A few days had passed since Thanatos return from the Capital. With all the dealings made and a base set up ready to open for business, the first thing he did was send a few of his guys along with some goods ready to sell. The report on his absence had nothing unusual. Business was going well enough, but the guards were starting to get suspicious.

As a measure to determine Underworld base of operation, they were starting to keep track of people that bought ingredients commonly used in drugs. For that reason, the production of drugs and potions has significantly decreased. Thanatos was in the back of the building with his right-hand man, Adel, trying to think of a plan to reverse this predicament.

"What if we send our guys to different places in the city to try to buy a little more?"

"It is too risky; the guards could notice when they make reports and put together the information, and they would be detained."

"What if we set up a cover business, like a new doctor in town making healing potions and such?"

"None of us knows healing magic, so we can't pretend for long."

"Dammit, no wonder only the Red Dragon was in this city. The moment we started to make a name in the streets, they came ready to reveal us and arrest us with all they got. I had to congratulate them. The army is no pushover." Even if his syndicate was against the ropes, Thanatos felt impressed with the efforts of the army.

"We still have a problem. If they realize that the blockage of supplies is working, then they will probably start to follow suit, even those people that are buying in small quantities. If we stopped buying in fear of being discovered, the supply of drugs would cease completely. Then they only need to look at the records of sales in the last few months and check those people. We'll be busted in no time."

"So, we also have a time limit. I suppose it would be too easy if we just bribed all the guards."

"That would work for a time, but when they realize the possibility of soldiers not doing their job, they are just going to change them for new ones. We would need to bribe the high officers; the Red Dragon already tried, but the captains of this city are wholly dedicated to the army. They just want to arrest us"

No matter from what angle Thanatos looked, the board seemed to be ready for an eventual checkmate. Suddenly, inspiration hit him like lightning. The forest he descended when he first appeared in this world.

"What about the forest? No, not only the forest, but the other side too, past the mountains."

Adel thought for a moment. "The guards can't patrol the forest since it is the border with the Kingdom. The other side of the mountains is territory for beasts and demi human tribes, so... It could work"

They needed to buy from suppliers if they could collect the materials directly. The army's perfect blockade would end up being useless. Even so, there were a few problems.

"It is a good plan, Master, but we need something first. I can think of two problems. Number one: We need someone that can identify and locate ingredients while in the forest collecting them. Number two: someone must be protecting the first person from any danger, like animals or demi human attacks."

"I have a solution for both of those problems. I'll go myself to do the collecting. That way, we don’t need to send protection." Like taking down two birds with one stone.

"Are you sure, Master? The forest beyond the mountain is rich in resources, yes, but beasts of all kinds are drawn to them."

"Yeah, it is not a problem. I can handle things on my own." There was another reason that Thanatos wanted to go to the forest. If there were beasts, then he could use the ones that attacked him to turn into undead, just like the wolf on his first day in this world. He wanted to practice his necromancer abilities, but he didn't want anyone else to see it.

A sound interrupted the men; it was someone knocking on the door. After a moment, it opened.

"I'm sorry for interrupting but..." It was Lia.

After returning from the Capital Thanatos was still unable to decide what to do with her. He was unable to ask her to stay away from him, at the same time he was keeping his distance to no let his feelings for her put her in danger. Lia on her part, was still trying to gather courage before talking to him. The situation was an awkward stalemate where both kept their distance.

Now Lia had finally gathered the courage to declare her feelings and speak with her heart open to Thanatos.

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

"I… I… I wanted to know if you guys are hungry for planning so much." She still couldn't say it. AHH, coward, just tell him you want to talk alone with him.

"Ahh yes, we're a bit hungry, but I need to prepare something since I will be leaving soon"

"What, leaving? Where? Forever?" Lia panicked.

"No, no forever. I'm going to go into the forest to collect materials. You know, herbs and things like that."

"I see... Wait, you aren't going alone, right? Is dangerous."

"I can protect myself, and I need everyone else working here" Before he could leave the room, Lia threw her body against the door and raised her arms.

"You always tend to get into trouble. I'm not letting you out of my sight. I don't care. I will not move till you say that you will take me with you." Her face was full of worry and care. She seemed like she was about to cry. Thanatos's heart couldn’t resist that sight.

He sighed. "Okay, you can come, but if anything happens, we're leaving immediately. Drop everything and just run, okay?"

"Okay." Lia said with a bit of relief.

Adel only felt pity for his Master. As they say, one's strength is also one’s weakness.

Two days later, Thanatos was on the frontier between the town and the forest. He was wearing a few bags on his back. They were long and could hold a lot of weight. He had enough food for three days and was dressed in a green shirt and light brown pants that Lia had made while he was waiting to depart.

"Okay, are you sure you want to come with me?"

"Yes, I'm sure. I need to make sure you don't get into trouble." Lia was wearing an unusual set of pants and a jacket. She also made those herself, but they were older than the set Thanatos was wearing. She also had a bag full of tools for survival.

"I didn't expect you to have such an explorer set in your closet."

"Well, it is a bit old. The last time I used it was when I went camping with my brothers. I believe it was about 3 years ago"

"Mmmh... Well, let's go."

They set out into the vast forest with the goal of passing through the mountains in search of possible ingredients. The first few hours were simple enough. The trees and bushes were tame, and the animals were small and cowardly to the sound of humans. Once they reach the foot of the mountain, the path becomes harder to traverse.

Thanatos didn't have any problems moving around; his senses guided him to the best path. Lia, however, was having a bit of trouble and was lagging behind.

"Do you need some help? I can carry your backpack."

"Uff... No... Uff... I'm... all right... Uf... just not very athletic... Uf…" She was struggling but still refusing to become a burden. She wanted to prove her worth.

Lia was determined to help Thanatos in his quest to gather ingredients. She needed to prove herself useful for something and build her confidence, and since they were going to be alone, that meant she could take all the time needed to confess.

"Okay, tell me if you need anything" They keep climbing higher and higher.

Thanatos stopped for a moment. He heard something was getting close from the east. He turned and saw it; a black bear was looking at him.

"AH AH AH B-BEAR THANTOS WE NEED TO-" Before Lia could finish, Thanatos jumped at the bear.

In a swift movement, his claws penetrated the fur into the flesh.

"GRAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWW" The beast screamed with pain and tried to attack him with both of his claws, but Thanatos wasn't finished. He dug deeper into his chest until he grabbed the heart and crushed it with all his might.

The splashing sound of blood and the thud of the body falling to the ground announced that the animal was no more.

Lia was amazed. She already knew, but seeing how strong Thanatos was still amazing.

"You're so strong, you can take down a bear like that in a second." Lia walked to the side of the beast and touched him. It was dead and could have hurt her, but she was still sad that this was the result. A lost life that can never return...

"Thanatos... Are you a necromancer?"

"WHAT? Why did you ask me that? " Lia's question took him by surprise.

"When we first met, you were with a wolf. It was hurt too much to be moving or fighting. If you brought him back with magic, that would explain it"

"Do you think I'm evil?"

"Why would I think that?"

"Because you know... that thing." He wasn’t sure how to talk about it.

"Yes, I heard the stories about the evil necromancer Zek. They said he almost destroyed the Republic. He killed countless people and brought them back for his own ambitions, but there's a difference. You're a human, and he was undead."

"It's said that he sacrificed his humanity for those powers, but you're a breathing, living person. But most importantly, you saved me. When the assassin tried to kidnap me, you and the wolf defended me. What is necromancy really like?"

He didn't know how to respond to that question. This conversation took a turn in a direction he never saw coming. He breathed deeply and thought of an answer.

"To me, necromancy wasn’t something I obtained by sacrificing something. I was kind of born with them. Some people consider it evil to kill and resurrect loved ones, using them as slaves, but to me, they are useful. I can use them to bring animals to help me, like the wolf. He tried to kill me too, but he was hungry, so it's natural. But that doesn’t mean that the body is useless"

"We eat animals when we kill them and think nothing weird about it. So instead what if we use the body to find water, to look for more food or even to defend a person from another. His soul is gone, but his body is still in this world. Why waste it? That is more or less how I see it."

Lia looked at him during the whole explanation, and when he was done, she responded.

"You are a good person, Thanatos. An evil one wouldn't have bothered to explain himself to me, so now I know that necromancy isn't evil either." She gave him a big, wide smile. "Are you going to make use of him?" She patted the bear.

"Y-yes, if you don't have any problem with it."

She nodded and stepped back.

"[Raise the dead]" The magic infused the body, and once again, the bear moved. "We can use him to carry our stuff."

"I was thinking of maybe using him for intimidation against other animals."

"Or that, that is also an option."

Thanatos never thought that necromancy would end up making him closer to someone.