The dungeon has been parasitized

Chapter 103 Departure from Trading

Metallization works very well; simply using it to accelerate growth can turn Klein's vines into steel cables, making them extremely tough and hard.

However, it also has its drawbacks. The metallized vines can no longer move freely like octopus tentacles as before; their movements become very stiff and slow.

Essentially, this is an upgraded version of lignification and stonyization, sacrificing flexibility in exchange for hardness.

However, it is still very useful. The metallized vines can be turned into drills or metal spears, greatly enhancing combat power.

There are advantages and disadvantages, but Klein could accept it completely.

After three days, Klein's fishmen had finished processing all the pterosaurs, obtaining a pile of pterosaur scaled skins, teeth, venom sacs, and magic cores. However, these all needed to be processed a second time to dry them out, otherwise they would rot.

As for the flesh and blood produced from processing the corpses, although Klein raced against time to make a lot of jerky, it still couldn't keep up with the speed of the meat's decay. The huge pile of meat already started to emit a faint stench the next day.

So Klein had the pterosaurs throw all the meat they couldn't use into the swamp. And because of the pterosaur raid, the entire swamp was now quiet and devoid of life.

So when they were dealing with the corpses before, even though the lake was full of meat and the smell of blood was overwhelming, it didn't attract any monsters.

The monsters will likely either be wiped out by the winged serpent dragons or go into hiding, which makes things easier for Klein.

Although it's a bit of a waste to waste so much meat, the jerky that can be piled up into a small mountain is enough for Yanami, the fishmen, and the winged serpent dragons to eat for a long time. However, this will only be used as a reserve food.

Now that Klein has a large army, he can hunt on his own.

The lake shore, which had been stained with blood, had been cleaned by Klein. The fishmen were skilled in water magic, so the cleanup was very easy.

However, since the blood had already seeped into the ground, it still emitted a faint stench after three days of fermentation. We can only wait for the stench to dissipate on its own, and it probably won't disappear for at least ten days.

However, Yanami doesn't care at the plantation, and Klein doesn't care if he doesn't use his sense of smell. The only ones who suffer are the hardworking winged serpent dragons and fishmen.

The scaly skin, teeth, venom sacs, and demon cores were piled up into a small mountain.

While it's unclear whether scaly hides, teeth, and venom sacs can be sold to the rat race, magic cores certainly can.

Moreover, according to the fish people, the scaled skin has excellent defensive capabilities and can be made into leather armor.

Their teeth are very sharp and venomous, and can be used to make weapons and even armor.

Needless to say, the venom sacs can be applied to weapons and seem to have medicinal uses, but the fishmen don't know how to do it.

The fish-men can also handle magic cores, making simple potions to restore magic power and healing potions, but they won't do anything complicated.

It is said that this knowledge was controlled by the clan chief, who was also a priest, but the clan chief had already died in battle, which Klein found very regrettable.

If the clan leader, who was a priest, were still alive, he might be able to do a lot with so many magic cores.

However, now it can only be traded with the rat-like people.

Then... let's go make the trade.

………………

"We're going to the rat tribe's stronghold today."

"oh!"

After Klein finished speaking, Yanami raised her hand and cheered happily, her face full of smiles.

"Let's take Shadow Wolf with us to transport our supplies."

"Are you going to buy a lot of things?"

Yanami's eyes sparkled with anticipation.

"Just in case, and we also have a lot of things to bring."

"Yes."

Yanami looked at a corner of the plantation, where there was a huge amount of Winged Serpent Dragon materials. Putting aside the ordinary teeth and hides, the Light Magic Cores alone could form a small mountain.

Using the fishmen's ability to breathe underwater, it took them a day to transport the supplies to the plantation. However, most of the supplies remained on the lake, where they were safer because of the dragons guarding it.

Yanami took out the bag she had used to trade with the rat tribe for clothes and used it to store magic cores. The other items that were originally inside were now stored in baskets made of Klein vines.

Klein took most of the magic cores, and planned to keep the rest for himself. Maybe after this transaction, Yanami would learn how to use the magic cores to make items?

There are just too many other monster materials; I simply can't carry them all.

They took the hundred silver coins they had earned from the trade, and then carried the goods to be traded onto the Shadow Wolf's back. All of these were tied to the Shadow Wolf by Klein's vines for easy carrying.

Then, Yanami led the Shadow Wolf into the passage left by the Rat Clan.

"Wow, this is what the passageway looks like."

Yanami's eyes lit up, but the passage wasn't actually that big. It was big enough for tall shadow wolves to pass through, but the passage had to accommodate the rat clan's guinea pigs, so it couldn't be too small.

The tunnel walls were rather rough. According to the rat tribe, these tunnels were carved out using their earth magic and the giant guinea pig's large front teeth, so they weren't very fine.

Moreover, because there was little support, the passage was basically carved out of hard rock to ensure safety. Only in a few areas with softer texture were there wooden stakes and planks to support the passage and prevent it from collapsing.

Or perhaps, in some places there are no wooden stakes or planks for support, but there are obviously not naturally formed hard stone pillars supporting the caves. Perhaps this is some kind of magic mastered by the Rat People?

No wonder their passage collapsed due to the forest fire; it seems the hard rock used for the passage was brittled by the high temperature, since it was originally hard rock.

They either didn't build any supports at all, relying solely on the hardness of the rock to form caves, or they used stone pillars they made themselves for support, but these collapsed as soon as they became brittle.

But how did they know where it would be safest to dig? Maybe they used some kind of special magic?

"This is the first time I've gone out since I met Klein, and I feel a little excited."

"I haven't been to any particularly far places for several months."

Since coming into this world, the farthest place I've ever been is being washed into a swamp by water, but it's actually not that far, only a few kilometers from the plantation.

Klein was not quite sure.

"After all, Klein was a plant, he couldn't run away, hey!"

Yanami smiled and stretched out her slender leg, kicking a stone on the ground.

"Aren't you nervous? After all, there are unknowns everywhere."

"If I had to say, there is a little bit, um... but with Klein around, everything should be fine, right? And the mice are very friendly too."

"Is that so?"

Feeling Yanami's unparalleled trust, Klein smiled inwardly.

The passage was initially a straight line, but after walking for a while, it began to branch off. However, Yanami had a map given to her by the rat tribe, so there was no risk of getting lost.

The passages seem to be interconnected, leading to various areas. These passages would be convenient if you wanted to go to other large caves, but now is not the time to explore.

Since we don't know if there are any dangers in these passages, it would be best to reach the rat tribe before dark.