After removing the strange loli's hat, Amamiya clearly saw a small purple mushroom growing amidst her golden hair.
"Eh? Eh, EH?"
Tsubame was startled and instinctively took a step back. "Why is there a mushroom growing on her head?"
"Calm down," Amamiya said, maintaining his composure. "There are people who develop stones on their joints—some even as big as pigeon eggs. So, having a mushroom growing on her head isn't that strange, right?"
Tsubame's lips twitched slightly. "Stones on the joints… Why does that sound so familiar?"
Amamiya raised an eyebrow. "Senpai, do you have gout too?"
"Of course not!" Tsubame snapped, unable to hold back her frustration.
Gout? That was something found in people who indulged in excessive eating and drinking! To maintain her figure, she exercised and dieted religiously—how could she possibly have gout?
"Senpai, the random mission is complete," Amamiya reminded her.
Tsubame glanced at the task panel in surprise. "It's really completed."
She paused, her gaze shifting toward the strange loli in Amamiya's grasp.
They hadn't looked for any other mushrooms. That could only mean... the mushroom growing on the little girl's head was the quest target.
Even so, Amamiya didn't let his guard down. He stayed vigilant, ready to deal with Little Red Riding Hood if needed. But oddly, this loli seemed entirely ordinary. Aside from trembling fearfully in his grasp, there was nothing unusual about her—except, of course, for the mushroom on her head.
"This mushroom…"
Amamiya reached out his hand and lightly touched the mushroom growing atop the loli's head. He tugged gently, only to find that it wasn't a decoration but something truly embedded.
"It hurts! It hurts!" The little girl's eyes filled with tears as she whimpered in a pitiful voice, as though she were a helpless creature being bullied. "Please don't pull it out, or I'll die!"
"Relax," Amamiya replied, attempting to reassure her. "You're not an ordinary person. Believe in yourself. Anyone else wearing such thin clothes in this weather would have frozen to death by now."
"Please stop!" Little Red Riding Hood begged, trembling as her misty eyes brimmed with tears. "I'm serious! I'll really die!"
Tsubame hesitated. She didn't want to see the girl suffer but understood that Amamiya had a reason for what he was doing. Still, she couldn't help but ask, "Little… Little Red Riding Hood, right? Why did you say the mushroom can't be removed, or you'll die?"
The loli sniffled and looked at Tsubame with teary eyes. "Because… that's how Grandma died. I don't want to die like Grandma."
Tsubame's heart softened at the girl's words.
This Little Red Riding Hood looked so human, aside from the peculiar mushroom on her head. She appeared no different from an ordinary child. Even though Tsubame was inexperienced, she felt sympathy for her. If Chika-chan were here, she'd likely feel the same.
"Amamiya-kun, could you not pull it out yet?" Tsubame asked hesitantly, biting her lip as she glanced at him.
Amamiya raised an eyebrow. "Senpai, come here."
Hearing this, Tsubame's heart skipped a beat.
Was he angry because she questioned him? Could it be he was about to take out his frustration on her? No—Amamiya wasn't that kind of rude person.
"I'm coming," she replied, taking a deep breath and walking over to him.
"Senpai, try touching the mushroom," Amamiya said, pointing to the one growing on Little Red Riding Hood's head.
"Alright," Tsubame nodded and hesitantly reached out to touch the mushroom.
The moment her fingers brushed against it, a game identification panel appeared before her eyes.
[Name: Psychedelic Mushroom]
[Category: Cursed Object]
[Effect: This hallucinogenic mushroom releases invisible spores, spreading over a certain radius around the host. Ordinary people within this area will gradually fall into hallucinations and eventually become disoriented.]
[Note: Forcefully removing the mushroom will result in the host's death.]
"Mushrooms that cause hallucinations?" Tsubame murmured, her expression shifting to one of concern.
What appeared to be an ordinary mushroom was, in fact, incredibly dangerous. A mushroom growing from someone's head? Clearly, it was far from ordinary.
Amamiya remained calm as he remarked, "If I'm not mistaken, it takes about ten minutes for someone to fall completely into hallucination."
Tsubame immediately understood the implications.
The ten-minute time limit for the task wasn't arbitrary—it was their window of escape. If they exceeded it, they'd likely succumb to the hallucinations and become trapped in the illusion.
As for what would happen after being bewitched by the strange loli… this was a perilous game dungeon. Whatever awaited them wouldn't be good.
"Amamiya-kun, I'm sorry," Tsubame-senpai said, taking a deep breath and offering a sincere apology.
If not for Amamiya uncovering the mushroom's secret, the two of them would have likely fallen prey to it within ten minutes.
"Senpai is right," Amamiya replied. "We can't pull it out forcefully, so…"
As he spoke, he loosened his grip on the mushroom atop Little Red Riding Hood's head and gently patted her.
"I've decided to use a knife."
A kitchen knife materialized in Amamiya's right hand.
Tsubame blinked in disbelief. "…Wait."
If pulling the mushroom out violently could kill the host, wouldn't cutting it off with a knife do the same?
"Don't worry," Amamiya said confidently, pulling out a badge and pinning it to his chest. "As a Senior Dark Chef, I have plenty of experience handling cursed ingredients."
When Amamiya first saw the mushroom, a game prompt had appeared before his eyes:
[You have discovered a dark ingredient and have begun contemplating a hundred different ways to make mushroom stew.]
Since it was categorized as a "dark ingredient," he wasn't concerned.
After all, back in the ghost town dungeon, his dark culinary skills had made even ghosts tremble and break into cold sweats from pleasure.
Now, wearing the Dark Chef Badge, the proper method for harvesting the mushroom on Little Red Riding Hood's head appeared clearly in his mind.
"Senpai," Amamiya said, turning to Tsubame. "Have you heard of deer antlers?"
"Yes, I've heard of them," Tsubame replied, nodding slightly. "They say the antlers of sika deer can be processed and used as a tonic. Though I'm not sure if it's true."
"Whether or not they're useful is debatable," Amamiya said, glancing at Little Red Riding Hood. "But fresh deer antlers often need to be harvested in a specific way… Senpai, help me tie this Little Red Riding Hood up and hang her upside down from that tree."
Tsubame hesitated for a moment before sighing. "Understood."
Having experienced the dangers of the dungeon world, she had finally resolved to follow Amamiya's instructions without hesitation, no matter how strange or morally questionable they might seem.
"W-What are you planning to do?" the little girl stammered, her face pale with panic.
Amamiya smiled, his expression that of a cunning hunter.
"Don't worry," he said reassuringly. "I'm a senior chef, and my knife is very sharp."
The loli trembled but was powerless to resist. Other than the unusual mushroom on her head, she appeared entirely ordinary—lacking any remarkable strength or agility. Within moments, she was tied up with ropes.
Tsubame watched silently, knowing that everything Amamiya did was deliberate and not out of boredom or recklessness. Though confused, she refrained from asking unnecessary questions and simply assisted him.
Before long, the roles of hunter and prey were reversed. The strange Little Red Riding Hood was strung up upside down from a tree, completely at the mercy of the two.
"Different ingredients require different harvesting methods," Amamiya explained matter-of-factly. "To collect the mushroom on her head without harming her life, this is the only way."
The method had appeared in his mind when he equipped the Dark Chef Badge. Hanging the loli upside down wasn't for amusement—it was essential to the process.
"Is that so?" Tsubame asked, nodding despite her lack of understanding.
"Don't… don't pick my mushroom! I'll die—I'll really die!"
Little Red Riding Hood hung upside down from the tree, squirming like a trapped caterpillar. Her frantic movements caused snow from the branches above to cascade down in powdery flurries.
"Don't be afraid. It'll only hurt for a moment," Amamiya said in a calm, reassuring tone. "I'm skilled—there's no need to worry about excessive bleeding."
Tsubame's mouth twitched slightly as she shot him a disapproving glare.
She's just a child. Don't make inappropriate jokes in front of her!
After giving Little Red Riding Hood a moment to calm down, Amamiya gave a nod.
"Senpai, hold her steady."
"Got it."
Without hesitation, Tsubame wrapped her arms around the little girl, holding her tightly to keep her from squirming.
Amamiya gripped the kitchen knife firmly and brought it down in one swift motion.
Swish!
"Congratulations. The operation was a success."
He held up the freshly severed mushroom triumphantly, showing it to the group.
Little Red Riding Hood blinked in confusion before her gaze fell on the mushroom in Amamiya's hand. The realization hit her like a thunderbolt, and her eyes filled with despair.
"Amamiya-kun," Tsubame interjected. "Can we let her down now?"
"We can."
As Amamiya inspected the mushroom in his hand, the game displayed its attributes:
[Item: Hallucinogenic Mushroom]
[Type: Ingredient]
[Effect: Upon consumption, it significantly increases mental resistance for a short duration.]
[Warning: Must be specially prepared before consumption. Eating it raw will cause intense flushing, dizziness, and disorientation.]
[Note: This item can be taken out of the dungeon space.]
Meanwhile, Tsubame gently lowered the little girl from the tree.
Little Red Riding Hood stood there, dazed. She tentatively touched her head, her expression shifting from despair to confusion.
"The mushroom… it's gone?" she murmured.
Amamiya raised the mushroom slightly and replied, "It's here."
The little girl blinked, her confusion deepening. "I'm not… dead?"
"That's because the operation was successful," Amamiya said casually, handing her the hat she had lost. "Now, can you tell us what the deal is with that mushroom?"
After putting her hat back on and wiping her tear-streaked face with the back of her hand, the little girl hesitated before beginning her explanation.
She recounted how, long ago, for reasons unknown, mushrooms began to sprout from the heads of certain residents in the Fairy Tale Kingdom. Those afflicted faced a grim fate: if the mushrooms were removed violently, the person would die instantly. If left alone, the mushrooms would grow and slowly corrupt their hosts, turning them into malevolent beings.
She admitted that the same fate had befallen her.
"I didn't mean to," she stammered, her voice trembling. "I didn't want to become like that… but…"
The little girl explained that when she first saw Amamiya and Tsubame, her corrupted instincts immediately began tallying them as potential prey. In a world covered in ice and snow, food was scarce—even animals struggled to survive. For mushrooms that preyed on humans, Amamiya and Tsubame were simply "reserves" for sustenance.
Now that the mushroom had been removed, Little Red Riding Hood's demeanor shifted drastically. She looked frightened, her voice shaking as she continued.
Amamiya remained calm as he listened to her story. Once she finished, he asked, "Do you know about the seeds of nightmares?"
The little girl blinked in confusion. "Seeds of nightmares? I… I've never heard of them."
"Wait here."
Amamiya pulled out a small, palm-sized mirror from his inventory. It was the Mirror of Truth, a magical artifact he had borrowed from Rikka the previous day. The mirror could determine whether someone was telling the truth or lying.
Since Rikka was staying in the real world, it wasn't a problem for her to lend out her props.
Amamiya held the mirror in front of Little Red Riding Hood, repeating his question.
"Do you know about the seeds of nightmares?"
"I don't know," the little girl replied, shaking her head blankly.
Amamiya sighed thoughtfully. "It seems finding the nightmare seeds won't be easy. Of course, we'll need to verify it a few more times before jumping to conclusions."
Tsubame, watching curiously, asked, "Amamiya-kun, is that the kind of surprise tool that only reveals the truth?"
"Not exactly," he explained. "The mirror doesn't determine objective truth or lies—it only reflects what the user truly believes. For instance, there are still people who sincerely think the Earth is flat. If they say the Earth is a spinning top and genuinely believe it, the mirror won't register it as a lie."
After explaining, Amamiya handed the mirror to Tsubame. "You can try it yourself, Senpai."
Tsubame hesitated for a moment, then took the mirror. "What should I say?"
Amamiya smirked. "Why not start with, 'I'm not cute,' and see what happens?"
Tsubame glanced skeptically at her reflection. "Fine, I'll give it a shot." She sighed softly, looked into the mirror, and said, "I'm not cute."
As soon as the words left her mouth, an invisible force seemed to seize control of her, forcing her lips to blurt out:
"I-I'm cute!"
Amamiya chuckled. "Senpai, you should try being more modest."
"It's not my fault!" Tsubame flushed red, hurriedly handing the mirror back to him. "I couldn't stop myself!"
As he took the mirror, a sudden idea struck Amamiya like a bolt of inspiration.
Wait… Maybe this could be a way to find the nightmare seeds.
Before he could dwell on it further, Tsubame rubbed her hands together for warmth and suggested, "Shall we continue looking for Chika-chan and the others?"
Amamiya nodded. "Let's go. We should regroup before thinking about the mission."
The two had barely taken a few steps when Amamiya felt a gentle tug on the corner of his clothes. He turned around to find Little Red Riding Hood clutching his sleeve, her small face filled with desperation.
"M-Master Brave, please save my grandmother!" she pleaded, mustering all her courage.
Amamiya raised an eyebrow. Before entering the dungeon, he had donned cosplay and activated his role-playing skill to take on the persona of a hero, though his actions thus far were far from heroic.
"Didn't you say your grandmother was dead?" he asked, skeptical.
"Well... not really," Little Red Riding Hood admitted, her voice trembling. "Grandma has mushrooms growing on her head too. I didn't want you to go forward earlier because she's nearby. If Grandma finds you, there'll be nothing left for me!"
Tsubame tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, glancing ahead. "If it's just up ahead, we might as well check it out—it's on our way anyway."
Amamiya shot her a glance before turning back to Little Red Riding Hood. "Does your grandmother have any special abilities we should be worried about?"
If the grandmother was truly dangerous, it would be best to keep their distance.
The little girl tilted her head, thinking hard. "Special abilities… Grandma did mention one. It has something to do with the Big Bad Wolf. She said that even if the Big Bad Wolf eats her, she can get out of its stomach."
Amamiya stared at her in disbelief. Come on. Even in a fairy tale world, there has to be some level of logic!
"That's ridiculous. How is she supposed to jump out of the wolf's stomach after being eaten?" he muttered.
He sighed, pressing further, "Has your grandmother ever tested this ability?"
Little Red Riding Hood shook her head. "No. Grandma's never been eaten by the Big Bad Wolf."
"Let's hope it stays that way," Amamiya said dryly. "That kind of 'super special ability' sounds like the sort of thing you can only use once in your life."