This Necromancer Just Wants to Plant Trees - Chapter 192

Chapter 192: The Lost Lantern and the Prophecy Die

"Do you know me?"

Matthew looked cautiously at Viscount Van.

This guy gave Matthew a strange feeling. He was completely cloaked, merging seamlessly with the night.

He was clearly standing right there.

But if you didn't pay close attention, you'd overlook his presence.

It wasn't just a matter of perception.

Matthew speculated that he probably had some kind of spell or ability that made people subconsciously ignore him.

Thus, conversing with him felt unnatural.

As if...

Speaking to the air.

Viscount Van chuckled and took a step forward.

In that instant,

Matthew truly sensed his presence.

As if he had suddenly transformed from air into a living being!

"I want to discuss a collaboration with you," Viscount Van got straight to the point.

Matthew frowned, "But I don't know anything about you."

Viscount Van chuckled softly, "That doesn't hinder us from establishing a partnership. I'm willing to bet that after hearing the details, you'll be very inclined to collaborate with me."

Matthew showed an eager expression, wanting to know more.

Viscount Van's voice brimmed with confidence, "You must have heard of my name; I have a small influence in the Raven's Roost Realm."

"But as a emissary of the underworld, I can't easily enter the main material realm. So, when I need to act in the main realm, I have to find suitable partners."

"Surely, you've guessed—you're not the first partner I've sought, nor will you be the last."

Matthew instinctively pursed his lips.

A small influence? The Raven's Roost Realm was a major force in the underworld, and Viscount Van's "Spirit Touch Hall" was a dominant power within it. If he claimed to have only a small influence, few organizations in the world could be considered significant.

Before entering the Shadow Erosion Realm, Matthew had heard Viscount Van's name. Subsequently, he extensively studied knowledge about the underworld, gaining a rough understanding of its current situation.

Even before the Ascension of the Heavenly Palace,

The Grim Reaper had entered a peculiar state of near-death due to a conflict with the Cataclysmic Mage. Consequently, the Grim Reaper's realm had become unstable, teetering on the edge of collapse for years.

As the broader realm of the Grim Reaper, the underworld also faced significant turmoil, with many rules disintegrating.

Several hundred years later,

The Grim Reaper's eldest son, Udir, inherited His bronze necropolis. Through subtle means, he balanced between the gods and malevolent forces, barely stabilizing the necropolis and the underworld's order.

However, this situation wasn't entirely stable.

As per Matthew's findings, Udir, to mend the leaks and stabilize the fractures caused by the Grim Reaper's collapse within the Bronze Necropolis, made stringent agreements with powerful entities like the tormented girl of the Heavenly Palace, the Sisters of Desire, the Twilight Creator Setrenk, and the malevolent queen Babasha.

This significantly undermined the authority of the Bronze Necropolis.

The ones most indifferent to Udir, the Grim Reaper's early envoys, were Viscount Van among them.

These envoys were akin to regional lords, mostly governing the rules of the underworld within their territories, paying no heed to the Bronze Necropolis's commands.

Fortunately, the laws of the underworld were relatively stable, and managing the dead was easier than the living.

Hence, despite the internal looseness within the underworld, major disruptions were rare over the years.

While researching relevant information,

Matthew also learned about the whereabouts of the other two sons of the Grim Reaper—

The second son, Mabalon, sealed himself in his domain, the "Eternal Death Domain," in a near-mad state, after failing to merge nature and death, having had no communication with the outside world since then.

The third son, Teres, the most capable among them, firmly believed that the Grim Reaper hadn't truly died.

Thus, Teres continued to organize believers in the mortal realm, upholding faith in the Grim Reaper, maintaining His flame in the material world. Simultaneously, he delved into the star realms, searching for points where the Grim Reaper's collapse projected, actively seeking ways to remedy it.

However, under these circumstances, he had no energy to help his elder brother, Udir, consolidate the scattered envoys of the underworld.

The underworld itself had over a hundred "domains."

Among them, the "Raven's Roost Realm" served as a prison for incorrigible spirits of legendary caliber during their lifetimes.

It wasn't difficult to infer Viscount Van's strength from this.

After all, under his rule, the Raven's Roost Realm had never witnessed a significant jailbreak.

These thoughts quickly flashed through Matthew's mind.

He calmly observed Viscount Van, "I don't object to collaborating with someone from the underworld. But I've heard that one of your collaborators is a notorious figure, and that gives me some concern."

Matthew was referring to the "Red Mark Killer, Senel."

The legendary wanderer confirmed to have caused the "Bande City Massacre" and was also linked to the "Baiyang Village Massacre" in the Jade Court, seemingly as the mentor of Senel, the suspected shapeshifter, Setrenk.

Various coincidences left Matthew skeptical.

Viscount Van pondered for a moment and replied, "If your concern is about that thief Senel, I can only offer my apologies."

"But I'm not among the living; I can't measure things or people using the values of the living, be it good or evil."

"I'm only concerned about the order of the underworld, and my collaboration with Senel is limited to that. His deeds in the material realm don't interest me; that's an issue for you living beings to handle, not concerning a dead man from the underworld like me."

Matthew instinctively furrowed his brow.

Viscount Van's words seemed sincere, to an extent.

Matthew questioned, "Doesn't the underworld have basic concepts of good and evil?"

Viscount Van replied without hesitation, "It does, but judging the good and evil of someone's life isn't my responsibility."

"As you can see, I only want to do what's within my purview."

"My understanding of this world is simple; as long as everyone sticks to their roles and doesn't overstep, the world won't be too chaotic."

Matthew nodded imperceptibly.

Not that he agreed with Viscount Van's ideology; he barely understood the other's perspective as an envoy of the underworld.

"So, is the collaboration you propose similar to Senel's?" Matthew inquired.

Viscount Van nodded, "I hope you can help me combat the increasingly rampant 'soul theft' or 'soul detention' in the main material realm."

"Soul theft?" Matthew was somewhat surprised.

This concept seemed aligned with the expertise of necromancers, but if you were to forcefully categorize, weren't necromancers the most significant soul thieves? After all, specters needed the transformation of souls.

He looked at Viscount Van, puzzled.

The latter explained, "I know this might sound surprising, but soul theft isn't as you might imagine."

"We know that the underworld is where all beings go after death."

Under normal circumstances, the souls of the deceased were drawn to the underworld's river and arrived at the necropolis.

Except in three cases.

The first, devout followers blessed by the deities.

These followers had a chance for their souls to enter the realms of the gods, becoming 'Prayer-bound.'

"Actually, becoming a Prayer Bearer might not be much better than returning to the Netherworld. But this was a covenant established by the Lord of Death and the gods during the era of enlightenment, and I'm not inclined to comment further on it.

The second kind are those who made pacts with creatures like demons, devils, and evil spirits during their lifetimes.

The most typical example is a warlock. Even after their death, their souls don't journey to the Netherworld but are instead claimed by their patrons.

The fate of these souls is often more tragic than that of the 'Prayer Bearers' chosen by the gods.

Lucky Prayer Bearers might enjoy a few good years in the realm of the gods. If they serve a non-warring deity, their consciousness might even persist for centuries.

But once the souls fall into the hands of the malevolent entities, they swiftly become delectable prey.

Of course, the Netherworld rarely demands these souls, for reasons similar to those of the gods.

The third kind are the spirits transformed into specters by your necromancers.

In theory, we're supposed to collect these kinds of spirits from you periodically. However, given the relatively low number of necromancers, the Netherworld turns a blind eye.

What I refer to as 'soul theft' pertains to the rampant and unauthorized restraint of souls in the primary material realm, beyond these three scenarios, violating Netherworld laws.

From my observations, in the past century, only a tenth of the souls from the southern lands that were supposed to enter the Netherworld actually did.

This phenomenon suggests someone maliciously obstructs these souls from reaching the Netherworld!"

Matthew frowned, "Do you want me to find the mastermind behind the theft of Netherworld souls?"

Van shook his head, "It would be best if you could, but they're very elusive. Our Touch of Spirits Hall has been tracking them for decades without pinpointing anyone, only vaguely connecting the mastermind to the recent rise of the 'Cult of the Nether Gods' on the East Coast."

"The Cult has sizable outposts across the southern territories. Some years back, they performed a malevolent ritual that severed the Netherworld's call to the spirits."

"Normally, after death, spirits naturally return to the Netherworld. But now, a vast number of souls can't sense the Netherworld's summons; they're forced to linger in the material realm. Some turn into specters, others simply dissipate, leaving no trace."

"If this continues, the Netherworld's order will be severely disrupted."

"Currently, what I'm hoping for your assistance with is guiding the lost spirits back to the Netherworld on a regular basis."

As he spoke, he glanced at the army of corpses behind Matthew, "Just like these deceased behind you—days ago, I personally escorted their spirits back."

"They are truly pitiful. If it weren't for my timely intervention, their marks would have dissipated in the material realm, and they would have lost the chance of reincarnation forever."

Matthew's curiosity piqued, "Is reincarnation real?"

Van smiled, "It might be, but I'm just a Netherworld envoy; my knowledge of the 'Rootless River' isn't greater than yours."

The Rootless River, also known as the River of Origins, legend claims it as the origin of all things. After purifying all 'marks' in the Netherworld, it's the ultimate destination.

It marks the end of death and the beginning of life.

Finding the existence of the Rootless River in the world is rarer than the Multiverse Tree Sea.

Legend has it that the Lord of Death discovered a part of the Rootless River in ancient times, granting him subsequent divine powers and realms.

Van continued, "My request isn't excessive. You can retain some spirits if you intend to create specters or other undead, as long as the numbers aren't excessive, I'll accept it."

"As for the remaining spirits, I hope you can guide them back to the Netherworld."

"This is beneficial for you too."

Matthew hesitated, "As a mere necromancer, how can I guide souls back to the Netherworld?"

Van produced a serene green lantern from behind.

Releasing it, the lantern flew to Matthew.

"The guiding light emitted by this lantern automatically attracts spirits. You just need to walk around with it at night regularly."

"Once you gather a certain number of spirits, I'll direct you to send them to the Netherworld. After that, I'll reward you based on the number of spirits."

"And this lantern itself is a decent magical item. In the age when the Lord of Death still existed and the Netherworld's laws were intact, Netherworld walkers used such lanterns to guide lost souls to the Netherworld."

"Sadly, times have changed."

Van said with some regret.

Matthew sensed an underlying message but decided not to probe. He was just curious, "Are you giving me this lantern?"

"Are you sure I'll cooperate?" he added.

Van chuckled, "Of course."

"Putting aside how beneficial this is for you, I still have a trump card up my sleeve."

Matthew stared at him.

Van whispered, "The Death God's second son, Mabalon. You must have heard of his name."

"Before he sealed himself in the Eternal Death Domain, Mabalon inscribed his lifelong knowledge onto a stone tablet. People deemed its contents absurd, and I ended up preserving it."

"I believe you'd be interested in the contents on that tablet."

His tone was sly.

Matthew remained silent.

But he was indeed very interested.

Mabalon had tried to merge the realms of nature and death, eventually descending into madness.

Matthew was keen to see what paths the Death God's second son had tread.

Clearly, Van had done extensive research before his arrival.

"How can I obtain that stone tablet?" he asked directly.

Van chuckled, "Deliver a thousand spirits, and I'll show you the contents of the tablet. As for the tablet itself, my apologies, I have a penchant for collecting. I can't bring myself to part with it."

Matthew didn't hesitate either, "Deal."

"But let me make it clear beforehand, our cooperation is solely for the normal extradition of spirits, and it can be terminated at any time."

Van spread his hands, gesturing as if embracing the void, "Perfectly fine by me."

"To be honest, I don't like getting too involved with you living folks."

"I don't fancy the scent you carry."

"You probably don't need instructions on how to use this lantern. Well then, farewell!"

With that, he seamlessly vanished into the night, almost as if he had never appeared.

Matthew silently gazed at the lantern.

On the data panel...

"You obtained the 'Lost Lantern.'

You reached a preliminary cooperation agreement with Viscount Van (Raven's Roost Realm).

Favorability with the Spirit's Touch Hall +1;

Legendary status of Raven's Roost Realm +0.5;

Lost Lantern: A lantern guiding the departed back to the underworld.

Effect 1: Guiding Light (The lantern naturally emits a glow that guides the direction of the dead and spirits. They subconsciously follow the lantern's movement.)

Effect 2: Shelter (The Lost Lantern can house up to 2000 souls.)

Effect 3: Alliance of Raven's Roost (Carrying the Lost Lantern signifies friendly cooperation with the Raven's Roost Realm. Hence, individuals carrying the lantern cannot harm each other.)

Effect 4: Twilight Wing (You can summon a 'Twilight Wing' from the lantern to serve you; it's the best mount in the underworld.)"

Viscount Van wasn't wrong.

The Lost Lantern itself is a remarkable magical item; its innate ability to attract the deceased is a dream come true for necromancers.

Looking solely at this one ability,

Matthew is willing to work for this envoy of the underworld.

Not to mention, he still has the notes written by the Death God's second son.

The only concern he has is whether Viscount Van and Suerel's relationship is as casual as he claims.

But his situation shouldn't lead a legendary wanderer to join forces with the ruler of the Raven's Roost Realm in scheming against him.

Matthew considers it.

He thinks if the opportunity arises, he should pay Suerel a visit, whether under the guise of repayment or tribute, just to let her review things.

Better safe than sorry.

"If only Professor Isabelle were willing to guide me..."

Matthew chuckles bitterly.

After all, dealing with Suerel means spending quite a sum, and he's a bit reluctant.

The good news is, by calculation, Lela will be back soon.

She should have a sizable sum in hand, plus underwater breathing potions from Cole City.

Once this transaction is completed,

Matthew's finances will be much more comfortable.

With Suerel,

It's not entirely unaffordable!

Currently, holding the lantern and riding his flying horse, he proceeds along the established route.

In the midst of the night,

The silent march of the deceased army.

Matthew initially intended to transport the deceased from seven villages in one night, but the team is too large; they might not finish tonight.

Once the sun rises, these deceased will all be lying on the ground.

It would be troublesome if they happen to be near the South Trading Post.

So, for now, he can only lead the over 1,000 corpses from Red River Town and rush forward.

Fortunately, the Lost Lantern is proving useful.

This item itself possesses a similar effect to a cold night's journey home, significantly reducing Matthew's pressure.

Finally, before sunrise,

Matthew delivers this batch of bodies to the cemetery.

And in the burial area of the cemetery,

Matthew seeks out the Mother of Labor, Miosaki, asking her to direct the zombies to dig holes in the ground so these deceased can rest temporarily.

Under the influence of negative energy,

These deceased will have a chance to naturally become zombies, rather than decomposing rapidly like ordinary corpses.

They are the most reliable reserve force in the cemetery.

When Matthew needs it,

He can transform them into undead at any time.

As long as there is enough space in the cemetery to bury the deceased.

Matthew's undead army will have a continuous source of living power.

This is the scariest aspect of a necromancer!

Miosaki readily agrees.

Matthew also asks the Ghost Leader, Ali, for assistance.

After a busy night,

He yawns and goes back to sleep.

However, the next morning,

He is quickly awakened by Rhaegar's voice—

This guy is guiding Suya in using the Cup of Sin to complete her awakening.

However, the father-daughter duo's actions are secretive.

Everything happens inside the stone house.

Matthew can't even hear Suya's voice.

He can only hear Rhaegar's shouts.

During lunch,

Matthew finally sees Suya.

Her complexion indeed looks much better than before.

According to Rhaegar,

Everything is progressing smoothly.

According to the current progress,

Suya will complete her final awakening within two weeks, and she might gain incredible abilities.

Rhaegar appears exceptionally excited when describing these things.

He vividly recounts how he awakened years ago and what powerful abilities he gained.

However, from Matthew's observation,

Suya herself doesn't seem to care much about the powers after awakening.

She even appears somewhat repelled.

Moreover,

It's unclear whether it's Matthew's perception, but Suya's lip color seems to have darkened.

Originally a healthy red,

During illness, it was slightly paler.

Now, it's taking on a black-purple hue.

"Could she have changed her lipstick?"

Matthew wonders.

The change in lip color adds a touch of cold charm to Suya.

Matthew can't help but glance a few more times.

Then, under Rhaegar's sensitive gaze, he awkwardly leaves.

In the oak forest,

After planting trees, Matthew is contemplating where to find an animal to have a heart-to-heart with.

But at that moment,

He suddenly hears whispers in his ears.

"Here... Wasn't there this hole before?"

Matthew discovers an inconspicuous opening on the ground.

The entrance is overgrown with weeds.

These weeds also sprouted due to the Life Sanctuary's influence.

Matthew currently has no plans to contain the weeds.

However, based on Obeest's suggestion, if the weeds continue to grow, restraining them will be necessary.

The previously heard whispers are coming from the hole.

Matthew follows the sound.

He finds a conversation between a man and a woman.

"Can we start today?"

The woman urges.

"The sun hasn't set yet! Let me sleep a little longer."

The man lazily remarked.

"Sleep, sleep, sleep, that's all you know! I'm hungry, and the child is hungry too! Can't you go get something to eat?" The woman appeared furious.

The man was taken aback, "Isn't the child still in the egg? How could it be hungry?"

"I don't care! He's mine, do you think I wouldn't know if he's hungry or not?"

"Quick, go find something to eat. If we're late, that annoying pine chicken will snatch everything!"

Reluctantly, the man said, "Alright, let me go and check…"

As he spoke, a curious little head popped out from the cave entrance.

Spotting Matthew's inquisitive gaze, the little creature darted in, yelling, "Mommy, mommy! There's a weirdo outside!"

Matthew curiously bent down, peering into the cave.

He discovered the cave wasn't very deep, probably only about forty to fifty centimeters. At the bottom, two burrowing owls were trembling.

Beside them lay a few eggs.

"Hello there, I'm not a weirdo, I'm a human." Matthew greeted the creatures amicably.

However, they seemed even more afraid now.

"Mommy, mommy! There's a human outside!"

The male burrowing owl yelled frantically.

Matthew hurriedly clarified his position, "I'm the owner of this part of the forest, I mean no harm to you. You can trust me. I won't hurt you."

The female burrowing owl looked at Matthew with doubt, "You're the owner of this oak forest?"

Matthew nodded.

She asked, "Then you're the Father of Oaks?"

Matthew pondered for a moment, "You could think of it that way. In any case, I'm a human who loves peace. I always hold goodwill towards the residents of this forest."

The female owl nodded, seeming to understand vaguely.

"Are you here today to collect rent? I've heard of this term in the human world. They say no one can escape it, no matter where they go."

"Don't tremble with useless things at my feet. Hurry, take what we found underground and give it to the Father Oak!"

Prompted by the female burrowing owl, the slightly larger male one grumbled at the bottom of the cave for a while before swiftly bringing several small items to the entrance.

Then, darting back inside.

Matthew curiously observed the small particles on the ground. Most were agates, but amidst them was a six-sided die!

"Hint: You've obtained the Die of Prophecy.

Die of Prophecy: Before casting divination spells, roll this item to determine the success rate.

Roll results—

1: Extremely low success rate

2: Low success rate

3: Moderate success rate

4: High success rate

5: Very high success rate

6: Don't predict, it shortens life!!!"

Matthew picked up the die, finding it intriguing. Just as he was about to test the probability of his own divination spell, a vision flashed before him.

A surge of red blood water seemed poised to crash down upon him!

On the data panel—

"Hint: Your 'World Affairs' ability is activated.

You've received a message in a private channel!

Private Message: Your friend Margaret and Queen Luticia of the Blood Flag Kingdom have engaged in a decisive battle at Fangtooth Keep. Both were severely injured, and Margaret fell into the River of Blood!"

That should be everything. If you need more, just let me know!

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