How To Suck Honey With Extras [EN]: Chapter 227

253. The King of Obsession (2)

“So, what brings such an intelligent and elegant spirit to me?”

– It’s obvious.

The Serpent Spirit flicked its tongue lightly and tried to lean its head toward me.

However, it couldn’t move any further because of the chains wrapped around it.

– Annoying chains… It’s truly irritating since I’m not allowed to move.

“Hmm, roughly speaking, you want me to release you?”

– Exactly!

The Serpent Spirit trembled with all its might, seemingly forgetting the pain of the tightening chains for a moment.

– You have no idea how long I’ve waited for a human to discover this place! You probably can’t even imagine it!

*Well, is it similar to waiting for a discharge date that never seems to arrive?*

The spirit sealed here can’t leave on its own, it seems.

At least, not until someone comes to tame them.

– I don’t know how much time has passed, to the point where no humans or anyone else comes anymore. Honestly, I was half giving up.

“Hmm…”

– You can’t imagine how resentful I am for being deceived by humans in the past and sealed in this place.

*Perhaps the humans he’s talking about are from a previous era in the setting… 20,000 years ago?*

Considering the purpose for which this dungeon was built, it must have been abandoned here for a long time.

I understand wanting to leave.

“In that case, we should talk more slowly.”

I smiled and plopped down on the spot.

I’m glad I opened this door.

“Oh, by the way, asking to be released doesn’t mean we have to fight like that blockhead, does it?”

– Don’t worry. I’m different from that idiot. More than anything, if I harm you here, I can’t guarantee when the next human will come, or even if they will.

“Wise.”

– Of course, if you don’t release me, you won’t be able to leave either.

“…Well, let’s consider our positions equal, you damn reptile.”

I have no intention of leaving without any gains anyway.

I just need to solidify my position.

At least, I need to get an assurance that he won’t harm me.

“First of all, it goes without saying that simply asking to be released won’t work. There has to be something in return, right?”

The lack of response probably means he agrees.

Then it’s time to negotiate.

– What do you want?

“I’m not asking for anything difficult. It’s important to find a compromise where we both benefit, right?”

– Speak plainly. What do you want?

“To put it bluntly, won’t you make a contract with me?”

– Hmm… Ordinary.

*What did this guy think I was going to say?*

“However, for the duration that the contract is valid, you must lend me your strength whenever I need it.”

– Hmm? …You don’t want a typical contract?

It’s slightly different.

“To put it simply, you have to lend me your strength for free.”

Generally, making a contract with a spirit and borrowing its power isn’t much different from summoning a spirit or a demon.

You consume your own mana to receive that much in return.

Sylvester will probably use the spirit in that way.

That’s a typical contract.

But I’m not trying to make such an ordinary contract.

“If you want to put it that way, it’s more of a promise.”

I’m trying to make a promise that can’t be broken.

“If you want, you can think of it as the price for finding freedom. You find freedom, but you have to work for free for about 100 years.”

He’s been stuck here for an estimated 20,000 years, so what’s wrong with doing free service for one human lifetime?

Perhaps the snake is dumbfounded by this brazen claim, staring at me for a while.

– You… Don’t you often hear that you’re petty?

“Ah~ Never mind if you don’t like it.”

Negotiations broken.

I deliberately made a show of getting up!

As always, I’m not the one who’s desperate.

– Wait. I haven’t given an answer yet!

Of course, he’s the one who’s impatient.

The Serpent Spirit begins to think deeply.

– Certainly, about 100 years… It wouldn’t be a big deal.

*If I think of it as a deal, it’s within a range that I can sufficiently consider.*

…Actually, a standard contract like Sylvester’s wouldn’t be bad, but I prefer getting things for free if possible.

I want to use that spirit’s power without any cost if possible.

I already have multiple spirits, bloodline abilities, and even use some magic.

On top of that, I’m going to use a spirit as well?

‘Capacity overload.’

No matter how much mana I have, it won’t be enough.

If I want to command a powerful being without consuming resources, I need to make sure of it here.

‘Well, if he really doesn’t like it, I’ll have to change my plan to a normal contract.’

I don’t think there’s any need to worry about that.

–…I understand. I’ll accept your offer.

In the end, the snake decided to accept my offer as if surrendering.

– I promise. As long as you call upon me during your lifetime, I will always assist you.

“Well, a human’s life is short, so just think of it as working to repay a temporary debt.”

*Think of it as a 100-year loan. …Expensive?*

–…Good. Then let’s make a contract.

The contract was established, although the content was an unusual and irregular arrangement.

“How do I do it?”

– Put your hand on the chain binding me and pour mana into it.

“Simple.”

I approached the chain binding the snake, carefully placed my hand on it, and sent mana into it, and the chain began to crumble into dust.

– Oh! It’s being released. It’s being released! Yes! How long have I waited for this feeling!

He mutters as if he’s moved.

Yes, it’s good to be happy, but…

‘Surely he won’t stab me in the back here.’

That’s not uncommon, is it?

‘You’ve released me well, human!’ and then immediately going into battle.

Fortunately, it seems to end only with my petty suspicion.

The snake just stares at me with a dumbfounded expression for some reason.

– Don’t worry. I won’t break my promise. If I break it, my honor will be shaken.

He speaks confidently enough to be refreshing, and then extends the end of his tail as if asking for a handshake.

I smiled in the same way, grabbed the tail with both hands, and shook it lightly.

“Nice to meet you.”

And the door that he had blocked was also released and reopened.

“Aileen!”

“Are you alive?!”

As if waiting, Cruse burst in, and the Princess slowly poked her head out from outside the door.

Fortunately, they didn’t abandon me.

If it had opened and they were both gone, I would have been honestly hurt.

“What on earth happened inside? …Gasp?!”

Cruse couldn’t close his mouth, which he had opened wide, after seeing the giant snake spirit there as soon as he entered.

“A spirit?!”

He immediately recognized its identity and couldn’t hide his surprise.

“Was there a spirit inside this place?!”

Cruse firmly gripped his staff as if raising his guard and tried to respond.

I quickly intervened and stopped him.

“Whoa, whoa. There’s no need to do that. It’s all over now.”

I told them the general situation.

The reason the closed door opened was because I made a contract with that snake.

As proof, that snake is only looking down at us now and is not doing anything else.

– That’s right, human who wields mana.

He even guarantees it directly.

“It can even talk?!”

Perhaps it’s the first time he’s seen an entity that can even talk, and Cruse staggered for a moment as if he was dizzy.

His common sense seems to be shaken.

“If the elders of the Magic Tower see this, they’ll probably be shocked.”

“I’d like you to keep this a secret if possible. It’ll be a hassle for me if it gets out.”

“…I understand. So? Does making a contract mean you can borrow that snake’s power from now on?”

“Well, that’s right.”

“But if that’s the case, then over there…”

Cruse gestured with his eyes toward the Princess, who was also stunned and surprised.

“…Is it okay to show that to her?”

“It doesn’t matter. The Princess herself probably doesn’t know much about spirits. Besides…”

“Hee… So this is a spirit.”

The Princess is only shining with curiosity, as if she’s looking at a rare creature.

That’s understandable.

“…There are already two people in the Empire who have contracted with spirits, so they won’t care that much.”

Perhaps that Princess doesn’t know how much value this has.

– It’s not very pleasant to be a spectacle either. Aileen? If you have nothing to do, I’m going to leave this place.

He seems to want to get out of the dungeon as soon as possible, as if he’s tired of being trapped.

There’s no reason to keep such a large guy behind me all the time.

I almost told him that he could go back.

But a good idea came to mind.

“There’s just one thing I’d like to ask you to do, is that okay?”

I just thought of something I wanted to try.

* * *

A roar that seemed to pierce the solid ground echoed, and the surroundings shook wildly.

“Honestly, the ride isn’t very good. It smells weird too…”

– Don’t make unnecessary complaints.

His voice rumbles low, as if echoing inside a cave.

It can’t be helped.

That’s because we’re inside his mouth right now.

We’re riding inside the giant snake’s mouth, holding onto his tongue like a railing.

– If you keep complaining, I might swallow you in one gulp?

“Hiek?! Aileen! Don’t say weird things!”

Did she take it seriously? Resilia flinches and is surprised, but I just laugh it off because I know it’s just a joke.

Meanwhile, Cruse was only making a bitter expression, as if he was tired of even giving his impressions, and was just enduring.

“I never thought I’d be breaking through the dungeon while riding inside a spirit’s mouth…”

“I thought of it, but isn’t it a brilliant idea?”

I laughed loudly and boasted, thinking it was a great idea.

It’s true that there’s still quite a way to go.

I don’t feel like walking up obediently either.

I changed my thinking there.

Do I really need to go on my own two feet?

I thought I could use a trick.

And this snake fulfilled my expectations perfectly.

As expected of a spirit.

It’s breaking through the bedrock that blocks each floor of the sturdy dungeon, as if a sea serpent is swimming.

Awesome.

– By the way, it seems that another spirit was released a little while ago.

“That’s probably… someone I know.”

As in the original story, Sylvester must have successfully obtained the Lightning Spirit.

Unlike me, he probably subdued it purely by force and made a contract.

– It’s a disgrace to the spirits to be subdued by a human.

…Is that something a guy who negotiated with a human should say?

I barely held back those words.

He might really swallow me if I say something unnecessary.

How long did we endure the roar and the wildly shaking ride for what felt like three or four hours?

– We’ve arrived.

He said calmly and opened his mouth wide.

We immediately got out in a hurry and looked around.

“Is this really the top floor?”

– Unfortunately, there’s a problem…

The top floor contains various magical devices to maintain this dungeon, so recklessly breaking through it could risk the entire dungeon collapsing.

Therefore, considering safety, it seems that he stopped about two floors below the top floor.

– If you’re willing to gamble, I can move you. If I’m careful, it’s possible to squeeze in.

“No, it’s enough. I can’t drop the dungeon by accident, can I?”

Below this is the royal capital of the Selvas Kingdom.

A great disaster will occur if it falls.

– Instead, I’ll give you this.

As the Serpent Spirit lightly shook its tail, a sparkling object fell on top of each of the three heads.

*Why are you dropping things on other people’s heads?*

– It’s my scale. If you have it, at least for the next thirty moons [months], no riffraff will approach you.

It seems to be like a charm to prevent being attacked by monsters.

Good. Let’s sell it later when its effect wears off.