New chapter of Plant Magic Lord is out! (2/2 chapters)

Puzzle Mushroom

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In Healberry Village.

Having made grass dumplings to their satisfaction, the cockatrices began preparing to leave.

“Piyo.” (That was good exercise.) (Cockatrice)

“Piyoyo.” (I might have lost a bit of flab.) (Cockatrice)

The grass dumplings I had prepared were wrapped in cloth and handed over so they could enjoy them later as a snack.

“Well then, I suppose it is time for me to return as well.” (Tetetoka)

Tetetoka was lightly lifted and carried by one of the cockatrices. It was faster to be carried than for him to walk on his own.

At the entranceway, we saw Tetetoka and the others off.

“Bye-bye.” (Tetetoka)

“Piyo.” (Farewell.) (Cockatrice)

“Piyop.” (See you again.) (Cockatrice)

“Ugougo, see you again!” (Wood)

“Thank you for your hard work!” (Anaria)

“Thank you for the consultation, it was a great help.” (Elt)

“Very well then, until next time.” (Tetetoka)

Waving his hand, Tetetoka departed together with the chirping cockatrices.

“Well then, Wood, may I have a word?” (Elt)

“Ugo, it is all right!” (Wood)

“Thump-thump.” (Anaria)

Wood, Anaria, and I once more sat down together on the chairs in the living room.

“I asked Tetetoka about the matter of the grass dumplings.” (Elt)

“Ugo! Were you able to discover the cause?” (Wood)

“It seems that the culprit is the red-black mushroom known as the Berry Mushroom. Unless it is of crimson quality, the great grass dumpling cannot be successfully made.” (Elt)

Wood nodded with an “Ugougo.”

“So, those tiny fragments of mushrooms were essential.” (Wood)

“Yes, and the problem is that crimson Berry Mushrooms are not easily obtained.” (Elt)

I explained that crimson Berry Mushrooms could only be acquired on the third layer of Zanzas and that doing so was extremely difficult. However, during my conversation with Anaria earlier, there was one thing I had been able to confirm. When my explanation reached a natural pause, Anaria added her thoughts.

“However, with Wood’s abilities, I believe it would be possible for him to acquire crimson Berry Mushrooms from the deeper parts of the third layer.” (Anaria)

“Ugo?” (Wood)

“There are also seasoned adventurers in this village, after all.” (Anaria)

Apparently, both the adventurer in his thirties and Hattori had more than sufficient experience and knowledge to serve as guides. In fact, they had already reached the sixth layer. The reason they did not descend so frequently was that the returns were not worth the risk. Particularly in Zanzas, without countermeasures against abnormal conditions and reliable means of healing, one could not progress further. However, potions to treat abnormal conditions had become exorbitantly expensive, and the value of materials obtainable within the dungeon no longer balanced against that cost.

“In other words, if we were to take advantage of Wood’s resistance to abnormal conditions, it might be possible to advance more easily.” (Elt)

“Ugo, I see.” (Wood)

And here lay my quandary.

Most likely, if we try hard enough, crimson Berry Mushrooms could indeed be obtained. The problem was something I could not quite express clearly. Who should be the one to make that decision?

Should it be Wood, who had never yet ventured to the third layer? Or should it be I, his father? Or Stella, who had reached the deeper part of the sixth floor?

“Wood, even without crimson Berry Mushrooms, it is still possible to make grass dumplings. They may not fit your hand size perfectly, but they can still be made.” (Elt)

“Ugo, that is true.” (Wood)

Wood then fixed his eyes upon me.

“But if it is at all possible, I wish to give Lalatoma the finest grass dumplings.” (Wood)

“I see.” (Elt)

“Sniff.” (Anaria)

It appeared Anaria was deeply moved.

Has something truly happened between them?

At any rate, perhaps it was better that I did not make the decision myself. I had no experience in dungeons, after all.

“Let us consult with the veteran adventurers and confirm whether it is permissible to go. It will not be too late to decide afterward.” (Elt)

“Ugo, understood!” (Wood)

“In truth, perhaps it would be safest and most reassuring to go together with Stella.” (Elt)

Yet at my words, Wood fidgeted uneasily.

“Ugo, somehow that feels embarrassing.” (Wood)

That was true. I too would not want my parent accompanying me when choosing a present for the girl I liked.

—

After tidying away the remains of the grass dumplings, there was once more a knock at the door. Another visitor. Many had come today.

When Wood went to the entrance, there stood the adventurer in his thirties.

“Good day to you.” (Adventurer)

“Ugo, welcome!” (Wood)

“Good day!” (Anaria)

A rare guest indeed.

“Good day. Forgive the slight mess, but please, come inside.” (Elt)

We were still finishing up the tidying in the living room. Well, it was almost complete.

“Oh my, were you making grass dumplings?” (Adventurer)

“Yes, for the first time in a while. More importantly, has something occurred?” (Elt)

It was truly unusual for the adventurer to come to my house. Sometimes we went fishing together, but on those occasions, we usually met in the plaza.

“Had Leia been present, I would have reported to her as well. Do you recall the matter of the underground passage?” (Adventurer)

“Of course. You have been investigating whether it extends all the way to Zanzas.” (Elt)

I had received their reports, though there had been little of note recently. Proceeding cautiously due to traps and collapses, their advance was extremely slow. Nonetheless, they were surely making steady progress.

“Could it be that something has happened?” (Elt)

“Yes indeed, for on the ground of the underground passage, we discovered this.” (Adventurer)

So, saying, the adventurer drew a small mushroom from his breast. Its cap was yellow, resembling the shape and size of a shimeji. Its white stem was slightly divided.

Hmm, I recognize it. It is a Puzzle Mushroom, a type of magic beast said in books to be found on the third floor of Zanzas. They came in various colors, including yellow, blue, green and if provoked carelessly, they clung together and released poison. Depending on the combination of cap colors that touched, a different poison was produced, hence the name Puzzle Mushroom.

Contact between caps of the same color is harmless, and if handle swiftly, the trouble could be minimized. Truly, they are magic beasts reminiscent of a puzzle game.

But if one of these was present…

Anaria leaned forward, staring intently at the Puzzle Mushroom.

“This is… there can be no doubt!” (Anaria)

“Indeed, it is precisely a Puzzle Mushroom.” (Adventurer)

“Ugougo, so this is…?” (Wood)

“Yet, distance-wise, the dungeon of Zanzas should not have been reached yet, correct?” (Elt)

To my words, Anaria nodded emphatically.

“Puzzle Mushrooms walk upon these feet of theirs. It is possible they may have propagated beyond the dungeon itself.” (Anaria)

“The Puzzle Mushrooms in Zanzas grow much larger. It is not uncommon for them to reach the height of a person.” (Adventurer)

Walking shimeji mushrooms as tall as humans. In a game, that would seem ordinary enough, but to see them in reality would be startling indeed.

“Was this one moving?” (Elt)

“No, it displayed hardly any reaction. Most likely it lacked sufficient mana to grow fully.” (Adventurer)

“Puzzle Mushrooms are also magic beasts. Without abundant mana, they cannot attain great size.” (Anaria)

“Ugo, but if this mushroom is present, then…” (Wood)

“It means we must carefully consider before venturing any deeper.” (Elt)

A Puzzle Mushroom by itself was hardly dangerous. A Flower Archer was far more troublesome. The real danger came when many appeared in a confined space.

They touched one another, and Puzzle Mushrooms would set off a chain of explosions. This would release spores that caused abnormal conditions to spread. Outdoors, one could still escape, but within a dungeon, such escape would be impossible.

And Puzzle Mushrooms were native to the labyrinthine third floor.

“They are still small and barely moving. However, we cannot permit novice adventurers to walk through there. Should they fall prey to an abnormal condition, the loss would be devastating.” (Adventurer)

The adventurer folded his arms. Perhaps this was merely a report. For now, the danger was not immediate. The warning was simply to proceed with greater caution.

“If one prepares potions against abnormal conditions and proceeds more carefully than before, it should be safe, correct?” (Elt)

“Once you know the trick, they are not so fearsome. With Puzzle Mushrooms, panicking when surrounded is the most dangerous thing.” (Adventurer)

“I see.” (Elt)

“Yet it is also good news. This discovery greatly lessens the chance that the passage leads nowhere.” (Adventurer)

“Indeed, Puzzle Mushrooms exist only in Zanzas within this region. The likelihood that the third layer connects to the underground passage has grown stronger.” (Anaria)

“Ugo, if that is the case…” (Wood)

Wood clenched his fist tightly.

“I too wish to advance along the underground passage!” (Wood)

—

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