How To Suck Honey With Extras [EN]: Chapter 140

“I feel a bit awkward barging in so late…”

A trustworthy, amiable young man’s voice.

Before I knew it, I was blankly staring at his back.

The protagonist, having burst onto the scene, steps forward to face Ellaut, as if protecting us from behind.

“…I don’t know the situation, but at least you seem like the enemy?”

Sylvester muttered, sounding like he wanted to complain, tightening his grip on his sword.

“Anyway, I don’t know who that woman is, but she seems dangerous.”

“Dangerous? How rude. I’m just a common mercenary.”

“Well, more than just dangerous, I suppose.”

Sylvester slowly took a breath.

He regulated his breathing to enhance his aura circulation, further refining his sharp swordsmanship.

He intends to fight even after assessing the opponent’s level.

Meanwhile, Ellaut looked at Sylvester, her eyes sparkling as if she liked his swordsmanship.

Then, as if telling him to come at her, she stopped and waited.

“If so, I will gladly take the first move.”

“Anytime~.”

He charged at Ellaut.

He must have judged that hesitating would be dangerous, sensing that she was more skilled than him.

The sword he held flashed with the unique brilliance of aura and metal, disappearing from my sight.

Pa-pa-pa-pat!

With the sound of striking the air, the sword strikes he unleashed poured down relentlessly.

Even though countless rapid strikes unfolded too fast for my eyes to follow, Ellaut instead burst into joyous cheers, as if delighted.

“Hahahaha! Yes! That’s it! That boy is quite skilled too?! What is it with today? People keep popping up!”

Her aura was barely enough to block Sylvester’s sword, but somehow, she seemed even more delighted.

“Faster! More! Unleash it stronger! Boy! You can do more, can’t you! Don’t hold back and give it your all!”

Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!

The sound and flashes of metal and aura colliding incessantly echoed.

Everyone watched in silence as Sylvester unleashed a barrage of attacks.

“…I don’t know how Sylvester got here, but… this should work out somehow, right?”

Lucel muttered, her eyes showing trust in the boy.

Indeed, Sylvester was wielding his sword at the monstrous mercenary to such an extent that it could be described as one-sided.

Moreover, his momentum was increasing.

At first, the trajectory of his sword was visible, but even that was only for a moment.

Before long, the flashes were bursting out faster than the sound.

‘…As expected of the protagonist, he’s already half given up on being human.’

He must have honed his skills further by repeatedly engaging in actual combat while participating in this war.

Sylvester must have entered the early stages of aura mastery by now.

No… perhaps he’s already stronger than that?

‘…But that’s not the problem.’

However, I couldn’t shake off my unease.

I knew about those two individuals, even if only from reading the original work.

Their personalities and skills.

That’s why I couldn’t help but be certain about what would happen next.

“This isn’t good at all.”

“What do you mean?”

Lucel looked puzzled.

She must undoubtedly believe in her comrade’s superiority.

But I didn’t need to explain.

The situation would soon change.

“Hmph!”

As Sylvester thrust his sword, Ellaut dodged for the first time.

The narrowly thrust sword grazed Ellaut’s neck.

A faint red line was drawn on her skin.

She was almost cut.

“Oh? Your aim is precise. You swing at people without the slightest hesitation. Fine swordsmanship.”

Ellaut let out an amused chuckle.

On the other hand, those watching the battle suppressed their voices, barely holding back the urge to cheer.

They must be regretting the near miss.

…Except for me.

‘It’s especially bad that he missed just now… Damn it, that was the only chance.’

As I predicted, the flow changed afterward.

Sylvester unleashed even faster and sharper swordsmanship as if chasing fiercely.

He must have sensed that the opponent was no ordinary person, so he was trying to end it quickly.

However.

“I’ve already gotten used to it, boy~.”

From some point on, the number of times Sylvester’s sword missed increased.

At first, she seemed barely able to block.

But Ellaut’s sword began to deflect Sylvester’s sword.

It was clear that Ellaut had deliberately reacted slowly from the beginning.

She had thoroughly enjoyed watching Sylvester’s swordsmanship and was gradually raising the level.

‘The difference in skill is too great….’

I knew it because I had experienced it myself, but it felt even more desperate now that I was seeing it from someone else’s perspective.

‘That’s truly a monster.’

In terms of achievement, Ellaut is a genius who has almost reached the limit of aura mastery [the pinnacle of energy manipulation].

Above all, even when fighting me, she probably didn’t use more than 30% of her abilities.

Sylvester may have more potential than her, but the problem is that’s a story for later.

Potential doesn’t feed you now.

No matter how talented you are, it’s meaningless if you’re not strong now.

Originally, even crossing swords shouldn’t be possible right now.

That’s the extent of the difference.

Still, I wondered if the protagonist could do it?

I had some expectations, but.

As expected, the difference in skill was something even he couldn’t easily overcome.

And finally, the moment when the depth of that difference was revealed had come.

Clang!

As the metallic sound rang sharply, one of the two was pushed back greatly.

Unfortunately, it was Sylvester who was pushed back.

“Kuh….”

He gritted his teeth, using his sword to block Ellaut’s descending blade.

He probably tried to deflect it, but it was impossible, so he had no choice but to block it.

Pa-ji-jit!

Each time the aura collided and sparks flew, Sylvester was pushed back further and further.

At this rate, he would be cut down as soon as he lost his balance.

“Not yet! Silver-haired boy! Is that all you can do! Huh?!”

Ellaut, who was greatly excited, seemed to be trying to increase her power, as her sword glowed increasingly red.

Even though half of the debuff’s effect should still be in place, it’s already this much.

“Impressive… It feels like I’m fighting my master.”

Sylvester forced a smile at the corner of his mouth, trying not to show his limits easily, but it seemed to show that he was even more cornered.

At this rate, the boy has no way to hold on.

‘…I have no choice.’

I took out another potion bottle and drank it in one gulp.

I threw it into my throat without even tasting it.

Time for additional work.

Lucel noticed my strange behavior and asked.

“…What are you planning to do?”

“What else? I have to save your friend, right?”

Above all, if the protagonist dies here, I’ll be the most troubled.

I need him to do great things in the future, so if he dies here, I’ll be in real trouble.

“…Are you crazy? You’re going to jump in there?”

“Yeah. I’m sane.”

And is there anything new about that?

“Salamander!”

I summoned Salamander [a fire spirit] and poured as much power as I could into it.

The flames of the fire lizard blazed fiercely and emitted flames with all its might.

Right behind Sylvester, who was facing her.

“What are you doing?!”

Lucel screamed, half in a shriek.

After saying I would help, I suddenly unleashed it at an ally.

I ignored the reaction of a mere supporting character and shouted instead.

“Just ignore it!”

It’s not clear who I’m talking to.

I wonder if he will understand my intention, but Sylvester is the one who guided Lucel’s spirit magic.

And the foundation of my spirit magic is also based on his theory.

Then he will notice my method.

Sylvester seemed startled for a moment, but he didn’t move.

He couldn’t move because he was blocking Ellaut’s sword.

At that moment, my spirit’s flames seemed to engulf his back.

Hwa-reuk!

The flames spread out like a blooming flower, narrowly avoiding Sylvester.

‘I don’t usually do precise flame manipulation, but I can do it if I have to!’

The flames that narrowly avoided him engulfed Ellaut, who was facing him.

“What?!”

Ellaut shouted in surprise, probably not expecting me to control the flames like this.

Even in the midst of that, not a single spark flew toward Sylvester.

Only then did Sylvester’s shoulders naturally relax, as if he had escaped the pressure of Ellaut’s sword.

Ellaut, engulfed in flames, quickly retreated.

She shook off the clinging flames and shouted as if she was dumbfounded.

“Wait?! Kid, aren’t you going too far? Are you planning to burn that boy too?! If you make even a slight mistake, he’ll be swallowed up together?”

“Hmph! That won’t happen! Who do you think you’re talking to, calling me a novice in spirit magic!”

How much have I trained in spirit magic manipulation all this time?

“I’ll cover you, so don’t worry and push forward! Sel, no! Lucel’s comrade!”

“……”

From Sylvester’s point of view, it’s like someone he’s never met before suddenly offering to cover him.

He probably doesn’t feel like entrusting his back to me.

But he must understand the situation.

He didn’t answer, but he rushed towards Ellaut and extended his sword as if understanding my instructions.

Ellaut blocked Sylvester’s thrust with the tip of her sword and tried to lift it up.

However,

The moment she lifted her sword, a stream of lightning that stretched exquisitely below his elbow struck her chest.

She wouldn’t be shocked because she guarded it with aura, but it would be enough to surprise her.

“Oops….”

In the meantime, Sylvester’s sword bounced off the entangled swords and tried to cut Ellaut.

“Oh dear….”

Ellaut clicked her tongue and blocked it with the vambrace [armor for the forearm] on her arm.

Clang!

The sound of metal scraping rang out, and a large wound was carved into her vambrace.

Sylvester’s magic sword is quite powerful.

No matter how different their abilities are, she wouldn’t be able to block it with only half of her aura left.

“Tch… Then.”

As Ellaut tried to increase her power, Sylvester flew to the side without hesitation.

And almost at the same time as he moved aside, a shadow whip containing lightning lashed at her wildly from the front.

“Ah… this is a bit of a troublesome taste….”

Ellaut’s words trembled faintly.

She’s annoyed.

If she chases only Sylvester, the support that maximizes the operability of my spirit magic will unfold, aiming for the gap in between.

However, if she pays even a little attention to a sidekick like me, Sylvester will persistently stick to her and try to cut her down.

In fact, if I make even a slight mistake, I might hit Sylvester instead of her.

But I don’t hesitate.

It’s okay, it’ll work out somehow.

“…How is that possible?”

Lucel muttered blankly, looking back and forth between her palm and my palm.

As a fellow spirit mage, is she feeling something rather complicated?

“Don’t get me wrong. It’s not me who’s amazing, it’s your friend….”

Even if the operability of my spirit magic is amazing, there’s no guarantee that I’ll hit all 100 shots if I shoot 100 times.

It’s a secret, but I’ve already made several mistakes.

Even so, the reason why it hits persistently is because Sylvester’s movements are now moving on the premise that I’m providing support.

It strangely fits when I think it’s a miss.

He’s guiding the enemy’s movements.

Indeed, it’s not just me who’s supporting him.

‘As expected of the protagonist.’

I feel resentful at the difference in talent, but on the other hand, I feel relieved.

That’s why Ellaut, who is facing us, must feel deeply annoyed.

“Ah… this is a bit… not good. Keuk!”

As she tried to chase Sylvester, a shadow blade that was raised from the floor tried to graze her neck narrowly.

She avoids and cuts down the shadow, but Sylvester aims for her abdomen, aiming for that movement.

“Where do you think you’re going!”

Ellaut immediately kicked him away.

The feeling of enjoying the fight leisurely has gradually disappeared from her.

She’s definitely being pushed.