How To Suck Honey With Extras [EN]: Chapter 263

293. Spirit Magic (6)

Of course, the reason I’m dumbfounded is something else.

“You couldn’t respond?”

“I tried. Well… it’s my duty to protect the Princess, so I didn’t leave her side. But the Empire’s knight orders, including the prestigious knights residing in the capital at the time, also tried to respond.”

There was also the Imperial Magic Corps in the capital, and the strongest mage leading it.

It wouldn’t have been difficult for them to respond.

“The fact that you’re here means it went terribly wrong.”

“……Ugh.”

I didn’t mean to be sarcastic, but it hit the nail on the head, and he couldn’t speak.

“It was instantaneous.”

The knights fell, and the mages either self-destructed without responding or were defeated by the attackers.

The villains stormed the Imperial Palace in one fell swoop and occupied the entire place.

“Most of the dignitaries residing there at the time, including the Imperial Family… and His Majesty the Emperor, were unable to escape.”

And most of the key figures residing in the Imperial Palace seemed to be held there as is.

It was as if they were trapped in their own homes, unable to leave.

“They occupied it quite boldly… But how did you, who should be protecting Princess Lesilia, escape?”

“The Princess used her wit to send only me out somehow. And she ordered me to go here.”

“…….”

I understand the intention.

It means that the person to send a desperate request for help, like a drowning man grasping at straws, was here.

‘Well, given the Princess’s capabilities, there’s nowhere else to ask for help.’

I understand.

Requesting assistance from another country?

Out of the question.

Even if contact is made, the possibility of them stepping up to help is low.

And who knows how long it will take.

In this case, the fastest is an individual who is not bound by anyone.

The reason they thought of me is probably because I was the most recent face they saw.

Yeah, I understand. I understand.

But…….

“The Empire has become like that…….”

“…….”

“Then we should prepare for the worst. Should I tell the other guys to be careful too… Ah, I should also tell Lowell to keep an eye on trade with the Empire.”

I should take good care of my house and lock the doors.

Yoon Han’s expression was tinged with dismay as he noticed the meaning of my deliberately muttered words.

It’s a refusal.

‘Of course, I wouldn’t agree.’

It’s not that I don’t have a clue about the seriousness or the inside story, and I also have my own thoughts.

But there’s no reason to readily take the hand that asks for help out of the blue.

I’d rather move separately.

“You’re not going to cooperate……?”

Cooperate? Cooperaaate? Pfft!

“You underestimate people too easily. Do you think the world is that easy?”

Feigning a sneering laugh, I tried to get up from my seat.

Then, snap! He grabs the hem of my pants.

“What are you doing, being an Imperial Knight?”

“I know it’s a shameless request. I know how absurd it is too.”

“If you know, you should go to the King of Selvas Kingdom, not here.”

“B, but…….”

He must know that I won’t help.

Even if they accept, who knows how long they will drag their feet to extract benefits.

No, they might even side with those villains.

I know that much too.

“What you’re claiming now is… to go and fight in a hell where monsters that even brought down the capital are swarming.”

“……Th, that’s.”

“If you put such a request on the mercenary guild, even S-rank mercenaries would refuse.”

“……Of course, I don’t mean to ask for help without compensation.”

“Compensation? The price to hire me won’t be cheap, you know?”

Quite arrogantly, I smirked and looked down at him, asking.

“Since you mentioned compensation, tell me. What can you pay?”

“……My family’s wealth, perhaps.”

“Money? Of course, that’s good too. But is there any reason for me to risk my life to go all the way there to get money?”

I’d rather stay here leisurely, protect my store, and build up my wealth steadily through commerce.

There’s not enough merit to step in.

“I need a more definite compensation.”

“Th, that’s what I’m saying.”

“Ah, I know. Certainly, you don’t have the authority to give me any more definite answers than that. So, I’ll ask the Princess for that compensation, shall I?”

He gasped as if surprised.

“That’s obvious. A vassal can’t pay the price. So, isn’t it basic to charge the owner?”

Above all, it was the Princess’s trick that sent this guy.

Then, of course, she’ll keep in mind how I’ll react.

Since we can’t negotiate in advance, it will be a form of action first, negotiation later.

“My going there means that I don’t know what kind of negotiations I’ll have with that Princess after the incident is resolved.”

“You can’t do that.”

“If that’s okay, keep asking. If you can’t, go back. Well, I can give you some travel expenses.”

I waited, ready to kick him out at any time.

Finally, he couldn’t speak properly, trembling as if conflicted, and eventually bowed his head.

“I understand…….”

Is that what it feels like to have a crooked merchant force goods on you?

I don’t want to make such a fuss either.

Even if I didn’t act like this, there’s a high possibility that Princess Lesilia’s side would give me enough compensation after helping.

Even so, I don’t want to give the prejudice that I’m an easy-to-move talent.

Sometimes you have to act expensive.

“I have no choice. Then, for now, I’ll accept that request.”

In fact, from the moment I heard the story from him, I was going to the Forellos Empire.

I just didn’t have an excuse, and I was hesitant to get involved, so I stayed still.

‘I can’t leave it alone.’

Other things are still uncertain, but this much is certain.

That Epheleo bastard must have interfered.

Otherwise, this situation would never have happened.

294. There Are Too Many Villains (1)

I’ve agreed, but I can’t leave right away.

Yoon Han’s stamina needs to recover, and I need to prepare.

When I said that it would take at least five days just to prepare, Yoon Han reluctantly agreed, barely holding back his disappointment, as he thought it wouldn’t be reasonable to urge me any further.

First, I need to prepare for the trip and ask the hired demi-humans to look after the store and the house.

I’m not worried about that.

‘But this time, it’s not good to go alone… Should I find someone who can help me as much as possible…….’

First, I asked the alchemist Elmeroth, asking if he would come with me.

“……The Forellos Empire, you say?”

“Yes. I think I have to go there for some reason.”

I told him about the situation I heard from Yoon Han.

He was so surprised that he couldn’t even easily express his feelings for a few seconds.

“……I can’t believe the center of that empire has fallen. No, even after hearing that, you’re still going?”

“Don’t look at me like I’m a suicide hopeful.”

“Would someone who goes to a dangerous place on their own be in their right mind?”

Ugh, you’re right.

“Tch, I can’t help it. I can’t send a crazy guy like this, so this old man has to go with you.”

“……Huh?”

Unexpected.

From now on, I was planning to make a long-winded persuasion to convince him.

But it looks like he’s going to follow me even if I don’t ask?

“Aren’t you being too compliant?”

“Are you complaining?”

“It’s not a complaint, but…… Ah, maybe…….”

I immediately guessed the reason.

-No way. I can’t allow it.

And that reason descended.

Senillaina, the Spirit King of Wind, was summoned from the ceiling and grabbed Elmeroth’s shoulder tightly.

“Se, Senil…….”

-Elmeroth. Where are you going?

I definitely saw it.

The force holding the shoulder is not ordinary.

Elmeroth sweats profusely, unable to even scream.

-Where are you going?

“I…… I’m not going anywhere……. Um, I’m just worried about this friend.”

-It’s okay. You don’t have to go.

It seems that Senillaina has no intention of sending Elmeroth.

The strange spirit that she would kill him even if he said he would go is clear in her eyes.

Scary.

The grudge of being stood up for 100 years is great.

“Um! Of course, I just said that out of feeling. Hehehe…… Where would this old man go now…….”

-Yeah!

Only then does she release her hand from his shoulder as if satisfied.

Now I roughly understand.

‘This old man who only looks young on the outside…… He was trying to get out of it by using me as an excuse.’

Well, it’s a worry that has nothing to do with me.

I don’t want to care, and I don’t want to understand. Tch.

For now, this old man is hopeless.

Sighing, I moved on to find the next talent.

The next target I had my eye on was naturally Cruse Elfament.

I had thought from the beginning that she would be easy to win over, so I’m not worried.

As expected, as soon as I brought up the matter, she readily expressed her willingness to help.

“If it’s about going with you, there’s no reason to refuse.”

“Won’t the Red Tower be watching you?”

“Well? If the capital has fallen as that knight said, the Red Tower won’t be able to do its job either.”

They can’t exert their power, or they may have already been annihilated.

That’s how I explained it.

“……Indeed.”

“Before that, Eilon? I’d like you to tell me just one thing for sure?”

Cruse looked straight into my eyes, giving strength to her gaze with the feeling that I shouldn’t avoid it.

“……What is it?”

“Aren’t you already guessing something else?”

She demands the sharing of definite information.

“I know that you’re not the type to go to dangerous places yourself. But you’re still going.”

“…….”

“That means you already have information.”

I can’t hide it.

Above all, I wanted to reveal that much.

If Cruse had hesitated to cooperate, I would have tried to use this information as bait.

“I was going to tell you right away.”

“Let’s hear it.”

“First of all, I have some guesses about the culprit.”

“……That’s quite direct information.”

It’s information I didn’t tell Yoon Han either.

After listening to his explanation, I could roughly guess who the ones who brought down the capital were.

Because the characteristics are clear.

That’s why I had to be embarrassed.

“First of all, I heard that red crystals soared…… That probably refers to the Empress.”

“……The Empress. Aha…… You’re talking about the monster of obsession from the Elphark Empire.”

Cruse nodded, understanding who I meant.

Those who remember the last Empress of the great empire that was destroyed in exchange for the founding of Forellos also know another side of that Empress.

“I’ve heard rumors that she went mad with resentment over the destruction of the great empire and became a monster.”

“I know that too.”

As a result of repeatedly harboring that resentment, the former capital of the great empire has become a dangerous zone that humans cannot approach.

‘The problem is that it’s true…….’

That Empress is also a villain who appears in the original work.

Above all, she’s a character who appears in the Forellos Empire-related story, so my guess must be correct.

Besides that…… Several villains are intertwined.

“However, I can’t guess about the bat…….”

“Leaving that aside, I think that level of information is useful enough.”

It must have been enough to appeal that I have something to rely on.

“And…… Including the last skeleton.”

“Yes. I can guess that too. It must be black magic…… the necromancy system.”

“And the person who would do that is…….”

There are many black mages in the world, but if it’s a person related to the Forellos Empire…… and someone with that level of ability, there’s only one person.

“It’s Kmelz Alfrens.”

Surely that lich is at the center of the attack.

“……As expected.”

Cruse nodded calmly as if she understood.

But inside, there must be quite a big wave of agitation.

“Then I have no choice but to accompany you even more.”

“Cruse has been chasing the whereabouts of that black mage for a while now.”

“Yes…… Because there’s something I definitely want to ask him.”

Cruse calmly admitted.

I know what the reason is, and it would be easy to ask, but I didn’t bother to mention it.

That’s a matter for later.

It’s not a worry that I should get involved in.