This dungeon has mushrooms growing on it.

Chapter 197, Question 196: Do you need help?

I actually live in a "box"!

Even more outrageous is that the box was pieced together from various parts!
Lin Jun had previously thought that the so-called "boundary" she detected was some kind of solid magic array barrier, but now she realized that it was actually a barrier of a small space.

Humans have even studied the illusions of space walls. What appears to be ordinary soil on the outside is actually just a layer of illusory projection, or to put it simply, just a texture.

These small spaces are mostly suspended "outside the world," and without the connecting staircases, they would be completely enclosed, independent prisons.

Unfortunately, Inanna didn't write down the specific meaning of "outside the world," perhaps because she couldn't find the relevant information.

It is worth mentioning that, unlike other completely separate and independent layers, the sixth layer and the deep zone are physically connected.

However, in the rift valley connecting the two, strong rules were imposed, forcibly defining it as a separate layer.

No wonder the collapse that started in the deep zone affected the sixth layer first.

As for the fact that dungeons absorb magic from the outside, that does explain why the magic concentration inside dungeons is higher than outside.

However, this only made Lin Jun more curious about the so-called "outside".

Speaking of which, could it be that Puji fell into the void and lost contact because she fell "outside"?
Are there other worlds out there?
Was my past world also included in it?

I don't know if I'll ever have the chance to find the answer.

Even if I find my original world, I probably won't be able to go back... I'm already a mushroom that can't survive without magic...
-
surface.

The magic array experts, led by Guge, rested for only one night after arriving before embarking on their journey back to Oath City.

Although the Sword Saint did not travel with them, he also left in haste.

Although this top-tier expert has no fixed territory or duties, in the current turbulent situation, he is ultimately unable to live a truly leisurely life.

He didn't know what message he had received, but he headed straight east.

Fifteen also left with them; the Sword Saint said he would take him to exercise his brain.

The atmosphere inside the Adventurers' Guild was somewhat subtle.

“Miss Inanna, thank you very much for your help. Please feel free to ask if you need anything in the future, and I will do my best,” Far said sincerely.

Although Puji's problem is no longer important as the dungeon's collapse countdown begins, the favor of the duke's daughter coming to help is still a real debt.

Farr didn't mind getting more involved with the Duke's family, but...

“No need to be so polite. I’m only here at Aidin’s request.” Inanna, holding the knight Puji, replied in a formulaic and distant manner, clearly not intending to say more.

"Of course, we also owe a debt of gratitude to Mr. Aidin." Far hadn't forgotten his promise to thank him. As soon as he left the dungeon, Aidin received a bag of gold coins and several rare materials suitable for crafting illusion items.

“By the way, Miss Inanna,” Far tried to maintain a good relationship despite feeling disliked, so he took the initiative to remind her, “It is said that the Puji have collected a lot of treasures and hidden them away. Now that you control the Puji King, you can go and search for them if you are interested.”

"You...you actually coveted the treasure of the Puji?!" Inanna's voice suddenly rose, and she instinctively hugged the Puji in her arms even tighter.

Eh?
Is it an illusion?
Far felt that the gaze directed at him from the other side seemed even colder than before.

"No! It's absolutely not because I had designs on it!" Caught off guard, he stammered, a rare occurrence for him. "I was just afraid you weren't aware of this, so... so I reminded you! I had absolutely no intention of getting involved!"

After a long pause, Inanna nodded and said, "I'm sorry, I misunderstood. Thank you for informing me, President."

Before leaving, Inanna patted Puji in her arms and added, "By the way, from now on it will be called Knight!"

After Inanna left, Aidin followed suit and took his leave as well.

Once the two figures disappeared outside the door, Far slumped into a chair like a deflated balloon, rubbing his temples. "Lillian, tell me... what did I do to offend this young lady?"

Lillian walked behind him and gently pressed her slender fingers against his temples: "A pampered young lady raised in seclusion is bound to have an unpredictable mind. Isn't it normal for her to be a little capricious? Think back to when you first got involved in guild affairs. Didn't you make a bunch of mistakes that were both funny and frustrating?"

"Is...is there?" Far's muffled voice came from between his fingers.

After a short rest, Far suddenly spoke up and ordered, "Go and call Mirabelle here."

"...President Far, you wanted to see me?" Mirabelle arrived quickly.

"Mirabelle, immediately increase the purchase price of all materials for the guild by 10%."

"All the materials?" Mirabelle was clearly taken aback, and asked hesitantly for confirmation.

“Yes, all of them.” Farr’s tone left no room for argument.

“President,” Mirabelle said cautiously, her face showing difficulty, “Mid-to-high-level materials are fine, but low-level basic materials like ordinary slime cores, cooling flowers, and green scorpion tails rely on volume to maintain their business, with meager profits. If the price is raised by another 10%, I’m afraid… there will be no profit left.”

Far's gaze drifted out the window, seemingly piercing through the building to the dying dungeon: "Not only should we raise this 10%, but another 10% a month from now. We must ignite the passion of all adventurers now. The collapse will only begin to affect the upper levels in about three months. Before that, let's gather as many resources as possible..."

……

……

……

"Miss, shouldn't we start our journey back now?"

Inanna was not alone on this trip; she was accompanied by three Gold-level guards.

With the Sword Saint leading the way, the journey was peaceful and the three of them spent almost the entire time on guard against the air.

According to the original plan, it was indeed time to embark on the journey home, but Inanna clearly had other plans.

"I..." Inanna's eyes darted around, and she suddenly lifted Puji high in her arms. "I still have to go find Puji's treasure!"

Although it's annoying that Chairman Far covets the boss's things, this excuse is readily available and easy to use!
The three guards exchanged bewildered glances, assuming the young lady had simply become playful. What kind of rare treasures didn't the Duke's treasury hold? What decent treasure could a bunch of monsters possibly hide...?

“But Butler Eric gave the instructions…”

"We'll go back once we find the treasure!" Inanna interrupted decisively.

"Then let's..."

"You are not allowed to follow me!"

"Absolutely not! Your safety..."

"I have a knight to protect me!" Inanna patted Puji in her arms, then glanced around and grabbed Aidin, who was passing by and about to go back into the house. "And...and Aidin too!"

"Ah I?"

Aidin instinctively wanted to refuse; he was afraid of going into the dungeon!
However, upon seeing Puji in Inanna's arms, he hesitated again—could it be the boss's intention?
In the end, he could only change his mind and say, "Oh yes, I will accompany you..."

The guards persisted for a few more minutes, but in the end they couldn't resist their young lady's stubbornness.

After all... the three of them combined really couldn't beat the little poopy in the young lady's arms...

Finally finding an opportunity, Inanna excitedly led the worried-looking Aidin back to the dungeon.

They even went so far as to rent three lighting flares together, making Inanna the brightest spot in the entire dungeon.

Following the direction the leader indicated, we arrived at the fifth level of the mushroom forest.

While admiring the beauty of the mushroom forest, Inanna went into a mushroom house on her own.

A moment later, Aidin was astonished to see that what jumped out of it was not Inanna, but a... pink poop!

The pink, plump creature tilted its round body and, within the fungal web, spoke in the voice of a duke's daughter, kindly asking, "Don't you know shapeshifting? Would you like me to help you transform?"

Aidin's pupils contracted slightly as he refused the decadent invitation: "No, thank you."

Unbeknownst to the two, behind a mushroom tree in the distance, half of a large black mushroom cap was peeking out...

(End of this chapter)