This Necromancer Just Wants to Plant Trees - Chapter 63

Matthew recognized this emblem!

This thing was once very popular in White Rock City. It was used by necromancers as a symbol to classify, mark, and arrange the undead.

This could reduce the mental exhaustion of necromancers when organizing their troops.

Some of these emblems, in addition to the magical symbols, also contained some hidden messages. These messages could only be deciphered by necromancers who knew the unique way of interpreting them in White Rock City.

This was a kind of Easter egg or trap left by solitary necromancers when they roamed outside.

Matthew took off the emblem and tried to decipher it. Soon, a line of brilliant characters appeared before his eyes -

...

"If I hadn't become a necromancer in the first place, would things be different?"

...

Matthew frowned at the abrupt and cryptic statement. It only vaguely hinted at regret for becoming a necromancer. At the same time, he became somewhat curious about the owner of the emblem.

"He might also be from White Rock City, but necromancers usually don't like hot and humid weather, as it makes it even harder to maintain the cleanliness of the undead. Why did he come here?"

Matthew's gaze turned to the depths of the swamp.

Meanwhile, Old Gito, who had been circling around the giant forest python for a while, walked over.

"This snake came from the depths of the Bitterwater Swamp. It should have devoured more than one zombie on its way here, or its movements wouldn't be so sluggish."

"That's not good news."

Hearing this, Loralan, who had quietly rejoined the group, interjected, "Why? Isn't this a good thing? If even this snake can strut around the deep swamp, doesn't that mean it's relatively safe here?"

Old Gito gave him a glance.

Before he could continue, he suddenly asked, "Where did you just go? Weren't you supposed to fight alongside Matthew?"

Loralan looked at him innocently. "Come on, I did my part too! You don't seriously want me to go mano a mano with that monster, do you? It's beneath my dignity. Besides, you, an old man, were being chased by such a huge snake. It looked really dangerous, so I wanted to support you, but you ran too fast, and I couldn't catch up."

Old Gito chuckled and didn't say more.

Matthew's gaze was fixed on the distance. There, on the path the giant forest python had traversed, seven or eight zombies were stumbling towards them. One of them stepped into a deep mud pit with its lower half, struggling frantically and sinking deeper.

Matthew noticed that they all had emblems hanging around their necks, so he decided to intervene.

However, this time, Old Gito acted even faster.

With the same short blade used for cutting trees, he stepped forward with precision and slashed at the necks of the zombies.

Plop, plop, plop!

Old Gito's movements were swift and his swordsmanship was skillful. He almost took down all the zombies in one stroke each.

Despite the reduced combat effectiveness of the undead after losing their master, Old Gito's smooth execution impressed Matthew.

He had never had a chance to see the guide take direct action before, so he couldn't gauge Old Gito's strength. After this round, Matthew tentatively judged him to be at least a third-tier ranger or scout, and he might possess some skills from indigenous professions.

This was quite rare.

After all, this rainforest didn't welcome professions like druids or rangers from the north.

Old Gito's seamless adaptation suggested that he had extraordinary qualities.

After slaying the zombies, he didn't claim the emblems for himself but handed them all to Matthew.

"If you find them useful, take them. Just remember, it's best not to reveal your identity as a necromancer to the Jangorians in the deep rainforest. They might not do anything to you, but they will hold a grudge. The peripheral tribes like the Yukka tribe are more manageable, as they didn't participate in the war against necromancers in the past."

Matthew nodded his thanks to Old Gito and took out a piece of cloth to wipe the emblems clean and read them one by one.

...

"I have to say, zombies are much cuter than humans. They just want to take a little bite, and that's enough; whereas humans, if they take a bite, that's just the beginning."

...

"These natives are so annoying, just because they took a whole nest of young feathered serpents? They make noise every day, it's so annoying! I have to give them a warning, but I can't tarnish the reputation of necromancers too much. Hmm, I can use their own kindred bodies to create a stitched monster! No, two!"

...

"A startling discovery - if you release a contracted undead creature, you need to wait 72 hours before you can sign a new contract with it! This is truly a groundbreaking discovery! What's the significance of these 72 hours, a breakup cooling-off period? Hehe, but the genius in me found a new use for this rule! Most of the undead creatures we contract with have intelligence; they actively demand soul crystals, and we usually pay them monthly. Based on this, all we have to do is release them during each month's salary payment, keep them for 72 hours to prevent them from running away or being abducted, and then sign a new contract. According to my observation, most undead creatures will forget about their unpaid wages after re-signing the contract. Wageless undead are just too adorable! Using this method, you can promise an unlimited amount of soul crystals. After all, it's all pie in the sky, so why not make it even bigger? I'm a genius! Praise me, praise me! Hey, even if you praise me, I can't hear it anyway."

...

"I'm an idiot."

...

"Feylog is completely unwilling to talk to me now. I'm such an idiot."

...

"I'm leaving. The legend of the Feathered Serpent God is indeed a sham. I was so foolish. After the ascension of the Heavenly Palace, where can you find real gods in the mortal world? I wanted to extract some divinity from them, but it's no different from seeking demons on the outer planes! Maybe I should try to ascend to godhood myself. But if I do that now, will I also be exiled by the rules left by the Cataclysmic Mage? Ah, if only I were an insider to the Cataclysmic Mage."

...

"I've left some interesting things in the swamp. If you have companions, you can go and retrieve them, but I can't guarantee you won't die. Forever the Undead Girl, Daniya."

...

After reading it, Matthew had an intrigued expression.

It seemed that the alleged legendary necromancer in the deep swamp was a woman. Some earlier clues had briefly led him to think of Ursula, but Ursula had died long ago.

This Daniya should be another powerful necromancer.

The tone of the message she left on the emblem was lighthearted and joyful, which seemed incongruous with the gloomy image of necromancers, but Matthew knew this was the norm. It was precisely because they were usually introverted that they would let loose in messages like this, left for their peers.

He was interested in what Daniya had left behind, but for now, he had to deal with the stubborn Rainforest Spirits who had taken offense.

Matthew put away the emblem and found the corpse of the Blackback Hyenawolf person, then began to summon zombies.

At this point, leaving had no meaning. Wherever they went, they would be attacked by the most formidable beasts recruited by the Rainforest Spirits.

In that case, for defense and counterattack, Matthew would certainly choose the more powerful zombies over skeletons.

Moonlight poured down, and the chants continued.

In the peculiar gazes of Old Gito and Loran, one by one, "Silvermoon Blackback Hyenawolf-person Zombies" rose.

Their Barkskin and Divine Lunar Armor shone brilliantly.

However, neither Old Gito nor Loran asked any questions.

They simply stood silently beside Matthew, waiting for the next wave of attacks.

The night passed quickly.

The expected all-out siege did not come. Matthew only encountered a few sporadic attacks, which he could easily handle without needing to intervene. One by one, A's soldiers resolved them.

Morning arrived.

The rainforest sky gradually became overcast.

Dull thunder rumbled from the heavens, as if millions of people were drumming in the clouds.

The atmosphere on the ground grew increasingly oppressive.

Matthew knew that the Rainforest Spirits were trying to pressure him by controlling the environment.

The real attack had not yet come.

It seemed they wanted to make him yield through various forms of demonstration.

Unfortunately, Matthew had already figured out the rainforest's temperament.

Yielding was not an option.

The best strategy for now was to charge ahead and make the Rainforest Spirits acknowledge his strength.

It was time for recklessness – to make the Rainforest Spirits call him "dad."

In the afternoon, more and more beasts gathered around the high ground.

Most of the beasts were still spectators, but a minority couldn't restrain their impatience and clashed with Matthew.

After several rounds of fierce battles, the losses were devastating for the beasts, but Matthew's undead grew bolder with each battle. When he first arrived in the rainforest, he lacked materials, but with the warm welcome from his new allies, his army of undead continued to grow.

He had become highly proficient at summoning both zombies and skeletons, and his mana consumption had dropped significantly.

Thus, it came to pass.

The chanting continued incessantly throughout the entire afternoon on the high ground.

As dusk approached and the undead figures crowded the edge of the highland, the surrounding beasts fell silent.

...

"Hint: You've summoned a Silvermoon Zombie Tiger using the Necromancy skill. Current total: Zombies 56/Skeletons 22."

...

To be honest, Matthew wasn't entirely satisfied with this number. He still had remaining mana and dark energy and could summon more undead. However, the beasts that had been living in the rainforest for years weren't fools. After seeing the pioneers turning into puppets controlled by the necromancers, they dared not approach.

But they didn't leave either; instead, they lurked nearby, seemingly waiting for an opportunity.

Matthew was patient. He seized every moment when the beasts were not attacking to rest. For instance, now.

Crackling!

The bonfire in the center of the highland was billowing black smoke. The rainforest's humid climate made wet wood burn this way. Originally, Old Gito wouldn't allow them to start a fire in the woods, as it would attract real beasts, but it seemed they no longer cared.

Looking at the numerous undead figures all around, the two had a clear understanding of Matthew's strength.

"So, if you want to deal with a necromancer like you, the best approach is to overwhelm you all at once? Sending people to besiege you is only helping you?" Loran asked.

Beside the campfire, Loran had a little book in his hands. He occasionally glanced at it and, at other times, had a casual chat with Matthew.

Matthew nodded, "As long as it doesn't exceed the threshold, necromancers are least afraid of a numbers game. The more formidable the necromancer, the more this applies."

"I'll remember your words and put them directly into my work. 'The brave Matthew says, Necromancers fear nothing!'" Loran replied.

Matthew observed him with curiosity. Throughout the day, he had seen Loran fight against the beasts. To his surprise, this poet not only played the flute splendidly but also had excellent close combat skills. In the afternoon, Matthew saw him take down a tiger barehanded!

When facing attacks from beasts, Loran showed a relaxed style of dealing with them. Even when surrounded, he could quickly find an opening, distance himself, and save himself. What puzzled Matthew was the fact that Loran never used any melee weapons. In fact, apart from that light-green flute, he didn't use any other weapons at all.

This had led to him never killing a single beast with his own hands. At most, he severely wounded them.

"Could it be that the soul of a wandering bard is at work here?" Matthew thought to himself.

Furthermore, he had noticed that Loran had a strong affinity for the little book in his hands. He concentrated deeply whenever he was reading it.

According to Matthew's observations, the book was thin, appearing to be no more than ten pages long. Loran had been reading it for days, and even if he read slowly, he should have finished it by now. But he hadn't. He was still reading it.

This piqued Matthew's curiosity. So, taking advantage of the calm moments when the beasts were not attacking, he asked, "Loran, I have two questions I want to ask you. If they involve privacy and you don't want to answer, consider me not asking."

Loran's interest was piqued instantly. "Oh? Matthew, after pretending to be indifferent for so many days, are you finally willing to admit that you're interested in me?"

Matthew didn't respond. However, Old Gito, who was beside them, coughed lightly.

Both of them looked over, and Old Gito was holding his pipe as he got up and said, "I'm going to move to the side. You two can chat."

While he said this, he didn't go far and kept his body turned toward them with his ears perked.

Matthew smiled and said, "I'm curious. In the afternoon, you had several chances to kill the beasts, but you didn't. Why is that?"

Loran considered it for a moment. "Well, I'm not refraining from killing out of compassion for the creatures; it's more due to a minor case of hemophobia. It's not too severe, but it does affect my concentration and thinking. When I saw the head of the Plague Emissary in Zesui City, I was totally baffled. To be honest, merely the sight of blood causes a slight decrease in my focus. But if I were to kill a beast myself and witness the scene of blood splattering, I might just faint!"

As for the little book in his hands...

He actually handed the book over, saying, "It's actually a priceless magical item that helps me stay focused."

Matthew opened it and found that each page was filled with exquisite portraits. These portraits depicted women with bare upper bodies. These women had various expressions, not necessarily exceptionally beautiful, but they all shared one common feature—ample bosoms.

"You use this thing to stay focused?" Matthew couldn't believe it.

However, the next moment...

"Hint: You've read Loran's 'The Plump's Book,' and your concentration has increased by +1 (greatly improving your spell success rate)."

Matthew fell into silence.

"This magical item is quite special," he said, passing the little book back to Loran.

With a gentle smile, Loran asked enthusiastically, "Now, it's my turn. For my first question, what's the story with the owl on your chest?"

Matthew answered readily, "Her name is Ayra, and her current condition isn't great. She's here with me to recuperate."

Loran's eyes suddenly lit up. "Her?"

Confused, Matthew looked at him. "You two are quite close?"

Loran's gaze filled with appreciation.

Matthew considered and replied, "I guess so."

Loran clapped his thigh in approval. "I had a hunch you were one of us! You can even lay your hands on an owl. Bravo, Matthew, living up to your reputation as a necromancer, you're quite extravagant!"

Matthew's face darkened.

He was about to explain, but at that moment, the sky suddenly darkened completely. A piercing screech resonated from the distant horizon, and a black shadow streaked rapidly across the sky. Fierce winds began to rampage on the highland.

At the same time, heavy footsteps echoed from deep within the rainforest, along with the thunderous crash of numerous trees falling. From the west, there came the sound of rushing water.

Ayra popped her little head out and exclaimed, "Matthew, Matthew! I sense something dreadful crawling out of the river over there!"

...

"Warning: The Rainforest Spirit is about to launch its final siege on you!

You will encounter 'Prime Species: Wind God Pterosaur (LV15)'!

You will encounter 'Mutant Lord: Spotted Giant Crocodile (LV15)'!

You will encounter 'Prime Species/Mutant Lord: Steel Fang Terror Tyrannosaurus (LV16)'!"

Chapter 64 >>

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