How To Suck Honey With Extras [EN]: Chapter 134

147. Treasures are Always Hidden Underground (5)

“……Seeing it open so easily, I feel strangely ashamed before our ancestors.”

“I’m more inclined to say something to the ancestors who created a place like this in the first place.”

“……It’s open, isn’t it?”

As I nodded, assuring her that everything was fine with a casual joke, Princess Elenia carefully took out the disc.

Meanwhile, I stealthily dismantled the transparent metal artifact case, crumpling it up and stuffing it into my subspace pocket.

Gotta grab what I can, gotta grab it all~.

Keeping things like this around might be useful.

I think this is a metal that doesn’t exist in this era, right?

Even though she’s aware of my actions, she pretends not to notice.

I guess that’s the price she’s willing to pay.

So, let’s shamelessly take everything we can.

“So, just having that will allow us to strike a major blow against Marquis Celond?”

“I’m not sure if it will perform as the records say.”

“Ah. Are you saying that records and traditions are exaggerated?”

“That too, but I don’t trust anything unless I see it with my own eyes.”

“You’re surprisingly pragmatic.”

“Besides, if its performance doesn’t meet expectations, it could still be a material to break the current troublesome situation.”

If it’s proven to be a useless, ordinary tool, the Empire will immediately lose interest.

‘That’s not going to happen, though.’

But I’m sure it won’t. I know the artifact’s performance well because I’ve read the original text.

It’s an artifact that the Third Prince of the Empire would want, using Marquis Celond as a front.

‘But I have no intention of using it myself.’

For me, there’s not much merit in using that artifact.

More than anything, doing so would be an opportunity to ruin everything I’ve gained so far.

The demerits of acquiring it are fatally large compared to its abilities.

‘Too dangerous for me~.’

For now, leaving it to Princess Elenia, as in the original story, is the best choice.

The protagonist entrusted it to her in the original story as well.

I took my eyes off her as she examined the artifact and looked at the place where the disc had been placed.

“What’s wrong, Eilon?”

“No… it’s nothing.”

Something was engraved on the inside of the floor where it had been placed.

Maybe it’s the name of the magician who built this facility?

Magicians surprisingly like to leave things like that behind.

[Kmelz Alfrens]

But why is that crazy lich’s name engraved there?

‘……The ancestors of the Falgentania Grand Duchy? Who did you entrust with the design of this place?’

No. I hate that lich!

I inferred that there was a high possibility that a black magician was hired, but why is that name engraved there?

‘Come to think of it, if this was built around that time, it would be before that lich properly went into hiding, right?’

The timing would be right.

But I decided to pretend I didn’t see it.

This must be unrelated to the original story.

More than anything, it’s not something I should get involved in.

There are things in the world that you have to pretend not to know, even if you do!

“Um, what did you say?”

“No. Anyway, I think it’s better to return quickly. It’s been quite a bit longer than planned.”

“Yes, that would be good. Everyone must be worried.”

She agreed, and we started to retrace our steps.

But it still bothers me.

No, not this facility.

The things outside.

‘Did something happen outside?’

And unfortunately, in these cases, these worries are often right.

It might be better for my mental health to prepare myself in advance.

148. The Grand Duchy Assault (1)

Around that time.

Elraut, the mercenary in charge of commanding the assault on the Falgentania Grand Duchy, burst out laughing at the pathetic sight of the soldiers she was supposed to command.

“Aigo~ So, the great knights of the Empire can’t even conquer this one thing?” [Aigo is a Korean expression of frustration or exasperation.]

“Th-That’s…”

The knight, being ridiculed in front of Elraut, merely distorted his expression, swallowing his resentful feelings.

“Who was it that confidently told me to my face that they didn’t need my help just a little while ago?”

The provocation was initiated by the knights towards Elraut.

Just a few hours ago.

As soon as the Empire’s strongest magician, Clopord, handed over command of the operation to the mercenary Elraut and left, the accompanying knights suddenly spoke.

They said that a mercenary’s power was unnecessary for the knights’ honorable mission.

Of course, they said it in a more roundabout and refined way, but what they were arguing was this.

They wanted to say, ‘We’ll take the credit, so you, an outsider, don’t get involved.’

Elraut didn’t bother to get angry at their pettiness.

“Ah? Okay? Do whatever you want. Good luck~.”

She smiled brightly and lay down.

“I’m happy not to work~ I’ve already received a lot of advance payment. Then, good luck to you guys.”

The knights, who had been showing off, were dumbfounded.

From the beginning, Elraut herself had no intention of properly commanding those idiots.

‘Let them suffer first.’

Knights and mercenaries, wherever they are, are inherently unable to empathize with each other.

Knights who value honor and merit.

Mercenaries who only aim for practical benefits, wealth, and results.

Of course, there will be conflict.

And several hours after Elraut stepped back and entrusted all operational command to the knights.

The knights were doing a great job of struggling.

“Wow~ I’m going crazy.”

Elraut clapped her hands at the result, as if she was amazed.

It was as if the initial advantage of the surprise attack was a lie, and now they had been pushed back to outside the castle walls.

They even closed the iron gates tightly and went into a siege.

It’s really a great waste of effort.

“That’s what happens when you distinguish between mercenaries and knights, you hopeless tin cans~.”

“Keuk!”

“So? When will the Grand Duchy be captured? When will it be?”

“……I have no excuse… I have nothing to say…”

At the best timing, and with the Empire’s strongest magician creating an opportunity with magic, they made it all useless.

Of course, anyone, not just Elraut, would blame their disgrace.

Elraut smiled at them as if mocking them.

“The mission is simple, right? Those knights work hard to conquer that castle. All that’s inside are the remaining knights and the frail princess. So, what’s so difficult about that?”

“Kuek…”

“So, what’s so difficult? Tell this older sister properly, you stubborn tin can newbie?”

It was obvious to anyone that it was mockery.

In the meantime, one of the knights squeezed out a complaint to Elraut.

“But… it can’t be helped.”

“……Oh? What?”

“The spirit master remaining in the Falgentania Grand Duchy is not ordinary… It’s frustrating, but it’s not easy to handle.”

“……Haa, is that so?”

In fact, thanks to the elf spirit master who was busily moving and intercepting, the Falgentania Grand Duchy was able to smoothly enter a siege.

But that’s not something they should say.

Elraut sighed.

“……Haa, you’re actually saying that.”

She no longer made the light and frivolous mockery from before.

No, they’re not even worth making fun of.

Her eyes changed as if she were looking at trash.

“……Keuk, if you have anything to say, say it!”

“Well, if I had to say something, I could talk about it all day. Yeah, I won’t. You guys are done.”

“What?”

Ignoring the furious knight, Elraut stood up with an exaggerated gesture.

She brought binoculars to her eyes and watched the state of the Grand Duchy.

Before she knew it, they were lowering thick iron gates on each door, including the main gate.

“Aigo, they properly closed the doors and even went into a siege. You really missed all those good opportunities, you idiot tin cans.”

“……It sounds like you, a mercenary, would be different.”

“Yeah. It’s different.”

Elraut answered without a moment’s hesitation.

“At least if I had joined from the beginning, I wouldn’t have made such a mess. Hmm… they’re really holed up tight?”

She just muttered casually as if watching someone else’s work.

“What are you going to do now? It won’t be easy if they go into a siege like that?”

“If it’s difficult to break through the castle, there’s also a way to go to the city.”

“……”

Elraut’s smiling lips convulsed as if they had hardened for a moment.

In short, those tin cans are suggesting to go to the city to shake them up.

If they take hostages and commit massacres, they will have no choice but to open the door and crawl out. Is that what they’re thinking?

“You’re pathetic knights. The prestige of the Empire is already dead.”

This time, it was not mockery but a truly contemptuous tone.

Of course, the knights were furious.

“A mere mercenary! How dare you mock the proud knights of the Empire!”

“Arrogance? Puh-heup! Hahahahahahahat!”

Elraut grabbed her stomach and laughed at the knight who was still asserting his pride.

And.

Peo-eok!

The knight’s chin soared, and he fell to the ground.

He wasn’t dead, but his face was broken and messed up.

“Arrogance is something you should spout after you’ve achieved something, you incompetent tin can. Pfft, your pride is crushed on your face.”

“How dare you say that!”

“How dare a mercenary!”

The knights all flared up and tried to draw their weapons, but…

No one actually drew them.

“Um~ why? Aren’t you drawing?”

Elraut turned around leisurely and smirked as if she wanted them to draw, but the knights couldn’t move, only touching their weapons.

“Let’s draw~ I won’t refuse. And that would be quite fun too.”

When they heard that voice, their hands trembled as if something was pressing down on them, and they couldn’t draw.

It was as if instinct was warning them.

That if they drew, it would be too late.

Elraut turned her head as if disappointed, leaving them behind.

“……Okay. I didn’t respond very maturely either, so let’s just let it go. Tsk, you don’t even have the guts.”

The knights couldn’t say anything.

It was also true that they had asserted their pride first and failed.

“Don’t worry~ I’ll do the job properly. Since you guys made a mistake, I can do whatever I want now, right?”

From the beginning, Elraut waited.

Until the knights obediently accepted their failure and relied on her.

“……Even if you say that, it’s already too late. It will take time to get them out since they’ve gone into a siege.”

The problem is that they are not prepared for a long-term battle either.

Besides, if they delay any longer, they will be the ones who are in trouble.

“Unfortunately, failure is…”

“What failure~.”

However, Elraut lightly began to warm up as if it was just beginning.

“In short, you’re saying that it’s annoying that the door is tightly closed, right? And those tin can lords can’t open it?”

“……Um, that’s right.”

Elraut smirked at the knight who nodded blankly.

As if the method was simple.

“Let me teach you one thing, you truly honorable knights.”

As she slowly clenched her fist.

A red aura rises from her fist.

“I’ll show you how a first-class mercenary opens a door.”

* * *

Lucel thought she could finally take a breather.

She began to personally repel the invading enemies.

And with her power, she barely managed to push the attackers’ forces back to the outer walls of the castle.

But that wasn’t easy.

It wasn’t an exaggeration, she had to run around the Grand Duchy’s castle several times to intercept them.

Honestly, she was so out of it that she didn’t even remember what she had done.

Did she run, cast spirit magic, and then run again?

“Really… I’m going to demand a special allowance from the princess when this is over.”

She doesn’t intend to be picky, but she thinks she has achieved enough labor to complain a word or two.

“It’s all thanks to Lucel.”

The knights of the Duchy also expressed their gratitude for Lucel’s performance.

When you think about it, it’s originally their job.

Even if she’s a helper, she’s an outsider, so they wouldn’t want to lose face.

“From now on, we can handle it well enough on our own, so how about Lucel take a break?”

“……That’s a kind consideration, but.”

She wants to accept it, but Lucel couldn’t.

Again, she’s had a bad feeling since a while ago.

They went to the trouble of establishing an attack using strange means, but the follow-up is lacking.

“……It’s like they’re arrogant that they can break it anytime. I have a bad feeling.”