The Taurus Great Canyon is a dungeon that simultaneously embodies desolation and the blessings of wild nature.
However, this great nature is never the kind familiar to races like elves or humans.
Stretching endlessly is a barren wasteland, with a dry land and occasional enormous sandstorms blowing through, yet even within that chaos, monsters swarm.
Hiiing…
And Sia set off on her journey to find a new mandragora.
Because Teresa, unable to stand the screams of the mandragora, burned them all to ashes.
Though she had lost her physical body and could no longer cast the same grand spells, creating flames by rubbing her remaining mana with the mana in the air was a piece of cake for Teresa.
[Bring that back you brat!!!!]
And so Teresa slapped Sia on the butt, sending her away. Mourning the tragic event of all the mandragora being burned, Sia resolved to catch another one.
But it couldn’t be helped.
It was Sia’s oversight for not sealing the mandragora’s mouths initially. Additionally, Teresa, who had already lost her body and appeared in her petite form, found the mandragora’s screams, which usually wouldn’t bother her, incredibly detrimental in her current state.
‘I guess I can’t help that I wasn’t delicate enough…’
In any case, Sia had to catch another mandragora.
“Hey guys, do you know where I can find some mandragora?”
[No idea?]
[No clue?]
[What? No?]
[Huh? No idea?]
“Useless lot!”
The reason Sia had found the native habitat of the mandragora earlier was that it was a piece of basic information registered on the Hunter Wiki.
However, that native habitat had already been thoroughly cleaned out by Sia, and it would take a long while for new mandragora to grow, meaning she had to find a new place.
“Geez… I’ll have to find it myself because you’re all useless.”
Paaang!!
Thus, Sia began running, leaping between the vast valleys.
She didn’t forget to enhance her vision to check for nearby mandragora, yet there was no sign of progress no matter how long she searched.
There were herb monsters other than mandragora, but she needed to add either ginseng or mandragora to her fugu dove stew.
‘Hmm, adding poisonous herbs might give it a spicy kick, but…’
The problem was that this wasn’t just her meal; it was also for Menelapie, Teresa, Yeonseo, and her mother, who was currently knocked out after drinking beer.
No matter how much purification miracles she could cast, it was too risky to add poisonous herbs without knowing what kind of synergy might occur in the dish, so she decided against unnecessary risks.
And so, Sia ran and ran.
Paaang!
Boom!
Paaang!
Every time she kicked off with great force, the earth made of rocks and soil composing the canyon burst apart, and although she sped through dozens of kilometers looking for mandragora, no results were found.
“Hiiing… No way, this place is so big and wide, and there’s not a single mandragora!? All I’ve found so far are goblins! At this rate, I might as well make goblin soup!!!”
[Hey, no way.]
[What a crazy chick lol]
[Are you seriously gonna make goblin soup?]
[Haha, who would even make goblin soup?]
[That girl isn’t even human!]
[Whoa.]
[True…]
[‘KawaiiHorned’ donated 5,000 won!]
Wouldn’t there be elder mandragora in the Taurus Great Canyon?
“What the heck is that, you weeb.”
[You don’t even know that as a returnee?]
[Maybe it’s because they’re a returnee and don’t know.]
[It would be expected to find it in Taurus Great Canyon.]
But seriously, she didn’t know.
Mandragora had been something Teresa often asked her to collect for healing or spell research, but elder mandragora?
She had never seen anything like it in the previous world…
Sia tilted her head and tried to search with a supporting drone floating nearby.
“Oh, here it is. A monster that only appears in erosion zones connected to Earth…?”
Mandragora is a plant that can grow in any dungeon where mana exists in the ground or air, but it wasn’t classified as a monster.
The effects and characteristics vary depending on environmental conditions and absorbed mana, but it’s not considered threatening enough to be classified as a monster; thus, it’s rated as D-level danger as long as it’s not bothered.
One of mandragora’s traits is that it can develop various effects and nutrients based on changes in the surrounding environment or mana.
If it grows between rocks, it adapts to the nutrients and hardness of the rock and becomes rock-like in toughness. Using that mandragora as medicine or potions can lead to producing hardening and strengthening potions.
If there’s a nearby volcanic area or lava zone, it can be processed into fire-enhancing potions, and mandragora that grows in lush forests replicates and amplifies the effects and nutrients of various local herbs.
Moreover, mandragora that grows in dungeons connected to Earth undergoes one significant change, which is that mandragora imitates and mimics humans.
Usually, it would only change the shape of its roots to be somewhat human-like or have a high mana content, but if a mandragora begins to grow deep underground and remains undiscovered by hunters and external threats for a long time, it’s likely to become an “Elder Mandragora.”
The “Elder Mandragora” becomes quite similar in form to a human and, not only in appearance but also with a bit of intelligence, can unleash magic or similar abilities by using the mana it has absorbed.
“Oh… so, are you saying it’s like the Laplace tribe?”
[What’s the Laplace tribe?]
“In the previous world, there were instances where flower fairies fell and turned into carnivorous plants that lured humans to eat them. They were called flower succubus due to their allure.”
[Ooh…]
[Possible.]
[Were they pretty?]
“Since allure is passive, beauty was a basic requirement of their race.”
[Whoa.]
[That flower girl…]
“Just to note, I was also entranced, and Menelapie had to pull me out later…”
[?]
[What?]
[Say what?]
[??]
[Can you elaborate on that?]
[‘Ahoi’ donated 30,000 won!]
Please, Gallery Master, tell us more!
[‘Investigative Agency86’ donated 10,000 won!]
More! More! More! More! More!
[You perverts, lol.]
[For real, lol.]
[But I’m kinda curious too.]
“Whoa, let’s leave that for another time. It wasn’t even a big deal…”
Boom!
Kiiieeek!
“Huh?
[What’s that?]
[Sounds like something is exploding?]
“Yeah, what’s that sound?”
It was on the opposite side of where Teresa and Menelapie were…
“Should we check it out?”
Could it possibly be the elder mandragora making noise?
Thus, Sia braced herself again and kicked off.
○○○○○○○
-Hours Later, in the Elf Great Forest-
The Hyung-An’s Mermaid Princess arrived in the Elves’ territory because she represented the merfolk race.
Of course, she didn’t want to be called a princess herself, nor did she intend to take up the responsibilities of representing her race…
[Aha haha, the princess will handle it.]
[Right, right. We don’t want to deal with that.]
[Hee hee, since you cast a curse on us, take responsibility!]
[We forgave you, but responsibility is a different matter!]
[Honestly, we’re too dumb to negotiate or anything!]
Even though the curse was lifted, the mermaids mostly disliked complicated matters. The Hyung-An’s Mermaid Princess received the intelligence and power of her Imugi ‘sister,’ elevating her standing significantly beyond other mermaids, so it was only natural for her to take on the role of representative of her race again.
Since her sister’s complete resurrection would still take time, the Hyung-An’s Mermaid Princess had to handle the duties as the representative for now.
Despite having lifted the curse on the underwater palace, the mermaids wanted to make a new home for several reasons.
Sia had lifted the curse on the mermaids and the underwater palace through a ceremony similar to a feast, but the underwater palace’s position was widely spread by humans, which was the main reason.
Yunhwa and Menelapie had already purged the politicians belonging to the Fishing Club, who had connections with them, yet once the location of the underwater palace was known, it was no longer a safe place for the merfolk.
Moreover, the “Flower of the Deep Sea,” which could be harvested from the underwater palace, was a strategic resource that various countries, not just Korea, were eyeing.
Anyone could invade the underwater palace or harm the merfolk at any time.
However, they couldn’t just go live in the Earth’s oceans.
The Hyung-An’s Mermaid Princess had enough power to protect herself, but the other mermaids were not nearly as strong, and the world’s oceans had become perilous places due to the numerous gates opened after the Great Rift and the monsters that came out of them; if the mermaids could start anew in the Elf Great Forest, it would be beneficial for both the mermaids and elves.
Even if there were humans with ill intentions towards elves or merfolk attempting to invade or come close, if the elves and merfolk joined forces and gathered in one place, it would pose a significant danger to those malicious characters.
‘Thinking like this, it’s surprising how insightful the Mangja Seongnyeo Isia is…’
Though it seemed like she was merely introducing her friend to her close allies, in conclusion, Sia had not carelessly brought the Hyung-An’s Mermaid Princess to the elves.
The elves had powers that surpassed most hunters, and they possessed a pure elemental strategic weapon—the Spirit Nuke-Nugeo River Green and Green.
Mermaids could naturally create the strategic resource known as “Flower of the Deep Sea” near their habitat, and one day, her Imugi ‘sister’ would regain her power and intellect and be fully resurrected.
If everything went smoothly and an alliance community of elves and mermaids was created, they wouldn’t just be a larger group; they would possess military power and influence that would not be strange to be recognized as a nation.
All bound by the name, Sia.
“Could it be that the saint is planning to create a massive force with her name?”
Underneath her pure and innocent facade, she was concocting such a formidable plan…
Even though she is a saint, it’s terrifying. No, she might be an even more incredible person than I thought.
The Hyung-An’s Mermaid Princess thought to herself while raising her evaluation of the Mangja Seongnyeo Sia, realizing she couldn’t escape from her.
She had become a benefactor to herself, her sister, and the merfolk race.
“Hebub, hebub.”
“Stop, just stop…”
And she seemed trapped by this centipede girl named Yane as well.
Kiieek, tasty… slurp slurp slurp.
“Please, stop…”
Chuuu…!
“Ugh, no, don’t! My tail… it tickles!”
Right now, Yane was distinctly licking the mermaid princess.
Though the Hyung-An’s Mermaid Princess tried with all her strength to shake Yane away, for some reason, this centipede girl’s strength was much stronger than that of the princess, who received an S-rank danger rating among humans, making it impossible to shake her off no matter how hard she tried.
While the Hyung-An’s Mermaid Princess was relatively weak in terms of strength, being a “Necromancer,” Yane exhibited an alarming level of strength, clinging to her.
While Sia had gone to handle the fake Demon King’s Castle at Yujin’s call, the two were given a large room with a tub built atop a massive tree in the elves’ great forest, where they were staying.
It goes without saying that Yane was still clinging closely to the Hyung-An’s Mermaid Princess, who lived in the tub as if she were a mermaid herself.
Slurp, sip.
Slurp slurp slurp.
Chuuuu…
‘What on Earth is this bipedal insect human doing to me…?’
Yane’s interest and affection toward the mermaid princess were nothing but discomfort and hardship from her perspective.
It was understandable she followed Sia to the Elf Great Forest to find a new home after she saved herself and the merfolk, and it made sense that the Hyung-An’s Mermaid Princess contacted the elves to secure land for her kind.
However, this centipede girl had latched onto her as if they were meeting long-lost family members without a clear reason at all.
Normally, she could simply shake her off, but since this centipede girl appeared to be like Sia’s followers, the benefactor of her and her sister, the princess couldn’t treat her carelessly.
As a result, she had been stuck in Yane’s licking grasp for quite a long time now.
Slurp slurp…
“……Ah, do whatever you want now…”
From Yane’s perspective, it just meant she was getting a new “junior.”
For elves, they were closer to humans and didn’t feel like they had a “junior,” but for the merfolk, they were relatively closer to Yane, so Yane perceived that the mermaid princess was her “junior” under Sia.
Thus, Yane continued to lick the Hyung-An’s Mermaid Princess as if she were intending to take care of her, feeling that salty yet subtly sweet taste from the merfolk, and even without eating, she felt full, experiencing those delicious flavors and unable to stop herself from grooming the mermaid like a cat.
Kiiieek?
Mana, waves…?
In that moment, both Yane and the Hyung-An’s Mermaid Princess rose at the same time.
An inexplicable wave of mana had torn through the space nearby.
Yane’s antenna twitched as she sensed the mana wave but seemed puzzled about what was happening, while the Hyung-An’s Mermaid Princess understood that a mana wave tearing space apart wasn’t something that happened easily.
Recalling her past experiences related to “tearing space,” which reminded her of Cheon Danaa, she floated up from the tub to prepare for any possible threats.
The water in the tub, commanded by the mermaid princess, lifted her into the air, and Yane crawled after her.
“Emergency, emergency!!!”
“Transferring a critical patient!!!”
“Bring Olgania!”
“Is it the big Olgania or the small one?”
“Anyone!”
“Huh, a critical patient?”
At the mention of ‘critical’, both Yane and the mermaid princess gazed down.
What unfolded before them was…
“Teresa! Don’t die!”
“Don’t close your eyes, Teresa!”
“Gugrugrug, dang it… don’t shake me, my brain is spinning…!”
“Ah, Teresa!”
“Ah, you stupid… because of you… gaaah, my… vocal cords… are melting!”
“?”
“?”
They looked a little confused… No, quite a bit confused.
“…What’s going on?”
“Kiieek?”
The eyes of the Hyung-An’s Mermaid Princess and Yane met.
It seemed their gazes were asking each other if they had any clue about the situation, but sadly, neither of them could even begin to guess the source of the ruckus coming from below.
But one thing was clear.
They didn’t have to meddle in this situation.
“…I’ll just take a nap.”
“Kiieek~”
“Ugh, don’t jump on me…!”
Yane, as if saying ‘let’s ignore this and go back to the tub,’ started licking the back of the princess’s neck.
As Yane’s long tongue started sucking her neck, the Hyung-An’s Mermaid Princess let out a long sigh and motioned the water that had been lifting her to return to the tub.
Slurp, slurp~
‘Haah, I don’t know what’s happening below, but I wish this centipede girl would just let me be…’
