“This is unbearable.”

Wells stepped barefoot onto the mycelium mat—it was like sinking into sticky honey, every toe gap squishing with slimy, living matter.

When he lifted his foot, strands stretched between skin and ground…

The others weren’t much better. All their shoes had worn through back at Venom Lake.

“Hey, why don’t we get back on the mushroom path? At least there aren’t these things there.”

The captain cut him off. “Show some grit. You’re an adventurer, aren’t you? The forest is almost in sight. We’ll get back on the path then.”

“Tch.” Wells felt like the captain never missed a chance to belittle him—petty bastard.

Irritated, he stomped down hard on the mycelium.

“Argh!”

A sharp stone jabbed into his foot, dropping him into a squat with pain.

“You alright? Let me see!”

Jeanne hurried over, cupping his sticky, slimy foot in her hands—without the slightest disgust.

“It’s nothing serious. Just a small wound. I’ll fix it.”

She plucked the stone free and waved her staff. A flash of light washed over Wells.

The pain faded instantly, the cut healing, and even his spirit felt lifted.

“Thanks, Jeanne.”

She smiled in response.

The captain, however, snapped, “If you’re fine, then move. Stop getting hurt by pebbles like an idiot.”

The mage looked like he wanted to speak, but his eyes caught movement in the distance—shadows of Pujis.

“Patrols again.”

About ten of them, wandering randomly across the mycelium.

Most were mutated—tentacles, scales, even cannons.

This was the third patrol they’d seen. Maybe the mushroom path had fewer?

Nobody wanted to fight. Even before the monster wave, adventurers had learned: fifth-floor Pujis were strong, and they dropped nothing.

At best, you might scrape up some chewy mushroom flesh to roast—nothing else.

Pure loss. Best avoided.

The mage doused their light, then cast invisibility over them.

As with the last patrols, they froze in place, waiting.

But this time, something went wrong.

One ordinary-looking Puji—no tentacles, no scales—suddenly veered toward them.

And the entire patrol followed its lead, turning and marching straight in their direction.

“Damn it, what rotten luck,” the captain hissed. “Wells—monster corpse!”

Wells swung down his bag, pulled a canine beast corpse, and tossed it out.

The Pujis instantly swarmed the offering, entangling it in tentacles, then diverted toward the swamp.

The party exhaled in relief.

If not for that, they’d have fed all their corpses to patrols.

Soon after, the forest came into view—or rather, the mushroom forest.

“The forest turned into… this?”

“What the hell?” Wells laid a hand on a giant mushroom, feeling its fluffy surface. “I’ve never seen one grow this big…”

“A glowing mushroo—achoo!”

The captain sneezed.

The mage’s eyes narrowed. Above them, from the gills of the enormous cap, pale blue spores drifted down in a steady shower.

“Everyone back—might be poisonous.”

They retreated thirty paces before stopping.

“If the whole forest’s like this, we won’t have enough antidotes. Do we still go in?” Wells asked.

“I say we don’t. Look there.”

The dwarf pointed ahead. Wells squinted hard, but saw nothing special.

Just more mushrooms.

Yet the others murmured in awe.

“What is it?” Wells whispered to Jeanne.

She leaned close, her breath tickling his ear. “Look under the mushroom trunks.”

Suppressing a shiver, Wells looked again—and saw it.

A Puji, colored exactly like the mushroom stem.

Standing beneath the cap, it blended perfectly—impossible to spot at a glance.

“Mimicry?”

The mage nodded. “Must be. Who knows how many are inside.

The sign’s warnings were right.

I recommend we abandon the forest and head straight to the sixth floor.”

The captain hesitated. “But the sign also said there’s a path to Fat Puji for trades, didn’t it?”

They looked around—and indeed, a dirt path stretched off.

The captain brightened.

“Let’s check it. Wells still has corpses. If trades are possible, we’ll bring more back from the sixth floor.”

Nobody objected. Everyone wanted profit.

Even Wells felt a little excited. “What can we trade for, I wonder? It can’t be bad!”

They followed the path to a cavern, its mouth seven or eight meters high.

From within came a cry—

“An A-rank mana crystal!”

——

【Mana Sense LV6】 + 【Airflow Sense LV7】 + 【Light Sense LV4】 + 【Sonic Detection LV6】

A fresh scout Puji was born.

Let’s see those invisibility-tricksters sneak through now!

Unless they could fly right over the fifth floor.

After patching security, Lin Jun checked his own status.

【Mimicry LV4】

At last, after countless Pujis’ tireless work. A few days late, but progress nonetheless.

Now Xiaohei wouldn’t be restricted to the mushroom forest. She’d been cooped up, growing restless.

Lin Jun had even considered asking Dilan to comfort her. As a father, he ought to know how to soothe a little girl.

But then again… better not. What if she got hungry and ate him?

Luckily, no need now—time to upgrade her.

Just as he was about to call her, a signal came through the mycelium—Fatty Puji.

The jackpot was hit already!?

To relaunch the mushroom garden with some publicity, Lin Jun had planted an A-rank mana crystal in Fatty’s stash.

He hadn’t expected it to be drawn so soon.

A true random draw—too fair for his own good.

Curious, Lin Jun turned his gaze toward the scene.

Huh?

Two adventuring parties?

Arguing?

Fighting!?

Damn it—don’t hurt my Fatty!