How To Suck Honey With Extras [EN]: Chapter 182

Extra’s Way of Living – Episode 182 (182/344)

Episode 203: Switching Stance (3)

“Then come on.”

As I gestured casually, the Iron Spiders rushed at me, their metallic bodies clanging in unison.

These monsters gave seasoned mercenaries a hard time, but they didn’t feel like much of a threat to me.

‘I’ve already figured out how these things work.’

They’re strong and reasonably fast, but their movements are predictable due to their size.

I used Transference to move directly to the ceiling.

‘Now, to finish this with a single bombing run… Hmm?’

I took out the Fairy Staff, channeled my spirit energy, and unleashed a lightning strike.

Fire would be problematic indoors, so lightning is a good alternative against metal bodies.

However, instead of a confident smile, I was surprised, my mouth agape at the unexpected situation.

The Iron Spider lowered its head, and then its joints opened, firing something from within.

“…A net?”

Are they seriously trying to catch me with that? Do I look like a fish?

Besides, there’s no way a net can stop the lightning I’ve already unleashed.

But I soon sensed something strange about the net’s composition.

‘Could it be…’

And sure enough, my hunch was right.

The lightning didn’t pass through the net.

‘…Ah, so it’s not an ordinary net, huh?’

It’s clearly designed to counter my spirit magic, as if they knew I’d use it.

“Indeed, they don’t engage in half-hearted tricks.”

I considered crushing it with Gravity Control but decided against it.

I already showed that once before.

The fact that they’re prepared for spirit magic suggests they’ve probably set up similar traps for that too.

Then…

“…I’ll just have to smash them in an unexpected way.”

I dropped the Fairy Staff into the subspace as if throwing it away and immediately switched to the Magic Sword Chain Sword.

I haven’t had much use for this sword lately, but it comes in handy at times like these.

I immediately used Transference to move behind one of the Iron Spiders, and before it could turn around, I deployed the Chain Sword’s magic chains, binding it tightly.

Then, with all my strength, I pulled on the chains.

Crack.

I heard a crushing sound as the Iron Spider was dragged toward me.

“Kuhhhhh!”

It’s not light.

I gritted my teeth and pulled with all my might.

I also activated a magic buff.

Having reached the 3rd Circle, I could cast useful auxiliary magic on myself.

A red glow characteristic of buffs surrounded me, further increasing my strength.

Eventually, the Iron Spider couldn’t resist and was helplessly dragged along.

“Eryaaaaaaah!”

I let out a strange shout and pulled with all my might.

Bracing my waist and firmly planting my feet on the ground, I twisted with all my momentum.

Crack!

The sound of the Iron Spider’s leg components breaking echoed as it was lifted into the air. I spun it around with all my might.

Bang! Bang!

The swung Iron Spider collided with the next one.

Colliding continuously, it crushed the spiders like a morning star [a medieval weapon consisting of a spiked ball attached to a handle].

The sound of them breaking is quite satisfying.

As all five Iron Spiders collided and gathered in one place.

“Get destroyed!”

I activated the 3rd Circle magic, Mana Blast.

For a moment, a blue light flashed, and the spiders were knocked away as if hit by something invisible.

They were repelled by the mana I released.

A magic that compresses and shoots out pure mana, creating destructive force upon impact.

They might have prepared for fire or electricity, but they couldn’t do anything about the pure shock and mana impact.

The Iron Spiders, knocked away, trembled and barely crawled.

Meaning they sustained significant damage.

“…Then, this time, I’ll completely crush them.”

As I was about to finish them off.

“There’s no need. Any more damage and it’ll be a pain to repair. I’ve seen enough of your skills. …To so easily destroy my Steel Tarantulas, even if they were hastily made. Tsk.”

Along with the voice, I heard footsteps approaching at a slow, rhythmic pace.

I then calmed down all my mana and put away the sword I had drawn.

There’s no need to show off my strength anymore.

“So… has my intention to test me been fulfilled with this?”

“Yes, yes. You’ve thoroughly destroyed them… Tsk, tsk. You did that on purpose, didn’t you?”

The one who appeared, clicking his tongue, was a young man with a truly mismatched demeanor.

He looked to be in his early twenties, with unkempt, watery blue hair that looked like he couldn’t be bothered to manage it, and his clothes were haphazardly worn, with untidy spots here and there.

But his eyes were sharp.

“A very sly fellow. If you had just unleashed your spirit magic with all your heart, it would have been over immediately…”

“I simply put in a little effort to meet expectations. It’s easier to show how outstanding I am as a talent by demonstrating various skills.”

“You’re good with words…”

The young man, muttering in an old man’s tone that didn’t suit him, frowned.

He looked at me warily and suspiciously.

On the other hand, I immediately recognized his identity and adopted a respectful attitude.

Don’t judge him by his appearance.

“So it was you. The continent’s greatest alchemist.”

I confirmed his name and became certain.

“Elmeroth Faseneos.”

The continent’s greatest alchemist.

He first appears around the middle of the original story.

If you ask who is the most outstanding alchemist among all the alchemists on the continent, you can only point to Elmeroth.

He has mastered not only alchemy but also engineering, magical theories, and all sorts of other technologies, a true engineer of engineers.

There is nothing he cannot create.

He prides himself on it, and few can deny it.

His youthful appearance is also due to a potion he created with alchemy to maintain his looks; in the setting, his age is probably at least over 120 years old.

His alchemy skills alone are top-notch.

He was the one who manufactured the elixirs that allowed the protagonist to overcome his limits several times in the original story.

‘However, he seems to have caused quite a few accidents as well.’

Alchemy, in many ways, can sometimes cause trouble for those around him.

He has caused accidents while researching various elixirs and has also ripped off greedy lords.

Nevertheless, he is not a villain. He is closer to a good person.

He tends to exploit those who have, but conversely, he willingly shares his skills with those who do not.

As a result, the Alchemist Guild considers Elmeroth, who goes against their sense of privilege, as their top assassination target and is chasing after him.

And that alchemist is right here.

Elmeroth began to look at me very suspiciously when I recognized him immediately.

“Let me ask you directly. Are you perhaps a minion of the Spirit or Alchemist Guilds?”

“No. I am not involved with either of them. Rather, if they knew about me, they would clutch their heads, wanting to get rid of me by any means possible.”

“…”

Elmeroth scanned me as if considering the truth of my words, then slowly nodded as if he understood something.

“I’ll believe that much.”

“Thank you.”

There are several reasons why I am taking such a low posture.

One is because he is a supporting character, meaning he plays a significant role in this world.

And another is that he is far older than me, so I am being polite for now.

Don’t be fooled by his youthful appearance. He’s an old man inside.

“I guess there’s no need to hide it anymore. Yes. This old man is indeed Elmeroth. But it’s strange… I never thought there would be someone who would recognize me at first glance.”

However, the young man chuckled in the same old man’s tone, as if he wasn’t entirely displeased.

“It seems it was worth bringing you here.”

Just as I recognized him, he is also sending me a strange look, as if he has discerned something from me.

“Worth it… I don’t know what you mean suddenly.”

“Stop with the clumsy act. You probably already have some idea, don’t you?”

He pointed out as if he could see right through me.

“You deliberately tried to contact this old man and those people, didn’t you? I heard it from Dires.”

The reason Elmeroth bothered to call me was not simply because I let Dires and the other demi-humans go.

I clearly sent a signal first.

“You knew from the beginning that this old man was here, didn’t you?”

The words I whispered in Dires’ ear when I let him go.

That was.

‘I know the alchemist who is helping you. So go back immediately and tell him about me.’

That was roughly the content.

At the time, it was half a guess, but I was relieved that it worked out so well.

As expected of me.

‘In the first place, that Iron Spider itself is a work that the alchemist boasts about…’

Its detailed shape was slightly different from the description when it appeared in the original story, so I didn’t recognize it right away, but after fighting it for a bit, I could guess.

It was a weapon called Steel Tarantula, right?

Above all, the only one who could create that is him, who is versed in everything from alchemy to engineering and magic.

“I’ll ask again, brat. Where did you hear my name?”

“From a technician in the Falzente Duchy.”

“…Falzente Duchy?”

He frowned, as if he hadn’t expected this answer.

“Perhaps you don’t remember, Elder, but didn’t you visit there once?”

“…That’s right! I did! I stopped by once because it had decent iron. Hmm… Was Nilfas still there at the time? Who is the lord there now?”

“Grand Duke Nilfas is still alive and well. Well… his granddaughter might succeed him soon, though.”

“Hmph… Has it already come to that?”

Elmeroth’s expression softened, which meant he was starting to believe my words to some extent.

If it were simply impersonation, I wouldn’t know his past actions.

If I even mentioned the name of a noble, he would have judged that it had some truth to it.

Above all, I didn’t lie.

Even if he had a means of detecting lies, my words would be classified as true.

‘Well, mentioning his name was almost a random excuse that came to mind…’

In that respect, I guess I’m lucky.

If that weren’t the case, the process of persuading him would have been troublesome.

Besides, he’s not the type to listen even if threatened with force.

“That’s why I recognized your work, Elder, and above all, as soon as I saw Dires and the other demi-humans, I could infer their situation to some extent.”

“…Tell me.”

The reason he’s making me say it first is probably for his own verification.

Whether I really know properly, or whether I’m bluffing.

He’s still keeping that possibility in mind.

But no worries.

It was also easy to guess the circumstances anyway.

“They are refugees who flowed in from the Limen Alliance, right?”

That information clearly existed in the original story.

“There are not many demi-humans who have officially obtained citizenship in the Selvas Kingdom.”

Frankly speaking, it’s difficult to get issued.

“People instinctively reject those who are different from them. If they push away even those whose personalities don’t match, would they leave other races alone?”

Of course, I believe that there are more who don’t [reject others].

But I can’t say there aren’t any.

Demi-humans have a hard time living in countries where humans have sovereignty if they don’t have backing.

A prime example is the main character-level spiritist, Lussel Elbeid.

As a wandering elf, when she first met Sylvester, she was being exploited by a malicious employer while being half-scammed.

Even though Lussel had some citizenship.

So others are no different.

Even if it’s better than elves without a country, the treatment of demi-humans is not very good.