Chapter 14: Chapter 14 – Mushroom Prison

Chapter 13 - Mushroom Prison

As Osmund Alkayde guided Aoh and her companions towards their destination, they were met with a picturesque scene that belied the ominous feeling that hung in the air. The vast and verdant grassy plain, dotted with vibrant wildflowers and surrounded by the tranquil flow of shimmering rice fields, was a striking contrast to the foreboding mood that had settled over their party.

Despite the dazzling rays of the sun, Aoh couldn't shake the sense of unease that prickled at the back of her neck. It was as if the towering trees that surrounded them held secrets, secrets that whispered of danger and dark deeds. The tranquil chirping of the birds only served to heighten her sense of alarm.

And then, in the center of this serene landscape, there it was: the large crater, a scar upon the earth that hinted at a tumultuous past. As they approached, Aoh couldn't help but feel a sense of foreboding as the white fox girl, as if the very ground beneath her feet was unstable.

But amidst all of this, there was one small glimmer of hope. A shallow stream, meandering through the grass, provided a source of positivity. There, in the murky depths, something occasionally surfaced, its black head popping up from the mud to observe the passers with an unblinking gaze.

Aoh's intuition had become sharpened since her transformation, and she realized that there were many unfathomable and unseen creatures hiding in the mountain woods that she had not noticed when she first came here with Amara’s grandfather.

She was also curious about how they would measure the strike power.

Everyone waited patiently as Magnus arrived, running towards them with a wooden box balanced on her head. He passed the box to Osmund Alkayde, who carefully opened it. Inside was an unusual, hard toddler-sized mushroom with a price tag on it.

Osmund handled the mushroom with care, as though it was a delicate item he did not fully understand. Magnus and Anand, who were at his side, looked tense and held their breath as they cheered on their master.

After a moment of silence, Osmund placed the mushroom in the center of the crater and stepped back. Suddenly, a bright light exploded from the mushroom, revealing a red-colored trunk and dark purple-white head about half the size of a person, swaying in the smoke.

The creature grew three times its original size and was imprisoned in a hole barricaded with three poles.

Osmund explained to Aoh that, “This was the Mushroom Prison, a punishment for house guardians who trespassed other territories without permission. The prison could be sold in the Holo Capital for at least 100 Bloodbound Coins”

Magnus added that the Mushroom Prison was a treasure that every military faction wanted to use to measure their strike force, but Aoh was slightly concerned about the cost if it broke. Osmund reassured her that she didn't have to worry, as the Mushroom Prison was extremely durable.

"It's 100 Bloodbound Coins, which is nearly equivalent to a year's salary for our master," said Magnus.

"You, Magnus, be mindful of what you say," warned Osmund, clearly uncomfortable with discussing his salary in front of others.

Aoh, having a good understanding of the value of currencies, estimated that 100 Bloodbound Coins were equal to 10,000 gold coins, or about 100,000 coins in weight, which would be roughly 320 to 330 kilograms.

Looking at the delicate Mushroom Prison, Aoh expressed her concern, "Master, this is so expensive. What if it gets damaged?"

"Don't worry, Aoh," Osmund reassured her. "The Mushroom Prison is designed to withstand strikes from wooden swords. As long as it's used properly, there's no risk of it breaking."

"But if someone with immense strength were to use it, the house guardian could break free and return to its physical form," Osmund added gravely.

“Master!”

A snotty brat ran over. He was the one earlier who stopped exploring his nose and Aoh noticed he was digging somewhere in his mouth with that same finger of his!

"I haven't checked my strike power in a year! Look at how strong my muscles have become. Let me take the measurement now! I want to show you, beauty, how to do it."

Osmund furrowed his brow for a moment, but then nodded in agreement. "Alright, go ahead and demonstrate for Miss Aoh."

The brat stood at about one and a half meters tall, with tanned skin and a thin, yet muscular build. He was a little older than Pyke and the same height as Aoh.

He picked up the wooden sword and channeled his energy, shouting, "Ha!" as he charged forward and swung at the Mushroom Prison.

The Mushroom Prison rebounded like a pendulum, hitting the brat who failed to stop in time. The brat was sent flying backwards, looking up at the sky as he struck a rubber wheel.

Osmund felt like slapping his forehead in frustration. He couldn't believe that this was his apprentice.

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After a bit of swaying, the large Mushroom Prison finally came to a stop, still in good condition. Suddenly, it produced a resonant, melodramatic voice of a boy.

“Strike... Power... Eighty kilograms!”

As Aoh heard the strange voice reverberating in the mountain woods, she looked at the unchanging expression that was drawn on the head's circles. dubiously.

Is this thing dead or alive? How did the house guardian make a sound even without its physical form? And how did the house guardian based his readings? Is there a measuring device inside?

Aoh thinks it was too much to ask more.

“Eighty kilograms! That’s great! Master, this is five kilograms higher than a year ago!”

The snotty brat happily hopped around.

“Not bad!”

Those two narrow-eyed warriors who were always watching at the side patted the brat’s head, and said with a smile,

“A grown man normally only gets around a hundred kilograms of strike power. You are still so young, yet already comparable to adults!”

“Don’t be self-satisfied by this kind of result!” Osmund sternly criticized,

"You should know that the key to passing the knight qualification test is to reach a strike power of 200 kilograms. You're still far from your goal! Even becoming a full-time foot soldier or adventurer requires 150 kilograms of strike power!”

Aoh was calculating the numbers on the side. 200 kilograms is equivalent to 60 Bloodbound coins. Strike power isn't the same as punching power. Instead of using brute force, knights use a sharp sword to slice through their opponent, making 200 kilograms of strike power incredibly strong. That's like being hit by four sacks of rice! The destructive power of 200 kilograms behind a sharp blade is on a completely different level than a punch.

Pyke, on the other hand, sneered to himself, thinking that these young people are nothing but disposable soldiers. Even if they grow up, they'll barely reach the standard of a foot soldier. Increasing strike power isn't just about brute strength. He himself had already reached 190 kilograms and was close to the minimum requirement for a knight. The only issue was that his speed and reaction time were lagging a bit.

"Miss Aoh, have you understood?" Osmund asked. "Please go ahead."

Aoh nodded silently and picked up her one-meter-long wooden sword with both hands. She stepped in front of the Mushroom Prison, which was used to measure strike power. She didn't intend to swing wildly. Losing her balance and missing her target would give her opponent the upper hand. There was no point in having great strength if she couldn't hit her target. That would only be lying to herself and a great embarrassment to Amara.

If she wanted to slice, she had to do it with the style used in actual combat. A wise lady should also have the grace of a female knight, so she wouldn't approve of a lackluster slash.

Aoh lifted her sword and took a deep breath. Her golden eyes flashed as she took one quick, powerful step and swung her sword with a powerful motion!

“Baaaaaaammmmm—!!!”

The sound of the heavy strike echoed far. The Mushroom Prison was mercilessly knocked to the ground before bouncing back violently!

The whole place was silent. All of the people present were sword practitioners and could feel the weight behind Aoh's slash just by hearing the sound. Furthermore, Aoh's posture was still stable, allowing her to follow up with another attack or defend herself.

"Baaamm—!!! Strike Poooooooooooowwweeeeeeeeeer—," the prisoner inside Mushroom Prison exaggerated the reading. The knights nearby were so irritated that they wanted to go and kick it, but it was an old, valuable product that had been given to them.

"O-one hundred and eighty-five kilograms!"

Everyone was speechless. Osmund squinted his eyes, trying to understand how Aoh had generated so much power from her slender arms. It was hard to believe. Could she be a monster in disguise?

Pyke's mind was completely shattered and subconsciously dropped his wooden sword. He couldn't believe that this smooth-skinned, frail-looking demihuman had 185 kilograms of strike power when he himself only had 190 kilograms. The two armored knights and the group of children were in disbelief, their eyes wide open and mouths agape. The boys, who were once bullies, now felt like they had to be her followers. Aoh had gained their respect and admiration.

Osmund exhaled a long breath and stepped forward, saying seriously, "Miss Aoh, if you want to learn, I will teach you with all my might!"

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