How To Suck Honey With Extras [EN]: Chapter 139

153. Raid on the Duke’s Estate (6)

The artifact Elenia currently possesses is called .

Let me briefly explain its power.

It’s an artifact created by an ability user with the bloodline ability . This user interpreted the patterns of their own ability and reproduced a small portion of its functions.

‘It sounds overpowered when you put it like that.’

The problem is, even though it’s powerful, it can’t be used freely.

It’s not an omnipotent [all-powerful] power, either.

‘First of all, the restrictions are severe.’

It can’t stop or reverse physical time like in ability battle comics.

Unless it’s the original user of the ability, it’s difficult to do with just the disc. It might be possible if someone with transcendent magical abilities, like a dragon, obtained it.

When a human uses it, the area they can interfere with is the flow of time of mana itself.

It seems the output is insufficient to interfere with physical laws, but it’s easy to interfere with mana, which is relatively free from restrictions in substance or space-time.

For example, foresight is said to be based on the principle of finding mana that exists in the future and reading that information.

There’s also a pretty crazy price to pay when using that artifact, but let’s talk about that later.

Anyway, it can’t be denied that the artifact is useful.

I know a few ways to use it from the original story.

A method of interpreting the unique mana of a specific individual to decipher future variables.

Commonly known as foresight.

And there are also a few tricks that interfere with the time of mana of specific individuals or objects.

One of them is the curse of reversing time, which is one of the few attack methods of that artifact.

The effect is to interfere with the ‘current time’ of the opponent’s mana and draw out the ‘mana of the past’.

In summary, it’s a type of curse that restricts the opponent’s power based on past information.

‘No matter how strong someone is, their past is hardly ever stronger than their present.’

Moreover, Elraut’s age in the setting is around her early 30s.

Her prime is now, not in the past.

‘And it’s clear that Elraut’s aura ability itself is suppressed.’

It has reverted her aura proficiency to at least 10 years ago.

This is only possible because it’s an artifact that interferes with the concept of time.

If it’s 10 years ago, Elraut’s age would probably be when she was a rookie.

The effect isn’t permanent, but at least she won’t be able to unleash her monstrous power here.

“…Ah, damn it. So that’s why… that’s why that guy wanted it so badly. This is definitely a bit underhanded.”

“Haven’t you lost your initial resolve, senior mercenary? You should have at least known what the client wanted.”

“I have no excuse for this.”

Elraut shrugged, looking embarrassed as if she had taken a big hit.

However, she doesn’t seem to be giving up.

“Well, I’ve roughly recalled this feeling. There’s no problem continuing.”

The moment she muttered that, I had the illusion that her body was shaking, and she instantly closed the distance.

‘Ugh! She’s fast!’

I hurriedly put up a fixed wall to block her, but before Elraut’s sword hit the range of the space fixation, it changed direction and grazed my defenseless thigh.

My defensive habits are completely figured out.

This is why I don’t like fighting masters of martial arts!

“Kugh!”

“The aura is definitely weaker. Yes, the aura, that is… So, the rest? Kid, did you think I only fought with aura since I was born?”

Experience and skill remain intact.

“Unfortunately, this older sister had more years without that.”

She unfolded her swordsmanship as if confident that she could overwhelm me enough with just that.

Perhaps because she has given up on being careless as much as she has weakened, she unfolds swordsmanship that is more violent, faster, and more precise than ever before.

“But the power is weak!”

If I grit my teeth and endure being cut a few times, it’s not to the point where I can’t handle it.

Activate gravity control.

Activate a gravity field in front to repel all objects in front of me.

I continuously pour lightning and fire at Elraut, who was swept away by the impact and flew over 100 meters [328 feet].

Boom boom boom!

“Just fall down already! You monster mercenary!”

I don’t give her a chance.

“Monster mercenary, kid! I’m a little sad when you say that!”

Elraut jumps out of the exploding flames and lightning.

Surprisingly, she escaped with pure skill alone.

‘It’s not easy. I can’t hit her just by blowing her away.’

I hardened my resolve and teleported to the front where she was running.

I deliberately allowed Elraut’s sword to be deeply embedded in my side.

“…Huh?”

“You probably didn’t expect me to go this far!”

I didn’t care about being stabbed and rammed into her.

Since I have healing abilities, it’s okay as long as it’s not a fatal wound.

The stabbed area is painful as if it were being branded with a hot iron and feels like it’s about to fall off, but I ignored it.

I deliberately collided with her body and slammed my forehead into Elraut’s face in that state.

Bang!

I don’t think even in this situation where she can’t use her aura properly, her bare face would be that hard.

Also, perhaps because I only fought in a timid way, she didn’t expect me to suddenly rush in like this, and Elraut’s head is greatly tilted back after being hit in vain.

Not missing the gap, I continued to pour attacks.

Pouring fire and exploding it at close range.

Following that, I continue to fire water spears while sticking close and pouring them out without rest.

Blood is mixed in the water droplets that collide with her body and scatter.

Taking that as a good omen, I further increased my momentum.

“Haaaaaaaaaaaaaak!”

I scream and squeeze out spirit magic as if squeezing it out even more to attack.

I can push through!

I just need to push a little more!

The problem is, how much more spirit magic can I use in the future…

I’m already short on mana, so I can’t summon Fluorite.

How many more minutes will the summoned intermediate spirits last…

I need to end it quickly.

When I was about to inhale for the next attack after pouring out a round of spirit magic.

Elraut’s arm grabbed my shoulder.

“…Oh, no.”

“This time, I caught you, kid.”

Elraut smiles, having endured that attack just now.

She was a mess, with burns all over her body and even bleeding, but I felt a force that seemed eerie.

Bang!

As if in return for the headbutt just now, her elbow struck my nose hard.

And following that, her sword greatly grazed my chest.

In addition, I barely twisted my body to deflect the stab that was coming next.

I felt like some flesh had fallen off in a few places, but I ignored it as well.

Without backing down, I rather put strength into my legs and pushed Elraut away by ramming into her.

‘Just once… I’ll push through with all the firepower I can draw out.’

Elraut, who has no aura, wouldn’t be able to withstand it.

I immediately unleashed spirit magic.

Mixed flames and lightning flew towards her.

She can’t avoid this.

Elraut tried to avoid the lightning and fire flying from the front.

Because at that moment, walls of ice soared from her left, right, and behind, blocking all escape routes.

“Oh, shoot…”

Elraut bit her lip as if she was in trouble.

It’s not me who uses the ice spirit.

“…Hit her properly.”

Lucel muttered with a pale face.

This is the end!

The flames and lightning poured and exploded towards Elraut, who had been driven to the brink.

The timing was perfect.

I drove her to the brink and hit her with this much attack while she was weakened.

No matter how monstrous a master she is, she couldn’t withstand it.

Even if she doesn’t die… at least if she suffers a fatal injury, that’s enough.

But…

Something feels off.

And soon I realized the identity of the discomfort.

A chilling sensation, pressure, and a sharp sense of threat.

A red sword aura was emitted, splitting the soaring flames.

The impact exploded in front of me, and I was pushed away and fell over.

“…How?!”

“…Honestly, I was a little scared too, kid. It was really close.”

Elraut said bitterly and walked out.

One of her arms was already a mess as if it had suffered a deep burn.

Only her left arm, which was still barely wrapped around the sword, was still intact.

The problem is that the damage is less than I calculated.

It should have worked well?

Was the power not enough?

Soon I found out the reason why she was safe.

“…To think she’d use this here.”

She muttered as if regretting it and took something out.

Something crumbled and fell from her grasp.

It’s a fragment of an artifact.

Presumably, it’s an item of the type that defends against magic or spirit magic.

It must be something with a limited number of uses instead of a powerful effect.

Elraut used it at a close timing.

Did I underestimate the mercenary’s preparedness?

“This is quite expensive. I’ll have to charge extra, or I’ll be at a loss.”

“…Then one more time.”

I can still fight more.

As I checked my condition and tried to draw out my strength.

At that time, I heard someone falling.

I hurriedly looked back.

Princess Elenia was breathing heavily as if she was in pain, having run out of strength and collapsed.

“Huk… huk… I’m sorry. I don’t think I can do it anymore.”

The activation limit of the artifact has been reached.

Because it’s such a high-consumption artifact.

The curse hasn’t been completely lifted yet, but the effect will gradually begin to weaken now.

‘What should I do?’

In the meantime, the enemy is approaching this way.

“It seems there’s no way out this time, kid.”

There’s no word to return.

There are only guys here who look like they’re about to collapse from exhaustion, and I’m no exception.

Elraut has suffered quite a few injuries, but it won’t be a problem.

‘Should I… try to fight with all my might, whether it works or not…’

But it’s not enough.

Even if I put aside my own strength for now, there were not enough people to fight with me.

What was lacking more than strength was the strength of our allies.

Two spiritists, a princess relying on artifacts, and ordinary soldiers or knights are far from enough.

I wish there was even one more person.

‘Originally, it would have been ideal for someone to block them from the front instead of me.’

It would have been nice if there was someone who could have fought at least a few rounds.

I clicked my tongue in regret and tried to struggle until the end.

And.

Elraut points her sword and charges.

Closing the distance in an instant, the magic sword attached to her left hand emits a red sword aura.

Just looking at the sword aura makes me feel like my skin is cracking.

“Tch.”

I thought it was dangerous and was about to open the window above my head and move my fingers.

“…I don’t know what’s going on. But I can assume that spiritist is an ally of Princess Elenia, right?”

At that time, a boy’s voice rang out, not knowing who it was.

“Then I’ll help your side first.”

An additional voice was heard.

At the same time, someone jumped in front of me.

It happened in less than 1 second.

“…Huh? Uh, uh, uh, uh?”

In front of me, making a dumb sound, the boy swung the sword in his hand as if colliding with the red sword aura.

The silver radiance was released from the boy’s sword, cutting and pushing away the red sword aura.

He deflected it?!

Not only that, but the second sword strike came down.

“Not bad!”

Elraut shouted like she was cheering and received it with her aura.

She was pushed back several steps.

It’s an unusual skill.

But I was staring blankly with my mouth open, looking at his back and above his head, rather than the swordsmanship that the intruder was displaying now.

Because I recognized his identity.

“…Well, that guy always appears at this timing.”

A feeling that rolled out of my mouth without realizing it.

Yeah, that’s right.

That’s what he’s like.

I tried to keep that name from coming out without realizing it.

‘Sylvester…’

Silver hair and the magic sword that is his symbol.

The one holding it is the protagonist I know, similar to the illustrations in the original work.

Sylvester, the protagonist of 《The Returned Great Hero》.

For some reason, that boy has appeared in this place.

* * *

Sylvester.

The protagonist of this damn novel that I had to refer to several things about.

The protagonist of the original 《The Returned Great Hero》, which is presumed to be the foundation of this world.

I briefly recalled the personal profile of that boy mentioned in the original work.

Sylvester Diplex.

That boy is a human called a returnee in this setting.

A returnee is a name that refers to a survivor who survived from a civilization that was destroyed for some reason about 20,000 years ago to the present era.

In the original setting, a very small number of people from that era 20,000 years ago survived to the present era, and they seem to have greatly influenced the world in a good or bad way.

‘The early part of the original story is mostly about those returnees causing accidents.’

Anyway, let’s skip the nonsense.

Sylvester was originally just a boy who lived a normal life training in swordsmanship in that era.

His fate changed.

The prologue of the original work.

The story begins with Sylvester’s heart being pierced by his master’s sword.

The master, who took Sylvester with him, saying he would give him special training, pierces him with a sword there.

Sylvester, who was sealed after being pierced by the sword without knowing why, is left unattended for a little over 20,000 years without being discovered by anyone.

And he opens his eyes in the present era.

That’s the brief flow corresponding to the prologue.

Sylvester, who opened his eyes, inherits the magic sword ‘Kaliah Vera’ and the artifact containing the knowledge left by his master.

Based on that, he burns with the desire to achieve great success here.

That’s the content up to episode 1.

‘After that, he must have reached here while suffering various hardships.’

And he will suffer more hardships in the future.

Such a protagonist has now appeared before my eyes.

Even to my eyes, and the text of the original work remaining in my head, it seemed to be claiming that there was not a single lie in his role.