In a small safe zone on the third floor of the dungeon.
This was a corridor paved with large, pale yellow stone blocks, stretching over a hundred meters in length.
Since no traps spawned here, and the third floor itself didn't have many wandering monsters, it had become a designated safe area.
Many adventurers chose to rest here, and some even brought various supplies and potions to sell to others.
Due to the large number of adventurers who had entered the dungeon after its reopening, the number of people gathered here was actually greater than before the monster tide.
Dylan was among them, currently chewing on some jerky while talking to his good companion, the yellow leather book.
[The third floor is pretty good]
[There are so many mechanisms and traps here to utilize]
"So... what should we do?"
[Do what? Anything you want!]
[When others walk into traps, you help trigger them]
[Let the traps do all the work, then you come out and collect the spoils]
[Listen to me, and you'll have endless power!]
"But everyone's innocent, there's no grudge..." Dylan hesitated a bit, something seemed wrong.
[This is a dungeon—survival of the fittest is the rule here]
[Besides, don't you want to earn money to send to your daughter?]
[Not to mention, once you have power, you can personally protect your Bella from any harm]
The yellow leather book had actually figured out Dylan's weakness during this time.
Though his face showed hesitation, Dylan still nodded.
"Ow—"
Dylan's outstretched foot was suddenly kicked by someone. In pain, Dylan pulled his foot back.
This corridor wasn't narrow at all—even with his foot extended, it shouldn't have affected anyone else.
Dylan looked up to see a face wearing a mocking smile.
"Oh ho, sorry for kicking you, old man."
The person didn't even stop while speaking, continuing on with his teammates toward the exit of the safe zone.
Dylan vaguely heard a couple exchanges between him and his companions.
"Wells, stop looking for trouble all day long."
"Who told him to stick his foot in front of me? He's just an old man—what trouble could there be?"
Watching the backs of the several adventurers as they left, Dylan didn't feel particularly indignant.
Adventurers came in all qualities—he was used to it by now. This type could only be considered inexperienced hotshots who hadn't suffered any losses yet.
Once they encountered someone who would teach them a lesson, they'd naturally learn to behave.
He lowered his head and reopened the book.
[What are you standing around for? Follow them!]
[He just deliberately kicked you]
[Need to teach him how to respect his elders]
[Go on, just give him a little lesson, just a tiny bit]
Is that so?
Dylan frowned and thought for a while, feeling that the yellow leather book made sense.
The yellow leather book was never wrong—it seemed he should indeed go teach them a lesson.
Packing up his belongings and taking another sip of mana potion, Dylan also left the safe zone.
Following the group from a distance, relying on his camouflage coloration ability, he went undetected.
However, although he intended to teach them a lesson, the opportunity wasn't easy to find.
Their team clearly had someone skilled at dealing with traps—the traps along the way were either avoided or disarmed.
Instead, Dylan himself accidentally triggered a mechanism.
Fortunately, it was just a small mechanism—a short arrow pierced through his palm.
"Ah—"
Enduring the pain, he yanked the arrow embedded in his palm out in one pull.
Dylan poured a bit of mana potion on the wound.
This was something he had figured out—pouring mana potion could speed up the mycelium's healing of wounds.
[Your special constitution is really convenient]
[That time you fell into the deep pit too—even broken bones could be reconnected like this]
Dylan nodded in agreement. He also felt his current body was very useful, sighing with emotion:
"It's all thanks to Boss's blessing."
[Boss?]
"That's right, I should introduce you to Boss too!"
[Wait!]
*Puff puff—puff puff—*
The sudden rhythmic "puff puff" sounds interrupted their conversation.
Around the corner, several puffshrooms with tentacles and scales appeared in Dylan's field of vision.
Looking at these unfamiliar puffshrooms, Dylan wondered:
"Are these a new variety? Did Boss come to pick me up?"
Dylan happily approached them.
[Something's wrong, wait!]
Unfortunately, Dylan's attention wasn't on the book at this moment.
He walked around the corner and came before the puffshrooms.
The next second, countless mycelium tentacles reached toward him. Dylan couldn't react in time and was wrapped up like a dumpling, along with the yellow leather book bound together with him.
[???]
————
[Status Effect: Charm - Moderate (Complete trust in the caster)]
After Dylan entered the dungeon, Lin Jun quickly noticed this status.
So... Dylan, you old bastard, did you go fool around with a succubus behind my back?!
Soon, Dylan's other anomalies became apparent.
He'd been in the dungeon for most of the day but showed no intention of coming to the fifth floor.
After thinking it over, Lin Jun decided to play it safe and personally "invite" him back.
Thanks to most adventurers not progressing that quickly, the puffshrooms successfully carried the large dumpling back to the fifth floor without being discovered.
In the mushroom forest, Dylan was released from his dumpling wrapping.
"Ha— ha—"
As soon as he was freed, Dylan gasped heavily—he had nearly suffocated on the way here!
Looking up, he saw a circle of puffshrooms...
"Boss? Why... why did you tie me up and bring me here?"
Dylan was genuinely confused now.
"Then why were you wandering around the third floor instead of hurrying down here?"
"I was because... because..."
Right... why indeed?
The answer that seemed to be in his mind just moments ago had vanished!
Dylan fell into self-doubt.
Right, why not ask the yellow leather book?
Dylan opened the yellow leather book and asked: "What were we planning to do by lingering on the third floor instead of coming down?"
The yellow leather book on the ground was like a dead object, showing no reaction at all.
No matter how much Dylan inquired, not a single word appeared.
In Lin Jun's eyes, Dylan's current appearance was exactly like a mental patient whose brain had been broken.
Talking to a book, asking this and that, with seemingly very unstable emotions, occasionally spacing out.
The succubi of this world were truly terrifying.
Of course, it might not be a succubus, but rather that this book really had problems.
A mycelium tentacle suddenly plunged into Dylan's mouth as he continued muttering to himself.
Purple hallucinogenic spores poured in forcefully. Dylan's eyes soon rolled back, and he collapsed to the ground.
In his current confused state, he couldn't provide any useful information—better to let him sleep for a while.
As for this yellow leather book?
Since Dylan thought he could communicate with it, might as well give it a try.
A mycelium tentacle wrapped around a page in the book.
*Rip!*
Hmm?
It actually didn't tear!
So it really was the book and not a succubus?
A book could also use charm skills?
By drawing lewd pictures to seduce Dylan?
"Blackie, come here."
Soon, at Lin Jun's call, the dragonkin came over with his face covered in mucus, licking his lips.
"Tear this."
Blackie nodded and reached out to grab Dylan on the ground.
"Wait! Not him, this!"
Seeing the yellow leather book handed over by the mycelium tentacle, Blackie finally let go of Dylan.
His claws gripped the book pages, and at Lin Jun's instruction, he applied force...
*Riiip—*
Under the dragonkin's monstrous strength, the book page still couldn't be torn off in one go.
But the leather page did emit sounds of strain, as if it would be completely shredded at any moment.
Countless repeated text frantically appeared on the book pages:
[Stop stop stop stop stop stop!!! I'm dying I'm dying I'm dying!!!]
Comments