How To Suck Honey With Extras [EN]: Chapter 183

Episode 204: Shift in Stance (4)

“Recently, there have been reports of the Rimen Alliance showing signs of collapse, with lords running rampant and forcibly expelling other races.”

This is just information mentioned in the original story.

It would be embarrassing if it’s wrong, but let’s trust it’s correct.

“Hmm… indeed.”

Fortunately, what I know and what is actually happening don’t seem to be too different.

“Perhaps they came from the Rimen Alliance?”

“That’s right. Then you probably know the rest.”

“It’s obvious. They drifted into the Selvas Kingdom but suffered at the hands of the local lord for some reason.”

The fate of those with nowhere to go is usually similar.

They either get caught by malicious individuals and are exploited to the bone,

Or they wander around with hope, only to eventually die in despair.

Usually, they can’t escape that reality.

“It seems the lord here demanded a deal from them.”

“…A deal?”

It seems he’s finally thinking of telling me the situation.

He slowly began to tell me about their problems.

When this lord discovered this ruin tower, he didn’t entrust the exploration to mercenaries but to others.

Specifically, the other races who had drifted here with nowhere to go.

They generally have somewhat superior physical or magical abilities compared to humans.

In missions that require dealing with unknown situations, they might be better talents than ordinary mercenaries.

That’s why the lord had his eye on them.

“So, he scouted them and had them investigate the tower?”

“If it were just that, there wouldn’t have been much of a problem.”

Elmeroth clicked his tongue and continued to explain.

The rewards the lord offered the other races were exactly what they wanted.

A certain amount of compensation and citizenship to settle here.

He promised to support them in settling down here as residents of the territory.

To those with nowhere to go, it must have felt like a treasure beyond price.

“The problem is, the lord had no intention of keeping his promise. He’s worse than a beast…”

When they had explored up to the 12th floor of the tower, the lord revealed his true colors for some reason.

He betrayed them.

While they were focused on the exploration, he arrested those who remained in the city.

The pretext was punishing other races who had illegally entered the territory.

Of course, the deal with the lord was never made public, and they suddenly became fugitives.

Those who had already entered the tower were attacked by the knights who had been monitoring them.

“Those youngsters are likely to die by the swords of the lord’s knights.”

Even though they have considerable skills, they were completely caught off guard.

If they are betrayed by someone they trusted, they wouldn’t be able to withstand it.

“If I hadn’t discovered that scene and helped them, who knows what would have happened to them. Tsk tsk…”

“Humans are the most wicked wherever you go… More importantly, why were you there, Elder?”

“…Well, it was a coincidence. That’s not important.”

He was probably secretly sneaking into the tower to loot it.

Such ruins are treasure troves where materials that are not easily obtained are stored.

Of course, there’s no way an alchemist like him wouldn’t be interested.

But that’s why they were able to save their lives.

After that, with Elmeroth’s help, they set up a hideout here and began to rescue as many people as possible and hold out.

It seems that there are about 100 people gathered.

“That’s why those friends follow you so much, Elder.”

“Well… I didn’t do much for them. I just built them a place to lie down here and gave them something to protect themselves.”

In the world, that’s called a savior.

Is he perhaps embarrassed?

Anyway, I’ve grasped their situation with this explanation.

And I can also be sure of the ending they will face.

‘Unfortunately, they will all die if things continue like this…’

At least, that’s what happened in the original story.

The reason I was sure of their existence.

That’s because their end was mentioned once.

When the Continental Integration Society [a powerful organization aiming to unite the continent] was plotting in earnest in the Selvas Kingdom.

The lords in various places, under the orders of the secret organization, committed all sorts of atrocities.

And one of them is the sacrifice of these people.

‘…In the original story, it was only mentioned that many other races, including elves and beastmen, were found dead.’

I don’t know why they died or for what reason.

But it was clear that it was the lord’s doing and that many people were sacrificed.

It’s surprising that Elmeroth is involved, but in the circumstances, it was clear that he couldn’t take care of them until the end.

Come to think of it, in the original story, Elmeroth was particularly prickly towards those from the Selvas Kingdom, especially the nobles.

He even criticized them as being worse than monsters.

If that’s related to this massacre, wouldn’t it fit to some extent?

‘…At least it’s definitely related to the magic tome.’

However, I haven’t reached the core of it.

‘Anyway, if I’m going to intervene in this incident, it would be better to side with these other races than with the lord.’

More than anything, because I think it’s right.

If I’m going to do it, it’s better to do the right thing.

“So, having heard this story, what are you going to do?”

“…What else is there to do? Of course, I have to help them.”

I expressed my intention to help them without hesitation.

“That’s what I intended from the beginning.”

“……”

However, the reason why Elmeroth doesn’t speak easily is probably because he’s suspicious.

He’s too willing to help, so it looks suspicious.

No one helps purely out of goodwill.

That’s no exception for me either.

“Of course, my goal is the magic tome. It’s probably here. It’s enough if I can get my hands on it.”

“…The magic tome, huh.”

“Wouldn’t it be great if I could help them and get the magic tome?”

“That’s simple. In short, you want the magic tome in exchange for helping them, is that right?”

Of course!

I nodded greatly.

“That means, it does exist?”

“Of course, it does.”

Elmeroth asserted without hesitation.

“I’ve been searching this place for several months before they came. So, I can give you a definite answer. There is definitely a magic tome here. And it’s not an ordinary one.”

“Then the reason you set up a base in this tower is…”

“Originally, I was going to use it as a bargaining chip with the lord.”

It’s true that the lord betrayed them, but there’s no clever way to get through it.

“I only recently managed to find out that he wants the magic tome.”

However, he seemed to wonder why the lord who wanted the magic tome was acting like this now.

If he just wanted to get it, he could have kept them working until the end without betraying them.

There must be some other purpose.

Anyway, knowing the purpose, he seemed to consider excavating the magic tome first and using it as a bargaining chip.

“But you didn’t, does that mean the magic tome hasn’t been excavated yet?”

“…It would be better to show you.”

“Yes?”

“You said the magic tome is your goal? Then it would be good to see it for yourself. Then you’ll know why it’s difficult.”

* * *

What on earth is he trying to show me?

Elmeroth went straight outside, and when he said to those waiting, “I want to show that boy that,” their faces changed.

Especially the elf, Direth, was the most shocked.

“Elmeroth-nim [respected title]! That’s a rash decision! Other than that, you should reconsider that!”

It was hard to believe that the elf youth, who had been cold and calm until now, was the same person who was horrified and opposed.

‘Is it such a shocking thing?’

Well, I can’t say I don’t understand.

Excavating the magic tome first is a matter related to their survival.

Of course, I would be horrified too.

Who can guarantee that I won’t run away with it?

I can’t guarantee it either?

“I don’t know what’s going on, but I promise in advance that I won’t do anything rash or unnecessary.”

“…That’s not the problem. No, you’re saying that because you don’t know. You don’t know how dangerous it is.”

“Yes?”

As I was wondering what he meant, Elmeroth clicked his tongue and started walking on his own.

“…Okay. I know what you’re worried about, but don’t worry, it’s unnecessary. Anyway, that brat won’t do anything. No, he can’t do anything.”

That’s also a strange thing to say.

It wasn’t a tone that looked down on my skills.

It just felt like he was sure that I wouldn’t do anything unexpected.

“More than anything, that brat could have killed you so brutally that not even corpses would be left.”

“…No, what are you talking about.”

I’m not a heartless villain, and I only do that to villains.

On the one hand, it’s a correct perception.

If I had tried to push through with force, I would have done it long ago.

I would have invaded first, burned their hideout, and killed them indiscriminately.

Having power means that you can take such options.

Well, I have no intention of doing that now.

That will eventually be a situation where I strangle my own neck.

‘But why is he trying to show me directly?’

I couldn’t understand why he was so confident in showing me their secrets.

One of two things.

Either I look so good-natured.

Or I can’t do anything else.

‘Probably both.’

“Don’t worry. If it seems like this brat is going to do something, I’ll take responsibility and do something about it.”

“…I understand.”

Whether that persuasion worked or not, Direth was embarrassed but didn’t object anymore.

I swore once again that I wouldn’t do anything, and then followed the alchemist, who had already started walking ahead on his own, as if chasing after his tail.

“This way.”

The place he headed to was a well located in the center of this floor.

More than that, why is there a well here?

I heard that the floor we are on was originally used as a residential space. It was probably used by the owner of this ruin tower during his lifetime.

“…But this is an ordinary well, isn’t it?”

“Do you think there would be an ordinary well in a place like this? Water doesn’t even flow.”

He scoffed as if he was dumbfounded and kicked one corner of the well with his foot, aiming accurately at one spot.

Then, a sound of something echoing deep underground, and the well split into exactly six pieces, revealing a hidden entrance inside.

“…Is it a device?”

“It’s a disguise that’s worse than a child’s play. There’s no need to admire it. It wasn’t difficult for me to discover this far.”

He explained as if scoffing, and went down the revealed entrance.

I followed right behind.

‘So, the magic tome is here.’

I found it surprisingly easily.

To be honest, I suspected that a dangerous place like a dungeon would unfold again this time, but that’s not the case.

Elmeroth, as if he could see my thoughts, chuckled and said without looking back.

“The magic tome is here. But you won’t be able to take it easily.”

“…So, I won’t take it by force. I promised you just now.”

What I take is after everyone has a happy ending, then I take the magic tome and part with a smile.

That’s the ending I want for this incident.

“Humph. If you see it directly, even you will know it soon.”

What on earth does he mean?

However, there is a strange shadow on the alchemist’s face, considering he is joking.

I soon came to know the meaning directly.

Following him through the passage and arriving at the place at the end, I.

“…Is this what you meant?”

I understood.

Why he thought I couldn’t take this.

Why everyone else had such worried eyes.

You can’t help but understand when you see this.

What was there was a space that felt quite strange.

Various strange magic circles were densely drawn all over the room.

And all the magic circles are functioning properly.