Chapter 35

The monster's form was still not visible.

But it should be somewhere.

I tried to use the Monster Detector to see if I could confirm the monster's presence.

It seems there were a few reactions outside the corridor.

But it's still unclear what's there.

It doesn't seem to be as convenient as I thought.

The corridor continues.

And then I encountered a monster, which I had been somewhat looking forward to.

It was a monster with a form that was hard to describe.

Naturally, I tried to use [Identification].

Fungus Lv.1

Monster Target Active

Hmm.

It's definitely a monster.

But it's a mushroom.

A monster that looks like a mushroom, with limbs that resemble a doll.

Is the cap part supposed to be the head?

By the way, it has no face.

It's about as tall as my chest and quite chubby.

Its gait was unsteady, and it didn't seem very agile.

But the next moment, it suddenly closed the distance.

What is this?

It moves in a very tricky way.

I tried hitting it with my rod.

It felt solid.

But it left a heavy sensation.

It felt similar to poking a konjac with a finger.

The monster's HP bar seemed to decrease slightly.

Next, I tried kicking it.

I hit it squarely, but it didn't seem to be very effective.

Well, since the HP bar is definitely decreasing, I should be fine.

Then came the mushroom's attack.

It was a headbutt.

It suddenly accelerated with a tricky movement and charged.

It was hard to predict the timing.

I managed to avoid the first hit, but the second headbutt hit me.

The impact felt like it went through my core.

It's a mass weapon, this thing.

Of course, I was also being attacked by others, but it seemed quite heavy and didn't seem to be very effective.

Even the heavy hitter, Mii-chan, couldn't knock it off balance.

It must be quite heavy.

After a while of surrounding and fighting, the HP bar gradually decreased, and I managed to defeat it.

But Keith, Wolf, and Mii-chan each took some hits in retaliation.

It was within the range of what could be fully healed with an Earth Heal, but this can't be taken lightly.

It would be fine with one, but if they came in a pack like wild dogs, it would be a tough fight.

"Was the bow and arrow effective?"

"It didn't deal as much damage as I expected."

"Bows and arrows might not be a good method."

"I see."

This is something I need to think about.

The corridor is narrow, and there's not enough space to fight while riding a horse.

If I have to stop and fight that monster, I need a tank with good defense.

Otherwise, I need to overwhelm it with firepower.

But using too much MP would hinder continuous combat.

The next summoned monster should focus on combat.

I stabbed the mushroom's corpse with a skinning knife.

Everything is exciting when it's the first time.

And the item I skinned was this.

[Material Item] Shiitake Raw Material Quality C Rarity 1 Weight 0+

Raw shiitake. Drying it and using it for broth is good.

"It's shiitake."

"It's shiitake."

"It's a material, not food."

"It seems so."

For some reason, I started getting a headache.

Since there was also gobo, this might be possible.

Moreover, this shiitake is quite large.

What am I supposed to do with this?

I'll think about it later; let's move on.

The next encounter was also a mushroom.

No, a Fungus, and there were two of them.

This time, I tried to fight more cautiously.

I observed to see if I could predict the timing of their charge.

There was a slight sign of movement.

It would pull its head back first.

But it was hard to predict.

It has no face.

It's hard to tell if it's facing forward or backward at a glance.

So, I tried to fight while keeping my arm at an angle and positioned to the side.

This made it easier to avoid headbutt attacks.

But it took more time, which I had to accept.

I fought one of the two alone to keep it from moving.

I knew it was quite heavy, but when I actually grappled with it, I realized something.

It felt like a water balloon.

Of course, it was heavy.

And I was fortunate to discover an unexpected weakness of this monster early on.

I just needed to roll it.

Because it was so heavy, it had a hard time getting back up.

It took considerable effort to throw it, but it was worth it.

I tried rolling the other one too.

With four summoned monsters gathered, we could play with it almost without taking any damage.

It seems we can do it.

I continued to kick the rolled mushroom.

The HP bar didn't decrease much.

So, I tried dropping my elbow and knee.

This was quite effective.

It also seemed good to retaliate with a headbutt.

It seems this monster has a body that is hard to damage.

But it's not completely ineffective.

One of them was finished off by Wolf and the others biting it.

The other one was finished off by a single elbow strike from me.

We managed to take care of it.

"Mr. Keith, um, is it okay?"

"What's wrong?"

"Need Drop and Elbow Drop, right?"

"Eh? Did I use those attacks?"

"Clearly pro wrestling moves, right?"

"Maybe. Well, since I was attacking a prone opponent, it's understandable that it looked that way, right?"

"Is that so?"

I tried to ignore Irena's exasperated comment while skinning the mushroom.

But the result was unexpected.

[Material Item] Bunashimeji Raw Material Quality C Rarity 1 Weight 0+

Bunashimeji. While not as good as honshimeji, it is a tasty mushroom with a good flavor.

[Material Item] Nameko Raw Material Quality C Rarity 1 Weight 0+

Nameko. It prefers moisture and has a slimy texture.

"We got different mushrooms."

"Edible mushrooms."

"What is going on here?"

It's a mystery within a mystery.

Or, is this just the developers being silly?

We continued to move forward.

The green corridor seemed to end, and we entered a large room.

In the center of the room, the soul orb was floating.

This soul orb was glowing a deep blue.

It seemed to be flickering, changing in brightness.

[This is the Forest of Wandering Paths]

[To pass through here, you must visit all the rooms]

A voice echoed as if it were an announcement.

Is it the same pattern as before?

I thought, but the soul orb disappeared.

Looking back, a deep blue soul orb was flickering like a light above the entrance to the green corridor, as if to say, "This is the exit."

I looked around the room.

There were passages in front and to the sides.

The passages ahead were dark and couldn't be seen clearly.

Well, which way should we go?

While I was thinking, something sprouted from the ground.

It was a mushroom.

And there were three of them.

"Focus on one!"

I gave the order and selected a spell to cast.

I took a step forward and put away my rod.

It's easier to fight in close combat with these.

I immediately rolled the nearest mushroom.

I took some damage while grappling, but I couldn't afford to hesitate.

Wolf and the others immediately started biting the rolled mushroom.

I could leave it to them.

"Physical Enchantment Earth!"

I boosted my defense to prepare for the next monster.

Looking closely, the caps of the mushrooms varied.

You in the back, you!

The one with the cap closed, the bob-cut head!

It's a bit obscene.

Die, you.

While closing the distance to the next one, I kicked and threw it.

No, I made it fall.

It was too heavy to throw.

But it was easy to make it fall by disrupting its balance.

The only difficulty was that I had to grapple a bit.

The obscene one charged and headbutted me, but I barely avoided it.

I kicked it with my knee and grabbed its arm.

I tried to lock the joint.

It didn't lock.

The joints weren't like a human's; it felt like bending hard clay.

Naturally, the monster's HP bar didn't budge.

You obscene thing.

When I pulled its arm, I got an unexpected result.

It tore.

Huh?

It looked like water was seeping from the torn part.

Is it weak?

No, that wasn't the case.

I was hit by the torn arm, and it hurt more than I expected.

It was good that I had boosted my defense, but I was surprised.

Still, it's better to roll it discreetly.

When I finally rolled the obscene one, the one I had rolled earlier was trying to get up.

Not a chance.

I tackled it and finished it off.

Then I started punching it from a mounted position.

But it was the middle of a group battle.

The enemy wasn't just this one.

Looking back, the obscene one was also trying to get up.

It seemed to be having trouble supporting its weight because its arm was torn.

I stopped punching and kicked the obscene mushroom from behind.

It was a perfect hit.

The mushroom fell as if it had been blown away.

Wolf and Mii-chan attacked the mushroom, and Jean and Toguro joined in a bit later.

It seemed the first one I rolled was finished off.

I'll leave this one to them.

The last one was also trying to get up.

I swept its legs.

But it was too heavy to roll.

I started kneeing it, treating it like a punching bag.

I locked its head with both hands.

It's like a teep in Muay Thai.

It's a bit awkward to call it a clinch, but there's no choice.

It's effective, but this mushroom is surprisingly tough.

On the severalth knee, the mushroom's HP bar dropped to zero.

What happened?

Looking at it, the mushroom's body was split in half.

It's a mushroom, after all.

Did I deal critical damage?

What about the obscene one?

It seemed to have ascended after being bitten to pieces.

We managed to take care of it.

We managed to defeat it, but it was a bit tough.

We started skinning the items.

I got shiitake.

"Alright, let's move on."

"Wait. I found this."

Adele seemed to have skinned shiitake, but Irena was holding another mushroom.

[Material Item] Enoki Raw Material Quality C Rarity 1 Weight 0+

Enoki. It has a poor flavor but a good texture. Good for boiling or grilling.

This is...

It's turning into a mushroom hunt, in more ways than one.

What is the developer's intention?

"Unlikely, but there might be more."

"Maitake."

"Of course, Matsutake, right?"

"Button mushrooms."

"Well, truffles are mushrooms too."

"Enoki too, right?"

"Shiitake, porcini, and other high-end ingredients might be there."

Dreams are expanding.

But I feel like the direction of our expectations is a bit off.

Let's get back to exploring.

We decided to proceed in the order of the right-hand side.

Compared to the green corridor we just passed through, this one is much darker.

We illuminated the surroundings with a flashlight and moved forward.

The darkness adds to the eerie atmosphere.

Then,

The ceiling in front of me fell.

No, something jumped down.

It was a monster that looked like a wooden doll.

It resembled a Bloody Wood, but the branches forming its body were thicker.

There were two of them.

"Focus on one!"

I gave the order and tried hitting the nearest one with my rod.

It made a dry sound and bounced off.

No good.

I tried a light jab.

It was hard, as expected.

Then I tried a kick.

It was definitely hard, but not as heavy. It seemed to lose its balance a bit.

The monster swung at me.

The motion was similar to a human's but not quite, and I failed to avoid the first hit.

It hurt.

It hurt, Mom.

While taking the hit, I tried to grab its arm and lock the joint.

But I couldn't lock it.

It was surprisingly strong.

I was forcibly pulled away.

I finally stepped back and calmed down, then used [Identification].

Branch Golem Lv.2

Monster Target Active

It's a golem.

No wonder it's strong.

I observed the other one from a distance.

It seemed to be overwhelmed by numbers and was being defeated.

I could hear a scraping sound.

It sounded like it was being gnawed on by wolves or tigers.

Since it's made of wood, it doesn't scream, but the scene is chilling.

Since we seem to have the upper hand, I can leave it to them.

Now, about this one in front of me.

Even though it's a golem, it didn't feel heavy when I touched it.

But it's quite hard.

I wish it would be as easy to throw as Bloody Wood.

Its strength is also a problem.

It's risky to use throwing techniques in close combat with a physically strong opponent.

I also need to check its speed.

I moved back as the monster advanced.

It didn't dash.

It was more like a brisk walk.

It seemed slow, but it felt fast due to its imposing presence.

If hitting, kicking, joint locks, and throws are not good methods,

I have no choice but to use magic.

I cast a spell and then engaged in close combat.

I didn't force it and focused on dodging, looking for an opening.

I slipped past the monster's punch and moved to its back.

"Water Needle!"

The monster's HP bar, which hadn't decreased much from previous attacks, visibly decreased.

But it wasn't a significant decrease.

Next.

I kept my distance and looked for an opening.

I cast the next spell from close range, almost as a counter.

"Wind Cutter!"

The HP bar seemed to decrease, but not as much as I had hoped.

Let's try another one.

I kept my distance and prepared the next spell.

The golem's slow movement was a relief.

"Stone Bullet!"

It seemed to decrease the HP bar the most so far.

But it was still disappointing.

I finally managed to reduce the HP bar to about half, but considering the MP used, it was inefficient.

Is there another way?

There is one.

I don't really want to do it.

In a similar situation in a tabletop game long ago, I used it and had a bad experience.

Well, let's consider this a test.

I selected and cast a spell.

The monster was still energetic.

Defending against its attacks was good, but the heavy hits were wearing me down.

"Pyrokinetics!"

It's a fire spell.

I tried to set fire to the inside of the monster's body.

Since it's hollow, air should get in, and the fire shouldn't go out easily.

What's the effect?

It was overwhelming.

And as I feared, it happened.

The monster started to burn fiercely.

The monster moved unsteadily, spewing fire.

It seemed to be trying to put out the fire, but it was too late.

The dark corridor was illuminated by the flames.

Since the corridor is made of wood, it could spread.

But as the monster's HP bar rapidly decreased, the fire seemed to subside.

Wood, after all, is a weakness.

That's good, but there's a risk of the fire spreading to the surrounding trees.

I can't use it recklessly.

"We're done here!"

Responding to Adele's voice, I checked the situation.

The other one was defeated without any problems.

I gave potions to Wolf and Mii-chan, whose HP bars were decreasing, to recover.

And the items I skinned from the monster's corpse were.

[Material Item] Charcoal Raw Material Quality C Rarity 1 Weight 1

Common charcoal. Used for cooking at home.

Charcoal?

Because I used fire?

Is that the right understanding?

"Adele, you can use fire magic, right?"

"Yes!"

"As you saw, Pyrokinetics seems to be effective. Use it if necessary."

"Yes! But it's a bit scary to get close to it."

"Irena, did you get anything?"

"It's wood."

Irena held up what she had in her hand.

When I used [Identification], it turned out to be a bit of a peculiar item.

[Material Item] Beech Log Raw Material Quality C Rarity 1 Weight 2

A section of a beech tree trunk.

It needs to be processed to remove the bark to be used as wood.

A log.

A log.

With shiitake and a log, there's only one thing that comes to mind.

Are we supposed to do log cultivation?

[Your race level has increased! Please add 1 point to any of your status values.]

Finally, a level up.

I stared at the status screen on the virtual window in front of me.

Last time, I increased my intelligence.

This time, I'll increase my willpower.

Base Status

Dexterity 15

Agility 15

Intelligence 19

Strength 15

Vitality 15

Willpower 20 (↑1)

Hmm.

With one more step, the numbers will be more beautiful.

Next, I'll definitely increase my intelligence.

[2 points will be added to your bonus points. The total is now 22 points.]

A level up in a new hunting ground is a good start.

From past experience, the next level up is expected to be in summoning magic.

If the number of simultaneous summons increases to 3, it will be a significant boost in combat power.

It's something to look forward to.

Main Character: Keith

Race: Human Male Race Lv6 (↑1)

Class: Summoner (Summoner) Lv4

Bonus Points Remaining: 22

Set Skills

Staff Lv4

Strike Lv3

Kick Lv3

Joint Lock Lv3

Throw Lv3

Dodge Lv3

Block Lv2

Summoning Magic Lv5

Light Magic Lv2

Wind Magic Lv3

Earth Magic Lv3

Water Magic Lv3

Fire Magic Lv2

Dark Magic Lv1

Alchemy Lv3

Pharmacist Lv3

Glassworking Lv3

Coordination Lv5

Identification Lv5

Cold Resistance Lv2

Grapple Lv4

Riding Lv4

Precision Operation Lv3

Jump Lv1

Heat Resistance Lv3

Equipment: Kay's Rod, Hare Chestplate + series, Snow Ape Arm Guards, Wild Horse Boots +, Snow Ape Leather Helmet, Backpack

Item Box ×2

Held Items: Skinning Knife

Titles: Apprentice to the Old Summon