As a Charming Mushroom, I Fell into the Apocalypse (MUSHROOM)
Hui Gu glared furiously. “Squeak!” How dare you!
Enraged, he bit down on Gu Wang’s audacious finger.
Naturally, he couldn’t even leave a mark with his bite.
Yet, it was mistaken for affection. The finger was then pulled out, leaving the mushroom dangling precariously from it.
Just as Hui Gu was about to flare up again, a startled gasp caught his attention, diverting his focus.
Fang Xiangxiang exclaimed softly, “Y-You have a mutant creature on your hand!”
Wang Xiaojun’s expression immediately shifted to alarm as he shielded his girlfriend behind him.
Though they had secretly followed this person, they had kept their distance and missed many details.
They never expected this person to be carrying a Fungal Mutant.
Was he parasitized?
Was his contamination level still within the normal threshold?
Was he even still human…?
Their terrified eyes seemed to convey these questions, but Gu Wang had no intention of explaining.
Hui Gu, however, was delighted, thinking his presence had frightened these uninvited guests.
Instantly, he felt his five-centimeter stature was incredibly imposing.
The mighty little mushroom released his bite, dropping from Gu Wang’s hand, only to be caught steadily by the other hand. He then squeaked twice at the pair.
Fang Xiangxiang’s tense shoulders gradually relaxed as she murmured, “A mushroom?”
It was a dull gray mushroom, utterly ordinary in appearance.
Since the apocalypse, even the most harmless common mushrooms had mutated into brightly colored toxic varieties, some even growing as tall as buildings and becoming regional dominants.
They couldn’t remember the last time they had seen such a tiny mushroom.
Yet, this seemingly powerful new human seemed to value this mushroom greatly.
Wang Xiaojun tugged at his girlfriend’s hand, signaling her to stop asking.
In the apocalypse, not prying into others’ affairs was a basic rule of survival.
Gu Wang paid no attention to the pair. His earlier strike had been a warning, drawing a clear boundary.
If they crossed that line again, they would end up like that Mutant Rabbit.
Holding Hui Gu, he raised an eyebrow and asked, “Don’t want to sleep?”
The little one had fallen asleep on his thigh last night and had slept soundly in his pocket afterward.
He thought it was a trait of young creatures.
Unaware that he was being treated like a newborn mushroom, Hui Gu had slept exceptionally well on Gu Wang and was now full of energy. Hearing the question, he quickly hopped onto Gu Wang’s shoulder. “Squeak!” No sleep, let’s go!
His willful demeanor was utterly spoiled.
Gu Wang let him perch there and turned to leave.
“W-Wait!”
Seeing Gu Wang stride away without looking back, Wang Xiaojun wanted to follow but hesitated, unable to bring himself to step over the crack split by the Blade Qi on the ground.
He could only shout at the man, "You don't have a car—do you plan to walk to the shelter on foot?"
Hui Gu caught the keyword: car.
He turned back excitedly to look at the large black vehicle.
The modified off-road vehicle exuded a heavy, settled aura under the sunlight, its numerous scars hinting at the dangers encountered each time.
Gu Wang paused in his steps, but it was for three different words.
"Shelter?"
The man's thin lips moved slightly, his deep voice uttering a brief question.
The habitual interrogative tone of someone in authority made Wang Xiaojun feel like a student being called upon, compelling him to answer, "Yes, there's a shelter nearby. I thought you were also here to seek refuge."
The latter half of his sentence carried a hidden agenda, hoping to gauge the man's intentions.
Gu Wang didn't respond immediately as a thoughtful expression crossed his face.
Seeing the man's interest in their words, Fang Xiangxiang immediately chimed in with tact, "We're also hoping to take shelter there. It's too far to Dawn Base from here—for low-level new humans, the mortality rate exceeds seventy percent. It's better to lie low in a shelter."
Ordinary people couldn't survive in the wasteland; even with protective suits, they wouldn't last long.
So they had never intended to hide the fact that they were new humans.
As the words "Dawn Base" left her lips, a flicker of darkness passed through Gu Wang's eyes, but it soon returned to its usual stillness.
Having obtained the answer he wanted, he merely gave a slight nod and prepared to continue on his way, showing no intention of traveling with them.
Wang Xiaojun was unwilling to give up. He understood all too well the importance of aligning with the strong in this apocalyptic world. "Wait, we can guide you there. We have supplies in our car..."
"Ji!"
A childish voice sounded by his ear. Gu Wang tilted his head slightly. "Hmm?"
Wang Xiaojun was taken aback. He hadn't expected that after all his efforts, even drying out his throat, he couldn't make the man stay, while that ugly mushroom's single sound had halted this powerful new human in his tracks.
A strange feeling arose within him, but he didn't dare probe further.
Hui Gu: "Ji ji." Car ride, I want a car ride.
He couldn't care less about the shelter or base the two humans mentioned; his eyes held only curiosity about riding in a car.
All young creatures are restless, and Hui Gu was among the most energetic of them.
When he sees something he likes, he must have it.
Naturally, he never needs to worry about not getting it.
High-level mutant creatures would continuously deliver gifts to him.
Hui Gu righteously urged Gu Wang.
Gu Wang's gaze was profound, his tone icy. "I won't indulge you."
He immediately guessed what Hui Gu wanted.
Spoiled.
He criticized the mushroom inwardly.
Upon hearing this, Hui Gu bristled with anger, puffing up and jumping down on his own.
Mid-freefall, he even spun in the air once, but before he could touch the ground, Gu Wang used his supernatural ability to catch him.
The man's expression was displeased, yet his ability gently set the mushroom on the ground, contradicting his stern demeanor.
Given Hui Gu's lightweight form, even falling from over a meter high wouldn't cause much pain.
Gu Wang looked down coldly at Hui Gu.
He could allow this foolish mutant creature to follow him, but he wouldn't be influenced by it, much less change his planned route because of it.
If Hui Gu chose to leave, he wouldn't stop him.
Hui Gu didn't notice the man's inscrutable gaze as he stomped forward angrily, though his five-centimeter height failed to convey any imposing presence.
Yet when he charged right up to the two people, they instinctively retreated two steps.
Wang Xiaojun watched this plain, grayish mushroom warily.
Even if it resembled an ugly duckling, this was still a mutant creature that shouldn't be underestimated.
He couldn't help wanting to use his supernatural ability to drive it away—everyone's instinct when facing mutant creatures was to keep their distance.
If Hui Gu hadn't originally been following that man, Wang Xiaojun would have attacked already.
"Jee!" Hand over the vehicle!
Hui Gu tried to puff up his round Mushroom Cap in an attempt to intimidate.
But he forgot about his bad habit of losing control over his spores when agitated.
An extremely minute amount of pheromones was released, yet the concentration was so pure that even diluted by the wind, the two people before him still received it.
Fang Xiangxiang's gaze grew dazed for a moment as she unconsciously scolded her boyfriend: "Don't move so abruptly—what if you step on him?"
Wang Xiaojun immediately felt somewhat wronged, yet found himself retracting his supernatural ability without knowing why, feeling slightly flustered: "O-okay."
He rubbed his nose: "Do you want to come with us?"
His tone even softened slightly.
Any creature enchanted by Hui Gu would never notice anything unusual.
This fondness felt innate, as if it were always meant to be this way.
Their minds would gradually be swayed until they were completely enchanted.
This was only the beginning.
Hui Gu was already used to it. He circled around these two seemingly dumber humans and hopped onto the car hood by himself via the wheel.
Satisfied, he surveyed this cold, black metal block, clearly treating it as his new toy.
Fang Xiangxiang: "He's so cute, let's keep him..."
Wang Xiaojun hesitated: "But this is that big shot's ex... exotic pet."
He cautiously glanced at Gu Wang, struggling for a long time before coming up with this term.
He'd heard that in major bases, some people indeed kept mutant creatures as exotic pets, even training them to become combat assets.
As for the specific methods, they were likely extremely difficult and cruel.
For some reason, Gu Wang hadn't left. Though his gaze never drifted their way, every word of their conversation clearly reached his ears.
A wave of irritability rose in his heart.
These two had ulterior motives. Only a fool like this mushroom would believe humans would willingly accept mutant creatures.
Humans and mutant creatures were absolute opposites.
Feeling his pollution level beginning to stir again, Gu Wang decided to find a secluded spot immediately.
Before he could take two steps, a series of beeping horn sounds came from behind.
Wang Xiaojun and Fang Xiangxiang watched nervously as the mushroom slipped through the car window: "Shh, shh, quiet now, little one."
Although this area was relatively safe, loud noises still carried the risk of attracting mutant creatures.
Hui Gu paid them no mind, happily bouncing vigorously on the steering wheel.
Beep—beep beep beep—
Gu Wang turned back.
Hui Gu immediately jumped even more energetically: "Squeak!" Come here, human!
"Chirp chirp chirp!" This is my capture! This car belongs to me now!
In the mushroom world, there was no such thing as equivalent exchange.
If Gu likes it, Gu takes it!
The man froze for a moment, pausing: "Hm?"
He seemed to have guessed what this mushroom wanted again.
Gu Wang's voice was slightly hoarse: "You want me to drive?"
"Chirp!" Of course!
Hui Gu felt somewhat disdainful of this Incubator he'd picked up—why was it so stupid?
He was a mushroom! How could a mushroom drive a car?
Naturally, this human needed to serve him, to be his chauffeur.
Hui Gu bobbed up and down, gesturing for Gu Wang to hurry over.
Gu Wang slowly approached. The pollution level raging inside him had inexplicably begun to subside. He stared at Hui Gu: "Why?"
Why him? Why not go to other humans?
Why?
Hui Gu tilted his head. He rarely considered the "why" of his actions.
Mushroom logic was simple—only straightforward likes and dislikes.
If a reasonable explanation was necessary, it was because when a mount acquired another mount, it became a more useful mount.
His little mind whirred rapidly.
Hui Gu lifted his head: "Chirp." Because you're useful.
Gu Wang didn't translate this statement. He only saw the mushroom looking utterly trusting, like a newly hatched chick.
Trust.
The most meaningless existence in the world.
Silver light flowed again through his pure black pupils, like dawn shifting and exchanging within his eyes, before gradually fading into stillness.
After some unknown contemplation, Gu Wang changed his mind.
Having a car would indeed be much more convenient.
He pulled open the car door and directly took the driver's seat, calmly uttering two words: "Lead the way."
Fang Xiangxiang and Wang Xiaojun exchanged glances, seeing mutual astonishment in each other's eyes.
They hadn't expected this big shot to suddenly agree to go to the shelter with them.
Wang Xiaojun reacted quickly, immediately putting on an ingratiating smile. "Boss, as long as you can get us safely to the shelter, you can take this car if you want."
A car was nothing compared to their lives.
Gu Wang had no intention of engaging further with them; he still didn't trust these two.
Especially their strange attitude toward the mushroom earlier had left him particularly displeased.
Watching Hui Gu curiously looking around and running back and forth inside the car, Gu Wang felt a wave of helplessness for the first time.
Stupid mushroom, completely unaware he'd nearly been caught and turned into mushroom soup.
•───────•°•❀•°•───────•
The completed novel is now available in my Ko-fi page.
If you appreciate what I do, please consider supporting me on kofi. Thank you!
•───────•°•❀•°•───────•