This dungeon has mushrooms growing on it.

Chapter 78. How about some mushrooms?

the next morning.

"Four intermediate-level healing potions, three basic-level magic potions, and three bottles of general-purpose antidotes. They're all here, please keep them safe."

The clerk pushed the medicine box wrapped in oil paper to the other side of the counter, and Vera took it and carefully put it away.

Feiling went to buy food and small items like flint and steel. Feiyin said she needed to prepare some medicine powder, which should be ready by the time she got back.

As Vera pushed open the wooden door of the shop and was about to return, a thug-like man approached her.

"Hey buddy, you look unfamiliar."

Vera frowned slightly, took two steps back, and tried to go around him.

Do I look like someone who's easy to bully?

How could such a random guy come looking for us?

The thug, seemingly oblivious to the situation, actually took two more steps forward and moved closer to Vera.

Vera's hand was already on his scimitar; if they weren't in town, he would have already drawn his weapon.

"Hey, buddy, I meant no harm."

The thug quickly gestured that he posed no threat, while Vera simply stared at the annoying guy, waiting for him to continue.

"Hey, I just wanted to ask if you need any local specialties from Silent Wind Town."

specialty?

Vera has been to Silent Wind Town before.

If we have to talk about specialties, then everything in the dungeon is a specialty?
But there isn’t any one outstanding one that can represent the entire Silent Wind Town, is there?

It can't be referring to that bar in the now-closed-down Rotten Willow Tavern, can it?
Vera soon found out the answer.

The thug reached into his clothes, rummaged around for a while, and pulled out a small bag that didn't look very clean.

"Would you like some mushrooms?" she said, revealing bits of green mushrooms in the bag.

……

……

……

Mushrooms, mushrooms everywhere.

This is Vera's current impression of Silent Wind Town.

The mushroom soup I had yesterday wasn't a specialty of that restaurant; now almost every restaurant in Yafeng Town serves this "delicacy."

The reason is simple—it's cheap.

It requires almost no cost; anyone who goes down to the first level of the dungeon can easily collect a large number of mushrooms.

This was most immediately apparent to Vera and her two companions after they entered the dungeon.

The ground is fine; perhaps because of the constant flow of people, it remains unchanged.

But the ceiling and wall crevices were covered with mycelium and fluorescent mushrooms.

This is true from the first to the fourth floor. Wherever there are gaps or places that are not easily stepped on by living organisms, there will definitely be mycelium and mushrooms.

Not only the social strata, but also the steps connecting different levels, were like this, with large patches of mycelium spreading along the circular walls, as if they were connected from top to bottom.

However, this situation did not cause any trouble for the adventurers.

Conversely, if you don't mind drinking fluorescent porridge every day, you can enter the dungeon without preparing any food.

Just be careful not to accidentally cook green mushrooms in the pot—all mushrooms glow, and those with poor eyesight might confuse them.

But green mushrooms aren't entirely useless. Like that thug before, they used green mushrooms as a cheap "sleep aid powder."

If we're talking about what inconvenience mushrooms have brought to the dungeon, it's probably the disappearance of fireflies.

At least the first five floors are like that.

The warm orange glow of the firefly grass is gone, replaced by the fluorescent light of mushrooms, which raises the gloom level of the entire dungeon several notches!

As it stands now, even if a few ghosts suddenly appeared, it wouldn't feel out of place at all.

Walking through the spiral passage leading to the fifth floor, the mushroom's eerie glow illuminated the steps beneath my feet.

Fei Ling couldn't help but say, "Let's rename this place Mushroom Dungeon." Fei Yin nodded in agreement, "It's full of mushrooms, and poop."

Along the way, they had already encountered two battles between Puji and slimes, and even managed to snag some loot...

As we walked through the passage to the latter half, we heard a commotion coming from below.

At the bottom of the stairs, a dozen or so adventurers were scattered around in small groups, resting. Some of them had even lit campfires, suggesting they had been there for some time.

The arrival of the three did not attract much attention from the other adventurers; several pairs of eyes glanced at them for a few moments before looking away.

"What are they doing?" Fei Ling asked in a low voice.

Vera shrugged. How would he know?

However, he noticed a sign at the exit.

Step forward.

"The Five-Tier Rules..."

This set of rules appears to be an expanded version of the "guide" I received back then.

The fact that adventurers accept the sign as it is, rather than destroying it, suggests that the rules on it are correct.

However, the last rule above states: If you encounter a completely black, winged humanoid creature, immediately retreat the way you came.

Someone made a scratch, and in its place, a row of different words were carved in the blank space below: Do not enter at night.

Should we avoid entering at night?
Vera then noticed that almost all of these adventurers had brought Moonshadow Stones.

However... judging from the time they entered the dungeon and their progress, it shouldn't be evening yet, right?

I feel like I need to ask someone for advice.

Vera looked around and spotted a dwarf who was carefully wiping his axe.

As he walked over, the dwarf cautiously raised his axe.

But when Vera explained her purpose and handed him a silver coin, the dwarf chatted with her as if he had met a long-lost friend.

"So, everything on that sign is true?" Vera asked after declining the mushroom soup the dwarf offered.

The dwarf didn't mind, took a swig, and left a large patch of fluorescence on his beard.

"Of course it's true. I wonder which kind-hearted adventurer put it up."

At first, some people didn't believe it, but after the fans exposed them one by one, they learned their lesson.

As he spoke, the dwarf seemed to recall that scene and chuckled softly.

Vera nodded and continued, "What about the last one? Is there any danger on the fifth floor at night?"

The dwarf, with a knowing look that said, moved closer to Vera and whispered, "It's the Big Black Mushroom!"

"A big black mushroom?"

"That's right! A black Puji that's as tall as a person and has incredibly thick scales!"

It is incredibly powerful; even a Gold-level expert can't defeat it. It operates on the fifth and sixth floors every night.

You might not encounter it, but if you do, it might steal your business!

Vera's eyes widened in surprise. "It can move between two levels? Doesn't that mean it can enter the staircase?"

“I understand your surprise,” the dwarf patted Vera on the shoulder; he had been through it all himself. “But that’s just how it is. This is probably one of the aftereffects of the demonic tide.”

The aftermath of the Demon Tide.

Adventurers attribute most of the changes in the dungeon to this so-called aftereffect, including the mushrooms that have spread to the first five floors.

"You said it might steal it, why 'might'?"

"That depends on whether you have anything sparkly on you, like rings, magic crystals, or glass beads. It will snatch anything it likes."

That's why I said it's best not to go out at night; if you don't run into anyone, you're safe.

"Then why are you all resting here? It's not even evening yet." Vera asked her last question.

The dwarf chuckled and didn't hide anything: "Because we're going to defeat it!"

(Adding a picture of the trio)

(End of this chapter)