This Necromancer Just Wants to Plant Trees - Chapter 131

In the bustling area along the official road in the southeast of the oak forest, the news of Deep Blue Port's visitors had spread like wildfire, attracting a crowd of curious residents who loved to watch the excitement. Most of them gathered at the "Golden Lion Bridge," a rare bridge within the boundaries of Rolling Stone Town, built in the generation of Reiga's father. It was said that on the day of its completion, a lion bathed in golden light suddenly appeared at the riverbank by the bridge's head and drank water, hence the name "Golden Lion Bridge."

Several tall banyan trees lined the riverbank at the bridgehead.

On a hot summer evening, many people sought shade under these trees.

The "Old Woman River" flowed through the stone arch bridge, forming a small shallow bay in the area, with a calm surface and shallow water. As a result, it was common to see local farmers bringing their children to swim in the river.

It was a late spring afternoon.

The cicadas' chirping gradually filled the wilderness.

Under the tree's shade, Matthew set up a small camp chair and sat down. A gentle breeze brushed over his eyelids and chin, providing some relief from the heat. Not far away, the residents chatted animatedly, discussing various topics.

Some idle troublemakers by the river suddenly caused a commotion. A young man was pushed into the water, and he was obviously a good swimmer. He splashed around and cursed in the water. At first, people rushed to the scene in concern, but once they realized there was no real danger, they soon burst into laughter.

Matthew silently observed this scene, feeling a touch of emotion in his heart. The clouds of war were approaching step by step, yet most people in Rolling Stone Town remained oblivious. Perhaps, right up until the moment the Red Soil Mountain's army invaded the Golden Plains, the people living in that land would be just like these folks here.

When peace became the norm, the scars of war would become more visible.

"No wonder Reiga has been so stressed lately. Making such decisions is not easy," Matthew sighed softly. He rested his elbow on his knee and propped his chin with his hand, seemingly gazing into the distance, but his eyes gradually lost focus.

It was only when an unusual blue-and-red flag appeared at the end of the official road that Matthew snapped back to reality. The people on the bridgehead and bridge tails cheered.

Matthew exclaimed, "Here they come!"

Peggy looked excited, "Matthew, hurry and take a look at Deep Blue Port's little princess to see how beautiful she is. If she's even half as pretty as Sophia, we can bring her home as your second wife!"

That comment had too many layers of teasing. Matthew couldn't respond to it. All he could manage was a bewildered, "Matthew already has a wife?"

He was about to explain, but at that moment, he heard the sound of galloping hooves coming from behind them. "You're also here to watch the show!" A low voice came from horseback, and Matthew turned to see Captain Brad, the head of the town's guard.

Brad didn't dismount but quickly said, "Matthew, come with me! Reiga is looking for you, and he seems quite anxious!"

Peggy, not pleased, added, "Is our lord so worried that Matthew might take a second wife that he has to send him to work at a time like this? Will there be overtime pay?"

Brad chuckled awkwardly but had his way of dealing with the sassy Peggy. "I'm just the messenger."

Matthew, with a tinge of regret, told Eli, "I have to go ahead."

Before Eli could respond, Peggy embraced Eli's small shoulders and said, "Don't worry, you go ahead, Matthew. I'll take good care of your little brother."

Eli looked somewhat uncomfortable. "Yes, you go ahead with your business."

Matthew quickly mounted his horse and rode off with Brad towards Rolling Stone Town. As Matthew's figure disappeared into the forest, Eli struggled and said, "Peggy, can you let go, please?"

But it seemed as though Peggy didn't hear him. She continued towards the stone bridge on the hillside. "Let's go! We should check it out. You can provide cover for me, and I'll sneak around. They won't spot me!"

Eli wanted to scold her aloud. How could a two-meter-tall minotaur sneak around in broad daylight? It was absurd. However, for some reason, he couldn't bring himself to say it.

The two of them quickly arrived by the roadside. To Eli's surprise, no one seemed to notice them. Everyone was eagerly anticipating the approaching caravan.

At last, the caravan arrived at the official road's entrance. The people on the bridge cheered. Eli looked on as the first two carriages were followed by three luxurious carriages. As the carriages crossed the bridge, the crowd observed closely.

The first carriage had sealed windows, the second had open windows but appeared empty, and the third had partly covered windows, making it hard to see inside.

The carriages, along with two more ox carts, crossed the bridge one after the other. The disappointed crowd followed for a few steps.

Peggy couldn't hide her frustration. "Where's the city lady? What about Deep Blue Port's little princess? They said we could see her!"

Other people expressed similar complaints.

Eli tried to calm Peggy down. "Be careful, don't blow our cover. Not seeing someone isn't a big deal."

In the next moment, someone inside the third carriage seemed to hear the calls from the outside. The side windows were pushed open, and a young and charming face appeared, wearing a somewhat shy expression.

"Alright, Judy, give everyone a wave and let's go. We need to get to Rolling Stone Town before sunset, and I want to take a good bath," a woman's voice came from inside the carriage.

The girl named Judy excitedly extended her hand and greeted the people on the roadside. The crowd responded with enthusiastic cheers. A few rascals even followed the carriage for a while, whistling wildly. It seemed like they might have attempted to climb onto the carriages if not for the knights guarding them.

As the caravan slowly moved away, Peggy pulled Eli back into the oak forest.

"Wow! That girl Judy is so adorable!"

Eli asked, "Isn't she supposed to be Deep Blue Port's little princess? Although not as pretty as Sophia, she might still be suitable as Matthew's second wife."

Peggy pressed him further, "What do you think of her? Aren't you Matthew's friend? Keep an eye on her for Matthew!"

Eli replied hesitantly, "Doesn't Matthew already have a wife?"

Peggy nodded and released her grip. After a moment, she noticed Eli's unease and asked, "What's wrong?"

Eli was still somewhat dazed, muttering, "It's nothing."

Peggy poked him and insisted, "You're not secretly falling for Judy, are you? That wouldn't be fair."

Eli blushed and exclaimed, "No way! If she's someone Matthew's interested in, I won't even spare her a glance!"

"I have zero interest in that Judy!"

Satisfied with his response, Peggy nodded and relaxed her hold on him.

After a while, Eli hesitantly asked, "By the way, I just wanted to know, don't think too much, but who is the older woman with Judy?"

…

"You seem a bit absent-minded."

The next morning, Matthew was preparing to go tree planting when he encountered Eli aimlessly wandering near the forest. Eli had volunteered to help, and Matthew naturally accepted. However, after planting only a few trees, Eli ended up placing two saplings in the same hole.

This scene felt oddly familiar. "Oh, sorry, Matthew," Eli apologized, hurriedly pulling one sapling out. He scratched his head, appearing somewhat distressed.

Matthew couldn't help but smile at Eli's visible distraction. It reminded him of the previous evening when he had joined Reiga at the lord's residence, only to find Reiga in a similar state of mind.

Reiga was surprised by Lady Alaina's prompt arrival, and he was troubled by whether to activate the "Gateway to Hell" entirely. He had been agitated and stressed, which had even led to acne breakouts on his face, a sign of his hormonal imbalance.

Matthew could empathize with Reiga in this matter because, once the machinery of war started rolling, stopping it was no easy task. If Rolling Stone Town could use its own strength to dispel the looming shadow of war, it would be a great achievement. The demonic army from Hell was a real threat that could only be resolved through force.

Yesterday, Reiga had called Matthew for an urgent discussion about potential aid to Lady Alaina. Matthew and Zeller had each provided their viewpoints, resulting in a consensus among the "Three Titans" in the lord's hall. They were willing to offer assistance but wanted to see what Lady Alaina could bring to the table.

If her offer was limited to something as trivial as feminine charm, it might not be well received.

However, the developments that followed had taken them all by surprise.

In the evening, Deep Blue Port's caravan had arrived at the official relay station in Rolling Stone Town. Reiga had expected Lady Alaina to rush to meet him immediately. He had prepared himself accordingly, taking a bath and dressing smartly, even applying some cologne. To his disappointment, Lady Alaina had her knights relay a message, stating that she and her daughter had endured a tiring journey by boat and carriage, and now they only wished to take a bath and rest. They proposed to visit the esteemed Lord the day after tomorrow.

This clever strategy had both frustrated and deflated Reiga.

The leader of Rolling Stone Town had appeared somewhat crestfallen.

Wesley's wife, Sophia, timely ushered in their daughter, Sern. Sern proudly displayed a portrait she had recently painted. The subject of the painting was none other than Reiga himself. This gesture deeply touched Reiga, and his emotions quickly subsided.

However, when Matthew returned to the Oaktree Forest to resume his work, he hadn't crossed paths with Lady Alaina and her supposedly heavenly beautiful daughter.

Instead, during the night while maintaining the fountain of negative energy, Peggy emerged from the pool and shared the news of what happened yesterday. When Matthew met Eli the next morning and saw him lost in thought, he had a pretty good idea of what was on Eli's mind.

The only thing that baffled him was, why it was not the reputedly more beautiful Judy but Lady Alaina who had captured Eli's attention?

After a brief incident, Eli's attention seemed to focus a bit more. Matthew planted around five or six trees before pausing.

The weather was getting warmer, and the oak trees were becoming less active. The saplings also appeared somewhat lackluster. Attempting to plant trees during this weather might backfire.

At this point, Matthew only planted a few trees early in the morning. He was getting closer to the second goal of 3,000 trees, and he was eagerly anticipating what would happen once that was achieved.

As Matthew packed his things to return, Eli walked along with him. The two of them found themselves in a part of the Oaktree Forest densely populated with oaks. Matthew patiently examined the growth status of these trees.

As they walked, Eli, finally unable to contain his curiosity, asked, "Matthew, didn't you say yesterday that there is still true love in this world? And that if you meet the right girl, you should give it a try?"

Matthew smiled and turned to ask, "But didn't you also swear yesterday never to fall in love with any woman again?"

Eli blushed instantly, "Well, she's different."

"She gives me a special feeling, a voice that's so lazy, yet it carries a hint of tenderness. It's a bit like... a bit like..."

He suddenly faltered, unable to put it into words.

Matthew, thoughtfully, inquired, "Is Lady Alaina's voice somewhat like your mother's?"

Eli was taken aback, "How did you know I was talking about Lady Alaina?"

Matthew shrugged, "It's quite obvious. You seem to have a weakness for older women with maternal qualities."

"Samantha is probably a bit older than you, too, right? She looks quite mature."

Eli confessed honestly, "She's twelve years older than me."

Matthew was surprised, "So how old are you now?"

Eli thought for a moment, "Seventeen or eighteen, I can't quite remember."

Matthew scratched his head, "You should call me 'big brother' when we meet. I'm about ten years older than you. I always thought you were closer to my age."

Never did Matthew imagine that Eli was so young.

"Age has nothing to do with love," Eli responded. He seemed resistant to others mentioning his young age and used his deep, magnetic voice, saying, "I do prefer older women, but I've long forgotten my mother's voice; it's just a vague feeling. I happened to hear Lady Alaina's voice yesterday, and it made me feel strangely comforted. Truth be told, I'm distressed right now. My rational self tells me not to be caught up in romantic entanglements, but I feel like I can't control my emotions. They burst out when I meet the right person. I don't know what to do."

Matthew empathized with Eli's situation and remembered hearing about Eli's background. Eli was raised by a tigress in the wilderness, and later, he met the Druid Elder of the Earthbound Society, another male. The elder might have been a bit rough and uncouth, probably not giving much importance to parenting. Dealing with kids wasn't his strong suit. Eli was clearly lacking the love of both parents, especially the mother's love, which had influenced his perspective on love.

"No wonder he developed feelings for Peggy after a few meals," Matthew thought, feeling a bit sympathetic toward the young lad.

"As I said yesterday, there is certainly beautiful love in this world. Now you need to ask yourself if your so-called feelings are real and if they will continue in the near future. If they do, I don't object to you getting closer to Lady Alaina. Even though the chances are slim, it's worth encouraging bold attempts for the sake of your feelings, as long as you don't lose yourself and your dignity in the process," Matthew sincerely offered his advice.

Eli listened thoughtfully and said, "So, the key is to be bold and make an attempt, right?"

Matthew shook his head, "No, the key is to be true to yourself and maintain your dignity."

Eli furrowed his brow, lost in thought. After a while, he caught up with Matthew in another part of the Oaktree Forest.

"I've figured it out. I will find an opportunity to get closer to Lady Alaina. I need to confirm my feelings first and then take action."

He seemed quite excited. "Of course, I'll remember the key points you mentioned: be bold, make an attempt – oh wait, no – be true to myself and maintain my dignity!"

Matthew wasn't surprised and nodded when he learned Eli's age. He realized that persuading Eli was pointless, especially with Lady Alaina's exceptional status and abilities.

After planting the final tree, Matthew suddenly leaped into a nearby pit. Eli was puzzled, "What are you doing?"

He stood at the edge of the pit, looking down into the eerie abyss. "Planting trees is done; now, I'm making tombstones."

Of course, "making tombstones" was a jest. Matthew meant he was sculpting tombstones, a skill he had discovered to be incredibly useful recently. Additionally, it was cost-effective since Sinwak, the Oni, could create them effortlessly from the abundant stone supply on-site. Sinwak's stonework was impeccable. Matthew could even make specific design requests, such as adding decorative edges or other personalized details. However, Matthew ensured Sinwak's work conditions were better than his previous captor's.

When they passed by the center of the graveyard, near the fountain of negative energy, Peggy was back to her gulping at the fountain. Playfully, Matthew quipped, "Peggy, don't drink it all; save some for the zombies."

The fountain of negative energy was a favorite snack for the undead, so it was always crowded with graveyard residents. Matthew had established a rule that allowed each person only three minutes to drink and required them to queue up. However, this rule didn't apply to the undead that occupied contract slots.

At times, Matthew observed Peggy gulping down the fountain's contents while a long line of zombies and skeletons watched eagerly.

"Matthew, you've changed!" Peggy emerged from the fountain, looking a bit upset. "You used to say that once you built the graveyard, I would be the graveyard's master, and all the undead would have to obey me. Now you're worried about me having a few sips!"

Matthew skillfully consoled her, saying, "Well, you see, the graveyard's current scale is too small. Don't you think it's a bit of a waste of your management talents to have only a couple of hundred undead to look after?"

Peggy pondered for a moment and realized Matthew had a point. He continued, "Our graveyard will inevitably become a real city of the undead in the future!"

"When that happens, I'll make you the Chief of City Management, in charge of all the undead on the streets! They'll all have to obey you."

This prospect excited Peggy, and she asked, "What's the Chief of City Management's role? It sounds really powerful. Is it true?"

Matthew smiled, "When have I ever lied to you?"

Peggy's face lit up. "Alright, I'll go prepare dinner. What would you like to eat today?"

Matthew pondered and said, "How about steak with a few extra eggs?"

"Alright!" Peggy cheerfully rushed to the newly built kitchen in the stone house to get started on the meal.

Matthew gazed in the direction of the fountain, satisfied that the undead with cracking skin could finally enjoy the lively negative energy spring. Then he relaxed. Being in charge was challenging!

He shook his head and made his way to his workstation. Today was the day he officially started crafting the Black Knight!

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