How To Suck Honey With Extras [EN]: Chapter 338

376. Conclusion (3)

Instead of just shouting empty reassurances, they immediately began attacking and annihilating the monsters.

Alnix’s spear cleaved through the torsos of dozens of monsters.

Lucel’s summoned spirits kept the monsters in check.

And in the opening created, Cruse’s magic struck the enemy’s center, wiping them out in one fell swoop.

“We’ll handle it somehow, so you go up, Aileen! What do you need to do!”

“You mean, use the right tool for the job.”

Don’t use a butcher knife to kill a chicken.

I laughed even as I said it.

Since when did I become a butcher knife?

My knife is only good enough for cutting vegetables.

Life is best lived with a kitchen knife.

“……Understood.”

There’s no reason to stubbornly stay behind.

Even if they hadn’t said it first, I might have suggested it myself depending on the situation.

“Then I’ll trust you to handle things here.”

With that, I summoned Sprite and ordered him to unleash lightning directly ahead.

The lightning Sprite unleashed stretched out in a long line.

“Undine! Block the path!”

-Get out of here!

As if rejecting the monsters, Undine gestured, creating a barrier of water that blocked the path, preventing the monsters from filling the gap.

The path to charge through was made.

“Then I’ll leave the rest to you.”

Leaving everyone behind, I didn’t look back and broke through, moving forward.

The best way to help them wasn’t to stay here and fight alongside them…….

“……Is to end this situation as quickly as possible.”

The only way is to quickly bring down the culprit and end this incident.

And one of those idiots must be up here.

First, it’s you.

* * *

Sylvester Difrex.

His decision to take up the sword was entirely his own.

Taken in by his master as a child, he asked her of his own accord to teach him the sword.

He felt that he could become stronger if he wielded a sword.

He wanted to become stronger.

And he wanted to be righteous.

‘If you don’t have strength, you can’t survive… that’s an unchanging reality in any world.’

His hometown… or rather, the story of 20,000 years ago.

Regardless of the destruction of the era 20,000 years ago, his hometown was destined to disappear due to a common disaster.

They didn’t have the strength.

They didn’t have the strength to fend off the bandits’ attacks.

A mere mountain village couldn’t possibly withstand bandits that even the lord’s army avoided.

There, Sylvester clearly experienced how miserable those without power could be.

But it was a common tragedy.

And he knew that if his fate had been slightly different, he would have perished powerlessly as well.

That day, he happened to receive help from his master, and he begged her to teach him the sword.

‘Young one, why do you wish to learn the sword?’

‘Because I want to become stronger and survive with that strength.’

‘……Is that so? But why this old woman’s sword?’

‘I believe that only those with power are the most righteous. And I thought that swordsman’s sword was the strongest.’

‘…….’

For some reason, the master was silent for a moment then nodded.

Even after becoming a disciple, he never learned the meaning of that silence.

Before he could, he was sealed by his master.

And now he has come to this.

“It would be a lie to say that I didn’t have doubts or any resentment.”

Surprisingly, he doesn’t feel confused now.

He knew the truth about the world and naturally realized it.

Why his master stabbed him that day.

Whatever the purpose, he has survived.

So he has a duty to fulfill.

He decided to accept his fate.

“I will do what I must do.”

Surely, it is to save many people.

Why was he given the role of eliminating the villains with the destiny of a protagonist?

Because he had the power.

“Then I will use that power… to save as many people as possible.”

Sylvester accepted his fate in that way.

As a power to save more people.

That’s why he took up the sword.

“Isn’t that right, Aileen?”

And when he opened his eyes after meditation, Aileen, who had just entered this floor, was sending him a cold stare.

“Like hell, you idiot.”

* * *

“……Well, I guess it was worth it to pass off all the annoying stuff to the other guys and rush up here.”

Having reached the current floor, I spoke while staring ahead.

The person visible in the darkness couldn’t be distinguished yet, but it didn’t matter.

I couldn’t see his name yet, but it didn’t matter either.

Because I already knew who it was.

“There’s only one guy who would greet me here. Isn’t that right, Sylvester?”

“…….”

He didn’t answer.

Instead, he walked out directly and revealed his face.

It’s him.

“Seriously…… how can the protagonist be guarding the final boss? Isn’t that cheating?”

Complain? I don’t know who to complain to, but I’m going to complain anyway. I’m definitely going to sulk.

“Protagonist…… final boss. Just as Epheleoht said.”

“……Oh ho?”

I just tested the waters, but as expected, he heard everything.

Being used without knowing. Or hearing a distorted truth.

At least, it’s not that kind of situation.

Sylvester glared at me and sighed lightly.

“There’s no need to test me unnecessarily. If you have any questions, ask them all now. I’ll answer what I can.”

“Gee, how diligent.”

Well, that’s like him.

At least that calm attitude proves that he is rational…….

……And also, coldly insane.

“Then first. Are you sincerely participating in Epheleoht’s plan?”

“I don’t accept it. Also, I find it disgusting.”

That’s his true feeling.

“But I just think there’s no other way.”

“……Are you saying that sometimes you have to follow a disgusting reality?”

I’m furious, but he just has a bitter look on his face.

“Aileen. Seeing your reaction, I don’t need to ask you. As Epheleoht said, this world was being manipulated……. Haa…… Protagonist, huh.”

He scoffed as if he found it ridiculous.

“What kind of protagonist is a hero created to be played with?”

“……Self-deprecating, aren’t we?”

“Can’t you understand what I’m saying?”

“No, if I were in the opposite position, I would already be crying and beating the ground…….”

I’ve never thought that I wasn’t envious of his position as much as I do now.

It must be truly miserable.

Knowing it’s disgusting, yet believing that there’s no other way and joining the enemy’s plan.

“To be honest, there’s a part of me that’s truly glad it’s not me.”

It’s a humanly embarrassing thing to say, but it’s better to be honest.

“Is that so? Then I can’t back down even more.”

Sylvester nodded seriously and gently touched his sword hanging at his waist.

“……I’m telling you, give up.”

“No.”

I wondered if there was room for negotiation, but he refused.

“If the plan succeeds, we can buy time.”

“Instead, you’ll commit a terrible sin.”

“I know. There’s no making up for it. I’ll definitely pay the price.”

It’s like him, but if it’s not like him, it’s a truly unfitting thing to say.

He will probably tie up loose ends as he said after buying time through this plan.

Maybe he will get rid of Epheleoht and pay the price himself in some way.

Haa…….

I took a light breath and then.

“Are you going to spout responsibility? You arrogant brat.”

“…….”

He gasped as if surprised.

I had never spoken so openly to anyone like this before.

He may not know what kind of person I am, but he wouldn’t have seen me as someone who would say such things.

“A kid who hasn’t even lived half of my life is talking about responsibility?”

I’m not provoking him.

I’m just annoyed.

“There’s always a guy who says that. I’ll take responsibility, I’ll pay the price? Hah. Funny.”

I scoffed.

Not as Aileen.

But as me, who lived that previous life.

I scoffed, recalling all those experiences.

“Kid, let me teach you something good. There’s no such thing as a responsibility you can bear in this world.”

“…….”

“You can say it plausibly. But you know what? That responsibility is just a plausible thing to say.”

It’s impossible to take perfect responsibility in reality.

No, there’s no way to prove that he’s really fulfilling that obligation accurately.

It’s only subjective.

It’s only self-satisfaction.

“I’ve seen all kinds of human trash, you know? I’ve worked to death under those guys, without getting paid.”

That’s why I’m sure.

“I’ve never seen a guy who said he’d take responsibility actually take it.”

“Then you can take it?”

“Me? Of course, I can’t. Responsibility? Don’t give me that crap.”

I said confidently.

“People live their lives paying for the karma of their actions. They only do as much as they’ve done.”

No matter how responsible you are, you can’t do anything more than your own karma.

“Well, that’s just my personal opinion.”

It’s just my personal opinion, and it may not be the answer.

No, there’s a high probability that it’s probably bullshit.

But I live believing only this.

“Still, I insist. What you’re doing is screwed up. So give up.”

“……Hearing what you said, I’m convinced.”

Sylvester finally drew his sword.

Sreung.

A smooth sound like metal grinding echoed in the room, and his blade shone with a silver light.

“Then I can’t give up even more.”

“……Oops.”

Did I say something unnecessary?

Certainly, that’s why older people only make things worse when they lecture.

Hmm…… Was I a bit of a *kkondae* [Korean slang for a condescending older person] unlike myself?

“Well, if you can’t give up, that’s fine.”

I cleanly give up on persuading him.

He’s a hopeless case anyway.

It’s not the time to politely persuade him.

Yeah, he’s not that age, is he?

“At least, during a time of turbulence, you have to get hit hard to listen.”

I also drew Killmuris and pointed it at him.

That should be enough to convey my intention.

“Where this time, I’ll push forward in the way you guys like so much.”

First, beat him to a pulp and see.

It’s not like I particularly dislike that.

I’m just reluctant because it’s a comfortable method.

There’s no need to show off by generously giving the first move.

At the same time as feeling the air getting heavy, Sylvester’s figure blurred in my vision.

“……You’re in a hurry.”

Entrusting my body to the technique, I swung my sword sideways, and it collided with the sword he was raising in a low stance, as if he had already approached.

Clang.

But in the midst of those sparks, he’s gone again.

“You’ve gotten faster.”

He must have improved his skills while wandering around with Epheleoht.

“What a diligent guy…….”

I smiled bitterly, and as I pulled my body back, the sword energy he unleashed stretched out and cut the floor in front of me.

“Sorry, but it’s the same technique. You can’t easily catch me off guard.”

“I know.”

Does he not know that fact?

And do I not know his intentions?

The sword wielded by Sylvester chased me in an orderly manner, gradually blocking my retreat and covering me.

Each one is sharp.

If I get grazed by mistake, I can’t even exaggerate to say I’m slightly cut.

I narrowly avoid it, or use abilities that are good at defense to block what I can’t avoid.

“There’s no need to test the waters now, is there?”

“……Maybe?”

He’s not fooled by my current skills.

He seems to be deploying swordsmanship assuming that I’ve already become stronger.

Tadat, tadadat!

Thin and sharp strikes pour down like rain from the front.

“Block it, Undine.”

-Okay! I’ll definitely block it.

I summon Undine to use spirit magic.

Water rotates and becomes fog, and that widely spread fog absorbs Sylvester’s sword energy.

“……Spirit magic. It’s annoying as expected.”

“And this is also possible.”

As I flick my hand slightly, a crystal generated from under my feet rises, aiming for his chin.

Sylvester lightly tilted his head and avoided it.

“I’m not surprised by anything you do.”

Calmly, he is determined to deal with whatever I show him.

In an instant, he stepped on the soaring crystal and leaped, brushing past my waist.

Is he going to come out in full force now?