How To Suck Honey With Extras [EN]: Chapter 109

120. Meeting and Grace as Planned (1)

After staying here for a few days, I came to a few firm conclusions.

One of them concerned the current state of the war in the Duchy.

I spent those days wandering around the city under the guise of being a guest, gathering rumors.

I made excuses, spent a few coins to chat with the locals, and approached soldiers who had retreated from the front lines due to injuries, feigning coincidence.

Thanks to these efforts, I managed to glean some of the information I was looking for.

What particularly caught my attention was the performance of a certain silver-haired boy.

The information came from a wounded soldier who had retreated from the front.

After I loosened his tongue with some alcohol, he turned red and started talking.

“The Grand Duke’s guest is really making a name for himself on the battlefield right now.”

“A guest? Who is it?”

“He’s probably not much older than you. Looked like a boy.”

“Oh, really.”

“When we were first surrounded by enemy soldiers, I was so overwhelmed I was ready to die… But then, that boy swung his sword, and the enemy soldiers were instantly cut to pieces and fell like rain.”

“Wow, that’s amazing.”

“By the time I came to my senses, that boy had single-handedly killed hundreds of soldiers. He was truly amazing.”

In short, it seemed a silver-haired boy and his companions were making great strides at the front.

As soon as I heard that, I was convinced.

‘That collaborator is probably the protagonist, Sylvester.’

The characteristics described by the soldiers were almost identical to the protagonist I knew.

A silver-haired boy wielding a powerful magic sword and displaying extraordinary swordsmanship.

Also, his party members were said to be quite skilled as well.

It had to be him.

So, earlier than originally planned, he made a deal with Duke Nilphas and intervened in the war.

‘But the war situation hasn’t improved much. Is he having a hard time too? Or are the detailed circumstances different from the original?’

I was curious, but I couldn’t know for sure.

The reason I was able to hear clues about the person presumed to be the protagonist was only because he was an outsider, so security was relatively lax.

‘Well, that’s enough information for now.’

I had a rough idea of the situation, and what I had to do had become clear.

One thing was certain.

The protagonist wasn’t in this city right now.

He’d headed to the battlefield faster than in the original story.

Thanks to that, I thought I had a chance.

A way to make the deal without being disturbed by that idiot Nelvis.

‘If Sylvester is already on the battlefield… that means there’s no one to deal with ‘that incident’ from the original story, right?’

I recalled an incident that would happen in the early part of Volume 4.

In the original story, there was an incident that Sylvester had to deal with.

And it couldn’t be said to be a minor incident.

If the protagonist hadn’t solved it, the Duchy would have been in crisis.

‘But if the protagonist isn’t there when he’s needed, what happens to the original incident?’

I was also a little curious.

I decided to move immediately.

It was also a verification, but more than anything, if I played my cards right, it would be an excuse for me to contact that person.

I’d be able to coax that person and bring him over to my side.

I was in the center of this Duchy.

I smiled as I looked at the Falzentaia Grand Duke’s castle in the distance.

Above all, I would be the benefactor of the person I was about to contact.

* * *

What should you do if the person you are trying to trade with doesn’t understand you?

The answer is simple.

‘Just find someone who can understand you.’

Find someone who at least outwardly cannot interfere with the traitor and make the deal.

The most certain person would be Duke Nilphas.

However, he seemed to be on the battlefield, personally commanding the soldiers.

Then who else was there?

At least someone with equal authority and justification must take me in.

‘Fortunately, there is such a person…’

There was someone who I presumed would be able to communicate.

‘The problem is that I can’t meet her through ordinary means…’

The fact that I could keep Nelvis, that rascal, in check meant that the person I wanted to meet was, in short, a noble of the same standing.

A noble for a noble; a conflict should be resolved between family members.

But sadly, I couldn’t even dream of meeting that person normally.

If it were Duke Nilphas himself, I could somehow beg him if he were in the territory.

But as for that person, I could say that there was absolutely no connection.

So how do I meet her?

It’s simple.

‘There are no coincidences in encounters~.’

All encounters are accidental manipulations; even if our clothes just brush against each other, it’s all according to plan~.

According to that truth, I recalled an incident in which I was likely to meet that person.

It just so happened that there was one.

It’s because of the cause of this war.

‘The reason the Duchy is being attacked right now is because of the artifact that the Empire wants.’

The artifact that the Falzentaia Grand Duke’s family has inherited and managed for generations.

According to the will of the mastermind, the third prince of the Empire, Avil, who wants its true performance, Marquis Celrond put in the effort to start the war.

In addition, the protagonist Sylvester also wants to use it for some reason.

When you think about it, it’s a war that broke out because of just one artifact.

Well, it’s a powerful item worth that much.

Me? Of course, I’m tempted by it too… but I don’t really want to get it directly.

Monsters that aren’t even human are aiming for it, and if I drool over it too, I won’t be able to handle it.

Above all, it’s an artifact with too many demerits, so I shouldn’t get it.

To put it bluntly, if I get that, I will eventually die without being able to withstand the storms of this harsh world.

Still, it would be wise to aim for the extras so I can get some byproducts from the side.

‘And the Empire has another request besides the artifact.’

According to the declaration of war that Marquis Celrond made in the original story, the second request was to hand over the direct line of the Grand Duke’s family who had been managing the artifact.

Of course, they didn’t ask for the traitor.

What they asked for was another direct descendant.

The Grand Duke’s granddaughter, and the only surviving direct descendant.

The custody of ‘Elnia Mel Falzentaia’ Princess.

It would be much more efficient to ask for a lovely young lady than an unpleasant man.

There will also be a reason for her to be a hostage.

‘How pitiful.’

It would be like a bolt from the blue for the princess, but what can I do?

Of course, from the Duchy’s point of view, from the Grand Duke’s personal feelings, and from her own feelings, they would never accept such an absurd request.

All that’s left is fighting.

That’s how the war broke out.

I’ve summarized many things, but the flow wouldn’t be much different.

‘Anyway, if I go to that princess, it will be easy to make a deal.’

Considering the princess’s tendencies in the original story, she would fully recognize the value of the deal and support me.

‘Above all, the Grand Duke himself cherishes his granddaughter so much.’

In the Falzentaia Grand Duchy’s setting, Elnia’s parents, that middle generation, are absent.

The princess’s mother passed away from illness, and her father unfortunately died while commanding a monster subjugation.

It’s a sad story, but that’s why the Grand Duke cherishes his granddaughter even more.

So, if I just bring in that cute granddaughter, that damned traitor is nothing.

‘The only problem is how difficult it is to meet her.’

Fortunately, there is definitely a way to encounter her if I follow the original story.

Not just meeting, but if I do well, I can also do her a favor.

For that, I am currently secretly waiting in a forest quite far from the city.

‘Probably, the point where the protagonist solved that incident in the original story is around here…….’

A meeting point found by carefully comparing the descriptions in the original story with the actual scenery.

That place is none other than a dark forest.

What I’m waiting for here is an incident.

Some figure from the Empire wants the artifact and the young lady’s custody.

That’s why they even started this war.

Logically, would such a villain try to take it by force, charging in with an army fair and square?

Not at all.

They don’t care about the means or methods to win.

That’s the basic.

Those methods may include war or political maneuvering, but isn’t there another effective way?

‘Kidnapping key figures.’

They wouldn’t know the storage location of that artifact, so they can’t do anything about it, but the princess is different.

You can’t lock people underground and hide them completely.

‘They were aiming for that kidnapping.’

According to the original story, it seems they put in nearly 10 years of effort.

They infiltrated maids and bribed soldiers from 10 years ago to create an opening.

On top of that, a traitor like Nelvis also helped with the plan.

‘Conversely, that means they’ve been planning to attack the Duchy for 10 years, or even longer. How disgusting.’

I don’t think I can become a noble or a politician.

I can’t even wait until tomorrow, but planning in 10-year increments is scary.

Anyway, if they’ve prepared, it’s natural to attempt the kidnapping.

At this point, the target, that princess, doesn’t have any special powers.

She has some skills for self-defense, but that’s about it.

In the end, it means she’s an easy target that can be kidnapped if they just create an opening.

And in the original story, the kidnapping plan was actually half successful.

‘Unfortunately, the protagonist caught them there and they got thoroughly beaten up. They had terrible luck.’

Who would have known that Sylvester would infiltrate the castle that day, looking for an opportunity to get the artifact?

And our protagonist encountered that scene.

He couldn’t just stand by after witnessing it, so he chased after them and rescued the princess.

That is the attempted kidnapping incident that led Sylvester to negotiate with the Grand Duke in the original story.

‘But that Sylvester isn’t here now.’

The protagonist is not here.

Because the flow has changed from the original story, that boy seems to have gone to the battlefield.

And after doing some investigating, the kidnapping incident hasn’t happened yet.

In other words, Sylvester must have negotiated with the Grand Duke through a different route.

Then that means there’s no protagonist to solve this incident.

It’s an incident that no one will take.

‘Then I can take that credit.’

I’m not particularly interested in the princess.

I just want to get connections.

Save her and then force a deal with that favor.

And even if it’s not for such a materialistic reason, there’s a reason to interfere with the incident.

‘Also, if I can’t solve it, Elnia might end up being dragged to Marquis Celrond’s side.’

The disappearance of a key figure.

A development that shouldn’t happen.

Then the scenario of the original Volume 4 will be completely derailed.

Elnia is a person who must greatly assist in the events that will happen in the latter half of Volume 4.

If that becomes impossible?

In the worst case, a large number of casualties could occur.

Including both the Duchy and the Empire sides, roughly estimating the scope of the damage, wouldn’t there be hundreds of thousands of casualties?

I can’t leave it alone.

Let someone who can solve it, solve it.

Plus, I can create an excuse to gain connections.

Perfect.

For that, I’m finding the route the enemy will take if the incident happens and setting up camp in advance.

The preparation is done.

All that’s left is to hope that the incident happens.

‘The problem is…… will it really happen?’

I’m actually a bit anxious.

According to the original story, the incident is likely to happen.

They wouldn’t not try after putting in 10 years of work, would they?

And even if it goes wrong, there’s not much to be disappointed about.

I can just contact her in another way.

However, it will be a slightly more violent method then, so I hope this method works out if possible.

‘Please come.’

* * *

So, I waited in that forest for several days.

I can’t perfectly pinpoint the exact date the incident will happen.

I feel sorry for the person being kidnapped, but I sincerely hope the incident happens.

It’s okay. I’ll save you anyway.

Nothing will happen, so just close your eyes and get caught.

After wishing that and staying up for about two days.

Finally, I got a bite.

‘It’s here! It’s here! It really came! It came properly!’

It’s late at night now.

The only people wandering around at this time are villains or good citizens like me who are waiting for the villains’ misdeeds.

In short.

It means there’s a high possibility that the desired situation has occurred!

‘I knew you’d do it!’

I mentally gave the kidnapper a thumbs up.

I believed you could do it!

So now, just obediently accept your punishment.