He spoke strange words!
Now he finally understood why, whether hero or villain, everyone loved to prattle on with a speech when victory was already certain. Saying a few lines of nonsense just felt so good!
It hadn’t been in vain that he specifically created a Voice Puji!
Unfortunately, these were just some small fry. He had long prepared victory declarations to recite to the true heroes and great figures of the world!
【Seven Sins: Greed Triggered】
【Human Common Tongue: LV9 → LV10】
【Blunt Weapon Mastery: LV4 → LV5】
【Bow & Crossbow Mastery: LV6 → LV7】
……
The bandits’ flesh was quickly decomposed and absorbed. The leftover bones, tattered leather armor, and broken weapons were swallowed by a few Acid Pujis, emitting faint hissing sounds of corrosion.Before long, aside from several fresh craters in the earth, there was no trace left that those seven bandits had ever existed here.
The Common Tongue had reached max level—though it didn’t mean much.
At LV9, communication was already perfectly smooth, with only rare words unknown. Reaching the cap now carried more symbolic weight than practical use. It felt like attaining perfection, yet with little actual change—a faint sense of regret in the midst of accomplishment.
Still, it was a good thing!
After recalling the Pujis one by one, Lin Jun had Dylan return to the dungeon on his own.
Dylan saw the greatly changed Yafeng(Silentwind) Town, and the crowds scouring the surroundings in search of mushrooms.
Since the town’s horse stations were deserted, he had no choice but to trade his chestnut horse to a group of adventurers. Then, without hesitation, he entered the dungeon alone.
One adventurer who had just traded with Dylan watched his retreating figure, shaking his head with a low sigh: “Tsk, some people really don’t value their lives… walking in there at a time like this…”
Dylan followed the passage that was both strange and familiar, his eyes sweeping over the terrifying cracks that gaped everywhere. A chill crept down his spine.
But since the boss had assured him of safety, he chose to trust.
Sure enough, once he stepped onto the second floor, those unsettling cracks diminished significantly. Going deeper, they nearly vanished altogether. Dylan breathed in relief, his steps growing lighter.
All the way down, Lin Jun narrated the dungeon’s changes in his mind. The most joyous of all was the increase of “Half-Mushroom People”!
When Old Dylan had left, only Gray lived in the mushroom grove with him. But now, there were many more!
There were the piglet, Norris, as well as demonkin and cave-dwellers.
Dylan was sincerely glad for the growth of the Mushroom Garden!
This feeling of “no longer being alone” was wonderful. He could hardly wait to meet these new companions he had never seen before.
When he reached the fifth floor, Dylan instinctively walked toward the corner where he once built his mushroom hut. But time had changed everything—his little home was gone.
In its place stood a rough stone stele, standing lonely and solitary.
On its surface, in crooked Common Tongue that clearly lacked skill, were carved lines of words:
[Here rests a fellow traveler of the Mushroom Path, a follower sworn to the mycelium.]
[You witnessed the first bonfire, yet fell before the dawn.]
[Rest in peace, my friend.]
Dylan’s heart sank heavily.
So… someone had died?!
Thinking about it, of course.
Although the boss always spoke of the Mushroom Garden’s flourishing growth, the process could not have been without hardship. He simply chose not to mention the pain.
The joy in Dylan’s chest quietly faded, replaced by a weighty sorrow.
This companion he had never met, now resting forever here… at least, let me know your name.
Dylan crouched down, respectfully brushing away dirt and moss from the base of the stele. Deeper carvings were revealed:
[Here lies Dylan Srik.]
“……”
“Boss, just one question,” he paused, “how did I die?”
“Eh?” On the other end, Lin Jun—who had been happily describing the bright prospects of the new Fatworm Farm—abruptly went silent…
……
Several Pujis quickly heaved the obstructing stone stele aside. Nearby, an Excavator Puji waiting in ambush smashed the stone into rubble with two swift swings of its cap.
The entire process was smooth and efficient. Everyone tacitly agreed never to mention it again, as though the stone marked “Dylan’s Rest” had never existed.
Continuing downward to the sixth floor, Dylan even experienced being “carried in flight,” guided toward the Rift Fortress.
But soon he was shivering in the bitter cold, his snot beginning to crystallize into tiny icicles. Lin Jun belatedly realized this man had no resistance to such frigid temperatures.
After a moment’s thought, Lin Jun simply summoned the other three. Anyway, everyone had been idle lately.
Within two minutes, Louisa’s graceful figure stepped out first.
Then, Norris cautiously emerged.
The most hesitant was Gray. Only after Lin Jun repeatedly assured her that the Pujis would guard their home did she finally shuffle out, clutching her huge tail in her arms.
Ever since that tail had once been severed, Gray cherished it dearly. Out in the open, keeping it behind her was no longer safe. She always hugged it to her chest.
But because of that, she could only walk in a half-squat, dragging herself forward awkwardly. Even Lin Jun felt exhausted just watching her.
Seeing Dylan again after so long, Gray tilted her head in confusion. She leaned close to sniff him carefully, finally recognizing the old acquaintance by scent.
She extended the tip of her tail for him to touch lightly—her way of greeting.
Louisa stepped forward next, crimson eyes gleaming with a mix of scrutiny and friendliness. Her lips curved slightly, revealing a hint of sharp, white fangs as she offered her hand:
“Louisa. Diamond-rank vampire. Serving the boss, just like you. I look forward to working with you.”
Her handshake was firm and steady, her attitude calm. There was not the slightest trace of contempt for Dylan’s aged appearance or faint magical aura—as long as the boss valued someone, she would respect them.
Though Lin Jun had introduced her beforehand, facing a towering two-meter-tall Diamond-rank vampire treating him so kindly, Dylan still felt a haze of unreality. He blurted out in admiration: “Y-you… your Common Tongue is so fluent…”
“Just part of the profession. I once worked in intelligence,” Louisa replied coolly.
Dylan nodded, thinking of Clorol. Indeed, vampires seemed fluent in Common Tongue.
At that moment, Norris quickly stepped forward, extending his scaled hand with carefully polished claws, straightening his back:
“My name is Norris! I’m honored to meet you, senior! Please guide me well!”
Dylan grasped the hand with its non-human features, feeling the coolness of the scales. Seeing Norris’s earnest effort to appear friendly, he sincerely praised: “Your Common Tongue is excellent too!”
As soon as he let go, Norris collapsed as if struck a heavy blow, wilting instantly and nearly bursting into tears.
Dylan then recalled—hadn’t the boss said Norris was human? But looking at his body covered in scales and his claws… was this still human?!
He remembered Lin Jun’s “joke” about giving him a few extra arms and legs, and shivered.
Only Lin Jun’s promise to upgrade Norris with [Mimicry LV7] later helped ease the awkwardness.
“Oh right, boss—I brought back your fruit!” Finally remembering his task, Dylan dug into his pack and produced several red, ridged fruits.