Chapter 772 - 759: Protagonist
"Hmm, no problem with the tourist visa." The guard at the entrance of Fungus Castle skillfully finished checking the documents and handed the tourist booklet along with four visas back to Vera, "Please make sure not to stay more than seven days. Have a great time."
Standing inside the city gate, Fei Ling surveyed the surroundings, "So this is the legendary Fungus Castle! There are so many people, it feels even more lively than Oath City!"
"Yeah, and the expenses are higher than in Oath City." Vera, who had taken charge, felt the pinch upon thinking of the cost of those four tourist visas.
Sitting atop his head, Number Five poked him with a tentacle, "No, Vera, it’s because there’s a large event these days, so the prices are higher."
"A large event..." Vera recalled the scenes of the Harvest Festival in Oath City and was curious about what events were like here.
Fei Yin shyly hid behind Vera, somewhat nervous as she looked at the Demons coming and going, often glancing their way.
It’s understandable; in most people’s impression, the Demon Race is synonymous with the Empire, the enemy of humans.
Even Vera himself felt a bit uneasy, but since it was a rare invitation from Number Five to play, he didn’t show his discomfort.
Only Sirean remained genuinely calm, seemingly oblivious to the gazes from so many Demons.
They went to the designated place to exchange for a paper currency called "Contribution Gold," and under Number Five’s guidance, they visited the bell, experienced the Puki hot springs, and tasted the delicious hot spring mycelium soup.
Fei Yin bought a Puki, a local specialty that emitted a seven-colored fluorescence.
It wasn’t until dusk that they arrived, joking and laughing, at the central Puki Square of Fungus Castle.
At this time, quite a few people had already gathered here, with city guards maintaining order to prevent trampling.
"Wait!" A city guard stopped Vera and the others, "There’s not enough space in the square, you can’t take a Puki inside, please store it over there first."
Vera was about to speak when a tentacle covered his mouth.
Number Five spoke to the city guard in the Fungal Network, "It’s not an ordinary Puki!"
"Oh, it’s the Mushroom Race." The guard was taken aback, "Sorry, I didn’t expect the Mushroom Race to accompany tourists with no mycelium on them..."
The guard looked at the fluorescent Puki in Fei Yin’s arms, "Is that one too?"
"Yes, yes!" Number Five said, controlling the Puki to nod obediently with its mushroom cap.
Seeing this, the guard did not obstruct them further and let them pass.
Finding a barely acceptable spot in the square, Vera looked towards the huge Marshal Puki statue at the end, "This is the largest statue I’ve ever seen, but why decorate the bottom with so many spikes?"
"They look like dragon horns," Sirean said.
"Dragon horns?!" Vera looked again at the dozen or so huge horns, swallowing hard.
His territory had good fortune, as it was not attacked during the previous dragon disaster.
However, during that period, they frequently saw Giant Dragons flying overhead, experiencing quite a few nerve-wracking days.
Lately, they hadn’t seen many Giant Dragons, and they wondered if the dragons had all returned to their nests.
Now it seemed at least some had stayed in Fungus Castle.
As the sun set, mushroom decorations on the square began to light up one by one, yet the event had not yet started.
Fei Ling couldn’t help but ask, "What special festival is this? And why does it have to be held in the square?"
Before anyone could answer, a commotion erupted from the back.
The commotion gradually approached from the back of the crowd as a group of Pukis squeezed in, forcing the dense crowd apart, creating a straight path leading directly to the central stone platform.
In the distance, a woman dressed in finery walked leisurely along this path. Her crimson eyes made Vera realize that she was a Vampire.
"What’s going on?" Vera squeezed through the crowd, searching for his separated companions.
Soon, he spotted Fei Yin in the crowd across from him.
Amidst the chaos, Fei Yin, holding the Puki that emitted a colorful fluorescence, fell out and landed in front of the Vampire.
"I’m sorry, that’s mine..." Fei Yin nervously separated the intercepting Pukis and bent down to pick it up.
Her fingertips hadn’t yet touched the Puki when a foot came down.
The Puki exploded, scattering pieces of mycelium everywhere.
"Huh?" Fei Yin froze, not comprehending what had happened.
Vera had already rushed out of the crowd, appearing at her side.
Clang——!
The curved saber remained sheathed, its casing abruptly blocking Eleanor’s incoming kick.
"I accidentally blocked your way, is there really a need to take it this far?" Vera’s voice was heavy, filled with suppressed anger. Eleanor didn’t respond, merely intensified the pressure with her foot. Just as Vera was about to unsheathe the curved saber, the Pukis on either side surged in to separate the two.
Eleanor snorted coldly, stepping on the scattered mycelium fragments, continuing down the cleared path.
"Vera, are you hurt?"
"Don’t worry, I’m fine."
"Bah!" Fei Ling, who had rushed over with anger, glared at the now distant Eleanor, "A demon is a demon! After spending a day here, I almost thought they had changed their nature!"
Vera glanced around and quietly reminded, "Fei Ling, don’t talk like that here..."
It was too late.
"I don’t appreciate that talk." A nearby half-demon leaned in, eyes gleaming with cold light, "What do you mean ’a demon is a demon’?"
Other demons around also glanced over, a bead of sweat slid down Vera’s temple.
If a conflict started here, they would surely suffer.
As Vera pondered how to explain, his hand instinctively moved to the saber’s grip.
However, the half-demon’s next words stunned him.
"We are Fungus People; the one who clashed with you earlier, without any mycelium, is the one called a demon." Saying this, he raised his hand to show the neatly arranged mycelium, "Besides, she’s the main course of this event, so just tolerate a little flaw. We’ve been enduring her for months!"
"Main... course?"
...
On the stone platform, Marshal Puki jumped down from the moving throne, affectionately wrapping a tentacle around Eleanor, guiding her toward the luxurious red-velvet lined seat at the center.
"Main seat?" Eleanor slightly turned, her face showing a hint of being flattered and surprised, "Boss, how could I dare sit here?"
"Don’t decline," Lin Jun’s tone was sincere and gentle, "Although today is Little Pig’s promotion ceremony, you are the protagonist. Soon, you’ll be introduced to all the Fungus People, this seat is yours to take."
Upon hearing this, Eleanor no longer declined, showing a graceful and reluctant demeanor, she took her seat.
As she passed Louisa, her mouth subtly curled into a smirk, her eyes glided in Louisa’s direction, displaying undisguised pride.
Louisa, recognizing the hint, lowered her head, not daring to meet Eleanor’s gaze.
Marshal Puki then patted his tentacles.
Norris approached the stone platform holding the Yellow-covered Book, his boot heels steadily striking against the stone, creating a firm sound. He placed the book on the stand at the edge of the platform and then activated the amplification magic beneath his feet.
"Thanks to all residents of Fungus Castle, and tourists from distant allied nations for attending today’s celebration." Norris’s voice was enhanced by the magic, clearly covering the entire plaza, "Before the event commences, permit me to introduce today’s protagonist—Eleanor."
Several beams of lighting technique lit up simultaneously, all focused on the main seat, with Eleanor holding her head high, allowing the beam to shine directly onto her face, her demeanor composed and reserved.
"Just naming her might not immediately ring a bell, but I presume most of you have heard—one of the Twelve Pillars of the Empire, the largest vampire slave master, the blood supplier, the owner of the Blood Beast Factory, Duke Eleanor."
Upon these words, Vera and the others, who were just pondering "why does the voice of the tailless lizardman on stage sound somewhat familiar," abruptly froze.
"Empire Duke? Eleanor?" Fei Ling blurted out, a low voice but undeniable shock in his eyes.
In the crowd, most tourists showed similar reactions, while Fungus Castle residents seemed unfazed, as though they had long been aware.
"To better acquaint everyone with Eleanor," Norris lifted a Memory Crystal from a box beside him, holding it aloft, "let’s take a look at the noteworthy deeds she’s accomplished."
The crystal illuminated, projecting images into the air. Prisons, slaves, blood extraction, brutal killings...
Scene after scene of deliberately recorded cruelty unfolded gradually in the fluorescing night sky.
Slaves, chained, treated like livestock for blood extraction, their faces painted with only numbness and despair, while those fleeing or resisting were tortured to death and discarded into pits...
The footage even included Eleanor herself, seated in a high chair, holding a cup of vivid red liquid, smiling as she looked down at siblings forced into mutual slaughter for attempting to escape.
The crowd began to stir; even those who had long heard the rumors among the Fungus People were shocked by the cruel image.
"Isn’t this the Memory Crystal I brought? Why is it here?" Eleanor slightly leaned forward from her seat, the unexpected development wiping away her composure, turning to Marshal Puki, "Boss, what’s happening?"
Marshal Puki extended a tentacle, softly touching Eleanor’s head: "Don’t panic, be steady, watch ’til the end and you’ll understand."
Under Lin Jun’s gentle reassurances, Eleanor regained her upright posture, yet her constantly flickering eyes betrayed the anxiety in her heart.