How To Suck Honey With Extras [EN]: Chapter 215

240. National Foundation Day (4)

He conceded so readily that I wondered if I was the one who had been given leeway, rather than being humiliated.

But what he said was true.

In a real fight, I wouldn’t compete so honestly.

I would have created more distance, lowered my stance, and responded by turning the area into ashes.

I couldn’t deny his assessment of the victory or defeat.

However, I didn’t think that was a reason for me to be complacent.

If I weren’t injured, unlike the original story, this man might be the one to defeat the boss of the Continental Integration Council, not Sylvester.

I even vaguely had such thoughts.

“Roant! What did I ever do to you? If you’re going to make me fight someone like this, at least raise my salary! Damn it, I can’t do this! Cough!”

“Hahaha! My apologies. I never imagined this friend would be this strong. Well, thanks to you, I saw something good. I sincerely appreciate it!”

Marquis Roant also patted his friend, who was complaining loudly, and approached me again.

“I’ve seen it clearly, Aileen. I admit it. You certainly had the skills to make the first offer. You were that good.”

He clapped and took my hand first.

He seemed quite pleased.

It was what I wanted, but he was coming on a bit too strong, making me uncomfortable.

“Originally, I thought it would be fine to take only Sylvester, but with you joining us, I’ll be even less worried.”

“Then?”

“Of course. I accept the offer. No…….”

Instead, he gave a slightly mischievous smile and changed his words.

“I beg you, won’t you come with me? For the sake of the kingdom’s safety.”

In a playful tone that implied he acknowledged my skills, I gladly shook the hand he held.

With this, I easily secured an excuse and a position to join.

All that’s left is how to handle it.

* * *

I’ve secured a ticket to the banquet.

Marquis Roant told me to wait with peace of mind, patting my back with a big laugh.

As promised, he was also reminded to keep the information I told Sylvester a secret.

‘Then I need to prepare.’

To be precise, prepare to fight.

Based on what I learned from the battle with Symbel, the former commander of the kingdom’s knights, let’s 补完 [bǔ wán – make complete] what’s lacking.

‘I’ve also realized once again that even the strongest attack is meaningless if it doesn’t hit.’

In the sparring match with Symbel, I had the upper hand in terms of power and the size of my strength.

Symbel readily acknowledged that.

But it was also true that he blocked all my attacks and accurately dodged them during the sparring match.

I summoned Undine.

-Ailer? What is it now?

“Undine. That uncle from the afternoon, if we had fought properly, could we have landed an attack on him?”

-Ma, you can hit him!

“Really?”

-Trust Undine!

“Don’t say things that sound like I’ll be ruined if I trust you.”

-Anyway, trust me!

Undine answered as if she was bluffing.

Come to think of it, she’s grown a lot too. Now she even knows how to bluff.

This confirmed it.

Undine also struggled quite a bit.

Even if you have the upper hand in strength, it doesn’t necessarily mean you can harm the opponent.

‘If that’s the case, it would be good to have an attack method that even such experts can’t respond to, right?’

Let’s acquire that.

I immediately flew to the nearby forest outside the royal capital and acquired a new ability.

Bloodline ability ‘Mark of Reversal’.

If you succeed in activating this, a mark appears on the opponent, and that mark produces a special effect.

The effect of the mark is automatic guidance.

It has the effect of leading the result to ensure that a certain level of attack hits.

It’s truly a sure-hit method.

‘However, it’s a lower-level ability among bloodline abilities.’

It seems really good that it always hits, but there are drawbacks.

First of all, as soon as I acquired the ability, I touched a wooden disc to test it.

Then a mark appeared.

A black spot-like shape was engraved.

“Undine, water arrow. Shoot without aiming.”

-Is that okay? It won’t hit if I do that.

I know.

“It’s okay, just shoot.”

I smiled and reassured her, then threw the disc high into the sky.

Undine, water…… no, shoot and hit it!

As I commanded, Undine fired water arrows in completely random directions.

Then, a black light surrounded the water arrows, and they changed direction towards the marked disc.

Not manipulating to hit, but automatic tracking!

“As expected, the trend is to have attacks that fly and hit on their own!”

Papapapapapap

The water arrows hit without missing, shattering the target.

The guidance performance is amazing.

However, now it’s time to figure out the drawbacks.

“This time, water spear!”

I threw the disc again and fired a water spear with more power, and it followed and hit as well.

“This time, hail and water pillar!”

Let’s try an even stronger attack.

A small tsunami surged, and a pillar of water soared.

-This won’t work.

However, it doesn’t receive the effect of the guidance ability.

There is a limit to the power to which this ability applies.

It can’t contain great power.

Undine’s water spear, Sprite’s electric discharge, and for magic, maybe Flame Lance is the limit.

Also, the duration of the mark is about 10 seconds.

The fact that I have to be within 1 meter of the opponent to activate it is also annoying.

Depending on the opponent, I might have to risk my life just to engrave a guidance mark.

The moment I engrave it, my head might be cut off!

“Still, depending on how you use it, if you only consider the suppression performance, it’s an unparalleled method.”

Everything depends on how you use it.

I’m sure this is a power that will help me now.

Let’s think repeatedly about what needs to be done and wait.

* * *

A historic day marking the 400th anniversary of the founding of the Selbas Kingdom.

National Foundation Day.

The festive atmosphere of that day spread throughout the royal capital from noon.

During the day, numerous stalls lined the streets, and each merchant guild was also putting out products and food to catch the attention of citizens in order to make a profit from this event.

The kingdom also took measures to encourage citizens to be grateful for the National Foundation Day and to enjoy the festive atmosphere.

The royal palace hired orchestras and theater troupes to recite poems or perform plays based on the founding history of the Selbas royal family on the streets to attract attention.

To make it easier to understand, they paid advances to each merchant guild and offered simple food and cheap alcohol to the citizens.

With that alone, the people were happy.

The people shouted praises commemorating the 400th anniversary of the founding of the kingdom and prayed for the kingdom’s peace.

And the festive atmosphere began to heat up in earnest as night fell.

At night, people head to stores or the streets to drink alcohol in earnest.

This long night will continue.

Meanwhile, preparations were being rushed within the royal palace to hold a banquet.

And as night deepened, a banquet was held in the hall located in the annex of the royal palace, with influential figures from within the kingdom and guests from other countries gathered to commemorate this day.

The hall was brightly lit, and music played by what I heard was a famous orchestra, and in between, the voices of guests exchanging conversations were mixed in like noise here and there.

It’s not noisy, but is it far from being quiet and elegant?

I suddenly tilted my head reflexively.

‘Come to think of it…… is this the first time I’ve seen such a place?’

Perhaps because most of the attendees are nobles, or perhaps because I’m not used to it, I’ve been just standing there blankly, observing this atmosphere from a while ago.

‘Honestly, I don’t know what to do.’

The guests invited to this banquet are diverse.

Each noble family of the Selbas Kingdom attended, as well as merchants who have accumulated astronomical wealth, or those with connections to such people.

The king and queen have not yet made an appearance.

Instead, their children, the prince and princess, are leading the nobles who follow them and exchanging conversations.

In this atmosphere, it’s only natural that I, a beginner, am bewildered and looking around.

Fortunately, there’s one more friend besides me who’s just watching.

Sylvester, our protagonist.

As in the original story, he’s leaning against a corner of the pillar, exuding a somewhat indifferent atmosphere, but I wonder if he knows that his appearance makes him even more noticeable.

I know exactly what he’s thinking.

I smiled bitterly and approached him.

“Sylvester, you don’t seem used to this kind of place?”

“Not really…… no, that’s right. I was definitely thinking it’s hard to get used to, so I’m in trouble.”

It doesn’t seem to suit this friend, who has a very sincere personality.

“If you’re really uncomfortable, just smile brightly. Then people will come to you on their own, right?”

“……Well, I’ll try.”

Sylvester only showed that he was moderately accepting.

However, he seemed a little upset that I told him something, so he returned a similar remark to me.

“Speaking of which, Aileen, you also look quite unfamiliar and troubled?”

“What are you talking about? I was just about to become a rising star in high society, you know?”

I shrugged my shoulders, pretending to boast even though I didn’t mean it.

I just threw the words out there, but a rising star, is he trying to start a revolution or something?

I don’t want such a role.

As we were having this rambling conversation, someone approached these two poor outcasts.

Unfortunately, it’s another familiar face.

Alnix.

He is Sylvester’s colleague and now a member of the Pemoltenix Marquis family, attending as such.

In addition, Sylvester’s other colleague, Rucel Elbeid, did not attend.

They didn’t recommend her because they thought it wouldn’t be good to send her, an elf, to a place where stiff-headed nobles gather.

“How gloomy.”

Alnix looked at me and Sylvester alternately, giving us a look as if he was rebuking us for what we were doing.

“What are you guys doing, gathering together and giggling? Why don’t you take after Lord Roant?”

For reference, Marquis Roant is the person who vouches for our identities, but he’s nowhere to be seen right now, because he was talking with some young ladies and disappeared somewhere with them.

As Alnix said, I do want to emulate that.

“Speaking of which, Mr. Alnix, you seem to be bored.”

“……Honestly, my older brother takes care of most of the troublesome responses, so I was free.”

As expected, even if it’s a prestigious family, he’s not the eldest son, so he’s relatively ignored and bored.

“More than that, Sylvester, Aileen. Listen. If you’re free, please help me with something.”

Alnix slipped between us and got so close that it was burdensome.

“Honestly, you’re both bored, right?”

“Let’s assume that’s the case for the sake of argument.”

I said that at least because of my faint pride.

“Listen. Sylvester, and Aileen, you’re both not bad looking, to be frank, right?”

Um, honored to be considered handsome.

At this point, I roughly get what Alnix wants to say.

“If you seriously talk to them, the young ladies will probably respond, right? So…….”

“So, you’re saying we should charm the young ladies.”

“That’s right! That’s exactly it!”

“Ahahaha…….”

It’s such a groundbreaking proposal that I’m speechless.

Um…… to be honest, it’s a compliment.

Yeah. That’s a really good idea.

I’m not being sarcastic.

“Tell me more, Mr. Alnix.”

Let’s do it right away!

In fact, I vaguely had a desire for such a thing.

It’s not like I don’t have desires.

‘Because the highlight of the banquet is said to be meeting someone special.’

I don’t intend to leave behind scandalous rumors, but I can dream about it once, right?

“But who are we supposed to talk to?”

Depending on the person, it’s not uncommon to be coldly told off before you even start talking.

If I have to get slapped, please take the slap for me.

“Of course, I’ve thought about it. Don’t you know, Aileen? It’s not like only high-nosed [stuck-up] noble ladies attend.”

“I know roughly.”

Because there are cases like me and Sylvester, who are following as acquaintances vouched for by someone.

Or cases where a wealthy man with nothing but money brings his daughter to marry her into a noble family?

“Actually, a guest from the White Tower [a mage organization] caught my eye, how about talking to her?”

Um? ……White Tower?

“I heard she’s a quite skilled magician. I saw her from afar, and she was quite a beauty.”

“Hmm?”

The explanation is somehow strange, but I just nodded without thinking much.

Eh~ no way. It can’t be.