<purga> shaman 45

The Shaman can't become a Hero
Act 5: Worst Harem Party
Chapter 45: Armor Bear part.1
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"... This room, really has nothing"

Was Mei-chan's impression upon cautiosly peeking into the room. And then I looked, and saw nothing there as well. An vacant room like that first Skeleton room we saw, or more like, it's more of a deserted plain than anything. The walls weren't in blocks but had rought rocky edges sticking out.

"The compass is showing straight throught here"

"So we don't have to bother with the paths over there"

This cave-like room wasn't that big. The square-footing being around that of half a gym building, it was like a circular hall. Since it was just empty, we could see every nook and cranny. There was the passage that the compass was pointing to, the one just opposite of us, and there were two more going to the 3 and 9 o'clock directions. Adding on the way we came in, this would be a truly literal cross-roads. Every exit looks completely the same, and without the compass we'd be impossibly lost.

"I think we'll get a fairy square after this"

"Yeah, we've been walking for a while, so it's about time"

But it's these kinds of places that are most likely set up to be boss rooms. At a glance, it doesn't look like the Orthrus room, since there's clearly nothing here, and it may as well be just a vacant room. I don't see any sort of transfer circle either.

"I guess... there's no boss here?"

"Who knows. The floor isn't stone, so it could even come out from underground"

I've seen movies where some atrocious monster attacks you by detecting sound. Stuff like the Mongolian Death Worm is kind of a staple in fantasy works too.

"So what now?"

"We use Rem to check"

At time's like this, my little decoy comes in super handy. Nevermind being hesitant, I'm absolutely giddy that I can put the mud doll to good use.

Just as proclaimed in that painfully short description that she had the attribute of absolute obedience, Rem was more than ready to carry out my scouting order. Without a bit of hesitation, she walked into the cave room.

I'm simply watching over Rem who's only fulfilling orders, but Mei-chan kinda had a look of pity. Hey, maybe she'll snap with too many harsh orders? No look, you can't make an omlette without breaking a few eggs after all.

As I was uselessly considering these things, Rem kept walking the span when,

"<GOoaAAAAAAAAAA!!>"

My whole body jumped from that single roar. Fear from the noise? Nay, even the Orthrus let out this level of volume. The moment I heard this certain cry, I only felt pure fear. The reason? It's very simple.

It's because I know the origin of this voice.

"A-Armor Bear..."

Slowly appearing from the 9 o'clock passage, was a great gray form. Shielded in a sharp steel carapace, it's the most powerful monster I know.

As if proclaiming the continuation of that nightmare, the Armor Bear appeared before me once again with the same look, even the same intimidating aura as back then.

"Kotarou-kun, that is—"

"It was a literal miracle I could beat one. We need to avoid this fight"

I already recounted my struggle with the Armor Bear when we first met. With that peculiar appearance it's got, Mei-chan must have understood instantly.

So as not to provoke it as much as possible, I suspended Rei's actions right then and there. Like a puppet with it's strings cut, I stopped it dead still in the middle of the room.

"You aren't getting her back?"

"The bear's got a good nose. It probably knows we're here too."

Similar to when I dropped my lunch, or my gym jacket, the Armor Bear stuck its nose into Rem's completely still body, and started sniffing. But both visually and olfactorily, Rem being just a bunch of metallic bones was quickly judged by the Armor Bear as not apetizing at all. It lost interest in Rem in no time at all and—

"Ahh, shit... didn't work at all"

It roared seeing us in the passage.

Budgeing its large steel body, the Armor Bear slowly, ah yeah, just like back then, with the dignity of a ruler, calmly approached us.

"I'll hold it back"

"No wait, it's better to not get up close— <Rotten Bog>"

Opportuning the fact that the Armor Bear isn't coming with an all out rush, I make the attempt to try at a defensive battle of deadly acid. I really don't think it can make a great leap over it like a Goar with that kind of body. If I manifest my maximum size, 5 meter bog, it's gonna have to step in trying to get to us.

As my blood red swamp forms, the Armor Bear is almost here. Seeing a sudden ominous pool appearing in front of it, it stopped as expected. And again as expected, it gets close and sniffs. I was hoping it'd accidentally drink some and go die but—

"<GooAA!!>"

I guess I can't expect it to be that dumb.

So, you get that coming closer is dangeorus, and you should realize there's nothing you can do to get closer to—

"Eh"

The Armor Bear just stepped on my poisonous bog. Naturally, the crimson water with its unbelievable acidity was sizzling like crazy, released white fumes all around.

"<GAA!!>"

But that's it. The Armor Bear was like, don't make me walk this filth punks, and made a cry of annoyance. It was crossing over my certain-kill <Rotten Bog> like no big deal.

"Get inside!"

"Got it!"

Me from the right, and Mei-chan from the left, we simultaneously leap from the entrance. I also call in Rem who was suspended inside towards me.

There's a reason we didn't retreat deeper into the passage but intentionally got inside the room.

First, since we saw how <Rotten Bog> won't work, we can't avoid close combat. If we ran back into the passage, there's no telling how far this persistant bastard will chase us. With the Armor Bear behind us, if we add in all the Zombies and Goars we'll get along the way, it'll be the worst case scenario. I can see no way of us being able to live through that kind of deadly pincer.

So if we're gonna fight it anyway, I'd rather we have to concentrate on the Armor Bear alone. And this place is better for Mei-chan too as she can use the full reach of the long axe. In other words, beating it here, in this room, is our best and only means of survival.

Incidentally, if we try running to the possible fairy square up ahead, it'd be useless. The fairy square is only a location where monsters inherently don't approach, and if one sees their delicious prey running inside, it will step in with no trouble. It's not a game-like absolute safe place, and neither does it conveniently and omnipotently repel monsters and monsters only.

Anyway, Mei-chan percieved my will to settle it here. I don't know if she understands all the reasoning behind it, but someone like her, believing someone like me without any hesitation at all, is an ally I'd pretty much never find elsewhere.

We can do this, me and her. Some Armor Bear, we'll show it who's boss anytime!

"Entwine its escape— <Blackhair Bind>"

The Armor Bear comes back fro mthe bog with nonchalant demeanor.

It looks at Mei-chan, then me, and Mei-chan again, and chooses her as its target. You really wan't that meat huh?

*Damn fucking pervert*, well I'll leave the namecalling side, as the beast is seriously planning to take on Mei-chan, I'm glad I can concentrate on support. That being said, I make no pause in unleashing <Blackhair Bind> at max strenght. I can currently do 5 braids tops. Just one has the strenght to stop a Zombie, and the length is a whooping 5 meters.

Me going full-throttle, five blackhair tentacles bind the Armor Bear. Both foreleg, both hindlegs, and finaly the neck, I entwine and restrain each part with one braid. The beast's advance came to a grinding halt.

"<HaaAAAAAAAAaa!!>"

And, Mei-chan fitting the name of Berserker like a glove, would never let go of this perfect chance. As if awaiting my support, just as the restraints looked set, wit hperfect timing she burst with explosive strength and—

"<GAAAA!!>"

As that sharp roar echoed, I realized the utter meaninglessness of my curse. Every one of my blackhairs that were supposed to be holding the Armor Bear were suddenly torn to shreds, and were miserably blown off.

"Guh!?"

Fearing not the axe that could possibly destroy its helmet head, the Armor Bear instead bashed against it in stark contrast. That acted as a counter, and at the same time, a tackle, blowing Mei-chan away.

No matter how big I describe Mei-chan as, against a monster that's lengthwise around 4 meters, she's nothing much. Her whole body dance through the air as if she'd truly become a frail little girl.

"Ah, dam... the axe..."

She flew at quite the momentun, crashed and rolled on the ground raising dust, but was quick to get back up and say only that. No expression of getting hurt, and not a single cry of pain, what Mei-chan was concerned about what not her own health or anything, but the loss of her weapon.

"Uwah, n-no way..."

There's a lot to say about Mei-chan and her womanliness, but I'm pretty panicked about her loss of the axe just like she is.

The axe coming at unfathomable speed, and the Armor Bear voluntarily tackling into it, the collision resulted in the sad destruction of the former. The blade had hit a particularly thick spike on the especially tough shoulder armor. The spike was broken through, and the steel carapace was marked with a gash, but that was the limit.

The axe's blade cracked apart. And to boot, its wooden handle had snapped from the middle. It's clear that it won't function as a weapon any longer. Mei-chan only has this stick in her hand that was even worse than a wooden club.

"Mei-chan! The sword!"

The weapon switchup turned out for the worse. I happen to have the steel sword that is likely the only think we got that can take on the Armor Bear. If Mei-chan still had it, she could've countered right away.

The weapons she has remaining are those fairly dull hatchet and knife, one each. Compared to this sword, the quality is like heaven and earth. And that difference is showing clearly right now, in this life and death fight.

So I started running, meaning to get it to her by any means.

"NO, Kotarou-kun!"

"I'll be fine! The Bear's still set on you!"

Glad she's worried for me, but if I don't put my life on the line here, we're done for. The bog's poison was ineffective, and my blackhair restraints were easily broken through, putting a definitive end to whatever curses I had in mind for support. So the least I can be useful for is delivering a good weapon to her.

Clumsily taking out the sword from its scabbard, I shout out my orders.

"Go, Rem!"

Forget the bodyguarding, and go help Mei-chan. I imagine it impossible for her shabby Goma's spear to do anything to that tough armor, but just diverting its attention for a bit would be great.

"<GoaAAAAAAAAAAAA!!>"

As I attempted to move, the Armor Bear furiously chased after Mei-chan. After slamming her with a tackle, it accelerated its large frame into a charge, and planned to take her down while she was still half standing.

"*Kuh*..."

Mei-chan had already corrected her posture, and nimbly dodged the rushing Armor Bear like a matador. But without any form of weapon, she had no way to follow up with a stab to its defenseless back.

The Armor Bear swerved around in that posture, and bearing knife-sharp extending from it's paw, it swung that log-like foreleg like a storm. I'd be literally minced faced with that, but Mei-chan who'd gotten a great grasp of her knight skill, <Foresight>, dodged it by a hair's breadth.

"Dammit, <goddammit>... running out of time"

There's no telling how long Mei-chan's god-tier dodgeing will last. She's having to concentrate so much on this seemingly neverending burst of one-sided attacks that she doesn't have any way to counter with her knife of hatchet either.

Naturally, I have no way to just waltz into that level of warzone and hand over the sword to her. Even using Rem as a decoy seems iffy. I would fail to do it, and Rem would get destroyed meaninglessly.

Feels like there's only one thing missing...

"I'll just use this for the hell of it— <Red Fever>"

I use it on the Armor Bear anyway. But as it hasn't eaten any redshrooms of the like, I think a little heat won't bother it the slightest. It's already fired up and raging about, so a bit of extra body-temperature won't even be a bother.

But that's no biggie. It only for the heck of it. The real deal is this.

"I'll distract it for just a bit alright!"

If it's Mei-chan, I'm sure she'll get what I mean. The only good thing about fighting monsters, you can shout out all your plans without an issue.

While thinking so, I fire up my <Blackhair Bind> one more time. This time, I'm not making 5, but putting all that power together, making it bigger, longer, into one big braid— no, weaving the threads precisely, I make it into a sash. The jet-black, glossy sash moved nimbly as the usual tentacles, and caught the Armor Bear from behind.[Note 1]
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*Note 1:  So sash, or (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obi_(sash))[obi] err... have you seen (https://myanimelist.net/anime/34019/Tsugumomo)[Tsugumomo]? It's super interesting~ But manga >>>> anime.
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"<Gauh—>"

Freely moving according to my thoughts, the tentacle wrapped around the Armor Bear's head. Winding around over and and over, after just moments, it started resembling a turban.

But this bastard can easily cut up my hairs with the spikes in its armor. The reason my binding of all its limbs were shredded almost simultaneously was because they'd caught into those thorns in its shell. Its head that looks like its wearing a helmet also has this manner of pointed protrusions, so my current means of restraint will be broken soon enough. Even without the spikes, it could use its fangs, its claws, just anything really.

But this definitely did blind the bastard, and stopped its attacks on Mei-chan.

"Thanks Kotarou-kun!"

Mei-chan swiftly takes distance from the Armor Bear, and runs towards me.

The Armor Bear looked boiling mad, scratching around its face as if it got mites, and quickly tore apart the blackhair belt.

But as the bear had regained its vision, Mei-chan had alredy arrived. We're completely out of the Armor Bear's range. And in one more step, I can hand over the sword i'm holding out.

"<GaAAAAAAAAAAa!!>"

Right as the mad roar beat into my eardrums, a shock ran through my body. A dull pain erupted throughout.

I didn't even know, what happened. Like what even. It felt like suddenly punched out of thin air.

"Uu, Aa... Aaa..."

When I came to, I was on the ground. Shit hurts. Not cause I hit my back falling, my whole body... no, more on my left arm, side, and thigh I guess. That whole area is stinging like crazy. Like that time I was in gradeschool in a snowball fight, I got hit with a snowball right in the stomach. That ball had a rock inside which I swear was full of murderous intentions, and that's the sort of pain I'm currently feeling.

Ah, I get it, it's a rock. It was rocks. In small pellets like a shotgun.

Earth attribute magic— I first thought, mostly cause the gamer inside me was fooling around. How damn stupid. Tasting this humiliation in my mouth, I thought how I should've realized this simple fact much sooner. Along with the iron taste of blood, the repulsive taste of dirt spread throught my mouth.

That's right, the Armor Bear would know it won't reach us, so it used projectiles. Making a submarine pitch motion, it gouged out the ground and made it fly. For a bear that side, it'd be easy to dig up a decent amount of dirt, it did just that, and blasted the rocks found inside straight at me.

For the bastard, I'd imagine it wasn't that big deal of an attack, just a small revenge for my actions. But on my end, this kind of physical damage scores hard every time.

"<GOAAAAA!?>"

Seeing the Armor Bear yelling from the surprise pain, it just goes to show how much damage it cause me. Good ol' <Pain Return> that likes to show up in the late game had arrived, and showed the bear what hurt feels like.

"<Kotarou-kun!?>"

Ah oops, sorry Mei-chan... The pain was a bit too much, I let go of the sword. It's a bit far to bring back.

"Ugh, Uuu... Ouch, f'kin hurts..."

Sure it's lame, I'm trying to stand up as tears blur my eyes. Shut up with the "Ouch", the least you can do is play tough and do "I'm all good!" From all the pain, I had succumbed to voicing it out, but returned to action somehow.

But the simple fact that I can do so, only means that the Armor Bear that's umptieth times tougher than me can do it much sooner.

<Pain Return> is supposed to dish out the same proportion of pain I recieved, but the Armor Bear had gotten up from its tilted posture, and as if saying it's pain was already gone in the wind, it came chargeing.

"<Kuh... yaAAAAAAa!!>"

In an instant, Mei-chan looked at me, the Armor Bear, grasped the circumstance fully, and drawing the knife and hatchet from her hips, she took stance. Forgoing the sword, she stood right beside the absolute hindrance that is me, and with those pathetic excuses for weapons, she determined to take the crazed Armor Bear head on.

"<GAAAAa!!>"

The storm of combat restarts. Right in front of me clash the rusty blades and sharp claws. It had become a domain I can't imagine to invade with my measly curses. And I hadn't the time to consider either, their showdown saw its end instantly.

"—!?"

Knife cracked apart, and hatchet broken midway. Still holding on to the weapons that had lost every part of their purpose, Mei-chan was blown away at terrific speed. The spray of scarlet arcing in the air told of the severity of her wound.

Their crossing of blades was over instantly, but I could slightly follow it. Mei-chan's blades had actually made it past the Armor Bear's shell, tracing against the joints in its shoulder and leg, but the issue was depth. With the plain horrid quality of her weapons, she only penetrated a slight bit of skin.

Since she had attempted to make her attack pass through that tempestual chaos, this time, Mei-chan's <Foresight> couldn't make it in time. And she got hit. Even while abandoning all defense to make a fearsome Berserker's attack, she couldn't overcome the difference in sheer muscle.

"<Mei-chan! Hang in there!!>"

"Uuo, k..."

Having rolled on the dirt, and covered all over in mud, Mei-chan slightly budged. But that's it. It wasn't like last time where she got up ready for battle without delay.

I could see both Mei-chan's arms deeply wounded. She must've used them to block right on the verge of taking those claws.

But we all know there's no way you can block those knife-like claws with naked skin. Her arms were torn up sleeves and all, and I could clearly see blood flowing out vividly. If she got the sword now, she wouldn't be able to use it at all.

"I'll buy some time! Just get up somehow!"

I had Mei-chan keep Ointment A, along with a variety of meds in her person. Both her arms are in a terrible state, but her combo of Ointment A and <Blessed Body>, she should heal up somewhat.

It's our only hope of making a comeback. A Shaman like me doesn't even have a 1 in a billion chance to beat an Armor Bear. We're already at the face-to-face stage and there was no poison food trap beforehand, so that much is obvious.

Only Mei-chan can beat it. If we can't get her back into it, this won't be a fight, but a simple massacre, no, from the Armor Bear's side, we'd simply be dinner.

So I absolutely need to put myself out there, and buy some time so Mei-chan can come back healed. Strangely, I didn't think of running away.

Maybe I can sense it instinctually that I have no chance to survive if I ran away by myself.

"<Ghrrrr!!>"

"*Hii!?*"

Having that said, it's not like I'm not scared. It's great that I jumped out to block its path from getting to Mei-chan, but one glare from the Armor Bear, my voice breaks, and body trembles. With this class of attrocious monster staring me down, I feel death looming right above me. I'll become scattered meat any time this bastard chooses.

"C-c-co-<come at me, damn bear!!> I'll fuck you up!"

I stand before the Armor Bear as if looking to defend the fallen Mei-chan behind me. Looking at my tiny little knife, and pittiful excuse of a shaky-voiced taunt, the Armor Bear snorted roughly as if saying, "What's with this pipsqueak, fuck off", and continued to glare at me.

But I do have its attention now. Just like the time I encountered those delinquents from Kuro high downtown, at first, me and the Armor Bear are in a stare down. But it wouldn't be strange if those giant paws make my neck fly any time.

"What's wrong, chickening out!? If you're gonna do it though, just don't kill me ok? Pretty please!!"

If it does, then I have <Pain Return> as my last defence. Those claws can cut me up, but if it's not to the degree to kill me, then I can return that damage back. If it's enough to get a gash across that shell, Mei-chan's chances go up all at once.

That's why, the only action I *can* take is akin to a suicide bomber.

See it Momokawa Kotarou, observe every millimeter of its attack. You avoid a fatality here, and the Armor Bear's as good as dead. So look at it, and make sure to—

"<Ah>"

I sounded, by which point, those huge claws were right in my face. They looked heavy enough to sever me into multiple sections. Like a large knife, they'd start from the tip of my shoulder, sending my meat, bones and entrails to an all expenses paid trip to disection land.

It's total over-the-top overkill.

And though I could tell all that, I didn't more an inch. I couldn't move I could say. Leaving aside curses, it wouldn't make sense for a weak ass highschooler like me to actually dodge from a real monster.

My plans were all naïve.

"—<aAA>!"

Blood sprays. The feeling of something hot grazing my body is the same as back then. Yeah, that feeling of a sharp claw slicing into you, it's more of a heat than pain.

"AA! AAAAAAAA!!"

And the excruciation comes right after— wait, what's up, it looks like I'm kinda alright. My uniform is still on me, and I haven't dropped my insides either.

In contrast, there were dregs of black bone sticking to me.

"Ah, AAAh... <Rem>!!"

And then I finally put it together. Rem had tackled me with all her might, and thanks to that I managed to avoid the Armor Bear's finisher.

I was saved. And in return, Rem became a sacrifice. Her skeletal structure left only from the chest up, everything below was scattered here and there.

Rem wasn't moving anymore. Still clinging to my fallen body, all her functions had ceased.

Sorry, and thanks... you were super useful, Rem.

"<GoaaAAAAAAAAAA!!>"

Looking at the roaring Armor Bear, I could see 4 gashes going across its body. It's thick chest armor shred, the lines ran down till its abdomen. Seems like those the tips of it's claws traced shallowly all along my upper body.

Me and the bear both shed blood from our wounds, and both cried out from the consequent pain.

"Tch, it wasn't enough, damn..."

It's a level of damage where even I can stay conscious. Even if it's shell is a but cut up, the Armor Bear is A-OK.

Looks like it's prided armor being broken, its blood being caused to shed by some smallfry really got on its nerves. It was leering at me like no tomorrow.

It raised its log-like, no, its paw akin to a massive steel pillar. Once that comes down, I'm dead for sure. I'm still lying on the ground here, and in no posture to move away.

Shit, its recovery speed is too much— that's all I could think as I stared tear-blurred at the paw raised over me, not even ready to accept this death.

"—GAA!"

But that death didn't come however long I waited. Before I noticed, its paw had descended without cutting a thing, and as if it was completely oblivious of my existance, the Armor Bear was looking elsewhere. I could tell from down here, those sharp eyes were cautious.

Just once, that huge Armor Bear, actually shivered.

Huh, literally what could be there that made this bastard scared? As I turn around with that question, right there was Mei-chan standing.

Her arms skill dripping in blood, shrouded in a crimson aura, she was there, standing.

"Mei-chan, don't tell me... you used <Reagent X>!?"