Chapter 2747 Layout <TOC> Chapter 2749 The Lively Mushroom
Translator: SumTLMan
「Back when I went adventuring with Vai, I discovered a typical trait in his setups. Namely, whatever he himself has thought of, he assumes the opponent will certainly think of too. So he folds the premise of 『the opponent will consider my layout』 into his own layout.」
Daus paused here:「It sounds awkward, but it’s not hard to grasp, watch his actions and you’ll get it.」
「When he was hiding in the Stone Prison Spell earlier, he downed three potions in a row. Among them, the Glistening Velvet Potion was for healing, well within normal considerations; the Carissa Antidote also counts as normal: the shadow school excels at ambushes and, to maximize their strikes, they often add poison, so preemptively using a Carissa Antidote is uncontroversial.」
「But the Pheromone Variance Water, that’s where it gets interesting. Earlier it didn’t feel like a problem, but think it through and you’ll see: the first two potions had factual grounds, whereas the Pheromone Variance Water was an extra layer considered 『out of thin air』.」
Daus deliberately stressed his tone on the word 『out of thin air』.
Indeed, when we analyzed it before, it only seemed like Vai was planning ahead. But once Daus pointed it out, you can tell the consideration level of the Pheromone Variance Water is not the same as the first two potions. The Pheromone Variance Water is more like Vai imagining that the other side might track him through pheromones, so he prepared in advance; whereas the Glistening Velvet Potion and the Carissa Antidote were targeted measures.
「When does Vai inexplicably add this extra layer of consideration? It’s when he himself intends to do the very thing, only then does he consider the opponent might do it too.」Daus shook his head:「After all these years, that habit still hasn’t changed. I used to say he was overthinking it and that it might even reveal a flaw, an ill habit. Now doesn’t it prove me right? He did overthink it. Ghost Shadow didn’t have the ability to lock onto people through pheromones at all……」
Kael:「Be that as it may, only Lord Red Sword could spot a flaw from such tiny details.」
Daus snorted:「That’s right. If anyone knows Vai best, it’s definitely me.」
No sooner had he finished than Daus seemed to think of something. He glanced at the Black Count beside him and added:「Of course, his family doesn’t count.」
Daus looked proudly at Angel:「Well? Everything I said checks out, doesn’t it?」
Seeing Daus strutting like a peacock, Angel suppressed the urge to retort. He didn’t argue; a nod served as acknowledgment of Daus’ account.
Because, indeed, the facts were as Daus said. Angel’s own analysis likewise held that Vai had located Ghost Shadow’s position through smell and turned the tables in one stroke.
However, Daus could even infer from some of Vai’s behaviors when that idea first took shape. That, Angel hadn’t expected.
Though Angel could sense from emotional perception that Daus’ account had gone from hazy to clear, and that at the outset Daus was plainly hesitant, showing he wasn’t all that sure about Vai’s win condition, his accuracy in the end likely came down to inspiration.
Even so, Daus had gotten it right, and comprehensively. There was no point in arguing with him now.
One can only say Daus’ talent for inspiration is strong. And that Daus, worthy of being Vai’s closest friend, truly understands him.
At this moment, Vai and Ghost Shadow each came down from the stage.
Ghost Shadow was carried down by Mammoth. The wound in his abdomen had been treated; he wouldn’t die, but to recover would still require a period of rest.
Vai, on the other hand, walked down on his own, popping a fresh bottle of potion as he descended. During the fight, perhaps because his focus was fixed on the opponent, he didn’t feel how uncomfortable those mushroom buttons were. Once the battle ended, Vai felt itchy all over.
It was as if countless tadpoles were darting through his blood vessels inside his body.
Moreover, from Ghost Shadow’s mouth Vai learned that he couldn’t remove these mushroom buttons immediately. However, since the mother body had been recalled, the mushroom buttons would die off on their own after some time, so there was no need to worry about lingering problems. If it became truly unbearable, one could use physical means to pluck them out one by one.
But for now, that was impossible to do. With no other option, Vai could only keep drinking potions to numb the discomfort.
When Vai returned to the group, he was still constantly activating his bloodline, petrifying his skin to prevent the mushroom buttons from spreading.
「I’ve given you all a laugh……」On returning, Vai’s first words were an apologetic self-examination.
「It’s not like we haven’t laughed at you before.」Daus answered offhandedly.
Vai shot him a dirty look and couldn’t be bothered to reply.
Angel, however, offered affirmation:「No need to castigate yourself. You performed quite well.」
Vai scratched his head:「I just feel I actually could have done even better.」
「Yes. If it were the old you, facing an apprentice like that, you would surely have begun drawing up plans the moment you stepped on stage, controlling the whole field. How would it drag on to the end, how would you even use yourself as bait?」Needless to say, this was Daus speaking again.
This time, Vai didn’t even spare him an eye-roll.
Yet although Vai couldn’t be bothered to look at Daus, his words had squarely hit home.
Vai had never felt there was such a gulf between him and Daus. He hadn’t advanced to wizard not out of inability but because of practical obstacles, that was all.
But after this duel, Vai deeply realized that the distance between his awareness and Daus’ had grown wider and wider. Daus’ fighting, even when he fell for a trick, showed combat sense and experience entirely beyond Vai’s reach. Vai couldn’t even analyze what Daus had done during battle.
Bear in mind, when Vai and Daus used to adventure together, Vai knew every combat detail of Daus like the back of his hand, he could even judge Daus’ next fighting approach by subtle changes in his expression, movements, and eyes.
Back then, in terms of overall strategic view, Vai looked down from above on Daus.
But now, between Vai and Daus seemed to yawn a chasm impossible to cross.
During the period of Vai’s homebody-like reclusion, Daus had been advancing; Vai had stood still, or even walked backward.
At this thought, Vai’s mood inexplicably dipped.
「Time to put away the pointless self-isolation.」A message entered Vai’s mind directly. Only his ancestor, the Black Count, could do that silently and without a trace.
「I gave you decades, thinking you’d work it out yourself. But you turned out like the common herd, spooked by a few shadowy scraps of intel, you shrank from moving forward. Laughable.」The Black Count’s tone carried mockery:「If you don’t want Daus to pull farther and farther ahead, then make changes, and quickly.」
「Of course, if you find a steady, placid life quite comfortable and don’t want to step out of that comfort zone, then pretend I said nothing.」
With that, the Black Count sent no more messages to Vai.
But now Vai somewhat understood why the Black Count had insisted on sending him up earlier, and had even forbidden the aid offered by Lord Super Dimensional.
Perhaps it was to seize this chance to make him face reality.
He addressed Daus by name without honorifics, convinced they were still equals, but the truth was simply that Daus didn’t make an issue of it.
So-called equality was self-deceiving illusion. Once power had fallen out of balance, it was hard to speak of equality between them. Unless, as his ancestor said, power was brought back into balance, then, perhaps, the situation would change.
Only, did he have the standing to step forward?
Was his ancestor urging him to step forward? Or was it simply that he couldn’t bear to watch and so offered earnest counsel?
Vai suddenly felt a bit lost.
「Hey, how long are you going to keep those white fuzzies on you? You planning to go into the next duel wearing this set of 『new outfit』?」Daus’ voice echoed in Vai’s ear.
Startled, Vai snapped out of his daze. He looked up to find that at some point Daus had gotten behind him and was tugging at those mushroom buttons with his hand.
「It’s not like I want them. I can’t remove them right now…… Besides, can I even keep competing like this?」Vai looked to Kael with a hint of apology:「I’ll have to entrust the next duel to you.」
Kael was in the midst of receiving Angel’s「tactical briefing」. Hearing Vai’s words, he straightened at once and said solemnly:「Don’t worry, leave it to me!」
Seeing Kael all fired up, Vai showed a gratified expres—
「Gratified, my lark, why?」Daus slapped Vai on the shoulder:「You’re going to let this paltry, scraggly white fuzz affect your fighting?」
Vai gave Daus a cold sideways glance:「The only reason I can stay functional is because I’ve been chugging potions. If you reimburse the magic crystals for those potions, I’ll tough it out and go up.」
After a beat, Vai continued:「However many bottles I drink, you reimburse that many. How about it?」
At the mention of magic crystals, Daus fell mute in an instant.
Even so, he still tried to see whether he could help Vai remove the mushroom buttons…… It was possible, but just as Ghost Shadow had said, only by physical means: plucking out, one by one, those buttons that still had activity.
After all, it was Vai’s body. Daus couldn’t dig into his blood vessels or the depths of his bone marrow to pull them for him.
So Daus had to give up.
However, giving up didn’t mean his mouth stopped. He kept chattering away.
「You don’t necessarily have to maintain it with potions. Isn’t there the Mushroom Master present? Go ask him, maybe he has a way.」
Daus kept calling someone「Mushroom Master」, leaving Vai full of question marks.
Only when Daus pointed straight at Angel did Vai realize that this so-called「Mushroom Master」was Daus referring to Lord Super Dimensional……
「Since when did I have that epithet?」Angel looked at Daus, puzzled.
Before he was the「Super Dimensional Wizard」, he’d heard many epithets, 「Music Box Magician」:「Master of Illusions」:「Lion Hearted Thorn」…… even「Milk Baron」. But he’d never heard that he had the title of Mushroom Master.
Shouldn’t that title belong to Regina?
Daus said triumphantly:「I just invented it. Not bad, right?」
Everyone:「……」
Angel was about to object, but before he could open his mouth, Vai jumped in first to back him.
Arms folded across his chest, Vai said to Daus:「I just invented a title for you too: Potion Supplier. How’s that, pretty good, eh? Come on then, give me the potions, and I’ll go up for the next bout.」
Daus:「……I’m not joking.」
Vai:「I’m not joking either. Or, if you don’t like the sound of that title, we can swap it, Potion Master? Potion Maker? Potion Vendor? Take your pick.」
Seeing Vai’s stance, Daus knew that if he kept arguing, Vai would surely side with his newly risen idol.
Since there was no reasoning with Vai, Daus simply turned to Angel:「Although ‘Mushroom Master’ is half a joke, I’m not just shooting my mouth off. Don’t forget, last time in Princess Town……」
Angel cleared his throat twice, cutting Daus off.
「I don’t know what you’re talking about, and you’d best not fabricate rumors.」Angel turned his head to Vai:「However, I can take a look at your condition. I didn’t bring it up earlier because it might touch on your privacy, so……」
Vai’s attitude shifted at once; he said gratefully:「It’s fine, my lord, please.」
Angel came to Vai’s side and first glanced at the Black Count. The latter did not obstruct him, so Angel reached out with peace of mind and touched those mushroom buttons.
Strangely enough, the moment Angel’s hand made contact, Vai exclaimed:「They stopped moving?!」
Yes, Vai felt that the mushroom buttons inside him that had been making him itch all went utterly still, as if time itself had stopped.
To Vai it felt like…… a forest, once filled with chirping insects and birds and brimming with life, where suddenly a dragon’s roar sounded. In an instant the insects fell silent, the birds ceased their calls, and the small beasts slipped soundlessly into their burrows.
As if a natural enemy had arrived.
On hearing this, Daus immediately spoke up:「See? I wasn’t wrong. The title ‘Mushroom Master’ is hardly something I’m just tossing around.」
Let alone Daus, at this moment, Vai also felt the title seemed rather fitting for Lord Super Dimensional.
Bear in mind, when his own lord had sent him a voice transmission earlier, he had also probed Vai’s insides through energy. Even then, with the Black Count’s energy entering, those mushroom buttons showed no abnormality, like brainless sandworms ignorant and unafraid.
And the mushroom buttons indeed possessed no real intelligence, much less complex emotion.
When Daus had yanked at those buttons earlier, they hadn’t seemed afraid either.
But the instant Lord Super Dimensional touched them, it was as if he had triggered the primal fear in these mushroom buttons!
They were all so terrified they didn’t dare move!
If that’s not a Mushroom Master, then what is?
Or rather, this was the arch-nemesis of fungi!