How To Suck Honey With Extras [EN]: Chapter 224

249. Labyrinth of the Sky (4)

‘I had a feeling it would be like this…’

In the original story, he seemed to have brought his subordinates and attacked in a more elegant way, but here he must be alone, and above all, he must have realized my true intentions.

So, he must have proceeded even if it was a bit reckless.

It’s what I want for him to waste his stamina, but I’m not very happy about it.

“He may be reckless, but he’s fast.”

So where is he now?

Right above this area? Or even higher?

I need to hurry.

“Should we also push ourselves to the limit and do a forced march?”

When Cruse said that as if she could do it, the Princess flinched.

She’s already exhausted, so what? Speed up the pace?

That’s the face she wants to make.

I don’t want to recommend it either.

Speed is secondary, and it would be a problem if our stamina also ran out.

“Rather than that… um… there is a more certain way.”

Actually, considering the structure of this place, I just came up with something a little while ago.

There’s a trick we can use now.

The problem is whether we have the guts to do it and whether those two will readily agree to that absurd method.

Well, persuasion is always my job.

“That waterfall, I mean.”

“Waterfall?”

I pointed to the huge waterfall flowing down the dungeon wall.

“The structure of the waterway here is somewhat strange. An upside-down waterfall is also bizarre… but where does this much water disappear to?”

There must be an overall water circulation route within the dungeon.

“Maybe there are places where that water circulates other than this area.”

I’m sure of that, and it’s not just speculation.

There is an area in the middle of this place that is entirely filled with water, like a huge sea.

In other words, a point where all the waterways flowing through the dungeon pass through in the middle.

To put it bluntly, it’s a water tank.

“In short, Aileon, are you saying that if we use that waterway, we can go straight to another area?”

“That’s right!”

Thanks to Cruse’s understanding, there’s no need to explain it at length.

“Wait! Wait! Wait! Wait a minute! How are we going to go?!”

The Princess cut in, startled.

“Are you saying we should go into the water through that waterfall?”

“Oh, Princess. You understand well. Should I give you a snack as a reward?”

“…Are you kidding me?”

If I joke any more than this, she’s going to explode seriously.

“It’s true that we have to go through the water as you said.”

Because we have to find the passage where the water flows in that lake, it might be a very long dive.

“Do you guys have any artifacts that allow you to be active in the water?”

“…Come to think of it, I guess there are such artifacts.”

It was an item for underwater combat.

Even in the original story, the main character only got one or two around the middle.

Of course, I don’t have it in my hand right now.

“…I have one.”

She has it.

The Princess sighed and pointed to the necklace she was wearing.

“Ah. It’s an artifact that allows you to open your eyes and breathe underwater.”

As a member of the Imperial Family who has to prepare for all sorts of accidents, she seems to be carrying an artifact for safety.

But what kind of situation do you have to prepare for to breathe underwater?

I can’t understand the powerful people.

“But I don’t need that.”

There’s only one anyway.

Above all, I can’t use it even if I have as many as the number of people.

Cruse seemed to understand what that meant and added with a sigh.

“Even if you can breathe, you will be crushed by the water pressure in the deep water.”

You can’t breathe even if you have an artifact.

Why? Because the lungs are crushed by the pressure.

“Humans can’t go. Even that monster-like guy can’t.”

“That’s why if we go through there, we can get ahead of him.”

“Aileon. If you say so much, there must be a way?”

“Of course. However, there is a prerequisite that Cruse and I must work together.”

“Let’s hear it first.”

I squatted down on the spot and drew a simple diagram on the floor.

A square frame and three sticks inside.

For reference, the sticks are us.

“We will create a frame to block water pressure and water, hide inside, and move upwards.”

“…Is that easy? How are we going to breathe?”

“First of all, my space fixation ability [ability to create a fixed area in space]. And if I summon Sylph with spiritism [magic involving spirits], I can create air.”

Sylph is a wind spirit, but to be exact, it creates wind by controlling the flow of surrounding air.

Of course, creating that wind is actually creating and controlling air.

It’s like a side trick, but it’s not difficult.

“Maintaining ability and spiritism. Normally, it wouldn’t be strange to faint right away due to lack of magic power.”

“My magic power is enough. And I would like Cruse to control and move the flow.”

I’m going to leave the driving to her.

I don’t have enough energy to use spirit power and space control ability.

I’m confident that I can keep it going, but what can I do in it?

So Cruse has no choice but to be in charge of the movement.

“…Indeed. Is that how you divide it? Moving is possible.”

“If there is no way, we can just go back.”

Of course, I know that the probability of success is high, so that won’t happen.

There is only one anxiety factor, but that will happen when we reach the middle layer.

“I think this is the only way to increase the speed of progress.”

If they don’t like it, they can just suggest another way.

But there’s no way they have another way.

I smiled triumphantly on purpose and waited for an answer.

“What are you going to do?”

* * *

As a result, both agreed.

So I decided to put the plan into action right away.

‘The goal is the middle point above….’

In order to enter that place, I called Cruse and Resilia to one place and activated my ability.

Thud!

The walls that fixed the space were set up in all directions, and Sylph roamed inside, creating wind that circulates the air.

“…Are you really blocking the water with this?”

Resilia pushes the fixed wall, as if it is amazing.

“It’s going to explode if you do that?”

“Hihyat?!”

“I’m kidding. You get fooled every time.”

Get used to it soon.

Ignoring Resilia, who was trembling and looking back at me as if she was resentful, as if she was really surprised, I gestured to Cruse.

“Let’s get in. Cruse, are you ready?”

“Of course.”

Cruse carefully floated the fixed space that had trapped us with magic power and pushed it into the waterfall.

That’s enough.

I trust her and leave the driving to her.

“Hold on tight!”

At the moment of shouting, reminding myself of the image of pulling the string of concentration tighter to maintain my ability, we were swept away by the water and soared upwards.

Splash!

I fell into the lake at once.

Cruse manipulates the waterway with magic and starts diving into it at once.

“Please move like this.”

“Which direction?”

“Right. Just dive diagonally to the right.”

I can specify the direction.

‘Resident of the Labyrinth’ unique intuition correction.

Because of my ability to grasp space, I have been trained to find my way.

Even if I can’t see it, I feel that there is definitely a way there.

When I close my eyes, a drawing similar to a map seems to be drawn naturally in my head.

For a while, I was drifting in the water as if I was entrusting myself to the flow.

Finally, I came to a depth where no light was shining.

“Uwaaa… it’s bleak. Ugh.”

The Princess covered her mouth, perhaps because the soundless space was eerie, and carefully tried to speak.

I guess she thinks she shouldn’t interfere.

“It’s okay. I have enough time to talk. Above all, if it was that close, I wouldn’t even try.”

“Really? It’s not like I’m going to explode suddenly if I talk to you, right? Huh? Right?”

What does this lady think of me?

To be honest, I’m more scared than you. Don’t underestimate Coward Aileon! There’s no one more scared than me in this industry!

If it’s that dangerous, I won’t do this.

“The problem is if there are monsters….”

Cruse said that as if she was worried about that, but I guaranteed that it wouldn’t happen.

“At least we won’t encounter monsters while we are moving here.”

“Why?”

“Because it’s a dungeon.”

There are two patterns in which monsters occur in the dungeon.

One is that monsters crawl through the entrance that has been naturally opened over a long period of time.

“But there’s no way external monsters can come here.”

What kind of monster would fly beyond the stratosphere?

At least as far as I know, there is no entity that can do that.

“That means the monsters here are just intentionally placed entities.”

Therefore, it is difficult for monsters to inhabit unless it is a regular route.

“…Well, except for that one over there.”

“Aileon, what did you say just now?”

“No. It’s nothing. Anyway, let’s go! Let’s go straight! Forward!”

I kept going like that.

My intuition seemed to be sending a signal that the end was coming.

Roughly calculated, there should be progress.

All I have to do is move forward without any problems.

‘…If only that doesn’t come.’

But it seems that was the root of the problem.

I had a strange feeling.

“Tsk.”

It’s an enemy.

It seemed like an object with bad hostility was coming towards us.

“…Damn it. Is it him after all?”

Perhaps hearing me mutter, the two of them stare at me.

“Aileon?”

“…It seems like there are monsters.”

“Didn’t you say there wouldn’t be any just now?”

“I meant on the regular route. In other words, this means….”

The fact that monsters appear means that they have been placed here.

In other words, it means that we have entered the area belonging to that regular route.

“I was hoping that we would be discovered as late as possible… Keuk!”

Suddenly it shook. And something hit it.

It’s not a rock or anything like that.

“No way….”

“I’ll check it out.”

Cruse finished chanting briefly and created a small ball of light to illuminate the surroundings.

I could see something huge wrapped around the fixed space.

Slick skin and suction cup-like organs.

No matter how I look at it, this is.

“…It’s a Kraken [a legendary sea monster]. No matter how I look at it, it’s a Kraken.”

Resilia muttered in dismay, as if she recognized it too.

Kraken, commonly known as the devil of the sea.

That’s in this area.

But this is not the sea.

“Wow… Krakens used to live in fresh water.”

“Princess, that stupid joke. I’m sorry, but it’s not funny at all.”

“I’m not kidding?”

Anyway, the freshwater Kraken seemed to be angry at us for invading its territory and was about to crush us right away.

The fixed space creaks under the pressure that cannot be compared to the water pressure.

‘Will it hold….’

Fortunately, the Kraken here seems to be a freshwater Kraken, as the Princess said, so its size seems to be slightly smaller compared to those living in the sea.

It can hold on.

But in this state, it’s the same as being trapped.

I can’t go back and forth.

‘Then….’

I asked Sylph to go up and take a look for a while.

The Sylph, who soon returned, brought good news.

-There is space above.

That’s good news.

“Fortunately, it seems like we’ve almost reached our destination.”

“The problem is that we can’t move at all….”

Cruse said as if she was in trouble.

If I attack without hesitation, my concentration will be broken by the aftermath.

It’s a difficult situation.

“About that… Cruse, it won’t take you long to take one person up to the water, right?”

“…Um. Maybe, but.”

She frowned as if she soon realized my intention.

“Aileon? Are you kidding me?”

“Would I joke in this situation? And Princess?”

“Yes, yes?!”

“I was wondering if you could lend me that artifact that breathes in the water.”

I thought it was useless, but it turned out to be useful.

I took it from Resilia as if I was half-stealing it, put it around my neck, and gave instructions.

“I’ll release my ability when I signal. Princess, hold on to Cruse and hold your breath. And Cruse, take this lady to the water right away. Okay?”

The Princess nods urgently and clings to Cruse’s back like a sloth.

She’s desperate.

“Aileon, what about you?”

“I’m going to stop that guy.”

Both of you go up first.

I’m going to play with this squid.