This Necromancer Just Wants to Plant Trees - Chapter 138

Official Inn, Second Hall.

In front of a painted glass window, a dark figure pressed against the inner glass, looking through red or blue filters, he could see some of the outside world.

Eli gazed outside, puzzled and bored.

The summer sunlight bathed a solitary oak tree in the courtyard, casting a circle of shade on the dusty cobblestone path.

A gentle breeze brushed by.

A leaf on a branch swayed like a person stretching.

The little black cat looked for a long time.

Then, it couldn't help but yawn.

Resting its head on the windowsill, one ear pressed tightly against the glass, it quietly savored the unique tranquility of a summer afternoon.

"Being a little kitty doesn't seem so bad," Eli thought to himself.

It wasn't that he couldn't leave; he just lacked the motivation to do so. Since he had awakened, he knew he had once again gained an advantage from Matthew - this time by delving into the Oak Domain and reaching the introductory stage, granting him three permanent abilities. Such generous gifts would be a miracle for any druid, yet Eli couldn't find joy in it. He knew that his path to greatness was tied to Matthew, and following him always brought him some benefits.

"If the essence of power comes at the cost of unhappiness, then I'd rather not have it," he thought resentfully.

But soon, he reconciled with himself. Power itself wasn't wrong, and he was wounded, so it wasn't in vain. However, he still didn't want to turn back into a human. Being a little black cat had its advantages, and he prided himself on his ability to endure hunger.

"Even if I'm stuck in a place like this, I could go hungry for over a week without any problems," Eli thought proudly. "I'll sleep and wait for Matthew to find me."

Just then, a squeaking sound came from outside the window. A mouse!

Eli perked up and pressed his ear against the glass, gazing outside. Under the shade of the tree, a remarkably fat mouse was frantically fleeing, with a white cat in hot pursuit. Eli observed for a while and then yawned again.

"Only the dumbest cats want to catch mice," he commented. "And this white cat is so bad; it can't catch it even after half a day."

The white cat's agility seemed to be causing her some frustration. She almost caught the mouse several times, but it managed to slip away each time.

Soon, the fat mouse disappeared into the bushes and scurried towards the east, with the white cat still chasing it relentlessly. Eli's view returned to stillness.

He felt even sleepier now, his eyelids heavy, ready to drift off to sleep. But just as he was about to nod off, the annoying squeaking noise returned.

Eli slapped the glass in frustration. Outside, the white cat reappeared in his view. However, what surprised him was that the fat mouse had called for reinforcements.

Under the tree's shade, a bizarre scene unfolded. Five or six fat mice were relentlessly chasing the white cat. These mice were quite large, almost two-thirds the size of the white cat, and they had the numerical advantage, completely overwhelming the poor little white cat.

She was cornered by the mice, and her only option was to jump onto a tree. However, these fat mice were surprisingly good at climbing trees, and they continued to pursue her.

Eli watched the scene for a while and then yawned again, "Only the most foolish cats would want to catch mice. This white cat is so inexperienced; she hasn't caught it even after all this effort."

After a while, the fat mouse escaped into the thicket, and the white cat chased after it. Eli's vision of the scene disappeared.

He felt even more tired now. His eyes were heavy, and he was ready to sleep, but just as he closed his eyes, a sharp squeak resounded. Eli slapped the glass in frustration, and outside, the white cat reappeared.

However, what surprised him was that the fat mouse had called for reinforcements. Under the tree's shade, an absurd scene played out. Five or six fat mice were relentlessly chasing the white cat. These mice were quite large, almost two-thirds the size of the white cat, and they had the numerical advantage, completely overwhelming the poor little white cat.

She was cornered by the mice and had no choice but to jump onto a tree. However, these fat mice were surprisingly adept at climbing trees and continued to pursue her.

Eli watched for a while, yawned, and said to himself, "Only the most foolish cats would want to catch mice, and this white cat is so clumsy. It hasn't caught anything yet."

After some time, the fat mouse darted into the undergrowth and ran towards the east, squeaking loudly. The white cat followed closely, and they disappeared from Eli's view. The scene before him once again returned to stillness.

Eli felt even sleepier, his eyelids heavier, but he found that he couldn't fall asleep. The previously silent and peaceful inner world now seemed to carry a hint of restlessness.

Eli once again gazed outside, this time with a subtle sense of anticipation.

A few minutes later, a figure hurriedly appeared in front of the window.

Shortly afterward, the door to the dressing room was opened.

"Sorry, Eli, I had an urgent matter to attend to, and you were deep in your domain at the time," Matthew explained apologetically.

Eli listened silently and responded nonchalantly, "No problem."

Matthew looked at the small black cat and suggested, "How about you change back, and we can leave?"

Eli firmly stated, "I won't."

Matthew was surprised and asked, "Why not?"

Eli thought for a moment and replied, "I want to experience the life of a cat. It will benefit my Druidic Path."

"I'll stay here for now. If you can, just open a small gap in the window for me."

Matthew asked, "Do you need something to eat?"

Eli shook his head and said, "I'm not hungry."

Matthew took out some food from his bag and asked, "I have some emergency rations. What do you prefer?"

Eli replied, "You're too kind. Any food is fine; I'm not picky."

Matthew then asked, "Plain water or milk?"

Eli quickly chose, "Milk."

Matthew asked, "I also have some biscuits and sausages. Which one would you like?"

Eli abandoned his hesitation and said, "Sausages, please. And a bit extra; I love them."

...

After ensuring Eli was safe, Matthew left.

That young man had strong resilience.

Matthew felt that he had somehow recovered from his disappointment of falling in love with a man, and that was good news. As for experiencing life as an animal, it was not uncommon for Druids.

Matthew didn't mind.

In the afternoon, he continued planting trees and tending to the graves, checking on the Black Warriors in the vat, and their dark energy infusion was progressing quite well. It wouldn't be long before they could come out of the vat.

The next morning, Matthew arrived ten minutes early at Suyarel's magic class.

Surprisingly, Margaret had arrived even earlier.

"Good, it seems you at least have the self-awareness of a student. Let's start early," Margaret said. She was wearing a black silk pajama, which was loose-fitting, and it swayed gracefully with her every movement. She had changed her nail polish to emerald green, which Matthew found a bit mature but still elegant.

Matthew's attention shifted for only a few seconds before he was fully focused on Margaret's teaching:

"Today, I'm going to teach you some real substance. Every piece of information is crucial, and you must remember it. These teachings might save your life one day."

"First, continuing from yesterday's discussion, how do we measure an enemy's combat strength apart from their wealth? To be honest, there's no universal standard; it depends on your observation and experience."

"But some patterns can be summarized, primarily through the environment or feedback from others."

"For example, you encounter a mediocre mage in a treacherous area near the Abyss, accompanied by several beautiful elven maids. He appears to have some money, but not enough to warrant using costly capital spells."

"If you feel that this mage doesn't match the wealth and companions he has, then danger looms. I mean, you are in danger."

"Based on historical experience, with very few exceptions, characters who appear to be unfit for the wealth and women they have are often truly formidable. It's like a seemingly ordinary mage getting a rapid promotion in the Alliance."

"You might feel unfair about this news, but you probably won't act against them. Why? Because you know that there's a hidden logic behind everything in this world."

"That mage who got the promotion might be someone important's illegitimate child. Many seemingly illogical occurrences are just because someone has hidden their logic."

"Similarly, the elderly and children who adventure alone in dungeons, seemingly weak and helpless pretty women in the wilderness, or weak-looking penitent monks in shackles who walk with devotion... All of these could potentially be hidden experts."

"The surface information lacks enough logic to support their strength. It's just that you haven't unearthed the deeper layers of information."

Matthew was engrossed in Margaret's lesson, captivated by her wisdom. She was a remarkable teacher, and he was eager to absorb all the knowledge she had to offer.

The solitary old man and children appearing in dungeons may be embodiments of some deity, but that's not the point. Their ability to adventure in dungeons year-round without becoming monsters' prey demonstrates their strength.

The women who appear in the desolate wilderness are the same.

As for the penitent monks, they follow a different path. Abundant spiritual energy allows them to unleash unimaginable power at any time, a power that can transcend levels and domains.

In summary, it can be put in one sentence:

"If something seems abnormal, there must be something uncanny about it."

So, I advise you that when observing your enemies, aside from surface-level information, try to understand the deep-seated information hidden about your enemies.

Of course, this is not an easy task, but once you understand this, it will significantly reduce your chances of provoking formidable opponents.

With that said, Margaret paused.

"Have you taken notes?" she asked.

Matthew nodded in agreement. He had a recording crystal on the side.

Margaret resolutely returned the crystal to Matthew's bag, saying, "Recording is not allowed in my class!"

"You can only review the class content through your own memory. Let's continue."

"After evaluating the enemy's combat strength and confirming that you haven't provoked wealthy individuals or hidden powerhouses, the real battle begins."

"My philosophy of combat can be summed up simply, with one core concept:"

"By any means necessary!"

"If you can outnumber your enemies, do not engage in one-on-one fights."

"If you can ambush discreetly, avoid revealing yourself in advance."

"If you can use poison, do not engage in direct fireball clashes."

"If you can curse, refuse to engage in a straightforward contest."

"If you can use items, do not deplete your own magical power."

"If you can bluff, don't confront directly."

"The sole purpose of battle is to win!"

"The means to victory are tools, and tools have no ranking of their own."

"You should treat all means to victory equally. That's the mentality a combat mage should have."

"Killing your enemy efficiently with the most effective method is the greatest respect you can give them."

Matthew nodded enthusiastically. Margaret's philosophy aligned well with his practical nature.

"Excellent. It seems you do not reject my viewpoint. Now that we've discussed the principle of the 'Greater Good,' let's move on to some practical details," Margaret said. She continued to talk at length:

"Regarding the 'By any means necessary' strategy, it can be divided into four main areas."

"First, strategy."

"Strategy includes both subterfuge and open tactics. I don't care what methods you use. Whether it's using others as pawns or bluffing, any strategy that can eliminate your enemy is a good strategy."

"I won't go into the specifics because I am not skilled in strategy myself. I prefer to confront my opponents head-on with real spells."

"Second, assassination."

"There are many ways to assassinate someone, with the most common being hiring an assassin, using poison, or curses."

"These methods can be highly effective when your opponent is unaware. However, if your enemy is vigilant, the success rate of assassination significantly decreases."

"At this point, I must mention an unconventional method of assassination."

"This relates to the 'Transmutation Paradox,' do you know if you've studied it before?"

Matthew nodded, "I know a little. Transmutation spells usually use a fixed medium to temporarily transform a target into a unique magical form. This form does not mean that the target has truly become a sheep or a stone. The material properties of the target remain the same. So, instead of calling it transmutation, it's more like trapping them in a special medium. The strength of the transmutation spell depends on the stability of the medium."

"The so-called Transmutation Paradox is when you turn a person into a frog and then swallow them. The frog inside your stomach is damaged by stomach acid and, due to insufficient stability, reverts to its original form. Logically, that person should appear inside my stomach. But that's not the case. He will appear intact at a random location near me. It doesn't lead to him exploding me or anything like that. This phenomenon is the paradox itself."

Margaret nodded in approval. "This applies to all transmutation spells because they don't alter the fundamental properties of matter. Even Druids' Wild Shape is the same. They only have higher stability and realism."

"But there is one exception: 'True Transmutation!' True Transmutation can bypass the Transmutation Paradox to kill someone."

"You can transform into a piece of candy, and when your enemy puts you in their mouth, you can suddenly dispel the spell. At that moment, his head will definitely explode."

"I am well-versed in True Transmutation, and I've used it to kill many people. I can tell you, without a doubt, if you have the ability to learn True Transmutation, don't hesitate. No matter what you transform into, you will be able to take down almost anyone. It's the highest success rate among all assassination methods, and you must not miss it."

Matthew listened with a slightly pale face. He felt a little regret. If he had attended Margaret's class a few days earlier, he might have chosen True Transmutation in the field of transmutation abilities. Although turning into a stone would be difficult for the enemy to swallow, he could have found another way, like hiding it in a piece of bread.

Margaret provided an abundance of information during her classes, not waiting for Matthew to digest it before moving on.

"Enough of that. Today's lesson ends here. Your homework is: 'If you are the black-robed mage, knowing that the enemy excels in True Transmutation and can transform into mosquitoes and fleas, how would you deal with it?'"

"Oh, and also, please hand in the homework from yesterday."

Swish, swish, swish! The only sound left in the classroom was Matthew rapidly scribbling down notes. Margaret's explanations were clear and to the point.

Matthew didn't entirely misunderstand these principles, but Margaret's guidance helped him form a more systematic understanding of them. In his previous life, he enjoyed reading web novels with intricate plot twists, which he found thrilling. However, now he suddenly realized that these complex plots were unnecessary in reality.

Margaret leisurely poured herself another cup of tea. Sitting halfway on the desk, she swung her feet, and her floating staff hovered in the air. The surroundings began to change, and Matthew found himself in a forest, witnessing two mages engaged in a duel.

One of them was Margaret, clad in a fiery-red mage robe. Her opponent was another mage in black robes, who appeared to be either a Fourth or Fifth Tier mage.

"This was a real battle that occurred last year," Margaret explained. "My opponent was a senior mage who had defected from the Alliance and joined the Cult of the Dark God. He specialized in evocation magic and was exceptionally skilled in fireballs and force fields."

"I had been tracking him for three days and nights and had engaged in direct combat with him for over forty minutes. There were moments when he had the upper hand, but in the end, I successfully killed him. Do you want to know how I did it?"

Matthew, astonished, asked, "True Transmutation?"

Margaret gave him a gentle smile and lightly tapped his head with her staff. "Correct, but there's no reward for that."

"Let's watch the final scene in slow motion. Pay close attention because just fifteen minutes ago, I had engaged in a confrontation with him. He used a teleportation spell to escape, and I secretly followed him."

"I knew that I might not be his match head-on, so I planned to use my signature move: True Transmutation, to assassinate him. Before taking action, I attracted a swarm of bees to provide cover for me."

"Then I transformed into a mosquito and infiltrated the swarm, attempting to get close to him. However, my opponent was alert, and at this point, right here, he used the 'Detect Microscopic Life' spell."

"It seemed he was aware of my tactics, and so he was on high alert. To avoid having me fly into his nostrils, mouth, ears, or even eyes, he cast the 'Bubble Shield' around his head."

"If any creature entered, the bubble would shatter, and he would immediately employ an all-encompassing defensive spell that didn't differentiate between friend or foe. He was quite intelligent. Besides the Bubble Shield, he rapidly repelled the swarm of bees with magic."

"By the end of the encounter, there were no longer any flying creatures around him."

Under Margaret's explanation, Matthew couldn't tear his eyes away from the hyper-realistic image. In the next moment, the black-robed mage's body suddenly exploded, and a plethora of blood and flesh splattered onto the nearby trees. The scene was gruesome.

"Wait, how did he die?" Matthew asked in shock. "You got in, didn't you?"

Margaret calmly explained, "I certainly did."

Matthew hesitated and asked, "But hasn't he..."

Mid-sentence, he suddenly froze. Margaret calmly said, "It's his anus."

"If you examine it more carefully, you'll notice that I transformed into a mosquito, flew onto his mage robe, and then turned into a flea. I took the opportunity, while he was busy driving away the bees, to jump into his rectum."

"In this way, I successfully detonated the lower half of his body."

"Margaret's combat magic is simple and unpretentious. It doesn't involve fireball exchanges, prediction and counter-prediction. To become a proficient combat mage, you only need to learn two or three forms of True Transmutation and apply them correctly. That way, you can kill almost anyone you want."

"Alright, that's it for today's class. Your homework is, 'If you were the black-robed mage, knowing that your enemy excels in True Transmutation and can transform into mosquitoes and fleas, how would you respond?'"

"Oh, and please submit the homework from yesterday."

Table of content

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