Netherworld Retrograde

Chapter 136: Chapter 62: Flaws

His body as formidable as a Third Awakening True Martial and his senses as keen, Li Yelai still hadn’t been able to detect it in advance, before his arm was seized.

The palm clenching his was silent as it tore through Li Yelai’s Spiritual Barrier.

And held onto Li Yelai’s wrist tightly as if afraid he would run away.

If Li Yelai could see the girl’s face at that moment, he would see a pair of slightly red and beautiful eyes.

”Doll?” Looking at the frog doll that was close at hand, Li Yelai was momentarily stunned.

Then, a familiar smile appeared on his handsome face. ”Long time no see.”

This was not a false statement.

After all, Li Yelai had first gone to the Ark on an undercover mission, then dealt with Taboo Items at the academy. It had indeed been a while since he last saw the Doll.

While the Doll silently watched Li Yelai, a few seconds passed before she raised the sign in her hand.

[Hmm... long time no see (つД`)]

The words conveyed a sense of grievance and melancholy.

”What’s wrong with you?” Seeing this, Li Yelai felt a bit baffled; he didn’t know what had happened but he could sense the Doll’s downcast mood.

His heart gave a jolt, and he asked in a low voice, ”Did someone bully you? Who was it? I’ll take revenge for you!”

Although the Doll as a Five Senses Spiritual Ability User was not the team captain, her combat power was no less than any of them.

Because her curse was too potent; even the Sixth Sense captains couldn’t fight her normally under the influence of fear.

Thus, her, a Five Senses Spiritual Ability User, was known as the strongest Spiritual Ability User in the East City Branch.

In theory, there shouldn’t be anyone who could bully her, nor would anyone dare to. She had a good relationship with her colleagues at the branch.

But Li Yelai was still a bit worried.

After all, the Doll had been affected by the curse for many years, only able to interact with outsiders in her doll costume; who knows what rumors she might have heard.

Then... don’t blame Li Yelai, this bringer of doom, for coming to your door. He didn’t even need to do anything, just get close to the person, then unleash his ability. Just wait for Calamity to strike as his revenge.

It doesn’t matter who you are, if you bully my friend, get ready to pay the price with short-circuited wiring, car malfunctions, shattered plant pots, and so on!

Li Yelai was thinking this but then saw the Doll shaking her head.

[No one bullied me... (;′⌒`)]

That statement seemed somewhat against her true feelings.

After all, she couldn’t exactly say she was upset because of Li Yelai, right?

Originally, the Doll had been at the branch, diligently completing tasks.

Looking forward to her next meal with Li Yelai.

Since agreeing to eat with Li Yelai about once a week.

The Doll counted the days eagerly every day, and when the appointed time came, it was her happiest moment.

She could talk, touch, and play with Li Yelai without any reservations.

Watching the only boy who was not afraid of her smile kindly at her.

The Doll’s heart would always race; she longed for those moments to last forever.

However, Li Yelai had been really busy during this time.

Even with her clearance, she couldn’t keep track of his whereabouts.

After one scheduled meal had to be canceled, the Doll felt particularly despondent, but she also encouraged herself.

’Responsibility is important, I must also work hard!’

’He’s working hard to save people, to fend off danger. I can’t be selfish and hold him back.’

’I won’t hold him back!’

’I am strong!’

So, the Doll could only look forward to the next meal with Li Yelai after his work was done.

The next time she heard news of Li Yelai, he had disguised himself as a college student and entered Huan City University.

This made the Doll a bit envious because, affected by the curse, she had never attended university but had relied on online classes or self-study.

Thus, she also longed to enjoy university life with Li Yelai—to be together in classrooms, on the sports field, in the library... How perfect it would be for them to accompany each other...

However, although envious, the Doll did not feel wronged.

She was well aware that with her condition, it was impossible to enter university and live a normal life.

She just looked forward to Li Yelai sharing some interesting university stories with her during their meals.

Then, things took a turn for the worse.

To provoke the ire of the Taboo Item holders, Cheese took Li Yelai with her into the dormitories and they stayed there for an hour.

Dormitories? Alone together? Cheese?

This news made many Processors beat their chests in frustration.

After all, Cheese was beautiful, had a great figure, and was fairly outgoing; she could chat with anyone and was the crush of many a Processor.

If a popularity vote were held at the branch, she might well become the Queen of Popularity. And if not, she’d at least make the top three.

And yet she had been alone with Li Yelai in a room, which made the Processors agonize with envy toward Li Yelai!

The Doll, however, felt a terrifying force smash through her formidable Spiritual Barrier and strike her head directly.

In common terms, her defenses were breached!

What followed was a tide of sadness and resentment that burst forth.

She felt that the one person who wasn’t affected by the curse, who wasn’t afraid of her—an important person to her—seemed like he was about to be taken away by Cheese.

This had left the Doll feeling down to this day; she didn’t even have a reason to be angry.

The naive Doll didn’t understand why she felt this way.

When she heard about the Scarred Woman from Red Dart Commerce making moves on Li Yelai, she was furious, wishing she could just smack her to death!

But when she heard that Cheese had a close relationship with Li Yelai, all she felt was bitterness and dejection... as well as a bit of grievance.

Cheese had known Li Yelai longer and had spent more time with him than she had.

This made the Doll unable to even say ’But I was here first’. What right did she have to meddle in Cheese’s affairs?