How To Suck Honey With Extras [EN]: Chapter 48

54. What You Need in Life is Money (4)

“In this situation, there’s no one as capable as you. How about it? Would you like to work with us?”

“Hmm… I don’t know.”

Even if the offer is polite, it’s not a reason to accept.

I pretended to consider it.

It’s not exactly a tempting offer.

“Of course, we’ll give you a generous share of the reward money. More than that, we can prioritize you to take anything you find.”

He’s offering quite generously.

However, despite his enthusiastic proposal, I pondered with a lukewarm attitude.

‘What should I do?’

Should I just refuse? Or should I accept?

‘Having more people can’t hurt……’

It’s true that I need some manpower.

From what I can see, Soland is an A-rank mercenary.

And his companions are B-rank mercenaries.

They’re not a regular team, but they’ve worked together several times before.

So there shouldn’t be any mistakes due to disagreements.

However, perhaps sensing my hesitation from my expression, Soland clicked his tongue regretfully.

He sensed my impending rejection.

“……Hmm, still not interested. I’m losing confidence. I was coldly rejected by a mage girl I ran into the other day……”

Muttering while scratching the back of his head.

Yeah, scouting isn’t easy.

……Huh? Wait? Rejected by whom?

“Mage girl? Who is that? Is someone here?”

“Uh……um?”

He widened his eyes, probably not expecting my sudden change in attitude.

No, tell me quickly!

“There was a mage?”

“……Well, she was wearing a robe, so I assumed she was a mage.”

Apparently, they attempted a preliminary reconnaissance three days ago.

They ran into the mage by chance at that time.

“What’s her name? Do you know it?”

“I don’t know. I made an offer, but she didn’t even listen and just left. I didn’t get her name.”

“……Could it be.”

I forgot about the mercenaries’ gazes and fell into thought.

‘That person’ wasn’t in this city.

But if the original story I know is true, there’s a high possibility she’s here.

Which means…….

This is no time to hesitate.

“Mr. Soland.”

“Uh……um? What is it?”

“I accept your offer. It’s definitely safer to work together than alone.”

My sudden change in attitude clearly surprised the mercenaries, even though it was a welcome outcome.

It’s understandable that they’re taken aback by my sudden change of heart.

Well~ Isn’t changing my attitude my specialty?

If you want to work with me, you’ll have to get used to it.

But staying silent like that is rude.

“I said I’ll go with you? Hello?”

“Oh…… uh, great! Good! Of course!”

When I spoke again, Mr. Soland quickly nodded and patted me on the shoulder.

“Great! Good thinking! Welcome!”

Similarly, the other mercenary companions cheered with great joy.

“You won’t regret working with us! Spiritist!”

“Then let’s have a drink and talk first! I know a good place!”

While receiving their welcome, I was still preoccupied with my own thoughts.

I’m busy figuring out how to maximize my gains in this situation.

This is definitely the best route.

* * *

Two days later, we immediately set off to explore the black magician’s workshop.

“Are you really going to leave like this, Aileen?”

Mr. Soland asked, looking somewhat puzzled.

He wanted to verify more information and prepare before leaving, but I strongly suggested that we hurry.

Normally, his opinion would be the standard.

The problem is that we don’t have that much time.

“If my prediction is correct, we’re running out of time. Either way, no more information will come to the guild. So it’s better to move quickly.”

“Hmm…… I guess so.”

“We just need to move carefully. If things go wrong, we can run without looking back. You’re all fast, aren’t you?”

I was half-serious.

If things go south, we have to run.

Anyway, the mercenaries agreed with my opinion, and since we were already prepared, it wasn’t unreasonable.

So we were able to embark on the exploration without much disagreement.

* * *

It takes about four days on foot to reach the destination we’ve chosen for the exploration.

A forest located about four days away on foot.

That’s where they’ve estimated the black magician is hiding.

And the one who insisted on this information was none other than Mr. Soland.

Moreover, this location was also expected by me through the original story, so there’s no reason to object.

Rather, I was glad that I didn’t have to make unnecessary excuses.

“By the way, how did that black magician get his location exposed?”

I suddenly became curious.

I’m sure because of the original story, but.

Apart from that, there must be a reason why he was exposed.

Originally, there are no other oddballs as good at hiding as black magicians.

For them, concealment is literally their life.

Even the most powerful black magicians often pack their bags in tears when their workshops are discovered.

They usually don’t get caught.

“I only heard it as a rumor. Someone saw a strange monster.”

“……A strange monster, you say?”

“I don’t know exactly, but they said it was something they couldn’t identify.”

“I heard that too! Something like a huge, slimy slime?”

“I think I heard it was a giant wolf?”

“I also heard it was a harpy with 20 heads and six wings?”

The mercenaries also added a word each, as if they had heard something.

However, there’s no common ground in the testimonies, so it’s not very credible.

More than anything, the eyewitness accounts seem unfounded, so it might be better not to remember them.

Anyway, there’s no smoke without fire, and the continuous discovery of suspicious aspects must have led to the conviction of their existence.

“So, is that why you guys specified the investigation point?”

“Well, we relied on rumors for now. And…… there’s a slightly different reason too.”

For some reason, Mr. Soland’s complexion darkened.

“Also…… some of the mercenaries who came to investigate in this area have disappeared. Actually, I haven’t heard from a guy I know these days.”

Mr. Soland’s voice trembled as if he had swallowed something bitter.

The atmosphere among the mercenaries also became somewhat heavy.

It could be us if we’re not careful.

Mr. Soland seemed to realize that the atmosphere had become heavy.

“Even if it’s not because of the black magician, it’s common for someone you saw yesterday to disappear today in this business. Nothing to worry about.”

He said as if encouraging his companions.

“The important thing is that we return safely.”

“That’s right!”

“We just need to be the ones who make a fortune this time.”

The mercenaries put their spirits back up as if to relieve their tension.

Above all, I’m well aware of the danger and have no intention of going wrong.

It’s okay. There shouldn’t be any problems.

……Probably.

* * *

Having entered the forest, which was our destination, the mercenaries and I began our exploration in earnest.

It seems that we were able to narrow down the direction to proceed due to the previous exploration route and information exchange with other mercenaries.

We decided to rely on Mr. Soland’s instructions for the time being.

“Let’s go this way first.”

Above all, this forest is quite dark.

I was worried that we might miss the existence here if we were even a little careless.

‘Would it have been dangerous if I had come alone……?’

I’m also quite bad at finding my way.

I might have gotten lost.

“Come to think of it, Aileen? If you’re a spiritist, can’t you sense the energy that black magicians use?”

“I’m very grateful for your expectations, but if that were possible, I would have taken the lead a long time ago.”

It’s impossible to meet expectations.

Of course, those guys are experts at concealing black magic.

I’m not good at sensing things.

Unless they’re blatantly emitting energy, it’ll be difficult to detect.

“Well, it wouldn’t be that easy.”

“Instead, if it’s a common monster…… oh.”

I clicked my tongue before I could finish speaking.

In fact, I had been using infrared detection from a while ago.

As if my words had come true, there was something caught in my sight.

Their body heat is making everything red!

“Monsters. A lot of them!”

“Indeed…….”

The mercenaries immediately put down their cumbersome luggage, drew their weapons, and maintained a solid formation.

“If they’re gathering here…….”

“Are they the ones?”

There seems to be something they have in mind.

“By the way, what kind of monsters appear? Do you know anything?”

“……Until recently, we only saw goblins or orcs. There were also rumors of griffons, but I’ve never seen one myself. But recently, those guys have settled here.”

“Those guys?”

At the same time as I tilted my head, the guys I mentioned popped out.

-Kaaaaaaaak!

A group of quadrupedal reptiles armed with hard scales and sharp claws.

They appeared from the bushes, making a reptile-specific, ear-piercing sound, as if to surround us in turn.

“Drakes!”

“So it’s those things.”

Wyverns in the sky, drakes on the ground.

They are formidable creatures commonly referred to as the two major headaches among the requests that mercenaries undertake.

Monsters that you wouldn’t encounter unless you were incredibly unlucky or targeting them from the start.

And now, a group of them is approaching us.

-Krrrrl.

Surely that cry means they think of us as just a day’s meal.

“By the way, what did you mean just now? Does that mean this wasn’t originally their habitat?”

“……That’s what it means. They’ve suddenly increased recently. We had a hard time thanks to them last time! Oops!”

Mr. Soland quickly swung his axe and knocked away the claws of a drake that had pounced violently.

“Let’s talk later! Right now, it’s hard enough just to stop these guys! Ouch!”

As he said, the first thing to do is to defeat the reptile group.

For now, he, who can use aura [a magical energy], is standing firm, and the other mercenaries are also taking out their weapons to restrain them.

Those who can’t use aura took out blunt weapons like maces.

Because their scales are hard, blades don’t work well.

The drakes’ teeth and claws are as sharp as any blade, and their scales are as sturdy as any armor.

Even after being hit by his axe loaded with aura a while ago, the drake’s scales were only slightly scratched.

‘Originally, one A-rank mercenary could barely handle two drakes, right?’

I recalled the description when the drakes first appeared in the original story and sweated.

In addition, the number of drakes currently gathered is…… I counted them and damn it, there are nine of them.

“How did you guys hold out last time?”

“Well, we threw them some food and ran away. There’s bait in that bag.”

Indeed, is that the method?

But if we use the bait already, there’s no point in coming all the way here.

Above all, I have no intention of backing down.

“We won’t need the bait. We’ll hunt them all down here.”

“You want to take them all down? That’s a good opinion!”

“Even if we can’t get the black magician’s head, we can sell the drake materials and earn travel expenses!”

The mercenaries agreed with my opinion and burned with enthusiasm.

Do they believe in my abilities?

I smiled bitterly and summoned lightning.

The sprite had already been hovering over their heads at my command.

Zzzzzzz!

When the lightning struck the three leading drakes, they twitched and screamed.

However, it doesn’t reach the level of instant death.

So they have resistance to mana.

“Now’s the time!”

The lacking attacks are naturally filled by the party members.

The mercenaries quickly rushed towards the drakes.

“Huuuuu!”

Mr. Soland took a deep breath and swung his empowered axe, causing a blue spark to burst and cutting one of the drakes in half.

The remaining two drakes were also hit in the head by the maces wielded by the mercenaries, shattering their heads and causing them to tremble before collapsing.

Three down for now.

The remaining six drakes became more vigilant as if their comrades were attacked, and rushed in violently.

It’s okay.

Of course, I know that they’ll be determined to attack in this situation.

The rushing drakes couldn’t take advantage of their agile movements and rather floundered.

Their feet were stuck in the sand swamp.

I had the gnome spread sand swamps around the area a while ago.

They’re already quite heavy monsters.

Their feet can’t help but get stuck easily.

No matter how strong the drake is on the ground, if it can’t take advantage of its strengths, it’s no different from a scarecrow.