This Necromancer Just Wants to Plant Trees - Chapter 38

Due to recently residing in a wooden cabin outside the city and receiving occasional visitors, Matthew decided to designate Mondays and Tuesdays as his days off.

On these two days, he would return home and take care of various matters related to the town.

However, he didn't expect that his first day off would bring more visitors than he could count on one hand.

Fortunately, the living room was spacious enough to accommodate everyone.

After initial greetings, Matthew went one by one to inquire about the purpose of their visit.

Sylvie had come to study, and the value of an advanced magic satchel clearly outweighed a rushed history lesson. In fact, Matthew was prepared to offer her special lessons for half a year because there was no other option – her arrival was both a blessing and a challenge.

Riga's visit was intriguing. Matthew estimated that this father and daughter had been causing quite a ruckus at home. In the end, Riga agreed to accompany Sylvie for lessons at Matthew's house every Monday, provided he also attended as a student. Matthew didn't mind, as long as Riga didn't disrupt the class.

As for the other visitors, Bradley had come to ask if Matthew needed assistance from the town's guard. He knew that Matthew had been staying in the Oakwood Forest, and he had coincidentally received orders to enhance the patrols. So, he came to inquire if Matthew needed support from the guard.

Zeller and Richard's intentions were clearly related to the "Looting Ritual" that Matthew had remembered. As for Samantha, she had likely brought the organized Suyan materials according to the agreement.

In the living room, Matthew's brain was spinning rapidly as he prepared to prioritize their receptions based on the urgency of their matters.

At this moment, Sylvie stood up obediently and said, "Matthew, since you have so many guests, I'll go to the kitchen with Peggy and have a chat."

With that, she intended to drag a bewildered Riga to the kitchen with her. But just then, Zeller, who had been smiling all along, spoke up, "Wait a moment, I just took a look outside, and it seems there's nothing particularly urgent for you to find Matthew, right? I heard Sylvie came here for lessons, and I've always been interested in Mr. Matthew's history classes. If you don't mind, you can teach Sylvie first, and we can listen in. Isn't that a novel experience?"

Perhaps due to his extraordinary charm, Zeller's suggestion received unanimous agreement from the others.

"Yeah, I've heard Matthew's classes are quite popular. Unfortunately, I never had the chance to attend," commented Bradley, scratching his beard with genuine interest.

Richard elegantly placed his cane to the side and said, "I have no objections."

Riga, who was originally here to observe, naturally remained silent.

That left only Samantha.

Matthew looked at her with an inquiring gaze, and she smiled, saying, "My knowledge of history is almost non-existent. If you don't mind, I'd love to sit down and listen."

The previously bustling living room quickly fell silent. All eyes were now focused on Matthew, filled with curiosity.

Matthew treated the living room as if it were a school and the adults as if they were children.

He took out the thick history book he had prepared for Sylvie and was about to open it to begin his lesson when a soft voice came from the kitchen.

"Matthew, make sure to make it exciting. The first lesson is free, but you'll have to charge per head for the rest."

Matthew couldn't help but smile. He cleared his throat and began, "Last time, I talked to Sylvie about the 'Division of the Hundred Cities,' a historical event that is well-known to all. It marked the pinnacle of the Seven Saints' influence over the various city-states on the continent.

Its significance is undeniable. After the division, every major city on the continent had at least one Seven Saints' mage as their protector. These mages made invaluable contributions to the development and construction of their respective cities.

Even a hundred years later, people still remember the contributions of these mages. However, the post-division period did not unfold entirely as the Seven Saints had envisioned. In the execution of their plan, numerous flaws appeared, leading to several disputes within the alliance regarding whether to continue with their strategies.

From a post-event perspective, the plan was, in fact, a failure. Even hundreds of years after the gods had departed, the most extensive human organization on the continent remained the loosely-knit 'Seven Saints Alliance,' which essentially functioned as a mage organization.

The 'Human Kingdom' was merely a title created by the Seven Saints Alliance. In reality, there was no human power on this continent that qualified to be called a 'kingdom.'

We have villages, cities, estates, and lords, but we lack nations and kings. Yet, all of this was made possible by the gods."

Matthew paused, taking a sip of water and gauging the reactions of the six listeners present.

Half of them – Sylvie, Bradley, and Samantha – appeared puzzled. Their knowledge of history was quite limited, and this was all new to them.

The other three wore thoughtful expressions, clearly reflecting a more extensive understanding of the topic. Obviously, this was a difference in life experience.

"Isn't that the way it should be?" Samantha boldly asked, encouraged by Matthew's supportive gaze. "Whether it's humans, elves, or druids, we're all doing fine now. What I mean is, the city-state system seems to be working well. People can coexist without disturbing each other, so why do we have to form a kingdom?"

Matthew didn't answer right away. Instead, he looked at Riga. Surprisingly, Riga, too, was quite serious and spoke up, "From the perspective of societal organization, a kingdom that can control more city-states and their resources is undoubtedly a more advanced, resilient, and powerful entity than independent city-states. I've traveled to otherworldly realms, and many places there are more developed than us. The most straightforward example is that if a kingdom made up of multiple city-states declares war on an independent city-state, the latter is almost guaranteed to be defeated."

Matthew nodded in agreement. "We all know the strength in numbers. As a social species, the organizational structure that allows more people to band together will not be worse than a lone wolf strategy. In fact, the transition from individual city-states to a collective entity of multiple city-states was an inevitability in the development of history. This can be confirmed by the development of other planes or worlds, although we have limited data on the subject, the Seven Saints Alliance collected quite a bit."

Sylvie looked puzzled. "So why hasn't a kingdom developed on the continent even today? Weren't the gods exiled long ago?"

Matthew replied in a serious tone, "What I'm about to say, you might forget after hearing it today, but that's okay. Forgetting doesn't mean the truth ceases to exist.

We all know that 470 years ago, the founder of the Seven Saints Alliance, a great figure whose name remains a mystery to this day – we commonly refer to her as the first and only 'Cataclysmic Mage' in human history – was infuriated by the gods' lack of progress and their enslavement of mortals. With her own hands, she planned and executed the most spectacular performance by a spellcaster in history – the 'Ascension of the Heavenly Palace.'

Before the Ascension of the Heavenly Palace, our world had been stuck in the 'Age of Enlightenment,' as defined by the gods, for a staggering two thousand years. During this time, human society had made no progress of any kind. The ancestors of humanity were fishing in rivers and farming the land 2,000 years ago, and their descendants still used the same fishing tools and farming techniques.

The world at that time was stagnant, and time had no significance. In the early stages of the Age of Enlightenment, the gods, who had divided power and faith among themselves, set boundaries and enforced concepts on all things. They treated this world as their own pasture, only interested in harvesting the belief of sentient beings, and they had no intention of seeing any meaningful progress in their faithful followers.

At that time, life was meaningless. The gods could not be overthrown, and people couldn't even conceive of the idea. Until the arrival of the 'Cataclysmic Mage.'

On that day, all the idols on this continent collapsed with a deafening crash. Countless shrines and temples rose from the ground, and the Heavenly Palace, a symbol of the former glory of the gods, soared into the sky, carrying their will and ascending to the highest point of the starry realm.

People knelt in fear around the temples; they had no idea what was happening.

In fact, even to this day, we still don't know what happened that day. What we do know is that after that day, most divine entities on this world, touched by the divine, were permanently banished by the Cataclysmic Mage.

This is the 'Ascension of the Heavenly Palace.'"

Matthew narrated calmly, but the sheer wonder of the historical event astonished all the listeners.

Even Riga and Zeller, who had heard of the Ascension of the Heavenly Palace, only had a vague understanding that it marked the gods' departure. They were unaware that the gods had been exiled.

It was even more unbelievable that a mere human mage had achieved this incredible feat.

"Is this... a myth?" Riga murmured. "I thought it was the original Seven Saints who negotiated with the gods."

Matthew smiled and shook his head. "The original Seven Saints were strong, but they weren't strong enough to negotiate with the gods. In fact, in history, they were disciples of the Cataclysmic Mage."

"After the departure of the gods, our world finally began to change. Farmers invented new farming tools and discovered higher-yield crops. Fishing boats appeared on the seas and rivers, and we had fishing nets, harpoons, and various advanced fishing gear. Tailors found better materials for making clothes. Craftsmen improved their techniques and production processes. Cities rose from the ground, and human interactions became more interconnected.

If we follow the natural course of development..."

It was high time for the first true human kingdom to emerge. Yet, the absent gods were not content with that. After the Cataclysmic Mage's departure, they cast three curses upon this land, attempting to slow the world's transformation and ensure that their definition of "concepts" would endure."

Upon hearing this, everyone's expressions turned grave. Matthew's enchanting and bold narrative had left them both amazed and profoundly curious about the gods' curses.

Matthew continued without delay. "I only know two of the three major curses, with the last one not even mentioned in the books given to me by Archmage Ronan. The two I know are called the 'Intellectual Enigma' and the 'Civilization Enigma.'"

He began by explaining the 'Intellectual Enigma' and then moved on to the 'Civilization Enigma':

"Both curses, much like the gods' other curses, invisibly strip away an integral part of our humanity. The 'Intellectual Enigma' erases the memory capacity of all humans with intelligence below 15 points, hindering their ability to retain historical knowledge. The 'Civilization Enigma,' on the other hand, blocks the potential for human civilization to advance."

Matthew looked at Riga as he spoke, "Lord Riga, as the ruler of Blackthorn Town, governing a vast territory that includes sixteen villages, two trading posts, and more, have you ever considered expanding the borders of Blackthorn Town? Have you thought about incorporating the surrounding cities? Do you desire more power?"

Riga furrowed his brow in contemplation for a moment before shaking his head emphatically, "My reason tells me that it might not be a bad idea, but for some reason, I can't muster the enthusiasm for territorial expansion. Is this the effect of the 'Civilization Enigma'?"

Matthew nodded, "If it were only you with a disinterest in expansion, it might be coincidental. However, the fact that almost all lords lack the ambition to conquer the world shows that the curse's power is at play."

Samantha chimed in, "Isn't it a good thing that there's no war? At least there won't be so many people displaced and torn apart."

Matthew responded seriously, "From an individual standpoint, it does seem like a good thing. But the laws of nature are undeniable. If our civilization remains stagnant, one day, it might suddenly die out, whether due to an accident or an invasion by external forces. This isn't mere fear-mongering; it's a statement directly from the Cataclysmic Mage within the Seven Saints Alliance.

I think, having come from beyond the stars, she must have witnessed the rise and fall of civilizations. Her decision to exile the gods may not have been fueled by anger, but rather, something else."

Samantha paused, pondering the implications. "Are you suggesting that our world might face an invasion from external enemies in the future? In the face of such foes, only by organizing ourselves into kingdoms can humans and other races hope to resist?"

Matthew blinked, "There is indeed such a possibility. The Seven Saints Alliance has speculated on this matter, but it remains conjecture for now. The existence of Hell and the Abyss has been confirmed, and if one day, demons or devils invade our world without divine protection, it would be challenging to defend ourselves with our own strength.

In any case, the era of the gods has long passed, and even if their curses remain, their power will continue to wane.

According to Archmage Ronan's predictions, our world is on the cusp of rapid change. At any moment, our world might experience a dramatic transformation. To be born in this era, I consider it fortunate. At the very least, compared to our ancestors, we have the opportunity to change the world with our own power, and perhaps... to redefine some new concepts."

Samantha gazed at Matthew thoughtfully, "Like 'nature'?"

Matthew smiled, closing the book, "That's a topic for a future lesson."

Peggy, who seemed to have appeared out of nowhere, chimed in, "That's right, it's paid content!"

With the lesson concluded, the living room fell silent, and all present silently contemplated the profound information that Matthew had shared.

Matthew himself used this time to reinforce his memory. His intellect was sufficient to bypass the 'Intellectual Enigma,' but he had a risk of forgetting, and teaching was an excellent way to strengthen his memory, the primary reason he had no objections to giving a lesson tonight.

...

Ten minutes later, Matthew received a bag of Suyan materials from Samantha and saw her off. As they reached the door, Samantha suddenly gazed into his eyes, "Is Eli with you now?"

Matthew calmly explained, "He is working as a ranger at my place temporarily as a token of gratitude for introducing him to the domain."

Samantha nodded thoughtfully, "Is your Oakwood domain the place of his awakening?"

Matthew nodded.

"You have a unique domain of your own, and that oak forest is also special. Perhaps I should find some time to visit."

Samantha bit her lip and left these words before transforming into a jaguar and leaping away.

...

The last to leave was Bradley. Matthew was appreciative of the fact that the bearded man always remembered him. They discussed for a while, but Matthew ultimately declined Bradley's proposal to increase patrols near Oakwood Forest. It could raise unnecessary suspicion.

Instead, Matthew suggested setting up a hidden watchtower not far from the forest, where guards would be on duty most of the time. In case of any combat within the forest, Bradley would receive immediate notification, allowing him to come to aid.

Bradley agreed to this and assured Matthew that the watchtower would be in place by the following night. It put Matthew at ease.

...

Finally, it was Zeller and Richard's turn.

"Matthew, following your theory about the activation ritual, we've selected three iconic buildings: the 'Giant Windmill' at the North Trade Post, the 'Bald Vulture Inn' at the South Trade Post, and the 'Seven Saints Square' in Blackthorn Town.

If any gruesome incidents occur at these three locations, it will shock the entire town. Currently, we have intensified surveillance and patrols around these areas."

Zeller continued, "Besides, our plan needs to be set in motion. Are you ready?"

Matthew knew that their plan meant him assuming the role of Ronan, creating a sense of mystery and delaying the criminal activities of the evil organization.

"I'm personally okay with it, but please, tell me your plan."

Matthew responded.

"Spring Festival is approaching, and as we all know, every year during Spring Festival, Archmage Ronan celebrates the arrival of spring with enormous spell fireworks at the Seven Saints Square and the North and South Trade Posts, as well as in some smaller villages."

Zeller calmly explained, "In fact, for the past few years, Ronan has been too busy to attend the Spring Festival celebrations in Blackthorn Town, and his apprentices have handled the spell fireworks. To ensure the festivities go on without a hitch, he's prepared for this. There are still spell-firework devices stored in the town hall's warehouse. Thus, the release of fireworks itself is not a problem.

This year, we haven't been able to reach Ronan, and his apprentices have been unresponsive. To play his role, the crucial part is not replicating his appearance perfectly. Using makeup for that is hard to fool anyone. We need magical assistance."

Matthew shook his head, "I have no knowledge of transmutation magic."

Zeller smiled gently, "I don't either. But I have an alternative method. Since our goal is to create confusion and not necessarily convince them completely, we don't need to be too realistic. We only need to maintain their doubts, not make them genuinely believe that Ronan is there.

I'll do my best to make you look like Ronan, and I'll use mirror magic to project your image to various locations in Blackthorn Town. The spell fireworks will be triggered by others. What you need to do is exude the presence of a great mage as much as possible. After all, you are the only mage we can find in Blackthorn Town."

Matthew contemplated for a while with his hands together and finally agreed to Zeller's plan.

This plan didn't carry much risk, and if it could deter the evil organization, it would be a significant accomplishment.

At that moment, the two men discussed many details until late into the night. When they parted ways, Zeller reluctantly left, and Richard, who was nearly falling asleep from exhaustion, followed him.

Sylvia had been taken home early by Riga.

After all the guests had left, a serene atmosphere prevailed in the living room.

Matthew sat alone, relishing the sweet tranquility.

As he sat there, he felt something inexplicably powerful prying open his chest. The scene before his eyes gradually began to blur.

In an instant, he realized that the gray comma within the Taiji symbol had reached its limit.

Now, countless gray dots were jumping out of it!

"Notification: You are now accessing the 'Death' subdomain, 'The Undying'!"

Chapter 39 >>

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