Chapter 70: Solo Dungeoning Again

Chapter 70: Solo Dungeoning Again

“UAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!”

After screaming, pounding against the transfer circle on the platform, rolling on the floor crying, letting out all my pent up emotions, I finally regained enough calm to face reality.

“Kenzaki Asunaaaa... that, damn bitch... ”

There it was, betrayal in plain sight.

Due to Souma-kun entering the scene, I let my guard down thinking I was safe. With him there, I would be relieved from continuing with this ridiculous farce of a party play and having to make all those last minute strategies with those wonderful harem girls. No longer would I need to engage in that bullshit.

Heck, from their perspective, with Souma Yuuto, they could just steamroll through this dungeon without worry. They’d no longer need to alienate me, nor need to be afraid of Mei-chan anymore. Everyone working together, with Souma-kun as the center, this was how the dungeon capture was supposed to be. There was no motive to commit such an act of practically murder like leaving me behind... Well, that’s how it should have been.

“Dammit, is this what I get for driving a proud sword girl into a corner!?”

Most likely, Kenzaki Asuna had done it in the spur of the moment. She might not have realized what she had done.

Apparently, Mei-chan’s beating her into what was essentially becoming my puppet had brought her mind to the brink.

After being saved by Souma-kun, and placed in a situation where teleporting away from this wretched cave was moments away... She’d finally relaxed. That moment was the perfect chance, and she knew it. Because that was exactly how Souma-kun had been separated from them.

By pushing someone out during the transfer process, it was certainly possible to separate said person from the party. In order to be rid of me, that was the perfect chance. The berserker, Mei-chan, would be hard to push, but a frail shaman like me? She could do it easy, with a light push even.

“Mei-chan’s gonna be totally pissed right around now”

Even without Mei-chan, there was no way Kenzaki Asuna would be let off without blame. She had a lot of grudges against me, but even then, we were still in the same party for a time and I had helped them out a lot. So she knew it was a bad idea, but still did it.

Her notion was a clear act of betrayal towards an ally. A criminal act I could claim. Since it was as if she’d pushed me in front of a moving train.

“Just hope she doesn’t up and kill Kenzaki”

Well, with Souma-kun around, I doubt it’d turn out like that. Even for Mei-chan, it wouldn’t be a good idea to turn Souma-kun and his whole party into enemies, she would be easily subdued. Preferably, I’d like if Class rep did some of her top-class mediating, peacefully resolve the issue... Though I feel like she’d first collapse from stomach cramps under all that stress. Maybe I should have made some antacid for her.

“Not like I’m in any position to worry about others...”

Right, I should be focusing about bigger problems, namely, myself.

Everyone else had already transferred over to the new zone. And as the only person left behind, I naturally had no monster core big enough to start up the circle again.

From here on, I’d have to proceed through the dungeon alone. Yup, alone, solo capture as a frickin’ shaman.

“I’m, so screwed...”

It’s just like when I was first thrown into the dungeon. Seriously, I’m gonna have to go solo this late in the game?

Totally unfair. It’s like a Dark Souls no hit run.

“No, I gotta calm down, don’t give up... Even if it’s me, I can at least do something”

First, let’s make a quick check. My full status.

Red Fever : Puts the target into a slightly feverish state. C’mon you, can’t you be like, kinda, I mean...

Pain Return : Returns the damage that the target has done in full. The injury remains. It’s useful in battle and for threats, literally a double-edged sword as the description implies. I tend to use this guy more at the endgame.

Intuition Pharmacy : Provides information about ingredients’ effects and such, also gives me the ability to make various concoctions with said ingredients. My lifeline. The very skill that makes a shaman, a shaman. Kinda want to concoct some poisons soon.

Blackhair Bind : Shadowy tentacles that are capable of twining around an opponent’s feet. Can be braided into a makeshift rope. Has a wide range of use. Though, I wish it had some more strength.

Vile Mud Doll : A doll that moves according to the owner’s will. Absolute obedience. Rem is such a good kid.

Black Bloodline : Is that blood a curse or a blessing? Even though there’s nothing inherited from any predecessors, blood is still life. The body, curses, magic, faith―― it influences all. Also seems to taste delicious, depending on the person.

Rotten Bog : Just one step inside, and it’ll corrode your flesh, an extremely acidic swamp. My only ace in the hole.

Contra-Beat Butterfly : Pick a concoction, and these butterflies will cause the reverse effects through its scales. This one’s a resource consumer, can’t fire willy-nilly.

These 8 were the curses that I could use.

Next would be equipment.

Red Knife : A knife created from a Cerberus’ fang. Blessed in fire, this blade can really heat things up.

Iron Dagger : A normal quality dagger.

Box cutter : Something I had since before the incident. Has a couple of spare blades.

Stones : Stones I gathered for throwing. Perfect for making Rotten Bog on walls and ceilings.

My main weapon, the iron spear, was lost during the fight with Yokomichi (truly a pity), but I did hold on to Natsukawa-san’s Red Knife. A blessing amidst misfortune, as they say.

“Don’t think I can advance past this cave without this”

When I unsheath this knife out of its leather scabbard, a thin coat of flames would ignite, clinging onto the red hot blade. It should work as a light source for now.

“This place actually goes deeper huh... Gotta start somewhere”

This transfer circle room was a part of the dungeon’s stone ruins zones but, for some reason, this room was here, in what was clearly insect cave dominion. It was like a sudden offshoot to a teleport in the middle of the cave system.

In other words, aside from the path we used to get to this cave, there was also a path forward that Souma-kun took to get to us.

“Since Souma-kun said he came through a boss room, the ruins area shouldn’t be so far off”

At least, the distance was supposed to be close enough that his Lux Elemental could detect his sister. Well, at least I hope it is.

Right now, I couldn’t activate this transfer circle, so my only choice was the other route. I should first backtrack through Souma-kun’s path into the ruins area, then search for another way forward. Before that though, I should find a fairy square to take a breather.

“Ok ok, no time like the present”

Even if I just sit around here, help won’t come. Mei-chan will surely try to find me, but since she’s been transferred away already, she can’t possibly come back. The only possibility is if we manage to cross paths at some point, on our way to the collective destination that was the transfer gate located deep within this dungeon. Because of that, I had no choice but to continue alone.

Will I be able to meet up with Mei-chan, or will I meet other classmates first? Or will I die from one of the latter’s or a monster’s assault? The latter conclusion felt awfully likely to happen, but I guess it’s all a matter of luck.

I’ll just have to do as I do.

“Oh yeah, about time I start building Rem”

I gathered mud from the area, molded it into a humanoid figure, and without using any monster parts, made the weakest specs mode of mud doll Rem.

“Hmmm, not very reliable”

Rem, who was built only from mud, was small like the first time I’d summoned her. Now, even with just mud, I felt like I could make her human sized, but it made no sense to enlarge that already fragile body. It’d only consume more mana, and worst case, might even break at the seams while moving around.

So, I kept it at doll-sized.

The resurrected Rem, appeared to be somewhat frustrated? Well, I don’t mind really, she did a good job in that fight against Yokomichi.

Besides, having Rem here will alleviate the loneliness somewhat. For that peace of mind, I was super grateful.

Anyway, can’t stay in this room forever. It’s no fairy square, so ants might wander in. The rook spider pit that was sealed off might’ve been dug open by now.

Since I’m all set, let’s get a move on.

“Rem, you take point and scout for enemies”

Acknowledging with a nod, Rem strode forward into the dark cave.

The current Rem could only go slightly ahead of where the light can’t reach, and since she was in her initial state where her body was so fragile, she currently had no firepower. Though she did have good perception which could be used to detect enemies. They weren’t as great as Natsukawa-san’s, but at least provided a little comfort.

“Urk, the knife’s giving off light, but not enough”

As I was thinking about a danger to my life quite different from the man-eating mantis struggling some distance behind me, I could see a light up ahead.

“Could it be, the exit!”

Great job, I’m proud of you. As if the dungeon was rewarding my solo struggle, I could see a light, the boundary between cave and ruins, the goal.

“Haaa... haaa... Finally, I made it, somehow”

Lurching through the exit, what I saw was a room not unlike the Orthrus’ boss room. But the difference was, there was a gaping hole in the wall connecting this room to the cave.

Yeah, this, without a doubt, was the room where Souma-kun defeated that boss he mentioned. The room had good lighting too, one glance around and I could tell that there was no trace nor shadow of anyone or anything.

Guess the boss was yet to respawn? Or maybe, just defeating it once permanently kills it? At any rate, that’s good news to me. I’m struggling as is, please don’t ask for more.

Then again, this IS a boss room and you at least have to face some strong enemy once you enter. As if the dungeon was demanding such, an enemy did appear.

“GYOOAAAAAAHHHH!!”

Goes without saying, it was the Knight Mantis that I’d elegantly avoided just previously.

It seems Rem fucked it up quite a bit. It had lost its left scythe, the wings were gone to the point where flight was impossible, and there were various marks of corrosion all over its body. It looked practically dead.

“Tch, what a tenacious bug!”

It’d be great if it just dropped dead right now. The bug was pretty unrelenting, like it was holding some sort of grudge against me, even after it’d gotten a full body makeover.

“... Final battle, I guess”

Since it was caught up, it’d be dangerous to run and leave my back wide open. It had lost its wings, but still had the four legs. It was faster than me, and even if I put out Rotten Bogs, it seemed likely to just jump over, or simply push through with willpower alone.

Since I’d already lost Rem’s base body, I won’t be able to summon Super Poison Rem like earlier either.

Still, the mantis was dying. If I could just dish out a bit more damage, I should be able to kill it.

However, I didn’t have any means of dealing that fatal push.

The mantis looked so unsteady, and yet, it still raised up its remaining scythe. My only weapons were the Red Knife and the dagger. Both were blades with a short reach, and it’d be suicidal of me to close in with them.

Meanwhile, its scythe had a reach much longer than a longsword. If I went up with my knife yelling out “Die Fuckface!!!” like some Yakuza shooter, I’d surely be cut down sideways. Even if I had my old spear, my ability to kill wouldn’t improve.

Shit, a Shaman doesn’t do close quarters combat. I won’t win that way.

“SHAH! SHAaa...”

The mantis looked wary, it raised a high pitched screech, and kept its distance. The atmosphere was balls to the wall tense.

In reality, I had no power to compete against this green faced fuck. The mantis apparently hadn’t realized yet. Because once it thought, “Hey, this kid’s actually weak,” this match would end with but a single move.

This wasn’t the time to be worrying. Think. I needed to think of a way to land the finishing blow on this dying mantis.

Wasn’t there something? Was there something? Something I could do to get this flaming knife inside its body?

The Red knife had the firepower to do it. As long as I stabbed it before its scythe could reach me, of course... Dammit, there was not time to find a branch somewhere and fashion it into a spear, if only my arms could stretch out―― Wait, wait wait.

“SHAAAA!!”

The mantis screeched again. It was once again back in action; it’s patience had run thin.

“ Rotten Bog!!”

I plopped in a bog on reflex.

Although not large, the Rotten Bog suddenly appearing in front of it did cause the mantis to grow cautious and it backed away.

Good, that was all I needed. Rather than a physical wall, the bog had become a psychological barrier, successfully keeping the mantis away.

Now, my turn. I’ll kill it first, before it can think to jump over or bypass the small bog.

“――Blackhair Bind ”

I conjured up two braid-acles of hair from my own shadow. I then proceeded to have them grab the Red Knife and dagger respectively.

Ugh, I felt so stupid. It was only at these last minute showdowns, that I came up with these clearly obvious applications.

That’s right, my arms themselves can’t stretch, but Blackhair Bind could do that all day long.

“Go!!”

The two knife-tipped blackhairs flew out like arrows straight towards the mantis.

Blackhair Bind had, at first, had a length that was just barely enough to bind around the target’s ankles, but after continuous usage, binding monsters and dragging them down into the bog, it could now extend to quite a few meters. The strength and speed had both been improving little by little.

If I attach a knife to one of these tentacles, I essentially create a ranged weapon with a reach much longer than any spear. It’s like the scythe and chain, but not as technical in its usage. Well anyway, since I could move the tentacles at will, I could freely attack every which way I chose. It was extremely easy to handle.

“KYYOAAAA!!”

I took aim, stabbing the two blades straight towards the mantis’ torso. Though one of them was an ordinary blade, the other was blazing. On impact, a plume of flame burst out.

“Nice, it hit――oops, that was close!”

It raised a painful groan, confirming that damage had been dealt, which is when I immediately drew back the knife-tentacles.

The mantis brandished its scythe fiercely, whether intentionally or acting out in desperation, I didn’t know, but my tentacles would be easily severed if touched by that. And by obvious consequence, the knives tipping said tentacles would then be dropped. I couldn’t afford to let that happen.

“In that case, I’ll aim somewhere your scythe can’t reach... Like your back and hind legs”

Making use of my overwhelming advantage in reach, I’d take my time cutting it up until it dies. I dub it: the pin-cushion maneuver.

Although it was frustrating that I couldn’t kill it in a single blow, then again, I’m supposed to be a support role. Who’s big idea was it to make a Shaman fight melee?

“Take thiiis!!”

I wanted to take better aim, but it wasn’t like the mantis was going to take this lying down. It realized how it was being targeted, and took action to desperately defend itself. In other words, it started moving around like crazy.

Finding my target had become a lot harder now. I should just aim at the general location of its back. Anywhere was fine, as long as it hit.

“Uwa! Wait jus-, NO NO NO!?”

The mantis didn’t even try to register the feeble amount of damage and madly dashed towards me. This was bad, this was so bad, I was done for if it got in range.

I had to expand the Rotten Bog. Make it so that the mantis wouldn’t want to approach me.

“KYOAAAA, KISSSHHHHAAA”

“Shit, shit, shit! Ahhh, too close, stay away, stay away, dammiiit!”

I kept retreating from the mantis, putting down more bog, all the while trying to find a chance to stab it with my tentacle knives. I barely edged by as the creature almost cut my body, this happened over and over again. I was desperately running around the boss room, screaming, crying all the way――

“Kyooo, kiaa....”

Under my repeated attacks and the bog’s poison, the mantis finally stopped. That terrifying scythe too, just hung there powerlessly, it looked like it won’t move anymore.

“Die, DIE!--”

The mantis was immobile. I stretched my bog under its feet, restrained it with Blackhair Bind, cast Contra-Beat Butterfly to add additional damage, and finally, pin-cushioned it with my knives.

Check and mate.

“DIEEEEEEEEE!!”

Next one (71) will be out in 8 days.