How To Suck Honey With Extras [EN]: Chapter 241

“269? Everything but that! (3)”

“More importantly, let’s think about the awarding of honors.”

Leaving aside the black magic, what remains for us now is the award ceremony.

It seemed the royal palace intended to create an event to honor Sylvester, Cruise, and me, using it as a way to promote themselves.

The attack at the banquet could be contained by silencing the nobles, but this time there were too many witnesses.

Among them were citizens who saw Cruise and me flying, so they must have decided it couldn’t be hidden.

They were even giving out the Royal Gold Medal of Honor, or so they said.

Apparently, it was an award that was barely given to knights who had made great contributions.

“Aileen, do you also think it’s a glorious thing?”

“Huh? Well, the medal itself… I’m confident it’ll be rolling around in my subspace within a month after I receive it…”

I’m not particularly interested in the medal.

The important thing is the position I’ll gain, rather than that trivial medal.

In fact, after hearing about the award ceremony, I spent the whole night pondering.

‘Should I accept it? Or should I decline?’

Before, I would have chosen not to receive it.

Jealousy is annoying, and there’s no benefit to being known.

‘But is it okay now?’

What about now?

‘Even if they’re jealous, they’re just small fry who can be blown away with a flick of my finger…’

There’s no reason to care.

Isn’t that why I wanted power and have been suffering until now?

More than anything, considering what I want to do, it’s more advantageous to accept it.

I confidently stated my opinion that I would gladly attend the ceremony.

Cruise probably wouldn’t refuse either.

It would be a great opportunity for the White Tower to promote itself.

“Ah… right, the medal… there was that too.”

However, Sylvester didn’t seem too keen on it.

How odd.

In the original story, he seemed to have accepted the medal without a word.

Well, there’s no need to worry about it.

What I need to think about is my future conduct and what lies ahead.

Only then can I look around at other things.

* * *

The day of the award ceremony.

A person from the royal palace came to pick me up as scheduled, and I headed to the palace.

After being put in a carriage and taken there, I entrusted all the procedures to the other party.

I listened to explanations about clothing, schedules, and etiquette, and even had a rehearsal.

“Indeed… as befitting the occasion, mistakes are not allowed.”

“It’s not that serious.”

The old man who appeared to be a butler, who was explaining the ceremony’s procedures, said with a gentle smile.

“Even if Aileen makes a minor mistake, there won’t be any unfortunate events like the ceremony being canceled… well, unless you make a really big mistake.”

For example, if I suddenly started breakdancing at the ceremony, they would overlook minor mistakes.

…Should I really do it?

Nobles might be nitpicked for trivial things, but they don’t expect that level of etiquette from a commoner.

‘…Of course, I don’t intend to take it at face value.’

Overlooking mistakes is different from being ignored.

I can’t be underestimated.

‘I’m used to pointlessly embellishing things.’

Vowing to show them a more definite version of myself, I memorized the ceremony’s procedures and etiquette, even if I had to force myself.

I’m good at memorization, after all.

Because Koreans are the people of memorization, right?

* * *

And finally, the day of the award ceremony arrived.

‘Wait… there are so many people…’

Even though I wasn’t threatened, I felt a sudden tightness in my chest.

…There are so many people.

The eyes of the countless people gathered in the plaza were focused on me, and the preparations were already in place to start the ceremony in that public setting.

‘I certainly heard countless times that it would be a large-scale and public ceremony…’

Knowing it in my head is different from seeing it with my own eyes.

I thought I wouldn’t be shaken even if I received the attention of the masses, but was I mistaken?

A sense of tension filled my stomach.

‘I’m glad I memorized everything thoroughly…’

If I made a mistake, it would become a lifelong embarrassing moment.

‘It’s okay… I just need to receive the medal, listen to the king’s words, and step back.’

A procedure that even a monkey can do with training.

I reminded myself of that once again and waited for my turn.

Then, someone poked me on the back.

At first, I thought it was a mistake, but someone kept poking me.

“…Who is it? …Hmm?”

I turned my head and frowned in bewilderment.

“…Hwang.”

“Aileen.”

The other person sharply raised her eyes as if giving me a hint.

Yes, I know, I know.

“It’s Lady Halnate…”

“Yes, that’s right~ It’s me. Hehehe. Of course, it’s me! I’m glad you still have a good sense of things.”

As promised, I hid her identity and called her by a pseudonym, and Princess Resilia nodded as if that was enough.

It’s not strange that she’s still here.

Besides her, there were people from other countries already in attendance with curious eyes.

Everyone must be curious about who stopped that boulder.

“Weren’t you going straight back home?”

“…I wasn’t planning on moving that quickly.”

For some reason, Resilia said with a somewhat disappointed attitude.

She received the key she was aiming for, but the dungeon was destroyed.

With the task she had to do gone, she would only be scolded by the mastermind who ordered her to do it if she returned to her home country.

“You’re going to get scolded when you go back. Hehehehe.”

“…Why are you smiling like you’re enjoying my misfortune?”

Well, it’s just that my personality is terrible.

Besides, I have a rough idea of who gave the instructions.

Serves you right.

“It’s not like I’ll be scolded that much. I’ll get an earful, but I can bring back other information instead.”

Everything that happened here, from the situation of the dungeon falling to the process of it being resolved.

She saw it all from right next to me, so she can at least argue that she did her job.

“Still, now that it’s come to this, I’m planning to rest as much as possible with all sorts of excuses before going back.”

“The imperial family is surprisingly laid-back.”

She avoided my gaze, perhaps because she had nothing to say to that point, even in her own opinion.

I understand her feelings.

I also try to return to the company as late as possible after going on a business trip.

Yeah. I understand.

“Still, it’s surprising. I didn’t expect you to willingly attend this ceremony.”

“The medal? Well, it’s more beneficial for me.”

“Hmph~ If this incident makes it difficult for you to gain a foothold here, I recommend moving your residence to another country.”

A meaningful remark.

It’s probably a piece of advice.

She must know what it means to be noticed.

Hmph, needless worries.

“For your information, our empire is fundamentally meritocratic.”

“Well, I’ll keep it in mind.”

It’s half a scout, and half a concern because she knows the trends of the Selvas Kingdom.

“But it’s okay. After all, I can’t hear the nonsense of most of the idiots. I’m so shameless, you see.”

“I suppose so.”

As we were talking, a cheer was finally heard from outside.

The award ceremony is starting.

The person who was guiding me informed me that it was my turn, and I slowly nodded and stepped forward.

Outside, the cheers had subsided once, and someone began to give a speech.

It’s the King of the Selvas Kingdom.

Well, the expected amount of screen time.

His real name is not well explained in the original story, so it is not certain, but if he is a supporting role, it must be the king himself.

“Listen, my people!”

The king’s voice echoed loudly so that it could be heard by the citizens gathered in the plaza.

“You all know that a threat has befallen our proud and historic land. A strange man threatened the peace of the kingdom and tried to destroy your livelihoods. It was truly a terrifying thing.”

The sight of a huge rock falling on the city where they lived must still be vivid in the eyes of the citizens.

“But that threat was shattered by benefactors, and the royal capital is still standing strong!”

The citizens responded to his speech by shouting praises.

“Many people struggled to prevent the disaster from falling on the kingdom, and I don’t know how to thank them.”

The king first expressed his gratitude to those who prevented this tragedy.

The knights and the wizards of the White Tower.

And even the remnants of the Continental Integration Assembly, who stepped in at the end, although I can’t reveal it.

“I would like to list their names one by one, but time is limited. Therefore, I will entrust the honor to those who have made contributions to represent them.”

As he said that, the person in charge of my guidance gave me a signal.

It means it’s my turn to go out.

“You too, praise the names of the benefactors who saved the kingdom and watch this place!”

“Waaaaaaa!”

The loudest cheer I had ever heard was heard, and they praised the heroes who appeared in this place, including me.

“Long live the benefactor!”

“They saved us!”

“Selvas Kingdom, forever!”

Leaving that sound behind, the heroes who would receive the medal stepped forward to the king.

Me.

Cruise.

…And.

‘…What?’

I widened my eyes as if I was momentarily shaken.

It’s not Sylvester who stepped forward.

For some reason, it was Alnix who stepped into that place.

Only then did I realize.

Sylvester had refused the medal.

Why?

I couldn’t help but be a little surprised.

Originally, Sylvester would not have refused this position.

He would have definitely attended.

That’s clear even now when I recall the memory of that part.

‘A change of heart? Or has there been a change in his way of thinking?’

It’s puzzling, but there’s no way I can ask in this place.

Looking at Alnix’s expression, it feels like he’s holding back something difficult.

There must have been something.

‘Let’s focus on this place first…’

I can ask about the details later.

The king praised the three who stepped forward as representatives, listing their achievements and bestowing medals upon each of us.

“With this, your contributions to the kingdom will forever remain in the kingdom’s memory.”

And the people repeatedly praise and remember our names.

I somehow knew it would happen.

‘So, the importance is increasing.’

The role is a conclusion I came to to some extent while observing the actions and importance of others recently.

Perhaps the criteria are divided by each individual’s fame and the degree of contribution to the work they have to do.

But what does it really mean for it to rise?

I quietly watch the message without saying a word.

What does that mean?

* * *

After the award ceremony.

The next day, I visited Roaant Academy, where Sylvester would be, to talk to him.

However, the only thing I heard from the person managing the dormitory was.

“Sylvester, that friend, seems to have left right away yesterday. He must have had personal reasons.”

He was no longer in the royal capital.

But there’s no reason to be surprised.

‘It’s a little early, but that time has come.’

I sighed and recalled.

He had doubts.

‘No, in this case, should I say it’s a little early?’

The time to run away from home has come.

* * *

Sylvester thought.

It wasn’t anything grand like a change of heart.

He just had a small question.

‘Is it okay to settle for the present as it is?’

There are no complaints or anything like that.

Life in this era can be said to be extremely satisfying for Sylvester.

But what he felt was a sense of unease.

‘Something I don’t know is happening…’

Pelentronel.

At first, he thought he was just a strange man dreaming of vain fantasies.

He just thought he was a villain to be defeated.

But he couldn’t help but face shocking information.

He is a human from the same era as himself.

And the reason he harbored misguided ideas is related to an incident at the time that he was unaware of.

‘But I didn’t hear it…’

He didn’t teach me.

‘Besides, the result is not something I brought about.’

The one who brought about the result was Aileen, not himself.

Sylvester also defeated him with force, but that was all.

When the situation changed, he couldn’t keep up.

Even the fall of the dungeon.

‘This won’t do…’

There’s something he doesn’t know.

This world may be more dangerous than he knows.