How To Suck Honey With Extras [EN]: Chapter 335

“So, Aileon, what did you mess up this time?”

“You ask with such refreshing certainty, Miss Magician…”

Well, it seems Cruse isn’t the only one who thinks I’ve done something again, judging by the looks I’m getting.

Is this my fault? Is it because of my past actions?

“I merely made a deal that doesn’t harm them.”

“A deal that doesn’t harm them?”

“Well, such things exist, Rusel. There’s nothing you can’t sell in this world, and whatever you sell is up to the merchant.”

“What are you talking about…”

Perfect timing to show off a little.

I opened a small subspace, reached inside, and pulled something out.

“…A book?”

A common bundle of parchment.

It’s hastily made, as it’s just a bunch of scribbles bound together, making it look quite crude compared to other books.

Well, makes sense.

I’m the one who wrote it.

“Ta-da! 「White Hell Strategy Guide」!”

“…….”

“…….”

“…….”

“Seriously? Do you all have to look so dumbfounded? It hurts my feelings, you know?”

Do you think I want to do this? I’m just trying to make a living.

“I’ve been researching and compiling countermeasures for the White Hell, thinking we might have to go there someday.”

Originally, it was to figure out how to survive against Pericia.

“So… you never intended to keep that knowledge to yourself.”

“That’s right, Cruse. I was planning to write this and spread it around.”

The original plan was to hide and spread the strategy if that situation ever arose.

Conquering a Demon Realm is a matter of honor for some reckless people.

Of course, there would be plenty of fools who would take the bait.

Mercenaries and knights from all over would gather, causing a huge commotion.

‘Well, the current Epileotto is just stealing and using what Pericia had.’

In other words, the countermeasures against that witch can be applied to him as well.

“So, I just sold this for a very high price.”

Not an outrageous price, but enough to make up for all the brainpower I squeezed out.

Fame is fleeting, but money lasts for generations.

Cash is king, after all.

More than anything, it’s a fair price considering it’s for their lives.

“At least they’ll be prepared for the summons, traps, and most of the other tricks he can use, so they won’t be wiped out so easily.”

At least unnecessary sacrifices can be avoided.

In that sense, I’m not without good intentions.

Staying alive is the best, no doubt about it.

“…And you plan to reduce our burden by taking advantage of their struggles?”

“Exactly!”

I clapped my hands at Alnix’s point.

If they hold out stubbornly, he’ll have to adjust his tactics accordingly, which means less focus on us.

Guiding his actions makes it easier for us to move as we please.

“So, all that’s left is to hope they put up a good fight.”

More than anything, the humans he ignores and despises will be the cause of his headaches.

Nothing could be better than that.

* * *

The subjugation party’s strategy has changed.

“We have obtained information about the White Hell! We will change our guidelines based on it!”

Dilkud, who bought the information from Aileon, held it up proudly and urged the others to revise their plans accordingly.

“Can we really trust this?”

Of course, the first reaction was skepticism.

If it was so good, why didn’t they get it sooner?

But he didn’t reveal the source.

That was the deal with Aileon.

He could only vaguely say he got it through connections without mentioning Aileon’s name.

“We’ve already verified it to some extent.”

He wasn’t naive enough to believe it right away either.

He was wary of it being a trap.

A skilled person suddenly appears in the midst of hardship and gives information like a lucky encounter?

Is the world that easy?

First, he selected a few soldiers and had them verify the information.

You could accuse him of using them as sacrifices, but it can’t be helped.

The important thing is to keep the majority of soldiers alive.

Fortunately, the information was mostly accurate.

“We can’t rely on it too much, but at least it will serve as a guideline.”

* * *

The White Hell strategy guide that Aileon traded.

The commander who traded with him barely managed to persuade the other commanders to spread it to each unit and test it out.

But they weren’t reckless enough to trust it completely from the start.

Even if it’s an ally’s claim, there’s a possibility that he was deceived.

So, they first selected some units separately and had them act according to the strategy.

The soldiers were chosen from those who wouldn’t be a great loss in case of an emergency.

They might be sacrifices.

Like carrying a small bird to see if there’s harmful air in a place [a reference to the practice of coal miners using canaries to detect dangerous gases].

“Are we advancing with just this many people?”

“I heard it’s just a simple reconnaissance.”

Of course, they don’t tell the truth to those who were selected.

Instead, they were enticed with the promise of great recognition if they returned safely.

Of course, that’s not a lie.

If they really make a contribution, they will be fairly evaluated as promised, and even if they are sacrificed, they will be treated with respect.

Even if they are sacrifices, their lives are not treated carelessly.

It’s just that someone needs to be pushed out because it’s necessary.

Reality is always disgusting like that.

But the result is not such a terrible sacrifice for them.

First, they started searching as planned.

And in less than a few hours, they had to face the enemies that were targeting them.

“All troops, stop!”

The commander, who noticed the signs and received a report from the scout, stopped the march.

They checked their equipment and gripped their weapons tightly for battle.

“…It’s coming.”

Needless to say.

The ground shook as if it were turning over, and a heavy sound echoed from deep within the earth.

As the soldiers gasped and trembled, the man commanding them suddenly remembered something he had almost forgotten and shouted.

“Scatter!”

The direction to escape was designated to each squad leader in advance.

They spread out in a circle, as if doing a Ganggangsullae [a Korean circle dance], and moved away.

As if they knew in advance.

“First of all, this was the guideline…”

The commander swallowed hard, sweating and wondering if this was okay.

And soon.

Kwaang!

The ground turned over, and a giant worm made of black liquid popped out from within.

“A monster made of black liquid… definitely…”

He hurriedly rummaged through the book he had received.

The higher-ups said it was information about the White Hell obtained through some route.

He was skeptical about whether such a convenient thing existed, but the current signs were avoided with that information.

So, it’s worth a try.

“It’s here!”

There’s information about it.

It’s quite detailed.

As if he knew the monster well and had seen how to hunt it.

“It seems to be weak against heat! First, hold the line so it can’t push through, and those who can use magic, show it some heat!”

As the soldiers held up their shields and maintained the line, the soldiers and mercenaries behind them who could use magic quickly completed their spells.

“Flame Holder!”

“Fire Wall!”

They cast chains of fire and walls of fire to block it.

As the information said, as soon as it felt the heat, it trembled and retreated, not befitting its imposing size.

“Is it working?”

Looking closely, the black liquid of the monster evaporated, scattering black mist when it got close to the fire.

It means it’s weak against heat as the information said.

Barely suppressing the joy of certainty, he ordered the soldiers to attack.

“Anything is fine. Give it a taste of heat!”

Even if it’s not magic, there are plenty of ways to use fire.

You can tie torches to the spears and swing them with fire, or you can use simple magic to light stones and throw them.

Rather, it consumes less mana than casting a clumsy Fire Bolt.

Papapapapat!

Stones and fire arrows flew incessantly, and the monster tried to strike the soldiers, but the nimble ones swung their burning spears to check its movements.

No matter how big and imposing the enemy is, there’s nothing to fear if the information to attack it has already been revealed.

“And when the surface of it dries out from the heat…”

The commander watched the monster’s movements as written in the information.

The monster’s black liquid seems to be like mucus.

In short, it’s to protect the monster’s main organs.

And when it evaporates.

“Hmm!”

As the monster’s liquid decreased, something dark red was faintly visible on its body.

“If the information is correct, it must be it!”

As he reached out his hand, a soldier waiting next to him handed him a spear.

The soldiers are fighting well now, but they are only checking it.

And if they bother it any more than this, it will run back into the ground.

It’s written in the information that it’s annoying if that happens.

So, now that its body is exposed is the only chance.

“Hup!”

He put strength in his arm and concentrated on the spear he was holding, as if drawing out a strong energy.

The spear absorbed his aura as if sand absorbed water, and it glowed blue.

“Go!”

He threw the spear with the energy.

Faster and more intense than an arrow.

The spear flew in a blue trajectory and aimed at the monster’s exposed body… the dark red sphere faintly visible inside.

According to the information, that’s the monster’s core.

So, if you pierce it, it will naturally fall.

Kwaang!

The spear thrown by the commander pierced the monster’s body, shattering it.

It would have been impossible when protected by mucus, but now it has exposed its weakness defenselessly.

His aura alone is enough to cut off its breath.

And as if to prove it, the monster’s core, pierced by the spear, shattered and scattered with a faint explosion.

Kyaaaaaaak!

It seems like a scream is heard from inside the core.

The monster collapsed and disappeared.

“…Uh.”

Someone who had been watching the process in silence let out a breath and made a sound.

And then they shouted in victory.

Finally, they succeeded in attacking the enemy for the first time in this hellish Demon Realm without any loss.

After that, the search parties sent out to test the strategy guide began to achieve results one after another.

They achieved results not only with their skills, but also with the strategy guide distributed to them without great losses.

The knights of the main force who received the report seriously suggested to their superiors that they should use this strategy guide more reliably, and they had no choice but to seriously consider it.

Even if it’s suspicious, they can’t ignore it if it really works and achieves results.

Accordingly, they decided to rely more boldly on the strategy guide to conquer this Demon Realm, the White Hell.