Honey Trap! ~The Honey Trap Encirclement to Ensnare the Summoned Hero~ - Chapter 43 & 44

Chapter 43: Troublemakers Dive into Quest Laundering (Part 3)

The four, having ditched the Solaria flower, started a new strategy session.

The stage: their usual haunt on the Dark Continent.

“Guests deserve hospitality. It’s only polite.

Have some tea.”

““““…””””

The four, fresh from a fiery “welcome,” gave Luwi side-eye at her quick mood swing.

“It’s that brat Lucius’s fault for being rude! I’m blameless!”

“Sigh… fine. Let’s say it’s all Lucius’s fault.”

“Truly, the tongue breeds calamity.”

Agamemnon shrank to small size, and the four entered the sage’s tower.

“Wait there,” Luwi said, slipping into another room. She returned, swapping her sage robe for a slightly oversized dress, her budding chest peeking out chira chira. Frankly, it looked criminal.

“…Hag—mgh!?”

“Chill, Lucius. We’re negotiating, yeah?”

“Don’t overdo it, hag.”

If Lucius had finished, it’d be all-out war—tower exploding, a pointless yet epic brawl.

Yuri’s rare save kept the peace.

“So, the dumb Demon King says you’ve got an elixir. True?”

“Ho, an elixir? Got one. I’ve spares, so I’m not stingy.”

“Sweet! Problem solved!”

“I’d like to know what it’s for. Things aren’t always as simple as that kid thinks.”

“Well, there’s a sick girl. Solaria flowers are supposedly the cure, but they’re extinct. So, elixir it is!”

“Hm… a disease cured by Solaria flowers…”

Luwi, arms crossed, pondered.

She looked like a grade-school girl—cute, round eyes, total loli. Surrounded by books and magical tools, she screamed “sage.” Pure fantasy.

Yuri grinned, earning icy glares from his team.

“““Lolicon.”””

“Slander! I demand a fair trial!”

“Honestly, I’m shocked your womanizing goes that far. Lusting after that eternal virgin? Peak playboy… Nuo!? What’re you doing, hag!?”

A knife, thrown at near-sonic speed, missed Lucius by a hair.

Both attacker and dodger were superhuman, but the pettiness was unreal.

Despite the interruption, Luwi mused un un, then spoke.

“Listen, elixirs don’t cure diseases.

They reset the body to mint condition, making the disease ‘never happened.’”

“Huh, really? News to me.”

“Dragons don’t get sick. But even a reset body can’t fix some diseases.

Innate ones, the tricky kind, can’t be cured.

Call them diseases rooted in one’s existence—those exist.”

“Like genetic diseases.”

The three stared at Yuri like he’d grown horns.

“No way, you saying something smart!? The evil god’s reviving!”

“Oh no, the world’s end starts like this…”

“Tomorrow, snow, thunder, and spears will fall together.”

“Alright, let’s settle this with fists!”

The four started brawling in someone’s home. Incorrigible troublemakers.

But the host, a mystical loli hag, clapped pan pan and resumed like nothing happened.

“Genetic disease, huh? New term, but you seem to know something.”

“Well, I’m from another world.”

“Ho! No wonder you’re odd! A summoned guest!

Tell me, how does your world treat such diseases?”

“…Sorry, no clue…! Genetic diseases vary.

Organ issues? Maybe transplants. If it’s a nutrient deficiency, drugs might help…”

“Organ transplants!? Your world swaps organs!?

Wild! My blood’s pumping!”

The loli leaned in, eyes gleaming. A total incident visually.

Yuri half-bought her “sage” title—she had mad scientist vibes.

“Off-topic. Solaria flowers had a component that ‘masks’ certain diseases. Doesn’t cure, but extends life.

That’s why it’s known as a cure. Wrongly.”

“Wait. So, even if we find the flower or chug elixirs, she won’t get better?”

Eremia snapped, and Luwi grinned—a fun, ominous grin that put even the Troublemakers on edge.

“Fufufu, enter the great sage! Simple: if the disease is rooted in her existence, change her existence entirely!”

Luwi cleared a table littered with animal skulls and melted candles, drawing a magic circle. Her eyes glinted, breathing heavy.

“Fascinating problem! Mix the elixir with this and that, add that spell… Kufufu! I’m a genius!”

Her excitement was worrying, but her hands were steady, swiftly finishing the circle, grabbing catalysts, and prepping the ritual.

She placed an elixir bottle on the circle. Done.

“Now, a drop of my blood.”

She pricked her finger, mixing blood into the elixir, and chanted an ancient spell.

“Hear, the principle of all, the boundless Apeiron. Moonlight is false, stars all lies. The flute plays, all things clash, and this small world, swallowed by fire, transforms.”

The air trembled.

Old fairy tales, forgotten adult stories, daydream memories flickered briefly and vanished.

Left behind: a rosy-golden liquid.

“It’s done!”

“…She’s actually a sage…!”

A mildly rude compliment, but Luwi, high on success, didn’t notice, preening like a tengu.

“Hahaha! Praise me more! This is a first in history!

The first potion to create a Vampire Lord!”

“…I’m getting déjà vu.”

“Same. Isn’t this just back to square one?”

“What’s with those looks!? This is amazing!

Any species drinking this becomes a Vampire Lord—not a thrall, a pureblood vampire! Genetic disease or not, change her species, and it’s solved…!”

The four clutched their heads. Undead or vampire—either way, they’re drifting far from the goal.

But Agamemnon threw out a practical dodge.

“My take: she won’t live long anyway… Why not buy time with this potion?

A Vampire Lord’s lifespan is huge, right? Meanwhile, we make a potion to turn her human again.”

“““That’s it…!”””

Like slapping a quick fix on a flaming project, postponing real solutions.

The dragon’s “we’ll balance the books later” wisdom shook them all.

*

“Whoa!? My teacup split in two…! Something bad’s brewing…?”

“Guildmaster, I’ve got a really bad feeling too.”

“Those guys…”

“They’ll be fine… right?”

At the Adventurers’ Guild, their gut feelings were, unfortunately, spot-on.

Chapter 44: Troublemakers Dive into Quest Laundering (Part 4)

The four, plus one, arrived at the Klein estate at dusk the day after taking the quest.

“Why’d you tag along, you hag!?”

“I’ll kill you, snot-nosed brat! It’s my potion, so I’ve gotta check its effects! …Honestly, it’s my first try, so it’s a bit of a gamble…”

Luwi, cooling off from her research high, drew uneasy glances from the four, who sighed in unison.

“Well, we’ve got no other options… Let’s just try it!”

“Right! With me here, I can fix any flops!”

“Worst case, I’ll make her undead, but that’s a one-way trip.”

“I’m really worried…”

No time to dawdle. They rang the bell, and dota dota heavy footsteps echoed, the door flying open dokan!

“Adventurers! M-My lady…!”

“This is bad!”

“Yikes!”

The butler’s frantic expression sent the four sprinting, dashing to Lily’s room at inhuman speed.

Luwi, clueless about the layout, and the stunned butler exchanged glances.

“Uh, I don’t know where to go. Could you guide me to the sick girl?”

“Y-Yes…!”

They hurried after, the butler’s urgent steps signaling a crisis. For a man so poised after years of service, this was a first.

The situation was dire.

“Sorry… looks like my lifespan beat your adventures… goho, goho!”

“Don’t give up, Lily! There’s still time, there’s gotta be…!”

Lily, too weak to rise, lay bedridden, mustering a wry jest.

Her father clutched her frail hand, tears streaming.

In this scene, the Troublemakers shouted—

““““Made it! Safe!””””

The head looked up, baffled. Lily’s eyes widened. Ignoring them, the four zipped to the bedside in a blink.

Yuri, relieved, held a rosy-golden, mystical potion.

“Here, drink this!”

“That was close…! Barely made it! Gulp it down!”

“It’s probably fine, so hurry!”

“…I’m a bit uneasy, but we’re out of options, right?”

They shoved the potion at Lily zuzui. Overwhelmed, she gave a wry smile and took the bottle.

“…Pretty color. Is this the Solaria flower potion?”

““““…Y-Yeah, exactly!””””

Eyes darting, the four nodded vigorously.

As Lily sipped, the change was vivid, unmistakable.

“…W-What’s this…!?”

The head gaped. No wonder—Lily glowed with reddish light, sparkling kira kira.

Her long blonde hair swayed yura yura, floating like she was underwater.

“M-My lady…!?”

The butler, arriving late, froze at the sight.

Luwi, peeking from behind, clenched her fist.

“Yes! Success! I’m a genius!”

The Troublemakers exhaled haa in relief.

As the glow faded, Lily cautiously opened her eyes.

“…Huh? My body feels light…? Wait, what!?”

She leapt up.

Not just that—she stood on the bed, bouncing pyon pyon.

“I can move! My body’s doing what I want!”

Not content, she hopped to the floor, testing her legs, then ran. Steps forward, feet firm—she moved effortlessly, better than even her healthy days.

Lily was floored by her body’s change.

The head, moments ago drowned in grief, now—

“My daughter, so full of life…! She’s standing on her own…!”

Seeing his bedridden daughter run after two years, he sobbed oi oi.

The butler, rigid, let tears fall hara hara.

Servants, rushing in, saw Lily spinning and jumping, erupting in joyous cries and sobs.

“This is amazing! I’ve never moved like this!

It’s like this isn’t my body!”

Thump.

A razor-sharp remark.

The five looked away, muttering, “Whew, glad it worked!” or “Worth the effort!”—painfully fake.

Huddling, they whispered, “How do we explain vampire weaknesses?” “Call it side effects!” “You say it!” “Can I go home?”

The head, face crumpled, rushed over.

“Troublemakers…! Name your price! I’ll pay anything! I’ll send the guild a letter of gratitude! Your deeds—I can’t praise them enough!”

“Why not hire bards or writers for a book?”

“Brilliant! Oh, and a sculptor for statues in the garden?”

“Splendid. I’ll arrange it.”

The plans ballooned.

The four sweated buckets. No way they could say, “We turned your daughter into a Vampire Lord! We’ll make her human again later, so hang tight!”

Lily, bursting with energy, joined in.

“This is unreal! One sip, and I’m healed! Solaria flowers are something else…”

Gigigi, like rusty gears, the four turned away.

“Y-Yeah, it definitely cured your illness! Guaranteed!”

“Aye, no mistake. That herb’s effect shocked even me.”

“Right! Maybe something reacted when we extracted it!”

“Y-Yeah, probably! Anyway, all’s well!”

They slipped in “unintended results” vibes, ad-libbing hard. Luwi, trying to sneak off, got nabbed by Lucius.

“Meet Luwi, the sage who made the potion!”

“Yes, I, Sage Luwi, crafted it… Wait, you brat, Lucius…!”

“(You’re not escaping alone, hag!)”

“(Let go! Don’t call me sage only now! I checked the effect, I’m out!)”

“(Kukuku, no way! Join our excuse fest…!)”

The two bickered, dragging each other down.

The butler approached, still teary, bowing deeply.

“Thank you for saving my lady… Our house, and I, will never forget this.”

Pure, heartfelt gratitude.

Servants, the head, and Lily joined, bowing low.

The five, twitching, hit their guilt limit fast.

“Uh, can we talk with just Lily, her dad, and the butler…?”

“Of course!”

Thinking it was about payment, the head cleared the servants.

As the last one bowed and shut the door, the four dropped into a crisp dogeza.

““““We’re so sorry…!””””

The three gaped at the sudden stunt. Luwi, skipping the dogeza, whistled pyuu pyuu, signaling “I’m not involved!”

“What’s this about? My body’s fine now!”

“…It’s not a Solaria flower potion.”

“Luwi said your illness can’t be cured by flowers or elixirs.”

“Uh, well, that potion…”

“It… turns people into Vampire Lords… haha…”

Vampire Lord.

A term far from “cure,” tilting three heads.

Realization hit, and their eyes widened.

“No such potion exists…!”

Lucius, brazen, replied to the stunned head.

“Of course not! Luwi made it yesterday—the first ever!

Right, Sage Luwi? Hail the Dark Continent’s great sage!”

“Don’t drag me in, you brat…! Y-Yeah, I made it yesterday. Couldn’t be helped!

Her illness—elixir-proof, hereditary. Her mother died of it, right?”

“…Yes, my wife had the same…”

“Passed from parent to child. To break the chain… we had to change her species♪ Tehepero♡”

“Ugh, gross. Mind your age, hag.”

“I’ll kill you, brat!”

As the two wrestled, Eremia sighed heavily.

“So… we didn’t complete the quest.”

“Huh…? Well, it’s shocking, but… my daughter’s healthy!”

“Yeah, I feel great! I don’t care if it’s not the flower.”

“Her recovery is what matters.”

“But… there are side effects.”

Eremia, unusually serious, explained vampire weaknesses.

“First, a stake to the heart will destroy you.”

“Any human would die from that.”

“Silver weapons too.”

“Iron weapons kill people too.”

Classic warnings got sharp retorts. Huh? That’s kinda critical, Eremia thought, tilting her head, but pressed on.

“You need to avoid sunlight.”

“She’s nocturnal, often up at dusk…”

“We’ll hire artisans for top-tier parasols and veils.”

“You can’t enter uninvited homes.”

“Isn’t that just burglary?”

“You can’t cross running water… Oh, flying bypasses that…”

“Humans don’t fly! I can’t swim anyway!”

Listing vampire weaknesses, Eremia paused, puzzled.

“…Humans are kinda inconvenient, huh?”

“Aye, I forget sometimes. Yuri’d break a stake, and normal weapons don’t scratch him.”

“So the playboy’s the outlier.”

“Hey… Anyway, be careful, okay?

Oi, Luwi, any other warnings?”

“I’m busy finishing this brat!”

“Help me, you jerks! This hag’s out for blood!”

Tch, Luwi clicked, toddling back toko toko.

“Let me check,” she said, touching Lily’s face peta peta.

“Wow, this worked well. She’s got high-tier Lord power. My blood’s the key.”

“…Blood as the base?”

“Didn’t I mention? I’m a vampire. At my level, those weaknesses are mostly overcome.”

“What!?”

The four stood stunned as Luwi continued casually.

“With Lily’s power, she’s fine unless she’s sunbathing at noon.

A Lord turning to ash in sunlight or dying from a stake? Pfft, she’s no lesser vampire.”

“Yeah, makes sense.”

“Aye, vampires are tough.”

“…So, I won’t die from a stake?”

“Guess not. I over-worried. A stake won’t stop a vampire.”

“Being a vampire’s tough…”

With warnings done, the head shouted, overcome.

“So… my daughter’s free from illness and injury…!”

“Yup. Vampires don’t get sick, and injuries heal fast. Chopped to bits? Takes time, but…”

“Wonderful! Lily, you can do everything you wanted!

See the world with your own eyes, your own feet…!

Do what you love, Lily!”

“Papa…! Yeah, I’ll try! I’ll see the world and write my own story!”

They hugged hishi, sobbing oi oi. The butler wept too.

Amid the touching scene, Luwi dropped a bombshell.

“Oh, forgot. Diet’s key. Human or demon, high-magic blood’s best…”

She eyed the four, then roasted them.

“Eremia’s death magic’s too strong. Agamemnon’s too different a species. Lucius’s blood’ll make her crass—avoid it.”

“Thanks a lot, hag…!”

“So, Yuri’s the pick. His magic’s off the charts, and he’s her age. Perfect.”

“Fair enough.”

“My blood’s noble, but Yuri’s local. Practical.”

“…A playboy’s blood for a girl?”

Never a dull moment with these four.

Thus, the impossible quest was slickly laundered and “completed.”