How To Suck Honey With Extras [EN]: Chapter 275

306. The Stolen Center (6)

“By the way, are you hurt?”

“Hmm? Oh… now that you mention it, I got a little scratched while dodging…”

I was referring to the minor wounds on my arm, injuries I sustained during the confrontation with those crystal stones.

I possess the ability to heal most sword wounds quickly, but those crystal stones also have a curse effect.

They prevent bleeding from stopping and cause flesh to rot.

“At this rate, it’ll heal in a day or two.”

That said, my body’s resistance isn’t negligible either.

I should be fine.

However, Ernil seems bothered by it, staring intently at my wounds.

“Ugh… you said you know Sylvester well, right?”

“Huh?”

“Now, stay still. Behave!”

Without waiting for my reply, she forcefully grabs my arm.

“O… oh?”

It’s not like I don’t know what she’s trying to do.

But let’s pretend to be flustered for now.

“Can’t you stay still like a child?”

Ernil warns me sternly to stay still, caressing my arm.

From her hand, a pure white, butterfly-like radiance flows out, sticking to my wounds and melting into them.

And the wounds disappear in an instant.

“…That’s… a power.”

“Um, I guess so. …Yeah, it’s a power.”

Ernil nods confidently.

I already knew that too.

The unique ability that Ernil Alfrens possesses.

The Radiance of Healing.

A recovery ability that instantly heals any wound by consuming mana [magical energy].

It is the highest-grade ability among healing-type abilities.

Naturally, it’s one of the characteristics Ernil Alfrens had in the original story.

“How is it now?”

“Quite… amazing.”

“Of course. Isn’t it? Sylvester?”

Ernil gestures as if wanting Sylvester to praise her, acting proud.

But if he understood, he wouldn’t be the idiot Sylvester is.

“Indeed… powers are certainly amazing.”

“…Tch.”

Ernil clicks her tongue, unheard, after hearing his mumbling.

Ah, so that’s why.

I noticed, but I didn’t say anything.

I have some sense too.

Still, should I help?

“This level of ability is quite rare, you know.”

Sylvester gives a look as if asking what I mean.

Seriously, that idiot.

“To use such an ability so freely. It’s usually unheard of, right? You’re quite generous.”

When I looked at Ernil, saying, “Right?”, Ernil nods with a ‘That’s right, that’s right!’ feeling.

‘I’ll help you, Ernil.’

‘Um, good. Help me!’

It felt like such telepathic messages were exchanged.

If he still doesn’t understand after all this, there’s really something wrong with him.

Fortunately, it doesn’t go that far, as Sylvester tilts his head for a moment and then finally seems to realize, his eyes widening.

“I see!”

Oh? You got it! What a surprise!

“I thought it was just a general healing ability, but it’s actually a higher-level ability…”

“…Tch.”

“…Ptooey.”

“…Tsk.”

I was a fool to trust that bastard.

Not just me.

Ernil, and even Luseal, are giving him similar looks.

I can’t help it.

I quietly cast a spell and created a barrier that transmits sound only to his ears.

An application of the Silence spell.

“…Just praise her honestly, you idiot.”

Sometimes, a strong, straightforward fact is better medicine than roundabout words.

Only then does Sylvester seem to realize something.

“…Um. Amazing, Ernil. I’m always in your debt. Thank you.”

“…Ah. Well, it’s fine. It’s okay.”

But receiving a bow after forcing it probably doesn’t make her happy.

He can’t even pretend to praise properly.

Sylvester’s master should have taught him social skills instead of swordsmanship.

“Next time, say it a little faster. At this rate, you’ll only be known as clueless forever.”

Well, it’s not entirely unpleasant, as she smiles subtly and then goes somewhere else as if she has other business.

Luseal follows her, so there shouldn’t be any problems.

“…”

“…”

Again, just the two guys left alone.

After a silence, Sylvester was the first to speak.

“…I’d like you to move the location for a bit. Is that alright?”

“It’s alright.”

It means there’s something he needs to say away from others.

I readily agree and follow him.

After moving quite a distance away from the area where the refugees are gathered, Sylvester finally seems convinced it’s safe and glances around before starting to speak.

“How much do you know about Ernil?”

It’s probably because of my attitude earlier.

Well, it was a reaction I deliberately induced.

I immediately spoke honestly.

“First, that she’s a High Elf.”

The energy she possesses is more intense than that of a simple Elf.

Moreover, with that ordinary Elf, Luseal, right next to her, it’s even more noticeable.

High Elf.

A superior existence of Elves whose existence is no longer confirmed in this day and age.

They are beings known to possess more powerful energy than ordinary Elves and have various talents.

“High Elves are known to be like royalty in human society.”

“…Well. I don’t know what High Elves are like now, so I can’t say anything.”

Sylvester shakes his head.

Come to think of it, Elves were even more reclusive in his homeland, the past era, so he wouldn’t have had the chance to meet them.

That’s why he didn’t notice the truth even more.

Luseal is an Elf, but she’s from a younger generation who doesn’t know much about her homeland, so she can only vaguely guess.

I could tell them, but I refrained.

“Don’t worry. Only a very few people will be able to know about Ernil.”

After all, Ernil’s identity won’t be noticed unless it’s at least someone on the level of Luseal or Alnix.

Even counting just those two, they’re among the top few in the kingdom.

So, you can assume there’s no risk of them easily noticing.

“Rather, I want to ask, Sylvester. Ernil wasn’t there during the previous Selvas Kingdom, right? When did you seduce her?”

“Seduce… don’t say things that could be misunderstood by others.”

He smiles bitterly and explains the situation.

He received a request to suppress a workshop of some black mages and, while exploring the place, he happened to find an Elven girl.

At first, he simply thought she was a victim of the black mages’ experiments and rescued her.

But a slight problem arose.

“Ernil seems to remember nothing but her name and some of her abilities.”

She has no past memories.

She knows nothing but her name.

Moreover, she’s a superior species that is even rarer than Elves these days.

And strangely enough, she was a child when he first rescued her, but after some time, she naturally grew to her current appearance.

So, he couldn’t entrust her to anyone.

In the end, Sylvester pondered and, with Ernil’s own consent, he accompanied her all the way to the Empire.

“…That’s it?”

But what I want to hear isn’t that kind of situation.

Specifically, I need to know how much Sylvester was involved and how much he knows.

“Or should I say it first? Ernil Alfrens, her real name that she remembers is probably correct, right?”

“…!!”

Sylvester’s eyes flicker slightly.

“How?”

“Whatever, I’ve encountered that Kmelz Alfrens before. I’ve even borrowed his power. It’s not strange for me to know that much information, right?”

I made up an appropriate excuse.

“I don’t know more than that.”

If I say more than that, it’ll be suspicious, so I cut off the information there for now.

“So, it seems like there’s no connection after all.”

“Who else knows?”

“I don’t know. For now, I’ve made sure Ernil doesn’t talk about it in detail.”

That’s why Sylvester said just ‘Ernil’ when introducing Ernil, instead of Ernil Alfrens.

“Good job. Not everyone is going to listen obediently like me or the others.”

“…I know.”

Sylvester probably knows by now that there aren’t only good people in this world.

Moreover, it’s somewhat known that Kmelz Alfrens is attacking the Empire right now, so it can’t end simply.

Now I understand why Sylvester, despite having the ability to leave the Empire, stubbornly stayed here.

He thought it was related to Ernil’s situation and wanted to get involved in the incident.

What a busybody.

“If you’re so worried, you should be more honest… then things would have been different…”

“Huh? What are you talking about?”

“No. It’s nothing.”

I can’t exactly call this friend nosy right now.

Ernil Alfrens’ situation isn’t something that will happen right away.

“Then Sylvester, I’ll ask something else this time.”

There’s something else I want to hear.

“You guys aren’t Imperial citizens, but you’re gaining their trust and helping them right now. They don’t particularly suspect you, right? Leaving aside their inner thoughts.”

“…That’s true, but.”

But they wouldn’t receive trust so easily.

When humans are driven to the extreme, they have a greater sense of belonging and try to unite among themselves, dividing into sides.

They wouldn’t easily accept outsiders.

In reality, Cruise and I are currently receiving quite a bit of scrutiny.

“Who guaranteed your identities? Imperial citizens are suspicious. They won’t easily accept the protection of outsiders.”

“…As expected. You thought that far?”

“I have some common sense about how the world works. Otherwise, I’d be easy to kill.”

“That attitude is still the same.”

And judging from this guy’s reaction, I’m probably right on the mark.

“Now that I’ve come this far, I need to talk to him too. So, please introduce me.”

I smiled and mentioned his name.

“I’m talking about the Third Prince of the Empire, Avil.”

I’m expecting him to be there.

No, he’ll definitely be there. If it’s that sly fox.

He’s not someone who would die because of this commotion.

* * *

There are two reasons why I was sure he would be here.

One is the detailed map of the capital’s underground passages.

Even ordinary nobles can’t handle that carelessly.

There’s no way there would be many people with the skill to make that come in so perfectly and guide people.

And the second.

The existence of the mercenary Elraut.

‘It’s obvious who she’s hired by.’

From that point, I smelled the presence of a specific person.

So, I need to make sure.

Whether he’s an enemy or an ally.

No, I don’t even expect him to be an ally, but he shouldn’t be a hindrance.

‘If he doesn’t have anything to hide, he’ll willingly meet me face to face.’

It doesn’t matter if he denies it.

If he feels guilty, that alone is enough to judge his position.

Fortunately, he seemed willing to talk to me.

After waiting a bit, someone who seemed to be his servant approached me first and spoke.

“…This way. He’s waiting.”

“Asking me to come and go, he must be a very precious person. Ah, he’s royalty, so he is precious.”

I say it as if to provoke him, but the servant doesn’t budge.

Tch, a trained servant.

I had to follow him quite far.

‘He’s not going to make me get lost and starve to death, is he?’

Even if they try to eliminate me, it’s already too late for them to eliminate me.

They wouldn’t have the strength to do so.

He wants to have a conversation that others shouldn’t hear from afar.

Finally, I sensed a presence.

Judging roughly, he’s a really ordinary human.

No, you could only say he’s below that level.

“Unexpected. Have I ever met you somewhere? I thought it was our first time meeting, but you don’t seem surprised at all.”

The young man looks at me with interest, and speaks in a tone that sounds almost teasing.

“Or do you not know who I am?”

“Well? I only remember famous people.”

I was an uncle who didn’t even know how many members there were in the most popular idol group on Earth where I used to live.

“And this is our first time meeting, Your Highness Avil.”

I checked the name floating above his head and called his name as if to deliberately return the favor.

Strictly speaking, he’s a villain, but he’s someone who may be able to negotiate with in the future, depending on the circumstances.

But a man who will stab you in the back if you’re not careful.

I need to talk to him first.