"Otherwise what?"
"The main ingredient in this soup is actually a type of monster."
"A monster?" He Xi grew even more curious. "What kind?"
"A monster called a Pooji," Hulk chimed in. "They usually dwell in dark, damp Dungeons or ancient ruins.
"They don't have much combat ability, but they move quickly and stealthily. The 'Pooji, Pooji' sounds they make can interfere with a pursuer's hearing, so they're not easy to catch.
"Their meat is incomparably delicious—better than any known mushroom."
He Xi suddenly understood. "A monster from a Dungeon? No wonder a bowl of soup costs five Silver Scales."
Laila gave a soft snort. "They may be hard to catch, but one Pooji can make enough soup to fill who knows how many bowls.
"It's just that there aren't any decent Dungeons around here. I wonder where that shady merchant Patchy got his supply."
"Haha, who cares where it came from as long as it tastes good!" Belt chuckled, looking at He Xi. "I thought you'd tried it before. I didn't know you'd never heard of this monster."
He Xi shook his head.
"This soup is especially popular among mages. They say it can effectively relieve mental fatigue and make your thoughts more focused and sharp."
As if to confirm Hulk's words, He Xi clearly felt that as the hot soup went down, it wasn't just his taste buds that were indulged. It was as though a cool energy washed over his mind, leaving it more relaxed and clear.
At the same time, a new buff appeared in the status panel in his mind:
[Status:... Sunken Lair Hopping Puchi buff: Physique +2, Wisdom +1, Will -0. Remaining duration: 3 hours 59 minutes.]
"So it really is a monster..." He Xi was secretly startled. "And unlike the effects