How To Suck Honey With Extras [EN]: Chapter 314

349. The Truth Is Here (5)

She had clearly stated it.

That it concerned a problem related to me.

And that understanding it might be possible if I dedicated some time to it, despite my perceived lack of aptitude.

“You don’t have anything else to do, do you?”

“Not at the moment, but…”

“Then that’s fortunate. Follow me.”

As she said that, she outlined what I would be doing from then on.

“Observe what I do… and the sword I wield. That is the first thing you must do.”

And so, I ended up trailing after the old woman.

“You’re not just trying to kill time with some flimsy excuse because you’re too lazy to teach me, are you?”

“Boy, have you lived your life constantly being deceived?”

“Unfortunately, I’ve had quite a few similar experiences.”

“Similar experiences?”

“There was that time they said they’d give me job training, used me for a month, and then on the last day, they made up some weird excuse and dumped me without paying.”

And I suffered similar fates three more times after that. Huhu.

That’s why I’m skeptical of plausible stories.

“Don’t worry. What would this old body gain from deceiving you?”

“The pleasure of deceiving a naive boy who doesn’t know the ways of the world?”

“…You don’t want to concede a single word in an argument, do you? Enough chatter, follow me. There’s no time.”

Anyway, while dragging out such conversations, I trailed behind Melas.

In fact, what I’m most wary of isn’t such a flimsy excuse.

‘…I actually asked for a favor, but I don’t know what that old hag will make me do.’

Let’s consider Sylvester’s recollections in the original story.

He always said his master’s training was extreme, and he teared up whenever he recalled those hardships.

Binding his hands and throwing him into a habitat densely populated with monsters to cultivate his fortitude.

Making him face trolls with his bare hands.

As a master, her skills were definitely acknowledged, but she was repeatedly mentioned for pushing her disciples quite hard.

‘Did I ask for a favor I shouldn’t have…?’

The anxiety started to grow when she left the city and headed straight up a remote mountain.

‘Come to think of it, didn’t she tie me up completely to learn how to perfectly guard my body with Aura [a type of magical energy] and roll me down a rocky mountain full of gravel?’

Just as I was contemplating whether to run away now, she suddenly sighed deeply.

“Alright. I’ll explain. It’s not like I’m going somewhere specifically to teach you.”

“…Yes?”

“It just so happens that I have something to do here. I’m just going to take care of that first.”

Should I be relieved that I’m not destined for hard labor? Or….

“What is it? Then why am I following you?”

“Didn’t I tell you? Your job is to watch from behind. At least, I can’t tell you the next part until you do that first.”

“…”

If it were Crusena or someone else, they would teach me even the most minute theories without me having to ask, but she has a different disposition.

If I have the will to learn, I’ll follow on my own, and if I can’t, I’ll fall behind.

“If you don’t like it, you can go back now.”

“…Yes. I’ll follow you anywhere.”

I shrugged and continued to chase after her.

* * *

She leaped over two mountains and arrived at what seemed to be a monster habitat.

“Oh my… what’s going on here.”

“Hmm, they’ve built quite a nest, more than I heard.”

Unlike me, who was astonished and admiring, Melas muttered seriously as if she was assessing the situation.

The area we were looking down on was completely covered with monsters.

If this were a game, it would be enough to level up by at least 10 levels.

Moreover, the level of the monsters is not to be trifled with.

“Minotaurs? No, why are these guys here when it’s not even a labyrinth?”

Red skin, a bull’s head, and a burly physique that would make even ordinary monsters back away.

I knew right away that these were not the typical Minotaurs I knew.

“Is this the first time you’ve seen such a sight?”

“Where I was, monsters never nested so openly like this.”

“My, what a peaceful place.”

My era was described as a peaceful place from her mouth.

Come to think of it, when Sylvester first opened his eyes in the world 20,000 years later, did he think the level of monsters was weaker than what he knew?

“Anyway, could it be that you came here because…”

“Isn’t it obvious?”

Melas drew her Killmuris [likely a type of sword].

There are monsters? Then I have to hunt them.

“I need to clean up first.”

Muttering briefly, she jumped down.

“Ah, wait a minute?! I thought so, but are you just going to charge in without thinking?”

There’s no time to stop her.

With that many monsters, there’s no strategy or anything?

“Let’s at least set up a trap!”

“How could I do something so petty? More than anything, it’s a hassle.”

“It’s because it’s a hassle!”

For now, my job is to watch.

In the end, I jumped in too.

“Don’t worry. There’s no need for you to get involved.”

What an incomprehensible confidence.

But that’s not just empty bravado.

The moment her sword invaded the horde of monsters, it disappeared from my sight.

There it is again….

For some reason, I can’t properly recognize her movements.

Just in case, I grabbed the handle of Killmuris, which I had tucked into my waist, and activated its ability, but even so….

“It’s hard to even keep up.”

Is this the difference in skill?

“Hmph!”

In the meantime, several gusts of wind swept through, and soon fragments of hundreds of monsters scattered in an instant.

“These guys are a bit tough.”

Contrary to her words, judging by the way they were being cut down so refreshingly, they didn’t seem that tough?

Almost half of them were eliminated in an instant.

Are these monsters too weak?

Half curious, I also drew my sword and chose a suitable one to cut down.

“…Where.”

Sreung!

The sword, filled with the strong energy of Aura, resonated as if in sympathy.

As it automatically refined that energy sharply, the technique was unleashed as if responding to my will.

My steps moved naturally, leaping forward in an instant, and then raising my sword in just a few steps.

Clang!

However, we were pushed back as the Minotaur countered with a claw strike.

“…Huh?”

Strong.

Strong enough to exchange a blow head-on.

However, the monster’s claws were already tattered from just that one exchange.

“There’s no way a second time.”

I immediately swung my sword horizontally, blowing off the head of the Minotaur, who was bewildered.

‘What, these guys? They’re stronger than I expected.’

I’ve dealt with these kinds of monsters countless times, but… what?

Even if the monsters of this era are unusually strong, there’s a limit.

“Didn’t I tell you they were tough?”

“How is this just tough! They’re disgustingly hard!”

This era is crazy!

Complaining, I somewhat sincerely drew up my strength.

Holding up Killmuris.

“Gravity Control…”

I unleash and overlay a gravity field.

A purple reverse field is overlaid on the blue Aura, creating a double layer of power.

“Ho?”

While massacring the monsters, she seemed to have been watching my actions, making a slightly interested sound.

“Eat this!”

As I swung the sword energy overlaid with the gravity field.

Kwagagagagagagagang!

The entire area collapsed, and a roar that seemed to shake the ground rang out, and the monsters caught in the blast were cut off in a line.

Even the ones that were hit missed lost their balance and began to stagger as the floor shook.

“Too much power went into it. What a waste of power.”

“This is all I know how to do!”

There’s no reason to just use swordsmanship honestly.

I immediately activated my second ability.

The Omnipotent Crystal.

It sucks up a large amount of mana and refines minerals through it.

Kwagagagagagagagat!

Sharp mineral fragments soared from under my feet, piercing the monsters one by one.

Of course, they don’t die from this alone.

But it’s enough to make them unable to move.

And.

“The finish…”

I immediately drew my sword back greatly, refining my Aura.

Gathering and raising an even larger sword energy.

“This is it!”

I swung my sword greatly, cutting them all in half.

Hundreds of them were cut in half at once, and the sensation was properly transmitted to my hand.

“Haa… ha… that was pretty tough.”

I put some effort into it because I was a bit stubborn, but I can’t say it was easy even as a figure of speech.

‘Is this the gap between me and her now?’

Thinking it was quite strange, I regained my breath and began to help with the extermination of the monsters.

I definitely need to catch up to that level.

At this moment, I strongly believed it.

* * *

After completely annihilating the Minotaur’s nest.

Since it was already late, Melas suggested setting up camp nearby.

I also didn’t want to travel along the night road, so I readily agreed and helped prepare the camp.

And it was then that she told me the reason for coming here.

“Those guys from earlier seemed to be a headache… It seems they were discovered a few weeks ago, but they repeatedly failed to subjugate them.”

“…Those guys, weren’t they weak?”

“What terrible things are you saying?”

Fortunately or unfortunately, those monsters from earlier were quite difficult even by the standards of this era.

No wonder they were so damn strong!

“Considering that… you were slicing them up so easily?”

While I was sweeping away dozens of them, she was slaughtering hundreds.

Even with the difference that she is familiar with this era, the efficiency is still too different.

Of course, there may be a difference in skill?

“Is there a secret or something?”

“…A secret?”

However, she somehow closed her mouth and stared at me when she heard this question.

Hmm? Did I ask something I shouldn’t have?

“Ah, did I say something unnecessary?”

“That’s not it. I just became convinced that what I’m guessing about your problem is correct.”

“Huh?”

A problem?

“Have you thought about why I ordered you to follow me and act together, rather than any other training?”

“…Because you’re lazy?”

“Tsk.”

“I’m kidding. I’ve been thinking about it, but I can’t quite grasp it.”

I thought maybe she was trying to have me gain practical experience by having me face the same monsters as before, but something didn’t quite fit.

I know there’s an intention, but I haven’t guessed it yet.

“Ah! Is this a homework assignment I have to solve?”

“Not exactly. Originally, you should have realized it on your own, but since there’s no time, I’ll tell you this time.”

It seems she thought I was the type who takes a long time to solve riddles about myself.

Just half a day ago, she seemed like she would never say it, but she immediately changed her policy.

“Aileen, you are already stronger than me.”

“…Yes?”

“At least your body… and the amount of magic you possess. If we only consider the physical body, it can’t be compared to an old woman like me.”

“W-wait a minute? I don’t quite understand.”

I’m really taken aback even after hearing it.

Didn’t the results already come out just from hunting the monsters earlier?

Of course, I can’t use spirit magic right now.

But she doesn’t know about my spirit magic right now.

So, she must be talking about the current me.

“There may be differences in skill and experience. But you don’t simply want to surpass me in swordsmanship, do you?”

“W-well, that’s true….”

If it were Sylvester, he would say yes without a word and his eyes would light up, but my circumstances are different.

But the question remains.

“Aileen… you are not using your talents at all.”

She said seriously, watching me as if observing my essence with endlessly sunken eyes.