This dungeon has mushrooms growing on it.

Chapter 255, Section 254: Exploration
Dang——dang——dang——

The dull, monotonous sound of digging echoed in the dim cavern of the fifth level.

Each time the pickaxe struck, it sent up a few tiny sparks that reflected on Glenn's lifeless face.

His eyes were vacant, as if his soul had long been ripped out, leaving only his body numbly repeating the action of swinging a pickaxe.

Dwarves are usually sturdy, but Grum appeared unusually small at this moment; his legs had disappeared in the previous explosion.

Only thanks to emergency treatment and the few precious bottles of medicine that Tolin obtained from Horn and the others was he barely able to save his life.

But Grum, who was lucky enough to survive, was immediately taken to the cave by the Puji and forced to mine.

Suddenly falling from heaven to hell, Glenn was completely numb, mechanically swinging his pickaxe only under the occasional urging of Puji.

"If I offer a reward, can't everyone find a way to rescue Glenn?" Torin, who was also in a sorry state, asked not far from the cave.

Although Grimes was a mercenary he had hired, without his help, Torin would have perished in the Scarecrow Abyss. Now that there was still a chance, Torin still wanted to rescue him.

However, the men shook their heads vigorously, their faces filled with resistance: "This isn't about money, it's about lives!"

"What can we do? Just watch him rot inside?" Tolin asked dejectedly.

Noah suggested, "Perhaps... you could try posting a formal quest at the Adventurers' Guild up there?"

"Adventurers' Guild!" Torin's eyes lit up.

……

“Guild Master,” Mirabelle said as she entered the newly renovated guild master’s office, “a dwarf gentleman who claims to be from the Deepforge clan is seeking the guild’s assistance in the hall.”

Farr was engrossed in a recent report on mushroom field growth data when he heard this and looked up in confusion: "The Deepforge Clan? I don't recall any registered dwarven blacksmiths residing in town. Besides, we don't seem to have any rare mineral veins here..."

“He’s not a blacksmith, Guild Master,” Mirabelle added. “He says he’s an adventurer.”

"Adventurers?" Far looked even more puzzled. He clearly remembered that the Deepforge Clan was known for its skilled fire-fighting members, and those associated with adventure were few and far between.

Soon, Torin, whose face was still covered in mud and blood, was led in. Under Far's incredulous gaze, he explained the whole process with snot and tears streaming down his face. Finally, he took out a small bag, hoping that Far could go and save Grum, who had been taken away by the Puji.

Although the bag was torn, the gemstones revealed inside were genuinely top-quality.

"Lord Torlin, please calm down. We deeply sympathize with your plight, and the guild will do everything in its power to help. Lillian!" He turned to the maid standing beside him, "Take Lord Deepforge to the treatment room and have his wounds properly treated."

"Yes." Lillian led the wounded Torin away.

Only after the door closed did Far lose his gentle expression and revert to his businesslike demeanor: "Mirabelle, immediately verify the identity and background of this Torin Deepforge."

In the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Far confirmed Torin's identity: a branch of the Deepfire Clan, there really was such a person.

Analogous to the human aristocracy, he was roughly equivalent to the second son of a baron's family. His status wasn't particularly illustrious, but as an ally of humanity, the dwarves should still help out, especially during this time, not to mention that they even gave him gems as a reward.

But rescuing someone from Puji's clutches...

After much back and forth, the matter finally came to Inanna, who was comfortably lying in her room, letting several round, chubby poopy paws stomp on her back.

"Why should I go and save someone who attacked Puji?" Inanna hugged the knight and rubbed him, her tone clearly reluctant.

“Miss Inanna,” the guild member relaying the message said cautiously, “the guild master said that the dwarves are, after all, our allies, and we should give face to the Deepforge clan’s request. Besides… only you are truly capable of handling this matter…”

Inanna pouted and rolled her eyes. Although she was unhappy, it wouldn't be bad to have the opportunity to legitimately enter the dungeon... But before that, she had to ask first.

Inside the mushroom web, Inanna asked, "Boss, there's a dwarf outside crying and begging us to release his companion who killed Puji. Should we release him or not?"

"If they want them, let them take them. Keeping them is just a waste of mushrooms!" Lin Jun said indifferently.

With permission, Inanna, carrying the knight, went up to the fifth floor with the others.

As usual, Inanna shook the knight in a perfunctory manner. Under Torin's expectant gaze, the Puji released the somewhat delirious Grum, and Torin quickly carried him on his back.

Inanna glanced at Glenn, who had been returned by the Puji, and pursed her lips. Then she waved to the others, "Alright, you guys take your people and go. I need to stay here and comfort these frightened little guys."

"Startled..."

……

Lin Jun released the person casually; he was just a gold-level dwarf, and Lin Jun hadn't even checked his belongings, finding them to be of little value.

On the contrary, the information about the other side of the rift that the two dwarves inadvertently revealed was of some value.

Although Lin Jun also had "guides" to other dungeons collected by Inanna and Aidin, hearing firsthand accounts and verifying them was still more helpful.

Lin Jun originally intended to explore the dense forest first, but the appearance of the two dwarves obviously disrupted her plans.

Lin Jun carefully hid most of these remaining cracks in inconspicuous corners, like the one in front of her, cleverly concealed within the internal structure of a giant fluorescent mushroom tree.

After all, it's like letting the Puji swagger through the rifts so openly in front of everyone, as if they were entering and leaving their own living room.

That would have a negative impact; people are prone to overthinking.

Although he now controls the core of the dungeon and is becoming increasingly proficient in using "Thunder Punishment," he should still conceal his true abilities when possible.

Since there is more than one rift leading to the Scarecrow Abyss, perhaps we should consider sealing off this one that has already been exposed.

But before that, Lin Jun still sent a scout, Puji, to sneak over.

It would be a shame to miss out on a valuable place on the other side!

Before even entering, the scout was already afflicted with the [Corrosion Curse], and after entering, he was further cursed with the [Falling Curse].

The former is a local specialty of Lin Jun, but its curse strength is clearly not as strong as the rift blocked by the six layers of slimes. It does no damage at all in front of Lin Jun's [Corrosion Resistance LV8].

As for the latter, its name sounds like it's a no-fly zone, but the scouts flapped their little wings and their flight wasn't hindered. The specific effects are currently unknown.

Scout Puji flapped its wings with all its might, wobbling as it climbed from the deep ravine, finally hovering over the edge of the cliff where the dwarves had fallen earlier.

The cliff top was now empty; the scarecrow that had been chasing them was nowhere to be seen. But strangely, within the scout Puji's perception range, there was no "edge area" as described by the dwarfs, only an endless wheat field.

On the other side of the deep ravine was a forest with indistinct outlines.

Lin Jun controlled Puji and tried to fly towards the forest. However, the flight did not last long. Puji mysteriously emerged from the "other side" of the forest, and in front of it was the wheat field again!

Farms can be similar, but the cracks can never be the same!

Looking at the crack below, Lin Jun was certain that space here was distorted.

It feels...so high-class!
Considering the spatial structure of their own underground cities, each of them is making the most of the space!

Since we can't find the "edge" the dwarves mentioned, let's explore the "farm" first!

Speaking of which... you can't see the moon from here!
……

"Ah-ah-"

A hoarse, piercing cry rang out in the night sky as a raven with dull feathers perched on a rotten, crooked wooden frame in the wheat field.

This shelf was probably originally used to hang scarecrows, but it is now completely empty.

Suddenly, a slightly clumsy flapping sound came from the side, quite different from the light and graceful flapping of a crow's wings.

The crow turned its head in confusion and saw a large, white crow, unlike any it had ever seen before, land with a plop and land steadily on the other side of the perch, a short distance away from the black crow. The two stood in silent confrontation...

(End of this chapter)