How To Suck Honey With Extras [EN]: Chapter 65

Episode 65

72. Earning Money, GO! (5)

Let’s hold onto the remaining points for now.

We need to have some leeway for emergencies.

‘……So, all that’s left is the spirit.’

I thought, looking at Undine, who seemed to be showing off her strengthened power beneath my feet.

‘The scope of spirit magic has expanded. Not just the technical aspects, but spirit power and mana capacity have all greatly increased, right?’

If so, wouldn’t it be possible to evolve the spirit to the intermediate level sooner than expected?

I lowered my gaze and called out to Undine.

“Undine, Undine.”

-Why? Aileron?

“With your current power, can you evolve?”

I asked Undine, recalling what happened when she was promoted from the lowest to the low level.

Undine stared blankly into my eyes for a moment, then made an X with her arms.

-No?

“It’s not possible? Think carefully. Is it really not possible?”

-Insufficient! Aileron. Insufficient!

Perhaps ‘insufficient’ doesn’t just refer to the amount of power.

“Do you know what’s lacking?”

-Don’t know!

She doesn’t know…….

As I explained before, several factors are needed for a spirit to ascend to a higher orbit.

‘That something is lacking…….’

Perhaps whatever ability I gain now won’t solve it.

Let’s not be impatient about this.

Spirit magic is still effective enough.

As long as I don’t pick a fight with an enemy stronger than the regular flow.

‘Now that I have nothing else to do, shall I go back?’

I want to practice and test the enhancements more, but time is short.

I should get going to my next task soon.

……For business.

The time has come to mark the starting point of the get-rich-quick scheme I’ve been dreaming of.

* * *

The destination I decided to head to was Pelpuk, a port located in the northern border region of the Selbas Kingdom.

Its role as the northern gateway to the Selbas Kingdom and the kingdom’s only port is truly significant.

It’s not just about being a border area.

What’s more important is that it’s a major trading area.

Geographically, befitting its name as the only port in the Selbas Kingdom, ships and goods from various countries come and go there.

Therefore, it is overflowing with various people, goods from various countries, currencies, and many other things.

In other words, a city where money flows.

‘It’s not a bad place for me to make a killing in the future.’

If things go well, there’s a chance to make a real killing.

I decided to go there.

* * *

After about a month of travel, I was able to reach a city near Pelpuk.

‘If I change carriages one more time, I’ll arrive, huh.’

Now, all I have to do is get on the carriage heading to Pelpuk from here.

Just a little more patience.

I loosened my stiff body from fatigue and lay down on the bed.

Then, I took a moment to sort out my thoughts.

There were no major incidents during the journey, but to mention some minor updates.

I, ‘Aileron,’ turned 17 years old.

After arriving here and checking the date at the inn, I realized that so much time had already passed.

‘Time flies.’

Well, I have many days to live in the future, so I should keep my sentiments moderate.

Even so, I think I’ve lived quite diligently here.

I feel strangely pleased.

‘Anyway, if I go about ten more days from here, I’ll arrive at my destination…….’

It was really long.

I want to leave right away tomorrow, but I needed to do some minor things before that.

‘I need to prepare some capital~ I have nothing in my hands right now.’

I need some minor preparations.

I intend to stay here for about a week for that.

I immediately visited a trading company that mainly deals with herbs and boldly ordered the necessary medicinal ingredients.

The Melken Trading Company, which specializes in medicinal ingredients.

It is said that they handle everything from familiar cheap herbs to expensive medicinal ingredients that one can hardly afford to buy.

Among them, I bought a large quantity of only expensive medicinal ingredients without hesitation.

The merchant, who initially looked a bit bewildered, soon started calculating busily as if his eyes had turned upside down.

Since the amount I purchased was so large and only expensive medicinal ingredients, he wouldn’t want to miss this rare opportunity.

“The price is about 3,500 gold coins…… Is that okay?”

He seems to think it’s absurd even after calculating it himself.

Certainly, it’s not an amount that an ordinary wanderer would pay.

But I can pay!

“No problem.”

I said without hesitation.

The profits from the subjugation of the black magician’s workshop last time were more than expected.

The total income from disposing of the jewels and various items obtained from the workshop raid was about 8,600 gold coins.

Even if I spend this much, I won’t starve to death.

“Is a payment certificate from the Hekeleos Bank acceptable?”

Since the amount of gold coins to be paid is large, I cannot carry it around directly.

It would be fun to put 3,500 gold coins on the table and see the other person’s reaction, but it’s realistically impossible, and it’s heavy.

I deposit most of the money I collect in a place called Hekeleos Bank, except for the amount I carry with me.

It is a bank founded by the Hekeleos Dukedom, which is said to be one of the three major powers in the Selbas Kingdom.

Above all, the certificates issued there are valid in the Selbas Kingdom and in countries that have signed agreements with them.

As evidence of its reliability, the person in charge answered without hesitation.

“Of course!”

I immediately signed the transaction document and purchased the medicinal ingredients.

Now these massive medicinal ingredients are mine. Hehehehehe.

I was feeling a little pleased because I bought expensive medicinal ingredients that I couldn’t even afford before, but I suddenly asked the merchant about something that came to my mind.

“By the way, can I rent a carriage here?”

“A carriage? Aha…… Certainly, you can’t move this amount of goods yourself.”

He understood the meaning of the question with good sense.

It’s good to buy a large amount of medicinal ingredients, but I don’t have a carriage.

There is a way to buy a cheap carriage, but I want to save as much as possible.

Once I arrive, I probably won’t need it anyway.

“Then we will lend you a carriage from our side. Where is your destination?”

“I’m going to Pelpuk.”

“Then there’s no problem. There is also a branch of our trading company there, so it seems that you can return the rented carriage there. I will write you a letter.”

He even said that there is no need to pay for the carriage rental.

“Just return it properly.”

“Of course.”

Perhaps because I am a customer who spent a lot of money, he is giving me consideration without hesitation.

He said that he would attach a worker to drive the carriage separately, but that is probably a measure to prevent the carriage from being lost.

But it doesn’t matter.

I asked him to do so.

The transportation problem was easily solved, so now all that remains is.

‘Just complete that.’

I bought medicinal ingredients.

Then I have to make medicine.

‘I’m going to a place where I can make money, so I can’t go in empty-handed.’

* * *

The reason I bought a large amount of expensive medicinal ingredients that I don’t usually use is simple.

To make something to take to Pelpuk.

In other words, to make potions.

It’s obvious, but if you aim to do business, you must have something to sell.

So, what should I start with?

I have several ideas, but the first thing I should try is.

‘Potion is the easiest, after all.’

Potions are still the most reliable.

The value of potions has been verified once, so there is no better item.

However, I cannot sell only low-grade potions like before.

Various goods come and go there.

It’s different from the countryside where I opened a store before.

Low-grade potions won’t even catch their eye.

‘I need something more powerful.’

Accordingly, what I want to make this time is a mid-grade potion!

I once again recalled the knowledge of the original work, reviewed the ingredients and combination methods of the potion, and then put it into practice.

“First, boil a liquid mixed with spirit water and troll’s blood as a base…… and the remaining medicinal ingredients…….”

While slowly cooling the liquid mixed with spirit water and troll’s blood, also combine separate medicinal ingredients and liquefy them separately.

‘And after these are sufficiently cooled and solidified, heat them again, boil them, and then cool them. ……The work is really cumbersome.’

Unlike the low-grade potion ‘Nymph’s Healing Water,’ there are many complicated steps.

‘I wouldn’t have even tried it before.’

The manufacturing difficulty has increased, but my skills to accomplish it have also increased.

I have some know-how in manual work, and my dexterity is also reliably compensated through the acquired abilities.

Still, I failed about twice because I misjudged the mixing ratio, but after that, I barely managed to create the first potion.

“Done!”

What was completed was an orange liquid.

This is the potion I have newly reproduced.

Mid-grade potion ‘Barghest’s Fresh Blood.’

As a type of potion that the main character reproduced the recipe for in Volume 4 of the original work, its effect is slightly unique compared to commonly known recovery potions.

In terms of grade, it is a mid-grade potion, but if you look only at the actual recovery amount, it is slightly better than Nymph’s Healing Water.

However, you cannot underestimate the value of this potion just by that.

Depending on the situation and purpose, this potion is so precious that you can’t get enough of it.

The use of this orange potion is a bit special.

After this potion became known, it was commonly referred to as this abbreviation.

‘Emergency Treatment Potion.’

The recovery amount of the potion itself is weaker compared to other mid-grade potions, but the true value of this potion is that it is specialized for emergency treatment.

A type of special-purpose potion.

The recovery procedure of a general potion is to stop bleeding, regenerate cells, disinfect, and perform this recovery work simultaneously when applied to a wound or ingested, but the process takes place almost simultaneously and slowly.

However, in the case of this mid-grade potion, it is specialized in hemostasis [stopping blood flow], disinfection, and pain relief.

For example, if you were deeply cut by a sword.

Even if you suffer a fatal wound and drink a general potion, you will die from shock or blood loss during the recovery process unless it is a high-grade potion.

The urgent thing is hemostasis, but potions have no flexibility.

However, in the case of this potion, the hemostatic effect is fast and the pain-suppressing effect is strong, so it is excellent for saving an urgent life.

In a way, it is a potion that saves only your life first.

‘I don’t need it now because I have recovery abilities. But other people are different.’

It will be a truly useful potion for those in the position of soldiers or mercenaries.

The disadvantage is that the material cost is expensive, but that is not a big problem.

Now that I have mastered the combination method, I can leave as soon as the remaining medicinal ingredients are organized in the carriage.

I smiled contentedly, stroking the bottle containing the potion carefully.

Starting with this, I will build my name and achievements and unfold my dreams in order.

Starting with this guy, I will become a wealthy merchant within half a year.

‘Should I stand out with this first?’

I smiled contentedly, holding up the orange potion, and made a decision.

* * *

As planned, I set off again towards my destination, Pelpuk.

Sitting next to the coachman’s seat in the carriage I rented this time, I felt somehow refreshed as I looked around.

‘This feels like I’ve become a peddler…….’

Until recently, I was a person who escorted merchants’ carriages and traveled, but now I am leaving on a journey with my own goods.

Is this what it means to have a good life?

As I was immersed in such emotion, a young man spoke to me from the side.

“Mr. Aileron.”

It’s the coachman attached by the trading company where I bought the herbs.

His name is Seul, and he is a truly ordinary and solid-looking friend, as befits an extra [a background character].

“What is it? Mr. Seul? I was in the middle of feeling pleased.”

If the reason for disturbing my pleasant emotion is nothing special, just wait.

“……I don’t know well, but I’m sorry to ask you now when you’re busy. I’m not sure if this is really okay.”

“Yes? What are you talking about?”

“……The carriage escort.”

Seul said, slightly lowering his voice.

If it’s not my imagination, there is tension in the hand holding the reins.

He is anxious.

“Hiring only six escorts…… I don’t know if this is okay.”

“This is enough. Anything more is a waste.”

I said as if it were nothing.

I can’t understand this timid friend’s anxiety.

Currently, what is on this carriage is Seul, who is leading the horse, and me, who is grinning next to him.

And six B-rank mercenaries walking around the carriage, forming a protective circle.

This is all.

It’s a truly simple journey.

“Wouldn’t it be dangerous if we encountered bandits or monsters like this?”

“Ah~ It’s okay. It’s okay.”

I asserted that it was nothing.

“……Yes?”

Why would it be dangerous?