This Necromancer Just Wants to Plant Trees - Chapter 148

"Ah~"

"Okay, okay!"

After a while, Margaret interrupted Matthew:

"I can tell you're not naturally gifted, but you work hard enough. Remember this feeling, practice repeatedly when you return, and you'll have a chance to grasp the basics of the Suerel's Chanting Technique - the practice method."

"To truly get into it, though, you'll need consistent practice. There are no shortcuts in the world of magic. Many things you think are shortcuts often turn out to be traps. The most crucial thing in practice is the standard vocal technique. If you accidentally forget, you'll need extra lessons to relearn. Do you understand what I mean?"

Matthew nodded.

Margaret meant to charge him extra.

"That's all for today's lesson."

Margaret magically produced a small jar and placed it on Matthew's desk:

"Say something now."

Matthew opened his mouth:

"Ah~"

"No, my voice..."

He suddenly realized he was hoarse!

"This is normal when practicing Suerel's Chanting. In the initial stage, it puts a lot of strain on the vocal cords because you haven't fully mastered diaphragmatic breathing. Once you grasp its essence, it'll get better."

"So, during initial practice, you'll need some magical aid, like my homemade throat lozenges. Just one can restore your voice, and you can have up to twelve a day, but theoretically, I recommend only two a day. There are 60 in this jar, enough for a month of practice."

"Special student price, one hundred gold coins. Will you buy it?"

Matthew breathed a sigh of relief.

Surprisingly, Margaret didn't charge an exorbitant amount, which exceeded Matthew's expectations. On second thought, she didn't seem to have the knack for making money.

"I'll give you three hundred gold coins."

Matthew decided to show some goodwill.

Another two hundred coins could deepen his friendship with Margaret.

Unexpectedly, Margaret jumped up and vehemently refused:

"You want to buy three bottles at once? These are all handcrafted by me, quite bothersome! I'll only take one hundred gold coins, and I'll only sell you one bottle! Put away the rest of the money!"

"When you finish this bottle, then come back for the next."

Matthew fell silent.

He savored the cool sensation as the lozenge passed his throat. It felt like a little hand lightly scratching the passage, ticklish yet incredibly refreshing.

One lozenge later, Matthew's voice returned to normal.

"Show me your last assignment," Margaret urged.

Matthew obediently took out his homework.

The last question was—

"If you were this cloaked wizard, knowing the enemy excels in true transformation magic, able to turn into mosquitoes and fleas, how would you respond?"

And Matthew's answer consisted of just three words:

"Hiding in water."

Margaret looked somewhat dissatisfied:

"Can your answer be any more perfunctory?"

Matthew had an honest look:

"But hiding in water can indeed solve the problem. Mosquitoes and fleas can only stay on the water's surface for a while, and even if they can get into the water, it's challenging for them to enter my body."

Margaret inquired:

"But what if they guard you on the shore?"

Matthew replied:

"I have underwater breathing potions. Once I dive, I can counterattack at any time."

Margaret continued:

"What if there's no nearby body of water for your battle?"

Matthew had already pondered this:

"Water manipulation magic. It's a straightforward spell that can shield my lower body. The only downside is it might dampen my pants, which might look indecent, but as you've said, there's no dignity in battles. So, I believe it's acceptable."

"As for protecting my face, I can follow the example of the wizard who died by your hand, the bubble spell is an excellent countermeasure."

Margaret widened her eyes:

"So, my combat style is easily deciphered by you?"

Matthew thought:

"If I didn't know your move in advance, I would probably end up like the cloaked wizard. For most people, they wouldn't even think of such a... unconventional strategy."

"Alright, alright, I'll begrudgingly pass you."

Arms crossed, Margaret looked like an old authority figure:

"But you must understand, water manipulation and bubble spells have time limits, and my harassment is endless. Most importantly, once I master true transformation magic, the initiative will always be in my hands."

Matthew nodded:

"You're right. I also intend to practice true transformation magic."

Margaret seemed pleased:

"You have good judgment. But the secret of true transformation magic will be taught during practical classes."

"But speaking of which, this assignment barely passed. The last one absolutely wouldn't!"

"On how to make money, you must submit a new assignment to me, tailored to my circumstances."

Margaret's intentions were clear.

Matthew smiled wryly:

"But I don't know your circumstances. How can I tailor it?"

Margaret was unreasonably firm:

"I don't care!"

"You're Isabelle's student, and she's known as the most money-savvy woman in the Alliance. Her student Ronan is also one of the most money-savvy men in the Alliance. I don't believe you can't come up with a perfect answer."

Matthew curiously asked:

"Is Lady Isabelle really good at making money?"

"Of course!"

Margaret replied immediately:

"In legend, her wealth could buy three alliances!"

"Later, this legend reached Lord Eckmonde, and he quickly came out to refute it, saying it's definitely more than three!"

Matthew found it admirable.

Margaret added:

"Do you know about the affair between Lady Isabelle and my mentor, Lady Suerel?"

Matthew looked bewildered:

"I've never heard of it."

Margaret narrated with relish:

"During the Remnants of the Dead project, Lady Isabelle proposed the solution of the Mage Duncan's scalpel. Initially, it got the consent of two other renowned mages."

"But during the project's execution, Lady Suerel was the first to turn against it, creating a rift between them."

"However, their discord can be traced back to the time when the Cataclysmic Mage was still around."

"Initially, they could maintain a superficial sisterly relationship."

"But during Lady Suerel's dragon slaying, something happened that displeased her about Lady Isabelle."

Matthew's gossip fire was ignited:

"What happened exactly?"

Margaret huffed:

"You know, Lady Suerel apprenticed under Mr. Capital, and Mr. Capital's spells have always been known in the Alliance for their low cost-effectiveness. Some mages even mocked his spells as flashy but impractical. The most famous, the Dragon Slayer Spear of Mr. Capital, was considered the epitome of a decorative spell by them."

"To clarify this, Lady Suerel began frequent dragon slayings, interspersing only a few uses of Mr. Capital's spells. Most of the time, she used her own magic."

"But her purpose in doing so was to prove to everyone that dragon slaying wasn't a loss-making endeavor."

"But in the end, she found herself at a loss!"

Matthew began to understand:

"Is this loss related to my mentor?"

Margaret nodded affirmatively:

"As soon as Lady Isabelle heard about Lady Suerel's

dragon slaying, her immediate reaction was to go to the remaining Five-Colored Dragons and warn them of the impending slaughter."

Matthew was surprised:

"She did that to protect the dragons?"

Margaret sneered:

"Why do you think Lady Isabelle is known as the Alliance's best money-maker? Every time she found a dragon and gave the warning, she conveniently looted those dragon lairs!"

"Ah?"

Matthew hadn't expected such an operation.

"This resulted in every dragon Lady Suerel subsequently slew having empty nests!"

"Dead dragons can't speak, and the living ones believed that Lady Suerel had completely looted these nests!"

"For a long time after, Lady Suerel was quite upset. On one hand, she carried the blame, and on the other, she was investigating where the wealth in those dragon nests had gone."

Margaret sympathized with her mentor.

Matthew hesitated:

"Did Lady Suerel eventually find out?"

"No."

Margaret shook her head:

"She didn't find anything, just suspicions about Lady Isabelle. Later, it seems Lady Isabelle couldn't resist showing off. On Lady Suerel's 100th birthday party, she presented half the wealth from a White Dragon's nest as a gift. It wasn't until that night that the unresolved mystery of where the legendary dragon treasures had gone in the Alliance high circles was unveiled."

Matthew cautiously asked:

"They didn't have a fight on the spot?"

Margaret shook her head:

"You underestimate the ability of women to maintain surface relationships. That night, they even shared a strawberry cake."

"Lady Isabelle indeed had room for explanation. Robbing dragons was one of the legendary mages' shared hobbies. She could claim that during that time, this hobby intensified."

"Since then, their already strained relationship became more strained, leading to the aftermath of my mentor temporarily betraying the Remnants of the Dead project."

Matthew nodded.

Discussing gossip about these big personalities was intriguing, but he wouldn't wholly trust Margaret's account alone.

Margaret's information surely came from Lady Suerel.

The same incident, spoken from different mouths, could be entirely different.

He was only responsible for listening.

If he took everything as the truth...

He'd be sorry for the over nine thousand knowledge points in his account!

"Anyway, if you have even a tenth of Lady Isabelle's ability, you'll definitely write a better assignment."

Margaret looked intensely at Matthew.

Clearing his throat, Matthew said:

"Speaking of which, I might need a few days off."

Margaret's expression turned hostile:

"Taking days off is fine!"

"But the assignment must be submitted!"

"Submit the assignment or sponsor me, you must choose one!"

Title: The Adventures of Matthew and Reiga: The Encounter in the Hills

Exiting the Crucible House, Matthew made his way to the Lord's Manor once more, informing Reiga that the campaign against the Withered Sect would be delayed until the next morning.

It was necessary.

He needed to adjust his pronunciation while Peggy's words were still fresh in his mind.

Initially, Matthew's plan for the crash course was to absorb the essence of what Margaret shared and forge his path forward.

But he soon realized...

Everything Margaret shared was essential!

And Suerel's singing technique was the crux of it all.

He had to absorb it all.

So that night, Matthew "Ahh~"ed in the graveyard, startling zombies who lost interest in nibbling tombstones.

The next morning, a prepared Matthew entered the Lord's Manor, where he bumped into Reiga pouring coffee in pajamas.

"I can depart now," Matthew gently reminded him.

Reiga responded with an apologetic expression. "I almost forgot about that. Have you had breakfast? Let's have it together. I'll pack afterward."

Matthew considered. He hadn't eaten much earlier, so joining Reiga for breakfast wouldn't hurt.

"Alright," he agreed.

Reiga led Matthew to a side hall in the manor where a sumptuous breakfast awaited them, and they conversed while eating.

Soon, an hour passed. Reiga wiped his mouth, passing a napkin to a maid. "I'll go prepare my gear; wait here for me."

Matthew returned to the main hall and waited. Two hours later, rubbing his eyes awake, he noticed Lawrence working at the desk.

"Where's Reiga?" Matthew yawned.

Before Lawrence could answer, Reiga's voice came from the adjacent room, "Madam Wesley! Where's my sword oil?"

"Wasn't it with you? Who else could access my storage room? How many times have I told you not to enter there freely?"

"You're just cleaning? How does cleaning make my oil disappear?"

"Ah, yes, I made a mistake. I gave that oil box to Matthew to sell down south. My bad."

"Your attitude isn't good either!"

Though he was getting a headache, Matthew inquired, "Is he always like this?"

Lawrence chuckled. "Of course not, just becomes a bit dragging as he ages."

"You must understand him, Matthew. Sometimes, you've got to push him," Lawrence advised.

Following the voices, Matthew found Reiga trying various armors in a spacious storage room. Scattered around were multiple items - night clothes, day clothes, bottles, tents, tools, feather pillows, hammocks, grills, and plates.

"Are you moving?" Matthew exclaimed, surprised.

Reiga donned a half-plate armor and solemnly replied, "One must be prepared when traveling. I need everything I can."

"Is this fitting?" Matthew eyed his bulging belly. "It's alright."

"But we might not need heavy armor where we're going."

Reiga shook his head. "You never know what accidents might occur."

"I'll wear this. My storage ring has enough space," he proudly stated.

As he passed Matthew, Reiga lightly patted Matthew's waist pouch. "You don't need to envy me. Using even a 1-cubic storage item at your age is commendable."

Matthew's momentary annoyance vanished. Soon, a slightly guilty smile crossed his face. "True."

"Take your time; I'll wait outside," Matthew suggested, leaving the room.

Half an hour later, as Reiga, fully equipped, entered the main hall, Mrs. Wesley approached, "Gentlemen, lunch is ready. Are you sure you won't eat before leaving?"

Reiga just smiled and looked at Matthew, "Your call."

Patting his empty stomach, Matthew thought they'd better eat now. But the lunch was extravagant, and it was already 1 p.m. when they finished.

Both felt a wave of drowsiness.

"Would a short nap be good?" Reiga suggested. "A little nap enhances combat readiness."

What could Matthew say? It was already 2 p.m.

Two hours later, they awoke. Reiga clamored, "Madam Wesley! Two cups of coffee! And where's today's paper? The doorman hasn't delivered it?"

As Reiga continued his fuss, another half-hour passed, and both felt more alert.

"Now we have at least three hours before dinner. Anything else pending?" Matthew inquired.

Reiga banged the table, "What kind of talk is that!? Let's leave now!"

He marched out, and Matthew followed curiously.

At the door, Reiga stopped abruptly and turned back, "Oh no, I forgot about the horses!"

"My horse..." Before he could finish, Matthew pulled Reiga in and...

Snap!

A magic carpet unfolded, and both sat.

Zoom! The carpet slowly ascended, and just around the corner, Sophia witnessed the scene.

Her expression turned envious. "They're so close."

"Are they off on a trip today?" Mrs. Wesley, passing by, remarked. "Thankfully, I've heard they're heading to confront some enemy. If they were really just traveling, you'd have reasons to worry, dear."

Sophia laughed softly, her eyes glinting. "I don't believe those rumors."

"I know Father and Matthew are decent men."

After a moment, she coughed softly. Mrs. Wesley felt her forehead. "Too hot! Head back to rest, my child."

"Though your Blood Flag family behaves oddly during awakening, someone with a constantly heated head isn't common," Mrs. Wesley added kindly.

"Yes, that's what I think too," Sophia said, a bit sheepishly.

...

Flying northwest on the magic carpet for the first time, Matthew maintained a low altitude and moderate speed, navigating through the misty hills.

In about three hours, the sun was setting.

The soft light of the evening sun colored the mist with an orange hue. Suddenly, the carpet slowed down.

Ahead, an angry cacophony erupted.

Spotting a group of frog-like creatures harassing a woman on a nearby hill, Matthew steered closer.

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