How To Suck Honey With Extras [EN]: Chapter 277

308. The Stolen Center (8)

“Of course, if someone is putting effort into something, you just *have* to ruin it, don’t you think?” I said.

“Aileen… watch your tone.”

Everyone seems to agree that they need to interfere anyway.

For the enemy to achieve their goal is the same as them winning.

“If we want to survive, we have to interfere no matter what.”

“Well… that’s not wrong.”

Avild also subtly agreed.

“More than anything, I don’t particularly dislike the idea of interfering.”

“Aha~ We agree for the first time.”

They shared a moment of dark understanding, scattering ominous smiles.

“Anyway, about interfering… I see. The most certain thing would be to destroy it.”

“Destruction would be more certain than interfering half-heartedly.”

Crusoe tacitly agreed this time.

“Hmm? Destruction… Could it be…”

“Yes. It’s exactly what your Highness is thinking.”

I made sure to mention that method again, as if to show off.

While gently shaking the bottle containing that problematic crystal.

“Smashing that fake building and the humans made of that damn crystal. That’s what I’m talking about. Kaboom!”

“…Oh, dear.”

Even the Prince seems to have a bit of a headache this time.

“…Really?”

“Well… you could see it that way.”

Crusoe doesn’t say much.

“Good. Can’t be helped. But how are you going to do that?”

“Magic… would be difficult.”

Magic or spiritism, which would be perfect to use in times like these, has to be rejected.

“They must have taken measures to block the effects of magic or spiritism.”

Even if we解除 [release] it, would those villains just stand still in the meantime?

No way.

“And even if we succeed in destroying it, they will rebuild it.”

That’s why the condition is set.

“Defeating those guys and smashing that fake city must happen almost simultaneously, so they can’t rebuild it.”

“…Even more difficult.”

The condition is that it must be done without greatly consuming our power.

“We need to destroy about 60% of the facilities in the system to have some effect.”

“It’s impossible with soldiers. It would be fortunate if they could cut down one building even if they beat on it.”

“You’re so proud of not having talent. The future of the Empire is bright.”

Seeing that there’s no other response to my sarcasm, it must be a direct hit.

‘More than anything, seeing that there’s no reaction, I can’t expect any more means…’

Of course, I don’t completely trust the Prince’s attitude.

That’s why I don’t expect anything.

‘If I want to get something, I have to rip it off myself…’

But what do I need?

While pondering for a moment, I suddenly thought of something useful.

“In short, you’re saying we need to blow up buildings or whatever without relying on magic or spiritism, right?”

“…Aileen?”

“I have something good.”

I suggested the method I came up with while grinning.

There’s something useful.

To do that, I must first receive support.

“Your Highness Avild?”

“…What?”

I looked at that annoying Prince and demanded what I needed.

“The gunpowder you’re hiding. Wouldn’t you give me all you can give?”

“….”

“You have it, right?”

There is no veto.

If you don’t like it?

I’m going to pack my bags and run away from here right now.

* * *

The end of the Imperial Castle spire occupied by villains.

Inside the tower, which was half-destroyed by the battle, the Empress stood still, looking at the scenery of the city from here.

“What bad taste, Kmelz Alfrence.”

[…What do you want to say?]

Before she knew it, Kmelz Alfrence appeared from inside the shadow.

[Bad taste… What do you mean?]

“Don’t play dumb. I’m talking about the false scenery of that city.”

[Hmm….]

Kmelz noticed but deliberately pretended not to understand and turned his head.

“You said that scenery itself is a magical ritual, right?”

[It’s not wrong.]

It is definitely a magical ritual.

The bodies of those fakes are made up of crystals provided directly by the Empress.

Engraving and processing the formula on it to create a doll.

And pretending to walk around and live to prepare magic.

“Oh? Can you deceive even these eyes, let alone the other guys?”

[I have never lied?]

“That’s not what I’m asking. There’s something you didn’t say.”

The Empress pointed to the outside, to the false city, and pointed out.

“It’s your malice.”

[…….]

“Your malice and resentment are seeping into that place. Even though it seems like a meaningless ritual, there is your resentment. You didn’t explain that.”

[…….]

“Isn’t that right?”

[……I admit it.]

Kmelz readily admitted the Empress’s point.

[It is definitely a minor venting of this Kmelz. The reason I didn’t tell you was simply because it was just a personal venting.]

“A venting of anger.”

[That’s right. Look at that false sight. And beneath it, the rats who are still hiding are grinding their teeth as they watch it.]

Their homes are shattered and they have nowhere to go.

What they see in front of them, who barely survived, is a sight that mocks their homes.

[I wanted to teach them. The fear of losing a home.]

“…Fear.”

[Don’t you like it, Empress?]

“I don’t care.”

Surprisingly, she dismissed it indifferently.

“I left it to you to do as you please. It’s a shame to say anything more.”

[Hmm…….]

“More than anything. Do you know why I joined hands with a mere ghost like you?”

[Wasn’t it that brat’s coaxing?]

It was none other than Epheleoht that interfered to gather them.

However, the Empress scoffed, saying that was impossible.

“I don’t care about cowards who don’t even show their faces, let alone where they are hiding now.”

From the beginning, she had no intention of joining hands with Epheleoht.

The Empress said so.

[That’s unusual.]

“That guy is a sycophant. He’s not even worth listening to. …Don’t you know?”

[……I don’t know.]

Kmelz pretended not to know on purpose.

[Then why did you cooperate? Did you simply take advantage of this opportunity?]

“It’s simple. I move to repay grudges. I’m still alive like this to repay hatred. And you, and the others, are the same.”

I don’t trust you.

But I can understand the resentment.

The Empress claimed so.

[You’re really crazy.]

“To hear that from you, who is notorious as a crazy lich… it’s absurd.”

[But I have to make one correction.]

“What?”

[This Kmelz is different from you. Although I may be crazy about resentment, I do not make resentment a goal.]

The purpose he pursues.

The Empress also knows enough about it.

I didn’t bother to listen, but I have a sense of being an emperor and a villain in the past.

“…You’re really crazy. No one usually dreams of such a thing….”

[You can’t fulfill your wish unless you’re crazy.]

“Then I can’t understand you.”

The Empress turned her back as if she had nothing more to say.

[Weren’t you looking at the scenery?]

“I’m tired of it. Unlike you, I’m not satisfied with such petty venting.”

The Empress’s eyes glow with red madness.

“All I want is their destruction… I’ll repay the pain and resentment of that day several times over.”

[…Well, good. You won’t have to wait long.]

Kmelz snorted and gnashed his teeth as if to replace it, looking out at the false scenery of the city.

[Soon they will know exactly the despair and anger that this Kmelz saw and felt.]

That is his resentment.

[I’ll let you know what it really means to be taken away.]

309. For the Recapture (1)

I succeeded in procuring the materials needed for the operation.

Prince Avild pretended not to know until the end, but in the end, he couldn’t refuse my request and gave in as if surrendering.

“…Is that the gunpowder that the Empire has only recently started to introduce?”

Crusoe, curious, poked his head into the temporary workshop where I was holed up and asked.

“Please don’t get too close; it’s dangerous. It explodes.”

“…Who do you think I am? So what are you going to do with this?”

“Well, what else can you do with gunpowder?”

There’s only one answer.

“I have to blow it up.”

The answer is one.

Explosion!

I will fill the world with flames.

“…Are you going to destroy the ritual site hidden in the city with this?”

“Leaving aside the details, I understand that the city itself is some kind of magic circle.”

“…That’s right.”

“Then you need the power to break it.”

However, touching it little by little will not solve the problem.

But if I touch it openly, they will definitely interfere.

We have to destroy it in a wide area, but neither Crusoe nor I have such means.

Besides, we’re both busy, so we can’t focus only on that.

“I’m going to think of a way to explode multiple places at once other than magic or spiritism.”

“Is that gunpowder for that?”

“Of course!”

If there is anything other than magic or spiritism that can cause an explosion, this is it.

“By the way, you seem strangely excited….”

“Explosions are a man’s romance.”

“You can do it with magic too.”

“Magic and gunpowder are different.”

Gunpowder is romance.

Besides, I have never handled this much explosive before, either on Earth or here.

Even if spiritism or magic is more powerful, it cannot be compared to the romance of gunpowder.

However, Crusoe seems to have a hard time sympathizing.

“…I can’t understand your hobby.”

“Explosions are profound.”

I speak solemnly as if I were a craftsman pursuing art, but Crusoe didn’t show much response.

“It’s easier to blow it up with magic.”

Is gunpowder heresy to a magician? Tch.

I feel sorry for you for not knowing this romance.

“But Aileen, it will be difficult with just that amount of gunpowder, right?”

If it is simply weaponized, it is enough to arm about one division of troops.

But it’s not enough.

“The explosive power of gunpowder is not that strong compared to magic.”

“I know.”

Unfortunately, the reason why the Empire is still researching gunpowder as a demonstration is because there are clearly superior technologies such as magic and spiritism.

To produce the same firepower as a magician lightly chanting a 1st circle magic, you need about two fists of gunpowder used here.

There is a financial problem.

“Besides, the explosive power itself is insufficient.”

As expected, I had to worry a bit when I found out that this was ordinary black powder.

It’s not that it’s ineffective, but the power is insufficient.

“It would be nice to have about five times more of that amount, but it seems difficult.”

It would be suitable for arson, but it would not be enough to cause the destruction I want.

I know that it is not suitable.

“So I was thinking of making a catalyst to use separately.”

“A catalyst?”

He looks at me as if surprised.

I nodded to mean yes.

For that, I am secretly working like this without letting anyone else in.

“Are you going to imitate an alchemist now?”

“I already had a good alchemist on our side. Well, I might be able to imitate it by looking at it.”

First of all, I’m going to make an excuse for our alchemist.

‘Actually, it’s not that simple, and it’s a method I didn’t expect…’

I never dreamed that I would try this.

‘Flammable materials that can be found here… that’s the first and most daunting gate…’

It would be different if chemical technology was being researched more smoothly, but here, things like magic and spiritism are mainly used, so very few people know about this.

To put it bluntly, it’s not profitable.

“For now, I think I can do something with what I can get in my hands. Ah, don’t come too close. It’s dangerous.”

“…Is that something you should say while doing such a dangerous thing?”

“I’m not kidding, it really explodes. This….”

It won’t explode if you talk to me or touch it a little, but this place is dark, so someone might bring a lamp or torch without knowing anything.

That’s why I asked the Prince to have soldiers stand guard and replaced the lighting with wisps of light instead of lamps.

Careful, careful.

When I said it seriously several times, Crusoe understood and his steps became cautious.

You don’t have to walk without making a sound, but it was strangely funny, so I didn’t say anything else for now.