How To Suck Honey With Extras [EN]: Chapter 149

164. An Unexpected Omen (1)

What’s the most uncomfortable meal in the world?

Is it when you’re dragged by your team leader to eat a stew you don’t even like?

Or when the lunch menu includes braised pollack and dried pollack soup?

‘Just imagining it makes me feel sick.’

Today, I added a new entry to my collection of uncomfortable meal experiences.

Waking up around midday, as usual, I went down to the inn’s first floor with my eyes half-closed, as was my habit.

Ah, sleeping in is the best. This drowsy feeling is amazing.

“I wonder what’s for lunch today~.”

Basically, meals at the inn are either eaten on the first floor or taken up to your room, but I usually eat on the first floor.

Why? Because I’m too lazy to carry it up!

But today, I inadvertently wished I had just taken it upstairs or asked someone to bring it to me.

“……Hmm, you’ve arrived? You wake up quite late. I don’t think that’s a very good habit. When you’re young, every day is precious.”

Usually, the inn’s dining area is crowded at this time.

It’s a popular place for guests to stay, and it seems some people come from outside just to eat here.

But for some reason, there are no customers today.

No, to be precise, there’s only one person.

‘……I don’t know if I should call that old geezer a customer.’

A sturdy old man occupying a table is silently eating lunch.

‘Ugh, this is awkward…….’

Just looking at him is intimidating.

What is?

That old man’s massive muscles.

I never thought the day would come when I’d feel intimidated by someone’s muscles.

The chair looks like it’s about to break under the old man’s sturdy frame, and the table seems strangely small.

He has a truly overwhelming presence.

‘Yeah, this is awkward…….’

I had to stop myself from sighing as I looked from the old man’s biceps to the top of his head.

‘Should I just skip lunch?’

Come to think of it, I might be able to skip lunch.

Thinking that, I tried to hurry back upstairs.

“Skipping meals isn’t a good habit either. Innkeeper, prepare something for that boy as well.”

I frantically shook my head, but the innkeeper pretended not to see and went to get the meal.

Hey, mister! You definitely made eye contact with me!

I eventually gave up on running away and obediently sat across from the old man.

Then, I immediately brought up his identity and started talking.

“……Why is the master of the Falzenta Duchy staying in a place like this?”

“Oh? You recognize me? I haven’t even said my name yet.”

“……Your Excellency’s appearance is quite famous. It would be stranger if I didn’t recognize you.”

Well, the reason I recognized him is thanks to the illustrations etched in my mind and the name floating above the old man’s head.

Yep, no doubt about it. It’s definitely Duke Nilpas.

Looks like I won’t be able to take a leisurely nap today.

165. An Unexpected Omen (2)

The master of the Falzenta Duchy, Duke Nilpas himself, has appeared.

And it’s obvious that he’s here for me.

Seriously…… like grandfather, like granddaughter.

Did they put a curse on you that makes your butt grow thorns if you don’t come to pick me up yourself?

Like the high-ranking people they are, they should have sent a butler or vassal to deliver the message!

Well, since I’ve already run into him, there’s no helping it.

And it might be better to meet him once.

In the meantime, my meal came out, and I quickly devoured it before speaking again.

“Rumor has it that Your Excellency is still at the front-line fortress…….”

“I just slipped back for a bit, so don’t worry about it. Anyway, no one notices even when I come back like this. By the way, this inn…… seems to have few customers. It must be difficult to manage.”

He seems deeply concerned as a lord.

What a wonderful heart he has.

“……I don’t know.”

From my perspective, it looks like customers who were coming in are just leaving because of your intimidating presence.

Look at that. As soon as they came in, they went “Eek!” and backed away.

If I came in to eat and saw an old man who looked like he could crush rocks with his bare hands, I’d naturally turn tail and run. Yikes!

Isn’t it said that the most dangerous people in this world are the elderly, children, and women?

Well, even the innkeeper looks like he’s about to cry.

He has a “Today’s business is ruined!” kind of face.

It seems like it would be a huge nuisance to keep sitting here, so it’s best to move to another place.

“……How about we continue this conversation somewhere else?”

The Duke nodded silently.

After that, we moved to the guest reception room of the commercial building used by the Pileros Merchant Guild and continued our conversation.

It’s truly amazing how the chair sagged as soon as the Duke sat on the guest sofa. Is that really the body of an old man? Impressive.

“Let me introduce myself again. I am Nilpas Mel Falzentania, the master of this place.”

“I’m Aileen. Just a passing spiritist and merchant.”

This time, unlike before, I properly lowered my body and paid my respects.

He seemed to want me to avoid being too obvious earlier.

“I’ve already received reports about you. Please, sit down. I have quite a bit to say.”

I sat on the sofa across from him as he suggested.

“Aileen, let me start with this.”

The Duke called me solemnly.

I reflexively straightened my back and waited.

“Thank you.”

He actually bowed his head and expressed his gratitude to me.

“I never imagined they would be so reckless…… The moment I received the report, I’ve never been so shocked.”

He’s probably talking about the attack on the Duke’s family last time.

“I really can’t help but express my gratitude.”

“I fully understand.”

Even if he was a famous warrior in the past, he’s still just a person in the end.

I understand his feelings to some extent.

“I promise to repay this favor.”

“……For me, it would be enough if you just occasionally listened to our voices.”

“Don’t worry about that. However, that and the repayment are separate matters. Don’t misunderstand.”

Yes. I won’t worry about it.

I’m not particularly worried about being cheated out of it.

“Then I’ll look forward to it.”

“……However, that’s not the only reason I called you here.”

Duke Nilpas changed the subject as if to postpone the story about compensation.

It’s not that he doesn’t want to, but he probably doesn’t have the time right now.

I understand. He must have a lot of cleanup to do.

“The reason I called you here is different.”

“……Is it as a merchant? Or in some other capacity?”

“I’ve heard quite a bit about you. As a merchant, hmm…… you’re quite good. It seems you’re quite talented as a spiritist as well.”

“I’m not that good.”

But once I’ve been marked, no matter what I say, I won’t be able to deceive them.

Besides, there’s more than one or two witnesses.

At this point, even if I appeal, saying, ‘Aileen is weak!’ would anyone actually nod in agreement?

In fact.

“I’m just a weak, ordinary spiritist.”

“…….”

See? They don’t believe me?

‘Anyway, are they interested in my skills?’

If so, what will he ask me to do? If he’s focusing on my spiritist side?

‘Is there something he wants to entrust to me?’

But what could he be asking me to do?

First, it’s best to listen to the story calmly.

“……What I want to ask you is to help investigate a certain place for a while.”

“Yes? What place are you talking about?”

“The place where the demons appeared.”

That was the area near the border where the armies of the Falzenta Duchy and the Celrond Marquisate fought the most battles.

“Yes? Wait a minute?”

I reflexively tilted my head.

Why there now?

I can’t even guess what this is about.

In the original story, in Volume 4, after the battle, the protagonist Sylvester only heard a brief account of the negotiations and immediately returned to the Selvas Kingdom after achieving his original purpose.

There were no other afterstories either.

After that, the Falzenta Duchy would have remained peaceful for the most part.

“Actually, there was a report that bothered me a bit.”

With a serious face, he began to tell me about the request he wanted to make.

It seems that an excessive number of undead have appeared at the battle site, and various strange phenomena have been observed.

“Aside from the undead, what kind of strange phenomena are you talking about?”

“A purple aurora has lingered in the sky. Or sometimes suspicious noises are heard. In addition, multiple objects moving in the darkness have been sighted. Hmm, everything is suspicious and nothing has been confirmed.”

“Purple aurora…… and noises?”

“It’s said to be a giggling, mocking sound. And it’s not just one or two people who have heard it.”

Wait? That…… could it be?

“Aileen? What’s wrong?”

“Ah, it’s nothing. I think that’s suspicious too. It doesn’t seem like just a ghost story.”

“At first, I thought they were just seeing things. But if it continues for several people…….”

“It’s not something to just dismiss, is it?”

“That’s right.”

“……Well, it might be good to take a look.”

“Well, that brat Sylvester had the same opinion.”

“Hmm? Sylvester? Does he know about this too?”

I wondered what he was doing, but it seems he was asked to investigate separately.

As expected of the protagonist! He always brings trouble!

No, more than that, why isn’t he going back to the Selvas Kingdom? I was wondering about that too.

“So, I wanted to ask you as well. According to the reports, your insight is considerable. Perhaps you might come to a different conclusion than Sylvester?”

That’s too much to expect. I don’t know what he doesn’t know.

But even if I said that, he wouldn’t listen.

“It’s only unsettling to entrust it to those who lack the knowledge. Moreover, if there really is something, it would be a dog’s death [a pointless or ignoble death].”

“……Is it okay to ask me to do something that might lead to a dog’s death?”

“What, you’ll be fine. Didn’t you fight well against that Elraut too?”

I’m glad you think highly of me, but I’m a little annoyed that the work is increasing.

“Above all, it’s true that there’s no one else but you right now. It’s a bit awkward to ask someone from outside.”

“Could it be…… that negotiations with the Empire are scheduled?”

“Exactly.”

As expected. It’s time to start the process.

But Marquis Celrond lost his life as a price for summoning demons.

There’s no way the Third Prince, who was hiding behind him, would come out.

It seems that the previous attack was glossed over as being led by Marquis Celrond.

In that case, it was obvious that the Empire would send a separate representative to conduct the negotiations.

“At least, I’d like to hear some results before the agreement is finalized, just in case.”

“I see…….”

It seems that the Duke has some suspicions.

Of course, pretending to negotiate on the surface while doing something behind the scenes is basic.

The problem is that it will only be effective to intervene before the seal is officially stamped.

The question is whether I should accept the request or not.

‘Actually, it’s not that I don’t have any concerns.’

I had a suspicion that I might need to look into that place.

It has nothing to do with what Duke Nilpas is worried about. It’s a completely separate reason.

Sadly, something comes to mind.

In that case, would it be more beneficial to accept the request?

‘Still, I have to negotiate, right?’

In order to act expensive, I have to pretend to hesitate.

“I understand, but what should I do…….”

I deliberately pretended to be troubled.

Of course, that veteran will see through my intentions.

But instead of scolding me, he chuckled.

Yeah, he probably thinks it’s cute that a kid is trying to scheme.

“Of course, I wouldn’t just ask you for a favor without offering anything in return.”

“I didn’t mean to imply that…….”

“Take a look at this first.”

At that moment, the Duke took something out of his pocket and held it out to me.

As soon as I saw it, I bit my tongue slightly to avoid showing a hasty reaction.

Don’t be cheap, Aileen. You’re not a cheap guy.

What the Duke held out was just a single document.

The problem was that the document was worth more than a considerable amount of gold coins.

“I’ll give this to you.”

“……Is it a privilege pass?”

“It’s not that great.”

Not that great, my foot!

Of course, it may just be a piece of paper, but it’s probably something that those interested in business would drool over.

Even a quick glance at the privileges written on the pass revealed that they were substantial.

It included a special reduction in tariffs in the Falzenta Duchy for the next five years.

In addition, it also provided special treatment for tariffs in other countries that had some influence with the Falzenta Duchy.

It also included the ability to arrange a top-priority audience with a member of the Duke’s family in case of any issues.

It’s probably something that an ordinary merchant would faint at.

“It wouldn’t be interesting to give you some small gold coins. Wouldn’t this piece of paper be better?”

The Duke asks, deliberately teasing me.

What a mischievous old man.

Of course, I want it!

Just having that would guarantee some additional profit when doing business not only in the Duchy but also in other countries.

My hands were trembling involuntarily.

My mind is dizzy with the desire for the thing in front of me.

“If I accept the request…… are you really going to give that to me?”

“What are you talking about? Didn’t I say I’d give it to you?”

Hmm? Come to think of it, didn’t he say he’d give it to me if I fulfilled the request?

“Let me tell you in advance. I’m going to give you this as a reward.”

It’s already confirmed that I’m getting it.

From that point, I felt like I knew what this old man wanted to say.

That I couldn’t ignore his request at this point, since he was giving me so much.

‘Well, if something happens and they get into trouble, it’ll be a hassle.’

The value of this reward only shines when their authority exists.

In other words, I benefit when they are at peace.

In that case, it would be much more constructive to help them.

“Of course. If you fulfill the request, I promise to give you some small rewards in addition to that. How about it?”

“Alright, I’ll do it!”

Having received this much, what can’t I do!

“Please leave it to me!”

Thus, I completely accepted the Duke’s request with my eyes clouded by greed.

I’m such a proper materialist.

* * *

Now that it’s come to this, shall we prepare to depart!

However, I’m not the only one who received the request.

There was one other person besides me.

‘This time, Sylvester said he’d be going with me. No, am I the one joining in?’

The protagonist, Sylvester.

In fact, it seems he had investigated the place several times before me.

But it seems that he didn’t have any particular results, so he ended up asking me to accompany him.

‘Anyway, I felt the need to contact him separately at least once, so should I consider this a good excuse?’

There was also something I needed.

Thinking that it was a good opportunity, I went to find him to at least say hello.

He said he had returned to prepare.

He’s currently borrowing the Duke’s family training grounds, so I should go there.

He doesn’t neglect his training for a single day. What a diligent protagonist.

‘First, it would be good to get a little closer, right?’

Should I say hello?

Thinking it was a good opportunity, I headed straight there.