How To Suck Honey With Extras [EN]: Chapter 247

275. The Spirit Master’s Leader (3)

There’s a reason why that branch manager is so afraid. It really is an unnecessary worry.

“But, is this… a cave?”

“I don’t know the exact location either. It seems to be a cave in some remote part of the continent…”

The location of this place wasn’t specifically mentioned in the original story either. There was only a description that it seemed like a secluded place where humans couldn’t easily come. Just a cave somewhere.

Inside, various pieces of furniture and fixtures are randomly arranged, as if imitating a human residence. In a way, it feels strangely out of place, as if mimicking human lifestyles.

“Is the Guild Master in a place like this?”

“This place or whatever, this is where the Spirit Guild started.”

“…Is that so?”

“The Spirit Guild started here.”

“He must be quite the eccentric. It would be difficult for us to live in a place like this.”

“You’ll see when you meet him. …It seems the Guild Master has already detected us.”

At that moment, vast spirit energy enveloped us. Even Dires, who wasn’t a spirit master, sensed the energy and reflexively turned around due to its presence.

Someone is appearing.

“…Could it be that he’s the Guild Master?”

“Yes, you could say that.”

That’s right. I came to the right place. I found the Guild Master appearing from the inside and smiled brightly. Things are going well.

-Our side. A spirit master. No?

A voice echoes in my head. A way of directly transmitting thoughts.

That’s right.

“It wasn’t my intention to meet you like this, but I’d like to ask for your understanding first, Guild Master. …No.”

I politely greeted the high-ranking spirit who appeared from the inside, who looked like a woman, and spoke her true identity. “Wind Spirit King.”

The master of the Spirit Guild is not a human, but a spirit. Even one of the Spirit Kings, who are said to be the pinnacle of spirits.

And someone our protagonist will defeat someday.

* * *

The head of the Spirit Guild is the Spirit King. Only a very few people know that fact. No one knows except for the branch manager-level spirit masters, the vice guild master, and some other person.

“…Is it really true that the Spirit King is leading the guild?”

“It’s true.”

I said it was true. Well, it would be difficult to believe easily. Basically, spirits have an image of being unrelated to the secular world. If that spirit is related to society, if you say that he reigns as the head of a group, it would be strange if you were not treated as a crazy person.

-Demand a correction.

Wind Spirit King, Senillenia, quietly retorted after hearing my words. -I only took over. Other children created the guild.

“I know that too. The first founders were said to be the first five spirit masters.”

Let’s put aside jokes like, Once upon a time, there were five children… The guild was founded by five spirit masters who were protected by the spirit kings at the time. And after they passed away, she was asked to take over the position of Guild Master.

If you think about it, you could say it’s the second generation, but it’s actually an honorary position. She doesn’t actually get involved in the work. It’s not suitable given the nature of the spirit.

“In reality, the vice guild master has been in charge of the guild’s operation and detailed work for generations.”

In addition, the vice guild master is an ordinary human. I wonder how many generations it is now? They keep the guild’s secrets and are in charge of the operation. And they created the current Spirit Guild, which is full of greed.

“And just watches.”

Watching. That’s all she does.

“She is watching to prevent the guild from going out of control.”

“…I don’t understand.”

Dires has a face that he can’t understand. “Out of control? Isn’t the current guild already out of control?”

They monopolize technology, excessively assert their rights, and focus on accumulating wealth rather than maintaining spiritism. Don’t they consider that out of control?

Senillenia shook her head at the question. -That greed is also considered a framework of normal human society. It’s not strange.

“…That’s what she says. Well, I admit that too.”

In short, that Spirit King means that even humans who are greedy acknowledge that it is one of their inevitable instincts. She probably won’t interfere unless the Spirit Guild destroys the world or causes mass slaughter or such a tragedy.

-You are also qualified to contract with us and enjoy it. right?

Meanwhile, Senillenia stares at me and says.

“Yes. I share some sympathy with your descendants. But I don’t belong to the framework you maintain.”

-Is that so?

But she doesn’t seem very interested. Unlike the guild, which is blinded by the expansion of spirit masters, the Guild Master herself is not interested in such talent.

-Why did you use that to find me?

“Because I have something to say about the spirit masters you have to manage.”

In short, I came to file a complaint. Of course, she wouldn’t understand it as it is. Rather, she hesitated as if she was in trouble.

“You said you don’t need to interfere with the current spirit masters, right?”

-That’s right.

“But that activity itself is very annoying to us.”

Then I told them that they were picking fights with me.

-…What do you want?

“I’m glad we can talk. I want an agreement with the guild.”

A non-aggression pact. Living happily together under the condition that we do not interfere with each other!

-Just that. Talk to Billmons.

Billmons, probably the name of the current vice guild master.

“I just thought it would be most effective to negotiate with you.”

The Guild Master doesn’t get involved in the actual work, but her presence is not ordinary. Because she has immense power. The vice guild master doesn’t try to go against her.

-It doesn’t matter.

But her reaction was lukewarm. She probably doesn’t want to agree to the negotiation. No, she won’t be interested in the first place.

‘I guess I can’t catch her with just a suggestion.’ I thought I would have to throw a big bait.

“Of course, I’m not saying to agree to the negotiation empty-handed.”

-……?

“Negotiations are usually established when both sides have something to offer.”

Fortunately, I know her information. Episodes related to her too. And the ending too.

“If you negotiate with me, you will get what you want.”

-…Do you know what it means?

“I can’t reveal the details, but I know. The story of you and a certain human.”

It will be enough to say this much. I can feel the spirit energy that is so dense that it is creepy. In human terms, she got angry.

-That. Don’t say it so easily.

“I’m just saying what I know.”

Well, up to this point, it wouldn’t be strange to look at me like a suspicious con artist. So I throw the bait even bigger.

“Alchemist. Elmerot.”

This time, I couldn’t even say anything. It worked properly.

“I know that the one the Spirit King is looking for is Elmerot. But he’s not coming. You must have given up half of it.”

If that old man, who only looks young, were in this place, he would be crying, ‘Did you sell me out!’ Well, what does it matter? I’d be happy to sell it for my wealth and glory.

“If you negotiate with me, I will catch Mr. Elmerot as a reward and bring him before you.”

If you want, I’ll wrap it up too. I’ll deliver it myself.

-…Basis for trust. Insufficient.

“If you really need it, I can give you other evidence.”

-No, I don’t need it. Humans lie.

The Spirit King shook her head and said. -Human lies are clever. They even deceive us.

“Don’t you think that a Spirit King can see through the inside at a glance?”

-There is no such convenient power. Unless it’s a contractor.

Humans are really amazing. As expected, they are a great race that is so great that even the devil goes away.

“But knowing that, are you condoning the desires of the Spirit Guild?”

-Is that an evil deed?

The Spirit King tilted her head and asked at my question. -Humans lie. And pursue selfish desires. They are no exception.

“…That’s the humanity you saw.”

Well, I’m greedy, so who can blame who?

“Okay. Then let’s talk about the next story when I bring that damn old man. Then it’ll be okay, right?”

Spirit King Senillenia didn’t say anything else. -If you can. …The reason he doesn’t come to me. Because it’s his decision.

Not denying it is the same as admitting it.

* * *

As soon as I got back, I decided to move right away. First, I need to go get Elmerot.

“Let’s hurry.”

As expected, as soon as we went to that guy’s workshop, we could see the end of ugliness. Elmerot, tightly bound in Fluorite’s shadow, was struggling. Good job, Fluorite!

“…Yeah, that’s right.”

Before storming into the Spirit Guild, I pretended to have a consultation with Elmerot and secretly summoned Fluorite separately and hid it in his shadow. There is only one order I gave: if he looks like he’s going to run away, restrain him immediately. And when he really tried to pack his bags and leave, Fluorite carried out the order. Our trap cat activated!

“Ughhhhhhhhhhhhh! Ugh!”

Elmerot flutters and protests. Honestly, I don’t want to because it seems noisy, but I can’t help it.

“Just untie his mouth.”

When Fluorite removed the shadow covering his mouth.

“You wicked bastard! Are you trying to make things difficult for this old man like this?”

“Hey~ What does it matter? Anyway, you’re an old man whose body doesn’t age because of the elixir [a magical potion]. It doesn’t mean it’ll get scratched if you handle it a little roughly, right?”

“Stop with the sophistry!”

He seems to be very sulky. I can’t help it. If I hadn’t done this, this subtly slippery guy would have really run away. Haa… I sighed at his patheticness.

“I went to meet the Guild Master.”

I omitted everything and said that first.

Elmerot, who was annoyed, suddenly died down. He couldn’t continue speaking and somehow seemed to be looking at me.

“Really… did you meet her?”

“Certainly, being a Spirit King is no joke. I was nervous even while talking.”

There are only a few outsiders other than those involved who know that the Guild Master is the Spirit King. And one of those outsiders is that Elmerot.

“…Ayrin, how much do you know?”

I can’t say everything.

“I know that Mr. Elmerot’s bad relationship with the Spirit Guild started after the elder met her.”

“You’re a really strange guy… Did you notice just that….”

“Well, I apologize for trying to take advantage of the elder’s situation.”

First of all, I bowed my head obediently to that extent. Whatever the reason, it is true that I am trying to use him to improve my relationship with the Spirit Guild. And since it was true that I had been thinking about it from the beginning, I had to admit it and apologize first.

“…It doesn’t matter.”

He says that, but I feel like the sulky feeling has been slightly relieved as I apologized first.

“On the contrary, this old man wants to hear. What did she say?”

“Don’t you know?”

“…….”