How To Suck Honey With Extras [EN]: Chapter 294

326. The End of the Villains (4)

“If not, please deny it now.”

[What are you saying when you’re already convinced?]

Surprisingly, Kmelz quietly agreed. He wasn’t angry at having his secret pointed out.

It seemed he was rather pleased that I knew.

“You must have thoroughly researched the regeneration of life after that tragedy.”

Of course, there’s no such method in ordinary magic.

The only way to play with souls is through black magic.

“You became a lich yourself, mastered black magic, and clung to it.”

The reason he’s called the Mad Lich is that those who didn’t know the truth behind his research ridiculed him, and also because he didn’t care about methods or means.

He deliberately provoked the anger of people like Cruse.

No, is he really crazy?

It’s hard to consider someone who clings to the regeneration of the dead as sane in the first place.

“…That’s impossible.”

However, Cruse shook her head as if she couldn’t understand.

“I certainly know that he possesses such skills and has only researched them. That’s why I thought I had to stop his atrocities.”

But what she didn’t understand was…

“Why is he meddling in the affairs of the elves?”

She couldn’t understand why a simple black magician would bother to interfere in the tragedy the elves had experienced.

“It’s a very simple reason.”

I stared at Kmelz and said.

“It’s really simple.”

I’m about to reveal the most decisive and simple reason.

Something that will only come out in the story related to Ernil Alfrens after he disappears.

“Kmelz Alfrens… It’s natural that we humans don’t know that name. Even among the elves, there are very few generations who remember that name, and even if they do, they seem to think it’s just a coincidence, a namesake.”

“…Excuse me?”

“The last leader of the elves.”

I mentioned that person.

“It is said that there was a man who despaired over the corrupt World Tree in the past.”

Even at this moment, Kmelz is silent.

But the bone holding the staff twitched.

It’s enough to show he’s shaken.

I nodded seriously and continued.

“The leader who last led the elves at the time… I heard that the name of a certain high elf was Kmelz Alfrens.”

“…That can’t be.”

“I’ll say it again, it’s not just a namesake.”

I revealed the truth that shouldn’t have been pointed out at this time.

“That leader of the elves and the lich in front of me are the same person.”

That’s his motive for acting.

“Only to revive his own kind. To regenerate their home. Isn’t that the reason for your actions… all of it?”

[How much do you know?]

“Of course, I don’t know everything.”

What I know is only Kmelz Alfrens’ personal history and purpose, which were only mentioned as past descriptions in the original work.

And only the ending.

And more than 70% of what I know, I’m pulling out from thin air right now.

Surprisingly, I don’t have much to go on.

‘So I have to compromise as much as possible here…’

Let’s choose our words carefully.

[Are you going to blather about a deal again?]

“Of course not. Whatever the reason, you know very well that you are an unforgivable being.”

Kmelz has already committed numerous sins.

He throws everything away for one purpose.

He abandoned ethics, pursued knowledge indiscriminately, and gathered what he needed.

“As Eilon said, no reason can be tolerated.”

Cruse wouldn’t forgive that either.

I can’t let that happen either.

“Don’t you already know that? That you have become a being so different from the leader of the elves back then.”

[…To say that to my face.]

Kmelz gave a bitter smile for some reason.

He can’t help but be aware of himself not getting angry even after being confronted with his identity.

[Even so, it doesn’t matter. I swore to retrieve them… those I lost a long time ago.]

Only that, even if he loses his identity, only his will does not change.

That word is sincere, and his determination will not waver.

I know.

“Let’s get to the point. What I want to compromise on is not some evil lich. It’s the pitiful elves he’s holding captive.”

I deliberately said it indirectly.

[…You?]

“You know it. That just reviving them won’t solve anything.”

“Eilon!”

Cruse also shouted as if she had predicted the truth, but I slowly spread my hand and stopped her.

First of all, it’s a conversation.

“I understand Cruse’s intentions. It’s absurd to negotiate with someone like that in the first place.”

“Wouldn’t that be unacceptable?”

“But what if there’s no other way? For example, saving the poor souls trapped within those coffins?”

Cruse flinched as if she had been hit in the bullseye.

This is the point of compromise.

“If we, well, try hard and defeat that lich.”

[Oh? You’re talking nonsense.]

“What will happen here then?”

If Kmelz is defeated, what remains are the elves he tried to revive.

Looking at those numerous elves, I wanted to seriously discuss this.

“I’ll make sure to say this. Not a single one of those elves in the coffin will see the light of day if we just leave it at that.”

[…That’s an undeniable statement.]

“It’s not like Cruse or I will do anything directly. The same goes for our allies.”

There are a few unstable people, but I can somehow gloss over it.

“But not this damn world.”

Society is cruel.

Kmelz, the instigator, can be defeated and eliminated.

But it doesn’t end there.

“This damn world only wants to pass the buck to the end.”

They’ll be labeled as related, acquaintances, or subordinates.

I recall the story related to Kmelz Alfrens in the original work and guarantee this for sure.

“They will be massacred a second time.”

Black magic surges from Kmelz to a terrifying extent.

Even if he knows it’s not my true intention, he won’t be able to hide his anger.

‘That’s the planned future…’

In the original work, after Kmelz falls, they want to discuss the treatment of these people.

Even if the timing is a bit late, Sylvester will also learn the truth about them and naturally want to save them.

But he can’t save them.

The evil of society is much more terrible than an individual can handle.

“Someone won’t want them to come out into the world.”

While Sylvester is dealing with Kmelz, those with that malice will burn this place down.

They will never open their eyes again and turn to ashes.

And the situation will flow to the worst.

Then the worst story that cannot be described in words will unfold.

I want to prevent that.

“Political reasons. Personal desires. There will be those who want to bury them as much as they want.”

[…What are you trying to say?]

“Maybe Kmelz Alfrens… He must have used his head in his own way. He must have been thinking about his position on these people after he was defeated.”

Of course, I know.

“For example… Ernil Alfrens.”

[… !]

“The reason he let Sylvester discover her was to establish her position as a pitiful victim of the lich’s cruel experiments.”

He makes them build up goodwill and connections with people who seem nice, so they can be protected.

He makes them thoroughly victims and separates himself as the villain.

“It’s not a bad method. There are quite a few people who sympathize with her.”

But it’s not enough.

Even though he took such a policy in the original work, it eventually had to end in tragedy.

That’s this damn world.

[Then do you have a way?]

“I’ll make it happen. I will protect them in a different way.”

I’ve already thought of a way to some extent.

I’ve already finished poaching [recruiting allies beforehand].

Above all.

“It won’t be too late if I finish consulting with you.”

The reason it ended in tragedy was that the battle continued, and they pursued their goals and dragged on, so they went to extreme choices.

If you simplify it and cut it off, you can deal with it.

“However… Kmelz Alfrens. I’ll have to defeat him.”

It’s a compromise, but it’s only a compromise for the elves, and it’s impossible for that lich.

I will defeat him.

Even though I say that, he listened silently.

[Indeed… is that such a deal? To receive this Kmelz’s head and take them in?]

“That would be the surest way to end it without causing any more damage.”

I have no sympathy for him either.

Sin must be condemned.

I have no intention of defending him.

Sin is sin.

[…Is that what you’re satisfied with?]

“That’s about as much as I can concede. And you have to concede the rest.”

Even if I can’t say give and take… there must be a result equivalent to it.

Kmelz is thinking quite deeply.

What I said is true, and he must be worried.

That’s why he was going to become a thorough villain and instill fear in those around him.

“I won’t force you any further if you don’t like it.”

[It doesn’t matter. I won’t refuse right now.]

“Then are you accepting it?”

[However, only after confirming one thing.]

I don’t have a good feeling for some reason.

For some reason, Kmelz pointed his staff at me. Cruse was surprised and wary, but I raised my hand and stopped her.

That’s not what he meant.

[As you know, they are my precious compatriots. It may be funny to say this after becoming like this, but it’s definitely true.]

“That’s right.”

[So I want to confirm even more. Can I really entrust them to you?]

“…Ah.”

I have a troublesome feeling for some reason.

And that feeling is sure to hit.

[I was going to protect them with this power. But if that’s wrong, Eilon… you’ll have to prove it.]

“Haa… is that so.”

He slammed his staff on the floor, making a sound.

[Prove that you have the power to entrust them to you without any problems!]

In short, he wants to fight.

However, not a duel to the death like before, but simply a task to confirm strength.

No matter what, it’s a duel!

It’s a really annoying world.

I sighed and nodded.

“Okay. If that makes you feel better, I’ll gladly face you this time.”