<purga> shaman 42.002 (last)

The Shaman can't become a Hero
Act 5: Worst Harem Party
Chapter 42: Mandragora (2)
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...
"Momokawa-kun, run!"
It's damn right insane to blindly run when facing an unknown enemy like this and, though there's that thought, I trust in Futaba-san's decision-making ability. Her instinctive battle ability as a Berserker is tremendously reliable. My little complaints can take a back seat anytime.
And the moment I started running just as instructed, with a loud rustling, the monsters made their appearance around us.
"<Baubauu!>"
It was a monster we hadn't encountered yet, raising noisy dog-like barking sounds.
At a glance, it looked like one of those carnivorous dinosaurs I saw in an encyclopedia as a kid. Height being around that of a human, it was a bipedal lizard, with short fore-limbs that should be the arms, and a long tail. It was grey like a cinderblock, and on its back I could see densely packed scales with a metallic glimmer.
But its most peculiar, or more like, bizarre aspect would be it's disproportionately big head. It looked like a slightly angular cube. Splitting in jagged lines from the middle of it peeked it's wide mouth. Matching its dog's cry, it had a long tongue sticking out from that mouth, dripping foul spit.
Glaring with its small red eyes, it aimed for us looking expressly famished.
"It's a Goar!"[Note 1]
(*Note 1:  You... might disagree with the translation of ゴア — Goa — Goar. In Kuro no Maou, it's kinda established how it should be Gore (with all the translators using that), but tbh, I just don't like it. Goa, I believe, is the dinosaur roar sound effect, so it makes sense to me to tl it as Goar, resembling Roar. If anyone's got a good argument for Gore, or a better TL, I'd be glad to hear it. (joke) Also, "baubau!" sounds so boring lol, so I imagine it as Sam L Jackson saying "Baubau mofo, I'm here to fuck u up!")
Of course, it's the first time I've seen one, but I know the name. We checked the mail in the note circle before heading out, so we know some info on this monster.
Goars are a species of earth dragon of small size that form packs. I'm guessing earth dragons are monsters that look like dinosaurs. They're omnivorous but prefer meat; usually scavenging on dead creatures, they will eagerly attack prey that seem adequate to hunt; an aggresive, and vicious monster.
It has no magic, but along with the sheer strength and quick-footedness boasted by the earth dragon family, it uses its oversized jaws to kill its prey.
These dangerous Goars appeared, in a pack of five. There could be even more hiding in the bushes. Anyway, there's a lot. And I can't think of a way we can take them on with just us two.
This, may be a bit bad.
"Hmph!!"
Futaba-san lets out a breath of energy. Looking there, the Goar coming at her was being blown away. That must be the counter that is the Knight's skill #2, <Repel>.
The assailled Goar not only got repelled away, but took a direct blow from the axe as well; it's white scaleless abdomen split, it was spilling dark red blood and entrails.
One of them being done in with such nimble movements and ease however, wasn't enough to caution its friends to give up.
"Futaba-san!"
"I'm fine, you get back behind the bog, Momokawa-kun"
By the time the next few Goars seiged us from the front, left, and right, I had somehow made it to the entrance by running full force.
Over there was the <Rotten Bog> we had made to safely take care of the horde of Zombies, spread end to end across the entrance as much as possible. This curse won't go disappearing on its own, once made, it stays. However, like paint drying, it reacts to the air, and would eventually harden, loosing its toxicity it'd be harmless dirt.
The one made there just now still hadn't dried up. Bubbling eerily, it seemed to be asking for new prey.
"Easy does it!"
I leap across the very edge so I don't fall in. Well, we've already confirmed that this poison won't work on me at all. So even if I made a mistake and stepped in, I wouldn't start become muddy waste.
But that only accounts for my own body, clothes and equipment being barred from the exception. And I do not need some fan service scene of my clothes and things only getting melted away by some erotic Slime digestion. But seriously, losing our gear may as well become fatal.
Anywho, now this weak ass Shaman has made it to a safe location. Looking at their size, I can't imagine a Goar walking across the narrow portion of un-bogged area.
— And curse the body!! <Red Fever>!!
Now that I'm properly position in rearguard, my role is only to support Futaba-san. First, I aim a curse at all the Goars. The effect is vague as usual though. I can only pray it'll dull their movements a bit.
"<Yahh!>"
It's currently unknown whether my back-up was meaningful or otherwise, but Futaba-san slayed a Goar with a full swing nonetheless.
That's the 2nd one now. Futaba-san is holding position a little bit away from the entrance. Close enough that I could use <Blackhair Bind> practically. At this rate, she can finish them off by herself no proble— Wait what? There's only 2 Goars around Futaba-san. Where's the other.
"<Uwaah!?>"
"<BaoOOOOOoh!!>"
Raising a piercing roar, one of the Goar's was running towards the tunnel entrance. This fucker, it ignored Futaba-san and wen't for me instead!
"One got away, Momokawa-kun! I'm coming right—"
"I'll handle it, you focus on the one's there!"
Futaba-san turning around and coming to my rescue at this point won't end good for either of us. The two Goars around her look like they're just waiting for a chance to pounce while maintaining distance, but more importantly, I can see another three, four of them poking out their heads from deeper in the forest. If that whole starts attacking all at once, even Futaba-san can't hold out.
That's why, I gotta be able to take on at least one of these small fry.
"What's wrong, come get some!"
I provoke it with a jittery voice from the other side of the bog. My enemy Goar was clearly wary of the <Rotten Bog>.
*Tch*, those brainless Zombies would be jumping in this dubious crimson mud no questions asked, but guess it won't go so well with a monster based of a real live animal. It's instincts as a living creature must be alerting it against dangers.
Huffing in rough breaths, it paced in front of the tunnel. Next, the Goar drew away. Did it give up, I wonder, but then it turned back towards here, and started sprinting like no tomorrow.
Is it trying to cross over from the momentum— nope, I have a good idea about its ploy.
"O-oooh no you don't!!"
Just as I thought, the Goar was going to use its monstrous legs to jump across. The bog is 4 meters across. If a highschool boy can make 4 meters in long jump, for a monster like this it should be child's play. Implying, with my <Rotten Bog> only this big, it'll only be a low level obstacle for a Goar.
Naturally, once it gets in, I have no hope of taking on this member of the Jurassic in close combat. Relying on <Pain Return> won't lead to any kind of victory either.
"<Fall to Heeeeellll!!>"
So I dropped it. Mid air, right around where it was above the middle of the bog, I pull the Goar down to hell.
Lurking in the depths of the bogmud from the start, a monster-like jet black tentacle flew out. I'm talking about the one, the only, <Blackhair Bind>.
Getting to this point, I've been using it again, again, again, and again agains't Zombies, and even when Futaba-san didn't need any help at all, I kept practicing almost uselessly, and have become much more skilled at it since the battle with the Orthrus. Thicker, longer, and with a grip like never before.
"<GyAoOAAAAAAAAA!!>"
With fierce splashing, the Goar that was defenseless mid jump is yanked into the toxic swamp by the tentacle. The fizzling, liquifying sounds are much louder than when Zombies were plunged in. It's no wonder, its body is much bigger than a Zombie, so I guess it's natural.
"<oOAAAAa! Bauh! BaAAAAa!!>"
"Shut it, stay there... sink dammit!"
I further bind the writhing Goar with my blackhair tentacles. I call forth two more braids. One to hold down its tail rampaging on the mud, and the other to close its shrieking mouth filled with fangs. A total of 3 <Blackhair Binds> tied it down to the powerful dissolving bog.
How's that. When I realized that <Blackhair Bind> isn't affected by the <Rotten Bog> like my body, this is my most powerful killer combo that was born.
"<Bao! BAa...> oo..."
Unable to fully free itself, my dangerous battle came to an end. My curses aren't strong enough to hold down that kind of monster head on.
Looking at that Goar struggling so much, then completely losing it's vitality and collapsing at the center of the poison bog, I was released from being on edge, and just stared vacantly for a bit.
"Hah... Hah... HA! Futaba-san, where's!?"
Realizing that the fight wasn't over yet, I hastily look around with a jump.
"Momokawa-kun, everything alright? The pack ran away already"
Looking around, there were the massacred corpses of seven Goars scattered about, Futaba-san looking at me with a wholehearted expression of worry.
Just wow, while I was doing deadly 1v1, she'd taken care of seven of them like nothing... these combat specialized vocations are just amazing.
"Ah, yeah... no problem, alive mostly. Not a scratch in fact."
"That's great to hear. I'll go look for cores then"
Looking at Futaba-san using her knife to fish out the Goar corpses so cheerfully, I kinda seriously thought, I can't live without this girl anymore.
Futaba-san, thanks for everything.