How To Suck Honey With Extras [EN]: Chapter 125

136. It’s Just Business (8)

As soon as I stepped inside, a slightly musty scent greeted me.

The unmistakable smell of old books.

The place I’d entered was the Falzenteria Archduke’s library.

‘So many books, huh?’

As expected of an Archduke’s residence, even a simple library boasted a collection that rivaled a decent-sized public library.

‘It smells quite different from the books I know…’

Was it because there were more books made of parchment than paper? Perhaps.

It felt like I’d stepped into an antique market or a museum.

‘Come to think of it, this is the first time I’ve seen so many books in this world.’

As I was getting strangely emotional, Princess Elenia, who had followed me, spoke from behind with a curious tone.

“Are you sure this is what you wanted? I owe you a favor, and I granted your request… but it didn’t have to be something like this…”

“I am grateful for the grace of allowing someone like me into the Archduke’s library.”

“Enough with the flattery. It would be embarrassing for me if you said you were repaying your debt with this.”

I had requested to look around the Archduke’s library.

Not just to look around, though.

I meant that I wanted to see the books stored here, within a range that wouldn’t cause them any trouble.

And she readily agreed without a moment’s hesitation.

Was it really nothing?

“Isn’t it true that my request would normally be impossible?”

“Haha. I can’t deny that.”

Princess Elenia couldn’t deny that either.

“To be precise, it’s more like there hasn’t been a weirdo who would bow their head and ask for ‘permission to read books in the library!’ as a favor.”

After receiving a favor, I asked to ‘read books in the library!’ as repayment.

As she said, there probably aren’t many people who would make such a request.

“Well, Eilon. Is this satisfactory?”

“Satisfactory? Haha. Not at all.”

I thought that an Archduke’s residence would have a large amount of data and books, and it turned out to be true.

“It’s more than enough.”

I am very satisfied.

“Still, it’s quite unusual… Eilon, you reading books…”

Did I look like I was distant from books?

Even though I wanted to cultivate an intellectual image.

I only think about it, though.

“Were you surprisingly fond of books?”

“Well, to be honest, I’m not particularly interested in books.”

“…What does that mean?”

The princess looked slightly dumbfounded, as if my answer was unexpected.

‘Then why did you ask for it?’

Was that what she’s thinking?

Okay, I admitted it.

I am far from a bookworm.

Even on Earth, I lightly read web novels, but I’m confident I’d fall asleep as soon as I read serious literature or academic texts.

Even now, money is still more important than books.

“Then why did you make this request?”

“Knowing a lot is profitable.”

Leaving aside my basic knowledge, I needed to create this opportunity at least once.

“If I broaden my horizons even a little, I’ll definitely use it to make a profit somewhere.”

“Hmm… so you’re saying it’s a merchant’s attitude.”

“I’m not just talking about merchants… but when you think about it, it’s the same for everyone.”

Especially in this society, there are few opportunities to access information.

The gap between those who have knowledge and those who don’t is excessively large.

Well, I doubt there’s even a world where that difference doesn’t exist.

So, of course, if there’s an opportunity, you should acquire knowledge.

‘The noble family’s library has a considerable amount of data. If I compare it with the settings of the original work that I remember, it will help me determine which narratives or information to trust.’

I didn’t have high expectations, but it’s a task I couldn’t skip.

Not just today.

I’ll have to study if I have the chance in the future.

“Above all, I’m interested in history or old stories.”

“Hmm, even though he doesn’t seem like it, my grandfather is quite a book lover. You won’t be disappointed.”

“A book lover… certainly, it seems like you are too, Princess.”

“Huh? What are you talking about all of a sudden?”

“No, it’s just that I saw a few things that looked quite interesting.”

I subtly pointed to a few books with visible titles.

They were books that seemed to have been copied relatively recently, not ancient tomes.

“Hmm, hmm. Romance novels? Is this what’s popular these days?”

“Huh?”

The titles were truly something.

《The Secret Love of a Noble Young Man》, 《A Lady’s Knight Order》, and so on.

I was seriously worried about whose taste this was.

Before that, were these even romance novels?

What were the young ladies here reading?

I’d get mental diabetes reading this.

At least it’s not my taste.

“Hmm? Surprisingly, this is quite… no, it’s just blatant. Is the person who wrote this still alive?”

“…Here, give it to me. It’s useless.”

Princess Elenia subtly reached out from behind me, snatched the book I was holding, and tossed it to a maid.

She also quickly grabbed and threw away books that seemed to be in a similar genre.

“What are you doing!”

“This is too early for you.”

I’m telling you, I’m not a child….

No, in this case, was she embarrassed that she’s being exposed for what she’s been reading?

“Don’t misunderstand. I only read them when I was young.”

“No, it seems more problematic that you read things like that when you were young.”

“Do you have a complaint?”

“…No, I don’t.”

I shouldn’t tease her anymore.

“Anyway, you can look at any of the books stored here. I’ve given permission, so no one will say anything. Don’t worry.”

“I won’t cause any trouble.”

“I’m not worried about that… well, it doesn’t have to be just today. I’ll tell the servants, so you can come back again. A day or two probably won’t be enough, right?”

“…I don’t know how to thank you enough for your consideration.”

This time, I sincerely expressed my gratitude.

Princess Elenia left somewhere, probably because she had other things to do.

A servant who was assigned as a guide was just watching from a distance.

As she said, I was able to freely look at the books.

‘Then, should I hurry up and check?’

What I especially wanted was information about this place.

Anything was fine.

Whether it’s an old story or data, anything.

If I combined the elements of the original work that I know with the facts recorded here, I can definitely get some answers.

I started to scan the bookshelves to find the books I wanted.

“First of all, the geographical records of this place… especially the records from before the Falzenteria Archduke family came to this land are needed.”

Finding it won’t be easy.

I had to try not to fall asleep.

Surely sleepiness will be the worst enemy.

I braced myself and started looking for the necessary books.

‘Fighting to the death on the battlefield isn’t my job… and above all, I don’t have to worry because they’ll do well…’

Even if I help, I have to get involved in a different way.

This is the kind of thing I can do.

Believing that, I stared out the window… probably in the direction where the two armies are still facing each other.

Of course, I can’t see anything.

But I can at least imagine the situation I know in my head.

‘At least I have to prepare for the future…’

I started to focus on the books again to find the basis I wanted.

‘Come to think of it, is that war going well after all?’

It would be a lie if I said I wasn’t worried.

I’ve only heard rumors, and I’ve never seen the reality.

Well, I don’t have to interfere.

I yawned, recalling the situation I heard in the rumors, and turned the pages.

Because it seems like they’re doing well without a good citizen like me, who is not even known by name, having to worry.

137. Those on the Battlefield (1)

The war between the Celond Marquisate and the Falzenter Duchy initially unfolded with a unilateral attack from the Marquisate’s side.

Above all, they were the ones who started the invasion immediately after the declaration of war.

The Celond Marquis’s army had enough quantity and quality to make the Falzenter Duchy army nervous.

20,000 soldiers trained and prepared, and 1,500 monster special forces introduced as a trial by the Third Prince.

In addition, 20,000 soldiers were borrowed from the nobles of the Empire through secret agreements.

On the other hand, the number of soldiers in the Falzenter Duchy was only 15,000 when only those stationed at the front-line fortress were counted.

Of course, they couldn’t withstand a head-on collision.

The soldiers of the Marquisate, intoxicated with the superiority of numbers, shouted with a momentum that shook the sky.

“There’s no need to fear the Falzenter Duchy!”

“Think of it as a fortress that will collapse just by advancing!”

Kugugugugugung!

The sight of tens of thousands of soldiers marching, shaking the ground, was described as almost a nightmare for the soldiers defending the Falzenter Duchy’s fortress at the time.

Accordingly, the soldiers of the Falzenter Duchy had to be prepared to fight to the death in the fortress.

“We must fight even if we die!”

If they don’t fight because they’re afraid, their territory will be trampled on.

So they had to be determined to stop it.

“Bring all the stones, oil, and sand! Heat them all up and drop them!”

“Don’t be afraid! You can’t easily destroy a fortress with just numbers! In a battle of endurance, the one who isn’t afraid will win in the end!”

The Duchy’s knights shouted and encouraged the soldiers, and the soldiers who followed them also prepared to endure.

In the meantime, the news brought by the messenger of Nilpas Mel Falzenteria, the Archduke of their lord, was concise and unexpected.

Nilpas Archduke judged that it would be irreversible if he only endured honestly with the enemy’s forces, which were more formidable than expected.

He would withdraw the soldiers and then prepare countermeasures to endure.

He had to preserve as many troops as possible.

That was his decision.

Land can be regained, but soldiers, people, cannot be easily regained.

That would be his intention.

“You mean abandon the fortress?!”

“It is the will of the Archduke. Surely there is a next plan.”

“I will not listen to objections! Hurry up and prepare to withdraw!”

They faithfully understood the order and quickly withdrew.

The soldiers of the Celond Territory army, who occupied the fortress so easily, shouted mocking words at the retreating enemies, beat drums, and blew trumpets.

“How pathetic!”

“The Falzenteria Archduke has become weak as he got old!”

“Aren’t you ashamed to give up the fortress without fighting!”

It wasn’t just the soldiers who were uplifted.

The knights who participated in this battle were also excited about the easy victory, and even seemed to be discussing whose victory it was.

Meanwhile, Celond Marquis, who received the news of the fall of the fortress at a base in the distant rear, frowned upon reading the report expressing their excessive enthusiasm.

The knights, who thought he would be happy to receive the report of victory, looked perplexed at their lord’s atmosphere.

“…The atmosphere seems too excited. Not only the soldiers but also the knights should set an example and create an atmosphere of composure.”

The battle is only in its early stages.

No, in reality, it hasn’t even started.

It’s a problem to be so excited already after taking a fortress for free.

“But victory is victory. If you don’t let them enjoy the joy of it, they will be dissatisfied.”

A knight quietly refuted Celond Marquis’s opinion.

“Even so, it’s too much. Above all, this is not even a victory. Nilpas Archduke, that old man, only retreated because he was worried about the unnecessary consumption of troops.”

It’s too early to be complacent.

He emphasized that firmly.

“Certainly, his achievements in the past were famous.”

“Then there’s no need to say it again. If you’re careless, you’ll be the ones who get your heads cut off.”

“Yes.”

The knights quietly told the commanders leading each unit to convey their lord’s words, as if they didn’t want to argue with their lord’s judgment anymore.

“And tell the soldiers to rest and start chasing them right away from tomorrow. I’ll leave the organization to you.”

It would be good to push them without giving them a chance to rest.

“The immediate goal is to quickly break down the Duchy’s defenses. If the timing is delayed, they will re-establish their posture. A long-term war will be troublesome.”

Above all, the justification for this war was also hastily made.

‘It will be difficult if they set up a defense posture first.’

The justification for their war.

They raised an army by using the excuse that the treasure kept in the Archduke’s family originally belonged to the Empire.

They demanded an explanation or a legitimate return regarding the treasure, but of course, it was a fabricated justification made in a hurry.

If it becomes a long-term war, both war and politics will inevitably be shaken.

It must be ended quickly.

“Yes!”

The knights bowed their heads sharply, repeated the order, and moved busily to convey it to their subordinates.

Celond Marquis turned his gaze away from the knights and looked at the map on the table.

The place marked on the map is the remaining defense lines.

If I break through this place, my success is promised.