novelraw Chapter 98 : Skopje
Chapter 98 : Skopje
“Mmm… Mr. Slime, have we arrived?”
Rozelite rubbed her sleepy eyes and yawned. She’d slept quite well, better than in any bed. Hidden from sight, Russell had been cushioning her body with his slime, keeping her in perfect comfort.
“Pack up, we’re getting off soon.”
Russell replied, glancing toward Sherry, who sat in the opposite corner.
Compared to Rozelite, the girl had clearly suffered through the journey—utterly lacking in experience with traveling alone.
“I wonder why… Could it be something as childish as running away from home after a fight with her family, stealing money and bolting?”
While Russell mused, the carriage slowed before the city gates.
Several guards stopped the carriage.
“Skopje is under lockdown. What’s in the wagon?”
“Lockdown?”
The merchant outside sounded nervous.
“Sirs, I’m just a trader. I’ve got a few adventurers I hired, but no cargo.”
“Oh?”
Without further question, the guard lifted the curtain.
Cold air rushed in, making everyone except Rozelite flinch.
“Routine inspection. Show your identification,” the guard ordered.
One by one, passengers handed over their IDs. Most used their adventurer’s license—the equivalent of identification cards. The only exception was Sherry, who presented a black card etched with her name and a family crest.
The guard returned it with both hands, his attitude suddenly much more respectful.
Rozelite produced her adventurer’s license as well.
“Remove the hood. Why hide your face? Guilty conscience?” the guard pressed.
“…Fine.”
Rozelite slowly pulled back her hood, revealing the face of a weary, mature woman. Russell had wrapped her face in slime and used 【Mimicry】 and 【Shapeshift】 to alter even her bone structure. There was no chance anyone could recognize her with the naked eye.
Russell had expected this.
Flemont had no wanted posters—because it was an adventurer hub, not a true city. Skopje, however, was the heart of the Alexander family’s domain. They must have been alerted long ago.
Better safe than sorry.
Still, even if they were discovered, it would only complicate things slightly. With their current power, they could force their way all the way to Triumphal City if necessary.
The guard compared her face to his memory, found nothing suspicious, and returned her license.
“Why the strict checks, sir?” someone asked.
“By order of the lord. A demon spy has infiltrated the kingdom. We are to leave nothing unchecked,” the guard explained before walking off.
The carriage rolled through the gates.
Above, magical detection devices hung from the walls, but none reacted. Russell finally let out a quiet sigh.
【Symbiosis】 had already reached level 8.
Even magical detectors now registered him as part of Rozelite.
“Demon spies, huh… looks like it has nothing to do with us, Mr. Slime,” Rozelite whispered inwardly.
“Not necessarily. That could be a cover for another search. But demon infiltrators? That might actually be true. Remember what we told Winnie in Flemont? Looks like she reported it.”
The demons wouldn’t send just Anna to reclaim the Holy Sword stolen by the kingdom. There were likely many more already within its borders.
“Speaking of which—you’re royalty, aren’t you? Do you know where the so-called Holy Sword is kept?”
Russell asked.
Rozelite shook her head.
“I don’t. In all the history I learned, there was no record of the hero ever returning the sword. The chronicles say only that the hero fought the Demon King to the death with it. That’s where it ends.”
“…Fair enough.”
Russell let it drop. Likely even among the royal family, such secrets were known only to those in power.
The carriage stopped in the city’s commercial district.
Their journey had ended, and the group went their separate ways. The adventurers headed toward the guild. Rozelite decided to find an inn nearby.
After their labyrinth conquest, Russell felt their weaknesses had largely been covered.
Truthfully, the slime race was inherently weak. Though resistant to most physical attacks, they were ultimately just shapeless, soft masses with virtually no defense. There were countless ways to kill one.
But for Russell now, that was no longer a concern.
His plan was clear: resupply in Skopje, then head straight for Triumphal City. Only there might the mysteries surrounding Rozelite be solved.
Still, the tense atmosphere in the kingdom filled him with unease, as if something big was about to happen.
“Wow! Mr. Slime, look—what’s that?”
Rozelite’s excited voice snapped him back.
He followed her gaze to a street vendor selling small white treats packed in boxes, frosty mist rising from them.
“…Ice cream?”
“What’s ice cream? That’s sorbet! Sorbet!”
Rozelite’s eyes sparkled.
“I thought they only sold this in the capital! I can’t believe Skopje has it too! Mr. Slime, don’t you want some?”
“…”
“Don’t I want some? It’s you who wants it.”
Before Russell could reply, Rozelite was already running over, fishing out coins.
“Two sorbets, please!”
“Uh… miss, one costs only fifteen copper. Don’t you have silver instead of gold?”
“What?! Something this delicious for only fifteen copper?!”
Rozelite nearly burst into flames. At this rate she looked ready to buy out the entire stall.
Russell coughed.
“Just reminding you—it’s been nearly a month since your last cycle. You’d better keep that in mind.”
Rozelite’s face flushed crimson.
“O-of course I know! I’ll just have a little!”
She really loved sorbet.
That icy, sweet-and-sour taste—if she had to make a list of her favorite foods, sorbet was definitely number one. Too bad her maid Vira had always restricted her in the palace, never letting her eat freely.
But now—finally!
“Ten sorbets, largest size, to go!”
Rozelite slapped down gold with a dramatic flourish, drawing stares from all around.
Russell sighed wordlessly.
As for the agonizing cramps she’d suffer the next day—that was her own problem.