<purga> shaman 60

The Shaman can't become a Hero
Act 6: Cannibalizer
Chapter 60: Butterfly
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Hot damn, look what time it is, it's time to get another totally awesome power from God.  The thought came when I realized I was once again in that same old black dimension.

*"I shall grant you a new Protection"*

"Yes, thank you very much a Ruinhilde-sama!"

So if you can, please spare me the pain! Thinking this is also the same old.

*"Chaos, it is not a thing that merely exists as phenomena"*

Ah, he's started another one of those incomprehensible God lectures again.  To be perfectly honest, even if he goes all deep and profound on me when he's giving me a new Protection, all I care about is if it's gonna hurt or not, so none of it's actually entering my head you know?

But well, I'll try hearing him out as best as I can. I hope he's OK with that.

*"Put two people together, and they're either friends and foes.  With three, one vies to take a position of neutrality, or even opportune for the winning side. The situation complicates as you add more.  In other words, chaos ensues"*

Speaking deeply on the nature of chaos, Ruinhilde-sama grandly spreads out his arms.  As he does, out of nowhere brilliant lights burst forth.  From every conceivable direction, the lights danced like a storm of cherry blossoms.

Red, blue, yellow, green. In a myriad of colors flickered these lights— no, not quite.  They were butterflies.  With black-lined wings like those of the black swallowtail, these critters flapped about each with their own color.  Hundreds, thousands of these glittering butterflies were dancing and, I see, this really is an illusory scene worthy of being called God's miracle.[Note 1]
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*Note 1:  (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papilio_polyxenes)[ This is a Black Swallowtail].
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*"Mine devotee, Momokawa Kotarou.  As you are still of mortal flesh, take time in dipping deep into chaos.  Lose yourself, be immersed, and set yourself adrift, if not...  Hmm, at any rate, you did well"*

"I, I see… <wai-, Buwah!?>"

As I was thinking that what this God is saying is that I'm very praiseworthy, the gathered butterflies in the darkness rushed towards me all at once. A-Are you stupid, do I *look* like a flower with delicious nectars inside! I didn't think so!

"Uh, Uuh, <FuwaaaAAAAAAAAA—">

Swallowed into the storm of butterflies, I <Log out> from the God Area.


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|<Contra-beat Butterfly>||Using medications, create a butterfly that releases the opposite effect with it's scales. [Note 2]|
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*Note 2:  逆舞い胡蝶 — Gyakumai Kochou — Contra-beat Butterfly, Gyakumai is lit. Reverse Dance, so, Contra-beat. Also, I didn't know this, but butterflies and moths have tiny scales covering their bodies.
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Granted this new curse, the <Worst Harem Party>, with me inaugurated as its sub-leader, entered once again into the dungeon.

Need not be said, the atmosphere surrounding us was really bad. None of us showed it on our faces, but no one could deny that the air was dangerously close to its boiling point.

Nevertheless, our progress itself was going alright. It's because Class Rep, who I myself believe to be a good leader, took charge of her position, so we were able to fight as a team somewhat ok. There were a few places where her decisions felt a bit off, but they weren't anything big, so I went with it.

If we can survive thanks to her orders, then I've got not one problem. The only time I'd speak up would be when we encounter an enemy that's actually life-threatening.

Right, for example, like that powerful Mantis from before— The Note Circle updated to let us know that that one's known as a <Knight Mantis>— and like that time when 2 of those appeared at once.

"Class Rep, let's get Mei-chan up front"

"But then, the rearguard—"

"Give me some ice walls after my bog sets in. There's two of those Mantises, so if we don't go full power here, we might regret it"

"Kotarou-kun, everything alright?"

"It's fine, the last intersection was a few hundred meters back. Even if we get Ants from behind, we can buy time with the bog and ice. If you guys can take out even one of those Mantises in that time, we'll win easy."

"Got it, then, I'll be right back!"

Leaving behind a bright smile, Mei-chan became a gale as she rushed off to battle up ahead.

As of currently, our usual formation has Kenzaki + Natsukawa in vanguard, Class Rep and Souma Sakura in the middle, with me, Takanashi, and finally, Mei-chan guarding the rear. Speaking of what's different from before, we've got a solid mid-guard with our mage combo, Class Rep + Souma Sakura, so it's a step better I'd say. Also, we've had Mei-chan stationed with us, so the defence back here has improved too.

All of these changes were things I suggested before we headed out. Class Rep, asked a few questions for my rationalle, and accepted it right away after I answered.

It was a tough decision taking Mei-chan away from the front, but in the dungeon, there's always danger of a pincer attack. At any rate, it was necessary to put strength into our rear. Plus, taking into account the current circumstances between Mei-chan and Kanzaki... Anyway, Kenzaki'll fight better if we put her together with Natsukawa-san alone. This also takes into account that we need to put her Dualwielder skills to full use.

"<Rotten Bog>— and done. Alright Class Rep, Kenzai-san and Natsukawa-san will take on one of the Mantises, you and Souma-san should support them with all you got. Me and Mei-chan will stop the other one"

"Can you two able to handle it?"

"We can slow it down. In that time, you guys have to beat yours quick!"

"... You don't, need to tell us"

"Got'cha!"

Souma Sakura looks outwardly annoyed, anyway, Natsukawa-san gave out an earnest reply. Kenzaki-san hasn't said anything, but she probably understands the plan.

"That's how it is, so Kenzaki-san, don't be late ok?"

"O-of course... Just, leave it to me..."

Facing the direction of the Mantises, Mei-chan who was shoehorned into the vanguard, said to Kenzaki with a smile. To which she replied with a shaking voice. Yup, we can't put her and Mei-chan together against one enemy any time soon.

Aside from that, considering everyones' feelings on the matter, it's much better to split the work between me and Mei-chan, and the Souma team.

"— Guys, they're here!!"

Natsukawa-san who possesses the <Thief's> enhanced hearing sense, clearly deciphered the position of the Mantises through the beating of their wings echoeing through the cave, and announced their short arrival. It's because we have her enhanced perception that I could hand out orders and even t=have time to explain the strategy.

Now, all that's left is the fight itself. With our current collective strength, we should be able to take on 2 Mantises at the same time. It's a good chance, I'll test our my new curse here too.

"<Lux Sagitta>"

"<Eis Sagitta>"

As expected, the two Mantises came flying from beyond the curve ahead, and our mid-guard mages got the first attack in with their magic. And no, they weren't stupid to try and aim at both, and properly targetted only one, the one on the right, let's name this one Mantis A. Arrows of light and ice blitzed towards it.

But this enemy wasn't half-baked. Sharply swinging the scicles on its 2 arms, the Mantis deflected their preemptive attack.

Seeing one of them defend, Kanzaki-san and Natsukawa-san now knew which one to target. Leaving A to those 4, me and Mei-chan start on containing Mantis B.

"<Red Fever>, <Blackhair Bind>!!"

I set <Red Fever> on A and B just because, and extented my good old tentacles towards B.

"— **SHAA!**"

With a piercing cry, the braided tentacles aimed for its 4 legs, are quickly scythed off. That being said, when you're on Mei-chan's level, even something like that can work as good support.

"*Ha!!*"

With a spirited yell, she swings down her <Roaring Steel Halberd>. The Mantis instantly draws back it's scythes and recieved the large axe-blade.

And stopped it. But, thought slight, the Mantis was pushed back on spot.

"Woah, Mei-chan's incredible..."

She drove back a monsters with pure strenght. This Mei-chan, it's like she's getting exp every time she defeats and enemy and levelling up when before I know it.

Though I'm jelly that her Status values seem to be rising so well, I'll get back to what I was doing. I mean, I'm just a Shaman. The best I can do is maybe harrass the enemy when we're in a fight.

"Flutter, wings of misfortune, to the origin—"

Reciting the aria engraved in my head, I take out my antidote that has pretty much seen 0 use all this time. The usual ointment A is made of white blossoms(white flower), with small amounts of shamdelion(false dandelion), and fairy walnut leaf. This antidote here is made with the blueflower as a base, with similar portions of shamdelion and walnut leaves.

Who knows what kind of poisons this thing will work on. I can't really tell since <Intuition Pharmacy> only gives me a rough explanation. But whatever it is, it's definitely an antidote of some kind, no doubt.

Implying that, this <using medications, create a butterfly that releases the opposite effect with it's scales> effect of my new curse will allow me to take this and manifest a butterfly carrying the poison it's supposed to cure.

"—<Contra-beat Butterfly>"

In the next moment, the pasty antidote reformed into a swallowtail with a blue luminescense, and gently fluttered up from the palm of my hand. I wonder if their number depends on the amount of meds used. The blue poisonous butterflies rose from my hand until there were 10, which is when all the antidote was expended.

"Nice, no goo!"

I try commanding them like I do Rem, and the poison butterflies start heading for the target just how I imagine them. Granted they're going at a butterfly's pace, so it's quite honestly not fast. But having the ability to move freely in the air, it should be able to collide into the goal.

This goal that is Mantis B was presently in fiece combat with Mei-chan. With it's big eyes, there's no way it didn't notice the blue-glowing butterflies, but as if implying it senses absolutely no danger from them, the Mantis showed no signs of trying to avoid or drive away my butterflies.

Making sure to not accidentally hit Mei-chan, I go around from behind and— Bullseye.

Upon landing on the Mantis' back, the butterflies, as if remembering that they were beings of curse, dispersed into blue phosphorescense. These blue-white glowy things must be their poisonous scales.

"*Tch*, guess it's not instant"

All shots on targer. However, Mantis B showed no changes at all.

"That was useless, using blackhair would have been better—"

"Not at all. Look, this Mantis is getting weaker!"

*Yah!* She yells, swinging down her halberd once more. She beat back the Mantis even more than in her first attack.

"And it's reactions, also— <dull>!!"

And another sharp one. The upswing from her weapon cut off Mantis' right hand scythe from the base and sent it flying.

It was a good match for Mei-chan using both its scythes in unison. Take away even one of those, and the fight is practically over.

"So believe me when I say, your poison really worked. Thank you Kotaoru-kun, it was a great help"

Following the same swing that cut off its arm, she sliced off its left front leg, its posture now broken, it was only left with being chopped up like a cucumber, its pieces finally sinking into a pool of its own green blood. With that as a background, Mei-chan gave me a delighted grin as she praised the efficacy of my poison butterflies.[Note 3]
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*Note 3:  I say chopped up like a cucumber, but it's actually ダルマ落とし — Daruma Otoshi, (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0LuSDvb-dk)[Here's a video]
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Honestly, I seriously don't feel like being praised at all. Any way you look at is, what I did only slightly weakened the creature, and Mei-chan's the awesome one for turning it into absolute mincemeat.

No wait, Souma team's still fighting over there...

"*Fuuh*, we beat it somehow"

30 seconds after Mei-chan was done, Mantis A, after being pin cushioned by arrows of light and ice, and hacked at by the dual weapon users, fell defeated.

Seeing how their side was one upped by Mei-chan, Kenzaki-san was making glances at her with eyes that looked somewhat afraid.

With my meds and Souma Sakura's healing magic, her absolutely battered face was already fixed. When she opened her eyes, Class Rep took the lead and explained everything. It's like her headstrongness was all a lie, and she listened without a single complaint.

But seeing her like that, so one, not even Mei-chan, said a thing. They wouldn't pry in, I should say.

I think everyone's already fully aware. That Kenzaki Asuna's, this highly proud girl's heart was torn down by the overwhelming violence of the Berserker.

And now, Kenzaki-san was listening to, not only Mei-chan, but even my own orders. This would've been unthinkable for the old her. Should I call it progress, or maybe regression... Whatever it is, it's convenient for me.

And so, Souma Sakura would be the only person left among the list of people trying to get at me.

I should just get Mei-chan to beat her up too, make life easier... Is the kind of evil thought popping into my head, but I'm not stupid enough not to think of the consequences. Otherwise soon, when we meet back up with Souma Yuuto, it'll be all over. If I act that straightforewardly evil, I won't live long.