Mushroom Lord in the Underground City

Chapter 534 524: Fourteen's Followers

Thanks to Seral's final "dispersed retreat" order, this cult team was not completely wiped out by Sword Saint Puki.

Despite heavy losses, about a quarter of them managed to escape, taking advantage of their familiarity with the terrain and dispersed routes, vanishing into the vast mountains and forests.

Most of the rescued survivors, after a brief respite and gratitude, chose to return to the small town. Their belongings were still there, although likely ravaged by the adventurers who came later.

Only Eugene stayed behind.

Eugene was a Level 47 Gold Level middle-aged man, already quite powerful among adventurers.

But his greatest strength was not in combat, but in his pharmacy skills.

Making poisons and detoxifying people were his specialties, and he even experimented with creating his own poisons.

His pharmacy was the only place in the town with signs of battle.

According to Eugene's recollection, the cultists exploited the town's lack of management to easily infiltrate.

They used some potent blend of smoke, and overnight, nearly all two hundred people in the town were knocked out.

A few remained conscious due to resistance, alertness, or luck, but they couldn't organize effective resistance against the black-robed cultists and were quickly subdued.

Eugene intended to hide and wait for the cult to leave.

However, his hiding skills were far inferior to his skills with bottles, jars, and cauldrons.

Seeing that he was about to be discovered by Aurora during the search, he had no choice but to strike first.

Unfortunately, the difference in strength was evident. The first sneak attack didn't kill Aurora, and the subsequent battle... as Eugene put it, "was like trying to block a decapitation axe with a pestle."

Worse, he became the focus of Aurora's attention and was used for her entertainment during his captivity.

He never expected to see the sun alive again, let alone be pulled from the abyss of despair by a Puki.

As someone who had long done business near the Scarecrow Abyss, Eugene was naturally familiar with Puki.

But previously, he thought of Puki only as a practical tool for safely crossing the dangerous region or as a cost-effective magic pet under Puki Masters.

As for the "Mushroom Race," he had heard some dubious tales from adventurers but always felt they were far from him.

What's with Puki being able to slay Diamond Level experts in seconds?

Even the cult leader was taken down by it!

When he saw Sword Saint Puki effortlessly slice off Aurora's hands, Eugene's reverence for the savior mushroom reached the point where he wanted to bow down and kiss Sword Saint Puki's little feet.

Of course, Sword Saint Puki had no need for a middle-aged man to kiss its feet, but Eugene still acted respectfully, admiration evident in his expression.

Upon learning that the Mushroom Race could communicate through the "Fungal Network," Eugene made a move that astonished everyone.

He immediately used the limited herbs at hand to concoct a precisely dosed poison, and without hesitation, consumed it to maintain a near-death yet not dead state, successfully completing the parasitism.

Even the Sword Saint couldn't help but praise him as "a ruthless fellow."

At the first hearing of the mushroom's thought, his pale face showed almost a sense of pilgrimage-like satisfaction.

Number Four was envious, wishing it had such a faithful admirer.

Currently, only Pink Puki would compliment it.

But Pink Puki would praise any Puki it encountered.

She would compliment Number Ten as dependable, Number Fourteen as amazing, and say it's soft and obedient...

That's not what it wanted!!!

Now, everyone in the envoy, from Ronan who managed affairs to the ordinary guards whose faces and names Number Four couldn't remember, knew of Number Fourteen's achievement in almost wiping out a vicious cult team single-handedly with a mushroom.

The pure power commanding respect was clear in everyone's attitude toward Number Fourteen.

When Number Fourteen, carrying four swords, "puki puki" passed by, people, whether in conversation or at rest, would unconsciously pause, nod slightly with respect, and even breathe more softly, except Pink Puki, who would continue to pat it.

Number Four also longed to experience the feeling of admiration from others.

It decided that next time something happened, it would rush in front of Number Fourteen...

…

The envoy continued moving southeast, gradually approaching the border of the Elf Forest, and there was no sign of others on the road.

After all, elves never welcomed outsiders, and if someone trespassed, they would truly turn them into a pincushion.

The envoy members were naturally here to negotiate with the elves, so they had no special feelings.

A few Puki found nothing special about the Elf Forest; they went wherever they pleased.

It was only Eugene who became nervous.

Though he made a living just a few days' journey from the elven border, he had only seen an elf once.

That time, he had taken a wrong turn with the team he followed and was stopped by an elf forest patrol with bows drawn.

Someone in the team made a habitually rude remark and got shot through the neck, with blood splattering onto Eugene's face.

It was impossible not to be nervous this time.

What made him even more anxious was that Eugene had just discovered their group was surrounded by elves, yet no one else seemed to notice!

Just as he was about to alert the others, a steady sound of footsteps came from the forest ahead.

An extremely tall figure strode out, stepping on the thick layer of fallen leaves.

Eugene's pupils contracted suddenly, and his breath caught.

The height... must have been almost two and a half meters!

Was there really such a tall elf in the world?!

However, when the figure completely emerged from the shadows, stepping into the bright part of the woods, Eugene saw clearly.

Some people in the envoy couldn't help but let out gasps mixed with surprise and realization.

The figure was indeed an elf, with emerald eyes, wearing finely crafted leather armor and a dark green cloak, but that unusual height...

The elf forest patrol commander, Eco, standing about 1.8 meters tall, had a round Puki perched on his head!

Why is there a Puki everywhere?

This question flashed through Eugene's mind, but it was clearly not the time for him to speak.

Ronan stepped out of the envoy, presenting official documents from the Kingdom to the adjutant beside Eco for inspection.

Eco himself did not focus on Ronan.

He first glanced at Inanna, whose recent fame as a war hero thanks to Puki he had heard of—her pink hair and eyes were quite distinctive.

Then Eco's gaze swept over the Puki in the group, finally settling on Number Fourteen.

With no reason, just instinct, he felt that the oddly Puki, carrying four swords and likely from the Mushroom Race, was the most dangerous.

And for some reason, despite generally liking most Puki, he instinctively disliked this one he was meeting for the first time.

The Puki also seemed to be "watching" him, even placing its tendrils on the sword hilt.

Interesting...

Just as Eco was considering how to inquire about this Puki's background, the Puki on his head jumped to the ground.

Simultaneously, Number Four in Inanna's arms leaped out.

"Big Brother!"

"Fourth Brother!"

"Big Brother!!!"

"Fourth Brother!!!"

The two Puki, having last met only half a month ago, embraced each other.