This Necromancer Just Wants to Plant Trees - Chapter 80 (Patreon)

"Why?" Matthew asked the voice in his mind.

But the voice remained silent.

Matthew looked up at Suya, who was seated on the throne, her expression aloof and divine, as if she had nothing to do with the task set by Hu Yi or the voice echoing in Matthew's heart.

"What's all this about? Are we still upholding the dignity of the Rainforest Soul?" Matthew suddenly mocked himself in his thoughts. "Because I couldn't bring myself to ask someone to drive out the Dragon Witch Cult, I've simply handed over the entire mission to the Seven Saints Union?"

He saw right through it.

Hu Yi must have been a member of the Seven Saints Union. However, he clearly mentioned that his mission was to "monitor Brinken," and monitoring didn't involve taking any action.

According to Hu Yi's words, he couldn't contact the union at the moment, so there was no reason for him to act independently.

With this in mind, the true client behind this mission became evident.

As Matthew thought this, a sly smirk crept onto his face.

But he soon found himself unable to laugh because the small foot that had been rubbing against his leg suddenly kicked him, and it was in a pretty sensitive spot!

At that moment, Matthew almost let out a hiss of pain and instinctively rubbed his thigh.

The next moment, Matthew met the suspicious gaze of Bobo Fox.

"Why are you daydreaming? Hurry up and tell us your opinion. We've already stated our intentions," Bobo demanded.

Matthew coughed apologetically and glanced at Hu Yi. "Sorry, I did get a bit lost in thought just now. What did you all say?"

Bobo Fox expressed her dissatisfaction. "Both Lumiere and I have decided to accept his request. The Dragon Witch Cult members will meet their doom sooner or later, but we also want to hear your opinion, especially since when it comes to cunning and deceit, we are probably not as skilled as a Necromancer."

Lumiere nodded in agreement with Bobo's words.

Both of them stared at Matthew.

He contemplated for a moment and said, "I need more information. The current intelligence isn't enough for me to make a judgment. Brinken is a 20th-level Necromancer, and he's too dangerous."

Hu Yi interjected, "In fact, that's just his surface level. Brinken has been drained by the Profane Tome for a long time, which has significantly reduced his power. His real combat strength is only around level 18."

"If you find it difficult to track Brinken, I can offer some assistance in that regard. It's my specialty."

With that, he reached into a small pouch at his waist and took out a chubby, round elf. He knelt down and placed the elf on the ground.

"Little Unknowing!"

After landing, the little elf immediately put on a pitiful expression. Its skin was light blue, with a faint shimmer of water and ripples flowing over it.

"Good little Unknowing, just a moment, it won't hurt much," Hu Yi said softly.

The little elf immediately covered its eyes with its short hands, but its hands were too short to cover its entire eyes, leaving the corners of its eyes exposed, looking quite pitiful.

Hu Yi raised his right palm and slapped it on the elf's forehead. At the same time, he shouted the name of the Dragon Witch Cult priest, "Brinken!"

Smack! The little elf was smashed by the palm directly, turning into a large puddle of water.

In the center of the water, a clear image quickly appeared.

...

The morning sun's radiance pierced through the dense rainforest, casting light on the large banana leaves. A few clear, transparent dewdrops could be seen rolling back and forth on the leaves.

Suddenly, an impatient hand pushed aside the banana leaf, causing the dewdrops to roll off.

The perspective quickly rose, overlooking the sparsely spaced procession below.

They were all members of the Dragon Witch Cult!

From this perspective, the composition of the procession was clear. Leading the way was none other than the black-robed figure, Brinken. Behind him were four well-equipped Dragonblood Warriors, followed by over twenty Dragon Witch Cult members in brown robes.

The members of the fourth unit were all Earthfire Dragons, and the Dragonblood Warrior at the rear was responsible for driving them. The entire marching procession moved smoothly through the rainforest.

Even the Earthfire Dragons, known for being unruly, appeared exceptionally obedient.

It was clear that Brinken had put a lot of effort into managing the procession.

As they continued to walk, the black-robed man suddenly raised his hand and shouted, "Halt!"

With a procession of nearly two hundred units and the complexity of the rainforest terrain, Brinken's order brought each unit to a stop within two seconds!

Matthew noticed that one of the Earthfire Dragons got stuck in the mud due to the abrupt stop.

However, despite this, it remained completely still, allowing the mud to slowly engulf its plump body.

Brinken looked around and said coldly, "Rest on the spot for 8 minutes, and then prepare for battle."

With that, he rushed over to the Earthfire Dragon that was stuck in the mud and promptly pulled it out.

"You need to be more careful!" Brinken seemed to reprimand sternly, but in the next moment, he used "Cleaning Magic" on the Earthfire Dragon.

The Earthfire Dragon let out a joyful cry and nuzzled Brinken's shoes.

The atmosphere gradually relaxed.

Everyone rested in their positions.

Only Brinken continued to move back and forth, his gaze sweeping over the others from time to time.

Suddenly, his gaze lingered on one of the Dragon Witch Cult members for three seconds, then he quickly walked over to the individual.

The cult member looked startled, stood up, and was about to say something when Brinken grabbed his collar.

The next moment, Brinken carefully adjusted the folds of the cult member's collar and readjusted the angle of the Dragon Witch Cult emblem on the chest.

"Remember, no matter how great the crisis, people should not panic. Don't forget to maintain your appearance. This is the greatest difference between us as humans and animals," Brinken advised sternly.

"If I ever find your emblem is not properly aligned again, I will expel you from the Dragon Witch Cult immediately!"

The cult member, with a mouth agape, stammered, "Lord Brinken, I... I..."

After adjusting his appearance, Brinken patted his shoulder gently. "Don't say anything. Just do well."

With that, he walked away briskly and turned his gaze to other areas.

A few minutes later, Brinken's team set off again.

This time, the perspective couldn't keep up and could only watch as they left the forest and arrived on a relatively open high ground.

...

On the ground, the water stains slowly gathered, forming a small lump from a large puddle, and finally, all the water stains merged into a round, plump mass.

"Little Unknowing!" The little elf complained, seemingly scolding Hu Yi.

Hu Yi, who was prepared, immediately took out a lead block from his waist and handed it to the little elf.

The little elf grabbed the lead block and swallowed it whole.

Gulping sounds were heard.

The lead block appeared within the semi-transparent belly of the small elf, and bubbles surfaced as it swallowed it. The little elf belched contentedly as the lead block visibly diminished in size.

"Little Unknowing is a reconnaissance fairy, but its reconnaissance method is somewhat brutal," Hu Yi explained with a smile as he stored the small elf away.

Matthew nodded in agreement. The images he had just witnessed were indeed clear, and Brinken, despite being a quasi-legendary figure, had remained oblivious to the little elf's surveillance. This showed the exceptional reconnaissance abilities of the small elf.

From that segment, Matthew extracted three pieces of information.

First, Brinken possessed strong leadership skills. Managing the unruly members of the Dragon Witch Cult was a daunting task, but he had them obediently following his commands. While part of this obedience was due to his formidable power, Brinken's personal charm and governance also played a significant role.

The Underground Alliance's alliance members were like cannon fodder in front of Brinken's troops, unworthy of mention.

Second, it appeared that Brinken had a severe case of obsessive-compulsive disorder. This explained his furious reaction to Suya's slip of the tongue when they were leaving the Black Banyan Dream.

Third, after leaving the Black Banyan Dream, Brinken's marching direction seemed eerily familiar. Matthew pondered for a moment and confirmed that they were headed to the high ground he had once fought on with Old Gito and Loran, at the edge of the Bitterwater Marsh.

From his actions, it seemed Brinken intended to venture deeper into the Bitterwater Marsh. If Matthew didn't know that the previous owner of the marsh was named Daniya, he might have connected Brinken with that legendary Necromancer.

"What's the use of the Verdant Branch?" Matthew asked Suya.

Suya calmly explained, "It's one of the Rainforest's 'Foundational Objects.' With it, Dragon Witch Cult members can move more freely in the Rainforest, reducing their exposure to risks posed by venomous creatures and predators. It is also a natural sacred relic, highly sought after by druids, rangers, and the Rainforest Soul."

Matthew pondered, "So, Brinken took the Verdant Branch to wage a protracted war within the Rainforest. He didn't intend for a one-time heist, or perhaps he doesn't have the capability for that."

Hu Yi concurred, "You make a good point. Brinken is a rational individual, and if we consider the situation carefully, the risk of losing the Verdant Branch must be too great for him to risk it. Besides, Brinken's actions were well-organized and methodical. If not for the fact that he's our adversary, I might even want to befriend him."

Matthew lightly nodded. Rational enemies like Brinken were often the most troublesome. He didn't want any mistakes to happen to any of the people in their group unless absolutely necessary.

"I suggest we track Brinken and do our best to hinder his destruction of the Rainforest's ecosystem. If an opportunity arises, I'm even willing to negotiate with him. The best option is to persuade him to leave the Rainforest peacefully without resorting to violence," Matthew explained. "Brinken is a 20th-level mage, and he once worked within the Seven Saints Union before turning to the Dragon Witch Cult. His true power is challenging to estimate. I'm not lacking in combat courage, but I don't want anything to go wrong with anyone present. Of course, if negotiations fail, using force is still an option. With our combined strength and coordination, defeating him is undoubtedly possible."

Hu Yi questioned, "But how do you plan to persuade him? Brinken is intelligent and obstinate. He's convinced that the Dragon's Tomb exists, and he won't give up on that belief."

Matthew countered, "Don't you find it suspicious? I'm referring to the information about the Dragon's Tomb and the Sandstorm Thieves."

Hu Yi looked puzzled and asked, "Please explain."

Matthew turned to Bobo and said, "I remember Yu Lian mentioning that day that the Sandstorm Thieves recently had an internal conflict. They've been constantly fighting within the city and its surroundings, often mistaking their targets, and casualties were mostly outsiders. Am I right?"

Bobo nodded vigorously, "That's correct."

Matthew continued, "So, you find it peculiar, right? I mean, the Sandstorm Thieves, known for intelligence gathering and precise assassinations, bungling an assassination? It doesn't make sense."

Bobo suddenly realized, "So, that fat guy tricked us!"

Hu Yi coughed and interjected, "Well, he probably didn't deceive you. I also verified this information. It's true. The fights occurred mostly inside and around the city of Coldero, with the majority of casualties being outsiders."

Matthew came to a conclusion, "I believe that the internal strife in the Sandstorm Thieves might be staged. Yu Lian once mentioned that besides me, he also sold the information about the underwater tomb to another tomb raider. This implies that someone might be interested in the underwater tomb but doesn't want to risk it themselves. So, they found the Sandstorm Thieves to stage this performance, with the ultimate goal of persuading the Dragon Witch Cult to venture into the tomb. However, this is just one of many possibilities, and there are still many uncertainties. We have not yet uncovered the truth, but for now, we can proceed with negotiations with Brinken. He's a reasonable man. If he's reasonable, we can negotiate. As long as he's rational, we can talk."

After sharing his thoughts, Matthew felt thirsty. He picked a leaf, fashioned it into a makeshift cup, and poured some water to quench his thirst. Meanwhile, he asked the others for their opinions.

Suya watched Matthew attentively, her chin resting in her hand as she listened to his plan. She even casually switched one leg over the other.

Lumiere remained silent, Bobo seemed to be in shock, and only Hu Yi exclaimed, "Your thinking is impressively clear. You managed to identify so many critical points at once. Honestly, you might be better suited for espionage work than I am. Why didn't a talented mage like you join the Seven Saints Union?"

Matthew modestly smiled, "Other mages might be more adept at analyzing things than me. Nevertheless, these are just some speculations. There are still many unknowns, and my speculations are far from perfect. For instance, if the Dragon Witch Cult is powerful enough to directly take the underwater tomb, the mastermind behind the scenes might end up with nothing, which defies common sense. Moreover, it's doubtful whether Brinken would willingly take the bait, considering his intelligence. There are numerous possibilities, and my conjectures are still incomplete. For example, if the Dragon Witch Cult is powerful enough to directly seize the underwater tomb, the mastermind may end up with nothing, which doesn't make sense. Furthermore, trying to lure someone as clever as Brinken with the Sandstorm Thieves' internal strife alone remains questionable. In any case, there are several loopholes in this matter, and we haven't yet uncovered the truth. But for now, let's use this information in our negotiations with Brinken. Given that he promptly seized the Verdant Branch and evacuated the Black Banyan Dream, he is a reasonable person. As long as he's reasonable, we can negotiate with him. And if negotiations fail, we can still resort to force. I believe that, with our strength and coordination, it's not an impossible task to defeat him."

Hu Yi was astonished, "Your thinking is impressively clear. You managed to identify so many critical points at once. Honestly, you might be better suited for espionage work than I am. Why didn't a talented mage like you join the Seven Saints Union?"

Matthew modestly smiled, "Other mages might be more adept at analyzing things than me."

After some further discussion, they eventually reached a consensus on Matthew's plan. Matthew allowed the others to rest while he decided to write a couple of letters. He was confident in his plan but wanted some advice from more experienced individuals. Unfortunately, Grand Magus Ronan, who would have been the best advisor, was unavailable. So, he planned to write to Zeller, hoping for input from several elders, including Zeller, Richard, and Lwiche.

The other letter was intended for Peggy. Although he had already advanced in his journey, leaving the matter of the Dragon Witch Cult unaddressed was not Matthew's style. As a result, his stay in the south might extend beyond a month, and he needed to communicate and reiterate several matters.

He mentally rehearsed the contents he would include in the letters and began searching for a suitable location. Just as he was about to start writing, he heard Suya's voice saying, "Follow me." Then, a graceful figure quickly disappeared into the forest to his left.

Matthew rose from his seat without a word and headed in that direction. He had no idea what awaited him.

This scene was still noticed by Bobo and Lumiere, who had sensed his unusual behavior earlier.

They exchanged glances and then looked at the throne. However, at this point, there was no sign of the Rainforest Soul on the throne.

Lumiere had a complex expression but remained silent.

Bobo suddenly asked, "If a human and a Nature Spirit were to mate, would their offspring be human or a Nature Spirit?"

Lumiere was momentarily taken aback and replied, "Uh, they probably haven't reached that point yet."

Bobo looked at him disdainfully and said, "Clearly, they already have."

Lumiere scratched his head in embarrassment and said, "I'm sorry, but this is beyond my knowledge. I really don't know what would happen. After all, I'm just a country bumpkin who hasn't ventured far from the Rainforest."

Bobo said seriously, "But please don't say that."

Lumiere felt touched.

The next moment, Bobo said in a solemn tone, "Country bumpkins might know more than you think!"

Lumiere's face stiffened.

"Here, take one and stop moping around," Bobo said as she randomly pulled a colorful candy and an alarm clock out of her bag. She placed the alarm clock on the ground and tapped the button on top, causing the clock's hands to start moving.

Then she handed the colorful candy to Lumiere and said, "Have a 'Smart Candy,' it'll make you smarter."

Lumiere accepted the candy gratefully, but he didn't eat it. Instead, he put it in his pocket close to his chest.

After doing all this, Bobo began silently cleaning her armor.

Lumiere pointed at the alarm clock on the ground and asked, "What are you doing with that?"

"Oh, I'm timing Matthew," Bobo casually replied.

"Are you curious about how long he'll take to write the letters?" Bobo added.

In the small forest, Suya casually set up a hazy barrier. She walked gracefully to a chubby tree stump, turned around, and looked at Matthew.

"You can write your letters here," she said, her expression now stern and fierce, as if the fiery Rainforest Soul from before had returned.

Matthew calmly replied, "Someone has to deal with the Dragon Witch Cult's matters."

Suya coldly retorted, "Lumiere can handle it."

Matthew shook his head and said, "That's too dangerous. I can't let him go alone."

Suya walked back and forth in anger. After a moment, she sighed, and her expression shifted from anger to deep concern.

She sat down on the tree stump, her legs close together, and said, "I'm very weak right now. The Profane Book has contaminated the roots of the Black Banyan Dream, and I need to exert a lot of energy to purify it. On top of that, I have to elevate so many Nature Spirits."

"I need protection, Matthew."

This was the first time Matthew had seen a pleading look in Suya's eyes.

He pondered for a moment and replied, "If it's just protection, Lumiere or someone else can provide it."

Suya firmly said, "No, I can't trust him."

Matthew was surprised. He had thought about the reasons Suya might view him differently, but he hadn't expected her to mention this one.

"I'm just a Rainforest Soul, not a Rainforest Goddess."

Suya softly said, "Do you think I enjoy putting on this irritable facade every day? But if I don't, they'll immediately think I've become weak and take advantage of it. I'll be pushed down and destroyed!"

"Today, when the Dragon Witch Cult attacked the Black Banyan Dream, I summoned many animals, but I didn't summon the Spotted Crocodile. Do you know why?"

"I was afraid it would come in and eat me. Trust me, it wouldn't miss such an opportunity. It's not just it; the Tyrant Lizards and the Skyblaze Pterosaurs are the same. Every fierce beast in the Rainforest treasures the opportunity to climb up. So I can only have some peace of mind once they die and become Warbeasts. It's because I was born in the midst of a pack of wolves!"

"Matthew, can you understand this feeling?"

Matthew gazed at her.

Suya still had a stubborn expression, but there were tears glistening in her eyes.

"Lumiere is probably not that kind of person," Matthew said.

Suya smiled and said, "Look, you used 'probably.' That means you've already been convinced by me."

Matthew didn't argue.

"Why do you trust me then?" he asked.

"Because you come from the civilized world, and you have the approval of the Oakwood. The Oakwood might not be a good thing, but it's always very accurate in assessing people. Even though the part of the Oakwood that concerns you hasn't officially become a Nature Spirit, I still believe it."

After listening to this, Matthew had a better understanding of Suya's current situation. However, he still felt apologetic and said, "But I can't let them go alone. I'm worried about their safety."

Suya glared at him resentfully and said, "So you trust their safety, but not mine?"

Matthew scratched his head and said, "Well, at most, I can leave you a Warbeast?"

"Get lost!" Suya suddenly changed her expression and shouted, "Who needs your Warbeast, you stinky Necromancer! You and your summons better stay far away from me! I don't want your protection!"

Matthew raised an eyebrow, realizing Suya was playing a little trick on him, but he didn't expose it. He just grinned and said, "It's not good to provoke the Rainforest Soul's temper now. After all, you've revealed your vulnerability."

Suya, without showing weakness, smacked the tree stump between her legs and said, "Come on! If you're a man, come on! Don't you need to write your letters? I'll sit here and not move. Either go somewhere else to write or carry me away if you can."

Matthew immediately pounced on her.

After a series of playful antics...

He successfully subdued Suya from an extremely tricky angle.

Suya was pressed halfway to the tree stump, her face filled with disbelief.

Matthew, on the other hand, calmly stated, "Now, I'll dictate, and you write for me."

At this, he placed the writing paper and quill on the stump.

Suya let out a scream, "Are you even a man?"

Matthew replied nonchalantly, "To write or not to write?"

Suya, resigned, said, "Write! I'll write! Let go!"

Matthew released her somewhat warily, and she picked up the quill and paper.

"Go on."

Suya, suppressing her anger, said.

Matthew cleared his throat, "Dear Zeller..."

"Dear?!" Suya almost dropped her pen in shock.

Matthew simply pushed her head down, saying, "You write, don't ask too much."

Suya begrudgingly started writing.

...

"Hint: Favorability of Rainforest Spirit +1+1+1..."

...

Matthew looked at this and grinned.

Soon, two letters were completed.

Matthew quickly left Black Banyan Dreamland, summoning Ella, who was resting in the Moonlit Forest, to take the letters back to Rolling Stone Town.

Afterward, he took some time to rest within the Black Banyan Dreamland.

One hour later.

As the group was preparing to leave for negotiations with Brooklin, Matthew received an unexpected message.

...

"Hint: As you've successfully advanced, the power limitations on your contracted summon (Minotaur Skeleton) will be removed passively within 24 hours. You may also choose to manually remove the limitations, thus restoring the additional powers the Minotaur Skeleton originally possessed."

...

Matthew was taken aback, wondering how he had limited Peggy's abilities. He chose to manually remove the limitations!

...

A little earlier.

In the early morning, Rolling Stone Town bustled with activity. As the day brightened, the marketplace was crowded with pedestrians. Housewives and elderly folks, carrying baskets, stopped at stalls, greeted each other, inquired about prices, and chatted.

In the middle of the marketplace, at a stall selling white radishes, Mary was tidying up the vegetables. Suddenly, two white radishes disappeared into thin air!

Ding ding!

A few scattered coins appeared on the stall.

Mary calmly collected the money, then turned to her husband, who was brushing a donkey cart behind her, saying, "That invisible person came to buy white radishes again today!"

Her husband asked, puzzled, "Aren't our radishes always good? Why is it unusual?"

Mary shook her head and explained, "He bought once two years ago, but he hasn't bought any since. He probably doesn't like them, but maybe he has guests at his place today, and they like it, so he bought some."

Her husband put down the brush he was using and embraced Mary's waist from behind. He praised her, "You're really clever!"

Mary beamed for a moment, then seemed to recall something. She said sternly, "So don't get any silly ideas. I heard that you've been getting close to that slut Jenny lately. If you get caught, hmph!"

Her husband shivered and quickly assured her he wouldn't.

Mary, satisfied, planted a kiss on his cheek.

As the sun gradually rose, a large shadow appeared in the alley of the adjacent street.

Peggy, carrying a basket, checked her purchases while murmuring to herself, "White radishes, carrots, beef, ox eyes, and beef liver..."

"These should be the ingredients in the recipe Seff mentioned."

In a short time, she returned home, only to find the kitchen in use, with Saphy cooking a pot of delicious-looking soup!

Peggy inquired, "What kind of soup are you making, dear?"

Saphy, wearing an oversized kitchen apron, held a spoon, turned around, and smiled, "I used the leftover fish jelly and mushrooms from last night to make soup. I've always wanted to create a dish with a texture that even the undead can enjoy."

"I added something special to the soup today. Would you like to try it?"

She spooned a bowl of soup for Peggy, who took it and downed it without hesitation. Unlike soldiers like Abin, who had a digestive system, the hot soup passed through her throat and was instantly evaporated by her soul flame.

"Oh..." She let out a burp that was oddly human. "The soup is good, but unfortunately, I couldn't taste it."

Peggy looked at Saphy with disappointment. She patted the girl's shoulder and said, "Don't be disheartened, my dear. You've done great."

"When Matthew comes back, your cooking will amaze him. I can't wait to see his reaction!"

However, the next moment, Saphy's eyes widened. Peggy hadn't noticed what had just happened. "What's wrong, Saphy?"

Saphy pointed to Peggy's chest, "Your chest just lit up, and you seem different."

Peggy lowered her head and found her chest flashing brightly.

"It looks like I'm about to level up!"

Peggy was overjoyed. "I haven't leveled up since I started following that bad-luck guy, Matthew. What's going on today? I can feel this surging power!"

"Wait, could it be because of this soup?"

Saphy shook her head, indicating she had no idea. Peggy was about to serve herself another bowl, but her chest lit up once again.

"Why am I still leveling up?" Peggy exclaimed. She caught her breath.

"I've got it, this soup... It's incredibly powerful. It's making me level up twice!"

Peggy was ecstatic. "We've discovered something extraordinary! Your fish jelly and mushroom soup can rapidly elevate the levels of the undead!"

"We're going to be rich, my dear!"

"I need to share this great news with that stingy Matthew. Oh, but Matthew is not here... Forget about him; I'll level up secretly and give him a big surprise!"

She celebrated in the kitchen, moving between the kitchen and the living room, when someone politely knocked on the door.

"Is Peggy home?"

Saphy opened the door and saw an owl outside.

Chapter 81 >>

• 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.