In the Dream Garden, Inanna is hosting an elegant tea party, where the only participants besides Inanna are Pukis.
Next to the small round table covered with a white lace tablecloth, several round Pukis sit neatly on specially elevated children’s chairs, quietly and obediently waiting.
Inanna, holding a delicate porcelain pot, carefully pours warm black tea into the mini teacups in front of each Puki, and finally pours a cup for herself.
The Pukis extend their soft fungal tendrils, coil around the steaming teacups, and elegantly pour the tea onto their rounded mushroom caps.
Inanna also smiles as she takes a sip of black tea, imrsing herself in this joy and leisure that is solely hers.
As ti passes, the surrounding light seems to dim quietly.
Outside the once-pure white garden boundary, a woman’s figure quietly appears, unnoticed when it began.
She kneels silently not far away, her waterfall-like pink hair spread across the ground, covering her face.
Although childhood mories have long blurred, Inanna instinctively blurts out, "Mother...?"
She can’t help but stand up, wanting to walk closer for a clearer look.
However, just as she is about to step beyond the garden boundary, several Pukis imdiately extend their tendrils, gently pulling at the hem of her skirt.
With no choice, Inanna pauses, crouches down, and gently soothes and comforts the Pukis one by one.
After they’ve relaxed, she looks up again, only to find that the figure resembling her mother has vanished without a trace.
Inanna has no choice but to return to the small table and continue the interrupted tea party.
...
"Mother..." Inanna murmurs as she wakes from her sleep, her sleepy eyes still dazed, and she feels a tightness in her chest, making it hard to breathe.
After moving a Puki that was lying horizontally on her chest, she feels much better.
Inanna feels confused, not understanding why she would suddenly dream of her mother.
Nothing recent has triggered any particular mories. Moreover, in her mory, her mother had long faded into an extrely vague symbol.
After all, her mother had passed away when she was very young.
Apart from that impressively long pink hair and a few scattered and fragnted mories, Inanna can’t even recall her mother’s exact appearance or voice.
Nor can any portraits or remnants of her mother be found in the Duke’s Mansion, reportedly because her father ordered them removed to avoid evoking mories.
In short, it was a sowhat inexplicable dream.
Dreaming of her mother didn’t bring Inanna much sadness; she had long been accustod to days without parental companionship—or rather, that felt normal to her.
Besides, she now has Pukis!
Looking at the Pukis sprawled all over the bed, Inanna quickly brushes off the confusion from the dream and, full of energy, leads the little ones out of the bedroom!
"Miss." As the door opens, a maid already waiting outside speaks.
In a courtyard further away, two Gold Level guards are earnestly sparring in the morning light.
In the estate, there are also other family guards and servants busily moving about.
Since she decided to reside long-term in Mushroom Town, Fa’er has unhesitatingly mapped out a large area near the Guild’s pri location to build this comfortable estate for her.
Ezega dispatched guards and thoughtfully arranged a team of maids to care for her daily life.
Inanna finds it quite strange that Eric, who is so understanding—even readily agreeing for her to reside outside the Duke’s Mansion long-term—has not resisted her intentions. She originally thought it would take so effort to get her wish.
Nonetheless, since the current situation is wholly beneficial and harmless to her, she is happy not to delve too deep.
After all, asking too many questions might remind Eric to bring her back to the stifling Duke’s Mansion—what then?
Life here makes Inanna exceptionally satisfied.
With the Pukis constantly by her side, the all-encompassing Fungal Network wrapping her thoughts, and even the boss to chat with anyti!
"Boss, I actually dreamt of my mother..."
"I just rember my mother always lying in bed when I was little..."
"Boss, do you have a mother?"
Lin Jun: "???"
After completing their daily exchange of "Inanna says five sentences, Lin Jun replies one," Inanna felt content as she picked up her Knight Puki, walking briskly out of the residence.
However, her good mood didn’t last long.
When she saw the two individuals excitedly competing to test their respective Pukis’ "Mushroom Cannon" power from afar, her previously bright mood quickly clouded over.
If there’s anything that has displeased her recently, it’s definitely these so-called "Puki Masters" who suddenly appeared.
At first, there was just one lucky person who accidentally achieved Symbiosis with the fungal tendrils, gaining control over Pukis; then erged a lunatic who, willing to inflict severe injury on himself, actively sought Symbiosis!
The latter not only recorded the Symbiosis thod in detail to sell to the Guild but also widely sold it among Adventurers, attracting nurous eager imitators.
Although the absolute number of such people is not too high at present, the trend is evident and will only grow in the future.
Even though the Guild has issued announcents detailing the various unknown hazards and risks that this thod of Symbiosis may entail, many still cannot resist the lure of easily gained power.
Inanna detests these people from the bottom of her heart. She can’t even perceive them within the Fungal Network—unlike Edin’s situation, which is entirely different.
Not to ntion, they have no love for the Pukis, only seeing it as a naked tool to exploit.
Look at those two—they are comparing the damage of the Pukis like comparing who has the sharper sword or the sturdier shield. In their hands, Pukis are nothing more than tools, consumables.
If she could, Inanna would really like to co forward and sternly prohibit this behavior as the Duke’s Daughter—but unfortunately, the boss does not agree.
The boss is good in every way, except for being overly kind, enduring grievances to get along with humans, while only Inanna internally champions the Pukis’ cause.
Nevertheless, she also understands that even if she were to intervene, it would be in vain.
The Duke family’s power is not omnipotent, especially in the face of this craze for power.
Thus, she can only bury her dissatisfaction in her heart, silently loathing those "Puki Masters" who regard Pukis rely as tools.
Out of sight, Inanna turns and leaves with the Pukis and guards.
...
The two newly-promoted "Puki Masters" were unaware they were already disliked by the Duke’s Daughter; they have just made a significant discovery—they found these Pukis’ Attributes are not all the sa!
People only knew that Pukis’ strength was divided into several major tiers: the King of Puki in the hands of the Duke’s Daughter, below that, the Fat Otaku Puki or Elite Puki, and finally those ordinary Pukis scattered everywhere.
But they have now discovered differences even among ordinary Pukis!
Pukis of the sa species, so have higher Attributes!
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