How To Suck Honey With Extras [EN]: Chapter 178

198. Finding the Magic Tome (3)

While everyone except Nilton was securing their positions and waiting,

I, having already pinpointed the location, muttered quietly, “It’s coming.”

Simultaneously, the wall shattered, revealing the source of the disturbance.

“A, a monster?”

“No… it’s too bizarre to be just that!”

The mercenaries murmured, a mix of curiosity and apprehension in their voices.

What emerged was a bizarre construct, so unnatural it was hard to believe it was even alive.

Its body, entirely encased in iron, moved on eight blade-like legs, resembling a spider.

‘…What is it? It’s not a monster, after all.’

The first clue was that I only sensed mana emanating from it, indicating it wasn’t a living creature.

Secondly, I could only perceive the flow of mana within it.

‘More like a tool than a living thing… a weapon?’

It’s similar to the constructs guarding the underground vault of the Falgentania Archduke’s family, but the technology here is much cruder.

Even so, the level of technology involved is definitely advanced.

‘No… more than that, this thing… it looks familiar?’

Strangely, while its appearance was unfamiliar, the concept of its structure felt like something I had read about, creating a sense of unease.

Is it from the original work [the novel the protagonist transmigrated into]?

However, I can’t recall the specific details.

Perhaps it will take time to remember its identity.

But there is no room for such leisure in a real battle.

The wall shattered further, and two more iron spiders appeared.

That makes a total of three.

“…Damn it. They’re really having fun.”

They seemed ready to attack immediately.

“They’re coming.”

“I know!”

Even without my warning, the mercenaries seemed prepared, gritting their teeth and standing their ground.

And at the same time, the iron spiders charged.

Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!

The sound of metal impacting the floor echoed as they rushed in with considerable speed.

‘Are they planning to ram straight into us…?’

It seems they intend to push through with brute force, relying on their size.

We have some strong guys here, but they’ll be pushed back if they face them head-on.

As if anticipating this, the two nimblest mercenaries, each wielding a spear and a sword, charged forward as well.

Both are at the Aura Practitioner level [warriors who can use mana to enhance their physical abilities].

However, they are not confronting them head-on.

Just before colliding, they narrowly jumped in, bypassed to the side, and swung their weapons at the lower part of the iron spiders, unleashing attacks.

Clang! Scratch!

However, there was only the sound of metal clashing and scraping, with no real impact.

Even with aura, they can’t inflict significant damage.

“Damn it! Put away the bows! These guys are tough!”

“Blades will break if you swing them normally! If you can’t use aura, you’re better off using clubs!”

Following the advice of the two experienced mercenaries, the mercenaries and soldiers tried to respond as best they could.

‘But it’s not enough….’

I crossed my arms and pondered.

The attacks of ordinary soldiers or C-rank mercenaries are useless, and even the mercenaries who can use some aura are not dealing significant damage.

‘If this continues, there will be casualties.’

It looks precarious.

‘Should I do something about it….’

The moment I decided, I launched the water spear I had prepared.

Although I adjusted the power appropriately, the iron spider’s body shook greatly when it hit.

Somehow, the way it shook made it seem like it was bewildered by my attack.

So, my attack is working?

‘I could destroy them right away if I wanted to?’

But I don’t do such a thing rashly.

There’s something I want to confirm.

“…Undine, water spear. This time, make it duller than before.”

-Duller?

“…Yeah. Very gently. You know?”

-Okay! Errr!

At my quiet command, dozens of water spears, somewhat smaller than the previous one, floated up.

“Ooh! Amazing!”

The mercenaries and soldiers exclaimed, but I’m a little embarrassed.

I’m just conserving my strength right now.

“Is Eilon going to join in too?”

“There’s no reason not to. I’m not confident, but I’ll fight.”

No one objected.

They must be in trouble since swords and clubs don’t work.

I nodded and, pretending to exert all my strength, began to fight the iron spiders, using only the minimum amount of power.

“First, this way!”

I launched water spears several times to strike them.

Looking closely, the hit areas were slightly dented.

As if bothered by it, they finally turned their attention to me.

They immediately swung their sharp, blade-like legs to attack.

But there’s no need to avoid them outright.

As I took a few steps back, some quick-witted mercenaries swung their weapons forward, knocking away the claws.

“Leave the cover to us!”

“Haha. How reliable.”

I gave a fake smile and ordered the next attack.

“Undine, give them a big one this time.”

-Okay! A big one!

As Undine pretended to stretch her arms upwards, three thick streams of water shot up from below, striking the lower part of the iron spiders and lifting them up.

A hydraulic uppercut.

The iron spider’s massive body flipped over.

It’s nothing special after all.

Leaving behind those scrambling to regain their posture, I was convinced that destroying these things was not a big problem.

And I also recalled information that would allow me to guess their identity.

‘…These guys are related after all. Then could it be related to that person?’

If I have doubts, there’s no need to hesitate.

However, the problem is how to avoid the surrounding eyes and confirm it.

I want to make contact once.

I don’t want to show that scene to the mercenaries, let alone the soldiers or knights.

‘Should I create an opportunity….’

I tapped the floor lightly with my heel, thought of a way, and decided to put it into action.

“It seems my spirit magic is effective against these guys! Then it would be best for me to finish them off.”

I deliberately declared loudly as if only my power was effective against them.

In reality, spirit magic is not their weakness.

It’s just that my attack is so powerful that they can’t move.

Compatibility? Strength is the best.

Even reverse compatibility can be overcome by amplifying the level and damage.

If the attack doesn’t work because of compatibility?

That just means your attack power is weak.

“Undine! Keep pushing!”

Immediately, several thick streams of water gushed out from the air, pushing the iron spiders.

Despite their considerable weight, they were being pushed back by the powerful water pressure exerted by Undine, and they were being driven to the wall.

I pretended to concentrate and slowly stepped forward.

And…….

‘Undine… weaken the output of a few water pillars.’

As I weakened the water pressure appropriately, the iron spider, which had been resisting, broke through the water stream and lunged at me.

“Oops!”

As I stepped back pretending to be surprised, its foreleg slammed into the floor.

Just as I intended.

‘Gnome, collapse the floor now.’

I had secretly summoned a gnome [a spirit of earth] and had it lurking under the floor.

At my signal, cracks appeared in the floor, and I and the iron spiders fell below.

Of course, as planned.

This way, it will appear as if we accidentally fell due to an accident.

“Eilon?!”

“Did he fall with them?!”

“This can’t be!”

By the time I heard the screams of the mercenaries and soldiers, I was continuing to fall several floors below with these guys.

They’re falling really well.

I intend to fall to the first floor as it is.

Just before colliding with the floor, I used gravity control and the wind generated by Sylph [a spirit of air] to slow down the falling speed and landed leisurely.

On the other hand, the iron spiders, which couldn’t do that, were pathetically slammed into the floor and trembling.

Some even had several legs torn off due to the impact.

……Was that a bit too much?

“Well, it’ll be fine. This level of impact won’t damage the insides.”

As I expected, the iron spiders, which had only been trembling slightly, immediately flipped over and stood up, as if venting their anger at being dropped, and charged at me simultaneously.

“Oops, I’m sorry for dropping you. Well, I couldn’t help it, you know?”

I pretended to be surprised and lightly waved my hand.

Now that there are no eyes watching, there’s no need to hide my strength.

Thud.

A purple barrier unfolded, and the three spiders sat down simultaneously.

I greatly increased the gravity applied through gravity control.

Just activating that much is enough to subdue them.

“……Then shall we check.”

I lightly cut off the head of one of the iron spiders with a water pressure cutter created by Undine [a spirit of water].

And I grabbed the cut part and tore it off in one go.

“Tch, it was inside after all.”

I clicked my tongue as I checked inside.

I glimpsed the truth of the exploration commissioned by the lord, or a part of it.

‘This is going to be troublesome.’

It was then.

-Err! Behind!

Undine warns.

It means someone is behind me.

But I didn’t sense any presence?

As soon as I heard Undine’s warning, I immediately teleported my body to the ceiling with a hole.

Swish!

I could see the dagger passing through the air in vain where I had been.

I briefly hovered in the air through gravity control.

And right beyond that, I saw the person who threw the dagger, their body covered in a black hood.

‘Was there an ambush?’

Before I could be surprised, more daggers flew in.

Did they figure out where I teleported to in that short moment and throw them?

Their eyesight is extraordinary.

I immediately tried to block it by creating a wall of space fixation.

Mere throwing won’t work.

However.

The moment the dagger hit the transparent wall of space.

Boom! Boom boom boom!

It suddenly exploded.

“What?!”

Not only this, but all the daggers thrown afterward caused explosions in succession.

Thanks to the space fixation, I wouldn’t be injured by this explosion, and even if I were caught off guard, I’m confident I could handle it.

But the problem is.

‘Damn it! My vision…….’

For a moment, the view beyond was obscured by the explosion.

Perhaps that’s what they were aiming for from the start.

“Undine! Find him…… Keuk!”

Before I could finish shouting, the hooded man, who had caught up at some point, jumped behind me and slammed his foot down on my neck as if driving a stake.

Crack!

A considerable impact echoed from behind.

It’s a powerful enough blow.

If an ordinary person or at least the me from a year ago had been hit, their neck would have been broken.

My concentration weakened due to the impact, gravity control was released, and I plummeted to the floor.

“Undine! Shoot at him!”

I immediately tried to shoot water arrows upwards quickly, but I couldn’t see him.

Instead, the exploding daggers from before poured down on me as if replacing him.

‘Annoying!’

While defending against them, additional attacks poured in from beyond the explosion.

I had to roll my body non-stop to avoid them.

I wanted to use teleportation, but my vision was obstructed by the explosion.

Hesitating to activate teleportation unless I can visually secure the location is just my unavoidable habit.

“Sylph! Blow away the explosion.”

While blowing away all the clinging smoke with wind, I could see the man aiming a bow this time.

Moreover, he was pulling the bow with four arrows notched at once.

‘Wait?! He’s taking out a bow in a one-on-one duel?!’

Normally, I would laugh at him as a madman, but considering the opponent’s skill, it’s no joke.

Those who commit such bizarre acts are quite dangerous.

I know that well enough.

In some ways, I’m similar.

The man releases the bow he has fully drawn.

I reflexively tried to block it by creating a wall of fixation.

However.

The arrows that the man shot scattered in different, absurd trajectories.

I reflexively followed them with my eyes in amazement and felt a sense of despair.

All the arrows that flew in absurd trajectories eventually turned back towards me.

‘Is that even possible?!’

There was a movie I saw a long time ago where the trajectory of bullets changed when you waved a gun around appropriately.

This is even more absurd.

Currently, the wall of space fixation is only in front.

That means the arrows that have each veered off will eventually fall towards me.

I hurriedly dodged, but a few arrows narrowly grazed my body.

I thought I had dodged them.

As expected, the arrows themselves were weapons like daggers and exploded as they were.

I felt an impact as if I was being beaten all over with rocks and tumbled around.

‘This is going to be dangerous if I underestimate him…….’

He’s skilled.

That man who keeps launching strange attacks is more dangerous than those three iron spiders.

It feels like I’m being hunted.