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

Chapter 30: The Tavern Massacre

“Hey, give me another one,” Leona said, having finished her drink. The dwarf couldn’t help but be impressed by how she remained unaffected by the alcohol.

…Of course, her heart wasn’t actually beating.

“I don’t mind telling you about it, but do you want the whole story, or just the highlights?” the dwarf asked Abyss, mixing another drink for Leona. “You’re quite young. If you hear the full version, it might ruin your appetite for the drink. It’s a bit gruesome.”

Abyss laughed. “Your worries are as unnecessary as a ghoul’s liver. Tell me the whole story. I want to hear the full version.”

With no new customers coming in, the dwarf had time to kill. He cleared his throat, spat out the tobacco leaves again, and began recounting the events of that fateful night.

The incident that led to the tavern’s decline happened five years ago. Before that, “Ugly Dwarf and His Wife’s Tavern” had been a favorite haunt for drunkards in Golden Griffin City. In addition to Leona’s beloved “Blazing Elk,” the dwarf, named Dar, had inherited many secret recipes from his father. These unique drinks couldn’t be found anywhere else on the continent. As a result, his tavern was always packed. He had hired a nimble dwarf lad as a waiter, and two female dwarf dancers as one of the tavern’s main attractions. In this bustling metropolis, it was no exaggeration to say that they were making a fortune.

However, on an ordinary night, as Dar was serving the merry drunkards in his tavern, bringing them fine or cheap drinks as they requested, disaster struck. The alcohol had loosened the patrons’ inhibitions, making them forget their daily worries and anxieties. They linked arms, forming a circle, and sang hymns to the Nine Gods, their joyful voices loud enough to make one want to cover their ears.

This was usually Dar’s favorite time, as the customers, caught up in the revelry, were rarely stingy with their coin.

Just as the song reached its climax, the tavern door was suddenly flung open.

Dar was about to greet the newcomers when he noticed something strange about their appearance.

They all looked human, both men and women, dressed in dark blue robes. Their exposed faces were aged and somewhat deformed. Upon closer inspection, their faces were generally human but with subtle differences: their eyes were larger than those of humans. They didn’t have the beautiful almond-shaped eyes of elves, but round ones, resembling those of marine creatures. And they seemed older than their apparent age, their faces wrinkled, their hair grey and patchy. It was hard to imagine what a group of elderly people, dressed in matching robes, were doing barging into a tavern late at night.

The waiter and the dancers also sensed trouble and immediately retreated behind the counter, watching to see what these silent strangers would do.

One of the drunkards noticed the newcomers and greeted them warmly, inviting them to join in the drinking.

However, the response he received was the collective raising of slender, conical daggers from beneath the robes of the intruders.

“For the Lord of Submergence!” one of the old men shouted in a raspy voice, and the others echoed his cry.

Before the slow-witted drunkards could comprehend what was happening, the intruders raised their daggers high and lunged at them.

“Ah!” A scream pierced the air, followed by a chorus of cries as the tavern descended into chaos. With speed and strength that belied their age, the old men frantically stabbed their daggers into the bodies of the drunkards, blow after blow. Blood splattered, staining their clothes crimson. Some of the victims were even stabbed through their eyes, the daggers entering their sockets and emerging from the back of their heads, killing them instantly.

No one expected this group to start a massacre. This was Golden Griffin City, the capital of the Western Empire, where the nation’s most elite guards were stationed. Who would dare act so recklessly? Unless they didn’t value their lives.

However, these madmen truly didn’t care about their lives. After killing all the singing patrons, they didn’t flee but calmly arranged the bodies in a circle, feet facing outwards, and then stabbed their daggers through their hearts, pinning them to the wooden floor.

The others in the tavern were terrified. Several patrons who hadn’t been singing and were spared cowered on the floor, paralyzed with fear, soiling themselves. Dar and his two employees huddled behind the counter, too afraid to make a sound.

The screams from the tavern naturally attracted attention from outside. Someone must have alerted the nearby patrol, for a group of heavily armed soldiers kicked open the door and stormed in, their faces grim.

The sight that greeted them, a scene straight out of hell, the strong stench of blood and other foul odors, momentarily stunned the soldiers. But, trained for such situations, they immediately charged, swords flashing, and quickly dispatched the madmen. The intruders were no match for the soldiers. Their headless bodies collapsed, spraying blood, their heads rolling across the floor, twisted expressions frozen on their faces. The sight was so horrifying that Dar’s young waiter fainted on the spot.

The soldiers swiftly dealt with the situation, taking two survivors for interrogation and removing the bodies, leaving behind a floor stained with blood and filth.

The subsequent interrogation didn’t reveal any real answers. The two captured madmen refused to speak, only cursing the Nine Gods as foolish idols. They eventually died in their cells.

For a long time after that, people in Golden Griffin City were afraid to sing hymns to the Nine Gods. Some even stopped donating to the Church. Fear of the unknown cultists kept people from seeking entertainment at night.

Although Dar wasn’t blamed as the victim, few people dared to enter “Ugly Dwarf and His Wife’s Tavern” after such a gruesome incident. His employees resigned, and even though he spent money replacing the tavern floor, he couldn’t convince the terrified public to return. Now, the only patrons who frequented his tavern were newcomers to Golden Griffin City and a few old drunkards who valued good wine more than their lives.

Dar, having suffered this misfortune, was indignant. After finishing his story, he rubbed his red nose and said, “Damn that Lord of Submergence! I can’t believe such a cult exists in Golden Griffin City. I wonder if there are any remnants. I hope the Lord of Storms will unleash his divine wrath and burn them all to ashes!”

“This ‘Lord of Submergence’ can not only influence people’s minds but also alter their appearance?” Abyss pondered. “I can’t help but suspect a connection between him and the monster I encountered in the illusion…”

“What are you going to do?” Leona asked, taking a sip of her drink. “Kill him?”

“Continue investigating. Since he came looking for trouble with me, I have to return the favor,” Abyss said, taking a sip of his drink.

Chapter 29: The Tavern and the Madmen

The Western Empire’s thriving economy had endowed its capital, Golden Griffin City, with a level of prosperity unseen in most other cities on the continent. Wide streets bustled with commerce, shops lined both sides of the roads, and crowds of pedestrians created a lively atmosphere, making even winter seem less harsh.

“It’s changed so much. It’s developed a lot in forty years,” Leona said, surveying the shops and passersby with her hands behind her back, like a general inspecting his troops. She had fully accepted her status as an undead and was thriving in this new reality. Despite being mentally less than eighteen years old, she spoke like an old man returning to his hometown after a long absence.

“Yes, compared to when I was last here, commerce seems even more prosperous,” Flora said. “But the streets aren’t as clean as they used to be.”

“The population must have more than doubled,” Leona sighed. “I miss the wine from that dwarven tavern even more now. You have to try it.”

“I don’t drink…” Flora said shyly.

“Neither do I,” Abyss added.

“What?! My heavens, you two, one a Church mascot and the other a fearless wild mage, don’t drink? That’s the funniest joke I’ve heard this century!” Leona exclaimed, her excitement growing. She grabbed both Abyss and Flora’s hands, quickened her pace, and led them confidently through the city streets.

Abyss, of course, wouldn’t point out that they looked like parents being dragged around by a mischievous child.

As a princess, Leona probably didn’t have the freedom to casually drink outside the palace. The tavern she mentioned must have been her secret escape when she sneaked out. With a cheerful smile, she led Abyss and Flora at a brisk pace, turning left and right, through alleys and over steps, until they finally reached a small tavern. A weathered shield hung above the entrance as a sign, with magically etched words: “Ugly Dwarf and His Wife’s Tavern.”

From the outside, the tavern looked a bit rundown, with no customers entering or exiting. The atmosphere seemed deserted.

“What happened? This tavern used to be very popular. Why is it like this now?” Leona asked, her voice laced with disappointment. “Did the owner change his profession?”

“It’s been over forty years since you died. It’s not easy to stay in business for so long,” Abyss shrugged. “Instead of being discouraged, why don’t we go inside and see what’s changed?”

“Let’s go, let’s go!” Leona nodded and strode towards the entrance. “I need to see if the wine still tastes the same. If it’s gotten worse, this princess will be very angry.”

As they pushed open the tavern door, an enticing aroma of alcohol wafted towards them.

The interior was a bit old, but clean. Only two tables were occupied by patrons leisurely playing cards and drinking. A small, circular stage, about two meters in diameter, stood in the center of the tavern, but no one was dancing on it. A female dwarf sat on a chair on the stage, cradling a lute, occasionally plucking the strings with her stubby fingers, producing a pleasant but lazy melody. Behind the counter sat a drowsy male dwarf, his beard twitching, chewing on tobacco leaves, lazily observing the three newcomers.

“Welcome. What can I get you to drink?” the dwarf asked, spitting out the tobacco.

“Hmm? Where’s Obik?” Leona walked straight to the counter, pulled up a stool, and sat down.

“By Sgal’s Hammer, you knew my father?” the dwarf asked incredulously. “My father passed away over twenty years ago. You look barely ten years old.”

“Oh, that old man is dead? What a shame. But never mind, give me a glass of Blazing Elk, with a crushed mint leaf,” Leona said. “No, make it three. We all want one.”

The dwarf behind the counter immediately started preparing the drinks, looking at Leona with interest. “I’ve seen kids like you come to drink before, but I’ve never seen a kid order this kind of drink. Blazing Elk is a drink for connoisseurs, and adding a mint leaf is my father’s secret recipe.”

“I did know your father, but that’s not important,” Leona said, sitting at the counter. “What’s important is that I’m dying of thirst. Bring the drinks quickly and let me see if your skills have declined compared to your old man’s! Just bring the drinks. This pale, kidney-deficient guy beside me has plenty of money!”

The dwarf shook his head, assuming Leona was the descendant of some long-lived race. In this era, humans dominated the continent, and many races had interbred with them.

He swiftly mixed three drinks and placed them before the trio. “Here you go, your Blazing Elk.”

The drinks were served in clear glass mugs, a beautiful fiery red color. The intense aroma of various fruits and herbs mingled with the mellow scent of alcohol, enticing even Flora, who had never had alcohol before.

“Is it okay for us to drink?” she asked Abyss cautiously, turning her head. “Will there be any adverse effects?”

“Trust in my skills. No one understands that spell better than me. Enjoy yourselves,” Abyss said, winking at Flora and taking a sip from his mug. “Hmm, I like this aroma.”

Flora, with a touch of excitement for this new experience, took a small sip. The strong flavor made her blink, but she swallowed it smoothly.

“Excellent! Your skills are as good as your father’s!” Leona exclaimed after taking a large gulp. She slammed her hand on Abyss’s shoulder. “I knew you’d like this drink! See, ABC, a bit of color on your face makes you look better.”

Abyss could feel a change in his body, a surge of strength. It was undoubtedly his Supreme Necromancy at work, absorbing a portion of Leona’s power.

Why does Leona have the same attribute as a dwarf, increasing goodwill through shared drinks?

“Oh, right,” Leona asked the dwarf behind the counter, her eyes narrowed in contentment after finishing half her drink.

“If your bartending skills are as good as your father’s, why is business so bad? I see other taverns in the city doing much better.”

Hearing Leona’s question, the dwarf sighed heavily. “It’s not my fault. I inherited this tavern from my parents. Because I learned their bartending techniques well, business was actually quite good at first. But then people stopped coming—because of those damn madmen.”

“Who would have thought that my thriving tavern would suddenly become the scene of a murder? A few drunk patrons were singing hymns to the Nine Gods when a group of madmen burst in, shouting something about ‘For the Lord of Submergence.’ They pinned those patrons to the ground with slender, conical daggers, like spearing fish. The guards who arrived later broke down the door and chopped off the madmen’s heads, leaving only two alive. Since then, even though my floors are clean enough to reflect a person’s shadow, and the aroma of my wine could resurrect the dead, hardly anyone wants to drink here anymore.”

“Wow, that’s such a shame. Aren’t you going to open a tavern somewhere else?” Leona asked.

“Alas, this is my parents’ legacy. I want to hold onto it at least until I can’t make ends meet anymore,” the dwarf sighed, taking out some tobacco leaves from his pocket and chewing on them.

Leona was indifferent to the past events at the tavern, but Abyss and Flora both perked up.

“Shopkeeper, do you mind telling us more about those madmen?” Abyss raised a hand. “I’m curious about this ‘Lord of Submergence.’”

Chapter 28: The Love-Hate Relationship Between the Church and the Emperor

“How many times have we told you, priests of the Church need permission from the City Guard to preach in the city!”

“We already have permission!”

The trio looked towards the source of the commotion. A small crowd had gathered, and a squad of well-equipped soldiers surrounded two people, an old man and a young man. Judging by their attire, they were a priest and his deacon from the Church.

Flora, deeply concerned about Church matters, stopped and watched the unfolding scene with curiosity. Abyss was also in no hurry. If things went smoothly, he would have ample time to resolve all the issues, let alone a month, even a week would suffice. Afterward, he would fulfill Leona’s wish. Although he hadn’t asked yet, a sheltered princess like her, accustomed to a life of luxury, probably wouldn’t have any complicated desires, just wanting to have some fun.

The people seemed accustomed to such scenes. Most passersby simply bypassed the commotion with indifferent expressions. The believers who had been listening to the sermon had mostly dispersed, leaving only a few curious onlookers who, under the watchful eyes of the soldiers, didn’t dare get too close.

“You said you have permission? Then where’s your permit?” a soldier, who appeared to be the squad leader, asked the priest, extending his hand. “We need to see it before you can continue your useless speech.”

“This is not a speech! This is our monthly sermon! We must convey the latest will of the Nine Gods to all believers!” The priest seemed uncooperative, his eyes filled with anger and humiliation. “And just this morning, I was asked to show my permit by another squad of guards. Do I have to show it again?”

“What are you talking about? They are them, we are us. Patrol guards change shifts, of course. We don’t know if you actually showed your permit, do we, old man?” The squad leader sneered and shook his head, his tone aggressive. The other soldiers stepped forward, pressing in with hostile expressions.

The priest, seemingly used to such situations, said angrily, “I want to see your commander! I want to speak to him directly!”

“Oh no, you don’t,” the squad leader’s smile vanished. He placed his left hand on the hilt of his sword, drawing it slightly. “Behave yourself and let me see it!”

“Father, just listen to them…” The deacon, still young, was terrified by the confrontation and pleaded with the angry priest.

“The Nine Gods will eventually deliver their punishment…” the priest grumbled reluctantly, but finally pulled out a document from his pocket.

The squad leader snatched the document, glanced at it casually, and tossed it back. “That’s better. As long as you cooperate, there won’t be any trouble. Why can’t you understand that? Let’s go, patrol somewhere else!”

The soldiers marched away in formation, leaving the priest standing there, taking a while to catch his breath and calm his anger before resuming the sermon with his deacon.

“Is the Church in such a sorry state now?” Abyss asked, surprised. “Just preaching requires the approval of the city guards. That soldier clearly didn’t care if the permit was valid. He just wanted to bully someone, right?”

“But the Church’s influence was quite strong in the previous city. They could even enter the inn to search,” Flora said, puzzled. “Maybe that place was actually under the Church’s control, while Golden Griffin City is under the Emperor’s control—are the Emperor and the Church not getting along now?”

“There must be tacit approval from higher-ups,” Leona said, waving her hand dismissively. “The soldiers in Golden Griffin City are elite and highly disciplined. They wouldn’t act like thugs on the streets.”

“It’s strange. The Church records do mention a few instances of discord with the Emperor, but such blatant oppression hasn’t happened before,” Flora sighed. She was no longer part of the Church and couldn’t intervene, but she still felt a pang of sympathy.

The Western Empire and the Church had always been cooperative, pursuing mutually beneficial policies in politics and economics. The Emperor wanted stability and development for his country, while the Church wanted to ensure the smooth spread of faith across the continent. Their interests didn’t clash. If anything, some cities in the Western Empire were more aligned with the Church, while others were more aligned with the Emperor—but the Church had no actual ruling authority. The ultimate power lay with the Emperor.

The Emperor didn’t have a strong reason to antagonize the Church, which was what puzzled Flora.

“The current Emperor is Beos. That kid is ten years younger than me, the eldest son of Empress Siana, oh, the current Empress Dowager,” Leona speculated. “I know that kid very well. He’s a complete mama’s boy, always following his mother around. This conflict with the Church is probably his mother’s idea. It’s a shame he’s just a puppet Emperor. And it’s no surprise that his daughter looks like me. He used to tell me how beautiful I was when he was little, saying he wanted to marry me and stuff. He must have married an Empress who resembles me. I died when he was eight, so luckily I avoided his adolescence.”

“Aren’t you his half-sister?” Abyss asked, surprised. “Why didn’t you break his legs?”

“Our royal family is different. On the continent, ordinary marriages are supervised by the Church, and only those recognized by the Church are considered official. Marriages between close relatives are strictly forbidden,” Leona whispered. “But our royal family sometimes arranges marriages within the family to preserve the purity of our bloodline. In these cases, the Church not only doesn’t object but also offers its blessings.”

Flora nodded. “I’ve heard of this. The Church calls these royal incestuous marriages ‘Marriages of Divine Mandate.’”

“Isn’t that just falsely claiming the will of the Nine Gods?” Abyss said playfully. “Aren’t you afraid of divine punishment?”

Flora looked at Abyss and couldn’t help but laugh. “As you said, the Nine Gods are just workers for the Creator God. Thinking about it that way, there’s really nothing to be afraid of. The others in the Church have probably figured it out already.”

Abyss couldn’t help but feel that he had corrupted the devout Flora.

“What’s the point of discussing this? Come on, I’ll take you to my favorite place,” Leona said impatiently, patting Abyss’s back. “A tavern run by dwarves. They have the best wine, and there are even female dwarves who perform stripteases! You have to see how funny it is to watch those bearded ladies dance!”

Chapter 27: The Princess with a Bad Temper

The official, initially filled with trepidation, knelt on one knee, awaiting reprimand. However, after a long silence, hearing no scolding from Abyss and the girls, he dared to look up.

Leona, not a bit flustered, stood before him with her arms crossed, allowing him to study her face.

The official’s panicked expression suddenly calmed. He parted his lips slightly, slowly rose from the ground, brushed off his knee, and sat back down. Then, in a leisurely tone, he said, “Ahem, I hope you won’t tell anyone about what just happened. That young lady with silver hair bears a striking resemblance to Princess Helen. I mistook her for the princess. You have no pass, so according to the law, you cannot enter Golden Griffin City. Please present valid identification and state your purpose for entering the city.”

“Do I really look that much like Princess Helen?” Leona’s interest was piqued. “Does she also have silver hair like me?”

“I don’t want to talk about it anymore. If you don’t intend to enter the city, please make way for the people behind you,” the official said, his embarrassment turning into annoyance. Kneeling before strangers due to a momentary lapse in judgment was quite humiliating for him.

“Tell us more. We won’t tell anyone—if you cooperate,” Leona said, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

Since she could remember, Leona had lived in the palace, surrounded by important figures. She wouldn’t show weakness in front of a lowly clerk responsible for registering entry into the city, someone who was likely already on thin ice. His attempt to conceal his embarrassment only fueled Leona’s playful nature.

“Are you threatening me?” The official found it unbelievable. However, he was indeed caught in a compromising position. He spat on the ground and said, “Fine, I mistook you for Princess Helen because you look so much like her. You have the same silver hair and similar features. The only difference is your green eyes. Princess Helen has blue eyes. No one dares to offend her, not because she’s scary herself, but because her grandmother, the Empress Dowager, has her spies watching the princess constantly. If the Empress Dowager found out about our disrespect, losing our jobs would be the least of our worries.”

“Shouldn’t the Emperor be the one in power?” Leona asked, unceremoniously sitting on the official’s desk. “Why does the Empress Dowager have so much authority? This is my first time in the capital, so please enlighten me.”

“Those matters are not to be discussed. If the Empress Dowager finds out, my head will roll,” the official said, annoyed by Leona’s questioning. “You better get off my desk, or you’ll never be allowed into the city.”

“Have you seen this?” Leona ignored him, raising her leg high, her boot almost hitting his face.

The official, unable to tolerate Leona’s arrogance any longer, was about to explode in anger when he noticed the gold plate on her boot.

It was the mark of the royal workshop. The gold plate was inlaid with silver threads and intricate patterns, a craftsmanship difficult to imitate outside the palace. And judging from the quality of the boots, they weren’t cheap goods from an ordinary store. They were definitely from a high-end establishment. These boots spoke volumes—at the very least, this silver-haired girl was of high status.

“I’m Princess Helen’s cousin, the grandniece of the current Emperor, His Majesty Beos. With this identity, can I enter Golden Griffin City?” Leona lowered her leg and sat languidly on the desk, cleaning her already spotless fingernails. “I’m here on a secret visit by invitation. I hope you won’t tell anyone.”

The official was caught in a dilemma. He didn’t know if the girl was telling the truth, but her identical silver hair, similar features to the princess, and the royal workshop boots that signified her high status made it impossible to refuse.

“These two are my guards, two very powerful mages. Flora, show him something,” Leona said, turning to Flora.

Flora was suddenly thrust forward. After a moment of surprise, she decided to cast a healing spell on the official. However, the official immediately stopped her. “Stop! Go cast your fancy magic somewhere else! This is a city gate post! Do you want the whole city to know? I’ll let you pass!”

“Why aren’t you worried now?” Leona asked, jumping off the desk cheerfully. “Aren’t you afraid we’re villains here to cause trouble?”

“If you were villains, I’d advise you against entering the city,” the official said, wiping the sweat from his nose, shaking his head at Leona.

“Oh? Is there something remarkable in the city?” Leona blinked.

“In recent years, the royal family has spent a fortune hiring high-ranking mages and warriors into the army. They’ve also funded the establishment of a mage organization called the ‘Arcane Society,’ providing various benefits to its members. Representatives of each magic school even have seats in the Imperial Council, and the Arcane Society’s headquarters is located right here in Golden Griffin City,” the official said, tapping the desk lightly. “The city is full of high-ranking mages. Anyone who dares to cause trouble here will be turned to ash in the blink of an eye.”

“Wow, that sounds quite scary,” Leona said, feigning surprise, glancing back at Abyss and Flora. “Don’t you think so?”

“Yes, yes, yes,” Abyss said, staring at the ceiling.

Flora was a bit embarrassed, but she nodded.

“Let’s go, enter the city,” the official said, realizing he couldn’t communicate normally with this arrogant noble girl. He waved his hand dismissively, allowing the trio to pass.

…

“We could have passed directly. Why did you have to stay there and bully him?”

Abyss said to Leona as they entered Golden Griffin City. He had thought Leona was just a simple-minded girl in every sense, but it turned out she could be quite mischievous.

“I’m actually disappointed,” Leona said, pouting. “That wasn’t how I envisioned it. The official was supposed to underestimate us, and then I would reveal my identity, making him apologize profusely. Who knew he would kneel before me as soon as he saw me, ruining my entire plan? Of course, I couldn’t just let him off the hook!”

This princess has a really bad temper… Abyss had met his match.

“Come on, we still have plenty of time. I’ll take you to some fun places in the city. After lying in a coffin for forty years, I want to see what’s changed in Golden Griffin City!”

Leona, completely forgetting about the official, pointed ahead and grabbed Flora’s wrist, leading her forward at a run.

“Huh? What are those soldiers doing?” she asked before they had taken a few steps, her attention caught by something.

Chapter 26: Golden Griffin City

On the planet where Abyss lived, all civilizations thrived on a vast continent called Haitville. In the ancient language, Haitville meant “shared by all.” Countless species had evolved and flourished on this continent over many eras. By now, humans were the undisputed rulers, their civilization spreading across the land. The cultures of common intelligent races like dwarves and halflings had been almost completely assimilated by humans, leaving only the proud and stubborn elves with a territory of their own.

Humanity wasn’t a monolithic entity. Through years of conquest and unification, multiple human nations had emerged on the continent. Among them, the Western and Eastern Empires were the most powerful.

The Western and Eastern Empires, formally known as the Western and Eastern Mynian Empires, were originally one. Three hundred years ago, a civil war erupted over the succession to the Mynian throne, splitting the royal family into two factions. The faction in the northwest corner of the continent became the Western Empire, while the one in the southeast corner became the Eastern Empire.

Although the Mynian Empire was divided, its power was also split. These two empires remained formidable forces that other nations couldn’t surpass. They balanced each other, controlling the western and eastern parts of the continent.

The country where Abyss currently stood, the homeland of both Leona and Flora, was the Western Empire. With a thriving economy and a strong emphasis on knightly culture, it was also home to the Church’s headquarters. The Western Empire and the Church shared power, and although they occasionally clashed, they generally cooperated well. The major cities of the Western Empire were prosperous and flourishing, a picture of peace and prosperity.

“This is the Imperial Capital—Golden Griffin City. I grew up here. Need a tour guide?” Leona said proudly, pointing to the grand city before them. She was now wearing a simple but well-fitting leather armor. Without her burial gown, she seemed more energetic. Her two silver braids were tied with new golden ribbons, a purchase she made herself at the high-end clothing store, her first time buying something without anyone else’s input. The ribbons were quite expensive, befitting a princess’s taste.

The city was vast, more than ten times the size of the city where Abyss and Flora had previously stayed. Even from the city gate, the dense population was evident, with numerous merchant caravans entering and exiting. Despite being winter, farmers were transporting fresh, out-of-season vegetables into the city—a sign of an economy prosperous enough to afford produce grown with magic and alchemy.

“I’ve been here a few times to give speeches to the believers,” Flora said, a nostalgic smile on her face. “Everyone welcomed me. The venues were always packed, but unfortunately, I never had the chance to explore the city.”

“Hmph, I remember watching one of your speeches, but I wasn’t very impressed,” Leona said, patting Flora’s shoulder. “I don’t really care about religion. If I could, I’d rather challenge the God of Conquest.”

“Shh, those are blasphemous words…” Flora wanted to tell Leona to lower her voice, but then she remembered that both she and Leona were undead, the Church’s most hated beings. And the necromancer beside them, whose eyes were darting around, had even visited the Divine Realm. Blaspheming the Nine Gods didn’t seem like a big deal now.

“ABC! How are we going in? Don’t tell me you’re going to drag me into your Shadow Realm again. I’ve had enough of that place!” Leona asked Abyss loudly.

“Was there anything uncomfortable about it?” Abyss looked at Leona. To express her strong will, she clenched her fist and placed it on her flat chest.

“Nothing uncomfortable. Your dragon was quite considerate. But this princess believes that entering the city that way is no different from sneaking over the wall. It’s all sneaky and underhanded. My knightly spirit cannot tolerate such behavior!” Leona shook her head, her braids swaying. “I’m a princess! A princess sneaking into the capital of her own country? My heavens, what a disgrace!”

“Then how do you propose we enter?” Abyss shrugged nonchalantly. “I use the Shadow Realm for travel only to avoid scaring ordinary people, not because I’m afraid of anything. If you don’t like it, suit yourself.”

“We’ll walk through the main gate with our heads held high!” Leona pointed to the towering city gate. “Imagine this: we enter discreetly, and that official at the gate, the one who registers outsiders, will definitely underestimate us and try to obstruct us, demanding bribes. Then, hmph, I’ll reveal my identity as an Imperial Princess, and that stupid snob will be scared witless, bowing and scraping. And then we’ll walk in with our heads held high. Won’t that be impressive?”

“Revealing your identity as a princess might not be a good idea… considering you’re dead…” Flora reminded her softly.

“Your plan is as stupid as a two-headed ogre’s intestines,” Abyss said flatly.

“Damn it! I swear, if you use a two-headed ogre for another analogy, I’ll kick your ass with my boots!” Leona snarled, but she also remembered the fact that she was now dead.

“Do you have anything else, something smaller but still proof of your noble status?” Flora asked softly.

Leona thought for a moment, then clapped her hands and said to Abyss, “My burial shoes. Fetch them.”

Abyss found a less conspicuous spot, summoned his Magic Catfish, and retrieved Leona’s shoes. They were a pair of extremely luxurious leather high heels, adorned with a circle of rubies and intricate patterns made of gold and silver foil.

“These shoes have the mark of the royal workshop. I just need to pry off the mark and attach it to the boots I’m wearing now,” Leona said, taking the shoes and carefully removing two pieces of gold foil. She found the right angle and slapped them onto her current leather boots. It actually looked quite convincing.

“Let’s go!”

Leona led Abyss and Flora towards the gate of Golden Griffin City.

…

The registration official immediately noticed the approaching trio—two of them were dressed as mages, and the other was dressed as a warrior but was exceptionally short. Coupled with the two girls’ beautiful faces, it was hard not to attract attention.

“You there, come and register. Where are you from?” the official beckoned them over.

“Alright, no problem,” Abyss said obediently, leading the two girls towards the official.

Before he could say another word, the official suddenly knelt down in fear. “Your Highness! Forgive me! I didn’t expect you to enter on foot! Please pardon my ignorance!”

“Wait… Is this the wrong script?” Leona felt a strange sense of defeat.

Chapter 25: The Outer God

What profession on the continent had the most thorough understanding of human anatomy and the deepest research into biological functions?

If your answer is surgeon, you’d be dead wrong. For two thousand years, the Church, which held sway over the faith of the entire continent, had strict control over people’s actions. Among them, dissecting and studying corpses were considered grave sins. Surgeons who wanted to understand the human body had to learn through practical experience, meaning treating living patients and accumulating knowledge through trial and error.

Necromancers, on the other hand, were different. Since the very beginning, they had been the Church’s sworn enemies, and dissecting corpses was their bread and butter. Early necromancers at least adhered to the Four Creeds, but nowadays, even finding a necromancer who followed those tenets was difficult. Respect for the dead? Forget it. If they were curious, they’d just cut it open and sew it back up afterward.

The Church had once burned a group of doctors who secretly collaborated with necromancers, but this had sparked widespread outrage and shaken people’s trust in the Church. So, a hundred years ago, the Church finally revised its prohibitions, allowing doctors and coroners to study donated bodies under Church supervision. Despite this, the experience accumulated by doctors still paled in comparison to that of necromancers, who spent all their time with corpses.

Just by looking at Leona, Abyss felt as if he could see through her flesh and directly into her internal organs. He stood before her, aimed briefly, and two of his fingers, covered in sharp bone spurs, plunged into her stomach.

“Ah…” Leona instinctively let out a soft moan, but it didn’t seem to hurt much.

With a relaxed expression, Abyss moved his two fingers around inside Leona’s stomach, searching for any foreign objects.

“D-don’t… Don’t move around like that…” Leona complained, her eyes tightly shut. “It feels weird… Don’t touch there!”

“Just bear with it a little longer. I’ll be quick,” Abyss said, sticking out his tongue halfway. “You really have more space inside than most people. No wonder you can eat so much.”

“Ah… You touched it! That’s it!” Leona suddenly exclaimed.

Abyss’s two fingers deftly located a hard object in Leona’s stomach, pinched it, and pulled it out. The thumb-sized wound he had created in Leona’s stomach visibly began to heal from both sides, becoming smooth and as good as new in an instant, just as he had promised, without leaving any trace. As an undead whose blood had stopped flowing, Leona didn’t even bleed.

Between his two fingertips, Abyss held a blood-red gemstone. It was polished into a smooth oval shape, translucent, with a cat’s eye-like band of light inside, making it appear quite alluring.

“Is this the thing that cursed me?” Leona snatched the gemstone from Abyss and examined it closely.

“It’s much bigger than an ordinary cherry pit. Did you swallow that whole basket of cherries?” Abyss said, his expression odd. “You must have been a big eater even before you were cursed… Hey, Flora, why is your face so red?”

“Ah… N-nothing…” Flora quickly turned her face away.

Leona glared at Abyss. “If you can’t speak properly, just shut up! Now, is my curse lifted?”

Having secretly confirmed that there was no scar on her stomach, Leona was now concerned about the curse.

“It should be fine now. This gemstone from your stomach reacted to the one I have. I’m going to put them together and see what happens,” Abyss said, taking the red gemstone from Leona and placing it beside the Eye of Fear. “My experience just now was very strange. It felt like some strange and powerful creature was trying to influence me, but I drove it away. It might be slightly injured now. I’m curious about this creature.”

“What kind of creature?” Leona asked curiously. “It wasn’t inside my stomach before, was it?”

“It was more like… hmm… an illusion, a projection of some mentally powerful creature’s will into my mind. I only know that it was very damp and had thin, cold tendrils. It seemed to be trying to take control of my body. Did you feel anything like that?” Abyss said.

“That’s disgusting,” Leona shook her head. “But I did feel the gemstone in my stomach vibrating slightly, as if it was being pulled towards something.”

“A powerful creature…” Flora suddenly fell into deep thought.

Abyss and Leona both looked at her. She was frowning, her head bowed, obviously recalling something.

After a long silence, she looked up and said, “Abyss, have you heard of ‘Outer Gods’?”

“Never heard of them. What are they? Doesn’t our world already have nine deities?”

Abyss tilted his head. Although his knowledge was vast, it was mostly related to corpses and funerals. He was very specialized in his studies.

“About seventy years ago, a group of farmers reported a strange discovery to the Church—they encountered a strange creature in their dreams. This creature had a very bizarre appearance, unlike any known animal, but it was definitely alive. It seemed to lack intelligence but possessed a human-like way of thinking. Every time they fell asleep, it would appear before them, chanting strange poems and transmitting terrifying knowledge to them.”

Flora recounted slowly.

“Whispering… I heard that too,” Abyss said, nodding quickly.

“Some of those who saw this terrifying creature went mad. They killed their friends and family who tried to communicate with it, offering their corpses as tributes to this unknown entity. They gathered day and night, chanting blasphemous prayers and consuming filthy things. Those who reported this were the ones who managed to escape from the village,” Flora said gravely. “According to the records, the Church used Divine Arts to calm those who sought help, freeing them from the nightmares, and sent Holy Knights to eliminate all those who had gone mad, putting an end to the incident. However, afterward, several of the priests sent to investigate the truth in the village also went insane, shouting that they had seen the future, the true gods.”

“What kind of magic is that powerful?” Leona asked incredulously. “Aren’t priests of the Church supposed to have exceptional willpower?”

“What’s so powerful about it? I can easily…”

“Shut up, ABC!”

“Fortunately, after sacrificing several priests and an entire squad of Holy Knights, the source of the strange events was finally identified. The Church discovered a strangely shaped scimitar. This sword possessed a special power that could corrupt the wielder’s mind, but at the same time, it granted the wielder the ability to travel between dreams. In dreams, the wielder would transform into a massive monster made entirely of teeth, tempting others to offer tributes, which would eventually become its teeth…”

Leona grimaced. “That sounds like a scary story to frighten children.”

“But the Church’s records don’t lie,” Flora said with certainty. “The sword is kept in a secret vault in the Church, forbidden for anyone to touch. And this unknown powerful creature was named ‘Outer God’ by the Church because it possessed power far beyond mortals, yet it wasn’t among the Nine Gods of this world. Therefore, it was believed to be a deity from another world. Its origins, purpose, and preferences are unknown, but one thing is certain: it cannot coexist peacefully with humans.”

“So, our enemy might be a monster from another world?” Abyss said, not frightened but excited.

“Or a group of them,” Flora corrected. “The monster you saw wasn’t made of teeth, was it? Since there are different types of monsters and cursed objects, it means the ‘Outer God’ isn’t alone.”

“Wow, this is awesome! I’m so curious!” Abyss clapped his hands.

“Have some sense of social responsibility,” Leona said scornfully. “These monsters could potentially destroy our world!”

“Therefore, I suggest we set off as soon as possible. We need to not only address the threat to the tomb guardians but also uncover the truth behind the two gemstones in Abyss’s possession and the ‘Face of Hell’ mentioned by Leiner!” Flora said. “Otherwise, more people might become victims of the Outer Gods!”

“Then what are we waiting for? Let’s go!” Abyss raised his hand excitedly.

“No way! I’m still hungry! Roast that other leg of pork for me! Otherwise, I’ll roast you!” Leona said angrily, grabbing Abyss’s belt to stop him from leaving.

Held back by Leona’s superhuman strength, even Abyss’s excitement couldn’t move him an inch.

Chapter 24: The Illegitimate Daughter

The darkness before him shattered like glass, revealing Leona’s flushed face. Abyss took a deep breath and shook his head, fully regaining his senses.

“What happened, Abyss? Your eyes were glowing, and you froze…” Flora’s concerned voice reached him. “Did the Eye of Fear affect you?”

“Not just the Eye of Fear. I can now confirm that there’s definitely a cursed object in Leona’s stomach!” Abyss said to Leona with certainty. “Did you feel anything unusual just now?”

Leona, unlike her usual arrogant and domineering self, nodded shyly. In her eighteen years of life, it was the first time a boy her age had been so close to her, leaving her flustered.

Abyss, oblivious to the impact of this event on Leona’s young heart, stood up from the tree stump and said, “In that case, let’s see what happens when you throw up what you just ate. We need to get to the bottom of this.”

Leona stared at Abyss for a moment, then rubbed her face with both hands, regaining her proud demeanor. She coughed lightly and said, “Fine, I’ll throw up and show you!”

She moved away from the fire, found a spot away from the dining area, took a deep breath, and started dry heaving.

After struggling for a while, she looked up at Abyss with an aggrieved expression. “I can’t throw up.”

Abyss thought for a moment. “I can go to the nearby graveyard and ask the deceased there to lend me a rotting corpse.”

“Forget it… Just thinking about it… Ugh…”

Leona finally threw up, but what came out surprised Flora.

She had just eaten a whole leg of pork, but what she vomited wasn’t undigested chunks of meat, but a pile of charred ash! The ash seemed to have been thoroughly burned. As soon as it left her mouth, it scattered in the wind, staining the nearby snow black.

Leona had been expecting the usual discomfort of stomach acid after vomiting, but what came out wasn’t anything normal. She stared wide-eyed, covering her mouth.

“Indeed… there’s definitely a powerful curse in your stomach,” Abyss said, frowning. “Based on your symptoms before death, I believe this object absorbs the food you eat and directly converts it into Dou Qi, which led to your Dou Qi going out of control and ultimately killing you.”

“Wouldn’t that be a good thing? Directly converting food into Dou Qi would be very convenient, wouldn’t it?”

“Not really. Your body seems to have stopped developing at the age of twelve because it wasn’t getting enough nutrients. A Dou Warrior’s body needs Dou Qi not only for strength and martial techniques but also to constantly temper its physical functions during the process of absorbing Dou Qi from the outside world. As the body strengthens, its capacity for Dou Qi increases. But this step was bypassed due to the curse. Your internal organs weren’t tempered, which ultimately led to your Dou Qi going out of control and destroying them, killing you before you could even call for help.”

Abyss analyzed slowly, stroking his chin.

“As for the truth, two groups of people probably know it. One is the kind and benevolent Empress and her faction, and the other is the Council of the Dead, whom I’ve never met but have completely offended.”

He showed Leona the Eye of Fear and explained the origin of the purple pendant, recounting the illusion he had seen.

“That village in the distance, they’re tomb guardians stationed here under the Empress’s orders. Their mission is to protect your tomb from being discovered and invaded. And since the year you died, they’ve been sending people here twice a year to check if your tomb has been disturbed. There’s also a very elaborate magic circle inside. It’s clear that the Empress is trying her best to conceal this curse.” Abyss looked at Leona. “So, the Empress doesn’t like you very much, does she?”

“It’s more than just dislike,” Leona shrugged nonchalantly. “She’s my father’s latest wife. A year after their marriage, she gave birth to a son. Ever since she had her son, she’s been cold to my father’s other children. I have several older brothers and sisters, all of them legitimate princes and princesses. But I’m different. Of all the siblings, I’m the only one my father conceived outside the palace, with my mother, an unmarried countess. In the Empress’s words, I’m a bastard, an embodiment of evil. She not only despises my birth but also envies my talent. I was brought to the palace when I was young, without my mother’s protection, and my father couldn’t favor me among so many children. Naturally, I became her primary target.”

“Her initial attempts to harm me were ineffective, and I didn’t bother retaliating. No one in this world could hurt me. But she did her best to ostracize me. The only time I remember her being nice to me was on my twelfth birthday when she gave me a basket of cherries… Maybe that was when she planted the curse in my stomach…”

Leona’s voice grew angry as she spoke, kicking the ashes at her feet.

“Now that I’ve brought you out of the tomb, to protect the tomb guardians from being discovered and executed by the Empress’s people, I need to take you to her and resolve this issue completely. What do you think?” Abyss asked.

“I’d be delighted. The Empress has already killed me once. If I don’t go back and see her, I’ll feel like a coward,” Leona said, looking up at Abyss with pride in her eyes. “I’m a glorious knight. I won’t be a weakling who doesn’t fight back when killed by a villain!”

“Very well. Now I’ll remove the cursed object from your stomach. It won’t hurt, and it won’t leave any marks. But I need you to lift your top and expose your upper abdomen. Do you have any objections?”

Abyss seized the opportunity. Now that Leona’s fighting spirit was high, it was the best time to remove the object from her stomach. It would be difficult to find another chance later.

“Hmph, fine, it’s just my stomach. Whatever,” Leona blushed, thought for a moment, and finally agreed through gritted teeth. She was straightforward, unbuttoning her elaborate top and pulling up her chemise, revealing her smooth, flat abdomen with an air of facing her execution. “Go ahead, I won’t even blink!”

“Right, I have one last question,” Abyss said.

“Ask away. As long as you help me find the truth, I’ll tell you everything.”

“Do you really swallow cherry pits when you eat cherries?”

“Mind your own business?!”

Chapter 23: The Eye of Fear

“Why?!” Leona protested loudly. “I just finished eating!”

“You can throw up later, it’s fine,” Abyss said, pointing to the neatly butchered pork beside them. “There’s more to eat after you throw up.”

Leona felt like she was being toyed with by this skinny, grey-haired boy. Who invited someone to eat and then asked them to throw up? Moreover, who would make such an unreasonable request to a noble lady?

If Leona were still a princess, she would have had her guards throw him in jail! Now, all she wanted to do was whack Abyss on the head with the leg bone in her hand!

Flora, however, wasn’t surprised. She said softly to Leona, “Your Highness, I understand what Abyss means. He believes there’s a cursed object in your stomach, and it must be affecting your stomach, causing your insatiable appetite and preventing you from properly controlling your Dou Qi. The official cause of your death was announced as Dou Qi turbulence. Perhaps at the end, your Dou Qi completely broke through the restraints of your body, causing fatal damage.”

Leona pouted and thought for a moment, then said to Abyss, “Fine, I’ll throw up later. You go ahead and roast the meat. I want to eat more as soon as I’m done! The taste better be the same!”

“Of course, my princess.”

Abyss winked at Flora approvingly, smiled faintly, and returned to the fire to roast the meat.

Following the same steps, he took out another leg of pork, meticulously sprinkled it with high-quality spices from various regions, spread them evenly, and placed it in a cooler part of the fire to marinate slowly.

Just then, a slight vibration in his chest caught his attention.

What was in his breast pocket? Abyss thought for a moment, recalling his conversation with Leiner that night. A purple, diamond-shaped pendant appeared in his memory.

Right, the treasure Leiner carried, the Eye of Fear. Leiner had used it to instill fear in the mercenaries who entered his hideout, making it easy to kill and transform them into zombies.

Abyss, of course, knew the Fear spell, and when he cast it, it could even make a brave knight lose control of their bowels. He had initially dismissed this magic-infused pendant, but now, its unusual reaction piqued his curiosity.

He took out the Eye of Fear and saw it flashing with a mesmerizing purple light. It wasn’t dark yet, but the light seemed to pierce through space, appearing exceptionally bright.

Some magical force was trying to break through his mental defenses.

Abyss frowned slightly. This magical force was like a mayfly trying to shake a giant tree in the face of his mental strength. It had no chance of success, but a sense of unease began to creep into his heart.

“Leiner’s mission was to retrieve the cursed object from Leona’s stomach, and the Council of the Dead gave him the Eye of Fear to help him… According to him, the Eye of Fear is part of the artifact ‘Face of Hell’ held by the Council of the Dead…”

Abyss shifted his body slightly towards Leona.

The purple light from the Eye of Fear brightened almost imperceptibly.

The two girls sitting on the tree stump also noticed Abyss’s unusual behavior. Flora was the first to ask, “Abyss, what’s wrong? Is that the Eye of Fear? Why is it glowing?”

“Eye of Fear? What’s that? Let me see!” Leona reached out curiously.

Abyss stood up, clutching the Eye of Fear tightly, and walked over to Leona. Ignoring her puzzled gaze, he squeezed in beside her, pressing against her body.

“W-what are you doing?!” Leona’s face flushed bright red. She even forgot to push him away. “How dare you treat an unmarried…”

“Shh…” Abyss placed a finger on his lips, gently silencing Leona.

Leona covered her mouth. She saw a purple light flickering in Abyss’s eyes, alluring and bewitching. At the same time, she felt something vibrating faintly in her stomach. The vibration wasn’t strong, but it was clear. Leona was absolutely certain it wasn’t her imagination.

Abyss, holding the Eye of Fear, saw something completely different from his surroundings.

Leona’s beautiful face gradually blurred, fading into darkness. At the same time, a disturbing murmuring filled his ears, as if ten thousand people were whispering around him.

The darkness deepened, swallowing everything, and the murmurs grew louder, some turning into loud chants.

“Abyss Belator…” A strange, gurgling voice emerged from the cacophony, echoing around him.

The chanting and murmuring intensified, some turning into hysterical screams. Countless voices reverberated in his mind, colliding, filling him with a mixture of fear and agitation.

“Abyss Belator…” The strange voice continued, sounding less like the vocalizations of any humanoid race and more like the clumsy imitation of some other creature using different organs. The sound of trickling water and faint thunder mingled with the calls, drawing closer and closer.

He felt a cold sensation on his neck, as if a thin, wet tendril was slowly wrapping around him.

So scary… So chaotic… What should I do…

These thoughts flooded his mind, and his expression turned vacant, his mouth opening slightly. The tendril’s touch slithered from his face towards his mouth…

Suddenly, he smelled a faint scent of cinnamon, Leona’s spice.

“Wait,” the vacant look in Abyss’s eyes vanished instantly, and he closed his mouth.

What am I afraid of? I have nothing to lose, and no one has been able to oppose me so far. The world’s strongest Divine Arts user and Dou Warrior are on my side. What am I afraid of? Am I afraid of something terrifying, or am I simply afraid for the sake of being afraid?

Once these thoughts entered his mind, his previous fear dissipated.

“Whatever you are, take my Soulquake Wave!” Abyss suddenly grinned, revealing his pearly white teeth. “Illusion, break!”

The ninth-tier necromantic spell, Soulquake Wave, specifically designed to resist mental attacks from the undead, was a powerful spell essential for Supreme Necromancers to subdue high-ranking undead. When someone launched a mental attack, casting Soulquake Wave allowed the caster to retaliate, tearing apart a portion of the attacker’s soul, inflicting immense and unavoidable pain!

“Gaaaah!!!”

An invisible wave rippled outwards from Abyss, several times stronger than what a Supreme Necromancer could produce. Then, he heard a piercing shriek, and the tendrils wrapped around his neck and face instantly recoiled!

Chapter 22: A Necromancer’s Knowledge of Spices

Leona didn’t recognize the wide-mouthed catfish beside Abyss, but Flora was very familiar with it.

This was one of Abyss’s few companions not created from a corpse, a Magic Catfish. Abyss had crafted it from mana, combining typical spatial magic with his practical understanding of the Shadow Realm.

Most mages had familiars molded from mana, but the vast majority of them, created by mediocre mages, were nothing more than pets that didn’t need to eat, drink, sleep, or excrete waste. Only a few mages with unique understandings of magic could create familiars with special abilities.

Some familiars could participate in combat, some could assist with spellcasting, some could give their masters full-body massages, and some, belonging to mages with peculiar hobbies, could even perform certain “special services.”

Abyss, of course, had no such bold ideas for a catfish. His Magic Catfish had a much more awesome function.

Where did Flora’s inconvenient and flashy burial gown go? Where did the pile of money they earned disappear to? The answer was simple: inside the catfish’s belly.

The Magic Catfish had a stomach with infinite capacity. Anything placed inside would be preserved indefinitely. Out of curiosity, Abyss had even put an undead inside. The undead, after staying inside for an hour, emerged claiming that it had been pulled out immediately after entering, unable to see anything inside—meaning time didn’t flow within the catfish’s stomach.

As long as Abyss remembered the general appearance of the stored items, he could avoid rummaging and retrieve precisely what he needed.

Thus, Flora watched with amusement as Leona stared in astonishment at Abyss pulling out various bottles and jars from the catfish’s mouth.

“What’s that fish for? What kind of treasure is that?”

“It’s my familiar. If you have anything you don’t need, you can put it in its mouth. It’ll be preserved forever,” Abyss said leisurely, arranging the bottles and jars in a row. “By the way, you need to change your clothes. I’m going to buy you new ones. The Imperial family wouldn’t like it if someone took their dead princess running around.”

“Whatever, I don’t like this dress anyway. I hate formal wear the most,” Leona said nonchalantly, her eyes fixed on the row of small jars beside Abyss. “What are those?”

“These? These are top-grade spices and wine,” Abyss said, rattling off the names. “Palm wine from the Eastern Empire, frankincense from the Kingdom of Ossi, cumin from the elves, basil from the Western Empire, and cinnamon from the Kingdom of Tammy…”

“Why does a necromancer carry so many spices?”

“These are spices I learned about from various local customs, used for treating corpses,” Abyss smiled. “Smell yourself. Your skin definitely has a hint of cinnamon.”

Leona was struck dumb. She hurriedly rolled up her sleeve and sniffed her arm, her expression shifting from surprise to despair.

“I’m not eating! I refuse to eat spices used for embalming corpses!”

“It’s not scraped off corpses. I bought them directly from farmers in the producing regions. They’re of excellent quality.”

“I don’t care! I’d rather starve to death than eat a single bite of your food!”

…

“It smells so good!”

Leona exclaimed, genuinely impressed by the aroma of Abyss’s cooking.

The captured boar had been expertly butchered by Abyss. A skinned leg of pork was now skewered on a branch over the fire, rotating slowly under his control. The fresh meat, marinated with various spices and honey, had a beautiful rosy hue, sizzling on the flames, releasing its fat and an enticing fragrance.

“Do you want to eat now?” Abyss sprinkled some sea salt on the leg of pork.

“I’ve changed my mind. Refusing to eat because these spices are used for treating corpses clearly violates the knightly virtue of courage!” Leona declared, pointing a finger at the sky. “As a glorious knight, I’ve decided to accept this challenge. I might as well try your food!”

Flora raised a hand timidly. “Abyss… I want to eat too…”

The poor Saint, whose diet had been controlled by the Church, had never experienced such freedom, nor had she ever smelled such delicious roasted meat.

“Don’t worry, there’s enough for everyone,” Abyss said, slowly rotating the leg of pork.

High-ranking undead didn’t need to eat to survive. The energy they needed for their activities was partially absorbed from external magic and Dou Qi, and partially supplied by Abyss’s necromancy. If an ordinary necromancer resurrected a Dou Warrior of Leona’s level, they would have no energy left for anything else. Maintaining her activity alone would require all their effort, and they would eventually be drained dry by Leona. However, Abyss wasn’t concerned. With his mana reserves, this expenditure was just a drop in the bucket.

Not needing food for sustenance didn’t mean high-ranking undead couldn’t eat. Food they consumed would be digested like in normal creatures, with no adverse effects. Moreover, due to their enhanced senses, high-ranking undead were even more sensitive to delicious flavors.

The leg of pork was finally cooked. Abyss sniffed it, confirming the taste was perfect, then carried the still-hot meat over to Leona. “Your Highness, please behold, your leg of pork.”

Leona instinctively glanced at her own legs. Although short, they weren’t fat. After confirming that Abyss wasn’t insulting her, she accepted the leg of pork. “Very well, I accept your tribute.”

She sliced off a piece with her hand and handed it to Flora, then grabbed the exposed bone and started gnawing on the meat.

Compared to Flora, who was saying grace before eating, Leona’s eating manners were indeed comparable to a two-headed ogre. Abyss couldn’t help but make a mental note.

“You’re definitely thinking something rude. I can sense it!” Leona said, her mouth full of crispy, juicy meat, her words muffled. But she quickly abandoned her interrogation of Abyss and continued devouring the leg of pork. “Mmm! Delicious! Delicious! I never knew roasted meat could be so good! Compared to this, the royal roast pig in the palace is garbage!”

Abyss said calmly, “Each nation on the continent has its own unique methods for embalming corpses. I’ve taken the best aspects of each method and combined them into a perfect spice blend. The corpses I embalm not only…”

“Shut up!” Leona kicked Abyss. “Don’t talk about embalming corpses while I’m eating!”

Abyss obediently shut his mouth, watching as Flora ate her meat delicately, taking small bites, while Leona devoured her portion like a demon from hell. Finally, they both finished their vastly different portions.

“Excellent, very delicious! I’ve decided, I’m hiring you as my personal chef. You’ll cook for me for the rest of my life!” Leona said, sucking on her fingers. “I’m done. Five-tenths full, but a lady should eat less. Now what?”

“Finished?” Abyss asked, handing her a handkerchief. “Now throw it up.”

“Huh!?”

Chapter 21: Proving the Curse

The instant the fist connected, a bony armor materialized on Abyss’s face, shielding him from the blow.

The shockwave from the punch was so powerful that Flora’s robes were pressed tightly against her body, revealing her perfect curves. The resounding boom echoed throughout the hall, and the dust on the ground was swept away by a fierce wind, creating a large circle around Leona’s fist. Dust particles still hung in the air, and the coffin Leona had been sitting on was now covered in cracks, with fragments falling from the stone platform beneath it. Trivik, chanting nearby, stopped playing cards and clutched his hand to his chest, chanting louder and faster, fearing the activation of the magic circle from such a powerful impact.

Leona herself looked like a warrior emerging from hell, her entire body engulfed in dazzling orange Dou Qi flames. Her silver hair, originally styled in two braids, was freed as the shockwave snapped the hair ties that had held them for over forty years. Her beautiful, snow-white hair cascaded down, intertwining with the Dou Qi flames, adding a touch of wildness and unrestrainedness to her petite figure.

Abyss stood motionless. A cracking sound echoed, and a network of fissures suddenly appeared on his bone armor before it crumbled, revealing his surprised face.

“I was aiming to embed you into the wall, yet you withstood my punch without flinching?” Leona retracted her fist, the Dou Qi flames vanishing instantly. “I knew from the start that you were something special, but I didn’t expect you to be this special.”

“Likewise,” Abyss said calmly, shrugging his shoulders. The bone armor melted away like ice and snow. “This is the first time I’ve met someone who could break my bone armor.”

“I was right. After you resurrected me, I can control my power properly.”

Leona nudged Abyss away with her leather-shod foot and jumped down from the coffin. The poor coffin, having endured the previous shockwave, finally succumbed to this powerful leap, shattering into pieces.

“Ah… the plan to return her body if we fail is no longer feasible,” Flora sighed softly.

“At the end… when I died, I did feel the Dou Qi in my body break through some kind of barrier, and then all my organs suddenly felt stiff. Before I could call for help, I lost consciousness. What kind of curse could it be? Just making me eat a lot? I couldn’t have died from overeating, could I?” Leona frowned at Abyss. “ABC, I’m asking you. Explain this.”

“We still don’t have enough information. Instead of speculating… could you let me…”

“Don’t even think about it!” Leona slapped away Abyss’s hand, which was reaching for her abdomen. “You lecherous mage!”

“If that’s the case, I have a simpler method!” Flora suddenly interjected.

Abyss, whose mind was still preoccupied with Leona’s stomach, thought for a moment and then nodded in understanding.

“Let’s see what happens when you eat something!” they said in unison.

“Eat something?” Leona placed her hands on her hips and nodded with satisfaction. “That’s a much better idea. I’m hungry now anyway. Oh, you, Flora, can you cook? Make me something to eat. If it’s good, I’ll reward you with a purebred horse!”

Seeing that Flora was about to agree, Abyss quickly rushed forward and blocked her. “I’ll do it. I’m a good cook.”

Abyss knew that Flora couldn’t cook. The Saint of the Church received education in theology and arts, not life skills. She didn’t even know how to sweep the floor (without using Holy Light). To maintain her complexion and figure, the food served to the Saint was strictly supervised low-calorie food, often containing harmless alchemical ingredients. While beneficial for her health, the taste was definitely not something to write home about. This meant that the Saint had never experienced the pleasure of good food in her entire life. Asking her to cook was like asking a dwarf to write poetry, a halfling to guard a vault, or a drow to abstain from sex—it wouldn’t end well.

“Then hurry up and get to it!” Leona said excitedly. “Where’s the exit? Take me outside. I want to have a picnic!”

…

While the ancient creed of necromancers held great respect for both the living and the dead, it didn’t forbid its followers from interacting with the mortal world. Wanton slaughter of animals was prohibited, but killing for sustenance was acceptable. The food chain was also part of the cycle of life and death in nature, and Abyss was grateful that his ancestors had considered their appetites when establishing the creed—even though many necromancers had lost their sense of taste from constantly dealing with corpses.

Abyss avoided the villagers and hunted a medium-sized wild boar in the nearby forest, using magic to create a smokeless fire.

Leona, who had been hungry for forty-two years, couldn’t help but salivate at the sight of the fresh boar being dragged back by Abyss’s undead warhorse. She searched around, found a tree of suitable thickness, and chopped it in half with a single hand strike. Dou Qi above the fourth tier not only provided the body with powerful strength but also manifested various properties depending on the martial arts school. Leona’s Dou Qi clearly possessed a sharpness attribute, as befitting a noble child who had been trained from a young age in swordsmanship and mounted combat.

Leona was a ninth-tier Dou Warrior, but that didn’t mean her strength was the same as other ninth-tier warriors. She was classified as ninth-tier only because that was the highest level in the continental assessment system. The people who established the system probably never imagined that a mortal could reach even higher realms. The cut on the tree trunk from Leona’s hand strike was as smooth as if it had been polished.

This finally added a touch of grandeur befitting her princess status to the surrounding environment. She sat down on the tree stump with satisfaction. Seeing an empty space beside her, she patted the stump, beckoning Flora over.

“Flora, you were the Saint of the Church, so you’re qualified to sit on the same chair as me. Come here!”

“I can help Abyss with the cooking,” Flora said, glancing at Abyss.

Abyss, sending the boar’s soul to rest and contemplating the potential consequences of Flora assisting with the cooking, decisively rejected her offer. “No need. I can handle it myself. You can sit with Leona and rest for a bit.”

With that, he rubbed the ring on his finger, and a green catfish slowly swam out, twisting its body in mid-air. Without needing any commands, the catfish opened its mouth towards him, and Abyss reached in with one hand.

“What are you doing?!” Leona demanded, displeased.

“What else? Showing off my skills for you, of course,” Abyss said with a mysterious smile.