Chapter 103 The Secret Lore of Samon Mushrooms and the Shadow of War
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
The Samon Mushrooms¹. In the world of gastronomy and herbalism, few ingredients carry a reputation quite as scandalous. They are, by far, one of the most popular ingredients for their potent aphrodisiac qualities. With a shape and vibrant hue that leaves very little to the imagination-resembling the male anatomy with startling clarity-ancient folklore has long whispered that these fungi possess the power to beckon succubi from the shadows. Indeed, this is the very reason they are known as the Mushrooms of Summoning.
Historical records suggest that such creatures were remarkably fond of Samon Mushroom soup, despite the fact that their primary sustenance is the absorption of vitality through more intimate encounters. Because of this, the mushrooms were both highly prized as treasures and strictly avoided as omens of ill fortune across various lands.
Legends regarding them are as varied as they are vivid. It is said that those who feast upon them risk becoming succubi themselves. Others claim that placing a mushroom by one’s pillow will ensure a supernatural visitor in the night, while hanging them to dry under the eaves will lure curious spirits away from entering the home. Perhaps the most peculiar claim is that consuming them grants one the fortitude to survive an encounter with a succubus without perishing from exhaustion.
Culturally speaking, the bond between these mushrooms and the demonic realm is undeniable. However, the true reason they remain a staple of the market is their extraordinary umami. While it is a well-known fact that many fungi are toxic, they are also celebrated for their deep, savory flavors. Even among the finest edible species, the Samon Mushroom’s richness is in a league of its own. It possesses a distinct bitterness that requires a skilled hand and a specific palate, yet its allure is impossible to ignore.
Dried Samon Mushrooms are particularly sought after, as the dehydration process mellows the bitterness and allows the rather suggestive shape to be disguised. One must be cautious, however; drying concentrates the aphrodisiac effects. While no true toxicity to the human body has ever been recorded, excessive consumption tends to result in a dramatic surge of circulation, particularly focused on one’s more sensitive regions. Since the effect applies to both men and women, it is a common secret among wives looking to rekindle the spark in their marriages to slip a few into the evening stew.
These mushrooms primarily hail from the northern reaches, sprouting from the roots of coniferous trees. They are known by many colorful local names, such as the ‘Larch’s Member’, ‘The Forest’s manhood’, and ‘The Hunter’s Sweetheart’. They are most famously a specialty of the Coalmine Kingdom².
- From ‘A Compendium of Magical Ingredients’ by Emilio Evans.
* * *
When Lily, my test-subject slave, informed me that our supply of Samon Mushrooms had dried up, my first thought was a weary realization: “So, it’s finally happened.”
Originally, Samon Mushrooms were a common sight, sourced from neighboring lands and domestic forests alike, making them a relatively inexpensive staple for my shop. Back when I had just begun selling magic items tailored for women, the revenue from aphrodisiacs using these mushrooms was a vital lifeline for the business.
To be specific, they were the key ingredient in ‘My Lustful First Love’, a classic entry-level potion, as well as more intense bestsellers like ‘Fevered Vagina Hole, Burning Clitoris’.
’My Lustful First Love’ relied on the natural properties of the Samon Mushroom to maintain its reputation: it was affordable, gentle in its effects, free from dangerous or volatile components, and actually tasted quite pleasant. Because it was designed for beginners, it sold in vast quantities, though even experienced users would return to it when they desired a more mellow experience. If we couldn’t get the mushrooms, the shop’s bottom line was going to take a serious hit.
I had seen the warning signs for a while. Usually, the market is flooded in early spring with the harvest dried over the winter, but this year, the goods from Coalmine began to vanish. Prices spiked in the summer as stocks dwindled, and even through the autumn when fresh mushrooms should have lowered the cost, the market remained stubborn. Now that winter had arrived, the prices had reached such heights that procurement was becoming impossible.
It seemed likely that there would be no spring shipment from Coalmine at all. I could think of several reasons: a poor harvest, a collapse in the trade routes, or perhaps an export ban imposed by the Coalmine Kingdom itself.
Regardless, I needed the full story. I waited for the arrival of Sera-chan from the Tasogare Merchant Guild³, who handled our regular deliveries. Before long, the rhythmic chime of the doorbell announced her presence.
”Ah, welcome, Sera-chan,” I said.
”Kento-san…” Sera-chan replied.
Standing at the back entrance was a girl who looked every bit the diligent class president, with her brown hair tied in semi-long braids, large round spectacles, and a dusting of freckles. However, instead of her usual practical merchant’s attire, she was dressed in a stiff, formal outfit that resembled a business suit. Her expression was uncharacteristically grim.
”Business as usual. Sera from the Tasogare Merchant Guild, at your service,” she said with a polite bow.
”Well, you certainly look sharp today,” I observed. “But you look a bit stiff. Is everything alright?”
”And you are as casual as ever, Kento-san…” Sera-chan muttered. “I heard you were out until morning. Don’t you think you should show a bit more reflection for your actions?”
”I don’t do reflection or regret,” I replied. “It would be rude to the person I was with. Anyway, this sounds like a complicated talk. Why don’t you come inside?”
”Hmph… fine. Thank you,” Sera-chan said, her face clouded with a lingering look of resentment as I ushered her into the house. Usually, we finished our business at the door, so this might have been the first time she’d actually come in since our very first meeting.
”Everyone is in the middle of working, so don’t mind the noise,” I said.
”Yes, thank you for the consideration,” Sera-chan said, her eyes darting around the room. “It was just you and Lily-san at first, but you’ve certainly gained a lot of staff and equipment since then.”
”Yeah, thanks to everyone’s hard work,” I agreed.
Sera-chan sat primly in a chair, still looking around curiously while I brewed a pot of tea and served it to her.
”So, I hear we can’t get any Samon Mushrooms?” I asked.
”I’m afraid so…” Sera-chan replied, bowing her head deeply. “Despite the constant price hikes, you trusted our guild with your supply, and I am deeply sorry that we have failed you.”
In the merchant world, trust is everything. Being unable to provide a promised product was clearly a point of great shame for the Tasogare Guild.
”It can’t be helped,” I said gently. “It’s not like it’s the guild’s fault. Is this related to the war?”
”Thank you for understanding,” Sera-chan said. “As you suspected, the Coalmine Kingdom is preparing for conflict. They won’t say it outright, but every supplier there is coming up with excuses as to why they ‘cannot sell’.”
”That’s odd. Surely they’d be hurting if they stop exporting?” I mused.
”Yes, but they all claim that trade will resume after the spring,” Sera-chan explained.
”I see,” I said. “They think that if they win the war, they can just dump their stockpiled goods onto the defeated nation at whatever price they want.”
”I don’t know how much the suppliers actually believe that,” Sera-chan said. “But at the very least, that’s the narrative the kingdom is using to keep the merchants in line.”
It was exactly as I feared. Coalmine wasn’t even trying to hide its intent to invade anymore. It’s always the small shops like mine that suffer the most when the world goes mad.
”Actually, this wasn’t the original plan,” Sera-chan continued. “Usually, there would just be a few skirmishes before winter and that would be it. Coalmine intended to stick to that, but apparently, a mysterious magic unit made a fool of them. A general got so enraged that he pushed for a full-scale invasion instead…”
”Is… is that so? That sounds like quite a mess,” I said, his voice nearly cracking.
I felt a cold shiver run down my spine. A ‘mysterious magic unit’? Could she be talking about the Hot-Shot-kun⁴ X-Type? The flamethrowers we developed? My God, I thought I was helping to avoid a war, but I might have just provoked them into a more violent one. I’m a war criminal!
”Is something the matter?” Sera-chan asked.
”N-no, it’s nothing!” I stammered. “By the way, what about domestic supply? We should be able to get some from the northern part of our own country, right?”
”That’s the other problem,” Sera-chan sighed. “The hunters and adventurers who usually gather Samon Mushrooms are all busy hunting a different prey. The details are a secret, but it seems they are targeting small monsters…”
Everything was backfiring. I was a double war criminal! If they were hunting small monsters, they were almost certainly looking for Fire Rat⁵ pelts—one of the core materials for the Hot-Shot-kun. A bead of sweat rolled down my neck. I glanced over at Satsuki, the Court Mage and my co-developer, and saw that she was looking just as guilty and restless as I was.
No, it’s not my fault. I was just following Her Majesty’s orders! Even if I did add a flamethrower function no one asked for… and besides, Coalmine was already being stingy with the mushrooms anyway!
”Kento-san?” Sera-chan asked.
”It’s nothing, really, Sera-chan!” I insisted.
”If you say so…” Sera-chan said, her voice trembling slightly. “The truth is, our guild has a branch in Coalmine too, but we haven’t heard from them in a while. I just hope Mr. Gannet and Mr. Rigol are safe…”
Seeing Sera-chan on the verge of tears made my heart ache. What on earth am I supposed to do about this? I’m just a guy who runs a small adult magic shop!
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Summary:
The chapter begins with a detailed lore entry on Samon Mushrooms, famous for their aphrodisiac effects and suggestive shape. Kento learns from Sera-chan that the supply of these mushrooms from the Coalmine Kingdom has ceased due to impending war. Sera-chan explains that a ‘mysterious magic unit’ provoked Coalmine into a more aggressive stance, which Kento realizes was likely his own flamethrower invention. Furthermore, domestic supply is low because hunters are prioritizing Fire Rats, a key material for Kento’s military weapons. Kento feels overwhelming guilt as he realizes his business and the guild are suffering because of his own secret projects.
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Character Insight:
Kento faces a harsh reality check in this chapter. While he views himself as a simple shopkeeper trying to navigate an Isekai world, his contributions to the military (the Hot-Shot-kun) are having massive, unintended geopolitical consequences. His internal panic—calling himself a ‘war criminal’—shows he still possesses a modern moral compass that clashes with the ruthless nature of international relations in this fantasy world. Sera-chan’s genuine distress for her missing colleagues serves as a personal anchor for Kento’s guilt, moving the conflict from abstract logistics to human suffering.
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Behind the Scene:
The author uses the ‘encyclopedia entry’ style at the start of chapters to flesh out the world-building, a common trope in light novels that mimics classic fantasy literature. This specific entry bridges the gap between the story’s adult themes and the serious political plotline involving the Coalmine Kingdom.
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T/L:
Notes:
• Lily – the sl*ve and primary experiment subject for the magic shop, ‘Harvest.’ She has striking pink hair, Blue eyes, medium breasts, which the Protagonist associates with being ‘wanton’. She has a working knowledge of magic, which she kept hidden from the slave trader.
• Sera – A young, earnest salesperson from the Tasogare Merchant Guild, Kento’s supplier. She is characterized by her braided brown hair, large round glasses, and freckles. She’s serious about her job and easily flustered, especially by Kento’s adult goods business. Looks like Onodera from certain series.
• Kento – The owner of the magic tool shop ‘Harvest,’ which discretely sells adult goods. He’s a former overworked, ordinary salaryman from modern Japan who was suddenly transported (isekai’d) to this fantasy world. He has dark hair and an unremarkable appearance, typically wearing a plain, slightly suspicious-looking shop owner’s clothes looks like Kazuma Satou from certain series. He has a minimal amount of magic power, enough to craft his specialty items.
• Soi – An old professor from Ajire seminary, the first to raise a question. Looks like wizardly.
• Satsuki – A talented Court Mage who was forced to analyze the shop’s adult magic tools. Miranda’s granddaughter. Now she’s the new worker at Harvest, a development she finds both humiliating and surprisingly fulfilling due to the rapid progress in her research under Kento’s guidance. Has long black hair, palace mage robe, and staff.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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