This Necromancer Just Wants to Plant Trees - Chapter 191

Chapter 191: Envoy of the Underworld

Matthew had just stepped into the Lord's hall when he heard Rhaegar boasting loudly about his "near-death experience" in the infernal journey.

Hearing his energetic voice, Matthew felt reassured.

Apart from Rhaegar and Zeller, the office also housed Dulin and Asma, two worn-out knights, in stark contrast to Rhaegar's vigor.

Seeing them lounging on the sofa, still in their armor but exuding an air of exhaustion and weakness, Matthew realized they seemed drained, as if someone had sucked the life out of them.

"...In summary, I used some tactics, fooled that nasty Luticia, spread false information, and pulled off a diversion, ultimately sneaking back into the castle to rescue Dulin and Asma under my command. Previously, with my direction, Matthew had successfully acquired the Cup of Sin, so this operation was a tremendous success!" Rhaegar summarily declared.

Dulin and Asma, lacking energy, nodded weakly. Asma gloomily remarked, "Apart from the two of us almost being drained by your sister, everything went smoothly."

Rhaegar comforted, "Don't worry, I know you both suffered a lot during this mission. I'll arrange for the best healing master for you. They'll surely cure the curse of weakness on you. I'll write to the Guardian Highlands; they owe me a favor and will come swiftly."

With little strength, Asma said, "He better come soon. I'm starting to doubt if that woman's claim of this curse permanently robbing me of my fertility is true. Damn it, I can't even feel my... you know?"

He nudged Dulin with his elbow, who retorted wearily, "Idiot, I never had that in the first place."

Asma was taken aback, "Wait, are you intersex?"

Dulin erupted in anger, "I'm your wife!"

"What are you saying?" As they nearly came to blows, Zeller intervened, casting a sleep spell.

However, both remained wide-eyed, showing no signs of drowsiness.

"Don't resist; you need rest," Zeller gently insisted.

After a moment of hesitation, they finally relented and closed their eyes.

"Besides the curse of weakness, they also bear traces of a befuddlement spell. But that's not the worst part," Zeller, after examining the duo, looked somewhat grave. "Rhaegar, you should talk to your sister about this."

Rhaegar frowned, "Luticia? I don't ever want to see her again in my lifetime. She's a true devil!"

Zeller sighed, "But the trauma Dulin and Asma have suffered may be beyond the capabilities of ordinary healers."

"I don't know what methods Luticia used, but Asma's intuition isn't wrong; he's lost... that part of himself," Zeller revealed, stunning Rhaegar.

It dawned on Matthew; they must have just returned from the infernal portal, with many things left unconfirmed among them.

"What about Dulin?" Rhaegar asked.

Zeller coughed heavily, "I'm not sure if it's Luticia's morbid sense of humor, but she seems to have exchanged some organs between the couple using some outlandish means — you catch my drift?"

Silence engulfed the room.

Matthew couldn't help but ask, "Rhaegar, the healer you mentioned, isn't it a Grand Druid?" He noted the mention of Guardian Highlands, where the Druidic Order's headquarters lay.

Rhaegar shook his head, "She's not a Druid but a rare priestess."

"Her deity perished in the Age of Enlightenment, yet strangely, she truly channels divine magic and unfathomable powers through faith. She's eccentric, reclusive, and seldom interacts with outsiders. I know she resides in the Guardian Highlands, wielding potent healing arts. Recently, the Guardian Highlands have been restless; perhaps we can coax her to settle within Rolling Stone Town."

"Treating Dulin and Asma could be our entrance point," Matthew agreed.

"But this peculiar situation might require more than a priestess; it depends on Luticia's intentions," Rhaegar admitted uneasily.

"Of course, I know that," he continued. "Let's wait and see. After robbing the ancestral gravesite of an accompanying item, my plan is to return the Cup of Sin once Sivak awakens. Then, we speak some words, and perhaps Luticia might forgive us and retract the curse."

Matthew coughed heavily, "The lost accompanying items between sacrifices might be more than one."

Rhaegar widened his eyes in shock.

Realizing they probably just returned from the infernal portal, with much left unconfirmed among them, Matthew inquired further.

He recounted the war order he learned from Margaret in detail, and upon hearing it, both Rhaegar and Zeller expressed concern. It was apparent that once the war order was issued, mages could opt for neutrality, but Rolling Stone Town couldn't remain aloof as a territory. If the legitimacy of the Dragon Lord was acknowledged by the Seven Saints Alliance during the war, the likes of Kreet from the Red Soil Mountains or the enigmatic Black Dragon Lord from the Highleaf region could legitimately attack Rolling Stone Town. In that case, Ronan and Eckmonde's intimidation wouldn't hold.

If Matthew joined the battle, his Oak Forest and graveyard would also become targets for the Dragon Lords. Even if he perished in the conflict, the Seven Saints Alliance wouldn't intervene on behalf of an incompetent disciple like him.

Matthew understood this well.

"We still have time before the official release of the war order; this period is our best chance," he asserted. "If you're adamant about not cooperating with the Blood Flag Kingdom, then during this time, we must establish an untouchable image outside. We need to take the initiative!"

He conveyed it delicately, but the message was clear: Rolling Stone Town needed to assert its authority. Yet, with dragons looming from three directions, how could they establish that dominance?

"Dragons aren't invincible," he concluded.

Rhaegar scrutinized him deeply, "You're far more daring than I imagined."

Matthew smiled, "You could consider paying protection fees to those Dragon Lords. However, in doing so, I might not be officially associated with Rolling Stone Town in the upcoming war."

Being upfront was Matthew's greatest sincerity. He cherished Rolling Stone Town and was willing to fight for it. But if Rhaegar's policy was to bend over backward, then utilizing his position as an allied mage might be the best course to stand alone.

Dulin and Asma, resting despite the sleep spell, glanced at each other uneasily, realizing the brewing storm within the room. Zeller eyed them, casting a stronger sleeping enchantment, guaranteeing a peaceful rest for the worn-out knights.

"Let's talk more in private," Rhaegar suggested, noticing the scrutiny of their audience.

Exiting the Lord's office, Matthew felt a sense of responsibility weighing on his shoulders. The fragile truce balanced between the Alliance, the Blood Flag Kingdom, and the other Dragon Lords was poised to collapse.

As he passed through the bustling town, he contemplated the arduous path ahead.

Matthew and a pegasus named Oli spent over three months together, both unaware of any abnormalities. This experience broadened Matthew's perspective on life's myriad facets.

One noon, three days later, in the oak forest, Matthew found Oli, a winged horse. They shared a moment, and upon confirming Oli's good mood, Matthew extended an invitation, not for a typical mount pact but to join the oak forest as a contracted being in the Sanctuary of Life.

A mage could have only one magical mount, yet binding magical creatures through the Sanctuary had no limit. It was akin to marriage limitations versus assembling a company board—restricted in one scenario but flexible in the other if one had the capability.

Facing Matthew's invitation, Oli hesitated briefly but ultimately agreed, forced by the impending expulsion by the material world's will. She had no choice but to become part of the Sanctuary of Life.

After sealing the contract, the Sanctuary responded:

"Tip: Your Sanctuary 'Sanctuary of Life' has added a magical being 'Golden Pegasus.' You gained substantial strategic experience. The strategic level of the Sanctuary of Life has risen to LV2!

As the owner of the Sanctuary, you'll gain two additional abilities (limited within the Sanctuary):

1. Nature's Soul (abundant natural power in the Sanctuary grants you a Nature's Soul slot. You can promote a creature residing in the oak forest for over seven days to Nature's Soul and offer the possibility of evolving into a druid).

2. Group Regeneration (you can heal up to four targets slightly more effectively than healing minor wounds, usable once per day)."

"Sanctuary of Life reached LV2 so quickly?" Matthew was slightly surprised. However, contemplating the Sanctuary's reliance on the vast oak forest, its scale dwarfed a graveyard, serving as a solid foundation. Recruiting Oli was just the final touch that met the upgrade conditions.

"Group Regeneration is impressive. Who would have thought a necromancer like me could heal so many..." Matthew contemplated, cautious about the limited Nature's Soul slot. Currently, Lulu was the only candidate, albeit being partly a resident of the oak forest and partly of the fairy garden. Therefore, she was Matthew's first Nature's Soul in strict terms, necessitating careful selection.

Matthew deliberated; with few natives in the oak forest, he was familiar with only the pine grouse. However, making a chicken a Nature's Soul seemed too abstract.

After playing with Oli and having lunch in the graveyard, Matthew discreetly flew southward on Oli's back. During daylight, the pegasus had superior stealth capabilities, providing Matthew a sense of security during travels.

Soon, they reached a trade post near the southern border, but it was vastly different from what Matthew had seen before. The once orderly post was now chaotic, surrounded by camps and tents hosting numerous refugees.

Noticing makeshift checkpoints and patrols further north, Matthew realized the war's profound impact on neighboring territories. Most of these refugees hailed from the once lush Golden Plains in the south, now a hellish landscape due to the Red Soil Mountains' onslaught.

Among the traders providing for the refugees, Howard, leading the effort, reportedly demanded funds from the Council of Five. Observing the dire conditions of the makeshift camp, Matthew felt a pang of sorrow. Understanding Zeller's extra effort overnight now made sense to him.

"Rolling Stone Town can't sustain so many people," echoed Patton's words in Matthew's mind, casting a shadow over his thoughts.

Not lingering long at the trade post, Matthew continued southward, searching for any signs of life in the devastated villages. However, the land lay desolate; the brutal forces from the Red Soil Mountains had ravaged the Golden Plains.

Arriving at a village square, Matthew found it burnt to ashes, littered with numerous charred bodies. He marked the location before moving on, discovering similar scenes in seven other settlements—no survivors among the remains.

At dusk, on the docks of Crimson River Town, bloated bodies floated on the water while the shoreline was littered with corpses. Matthew activated his plague domain multiple times to counter the spreading disease in the air.

Amidst the chaos, he found a peculiarly positioned corpse, impaled by a spear, clutching a dead infant. As he turned the body over, a surge of immense resentment brewed in the air. Realizing the potential danger, Matthew swiftly initiated a ritual to prevent the birth of malevolent undead creatures.

Despite the strong emotions, these spirits posed no threat to an adult red dragon, possibly even becoming its minions. Understanding this, Matthew hastened through the town, spreading negative energy powder, occasionally summoning aid to cover areas with more deceased.

By the time he left, a substantial force of animated corpses trailed behind him, a disconcerting sight as they moved towards Rolling Stone Town.

"Tip: You've used the ritual 'Homeward Path.' The awakened corpses will walk slowly until reaching your specified destination. During this journey, some corpses might undergo changes. Handle with caution."

This ritual, akin to a necromancer's version of herding zombies, was employed by Matthew to avoid leaving these corpses in the open. Although he didn't lack bodies for his work, ensuring their decent burial was paramount, even as the reanimated corpses trailed after him in the darkness.

As he covered several kilometers north, Matthew stumbled upon a shadowy figure at a crossroads—a cloaked figure with a massive scythe. It was Baron Van, the envoy from the underworld, also known as the Raven's Roost Realm.

"Hello, Matthew," the deep voice echoed from within the cloak. "Finally, we meet. Let me introduce myself—I am Baron Van."

"Warning: You've encountered the envoy from the underworld, Baron Van (Legendary Creature/Raven's Roost Realm)!"

"Happy Qixi Festival, everyone! I'm still hard at work writing!"

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