How To Suck Honey With Extras [EN]: Chapter 202

224. Ashilla Krelbelt (7)

Did she subtly interfere with me without my noticing, secretly creating a mana circle for me?

Was that what she meant by a gift?

More than that, I didn’t know it was possible to manipulate someone else’s mana like that.

That human from 20,000 years ago is terrifying.

There’s a reason she’s called a genius.

Clearly, Ashilla Krelbelt was a far greater master in her lifetime than I could have imagined.

‘…What a ridiculously powerful ghost.’

The responsibility is just as heavy.

I’m happy to have reached the 4th Circle so easily, but the meaning is clear.

It means I need that much power.

After checking only the additional points, there are no further signs of information.

“Well, that wraps things up for now.”

The moment I sighed.

Crack.

The sound of stone breaking echoed.

Turning around, the stone tablet… the magic tome was shattered.

No more magical power could be felt from that magic tome.

It lost its effect once I learned the recorded magic.

I know that some magic tomes allow you to learn magic multiple times, but it seems this one is single-use.

As the magic tome crumbled, Ashilla’s corpse also vanished like a mirage in an instant.

Just like the phenomenon she had shown.

“…”

It felt like a warning.

As if saying, ‘That will really happen.’

“…I will gladly accept the magic tome, at least.”

I certainly got the information I needed.

I got a magic tome and even a new mana circle, so I should show some respect.

“As for the rest, well, I’ll figure something out.”

That much is sincere.

Because I have to work hard for a comfortable retirement.

Besides, I’m not exactly free right now.

“First, I need to solve the immediate problem.”

* * *

Around the same time.

Central city of Ilanat Territory.

“It’s more or less taking shape.”

Continental Integration Council executive Pemalt swept her gaze across the scene before her and raised the corners of her mouth in satisfaction.

Before her, countless people were lined up like a trained army, awaiting orders.

However, there is no uniformity in their attire or equipment.

Some are armed with swords or spears, while others even carry clubs.

Some are wearing armor, while others are in ordinary everyday clothes.

There is no sense of unity among them.

It’s as if they were randomly drafted and thrown into the army.

Even with a hasty conscription, there wouldn’t be this much disunity.

“It’s just a bit of a shame that it looks so crude.”

Pemalt expressed her regret and lightly extended her hand.

At that signal, the army she had gathered echoed with a single thud of footsteps, as if in response.

The sound of 10,000 feet hitting the ground simultaneously made it feel as if the earth was shaking slightly.

“The command is perfect, so it doesn’t matter…”

Not bad for hastily assembled soldiers.

As soon as Pemalt infiltrated the city, she cast a wide-area mind control spell that affected the entire city.

After all, dominating a small rural city like this is easy enough if you have a day or so.

She carefully selected those who could be used as soldiers for direct combat, picking out 10,000 people.

Pemalt cast an even stronger domination spell on them and magic to enhance their physical abilities.

Although they look crude, even elite soldiers would not be able to withstand them.

‘However… if I go this far… the aftermath will be a bit troublesome, but it can’t be helped.’

The priority is securing the magic tome.

If she can achieve that, she can sufficiently tolerate some losses.

“10,000 dominated and enhanced soldiers… and measures against that boy. With this, we should have a chance of winning.”

She cannot back down either.

It’s not about the pride of an executive.

The magic tome in that ruin is something that her lord directly ordered her to secure.

If she fails to obtain it, it could cause a significant setback in their future.

That’s what they clearly said.

Therefore, even if it means sacrificing her own body, she will secure it and offer it to her lord.

Firming her resolve, Pemalt cast an even stronger mental interference spell on the soldiers and issued instructions.

“Now! Prepare yourselves! Take up your weapons! If you don’t have weapons, take up wooden clubs! And if you don’t have those, risk your lives and bite to offer me victory! My soldiers!”

Her voice, filled with obsession and madness, echoed, and the only response was the thud! The sound of aligned footsteps.

And meanwhile.

Several men, hidden beyond the city walls, watched the scene and disappeared into the darkness.

225. Escape is Planned (1)

As soon as I got out with the magic tome, I noticed that the atmosphere was strange.

‘…Here it comes.’

It’s like when the weather forecast says there’s a 10 percent chance of rain, and then it actually rains, making you click your tongue in annoyance.

Sure enough, when I came out, Elmeroth and the other races were gathered, discussing something.

In another corner, the children and non-combatants were gathered, looking somewhat uneasy.

Even someone as oblivious as me could tell something was up.

I approached, pretending not to know anything.

“What’s going on? Looks like villains are coming again.”

“Wait here. I’ll be back soon.”

I have a guess, but I need to confirm it.

When I asked, Elmeroth just told me to wait.

It seems they sent out a scouting party to assess the situation.

Come to think of it, Dires, Jilon, and a few beastmen are missing.

After waiting for a few minutes, they returned with tense faces.

What they brought was certainly not good news.

“The results?”

“Not good, as expected.”

“No… honestly, aren’t those guys all crazy?”

Dires reported calmly, and Jilon seemed flustered, as if in trouble.

“…Could it be that the villain I fought back then is doing something in the city?”

“…”

Both were speechless.

Yeah. I was hoping it wasn’t that.

“I took a wild guess, but it seems I’m right.”

It’s not without basis.

Executive Pemalt uses techniques that interfere with the mind.

Of course, for a mage of that skill level, it would be easy to brainwash humans other than me.

And, sure enough.

According to the scouting results, she had actually cast mental interference magic on the entire city and was dominating them.

And she had gathered a group of mercenaries, knights, and sturdy young men at random and made them her soldiers.

Backed into a corner.

“How many?”

“About 10,000 soldiers gathered.”

“…Hmm, she’s only selected and controlled those who can fight.”

If she mobilized everyone, it would only cause chaos.

And I guess the remaining residents will be used for other purposes.

“Anyway, that’s not good.”

It’s threatening.

The violence of numbers cannot be ignored.

Moreover, if a number of about 10,000 people rush in, they will be trampled if we fight head-on.

In any case, if we stay like this, the residents of the city, completely dominated by Executive Pemalt, will be manipulated to attack.

Then there’s only one thing I can suggest.

I didn’t hide it from everyone and immediately made a suggestion.

“Then let’s abandon this place and run away.”

“…Huh?”

“…What?”

“…Mr. Aileon?”

For a while, no one said anything properly.

Eventually, Elmeroth cleared his throat lightly and asked on behalf of the others.

“Aileon, what nonsense are you suddenly talking about?”

“It means exactly what I said, Elder Elmeroth. There’s no point in just holing up in the ruins tower forever, is there?”

I gestured with my thumb towards the outside of the tower and continued.

“I’m suggesting that we move soon.”

“…I wouldn’t say it’s a good suggestion.”

“Well, I know what you mean. That’s why I’m giving you my opinion.”

It’s not like they’re happy to be here either.

They probably wanted to escape a long time ago.

But the reason they couldn’t do it.

It’s very simple.

“Because you didn’t know who to trust, right?”

“…That’s right.”

Dires nodded after much deliberation.

“After being exiled from Limen, we had to wander around to many places.”

The process was by no means easy.

They couldn’t get decent treatment anywhere.

It would be fortunate if they were just being ripped off.

“Among them, there were even those who tried to sell us as slaves with the lord directly involved.”

“…There are so many scumbags in the world.”

Unfortunately, that’s the reality.

“I understand. You can’t trust any territory you go to. And even this place, which you had some hope for, ended up backstabbing you.”

“And it’s not just that. We don’t have the strength to march a long distance right now…”

“Hmm… that would certainly be difficult.”

If we go out, pursuers will definitely chase us.

Inevitably, if we retreat, there will be a chase.

Dires and the other races with combat abilities might be able to handle it, but most of the refugees are those who cannot overcome harsh situations.

Of course, it’s a difficult task.

But I had no choice but to recommend that difficult thing.

“If we don’t get out now, we’ll be completely isolated here.”

“I understand, but wouldn’t it be more dangerous to escape carelessly?”

“Of course, that would be the case if we escaped carelessly.”

But I have no intention of doing that.

In my head, I already had a rough evacuation plan in place.

‘…Actually, I wasn’t half confident in my plan to evacuate them.’

Why did I have to be here with them?

I had the goal of obtaining the magic tome, but more than anything, I didn’t have the confidence to let them escape safely.

If it were just me, I’m confident that I could take care of myself no matter what, but I’m not arrogant enough to give a reckless answer when it comes to a large number of people.

The responsibility becomes heavy.

Of course, Elmeroth noticed that I wasn’t saying things rashly and gave me a look of expectation.

“Do you have a plan?”

“To be exact, I found a secret passage to sneak out.”

“A secret passage?”

“Ah… well, it seems there’s a tunnel under this tower that leads out of the forest.”

I drew the shape of the tower on the floor and the passage extending below it.

Surprisingly, it’s a passage that leads to a nearby territory.

“…That can’t be. I investigated, but I didn’t see such a passage.”

“It seems that it was a device that only people with certain authority could open.”

“How do you know that?”

It’s natural to be suspicious.

That’s why I have no intention of hiding it.

“I got a magic tome a little while ago. After getting it, I did some research and found it.”

“A magic tome?”

“Yes. Well, it’s a coincidence. Truly, the heavens have helped us.”

In fact, finding the way was a gift left by Ashilla.

When she passed on the authority and knowledge of the magic tome to me, she secretly stuffed the location of this tower’s secret passage into my head.

She probably thought about the aftermath.

I’m very grateful.

“It won’t be easy to find if we go through here.”

“…What’s next?”

“There’s a place we can rely on. We should evacuate there first and then think about the next steps.”

When I suggested this far, everyone pondered deeply and couldn’t easily speak.

I didn’t rush the decision either.

If they are forced to act, trouble will inevitably occur.

They must sincerely agree and act on their own.

The first to speak was Dires.

“…But even if we run away, it’s meaningless if that person chases us.”

“Yes, that’s right. To be honest, that woman might chase us to the ends of the earth.”