The Golden-Haired Summoner - Chapter 36

Lox stared blankly at the eastern sky where Geenie had disappeared, lost in thought, before snapping back to his senses.

He had sensed someone’s presence.

“Is she gone?”

It was the middle-aged man from earlier, standing calmly at the inn’s entrance.

Hearing the man’s question, Lox, unusually furious, shouted with a flushed face.

“Good grief! You’ve sent her straight into danger! If it’s that dangerous, you shouldn’t have told her where it was!”

“…It seems you don’t have a good sense for people.”

The middle-aged man shook his head, as if exasperated, and Lox, even more annoyed, retorted in frustration.

He liked to think he could assess people fairly well, but he had clearly underestimated Geenie.

“I understand she’s not just some ordinary person. That strange wolf alone proves that much. And yes, she flew into the sky using some bizarre method. But still! How could one woman possibly take on a hundred criminals? It’s impossible!”

“I can’t say for sure, but I don’t think it’s impossible. That notorious Grak seems to fear her, after all.”

“Grak?”

Lox furrowed his brows in confusion.

“Yes, the man who left the final message after Annie was taken. He’s the head of the Bloodwing branch in Mierta. Rumor has it his sister is one of the branch’s officers. He’s notorious not only for his vile personality but also for the fact that everything he touches ends in filth. Nobody wants to get involved with him.”

“The branch leader? And the officer is his own sister? How do you know all this?”

Lox narrowed his eyes suspiciously. It seemed strange that a mere village resident would know such detailed information.

The man closed his eyes briefly and spoke in a low voice.

“…Because I was once a member of Bloodwing.”

Lox was momentarily speechless, stunned by the man’s admission.

He pressed his lips together, lost in thought.

Why had all these events spiraled out of control so suddenly?

Everything seemed tangled beyond repair.

The child who was kidnapped was none other than Annie, and it had happened right before Ash—Prince Epiroth’s—eyes. Naturally, the prince had chased after the kidnappers, with Chad accompanying him.

Lox knew it was his duty to stop them from rushing into such danger. But by the time he thought to intervene, Ash and Chad were already long gone.

As a scholar, trying to keep up with those two, with their superior physical abilities, would be as foolish as an orc trying to challenge a dragon to a fight.

All Lox could do was pray for their safe return.

After a moment, Lox spoke carefully.

“So… are you saying you’re not part of them anymore?”

“That’s right.”

“But dangerous groups like that don’t just let their members leave…”

Before Lox could finish his thought, the middle-aged man lifted the hem of his pants, revealing a thick wooden peg where his leg should have been.

It looked like a table leg or chair leg, repurposed to replace his missing limb.

“They let me go on the condition that I lose a leg. And as long as I stay within their sight, they won’t take my life. I lost my brother to them, and leaving their group was all I could do.”

Hearing this, Lox flushed again—but this time with shame.

He realized how rude he had been.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have been so presumptuous.”

“It’s fine. Honestly, I told her their location because I was grasping at straws myself. I just hoped that Grak’s fear of her might work in her favor.”

Lox recalled the sight of Grak.

That face—made even more menacing by the absence of a nose.

Compared to the other men who stormed the inn, Grak was noticeably larger. And yet… he was afraid of Geenie?

Lox found it hard to believe.

“Why do you think Grak fears Geenie? If you’re wrong… she could die.”

“Think about it. Grak commands a group of ten men and knows where she’s staying. Yet, instead of confronting her directly, he sneaks in while she’s gone to kidnap Annie. Then he rushes back to his base. I’ve never seen Grak act so desperate. He’s afraid of her—there’s no doubt about it. That’s why he took Annie, hoping to force Geenie into a situation that favors him.”

The man’s words made sense.

Even Lox had noticed that Grak seemed anxious.

But to think that his anxiety came from fear of Geenie…

Lox frowned and looked back up at the eastern sky, where Geenie had disappeared.

“We need to alert the city guards. I don’t know exactly what kind of person she is, but this situation is too dangerous.”

“The guards won’t lift a finger.”

“We still can’t just stand by and do nothing… Ah! Ash! Chad!”

Lox, growing restless, suddenly noticed Ash and Chad approaching from a distance.

He almost called out “Your Highness” but stopped himself just in time.

Both Ash and Chad were drenched in sweat, clearly having run around frantically. They only caught their breath when they reached Lox.

“Hah… Hah… Has Geenie returned yet?”

“No… She hasn’t come back yet.”

Lox lied, worried that Ash would go chasing after her.

Guilt weighed heavily on him as he avoided meeting Ash’s gaze.

“Really? That’s bad. We managed to spot the guy, but he shook us off and escaped. The city is a maze—it’s like trying to find your way through a labyrinth. He knows every twist and turn.”

Ash clenched his fist in frustration and punched the air.

“Damn it! Lox, you’re the smart one—think of something! We have to find Annie, or at least figure out where their hideout is… Huh? What’s this?”

Still panting, Chad approached Lox, frustrated and restless. As he stepped forward, he accidentally crushed something underfoot. He looked down at the sole of his shoe.

It was a red fruit, squashed beyond recognition.

“Why is there fruit here?” Chad muttered as he glanced around. He soon noticed more fruit scattered nearby.

Ash followed his gaze and scanned the area, spotting a pile of luggage behind Lox.

It was the bundle of belongings Geenie had entrusted to Lox.

“What’s all this luggage?” Ash asked.

“Oh, uh… That’s Geenie’s—” Lox began, but he quickly clamped a hand over his mouth.

His eyes widened in panic.

Even though he tried to stop himself, both Ash and Chad had heard the name “Geenie.” Their eyes narrowed, and they glared at Lox.

“What’s going on? Don’t tell me Geenie’s already been here!”

“Lox! You lied to us, didn’t you?”

Overwhelmed by their accusatory glares, Lox bowed his head deeply.

“Well, uh… I mean…”

“Lox! What’s really going on? Tell us the truth!”

Ash raised his voice, frustration and anger seeping through every word. His tone was sharp and commanding.

Startled by Ash’s fury, Lox forgot to address him informally and stumbled over his words.

“She… She went to their hideout. I tried to stop her, but she wouldn’t listen…”

“What?! And you kept that from us? You should’ve told us right away!”

“Did she go alone? You let her go by herself?”

Ash and Chad’s fury was palpable. They looked ready to pounce on Lox at any moment.

“I’m sorry… I just didn’t want you both to run after her. It’s dangerous there!”

Lox tried to explain, nearly in tears.

But Ash, who hated lies and was always quick to help others, didn’t soften. His expression remained hard.

“Dangerous? That’s exactly why you should’ve told us. Do you remember what I told you, Lox? No lies. No shielding me from risks.”

Lox couldn’t lift his head, overwhelmed by the heavy weight of Ash’s disappointment.

Ash’s silent anger pressed down on him like an invisible force, making him feel as if he couldn’t breathe.

Lox had only wanted to keep Ash safe, not to upset him.

But instead of gratitude, his intentions had only made Ash angrier.

To Ash, comfort and safety were the very things that could ruin him—a belief that shaped everything he did.

“I’m sorry. I really didn’t mean to make you angry. I just wanted to protect you…”

Lox shook his head vehemently, trying to explain, but Ash wouldn’t listen.

“Where is their hideout?”

Lox couldn’t answer.

He knew that the moment he told Ash, the prince would rush headfirst into danger.

In that instant, Lox understood how the boy earlier had felt when he refused to reveal the hideout to Geenie.

“I-I can’t say! I won’t send you into a death trap over some kid we just met, Ash!”

“…You may not understand, but I know what it feels like to be scared and helpless. That fear is far too heavy for a child to bear. Now answer me! That’s an order, Lox!”

Lox didn’t want to answer.

The very thought of that dangerous place filled him with fear.

But as Ash’s attendant, he had no choice but to follow orders.

“To the east… the farthest part of the city.”

“The east? Where exactly?”

Lox shut his eyes tightly, as if trying to block out reality, then lifted a trembling hand to point in the direction Geenie had flown.

*Rumble!*

*Boom!*

At that moment, the dark sky unleashed a downpour, rain falling in thick sheets.

For some, it might have been an omen of misfortune.

But for one person, it was a stroke of luck—Geenie Crowell, the Elementalist of Water.

From the air, the streets of Mierta looked like a labyrinth, with narrow, twisting paths.

It was so complicated that it seemed strange anyone could find their way without getting lost.

Flying through the sky on Undain had been the best decision I could’ve made.

I glanced down and saw people walking below—tiny figures no bigger than matchsticks, almost like little toys.

“Huh—no way!”

“Undain, let’s fly higher.”

Since it was still broad daylight, I didn’t want to risk being seen, so I instructed Undain to ascend further into the sky.

It wasn’t until the people below looked like mere specks that I felt safe.

[There! I think that’s the place, Master.]

Rai’s tail pointed toward an unusual building, one that stood out starkly from the rest of the city.

The structure looked completely out of place compared to the other buildings nearby.

It was isolated, surrounded by multiple smaller buildings, all enclosed within black walls—or rather, a massive iron fence—making it resemble a prison.

“…It really does look like a prison.”

The thought that Annie might be trapped inside such a place made my mood sour.

Those bastards dared to touch Annie?

If Grak thought he was the only one burning with revenge, he was mistaken. The very idea of slave traders was enough to make my blood boil.

My teeth clenched instinctively at the thought.

Just then, Rai spoke up.

[Master, prisons… are those the places where the bad guys raise their hands, right?]

“…Why would they raise their hands?”

[No? Then do they lie down flat on the floor instead?]

“…Why would prisoners lie down flat?”

Rai tilted his head, clearly puzzled by my questions, and I had to fight the urge to laugh.

Why did he have to look so… cute?

Have I really lost my mind?

Maybe I’ve been around this snake too long…

[Well, isn’t that what they do as punishment? That’s what I heard.]

“Where on earth did you hear such nonsense?”

I paused for a moment, trying to recall where Rai could have picked up such an idea.

It felt like an old memory—one I couldn’t quite place.

[On the road, I think? Isn’t that right?]

“No, it’s not!”

[Oh… I thought that’s how it worked.]

Somehow, Rai managed to sap all the tension out of the situation.

How could I stay focused with him around?

It must have been his shamelessness and unpredictability that made it so hard to stay serious.

Then again, maybe it was better than being too tense.

Shaking off my distraction, I refocused my attention on Bloodwing’s hideout.

The closer I got, the larger it appeared—almost as big as a small village.

And that iron fence, towering at least 20 meters high, was more than enough to keep both humans and other species imprisoned.

“Undain, take me down inside the fence. See that building at the far end? Land there.”

[Yes, Master.]

Inside the fence, men—clearly members of Bloodwing—patrolled the grounds, moving in a regular pattern around the buildings.

I directed Undain to fly toward the building with the weakest security, avoiding the patrols as we descended carefully.

“Well done, Undain. You can head back now.”

[Yes, Master.]

After landing safely behind the building, I dismissed Undain to conserve as much mana as possible.

(Poor Undain… Her only line is always, “Yes, Master.”)

Of course, Rai still had plenty of latent mana stored within him, but to use it, I’d have to make direct contact with him.

I’d also need to focus intensely to draw Rai’s mana into myself, requiring as much concentration as if I were meditating.

Mana was no different—something I couldn’t easily use in urgent situations.

And the mana I pulled from Rai never lasted long.

It lingered in my body only briefly before scattering, meaning I had to use it the moment I drew it in.

The most efficient way to use Rai’s latent mana was for him to wield it himself—whether by transforming or using brute strength.

“Rai, don’t leave my side for even a second.”

[Yes, Master. I’ll stay right here.]

With that, Rai coiled himself even tighter.

Where? Around my slender neck.

“Keuh…! S-stop…”

[Ah, right. The human neck is a weak spot, isn’t it?]

“Huff! Huff! You… You did that on purpose, didn’t you?”

For a moment—a brief, fleeting moment—I glimpsed the edge of the afterlife before frantically prying Rai from my neck.

I lowered my voice since I couldn’t shout, and, instead of yelling at him, I clenched Rai with all my might.

Of course, it had no effect. He didn’t seem the least bit hurt.

[Oh, come on. If you die, it’s a loss for me too, you know.]

He even twisted his tail playfully, as if mimicking a human waving their hand dismissively.

Damn it. It’s always a waste of energy trying to mess with this snake.

“Forget it. I’m not talking to you anymore.”

[Oh! Someone’s coming, Master!]

At Rai’s warning, I ducked behind a stack of crates piled up beside the building.

I held my breath as I listened to the sound of footsteps.

It didn’t seem like a group—probably just one person.

I hesitated, debating whether to stay hidden or try to subdue the person. Or should I just kill him?

Kill… The thought flashed through my mind.

My resentment toward Grak for kidnapping Annie—and for what he did to me in the past—momentarily made me feel ruthless.

But it passed quickly.

I might not be the kindest person, but I wasn’t cruel either.

Still, staying hidden wasn’t ideal. This place was too large and confusing to search aimlessly for Annie.

As I’d seen from the sky, Bloodwing’s hideout was vast, with numerous buildings and patrols everywhere.

In that case…

*Crack.*

[M-Master?]

I grabbed a splintered piece of wood sticking out of the crate and snapped it off.

It made quite a loud noise—loud enough for someone to hear, I thought. But the footsteps continued as if the person hadn’t noticed.

How could anyone be that dense?

Clicking my tongue in irritation, I yanked off another piece of wood.

*Snap.*

This time, the broken wood dangled precariously, making a sharper noise.

Finally, the person seemed to notice and shouted in surprise.

“Who’s there?”

Perfect.

I smiled, satisfied with the way the person reacted—like an actor in a third-rate play.

I wasn’t normally one to take risks, but the situation called for a bit of boldness.

[Master, why are you doing this?]

Rai sounded puzzled. I erased my smile, raised my hands, and stepped out from behind the crates.

I waved my hands slowly, signaling that I was unarmed.

[Stay hidden, Rai.]

As expected, the person didn’t grab me right away but instead took a moment to look me over, as if confirming my identity.

A grin spread across his face as if he had struck gold. He seized my wrist and shouted with excitement.

“Found her!”

Not *caught her*, but *found her*.

That confirmed it—Grak had warned his subordinates that I might infiltrate their hideout.

It was exactly as I’d suspected. No matter how clever Grak thought he was, he was still dancing in the palm of my hand.

What a foolishly predictable man.

*Rumble.*

*Boom!*

With a crack of thunder, heavy raindrops began to fall.

At first, the rain made me frown, but I soon smiled again.

After all, there’s no better day to summon water spirits than a rainy one.

The falling rain helped obscure the smile creeping across my face from my captor’s view.

With a black cloth covering my eyes, I walked obediently where they pushed me.

Though they tied my hands behind my back, they didn’t restrain me any further.

They seemed to be taking the scenic route, twisting and turning unnecessarily. But with Rai guiding me, I didn’t mind.

[Master, we’re heading into the biggest building.]

Rai, hidden among my curly blonde hair, blended in perfectly—just as planned.

Well, not exactly *blended*—he was just hidden from sight.

I could tell we were entering the building by the way our footsteps echoed inside.

Suddenly, my foot hit something.

I tried to lift my foot to step over it, but my toe bumped into it again.

It must be stairs.

[We’re going up. Keep track of how many floors, Rai.]

[Got it, Master.]

Even without Rai’s help, I could tell the stairs were steep.

How many floors had we climbed?

Just as I was getting used to walking with the blindfold, I pricked my ears at the sound of the guards whispering behind me.

“Hey… Do you think the boss is really giving a reward for capturing her?”

“Yeah. Not just a reward—he’s giving time off too.”

They were whispering, but since we were inside the building, and my other senses were heightened, I could hear their conversation clearly.

Not that it mattered—even if I couldn’t hear, Rai’s sharp ears wouldn’t miss a thing.

“Really? All this for something so easy? Are we sure we’ve got the right person? I only heard she was a blonde woman.”

“No, it’s definitely her. Blonde hair, blue eyes—I saw her this morning with my own eyes.”

So, it was in the morning that they spotted me.

That was the only time they could have seen me with Annie.

A reward and vacation for capturing me, huh?

It seemed even Grak had to offer incentives to keep his men motivated.

“Yeah, I thought it was too easy when I caught her. They told us to be cautious, but she didn’t seem like much.”

“Maybe it’s because they have a hostage?”

“Maybe. Hey, did I tell you about that time I got humiliated at the tavern over an unpaid tab?”

Their conversation turned to meaningless chatter, and I tuned them out, focusing instead on climbing the stairs.

[Master!]

[What is it?]

[Why did you let yourself get caught on purpose?]

Rai’s curiosity finally got the better of him, and he asked the question.

The answer was simple.

[I needed to find Annie. If I let them capture me, they’d take me right to her.]

[What if they don’t?]

There was always that risk.

But even if they didn’t take me to Annie, they would at least take me to Grak. And worst case scenario, they’d lock me up somewhere.

Either way, I was certain Grak would show himself eventually.

He wouldn’t miss the chance to confront me, not with all the revenge he’d been plotting.

[If they don’t, I’ll just knock these guys out and let someone else capture me. Or I’ll wait quietly until the time is right.]

[But that’s so boring. You should’ve just tortured the guy earlier until he told you where the kid was!]

[Torture, huh? You just wanted to try it, didn’t you?]

[Hehe~ Master, how do you always know exactly what I’m thinking?]

This snake never failed to amuse me.

Though… torture did sound a little tempting.

For a moment, I considered knocking these guards out and interrogating them about Annie’s whereabouts. But I shrugged the thought off—there were too many risks.

[Even if I tortured someone, there’s no guarantee they’d know where Annie is. It’s better to play along and let them take me to Grak. If I provoke them, it might end up hurting Annie instead. And I don’t want to waste any unnecessary energy.]

[Meh, I don’t care what happens to the kid.]

[Come on. You’ve been with her for over a month now—haven’t you grown attached even a little?]

[Not even a bit. Oh! Something strange up ahead, Master.]

Just as Rai finished speaking, I realized we had reached the top of the stairs.

An eerie sense of discomfort prickled at the back of my mind.

What is this?

[Strange? How?]

[The whole floor is divided into prison cells. And there are weird symbols—no, magic circles—drawn everywhere. I don’t know what kind of magic they are, but they feel… really unpleasant.]

So that’s what was causing this strange feeling.

I frowned under the blindfold.

If we were in a prison, it meant they didn’t plan to take me directly to Annie or Grak.

Not yet, at least.

Or maybe…

“Get in!”

*Thud!*