Chapter 533, Section 532: The Sound I Least Want to Hear
"Is...is this really okay?" Gal peered anxiously through the crack in the door at the scene inside. "It looks like we're about to be eaten."
Nova and Night Owl, who were standing nearby, were also unable to provide an answer.
Ivan's room has been completely transformed. Dense, milky-white mycelium has filled every corner, even sealing off the windows.
In the center of the room, a giant cocoon made of layers of mycelium stood, encasing Ivan's body, with only his face exposed, his expression still that of absolute calm after falling into a deep coma.
No longer needing human care, the fungal carpet sustained Ivan's physical vitality.
Number Ten was also inside the cocoon, maintaining a deep connection with Ivan for a long time.
Orcas stood guard outside the door, using his presence to reassure the other three members of the Silver Thorn Squad.
Inside the Super Magic Library, Number Ten struggled with all his might to barely suppress the overwhelming excitement and joy within him!
No wonder even the master of the fungus called this an "invaluable" opportunity!
After reading just a few of the books, No. 10 realized the value of this knowledge!
These few books alone have completely transformed its understanding of magic, as if it has discovered another broad road to enlightenment. If only it could read all of this boundless sea of books...
Sensing number ten extended upwards, the circular wall of bookshelves seemingly without end. For an ordinary being, this was a hopeless volume that they could never finish reading in a lifetime.
Fortunately, it's not a person!
Not only that, it also has the support of its owner!
Unlike Lin Jun, who split into more Puji projections, Number Ten's consciousness projection began to expand, transforming into a gigantic Puji that almost reached the limit that the library's terrain could accommodate.
Four, ten, hundreds... countless flexible and strong mycelial tentacles extend from its massive mushroom body, reaching out to bookshelves on all levels in all directions.
Each tentacle curls up a book that emits a faint glow, and then it absorbs and absorbs the knowledge.
Of course, it didn't forget Ivan either.
The mage's consciousness, which was still mechanically reading a book high up, was wrapped up by a tentacle that split off from Number Ten, pulled back, and stuffed directly into Number Ten's now enormous body, completely enveloping and sealing it away.
The root cause of Ivan's weakened soul lay in the fact that his limited mental energy was forcibly connected to a vast amount of information far exceeding his processing capacity, essentially the same cause of death as the sacrifice whose brain was blown out by the abyss.
However, the abyss receives too much information in an instant, while here the total amount far exceeds the soul's capacity to bear.
Now, Number Ten has enveloped Ivan with his enormous soul, isolating him from the Hypermagic Library, and his condition will naturally stabilize gradually.
As for how to truly awaken him?
Number 10 is unaware, and Lin Jun doesn't seem to care much at the moment.
Saving Ivan was just a slogan; the real purpose was to acquire this knowledge.
Once she has learned enough, Lin Jun will try to save her. Whether she succeeds or fails, at most she will only sacrifice one D-level personnel.
...
Number 10 will be unable to return to the mission for the time being.
However, it is always taciturn and prefers to stay in inconspicuous corners. Usually, only Pink Puji and a few other mushrooms will have simple conversations with it.
These are all "family members," and with just a word of introduction, outsiders would have no idea that Number Ten had quietly left the delegation.
Meanwhile, the negotiations between the mission and the elves were also nearing their end.
In the final agreement, the kingdom would no longer obstruct the contact between the elves and the hero, and was even willing to assist the elves in making contact with the hero if possible.
In exchange, the elves must strictly limit the number and strength level of those who come into contact with them, and the elves must not force the hero in any way if the hero explicitly refuses.
This core agreement regarding the heroes was only known to the top management of both sides. The publicly announced results included the elves dispatching mages skilled in magic arrays to assist humanity in building a new defensive line, as well as other standard clauses involving resource exchange and power balance.
The elf delegation needs some preparation before setting off together with the Inanna delegation when they conclude their visit to the Dwarf Hills and return to the kingdom.
The negotiations have come to an end, which also means that the delegation is about to leave the Elf Forest.
Galadriel, cradling the Sword Saint Puji in her arms and absentmindedly pinching its mycelial feet, felt a pang of reluctance. However, the Mushroom Clan were currently allies working in harmony with the kingdom, not Inanna's private property.
If you want to keep this special Puji, you have to convince it to agree.
However, even though Galadriel offered a precious S-rank magic crystal, as thick as a finger, as a gift from her personal collection, Fourteen remained unmoved.
Watching Fourteen resolutely turn around and stride back to the envoy's formation with his short legs, Galadriel couldn't help but click her tongue softly.
That crisp, clean back view looks just like that dead man!
As for Elwayne, he just felt that he had finally made it to the end.
Being hugged and kneaded is certainly not a bad feeling, but it's fine to do it occasionally. If you were to become a puppet that can be manipulated at will, even Number Four would probably not be happy, let alone Sword Saint!
Elwayne still has feelings for Galadriel.
However, whether then or now, Galadriel could never leave the Elven Forest and become a wandering knight.
Whether it was the heavy responsibilities he once shouldered, such as eradicating cults, resisting demons, and mastering swordsmanship, or his new path as a Puji, there are too many important things beyond romantic love waiting for him to accomplish. It is impossible for him to stay in the forest forever for the sake of a personal relationship.
Moreover, the body of a mere mortal has no worldly desires. Those stirrings of love between men and women are nothing more than hazy illusions left over from human history.
Now, his feelings for Galadriel are perhaps more of a gentle appreciation for an old friend and bygone days.
Finally, watching the delegation disappear into the distance, Galadriel could only sigh softly and mutter to herself in an almost whispered voice, "If only Fourteen could switch places with Number One..."
Clearly, she didn't fully understand the Puji's keen perception.
As they were seeing the delegation off, Number One, who was earnestly explaining the future cooperation to the fourth tentacle, suddenly froze: "???"
...
Lin Jun had been paying attention to the delegation's movements and was originally planning to control the Sword Saint Puji's body to jump back into Galadriel's arms for a tearful farewell.
Of course, this was purely to further deepen the Elven leadership's goodwill and attachment to the Mushroom Clan, and everything was based on considerations of the Mushroom Clan's long-term interests.
However, an unexpected situation suddenly occurred in an area he was focusing on, forcing him to temporarily let the Sword Saint go.
The place where the accident happened happened to be in the Elf Forest.
...
The deepest part of the Shenmu Underground City, in the spiral.
In the center of the empty circular lawn, there still stands that ancient, unchanging sapling of the sacred tree.
The next moment, the air at the edge of the lawn rippled like water, and a figure appeared there.
That was an elf.
He had eyes as green as newly sprouted leaves, and a face that would be considered exceptional even among the elves, who were known for their beauty, yet he was male.
He briefly moved his limbs and fingers, as if readjusting to his body, and then walked away without hesitation.
The pale-faced pilgrims guarding outside made way for him.
He walked very fast, even somewhat hurriedly, as if he wanted to leave this place as soon as possible before someone noticed.
Unfortunately, he hadn't gone far when he heard the sound he least wanted to hear.
Pfft—
(End of this chapter)
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