Adult Ceremony (8): Dance of the Swarm
Dante extended his hand toward the insects. In response to his command, a swarm like a thundercloud formed into a spherical mass of bugs.
Dante moved his hand as if conducting an orchestra. The insect sphere danced through the air in perfect sync with the bug tamer's orders.
"Impressive skill..." the Flame Mage muttered with a groan.
"Watch out for that one. He's no ordinary foe."
"That much?"
"He's controlling those bugs like extensions of his own limbs, isn't he? It's rare to find a mage who can wield mana waves at that level."
Yorcan shot back, looking utterly baffled.
"He's a mage, right? Then you can just cancel his magic with your mana waves or whatever."
It was a perfectly reasonable question. A mage's mana waves could be nullified by identical waves. That was why lesser mages could never defeat superiors, no matter how hard they tried. How could you win when your own magic was dispersed before it even landed?
But the Flame Mage shouted in frustration.
"I don't even know what kind of waves he's using!"
"Something like that exists?"
"Ah... This must be why people call fools like you 'ignorant swordsmen.'"
"..."
"Mana waves only cancel each other if they're the same. His weird waves are probably... something like bug-control mana waves. Almost all bug tamers are lizardmen."
"Whoa... So is that guy a lizardman in human skin?"
"...This must be why people call fools like you 'ignorant swordsmen.'"
"?"
The Flame Mage tuned out Yorcan. He turned his gaze to the enigmatic bug tamer.
Beast Control. Or bug magic, as it was called. But wasn't that the exclusive domain of lizardmen...? How had a human mastered it?
He was undoubtedly a man born with a freakish talent that appeared once every century, if that.
'A tricky opponent.'
The Flame Mage tensed up.
Common, popular schools of magic—fire, ice, lightning... He could handle mages using those. Mages trained in multiple schools to adapt to any situation.
He was a fire specialist, excelling in destructive spells that shone in battle. He prided himself on being skilled enough to counter enemy fire magic.
But... bug magic...?
He knew nothing about bug magic. Because there was nothing to know! No bug tamers around to learn from.
Human mages all studied the same standard spells! If this bug tamer unleashed some unheard-of magic—
There was no choice but to take it head-on.
Of course, that was just the harsh law of the battlefield. Know your enemy or die. Ignorance was no excuse; it just meant you were unprepared.
'I'll make it work...!'
The Flame Mage scanned his foe cautiously. No reckless attacks. He cast Flame Shield to protect himself maximally and block the bugs' approach.
It was the perfect judgment.
'He's probing.'
Dante held back as well. Bug magic was rare and unique, but... the bugs themselves lacked raw combat power.
Didn't Teacher Kracto say it? 'This cursed Kortus has no proper insects—not a single one!'
A bug tamer's strength lay in what bugs they commanded. Centipedes, beetles, spiders... Suppose you gathered a horde. Then what? Hurl them at the enemy? Sure. But how much lethal damage could a bug clump inflict?
No matter how creepy or horrifying, bugs alone couldn't kill a person reliably.
Though they had plenty of social lethality against romance-fantasy ladies.
Against warriors, chucking centipedes would just look comical.
So you couldn't just throw bugs. You needed venomous ones.
That was why Teacher Kracto stressed: 'What bugs a tamer commands is everything.'
The poison from today's forest bugs wasn't potent. But it didn't matter. Dante had his cute gifts from Teacher Kracto.
'Fire mage, huh.'
Dante knew mainstream schools, having been a mage once.
'No canceling his spells.'
His ultra-niche magic made it inevitable. Just as the enemy couldn't nullify his waves—nor could he theirs.
He was a bug tamer, after all. How could he counter fire magic?
'Just need to deal with the mage.'
Between warrior and mage, the mage was trickier. Especially a fire one. AoE flames could incinerate his swarm—Dante's worst matchup.
So he prepared a simple tactic.
'They don't know my magic.'
His ace: unpredictability. They couldn't read his hand.
The Red Honey Bees, the Noon Fairies. And warrior-level physical boosts from their gathered mana.
Combine those right, strike their blind spot—victory.
"Cover me—mage!"
"Leave it to me!"
The warrior Yorcan charged first.
Best way to handle a mage? Overwhelming speed blitz.
Mages were human. They had reaction times, limits.
Unless battle-hardened, they couldn't handle a rushing warrior.
No matter how strong the magic—if a blade pierced your throat first, you died!
Mages were human too!
Yorcan barreled toward Dante at insane speed. A warrior technique exploding full-body mana.
Against an enemy closing in a blink, untrained panic was inevitable.
Normally, another warrior would counter, forming a frontline while mages supported from rear.
'...Fast.'
Dante was slightly surprised by the onrushing Yorcan. Felt almost like sparring with his armored father.
But slower than Dad.
Dante was a count's heir. Trained against knight father, master of acclaimed fisticuffs from the Western Gentlemen's Club.
Recalling Dad's lessons, he calmly countered.
Released mana to coil around his arm. Deflect the sword's path—like rain sliding off a roof.
Dante's mana-shielded arm neatly parried Yorcan's blade.
"!!!"
Yorcan was shocked enough to yelp. A mage? Bug tamer?! What was that...?!
A fist-fighter countering a swordsman!
Of course—he'd never dreamed Dante knew martial arts.
Fists meant mage, not unarmed specialist. A sword at the belt might imply fencing, but...
Caught off-guard by the unexpected, Yorcan ate it hard.
Dante pressed with a right hook.
But—
Clang—!
Yorcan was a veteran. Mana flowed naturally. His mana shield blocked the punch.
Yorcan growled.
"Sloppy! Rookie!"
Dante smirked back.
"I know."
"...?"
Dante's technique was solid, but merely passable. No matter. He was a bug tamer.
"Swarm him!"
"!!!"
Dante swung his hand. The massive insect sphere engulfed Yorcan.
"You... mad bastard!"
Yorcan freaked, activating mana shield. But shields were just that—shields. Too small for full-body cover.
Hundreds of bugs swarmed his body, tearing into flesh.
But Yorcan didn't flinch. Bug attacks were mere DoT—damage over time.
Before they whittled him down, lop off the tamer's head—magic ends.
Kill amid the gnawing!
"Die—!"
Yorcan raised his sword again.
That instant—
"...Huh?"
His strength melted away. Mana in his sword dispersed futilely.
'Wh-what...? My body... why...?'
Vision blurred. Legs buckled.
Only the bug tamer's eerie smile remained...
"Take a nap. It'll all be over when you wake."
"..."
The flung insect sphere contained Noon Fairies mixed in.
A lone Red Honey Bee? Easily countered.
So cluster bugs into a sphere, hide bees inside, inject venom stealthily.
Hundreds flying as a ball—bees stung safely.
One sting: daze. Two: sleep. Three: death.
That was the Noon Fairies' venom. Red Slumber.
Hooray! We protected our hive!
The Red Honey Bees buzzed excitedly before darting into Dante's clothes.
"No...! Damn it!!!"
The fire mage's fireball flew late. Dante scattered his bugs, dodging.
Then... mirrored Yorcan's stance.
Best way against a mage? Overwhelming speed blitz!
Dante ignited mana like an explosion. Vast energy enveloped him.
He surged forward at blinding speed—straight at the mage.
"!!!"
The mage froze, missing his chance.
What was this guy? Mage and warrior? Magic warrior?!
Did that even exist...? And by a twenty-year-old punk?!
—Thought cut short.
"F-Fire!"
He raised a burning shield to block, but Dante shoved it aside with mana burst.
Pummeled the mage's face with a fist.
Splat—!
The mage crumpled, blood spraying. Shattered teeth scattered on the ground.
"Hoo..."
Dante summoned Red Honey Bees, stinging the mage twice. Out cold for a while.
Our babies will starve~
The queen and hive will wither away~
The Noon Fairies clamored to gather more mana, but—
"Settle down. Still plenty left. Didn't even use 30%."
[Whine...]
"Mana refill after the fight. Don't worry."
Dante pulsed mana waves, calming the bees.
Still work to do. Where was Princess Esilia taken? Who led this?
"Teacher Ba. Scout ahead."
[On it, Teacher Dante!]
Ba Teacher IV flapped vigorously.
Dante tracked the enemies' trail. It led one way.