Apocalypse Villainess? Nah, I'm Nice

Inside the room, Paige Summers, who had just Promoted to the Ninth Rank, slowly opened her eyes only after she had completely stabilized her energy. A small smile graced her lips.

Then, she immediately got up to find Levi Young for a blood draw and analysis.

The results almost made Levi Young cry with joy. ”It stopped! Their activity has stopped!”

’Just as I thought!’

Paige Summers breathed a sigh of relief.

She had a feeling that Promoting would definitely have an effect on her body!

But before she could even finish her sigh of relief, Levi Young added, ”No, no, no. We can’t jump to conclusions this quickly. We still need to observe it for an incubation period!”

Paige Summers’s smile froze on her face. ”An incubation period?!”

”Yes.” Levi Young’s expression darkened. ”I’ve found that this substance’s activity patterns are incredibly difficult to track. It’s almost as sophisticated as a human! Under these circumstances, we can only assume the worst-case scenario.”

”...Alright.”

Of course, it wasn’t alright, but there was nothing she could do. Paige Summers turned and left dejectedly.

Levi Young bit his lower lip, unable to offer any words of comfort. They would all be too hollow.

「Two days later」

Levi Young took another blood sample for analysis. The results made his face turn pale and his vision go dark.

Seeing his reaction, Paige Summers slowly lowered her eyelids.

’The incubation period... It really exists!’

Not only did it exist, but the substance that had previously paused was now active again—and even more frequently than before! In other words, Paige Summers’s Promotion hadn’t suppressed it. Instead, it had nourished it, making it even more active!

Levi Young’s advice was for her to avoid using her superpower as much as possible until they found a solution.

A vein throbbed on Paige Summers’s forehead. ’My body has already shrunk this much, and now I can’t even use my superpower? Am I supposed to live like a useless weakling?!’

But besides that, Levi Young couldn’t think of a better solution...

Just as he was at his wit’s end, Marcus Monroe returned.

He wasn’t alone. Trailing behind him was Sean Raines, whom they hadn’t seen in a long time. Both of them looked utterly haggard, their eyes bloodshot.

The moment they walked in, Paige Summers was taken aback.

”What happened to you two...?”

Sean Raines plopped onto the sofa and couldn’t help but complain, ”Don’t even ask! Your husband is terrifying! He’s a complete demon! He...”

Seeing that he was just spouting nonsense, Marcus Monroe cut him off without hesitation. He pulled Paige Summers down to sit beside him, looked her over, and said, ”You Promoted?”

”Yeah.”

Paige Summers really didn’t want to talk about it. ’This is all my own doing! Who would have thought that Promoting would actually accelerate the effects of the potion!’

Marcus Monroe was about to ask for more details when Sean Raines, who was sitting opposite them, suddenly started snickering.

The two of them looked over at him, bewildered.

Sean Raines quickly waved his hands. ”It’s not that I don’t have any sympathy! It’s all Marcus’s fault for not telling me the truth. Look at her! There’s no way she’s fifteen. Thirteen at the absolute most! Tsk tsk, the two of you sitting together... you look exactly like a father and daughter! I think...”

Before he could finish, two Crossbow Arrows had already grazed past his ear and flown into the back wall, embedding themselves several inches deep. Sean Raines glanced at them. When he turned back, he found Paige Summers glaring at him menacingly. Her eyes clearly said, ’Don’t think I’ll go easy on you just because we’re acquaintances!’

He immediately made a zipping motion across his lips.

’My inner self was bawling its eyes out!’

’Emma!’

’She might have turned into a loli, but she’s even faster than before!’

’Fierce women really are not to be trifled with!’

Seeing that he knew when to quit, Paige Summers finally put her Crossbow away.

Marcus Monroe’s lips quirked up.

He had actually been on the verge of acting himself. However, on account of Sean Raines having worked with him tirelessly for the past few days, consulting ancient texts without rest, he managed to hold back. But then, thinking of that guy’s words and looking at Paige Summers’s young, delicate face, he couldn’t help but scowl.

’I have to do everything I can to help her recover quickly!’

In fact, on the way back to Central City, he had been mulling this over constantly, which was why he had suddenly recalled a clue.

Before the apocalypse, he had once heard an elder from some family mention that in a certain Taoist Abbey, there was a Daoist with a Great Divine Power who had refined a magical elixir that could restore one’s youth.

He even remembered that the old man who told the story had been absolutely certain, insisting that he had personally seen the Daoist transform from a decrepit old man into a young child after taking the elixir for some time. The old man also said that he had wanted to offer his entire fortune for a single pill, but the Daoist unexpectedly told him he lacked the right karmic affinity. For him, obtaining it would be a curse, not a blessing. Then, the Daoist simply drifted away.

Frankly, when the story was told back then, no one believed it. Especially that last part—everyone was convinced he had to be a common swindler, and a pretty stupid one at that, because the con was just too easy to see through!