouldn’t have gone wrong, but Leiner encountered me, and so did you.”

“You… How did you know…” Fear filled the Empress’s face. Clearly, she was not only mentally slow but also completely insane. She should have been laid to rest years, maybe even decades ago, but necromancy had kept her alive until now.

“What are you going to do, Leona?” Abyss asked. “It seems she’s just a pitiful pawn, but she did kill you for power.”

“I don’t care about settling scores with her anymore. Just destroy the magic circle and let her die. I only hated her. My death was so sudden that I didn’t even have time to develop true hatred,” Leona said, standing up dejectedly. “She should have died a long time ago. Before she dies, make her release the tomb guardians from their duty and set those poor souls free.”

“That’s easy,” Abyss nodded.

“And then? What are you going to do next?”

“Then?” Abyss smiled mysteriously. “Then I want to find a place outside the city and sleep with you two.”

“What?!” Leona was thunderstruck. Was this damned necromancer about to reveal his lecherous nature?

Chapter 33: You’ve Changed in Forty-Two Years

“Black magic? What black magic?” Leona sniffed the air coming from the gap, detecting nothing but the smell of dust and mold.

“There’s a magic circle inside, and it’s not an ordinary protective one,” Abyss said with certainty. “You’re a Dou Warrior. Your understanding of magic is probably just so-so. You wouldn’t be able to discern the subtle difference between forbidden magic and ordinary magic.”

Flora added, “I also have a bad feeling about this. There’s something inside the wall, Leona. It’s better to let Abyss, who knows more about these things, take the lead.”

Leona didn’t argue. When it came to magic, she wasn’t completely clueless, but her skills were limited to reheating cold food and knocking over chairs from three meters away after stumbling through the incantation. So, the proud princess yielded the lead to the expert in this field.

Abyss dived headfirst into the gap beneath the wall.

The gap was narrow at first, and the three mice squeezed through with difficulty, relying on their flexibility. But after passing the narrow entrance, the space opened up. The palace walls weren’t completely solid. For insulation, there was a layer of foam-like material inside, possibly the solidified sap of some plant. This material was pliable, but the gaps between the fibers were large enough to be like a network of paths for small mice.

“Logically, only exterior walls need insulation. Why would interior walls have this material?” Abyss wondered, navigating the paths nimbly, following the faint magical reaction. Leona and Flora followed closely behind. Soon, he found the source of the magical reaction: a small skull, its fontanelle still open, seemingly belonging to a goblin infant. The skull was impaled on two crossed twigs, stuck in the wall.

The sight of the skull shocked Flora, who had just transformed into a mouse. She hid behind Leona fearfully. “Abyss, what is that?”

“Necromancy, as expected,” Abyss said, his tiny mouse eyes narrowing. “This is a node in a necromantic circle. By arranging the skulls of intelligent beings in a specific pattern and performing a magic ritual, one can extend a person’s lifespan. In theory, if the ritual is successful, as long as these skull nodes don’t crumble, the person at the center of the circle can live indefinitely—even if their body decays and turns to bone, they’ll still be alive. To think there’s something like this inside the wall… things are getting interesting.”

“We need to see Empress Siana!” Leona suddenly exclaimed, realizing something. She quickly burrowed through the insulation material, reached the floor, and ignited her translucent Dou Qi flames. With a few swift swipes of her claws, she created a hole large enough for them to pass through.

The three mice quickly scurried out of the hole, immediately assaulted by a suffocating stench.

An old woman with sparse white hair, dressed in a luxurious gown, sat at the desk with her back to them. The stench emanated from her withered body. She was applying makeup, using a dim bronze lamp to illuminate the mirror before her. Her breathing was raspy, as if her throat was filled with sand.

There was no need to maintain their mouse forms now. Abyss immediately dispelled the transformation on himself and the two girls. Their bodies rapidly grew, their clothes reappearing. In the blink of an eye, they stood behind the old woman in their human forms.

The old woman continued applying makeup for a while before realizing someone was behind her. She slowly turned her head, looking at the three figures standing there.

Just by looking at her face, Leona could hardly recognize the withered old woman as the once beautiful and graceful Empress Siana.

She wore a jeweled eyepatch over one eye. Her sparse white hair was styled in an elaborate updo, but it looked more like a tangled mess of weeds due to its dryness and thinness. A priceless tiara was perched precariously on her head, as if forcibly attached. Her face was covered in wrinkles, and her skeletal skin was heavily made up, failing to conceal her lost youth. Her remaining eye was cloudy and lifeless. Most of her teeth were missing, visible through her lips, which she couldn’t fully close.

“Oh… Leona… My Leona… You’re back… I’ve been waiting for you…” Empress Siana’s eyes flickered with a glimmer of recognition upon seeing Leona. She tried to get up from her chair, but her legs struggled to accomplish this simple task.

“The one who cursed and killed me is waiting for me? What for? For me to come and beg for your forgiveness?” Leona asked coldly, staring at Empress Siana without moving.

“Hehehe… It was me, I killed you… Ah… My Leona, you truly belong to me only after death… No, you belong to my master…”

Empress Siana’s disjointed words, coupled with her appearance, sent chills down their spines.

“Ah… Come… Come embrace me… I crave your embrace… Hehehe…” She turned her body, her hips leaving the chair, and slumped to the floor with a thud. But she didn’t stop, her eyes fixed on Leona as she crawled towards her on all fours.

Leona stepped aside in disgust. “Abyss, explain this quickly. I’m afraid I can’t help but kick her head in.”

“It seems Empress Siana is on the verge of death. The necromantic circle outside is keeping her alive. Without it, she’d be lying in bed unconscious, tormented by nightmares, spending her last days in misery,” Abyss said, his face devoid of disgust. He had seen things far more repulsive than Empress Siana. He simply stared at the old woman crawling towards Leona’s feet, shielding the nauseated Flora behind him.

“Look at this… Look at this! You’ll fall into my arms after seeing this… My Leona… My Leona!”

The Empress suddenly exclaimed, as if remembering something. She reached up and removed her eyepatch.

Beneath the eyepatch wasn’t an eye, but an orange, diamond-shaped gemstone, embedded directly into her empty socket. The surrounding flesh was festering, the source of the foul stench emanating from her body.

Leona’s disgust intensified, and she took another step back.

“Leona… Leona? Why haven’t you come to embrace me… Why…” The Empress’s expression suddenly turned vacant. She stared at Leona’s abdomen with her remaining eye, her voice weak and questioning. “Ah… You… Your tongue, your tongue is gone… Why is your tongue missing? Who? Which shameless thief? Aah…”

Chapter 32: The Special Mouse Ops Team

“ABC! This is so much fun!”

Leona, now a tiny white mouse, spoke directly into Abyss’s mind through their necromantic bond. Not only was her body only half the size of a palm, but her voice was also small and delicate.

“It’s actually not scary anymore… But walking on all fours feels weird…”

Flora’s voice, laced with confusion, also reached him. The mouse she had transformed into was slightly larger than Leona, with beautiful golden fur. She was touching her ears with her tiny paws, trying to get used to her new body.

“We’re much more inconspicuous as mice. Although mice don’t usually come out in winter, I noticed there are still plenty of them in the city,” Abyss said, peering out from a gap at the base of a wall. He had transformed into a lead-grey mouse.

“When we were drinking at the tavern, I saw a few mice scurrying past the wall. Some of them even looked a bit tipsy, probably from stealing wine from the cellar. Although this city is prosperous, no one seems to be controlling the rat population. It seems everyone is well-off and doesn’t care about the little things mice steal or gnaw on. I just hope these rats don’t bring a plague,” Flora said, twitching her whiskers.

“If a plague breaks out, the Church will immediately dispatch priests to prevent it from spreading. As long as the city is quarantined in time, it shouldn’t be a major problem,” she added.

“Given this city’s relationship with the Church, I doubt they’ll intervene promptly,” Abyss shook his head. “The Church has never been a charitable organization. Those who oppose them won’t receive equal treatment.”

“…You’re right about that,” Flora nodded reluctantly. Having been among the highest-ranking figures in the Church, she was aware of their ideology. Obedient, tithe-paying believers were good believers. Often, the Church’s interventions weren’t driven by righteousness but by self-interest.

“But I’m not worried about that now. The Church currently has its most outstanding Divine Arts user out in the world. If needed, I can bring you along to help,” Abyss said, looking at Flora with trust. He then turned to Leona. “Instead of discussing the city’s rodent problem, do you still remember the way to the palace and Empress Siana’s residence?”

“Of course I do. Forty years of sleep haven’t damaged my brain,” Leona said, standing up on her hind legs, her tiny paws crossed over her chest. “Look at the clock tower over there. It’s 9:43. The streets are getting less crowded. Today is February 14th. The palace guards change shifts at 10:06 PM. We can sneak in when the bell rings. The guards will be too busy, one group rushing to their posts and the other rushing back to their barracks, to notice three little mice.”

“You’re quite familiar with the palace guards’ schedule.”

“Of course.”

Leona wagged her tail proudly, seemingly pleased with her current form. She had always been a mischievous and adventurous child. She knew the exact time of the palace guards’ shift changes and would exploit every opportunity to sneak out of the palace and seek entertainment not found within its walls. She would bribe maids with promises of days off and go out to drink, eat street food, watch juggling acts, listen to bards, and even occasionally catch traveling theater troupes. She had even single-handedly taken on a group of thirty thugs—but after turning thirteen, she stopped fighting, afraid of accidentally ripping someone’s head off with her uncontrollable strength.

Under the cover of night, the three mice scurried along walls and gutters, navigating the streets and alleys. They didn’t need to worry about ordinary citizens. Abyss had told them that although their bodies were small, their minds and powers remained the same. Leona, for instance, could potentially punch a hole through Golden Griffin City’s outer wall if she exerted her full strength, and Flora could chant prayers and cast Divine Arts with her squeaky voice.

Golden Griffin City was indeed vast. The three mice ran at incredible speed, twice as fast as an ordinary human, but even so, it was past ten o’clock when they reached the palace gates.

Just as Leona had predicted, the palace guards changed shifts precisely at 10:06 PM. She knew the palace like the back of her hand, leading Abyss and Flora through the gates, across a large garden, and along a rarely used path that led directly to the residential quarters. They stopped before a magnificent palace. Its walls were thick, adorned with gold bricks at the top, and sturdy pillars held blazing braziers. The semi-circular dome was covered in glazed tiles from the East, and numerous statues in various poses surrounded the palace. Flowers bloomed in the flowerbeds, and neatly trimmed trees were lush and green—the royal family had clearly used expensive magic to make them thrive in winter.

“Tsk, they repaired that broken wall in the garden. We could have gotten here even faster,” Leona said, standing up again and pointing with her tiny paw at the luxurious palace behind her. “This fancy house is the residence of the core members of the royal family. The highest-ranking people in the Western Empire all sleep here. The Empress Dowager’s chambers should be on the top floor. The royal family never cares how difficult it is for old people to climb stairs.”

“Leona,” Abyss interrupted, “you’re a mouse now. It’s best to stay low to the ground when you speak. You know the anatomy of a mouse. When you stand up, I can see everything…”

“Squeak!”

A guard stationed at the entrance thought he saw a mouse jump up and down in the flowerbed. He shook his head, regretting not getting enough sleep before his shift.

The entire palace was protected by magic circles. Mages kept watch in the shadows, and there were also detection circles for Transformation magic. Ordinary outsiders couldn’t enter even if they transformed into flies.

However, Abyss’s Transformation and Necromancy magic were of such high level that they bypassed these defenses entirely. The mages guarding the palace didn’t even notice the mice.

Avoiding the sleepy maids, the three mice scurried to the top floor of the palace and stopped before a closed door, guided by Leona.

“Transform back into humans now? And just walk in?” Abyss asked, seeking Leona and Flora’s opinions.

“Let’s see this through to the end,” Leona shook her head. “Let’s think of a better way to get in.”

Flora, now accustomed to being a mouse, looked around and whispered, “Abyss, look, there’s a small gap under the wall over there. We can try to squeeze through.”

“Ah, good eye,” Abyss praised, and the three mice immediately ran to the gap. A faint draft coming from the gap suggested there was space and another exit on the other side.

Just as Leona was about to dive in headfirst, Abyss suddenly bit her tail, stopping her.

“Wait, I’ll go first,” he said, his turquoise mouse eyes alert. “I smell black magic.”

Chapter 31: Time to Settle Old Scores

Abyss wasn’t satisfied with the evidence he had gathered so far, but he was determined to get to the bottom of this “Lord of Submergence.” Before that, however, he decided to deal with the Empress immediately.

Nobles usually possessed some magical ability, but it was merely a compulsory subject in their education, a tool for proving their refinement in high society and for occasional self-defense. It was fundamentally different from professional magic. Therefore, their mental fortitude was significantly weaker compared to mages. Abyss could easily dominate them with a single glance using Charm magic. Subduing a seventy-year-old Empress would be a piece of cake.

He just needed to make her order her confidant to cancel the bi-annual inspections of Princess Leona’s tomb and abandon the magic circle there, and the problem would be solved.

As for the rest, it was up to Leona, the victim of the Empress’s scheme, to decide her fate.

Necromancers shouldn’t allow their undead to indiscriminately slaughter the living, but if the deceased had legitimate reasons for revenge, the Creed of Dignity, which prioritized upholding the dignity of both the living and the dead, took precedence over maintaining the balance between life and death. The deceased had the right to decide what to do next.

In other words, necromancers shouldn’t interfere with matters of revenge.

“Wow, it’s already evening! Time flies when you’re drinking. Hey, ABC, your spell is quite handy. If I had drunk this much when I was alive, I’d be stumbling around. But I’m still perfectly sober!” Leona said, walking out of the tavern and attempting to walk in a straight line. She was quite pleased with her success. “And my stomach doesn’t feel bad at all. Being able to enjoy alcohol without any consequences is awesome!”

“Of course, my spell does more than just bring you back to life,” Abyss said to Leona as he led Flora out of the tavern. “You wouldn’t get drunk even if you drank a whole barrel. Your current poison resistance is comparable to an entire nest of two-headed ogres.”

“I’ll rip your head off!” Leona shouted, kicking at him.

Abyss jumped lightly, dodging her attack.

Flora, holding Abyss’s hand, also jumped awkwardly, quickly noticing the difference in his movements.

“Abyss, your steps seem lighter and more powerful than before,” she observed.

“Oh, that’s true,” Abyss said with a smile. “Your powers will gradually be copied to me as your trust in me grows. If you two completely become mine, I’ll gain all of your power. Although we’re equal as individuals, in the system of magic, you’re still considered my followers. This is called a power tribute.”

“So, you’ve obtained that divine power you told me about on the road?” Leona asked curiously, pinching Abyss’s arm, finding it still bony and lacking muscle. “I don’t feel like you’ve gotten much stronger. You’re still so skinny. I could snap your bones with a flick of my wrist.”

“Your goodwill towards me hasn’t reached that level yet, has it?” Abyss said self-deprecatingly. “After all, I keep comparing you to a two-headed ogre.”

“Of course, if you ever make me feel like you’re not worthy of being my companion, I’ll kick you to the curb!” Leona said, brandishing her fist threateningly. Flora remained silent, but her eyes conveyed the same sentiment.

Abyss was still under observation by the two girls. His actions so far hadn’t incurred their displeasure, and he was the one who had awakened them. That’s why these two newly resurrected, helpless girls were willing to follow him. If he did anything to cross their boundaries, he might instantly become a loner—unless he used the necromantic bond to forcefully turn them into his servants.

Of course, that was something Abyss disdained doing, and he wasn’t in a hurry. He knew exactly what caliber of individuals he had resurrected. They were former prodigies, the pride of their respective fields. How could they easily pledge their loyalty to someone they barely knew?

“So, are we going to see the Empress now?” Leona asked, finding the topic uninteresting.

“Yes, we’re going to see the Empress and settle her issue quickly. I have a thousand ways to make her, willingly or otherwise, retract her orders and set the tomb guardians free,” Abyss said confidently.

“Then how do you plan to get into the palace?” Leona asked. “I’m dead now. If I show up at the palace and ask to enter, the Empress will go ballistic and send all her forces to capture us, won’t she?”

“My former status as a Saint won’t be of any use…” Flora said, her head bowed. “I’m sorry.”

“There’s no need to apologize,” Abyss waved his hand. “We’ll just use the Shadow Realm to get there. No one will notice us. We’ll go straight to the Empress and appear before her, giving her a good scare—don’t worry, with Flora here, no one will actually die.”

“That’s so boring!” Leona immediately objected. “I told you I don’t like using the Shadow Realm. It’s too dull!”

“You’re so picky,” Abyss said. “How about this? I have a more fun plan. Want to try it?”

“What is it? Tell me, tell me!”

“I can turn us all into mice,” Abyss said mysteriously, pointing at the ground beneath their feet. “As long as we avoid the cleaning maids, we can approach the Empress silently.”

Flora gasped. “I… I’m terrified of mice.”

“That’s fun!” Leona, predictably, was enthusiastic about the plan. She immediately tried to persuade Flora. “Flora, don’t worry. You’re afraid of mice because they’re small, fast, and can burrow everywhere. But if you become a mouse yourself, it’ll be different. Mice will seem as big as wild boars to you, so you won’t be afraid anymore!”

“Nine Gods above! Mice as big as wild boars!” Flora was even more terrified now.

“ABC! Cast the spell! I want to see what it’s like to have a mouse’s perspective!”

Abyss led the two girls to a secluded corner, chanted some incantations, and their bodies began to transform under a faint green glow.

The powerful control of high-level necromancy manifested. The followers’ forms changed according to Abyss’s will. The two girls quickly transformed into tiny mice, while Abyss used advanced Transformation magic. Although the principle was different, he soon became the same size as Leona and Flora.

Three tiny mice scurried silently out of the shadows, heading towards the palace.

***