Chapter 650: Beast with a Bed of Bamboo

Author's Preface

A cheer dedicated to the citizens of Saitama Prefecture (I watched Fly Me to the Saitama).

We were in a troublesome situation; that was my honest feeling on the matter.

Should we forcibly fight barehanded, or should we swing our weapons and prepare for the obstruction? It depends on the boss, of course, but it would be somewhat better if fighting barehanded turned out to be more efficient... However, the most likely and worst-case scenario is that an incredibly sturdy monster will show up.

"And since the danger evaluation criteria leans closer to human logic, it seems like using magic or items would cross the line, too."

"Want me to test it?"

Big sis Exploding Green Peas, are you going to clean up the mess all by yourself? If those eel-lizards swarm us in large numbers, it's gonna be a real pain in the ass, you know?

As we advanced through the artificial mountain in an unequipped state, the explosive sounds occasionally echoing from the distance indicated that some other players were still desperately fleeing from the swimming landmines.

"What should we do? Should we go help them?"

"No... we should focus on searching for the bamboo shoot. Just like when Sunraku-kun first encountered them, the Swimines will react and flock toward the sound of their brethren's explosions. In other words, right now, we can enter the boss fight while somewhat ignoring the risk of being blown up."

"Didn't you just casually abandon about five people with that logic?"

"I saw some other【Library】members flowing toward The Professor's group, so they've likely figured out the gimmick on their end too."

Does that mean the other five are sacrificial pawns...? Well, no, the Swimines themselves aren't exactly formidable enemies. I do think putting a Stealth attribute on a standard suicide-bomber enemy is a cheap move, but dealing with them shouldn't be that difficult if you keep chain explosions in mind.

So, in short... all I can say is good luck to the parties currently suffering in the minefield without any【Library】members to guide them.

"Akitsu Akane, let's guess what the boss monster is gonna be."

"Eh? U-Umm... I think it's a panda!!"

"...Akitsu Akane, bamboo and bamboo grass are two completely different plants."

"Hehhh! That's the first time I've ever heard that!!"

Speaking of bamboo, I recall there being a bamboo spear user back in Bakumatsu. He stuck in my memory because, despite the game's Edo-period civilization, he was the only guy running around looking like a peasant hunting for fallen samurai. He actually tried to defeat a ranker but ended up getting completely swarmed and beaten to death by a bunch of hyenas while screaming "My stock of bamboo speaaaars!?" ...As expected, the anti-air capabilities of a bamboo spear could never hope to win against that guy(↑)'s ground-bombardment attacks. Just use fireworks like a normal person, fireworks.

"I don't see any bamboo groves around here. Do you think it might be at the summit?"

"Well, it's called a 'crown,' so wouldn't that make sense?"

"If that were the case, I feel it would contradict this image... Look, the background isn't the summit."

"Couldn't it just be that it wanders around while inactive? It's entirely possible that since players are inside the layer right now, it's waiting at a designated position."

"True, since this is ultimately a game, that possibility is high. We can say with near certainty that the monsters in Behemoth are under some form of control system, after all."

So, should we head for the summit, or should we regroup with the other parties? The answer to that question... came directly to us.

"...It's shaking."

"Rei-shi, this is... probably exactly what I think it is, right?"

"What do you mean?"

"It means Bansai-shi's deduction was half right and half wrong! It came to attack us!!"

Don't tell me this thing is prioritizing unequipped players to keep us on edge about the Swimines...!!

"Gworororororororo!!!!"

"What is this thing!?"

"It's a panda!!"

"There is no such thing as a panda wearing armor!!"

Well, it certainly doesn't not look like a panda!! But this is definitely a monster that looks like a pitch-black bear clad in a white exoskeleton, and from the top of its head, a splendid, gleaming black bamboo shoot is...!!

『Allow me to introduce it. It is a variant of the Parasite Tentacle and a variant of the Chobham Grizzly. You could call it an amalgamation of the two... the Dominate Grizzly.』

"E-Thi-Ca-Lssss!!"

This girl actually just called it an amalgamation!! You're entirely a mad scientist leaning towards true evil, aren't you!!

...Wait? Hold on. Parasite Tentacle? I feel like I fought a monster with a similar vibe back in the Rabituza Colosseum.

『The Dominate Grizzly is a unique specimen that managed to crush and seize control of the thinking-jack functions of the Parasite Bamboo—a variant of the Parasite Tentacle—subjugating it instead...』

Can we skip this?! I'll listen to it later!!

Dominate Grizzly... Bamboo Bear is fine. Bamboo Bear was throwing a massive tantrum, going full throttle right from the start. Although part of it was because it charged us out of nowhere, everyone was restricting themselves to throwing attacks without drawing their weapons or items, perhaps with the Swimines still flashing through their minds... Argh, this is so frustrating!!

"Rei-shi! Let's take it down as fast as possible!!"

"...Right!!"

The danger level of our weapons attracts the fish? Bring it on! I'll turn you into roasted bamboo shoots before you can even take a bite of the bait.

"Use blunt attacks!!"

In any case, slashing attacks wouldn't do a thing unless we shattered that outer shell first. Equipping the Brilliant Scorpion Gauntlets, I dashed to the frontline alongside Rei-shi, who equipped her iron whip, setting up a rushed combat formation.

"Akitsu Akane! You don't need to force yourself to join the fight! Watch out for the fish!!"

"Don't be stupid, I'm the best fit for causing chain explosions with a single strike! Dora-himeDragon Princess-chan, join the fight!!"

"Yes!"

"Then I'll focus entirely on support."

"Aren't you a Holy Knight!?"

"Ah, that's just my appearance. I'm completely specialized in full recovery support."

That's way too confusing!!

The Brilliant Scorpion Gauntlets are massive gloves that cover all the way up to my elbows. The fact that they're big means they're hard and packed with toughness... I'll smash through Bamboo Bear's scabs in no time!!

"Orah!!"

As a test of its strength, I slammed my right fist, boosted by the corrections of the Divine Arm of a Hundred ExcellencesSamildánach, into Bamboo Bear's outer shell. I felt a solid response. Watching the cracked outer shell shatter into pieces from my follow-up left elbow, I noted that it was more fragile than I thought—no, wait!!

"Uwaaah, bamboo spears!!"

"Sunraku-kun!!"

The fur exposed from beneath the shattered shell suddenly bulged, and sharp bamboo violently pierced out through the flesh and skin... I narrowly dodged what was quite literally a bamboo spear. No, wait, I didn't dodge it at all; it completely gouged out my flank. Have my senses dulled...?

"Thanks for the heal!!"

"If I hit your face, it'll still heal you somewhat even if the damage source was a different body part! Source: Our clan's verification team!!"

I can always count on the lore nerds. And now, you'd better regret failing to kill me on the first try!! That won't hit me twice, Bamboo Bear!!

"Kyah... yeah, aside from the knockback, the damage amount is negligible."

"........."

Comparing myself to Rei-shi—who casually continued her assault as if taking a direct hit to the shoulder from a bamboo spear was absolutely nothing—it would be a lie to say I felt nothing in my heart... Yeah.

Author's Afterword

Dominate Grizzly

A bear with bamboo growing out of it... or rather, a bear that sprouts bamboo from its own body. Normally, a creature parasitized by a Parasite Tentacle has its brain scrambled and control of its body hijacked. However, this individual is a unique case: a Parasite Bamboo (a variant of the Parasite Tentacle closer to a symbiotic organism that strengthens the host's body by taking root in its nervous system without stealing its legs) parasitized a Chobham Grizzly, which possesses superior shell-generation capabilities.

To put it simply, a bear parasitized by doping bamboo managed to seize control through sheer willpower, allowing it to sprout bamboo spears from its body at will.