Daily News: Insect Girls' Heavy Dependence

Inside Stormwind, at an alchemist's shop.

Richard told Glolo everything about the strange things he encountered during his third collection of the essence insect fluid.

The genius loli twirled a scalpel in her hand, deep in thought.

"I've never heard of any of these things you've described. But you're probably right, that so-called Lord of the Forest does indeed have a deep connection with the Mushroom People."

At this moment, Glolo was dissecting the two mushroom-man corpses he had brought back from the second collection of essence insect fluid.

At this moment, the two corpses, which were originally four meters in size, have shrunk considerably, becoming about the size of an ordinary human.

Even the mushrooms with their outer skin peeled off and those fleshy armors have skin that is no different from human skin!

As Glolo demonstrated the centaur-like mushroom-man's features to Richard, he added:

"I now strongly suspect that some fungal humans are organisms formed after some kind of fungal hyphae infect humans."

Richard's pupils dilated, but he didn't even have time to ask a question.

The genius little girl immediately analyzed:

"Only part of it! That's what I'm wondering about too. I've dissected mushroom people before. They don't have bones! They're just mushrooms or fungi that look like humans!"

"So, strangely enough, these two centaur-like fungus-men have upper body skeletons similar to humans. Their lower bodies are two skeletons resembling human lower limbs, pieced together in some way..."

"They should not belong to the traditional sense of fungus people, so naturally they do not have the characteristic of spitting mist."

"And what's even more puzzling is that, based on the two fungus-men you brought back, which are now confirmed to be human-transformed, they can also exhale mist..."

"I'll venture a guess: that so-called Lord of the Forest, a fifth-order ultimate insect beast, is not only enormous in size and possesses human-like intelligence."

"It should also possess the ability to control fungus people, transform human bodies into fungus people, and specialize in fungus people!"

Richard nodded. If Glolo said so, then it must be true. He never doubted the words of a genius loli.

Then he raised his own question:

"So, just how big is this colossal insectoid beast? Judging from the locations where its different tentacles appear... it spans fifty or sixty kilometers."

Glolo was well aware of his concerns, but when it came to mycelium and fungi, she knew even less than Richard from Earth, so she dared not speculate.

I can only give an ambiguous answer:

"I don't know, but I feel that the tentacles aren't connected to the same organism. Each tentacle must be an independent creature. Otherwise, what would such a huge creature eat? Its energy consumption is outrageous!"

Richard thought about it carefully and realized that it made sense.

If there really were a creature tens of kilometers long, that would be truly outrageous. But if we simply consider it as tentacles a few meters long, then it doesn't violate common biological sense.

They must be connected through some kind of hyphae. After all, the underground microbial network on Earth is enormous.

I'm no longer going to think about these biological research facts.

Richard prefers the European and American style of play, going straight for the kill!

Is Govy still sleeping?

Glolo nodded:

"To maximize the use of the essence insect fluid, my sister only wakes up for an hour each day to eat. She'll reach level four in about a week."

Richard stroked his chin and immediately came up with a plan. Once Govi ​​reached level four, he would take her back to the place where they first encountered the tentacles.

Because of that mushroom forest teeming with spore eggs, and that large, four-colored mushroom...

A strange intuition surged in my mind; perhaps that was the key!

Since that's the case, Richard decided to rest in Stormwind for a week while waiting for Gove to emerge from seclusion.

Having been in the North for so long, I haven't had a proper rest.

...

...

During this break, I naturally didn't stay idle. I finally had time to let the little girl, Dream Bug, create a satisfactory system panel.

"Panel expanded!"

—Supercomplex Cocoon Aggregate—

"Fourteen-Winged Devouring Shadow Knight Insect"

"Late-stage Fourth-Order Complete Form: Level 49.9!"

"Fourth-tier external cocoons: Thousand-Refined Transformation Insect, Shadow Insect, Evil Thought Sensing Insect, Blade Insect Cocoon."

"Core Cocoon: 2 Tier 4 Silver Demon Insects"

"Attack Cocoon: Tier 3 Blade Insect x2"

"Flying Insect Cocoon: 7 Tier 3 Silverwing Insects, 3 Tier 3 Storm Demon Insect (Flesh Wing Specialized Type)"

"Three-tiered functional insect cocoons: armored beetle, long-tongued beetle, air sac beetle, giant beetle, pain-relieving beetle, carrion beetle, and nose-sniffing beetle."

"Second-tier material insects: Coral Mushroom Bone Insect, Ground-Listening Fungus Insect, Claw Insect..."

"First-tier material bug: ..."

"Energy Core Loaded: Thunder Demon Insect"

"Super Acceleration Mode Battery Life: 22 seconds"

Peak battery life: 3 seconds

……

Both I and Govi ​​seem to be quite strong right now.

"Govie, let's go."

Richard glanced at Govi, who was now at the fourth rank, and began to urge the Papal Knight, who was still sensing the changes in his own power.

Gove seems to have changed a lot in terms of her overall demeanor, but it's hard to pinpoint exactly what has changed. She doesn't quite look more mature.

Richard felt that she had undergone a leap in her life level. She had transcended the realm of normal humanity... After all, barring any unforeseen circumstances, Goldie could live to be 150 years old...

Too lazy to think about all that, the most important thing is to lead the team out to find the essence insect filtrate.

Richard interrupted his wandering thoughts and straightened his robes.

Govi then snapped out of her meditation.

This newly promoted Papal Knight didn't have much to say. After all, he was already at the fourth rank; he couldn't be too silly, or it would really lower his prestige...

They brought Govi ​​to the fountain square.

A force of 2000 people has gathered here, but this force is not for Richard.

Richard strode quickly to Yekaterin's White Nights and Stars carriage.

"I'm all set up here. Are you all ready to leave?"

Yekalin rubbed her temples, her voice betraying her weariness:

"There's no other way, the Sotus family is pressuring us. I have to go to New Rome, and while I'm at it, I'll help your little maid with her school enrollment..."

Yekalin glanced back at Sally, who was hiding in the carriage.

The young maid was behaving strangely at this moment. Although it had only been a few days since they parted, she was unwilling to come out and say goodbye to the young master.

Because she understood that once she successfully enrolled, it meant she would be confined to the Papal Knight Academy for two whole months after the recovery season, unable to see her young master...

Richard may not understand girlish feelings, but how could he not see Sally's unusual behavior in this matter?

Not afraid of Yekaterin being jealous, he directly climbed into the carriage.

Sally wasn't wearing her maid's outfit at the moment; she had changed into a dress that Yekaterin had chosen for her. Biting her lower lip and fiddling with the buttons on her dress, she was completely unaware that Richard had entered.

"Sally!"

Richard's sudden shout clearly startled her.

"Hey! Young Master!"

The girl's tone was filled with undisguised surprise, to the point of being slightly flustered.