This Necromancer Just Wants to Plant Trees - Chapter 175

Chapter 175: Who Stole Our Sulfur?

After a brief chat with Little Patton, Matthew instructed him to wait in the graveyard. He swiftly changed attire and rode a flying horse towards Rolling Stone Town.

Tonight was Rhaegar's journey to the Purgatory.

Matthew intended to see him off.

With Oli's incredible speed, what usually took half an hour was now a mere five-minute ride, making things convenient for Matthew.

Entering the town, he found a secluded spot to land. Oli cleverly disguised herself as an ordinary horse.

Matthew arrived at the camp next to the Lord's Manor and instructed Oli to wait there, leaving without tethering her.

Rhaegar's mission tonight was shrouded in secrecy.

Even the Lord's guards had limited knowledge.

Making his way through and greeting the knights on duty, Matthew reached the basement without any hindrance.

He waited a while until Zeller arrived, looking dusty and tired.

Rhaegar and the two accompanying knights, Asma and Dulin, were delayed further.

To this day,

With insights from Rhaegar and Zeller, Matthew gained a clearer understanding of the situation with the portal and the Blood Flag Kingdom.

The portal was currently in a semi-activated state.

This meant that Rolling Stone Town could control the portal's opening or closing on their end, while the other end, situated within the Blood Flag Kingdom's territory, could only passively accept the arrangements from this side.

Asma and Dulin, the two knights, rushed back upon hearing news of the three major evil organizations attacking Rolling Stone Town.

However, upon their return, the evil organizations had disbanded. They then requested Rhaegar to open the gate to the Purgatory.

Knowing Rhaegar regularly patrolled the edges of the Purgatory, they asked him to act on their behalf.

These two knights had returned from the Purgatory approximately two days ago.

Matthew didn't get a chance to meet them in person; the information he gathered was from Rhaegar's casual conversation.

Reportedly, during the Blood Flag Kingdom's standoff with the Bru tribe, the knights managed to slay numerous demons and devils, acquiring valuable loot that usually only comes from lower planes.

This loot wave injected a significant financial boost into Rolling Stone Town's economy.

This gave Matthew an insight into Rolling Stone Town's financial model:

It was a mix of benevolence inwardly and pillaging outwardly.

The tranquility of Rolling Stone Town was, in reality, a narrative spun by Rhaegar himself.

Many industries operated at a loss but sustained the town's residents' blissful lives.

Behind every resident's smile, there might lie a devil's body lying in a pool of blood.

It sounded ironic, but it was the truth.

Matthew's only two comments on this were:

Firstly, it seemed good, and secondly, he was glad he wasn't the Lord; otherwise, he'd have too much to worry about.

Despite having access to the portal leading to the Purgatory, hunting demons was no game.

The risks involved were far greater than raiding nearby villages.

Matthew speculated that while Rhaegar seemed idle, he probably invested most of his energy in this aspect.

When Rhaegar and the other two knights finally arrived, they were still engrossed in conversation.

"The changes between Escana (the Purgatory) are more dramatic than you'd imagine. We haven't been there for a few years, but it's drastically different now."

"Whether in the Blood Flag's domain or the Bru Tribe, there are large runic stones by the roadside, along with runic antennas and columns transmitting energy."

"The pace of their technological advancements is astonishing. I suspect there's the shadow of outer planes or even deities behind both sides."

Asma adjusted her shoulder armor while walking.

Matthew noticed it was an implanted construction type.

Previously, Suerel had mentioned devilish proficiency in implanted constructions, and Asma and Dulin exhibited strong traces of this construction type.

Their constructions were relatively conspicuous, even those implanted inside their bodies were easily discernible.

However, Matthew couldn't quite comprehend their conversation.

All he knew was that Escana, where the Blood Flag Kingdom resided, was a border area between the Purgatory and the Abyss.

It housed a significant number of humans, tieflings (half-devils), and cambions (half-demons).

Humans resided in the remote Holy Radiance Fortress, tieflings were centered around the Blood Flag Kingdom, while cambions constituted the Bru Tribe.

The latter two had been in constant friction lately, with an unpredictable conflict.

"It's not as exaggerated as you think. I visited the 'Deer Hunting Plains' last year, and though the demons have new weapons, their combat prowess hasn't notably increased."

Faced with Asma's warning, Rhaegar seemed unconvinced.

Dulin interjected, "Rhaegar, you better trust what we've seen and heard. I asked your knights. To minimize damage ratios, you've spent these years raiding peripheral minor factions, staying away from the central areas of Escana."

"But we're different. This time, we went near the 'Old Royal City.' The tribes there not only upgraded their gear but also mastered a bizarre resurrection technique!"

"Otherwise, how could both Asma and I get injured?"

Rhaegar furrowed his brow, then nodded, "Understood. I'll be cautious and inquire once we reach the 'Red and Black.' "

"Damn it, more changes! Nowadays, changes are outrageously rampant. Even the Purgatory is constantly evolving. What do those prisoners in the Celestial Palace really want?"

No one could answer his query.

Asma tried adjusting her shoulder armor for a while but failed, ultimately forcing a protruding metal piece back into place.

"This seems like a work injury. When we arrive at the Red and Black Castle, could you find a suitable construction artisan to handle it for me?"

Rhaegar nodded affirmatively, "Assuming they accept me as their unworthy descendant."

Dulin chuckled, "They'll definitely recognize you. I've heard that the reigning figures in the Blood Flag Kingdom are all females, and they are more than eager for your attention."

Rhaegar shivered.

His previously resolute strides also slowed considerably.

Entering the basement,

They exchanged greetings.

Rhaegar placed a palm-sized purple crystal into a pool near the portal.

Shortly after,

The entire gate lit up with a dark red radiance.

It was the sign of the interdimensional gate beginning to activate.

It would take about 5 to 10 minutes before the gate could be used officially.

Taking advantage of the moment, Matthew handed Rhaegar a distress scroll:

"Don't expect it to be of much use. Even if you tear it up successfully, it'll still take 1 to 2 days for me to receive your coordinates and message."

As Rhaegar stored away the distress scroll, he complained, "Aren't mages supposed to move freely across major planes?"

Matthew nodded, "Of course, once I become legendary."

Rhaegar asked, "How many years until you become legendary?"

Matthew pondered, "Probably within fifty years?"

Dulin chuckled again. It was clear she had a low sense of humor.

She obviously thought Matthew was joking.

Rhaegar calculated, "Considering the average lifespan of

the Blood Flag family, I probably have about 150 good years left. So, I might live to see the day of your legend."

"Remember to take me on a legendary plane journey when that day comes."

Matthew smiled, "As long as you make it to that day, for sure."

"Take care."

Rhaegar nodded solemnly.

He chatted briefly with Zeller about western matters. Soon, the portal was ready for use.

Asma entered the gate first, followed closely by Dulin.

Rhaegar waved to the two of them, fully armed, as he approached the portal.

Just as he neared the gate,

He suddenly halted and turned back, "In case something happens to me, do you remember how to arrange for Rolling Stone Town's heir?"

Zeller calmly replied, "The first priority is Sivak, the second is Little Patton, and the third is Bradley."

"If Sivak refuses to become the Lord of Rolling Stone Town, then Little Patton will directly assume the position."

Rhaegar nodded, "That's right."

"Don't worry, I'm just going home. It's not that easy to die. I'm just a little anxious before leaving, confirming things."

"I'm off. We won't meet for at least three months; try not to miss me too much."

Saying this,

He strode decisively into the portal.

It wasn't until the glow around the gate began to fade

That Zeller visibly relaxed.

"What's wrong?" Matthew inquired.

"Every time Rhaegar uses the portal, there's usually a minor issue. Today's luck was good; even that usually ever-present spatial rift didn't occur."

Zeller said in relief.

Sensing a thought in his mind,

Without waiting to exchange pleasantries with Zeller, Matthew rushed out of the camp, mounted Oli, and hurried towards the direction of the Oak Forest!

Moments later,

In the underground city,

Matthew switched from the Nightfire Nightmare in the graveyard and hastened towards the Sulfur Mine.

Luckily, upon his arrival, there were no signs of unusual events.

After a while,

Little Patton also arrived, panting.

Seeing the workers Matthew had instructed to rest outside, he breathlessly asked, "What happened?"

Matthew calmly walked through the Sulfur Mine, carefully perceiving everything around.

He had been here three times before, and even with Balanced Perception activated, he hadn't found the expected spatial rift.

So initially, he thought it was a misjudgment on his part.

But now, it seemed highly probable that the sulfur in the mine was somehow connected to the spatial rift caused by Rhaegar using the Purgatory portal.

Asma and Dulin had used the portal recently.

It was possible that the spatial rift had coincidentally transferred into the underground city from that moment onward.

From a dimensional perspective, the transfer of a spatial rift over a distance of just over ten kilometers, like the distance between the Lord's Manor and the city, was theoretically possible.

"I have some speculations regarding the unusual situation here."

"Tonight, I'll stay here until I uncover the reason."

Matthew responded to Little Patton while checking the situation at the mine. He also summoned Abeing and Renaismae.

Little Patton, bold as ever, rolled up his sleeves and said, "Then I'm coming with you."

As Matthew explored the area, Little Patton followed suit to investigate the mine.

Unfortunately, after more than an hour of searching, they still couldn't find anything unusual.

Matthew grabbed a chair from the worker's area and sat down.

Little Patton imitated him.

In the hands of the mage and the illumination stone, Matthew suddenly noticed a resemblance between Little Patton and Rhaegar.

The last time they met was at Lorand's dance, and the dim lighting prevented Matthew from seeing clearly.

Upon closer inspection this time, it turned out that Little Patton was indeed like a younger version of Rhaegar!

In comparison, Bradley, also Rhaegar's nephew, looked nothing like him.

Thinking about how Rhaegar prioritized Little Patton's inheritance over Bradley's, Matthew became interested:

"What's your view of your uncle?"

Little Patton looked surprised, "Uncle? You mean Rhaegar?"

Matthew nodded.

"He's... a good-for-nothing nice guy."

This guy was unexpectedly blunt.

"How much do you know about his relationship with the Blood Flag Kingdom?"

Matthew asked again.

Little Patton waved his hand and opened up:

"Theoretically, I have the bloodline of the Blood Flag family, but in reality, it's thin to the point of non-existence. When I was a child, I dreamed of becoming a mage, but they told me I had no talent. So later, I wanted to be a knight, but they said my body was weak. Afterward, I gave up and just wanted to be a carefree playboy, but my mother told me I had no future. Our family's rise was all thanks to my mother's persistence and Rhaegar acknowledging the relationship. Now we finally have something in Rolling Stone Town."

"Let me tell you a secret. I doubt my mother is really Rhaegar's cousin! Maybe they just look alike, and my mother happened to have a bit of infernal lineage. But luckily, she gave birth to me. Many people say I look like Rhaegar, which makes my mother very happy. For a while, she mentioned it to everyone she met. But gradually, a ridiculous rumor spread in Rolling Stone Town—that I'm Rhaegar's illegitimate child."

Damn.

Can those idiots spreading rumors look at my mother's appearance and figure before making up stories? Well, although it's not good to say so, I love Liz; she's my mother.

But I also know very well that with Rhaegar's aesthetic, he couldn't possibly be interested in her.

Anyway, after that rumor, my mother never mentioned it again. It seems she subconsciously distanced herself from me since then. I guess she's worried it would upset Rhaegar. After all, our whole family relies on this uncle."

Matthew looked at him with interest, "You're quite insightful."

Little Patton said indifferently, "When you've achieved nothing like me, self-abandonment becomes a matter of course. Over time, many truths become self-evident."

"Sometimes, I really feel that many people in this world are not as smart as I am. But for some reason, they always seem to easily achieve success, while I've accomplished nothing so far."

Matthew thought for a moment and asked another question, "If you had a devil army from hell in your hands, and war was about to break out, what would you do?"

Little Patton smiled casually, "Rhaegar asked me this question not long ago. He's not still troubled by the teleportation gate issue, is he?"

Matthew was surprised.

He didn't expect Rhaegar to trust Little Patton so much that he discussed such a core secret with him. No wonder Sivak was behind him.

So Matthew continued, "It's about that issue, but Rhaegar has already made a decision. I just want to know your opinion."

Little Patton stretched lazily, "There's been no sign of devils in Rolling Stone Town so far, which means my good-for-nothing uncle made a foolish decision. Does he naively think he can coexist peacefully with other forces?"

Matthew took out two cups from his bag, filled them with milk, and handed one to Little Patton, "So, you disagree with Rhaegar's decision to reject the devil army?"

Little Patton held the cup in his hands and rubbed it, "Having a sharp weapon and not using it will be harmed by the weapon. That's a proverb I saw in an ancient book. I don't disapprove of Rhaegar's decision; I disapprove of every decision he makes. Although it sounds heartless, it's the truth. Rolling Stone Town is not the only one living off Rhaegar's blood. I am well aware that my current standard of living is entirely due to Rhaegar's kindness and fantasy. But some people don't realize this. Of course, as long as Rhaegar is willing, it doesn't matter whether others appreciate it or not. The key is, how long can Rhaegar persist? Rolling Stone Town has developed into a fairy tale miracle. If the Four Realms can coexist peacefully, this miracle may continue for many years. But as you said, war is coming. If Rhaegar cannot or is unwilling to become a king, how long can the current situation be maintained?"

After saying this, he finished his milk and burped, "Great milk!"

"Um, what I just said is just one perspective, not very valuable. I hope Rolling Stone Town will thrive, so useless parasites like me can continue to happily suck blood from Rhaegar."

Little Patton laughed self-deprecatingly and stood up to go to the nearby restroom.

Matthew sat there with a thousand thoughts in his mind.

But at that moment, a wind sound came from above his head.

Immediately after, a clang sound followed.

A huge chunk of sulfur stone fell from above, and if Matthew hadn't reacted quickly, he would have been grazed by it!

"What the hell is this!"

Just as Little Patton walked to the side to unzip his pants, he screamed.

In the darkness, a monster resembling a giant green fly but several hundred times larger lunged toward him.

"Damn, even when I'm peeing, I get scared!"

This guy was quite courageous. He dropped his pants, drew a one-handed sword, and started fighting the giant green fly stark naked.

Meanwhile, a similar monster appeared next to Matthew.

It came quickly, but Matthew's reaction was faster. He pulled out a war hammer from his magical bag and swung it down.

Whether to say it or not, the war hammer was effective in close combat.

The green fly obviously wanted to dodge, but it didn't manage to avoid the vital point and was directly hammered to the ground by Matthew.

Matthew dealt with it with one more swing.

At the same time, Little Patton used a one-handed sword to flick the wings of the monster and then killed it with a single sword strike.

"It's a Fly Demon!"

Matthew reminded, "This is a type of demon, but its level is relatively low, so there's nothing to fear."

"Come over to my side, there may be other

demons appearing!"

He warned Little Patton.

"Warning: You've encountered Minotaur (LV12/Elite/Large Demon)"

Minotaurs aren't Minotaur people.

The difference lies in the former being a type of demon. They have extremely sharp teeth, contrasting sharply with the herbivorous habits of Minotaur people.

These two Minotaurs appeared and started bellowing noisily.

Matthew cast a language spell, but the Minotaurs' language was too obscure, and even the spell couldn't interpret it.

Seeing this, Matthew decided to deal with them first.

But just then, Little Patton translated while backing away, "They're asking who stole their sulfur? If we don't speak, they'll take me as their wife!"

"Damn, can't these demons tell the difference between men and women? I'm not even wearing pants! Are they blind?"

Matthew silently observed the eerie green eyes of the Minotaurs and said casually, "Maybe they just really like you."

"Can you translate for me?"

While talking, the two Minotaurs were already charging at them with huge axes!

Little Patton ducked and rolled while yelling, "Still need a translation?"

Matthew calmly said, "Not necessary now."

"Prepare to translate their last words."

As he said that, he raised his hand, and a grayish magical light flew towards the Minotaurs.

Disintegration Spell!

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