How To Suck Honey With Extras [EN]: Chapter 214

“…….”

The Marquis’s inability to deny my words likely stemmed from some other suspicion.

“Duke Rupel is colluding with some unsavory characters and will soon reveal his true colors. A tragedy will occur.”

“……And the basis for this?”

“Well? I believe you already suspect something, Marquis. You know?”

I couldn’t reveal everything.

I deliberately feigned a meaningful silence.

After all, my position made it difficult to produce concrete evidence.

I waited, watching him intently, as if to say he was welcome to ponder as much as he liked without me offering further explanation.

Spouting off carelessly here would only make it sound like I was trying to fabricate something plausible.

Rather than making a clumsy bluff, revealing only a portion of the original story and maintaining a heavy silence would make it seem like I knew something significant.

The Marquis seemed to contemplate for quite a while.

“……It’s not that I don’t have some inkling of what you’re saying.”

“May I take that as a sign of your trust?”

“Originally, I intended to bring Sylvester to the banquet under my guarantee. Adding you to the mix now wouldn’t be difficult.”

That was welcome news.

“However.”

However, apart from believing my story, Marquis Roant seemed to want one more guarantee.

“Let’s say a tragedy does occur as you say. I want to confirm that bringing you along will be enough to put me at ease.”

“Haven’t you heard about my skills from Sylvester?”

“I have. And I know Sylvester is diligent. I’m sure his report was accurate.”

But it wasn’t enough.

That’s what he seemed to be saying.

No matter how skilled Sylvester was, he was just one person.

According to my warning, he couldn’t possibly handle it alone.

If it were truly dangerous, it would be better to feign illness and escape.

“I want to see direct evidence that I can rely on you.”

“……Just showing you will suffice?”

No need to feel intimidated.

I grinned, exuding confidence as if to say I could show him my strength as much as he wanted.

“I’ll show you as much as you like.”

* * *

In response to the request to see my skills firsthand, I went with Marquis Roant to the training grounds located outside.

“By the way, how would you like me to demonstrate? Perhaps you would like to test me yourself, Marquis?”

“Hahaha. Don’t make such dreadful jokes. Unlike you, I have no talent whatsoever.”

Due to a congenital problem with his ability to manipulate mana, he couldn’t properly master either aura or magic.

That was a setting I was aware of.

That’s why he became obsessed with other things.

Talent.

Instead of reaching a high level himself, he would draw many talented individuals to his side.

That is, the founding background of Roant Academy.

If he couldn’t become strong himself, he would nurture and attract strong individuals to his side.

That was the idea.

“Or perhaps Sylvester?”

“That wouldn’t be bad either. Hmm! He’s here!”

It seemed the person he had already called had arrived.

Tap. Tap.

A rhythmic footstep sounded, and a man entered the training ground where we were.

A middle-aged man with a height easily exceeding 180 centimeters [approximately 5’11”].

Beneath the equipment he wore were quite a few traces of battle, proving that he had been forged through countless practical experiences.

Most noticeable was the sturdy prosthetic leg supporting the floor in place of his left leg.

Seeing it and his name made my eyes twitch.

Simbel? Could it be…….

“……What is this? Roant? You suddenly told me to come with combat gear. What’s going on?”

The man looked back and forth between me and Marquis Roant, asking in an absurd tone.

It seemed he hadn’t heard anything about it.

“Ah~ It’s nothing, Simbel. There’s just a friend I’d like you to test.”

“A test…… I recall the student recruitment period ended a long time ago.”

He scanned me from head to toe.

“Is it this boy?”

“This friend isn’t a student. There’s a slightly different reason I want to see his skills.”

“Then have someone else do it.”

“It can’t be someone else. It’s dangerous.”

“……Dangerous? Indeed. I see.”

He nodded as if he had guessed something, even though he had only glanced at me.

He must have grasped something about me at once.

Simbel.

Yes, it was him.

I, too, realized the identity of this man.

The former commander of the Selvas Kingdom’s Knights.

Once a knight burdened with the duty of protecting the kingdom, he was injured in a battle with the Forellos Empire.

Defeated by a knight of the Forellos Empire, he became unable to maintain his position as commander.

Eventually, he relinquished his position and, at the suggestion of his friend Marquis Roant, was working as an instructor at the academy.

That’s the setting I know about him.

“Hmm, I doubt this friend can handle it.”

“……That’s a humble joke. If the former commander of the Knights is insufficient, who would be suitable?”

Surely, even within the Selvas Kingdom, there wouldn’t be anyone with more skill than this man.

“So, I’d like to ask for your help, Sir Simbel.”

“I can’t help it. I can’t refuse when two people ask me.”

Simbel also seemed a bit suspicious, but he didn’t ask for details and agreed because it was a request from his friend Marquis Roant.

After completing the minimum preparations, we took our positions and prepared to engage in a sparring match immediately.

“……A spirit caster or a mage?”

Simbel scanned me once more and immediately came to that conclusion.

Sharp intuition.

“As you say, I can manipulate spirits.”

A demonstration duel.

I readily revealed the means I could use.

“The spirit of water.”

Normally, it wouldn’t be strange to take it as an insult.

Revealing your hand before even fighting.

However, Simbel kept his mouth shut and then.

“Indeed. I see. Understood.”

He nodded obediently as if he agreed and then.

“Then I won’t hold back.”

He firmly gripped the sword he was holding in one hand.

There was no need to send a starting signal.

Only silence flowed as if to gather his breath, and Simbel was the first to charge.

“Haaaaaaaat!”

He inhaled and charged straight at me at once.

The raised sword was already covered in aura, and the clear sword energy that had been drawn out was raging as if about to explode.

‘What’s going on……? He’s revealing his full power from the start.’

I knew because I had read the original work.

The level Simbel had reached was mid-level Aura Master…….

It was described that if he hadn’t been injured, he would have reached an even higher level long ago.

The only opponent he had seriously drawn his sword energy against, excluding the battlefield, was Sylvester at this time.

Then I had no choice but to respond properly.

“Undine.”

-Yes! I’ll fight!

Undine, who had evolved into a high-level water spirit, confidently stepped forward to confront Simbel’s sword, summoning and manipulating a large amount of water.

-I’ll blow that old man away!

The water summoned by Undine on my left and right widely filled both sides and began to swirl.

“Oh! It’s like a small-scale tsunami!”

Marquis Roant, who was watching from a distance, exclaimed.

On the other hand, Simbel narrowed the distance without being intimidated at all, even in the face of the large amount of water summoned by Undine.

It wouldn’t be recklessly rushing in.

“Undine, don’t be careless.”

I firmly warned and cast spirit magic.

The small-scale tsunami summoned by Undine poured towards him, sweeping my front without any gaps.

Even an ordinary knight couldn’t resist this attack, which was like a small natural disaster.

It wasn’t just pushing water.

This tsunami was being manipulated by Undine with a high degree of skill, and the water flowed in hundreds of directions.

The moment you were swept away, you wouldn’t be able to move a single finger on your entire body and would be toyed with by the water pressure.

However, the method Simbel used to counter that tremendous force was simple.

“Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaap!”

A sharp and heavy shout that seemed to tear the ears.

And a single slash.

Just by slashing the sword he held with all his might once, all of Undine’s large amount of water was scattered.

An absurd sword pressure.

-No way!

Undine was startled.

On the other hand, I willingly agreed.

‘Well, if it’s him, he’d do that and still have some left.’

Clearly, he was stronger than the current Sylvester.

It’s just that he couldn’t properly exert his full strength in actual combat due to his injury.

Even the current commander of the Selvas Kingdom’s Knights had not reached the level Simbel had reached.

If he hadn’t been injured and had been able to develop his skills even further?

‘The Continental Integration Assembly might have given up on executing the operation in this generation.’

The strength that man emitted was undeniable.

However, his power could not shine in the original work.

It was truly a pity.

“I’m sorry, but I’ll have to push you properly now.”

I had to show my strength without holding back.

‘Should I use a new technique?’

As my intention was conveyed to Undine, Undine immediately exerted her power again.

The large amount of water that Simbel had received and scattered was further dispersed.

From fingernail-sized water droplets, it was further divided.

Soon, countless strands of water, as thin as hair, scattered and surrounded him.

“Spirit’s Killing Wind.”

Needles so fine that they couldn’t be properly seen, neither arrows nor spears.

The number would reach hundreds of thousands. No, millions.

“I’m surrounded.”

“It’s a bit underhanded…… Well, don’t take it too much to heart.”

I had been constantly devising ways to attack knights without being negligent even for a moment.

No matter how fast a sword is, how would they respond if I fired countless needles of water?

They wouldn’t be able to deflect them.

I ordered countless needles to be poured out, lowering only the power.

At best, only his armor would be slightly torn.

However, I soon saw an amazing sight.

“Hat! Don’t underestimate me! Young man!”

Thud!

Simbel’s prosthetic leg roughly struck the floor.

It wasn’t just stomping his foot.

The aura that leaked from the prosthetic leg firmly gripped the floor.

To put it in perspective, an anchor.

To prevent him from slipping because his leg wasn’t free…… To firmly fix it so he wouldn’t fall.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t be able to maintain his posture.

“Hup!”

He took a short breath and swung his sword.

At that moment, I doubted my eyes as I saw an unbelievable sight.

The sword energy he swung was deflecting the countless water needles I had fired.

Of course, there was a limit to how fast you could swing a sword.

No matter what, you couldn’t swing it hundreds of thousands of times in a few seconds.

‘Was he extending countless sword energies?’

The energy scattered from the sword energy when he swung his sword was accurately aiming at and deflecting the needles of water that were rushing towards him.

Using subtle aura to respond to subtle water needles.

The extreme of aura manipulation.

In the original work, Sylvester thought of Simbel as being two levels above him.

As for skill, perhaps even if you looked at the entire continent, there would only be a handful of people who could surpass him.

Shashashashashashak!

Watching the sound of water droplets being deflected by the sword energy, I had no choice but to increase the power even further.

It might be excessive, but I thought I had no chance of winning unless I did so.

Or else…….

Summon another spirit in addition.

I didn’t want to bring out all my means in front of others, but I couldn’t help it.

If I wasn’t recognized here, my plans would be disrupted.

I was about to summon an additional spirit, but.

I soon cut off the spirit energy I was raising.

“……What is your intention?”

The spirit that Simbel emitted had lowered as if it were a lie.

“I admit defeat.”

He, who had deflected the water needles I had fired, suddenly declared his defeat.

He even sheathed his sword.

“Don’t misunderstand, young spirit caster friend. I’m not doing this to make fun of you. Ahem…….”

He suddenly coughed as if suppressing something in his throat.

As if he had been holding his breath and sprinting with all his might, he seemed to be enduring a difficult reaction.

“……It’s as you see. As you can see, my body is acting up. It doesn’t listen at important times.”

“……Ah. I see.”

He surrendered not because he looked down on me.

His body couldn’t support his skills due to his injury.

“Above all, young spirit caster? You’re already overwhelmingly stronger than me. Is there any need to see more?”