NOVEL NEXT Ch. 12
“Seventh Princess, Rozelite Othinus… What exactly are you planning?”
Winnie’s tone was calm, yet chilling to the bone.
“Shit, busted!”
Russell’s heart gave a loud thud.
What the hell—barely a few words exchanged, and already their cover was blown? That was way too direct!
At once, he used Mental Link to tell Rozelite to hand over control of her body. She had no combat experience—if the other side suddenly attacked, she wouldn’t stand a chance.
But even with that, Russell felt an intense unease.
They were too close.
Russell was terrible at close combat.
Scratch that—what kind of slime would ever be good at close combat?
His real advantage lay in his bottomless MP pool, ever-growing since his arrival, and the many high-level skills he had devoured from the underground labyrinth. With that, why wouldn’t he stick to long-range bombardment?
What, was he supposed to gamble on a few tentacles pulling off a sneak attack—bind her up Nightmare-style, dive in Mud Dragon-style, and insta-kill a seasoned swordswoman?
That crap only happened in hentai.
At this distance, if she made a move… he’d have no choice but to go all out. It would be his first time fighting a human—he couldn’t afford the slightest carelessness.
Russell didn’t want to kill.
But he had no intention of letting his new life end here.
If anyone tried to block his path to becoming human again, then even if it was a god, he’d fight.
And just as he tensed up, ready to strike—
Winnie spoke again.
“However… whatever you’re planning, I won’t tell the captain or the others.”
“Eh?”
“Hm?”
Rozelite and Russell blurted out almost at the same time: “Why?”
“Because I made up my mind long ago—to never again be involved with royalty or nobility.”
Winnie brushed her hair back, her voice faint.
“Whatever you’re after, whoever you represent, I don’t care. Just don’t drag us into it. Do you understand?”
“…?”
Rozelite blinked in confusion.
Winnie went on.
“I was born into the Charlotte family. But ever since I left, I’ve had no intention of going back, nor of having anything more to do with them. I only want to live the rest of my life freely, as I please.”
“I… I see…”
Rozelite still looked bewildered.
Because the two of them weren’t even on the same wavelength.
What was Winnie going on about—cutting ties with nobility, living freely?
What did that have to do with her?
She’d been kidnapped!
One moment, she was walking in the garden. The next—bam! A club to the head. Then she woke up in this godforsaken place.
“I, um…”
Rozelite hesitated, just about to speak—
When Russell’s voice rang out in her mind.
“Give me control of your body!”
“…”
She only paused for an instant before obeying.
Her trust in the Slime was absolute, almost unconscious—without a single thought about his motives, or whether his actions might harm her.
Maybe it was because, in their current state, they were essentially sharing one body.
Quietly, Russell seized control.
“…”
Winnie suddenly felt a chill crawl down her spine.
There it was again, that suffocating sense of being prey in the gaze of a beast.
What was this?
“Hmm?”
“Rozelite” lifted her head.
Her hands clasped behind her back, her head tilted slightly, her clear eyes reflecting Winnie’s figure.
“Big Sis, what are you even talking about? I don’t understand a thing. I’m just a child who lost her memory. I don’t know any of that.”
As she spoke, she smiled—bright and innocent, like a flower blooming in the morning sun.
Tch!
That tone—was she mocking her?
Winnie’s brows furrowed… then smoothed.
She didn’t believe Rozelite hadn’t understood. She knew all too well how vicious royal and noble intrigues could be. Otherwise, she herself would never have abandoned the Charlotte house.
That clueless look, that vacant gaze…
“Acting.”
Yes, acting.
For nobles, performance was survival. They could weep on an enemy’s grave, or laugh with a friend while readying the knife behind their back. None of them were trustworthy.
That was why Winnie had spoken up—not for an answer, but to make her own stance clear.
What Rozelite chose to do was her business.
But she’d better be ready to face the consequences.
“Let’s go. We’ve got a long road ahead.”
Winnie started forward again.
Rozelite, regaining control, flushed faintly at how Russell had just acted through her body. A breeze lifted her bangs, scattering golden strands in the air.
She hurried to catch up.
…
…
The road to Ato City was not short.
They trekked through snowbound forest for nearly two days and nights.
At night, they camped again. This time, with bedding Winnie had prepared in advance. Not too soft, but far better than Russell’s makeshift plank bed.
She even slept properly.
Near the forest edge, a few monsters came sniffing for food. None higher than level 10.
Winnie wasted no words. A single sword stroke each—done.
Her blade flashed, snow spraying in arcs. Every motion was clean, efficient, precise. Even in deep snow, she moved swiftly, with strength to spare. Clearly, she wasn’t even using her full power.
“She’s strong…”
Russell noted grimly. Not the worst-case scenario he’d feared, but if humans at this level were standard, then yes—he’d have to tread carefully.
Aside from that, the road was uneventful, filled only with crunching snow and cutting winds.
Two days later, the forest opened up.
Beyond a stretch of glaring white wilderness lay their destination—an icy fortress-town at the kingdom’s northern border.
Ato City.
Its gray-white walls loomed at the snowy horizon, austere and imposing. Russell’s spirits lifted.
Great works often had humble beginnings.
He even felt the urge to recite a line of poetry.
“Even in youth I knew the world was harsh, yet still I wished to soar…”
“Beep-beep-beep—!”
A shrill alarm shattered the silence.
Rozelite instinctively looked up.
Above the city gate hung a round iron orb. The sound came from it.
And when she looked back—
Guards had suddenly surrounded her.
Spears leveled at her chest, tips gleaming cold.
From nearby, someone shouted at the top of their lungs.
“Monsters are attacking the city!”