Chapter 366: Online Romance

Rod walked along the corridor, speaking with Watching Yuna while glancing at the prisoners on both sides.

Nothing special.

Stinking and sour.

The prisoners were filthy and disheveled, their faces unrecognizable, their black-and-white eyes wide open.

They either huddled in corners sleeping or stared tightly at Rod.

The drow spiders used biological camouflage to hide their forms, sparing the sickened onlookers.

Rod walked unhurriedly, his cold eyes sweeping over everyone there.

Do not mistake his gentle, decent demeanor in Shi Ying Town for weakness; when facing enemies, he is a violent storm, ruthless and cruel.

Whether exterminating the rat squad or wiping out the mind flayer lair, he showed no mercy.

Thus, the killing intent radiating from him was far from low.

Every prisoner daring to meet his gaze felt as if a bucket of ice water had been poured from head to toe, shivering with terror.

The prison was not full.

By the time Rod reached the back, it was already empty.

And in the very last cell holding a prisoner, a familiar back caught his attention.

— Xun Ren Fa, Toru.

The one who conspired with the demon Atou and the feathered person Caroline to strike at Shi Ying Town's guardian formation.

At this moment, he was curled up on the ground, his body shrunk considerably.

A month ago, Dimia had blocked his spore release orifice; this fellow could endure remarkably, still refusing to submit until now.

The curled-up Xun Ren Fa on the ground suddenly trembled.

Presumably, he had detected footsteps.

Toru turned back listlessly, saw Rod, and forced a smile uglier than crying.

"Mr. Forester, long time no see."

"What good is enduring it here? Isn't working outside for Shi Ying Town just as capable of harvesting your hallucinogenic spores?"

Toru curled up even smaller.

"Working has no future, Mr. Forester. Just as I was caught by you last time, I will be caught by someone else next time. Since I am always alone anyway, I might as well lie down early."

Deprived of the supply of hallucinogenic spores, his mushroom life fell into direct despair, with no illusions about the future.

What kind of withdrawal reaction is this? It doesn't seem quite right.

"Even if I, Toru, die here, I will never work for you again."

Seeing his attitude of giving up entirely.

Rod raised an eyebrow; since he was just wasting food anyway, it would be better to let Slime Xiao Hei swallow his mushroom head and be done with it.

At this moment, Watching Yuna leaned close to his ear and whispered softly:

"Master, according to Xun Ren Fa Bin's account, Xun Ren Fa under the influence of hallucinogenic spores enter a state called 'Mind Union'. It is said to be a wonderful state full of fantasies, which is why Xun Ren Fa become addicted. Honestly, judging by Toru's performance here, Watching Yuna does not believe he can resist the withdrawal from hallucinogenic spore addiction."

Rod smelled the fragrance emanating from the girl; compared to the sour stench of this dungeon, it was far too refreshing.

He could not help but kiss the other's lips.

Watching Yuna froze for a moment; why did her master always think of doing such things?

But a master's request cannot be refused; she suppressed her shyness and obediently kissed back.

Moments later, the two pulled apart, the thread of their connection breaking.

"Continue."

Seeing Watching Yuna's shy appearance, Rod felt a sensation of bullying a young girl.

Like Tally, Watching Yuna would never refuse his lewd requests.

But unlike Tally's enthusiastic cheering, the Spider Young Lady's honest, reluctant expression was equally intoxicating.

"Properly speaking, given that this Toru's spore release orifice is sealed, I suspect he has other means to enter the 'Mind Union' state... very likely, he has external aid."

"So, as long as we stop him from entering 'Mind Union', that should suffice?"

Suddenly, someone spoke from the wall nearby.

Looking up.

It was Tally, revealing half her head under the torch, looking at the still embracing Rod and Watching Yuna with a gratified expression.

Did she really think of herself as an auntie?

"That is correct, Young Lady Tally."

"Still calling me Young Lady? Shouldn't you change your address to Auntie?"

"Ah, yes, Auntie Tally."

Watching Yuna felt the awkwardness of a couple being caught by an elder, her heart tingling with numbness and electricity.

She stole a glance at her master, staring at his moist lips; the drow spider instinctively licked her own lower lip, which had just been held.

Rod ignored the two of them, looked at Toru, and let out a cold sneer.

"Heh heh."

If Shi Ying Town's defensive strength were not insufficient, for this Level Six high-segment Xun Ren Fa mage, he would have been too lazy to go through such trouble.

"Is there any way?"

"Watching Yuna... Watching Yuna cannot think of anything for the moment... Sorry, Master."

Seeing Watching Yuna's self-blaming expression, Rod waved his hand, indicating he did not mind.

He turned his hand and used the 【Chain of Far Speech】 to inform Lady Kali of the detailed situation, asking her what methods she had.

The elf was presumably not busy, replying very quickly, and very briefly, with only four words, truly displaying the style of a master.

——【Link Severance】.

A fifth-tier spell, its main function is to sever most communication spells within a certain range, including but not limited to mind links, spirit links, and so on — primarily used to seize the initiative in information warfare.

It should work!

【Rod: Thanks, love you.】 He tossed back a casual word of thanks.

【Lady Kali:】

Honestly, this spell is rather obscure.

Rod had only ever seen it in the teaching materials Lady Kali had compiled herself.

He spent a good twenty minutes recalling it before barely managing to learn it.

And it wasn't even simple.

A moment later.

【Link Severance】 was successfully cast on the mushroom-man Toru.

At first he showed no reaction.

After a few minutes, his expression suddenly changed.

"Tori? Tori?!"

He leapt up in agitation, shouting wildly into the empty air like a madman.

Watching Yuna's guess was right.

Sure enough, someone had actively been in 'thought-bond' with him.

"Was it you? Was it you who sealed the thought-bond?!"

Toru's face twisted savagely. Ignoring the thick iron bars blocking him, he slammed into them with a clang, reaching out to grab Rod.

Hold on.

Why does this sound like an online romance losing its internet connection?

Rod looked at the great hand right before him and chuckled.

"Done slacking off?"

"Lift the spell!! Lift it now! Damn you! Mongrel human!"

The mushroom-man's monochrome little eyes were flooded with red fury, black veins bulging beneath his skin — far more terrifying than before.

【Rage +23】

【Rage +53】

【Rage +36】

The rage points in 【Negative Emotion Absorption】 were skyrocketing wildly.

"Now this is the withdrawal reaction I know, Tally."

"Call me Auntie, you stinky nephew~~"

Tally drifted down lightly from the wall, and a 【Soul Contract】 leapt from her hand.

The contract's terms: lifetime labor, monthly wage of ten copper Jin Along.

No choice — the chance had already been given.

Shi Ying Town might still hold the possibility of releasing the contract, but in my hands, you can prepare to work for a lifetime.

"Sign it, and I'll—"

Before Rod could even finish speaking, Toru snatched it away.

He bit open his finger, pale-red fluid welling out, about to press it onto the contract—

Sizzle!!!

A spatial rift wreathed with a starry galaxy suddenly tore open in the wall behind Toru.

A flesh orb as tall as an adult leapt from the rift, urgently shoving away the soul contract in Toru's hand.

"Tori!"

The mushroom-man was overjoyed.

But the smile on Rod's face froze.

Holy shit??? A cosmic creature???

You freaking had an online romance with a cosmic creature???

But he reacted in a flash, drawing his sword and swinging — sharp spiritual force instantly twisted the cell's iron bars into a pretzel.

He launched himself at the fleshy cosmic creature, blade descending.

"Don't!"

The mushroom-man Toru screamed and threw himself in front of the orb.

Yet the orb pushed him aside instead, unwilling to let his flesh block the blade.

"Mm—"

What now?

Why does this make me seem like some kind of demon-slayer?

(End of chapter)