Dylan

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Dylan (迪兰)
Alias(es)	Old Dylan
Species/Race	Parasitized human; later visibly a green, mycelium-covered parasitic being
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Mushroom Garden; Linden/Boss
Occupation/Role	Surface agent, information gatherer, spy handler, proprietor of Puji House
Status	Alive
First Appearance	20

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Parasitized state	20	Mycelium repairs his wounds and sustains him, but gradually alters his body; he initially retains his will.
Mimicry	27	Granted by Linden to conceal his fungal features through rough changes to skin color and texture.
Yellow Book enhancement	53	Receives a temporary surge of power and recovery while following the Yellow Book's instructions.
Acceleration LV6	72	Granted by Linden; improves his movement, evasion, and ability to avoid being surrounded.
Magic Storage	72	Granted before his journey to the Archipelago, allowing him to store more magic power.
Photosynthesis	74	Acquires a skill that generates magic power from sunlight, greatly improving his endurance but turning his body green.
Crystal Symbiosis	257	Produces an S-Rank Magic Crystal for the first time.

Background / History

Dylan was parasitized after encountering Parasitic Trees in the Amethyst Dungeon. His wounds were filled with mycelium and a mushroom grew from his body, yet he retained his consciousness rather than becoming fully controlled like other victims. Faced with limited time and worsening mutation, he focused on earning enough money to save his daughter Bella. 20

He sold Parasitic Tree seeds for 90 gold coins to purchase a Rebirth Potion for Bella, then traveled to Finlad, where he fought a Blood-Eating Ghoul despite being badly outmatched and injured. His fungal body repaired some of the damage, further advancing his transformation. 24

After returning to the dungeon's Fifth Floor, Dylan was captured and brought before Linden. Rather than be turned into a mushroom-covered Gnoll, he accepted Linden's offer of food, lodging, protection, and work. He became the Mushroom Garden's first employee and began carrying out surface missions under the name “Boss.” 27

Dylan later left the dungeon to search for Bella after learning she had traveled toward the Archipelago. Linden strengthened him for the journey and sent Scout, a Puji disguised as Dylan's backpack, to accompany him. 69 72 77

By the time Mushroom Town was established, Dylan had become the proprietor of Puji House. He used the inn as a safe house and intelligence-exchange point for human and Demon Race spies while continuing to report to Linden through the Mycelium Network. 315 319

Appearance

Dylan's parasitization progressively changed him from a human adventurer into a visibly fungal being. He commonly conceals these changes with Mimicry, though the disguise can fail under injury, magical detection, or certain formations. 27 84 156

• His face was described as ghastly and crawling with mycelium. 23
• His wounds can be filled by mycelium, with mushrooms growing from the affected area. 20
• Without Mimicry, he has green skin composed of flesh and mycelium, covered in fungal threads. 76 156
• His Photosynthesis causes his body to become noticeably greener. 76
• He is frequently mistaken for an old man despite being only forty-five during his journey toward the Archipelago. 81
• In later life as “Old Dylan,” he has thinning hair and presents himself as a warm, dependable innkeeper. 319 408

Personality

Dylan is pragmatic and survival-minded. He accepted life under Linden's authority because it offered safety, sustenance, and a way to continue searching for Bella, but he did not begin as an unquestioning follower. 27 69

His central motivation is his daughter. He risks his life to obtain money and information for Bella, crosses the continent and sea to pursue leads, and remains emotionally overwhelmed upon learning she is alive. 20 68 426

Despite his caution and frequent complaints, Dylan repeatedly helps others when confronted with immediate danger. He intervenes against a noble knight abusing a village girl, protects Bianka from gang extortion, and shelters Rita's frightened rookie partner. 81 364 319

His experience has made him observant and increasingly capable at deception, intelligence work, and reading suspicious behavior. By the time he manages Puji House, he can immediately identify an inexperienced spy from his posture and mannerisms. 315

Abilities & Skills

Fungal Physiology

Dylan's parasitic mycelium repairs injuries and provides a means of absorbing magical nourishment.

• Requires mycelium or mana to replenish himself; relying on mana potions alone is expensive. 27
• Can recover from severe injury, though the process further erodes his human appearance. 20 24
• Is vulnerable to exposure: damage can cause Mimicry to fail and reveal his fungal body. 156
• Does not inherently grant superior physical attributes; early in his transformation, he states that becoming half-mushroom did not improve them. 52

Mimicry

A disguise skill granted by Linden to let Dylan move among humans.

• Alters skin color and texture to create a rough human appearance. 27
• Cannot withstand close scrutiny, magical detection arrays, or injury reliably. 84 156
• Lets him disguise himself as a backpack when used by Scout rather than Dylan himself; Scout's disguised form serves as Dylan's travel companion and protection. 77

Acceleration

A mobility skill granted to improve Dylan's survival chances.

• Reached LV6 when granted. 72
• Allows him to use experienced footwork to avoid encirclement by multiple Puji. 72
• Combines effectively with Evasion when escaping guards and Knight Liadrin. 105
• Improves survivability more than his offensive power; he still struggles to inflict decisive damage against stronger foes. 72

Magic Storage and Photosynthesis

Skills that address Dylan's dependence on mana potions.

• Magic Storage lets him carry more magic power internally rather than constantly drinking potions. 72 74
• Photosynthesis generates magic power from sunlight. 74
• To maximize Photosynthesis, he sometimes exposes as much skin as possible to sunlight, including traveling nearly naked. 83
• Cannot be used discreetly in populated areas, forcing him to return to mana potions. 105

Combat Skills

Dylan is a Silver Rank adventurer with practical combat experience, though he is not a top-tier fighter. 69 156

• Parry LV4 — Used to defend against a Blood-Eating Ghoul's claws. 24
• Pierce LV4 — Used in close combat against thugs. 67
• Spin Slash LV5–6 — A frequently used sword technique for fighting and breaking through obstacles. 67 82 105
• Phantom Clone — Creates three apparent copies of Dylan to misdirect opponents. 67
• Block — Used against a noble knight's Charge and Spin Slash combination. 82
• Evasion LV4 — Used alongside Acceleration to evade guards during his escape from Clark. 105
• Ice Spike — Used with Phantom Clone and equipment to wound a noble knight. 82

Crystal Symbiosis

A later skill associated with magic-crystal production.

• Produces S-Rank Magic Crystals. 257
• Dylan and the Puji use produced crystals to strengthen themselves. 257

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Longsword — Dylan's primary weapon; used with Parry, Pierce, Spin Slash, and other combat skills. 24 72
• Strength pendant — A stolen item that grants Strength +4; its identification by Knight Liadrin contributes to Dylan being exposed in Clark. 104 106
• Scout — A Puji controlled by Linden that commonly disguises itself as Dylan's backpack; provides scouting, protection, communications, and emergency support. 77 105
• Rings, gems, and pendant — Later used together to generate layered shields during combat. 856
• Yellow Book — A soul-like magical book that aided Dylan's escape but charmed and manipulated him. It was later torn apart by Little Black and interrogated through Dylan. 52 55 56

Relationships

• Bella — Dylan's daughter and primary motivation; he risks his life, spends his savings, and travels to the Archipelago to find and protect her. 20 68 69
• Linden / Boss — Employer, protector, and controller of the Mushroom Garden. Their relationship develops from a survival-based employment arrangement into strong mutual reliance and loyalty. 27 72 238
• Scout — Linden's Puji familiar assigned to accompany Dylan. Dylan is responsible for its upkeep, particularly its need for water and mana. 77 81
• Clolo — Demon Race Shapeshifter and fellow spy. Clolo initially mentors Dylan in espionage, but their later reunion ends with Clolo attempting to take Dylan hostage and being captured. 84 104 342
• Bianka — Puji House employee whom Dylan protects from local gang extortion and treats with paternal concern. 315 364
• Norris — Friend and Mushroom Garden resident. Dylan supports him and later hosts him at Puji House. 257 408
• Liadrin — Knight who first aids Dylan against thugs, then identifies his stolen pendant and pursues him through Clark. 104 105
• Rita — Demon Race spy associated with Puji House. Dylan recognizes her professional competence and later shelters her rookie partner after her disappearance. 315 319

Story Role / Major Arcs

Parasitization and Bella's Rescue

Dylan becomes parasitized in the Amethyst Dungeon, sells Parasitic Tree seeds to fund Bella's treatment, and fights through Finlad during a Blood-Eating Ghoul attack. 20 24

First Mushroom Garden Employee

He returns to the Fifth Floor, meets Linden, accepts employment in the Mushroom Garden, and begins acting as a human-facing agent by selling the Fifth Floor walkthrough. 26 27

Yellow Book Incident

After obtaining the Yellow Book from stolen goods, Dylan is hunted by black-robed Demon Race pursuers. The book helps him escape but later charms him into reckless behavior, resulting in his recovery by Linden's forces. 52 55 56

Search for Bella

Dylan learns Bella traveled to Silver Sand Bay and leaves the dungeon with Linden's support. During the journey, he acquires Acceleration, Magic Storage, and Photosynthesis, rescues a village girl, meets Clolo, and becomes entangled in espionage and pursuit by Liadrin. 68 72 81 84 105

Archipelago Voyage

Dylan escapes Clark aboard the Wind Feather, survives the Ghost Ship incident by jumping into the sea with Scout, and eventually reaches Silver Sand Bay after losing his supplies. 106 132 155

Return to the Mushroom Garden

When Linden goes silent and Scout dies, Dylan immediately attempts to return and help despite limited funds and travel restrictions. He later returns to the dungeon and confronts evidence that Mushroom Garden's growth has required sacrifices. 238 249

Puji House and Mushroom Town

As Old Dylan, he manages Puji House, exchanges intelligence with spies, protects Bianka, reports to Linden through the Mycelium Network, and assists visitors and residents of Mushroom Town. 315 319 364 408

Trivia

• Dylan was only forty-five when a noble knight called him an “old man.” 81
• He once discovered a memorial reading “Dylan Slick lies here in eternal rest,” prompting him to ask Linden how he had supposedly died. 249
• He considers himself unsuited to grand ambition and is content with a quiet, semi-retired life when Linden does not need him. 897
• Bella is later revealed to be level 48, significantly stronger than Dylan and nearing the usual standard of a Diamond Rank adventurer. 426