Chapter 7

Chapter 7

Considering I became a person attracting attention from all kinds of media and communities after Lee Se-hwa’s statement like a bomb, my daily life flowed very ordinarily.

“Guys, let’s eat.”

After giving food to the different flower pots that increased to 3 now, I completed the Daily Quest by using Growth Acceleration.

“Gathering Tools?”

When I opened the inventory, a pouch containing scissors, a knife, tweezers, etc. was visible.

However, if there is one different point.

“...They are all solid silver?”

Tools made of 100% silver.

“...Will it give gold later if I go on?”

Not even Gold Axe Silver Axe.

Recalling the content of a famous fairy tale, I headed to the flower pot in that corner.

“Lantern, it’s ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠time for nutrients~.”

A shady corner where not a single point of light enters.

The flower bud sprinkling faint blue light was closed firmly.

“It really grows fast.”

Is it thanks to Growth Acceleration?

Lantern’s growth speed is extraordinary.

It hasn't bloomed yet, but looking at the growth trend until now, a feeling that it would sufficiently bloom around today or tomorrow.

“Heave-ho.”

I took out the Growth Stimulant from the inventory and stuck it into Lantern’s flower pot.

“Eat lots and grow healthy, got it?”

Sururuk.

The leaves sway very minutely.

They said it’s introverted; this is insane cuteness in its own way again.

According to the book, the Dark Lantern Flower is very introverted.

It is so introverted that cultivation is difficult, so artificial cultivation difficulty is considerable, but I felt like I knew the reason in my own way.

Stroking the flower bud gently with a cute heart, the fellow’s body flinches.

However, the appearance of not avoiding my touch.

This feels strangely good.

Like that, I stroked it for a long time and came outside.

I barely detached Spiky who kept trying to go into my pocket after doing the Tower conquest together.

Because I have to go to my part-time job.

What if I enter the kitchen and it gets burned by fire for no reason.

In Pokemon too, Grass type is weak to Fire type.

The heart wanting to take them around is chimney-like, but even for the sake of the fellows, I must endure until safety devices are prepared.

“Then I’ll be back. Guard the house well.”

Afterward, I came at lunch, fed them, and went out again.

After doing the afternoon part-time job and coming in, the time was pointing to 5 o'clock before I knew it.

Certainly, reducing one evening time makes it leisurely...

Originally, I would have had to go out again after feeding them dinner, but now my full-scale day started from now.

“Spiky, let’s go.”

The fellow who went into the pocket riding my hand peeks its bud out.

“Enter.”

The last floor of the Tutorial section.

Here, a slightly different snail from existing ones appears.

“Since it’s 5th floor, is it 5kg? I should go up quickly.”

The best point while climbing the Tower is exactly this.

That the cost used for Magic Stones is saved immensely.

If it’s 5kg, I can last about a week.

After Spiky didn't eat rice at home, Magic Stone consumption decreased distinctively.

“Spiky, are you ready?”

I feel the fellow wriggling inside the pocket.

It gained flesh plumply so that I can feel it weighs more than when I first brought the fellow in.

“Hahaha, then let’s go.”

The theme of the 5th floor seems to be Smoke.

Smoke laid thickly on the entire floor and something flying mixed in between.

“...Is this spore?”

Particles that look like pollen, or spores were floating mixed in the smoke.

If there is a different point, it’s that the spectacle is considerably dreamy because they emit weak light?

“It’s like I entered a dream.”

The appreciation that it is pretty was brief; I had to clear this floor quickly.

Spores floating means the fact that a new plant exists here.

Just in time, I received Gathering Tools via Daily Quest; this time for sure, I will gather a new plant and return unconditionally.

Resolving so, I moved my steps hurriedly.

After walking around for a long time like that, a blurry form caught my eye in the distance.

When I approached toward the form visible to the eye like that, it disappeared from before my eyes like a mirage.

“It started.”

This is the Snail Guardian, the monster of this Tutorial floor.

Not dangerous, but a considerably annoying fellow.

I don't know if it’s hallucination or what, but if you approach close, it disappears like a mirage.

The only conquest method is turning the vicinity into a wasteland with overwhelming firepower, or luring it with food the fellow likes.

And the method I chose is naturally the former.

Spiky, who grew its bulk in an instant, started to spread its stems to the surrounding area.

Stems stretching out continuously.

And not long after, along with a Kwajik sound, the fog lifted softly.

Before I knew it, stems winding tightly around a giant snail came before my eyes.

“Hm? Not eating immediately?”

When I tilted my head at the appearance different from usual, Spiky poked the snail shell part with its leafpoke poke.

At this, when I turned my gaze toward there, a small mushroom pouring out smoke pang pang on top of the shell caught my eye.

“This is...? You brought it without eating because of this?”

Then Spiky’s large flower bud nod.

“Spiky...!!”

To think it endured what it wanted to eat and brought it because it knew I was looking for plants.

Should I say it feels like a child who entered their first job giving pocket money with their hard-earned salary?

Tears of emotion well up.

“Wait just a moment!”

At this, I took out the Gathering Tools from the inventory hurriedly and gathered the mushroom attached to the shell carefully.

A mysterious mushroom whose five-colored brilliant radiance changes ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠color moment by moment.

After transferring the fellow gathered from the snail’s shell into the container inside the Gathering Tools, I nodded toward Spiky.

A mouth appeared on the giant plant’s stem and devoured the snail in an instant.

A scene that could look gruesome at a glance felt like a cat eating Churu to me.

Is it that tasty, how cute.

Certainly, perhaps because it’s the guy in charge of the Tutorial’s end, I could feel Spiky dining with more satisfaction than usual.

Like that, EX-Rank conquest success today too.

However, the system message didn't end there.

Simultaneous with that message, Spiky’s appearance started to change.

The fellow bursting bright light clusters.

At the same time, a new message floated before my eyes.

“Spiky...?”

Eventually, the white light subsided and Spiky’s appearance was seen before my eyes.

“...Nothing really changed?”

Externally, an appearance that didn't change at all.

However, thanks to the deepened communion, I could grasp exactly what Spiky’s state was like.

The emotion felt by the fellow shaking its leaves as if excited was conveyed as is.

“Ah.”

Fullness.

The appearance of enjoying the fullness filling up its whole body.

Furthermore, unlike before, the fellow’s emotion was conveyed as is.

Powerful trust and bond towards me were felt intact.

This wasn't simply a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠change of Spiky alone.

Just like the words that communion with raised plants is enhanced, what I faced upon returning home was Dawn emitting even more intense light, and Lantern emitting blue light faintly.

Tears filling up emotionally at the emotions the fellows emit was brief.

I started preparations to take out the newly gathered Dreamy Mushroom from the inventory and transplant it.

Dreamy Mushroom.

A mushroom emitting colorful hues changing moment by moment colorfully.

Just like the name, a feeling like getting sucked in somewhere if looking at it.

For reference, mushroom is mold, meaning fungi, so unlike general plants, it doesn't do photosynthesis.

Though Lantern is the same too.

Probably the Snail Guardian hiding its appearance like a mirage was the ability of this mushroom attached to the shell.

Therefore, commencing environment creation for Dreamy Mushroom cultivation.

I searched the book and started following the cultivation method of Dreamy Mushroom exactly.

“The thing to be most careful about when cultivating mushrooms is contamination management...”

I must kill all other molds or bacteria that might be in the medium (mushroom’s food and soil environment) and let only the mushroom fungus I intend to raise grow.

“Then I should do sterilization first.”

Therefore, boil the wooden box ordered for the potion box in hot water to sterilize, then drain the water and cool it.

Afterward, sterilize at high temperature with a pressure cooker along with water mixed with nutrients like sawdust, rice bran, wheat bran, etc.

I replaced it with Growth Stimulant taken out from the inventory.

Now the last stage.

After spreading the soil gathered from the 5th floor evenly on the wooden box cooled after sterilization, put the medium on top of it.

Lastly, after sprinkling purified water mixed with Magic Stone evenly to wet the soil sufficiently, finish by transplanting the mushroom stored in the container carefully.

“Phew, finished.”

The points to be careful about when raising mushrooms are indirect light, not direct sunlight, in a cool place, and humidity and fresh air are essential.

“Indirect light will be sufficient with Dawn and Lantern, and I can take care of humidity and ventilation together when giving food.”

Seeing the appearance of a new friend created next to Lantern, a pleased smile emerges automatically.

“You are Mushroom from now on.”

Dreamy Mushroom (hereinafter Mushroom) shrinks and opens its cap repeatedly.

Quite a while of appreciating blankly at the mysterious beauty that feels like sucking one in if looking at it.

“Ah, this is not the time.”

Afterward, returning to the book, I examined the detailed efficacy regarding the Dreamy Mushroom.

“I guessed roughly from the name, but as expected, it is efficacy related to the mind.”

Classically, the current humanity is the generation with the most severe mental stress throughout all history.

Seeing that 9 out of 10 Hunters are suffering from PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder), it says it all.

“If I make this into a potion...”

Unlike potions that simply recover the body, it will become a necessity for Hunters as a potion recovering the mind.

Plus, if used in a way maximizing side effects on purpose, it could be used usefully even in combat situations.

Just as I was conceiving ideas tightly inside my head, one call came from an unknown number.

“Hello.”

“Yes, I am, but who is this?”

Then a trembling voice was conveyed as is over the mobile phone.

What was bound to come has finally come.

(End of Chapter)

— Translated by Prime Works —