So he really was living inside a “box”!
And more absurdly, this box was patched together from bits and pieces!
What Lin Jun had once detected as the so-called “boundary,” he thought was some sturdy arcane barrier. Only now did he realize—it was the wall of a miniature pocket space.
Humans had even studied camouflage techniques for these space walls. From the outside, they looked like ordinary soil, but it was just a false projection—a texture pasted over reality.
Each small pocket floated “outside the world.” Without stairways to link them, they were completely sealed cages.
Unfortunately, Inanna’s notes didn’t explain what exactly “outside the world” meant. Perhaps she hadn’t found the relevant materials.
One detail stood out: unlike other layers, the sixth floor and the Deep Zones were originally connected in physical structure.
But the gorge between them had been forcibly sealed with rules, dividing it into a separate floor.
No wonder the collapse in the Deep Zones had first spread to the sixth floor.
And if the dungeon drew its mana from “outside,” that did explain why mana density here was far higher than on the surface.But it only made Lin Jun even more curious about this “outside.”
When a Puji fell into the void and contact was lost… did that mean it had fallen “outside”?
Were there other worlds out there?
Did his original world exist among them?
He wondered if he’d ever find an answer.
Not that he could return even if he did… He was a mushroom now, one that couldn’t survive without mana.
—
On the surface.
The rune experts led by Guge left after resting just a single night, returning to Oathsworn City.
The Sword Saint did not accompany them, but also departed swiftly. As a top powerhouse, he had no fief or duties tying him down, but in these turbulent times, he couldn’t truly wander carefree.
He had received some urgent message, and headed east.
Fifteen left with him—Elvien said he needed to “train his brain.”
At the Adventurers’ Guild, the atmosphere was subtly strained.
“Inanna, thank you deeply for your help. If you ever require anything, please command me—I will do all I can.” Fahl’s tone was sincere.
The dungeon’s impending collapse meant the Puji threat was no longer relevant. But a duke’s daughter had personally aided them, and that was a favor he owed.
He didn’t mind having more ties to the ducal house. Only…
“No need for thanks. I only came at Aedin’s request.” Inanna, cradling the knight Puji, replied formally and distantly. She clearly had no interest in further conversation.
“Of course, and we must thank Master Aedin as well.” Fahl hadn’t forgotten his promise—Aedin received a purse of gold and rare illusion-crafting materials the moment they emerged from the dungeon.
“Oh, Inanna,” Fahl added, trying to remain cordial, “the Pujis are said to have hoarded many treasures. Now that you command their king, you might search for them.”
“You—! You’re coveting the Pujis’ treasure?!” Inanna’s voice leapt sharply. She hugged the Puji in her arms tighter.
Eh? Was it his imagination? Fahl felt her gaze grow even colder.
“No! Absolutely not!” He stammered, flustered. “I only feared you might not know of it—that’s all! I have no designs on it, truly!”
After a long pause, Inanna nodded. “Forgive me, I misunderstood. Thank you for the reminder.”
As she left, she stroked the Puji in her arms and added: “From now on, his name is Knight.”
After she departed, Aedin also excused himself.
Once both were gone, Fahl slumped in his chair, massaging his temples. “Liliane… tell me, what did I do to offend this young lady?”
The maid’s fingers pressed lightly at his temples. “A noble raised in seclusion, her moods are hard to predict. Some caprice is only natural. Think of your own early blunders in guild affairs—were they not just as laughable?”
“…Really?” Fahl muttered through his fingers.
After a moment’s rest, he straightened. “Fetch Mirabelle.”
…
“Guildmaster, you called?” Mirabelle soon arrived.
“Raise all guild buy-prices for materials by ten percent. Immediately.”
“All materials?” She blinked, hesitant.
“Yes. All.” His tone was firm.
“But sir,” she protested cautiously, “higher-tier materials are fine, but things like slime cores, coolgrass, green scorpion tails… they’re low-level basics, sold by bulk with thin margins. Raise the price, and there may be no profit left.”
Fahl’s gaze drifted out the window, as if seeing the doomed dungeon beyond. “Raise them anyway. One month later, raise again. We must rouse the adventurers’ fervor. The collapse will reach the upper floors within three months. Before then, we need as many resources as possible…”
…
“Milady, should we begin our return journey?”
Inanna had not traveled alone—three gold-rank guards followed her.
But with the Sword Saint leading, the road had been so smooth that they had done nothing the whole way.
By plan, it was indeed time to leave. But Inanna had other ideas.
“I…” Her eyes spun, then she hoisted the Puji high. “I still need to find the Puji treasure!”
Annoying as Fahl’s greed had been, his words gave her the perfect excuse.
The guards exchanged helpless glances. What treasures could mushrooms possibly have? The ducal treasury held wonders beyond imagining.
“But Steward Erik instructed—”
“We’ll return once we find it!” she cut them off firmly.
“But we—”
“You’re not allowed to come!”
“This mustn’t be! Your safety—”
“I have Knight to protect me!” She patted the Puji in her arms, then grabbed a passing Aedin before he could escape. “And… and Aedin too!”
“Eh? Me?”
His first instinct was to refuse. Enter the dungeon again? He was terrified.
But when his eyes fell on the Puji, he hesitated. Could this be the boss’s will?
At last, he changed his tune: “Ah, right… yes, I’ll accompany you.”
The guards protested a while longer, but they couldn’t win against their lady’s stubbornness.
And truthfully… the three of them together couldn’t match the Puji she carried.
At last, Inanna gleefully led a grim-faced Aedin back into the dungeon.
She even splurged on three Light Pujis, making her entourage the brightest thing underground.
Following Lin Jun’s directions, they reached the mushroom forest on the fifth floor.
Inanna cooed at the beauty of the forest, then wandered into a mushroom hut.
Moments later, Aedin gaped as a pink Puji bounced out instead of her.
The plump Puji tilted itself and, through the fungal network, spoke with the voice of a duke’s daughter: “Don’t you know polymorph magic? Want me to turn you into one too?”
Aedin’s pupils shrank. He flatly refused the wicked offer. “N-no need.”
Neither noticed the large black mushroom peeking from behind a distant tree…