Volume 4 Chapter 110: Mana Stone

“Alice, what did you do after that yesterday?”

“Don’t ask, you damn idiot.”

Sitting on the leather-upholstered, three-seater sofa meant for visitors, Alice leaned back arrogantly with both hands on the backrest. Her face twisted in annoyance at Elle’s question as she spat her response.

Her attitude made it seem like she might spit on the floor, but even she wasn’t foolish enough to do so in front of the Manager. Instead, she settled for a soft click of her tongue.

Then, she cast a disdainful gaze at the Manager and me, seated across from her. As always, her demeanor was as brash as ever.

Today, Alice wore a blue outfit adorned with lace and frills—a cute and overly embellished design. It vaguely resembled Sophie’s maid uniform, though Alice’s version was much frillier. It seemed like it might be her casual wear.

To be fair, it suited Alice, who looked like an adorable, doll-like beauty. But her behavior, expressions, and attitude clashed so badly with her appearance that it was almost comical.

Behind her stood Ichigo-san, hands clasped behind her back, and another woman in a black suit and sunglasses—Nigo-san, tall and with long black hair tied in a ponytail. Both stood motionless, exuding silent intimidation.

If not for Tesea cheerfully sitting beside Alice, they would’ve easily been mistaken for debt collectors. Or, depending on how you looked at it, Alice could pass as a crime boss flaunting her innocent minion.

Alice’s group left a strong impression, but thankfully, they’d worn cloaks while visiting White Road. At least they wouldn’t draw unnecessary attention.

Including Elle and Sophie, all of us from White Road were sitting across from Alice’s group. The Manager and I sat on the sofa, with everyone else standing behind us. It felt uncomfortably crowded.

“So, I’ve heard from Tesea. You need the help of the great Alice-chan, huh?”

Alice sneered as she looked at me, her expression practically oozing amusement.

This was the worst.

It was already unpleasant enough to have to ask her for a favor, and now she held a massive secret over me. I couldn’t resist her at all. My heart pounded anxiously as I tried my best to keep my discomfort hidden.

“Yes, that’s right. We need your help.”

“Huh?”

“Oh, um, I mean, please help us.”

Alice’s eyes narrowed in irritation, and I hastily corrected myself. Offending her wasn’t an option. I just wanted to escape to a world where no one knew me.

“Kuhihi! Well, I’ll give you credit for thinking to rely on me. Pretty smart of you.”

“…That was my idea.”

“Huh?”

“…Brother didn’t even have a shred of thought about you.”

“What did you just say?”

“…Don’t get cocky.”

Sierra, please stop provoking her.

Still half-asleep, Sierra frowned irritably, exuding an aura that could hurt anyone who dared interact with her. Please, just stop.

Alice’s brows furrowed as Ichigo-san and Nigo-san silently unclasped their hands. Please, just stop.

“Stop it. You two couldn’t handle this anyway, you fools.”

Surprisingly, Alice raised a hand to stop them.

“Yes, Alice-chan!”

Hearing them seriously call her “Alice-chan” in unison was surreal.

I couldn’t help but want to comment on how synchronized Ichigo-san and Nigo-san’s disciplined responses were. They resumed their positions with their hands clasped behind their backs.

They were undoubtedly elites. Clearly well-trained. Were they fools? That thought crossed my mind, albeit rudely.

“They’re fools,” Fiona muttered softly, her gaze like she was looking at garbage.

Even if you think it, don’t say it out loud.

Luckily, either they didn’t hear her, or they didn’t care. The two of them stood still again, as if nothing had happened.

“You should be grateful, you brats. I’m in a good mood today, so I’ll let it slide.”

“…Thank you, you young-looking granny.”

“You looking to die?”

“Ahaha… Sorry, Alice. Sierra, that wasn’t appropriate.”

Tesea stepped in with an awkward laugh, mediating Sierra’s provocative remark. Both Alice and Sierra clicked their tongues and stopped glaring at each other. Normally, I should have stepped in as Sierra’s older brother, but I couldn’t risk saying anything to make the situation worse. Tesea’s neutrality was a lifesaver.

If Alice revealed my secret, it would be a disaster. But I also couldn’t act overly deferential, or everyone might suspect something was up. If they connected the dots to my time alone last night, they’d start asking questions. Even without Alice’s interference, the truth might come out.

At least until negotiations with Alice were done, I had to keep her satisfied while ensuring no one else caught on.

I felt like I was walking a tightrope all by myself.

Alice had gone out of her way to let me know she was already aware of what had happened last night, likely just to enjoy watching me squirm. What an absolutely delightful personality she had.

Maybe she was still holding a grudge because I refused to be her servant. How irrational.

“So, Alice, is it possible? Not that I doubt your skills, but we’ll need a vessel indistinguishable from a living human,” Elle asked.

“Who do you think you’re talking to? If you’re the damn Spirit King, then I’m the Creator. I’m the great Alice-chan, the best in the world, got it?”

Alice shot back at Elle’s question, practically baring her fangs. Watching their exchange, Noel smiled softly.

“The dolls always turned out better anyway.”

Don’t say unnecessary things.

Why does everyone’s attitude toward Alice seem so prickly? Did something happen? Even Noel was like this.

Regardless of what I say or do, this is only going to make Alice’s mood worse. Please, stop.

“Huh?! You little—kgh…”

But contrary to my expectations, Alice, who looked ready to explode, leaned forward only to catch herself. She quickly dropped her gaze.

“Haah… Damn it, you’re such a pain,” she muttered, exhaling deeply as she scratched her head. Then she sat back heavily into the sofa, turning her face away.

I had braced myself for her to start throwing a fit, but her unexpected reaction left me deflated. Just as I relaxed, Noel leaned close to my ear and whispered softly.

“With Alice, just praise her magical tools. She’s not your type, and you probably don’t like her, but don’t worry—she’s not scary.”

That comment was scary.

I couldn’t bring myself to look at Noel, who had quietly moved away. Had she noticed something was off about me? Cold sweat trickled down my back.

I had been holding back my words, staying as neutral as possible, and making sure not to let my inner turmoil show on my face or in my actions. So how had she noticed?

…Could it be that everyone already knows? Now that I think about it, there have been plenty of times when it felt like they were reading my mind.

If that’s the case, I need to be even more careful. This is terrifying.

Still, based on Noel’s words, it seemed they only thought I was intimidated by someone I wasn’t comfortable with. Ironically, my actual discomfort worked in my favor here.

I’m still okay. I’m cool. Stay cool.

“You’ve got a face that pisses me off,” Alice said, turning toward me abruptly.

“Ah, yes,” I replied, immediately abandoning any pretense of looking cool.

“Fiona, keep quiet and behave,” I added, stopping Fiona, who looked ready to point a gun at Alice with a terrifying expression.

Fiona turned to me with a near-tearful look, but sorry—right now, I’m the one who wants to cry.

“I’ll make the vessel for you. But it won’t come free,” Alice declared.

Well, yeah.

It was only natural for her to ask for compensation, but the way Alice said it made it feel like extortion.

Even without her holding anything over me, it would have felt that way. Now that she did have leverage, it was even worse.

“Hm, what do you want? Speak your wish,” the Manager interjected, her tone calm and reliable.

As expected, the Manager was dependable. She could probably handle whatever outrageous demands Alice might come up with.

Of course, I was also prepared to do whatever it took for the sake of everyone in Sextet.

“Mana Stone.”

“Huh?”

“Hand over more of those Mana Stones you had. We’ll need top-quality Mana Stones to create the vessel, so cough up whatever you’ve got.”

Surprisingly, Alice’s demand was somewhat reasonable. Well, it was still pretty unreasonable in the sense that even a Rank-A Miner like her wanted it badly—must’ve been top-tier stuff.

Though wait, the Manager had something like that?

“Hm… I don’t have any more.”

“What!?”

“I gave you the last one I had.”

“You’ve gotta be kidding me… Tch!”

At the Manager’s response, given with a hand to her chin, Alice let out a loud click of her tongue.

“It was just a keepsake I’d held onto. I’d nearly forgotten it existed… but no matter. If we don’t have any left, we can just go get more.”

Alice—and even Elle—stared at the Manager as if they were looking at something unbelievable.

“You… So that explains how you got your hands on such a massive Mana Stone… You really did get it yourself?”

“…We can’t expect to find something that good in a Rank-A Excavation Site. At least, I’ve never seen one,” Elle said.

“It’s no problem. There’s at least one Rank-S Excavation Site in Elist, y’know. Well, I happened to get that Mana Stone somewhere else, but still.”

Judging by Alice and Elle’s reactions, what the Manager casually suggested must have been incredibly difficult. Of course, a place that’s Rank S…

“Elle… just how dangerous is a Rank-S Excavation Site?”

“I don’t know.”

“Huh?”

I asked fearfully, and Elle dropped his shoulders in frustration.

“Sorry, Noil. ‘Spirit Wind’ has only ever tackled up to Rank-A Excavation Sites. We’ve never even stepped into a Rank-S one.”

“Oh, I see.”

“A Rank-S site is one where nobody who enters ever returns. Plenty of Rank-A Miners and parties have tried, but… they all vanished. No one knows anything about it. You’d have to be a total idiot to go in there.”

“Oh, I see.”

“I may not be an idiot, but any Rank-S Excavation Site seals its entrance the moment you step inside. You can’t leave unless you reach the Mana Stone deep within. Even I can’t handle it easily, so anyone weaker is doomed.”

“Oh, I see.”

So, I guess it’s hopeless for me.

Actually, aside from the Manager, it’s hopeless for everyone, right?

Why did she ever go in there herself? Is she nuts? She’s acting like a total idiot.

“Well, if it’s me and Noil, there won’t be any problem.”

…Huh?

The Manager smiled and placed her hand on my shoulder with a pon, but I had no idea why.

Why drag a liability along? Sure, I’m willing to do anything for my friends in Sextet, but there’s no way my abilities cut it. I’d just be dead weight.

“…Milis, who in the world are you? As far as I know, only one person has ever returned from a Rank-S Excavation Site. Could you be—”

“That’s only publicly known. I’m not a Miner and just went in for fun, so I never made it official. Maybe there are actually others, too.”

“No way, you piece of… tch… geez… guess there’s no choice.”

“I wouldn’t mind going alone with Noil.”

I’d mind.

Even if the Manager can handle it somehow, there’s no way I could. She might come out safe, but I’d be done for.

“If my senior’s going, I’m going too,” Fiona said.

“It’s too dangerous for someone of your skill,” the Manager replied.

“So what? Doesn’t matter.”

Of course it matters.

I don’t want to go in there alone with the Manager, but I also don’t want Fiona risking her life. I glanced nervously at Noel and Sierra, only to see them nod firmly, obviously intending to come along.

“…I’m against it. It’s far too dangerous. We should find a different—”

“Shut it, you damn ‘Spirit King.’”

Alice glared sharply at Elle, who had been making a perfectly valid point.

“Alice, I understand how you feel, but—”

“I said shut it. Keep out of this.”

Elle still looked like he had something to say, but Alice’s harsh tone kept him silent. He closed his eyes for a second and mumbled, “No time for this…” so quietly it was almost inaudible. Then Alice turned back to us.

“…Anyway, that’s the plan. We’re heading to a Rank-S Excavation Site to grab a Mana Stone. That’s my condition for creating the vessel.”

“Are you coming too?” the Manager asked.

“Of course I am. But first, let’s see that soul you keep talking about. And no interference.”

She then turned her gaze to me.

Finally, the moment had come. I steeled myself.

Sensing her intent, I tried my best to sound calm.

“All right… Let’s go into My Garden. I’ll introduce everyone there.”

“I’ll—”

“I said no interference. I want to focus. Everybody else, wait outside.”

Alice cut off Noel sharply.

“Don’t worry. I’ll leave all my magical tools behind. I won’t do anything,” she said with a sneer.