How To Suck Honey With Extras [EN]: Chapter 196

196. Ashilla Krelbelt (1)

The best way is to secure the Grimoire first.

‘But it seems the points haven’t reached the target yet.’

To get the Grimoire, the accumulated Influence Points must reach the required number.

I’ve been steadily earning them through constant activity, but there’s no news, so I guess I haven’t reached it yet.

‘Do I need to get more points? What can I do right now…….’

While pondering, I decided to gather everyone to discuss future plans.

“Huh? Uh? What?”

It was then.

I noticed that something about the atmosphere outside had become strange.

“……Wh-what is it?”

When I went outside, for some reason, all the different races were kneeling.

It felt like they were waiting to greet me.

At first, I thought it was some kind of suspicious ritual.

However, I realized it wasn’t a time for jokes because the atmosphere was endlessly solemn.

The atmosphere is heavy.

Uncomfortably heavy.

Barely managing to collect my bewildered thoughts, I urged Dires, who was kneeling in the front, to get up.

“What are you doing? ……Dires, and everyone else, what is this…….”

“It is only natural. This is all we can do for our benefactor.”

Dires spoke solemnly.

It was so different compared to his stiff tone from just a while ago.

Now, his tone contained respect and awe that even a dull person like me could recognize.

“……What’s going on.”

I tried to find Elme. [Assuming Elme is a shortened version of Elme로드, keeping it consistent.]

I thought that alchemist might stop them, but he was nowhere to be seen, as if he had run away.

Resigned, I had no choice but to face them again.

“What is all this all of a sudden?”

“We have received a great favor from Aileon-nim.”

“……A favor.”

Before I could continue, they continued to speak.

“We have been wandering around… chased away, but there were few who helped us.”

“Even if they did help, they all had other motives.”

“Yet you didn’t ask for anything in return… and even fought against them yourself.”

That’s what they said, but it’s a misunderstanding.

My purpose was just to help them incur a debt so I could get the Grimoire more easily.

Rather, that was all I could think about.

Even so, they were sincerely expressing their gratitude to me.

“……If you’re going to say that, didn’t Elme, that elder, also help you?”

“Have you not heard? …He helped us, but in return, he borrowed our strength to recover some of the relics here….”

Indeed, he was secretly taking what he could. That sly alchemist.

Well, that would be normal.

But that’s no different for me. It’s the same.

“……First, get up. You seem to be misunderstanding. I helped you because I had a purpose, not because I’m as noble as you think.”

“We know.”

Too easily, they brushed it off as if it didn’t matter.

“Anyone has selfish desires. We are not foolish enough not to know that.”

Even knowing that, they show respect to me.

“But if we had the same power as you… I don’t think we would have thought of doing the same thing.”

“…….”

“Even if there was a purpose, we would have chosen a simpler method to achieve it.”

Is that true?

In the first place, if my only goal was to obtain the Grimoire, I could have ignored them.

Conversely, it might have been easier to approach Pemalt, an executive of the Continental Integration Conference, and pretend to go along with the plan to stab him in the back.

“As a result, it is also true that we have received a great favor. And it is also true that Aileon-nim gave us that help.”

“……So, is that why you’re doing this now? To say that?”

“There is not much we can do. We don’t have gold and silver treasures… nor do we have great connections. So….”

He glanced slightly behind him, as if to confirm the gazes of the others, and then spoke as if he had made a firm resolution.

“We intend to repay the favor with all our strength.”

They probably had already gathered their opinions once.

So what Dires is saying now is their conclusion.

“We will fully support what Aileon-nim does. Because we believe that is the way to repay the favor….”

“……Are you really okay with this? You don’t even know what kind of person I am.”

“Although the period we have watched you may be short, we know for sure.”

Dires said without wavering. Everyone seemed to agree as well.

“You must be the most honest person there is.”

They must have been deceived by many villains and pushed to this point while resisting.

If they say they believe…….

‘Honestly, it’s embarrassing.’

As I was scratching my cheek while thinking that, my name flickered above my head as if an alert was occurring.

Huh?

I didn’t intend it, but they said they would follow me, and that soon generated points.

……There are cases like this too.

And.

It seemed that the conditions were met with the points that had just occurred.

With this, I can take the next action.

Then I should answer them too.

“……I know what kind of resolve you have and why you brought up those words to me.”

Gazes gather.

“However, I will not accept such vows.”

Gazes waver.

Maybe they thought they were abandoned. No. That’s not it.

“We are equal after all. Both I and you are humans living and breathing here. Isn’t following or not following just because we exchanged help no different from them?”

I was surprised that the words came out like this.

I didn’t particularly want them to follow and submit to me.

“So…….”

I lowered myself as well, placing my gaze at the same level as them, and held out my hand.

“Then let’s just think of it as cooperating without reservation from now on.”

They didn’t react for a while as if wondering what I was saying.

And one by one, they nodded as if they understood.

“……I understand, Aileon-nim.”

And Dires finally took my hand.

* * *

Just because I gained their trust doesn’t mean anything changes right away.

Still, there are bound to be unseen changes.

For example, if I try to do even something trivial, they take the initiative to ask if there is anything they can help with, or if there is anything else they can do.

It’s a great help just that they are actively regaining their energy.

It’s natural that my burden is reduced because I can give them various tasks.

‘For now, I think I can leave the minor problems to them.’

And in the meantime, let’s finish other important things.

……Before that, I have to do some light preparation.

* * *

I ran to the alchemist Elme and requested one thing. [Assuming Elme is a shortened version of Elme로드, keeping it consistent.]

“What? You want me to help you make a potion? Why now of all times?”

“Yes. It’s a medicine I need right now. I would appreciate it if you could help me.”

“That’s unusual. For you to say that.”

“I’m asking because I know your skills, Elder.”

He is an excellent alchemist.

Of course, he also knows the recipes for medicines that even ordinary people can’t make.

If I don’t ask him about medicine, who else would I ask?

“Do you know about a potion called ‘Pixie’s Blessing’?”

“Of course, I know.”

As soon as I mentioned the name of the medicine, he frowned as if he understood.

“Tch, you’re mentioning a troublesome name. Where did you hear about that?”

“I just have some knowledge. Anyway, I thought you would know enough about that medicine, Elder.”

“You’re not wrong. Certainly, with that medicine… it’s not strange that you’re asking me to help you.”

Medicine to a pharmacist, and a potion to that alchemist.

That is the truth.

I’m not going to miss this opportunity either.

“But why are you trying to take it?”

“It’s nothing much. Did you hear about the time I fought in the lord’s castle?”

“…I certainly heard that she was a very skilled magician with all sorts of deceptions.”

“Yes. Her illusions are especially troublesome. Even my magic resistance is easily penetrated.”

“Heh… that’s amazing.”

Of course, I built a way to counter it on the spot, but it’s not enough.

The next time we fight again, she will take that into account and devise tactics.

She will use even more vicious methods.

“I need to build a sure resistance.”

“…Well, there’s nothing else like it.”

The efficacy of that potion, ‘Pixie’s Blessing,’ is not so much about increasing abilities, but rather about uplifting the spirit and deeply cultivating the inner self.

Frankly speaking, resistance to mental systems is raised to the extreme.

In other words, it’s like building a solid wall in the mind.

You gain a special constitution that resists all mental abnormality systems.

“I want to take that medicine if possible.”

“Do you have the ingredients? It won’t be easy to make.”

“I can cover it to some extent.”

Fortunately, I have things I’ve collected from various places.

And I have the most important core ingredient.

“Actually, I also have dragon’s blood in my possession.”

“…Show it to me.”

His eyes changed.

He probably would have refused my request if I didn’t have it.

Because that’s an ingredient that even he can’t easily obtain.

Above all, I also know that it is the core ingredient.

But if I have the ingredients and there is a valid reason to eat it, there is no reason to refuse.

Above all, he wouldn’t miss the opportunity to make a medicine that he can’t easily make.

His eyes already have the curiosity unique to those who pursue knowledge.

“This old man’s reward will be a little expensive.”

“I can pay that much.”

* * *

After that, we started preparing to make the medicine.

There was also the problem that it wasn’t a simple medicine that could be made while leisurely playing around, and there wasn’t much time.

Let’s hurry.

“Aileon! Raise the fire in the furnace a little more! At this rate, the dragon’s blood won’t melt into the medicine!”

“But the firepower is already at its maximum?”

“If it’s not enough, use your spirit’s flames!”

Every time a roar fell, I moved with all my might and followed the instructions.

I feel like a rookie assistant.

Every time I peeked at Elme’s actions as he continued to work while helping him, I admired him. [Assuming Elme is a shortened version of Elme로드, keeping it consistent.]

‘Amazing.’

As expected, the best alchemist on the continent.

He doesn’t hesitate to handle various rare ingredients.

That doesn’t mean he’s doing it carelessly.

All processes are fast and accurate, as if measured exactly on a scale.

‘If he fails after working like that, that’s ridiculous.’

His manufacturing skills are guaranteed in the original work, so let’s rest assured.

Because he is the person who made several potions for the main character to eat in the original work.

‘Rather, should I take this opportunity to ask for other medicines…….’

While such greed was rising, did my hand slow down? Elme roared again. [Assuming Elme is a shortened version of Elme로드, keeping it consistent.]

“Aileon! What are you doing standing still! Go and check the next pot quickly! If you’re even a little late, the effect will drop! Do you not want to take the medicine!”

“I know!”

Instead of answering, I had to quickly run towards the place where the pot he had instructed was boiling.

Come to think of it, that alchemist didn’t have any disciples.

For some reason, I felt like I knew why.

He uses people too harshly.