Chapter 94: Chapter 94: The implications that are to be implied are implicitly implicated

Sockel grabs his hand at the wrist. “No magic,” says the elf.

 

Hineni blinks, looking her way. “What?”

 

“No magic,” she repeats, shaking her head and pushing his arm back down. “Kill it without your freaky spells.”

 

“They’re not freaky,” replies Hineni. “It’s just ash-magic.”

 

“’Just’,” says Sockel, rolling her eyes. “You hear that, Rhine?” she asks, looking towards the boy, who is down in the dungeon with them. “It’s just ash-magic.”

 

“I heard!” notes Rhine. “Actually, ash-magic is super rare. It’s estimated that only one out of every -” Sockel lifts a hand, shushing him.

 

“Okay, nerd. I just wanted your agreement, not a lecture.” She nods her head to the monster. A mush-mush, a giant mushroom monster, guarding floor one of the dungeon. It’s respawned, having come back from the dead since the last time he was here. “You can’t just rely on your magic,” she says. “What if you need to kill something and you’re dry?”

 

Hineni sighs. He knows that she’s right. But he’s just never been much of a fighter. Still, he has size and strength on the creature by a good margin. He slips off his leather gloves, throwing them to the ground. “Can I use a rock?”

 

“I bit mine!” says Rhine, excitedly.

 

“No rocks,” says Sockel. “Using just what your god gave you.”

 

“Fine,” says Hineni, stepping onto the floor and towards the creature.

 

The large mushroom with a wide, orange cap, narrows its eyes, glaring up his way. It reaches to the height of his thighs. “Come on then.”

 

“NYAH~!” yells the chubby monster. It slowly begins to hop towards him with all the menace it can offer, which isn’t a lot in all honesty.

 

Hineni wonders if there’s a mushroom-god?

 

The man lifts his fist.

 

— He’ll have to ask Seltsam about that.

 

---

 

It is later in the day.

 

“Oh, sure,” replies Seltsam. “There’s a mushroom-god, well… goddess. Or god. It’s uh, it’s complicated,” explains the librarian. Hineni can hear her wandering around the library, on the other side of the shelves.

 

“Why’s that?” asks Hineni.

 

“Well, uh, mushrooms are complicated things,” replies Seltsam. “Did you know that mushrooms aren’t plants?”

 

“…Huh?”

 

“It’s true!” replies Selstam. “They aren’t animals either. They’re their own category of creatures!”

 

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Hineni shrugs. “Neat. I guess?”

 

“Mm!” Seltsam shuffles around. “Anyway, the mushroom-goddess lives in the west,” she says. “She’s very popular with couples,” explains the woman. “Lots of pilgrimages out to see her, especially in the spring time.”

 

Hineni tilts his head. “That’s kind of random? Why?”

 

“Oh, uh…” Seltsam is quiet for a time. He can hear her shuffling through some pages. The woman clears her throat. “Well… the thing is, you see… I- uh… - You should imagine a mushroom.”

 

Hineni blinks. “Yeah, okay, I am. What about it?”

 

“You know…” says the librarian. “And the connotations it has.”

 

“Conno-what?” asks Hineni. “Seltsam. I can barely read half of the books in here. What the hell are you talking about?”

 

“She’s a fertility-goddess,” relents the librarian.

 

“Oooh!” Hineni strikes his fist into his open palm. “You’re saying that mushrooms look like d-“

 

“No swearing in the library!” she warns. “LA-LA-LA-LA!”

 

Hineni blinks. “…Are you covering your ears?”

 

“-LA-LA.” She stops. “— Are you done?”

 

Hineni stares at the shelf. “…Really…?”

 

“Yes. No swearing in the library. I’ll ask Sockel to put up a sign,” says Seltsam.

 

Hineni rolls his eyes. Always with the damn signs. “It’s my house. I’ll swear like a sailor in every room from here to the bath if I want to.”

 

“T-that’s not fair!” she argues. “Y-you can’t tell people they can live here but then say it’s just your home.” Hineni looks at the shelf for a time. That’s a good point, actually. “I’d really appreciate it if you didn’t,” says Seltsam. “I- I don’t feel well when people swear.”

 

Hineni scratches his cheek, looking at the shelf and then down at a book in front of himself. He supposes it makes sense. If she really is a ‘monster’ of some sort, he imagines that she’s heard her fair share of harsh words already. Who knows what that life in the wilds of the north-east were like?

 

He sighs. Maybe this whole demonic-influence thing has really been getting to him? “You’re right, Seltsam,” he relents. “This is your home too. All of it.” He nods. “Sorry. I guess I’m still getting used to living with other people too.”

 

He looks down at the random book that he’s grabbed in that awkward moment.

 

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