Chapter 3 ： Henry Memory

Suddenly, the door creaked open. A plainly dressed woman and a young boy walked in. The woman appeared kind, and from her appearance, she seemed to be a middle-aged lady. The energetic boy beside her looked like an elementary school student. The woman carried a basket full of firewood, while the boy held some fresh fruits, as if they had just returned from outside.

They both seemed genuinely concerned about Perry.

[It would be better doesn't let others know that you are not from this planet.If you are discovered, you will be eliminated by 'them'.]

　　"Who 'them'? "Perry ask in his mind.

　　[Sorry, I can't tell you,this is a rule.]

"Henry, you're finally awake! How are you feeling?" The woman quickly approached Perry, looking him up and down with concern.

The woman was dressed in a simple linen gown, loose-fitting and ankle-length. It was an unremarkable brown color, without much decoration except for some simple lace along the edges. She also wore an apron over the gown. A plain linen headscarf was wrapped around her head, the soft fabric gently resting against her forehead and temples. A few strands of her black hair had slipped out from the edges of the headscarf. Perry rarely saw this kind of attire anymore.

In contrast, the boy's outfit was more common. He wore a simple linen shirt, with a low and loose collar, and the sleeves were rolled up slightly to allow for easier movement. Over the shirt, he wore a long woolen cloak, most likely made from wool, in a rough brown color that looked sturdy and durable. A simple leather belt was fastened around his waist, with a small pouch hanging from it for carrying everyday items.

His pants fit snugly around his legs, tied just above the knees with strips of cloth for ease of movement and work. His shoes were handmade, roughly stitched from thick leather, with slightly pointed toes and thick soles. A few strands of dark hair fell over his forehead, giving him a lively appearance that, combined with his alert eyes, showcased the unique energy and agility of a village boy.

"Henry, are you alright?" The woman asked again when she noticed Perry hadn't responded.　　

Perry paused, realizing that she referred to him as "Henry." It seemed that the original owner of this body was named Henry, and these two people knew him. To avoid suspicion, he decided to go along with the conversation.

"I... I'm fine, nothing serious." Perry touched his forehead, pretending to have just woken up. "Thank you for taking care of me."

The boy put down the fruit basket, his eyes filled with curiosity and worry. "Are you really okay? Should we call a doctor to check on you? I'm afraid you haven't fully recovered yet. We found you passed out in the forest. You didn't hit your head, did you? Do you still remember us? Mom said you're a magic apprentice, and you helped heal my scraped knee."

The boy was circling around Perry.

Like a puppy, Perry thought.

However, the boy asked so many questions that Perry didn't know how to answer.

"Toto, don't ask so many things at once!" The woman apologized. "Sorry, Henry, you should lie down and rest. Toto talks a lot, don't mind him. We'll call the doctor soon to check on you."

At the mention of a doctor, Perry tensed up. He didn't want to be examined—after all, no doctor could cure the poison inside his body. And for now, it was better to avoid too much contact with others to prevent them from discovering that he wasn't Henry. At this moment, the system's voice rang in his mind:

[Host, try to talk to them and gather more information about Henry. I can help you recover some of the original owner's memories based on the details they provide. But it's best not to let anyone find out about your current condition. After all, the poison is indeed in your body, and any random treatment could disrupt the balance I've managed to stabilize.]

Hearing the system's explanation, Perry gently shook his head, trying to appear as natural as possible. "No, there's no need for a doctor. I just need some rest. A doctor won't be able to help much—it's probably just fatigue."

"Are you sure?" The woman looked a bit worried, frowning slightly, seemingly unconvinced.

"It's really nothing," Perry smiled, trying to reassure her. "My mind is just a bit foggy—perhaps something happened in the forest… I might've forgotten a few things."

The woman and the boy exchanged glances. The boy spoke up first, "Did you lose your memory? Are you sure you don't need a doctor?"

"No, no," Perry quickly responded. "I just want to know where I am right now—maybe that'll help me recover my memory. Could you tell me more details?"

Toto glanced at Perry, then answered, "We're in Wululu Village in the kingdom of Penus, not far from the Ulusu Forest. You helped treat some of the villagers' injuries before, so everyone is grateful to you. You went to the forest a few days ago to find... what was it called again? Oh, right, the Mushcat, isn't that right?"

"Mushcat?" Perry repeated, confused.

Just then, the system chimed in again.

[Host, I've gathered some memory fragments from this conversation. Let me help you recall some of Henry's recent experiences.] the system's voice echoed.

Within seconds, vague images flashed through Perry's mind: Henry was in a lab full of plants, feeding them while talking to someone. Distracted, he accidentally grabbed the wrong substance. As he poured the liquid onto the mushrooms, they screeched like cats before withering rapidly.

"Damn it," Henry and another person panicked as they watched the scene unfold. "What should I do now?"

"Henry, you killed the master's Mushcat! You're done for!"

They were in the master's lab, flustered because Henry had accidentally killed his mentor's beloved Mushcat—a mushroom that resembled a cat, complete with ears and cat-like cries. Henry had mixed up the nutrients, causing the Mushcat to absorb a deadly toxin, leading to its death.

This mentor, Edward, was notorious for his obsession with mushrooms. He had recently left for another kingdom on urgent business, leaving Henry in charge of his precious Mushcat. Henry, terrified of the master's wrath, recalled rumors that Edward once turned an apprentice into a mushroom for screwing up—and the poor apprentice was even kept for a year! The thought of becoming the next mushroom filled Henry with dread. With only a week before Edward's return, he had to find a replacement fast.

The system continued in Perry's mind: [It seems that Henry accidentally killed the mentor's Mushcat and has been desperately trying to find a replacement before the mentor returns. If you fail to find a substitute, the mentor may retaliate against you. By the way, the mentor returns tomorrow, so you only have today left.]

Perry's heart sank. The situation was far more complicated than he had imagined. Not only did he have to deal with the mess Henry had left behind, but he also had to fix this disaster within a tight deadline.

"Do you remember the Mushcat?" the boy asked again, seeing Perry's silence. "You said you were going to the forest to find one to replace the dead one, right?"

Perry forced himself to calm down and smiled. "Yes, I remember. The Mushcat... to be precise, I'm still searching for it. But don't worry, I'll find it."

"Should we help you look for it?" the woman suggested kindly. "You've just woken up and haven't fully recovered. Don't push yourself too hard."

[Host, to quickly find the Mushcat, you should head outside. I can use your current abilities to help locate the Mushcat, but try not to let others notice anything strange.]

Perry knew he didn't have much time left. If he delayed any longer, he might indeed become the infamous "mushroom apprentice." Grateful, he looked at the two of them and said, "Thank you, but I'll handle it myself. This is something I need to take care of personally. You've already helped me a lot."

The woman hesitated for a moment but eventually nodded. "Alright, Henry, if you need any help, don't hesitate to come find us."

The boy also nodded and picked up the basket of fruit. "I hope you find the Mushcat soon! I heard it looks just like an ordinary mushroom, but you can tell it apart when it meows."

Perry's heart skipped a beat at this new clue. He nodded, "I'll keep that in mind. Thank you."

After bidding the two farewell, Perry stepped outside, finally able to relax a little. But inside, he was still on edge. He knew he had to act quickly—time was running out.

The system's voice echoed in his mind again: [Host, your top priority now is to find this Mushcat. Otherwise... you may really end up as a mushroom.]

Perry chuckled bitterly. "Yeah, it seems that magic mentors in this world aren't to be trifled with. Looks like I need to pick up the pace."

He stretched his body and took a deep breath, noticing that the pain had already subsided.