How To Suck Honey With Extras [EN]: Chapter 34

39. Dungeon Tour Goal (5)

I knew I had to inform them immediately.

I rushed to the tent where Mr. Kalment was staying.

Seeing my expression, he seemed to sense something was amiss and spoke first.

“…What’s going on?”

“My spirit has detected a large number of presences nearby.”

At my words, the expressions of not only Mr. Kalment but also the other mercenaries changed.

“Really?”

“I don’t believe I’m mistaken.”

Whether these presences belonged to humans or monsters, it was a significant problem.

“Tool, explain the situation to the merchants. Mels, wake up the mercenaries. Prepare to respond immediately. …And wake up the magician as well; we’ll need his help.”

Mr. Kalment immediately issued orders to the mercenaries.

There was no time for sleep in this situation.

“What are we going to do?”

“I’d like to launch a counterattack right away, but it’s already late, and it’s too dark to see clearly.”

We couldn’t ascertain the enemy’s exact numbers or armament.

Rushing in blindly would be reckless.

“We’ll have to prepare secretly and launch a counterattack the moment they attack.”

“…I might have a way to do that.”

I suggested a plan to Mr. Kalment.

Their eyes widened in surprise.

* * *

The mercenaries quietly armed themselves and moved according to the instructions they received.

As they moved, I summoned wisps and commanded them to illuminate the area.

“Wisps! Light up the area above us!”

As if responding to my command, the flickering wisps ascended and transformed into bright spotlights.

For wisps that had evolved into lower spirits, illuminating the area was a simple task.

At the very least, we could determine if someone was at our feet.

This way, the enemy couldn’t exploit the darkness as cover.

Finally, a rustling sound emerged from the bushes.

The mercenaries had already surrounded the area.

“Come out! You cowardly bastards!”

Mr. Kalment shouted, aiming his weapon.

If there was no response, a volley of arrows would rain down.

I had already instructed them to shoot immediately if there was no response.

If they had good intentions, they would have no reason to hesitate to reveal themselves; if they were malicious, it was best to eliminate them immediately.

Eventually, those who had been lying in ambush stood up.

As expected, a large number of them were armed.

“…Bandits.”

The equipment wasn’t uniform, and the men’s eyes were fierce.

There was no other way to describe them.

“Ki, kill!”

“Don’t underestimate us!”

The bandits attempted to strike first as soon as their identities were revealed.

However.

Clatter.

A sound of someone dropping their weapon echoed.

Not just one person.

Clatter, clatter…

The sound of weapons falling from their hands continued to resonate.

White mist had already enveloped them.

It was the mist of sleep [a magical mist that induces drowsiness].

Those caught within it were losing consciousness and collapsing.

“The effect is remarkable. They really fell asleep.”

“The spirit master was right…”

The mercenaries were impressed.

The wisps’ light illuminated the area, allowing them to identify the enemies’ positions, create the mist of sleep, and utilize Sylph’s wind to maintain its effective range.

‘It’s consuming mana to keep using the spirits, but there’s no choice.’

Once the bandits were neutralized, the mercenaries would handle the rest.

Then, the magician Raman tapped my shoulder from behind and handed me a small bottle.

Inside, a sky-blue liquid sloshed.

Was he offering it to me?

“…Is this a potion?”

“Drink this.”

I had a feeling, and he willingly gave me a low-grade mana potion [a drink that replenishes magical energy].

A mana potion.

Actually, I wanted one myself.

I knew the recipe, but I couldn’t acquire the ingredients.

I gratefully accepted the unexpected favor.

“Thank you.”

“It’s nothing; thanks to you, it seems I won’t have anything to do. Consider this my reward.”

Come to think of it, was this the first time I’d spoken to that magician?

Apparently, he had a rather kind personality, contrary to his appearance.

Well, he seemed personally invested in this.

“…By the way, you can even use the spirit of sleep?”

Raman asked in surprise.

“I’ve encountered spirits of other attributes, but this is the first time I’ve seen sleep.”

There were countless attributes of spirits, and it was difficult to witness them all.

I smiled wryly and nodded in understanding.

“I’d be happy to tell you about spirits anytime, but I’ll need to be a little free.”

“Well, I’d like to talk more, but it would be better after we’ve dealt with those fools.”

“I agree.”

That being said, we wouldn’t have anything to do now.

That’s what I was thinking when.

Tap.

The sound of footsteps echoed.

“…For ignorant people, you possess considerable skills. Hmph, if you had simply remained still, it would have ended easily.”

A man with his face concealed by a hood stepped forward, clicking his tongue among the fallen bandits.

He kicked the bandits as they obstructed his path.

Was that guy the leader of the bandits?

I was curious and wanted to check his name.

‘…What?’

And I was shocked.

Because of his name.

It wouldn’t be surprising if I didn’t recognize him.

After all, I had only recently dredged that guy’s name from my memory and mentioned it!

‘Galdens? Could it be *that* Galdens?’

His face was hidden by the hood, so I couldn’t see it, but it must be him.

Why was he here?

While I was in shock, he frowned as if annoyed and muttered.

“Tch, you’re useless. What’s with being a bandit group familiar with this area? You’re slower than a bunch of mercenaries. Huh?”

He scorned the bandits as useless and scanned the surrounding mercenaries.

He wasn’t cornered; he simply exuded a bothersome murderous intent.

“…How insolent. What are you babbling about, you bandit?”

Mr. Kalment said sternly, aiming his glaive [a polearm weapon with a single-edged blade].

“If you’re not going to surrender, I’ll sever your head right here.”

“Hmph, that’s ridiculous. Just a mercenary? Keuheuheuh, you speak well.”

He was completely underestimating us.

At that, not only Mr. Kalment but even the mercenaries seemed to grit their teeth in anger.

They wouldn’t fall for the provocation, but they were undoubtedly enraged.

I could feel murderous intent emanating from Mr. Kalment.

“If you want, I’ll cut off that head first.”

“If you can, mercenary. Come on, do it. Keukeukeuk.”

Galdens pointed to his neck and provoked him.

Immediately, Mr. Kalment launched an explosive charge.

He didn’t fall for the guy’s cheap taunt, but he must have felt compelled to strike immediately.

He didn’t hesitate and swung down his glaive.

It possessed the momentum to crush and shatter anything it struck with its weight.

The mercenaries were gleefully laughing, anticipating the foolish enemy being cleaved in two.

…Except for me, who knew the guy’s identity.

“Wait! Don’t rush in like that…”

I tried to stop him, but words are always too late.

It’s dangerous to rush in!

As I shouted those words, the glaive’s blade was about to descend upon the guy’s head.

Kwaang!

A roar like a rockslide echoed and struck my chest.

But the enemy wasn’t cut in half.

“What?!”

Mr. Kalment’s shocked voice rang out.

Galdens had blocked that heavy blow with just a single bastard sword [a sword of hybrid design, usable with one or two hands] he had drawn.

And he did it with ease.

“Oh? You use aura to some extent? As expected, you’re a rank A mercenary. Keuk keuk.”

It wasn’t admiration but a mocking tone.

“Weak! This is how you wield aura [a manifestation of inner energy used for combat].”

As Galdens exerted his strength, the glaive bounced off powerlessly.

Galdens then emitted a blue aura from his sword and slashed horizontally.

Mr. Kalment barely managed to block it by raising the shaft of his glaive, but it wasn’t enough.

It was evident that he was enduring a shock that threatened to break his posture with just one collision.

‘The difference between the two is too great!’

Mr. Kalment was only at the beginner level of aura practice.

And Galdens was…

Aura Expert!

‘Mr. Kalment can’t be Galdens’ opponent…’

The disparity in skill levels was absolute.

It’s not that there are no instances where someone of a lower level defeats someone of a higher level.

There are plenty of examples.

Even in the original work, there was a development where an ordinary soldier who couldn’t use aura employed courage and wisdom to defeat an aura master.

But that was when specific conditions and coincidences aligned, and, above all, it happened because it was necessary for the plot.

It’s a kind of narrative correction.

This time, it’s unlikely to apply.

Kkaang!

Then something broke.

It happened when he blocked the second sword strike that Galdens unleashed.

Mr. Kalment’s glaive was severed at the shaft.

Mr. Kalment spat out blood and fell backward.

“Oh no!”

I quickly summoned a gnome [an earth spirit] and had it create a cushion of soft soil at his landing point.

At least it would lessen the impact.

“…Ugh… How… A bandit like you…”

Fortunately, he was still alive.

He was cut, but the injury was superficial.

But he couldn’t continue the battle in that state.

Seeing him still alive, Galdens clicked his tongue in displeasure.

“Tch… Are there any other tricks up your sleeves?”

Galdens’ gaze shifted this way, beyond the group of mercenaries.

A chill ran down my arms and legs.

At first, I thought it was hostility directed at me, but fortunately, his gaze was subtly directed next to me.

The magician, Raman.

“Hmm… That guy…”

Raman hesitated, sweating profusely.

His staff was faintly glowing, as if he had cast some magic.

Only after seeing a similar light lingering on Mr. Kalment’s body did I realize it.

‘…Could it be that he cast defensive magic at the same time?’

It seemed that he survived the attack not because of luck, but because of Raman’s quick thinking.

Just as I had supported him with earth, he had defended him with magic.

“First, it would be wise to eliminate the magician, and then the spirit master.”

…It’s a big deal that I’ve also been added to that damn guy’s hit list.

Well, since that guy’s goal is to kill everyone anyway, there’s no real difference.

Whether I die first or a little later, that’s the only distinction.

If I don’t want that, I have to kill him.

‘The problem is whether I can defeat that guy one-on-one…’

It’s difficult.

Even a rank A mercenary was defeated in a head-on battle.

Even if I evaluate my skills objectively, I’m only slightly stronger than Mr. Kalment.

Unfortunately, I don’t reach the level of an expert.

Even if I unleashed attacks with spirit magic, they would likely be blocked by his aura.

‘But I can’t give up.’

My power alone is insufficient.

I must not forget that fact.

That means I can’t handle it if I fight alone.

Everyone is here.

“Magician, I have a request. And mercenaries, too.”

I voiced my request to them without hesitation.

“…Tell me.”

“We need your help to defeat him.”

“Do you have an idea?”

“Well, it’s not that complicated.”

The idea I had wasn’t particularly complex.

It’s simple.

We simply combine our strengths.

That’s all.

“Everyone just needs to beat him up, hard.”