The Mushroom Collectors and the Hidden Shrine
They had picked every single mushroom!
Thanks to that, I didn't have to worry about those mantis guys at all and just harvested them at my leisure.
Thank you!
div style="text-align:centerborder:3px solid #00219bpadding:25pxbox-shadow:0 0 20px #00219b,inset 0 0 20px rgba(0,33,155,0.2)background:linear-gradient(135deg,#000 0%,#0a0a1a 50%,#000 100%)border-radius:8pxmargin-bottom:20pxposition:relative">
Raise Earth Elementals' Favorability with Tinker Temple Basement! div style="text-align:centerborder:3px solid #fbbf24padding:25pxbox-shadow:0 0 20px rgba(251,191,36,0.6),inset 0 0 20px rgba(251,191,36,0.1)background:linear-gradient(135deg,#1a0f00 0%,#000 50%,#1a0f00 100%)border-radius:8pxmargin-bottom:20pxposition:relative">
The fairies expressed their genuine gratitude.
Hey, if you have any spare time, why don't you stop by our village?
It's been hundreds of years since anyone last saw a human face, so your appearance will make our friends happy.
div style="text-align:centerborder:3px solid #00ff88padding:25pxbox-shadow:0 0 20px rgba(0,255,136,0.6),inset 0 0 20px rgba(0,255,136,0.1)background:linear-gradient(135deg,#001a0a 0%,#000 50%,#001a0a 100%)border-radius:8pxmargin-bottom:20pxposition:relative">Visit Earth Fairy Village!
Normally, I would have refused.
With the first-discovery bonus, I should have hunted as much as possible right now.
But Fafnir's gamer instinct pulled me in.
div style="text-align:centerborder:3px solid #fbbf24padding:25pxbox-shadow:0 0 20px rgba(251,191,36,0.6),inset 0 0 20px rgba(251,191,36,0.1)background:linear-gradient(135deg,#1a0f00 0%,#000 50%,#1a0f00 100%)border-radius:8pxmargin-bottom:20pxposition:relative">So there were no clues about what it looked like or who was there.
If I refused now, I would never get to see it.
div style="text-align:centerborder:3px solid #a78bfapadding:25pxbox-shadow:0 0 20px rgba(167,139,250,0.6),inset 0 0 20px rgba(167,139,250,0.1)background:linear-gradient(135deg,#0f0a1a 0%,#000 50%,#0f0a1a 100%)border-radius:8pxmargin-bottom:20pxposition:relative">Earth Fairy Village Quest!
And since the quest involved the Dark Giant Mantis, it had to be linked to those mantises that had already given these two fairies trouble.
Since I was hunting anyway, taking the quest reward made the best decision.
div style="text-align:centerborder:3px solid #fbbf24padding:25pxbox-shadow:0 0 20px rgba(251,191,36,0.6),inset 0 0 20px rgba(251,191,36,0.1)background:linear-gradient(135deg,#1a0f00 0%,#000 50%,#1a0f00 100%)border-radius:8pxmargin-bottom:20pxposition:relative">Good.
Just for a little while.
div style="text-align:centerborder:3px solid #00ff88padding:25pxbox-shadow:0 0 20px rgba(0,255,136,0.6),inset 0 0 20px rgba(0,255,136,0.1)background:linear-gradient(135deg,#001a0a 0%,#000 50%,#001a0a 100%)border-radius:8pxmargin-bottom:20pxposition:relative">Dark Giant Mantis Extermination (Normal)!
Hoo!
Human! If I bring a human, I'll brag to the whole village that I brought one~!
The village is this way.
div style="text-align:centerborder:3px solid #fbbf24padding:25pxbox-shadow:0 0 20px rgba(251,191,36,0.6),inset 0 0 20px rgba(251,191,36,0.1)background:linear-gradient(135deg,#1a0f00 0%,#000 50%,#1a0f00 100%)border-radius:8pxmargin-bottom:20pxposition:relative">The fairies guided Fafnir to the corner of the underground maze.
After catching a few Giant Mantises and advancing, suddenly a wide-open space appeared.
div style="text-align:centerborder:3px solid #a78bfapadding:25pxbox-shadow:0 0 20px rgba(167,139,250,0.6),inset 0 0 20px rgba(167,139,250,0.1)background:linear-gradient(135deg,#0f0a1a 0%,#000 50%,#0f0a1a 100%)border-radius:8pxmargin-bottom:20pxposition:relative">Earth Fairy Village Entry!
Earth Fairy Village Discovered!
First Discoverer of the Earth Fairy Village!
Explorer's Guild can register information! Craftsmanship stat increased by 1!
The village's appearance differed slightly from what I had expected.
I thought it would be like an underground sewer village full of burrows, but they were living in honeycomb-shaped dirt houses inside a perfectly normal space.
div style="text-align:centerborder:3px solid #00ff88padding:25pxbox-shadow:0 0 20px rgba(0,255,136,0.6),inset 0 0 20px rgba(0,255,136,0.1)background:linear-gradient(135deg,#001a0a 0%,#000 50%,#001a0a 100%)border-radius:8pxmargin-bottom:20pxposition:relative">Bani and Swan are back! How many mushrooms? Lots of mushrooms!
Upon entering the village, dozens of fairies resembling the two I had just met appeared and swarmed from all directions.
After a moment, the fairies saw Fafnir and reacted.
div style="text-align:centerborder:3px solid #fbbf24padding:25pxbox-shadow:0 0 20px rgba(251,191,36,0.6),inset 0 0 20px rgba(251,191,36,0.1)background:linear-gradient(135deg,#1a0f00 0%,#000 50%,#1a0f00 100%)border-radius:8pxmargin-bottom:20pxposition:relative">Human.
How did a human get this far? Outside it's a mantis sea...
I've never seen a human before, but humans look really weird. No ears, no wings?
Can I touch you?
div style="text-align:centerborder:3px solid #fbbf24padding:25pxbox-shadow:0 0 20px rgba(251,191,36,0.6),inset 0 0 20px rgba(251,191,36,0.1)background:linear-gradient(135deg,#1a0f00 0%,#000 50%,#1a0f00 100%)border-radius:8pxmargin-bottom:20pxposition:relative">Explosive interest!
To the fairies who were naturally pure and loved pranks, Fafnir was the ultimate idol.
div style="text-align:centerborder:3px solid #fbbf24padding:25pxbox-shadow:0 0 20px rgba(251,191,36,0.6),inset 0 0 20px rgba(251,191,36,0.1)background:linear-gradient(135deg,#1a0f00 0%,#000 50%,#1a0f00 100%)border-radius:8pxmargin-bottom:20pxposition:relative">Wait!
Stop!
The two fairies named Bani and Swan blocked the other fairies.
div style="text-align:centerborder:3px solid #fbbf24padding:25pxbox-shadow:0 0 20px rgba(251,191,36,0.6),inset 0 0 20px rgba(251,191,36,0.1)background:linear-gradient(135deg,#1a0f00 0%,#000 50%,#1a0f00 100%)border-radius:8pxmargin-bottom:20pxposition:relative">First, take her to the queen! She's an outsider!
Yeah, we can play with humans later!
The queen of the Earth Fairies, who didn't even appear in the original novel!
Fafnir was immediately guided to her.
div style="text-align:centerborder:3px solid #fbbf24padding:25pxbox-shadow:0 0 20px rgba(251,191,36,0.6),inset 0 0 20px rgba(251,191,36,0.1)background:linear-gradient(135deg,#1a0f00 0%,#000 50%,#1a0f00 100%)border-radius:8pxmargin-bottom:20pxposition:relative">Welcome, human adventurer.
The Queen of the Earth Fairies appeared as a beautiful woman in a black veil dress.
If it weren't for the size of an apple, anyone would mistake her for a model.
div style="text-align:centerborder:3px solid #a78bfapadding:25pxbox-shadow:0 0 20px rgba(167,139,250,0.6),inset 0 0 20px rgba(167,139,250,0.1)background:linear-gradient(135deg,#0f0a1a 0%,#000 50%,#0f0a1a 100%)border-radius:8pxmargin-bottom:20pxposition:relative">I am Tiarwen. I rule the land around here!
I am Tiarwen. I rule the land around here.
The Earth Fairies were kind beings who lived underground, cared for the mana of the earth, and purified its contamination.
Every now and then they brought stories about minerals, herbs, or relics underground, so it was quite useful to know them.
But because their power wasn't that high, they weren't that strong when fighting directly.
div style="text-align:centerborder:3px solid #fbbf24padding:25pxbox-shadow:0 0 20px rgba(251,191,36,0.6),inset 0 0 20px rgba(251,191,36,0.1)background:linear-gradient(135deg,#1a0f00 0%,#000 50%,#1a0f00 100%)border-radius:8pxmargin-bottom:20pxposition:relative">I heard the story. You protected Bani and Swan from the Dark Giant Mantises?
The Queen Tiarwen leaned her upper body forward.
div style="text-align:centerborder:3px solid #fbbf24padding:25pxbox-shadow:0 0 20px rgba(251,191,36,0.6),inset 0 0 20px rgba(251,191,36,0.1)background:linear-gradient(135deg,#1a0f00 0%,#000 50%,#1a0f00 100%)border-radius:8pxmargin-bottom:20pxposition:relative">Thank you. Without your help, those kids would have been eaten by the mantises.
I only protected them because we had the same destination.
div style="text-align:centerborder:3px solid #fbbf24padding:25pxbox-shadow:0 0 20px rgba(251,191,36,0.6),inset 0 0 20px rgba(251,191,36,0.1)background:linear-gradient(135deg,#1a0f00 0%,#000 50%,#1a0f00 100%)border-radius:8pxmargin-bottom:20pxposition:relative">You are very humble. All adventurers who came here hundreds of years ago were like that.
The Queen sighed and continued.
div style="text-align:centerborder:3px solid #fbbf24padding:25pxbox-shadow:0 0 20px rgba(251,191,36,0.6),inset 0 0 20px rgba(251,191,36,0.1)background:linear-gradient(135deg,#1a0f00 0%,#000 50%,#1a0f00 100%)border-radius:8pxmargin-bottom:20pxposition:relative">As much as I want to repay you fully, our situation isn't that good right now. We are protected by my magic, but outside there are full of Giant Mantises...
div style="text-align:centerborder:3px solid #fbbf24padding:25pxbox-shadow:0 0 20px rgba(251,191,36,0.6),inset 0 0 20px rgba(251,191,36,0.1)background:linear-gradient(135deg,#1a0f00 0%,#000 50%,#1a0f00 100%)border-radius:8pxmargin-bottom:20pxposition:relative">Shamelessly, but I have one more request. Could you reduce the number of Giant Mantises here a little? About 50 would be enough to breathe...
div style="text-align:centerborder:3px solid #a78bfapadding:25pxbox-shadow:0 0 20px rgba(167,139,250,0.6),inset 0 0 20px rgba(167,139,250,0.1)background:linear-gradient(135deg,#0f0a1a 0%,#000 50%,#0f0a1a 100%)border-radius:8pxmargin-bottom:20pxposition:relative">Quest: Exterminate Dark Giant Mantises (Normal)! Do you accept the quest? (Y/N)
Quest: Exterminate Dark Giant Mantises (Normal)!
Do you accept the quest? (Y/N)
div style="text-align:centerborder:3px solid #fbbf24padding:25pxbox-shadow:0 0 20px rgba(251,191,36,0.6),inset 0 0 20px rgba(251,191,36,0.1)background:linear-gradient(135deg,#1a0f00 0%,#000 50%,#1a0f00 100%)border-radius:8pxmargin-bottom:20pxposition:relative">Rewards will probably be only XP...
Even considering the fight while protecting the fairies, it might be a loss...
Plus, this is far from a good hunting spot...
div style="text-align:centerborder:3px solid #fbbf24padding:25pxbox-shadow:0 0 20px rgba(251,191,36,0.6),inset 0 0 20px rgba(251,191,36,0.1)background:linear-gradient(135deg,#1a0f00 0%,#000 50%,#1a0f00 100%)border-radius:8pxmargin-bottom:20pxposition:relative">Fafnir was about to decline when...
div style="text-align:centerborder:3px solid #fbbf24padding:25pxbox-shadow:0 0 20px rgba(251,191,36,0.6),inset 0 0 20px rgba(251,191,36,0.1)background:linear-gradient(135deg,#1a0f00 0%,#000 50%,#1a0f00 100%)border-radius:8pxmargin-bottom:20pxposition:relative">In the past, there was also a shrine of the goddess in this underground. If you finish this task, I will tell you the location of that underground shrine...
div style="text-align:centerborder:3px solid #ff3333padding:25pxbox-shadow:0 0 30px rgba(255,51,51,0.8),inset 0 0 30px rgba(255,51,51,0.2)background:linear-gradient(135deg,#1a0000 0%,#000 50%,#1a0000 100%)border-radius:8pxmargin-bottom:20pxposition:relative">Hidden Shrine of the Goddess of Luck!
Hidden Shrine of the Goddess of Luck!
Fafnir smiled and answered.
div style="text-align:centerborder:3px solid #fbbf24padding:25pxbox-shadow:0 0 20px rgba(251,191,36,0.6),inset 0 0 20px rgba(251,191,36,0.1)background:linear-gradient(135deg,#1a0f00 0%,#000 50%,#1a0f00 100%)border-radius:8pxmargin-bottom:20pxposition:relative">I was going to hunt them anyway, so I can't say no. I accept!
div style="text-align:centerborder:3px solid #fbbf24padding:25pxbox-shadow:0 0 20px rgba(251,191,36,0.6),inset 0 0 20px rgba(251,191,36,0.1)background:linear-gradient(135deg,#1a0f00 0%,#000 50%,#1a0f00 100%)border-radius:8pxmargin-bottom:20pxposition:relative">This was the perfect opportunity to destroy buildings and capture workers for sure!
***Fafnir who accepted the queen's quest started hunting the mantises again.
div style="text-align:centerborder:3px solid #fbbf24padding:25pxbox-shadow:0 0 20px rgba(251,191,36,0.6),inset 0 0 20px rgba(251,191,36,0.1)background:linear-gradient(135deg,#1a0f00 0%,#000 50%,#1a0f00 100%)border-radius:8pxmargin-bottom:20pxposition:relative">First-discovery buff lasts 3 days...
In reality it's 1 day...
I wasn't being rushed by any schedule or time. Rather, it was comfortable considering the level growth speed.
div style="text-align:centerborder:3px solid #00ff88padding:25pxbox-shadow:0 0 20px rgba(0,255,136,0.6),inset 0 0 20px rgba(0,255,136,0.1)background:linear-gradient(135deg,#001a0a 0%,#000 50%,#001a0a 100%)border-radius:8pxmargin-bottom:20pxposition:relative">50 Dark Giant Mantises Exterminated!
Dark Giant Mantis Extermination (Normal) Completed! XP Acquired! Seiron Honeygrass Acquired! div style="text-align:centerborder:3px solid #fbbf24padding:25pxbox-shadow:0 0 20px rgba(251,191,36,0.6),inset 0 0 20px rgba(251,191,36,0.1)background:linear-gradient(135deg,#1a0f00 0%,#000 50%,#1a0f00 100%)border-radius:8pxmargin-bottom:20pxposition:relative">
Thank you. The underground shrine is a little further east from the assembly point where you first came...
The queen continued.
div style="text-align:centerborder:3px solid #fbbf24padding:25pxbox-shadow:0 0 20px rgba(251,191,36,0.6),inset 0 0 20px rgba(251,191,36,0.1)background:linear-gradient(135deg,#1a0f00 0%,#000 50%,#1a0f00 100%)border-radius:8pxmargin-bottom:20pxposition:relative">It's where the large assembly hall is. But you won't be able to go right away...
div style="text-align:centerborder:3px solid #fbbf24padding:25pxbox-shadow:0 0 20px rgba(251,191,36,0.6),inset 0 0 20px rgba(251,191,36,0.1)background:linear-gradient(135deg,#1a0f00 0%,#000 50%,#1a0f00 100%)border-radius:8pxmargin-bottom:20pxposition:relative">There's something there...
div style="text-align:centerborder:3px solid #fbbf24padding:25pxbox-shadow:0 0 20px rgba(251,191,36,0.6),inset 0 0 20px rgba(251,191,36,0.1)background:linear-gradient(135deg,#1a0f00 0%,#000 50%,#1a0f00 100%)border-radius:8pxmargin-bottom:20pxposition:relative">Yes. The Dark Giant Mantis King is there drinking the shrine's power...
The boss monster of the Giant Mantises!
div style="text-align:centerborder:3px solid #a78bfapadding:25pxbox-shadow:0 0 20px rgba(167,139,250,0.6),inset 0 0 20px rgba(167,139,250,0.1)background:linear-gradient(135deg,#0f0a1a 0%,#000 50%,#0f0a1a 100%)border-radius:8pxmargin-bottom:20pxposition:relative">Dark Giant Mantis King!
Dark Giant Mantis King!
div style="text-align:centerborder:3px solid #fbbf24padding:25pxbox-shadow:0 0 20px rgba(251,191,36,0.6),inset 0 0 20px rgba(251,191,36,0.1)background:linear-gradient(135deg,#1a0f00 0%,#000 50%,#1a0f00 100%)border-radius:8pxmargin-bottom:20pxposition:relative">I fought and investigated this boss monster that was over 15 meters tall several times...
Of course the original protagonist Flush nearly died a few times and caught it.
div style="text-align:centerborder:3px solid #ff3333padding:25pxbox-shadow:0 0 30px rgba(255,51,51,0.8),inset 0 0 30px rgba(255,51,51,0.2)background:linear-gradient(135deg,#1a0000 0%,#000 50%,#1a0000 100%)border-radius:8pxmargin-bottom:20pxposition:relative">Dark Giant Mantis King Defeated!
Dark Giant Mantis King Defeated!
div style="text-align:centerborder:3px solid #00ff88padding:25pxbox-shadow:0 0 20px rgba(0,255,136,0.6),inset 0 0 20px rgba(0,255,136,0.1)background:linear-gradient(135deg,#001a0a 0%,#000 50%,#001a0a 100%)border-radius:8pxmargin-bottom:20pxposition:relative">Level Up!
Level Up!
Level Up!
Level Up!
Level Up!
div style="text-align:centerborder:3px solid #e67e22padding:25pxbox-shadow:0 0 20px rgba(230,126,34,0.6),inset 0 0 20px rgba(230,126,34,0.15)background:linear-gradient(135deg,#1a0f00 0%,#000 50%,#1a0f00 100%)border-radius:8pxmargin-bottom:20pxposition:relative">Earth Fairy Village Salvation (Rare) Quest Completed! div style="text-align:centerborder:3px solid #ffd700padding:25pxbox-shadow:0 0 20px rgba(255,215,0,0.7),0 0 100px rgba(255,215,0,0.3),inset 0 0 30px rgba(255,215,0,0.1)background:radial-gradient(ellipse at center,#1f1a00 0%,#0a0800 40%,#000 80%)border-radius:12pxmargin-bottom:20pxoverflow:hiddenposition:relative">
It was enormous.
On the corpse of a giant mantis the size of a small mountain, Fafnir wiped away the sweat on his forehead and smiled with relief.
One week in game time.
Three days in real time.
It was a reward worthy of the time spent hunting without sleeping.
div style="text-align:centerborder:3px solid #fbbf24padding:25pxbox-shadow:0 0 20px rgba(251,191,36,0.6),inset 0 0 20px rgba(251,191,36,0.1)background:linear-gradient(135deg,#1a0f00 0%,#000 50%,#1a0f00 100%)border-radius:8pxmargin-bottom:20pxposition:relative">Hidden piece eaten! Worth it!
Now I should wrap this up.
Fafnir swung the pickaxe toward the statue in the center of the large assembly hall.
div style="text-align:centerborder:3px solid #ffd700padding:25pxbox-shadow:0 0 20px rgba(255,215,0,0.7),inset 0 0 20px rgba(255,215,0,0.1)background:linear-gradient(135deg,#1a1500 0%,#0a0800 50%,#1a1500 100%)border-radius:8pxmargin-bottom:20pxposition:relative">NO LUCK BOOST! div style="text-align:centerborder:4px double #ff0000padding:25pxbox-shadow:0 0 40px rgba(255,0,0,0.8),inset 0 0 30px rgba(255,0,0,0.2)background:linear-gradient(135deg,#330000 0%,#000 50%,#330000 100%)border-radius:8pxmargin-bottom:20pxposition:relative">