arc2 · 105-ch105

Chapter 105: Hyakka Ryouran vs Werewolf

"Um, what do you mean by 'scout it out'?"

Hmm? What's this? Does everyone not understand what I'm saying?

"I was thinking my Hayate could go inside and check the situation. If there's a Dungeon Error and it's not a Werewolf, I can just dismiss Hayate and come right back..."

I thought I was stating the obvious, but apparently that wasn't the case for them.

"Wait... what!? If you can do that, then Dungeon Errors wouldn't be scary at all, would they!?"

Yeah, that's what I'm telling you. Did nobody else think of that?

"Too useful. I want that drone. Give it to me."

Kurokage-san approached Hayate with the eyes of a predator eyeing prey. She's short, so I'll just raise Hayate to a height she can't reach.

"You're saving us even more than just by filming."

Everyone nodded at Akatsuki-san's words. Hmm, as an exclusive cameraman, I was hoping to provide various kinds of support anyway, so I don't really feel like I'm saving them that much.

"SS-san, please!"

Oh, Himehana managed to say "SS" properly this time.

"Alright then, I'll go take a quick look. Could someone open the door?"

I sent Hayate through the door that Toomi-san opened for me and into the boss room. The boss room door closes automatically and forcefully the moment someone enters. That applies to my drones too. However, it reopens once there's no one inside and the boss's damage has regenerated. So even if it closes now, if I dismiss Hayate, it will open again right away.

I headed straight for the boss waiting in the center. There stood a bipedal wolf with a dark gray body.

(Okay, just one Werewolf like the intel said.)

After confirming the boss, I dismissed Hayate and resummoned it.

"It was just one Werewolf, exactly as the intel said."

I reported to Toomi-san with Hayate, which I'd resummoned outside the door. If we charge in right now, the chances of a Dungeon Error happening should be quite low.

"I really want SS-san with us for every boss fight from now on."

Toomi-san seemed impressed, and I felt a little happy about it too.

"Alright then, let's go with the plan!"

Now that we knew the opponent was a single Werewolf, we quickly confirmed the strategy and then entered the boss room as a group.

"Alright, here we go! Support please!"

According to plan, Himehana moved toward the Werewolf first. Toomi-san followed behind her, and Kurokage-san circled around from the left. Akatsuki-san waited in the rear, ready to fire Fire Bullets at the right moment.

I moved Hayate to circle from the right, capturing Kurokage-san on camera while keeping Asahi stationed beside Akatsuki-san.

CLANG!

Himehana's opening strike was blocked by the Werewolf's claws. Those claws can block mithril swords without being cut. As expected of B-rank. It lives up to its name.

"Hah!"

The Werewolf caught Himehana's sword, and just as its movement stopped, Toomi-san's spear came thrusting in. But the Werewolf pushed Himehana back and easily dodged the spear.

"GRRRAAAHH!"

Furthermore, the Werewolf launched an attack timed perfectly with Toomi-san pulling her spear back, as if to return the favor. However, that attack had to be interrupted to avoid the dagger that came flying from the side—Kurokage-san's.

At that moment, Akatsuki-san signaled Asahi. The plan was to fire Fire Bullets five seconds after this signal.

"Fire Bullet incoming. Five seconds, four, three..."

Confirming that, I started the countdown with Hayate. Hearing my voice, Himehana, Toomi-san, and Kurokage-san all attacked the Werewolf at once. But as expected of a B-rank monster. It deflected all three of their attacks and counterattacked. Small wounds accumulated on Himehana and Toomi-san's bodies.

"...one, firing!"

At those words, all three retreated from the Werewolf simultaneously. Then the flame bullets came rushing toward it.

THUD, THUD, THUD!

Three consecutive Fire Bullets struck the Werewolf directly. One aimed at its face was barely blocked by its arm, but burn marks remained on that arm. The other two hit its torso, burning away the gray fur and exposing burned skin.

"HOWWWLLL!"

Suddenly, the damaged Werewolf began howling toward the sky. Immediately after, the Werewolf's body glowed pale, and its wounds began healing rapidly.

"Regeneration skill!"

Toomi-san cried out involuntarily. Even though we'd shared this intel beforehand, seeing wounds they'd worked so hard to inflict heal in mere tens of seconds against a higher-ranked opponent—it's understandable she'd want to complain.

"But it's consuming magic power! Let's keep dealing damage until its magic runs out!"

Even in this situation, Himehana stayed positive. Seeing her like that, the other members' eyes regained their fighting spirit. I know we're in the middle of battle and I shouldn't be distracted, but that scene really moved me. The fans are going to love this.

Oops, I can't let myself get distracted by that. Time for me to provide active support too.

I moved Asahi, which had been beside Akatsuki-san, to a higher position. The Werewolf was fighting Himehana again, with Toomi-san and Kurokage-san providing support. The Werewolf was holding its own against all three of them, which is impressive. But now it's my turn to join in.

I positioned Asahi at a height where it was in the Werewolf's line of sight but out of reach, and started counting down with Hayate.

"Capture Net incoming! Three seconds, two, one, fire!"

At my signal, the three scattered once more. But the Werewolf must have learned from the previous attack—it immediately chased after Himehana, trying to catch her in the attack.

But that was expected. I didn't fire the Capture Net, and instead sent Hayate charging into the Werewolf's back.

BAM!

I couldn't expect much damage, but it destabilized the Werewolf's stance a bit.

"GRAH!"

The Werewolf turned immediately and swiped with its claws, but its awkward stance meant it only managed to smash Hayate to pieces. However, this made it lose even more balance.

"Opening!"

This time, Himehana seized the moment and slashed at the Werewolf's back.

SLASH!

The Werewolf tried to twist away to dodge, but Himehana's mithril twin swords grazed its back.

"Hayate charge, then Capture Net!"

I sent Hayate charging at the Werewolf's face while it stopped moving from the back pain, then fired the Capture Net from above once I'd blinded its vision. The sturdy net covered the Werewolf exactly as intended.

"Desperate Thrust!"

Here, Toomi-san activated her spear skill. A thrust many times sharper than normal pierced the Werewolf's flank as it struggled in the net.

"Weak Point Strike."

Furthermore, Kurokage-san drove her dagger skill into that wound. This is a dagger skill that multiplies damage by targeting vital points.

With a deep wound in its flank, the Werewolf tore through the Capture Net. But waiting there was Himehana, twin swords at the ready.

"Peerless Rampage!"

A twin sword skill that unleashed a flurry of strikes like a dancing whirlwind. The damaged Werewolf couldn't deflect them all and accumulated even more wounds.

However, even after taking all this damage, the Werewolf was still standing on two legs. Blood dripped onto the ground, but it glared at Himehana and the others with sharp eyes.

"HOWWWLLL!"

The Werewolf howled, trying to activate its regeneration skill again, but the members of Hyakka Ryouran weren't about to just watch.

"Not happening."

A dagger came flying from behind the Werewolf, whose attention was caught by Himehana and Toomi-san's immediate attacks. Kurokage-san had read one move ahead. The thrown dagger sank deeply into the wound on its back.

Whether from the pain or not, the light covering the Werewolf faded, and the skill seemed to be canceled. As expected of Kurokage-san.

"Just fall already!"

Himehana skillfully used her twin swords to corner the Werewolf. Toomi-san's spear skillfully blocked its escape routes, not allowing the Werewolf to flee. Watching from behind the Werewolf, I noticed something. Kurokage-san's dagger was still stuck in the Werewolf's back.

(Take this!)

I sent Hayate charging into that dagger. The Werewolf didn't notice Hayate flying in silently.

BAM!

"GRRRAAAHHH!"

My Hayate pushed the dagger even deeper into its back, dealing a fatal wound to the Werewolf. It collapsed with a death cry.

That was the moment of our complete victory.

【You defeated the Werewolf】

【You have leveled up】

I ended up landing the finishing blow, and gained another level.