novelraw Chapter 514 - 504: Supreme Reign
Chapter 514 - 504: Supreme Reign
On the main street of Mushroom City, the crowd was bustling as if it were a festival.
The entire Red Mushroom Avenue was packed with enthusiastic citizens and adventurers. People gathered on both sides of the street, and some even leaned out from the windowsills on the second floor of taverns to catch a glimpse of the war hero.
"Is that Lady Inanna? She’s even more heroic than the legends say!"
"There are so many Pukis behind her, aren’t there over a hundred?"
"Is that all? During the Battle of Dragon Roar Valley, the lady commanded tens of thousands of Pukis to sweep the battlefield!"
"Move ahead! Let me have a look too!"
The early residents of Dumb Wind Town and the first wave of refugees mostly had seen Inanna, but the new immigrants who later flooded into Mushroom City had not yet seen this recent war hero.
The dual identity of a war hero and the Duke’s Daughter made her the object of many female adventurers’ aspirations, even though Inanna herself looked nothing like an adventurer.
Today, Inanna was accompanied by no human followers, only over a hundred Pukis surrounding her.
This actually didn’t comply with the new city management regulations of Mushroom City, as the crowd of Pukis did indeed fill most of the street.
But the war hero had some minor privileges, and no one would be dissatisfied because of it.
This group of Pukis was not controlled by Lin Jun, but rather within the command limit of the Pink Puki itself.
Leaving aside her identity, the Pink Puki was considered quite talented as a Puki Master.
No. 4 Puki strode proudly at the forefront of the team, its cap gleaming with pride under the sunlight.
In such a scene where everyone welcomed them, its steps were almost floating with excitement.
Though the cheers and respect were directed at the Pink Puki, it felt that respecting the Pink Puki was respecting the Mushroom Race, and it was honored by that!
At the same time, it secretly rejoiced in its heart, knowing that the Mushroom Servants and non-Mushroom beings would probably never guess that Inanna’s appearance was merely the Pink Puki’s mimicry.
Thus, the world was covertly controlled by their Mushroom Race!
If only they could be more open about it sooner.
Watching Inanna disappear with the Pukis into the Underground City entrance, someone suddenly asked, "What is Lady Inanna doing, entering the Underground City?"
"Fool! She’s obviously using the Mushroom Race’s call to summon even more powerful Pukis! Should the Empire attack again, her Puki Army would be indispensable!"
...
Inanna was also very excited.
But this excitement didn’t stem from the cheers and support from the surrounding citizens.
Though people had recently raised her up high, Inanna knew that much of it was due to the elder’s achievements.
People should be thanking the elder instead!
But that elder, always working silently, disdained false fame, which made Inanna worry about his lack of deserved praise.
Her current excitement was because she was finally going to the Fungus Castle!
Though she had never truly set foot on that land, through interactions with the elder and other members, she had a general impression of that place—a beautiful city connected by the Fungal Network, regardless of race!
A dreamy location Inanna had always wanted to see with her own eyes, but due to various reasons, she had been unable to go out for long.
But now things were different.
Her identity today was not what it once was.
She was once a Duke’s Daughter who needed protection, but now she was a war hero commanding countless Pukis.
No one could restrict her actions under the guise of protection anymore, not even her own old father!
After saving him with the elder, she felt much more confident!
"So cold..." This was Inanna’s first sensation when approaching the Stone Castle Rift.
Fortunately, the elder had warned her earlier, and with the activation of the Temperature Pendant on her chest, warmth enveloped her once more.
Inanna was filled with strong curiosity about everything around her, though for some unknown reason, No. 10 and No. 4 appeared unusually nervous on their way through the Mushroom Forest.
The two Pukis were still discussing something:
"If the Black Demon appears, you rush up..."
"What about you? I might not defeat her alone!"
"What are you thinking? I asked you to go up to feed her!"
"Why? Why don’t you go feed her?"
"I’m far more valuable than you! If you can’t satisfy her, then it’ll be my turn."
No. 4 Puki was convinced and was ready to perform its sliding tackle technique at any moment!
Fortunately, the journey was without danger, smoothly passing through the perilous area.
On the way to the Fungus Castle, Inanna encountered many Demon Race fungi citizens.
The Mushroom Race, Lizardmen, and Half-demons brushed past her, showing neither greed nor hatred upon seeing this human, their eyes calmly observing her as if she were an ordinary fellow, perhaps only casting a few curious glances at this unfamiliar face.
Some friendly ones even greeted her via the Fungal Network.
In contrast to her normally aloof and reserved demeanor as the Duke’s Daughter when dealing with outsiders, Inanna responded warmly to each greeting.
Because they were all communicating through the Fungal Network!
Even before entering the city, Inanna was delighted to see Pukis she hadn’t seen before — the giant heating Pukis.
These massive creatures patrolled back and forth along the road between Stone Castle and Fungus Castle, melting ice and snow along their path to ensure the road was clear.
When the young girl couldn’t help but want to touch it, No. 10 promptly used its tentacles to stop her, lest the Pink Puki get burned.
Even before entering the city, Inanna had already begun to fall in love with this place.
Just before entering the city, there was a little unexpected occurrence.
"Hiss... Ah... Hiss... Ah..."
A green-skinned vampire tied to a metal pole was enjoying the double "hospitality" of sunbathing and the heating Puki, letting out a series of strange moans.
The Lizardman guard at the gate appeared unperturbed, occasionally skillfully pouring a few mouthfuls of healing potion into its mouth.
"What is... this?" Inanna asked.
She naturally didn’t recognize that this was the same assassin who hadn’t even seen her face before being captured by Lin Jun.
"Nothing, just a villain receiving punishment." Lin Jun couldn’t be bothered to explain further.
Inanna nodded, but remained intrigued, glancing several times: "Punishment..."
Lin Jun also found it frustrating, initially putting this fellow in this conspicuous spot to deter others.
But lately, the green-skinned individual’s cries have become increasingly peculiar.
As its Sunlight Resistance Level increased, the pain was evidently not as intense as initially, instead seeming to awaken some strange fetish, finding a unique pleasure in moderate torment.
The Yellow-covered Book was right; vampires truly are perverts!
But now there was no time to consider these small matters; they could only be dealt with later.
Inside Fungus Castle, Norris hurriedly appeared, looking somewhat unsettled.
He was ordered to lead a Jida team to escort the Pink Puki into the ruins, but in the face of the Duke’s Daughter, he, the tailless lizardman who didn’t even resemble a human, attempted to perform a human civilian’s salutation to a noble.
And then got scolded by Lin Jun:
"Fool, you never saluted me before, and now you’re wasting time with this performance?"
A passing Puki suddenly left the team, leaping into the air and "puffed" a kick onto Norris’ face, then quickly returned to the bewildered Half-demon’s control.
Inanna chuckled lightly, as Norris awkwardly scratched his head and quickly burrowed into Jida.
But it was Inanna who was curious about Jida, actively chatting with Norris along the way.
Upon arriving at the hollow of the ruins, a familiar yet shocking scene played out once more.
The Pink Puki hadn’t done anything yet, merely appearing here.
The Cold Spirits, who were previously pointlessly attacking Little Pig’s camp, suddenly ceased all aggression as though they had met their queen.
They slowly approached Inanna’s direction, their steps gentle as if fearful of startling the Pink Puki.
This scene stunned the little pigs in the camp and Norris leading Inanna.
As well as the Yellow-covered Book, which had seen the most:
[What kind of absurdity is this again?]