How To Suck Honey With Extras [EN]: Chapter 37

42. Deyar Dungeon (1)

Within the Selbas Kingdom, numerous noble families vie for power.

But which family truly holds the greatest influence?

Ask those familiar with the kingdom’s inner workings, and roughly six out of ten would point to this family’s crest.

The Selphenead Dukedom.

Established since the founding of the Selbas Kingdom, they are unmatched in legitimacy, wealth, and prestige.

The current head of the Selphenead Dukedom is Rupel Selphenead.

Rumor has it that even the royal family treads carefully around him.

He’s a well-known power broker, so much so that whispers claim any noble who incurs his displeasure will face ruin before three sunrises.

Rupel was currently secluded in his office late at night.

As the head of the Dukedom, he oversaw a tremendous number of matters.

These included problems within the kingdom, maintaining political distance between nobles, and even private family affairs.

“…Annoying. Truly annoying.”

Just as he muttered this wearily, a quiet knock echoed from outside the office.

“…Hmm, Sol?”

As if granting permission with a dry cough, a black-haired young man in butler’s attire entered and bowed politely.

“Master, it is the appointed time.”

“Is that so? Has it already come to that?”

Rupel sighed lightly, leaving the documents he was reviewing as they were, and stood up.

He was busy, but this was not the time to concern himself with trivial matters within the kingdom.

“…Ensure that no one enters the mansion. Remember, no one.”

“Yes, sir. Please proceed with peace of mind.”

Rupel gave strict instructions and immediately turned his back.

Standing in front of the fireplace in the corner of the room, a magic circle filled with bizarre shapes and letters was drawn on the floor.

It was a teleportation magic circle.

Through this, he would move to a separate room in the basement of the mansion.

This was Rupel’s other office.

A space where he retreated to for the task he truly had to accomplish.

It was also where he revealed his other side, his true self.

A secret organization that had infiltrated every kingdom on this continent.

The Continental Integration Society.

Rupel held a position as an executive in that secret organization.

That fact was unknown to anyone except the other executives and subordinates who knew his identity.

Not even the king of the Selbas Kingdom.

“…”

He manipulated the artifact placed on the desk and sat down in the chair.

After a moment, a strange reverberation was heard, and several shadows flickered into the room.

These were communication artifacts.

By now, the other parties beyond those shadows would also be using the same item.

[Rupel, you’re a bit late.]

[I thought my neck would break waiting for you.]

[I wouldn’t scold you, but I was waiting.]

“…I hope you understand. I’m quite busy. Even just dealing with the trivial matters within the kingdom feels like it’s going to break me.”

[Puhuhuhup! That’s a funny thing to say? Who doesn’t know? Then the girls that old man was playing with last week, are they the kingdom’s most loyal subjects? What a great kingdom. I want to go too! Hahahahaha!]

“…It was a means of winning over Marquis Melter. It was a politically necessary matter. His proclivities are known even in other countries, aren’t they?”

[Puhheuhheup! Of course, of course. The old man is a busy Duke, isn’t he?]

It was a scene unimaginable in a meeting of influential nobles within the kingdom.

However, Rupel merely frowned and mouthed, ‘How dare that brat…’ as he suppressed his annoyance.

The opponents speaking beyond those shadows were, for the time being, figures of equal standing to himself.

Fellow executives.

He couldn’t raise his voice simply because he was displeased.

[Elset, even among executives, that statement is excessively rude. I hope you realize it’s a statement that could easily cause misunderstanding.]

A somewhat elderly woman’s voice was heard from the shadow sitting across from him.

She was scolding the young man who had burst into laughter a moment ago.

[Yes, yes. As old woman Pemalt says, respect is important. Sorry about that.]

He said so, but there wasn’t a speck of remorse in his tone.

“That’s enough. I don’t care about that.”

Rupel said dismissively.

In reality, he was displeased, but there was no benefit in revealing it.

More than anything, there was no time.

“Let’s hurry up, say what we need to say, and end this.”

[I agree. We’re all busy.]

[No objections.]

[Well, I agree too. So, what reports should we start with?]

The executives calmed the tense atmosphere from a moment ago and began to discuss matters calmly.

Occupying key positions in each kingdom and exercising control, they shared information about their ongoing plans and exchanged opinions.

The actions of other executives were important information.

Because of their actions, the landscape of each kingdom changed.

If so, it was only natural that it would affect those who were active in adjacent areas.

That’s why they seriously exchanged information and reviewed it several times.

If the other party’s plan seemed to interfere with their own, they would not hesitate to offer their opinions and revise it.

Whether they liked it or not, they were executives of the same rank.

The goal was one.

They understood that.

About an hour later.

The regular meeting ended, and the executives began to leave one by one, as the shadows disappeared.

However, one shadow remained, still connected.

Rupel, realizing the implication, paused as he was about to rise from his chair and sat back down before asking.

“Pemalt, what’s the matter?”

[…Rupel, do you remember dispatching one of the children I taught to your side?]

“Hmm? There certainly seems to have been one…”

There was no way he could remember every last subordinate.

Rupel barely managed to recall after searching through the recesses of his memory.

“There was certainly a brat dispatched to the academy that Roant bastard founded…”

[Yes. That child.]

“It must have been Galdes or something.”

He was a pawn brought from a kingdom belonging to another executive because they needed someone who wouldn’t be easily detected in another country.

She continued with a small sigh.

[It seems that Galdes has died. Are you aware?]

“…Wait? I haven’t heard anything about that!”

Rupel half-shouted.

If something had happened within the Selbas Kingdom, there was no way he wouldn’t know.

However, the only incident he was currently aware of was the one concerning that damned vampire.

The reason he was currently racking his brains over the kingdom’s internal affairs was also because of that vampire.

“Could it be the work of that vampire?”

The vampire’s actions were being monitored from their side as well.

However, there might be information they hadn’t yet uncovered.

[No. It doesn’t seem to be that.]

“Heo [Huh]?”

[That child seemed to be heading to the Deyar Dungeon.]

“…Deyar Dungeon?”

There was no way he couldn’t recognize that name.

Wasn’t that the dungeon discovered in the Deyar territory?

“Is that true?”

[That child has talent, but sometimes he had strange ideas. I haven’t received a report either.]

“You’re good at grasping things.”

[There’s a way.]

“…Hmm, so that brat died on his way to the Deyar Dungeon, is that what you’re saying?”

[Yes. It seems he was attacked before even reaching the dungeon. Do you have any ideas?]

“I have no idea at all. …Could it be?”

Only then did he understand the meaning of what she was trying to say, and he held his breath.

[It might be a good idea to consider reorganizing the attack personnel. Surely the selection you’re thinking of isn’t much different from that child’s level, right?]

“Ugh… Certainly not to that extent.”

As a result of preliminary investigations, the difficulty of the Deyar Dungeon shouldn’t have been that high.

Someone of Galdes’ level should have been able to break through it without difficulty.

But he was murdered.

Then that means someone capable of defeating him is heading to the dungeon.

Rupel understood the implication and nodded.

“I understand. I’ll reconsider the attack personnel.”

It stung his pride to heed the opinions of other executives, but he couldn’t ignore it.

Dungeons held treasures such as valuable artifacts or abilities.

All of them were important tools.

He couldn’t afford to disregard them.

[I hope you don’t make a mistake.]

The shadow spoke those words and disappeared.

“Hmph, it’s none of your business. Like an old man who never dies.”

Rupel also snorted and cut off the communication.

Instead of returning to his office, Rupel remained seated, tapping his chin in thought.

The problem of the Deyar Dungeon.

The advice of that executive from a moment ago bothered him.

‘Is someone with the skill to defeat Galdes really heading to the dungeon?’

If so, it was no ordinary matter.

Even now, if he didn’t send someone who could surpass that person, or someone with dungeon raiding experience, the treasure would be lost.

‘But… there’s no one suitable to send.’

Most of his subordinates had their own assigned tasks.

He couldn’t neglect any of them.

He retrieved the list and reviewed the talents active within the Selbas Kingdom, finally focusing on one name.

‘This guy… would be good.’

This man’s skills were no less than that brat Galdes’.

It was possible enough.

“Good. You go.”

Rupel urgently wrote out the order to be issued to him.

Failure was not an option.

The time to achieve their grand ambition was approaching.

The purpose of their organization.

The reconstruction of a mighty empire, not the weak kingdoms of today.

The revival of the powerful empire that was said to have collapsed tens of thousands of years ago due to a cataclysm.

They had been operating in the shadows for that purpose since the distant past.

When the day came when the great empire, revived by them, made its name known, the executive who had made the greatest contribution would gain commensurate status.

He could never relinquish that opportunity.

‘I will definitely take the top spot.’

He wasn’t content with merely being the ruler of this small kingdom.

Rupel’s lips curled into a smile full of ambition.

* * *

After that, we didn’t encounter any new dangers.

It was as if all the hardships had been concentrated during Galdes’ attack.

After that, only a truly peaceful journey continued.

“…I don’t know whether to call it lucky or unlucky.”

“It’s so peaceful that I feel like something’s going to happen.”

“Don’t say such things. It’s ominous…”

The mercenaries grumbled, finding it difficult to maintain their vigilance in the face of such tranquility.

Peace was welcome, but they couldn’t afford to let their guard down.

I was leaning against the carriage and dozing off, but that was simply due to my inherent laziness.

This laziness is innate.

Anyway, we were able to safely enter our destination, Deyar Territory.

After passing through the gate marking the territory boundary and traveling for several more days, we arrived at our destination.

Delseph, the central city of Deyar Territory.

‘This is… the city where that dungeon is located.’

Checking the map, it seemed the dungeon was hidden in the forest near the city.

It’s not far, so I won’t have much difficulty traveling back and forth alone.

‘But before that, I need to rest and prepare first.’

I want to dive right into the bottom of the dungeon right now, but I’ll die if I do that.

Let’s not be impatient.

First, I need to go into the city to gather information and shop.

* * *

First, I went straight to the guild branch here to receive payment for the escort request.

I already encountered familiar mercenary faces in various places, probably because they had come to receive their payments as well.

First is money, money!

I immediately went to the guild employee in charge and received the payment.

The escort request fee up to here is three gold coins.

I made sure to receive it.

So, what should I do now?

First, I need to buy what I need from the market right away, and then go back to the inn to make a rough plan.