This necromancer is going to seduce the beautiful girls who are already dead.

“The poor lack money, the rich lack morality.” Leona shrugged. “Ultimately, it’s because the law is not perfect enough.”

"Hmm... Miss, your opinion is quite insightful." The girl hesitated for a moment, then wrote it down in her notebook. "So, what do you think of the medical care in the Western Empire?"

“Oh, that’s great. Their skill level is quite high; they can cure many diseases.” Leona thought for a moment and said, “I’m referring to the court physicians. I don’t know about the folk doctors.”

"I understand, thank you, Miss. Are the three of you together? I'll treat you all to a drink," the girl said, giving Leona a small bow.

“Of course.” Leona sat back down in her chair with satisfaction. “Why don’t you sit here with us and have a drink, Helen?”

"If the three of you don't mind... ah!"

The girl, who had been answering Leona with a smile, suddenly froze, then covered her mouth, looking as if something terrible had happened.

“Helen?” Abis looked up from his notebook again. “You know her?”

"Are you getting dizzy from looking at your notes?"

Leona shook her head helplessly, jumped off her chair, and personally took the glass of wine that had been on the girl's own table to the counter so that she could sit with her group. The girl, whom Leona called Helen, was momentarily at a loss, standing there, unsure whether to sit down or leave.

"Excuse me, how come you..."

“You used an alchemical potion to change your eye color, didn’t you?” Leona tiptoed closer to Helen’s ear and whispered, “Your perfume perfectly masked the smell of the potion, but you can’t fool me. My nose is much more sensitive than you think. The two people next to me must have noticed it too, but one was too lazy to say it and the other was too embarrassed to say it.”

“Ah, this…” Helen waved her hands in a panic, ignoring the tickling sensation in her ears from Leona’s breath. “I don’t know anyone named Helen… I’m just an ordinary scholar.”

"Hey, keep it low-key, don't let anyone hear." Leona's expression gradually became mischievous, and she said with a hint of teasing, "As long as you behave, I won't tell anyone your secret."

"Miss... how did you figure out my identity?" Helen asked, trying to calm herself down.

"Isn't that simple? First of all, the way you walk shows that you have received formal court etiquette training, and your Common Language is so fluent, without any accent, which also proves that you are of noble birth. Silver hair, which eliminates the possibility of emerald green eyes, plus the bracelet that was visible when you were taking notes. Although you didn't bring your personal jewelry, this bracelet was made in the court workshops. Am I right, Princess Helen?"

Leona didn't mention that she recognized Helen's identity because her facial features resembled her own; she didn't want to recognize a niece as a dead person.

That's right, this young girl is Princess Helen, the only daughter of the current Emperor Beos.

Leona was happy to meet someone related to her by blood, but she was also a little puzzled as to why this princess was out doing interviews instead of staying in the palace.

Will she become as idle as she was back then?

Chapter Forty-Two: The "Incompetent" Princess

Princess Helen was a well-known celebrity in Golden Griffin City. She was not the first in line to the throne; she had two older brothers. What made her famous was her beauty.

Through popular legend, Princess Helen was more than just beautiful. Her eyes shone like the stars, her skin was as white as unicorn milk, and her hair was a vibrant, multicolored silver. She was forbidden to walk the streets at night, for her stunning beauty would make her unrecognizable. Her body odor could cure rhinitis, and her voice could heal deafness—these legends rivaled those of the legendary Flora, the only difference being that the Flora legend was true, while Helen's tales were embellished and exaggerated by the people.

The Abyss was far more interested in the princess beside him, who had been dead for forty-two years and still hadn't had time to wash away the scent of perfume from her body, than in a healthy, living princess. So, after entering the city, he didn't bother to learn much about her. Coriolia, on the other hand, was different. This Princess Helen, who looked very much like her, was her blood relative, her niece. Therefore, she frequently asked the tavern owner, Dahl, about Princess Helen, and Dahl spoke of her in great detail. Yet, when the princess stood before him, he didn't recognize her.

“Then I’ll have a drink with the three of you.” Princess Helen composed herself, regaining her polite and elegant demeanor, and sat down next to Abyss. “Please, the three of you, don’t…”

"Don't worry, it won't happen." Leona patted Abyss on the back. "You weakling, go away, I want to drink with her."

Abyss stood up dejectedly and sat down on another chair to continue reading her notes. Leona, meanwhile, took her drink and sat down next to Princess Helen, asking in a low voice, "Hey, tell me, why are you out here interviewing those dead people in the tavern?"

“Not ordinary people,” Princess Helen corrected solemnly, “the people.”

"Oh, sorry, look at my mouth." Leona also quipped self-deprecatingly. She could tell that the princess opposite her was quite serious about this matter, unlike her usual carefree self. "Then tell me why you came out to interview the people in the tavern."

“I…I want to know what the people need.” Princess Helen said this with a hint of shyness, but her tone was firm. “Those nobles who only see slick-haired faces behind the palace walls will never know what the real empire is like.”

Although Princess Helen deliberately lowered her voice, Abyss, who was reading notes beside her, still looked up at her, while Flora nodded with satisfaction.

Leona couldn't help but feel a little surprised. All the information she'd received from Dahl had been about how beautiful and charming the princess was. She'd assumed Princess Helen was a very well-dressed and "competent" princess, but the person sitting next to her now seemed to be quite different from what she'd imagined.

What right does a princess who isn't first in line to the throne have to consider the people's needs? Most princesses dress themselves up beautifully, mastering all the arts, so they can marry a nobleman worthy of the royal family. Those with a little ambition cultivate their own confidants early on, finding ways to sideline their parents in their later years, so that when they pass away, they can rightfully become empress. Then they can settle scores with their brothers and sisters who competed with them for the throne, and exile those without any grudges to places unaffected by their presence.

In fact, Leona's initial plan for her life was simply to find a man to marry, and at most, rely on her martial prowess to choose a handsome young man she liked. Although she was an absolute martial arts genius, there were no battles that required a princess to fight. Now, traveling around with the Abyss, she found it more pleasant than life in the palace, at least she was very free.

“This… I really didn’t expect this. What’s the use of this?” Leona tilted her head. “This isn’t the Elven Kingdom. The emperor isn’t elected by the people.”

“Protecting the people and thinking of their well-being is the royal family’s responsibility,” Princess Helen said somewhat unhappily. “I don’t want to be someone who only thinks of himself.”

She took a sip of the wine in her glass, which was clearly not to her taste, but she still maintained an elegant expression and drank it down as calmly as possible.

Leona became increasingly interested in the somewhat naive girl in front of her.

"So what are the results of your interviews so far?" Leona asked.

“I secretly left the palace early this morning,” Princess Helen whispered to Leona. “I’ve interviewed many people in the city, and the problem everyone is complaining about right now is the Empire’s healthcare.”

"The Empire's medical care is quite good; they can diagnose many diseases—I'm referring to the court physicians."

“What’s the use of just curing nobles? When ordinary people get sick, they simply can’t afford the court physicians or the medicines that nobles use. The divine magic of the clergy is even more expensive and hard to come by.” Princess Helen was clearly very dissatisfied. “It’s possible to get treatment, but you have to spend a lot of money. The Western Empire is indeed richer than other countries on the continent, but that doesn’t mean that everyone has the money to get treatment.”

"So do you have any solutions?" Leona pressed.

“If you were in the city, you would know about the recent events—the Empress Dowager, my grandmother, has passed away. Before she died, she donated all her wealth to the national treasury. Now, the ministers and nobles are arguing about where to use this money, all they want is for it to be used where they can profit. But I have my own ideas.” Princess Helen looked earnestly into Leona’s eyes. “I want to use this money to hire a group of renowned physicians to develop new medicines that reduce the cost of medical treatment for the people. If this huge sum of money can be used in this area, it will surely yield many results. At the very least, it will prevent the people of the Western Empire from dying of pneumonia because they can’t afford to treat a cold.”

“Hmm… Indeed, the Western Empire still uses ancient remedies to treat illnesses, right? Some remedies are very effective, while others are just a complete charlatan.” Leona nodded in agreement. “I’ve heard that it’s more effective to set up a shrine at home and pray than to spend money on medical treatment or to have a priest from the Church perform a healing spell.”

"I see. It seems you are quite knowledgeable about this matter, Miss."

Perhaps it was because of the alcohol, Princess Helen's mood improved considerably. She wanted to hold Leona's hand, but considering etiquette, she refrained.

“Then you will definitely encounter difficulties.” Abyss, who had just finished reading the notes, suddenly looked up and poured cold water on Princess Helen. “No nobleman will sit idly by and let you make the decision to touch this money. You are just a princess without first right of succession.”

Chapter 43 I Can Do Anything

Princess Helen was somewhat displeased by Abyss's abrupt remark. She picked up her wine glass, took a sip, and said, "I will find my own way, so please don't trouble yourself, sir."

Abis smiled and said, "I know you're determined to make this happen. How about we make a bet? If you go back and implement your plan today, you'll experience a complete failure. If I win, you'll come to this tavern and buy us drinks again."

"What if you lose?" Princess Helen's alcohol tolerance was clearly not very high. After downing half a glass of wine with a low alcohol content, two red blushes appeared on her face. She stared intently into the blue-green eyes of the Abyss and asked.

"If I lose, I'll agree to do anything for you. How about that? Is that reasonable enough?" Abyss chuckled as he casually tucked the notebook into his pocket and placed it close to his body. "I'll do anything you ask."

“Fine, I accept your bet.” Princess Helen angrily downed the rest of her drink in one gulp. Her taste buds were slightly sore from the alcohol, but she suppressed the urge to grimac and stood up. “My interview is over. I need to go back and resolve my issues.”

Princess Helen stormed off, saying she'd treat the Abyss and his companions to drinks, but she hadn't even paid for her share. It seemed she really had no experience with eating and drinking outside.

"Guest, what about her drinks?" Dahl asked with a smile. "I don't know what you two were whispering about, but the Abyss should pay for them, right?"

The dwarf was cunning. He realized that the girl who had just walked out didn't seem like a poor person who would dine and dash; she was probably a noble lady from somewhere. So instead of rushing out to stop her, he turned to the Abyss, whom he knew better, and asked for money.

“Of course, I’ll cover her drinks. Money’s no object.” Abyss casually pulled a handful of Imperial coins from his pocket, and Dahl immediately beamed.

"You weak-willed man, how did you manage to drive her away like that!" Leona expressed her dissatisfaction with Abyss's remarks, jumping up from her seat and grabbing Abyss's sleeve. "I hadn't even gotten to the interesting parts of our conversation yet!"

“I want to help her,” Abis said, glancing at Leona.

"Hmm? What's wrong?" Leona slowly loosened her grip on Abyss's sleeve.

“Abyss probably already decided that she would fail,” Flora said from the side. “Once a conflict of interest is involved, things get complicated—especially for the weak who have little power.”

Of the three, Flora understood this matter most deeply. In her lifetime, she supported the Pope's policies as a saint without real power, only to be forced to drink poison by assassins from the opposition. She still vividly remembered the powerlessness of her limbs being held down by high-level aura warriors and the burning sensation of the poison flowing down her throat.

“Yes, that’s true.” Leona thought about it and agreed. Although she didn’t like to think, she wasn’t stupid. At least as a princess, she was quite familiar with the power struggles in the court. “Things that benefit the people are actually quite distant for the nobles. Even if they can bring benefits, they are only for the whole and for the long term.”

“That’s right. From what I understand, nobles prefer to benefit only themselves rather than everyone else benefiting from something.” Abyss nodded.

"You talk like you know a lot about nobles, but frankly, you're just a poor, unsophisticated wild mage who doesn't even have your own little cabin," Leona said disdainfully.

“I’ve had more nobles with whom I’ve chatted and laughed than you have,” Abyss suddenly smiled mysteriously, pointing to the ground.

Leona immediately realized that the Abyss had mentioned talking to the dead, and shrugged in disgust. But then she remembered that she was now a dead person herself, so she turned her head away and ignored the Abyss.

"Abyss, do you have any good ideas to help her achieve her goal?" Flora asked curiously. "We don't have noble status now, so we can't interfere in their affairs, can we? Are you going to resort to improper means?"

"Don't worry, I won't do anything bad." Abyss ruffled Flora's blonde hair. "I'm quite adept at dealing with these nobles, after all, I have several nobles on my side who can serve as advisors."

"How many undead have you collected?" Leona turned around curiously and asked in a low voice.

"I'll let you inspect it when I have time, okay?" Abyss reached out and ruffled Leona's hair over Flora's shoulder. "I reckon there will be an opportunity in the next few days."

Leona's hair was ruffled by Abyss, and she muttered to herself in dissatisfaction before pulling her head back.

"Damn it...it felt strangely good...damn it!"

……

As the sun began to set, Abyss and his party left the tavern. They casually bought some food from a nearby shop to replenish Abyss's energy, and some junk food for the two girls who no longer needed to eat to satisfy their cravings. Then they returned directly to their camp outside the city.

They relit the fire, and it was already dark. By the time the three of them finished dinner and prepared to lie down and rest, it was already eight or nine o'clock in the evening.

"Abyss, don't you have any portable shelter or anything?" Leona said, lying down on the snow and looking at the starry sky. "Even though I'm not afraid of the cold now, isn't lying here a bit undignified? Don't high-level mages have those miniature mage towers that grow larger when you put them on the ground and infuse them with magic?"

“That thing is too expensive, I’ve never bought one.” Abyss shrugged. “I don’t even have a job, I’m just someone who travels around all day, how could I afford a miniature mage tower?”

"What a loser! Go make some money! Or start your own business. You've learned necromancy so well, why don't you learn some more Transfiguration spells?" Leona pointed into the distance. "Right now, we're exposed in the snow, being stared at by strange people."

“I told you, ignore them. Can they withstand one punch from you or survive one of Flora’s Heavenly Might spells?” Abyss lay down casually as well. His cold resistance was ridiculously high due to his years of practicing necromancy. “Those people are like goblin appendixes, superfluous.”

Flora didn't lie down immediately, but sat by the campfire. She looked around for a moment and said, "I'm still a little creeped out."

Indeed, ever since they relit the campfire at the camp, a strange group of people had silently surrounded them. Leona had spotted them early on and, after informing Abyss and Flora, whose excellent night vision allowed them to immediately notice the lurking figures as well.

There were about a dozen people, dressed in dark blue robes, both men and women, with aged appearances and round, bulging eyes like fish, silently lying behind trees or rocks, staring straight at this side.

Chapter 44 Targeted by Followers of an Evil God

“No, I still think it’s necessary to deal with these people.” Abis lay idly on the ground for a while, then suddenly sat up and said.

"Hey, which gentleman just said we shouldn't pay them any attention?" Leona immediately sat up smugly, a mocking expression on her face.

“There’s really no need to worry about them posing any threat to us, but think about it, if we could capture one and study it, wouldn’t we be able to learn more about the extraterrestrial evil gods?” Abyss wagged his finger. “If we want to use the power of these evil gods safely and stably for our own purposes, such investigations are essential.”

"You want to study those weirdos? I'm not going." Leona rolled her eyes at Abyss. "They look weird just looking at them from afar."

"Where's Flora?" Abyss immediately looked at Flora hopefully.

Flora quickly waved her hands, trying to avoid them as well. As a saintess, she, along with Biriona, hated these cultists who were not only physically deformed but also psychologically abnormal.