CHAPTER 37: CHAPTER 37: WHAT NOW THAT THERE’S NO GOING BACK?

Dylan felt like he was already living a semi-retired life.

Every day after getting up from the Mycelium Coffin, he would cook a bowl of mushroom soup.

These were picked from the forest; the boss had said that gray mushrooms could be eaten freely.

But as a Fungus-man, eating mushrooms always carried a subtle sense of contradiction...

Moreover, the soup always had a bland earthy smell, and he had to sprinkle some rock salt to awaken some flavor.

Additionally, perhaps due to mentioning the issue of dim lighting to the boss, recently the mushrooms had started to glow.

Though it solved the lighting problem nicely, the glowing soup felt rather uncomfortable, making him feel like he was drinking a witch’s brew.

Luckily, the job was quite relaxed; except for going on surface business trips, the boss wouldn’t assign him any tasks.

Sometimes adventurers would forget to take their gear and items, which required Dylan to appraise their value, but not much else.

He would occasionally use his free time to hunt on the surface, bringing back some edible demons.

After all, he couldn’t just eat mushrooms all the time.

Last time when he told the boss he wanted some demons to improve his diet, and got a few broken pukis sent to him, Dylan realized he had to figure out the meals himself.

Eating one’s coworkers is just too...

Fortunately, the boss didn’t oppose him hunting in the upper layers, and was even quite supportive, only reminding him to throw the remaining parts of the demons into the Swamp.

To improve his quality of life on the fifth floor, he even specially applied for a plot on the edge to start building his own wooden house.

Unfortunately, he ran into work as soon as he started.

The boss first asked if he knew anything about magic power fluctuations, but he, being purely close combat, knew nothing about magic.

Then he was immediately assigned the task of gathering information on the surface; it seemed quite urgent.

Not daring to delay, Dylan spent half a day skillfully ascending to the surface.

Then he bumped into three official personnel from the Adventurer’s Guild guarding the entrance to the Underground City.

The leader he recognized, a middle-aged adventurer named Marshall who had been active in Dumb Wind Town ten years ago.

But he was a Gold Level adventurer, and since joining the Guild hasn’t entered the Underground City.

Seeing someone guarding the door, the guilty Dylan couldn’t help but break out in a cold sweat.

What was happening?

Why was the entrance sealed?

Would they check something and discover his disguise?

Swallowing hard, Dylan bravely straightened his back and walked out.

However, the Guild personnel merely glanced at Dylan and allowed him to pass.

Instead, four adventurers intending to enter the Underground City were stopped.

The Red-armored Warrior’s sword hilt hit the stone slab heavily:

"Why are we not allowed into the Underground City?"

The questioning sparked with flames, yet opposite, Marshall stood with arms folded, appearing very calm.

Adventurers typically were this unruly, raising their voices when encountering issues, a habit.

"Magic tide warning, as per Guild requirements, sealing the Underground City."

The words ’magic tide’ instantly made the adventurers’ dissatisfaction vanish.

Though magic tide happens once every decade or so in the Underground City, most adventurers hadn’t encountered it before.

But as the biggest disaster of the Underground City, no adventurer was unaware of its name.

Sealing the Underground City because of the magic tide, no one opposed it.

The four huddled together and mumbled for a while before asking somewhat hesitantly:

"How long will it be sealed? What about the timed tasks we took? Can’t just drag it until the tasks fail, right?"

Some timed tasks require a deposit, which is naturally forfeited upon failure.

But the Guild evidently experienced, considering all aspects.

"Just apply for task extensions or cancellations at the Guild front desk, and as for sealing, naturally until the magic tide ends."

Having said that, Marshall waved the adventurers away.

While those four adventurers left, Dylan rubbed his hands and approached.

"I have some stuff hidden on the second layer, could you let me retrieve it quickly?"

"No way!" Marshall refused without thinking; someone else’s lost items were none of his concern.

Dylan took a step forward, discreetly passing a shiny gold coin to Marshall.

Marshall’s Adam’s apple rolled twice, his peripheral vision sweeping over the two colleagues behind him.

This time, those partnering for the task weren’t people he was familiar with, who knows if anyone would report him; risking for a gold coin wasn’t worth it.

"Rules are rules!"

Pushing Dylan aside, Marshall once again rejected his request to return with a face of unwavering discipline.

Dylan scratched his head helplessly—what to do now?

The news was easily acquired, but couldn’t be delivered back.

Felt like the boss needed an advanced sneaky fellow more than him for such things...

Thinking through it, it seemed best to check out the tavern first.

————

As soon as the mold-stained wooden door opened a crack, the murky smell of alcohol made Dylan take half a step back.

The Rotten Willow Tavern’s business today was nothing short of explosive.

Unable to enter the Underground City, adventurers apparently planned to soak themselves to death in alcohol.

When Dylan walked in, he found there was not a single empty spot, everywhere crowded with drunken adventurers.

If only there were three of the boss’s self-destructing pukis here...

Dylan shook his head; why would he have such strange thoughts.

"A drink." Dylan tapped the counter with his finger.

The owner ladled half a bowl of brown liquid from a wooden barrel, suspicious stains clinging to the edge of the ceramic bowl.

The bowl’s capacity was clearly inferior to that of a wooden cup, this sly old merchant.

Finding a spot to lean against, Dylan listened attentively to the surrounding conversations.

Unsurprisingly, the topic of discussion was the magic tide.

Some young folks were unaware of the dangers of the tide, still complaining about tight finances, unable to go to the Underground City.

Immediate mockery followed from others.

"Boy, isn’t living well enough?"

"Now go to the Underground City? You plan to feed what’s left of you to demons?"

Amidst everyone’s laughter, a white-bearded retired adventurer offered some valuable information:

"There’s no worry about lack of work.

According to experience, in a few days the Guild will issue assistance tasks.

At that time, numerous demons will await you for slaughter at the Underground City entrance, even those escaping from the Deep Area.

As long as you’re not afraid of dying, there’s plenty of money to be made."

Hearing there might still be a chance to earn money, many in the tavern looked hopeful, the old adventurer shook his head.

Vera also enthusiastically thanked the veteran adventurer.

If they couldn’t earn money for ten days or half a month, the three of them might have to consider pawning their equipment...

Dylan did know demons would rush out, but hadn’t heard of Deep Area existences among them until now.

If demons from the Deep Area were surging to the surface, then the Underground City must be even more chaotic...

He had never considered such a problem before.

Dylan recalled hearing before, every time after a magic tide, the ecosystem within each layer of the Underground City would change somewhat.

Now he was a bit worried; the boss wouldn’t become part of the changed section, right...