How To Suck Honey With Extras [EN]: Chapter 153

169. An Unexpected Sign (6)

While I was lost in useless thoughts, enough mana had recovered that I could move my body without feeling strained.

I stood up and looked around.

“First, I made it to the right place, right?”

I was worried I might have ended up somewhere completely different, but thankfully, I arrived at the correct destination.

A test of my abilities and a place I had business.

It was the city where Lox’s workshop was located.

‘I have something I want to commission and something I need to pick up.’

Originally, I was going to have someone send it to me, but since the schedule changed a bit, I had no choice.

I had to go get it myself.

Therefore…….

“Give me the item I ordered last time!”

I shouted as I suddenly entered.

“Pfft! Cough! Ack!”

Workshop Master Lox, who was taking a drink, widened his eyes and spat it out.

It seemed he was taking a break.

Ugh…… Disgusting…….

Unfortunately, I couldn’t avoid it because I was recovering mana from the long-distance teleportation.

So wet.

“E, Aileen…… Cough…… What?! I didn’t hear you were coming?”

“Well, that’s because I didn’t tell you. I just stopped by on a whim.”

And we’re not that formal, are we? I can see you if I want to.

“I heard you went to the Falzente Duchy?”

“I had some business to take care of. But I have to go back soon, so I’d prefer if you didn’t tell anyone I was here.”

“Hmm…… Well, fine. I was wondering if I should send someone to deliver it anyway.”

He tilted his head, looking suspicious and uneasy, but he didn’t pry too much, perhaps because he secretly thought I wasn’t an ordinary human.

Not digging into the client’s secrets must be a virtue of a top-notch artisan.

“It seems the work was finished a few days ago. I’ll call him since he should be resting.”

Lox had his apprentice call the artisan who had been commissioned to process the item.

After a while, Meon returned with a leisurely gait.

“…The commission is finished.”

“I already heard. I’d like to receive the actual item right away, is that okay?”

“…Okay.”

He nodded slowly in his usual quiet manner and led me to the workshop.

The finished equipment was apparently packaged and stored separately, as he pulled out one of the stacked storage boxes and placed it down with a thud.

“…Spirit stones. Processing is partially complete. …Only partially.”

It seemed that the artisans had been working on the items in order of priority, as I had commissioned quite a large quantity.

The priority was auxiliary equipment or weapons that I could use immediately.

‘Well, I wouldn’t mind if he just made bracelets like before…….’

I needed to increase my firepower even a little, so if I could draw that out, even simple equipment would be fine.

When Meon opened the storage box, what was inside was a truly unexpected item.

“…A staff?”

I thought it would be jewelry, but a completely unexpected item came out.

“…A staff… processed from spirit stones.”

He slowly explained, loosening some of the joints of the staff to show the inside.

Inside the core, a rainbow-colored ore was shining brilliantly.

“Ah, I see… You filled the entire inside of the staff with spirit stones.”

This might be better.

If I were to make this much spirit stone into jewelry, my arms, neck, and fingers wouldn’t be able to handle it.

Plus, a sturdy staff could also be used as a weapon.

After all, for me, a melee weapon only needs to be enough to escape an urgent crisis.

“How is the performance?”

“You’ll know if you inject mana….”

As I injected mana according to his instructions, I could faintly feel the spirit energy amplifying inside the staff.

When I put in a little more power, the spirit energy at the tip of the staff amplified and burst out in a small explosion.

“Oh!”

The output was considerable.

Moreover, it was sturdier than most metal products, so there was no need to worry about it breaking.

Excellent! Excellent!

“Oh ho… I can use it like this.”

When swinging it, I could purely amplify the spirit energy and use it to strike.

Furthermore, if I injected spirit energy through this staff, its power could be increased up to twice as much.

It was a sufficiently good piece of equipment.

Admiring it, I stroked the staff with satisfaction.

“What’s the name of this staff?”

“Fairy Staff.”

“Not a bad name. …Well, for now.”

Somehow, it’s a name that seems to overflow with dreams and hope for a guy to wield. Are you telling me to transform with this?!

Well, I actually have plenty of hope for material wealth and money inside me, so I guess it suits me.

Perhaps because I had obtained a new piece of equipment, I was quite excited and pretended to swing the staff around.

“Hyop! Hyop! Oh! It’s perfect for swinging! The center of gravity is exquisite!”

“There’s no need to swing it… but… it is sturdy.”

“I need to get used to it~ It needs to be familiar first.”

He seemed to want to stop me, thinking there was no need to swing it around.

Well, I know that.

“It’s just a feeling. For some reason, when I grab a staff or a rod, I feel like I have to swing it around. Like this! Like this! You know?”

“…Incomprehensible.”

It seems that this is an emotion that people here can’t relate to.

……Staff and rod techniques are cool, though.

However, perhaps because swinging it around 멋들어지게 [with flair] like in the movies doesn’t suit my personality.

In a moment of carelessness, the staff slipped from my hand and struck the back of my head.

Thwack!

“Kkeuk?!”

I grabbed the back of my head, crouched down, and trembled.

I personally confirmed the durability of this staff with my body and pretended to admire it for now.

“Ugh… I, it’s definitely sturdy… Yes. It won’t break even if I fight with this… Ouch….”

I got up as if nothing had happened and put the staff into my subspace.

It’s not that I’m pretending to be nonchalant and pretending the previous spectacle didn’t happen.

Besides, I don’t have time to play around.

I immediately took out the materials I wanted to commission next.

The materials I had secretly taken as compensation from the underground labyrinth of the former Falzenta Duchy.

“……”

He didn’t say anything, but his eyes changed when he saw them.

Feeling the unusual light they held, I smiled with a good feeling.

“…An invisible metal. And this is a rare… but… where did you get it?”

“It’s a trade secret.”

Bragging is for kids.

I just smiled quietly and commissioned him.

“Can you use these?”

“…It’s possible. It will take time, though.”

“I don’t mean for you to do it in a day or two.”

After all, equipment is a consumable in the long run, and what I have now will eventually become unusable.

It’s necessary to keep commissioning new materials and asking him to make something.

Once the work is done, give him another job right away.

I know that well because I’ve experienced it.

It’s okay. Unlike the president, I pay properly.

So it’s okay to give me work.

It’s just that he gets cursed at because he doesn’t pay.

“Then I’ll leave these with you.”

After asking for the next job, I immediately teleported back to the Falzente Duchy.

“……Ugh…….”

And I struggled again with the sudden feeling of mana depletion, and I vowed in a daze.

I should only use long-distance teleportation when it’s really necessary.

170. Towards a Suspicious Place (1)

On the day of departure.

After thoroughly checking one more time to make sure nothing was missing, I headed straight for the gate of the central city.

I had promised to meet Sylvester here first.

‘Come to think of it, another person was supposed to join us, is it him……’

Lucel Elbeid will probably be absent.

It can’t be helped because his injuries probably haven’t completely healed yet.

Sylvester wouldn’t force an injured comrade to work.

Then the only one left is him.

As I sorted out my thoughts, I arrived at the meeting place and saw a silver-haired boy and a young man in his early 20s with a striking impression standing next to him.

‘They’re both so eye-catching; it’s easy to find them.’

Sylvester’s silver hair is rare and easy to spot, but the young man next to him also has a strong presence.

First of all, he’s big.

Tall and muscular.

However, rather than being scary, he feels like a reliable neighborhood 형 [hyung – older brother or male friend].

Yeah. That’s definitely him.

That young man, Sylvester’s second companion, is definitely him.

After confirming the name of the companion, I waved my hand and called out to Sylvester.

The two of them noticed me and turned their heads.

Alnix didn’t know my face, so he glanced at Sylvester with a questioning look, and Sylvester nodded roughly.

Maybe they secretly talked about me?

Since we’re traveling together after receiving the same request, he might have explained my impression to some extent.

“Looks like you haven’t been waiting long? Or did I make you wait? I’ll apologize if I’m late.”

“We just finished preparing and arrived. …Anyway.”

Sylvester glanced at Alnix.

He must have realized he needed to introduce his companion.

“It’s okay. I’ll say it myself.”

Alnix took a step forward before Sylvester could speak, as if he intended to introduce himself.

It’s quite 부담스럽다 [burdensome/intimidating] for a tall young man who is at least 190 centimeters tall to approach.

Especially if that young man is staring intently at me, the 부담스럽다 [feeling of being burdened] is tripled.

“Are you the ridiculously strong spirit mage I’ve heard so much about?”

“Strong? I’m just an ordinary spirit mage and merchant.”

“Haha! No need to be humble! I’ve already heard plenty from Lucel!”

Alnix burst into laughter and grabbed my shoulders with both hands.

What is he doing?

I wondered if I should call our electric hedgehog and electrocute him.

He patted my shoulders a few times and nodded as if he understood something.

“Hmm. Hmm. I see. That’s how it is.”

It doesn’t seem like he touched me to tease me.

……As I was about to leave it alone, Alnix soon patted my shoulder and said, “Haha. Sorry about that!”

“I thought spirit mages were like Lucel. I thought all spirit mages lacked stamina, but was that just my prejudice? You’re in pretty good shape.”

“No. You’ve seen it exactly right.”

Spirit mages are weak. Aileen is weak.

Today, I only claim to be weak.

“Pfft! You’re quite the comedian.”

He laughed loudly as if he had heard a ridiculous joke and held out his hand to me.

“You can call me Alnix. You are… ah, what was it?”

“Aileen.”

I shook his hand as he asked and introduced myself.

Alnix.

The second son of the Pemoltenix Marquis family, a noble family of the Selbas Kingdom, and the melee 담당 [in charge] who mainly plays the vanguard in Sylvester’s party.

In terms of pure melee skill, he is second only to Sylvester, and it would be truly reassuring to have him as a companion.

After finishing the introductions, Sylvester spoke to me again as if he had been waiting.

“We don’t have much time, so should we leave right away? We can talk in detail while we travel, is that okay?”

“I don’t have any objections… but I’ll ask to confirm, our current schedule is to travel by carriage arranged by the Grand Duke, right?”

When I asked, the two of them nodded as if wondering why I was confirming.

They probably don’t know why I’m asking.

Alnix clapped his hands loudly as if something had occurred to him.

“Ah! Aileen, do you also get restless legs when you ride in a carriage? Do you also want to run around when you’re in a small space like that? Right?”

“……No, that’s not it.”

Am I you?

No, don’t be disappointed that we’re not the same kind. Don’t try to act dejected at that age and with that size; it’s not cute, okay?

“I’ll be honest, Sylvester. If you agree, I can take us to our destination comfortably without using a carriage.”

“No need for a carriage…….”

Sylvester muttered with a slightly dumbfounded tone.

Of course, it would take several days to get to the destination from here by carriage.

The client, Grand Duke Nilphas, generously provided the carriage, coachman, and all necessary expenses, so there was no burden.

‘But now there’s no need…….’

Originally, I was going to gladly accept his kindness.

It’s annoying to stand out unnecessarily.

Going quietly and normally is the best.