This Necromancer Just Wants to Plant Trees - Chapter 127

Demon Seal.

This is an ability that originates from the realm of true gods.

Only beings who control the laws of planes have the opportunity to use the power of the planes to expel and seal the visitors from the outer planes.

This ability may not always come in handy.

But it is indeed very powerful.

Aesia's sincerity is still there.

It's worth mentioning that Matthew noticed that the remains of the sealed demon also meet the requirements of the ability, and he happens to have the heart of a demon lord in his hands!

"I don't need that heart right now; I can seal it first. The sealed heart, isolated from the world, can actually have a preservative and freezing effect," Matthew thought to himself.

He just didn't know if this could earn him some extra attributes.

As for XP.

That's definitely available.

Apart from the Demon Seal, Aesia also generously shared a small part of her domain with Matthew.

Among the demi-god domains, Moonlight became the first one.

"Demigod Domain: Harmony (Undead)

Moonlight (Infused) —

Current Mastery: Initial.

Effect 1: You can move freely under the moonlight. Every ten steps, you can use 'Shrinking to Inches' once.

Shrinking to Inches: Under the moonlight's cover, you can reach any point within clear visibility (limited to the horizontal plane) with a normal step.

Effect 2: At night, you can summon a moonlight that creates a moonlight sanctuary within a 5-meter radius around you.

The sanctuary has comprehensive and powerful divine protection.

Inside the sanctuary, there is a chance of encountering celestial creatures blessed by the Moonlight Goddess.

Every three nights, you can use 'Moonlight Sanctuary' once."

Shrinking to Inches and Moonlight Sanctuary are both incredibly useful abilities.

The former often catches opponents off guard in battle.

The latter is a powerful defensive divine spell. With Moonlight Sanctuary and Roderick's magic umbrella, Matthew's defensive capabilities have gradually become complete.

In addition to that, the completion of the side quest finally gave Matthew the long-awaited "Combat Casting."

"Combat Casting I: In combat, you will gain higher concentration and smoother chanting speed. With an increase in the number of battles, the proficiency of combat casting will gradually improve, and the effect may become stronger."

Matthew's spellcasting process in battle used to feel like constipation because he lacked this ability.

With it, all spellcasting actions will become much smoother, especially when it comes to spell transitions.

For a spellcaster, Combat Casting is an ability that is worth ten times its weight in gold.

What's more, it has growth potential!

Feeling the gradual increase in his strength, Matthew's mood improved somewhat.

But he soon snapped back to reality.

Aesia's projection had disappeared from this underground space.

Only the divine emblem on Matthew's chest still felt scorching hot.

"You will have 15 days to decide whether to explore the outer planes beyond the gate."

Aesia's implication was clear: in 15 days, the gate would be sealed.

Matthew wasn't surprised by this. A realm like the Moonlight Forest had immense value to the Moonlight Goddess. It would have never reached such a state of disrepair without an accidental collision by a starship. In the coming long period, she would need to repair it.

For Matthew, the greatest value here lay in the Ancient Empire's laboratory. He wanted to explore it, but he was afraid of being apprehended by the Demon Lord Omodochi and the incarnation of the Midnight God, Teril.

As he pondered, Matthew suddenly noticed Little Boil continuously pecking at the remains of the goddess that Aesia had consumed!

"That's right, even though the divine nature and power of the goddess have been absorbed by Aesia, these remains are still divine relics!"

Matthew's eyes gleamed.

Divine relics, even if they had turned into meat pulp, still had value.

He observed and was surprised to find that, in addition to divinity, Aesia had also absorbed the madness and distortion from the goddess!

"I wonder if she's confident in controlling the madness and distortion, or if she's so desperate to absorb them that she can't even filter them out," Matthew thought, recalling Aesia's consumption of the goddess. He still shuddered.

Even a mortal like Lolan knew to separate the madness and brands of a deity during a semi-divine ceremony. Aesia couldn't have been unaware of this.

It seemed like the days in the Temple of Lunacy would be tough.

But that suited Matthew just fine.

The remaining meat was purer and easier to handle.

Matthew gave a piece of the meat to Little Boil and stored the rest in a shroud bag. This rotten meat could be used as materials for a sacrifice ritual, added to enhance the physical strength of the Black Knight during its creation, and even used directly to make an undead "Mud Golem." Although Mud Golems moved slowly, they made excellent meat shields. Mud Golems made from the remains of gods would have incredible defensive and regenerative capabilities.

With anticipation, Matthew added this task to his to-do list.

So far, the events related to the Dawnbreaker had become clear. The Ancient Empire was indeed adept at getting themselves into trouble; they had managed to capture a living deity for their experiments in psychic powers. What was crucial was that Matthew saw no apparent connection between a deity and psychic powers. Yet, the Empire had managed to produce some results, which was bizarre.

The subsequent attack on the Dawnbreaker by the Insidious was likely related to the abnormal signal released by the deity. The Madscourge Insectoids attacked the starship, occupied the laboratory, and intended to develop it into a new space hive. But who would have thought it would become a source of nourishment for the goddess. Even the queen had undergone severe distortions.

This was also why the Insectoid population hadn't expanded as expected.

"The outer planes are too dangerous; we shouldn't even approach them," Matthew resolved. If he ever decided to explore them, he must ensure his absolute safety, leaving the undead to do the exploring!

At that moment, the Orc Sword Saint suddenly woke up from her meditation-like state.

Matthew knew she must have received a blessing from the Moonlight Goddess.

"How do you feel?" Matthew asked.

"She has bestowed upon me a secret to practice swordsmanship under the moonlight, which will be very helpful for my legendary path," the Orc replied.

"She also told me about a place called Feila Island, where many Orcs like me reside. It's the place of origin for my tribe. She also invited me to join the Moonlight Society."

Matthew nodded, "At first, I thought you were from Feila Island, where the Orcs indeed uphold the legacy of the Sword Saints."

Klaeg looked somewhat pleased, but also somewhat uncertain, "I guess the Orcs of Stulook may have originally come from Feila Island, but the relationship between the two is not necessarily amicable. I'm now going to seek help, but the results may not be better than the Seven Saints Alliance. But, since I have a lead, I must try! I just don't know how far Feila Island is from Deep Blue Harbor."

Matthew was surprised, "You're in Deep Blue Harbor too?"

Klaeg nodded honestly, "Prices there are high. I can only move back and forth between the docks and the outskirts of the city. I work as a laborer during the day and sleep in Samantha's forest at night. I haven't adapted to life in Eindor; the bustling city is dazzling."

A Sword Saint working as a laborer?

Matthew couldn't help but find it amusing. It was only because Samantha was a Druid who, like Klaeg, was unfamiliar with social niceties. Otherwise, Klaeg might have been sold by someone.

But anyone who tried to sell her would have to think carefully about the consequences, given her strength.

The two chatted for a while. Matthew then asked, "So, are you planning to join the Moonlight Society?"

Klaeg shook her head firmly, "I don't trust Her. She may look elegant and holy, but my instincts remind me not to trust a deity from another world, especially when She needs something from you. In those moments, Her attitude is worthless."

Matthew didn't say much in response but silently agreed with Klaeg. She was very clear-minded, and her thoughts were similar to his own.

Beings like the Moonlight Goddess could only be considered potential collaborators, and even during collaboration, one had to be careful not to be stabbed in the back.

Matthew even suspected that Aesia knew about the goddess's existence. She didn't directly project herself because she didn't want to alert anyone prematurely.

Maybe She had the ability to personally cleanse the Insectoid nests.

The reason for choosing him and his companions was purely to serve as bait for the goddess.

Matthew still vividly remembered the malicious intent that surged in his mind when he gazed directly at the goddess. It was a dangerous feeling, and he might have suffered some mental damage if it weren't for another force suppressing that wicked intent. It was probably the guardian placed on him by Ronan. It was a mysterious spell that even the system couldn't detect.

Matthew didn't know how many times the guardian's power could be used, but he had made up his mind to maintain only the minimum level of friendship with the Moonlight Goddess in the future. He needed to extract the maximum value from the Moonlight Forest as quickly as possible. This was what he should do!

As for tasks like clearing the Insectoid nests.

He wouldn't put in any extra effort.

"Let's go check on Samantha," Matthew suggested.

Klaeg agreed, and the two of them arrived near the shrine, where they found Layla. She reported that Samantha was still sleeping but stable within the range of the Moonlight Goddess's power. Matthew looked at his shoulder, where the owl Aela was also asleep. This might be related to Aesia's projection.

The three of them waited patiently for Samantha and Aela to wake up.

During this time, Matthew and Klaeg's conversation became more and more passionate. The Orc Sword Saint was actually a person with a cold exterior and a warm heart. Initially, she had a poor attitude towards Matthew because he was a necromancer and a stranger. But after fighting alongside each other, the distance between them had greatly diminished.

As for Layla, Klaeg felt pity for her. She empathized with Layla's predicament and hoped to encourage her to find the meaning of her life. Klaeg's words were sincere, and her outward appearance might be ugly, but her words warmed the hearts of those who heard them.

Layla didn't say much, but Matthew could sense that she was encouraged.

This left Matthew deeply moved.

He had been in Eindor for three years now and had encountered countless individuals, but the most positive and inspiring one turned out to be a female Beastkin.

Of course, he knew that not every female Beastkin had Klaeg's level of enlightenment. Her connection with the path of the Sword Saint was integral to her unique charm.

Layla was not much of a talker, but Matthew enjoyed conversing with Klaeg. He was genuinely interested in what lay beyond the surface and quizzed Klaeg about her hometown, Stuluk.

Their conversation grew more passionate, and their friendship deepened. When they spoke of Stuluk, they didn't notice that Samantha, who had been lying near the shrine, had awakened.

Samantha opened her eyes. Her first sight was Klaeg's profile, and it filled her with joy. Then she spotted Matthew's profile and felt equally content.

However, she quickly realized that these two were engrossed in a spirited discussion and hadn't noticed her awakening.

She silently observed them for a while before gently clearing her throat. "You're awake?" Matthew and Klaeg simultaneously turned to Samantha, surprise on their faces.

With their almost synchronized movements and speech, Samantha couldn't help but feel somewhat uncomfortable.

This feeling was eerily familiar...

After completing the task of clearing the Insectoid nests, Matthew left the Moonlight Forest. Exploring the outer planes posed great risks, even with his Undead creating a path. He decided to make thorough preparations and considered abandoning the task if necessary. Safety was paramount.

In the coming days, Matthew planned to expedite the construction of the graveyard while continuing his magical studies. He also intended to examine the few psychic items he had acquired from the laboratory of Vice Director Reiga.

However, the very next morning, someone arrived in the Oaktree Grove.

The visitor was Vandal, the Alliance mage who had assessed Matthew's qualifications for joining the Alliance. After a series of flattering remarks, Vandal got to the point.

"I'm here for two main reasons," he said. "First, Mr. Matthew, your Dead Zone Protective Umbrella project has been approved by the Alliance as an outstanding example. In the coming weeks, several batches of mages from various mage towers in the southern continent will apply to visit your project. They are mainly 3rd to 4th-tier mages, with the occasional 5th-tier grand mage showing some interest, but they won't be among the visitors. You can freely arrange their daily schedules and work during their stay. However, they are different from apprentices, so you should be cautious. The Alliance would like you to decide the specific duration for their visits. How many days do you think is appropriate?"

"Organize visits?" Matthew hesitated, then brightened up, "As a newcomer to the Alliance, I'm not familiar with the protocols, and I'm usually quite busy. I'm not sure I can accommodate many mages."

Vandal replied with a smile, "Don't worry. You only need to assign them to specific locations. Intermediate mages can find their own entertainment. Of course, they understand it's essential to gain practical experience. Moreover, they know about your unique situation, and there's already a buzz within the Alliance about you becoming the next head of the S1 project, despite the confidentiality order from the higher-ups. They are coming to build their resumes, so you don't need to worry. The Alliance requests you to set the duration. How about five to seven days?"

Without hesitation, Matthew agreed, "Seven days."

He followed up with another question, "During these seven days, will I need to provide accommodation and meals for the visiting mages?"

Vandal squinted his eyes and replied, "Intermediate mages probably won't require your hospitality. They have their own methods. If you don't mind me being straightforward, here's a way to make some extra money according to the unspoken rules of the Alliance."

Matthew raised an eyebrow, "Go on."

Vandal explained, "Just charge an entrance fee. Don't be shy about it. Mages are always short on money, and making money is completely justified. You set the price on the higher side, and they will gladly pay."

Matthew sighed, "So, selling tickets, huh? Will it be a good move?"

Matthew pondered. Vandal was straightforward, "You are unique, and your project is not very extensive. One can understand the basic principles by looking into a crystal ball, and the mages are aware of that. However, they come for practical experience and a chance to boost their resumes. You might not know, but the word is already out in the Alliance about your role in the next S1 project. They are here to build connections and gain insights. It's an unspoken agreement. They are buying more than just tickets; they are investing in potential opportunities."

Matthew felt a bit uncomfortable with the idea but agreed, "Alright, I'll set the price higher, as you suggested."

Vandal reassured him, "Set it as high as you can imagine!"

Matthew chuckled, "I'm just afraid my reputation will be tarnished after this."

Vandal was dismissive, "Don't worry. Roderick sells cursed items every day. No one comments on his reputation. Edric has a hundred wives and eight hundred children. No one dares to criticize him openly. Isabelle founded the Cult of the Dragon, which caused trouble for the Alliance, but she's resting comfortably in the Far Northern Floating City. In most cases, reputation is the most hypocritical and worthless thing."

Matthew wasn't entirely convinced, but he shifted the conversation, "What's the second matter?"

Vandal retrieved three crystal balls from his robe and handed them to Matthew. One of them was a second-hand item borrowed from Reiga, while the other two were brand new.

"These are the highest-quality recording crystal balls, capable of recording various images, including sound. The other one is a communication crystal ball. Lord Eckmonde mentioned specifically that it's for contacting you. You should activate it as soon as possible."

He added, "By the way, Lord Eckmonde personally purchased these crystal balls for you. He hopes you won't use second-hand items in the future to avoid undermining the Alliance's image."

Matthew didn't mind and accepted the communication crystal ball. He infused it with a bit of magic, and the next moment, a beautiful, white-haired woman appeared on the screen.

"I command you to be at the Starlit Courtyard within ten minutes. If you're late, I'll send you to the star realm to keep Ronan company!" Isabelle spoke harshly.

Matthew was taken aback. He glanced at Vandal, "Is there a ride? I need to go to the Cauldron Inn; it's urgent!"

Vandal promptly produced a broomstick more than three meters long, "Hop on! I'll take you there. I won three consecutive Flyaway Broomstick Races in my youth and have never had an accident in all my years of flying. I'm very cautious."

Vandal was confident in his abilities.

Three minutes later, they had reached the Cauldron Inn, the Alliance Office, and the Starlit Courtyard.

Matthew encountered Isabelle's projection once again. He couldn't help but notice the mud stains on his clothes.

Isabelle frowned, "Why do you have so many mud stains on your face?"

Matthew hastily cast a cleaning spell to remove the dirt. He didn't explain, as he couldn't reveal the truth that the once three-time Flyaway Broomstick Race champion, Vandal, had not ridden a broomstick for over a decade.

Revisiting the thrill of youth on a broomstick, which symbolized the fiery spirit of the young, had led to a rapid encounter with a tree for Vandal. Matthew was just grateful he only ended up with mud all over him.

"Never mind, you have ten minutes to get to the Starlit Courtyard, and I won't bother with your current appearance."

Isabelle continued, "Today, I'm going to infuse you with a powerful extraplanar spell called 'Guardian.' This spell can save your life in critical situations. Now, relax your mind and don't resist. I'll cast a preliminary spell to help you better accept the Guardian. It has one minor side effect; it will reveal the person you've been thinking of the most recently. But that's not essential. Don't be shy; it's your choice, and I won't interfere. Eckmonde will assist me remotely."

Matthew asked, "Guardian? I think I already have a Guardian from Grand Mage Ronan."

Isabelle scoffed, "That? I would call that more of a mascot than a Guardian. My Guardian would beat his hands down."

With that, Eckmonde's presence materialized next to Matthew. He smiled and nodded to Matthew.

In the darkness, a gentle light began to shine, focusing on Matthew's forehead.

At first, he felt a warm sensation all over his body, an inexplicable comfort that filled his limbs and other parts of his body. However, it only lasted for a brief moment.

In the next second, a human-shaped figure gradually formed within the radiance.

Matthew suddenly felt nervous because he realized the person he had been thinking about most recently!

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