How To Suck Honey With Extras [EN]: Chapter 50

56. Black Magician’s Workshop Extermination (1)

I succeeded in finding the key talent to clear this place, which was my primary goal.

Now, I just need to somehow coax her into cooperating with us.

If I succeed in that, this place is as good as solved!

‘How should I coax her?’

For a moment, I organized the materials I could trade with her in my head.

Taking advantage of the mercenaries surveying the surroundings, I gestured to Cruse and spoke softly.

“Ms. Cruse, excuse me. I have something to tell you.”

“…What is it?”

She still seemed wary, giving me a slightly sharp look, but unlike the other mercenaries, she was relatively willing to listen to me.

As expected, a fresh-faced boy is easier to talk to than a menacing-looking middle-aged man.

Looks are everything in this world, after all.

“What’s the matter? I don’t know more than that…”

“No, no. Ms. Cruse, have you ever considered working with us?”

“…No.”

How cold.

Well, she must be sick of being scouted, as many people have coveted and tried to win her over because of her abilities.

That’s only if they were just after her abilities.

I have something to offer.

In other words, something to exchange.

“Actually, I can find the location of the Black Magician’s workshop.”

“…Lying isn’t good. If that’s the case, why were you wandering around?”

Of course, she wouldn’t believe me right away.

“I was worried that I might become endangered if I got greedy. The appearance of that monster just now was also a problem. Honestly, I was considering giving up.”

“…Just for that reason?”

“Life is precious, you know.”

Because that’s the truth.

“But Ms. Cruse, you can handle something like this with ease. So, how about we cooperate?”

I’ll find the location of that guy, and you take the Black Magician’s head.

‘…This deal is half a scam, though.’

To be frank, I’m planning to imitate the method the protagonist of the original story used to track down the Black Magician in Volume 5.

It might not work in the later parts of the original story, but shouldn’t it work now?

‘It’s not purely my idea, but oh well~.’

Sue me if you’re so upset.

And thanks to me, you’ll find that black robe’s workshop even faster, so no one will complain.

“Is that certain?”

“I don’t think it will be a wild goose chase [a futile pursuit]. What will you do?”

“…Ummm.”

Cruse pursed her lips and seemed to start contemplating.

“Is that true…?”

“If you’re suspicious, you can refuse. Perhaps with your abilities, you’ll have enough time to investigate even if you spend three more days.”

“Three days…”

She muttered blankly, furrowing her brow.

The information is right in front of her.

She’s suspicious, but she’s anxious because she’s reluctant to dismiss it.

“Alright. But…”

“I know. I won’t interfere. We’ll take care of our own business after the raid. Will that be okay?”

I can gladly concede that much.

You can play with the dirty black robe as soon as you find him.

Honestly, it’s troublesome even if you give it to me. I have no interest in black magicians.

“…Are you sure?”

“Hehehe. I promise to guide you responsibly.”

I’ll give you a guide with no complaints.

The fight is for the main characters, and I’ll be in charge of cheering from behind.

While she’s busy fighting the evil Black Magician, I plan to collect treasures.

* * *

Around that time, in a district opposite to where Eilon and the others were.

Mercenaries were also searching the forest, aiming for the Black Magician’s head, who was likely hiding somewhere.

“Damn it… Hurry! I’m going to find and kill that Black Magician or whatever before that bastard does!”

Among the mercenaries, there was a man who was particularly enthusiastic.

It was the mercenary Belanen, who had recently tried to find fault with Eilon and had been severely punished.

“That damn spiritist… If I meet him again, I’ll definitely kill him…”

He muttered several times, puffing out his cheeks.

He still couldn’t forget the humiliation he suffered at the hands of Eilon back then.

Since then, that idiot has been acting like this, and his colleagues, who initially ignored him and watched, were starting to get tired of it.

“Belanen, stop it. You’re being noisy. Monsters will flock here.”

“…Tch, I know. I know.”

Belanen clicked his tongue and barely managed to push Eilon’s face into the corner of his memory.

Just you wait, I’ll complete the request first and see that spiritist’s face stained with humiliation.

That’s why I rushed here.

“…By the way, is this really the right place?”

“Well, I heard what the other guys were saying. This place seemed the most suspicious.”

Since mercenaries had already stirred up various parts of the territory, there was no other place to suspect.

Above all, the rumor that the whereabouts of mercenaries and territory residents had become unclear in this forest was quite well known.

“The problem is if the guy’s workshop is really somewhere in this forest…”

“Hmph, that’s why we gathered so many people.”

Belanen scoffed at his colleague’s worries.

They weren’t the only ones who entered this forest.

There were as many as 30 mercenaries gathered here.

When they heard the news that Eilon had set off with the Solande party, the mercenaries became anxious and joined hands.

“More than anything, if that guy is strong… we can just leave it to the other guys and slip away.”

“…That’s true.”

“That’s a very you-like idea.”

The colleagues hesitated slightly and sighed.

I don’t want to admit it, but there’s some agreement.

Their lives are the top priority.

In that respect, this guy is at least capable of taking care of his own life.

Even a despicable person can be needed at times.

Whether he knew what his colleagues were thinking or not, Belanen chuckled and recklessly pushed through the bushes.

“No matter how strong the Black Magician is, he’ll be scared and run away when faced with this many people.”

Among the 30 mercenaries, 7 were A-rank mercenaries [top-tier mercenaries], and the rest were B-rank [mid-tier mercenaries].

They could easily crush a black robe.

That’s why everyone reluctantly joined hands.

However, they overlooked one thing.

If there was anyone among them who had experienced a battle with a Black Magician…

Or if there was even one person who was knowledgeable in magic…

They would have definitely stopped them from entering this forest as soon as they arrived.

* * *

At first, it went smoothly.

Even when they encountered a group of drakes that had strangely appeared here, they were able to defeat them by taking advantage of their numbers.

The mercenaries’ morale soared with their first victory.

“Take down all these guys! And add that Black Magician’s head to our spoils!”

“Oooooooooh!”

“The reward money! And all the spoils are ours!”

However, it didn’t take long for them to realize the seriousness of the situation.

It started to change in less than 10 minutes.

The first victim appeared.

An encounter with as many as 50 drakes.

At first, they mistook it for about two, but that was a mistake.

Who would have thought they would be so cleverly ambushed?

By the time they realized it, they were already surrounded and had allowed an attack.

In the end, they barely managed to escape.

In the process, two mercenaries were eaten alive.

“Uwaaaaaaaagh! S, save me… Aaaaaaaagh!”

Leaving behind the screams of their colleagues, no one could say a word.

They continued to move forward in silence.

Now that they’ve come this far, they can’t retreat.

And another victim appears.

This time, by a monster they’ve never seen before.

They thought it was an ordinary drake, but the moment they blocked its charge, the drake’s head cracked open, and countless blades popped out from inside and pierced them.

The mercenaries screamed at the hideous appearance that seemed to be made of pure evil, as if mocking human common sense.

Only then did they realize its identity.

“A chimera?!”

They thought it was an ordinary monster, but it was definitely a disgusting creation touched by the Black Magician.

They somehow managed to defeat the chimera, but as many as five people lost their lives on the spot, and many others were injured.

“…Isn’t something strange?”

No one answered the sound of someone muttering absentmindedly.

The surviving mercenaries were also gradually getting tired.

They fell into the next crisis around that time.

Kugung!

A sound that seemed like a mountain was collapsing rang out.

“W, what is it this time!”

The mercenaries swallowed hard and looked around.

“Be careful… There’s something there.”

“Damn it! What kind of monster is it this time…?”

As the ringing sound got closer, the maddening anxiety that gripped them grew stronger.

‘Have we made a mistake somewhere?’

A feeling that they could only give up right now dominated them.

“…Uwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!”

In the end, one of the mercenaries couldn’t bear the anxiety any longer and screamed and charged somewhere.

“You idiot! Where are you going now! Come back!”

“Shut up! Whoever you are, come out now!”

It was no better than struggling in a nightmare.

The thrashing stopped not because someone stopped him, nor because he regained his composure.

“How pathetic. You rat-like bastard.”

Someone muttered.

The moment the charging mercenary died.

A black awl [a pointed tool] pierced through the ground and pierced his neck.

“…Keuk!”

Chwaaaaaaaak!

The awl split into two and tore his neck apart, blowing it away.

The neck flew into the air, spraying blood.

The mercenaries’ gazes were momentarily distracted by the gruesome end.

Chachachachachachak!

One after another, countless black awls sprang up from the floor and pierced the mercenaries.

“Uwaaaaaaaaaagh!”

Some were pierced in vital spots and died, while others had their arms and legs torn off.

“Get out! Get out of here now!”

The mercenaries had no choice but to scatter on the spot.

Kukukung!

As if waiting for it, something huge was visible beyond the forest, beyond the wooded area.

Kukung!

The huge shadow crushed and knocked down the trees in the forest, revealing its appearance.

“I, it can’t be.”

Those who witnessed it couldn’t close their mouths, and some laughed in disbelief.

“S… Surely this is… a monster?”

“…This can’t be happening.”

They each held their weapons and took a stance, but they couldn’t do anything.

The huge shadow only looked down at the mercenaries, emitting a red glow.

And themselves trembling and confronting each other.

What should they do?

Only despair makes the weapon in their hands heavy.

The only one who was immersed in joy was the old man wearing a black robe who revealed himself.

“Go, my masterpiece! Crush all the rat bastards.”

The old man pointed his finger.

The moment the finger pointed at them, the mercenaries had no choice but to be annihilated helplessly.

And Belanen ran away with all his might and barely managed to escape.

He ran, covered in tears and snot.

How far did he run? He staggered and stopped.

“Huk huk… Huk.”

He didn’t even dare to look back.

The reason he was able to escape was because, when the monster aimed at him, he inadvertently pushed another mercenary and made him the target instead.

The pushed mercenary was trampled to death by the monster.

But there is no room for shame, guilt, or anything else.

He must survive.

That thought alone fills his head.

However, his escape can never be achieved.

“Where are you going?”

The old man wearing a black robe.

The Black Magician, he has come.

“You can’t just run away from there. Hehehe.”

In the eyes of the chuckling Black Magician, something strange and unpleasant flickered.

Belanen could only barely suppress his trembling.

“Y… You bastard…”

“I shouldn’t be saying this, but. You’re quite something. Yes, you have to survive like that. Well done, young man! Hahahahahat!”

“You son of a biiiiiiiiiitch!”

Belanen screamed and rushed forward with his sword.

Whether it was because of animosity or because his true feelings were pointed out, he himself couldn’t know.

However, he couldn’t even take five steps.

Kwajijijik!

A sound of something breaking and being crushed was heard.

A huge hand that appeared from behind grabbed Belanen and crushed him.

“Aaaaaaaaaaaaaagh!”

Listening to his screams, the Black Magician chuckled and sent a cold, contemptuous gaze.

“Are you still alive? Well, it wouldn’t be bad to take you as you are. I have something I wanted to ask you anyway. Ah, don’t worry. You don’t have to answer with that noisy mouth.”

The Black Magician chuckled and tapped his head with his fingertips.

“Do you know? The most sincere answers come from here.”

“Hiiiiiiiiik…”

It would be better to die now.

What that old man is saying promises a fate more terrible than death.

The Black Magician just chuckled gleefully.