How To Suck Honey With Extras [EN]: Chapter 136

150. Assault on the Duke’s Estate (3)

Let’s rewind about five minutes.

After completing the mission and safely returning to the surface, Elenia and I barely had time to feel proud before we sensed something was off.

Something was wrong.

“Something’s not right.”

“Indeed. I was just thinking the same thing.”

Both Elenia and I couldn’t help but agree.

First, the sounds.

Shouts, screams, the clashing of weapons.

Clearly, a battle was raging above.

And there was a strange mana in the air.

‘Did someone use large-scale magic?’

It seemed like it had been used several hours ago, making it difficult to pinpoint.

My aptitude as a mage is worse than a chick that has just sprouted wings.

There’s little I can discern.

‘……Damn it.’

But I was certain of one thing.

We were under attack.

‘Well, considering the original story’s episodes are already deviating, I should have considered this possibility.’

But what exactly is happening?

I couldn’t even begin to guess.

“Airlan! Something feels off!”

“……Yes. We should go up and see what’s happening.”

At least seeing it with my own eyes would give me some idea.

Taking Elenia, who seemed a bit nervous as she clutched the artifact, I hurried up to the upper floors of the castle.

It’s still strange.

Not a single maid in sight, and the noise from outside grows even more intense.

“It seems we are indeed under attack.”

There’s no doubt about it.

“I don’t understand it, but it seems that way.”

Elenia bit her lip in agreement.

She must feel even more complicated, as this happened while she was away.

“Perhaps I was hasty. Maybe I should have waited longer.”

“No. It’s a good thing we retrieved it now.”

Our choice was right.

With the attack happening now, it was better to secure it as soon as possible.

If we had been any later, it would have been even more troublesome.

“Yes… you’re right, Airlan. But regardless, I don’t understand. How could this happen?”

“I have no idea either.”

There wasn’t a development in the original story where the castle was directly attacked, was there?

More than that, it’s not even easy to do.

I know that better than anyone.

‘The story has definitely changed slightly for reasons I don’t know.’

If the conditions change, the results change.

It’s a natural principle.

The people here have their own ways of thinking.

If the situation changes even slightly, the conclusions they reach will also change.

Some factor must have altered the thinking of the culprit.

‘The question is, who attacked us…….’

Honestly, none of the candidates that come to mind are easy to deal with.

We might have to prepare for a tough fight no matter who the enemy is.

‘I hope it’s not the worst-case scenario…….’

Among the worst-case scenarios that the Third Prince, the cause of this war, could employ is Master Clopford, the head of the Imperial Magic Corps and master of the enemy magic tower.

‘But even the Third Prince can’t completely control Clopford, can he? It would cost him a lot to even get him to move once.’

That’s why he didn’t use the old man in the original fourth volume, but what if the story has changed and he’s using that trump card here?

If that’s the case, there’s no way we can win.

As we reached the surface, we saw soldiers running around busily.

“Lady Elenia?!”

“Where have you been!”

The soldiers recognized Elenia first and rushed over.

Just looking at their faces, I could tell how urgent the situation was.

“I’m sorry. Something came up. …What’s the situation? I gave orders to handle most things.”

Elenia quickly pressed the soldier for a report.

The soldiers first reported what they had experienced.

“…Attacked by magic? I don’t understand. We should have been well-prepared for magical attacks.”

Elenia seemed puzzled, but I felt the blood drain from my face as I listened.

A wide-area freezing spell with no real power, followed by a secondary attack.

And the magic defenses didn’t work properly.

‘Did Clopford really come?’

He’s the only one capable of that method.

More than anything, it’s a method he used in the original story.

The location is different, but the method was the same.

‘……But I don’t sense any magic being used other than the remnants of the initial attack.’

According to the soldiers’ report, there was no mention of fighting a mage.

It’s despairing, but it’s not certain yet.

Maybe Clopford has retreated.

If the old man shows his face more than necessary, his identity as the culprit will be deduced.

Also, it seems that the one who somehow prevented the castle from falling was the main character, the elven spiritist, Rucel.

As expected of the main character! She’s earning her keep.

From the start, Sylvester left Rucel here to prepare for situations like this.

That never happened in the original story, but here, his foresight is shining.

Rucel’s activity means that she can handle it well enough.

There’s hope.

“Where is Rucel? I’ll go support her right away.”

I was about to step in and help, but the next words from the soldier, who had turned pale, were the problem.

“Lady Rucel is in danger too! A monstrous woman is attacking…….”

“……A monstrous woman?”

Who could it be?

“A mercenary with red hair and a strange sword wrapped around her arm.”

“Merc……enary?”

Hearing the soldier’s description, my expression hardened.

“Airlan? What’s wrong?”

My reaction must have seemed unusual, even to Elenia.

Red hair. Combat power that can tear steel with bare hands. A strangely shaped sword.

……And the pressure of aura I’ve been feeling for a while.

The only person who fits that description is probably her.

Mercenary, Elraut.

Estimated role is probably supporting character.

And one of the top experts in the original story.

‘……Damn it! Of all people, that monster had to come?!’

Then we need to hurry.

Rucel may be fighting, but she has no chance against that one.

‘But I don’t have anything to offer either.’

The problem is that if I jump in like this, I’ll be defeated in just a few moves, just like Rucel.

I’ll just end up proving how strong the opponent is and then get knocked down, becoming a so-called measuring device [a character used to show how powerful another character is by being easily defeated].

‘……I should prepare as much as possible.’

Fortunately, I hadn’t spent all my points, which was lucky.

If I had wasted them for the convenience of conquering the underground facility, I would be crying right now.

‘First, what I need is…….’

The opponent is a master who has reached a considerable level.

Among them, she’s in the top tier.

Naturally, it’s best to focus on abilities that can resist her.

The most important thing is durability.

‘……I want to cry about my situation, preparing for getting beaten up from the start.’

Judging from my past experiences, I can’t avoid being unilaterally beaten up in the upcoming battle.

If that’s the case, it’s not about ‘enjoying it!’ but about preparing.

The characteristic of ‘Mountainous Body’ is a defensive trait with an even higher effect.

It’s something that only a very few monsters with excellent defense are born with.

After acquiring the ability, there was no visible change, but I felt a heavy sensation on the surface of my body.

My defense power has increased dramatically.

‘Well, I’d still get cut if she hits me properly. But at least I won’t be cut in half with one strike, right?’

And then…….

‘I need everything.’

I need to gather as much as the points allow.

I succeeded in further upgrading the ability to increase the overall basic physical abilities of my body.

And finally.

‘For now, if I get this much, I can manage somehow, right?’

Even if I enhance myself in large quantities at once, my body won’t adapt and I won’t be able to fight properly.

This level of enhancement is the best I can do right now.

The ‘Tenacious Body’ trait allows me to endure to the very limit even when I reach the limit of my stamina.

And even a recovery ability that recovers a small amount of consumed mana.

I also gain a trait that amplifies the power of spiritism.

‘Abilities that are based on enduring, to the very end.’

After acquiring these, I checked my current stats to see what level I had reached.

‘……For now, this is the limit of what I can prepare at this point.’

Of course, I won’t rely purely on luck.

It’s just a foundation for realizing the ideas I have in my head.

It’s a work to create a body to endure somehow.

‘And with just this, there’s no chance of winning anyway.’

The key to the additional strategy is.

“…….”

“Hmm? Airlan? What’s wrong? You’re suddenly staring at me. Well, I’m a little embarrassed.”

Elenia and the artifact I handed her, .

“Never mind that, Lady Elenia. More importantly, I have something to tell you.”

“……You’ve become strangely unreserved in your remarks since you went underground.”

Let’s just say camaraderie has blossomed.

Also, I’m quite anxious right now, so I don’t have time to be polite.

“Lady Elenia, I have a request that may be a little dangerous.”

“Hmph… All right, tell me.”

“……No, shouldn’t you listen to what I have to say first?”

Does she even know what I’m going to ask before agreeing?

“Just tell me. Looking at your face, I can already tell it’s a serious matter.”

“It might be dangerous?”

“It doesn’t matter. Isn’t it already dangerous?”

Even though I said it might be dangerous, she agreed right away.

“The castle is under attack. And Rucel seems to be in danger. I don’t see any reason to hesitate.”

“Haha…….”

I smiled involuntarily and explained the plan I was asking for.

If she can carry this out properly, we might survive.

More than anything.

If it goes well, we might even win.

‘Originally, this is a method the main character would use at the end of the fourth volume. Well, let’s use it here.’

For me, this is a watershed moment to escape the crisis.

“Then, from now on, I will teach you something good, Lady Elenia.”

* * *

And then I immediately found Rucel and jumped into the fight.

It was close.

If I had been any later, Rucel would have been killed.

As I roughly threw Rucel the potions she needed and had her retreat.

Finally, the flames I poured out subsided, and the red-haired female mercenary, unharmed by the fire, walked out.

That red hair must be the person I’m thinking of.

“Oh? This isn’t bad either! The real one wasn’t that elf, but that kid over there!”

Not knowing what was so enjoyable, she couldn’t contain her joy and focused on me instead of Rucel.

Wait? Before that, a kid? Is that me?

“Before that, that face, somehow the kid seems to recognize me? Have we met somewhere?”

If I can buy time with conversation, there’s no reason not to.

I slowly chose my words.

“……I heard a rumor that a rather famous mercenary had set up a base in the Empire’s mercenary guild.”

“Oh? Really? Then it’s only proper to introduce myself properly. It’s not cool to keep my mouth shut when you recognize me.”

She didn’t seem too displeased that I recognized her, and lightly flicked her right hand, which wasn’t wrapped in the magic sword, and said her name.

“Elraut Eselneus. Whether you know it or not, I want you to remember it for sure, kid.”

“……Elraut.”

Yes, I know.

“I heard the rumor that you’re an S-rank mercenary affiliated with the Empire’s mercenary guild…….”

“That’s an honor.”

Of course, the reason I know is not because of rumors, but because of my knowledge of the original story.

Elraut Eselneus.

A mercenary currently based in the Empire.

And one of the strongest mercenaries in the original story, with a ferocious combat power that is always mentioned.

Who is the strongest mercenary?

When discussing that childish but indispensable topic, there are three skilled individuals who are always mentioned.

Palten, the S-rank mercenary and guild master of the Selbas Kingdom’s guild.

Rumals, the lazy E-rank mercenary based in a small kingdom at the southern end of the continent.

And Elraut, the combat maniac, an S-rank mercenary affiliated with the Empire’s guild.

Among them, Elraut’s position is somewhat troublesome.

“Neither friend nor foe, a troublemaker who fights according to her mood.”