Chapter 125

Then again it might not go so well. Elder could hate the idea. It might see me trying to take over an area like those other mushrooms he’s had to kill.

They dominated an area and so would I. Potentially.

Of course the argument there would be to tell elder that unlike them I am helping the area flourish. Hell I could even tell it that I was not taking an iota of nutrients from the hub, simply directing the nutrients already there effectively and efficiently.

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When elder inevitably asks how exactly I was subsisting without partaking of the hub’s nutrients I’d have to tell it that I was getting my nutrients a different way. The curious bastard would then ask if I could tell it in what way exactly and I’d just have to tell it the truth.

I was stealing nutrients and lichen cells from the local lichen colonies. And I’m not sure I wanna tell it about that. I’m tempted into just lying but … it just doesn’t feel right for some reason.

… and besides it’s not stealing.

It’s bartering.

The lichen are getting something perfectly acceptable in return for their contribution.

Water.

Oh fuck I definitely can’t tell elder all this.

It’ll kill me on principle.