Isekai Nonbiri Sozai Saishu Seikatsu - Chapter 159

With the Eos defeated, Lumia and I safely gathered materials such as venomous fangs, and we were advancing to obtain the next set of materials.

“Shuu-san, Shuu-san! Isn’t this the Dokudoku Mushroom?”

As Lumina searched near the trees for materials, she raised such a voice.

Approaching to take a look, there were mushrooms with a mixture of purple and black growing in the shade of the tree.

【Dokudoku Mushroom】

A mushroom with strong poison. It is a dangerous mushroom unsuitable for consumption.

Eating it causes symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain, followed by loss of consciousness.

Severe cases can lead to high fever, dizziness, loss of consciousness, bleeding in the digestive system, and in the worst case, death within two to three days.

The umbrella part contains strong acid, and touching it with bare hands causes blistering.

To prevent deterioration, it is advisable to also collect the roots underground.

“It’s definitely the Dokudoku Mushroom.”

It’s the scariest mushroom I’ve ever seen. It makes Poisonous Cactus Mushrooms and Red Spotted Mushrooms look cute.

Although those have their own poison, the probability of death is not as high.

“Is it okay to collect it at the root?”

“No, it seems better to dig up the soil a bit and collect it with the roots to prevent deterioration.”

“I see! Then, I’ll do that!”

With that explanation, Lumia lightly took notes and started digging the soil with a shovel.

I also began to dig up the soil around the Dokudoku Mushrooms in the same way with a shovel.

Digging is quite a task in the marshy soil, as it contains a lot of moisture. Each clump of soil is quite heavy. Mud-like substances are mixed in, and it’s quite sticky.

Still, we diligently moved the shovels and continued to dig.

Digging the soil like this reminds me of when I collected the Naruko Lily.

Carefully digging to avoid damaging the Dokudoku Mushrooms, the roots finally became visible.

Digging through the soil and pulling the stems from the roots, the roots were cleanly exposed.

“Alright, collection complete!”

“I’ve collected mine too!”

“Yours has quite a long root.”

“Shuu-san’s is shorter but seems swollen.”

We shared such impressions while observing the roots of the Dokudoku Mushrooms we each collected.

It seems the shape of the roots varies depending on the individual. That’s interesting too.

After finishing the observation, we put them into black bottles as well.

Closing the lid tightly, we stored them in the magic bag.

“My gloves got dirty, should I wash them? Water Ball.”

“Thank you.”

Creating a water ball with water magic, Lumia and I plunged our hands into it.

Rubbing our hands together as if washing them, the mud quickly washed off and they became clean.

The water ball, discolored by the mud, was burst by sending it somewhere suitable.

“It’s also resistant to water.”

“Yes, it’s also made from Black Slime’s skin.”

I thought it would repel water like rubber fabric, but its ability to repel water exceeded my expectations.

A quick flick of the hand, and most of the water droplets were gone.

“Venomous fangs of the Eos, and Dokudoku Mushrooms are collected, so the three left are poisonous thorns of the Tarantos, poison needles of the Caicedor, and the poison sacs of Poisonous Swamp Toad.”

Klaus’s designated request and Lumia’s assignment materials are the same, so collecting multiple quantities of the remaining three types of materials will achieve the goal. Although it takes a little time because we’re also collecting other materials along the way, I think the pace is not bad.

“Yes, let’s keep collecting at this rate!”

“Lumia seems more energetic than usual today.”

She’s always loved materials, but today she seems even more spirited than usual.

I wonder if she loves poisonous materials that much?

“It’s my first time! It’s the first time I’m collecting materials outside without my master!”

“Oh, now that you mention it, you’re always with Saffy-san or near Grantel, aren’t you?”

Come to think of it, whenever we went out to collect with Lumia, it was always in the forest near Grantel.

Other places were either too dangerous to bring her along or the timing didn’t work out.

“So, I’m really happy that you’re taking me along this time, Shuu-san!”

“Is that so? Then let’s make the most of today and enjoy ourselves!”

“Yes!”

I could tell Lumia was unusually happy.

I need to support her so that it is a fun and memorable day for her.

♦ ♦ ♦

While searching for the target materials and walking through the marshland, there was a reaction of magic stones ahead.

Several small magic stones were gathered in one place, moving strangely.

“What’s wrong?”

As I stopped, Lumia asked curiously.

“There’s someone there. Probably just one person.”

“Oh, you’re right. Looking at the ground, there are footprints. Could they be adventurers like us?”

“Or perhaps nearby residents.”

I had confirmed on the map that there were small settlements and villages in this area.

The person giving off the presence might be someone who came here for gathering from one of those places.

“If they’re from nearby, they might know about the habitat of monsters. Let’s approach cautiously while remaining vigilant.”

“Got it!”

This isn’t a safe town, but rather an area of monsters with hardly any human presence.

Not everyone here may be kind-hearted. However, approaching too stealthily could also suggest ill intentions.

Approaching subtly while maintaining caution, we closed in without concealing our presence.

The person was in an open area surrounded by stone walls.

“Who’s there?”

Approaching while giving off our presence, the other person seemed to notice and immediately called out in inquiry.

“We’re adventurers. We mean no harm.”

Without any pretense, we emerged from behind the stone wall.

With glossy long silver hair and tanned skin. Yellow eyes, a sharp chin, and a prominent nose bridge.

But above all, the most distinctive feature was the pointed ears like those of an elf.

Was the other person also an adventurer or perhaps a warrior? They wore flexible leather armor and had armor covering their shoulders and arms.

Perhaps because we straightforwardly showed ourselves and conveyed our lack of hostility, they immediately sheathed the sword they had been poised to wield.

It seemed they relaxed their guard for the moment.

“Are you perhaps a Dark Elf?”

“Indeed. I am Leilushka, a Dark Elf.”

When Lumia asked, the other person introduced themselves.

Indeed, they seemed to be a Dark Elf.

In Grantel, I have seen elves like the receptionist Shreddi-san, but I had never seen a Dark Elf before, so this was new.

“So, what brings you here?”

“Allow me to introduce myself again, I’m an adventurer, Shuu.”

“I’m Lumia, an apprentice alchemist.”

“We’ve come here from Grantel to fulfill a gathering request.”

“Hmm… Seems you’re not lying.”

As I showed my adventurer card, Leilushka nodded.

Then, with a slightly exasperated tone, she spoke.

“Coming here for gathering is quite unusual. This area is teeming with peculiar monsters, and it’s full of poisonous materials, you know?”

“There are rare clients who specifically desire those poisonous materials.”

“Depending on how they’re used, even poisonous materials can become valuable medicines, you know!”

Lumia retorted as if slightly provoked.

I understood that well, so I didn’t tease her any further.

“By the way, Leilushka-san, what are you doing here?”

“Lately, the swamp has been acting strange.”

“When you say acting strange…?”

“It’s not like something specific is happening. It’s just that there have been abnormalities, like monsters appearing in places where they shouldn’t be or not being in places where they should. So, as someone skilled in investigation within the settlement, I came to check it out.”

“I see.”

“Well, the ecology of monsters is beyond our understanding. If there’s nothing wrong, then that’s fine, but…”

…What could it be? It feels like a significant flag.

“…Lumia-san, I’m starting to feel uneasy.”

“Me too.”

Lumia and I were attacked by a Red Dragon in the forest, and in Lindblum, we were besieged by a Kraken nesting in the underwater temple.

Furthermore, I encountered a Dvorak in the Demio Mine.

Unbelievable accidents seemed to be happening in succession.

At this point, I couldn’t just optimistically think that I had nothing to do with it.