How To Suck Honey With Extras [EN]: Chapter 143

157. The Archduke’s Assault (10)

“…That human.”

“…What is that mana?”

The sheer amount of power, the Aura emanating from that silver-haired boy, had suddenly exploded, nearly doubling its previous level.

More precisely, it happened the instant an illusion resembling an hourglass appeared around him.

The demons immediately recognized its nature, their eyes widening.

“…An ability!”

“…And a rather bizarre power at that!”

Demons possess a keener understanding of fundamental principles than humans.

They could see it.

Around that human boy, the flow of time… especially the flow governing mana, was distorted to an absurd degree.

That boy was gathering mana from beyond the normal constraints of time.

“He’s manipulating a law beyond his current capacity!”

“You see well enough. Yes, you lot were certainly good at sensing that much, weren’t you?”

Sylvester immediately leaped toward the next demon, unleashing his swordsmanship.

“But it seems you can only see it, not deal with it. Idiots.”

“…A mere human!”

The targeted demon roared, attempting to retaliate.

Even with overflowing mana, he was still just a human. He could be torn apart with these claws, and if demonic energy was forced into his guts, he would die in agony.

However.

“Lady, it’s him. Intercept.”

The moment Sylvester murmured those words.

“…What? What is it?!”

The demon blinked.

Sylvester’s movements vanished as if skipping frames, and before he knew it, Sylvester’s sword was right in front of him, about to split his forehead.

“…Kyak?!”

In an instant, the third demon was sliced apart and disappeared.

“…That moron.”

The demons glared at their vanished comrade and shook their heads.

To them, it looked as if that demon had been standing there blankly before being struck.

However, the result was thanks to Lady Elenia, hidden somewhere, using an artifact according to Sylvester’s signal.

Using the artifact, even if physical interference was impossible, it was possible to interfere with the opponent’s consciousness for a brief moment.

It cut off the thinking time within that demon’s consciousness.

A technique called ‘thought time interception’.

Even if the activities of the physical body could not be stopped, it was possible to interfere with the flow of demonic energy and temporarily disrupt the mind.

“An ability! It’s an ability!”

“It’s not just that human! There’s another human with an ability!”

The demons, realizing the cause, looked around frantically.

“There’s no way I’d let you find her quietly.”

He had no intention of letting them find her. Sylvester deliberately emitted flashy sword energy, moving around flamboyantly.

His sword energy exploded wildly, stunning the demons.

“What are you doing? You idiot bat wings. Looks like you’re just begging to be cut, huh?”

Sylvester taunted, grinning fiercely.

He felt an extraordinary sense of elation, with power surging more than usual.

‘That Lady’s artifact seems to be working properly, as expected.’

Feeling the sensation of mana surging again, he swung his sword.

He relentlessly brushed away the flames that the demons surrounding him spewed out with all his might.

With a single strike, the concentrated fire of multiple mid-level demons was pierced through.

As he exhausted the mana he currently possessed.

Once again, the illusion of the hourglass unfolded behind him.

And mana surged again.

‘I can probably do this several more times.’

What was possible using the artifact ‘Disc of Foresight’ was not just debuffs [a weakening or hindering effect].

If used well, it could draw out even more of an individual’s power.

‘Being able to tamper with the flow of time, even if limited to mana, means many things are possible.’

Sylvester interfered with the flow of time of his unique mana.

Based on that, he gathered mana from the timeline of his future.

In short, he was bringing mana from the future.

That is, from tomorrow, or the day after, or the day after that.

He continued to steal as much mana as he needed.

However, there was a price to pay.

For example, if he stole two days’ worth of mana, no mana would be recovered during those two days.

But as a price for defeating mid-level demons, it wasn’t too bad.

So far, Sylvester had gathered a total of ten days’ worth of mana.

Feeling like he only needed to use about a month’s worth more?

‘That should be enough to wipe out all those bat wings.’

Sylvester poured mana generously into his magic sword, ‘Calliakh Vera’.

As its power soared, the demonic energy that filled the surroundings conversely subsided.

Even the usual Sylvester could somehow fight against one demon.

But even Sylvester couldn’t come up with a solution for the number of ten mid-level demons.

That’s why Sylvester had to go get the artifact that would amplify his power.

But an unexpected situation occurred.

‘When I think about it, it’s really strange.’

A question separate from the current battle began to unfold in Sylvester’s mind.

What surprised him was that the Lady already had the artifact.

She had even made a contract and was using it.

‘How on earth?’

According to the conversation Sylvester had with Archduke Nilpas, they were only storing the artifact and knew almost nothing about its true value.

He didn’t think they were people who would misuse it, so he didn’t mind teaching them, but he thought he would do it later.

‘Is the reason that merchant?’

The boy Ailen, who was with them, confessed himself.

That he had taught them.

Of course, he didn’t believe all of his explanations.

But there was no basis to deny everything either.

And it was also true that his companions were safe thanks to him.

Sylvester decided to put aside the merchant boy, Ailen, for now.

“…Kugh!”

At that moment, a demon’s claws grazed Sylvester’s ear as he fell into a momentary lapse in thought.

Oops. Was I too lost in thought?

Sylvester decided to focus on the demons again.

“I’ll kill you! Human!”

“…How ridiculous.”

Sylvester replied with a sneer, breaking the claws the demon swung with his bare hand, then burrowing into its chest and slamming his elbow into its torso.

The sound of the demon’s hard skin and bones shattering echoed far away.

“Keuhuk!”

“Don’t be arrogant, you trash demon.”

And he finished off the suffering demon by slashing upwards.

That makes four.

“And five!”

Sylvester swung his sword energy powerfully, and the widely spread sword energy dealt with the fifth demon who was about to use its power.

Already five mid-level demons had been annihilated in less than five minutes.

The scattering ashes of five demons were quite a spectacle.

The remaining demons, realizing that things were not going well, cowered as if they were frightened.

But he wouldn’t let them escape.

“Come at me all at once, demons.”

He brought down his silver-shining sword towards the demons who were trembling in humiliation and launching a coordinated attack.

A strike that had gathered all the mana for an additional five days.

That power swept away the demons making their last stand and spread high into the sky.

Surely, it would be a signal to end the war.

* * *

And in the central city of the Falgent Duchy.

There, Ailen held a half-empty low-grade potion in his hand, looking up at the silver spreading sky with satisfaction.

As if he already knew what was happening far away.

“Yeah, that’s what a protagonist should do.”

He simply nodded leisurely, as if it were someone else’s business.

“…Keep up the good work.”

158. My Duty is a Merchant! (1)

The news that followed was all extremely desirable.

The news that Marquis Celond, cornered, had summoned a mid-level demon was a bit late, but it reached here, and for a while, there was a slightly uneasy atmosphere in the city.

“Did you hear? Demons… those horrible things have appeared!”

“Marquis Celond, that scoundrel who deserves to be punished by the heavens!”

“What’s going to happen to us?”

It was natural to be afraid.

The existence of demons was as frightening to ordinary citizens as a natural disaster.

Of course, knowing the outcome, I was spending my time elegantly eating, as if nothing was wrong.

A few days later, news arrived.

The summoned demons were all defeated by Archduke Nilpas and his assisting guests.

With their achievements, the citizens finally cheered.

“The Archduke’s family has defeated the demons!”

“Long live the Falgentania Archduke’s family!”

…Ah, geez, you scared me.

I was having a late lunch when I was startled by the sudden cheers and choked.

Cough! Cough!

Don’t suddenly shout like that, please? It’s annoying! It got stuck in my throat!

Well, I guess that means they were feeling that anxious.

The Archduke’s family’s assault couldn’t be hidden, so it was revealed, and the enemies thought to be the cause summoned demons, so naturally, they would have been quite anxious.

The war will soon be over.

Such public opinion began to rise.

Perhaps because of the hopeful outlook, the cheers that day hardly subsided even at night.

The rumors of their achievements were all about praising the silver-haired boy and his companions, and the members of the Archduke’s family.

And….

“Come to think of it, it seems there was someone else who was active besides them.”

“A friend of mine works at the castle, and he said that there was someone who was active when those thugs attacked the Archduke’s castle, something like that.”

“…Was that so? But that person’s name… uh? Has anyone heard of it? I don’t know it?”

“Well? I haven’t heard the name either.”

There was also someone whose name was unknown.

Um, that’s me.

I asked the Lady and the witnesses to keep my achievements anonymous… no, I persuaded them well.

Of course, my name wouldn’t be known.

Originally, a truly mannered person leaves the scene of their achievements beautifully.

‘I don’t particularly want to make a name for myself.’

It’s still too early.

But it’s okay.

I’ve already received assurances that I’ll be rewarded for my hard work so far.

And at eighteen, it’s still an age where you can fall into secrecy.

No problem.

Nodding, I checked the newly arrived messages.

Your actions are creating influence.

You have partially interfered with the main flow.

You have come into contact with a person who has the power to influence the fate of the world.

The influence of your existence is reflected in some outcomes.

The influence generated is converted into points.

Acquired Influence Points: 1,203pt

Remaining Influence Points: 1,933pt

When I work hard and profit, never let the person next to me know.

I am faithfully practicing those words.

Eh? Who says such things?

It’s me!

“Hmm… who on earth? I’m really curious.”

“I’m telling you.”

Hehe… you never know.

The person leisurely eating next to you at this moment might be the protagonist of the rumors.

Of course, I have no intention of showing it.

‘Is this enough to be relieved?’

However, I couldn’t take my eyes off the messages floating above my head, in front of my eyes.

It was still continuing.

Due to the results of your actions, there is a possibility that some outcomes may indirectly change.

Yes, I certainly knew that.

The flow changes depending on the existence of separate influences other than the planned elements.

Accordingly, the possibility of additional interference increases significantly.

…Something doesn’t feel right.

It felt similar to the messages that occurred during the previous exploration of the black magician’s workshop… when I encountered that monster that should have been the boss of Volume 9.

But what exactly is changing, and how?

I know from experience that this is not a problem to be easily dismissed, even if my worries are excessive.

What I am involved in is only the framework outside the original work.

The area not introduced in the novel.

That’s why I can’t help but be concerned.

Especially this phrase that just popped up was even more unsettling.

This has never happened before.

As a result, the worst variable has been removed.

You are closer to the flow to derive the best results.

We look forward to the best results in the future.

I couldn’t understand the meaning at all.

Does that mean it’s at least not information that I can currently understand?

* * *

Just a few days ago, it was a place where the Duchy’s army and the soldiers of Marquis Celond’s territory of the Empire fought fiercely.

Now, as if declaring the end of all situations, only the corpses that have not yet been cleaned up fill the place, and four ominous shadows appeared.

“…Have they retreated?”

“…They have certainly retreated.”

“…The only humans left are corpses.”

“…If it’s now, there’s no one watching.”

They were not human.

Some had horns, some had hard scales on their skin, and some had wings.

Beings commonly called demons by humans.

Intelligent creatures whose foundation exists in a different world than this one.

“…Are we the only ones left?”

“…That’s right.”

“…It couldn’t be helped.”

“…That was the best way to deceive their eyes.”

The reason they can exist on this land is because there is someone who summoned them.

Demons cannot come here by their own will.

“…Because of the troublesome oath.”

“…It doesn’t matter. That’s what we exist for.”

Originally, there were a total of ten demons summoned to this battlefield, including them.

But only four of them remained here.

“…It’s early, but we’ll execute it.”

“…Understood.”

“…We have already secured the support of our collaborators.”

Of course, even that was according to the demons’ desired plan.