How To Suck Honey With Extras [EN]: Chapter 21

Potion, Please! (6)

I received a message from the Mercenary Guild.

It seemed they had finally found mercenaries to take on my escort request.

When I went to see them, the receptionist said they would read out the list of mercenaries they recommended.

“First, as per Aileon’s request, we’ve compiled a list focusing on mercenaries who are available for contracts lasting several months.”

“Let’s hear it.”

I listened to the list, memorizing the names.

I needed to compare them with the original story in the back of my mind.

‘Oh, dear…’

My forehead furrowed involuntarily.

The receptionist, noticing my expression, tilted their head.

“Are you not pleased?”

“It’s not that, but I’m having some concerns.”

The real problem was.

‘Even if I hear them, I won’t know…’

It doesn’t matter how good or bad these mercenaries are supposed to be.

They’re all names I’m hearing for the first time.

For now, the common trait among those who volunteered for the request is that they are mostly C to B-rank mercenaries.

‘The problem is, there isn’t a name that particularly stands out.’

Well, there’s no way there would be a character I remember in a place like this.

Should I just ask around about their reputations and choose?

I was contemplating until the very end, but I stopped thinking when I heard the last name.

“Lastly, the average B-rank mercenary team ‘Blue Butterfly’ has volunteered for the request.”

Huh?

I must have misheard.

‘…Wait, could it be?’

It’s not that there weren’t any names I didn’t recognize at all.

“I would like to meet this mercenary team called Blue Butterfly.”

I requested the receptionist to arrange a meeting with them.

If my guess is correct, they are probably a mercenary team of minor characters.

Because their name is definitely in the original work.

* * *

And a few days later.

The mercenaries I decided to entrust with the request came to find me.

‘They came on time as promised.’

I like that they keep time punctually.

Three mercenaries came.

As promised, they were the personnel to guard the store and escort me.

I checked their names first, as it has become a habit now.

Oh! Two minor roles!

Unaware of my inner exclamation, a man named Mullen politely spoke first.

“I am Mullen. I have come to carry out the request as you asked.”

“Nice to meet you, Mr. Mullen.”

I shook his hand and turned my gaze to the two mercenaries accompanying him.

He introduced his colleagues as well.

“These two are my colleagues who are working as the same team.”

“I’m Haron.”

“…Erusa.”

Both of them cautiously spoke as well.

I once again welcomed them.

“Nice to meet you. As you’ve already heard, I’m Aileon, the owner of this small store.”

I could act a bit tougher, but it’s our first meeting.

It would be good to show some respect in consideration.

Above all, these are faces I might see elsewhere in the future.

‘Mercenary team Blue Butterfly… They are minor characters who briefly appeared in volume 10 of the original work.’

Volume 10, when the protagonist Sylvester was temporarily working as a mercenary.

He was tricked by some information and was about to take on a request.

These guys were the friends who were tricked by the same request and temporarily acted together with him.

They don’t have a big role, but they are the characters who suffered quite a bit while acting with the protagonist.

No, that time hasn’t come yet, so should I say they are the guys who will suffer?

Anyway, I can trust them.

In the original work, they were described as quite diligent several times.

In fact, they are more gentle compared to other mercenaries.

They didn’t betray him until the end either.

They stayed with the protagonist until the end of the episode and survived.

‘Then I can trust them.’

That was very important.

That’s the biggest reason I chose them.

Anyway, I’m going to entrust them with the work.

“Originally, I should talk more about this and that. But I have to open the store soon. I’m going to ask you to start working right away. Is that okay?”

“Of course.”

“Then let’s just talk about the request briefly first.”

It’s not that complicated.

They guard the store during business hours, and when the store is closed, they primarily escort me.

In fact, they have to stay here 24 hours a day to carry out the request.

The guys who came today will carry out the request until tomorrow morning, and when it’s time for a shift change, their three colleagues will come and take over.

That’s not an easy task.

Well, the pay is high for that much work.

“…Therefore, it will be quite a difficult job.”

“What do you mean? We’ve done even harder requests, so this is nothing.”

“Of course.”

“…Certainly.”

They said that working 24 hours a day was nothing.

‘Yeah, it’s a time when you won’t get tired even if you stay up all night.’

I envy that youth… Well! I’m young now too!

After that, time quickly ran out just by exchanging a few words with them about the request.

“I’d like you to start the request right away. Please take good care of me.”

“Don’t worry, Mr. Aileon. We will never abandon the request we’ve been entrusted with, as long as our lives are intact.”

Mullen gave a good-natured smile, showing his sincere personality as it is.

“…It would be best if there were no things that would make your lives not intact.”

I answered half-jokingly and continued to prepare to open the store.

“Then we’ll help you with the preparations as requested.”

“Please do.”

I gave them instructions without hesitation.

“First, please move those things piled up over there to the back.”

“What about you, Mr. Aileon?”

“I need to go move the potions I made. They’re on the second floor.”

“…If it’s that.”

A tall woman named Erusa quietly stepped forward.

“It’s heavy, are you okay?”

“I’m… fine.”

Erusa nonchalantly nodded and went up to the second floor in my place, then came down with a container of potions tucked under each arm.

“…You’re strong.”

“…This much is normal…”

I’ve been struggling to carry that every time I open the store?

Seeing that Mullen and Haron also didn’t seem to be straining much while moving the luggage, maybe I’m just weak.

…Let’s work out.

I made a small resolution in my heart.

* * *

After hiring them, safety aside, the work definitely became easier.

I could really feel the difference.

I could just sit at the counter and do the calculations.

They would tell the customers to line up or watch out for suspicious people lurking around.

It’s not like hiring them as escorts was useless, either.

“…Mr. Aileon.”

Mullen, the mercenary, quietly came up behind me and told me in a low voice.

“Some guys have been loitering around the store for a while now, do you have any idea why?”

“…Huh? Really?”

I almost dropped the silver coins I was counting without realizing it.

Loitering?

According to his explanation, he’d seen the same faces going back and forth near the store several times.

“Is that… so?”

Unfortunately, I hadn’t noticed.

I was a bit dazed after hearing that.

‘Seriously, were those guys really loitering around in broad daylight?’

According to him, they didn’t seem particularly dangerous, and they disappeared as soon as the mercenaries noticed them.

Haron, the other mercenary, said that some of them seemed to be workers from nearby trading companies.

Most of the loiterers were probably spies trying to assess the situation.

‘It’s normal to be on edge when a competitor appears.’

It’s only natural to keep an eye on things.

But until it was directly pointed out, I hadn’t even thought about their existence.

‘Is my awareness too lax even though I’m being careful?’

It means my sense of crisis is still not much different from when I lived on Earth.

And Aileon’s memories are also those of a naive country boy, so he’s far from this kind of vigilance.

Of course, my eyesight is inferior to that of active mercenaries, which also plays a part.

‘Well, I don’t think there’s a high possibility of direct conflict… but it was still better to have people to guard the surroundings.’

I was really glad that I was sure that hiring people was the right answer, even now.

‘At least what threatens me from now on won’t be just spies like that…’

I should start preparing myself.

…There it is again.

‘Influence…’

The influence that keeps accumulating every time I sell a potion.

It’s desirable for me, but…

I shouldn’t look at it from just one perspective.

‘Influence also means my presence is growing.’

I’m finally starting to feel a real sense of urgency.

I might have to consider the possibility that really annoying guys will be eyeing me.

Business is steadily doing well.

That doesn’t always lead to good results.

The possibility of dangerous things happening is high.

‘I need additional measures. I have to prepare.’

What’s the best method?

It’s perfect since I hired mercenaries.

There’s one thing I want to ask.

26. Troubles Always Come (1)

Five days later, I told Mullen what I wanted to ask for additionally, after looking for a suitable opportunity.

The reason I didn’t ask right away was because I thought I needed some time to get closer to them.

“…Mr. Aileon? I think I misheard you?”

No, you heard right. I’m kind, so I’ll tell you again. Listen carefully.

“I asked if you could teach me swordsmanship in your spare time.”

Recently, I decided to speak to them more comfortably, so I’m speaking to Mullen relatively casually.

“…Swordsmanship, you say.”

“You can do it a little, right? It’s not just for decoration.”

I pointed to the sword he was wearing on his waist.

‘Besides, Mullen said that he learned the sword from his father, who was a soldier when he was young.’

It’s a description he said himself in the original work.

But he never told me that directly, so mentioning that far back is too much.

“I’ve certainly swung it around a bit. But Mr. Aileon? Why all of a sudden?”

“Ah… that’s… I’ve just been sitting in the store these days, so I’m a little stiff. I also wanted to swing a sword a little.”

I made up an excuse.

I feel a little sorry to them, who I hired as escorts, to tell them the real reason.

The reason I want to learn the basics of the sword is ultimately for my safety.

I have to protect my own body.

Me getting stronger doesn’t change that.

Mullen, who heard my request, is hesitating as if he’s troubled.

“There’s not much I can teach you, though.”

“It’s okay. I just want someone with practical experience to watch me. My skills won’t improve if I just swing it around meaninglessly, right?”

“Hmm… that’s true.”

Mullen was still worried.

“If you’re really worried, I’ll give you an additional commission separately.”

How much? How much do you want?

But Mullen quietly shook his head.

“No. The commission is enough as it is. I’m just worried about whether I’m qualified to teach you.”

“Hey~ don’t worry so much. Just watch me a little. Just think of it as giving me exercise guidance.”

In the end, he couldn’t refuse my request and agreed.

“I understand.”

He’s such a nice guy.

He’s also a guy whose future is obviously full of hardships.