This Necromancer Just Wants to Plant Trees - Chapter 35

"Eli? I was just looking for you," Matthew said, quickly putting his minor annoyance aside.

He addressed Eli, "You mentioned earlier that you had a standoff with a Withered in the woods. What can you tell me about it?"

Eli nodded solemnly, "Her name is Kuna. She used to be a skilled human druid but was abandoned by the spirit of nature after failing three consecutive advancement rituals. This rejection filled her with resentment and anger towards nature, leading her to embrace the opposite side of nature – the Withered, as you know."

There were some things he didn't mention. In recent years, more and more druids were turning into Withered, which was a bad sign.

"Druids are falling into corruption at an alarming rate, while a necromancer is busy planting trees. This world is truly insane," Eli muttered to himself.

Matthew nodded in agreement. His knowledge of the Withered was quite basic, knowing them as a group of fanatics seeking revenge against nature, many of whom were former druids.

"As far as I know, a group called the Withered Cult has set their sights on this area," Matthew continued. "If you could, please tell me more about them."

Eli pondered for a moment and replied, "Withereds tend to form groups, and I'm not sure about the specifics of the Withered Cult. They usually don't appear in large numbers; they often operate in groups of two or three for their destructive actions. This is because Withereds gain power from destroying forests, and if there are too many of them, the power is spread thin. However, they rarely act alone, only doing so during sinister advancement rituals in a specific forest."

As he spoke, Eli looked around, giving a confident answer, "I don't think there will be more than four Withereds attacking. Beyond that number, they wouldn't gain much from turning your oaks into withered trees. I also estimate that the Withered accompanying Kuna in her actions are around third level, not exceeding level 12. This is because a fourth-level Withered emits a pervasive aura of decay that's impossible to conceal. I can smell it from 200 miles away."

Four level-12 Withereds? Matthew now had a better understanding.

Eli's presence had likely delayed the Withereds' attack. Otherwise, he and the Withereds would have already clashed.

"Thank you, Eli. You've been a great help," Matthew said sincerely. "But I'm considering how to deal with these Withereds comprehensively. There's no harm in letting them wait a bit longer while I prepare. I'll definitely need your help when the time comes."

"By the way, it seemed like you had something to tell me earlier," Matthew noted. It was the first time Eli had come to his little cabin.

Indeed, Eli had something to say. He said earnestly, "The food you brought this morning was excellent. The sausage and bread were perfectly cooked, and the milk with honey was delightful. So, I came to thank you."

Matthew smiled and corrected him, "I didn't cook it. Peggy did."

Eli's eyes lit up, "Peggy? Is she your cook? That name sounds like that of a sweet and skilled girl. No wonder the food was so good."

Matthew hesitated for a moment and replied, "Well, Peggy is indeed a great woman..."

Eli, pretending to be modest, said, "Please convey my regards to Miss Peggy and tell her I'm looking forward to tomorrow's food. If there's a chance, I'd like to chat with her in person."

With that, he left, leaving Matthew contemplating what expression to wear.

...

Inside the cabin, Matthew carefully examined Arby's body. After 28 enhancements, Arby had reached level 12. The Blade Dancer's template had granted him exceptional assassination abilities. Matthew believed that Arby would be a nightmare for all squishy targets under the cover of night.

"Just a bit more! A few more trees to plant! Once he reaches level 4, Arby will be a better companion than Little Boil," Matthew thought.

He gently touched the sturdy spine on Arby's back. Arby had grown a thin layer of dark red fibers over the core area of his chest and spine after enduring 28 enhancements. They clung to his high-quality bones, creating a mysterious and eerie appearance under the torchlight.

Arby's cloak had also grown larger and thicker, with two large red swan velvet-like materials added to the bottom and around the neck. Arby now had an air of magnificence.

Matthew decided to replace Arby's contract with a higher-level one. Arby currently had a temporary contract, just like the skeletal soldiers he had previously summoned – he could be summoned and dismissed at will. While this type of contract was affordable and versatile, it was not conducive to the long-term synergy between a necromancer and his summoned creatures.

Matthew had been observing Arby's growth, and now he felt that Arby deserved to occupy one of his contract slots permanently. From now on, Arby would be his exclusive contracted undead summon, just like Peggy and Little Boil.

"Contract replacement successful. Contract slots -1, Exclusive Contract Creatures +1. Current contract slots: 3/5. You have paid one soul crystal as a reward for Arby's hard work for the next three months. Arby is grateful, and his loyalty has increased to 105!"

"Thanks to your keen eye, nurturing, and generous support, Arby has shared his ability, 'Night Cloak,' with you."

"Night Cloak (Weakened): You gain a cloak that can enter a strong invisible state anytime, anywhere. While in this invisible state, you cannot be targeted or attacked (but may still be damaged by area attacks). Duration: 45 seconds."

Matthew was thrilled. "Arby has truly outperformed himself, even better than Little Boil."

Testing the cooldown time of the Night Cloak, Matthew found that he had to wait seven minutes before using it again. Though it was quite long, given that this ability was acquired through a soul crystal exchange, Matthew was more than satisfied.

He also tried the Night Cloak's effect. When activated, he felt as though he had entered a liquid medium, surrounded by a blurry and fluid-like substance. There was a profound barrier between him and the material world, which he could easily break at will. Unlike the invisibility ring that made him immobile and slowed him down while invisible, the Night Cloak allowed him to move at a normal pace while invisible.

Matthew even walked past Eli, who had an extremely keen sense. Eli jumped up instantly, and with a twitch of his nose, he then lazily lay back down, saying, "Next time, remember to take a bath or apply some perfume."

Eli proudly remarked, "I've remembered your scent, necromancer. Your invisibility is not bad, but as I've said, we druids are the true rulers of the jungle."

Matthew shrugged and walked away, confident that not everyone had Eli's extraordinary sense of smell.

Next, he tested the cooldown time for the Night Cloak – seven minutes before he could use it again. While it was a bit long, Matthew was content, considering that it was an ability obtained through a soul crystal exchange.

...

In the underground insect nest, deep within the third level of the Blackthorn, a strong wind blew. The gusts scattered the thick layers of fallen leaves on the ground, revealing the varying degrees of decay in the bone remnants hidden beneath.

Samantha stood by the tunnel's edge and explained, "These corpses have already been purified, so you don't need to worry about any lingering infection from the Madthorn bugs."

Matthew nodded and without further ado began summoning his minions. It didn't take long for a group of skeletal soldiers, tottering and yet surprisingly spirited, to appear before him.

There were a total of twelve of them.

This was the maximum number of undead creatures of the same kind Matthew could maintain after removing his exclusive contract summon. A necromancer's summoning limit could be increased, especially if they advanced their skills. If Matthew had already advanced, he could have summoned up to eighteen of these skeletal soldiers. Most necromancers adhered to this formula for summoning limits. Only a few could surpass these limits, usually due to exceptional artifacts, mastery of specific fields, or legendary status.

"Time to add another soldier. I can't wait to see what you can do," Matthew thought, examining his skeletal minions.

Not long ago, Samantha had informed him that she hadn't yet compiled all the information about the Sughorn, but she was ready to help him complete his group of skeletal soldiers. Considering the mounting tension in Rolling Stone Town, Matthew readily agreed.

While skillfully controlling the unfamiliar skeletal soldiers, Matthew casually asked, "By the way, where's Eli?"

Samantha's expression remained indifferent as she replied, "We've broken up."

Matthew was taken aback. "What? You two used to be a couple?"

It didn't seem likely at all. The image he had in his head from their previous meetings didn't match that of a couple. Matthew couldn't help but remember the details and awkwardness of their interactions.

However, putting together what he had observed and Eli's appearance in the Oakwood, he had a rough idea of what had transpired, and his admiration for Eli grew.

"What kind of person do you think Eli is?" he asked.

Samantha thought for a moment and answered, "He's a good person, but not right for me. He's kind, honest, and strong, which is great. But he's overly controlling, and I often felt like I was just his subordinate when I was with him. It was unpleasant, and that's why we broke up."

Matthew nodded. "But he'd make a good friend, wouldn't he?"

Samantha seemed uncertain and said, "Maybe, but he's quite proud, and people might easily misunderstand him. Why are you so interested in Eli? You've asked so many questions. Are you interested in him?"

She gazed at Matthew with wide eyes, and he hastily waved his hands. "No, not at all. I'm just curious."

He contemplated whether he should tell Samantha about Eli working for him now. Samantha, however, casually began to say her goodbyes.

"Well then, I've completed your group of skeletal soldiers. If you need more corpses, look for similar tree pits on other levels; those are the ones Eli and I have purified."

She transformed into a leopard before saying, "I'll organize the information on Sughorn for you as soon as possible. Thanks for your guidance. Goodbye, Matthew."

With that, she disappeared.

Matthew watched her receding form and shook his head. "She's a stubborn woman."

Just as he was lost in thought, Ella, who had been looking wilted for days, suddenly flapped her wings and exclaimed, "Matthew! Matthew!"

"Are you finally excited to go on a killing spree with your newly fortified troops?" Matthew asked in surprise.

Ella replied, "Now that you have an army, are you finally preparing to unleash destruction?"

Matthew looked puzzled and said, "Where did you see that I have a strong army? These skeletons are far from top-notch, and they aren't as experienced as my previous ones."

Ella pleaded, "Then, can we kill a couple of bugs today before we go?"

Matthew reluctantly nodded. "Fine."

Despite his reluctance, he knew he couldn't spare much time on anything other than dealing with the Withered threat.

Three minutes later, as Matthew watched a freshly summoned skeletal soldier clumsily destroy a Madthorn nest by the roadside, successfully killing two Madthorn larva emerging from it, he turned to Ella with a smile.

"Can we call it a day now?"

Ella was at a loss for words.

...

The next day, at the Craftsmen Protection Association's headquarters, Matthew swiftly crossed the grand hall. Following the directions of the receptionist, he ascended the stairs and headed for the third floor. As he passed the second floor, however, he abruptly stopped, inexplicably drawn toward the locksmith's office.

Just as before, the office door was left slightly ajar.

Behind the desk, an older gentleman was reading a book. Richard looked up and met Matthew's gaze even before he approached the door.

"Need another lock to be picked?" he inquired.

This time, Richard was more straightforward, for he had noticed Matthew's presence even before he reached the door.

Matthew answered with a smile, "No, I'm here to find a blacksmith. I just happened to drop by and say hello."

He set out a few fruits from the bags he carried.

The man looked at the fruit, then at Matthew, and asked, "You seeking a blacksmith? Did one of your summoned creatures turn into an assassin?"

Richard's guess seemed uncannily close to the mark.

Matthew knew he couldn't hide the truth from the perceptive locksmith, so he admitted, "Congratulations! It seems you have quite a keen eye. You know, it's a bit complicated."

But he was aware of the scarcity of top-tier blacksmiths. It was worth trying to befriend Richard.

Richard snorted, "Your little gift doesn't sway me. I've seen many good things in my younger days; some fruits won't win me over. So, what can I do for you?"

Matthew decided to be upfront and replied, "I need to have two daggers crafted."

"Daggers?" Richard asked, puzzled. "Has one of your summoned creatures given birth to an assassin?"

It seemed like Richard was drawing closer to the truth.

Matthew didn't hesitate and nodded, "You've got it. My new summon is a blade dancer. Could you help me find a skilled blacksmith?"

"Skilled blacksmiths are scarce," Richard stated, "but I might have someone in mind. There's a man they call Old Forger. He's the vice president of the 'Veterans Aid Association' and used to accompany Raygar into the Purgatory. He's a master blacksmith, but he hasn't done any work outside for years. However, I can try to introduce you to him."

Matthew accepted the recommendation with gratitude. Richard, however, said seriously, "This isn't a favor I'm offering for free, Matthew. Remember, the battle you mentioned, the one where you're up against the three major organizations with letters of war, is unusual. You must have heard of a curse known as the 'Intellectual Puzzle Lock.' Many vital pieces of knowledge, historical events, and accessible history have been sealed away by this curse. Even if those memories exist in people's minds, only those with an intelligence score of 15 or higher, especially mages, have a chance to recall them. So, you see, this is a world created by spellcasters. You were fortunate to have escaped one of the three major curses left by the gods. Do you recall something now?"

Matthew was astonished. He had indeed remembered a vast amount of related information. Yet, until this moment, these memories seemed nonexistent within him. Richard's explanation left him flabbergasted.

Richard continued, "That curse, the 'Intellectual Puzzle Lock,' hid a great deal of valuable knowledge and significant history. Even if it resided in many people's minds at some point, only those with intelligence scores of 15 or higher could have a chance to remember it, particularly mages. I mentioned this to show that this world was shaped by spellcasters. You are the only one who might be able to remember something now. Do you recall what it is?"

Matthew was astounded, trying to remember. Seconds later, his face revealed an astonished expression.

"I remember," he said, "but how is this possible?"

These memories were now accessible, and they had been locked away. Richard explained that this was due to a curse set by the gods themselves before their departure.

If the memory lock were broken, any trapped memories would resurface. Richard informed Matthew that he might be the only person in the world capable of doing so due to his lack of exposure to one of the three great curses.

As Matthew recalled the memories, the world around him changed, revealing hidden knowledge that only a few could access.

Chapter 36 >>

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