This Necromancer Just Wants to Plant Trees - Chapter 21 (Patreon)

"Thanks for the gift, Mother Nature!"

Matthew placed a hand over his chest, paying his respects towards the freshly buried Blackthorn.

It was clear that the three newfound abilities he had gained came from the arsonist they had encountered. Moreover, they were incredibly practical.

"Fire Resistance" could reduce flame damage.

"Swift Legs" improved his mobility.

And "Tenacity" provided him with enhanced constitution and resilience, something Matthew had longed for.

Considering the performance Blackthorn had displayed when he had taken a blade to the back, it was evident that the arsonist possessed more than one ability or characteristic that bolstered his durability. Matthew was more than content with just one.

"As of now, the gifts from Mother Nature seem to have no adverse effects. When I use the Oakfield Aura to perceive, I've discovered a principle: 'Each oak tree can only bury one body in the short term.'"

Matthew's mind started to churn with ideas. Although he had no intention of turning the oak grove into a new cemetery, he certainly wouldn't pass up the opportunity if he found a suitable corpse in the future.

The only regret was that choosing "Gifts from Mother Nature" meant abandoning the opportunity to obtain the corpse of a necromantic creature. In a way, Matthew sensed that this power was subtly guiding him toward the 'righteous path,' even if the manner in which it granted its gifts was somewhat unusual.

...

In the following days, Matthew diligently planted trees, and Peggy followed him closely. Every day, she gazed longingly at him, hoping that he would change his mind.

However, Matthew chose to ignore her, even to the point of pushing her away. And when she got too close, Alby would unexpectedly jump out from a corner and give her a little poke, sending Peggy into a frenzy of flapping feathers.

Of course, Alby had no intention of harming her. Under Matthew's guidance, he considered Peggy as a practice target for ambushes. Every time he struck, he immediately vanished into the shadows, leaving Peggy scared and reluctant to approach the ground.

But regardless of Matthew's attempts to scare Peggy away, the owl remained steadfast, following him closely and trying to seize every opportunity to persuade him to join the Moonlight Society.

However, times change.

It wasn't until six days later, during a moonlit night, that Matthew finally found Peggy and expressed his willingness to give her a chance. The condition was simple: she had to tell the truth.

"Why did you leave Moonshadow Grove to find me? I want to hear the truth."

Matthew scrutinized Peggy's eyes, and she tucked her feathers back and hesitated.

...

"It was the will of the Moonlight Goddess. That day, when I drove you away, I received a punishment unlike any before. She struck me with lightning a hundred times and banished me from Moonshadow Grove."

"I must bring you back! If I don't complete this task within a month, I will lose my spirituality and be permanently exiled. I will become a mindless beast... Please, Matthew, I really know I was wrong!"

"For the sake of the Moonlight Goddess, I beg you to join the Moonlight Society!"

Peggy pleaded desperately. Matthew thought for a moment and then decided to return to Moonshadow Grove. He knew very little about the gods of this world, and there seemed to be no Moonlight Goddess in the games of his past life. Since he had the opportunity to make contact now, he couldn't pass it up.

As for the owl, Peggy, with Matthew's generous heart, there would be no more grudges. But necessary consequences were still unavoidable.

"What? You want me to enlighten your oak grove every month, for three years? Do you know how much energy that consumes?"

Peggy exclaimed in shock. Matthew glanced at her and calmly replied, "At least you still have the energy, don't you?"

Peggy drooped her head, seemingly unable to say another word.

...

In the second half of the night, the moon finally emerged from behind the clouds. With Peggy's guidance, Matthew once again set foot in Moonshadow Grove.

As soon as he entered, three beams of moonlight flew from the altar and landed on Matthew in succession. In that instant, it felt as if he were bathing in a warm spring. Every pore on his body seemed to be expanding.

"Hint: You have received the blessing of the Moonlight Goddess, 'Moonlit Wanderer.'

Moonlit Wanderer: When you walk under moonlight, your intelligence and perception each increase by 1 point.

You have received the grace of the Moonlight Goddess, 'Forest Guardian.'

Forest Guardian: In Moonshadow Grove, you have full regional reputation and legendary status. You will have unhindered access wherever you go, and you also have the ability to enter Moonshadow Grove under the moonlight on your own.

You have successfully joined the 'Moonlight Society'!

Your 'Wild Transformation' under the moonlight no longer requires casting time or wind-up, and all attributes in the wild form increase by 1 point!"

...

"Wow," Matthew exclaimed in amazement. The sudden series of blessings filled him with both joy and a faint sense of impending danger.

"What does the Moonlight Goddess need from me?" He was well aware that there were no free lunches in this world.

On the other hand, Peggy seemed overjoyed. "Congratulations, Mr. Matthew! You are now the first and only necromancer in the Moonlight Society."

"Though you're not an official member yet, thanks to the Moonlight Goddess's blessing, you can freely enter and exit Moonshadow Grove, just like the full members. Most importantly, my mission is complete, and I no longer have to worry about being exiled by the goddess. Sob."

She smiled but then choked up.

Matthew patiently waited for her to regain her composure and repeated his question.

"Or should I ask the goddess directly?"

He began to approach the altar.

"No need, no need. I am your guide. Let me convey the goddess's will to you," Peggy said, extending her wings.

"Come with me, Matthew. Along the way, I'll explain what you need to do to become a full-fledged member of the Moonlight Society."

Peggy's voice echoed through the forest.

Matthew noticed that the emblem of the Moonlight Goddess on the altar gradually dimmed. He followed Peggy as they made their way through the forest.

As they journeyed deeper, Matthew spotted many nature spirits along the way. These spirits had the appearance of small animals, but unlike the nature spirits he had encountered in the Oakfield Aura, the natives of Moonshadow Grove appeared lifeless.

Despite being symbolic of vitality and nature, they appeared even less lively in Matthew's eyes than a skeleton warrior. The natives looked at him with expressions of surprise and disgust at first, but perhaps sensing the Moonlight Goddess's blessing, most of them fell silent for a moment, eventually looking at Matthew with reverence.

Their expressions and gazes seemed stiff, as if they were being forced to interact.

"The situation in Moonshadow Grove seems grim," Matthew observed, and he realized another detail: he hadn't seen a single druid on his way. Even though druids, whether human or elven, had a chance of being born among nature spirits in the Material World, he hadn't seen a single one. It was highly unusual.

He decided to raise this question to Peggy as he caught up with her.

"You are sharp, Matthew. Moonshadow Grove indeed has very few druids. It wasn't always like this. I remember when I was born, the newly awakened nature spirits in the jungle were full of vitality, and every forest had its druids. They willingly restored the wounds of the half-plane due to the passage of time."

"However, a disaster struck later, and the Grove suffered a significant blow. Many druids died, and new ones haven't been born among the nature spirits ever since."

Matthew inquired further, "Didn't you seek help from the outside world?"

Peggy sighed, "We did. We asked for assistance from the Watcher's Highlands, the Far North Tundra, and the Azure Sea. However, they all rejected us."

"Only a few young druids who traveled outside were willing to help us, but their power is not enough to change the situation here. This is what Moonshadow Grove has become."

As they ventured further, Matthew noticed that the trees on either side of the forest were withering. This indicated that Moonshadow Grove was under attack by evil forces.

"Why did the Watcher's Highlands refuse to help?" Matthew found it strange.

Peggy flew down and landed on a dead pine tree, scanning the area. "Times have changed, Matthew. People are becoming worse, and the druids are no exception."

"While their reason for refusing us is that they too are under attack by evil forces and are unable to provide assistance, I know the real reason. We are Moonlit Wanderers, and they are the favored children of the Earth."

...

At the end of their journey, Peggy said, "We've arrived." Fifteen minutes later, she stopped in front of a dark cave.

She pointed ahead and said, "Your job is to eliminate the disgusting bugs inside. If you can kill a 'Frenzied Guardian,' you will become a full member of the Moonlight Society, and the goddess will bestow more blessings upon you."

At the same time, Matthew's quest log updated:

"Side Quest: Kill the Frenzied Guardian!

Description: Moonshadow Grove is currently under invasion by the Frenzied Insect Tribe. Kill them all and give the Moonlight Goddess a piece of your mind!

Rewards: The Moonlight Goddess's favor and the ability 'Combat Casting.'"

Chapter 22 >>

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