This Necromancer Just Wants to Plant Trees - Chapter 29

"The first thing is that when I went to visit our neighbor late last night, I happened to notice the Lord's Guard leaving through the eastern gate of the mage district. They were fully armed and well-prepared, numbering around twenty people. I doubt they were out for a leisurely stroll," Peggy said.

Matthew nodded slightly.

The Lord's Guard was the absolute elite force of the Bloodthorn Family, operating independently from the town's regular guards and answering only to Lord Raga.

Most of the time, they rarely left the camp near the Lord's estate, except in times of war or rebellion.

"Raga has been plotting something for the past half month, it seems," Matthew remarked.

Peggy shrugged. "I can't say for sure, but I'm following your request to share any interesting or suspicious signs I come across."

"But if your assessment is correct, then the traitor involved is likely not a minor figure. They might even be a knight with their own lands, as there'd be no need for such a large force otherwise," Matthew agreed.

"This matter, though important, doesn't concern us. What's the next one?" he asked.

"The next matter is even more crucial!" Peggy looked at Matthew with utmost seriousness. "Matthew, you need to find a job!"

Matthew was taken aback. "Is our money running low?"

Peggy handed him a stack of bills and a ledger filled with various items and numbers. It made Matthew's head spin.

"These are the accounts for the last quarter and the budget I just prepared for the next one. Let's start with income. Your recent outings have brought in some one-time earnings, totaling about seven hundred gold coins. However, since you took a leave from the University of Sivervale, Principal Rayne stopped your double salary, and you're only receiving a monthly subsidy from the local constabulary, which amounts to just fifty gold coins. Keep these numbers in mind. Now, let's talk about expenses."

"As for food and accommodation, you have high standards for three square meals a day, and I've been trying various recipes to keep you satisfied. However, many of the ingredients are quite expensive. Fortunately, the fairies occasionally bring fresh vegetables and delicacies. Even so, we're still spending quite a bit each month. Your food expenses are approximately five gold coins per month, and I need to purchase Negativity Stones to sustain my life and energy. I've been trying to cut down on consumption, but that still costs us around twenty-five gold coins per month. In total, our monthly food expenses are roughly thirty gold coins."

Peggy exclaimed, "This is too extravagant!"

Matthew rubbed his nose and agreed, "Indeed, it is."

"However, the most significant expense is the greenhouse. To ripen a large number of seeds and nurture them into saplings, you need to keep the growth enchantment in the greenhouse running continuously. This requires a considerable amount of Silver Powder and Sunstones, costing over a hundred gold coins per month. And that doesn't even include the cost of buying new seeds. Furthermore, you're planning to purchase a full set of attribute-enhancing scrolls, and even with a discount from that androgynous mage in White Rock City, it will still cost you two hundred gold coins for the whole set. I know you want to buy new spellbooks, a better bag for your magical implements, and that ring that boosts your energy limit. If you continue on this path, our savings will be depleted within seven months. We'll go bankrupt, Matthew!"

Peggy appeared extremely anxious, lacking any sense of security.

Matthew considered it. "I've also calculated our expenses, and one thing you might have missed is that the main source of our financial gap is the greenhouse. But after this spring, I'll significantly reduce the greenhouse's energy consumption..."

Peggy interjected, "But even with that, we won't make ends meet, will we?"

Matthew shrugged and admitted, "True."

"Moreover, your biggest expenditure will be buying the entire set of attribute-enhancing scrolls. Even with a discount from the person in White Rock City, that alone will cost you two hundred gold coins. I also know you want to purchase new spellbooks, get a better magical implement bag, and that ring to increase your energy limit. At this rate, your savings will be depleted in seven months. We'll be bankrupt, Matthew!"

Peggy exclaimed, "We're in dire straits!"

Matthew sighed. "I agree. We need to find a way to stabilize our finances and generate income quickly. Any ideas, Peggy?"

Peggy yawned and seemed disinterested. "How should I know? I'm just a clueless skeleton."

"Goodnight, Matthew."

...

The next night.

Matthew returned home early after a day of work in the woods.

After having dinner and taking a shower, he picked up a book and waited in the living room.

Although the book's content wasn't dull, Matthew found himself distracted.

He was primarily thinking about how to delicately persuade Sivervale not to visit him so frequently.

He had a favorable impression of Sivervale and didn't want to hurt her feelings.

At seven in the evening, almost the same time Sivervale had visited the previous day, he heard a bell ringing outside.

Matthew put the book down and quickly rose to answer the door. However, what he found outside the gate was a different woman.

"Samantha?"

Matthew was somewhat surprised, staring at the unexpected guest.

"Please forgive my intrusion, and don't blame Ella. It was my earnest request to her to reveal your address."

Samantha appeared fatigued but had an unusual spark in her eyes.

She was dressed in a human-style outfit that didn't quite fit, displaying a slight trembling in her chest.

"I feel somewhat out of place in human gatherings. Could I come in?" Samantha asked softly.

"Of course..."

Before Matthew could open the door, a furious roar erupted nearby. "No!"

A man approached while shouting, "Samantha, what are you doing? Why are you coming to this necromancer's house?"

Matthew silently watched as the man approached.

"You see, this..." Samantha looked at him and paused.

Next moment, her expression shifted from unease to anger.

"Elai, I warned you, not to, follow, me!" Samantha's voice sounded like a terrifying growl.

She turned and charged at Elai, every step causing her to grow larger. After three steps, she transformed into a massive brown bear, over three meters tall.

"Please wait, Mr. Matthew," Samantha turned and said, her tone gentle and apologetic.

"You've never spoken to me like this before," Elai continued to accuse, but Samantha had already transformed into a bear and grabbed Elai's body. She carried him off into the distance.

Within moments, the two figures disappeared.

Only a deep imprint remained on the cobblestone ground.

Ten minutes later, a dark shadow appeared at the end of the imprint.

It was a spotted leopard. She leaped gracefully in front of Matthew.

"I'm sorry, but Elai won't bother us anymore."

Matthew contemplated for a moment but ultimately didn't say anything.

He politely led Samantha into the living room.

"Peggy, we have a visitor!"

Matthew called out.

Peggy emerged reluctantly from the kitchen. She glanced at Samantha, huffed in response, then went back to the kitchen to fetch a glass of iced coffee.

Just then, another bell rang outside.

"Sorry to keep you waiting," Matthew said as he went to open the door.

This time, it was indeed Sylph.

Today, she was not wearing the dark red cloak but a white dress. She was tall and elegant, with a slender figure and a sweet smile that exuded a healing aura.

"Good evening, Matthew!"

Sylph greeted with a smile.

Matthew returned the greeting with a smile, "Good evening."

"Well, let's come inside and talk, shall we?"

He stepped aside to let her in.

Sylph took a step forward.

But in the process, she suddenly turned and looked at the alleyway across the street, her face revealing a hint of helplessness.

"Matthew, can you wait for me for a moment?"

She hurriedly went over to the alley.

In the shadowy alley, Sylph poked a section of the wall. In the next moment, a red blanket appeared on the wall.

The blanket fell, revealing a middle-aged man who looked embarrassed.

"Father, you promised me not to interfere with my freedom," Sylph said, her voice filled with resentment.

Rayga's face turned red, and he quickly argued, "But you also promised me that you would take care of your safety!"

Sylph widened her eyes and said, "But I'm just going to Matthew's house. It's not a dangerous place!"

Rayga had a pained expression on his face, realizing that, for him, this was perhaps the most dangerous place in Rockstone Town.

However, he didn't dare to say that to Sylph. In their previous arguments and discussions, they indeed had an agreement, and he was the one who had violated it.

So, he had to cajole her to soothe her displeasure.

"I promise you, I'll leave now."

At last, Rayga reluctantly touched Sylph's head. Under her gaze, he left this street.

Yet, in less than five minutes, he made a U-turn.

"Curse that necromancer!"

Rayga muttered under his breath, but he was genuinely unable to do anything against Matthew.

He watched as Sylph's figure and Matthew's smiling face disappeared behind the door, and his anxiety grew stronger.

"No, I can't just wait here. I need to see what they're doing! The living room, they are in the living room. I need to find a place where I can see the living room!" Rayga's gaze frantically searched his surroundings.

Soon, he spotted a house with a high chimney and a red roof. Rayga was agile and leaped onto the roof.

He climbed up the brick steps, advancing step by step. Until he reached the top of the roof.

Suddenly, he realized he could get a better view of the living room. Rayga's eyes grew wild as he ascended higher.

He kept climbing until he reached the peak of the roof.

Then it happened.

He collided with a similarly stealthy and wild figure.

The man wore an expression of dissatisfaction and his eyes glinted with ferocity.

When Rayga bumped into him, the man was also intensely focused on Matthew's living room.

Rayga was momentarily stunned, then he seemed to recall something and anger surged in his heart.

He grabbed the man's shoulder and asked, "Has your daughter also gone inside?"

"...".

"Good news, my family members are recovering from the fever. The bad news is, I've caught it now, and I've been running a fever of about 39 degrees for a whole day. Maybe because I'm a Morning Sun, the symptoms are milder. For the next few days, I might still be a 4K party, but I'll recover as soon as possible. Sorry."

Chapter 30 >>

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