Fifteen minutes went by, and Yuichi was still in disbelief about what he had just seen.
Yuichi was utterly astonished when the Fungling Folk, which had come up to him and touched the Mycelium Heart, suddenly transformed into something utterly illogical—a little human girl!
The mushroom girl continued to hold onto his chest, her embrace conveying a deep sense of affection and devotion. Her smile radiated a singular focus, as though nothing else in the world mattered to her except him.
Yuichi couldn't believe it and exclaimed in his mind, 'How did this happen!? Can creatures really evolve like this?'
He scratched his chin, lost in thought. Then, out of the blue, a screen appeared right in front of him, but instead of the usual blue, it glowed in a surprising shade of pink.
[System Alert: Evolution Activity Detected]
[Congratulations! Your bond with your pet has deepened significantly, resulting in a new development.]
'Evolution!? I didn't know something like that exists here!' Yuichi was baffled.
Evolution of creatures into human form without a special bond or interaction is uncommon because it typically requires a complex interplay of genetic mutations, environmental factors, and immense spans of time.
Evolution, as a biological process, is driven by the need for species to adapt to their surroundings over millions of years. To transform into a human-like shape without direct interaction or a strong catalyst like symbiosis or domestication is a highly improbable event in the natural course of evolution.
It would demand an extraordinary convergence of genetic changes and environmental conditions, making such transformations extremely rare in the absence of specific selection pressures or close associations with humans.
In most cases, creatures develop human-like traits only when it directly benefits their survival or reproductive success, emphasizing the remarkable specificity of the evolutionary process.
Amidst, the system also put another pink screen in front of Yuichi's face.
[We've noticed that your pet doesn't have a name yet. Would you like to give it one?]
'Wait a minute, a pet? She's not even my pet!' Yuichi said to himself.
'At first, she appeared as a tiny mushroom, but with a touch of the Mycelium Heart, she transformed into a girl. I couldn't believe it when the System labeled her as my pet, it seemed absurd!"'
Although, several chapters earlier, Yuichi had spoken the truth. He had unexpectedly stumbled upon a quaint, minuscule village inhabited by the mysterious Fungling Folk. In a courageous act, he had valiantly battled a formidable golem to safeguard these peculiar villagers.
Upon his triumphant victory, Yuichi found himself in possession of valuable loot, including a unique item known as the Mycelium Heart. As he examined the radiant gem, a curious Fungling Folk approached him, its gaze fixated on the enigmatic Mycelium Heart he clutched in his hand.
Without hesitation, Yuichi decided to give the heart to the Fungling Folk, for he had no inkling of its purpose or value. However, to his astonishment, the moment the heart touched the creature's hand, a miraculous transformation occurred. The Fungling Folk metamorphosed before his very eyes, transmuting into the form of a young girl.
This unexpected turn of events left Yuichi bewildered. In the realm of anime, fantastical occurrences were commonplace, yet encountering a mushroom girl was an unprecedented and extraordinary experience that he had never imagined.
As the mushroom girl continued hugging Yuichi, he suddenly realized that her bare skin was touching his. Yuichi blushed slightly and gently pushed her away from his chest.
The mushroom girl looked at him with a puzzled expression, innocence in her eyes.
Feeling unsure of how to handle the situation, Yuichi rubbed his eyes with his fingers, unsure of what to do next.
'This is totally crazy. I mean, seriously, what am I supposed to do with her? I didn't end up in this creepy dungeon just to play matchmaker. That's even just a little girl!' Yuichi grumbled to himself.
As Yuichi pondered his next move in the eerie dungeon, the mushroom girl couldn't help but watch him, a mixture of confusion and curiosity in her innocent eyes.
She saw that Yuichi was fascinated by her transformation, and with slow, cautious steps, she inched closer to her child-sized body. The Fungling Folk, equally intrigued by her change, began to climb up her bare legs, one after the other.
Inadvertently, as their tiny forms touched her, the mushroom girl emitted a high-pitched sound, almost like a moan. Startled by this, Yuichi lowered his hand and turned his gaze toward her, witnessing the Fungling Folk swarming around her.
The mushroom girl was bewildered by the sensations she was experiencing. However, as the Fungling Folk continued to climb and touch her bare skin, she couldn't help but emit soft moans.
It was evident that she wasn't enjoying the sensation, and if this continued, it could become problematic for the young girl.
Slightly flustered, Yuichi approached the mushroom girl and carefully began removing the Fungling Folk from her body, gently placing them on the ground.
"She's uncomfortable with being touched, so stop it," Yuichi scolded the Fungling Folk as he worked to clear them away from her.
After a while, he successfully removed all the curious creatures from the mushroom girl's body. Confused and slightly frightened by the unfamiliar sensations, she rushed to Yuichi's stomach, hugging him tightly, her inaudible grumble expressing her fear of being touched.
He gently patted her head and said, "It's okay; they didn't mean any harm. They were just curious."
Despite not understanding human language, the mushroom girl sensed the sincerity in Yuichi's reassurance when he spoke.
The mushroom girl looked up at him, her eyes reflecting her trust in his words, and nuzzled her face into his stomach, eliciting a faint tickling sensation.
Yuichi remained uncertain about what to do with the girl, but he couldn't leave her alone in this dangerous dungeon with monsters lurking about. He removed his robe and offered it to her.
"Take this; you need to cover yourself," he said.
The mushroom girl accepted the robe from Yuichi, examining the cloth with curiosity. Although she wasn't sure how to wear it, observing how Yuichi had taken it off gave her a rough idea.
She mimicked the process of removing clothing in reverse, slowly but surely managing to put on the robe.
Yuichi scratched his head, still unsure of his next steps. Loneliness was creeping in, and he contemplated the idea of having a companion.
'I don't know what to do with her,' he thought, but a glimmer of acceptance began to form.
'Having a companion doesn't sound so bad. It's getting lonely in here. But what can she do? I don't even know if they have a System like mine,' he mused.
With a sigh, Yuichi gathered his thoughts and decided to accept his fate, at least for now.
"I think I should take you along," Yuichi said quietly to himself.
He recalled that the System mentioned the girl didn't have a name, so he decided it was time to give her one.
Yuichi furrowed his eyebrows, deep in thought, while he absentmindedly stroked his chin. After a moment of contemplation, he finally came up with a name for the mushroom girl.
"I'll call you Lumiella," Yuichi said to the System.
[Confirmation: "Lumiella", was it?]
[Yes or No?]
"Yes, that's my answer."
[The input has been confirmed to "Yes." Updating the info...]
[Congratulations, your pet has been successfully named as "Lumiella."]
'She is not my pet, I swear to this system...'
[Since Lumiella has forged a relationship with you, you can now check their status.]
[Lumiella]
[Mood - Happy]
[New Relationship Established: You have now become a [Companion] to Lumiella, forging a stronger connection with your newfound friend.]
'That's reliable to hear. I can check her status in the system.' Yuichi thought to himself.
As Yuichi pondered his situation, Lumiella connected with her fellow creatures, hunching down and engaging in a unique conversation filled with squeaks and gestures.
While Lumiella understood them, she couldn't quite mimic their language anymore, resorting to vague noises and gestures instead.
Yuichi, meanwhile, turned toward the path leading deeper into the dungeon, collecting his thoughts and glancing at Lumiella, who was engrossed in her communication with the Fungling Folk.
Although their interaction was cute, Yuichi knew he had to break it. He needed to explore further into the dungeon.
"Lumiella, we're moving on. I don't really have a choice but to take you with me," Yuichi stated.
Hearing his words, Lumiella turned her head and stood, facing him. She cautiously stepped closer and joined his side.
Yuichi smiled at her, despite his doubts about this decision. He gave her head a gentle pat, then stared into the dark cavern, ready to venture into the treacherous depths of the dungeon.
He hoped to find a way out and become stronger. Gathering his resolve, he looked at Lumiella.
"Let's explore this dungeon together," he told her.
With her innocent nod, she was ready to follow him, casting a last glance back at her village, where the Fungling Folk waved their goodbyes.
Yuichi stepped into the dark cavern, determined to survive and grow stronger. Lumiella briefly followed him, bidding her final farewell to her akin.
With his newfound companion, Yuichi felt a newfound sense of security. He was no longer alone.