026. Day 4: Medical Mushroom Appears at the Shelter
On the fourth day in the labyrinth, a Medical Mushroom appeared at the shelter. The mushroom regenerated the apple I was holding, then started sprinkling pink liquid on the apples the others were eating.
I thought the same. It seemed the mushroom had sensed our summoned apples as injured and come to treat them. It must have some kind of sensor for detecting the wounded.
Before long, all the summoned apples had regenerated. The monsters were thrilled at the extra food, while Rise stared at an apple in disbelief.
The Medical Mushroom glanced around curiously. Then it spotted the Poison Apple.
[Pii...]
The mushroom quickly looked away. No interest in a dead one, apparently.
[Pii!]
It waved a tentacle-like appendage in greeting, then floated leisurely toward Passage 8.
Of course I was going to grab it. No way I'd miss a chance like this. A monster that had been nowhere to be found when I searched was walking right into my hands.
I took a big bite out of the apple I was holding.
[Pii?!]
The Medical Mushroom startled and whipped around. Just as expected. It wouldn't ignore an injured being.
The mushroom fluttered back hurriedly and stopped in front of me.
[Pii!]
With worried eyes. It dripped more pink liquid again. Its focus was entirely on the apple.
On the mushroom's cap was a red circular spot. Without hesitation, I reached out and pressed my palm to it.
[Pii?]
No resistance. The mushroom just stared blankly at me.
'No need to bind it with Dog Spider silk after all.'
It was friendly to all lifeforms. That's why I avoided forceful methods. No point binding something already at max affinity—it might even backfire and cause resentment.
'Let's see, discoloration speed...'
I checked the spot. It was fully green. Not a trace of red left, even if I squinted.
"...What the hell."
"Feels like barely 10 seconds passed, but it's already fully tamed?"
Taming the Dog Spider took two minutes—even before it hatched from the egg. But this? Ten seconds flat.
That meant it harbored no enmity toward any creature, didn't distrust anyone, and was always ready to be tamed by a tamer. Other reasons might exist, but who cared? Fast was fast.
[Pii!]
The Medical Mushroom beamed and circled me happily. And just like that, I gained my fourth monster companion—the healer.
"Oho. This monster follows you devotedly as well. Did you use your ability to tame it?"
Rise asked, petting the mushroom. I nodded in affirmation.
For reference, I'd already explained my taming ability. No need to hide it.
The Medical Mushroom quickly befriended the other monsters too. What a sociable little thing.
"Mushy."
[Pii?]
"We met once before, right?"
The one that had regenerated my finger. I asked to confirm if it was the same individual.
[Pii!]
It affirmed. Same one as before.
What a pointless curiosity. A quick check showed no genital-like parts.
"No genitals at all."
"Why Rise?"
Ha Yu-mi and I asked at the same time. Rise poked his head in with a response.
"Did you call for me?"
"Nah, talking to the helpers."
"Ah, I see."
I'd already given a brief explanation of the Jo-ryeokja. Muttering to myself nonstop would make me look like a crazy hallucinating patient.
While the helpers chatted away, I cautiously asked Rise about their gender. I was curious too.
Rise answered readily.
"I'm asexual."
"Ah, so your species lacks gender?"
"Not quite. We have males, females, and asexuals."
Mystery solved.
"Your species has no asexuals, I take it?"
"Probably not, far as I know."
"I see. Then you must be curious about the perks of being asexual..."
Rise, now chatty, rattled on about unasked topics. Asexual birth rate under 1%. Asexuals stronger, longer-lived, etc. I endured the irrelevant info.
Couldn't ignore or stop him—my question started it.
Finally, his spiel ended.
[Pii~]
The Medical Mushroom waved its tentacle and started floating toward Passage 8 again.
"Mushroom, where you going?"
[Pii?]
"You're not off to heal other creatures, are you?"
[Pii? Pii!]
Spot on. Even tamed, it planned to wander healing the wounded.
"Healing randoms could heal our enemies, so no treating anyone but us from now on. You're our teammate."
[Pii.]
"Understood? Come back here."
[Pii.]
It slowly approached.
"From now on, stick by my side always. Got it?"
[Pi, pii?!]
The mushroom nodded its cap at my words. That day, it never left my side for a moment.
Labyrinth day 4. No monster attacks while sleeping again. They could enter, sure—some wandered in on their own. Wandering types could show anytime, so vigilance was key.
'Gotta set up barricades at the passages sometime.'
With that in mind, I set out exploring as usual. Target: Passage 8. Goals: mapping, food, drifters.
Rise came along. He could've rested after the execution sword gift, but splitting up sped up drifter hunts. Plus, I'd hand over the transfer scroll whenever.
Great mood after easy tames too.
"See you at noon then."
"Yeah. Be safe."
We parted at the fork, heading different ways. My team was yesterday's plus Mushroom. Only Mysticism watching now.
An hour into exploration, trudging along, a small hole in the cave wall caught my eye.
I entered slowly. Beyond was a small chamber. No glowstones, but my Black Magma Slime lit it up.
'What's this space for?'
A strange power emanated inside—not magic, more like psychic energy. I ventured deeper.
Shelves lined the walls, stone-made. Crowded with what looked like monster body parts.
And [Sii?]
[Sruung...]
[Piiiii...]
Two human fingers too.