After reuniting, Sirian brought out the story he had prepared long ago.
In his description, relying on a trump card brought from his hometown, he luckily solved the enemy in the mist but was also heavily injured himself.
After the mist receded, he landed in a farther location and, as luck would have it, discovered a squad of demons.
He had to dodge in another direction. By the time he recovered from his injuries and returned, the people of Golden Valley City had long since evacuated.
Afterward, he inquired about news of Vera while advancing toward the Mushroom Capital. It wasn't until recently that he finally found out Vera's location.
The twins were very happy to see Sirian again. Although Vera felt somewhat awkward, he was also genuinely delighted. It was just that his occasional subconscious shrinking action still left Sirian very speechless.
Only No. 5 was relatively afraid. As soon as Sirian approached, it automatically shrank into a Puchi ball—the vibrating kind.
With no other choice, they could only let Fayin carry No. 5 on her head.
The Viscount title Duke Lorenzo conferred upon Vera wasn't just an empty name, but a Viscount with an actual fiefdom.
Misty Haze Fort, located on the northwestern edge of the current kingdom, close to the new defense line, containing several villages and a small stone fort.
A basin area equivalent to two standard Baronies. The land wasn't fertile, but the territory possessed small-scale silver calendar stone veins, counting as a decent territory.
Night grew darker. The team heading to Misty Haze Fort set up camp in a leeward spot by the roadside.
The bonfire crackled, illuminating several faces with different expressions.
"It's really like a dream... We actually really have our own territory! My biggest wish before was just to save enough money to rent a small shop in the Mushroom Capital to sell some potions or something," Fayin sat by the fire hugging her knees, extending a finger to draw vaguely in the air. "Now, it's a whole piece of land, with villages, with a castle!"
Fayling, however, wasn't as happy as her sister.
"What's there to be happy about? A territory is a burden. In this situation, the demons will make a comeback in a few years. By then, Vera will probably be conscripted by that Duke to hold the line." Her voice was muffled, her eyes full of worry. "If you ask me, it's better to be a free adventurer. This title, I see it as a responsibility Duke Lorenzo forced upon us, wanting to tie you to the Kingdom's war chariot."
At this time, Vera had long taken off that noble attire and changed into his familiar leather armor protection.
Facing Fayling's worry, Vera smiled: "Fayling, I understand your concern. But even without this title, aren't we still humans? The demons threaten everyone. The future won't be different from the past; it's just doing as much as we can with whatever ability we have. Just treat this title as an unexpected harvest."
Fayling opened her mouth, wanting to say something more, when a figure came to the fireside.
Considering Vera lacked manpower and experience, Lorenzo had specially dispatched a group of personnel to assist Vera in his initial rule. Leading the team was a white-haired old butler with meticulous manners.
He walked over and bowed slightly to Vera: "Lord Viscount, excuse me for interrupting your chat. However, regarding some specific situations of Misty Haze Fort, I think it is necessary for you to know in advance."
"Please speak, Mr. Harold."
Butler Harold cleared his throat: "The former lord of Misty Haze Fort was Viscount Clement. When the demons raided the border last time, he failed to fulfill his duty to defend the land. Instead, taking most of his family wealth and trusted aides, under the name of diplomatic negotiation, he hastily fled to the Dwarven Mountain Kingdom for refuge."
Fayin let out an "Ah," while Fayling revealed a trace of disdain.
"After the war, seeing the situation ease, Viscount Clement seemed to want to return and regain control of the territory," Harold continued. "However, Duke Lorenzo has formally issued a wanted order for him on the charge of fleeing from battle, cutting off his hope of return."
Vera nodded. He also had no good feelings toward this kind of guy who fled right before battle.
"However, the Viscount's hasty flight caused chaos in the territory for a period of time. Many subjects also fled one after another due to fear or lack of governance. Although some people returned after the war, the population of Misty Haze Fort is nearly forty percent less than its peak period."
He paused, glancing at the Puchi playing with the corner of Fayin's clothes beside her, his tone becoming somewhat subtle: "And after the population decreased and the land lacked care... according to recently recorded situations, within the territory, especially in areas close to the old forest and abandoned ridges, the growth of various mushrooms... seems slightly abnormally exuberant."
"Mushrooms?" Vera raised his eyebrows, then shrugged indifferently. "A few more mushrooms isn't a bad thing, right? at least it means there won't be famine here. It's better than a patch of barren grass."
Butler Harold gave him a deep look and didn't explain further, just nodding respectfully: "You are right. Then, please rest early. We still need to rush tomorrow. After arriving at Misty Haze Fort, there are still many affairs requiring your decision."
After speaking, he bowed and withdrew.
A few days later, when Vera's group finally arrived at the boundary of Misty Haze Fort and stood on the land belonging to him, he instantly understood the meaning of Butler Harold's meaningful look and that phrase "abnormally exuberant."
It was completely different from the envisioned scene of some mushrooms growing by the roadside.
First attracting everyone's attention was that "forest" of eerie blue on the distant hillside.
Those weren't trees, but a patch of glowing mushroom trees over ten meters tall!
Thick stalks supported giant caps at the top. Under the umbrella caps floated hanging mycelia strands, emitting purple spores. If Vera remembered correctly, they should have hallucinogenic effects.
Closer by on both sides of the road was another eerie scene: a forest of grayish-white petrified mushrooms.
Vera looked around, then looked up at the sky.
"This isn't a Puchi Dungeon either..."
Harold came up again at this moment and explained:
"Actually, ever since mycelium spread everywhere, this phenomenon of changing ecology has always existed."
"Mushrooms indeed brought endless food and convenient Puchis, but there is no lack of such side effects."
"Places like the Kingdom's cities and villages have always relied on issuing quests or organized clearing to maintain the normalcy of nearby adjacent areas. But as mentioned a few days ago, the local nobles and a portion of the subjects fled. Under no management, mushrooms grew into this appearance in just a few months."
With Harold saying this, Vera recalled that he had indeed seen similar quests to clear mushroom forests in the guild before.
However, those were all low-level quests aimed at novices, so they didn't pay much attention to them.
Thinking about it now, he was startled to realize this was the case!
After touring the territory, the problem was indeed quite serious. Hallucinogenic spores and petrification were quite dangerous to ordinary people. Although those subjects didn't lack food, their range of activity had been compressed significantly.
The only place not overgrown with mushrooms was around the castle.
But looking at those traces on the ground, it was probably the result of Duke Lorenzo arranging people to clean it up specifically not long ago.
"So many mushroom trees, how much manpower and time will it take to clear them all?" Fayling couldn't help complaining.
Harold suggested settling down first, and later Vera could apply for some more support from the Duke's side.
Just as everyone was worrying about the lush mushrooms, No. 5, who already knew it would temporarily make its home here, nimbly jumped down from the top of Fayin's head.
On a patch of fungal mat outside the castle, it danced a mysterious ritual dance.
As No. 5's body stretched and contracted, two mushroom trees on the fungal mat that hadn't grown tall yet were slowly decomposed by the fungal mat. What emerged to replace them was a sturdy Mushroom House.
In less than ten minutes, a Mushroom House suitable for Puchi habitation grew fully formed, exactly the same model as in the Mushroom Garden.
No. 5 drilled in without a second word, only exposing a mushroom cap toward the dumbfounded crowd, inviting them to visit its new home.
Fayin ran over first, sticking half her body into the Mushroom House.
Touching the soft and smooth mycelium bed, she said incredulously: "You actually have this kind of ability!"
(End of Chapter)
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