Mistveil Fort, Vera's territory.
With Vera's hard work and the assistance of No. 5, this not-so-large territory was managed quite reasonably and in an orderly manner.
Unfortunately, it was only just that.
Although Vera also really wanted to govern his small territory to be more prosperous, just like Fal of Mushroom City, building a former small town into the most prosperous human city today, second only to the royal capital.
While there were advantages involved, such as being the birthplace of the fungal mat, Fal's own capabilities were also unquestionable.
When he first came to Mistveil Fort, Vera also thought that even if he didn't seek to make this place as prosperous as Mushroom City, he should at least make it radiate with vitality.
Unfortunately, with an adventurer background, he obviously wasn't that outstanding at managing territorial affairs.
Putting in all his effort, he barely reached a passing level.
Recently, because the "new defense line" was being built nearby, various related matters came knocking on his door, making it rare for him to have a little free time to rest.
In the open space of the castle, No. 5 was directing a group of Puchis to dance a strange dance with it, wanting Vera to watch and give some advice.
A group of Puchis formed an inner circle and an outer circle, bouncing up and down and flinging their tentacles.
Although Vera didn't say it, he always felt that setting up a sacrificial altar in the middle wouldn't look out of place at all.
"No. 5," he asked, "where are you going to perform this dance?"
No. 5 stopped its movements, its mushroom cap turning toward him, its tentacles still maintaining their dancing posture, like an actor whose pause button had been pressed.
"The Puchi Festival is almost here!" Its telepathy was full of pride. "This is a victory dance performed for the Mushroom Lord!"
Vera scratched his hair.
He did know about the Mushroom Lord. No. 5 muttered about him every day and would occasionally throw in a "Praise the Mushroom Lord," as pious as those old nuns who prayed to the God of Light every day.
It was said to be the god of the Mushroom Tribe; whether he existed or not was hard to say.
Those beastmen in the United Kingdom also muttered about some Beast God every day, yet no one had ever seen a divine miracle. Even their so-called "oracles" were as ambiguous as a fortune teller's nonsense.
"Puchi Festival?" he asked.
"It's a festival celebrating the arrival of Puchis in the world!" No. 5's tentacles trembled excitedly. "This time is the 500th anniversary! I must definitely dance a dance that the Mushroom Lord likes!"
"The 500th anniversary...!" Vera nodded.
As a common low-level monster in the past, it seemed plausible for Puchis to have a 500-year history.
However, who knew who recorded this number of years?
"Vera!"
Vera turned to look at the windowsill behind him. Feiling was waving at him to go over.
He patted No. 5's mushroom cap: "Keep at it; I'll come back and watch your dance later."
"Mm!"
After arriving on the second floor of the castle, he saw that Feiling didn't speak of the matter immediately, but instead looked again at No. 5 rehearsing in the open space.
Vera asked: "What's wrong?"
Feiling's expression was somewhat odd: "Vera, do you know the Church of Mushroom?"
Vera shook his head.
"Then what about the Big Mushroom Charity Foundation?"
"I've heard of this one. I heard it's an organization specifically for rescuing refugees. Just like the organization's name, a charity foundation." Vera nodded frequently as he spoke, obviously liking this kind of organization that delighted in helping people very much.
Feiling continued: "The Big Mushroom Charity Foundation is the Church of Mushroom. Right now, they've run to the vicinity of Mistveil Fort."
Vera looked puzzled: "The Church of Mushroom? They're a religious sect?"
"Yes! A group of people who worship the Mushroom Tribe! And an illegal sect that hasn't been officially recognized by the Kingdom!"
Vera finally knew why Feiling kept looking at No. 5 outside earlier; so it was related to the Mushroom Tribe.
One must know that in most cases, illegal sects could be directly labeled as evil cults.
Of course, to a Lord, while both were illegal churches, the Hand of Passage would definitely be cracked down upon to death. But for some inconsequential minor faiths, they could actually turn a blind eye. They were useless anyway, and dealing with them wasn't as good for the city as using that effort to crack down more on gangs.
Feiling suggested: "Should we... send someone to drive them away?"
This could be said to be the most worry-free approach for them.
After all, the other party worshipped the Mushroom Tribe, and they had a No. 5 on their side.
Letting them in carried the fear of causing trouble, while directly arresting them was too harsh and unnecessarily hurt No. 5's feelings.
Driving them to somewhere else while No. 5 still didn't know could be considered a simple method with no worries of making mistakes.
But Vera rejected it: "If they are truly a group of good people who delight in helping others, then we shouldn't chill their hearts like this. If they use good deeds to cover up evil deeds behind the scenes, then we should be even more intent on catching their flaws and then destroying them, rather than letting them go unchecked to harm other places."
He paused, looking at the Puchi still working hard rehearsing in the open space: "Moreover, No. 5 is also our companion; these matters shouldn't be kept from it. It's a good child; as long as we explain it clearly to it, it will understand."
This speech left Feiling speechless. Her eyeballs rolled twice, and finally, she sighed: "Forget it, you always make the most sense... But you go tell No. 5 yourself!"
...
"The Church of Mushroom? I know them!"
What Vera hadn't expected was that No. 5 actually knew the Church of Mushroom.
However, it seemed it didn't know much.
"No. 12 is there. Don't worry, Vera, No. 12 is a good mushroom. When running away, it always brings other mushrooms along!"
"Running away?"
Just as Vera was about to ask clearly what this was all about, No. 5 impatiently climbed onto his back.
Those soft mycelial tentacles wrapped around his shoulders, warm, like wrapping a layer of sun-baked cotton cloth.
"Let's go, let's go!"
It urged, as excited as a child going to meet a friend.
Vera was amused by its appearance and gave a light chuckle.
Subsequently, he greeted the other three members of the squad and some soldiers, readied the horses, and set off in the direction where the Church of Mushroom's camp was located.
What Vera didn't know was that just as he set off with his companions and soldiers here, No. 5 had already told No. 12 in the mycelial network that it was coming.
Of course, in No. 5's view, this was just normal communication between their Mushroom Tribe, completely unrelated to any tip-offs.
No. 12 also only just found out that No. 5 was in this area.
"Vera is a good person, he will definitely be willing to help you!" No. 5 was full of confidence, which made No. 12 very happy too.
It bounced straight up from its exclusive Mushroom Envoy seat, drawing an inquiry from Julia beside it.
Upon learning that Viscount Vera was about to arrive, Julia didn't panic either.
Almost all activities within the Church of Mushroom were presentable, almost...
Julia couldn't help but look at No. 12.
"Excellent! Julia, prepare a bit, I want to personally get in the pot to entertain No. 5's friend! He will understand that we are not an evil cult."
"Alright, Lord Mushroom Envoy. But before that, there might be some other matters..."
"Other matters?"
Following Julia's gaze, No. 12 focused its attention on the exclusive seat beneath its feet.
Is there a problem?
These skulls on it are very handsome!
(End of Chapter)
Comments