The Slime Doesn't Die from Mana Transfer-Chapter 121 : Alexis

“You might not have understood what I just said.”
Seeing Aristine still standing there without leaving, Russell tilted his head.
“I mean, you’ve already helped enough. I’ll handle the rest. You can go back.”
“One day. The time’s not up yet,” Aristine said flatly.
“But I don’t need your help anymore.”
“...”
“Alright then, let’s think differently.”
Russell was completely at his wits’ end with her.
He dug into his pocket, pulled out his inn key, and shoved it into her hand.
“Here. Take this, go to my room, and stay there until I return. Understood?”
“Mm.”
Aristine nodded.
This time she didn’t fuss, simply left with the key in hand.
Watching her figure vanish, Russell finally exhaled in relief. After all that trouble, they had at least pinpointed the enemy’s hideout—and shaken off the tail.
“You’re amazing, Mr. Slime,” Rozelite said with admiration.
“I wouldn’t have managed... In this kind of situation, I wouldn’t even know where to start.”
“You’ll get the hang of it with more experience,” Russell replied.
Once the others were gone, Russell returned control of the body to Rozelite.
Staring at the barrier hidden behind vines and stone, he said:
“Now we wait here until they show themselves.”
“But Mr. Slime, what if they abandon this base and never come back?”
Rozelite asked.
“Then that’s that.”
Russell explained:
“We wait until sunrise tomorrow. If they still haven’t returned, then this base is abandoned. At that point, we’ll break in and look for clues. If there’s nothing inside... then we go to Wells and let him figure it out.”
After all, there wasn’t much profit in this.
Russell figured he’d already gone above and beyond.
“Alright. I’ll follow your lead, Mr. Slime.”
Rozelite nodded.
Metallic armor surged from her back, while the slime-shaped garments reformed, covering her fully. Activating【Mimicry】and【Stealth】, she melted into the riverside grass.
The sun sank completely below the horizon, and the sky turned a deep black.
Night wind carried damp coolness, insects chirped among the grass.
Just as Russell and Rozelite idly chatted to pass time, faint footsteps rustled from the brush.
Russell instantly tensed.
A shadow, darker than the night itself, slid silently to the cliffside.
The figure paused, scanning the surroundings with palpable caution. Their gaze swept across the grass where Rozelite hid—but found nothing.
Russell’s【Stealth】was far too high to be pierced by sight alone.
While the figure scanned, Russell took a peek at their status panel.
【Name: Alexis Nosferatu】
“That’s the one.”
After confirming the area was clear, the shadow turned toward the rock wall.
He raised a finger, where particles of shadowy mana gathered—absorbing light itself.
He pressed them into an unremarkable hollow on the wall.
In an instant, intricate violet runes lit up like a spiderweb awakening from slumber.
The patterns shifted, humming low, forming a whirling vortex of mana at the center.
With a heavy rumble, the cliffside stone shifted like an automatic door, sliding open just wide enough for one person.
The space beyond was pitch black.
The shadow slipped inside without hesitation.
As the runes on the stone rippled, and the door began to close—
Russell extended a tendril tipped with an eye, snaking along the ground and slipping through the gap!
“Mr. Slime?”
Rozelite whispered.
“Stay here and wait for me.”
Russell’s voice was calm.
Even now, he wanted to avoid spooking the prey. Better to gather intel first.
The tendril stretched onward, following the shadow into the passage.
The stone fell shut, sealing the entrance.
…
Inside was a steep, narrow downward corridor. Clearly a temporary base—crude, but well-hidden. After four or five meters, faint light appeared ahead.
Magical lamps.
By their glow, Russell finally saw the shadow’s full figure: a man in black infiltration gear, his pale, weary face exposed.
He entered a small chamber. At the lone earthen table, he rubbed his brow, then leaned close to examine an old map under the light, tracing it with his finger.
Russell’s gaze shifted to a corner of the room—piled bones. Several corpses stripped to skeletons.
“So... one of them must be that missing slum girl.”
Russell felt nothing. Words like “ruthless” or “cruel” seemed childish here.
His focus returned to the map.
Not just a map. It was a detailed floor plan of a large, complex building.
And something about it seemed familiar.
Russell thought for a moment, then realized.
The palace.
It was a map of the Triumphal City palace.
Scratch, scratch—
Alexis marked several spots on the map, signifying areas already explored.
Then he frowned deeply, muttering low, his voice echoing in the still chamber:
“Damn it. Three marked points checked, and still nothing... Where the hell is the Holy Sword hidden? Time’s running short...”
“Could it be underground? The palace should have lower levels... But where’s the entrance...”
He muttered to himself, clearly frustrated at failing to find the Holy Sword.
“So he’s just an idiot spy searching blindly for the sword. Should I just kill him now?”
Russell thought, preparing to fire a【Mana Cannon】at his head.
But Alexis suddenly sneered.
“No matter. At the coronation, the Holy Sword is sure to appear. Layton and the others should already have arrangements. Once the ceremony begins, if they create enough chaos, I’ll get my chance to seize it.”
“The Holy Sword... will be mine!”