The main street of Mushroom Capital was packed like a festival.
The entire Red Mushroom Avenue was crammed with enthusiastic citizens and adventurers. People crowded both sides of the road; some even leaned half their bodies out of second-floor tavern windows just to catch a glimpse of the war heroine.
“That’s Lady Inanna? Even more dashing than the legends!”
“There are so many Puchis behind her—over a hundred, right?”
“That’s nothing! In the Dragonroar Valley battle, the Lady commanded tens of thousands of Puchis and swept the battlefield!”
“Make way up front! Let me see too!”
The old Dumbwind Town residents and early refugees had seen Inanna before, but the recent flood of new immigrants to Mushroom Capital had never laid eyes on this rising war heroine.
With the dual identity of war heroine and duke’s daughter, she had become the idol of countless female adventurers—though Inanna herself looked nothing like one.
Today Inanna brought no human attendants, only over a hundred Puchis clustered behind her.
This technically violated Mushroom Capital’s new city regulations; that many Puchis did block half the street.
But a war heroine had small privileges. No one would complain.
These hundred-plus Puchis weren’t controlled by Lin Jun; it was Pink Puchi’s personal command limit.
Putting aside identity, Pink Puchi was actually quite talented as a Puchi master.
No. 4 proudly led at the very front, its mushroom cap gleaming with pride under the sun.
In this welcome-of-heroes atmosphere, its steps were practically floating.
Though the cheers and respect were for Pink Puchi, in its eyes Pink Puchi was also Mushroom Tribe. Respecting Pink Puchi was respecting the Mushroom Tribe. It basked in reflected glory!
And secretly gloated: these Mushroom Servants and non-mushrooms would never guess Inanna’s appearance was just Pink Puchi’s mimicry.
The world was secretly controlled by the Mushroom Tribe!
If only it could be more open someday.
As Inanna and the Puchis disappeared into the dungeon entrance, someone suddenly asked, “What’s Lady Inanna going into the dungeon for?”
“Duh! To summon even stronger Puchis with the Mushroom Tribe, of course! If the Empire attacks again, we’ll need her Puchi legion!”
…
Inanna was excited too.
But not because of the crowd’s cheers.
Though people had been praising her lately, Inanna knew most of it was the Boss’s credit.
People should be thanking the Boss!
But the Boss was like that—quietly doing everything, never seeking fame. Thinking of this always made Inanna’s heart ache that the Boss didn’t get the praise he deserved.
Her excitement now was because she was finally going to the fortress!
Though she had never set foot there, through exchanges with the Boss and other members she had a rough impression: a beautiful city where race didn’t matter and the mycelial network connected everyone!
A dreamlike place she had always, always wanted to see in person, but various reasons had kept her from traveling long-term.
Now it was different.
Her status was no longer the same.
She used to be the duke’s daughter who needed protection. Now she was a war heroine commanding countless Puchis.
No one could restrict her movements under the excuse of protection—not even her old man!
After saving her father’s life together with the Boss, she had a lot more confidence!
“So cold…” was Inanna’s first feeling after nearing the Stone Fortress rift.
Fortunately the Boss had warned her. As the constant-temperature pendant on her chest activated, warmth returned.
Inanna was intensely curious about everything. She just didn’t know why, on the way through the mushroom forest, No. 10 and No. 4 seemed especially nervous.
The two Puchis were still discussing:
“If the black devil comes out, you charge first…”
“What about you? I might not beat her alone!”
“What are you thinking? I want you to feed her until she’s full!”
“Why me? Why don’t you feed her?”
“My body is more precious! If you can’t satisfy her, then it’s my turn.”
No. 4 was convinced and readied its ultimate slide-tackle!
Fortunately, the journey was safe. They passed the danger zone without incident.
On the way to the fortress, Inanna met many demonkin mushroom citizens.
Passing mushroomkin, lizardmen, and half-demons looked at this human with neither greed nor disgust, just the calm gaze one gave a normal compatriot, at most a little curiosity toward the new face.
Some friendly ones even greeted through the mycelial network.
Utterly unlike the cold, reserved duke’s daughter she was outside, Inanna enthusiastically responded to every greeting.
Because they were all using the network!
Before even entering the city, Inanna excitedly saw Puchis she had never seen before—giant heating Puchis.
These behemoths patrolled back and forth between Stone Fortress and the city, melting ice and snow wherever they went, keeping the road clear.
When the girl couldn’t resist reaching out to touch one, No. 10 timely blocked her with a tentacle to avoid burns.
Before entering the city, Inanna already loved this place.
A small incident occurred just before entering.
“Hiss… ah… hiss… ah…”
The green-skinned vampire tied to a metal pole was enjoying a double “treat” of sunlight and heating Puchi, emitting a string of strange moans.
The lizardman gate guards were unfazed; they occasionally skillfully poured healing potion down his throat.
“What… is this?” Inanna asked.
She naturally didn’t recognize this as the assassin Lin Jun had captured without her ever seeing his face.
“Nothing. Just a thoroughly evil guy being punished,” Lin Jun said lazily, unwilling to explain more.
Inanna nodded but still looked curiously a few more times. “Punishment, huh…”
Lin Jun was speechless too. Initially placing the guy in such a visible spot had been partly to make an example.
But lately the green-skin’s moans had indeed gotten weirder.
As [Sunlight Resistance] leveled up, the pain was clearly less intense, and instead he seemed to have awakened some strange fetish, finding a different kind of pleasure in moderate torment.
The yellow-skinned book was right—vampires really were all perverts!
But no time for small matters now; deal with it later.
Inside the fortress, Norris, who had rushed over, seemed at a loss.
Ordered to escort Pink Puchi into the ruins with a Jida squad, the tailless lizardman—looking nothing like a human—actually tried to perform a commoner-to-noble bow.
Only to be scolded by Lin Jun:
“Idiot, you never bow to me normally. Why waste time with this now?”
A Puchi suddenly broke formation, flew up, and “puchi” kicked Norris in the face before quickly returning under its confused half-demon controller.
Amid Inanna’s stifled laughter, Norris scratched his head awkwardly and quickly climbed into his Jida.
Inanna was quite curious about the Jida and chatted with Norris a lot on the way.
And as Inanna arrived at the ruin cavity, a familiar yet shocking scene played out again.
Pink Puchi, who had done absolutely nothing, had merely appeared.
The Frost Spirits that had been futilely attacking Little Pig’s camp instantly turned docile, like subjects meeting their queen.
They slowly approached Inanna, steps gentle, as if afraid to startle Pink Puchi.
This scene stunned Little Pig in the camp, Norris leading Inanna, and even the most experienced yellow-skinned book:
[What the hell kind of bullshit is this?!]
(End of Chapter)
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