Chapter 60: Butterfly

Hot damn, look what time it is! Its time to get another totally awesome power from my patron god. That 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, Ruinhilde-sama!

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

"Chaos. It is not a thing that merely exists as phenomena"

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

But well, Ill try hearing him out as best as I can. I hope hes OK with that.

"Put two people together, and theyre 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"

Ruinhilde-sama grandly spread out his arms, as he spoke deeply on the nature of chaos. And out of nowhere, brilliant lights burst forth. From every conceivable direction, the lights danced like a storm of cherry blossoms.

Red, blue, yellow, green. These lights flickered in a myriad of colors 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 a miracle of God.

"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 wondered if what this god was saying is that Im 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 didnt think so!

Uh, Uuh, FuwaaaAAAAAAAAA

Swallowed into the storm of butterflies, I Log Out from the God Area.

Contra-beat Butterfly: Using medicines, create a butterfly that releases the opposite effect with its scales.

With this new curse in hand, the Worst Harem Party, with me inaugurated as its sub-leader, entered once again into the dungeon.

It need not be said that the atmosphere surrounding us was really bad. None of us showed it on our faces, but none could deny that the air was dangerously close to its boiling point.

Nevertheless, our progress itself was going alright. Its because Class Rep, who I myself believed to be a good leader, took her position seriously, 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 werent anything big, so I generally went with it.

If we could survive thanks to her orders, then I had no qualms. The only time I did speak up would be when we encountered enemies that were actually life-threatening.

Right, for example, like that powerful Mantis from before The Note Circle has since updated to let us know that its known as a Knight Mantis and like that time when 2 of those appeared at once.

Class Rep, lets get Mei-chan up front

But then, the rearguard

Give me some ice walls after my bog sets in. Theres two of those Mantes this time, so if we dont go full power here, we might regret it

Kotarou-kun, everything alright?

Its fine, the last junction 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 Mantes in that time, well win easy.

Got it, then, Ill 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 had Kenzaki Natsukawa in vanguard, Class Rep and Souma Sakura in the middle, with me, Takanashi, and finally, Mei-chan protecting the rear. To speak of whats different from before, weve got a solid mid-guard with our mage combo, Class Rep Souma Sakura, so its a step in the right direction Id say. Also, weve had Mei-chan stationed with us, so the defense back here has improved too.

All of these changes were things I suggested before heading out. Class Rep asked a few questions about my rationale, but otherwise accepted right away after I answered.

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

Rotten Bog and done. Alright Class Rep, Kenzaki-san and Natsukawa-san will take on one of the Mantes, you and Souma-san provide spell support with all you got. Me and Mei-chan will stop the other one

Can you two handle it?

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

... You dont, need to tell us

Gotcha!

Souma Sakura behaved outwardly annoyed, but anyway, Natsukawa-san gave out an earnest reply. Kenzaki-san didnt say anything, but she probably understands the plan.

Thats how it is, so Kenzaki-san, dont be late okay?

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

Facing the Mantes, Mei-chan who was shoehorned into the vanguard, spoke to Kenzaki with a smile. To which the latter replied with a shakey voice. Yup, we definitely cant put her and Mei-chan together any time soon.

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

Guys, theyre here!!

Natsukawa-san who possessed the Thiefs enhanced hearing, clearly deciphered the position of the Mantes by the beat of their wings echoing inside the cave and announced that their arrival was upon us. Its because we had her excellent perception that I could hand out orders and even had spare time to explain the strategy.

Now, all thats left was the fight itself. With our current collective strength, we should be able to take on 2 Mantes at the same time. Its a good chance, Ill test our my new curse magic here too.

Lux Sagitta

Eis Sagitta

As expected, the two Mantes came flying from beyond the curve ahead, and our mid-field mages got the first attack in. And no, they werent so stupid as to try and aim at both, and properly targeted only one, the one on the right, lets name this one Mantis A. Arrows of light and ice blitzed towards it.

But this enemy wasnt half-baked. Sharply swinging its 2 scythes, Mantis A deflected their preemptive attack.

Seeing which of them the mages chose, Kenzaki-san and Natsukawa-san now knew their mark. Leaving A to those 4, me and Mei-chan started on containing Mantis B.Follow the latest novels n/velbin(.)com

Red Fever, Blackhair Bind!!

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

SHAA!

With a piercing cry, the braided tentacles, that were aimed for its 4 legs, were quickly scythed off. That being said, when youre on Mei-chans level, even something like that worked as good support.

Ha!!

With a spirited yell, she swung down her Roaring Steel Halberd. Mantis B instantly drew back its scythes and received the large ax-blade.

And stopped it. But, though slightly, the Mantis was indeed pushed back.

Woah, Mei-chans incredible...

She bested a monster in pure strength. That Mei-chan, its like she was getting EXP every time she defeated an enemy and was levelling up when before I know it.

Though Im jelly of her Status values that seemed to be rising so well, Ill get back to what I need to be doing. I mean, Im just a Shaman. The best I can do is maybe harass the enemy when were in a fight.

Soar, oh wings of misfortune, rooted in this

Reciting the aria engraved in my head, I take out my, practically useless since I never actually use it, antidote med. 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, adding similar portions of shamdelion and walnut leaves.

Who knows what kind of poisons this thing will work on. I cant really tell since Intuition Pharmacy only gave me a rough explanation. But whatever it is, its definitely an antidote of some kind, no doubt.

Implying that, this, using medicines, create a butterfly that releases the opposite effect with its scales, effect of my new curse will allow me to take this and manifest a butterfly carrying the poison its supposed to cure.

Contra-beat Butterfly

In the next moment, the pasty antidote reformed into swallowtail butterflies with a blue luminescence. They each 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 had been expended.

Nice, now go!

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

This goal that is Mantis B was presently in fierce combat with Mei-chan. With its big, compound eyes, theres no way itd miss my blue glowies. But as if implying it sensed absolutely no harm from them, the Mantis showed no signs of trying to avoid or drive away my butterflies.

Making sure not to 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 mana, dispersed into blue phosphorescence. These blue-white glowy things must be their poisonous scales.

Tch, its not instant effect

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

That was useless, using blackhair would have been

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

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

And its reactions, are also dull!!

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

The bug was a good match for Mei-chan using both its scythes in unison. Take away even one of those, and the fight was 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 frontal leg. Its posture now broken, what remained was for it to be 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.

Honestly, I seriously dont feel like being praised at all. Any way you look at it, what I did only slightly weakened the creature. Mei-chans the awesome one for turning it into absolute mincemeat.

Wait, is the Souma team still fighting over there...

Fuuh, we beat it somehow

30 seconds after Mei-chan was done, Mantis A, after being pin-cushioned by light and ice arrows, and hacked into 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 afraid.

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

But seeing her like that, no one, not even Mei-chan, said anything. Or rather, they wouldnt pry in.

I think everyones already fully aware. That Kenzaki Asunas heart, that proud girls 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 wouldve been unthinkable for the old her. Should I call it progress, or maybe regression... Whatever it is, its convenient for me.

And so, Souma Sakura was the only person left in the list of people trying to get in my hair.

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 Im not stupid enough not to consider the consequences. Otherwise, soon, when we meet back up with Souma Yuuto, itll be all over. If I act that straightforwardly evil, I wont live long.

Chapter end