Chapter 74: Metamorphosis (1)

Chapter 74: Metamorphosis (1)

After staying in Utah for three more days, I had accomplished about half of my original goal. Why only half? Because I couldn’t properly interpret the newly fruited magical pieces in the white forest of fog.

What I had originally expected were functionally distinct magical phenomena like the techniques I use, and corresponding one-to-one “codes” for each phenomenon.

However, what the forest actually produced were dozens of tangled clumps like balls of yarn, with countless codes sharing parts of each other, interconnected by chains of sharing.

Seeing those clumps, even with the Eye of the Golden Age I couldn’t distinguish where the valid code ended and where the meaningless flow of magical power began. So each clump was like a collection of unsolvable equations and encrypted texts that I couldn’t guarantee decoding and interpreting even with great effort. It was in a messy state with lots of junk data mixed in, making it difficult to separate the pebbles from the gems.

The disappointment I felt from this was tremendous.

‘Is my soul too high to be a problem...?’

While the overwhelming biomass or difference in species could also be the cause, the core of the issue was still the quality and level of the soul. After all, it was a soul that might have existed even before the advent of modern humans. With the max estimate of the tree age being a million years, it was the time when Homo erectus was hunting with hand axes and learning to use fire.

If I had stayed in the forest from the beginning and observed the daily changes day by day, things might have been different. Or I could still settle in now to do research.

However, I was no scholar. To me, knowledge was just a tool for business, management, struggle, and desperate survival. I couldn’t devote my lifetime to researching one subject. Perhaps in the peaceful times after ultimate victory...

The reason I dwelled on this past disappointment was that I was experiencing similar frustration here in the Oregon forest I arrived at after leaving Utah.

The 2,500-acre kingdom of mycelia occupied by the mushroom as a single organism had burdened me with new troubles. At least the soul here was relatively young, not exceeding 870 years at most. That meant the difficulty level of the equations and codes it contained wasn’t as high as those of the Poplar Cluster.

Of course, relatively speaking. 870 years was by no means a trivial length of time. I felt the weight of that long history weighing down on me.

I was at my wit’s end.

The 2,500-acre mycelial entity that disappointed me with its primitive, localized circuits, in the beginning, was now tormenting me with some inscrutable technique. There were clearly outputs coming from the circuit, but no observable phenomena, which was bizarre.

As I was stressed like this, a group approached me. Smelling faintly of marijuana, they draw near, giggling. No weapons, many awakened to primitive magic but the average level was low. Their circuit development was imbalanced so they were useless as powers. I was getting a radio call from the security team.

“Some people claiming to be druids. They’re inviting us to join them.”

Tsk... Judging by their gathering to smoke pot together, they were not the orthodox CRP from the UK or the reformist RDNA from the US, most likely idiots just pretending based on hearsay and ‘spiritual experiences’. Even if they were orthodox, they were still pretenders.

I made a hostile expression to signal them to pass by, but these incapable bastards turned toward me, still giggling.

A woman with no outerwear, just a white dress, approached with a bright greeting.

“Hello?”

“......Hello.”

“Are you alone?”

“I have companions. I just wanted to be alone.”

“Oh my. Did something bad happen to you?”

“Something like that.”

“Oh dear.”

The barefoot woman clasped her hands with a pitiful expression.

“People with bad things happening shouldn’t be alone.”

...Is this bitch crazy?

Ignoring her was tempting, but the problem was that if I just passed by this location, the continuous flow of circuits I had been observing slowly stopped, and it was annoying enough as it was. I was tempted to chase them away in a fit of anger, but it wouldn’t have been a good idea.

Unlike the fog-covered forests of Utah, this kingdom was also drawing in numerous tourists and pilgrims with its massive spiritual presence. Similar to the Trembling Giant, there was no surface-level danger here, so many sightseers strolled through the forest, and there were plenty of government researchers and patrols trying to prevent forest damage, such as military personnel and National Park Service (NPS) Rangers.

This meant that if a violent incident occurred, armed military personnel and intoxicated young awakeners from all over would gather.

“Have a meal with us, pour out the lump in your chest, and listen to the good word about merging with all creation in happiness and freedom from any worries or pains. Mother Armillaria bestows all we need.”

I smiled wryly.

“No pains? Can you call it a gift when someone gets Immortality Cancer?”

“Yes.”

“How?”

“That person received a calling. Their body becomes a gift returned to nature, and their soul enjoys eternal happiness in Mother’s embrace. So when we receive the calling, we bid our loved ones farewell with joy, receive our siblings’ blessings, and cast off the garment of flesh ourselves to move on to a higher dimension.”

In other words, suicide.

The priestess closed her eyes and chanted as if in a trance, hands joined as if in prayer.

“Pain comes when you reject nature and Mother’s calling. When you refuse the calling, refuse to give as you have received, and cling to a meaningless life. When you want to remain in this world longer than the time Mother has allotted you...

Now, the priestess who had opened her eyes again concluded.

“In the end, pain is the individual’s responsibility for going against the way. In not knowing that greater happiness awaits after shedding the flesh, they meaninglessly prolong the time writhing in pain. It really is such a pitiful and wretched thing. So as the ‘enlightened ones’, it is also our task to spread Mother’s teaching.”

Happily insane bastards.

“Enough.”

I shook my head.

“Go on your way. I have no interest in your teachings.”

“That can’t be. I must save your soul.”

“I said I don’t need it.”

“But-“

“I don’t need it. Stop wasting my time.”

“.......”

The smile slowly disappeared from the priestess’s lips. Staring blankly at me, the woman who had looked at me expressionlessly eventually conveyed her disappointment in a soft voice.

“The wisdom of Mother I imparted was just a waste of time to you?”

“Yes.”

“I see.....”

Lost in thought, the priestess turned away.

“You really are a bad person.”

In her receding back, or more precisely, in her pitiful magical field, I detected a strange ripple.

1. TLN: I’m not so sure about this but, the author put this 로우꿔(肉果/육과) in the raw. This “肉果/육과” if translated is “fleshy fruit”. But, after searching on the internet I only found nutmeg as the closest one. However, Wikipedia says that Nutmeg doesn’t have any medicinal value, although people use it in traditional medicine. Author's Thoughts

Disclaimer:

This novel is a work of fiction! While it may incorporate elements inspired by our "real" historical world, including historical events, settings, and cultures, it is important to note that the story and characters are entirely products of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to real persons, living or deceased, or actual events is purely coincidental. This work should be enjoyed and interpreted as a work of fiction and not as a representation of historical facts or reality.

Also, if you find some error in translation please do let me know by tagging me (@_dawn24) in our Discord server. Since this series is kinda hard to translate. But I'll try my best to make it at least readable :)

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