How To Suck Honey With Extras [EN]: Chapter 221

246. Labyrinth of the Sky (1)

The sensation of being forcibly transferred is, to put it mildly, not pleasant.

It felt like someone was grabbing my shoulders, lifting me up, and spinning me around wildly.

The thought that it might be easier not to resist crossed my mind, but I shook my head vigorously and forcibly resisted the flow.

It’s because of responsibility.

‘Even if others are okay… I have to do something about this person!’

I exerted my spatial interference ability to the fullest, resisting and barely grabbing someone, pulling them towards me.

I thought I heard a faint scream, but I ignored it.

And then I couldn’t hold on any longer and was swept away.

Thud!

“Ugh?!

I rolled across the floor, feeling like I was being thrown roughly, and opened my eyes to see.

A wide open space.

It was definitely inside some kind of huge structure.

That’s unusual.

It’s the first time I’ve gained points just by arriving at a specific location.

And the amount is quite substantial.

Is it because of the place?

“…Anyway, the artifact activated properly.”

I slowly got up and looked around again.

‘It’s a little early, but it should have gone as planned… However…’

I was troubled, thinking that I had no choice but to show a little difficulty with this.

I had no choice.

The artifact that they were so eager to take from each other just a moment ago.

A woman collapsed, holding that key tightly.

The princess of the Forellos Empire, Resilia.

I carefully placed her on the floor.

“…This lady, at least, is not part of the planned situation at all.”

I never expected her to jump in there.

‘Well, the princess had almost no presence in the original story… It’s natural that I couldn’t predict her actions.’

I can read the actions of other characters to some extent, but I can’t predict those with low importance.

The only reason I recognized her name was because I remembered a few lines mentioning the name of the royal family.

“…Come to think of it, there was another person who wasn’t in the plan.”

The moment I thought of that person’s face, a pure white, skeletal hand appeared out of nowhere and grabbed my collar.

“Ugh! You’re so impatient. You pop out as soon as I think of you?”

[…You’ve done well, young spiritist.]

I feel coldness from the bones.

The Lich [Undead magic caster] Khelms Alfrens, who forcibly tore through space and appeared from the void.

He flickered with a black flame-like energy inside his eye sockets.

Are you angry?

“Even those who have reached the pinnacle as black magicians can’t resist the activation of the artifact?”

[Don’t underestimate me. I’ve already figured out where this place is. Getting out is nothing.]

I don’t think he’s bluffing; I think he really understands the current situation.

Okay, let’s think.

‘What do I do with that Lich now?’

There’s no need to fight him now.

There must be a way to avoid this Lich somehow.

‘First, should I go a little strong?’

If I go weak, I’ll just be underestimated.

Besides, I don’t really like being grabbed by the neck.

First, it would be good to prove it once so that he doesn’t underestimate me.

“First… let’s put this down and talk.”

I put my hand on his bony arm and pulled up as much mana as I could.

Basically, I have the ability of a high-level spiritist, so my mana naturally has properties that make it easy to befriend spirits.

And if this is the place I think it is, I can exert even more power than usual.

As expected, my stats are temporarily buffed.

I know.

It’s because one of my abilities, ‘Resident of the Labyrinth,’ has been activated.

‘Because this is a dungeon.’

In addition, what he contains is darker black magic than anyone else.

Inevitably, they are bound to clash.

[…Oh?]

I can hear the faint sound of his bones creaking just from the pressure of raising my mana.

[Are you trying to shake off this Khelms Alfrens with just strength! You’re doing something presumptuous!]

Is it just my imagination that he sounds rather happy?

[Then I’ll gladly play along!]

It’s a pure power struggle.

A battle where my mana and his black magic push against each other.

The scenery around us seemed to be distorted for a moment as the forces collided.

Wham!

An explosion of blue and black forces mixed chaotically, pushing me and him away.

I rolled across the floor and quickly got up, and Khelms stopped in mid-air as if he had stopped and landed, almost simultaneously absorbing the shock.

But he didn’t seem to feel any impact.

‘As expected, his power is greater than mine at this point…’

However, there are not many who can compete with one of the best villains in the original story to this extent.

There’s no need to be intimidated.

[You’re doing something strange. What are you thinking?]

“If we can have a calm conversation, I’ll listen quietly, but if not, I’ll resist. …That’s what I mean.”

[…It seems you have something to say. I’ve changed my mind.]

Perhaps he was willing to listen, Khelms gradually withdrew the black magic he was emitting and waited for me to speak.

Those with power cannot be ignored.

“First question. Why did you want the key to this place?”

[Hahaha. Young spiritist, does this Khelms have an obligation to answer?]

“That way, we can know what each other wants and find common ground.”

[It sounds like you’re saying you can tell me what this Khelms wants.]

“It may sound a little arrogant. What I mean is that unless we talk to each other, we can’t know each other’s true intentions at all.”

[You’re saying strange things. Do you know who’s in front of you?]

Just a Lich.

“Whether you’re a Lich or whatever, is there any reason not to talk if we can?”

I shrugged my shoulders as I said that.

[Kuhahahahahahat! Conversation! Then and now, you’re still saying presumptuous things.]

Khelms burst into laughter.

But it didn’t seem like he was laughing at me.

After laughing for a while, Khelms looked at me again.

[Okay, I’ll talk as much as you want.]

I guess it’s not an illusion that he seems more human than before.

[The Seal of Life.]

“…Pardon?”

[I just heard that it might be here.]

“Wait a minute? You want that?”

I was surprised not only because his purpose was new to me.

‘Why are you looking for it here?’

I know he’s been looking for it.

Because he was looking for it in the original story and caused all sorts of accidents.

But this is not the place.

There’s no way he’s aiming for that.

However, the situation was so absurd that I couldn’t help but reveal my feelings.

He’s not going to miss that.

[…Do you know something?!]

Before I knew it, his skinny, bony fingers were grabbing my shoulder.

Why is this Lich like this?! It’s uncomfortable!

“Wait a minute. I’m embarrassed if you come at me like this.”

[I can’t fool my eyes! You definitely know something!]

“Yes. I know! I’ve only heard it as a rumor! So let go!”

[Oh oh oh! Really!]

I really doubt that he’s the same person as the Lich from before.

He can’t hide his inner thoughts.

‘…I understand.’

Of course, he would.

Because it’s the core item for the purpose he’s been searching for for hundreds of years.

‘…The problem is what to do with this.’

I thought about it for a moment.

Is there a problem? There won’t be?

Then there’s no reason not to use it.

“I can tell you if you want.”

[Yes. You have to tell me. I won’t tolerate not telling me!]

I can feel his determination to find out even if he opens my head…

The problem is that it’s chilling that he’s a Lich who can really do that.

“Instead, there are conditions. You’re not going to try to find out only through threats after saying you’d agree to a conversation, are you?”

[…That’s right. There’s a point. What do you want?]

Judging by his momentum, I feel like he would just give in if I asked him to take Phellantronel’s head.

But I don’t make such foolish requests.

In the first place, I don’t trust this Lich.

Even if I make him my ally, there’s a high possibility that he’ll betray me.

But it’s not worth it to tell him to get out of here.

I only have to make demands within a range that won’t be affected even if I’m betrayed at any time.

…I need something plausible to ask for.

‘…Ah, come to think of it.’

There might be something I can ask for.

I took out a mold from my subspace that was the length of my shoulder.

Inside was a broken magic sword that I accidentally found when I got the old mansion.

[What is that?]

“It’s a broken magic sword… I want to fix it.”

Regarding this magic sword, I asked the alchemist Elmerot to treat it with a magic circuit repair solution.

‘But it’s not certain whether it can be repaired.’

It’s questionable whether the restoration will be completed as it is.

Elmerot also said that the possibility was not very high.

But what about this Lich?

If I entrust it to this big shot who is also the world’s best black magician?

[You want this Khelms to fix it? Are you going to ask for just that?]

“Of course, you can decide after hearing my answer…”

[Good.]

Oh, you agreed right away.

[Do you think it’s okay to agree without verifying your words?]

Nod. Nod.

[Even though I’m in this body, my eyes haven’t deteriorated. You definitely know something. I’m sure of that!]

He seems to have his own reasons.

[More than anything, if it’s a lie, I can punish you then.]

“I guess so.”

In the end, even if he’s crazy, a Lich is a Lich.

“Okay. Then I’ll tell you the information first.”

It doesn’t matter if I tell you anyway.

‘If my guess is correct, he’ll get it some time later anyway…’

In the original story, he probably found out the location of the item through other means.

Then it doesn’t matter if I tell you.

“There’s a dungeon on the western end of the continent that was recently discovered. If you hurry up and capture it, you’ll be able to get what you want.”

[…Is that the place?]

“If you don’t believe me, you can see it for yourself.”

He can’t ignore it.

I’ve proven once in the past that I don’t lie.

[Okay, I’ll go. I’ll definitely go. Keuheuheuheuk.]

He’s shaking his shoulders and can’t control his emotions.

[I believe you! Okay, I’ll accept the deal.]

Khelms accepted the repair of the magic sword that I offered as a price and received it from me.

He won’t run away with it.

If my information is proven to be true, he’ll fix it.

[As agreed, I’ll step back for now. I won’t bother you anymore. And…]

Khelms turned his head and stared at one place.

[It would be difficult for you to show me having any more conversations, right?]

I soon understood the meaning.

A large mass of flames is poured out as if aiming at him accurately.

It’s a magic attack.

“Black magician! You were there!”

It was Cruise Elfamant who was flying towards us from far away.

“Stop right there! Khelms Alfrens!”

[…It’s getting noisy.]

Khelms wrapped his body in black magic to block the attack and threw himself into the gate.

[If we have a chance, we’ll see each other again. Young spiritist… no, an alien being that even I can’t fathom.]

Leaving those strange words behind, he disappeared.