How To Suck Honey With Extras [EN]: Chapter 104

115. Falgent Duchy (1)

Let’s calculate the timing in between.

‘According to the rumors, the war between the Falgent Duchy and the Celond Marquisate of the Empire has just broken out. So, nothing else should be happening besides that, right?’

The stage of the original scenario has temporarily shifted to the Falgent Duchy, so nothing should happen within my sight.

‘I’m going to stay cooped up in Pelpuk anyway. Nothing will happen, right?’

No disaster will befall me if I don’t go outside.

Inside the blanket is the safest.

‘But I can’t keep holing up forever, can I?’

If Volume 4 is over, then comes Volume 5.

Volume 5 is about Sylvester defeating the black magician and gaining benefits, and other minor stories, so that has nothing to do with me either, right?

If I had to pick one thing, it would be that Cruse Elfament, who is also my magic teacher, will meet the protagonist at that time, but that’s not something I need to get involved in.

‘So, the problem is after that?’

Original Volume 6.

Duke Rupel, belonging to the secret organization Continental Integration Society, will reveal his true colors and start a rebellion, and the protagonist will get involved, causing a large-scale battle.

At that time, I won’t be able to rest even if I want to.

I’ll have to work hard to avoid disaster.

I might as well consider going abroad at that time.

‘Come to think of it, I wonder how the war in the Falgent Duchy is progressing.’

Since there’s no real-time broadcasting, news from other countries takes a long time to reach my ears, which is frustrating.

There was also something that bothered me.

‘Thinking about it, hasn’t the timing of events been delayed since some point?’

The timing of the war and other developments are considerably later than the expected timing in the original story that I know.

Even now, quite some time has passed since I came here, but the war has just broken out.

According to the original story, it wouldn’t be strange if the war had already ended with the protagonist’s intervention.

What’s the reason?

Is the future changing, perhaps?

‘Well, at least there shouldn’t be any problems with the development of Volume 4 itself, right?’

I already know the outcome anyway.

The timing may be late, but the progress will probably be the same as I know it.

The important thing is the event, not the date.

They must be engaged in fierce battles at the border by now.

And after struggling for about 20 days, they will retreat once due to the Celond Marquis’s offensive.

‘In the subsequent developments, the Celond Marquis’s army was crushed only after the protagonist intervened.’

Ah, the protagonist descended and swept away countless armies.

Isn’t that the standard development of a fantasy novel?

Unparalleled feats on the battlefield are the flower of the protagonist.

‘Still, I definitely want to hear the news.’

That’s the only way I can feel at ease.

I occasionally loitered around whenever a ship from another country came in, listening carefully.

After hanging around for a few days, I finally heard it.

“Did you hear? There’s a rumor from the Falgent Duchy side…”

Oh, finally, I’m hearing the story I wanted.

So, what’s the situation now?

“It seems the Duchy is at a great disadvantage from the start.”

…Hmm? What is it?

At a disadvantage.

Does that mean the first front line is being pushed back?

Something’s bothering me.

“I heard it’s on the verge of being overrun.”

“They say the first defense line collapsed in just one day?”

Wait a minute? Stop? What?!

What’s collapsing?

In that moment, I felt the same déjà vu as when I saw the price of the coin that my senior at work forced me to buy plummeting.

It seems more urgent than the development I knew?

Why does my head hurt as soon as I hear this?

There was a problem.

The problem isn’t that the war is starting late.

The Falgent Duchy is being pushed back faster than I know.

Should I laugh this off?

* * *

The more I think about it, the stranger it is.

‘Well, it’s plausible that the Duchy is at a disadvantage. That’s how the protagonist gets involved.’

The first defense line is supposed to collapse anyway.

The second one also collapses, and the protagonist intervenes at the third one, right?

‘The problem is the timing is too fast.’

The first front line collapsed in an instant?

That can’t be, it’s supposed to hold out for about 20 days.

As I kept listening to the rumors, the war situation on the Falgent Duchy side was deteriorating more rapidly than I knew.

‘What the heck is the protagonist doing, that Sylvester bastard?’

That’s the question.

I was almost certain about the existence of Sylvester, the protagonist of the original story.

About a month ago.

There was a rumor that a silver-haired boy, an elf, and a young man who looked like a nobleman had taken a ship.

The rumors were rife that they were unusual people.

It’s probably the protagonist and his party.

I only heard the rumors and stayed holed up in my inn room, but I think it’s probably them.

‘What’s going on? Is the situation worse than I know?’

There’s a limit to the answers I can come up with by speculating here.

I had to think seriously about it.

‘I was originally planning to go on a journey to find magic books as Cruse advised.’

I was going to look for magic books and try to power up since I had the time.

‘But now I’m worried about the Falgent Duchy situation too.’

The situation is deteriorating faster than expected.

Besides, if I listen to some recent news, the timing is completely off from the elements of the original story that I knew.

‘Is it because the variables have changed?’

In short, it means something is different.

Is the protagonist doing his job properly?

I’m already anxious about that.

‘But is there anything I can do by getting involved?’

Me? I don’t know anything about war.

Army? All I have is the experience of serving as a soldier, and that’s not helpful at all.

‘More than anything, I have nothing to gain.’

The fact that there’s no profit is also why I’m reluctant.

I don’t like unpaid service.

I don’t like fighting either.

‘No, wait, is there really nothing I can do? Really?’

I feel uneasy if I conclude that.

I went back to the text of the original story that was buried in a corner of my mind.

‘I’m looking for the reason why the Duchy has to be at a disadvantage in the original story.’

Why was the Duchy repeatedly defeated until the protagonist intervened in the original story?

‘Ah, that’s why.’

I found a few answers and pondered.

Most of them are things I can’t do anything about.

But if it’s one thing.

If it’s one problem, maybe I can do something about it.

‘More than anything, if I do well, I might be able to make a lot of money.’

Come to think of it, it’s not like there’s nothing to gain at all.

I realized then.

There’s definitely honey to suck in a corner of the battlefield.

And if there’s honey, I want to head there like a hummingbird.

‘Should I go?’

For my own benefit.

And I felt the need to act a little.

‘I need to see it with my own eyes at least once.’

The protagonist of the original story, 《The Returned Great Hero》, which is the foundation of this damn world.

Sylvester, I need to see that guy’s face and actions directly, even from a distance.

He’s the biggest variable after all.

Wouldn’t it be good to know if he’s the guy I know?

Maybe I shouldn’t keep making excuses and avoiding it anymore.

* * *

Immediately revise the plan.

After thinking about the rough framework of the plan.

I moved to execute it.

First, I ran straight to Lowell, a collaborator who has what I need for the plan.

It’s most reliable to get help from him, the branch manager of the Pilleros Merchant Guild.

And I immediately brought up the matter.

“I know this might sound sudden, Mr. Lowell, but I want to go to the Falgent Duchy and make a lot of money.”

“…That is sudden indeed.”

Lowell reacted blankly, as if he had been hit by something.

And shakes his head.

“I’m sorry, but it will be difficult for even Mr. Ailen to secure a ship to the Duchy at this time.”

Because it’s wartime.

The entry permits have become strict.

Besides, there’s probably no other fool who wants to go to the battlefield.

But I, who want to go there, glared and repeatedly asked.

“Mr. Lowell, you have connections with them, right?”

I remember a passing remark from before.

Especially during the first potion deal!

Wasn’t it said that the deal with the people on the Duchy side was also due to that connection?

Lowell narrowed his eyes.

Does he find it difficult?

“Can you contact them?”

“…I can.”

The fact that he answered truthfully must be thanks to our past loyalty.

I’m no longer someone he can simply refuse and dismiss.

Which makes it even more difficult for him.

“But Mr. Ailen? What business do you have in the Falgent Duchy?”

“I told you, I want to make a lot of money. Mr. Lowell, who do you think I am?”

“Are you perhaps trying to participate as a mercenary? I think it’s quite late, though.”

“Are you crazy?”

Ah, that came out unintentionally.

When he guessed completely wrong, I reflexively blurted out a slip of the tongue.

“Isn’t that it?”

“Why would I go to the battlefield? Seriously… That’s not it, there’s only one thing to do there!”

I raised my index finger and said.

Isn’t it obvious?

“Business! I want to make a profit by selling to them.”

The battlefield is definitely a great place to do business.

Not just before the war breaks out.

Even during the war, there are definitely things to pick up as a merchant.

“I wanted to go there and sell them the food, weapons, and other supplies they need.”

“Hmm, I can’t recommend that.”

Lowell shakes his head again.

“…I’m sorry, but I think it’s quite late to get involved now.”

“Well? What about that?”

I smirked meaningfully.

Yes, originally, it’s pointless to covet that side now.

The Duchy has already acquired a considerable amount of pre-war stockpiles through the Pilleros Merchant Guild and many other merchant guilds.

Preparation is perfect!

‘But in this industry, that’s a flag [a sign that something bad is about to happen].’

As I recalled the contents of Volume 4 and chewed on the text one by one, I realized.

‘In the first place, those stockpiled food supplies are burned down by a scheme.’

As a result of summarizing, there are three major aspects in the development of Volume 4 where the Duchy is in crisis.

One is when the first front line is broken.

When they retreat because they can’t find a countermeasure against the large-scale monster corps that the Empire is putting forward.

And the second!

‘Massive loss of stockpiles. Especially food!’

For some reason, they lose most of their stockpiles, especially food.

Of course, that itself is a scheme of the Empire side.

The third is… it’s pointless to discuss that now.

Let’s put aside that I’m not confident yet whether I can do anything about it with my own hands.

Above all, that part is something the protagonist has to solve.

Anyway, I remembered those things and clapped my hands on the spot.

I almost missed something good!

‘This is an opportunity to do business.’

It’s truly an opportunity to make a fortune.

There’s no end to making money, no matter how much you make.

What you should pursue more greedily than power is money! Money!

Money is great! Long live the economic market!

So, let’s make money.

“What if there’s a chance to sell a large amount of supplies again?”

I deliberately smiled meaningfully and asked Lowell back.

What would you do then?

“…”

Lowell couldn’t answer and swallowed hard.

Usually, the common sense here is to discipline a guy who talks such nonsense with a beating.

But who am I?

I’m confident in my favorability.

I believe in my humanity.

“Mr. Ailen? Did you perhaps obtain some information?”

“Hehehehe. Let’s just say that.”

“You’re a truly strange person… I haven’t heard anything on my end.”

Of course, you wouldn’t. This is a future event.

No matter how sensitive a merchant is to rumors, they can’t catch future events.

If that were possible, why would they be merchants? They should be fortune tellers.

“I’m confident about the information.”

“Even so… just one thing. Mr. Ailen, how much of a deal are you hoping for?”

First, I need to know the size of the game to figure out whether to calculate or not.

I smiled and told him the amount of supplies I wanted.

I roughly wrote down the amount of food and necessary supplies on parchment and showed it to him.

“…How about this much?”

“Ugh! Are you serious right now?!”

Lowell was startled and jumped up from his seat.

Uh… is it that much?

Since I’m not a current merchant, I tend to be somewhat careless in calculating the quantity.

I wasn’t worried because I could fix it if pointed out, but he’s so surprised.

“Is it perhaps impossible?”

“It’s possible. …If I gather my maximum discretion, I think I can somehow secure up to 70%… although not all of it.”

“70%… That’s enough. It’s more than I expected.”

I said it, but I was thinking that even 40% would be appreciated, so it’s definitely more than I expected.

“But apart from securing it, do you know? If…”

“If I can’t sell these, they’ll all become baggage, right?”

I said as if it were obvious.

“If I lose money for sure, I’m really going to die now.”