This Necromancer Just Wants to Plant Trees - Chapter 69 (Patreon)

Naga, a strange and sinister humanoid race, dwelling in the deep sea, possessed the ability to ride the waves and a strong territorial concept. They showed no mercy to human vessels that ventured into their domain, often driving them away or destroying them.

About this particular group, Matthew had heard of them in a casual conversation with the great mage Ronan.

It was said that the appearance of the Naga race was linked to a "Dusk Creature" sealed by the gods in the early days of enlightenment.

This Dusk Creature harbored an intense hatred for the gods and sought to undermine their power.

By the seaside, he lured some humans to the ocean, teaching them dark cannibalistic rituals.

During the cannibalistic rituals, humans who worshiped the Dusk Creature mingled themselves with a large number of serpents. The ritual's power blurred the line between human and serpent, and amidst agonizing excitement and incoherent muttering, the first Naga were born.

They were known as the "Primeval Naga."

The Primeval Naga received high praise from the Dusk Creature and inherited the most sinister of its powers.

Each Primeval Naga possessed the power of a lord.

Subsequently, they, under the command of the Dusk Creature, went to various sea regions, establishing massive serpent tribes beneath the ocean.

However, the later-born Naga did not have the opportunity to receive the Dusk Creature's blessing, and though they also possessed powers and qualities far beyond humans, they paled in comparison to the Primeval Naga.

The later-born Naga were called "Derived Naga."

Nowadays, the dominant Nagas in many regions of Eindor were Derived Naga.

Because the Dusk Creature's intention was to convert more humans into Naga, they often left their underwater tribes to raid for more human captives.

Due to their matriarchal structure, it had become a widespread belief that the Naga clan had a penchant for abducting men.

Of course, this was no mere rumor.

Influenced by the Dusk Creature, the Naga clan had an unusually high female-to-male ratio.

After losing the tradition of cannibalistic rituals, the Naga tribe had to ensure a fixed number of foreign males joined them each year, or the tribe risked extinction.

Apart from this, Nagas were universally strong, skilled in weaponry, and possessed several innate magical abilities.

On the open sea, encountering a group of Nagas was reason enough to flee.

At this moment, before Matthew, the number of Nagas surrounding Xuan Kunzi had exceeded 30!

They had long, emerald seaweed-like hair that reached down to their waists. Whether male or female, the upper bodies of the Nagas were always bare, with a large, colorful seashell belt covering the transition between human and serpent forms.

"I am a traveler from the Golden Coast, seeking to visit Equilibrium Island," Matthew said amiably. "They are just escorting me."

The Naga chieftain narrowed his slender eyes and said, "This is the territory of the Naga Kingdom. Foreigner, your presence here means you have offended the Naga Queen. Perhaps the Endless Sea Prison is your only destiny!"

At this moment, a female Naga behind him reminded, "The Endless Sea Prison is already full, and only a few spots are left by 'Bigmouth Augut'."

"Isn't that more interesting? Take them to meet Augut!" the male Naga grinned cruelly.

Matthew noticed that the nearby pebble turned pale when it heard the name Augut. He asked quietly and learned that Augut was a sea creature that had once terrorized the Arune Sea with its greed and gluttony.

It had been a nightmare for the nearby coastal residents, but it had unexpectedly been subjugated by the Naga clan.

"Throw your weapons over!" the Naga chieftain commanded.

"There's no need for that. We can talk," Matthew said, his face filled with a smile. "I'm a traveler from afar, and I've collected some unique items along the way. Don't you want to hear about my adventures? I'm more than willing to share them with you."

The Naga chieftain chuckled and was about to say something when his eyes suddenly lit up. He turned to Matthew and said, "Why don't you come with me? Let's talk over there. I hope your stories are more entertaining."

The two of them moved to the other side of Xuan Kunzi's tail, and the other Nagas dispersed.

Matthew rummaged through his bag and offered a moderate-sized pouch, which contained several mirrors, some berries, and a pouch full of gold coins.

"You're quite clever, young mage."

The Naga chieftain snatched the bag from Matthew's hand and said satisfactorily, "I can let you go, but you must remember that the great Naga Queen is about to unite the Arune Sea. Our Naga Kingdom is taking shape, and this is an unstoppable force! If you want to travel freely on the sea, a few interesting stories won't be enough. You have to meet the queen, kneel before her, and beg for permission. Only then can you have long-term access to this sea region."

Matthew immediately put on a grateful expression and said, "Thank you very much. If I have the opportunity, I will definitely visit the esteemed queen in person."

The chieftain was even more pleased and couldn't help but add, "Travelers like you must control their curiosity and not wander recklessly. While the Naga Kingdom is in the process of unification, there might be bloodshed. Leaving this area doesn't guarantee safety either. As far as I know, the south is not peaceful either. The Golden Lord wishes to unite the cities on the southern coast, and there is a group of people who call themselves the 'Cult of Natural Disasters' planning some sinister ritual. As a lone traveler like you, you are easily targeted."

Matthew nodded in agreement, showering the chieftain with flattery.

However, he was also puzzled. The Naga Queen's desire to unify the Arune Sea and the Golden Lord's ambition to control the southern cities were unprecedented events in history.

"Could the Lock of the Enigma of Civilization be failing? Is this part of the Oddday Changes, or are the gods playing tricks in the shadows?" Matthew wondered.

As for the mentioned Cult of Natural Disasters, it gave him a sense of "why are they everywhere."

During this opportunity, Matthew chatted with the chieftain for a while and learned about recent events in the Arune Sea.

As they spoke, the chieftain suddenly stared at Albing behind Matthew and said, "Why does this skeleton of yours look like it has a malfunctioning brain? It's been staring at me intently, and I really don't like it."

Matthew was taken aback.

He soon realized what was happening and promptly instructed Albing to restrain his odd behavior.

Within the Undying Covenant.

A hint of subtle grievance and anger was conveyed.

Matthew scanned the data panel.

"Prompt: You have successfully avoided a prison disaster through bribery with the Naga chieftain. You have gained elements in the 'Deception' domain: bribery, flattery. Accumulate more elements, and you will have the opportunity to enter this domain.

Warning: Your summoned being, Albing, is incredibly eager to kill the Naga before you. He has awakened some memories from a previous life due to this encounter. Albing is displeased with your command, but he understands your concerns, so he's just a little resentful."

Did Albing have a past conflict with the Naga clan?

Matthew spoke through the covenant, soothingly, "Now is not the right time to act. We still need to stay in the Arune Sea for a while. When everything is settled, I won't stop you."

Albing nodded blankly.

Soon after, Matthew watched as the proud chieftain, along with the other Nagas, rode the waves into the distance.

Before long, a faint sense of direction appeared in his perception.

He knew it was the magical mark he had left on the gold coins and the pouch taking effect.

Equilibrium Island.

On the beach, Xuan Kunzi was leisurely stretching his limbs.

Beside him, Old Ali handed Matthew a small, finger-thick, palm-sized, firework-like contraption.

"This is the 'Soaring Skylark.' It's a little toy we Su tribe people made. When you light it and send it into the sky, it can be seen from very far away on the sea surface. If you want to leave, launch it, and even if we don't see it, other sailors will come to pick you up. But be careful; the situation in this sea region has become quite tense. I'm not sure if it will attract the Nagas again."

Actually, they shouldn't have appeared here; previously, their main activity areas were deep in the sea," the old man said, sighing deeply.

Matthew accepted the Soaring Skylark, watched as the elderly and the young rode away with Xuan Kunzi, and then turned his gaze to the somewhat dilapidated island before him.

The next moment, he transformed into a raven and viewed Equilibrium Island from the sky.

What came into view was a spindle-shaped island, long from east to west and narrow from north to south. The eastern tip of the island happened to collide head-on with a current, where the cliffs divided the eastern current into two, one flowing northwest and the other southwest. The name Equilibrium Island might have originated from this.

The island had high terrain, abundant vegetation, and many seabirds perched on the eastern cliffs. There were also plenty of wild animals in the island's forests.

The southwest beaches were relatively gentle, with a small bay forming at one point. There, Matthew spotted a dock with several old fishing boats moored.

"The natural conditions of this island aren't particularly suitable for human colonization," Matthew observed. He noticed that human constructions on Equilibrium Island were mainly concentrated in two large flat areas on the southeast and southwest sides. While there were some structures in other places, these seemed to have been abandoned due to steep terrain and the difficulty of cultivation.

He passed by several other islands during his flight, and they all had better geological conditions than Equilibrium Island but were devoid of inhabitants. This suggested that the original Su tribe people who chose to settle here discovered some other mysteries on this small island.

Matthew circled the island. He could sense that the domain field here was stronger than in other places. Living here, even if he didn't successfully advance to an Equilibrium Emissary, he had the opportunity to continually accumulate elements of the Equilibrium domain.

"The power of the domain field is truly remarkable," Matthew mused.

He transformed back into human form and stopped near a stone house that looked like a ruin. This should be the "Return Village" that Li Weiqi had mentioned. Despite being mentally prepared, Matthew felt melancholic when he saw the desolate scene before him.

The stone houses were built closely together, but on his way here, he discovered that at least a third of them had collapsed. When one house collapsed, the adjacent houses were affected, leaving a circle of uninhabited space around the fallen structure.

The village was sparsely populated.

Matthew walked a short distance and only saw an elderly man sitting quietly, smoking at the entrance of a stone house. His face was wrinkled, and his eyes seemed vacant.

Matthew attempted to greet him but received no response, not even a glance.

He continued on his way and, at last, as he passed an intersection, heard agonizing moans coming from a larger stone house.

"May I help?" Matthew asked while standing at the door. The door was wide open, and he could immediately see the scene inside. As soon as he asked, he decisively walked in because he saw an elderly woman who had fallen to the ground.

She was currently supporting herself with her arms, rolling over weakly.

"Are you alright?" Matthew helped her up slowly, then sat her down on a bed. He realized that the old woman's body couldn't endure prolonged sitting, so he quickly arranged some padding from the side, allowing her to half-lean.

"I just wanted to get up and have a drink," the old woman said gratefully. "My husband went out to organize fishing equipment and will be back soon. Thank you, young man."

Matthew handed her a cup of water, attentively serving her until she had a sip. Then he shook his head and said, "It was just a small favor. You don't need to thank me."

He quickly asked with concern, "Is there no one else to take care of you? Like your children?"

"Children?" The old woman snorted. "They've all gone ashore—Torch City to the south, Ashen City to the north. They've gone everywhere except wanting to stay on this island. But they haven't done anything wrong; other young people on the island have done the same. After all, this isn't our homeland, so what's the point of staying here?"

Seeing that she was still in good spirits, Matthew chatted with her for a few moments.

Before long, the old woman's husband, a man named Erlgen, returned. Surprisingly, he was not a member of the Su tribe; his appearance suggested he was a mix of Janoge and coastal peoples.

He looked a decade or so younger than his wife, Pearl.

After learning about the incident with his wife falling, Erlgen was extremely grateful to Matthew and insisted that he stay for a meal.

During lunch, Erlgen talked about his background. He originally hailed from Licheng on the southern coast and had inexplicably formed a bond with Pearl, who had just become a widow at the time.

Under Erlgen's persistent pursuit, he moved to Equilibrium Island with Pearl a few years later, and they became a couple. Subsequently, they had five children, two boys and three girls.

After growing up, all their children left Equilibrium Island. Initially, they would return to visit once a year.

As time passed, the five children decided that each year, one of them would represent the family and take turns visiting their parents.

Several years later, Erlgen mentioned that it had been three years since one of their children had visited.

"I don't blame them. They're grown up now, and they have their own families and children. It's not feasible for them to waste their time with an old lady like me on the island. You remember, Erlgen, our children discussed raising money to bring me to the Great Stone City to enjoy my old age. It's just that I'm too stubborn and unwilling to leave," Pearl interjected when Erlgen narrated this part of their experience.

Erlgen chuckled, "Yes, yes, our children are all very filial."

"Enough about this. Child, why did you come to the island?" Matthew honestly explained his purpose and placed Li Weiqi's introduction letter on the table.

Erlgen opened the envelope but didn't read it himself. Instead, he handed it to Pearl.

After reading it, Pearl sighed and said, "You're late. The village chief returned to the embrace of the sea last year. The entire Equilibrium Island no longer has anyone knowledgeable about the Way of Equilibrium."

Matthew had anticipated this news, so although he was disappointed, he didn't feel too disheartened. "It's fine. I just came to try my luck."

He tried to make his smile look more relaxed. Pearl returned the letter to him and suggested, "If you're not in a hurry, you can stay on the island for a few more days. Many houses here are vacant. I'll have Erlgen clean one for you. You can leave after the Lantern Festival, alright, child?"

Matthew had seen this festival mentioned in the materials he collected from Samantha. She hadn't provided much detail, but she noted that it was a very important festival for the Su tribe people.

Matthew thought for a moment. Since he didn't have any other leads, it seemed like a good idea to spend some time on the island. He could experience the island life, continue to perceive the domain field, and find time for spell practice.

So, he agreed to Pearl's suggestion.

Over the next few days, Matthew found a stone house not far from Pearl and Erlgen's home to stay in. It had to be said that Equilibrium Island had a very pleasant climate. According to Erlgen, even in winter, it remained as warm as spring.

This reminded Matthew of Peggy. Back in Rolling Stone Town, every winter, she would complain about being freezing to death and ask Matthew to keep her warm. Matthew had touched her bones and confirmed she was indeed very cold. Regardless of how many clothes she put on or how much firewood they burned, it never seemed to help. But what puzzled him even more was how a skeleton could feel cold. This was the first time he realized something unusual about Peggy.

Recalling Peggy, Matthew's appetite flared up.

Throughout this journey, he had been eating poorly, either dry rations or foreign foods that were inedible. The food quality improved dramatically upon arriving at Equilibrium Island. Erlgen was a decent cook, but Matthew couldn't rely on the elderly couple's hospitality every day.

Days passed by.

The Lantern Festival grew closer.

One evening, Matthew strolled alone on the southern beach. The sea breeze was cool, and the setting sun cast a golden glow. Waves lapped against the shore and the rocks, creating a harmonious symphony with the countless seagulls soaring above.

As he walked, Matthew suddenly noticed a dark object on the beach ahead. Its shape was notably different from the shells that could be found everywhere on the island. He approached and picked it up.

...

"Hint: You have found a Gravestone (King Ming Tan)."

Chapter 70 >>

• You can access the Table of content from HERE.
• You can access publicly available chapters of "This Necromancer Just Wants to Plant Trees" right HERE.
• Your invaluable feedback and ratings mean the world to me. Please take a moment to rate this novel at Novelupdate.
• You can also check out the other Novels I'm currently translating by clicking HERE.
• If you come across any mistakes within this chapter, kindly notify me in the comments below, so that I can make the necessary corrections.