The Golden-Haired Summoner - Chapter 45

“Who else would it be? It’s you, obviously. Even though you’re not one of us, you keep tagging along everywhere we go.”

“Why are you like this? Ash clearly said that I’m a companion.”

“What? Is that true, Ash?”

“Of course. Miss Geenie has been traveling with us all the way from Mierta, hasn’t she? Naturally, she’s a companion. Don’t you think so too, Lox?”

Lox, who was suddenly put on the spot, stiffened, casting a slightly resentful look at Ash before turning to me with a trembling gaze. His eyes darted between Chad and me a few times, as if struggling with how to respond.

You better answer well, Lox.

As I narrowed my eyes at him, Lox finally opened his mouth with some effort.

“Uh, well… She did catch that bandit for us… and bought us chicken skewers… so, yeah, I guess she’s a companion?”

Exactly! That’s all I was asking for.

It’s not like I want to be a guardian or anything. Just consider me a temporary companion.

But really, is that all you could think of?

Well, I guess that is all I did for them.

“Hmph! As for the bandit, we stepped in because it annoyed me, and we were the ones who finished the job. And as for the skewers, she charged me for them!”

“That’s because you’re not considered a companion. The only ones I acknowledge as companions are Ash and Lox.”

“Look who’s talking!”

It seemed like my relationship with Chad was only getting worse. We couldn’t go a day without bickering. Not even with Kenta did it get this bad. Yet I had no intention of making up with him. Most of the arguments were started by Chad anyway.

Already tense from the frustration of not finding an inn, both Chad and I found ourselves locked in an unusually prolonged argument.

“Are you two fighting again? Just stop it already!”

“He’s the one who starts it every time!”

“Oh, please! You’re the one causing all this by ordering us around and tagging along just to boss us around occasionally! I knew you’d be trouble from the moment you forced yourself into our party!”

[Master, no need for words – just hit him! Hit him!]

Alright, it’s true I haven’t been doing much, but that’s partly because Ash and Lox tend to handle everything for me. Probably because they’re used to this ‘ladies first’ concept. But Chad, with his typical warrior’s mindset, just couldn’t stand the sight of someone doing nothing.

If Ash and Lox liked to keep things courteous and dignified like knights, Chad was impatient and battle-hardened, more like a mercenary.

“But I’ve been taking night watches, haven’t I? And yeah, I invited myself in, but I haven’t been any trouble, right? Ash even said I’m a companion!”

“That’s your wolf keeping watch, not you! Every time you said you’d take the night watch, you just slept curled up with that wolf!”

“Rai is mine, so if Rai keeps watch, that’s the same as me keeping watch! Why are you so noisy, aren’t you a man?”

“What did you just call me? Did you just insult me?”

Is that supposed to be an insult?

This, coming from someone who’s treated me like a lunatic?

Our raised voices were starting to draw the attention of the festival-goers, who cautiously steered clear of Chad and me.

“How is that an insult? You called me a lunatic, not to mention a suspicious woman! Isn’t that worse?”

“And wasn’t I right? What sane person talks to a wolf? Besides, you’re hiding things from us, aren’t you? So, what did you do with Annie?”

Yeah, I know they’re just going along with my story for now. There’s no way they completely believe my lies.

And yes, I tried to be discreet about talking to Rai, but he noticed anyway. Damn.

“I told you, I sent her home since the journey would be long! What, do you think I abandoned her somewhere?”

“Yes! I’m worried you might’ve just ditched her somewhere strange!”

“Enough! You two are acting like children, what is this?”

“Y-yeah, calm down, both of you.”

Ash and Lox stepped between us, attempting to mediate, but even I could tell this fight wasn’t going to end easily.

“Abandon Annie? Don’t make me laugh! I’d rather chop you up than abandon her!”

“W-what? Do you even know what you’re saying? Who do you think you’re talking to?”

“I have a name, you know. And you were the one who started this! Calling me crazy, suggesting I abandoned someone… do you think I’m that low?”

[Oh, Master! Hit him! Or should I?]

In a verbal fight, my usual go-to responses are ‘And?’ or ‘So?’ Simple, effective, and available to anyone. But those responses make the argument too vague, and right now, I wanted to settle this once and for all.

“Enough with the talk! A duel! If you lose, you stop following us and go on your own way. Deal?”

“A duel? You sound so confident. But if you lose, what will you do?”

“Then I’ll do whatever you ask.”

A duel… it’s been a while since I heard that word.

So, Chad wants to kick me out of the group that badly, huh?

What Chad didn’t realize was that while I may seem quiet now, I’m still someone with a name that echoes across the continent. Not that I really feel it myself.

And ‘whatever you want’? That’s not something you say lightly.

“Would you… die if I asked you to?”

“Sorry, but that won’t happen. My life is too precious to waste on you.”

“Then it’s not really ‘whatever,’ is it?”

“Just anything, except leaving the party or dying.”

Picky, aren’t you?

He’s demanding I leave the party, yet he’s not going anywhere himself. How infuriating.

Fine. Since we’ll be together until we reach Elan, I’ll settle this once and for all!

“Fine, bring it on! You should consider it an honor to duel with me!”

“Are you really going to fight? No! Calm down, please, Ash, say something!”

The moment I accepted the duel, Lox paled and tried to stand between Chad and me. But neither of us paid him any mind, too busy glaring at each other with smoldering eyes.

“Alright! Let’s settle this right now. Out beyond the city walls…”

“Wait, you two, hold on for a second.”

“Don’t stop us, Ash! I won’t sleep until I settle things with her tonight!”

“No, look over there.”

Unusually, Ash wasn’t trying to stop the fight. Instead, he pointed to a nearby inn.

It was much more luxurious and spacious than the other inns, clearly a high-end establishment. Just then, five men walked out of the inn together, and I caught sight of the inn’s staff respectfully bidding them farewell.

They weren’t being kicked out, and it wasn’t as if they had just finished a meal, so maybe, just maybe, they were checking out early…

“Bed!”

“A room!”

[Huh? Master, what about the duel?]

Setting aside our fight for now, Chad and I dashed toward the inn to secure a room.

With other adventurers in the area also looking for rooms, people started trailing after us, but I was the first to reach the inn’s front desk. We were closest, and the thought of a bed drove me forward.

“Phew! Is there a room available?”

“Yes, there’s just one room. A guest canceled their reservation midway.”

“Yes! They have a room! Ash, over here!”

I waved eagerly at Ash. The two men who had been standing between Ash and me weren’t important.

They looked like they were also trying to secure the room, but first come, first served.

“Excuse me, is it true there’s a room available? What kind of room is it?”

“Yes, it’s a room for five, and it costs 30 silver for one night.”

“30 silver…?”

Ash balked at the price. Even though it was a room for five and it was peak season during the festival, 30 silver was exorbitant.

As Ash hesitated at the high price, the men behind us stepped forward.

“Hey, we’re willing to pay 30 silver for the room, so if you don’t have the money, move aside.”

“What are you talking about? I was here second! You were third!”

“Excuse me! We were here first. We’re taking this room. Why don’t you look for another inn?”

Already irritated, I shot back at the men who had butted in.

Ash leaned over, whispering to me with a concerned look.

“Miss Geenie… 30 silver is too much for us. We only have around 10 silver set aside for lodgings.”

“Don’t worry about it. I have money.”

I pulled out the reward pouch I’d earned for turning in the bandits. Although I wasn’t thrilled about staying with Chad, I needed a bed.

“It’s your money, though. I can’t let us be indebted to you.”

“It’s fine. We’re companions, even if just temporarily. I’m spending it because I want to. Hey, here’s one gold, enough to cover three nights with meals included.”

As I placed the pouch on the counter, Chad scoffed.

“Go ahead, but remember, you won’t be a companion much longer. There’s still our duel, remember?”

“Hmph. As if I would lose. Better start preparing yourself if you don’t want to end up drowning!”

“No need for that. Since we have a room, let’s settle this without delay.”

“Fine! Get ready, Chad… I’ll show you what Geenie Cro—Ahem, what I can do!”

[Hurry, Master! This is going to be fun! Hehe.]

I nearly let my full name slip, but I caught myself in time. I was too excited at the thought of finally putting Chad in his place.

As we headed outside, two groups of men stepped forward, blocking our path. Among them were the men who had just lost out on the room.

The one who had told us to move aside earlier stepped forward with a cocky look.

“Listen, we’ve been camping for a month, and we’re exhausted. So, give us the room. We’ll even pay you extra.”

“Hold on! We’ve been roughing it for a month and a half after crossing the treacherous Dragonea Mountains! We’re practically dead. Give us the room!”

In short, both groups wanted us to give up our room.

One looked arrogant, and the other sounded entitled.

“No way.”

“Not happening.”

“Growl!”

Chad and I flatly refused, and Rai snarled, annoyed at the rude men blocking our way.

“Look, you don’t look like you’ve traveled much. We’ll even pay you extra for the room.”

“I said no. Move. I have an important duel with this woman.”

“A duel? Then let us join! If we win, you’ll give us the room.”

Are they insane?

It was already enough trouble dealing with Chad, but now they wanted to get involved, too?

“You must be joking. Move aside.”

“Fine by me.”

Among mercenaries and travelers, it wasn’t unusual for duels to break out over a bed or even a single chair. Still, I’d rather avoid any unnecessary fights.

“I’m not okay with it! One duel is enough for me. Find another inn; I’m not giving up this room.”

“Come on! Let’s just talk about it…”

Ignoring them, I plugged my ears and quickly slipped out of the inn to avoid further hassle.

They reached out as if to stop me, but Rai was having none of it.

“Growl! Roar!”

“Ahh! What’s with this mangy dog?”

[Who are you calling a mangy dog? Rrr!]

If he was lucky, Rai’s size alone would make people mistake him for a dog. With his thick golden fur, he looked more like a regular hound than a wild wolf. At least his fangs looked menacing enough.

Once we left the inn, I moved quickly toward the city gate, eager to get this fight over with and return to my bed.

The outer walls of the city were the ideal place to duel. As it was under national jurisdiction rather than city law, the city guards wouldn’t interfere unless someone died. With the festival ongoing, the gate would stay open all night, making it the perfect setting.

“Hey! Wait up!”

We’d secured the room, so now I just had to crush Chad’s spirit. I’d disliked him from the start, with his arrogance and calling me ‘new bride.’

Of course, I had Annie with me at the time, but I wasn’t so old to be called a ‘bride.’

My face still felt youthful when I touched it, after all.

[Master, it looks like Chad is bringing those other men along.]

What?

I glanced back to see Chad leading the two groups of men who had been pestering us about the room.

That fool! Why did he insist on dragging everyone into this?

Fine. Today, I’d make sure he regretted his choices.

Once we passed through the gate and walked for about a minute, the road grew quiet. It was a perfect spot for a duel.

Ash, who had followed us, stood nearby, watching with a worried expression. The two groups of men also trailed along, along with a few more onlookers, bringing the audience to about ten people.

Ash reluctantly agreed to act as the referee. At first, he had been horrified and tried to stop us, but realizing it was futile, he began listing out the rules.

“Alright, listen carefully. Once one of you declares surrender, the duel ends. If neither of you surrenders, I will declare the winner based on who can no longer continue. You must accept my judgment. And remember, this is a regular duel. Killing is absolutely forbidden. If anyone loses too much blood, I will end the fight and declare them the loser. So, please, don’t kill each other.”

Got it. Now, please, stop looking directly at me as you say that.

It felt like all of Ash’s warnings were directed at me. Hey, Chad’s the one who challenged me! Shouldn’t he be the one getting this talk?

“Don’t worry. I’ll end it quickly.”

Chad waved a hand dismissively, drawing the long sword strapped to his back. It was a rare type of sword known as a bastard sword, which had a long, thick blade and was more for smashing than slicing.

He could use it with one or both hands, giving it a wide range of attack. Often described as a cross between a long sword and a two-handed sword, it excelled in both offense and defense but required skill to wield effectively.

So Chad had skill? Well, Ash wouldn’t have chosen him as a companion otherwise.

With its blade alone reaching up to my chest, Chad’s sword was impressive.

“You’re the one who’s going down quickly, Chad. Don’t get cocky.”

When I first met Chad, Rai had crushed one of his swords. That had been his secondary, lighter sword, which now hung as a small hunting axe at his side.

“Hmph, let’s get started already.”

“Undaine!”

[Yes, Master.]

To be honest, that oversized sword made me nervous. It had been nine years since I’d fought a swordsman one-on-one. It would’ve been easier if I were facing a crowd of mercenaries like that time with the slave traders. But this was one-on-one and close-range, not ideal for summoning.

“Alright then, let’s begin. Three, two, one, start!”

Before Ash could finish counting down, Chad charged, swinging that massive sword horizontally at me.

“You started at ‘two’!” I barely had time to complain as Chad closed in, his speed almost on par with the fastest person I’d ever known—Rovenin from the past.

But if Rovenin has grown stronger since then, it stands to reason that Undaine has, too.

“Undaine, hold him!”

Undaine, now much faster than in the past, caught up with Chad easily, and a large bubble of water enveloped him.

Once caught, half the battle was already won.

See? I told you, Chad isn’t a problem.

I was about to smirk when…

“Not so fast!”

Just as the water reached his chin, Chad swung his sword inside the bubble, stirring the water. The long blade extended outside the bubble, and I could faintly see an aura surrounding it.

Chad’s a sword user?

Unexpected. Well, if he’s that skilled, no wonder Ash made him a companion.

[Eek! Ouch, Master!]

With the water bubble bursting, Chad immediately moved toward me, forcing me to cast another spell.

“Tch! Undaine, Cold Beam.”

As Undaine concentrated, small droplets formed and quickly froze into an ice chunk the size of a fist, shooting toward Chad.

In essence, ice magic was a branch of water magic. Some mages even considered them one and the same. However, for a water spirit to cast ice magic required as much focus as casting fire magic, so it was more powerful than a regular water spell.

That’s why there exists a spirit specializing in ice, Pein. Though water and ice share the same origin, they are, ultimately, different.

With a flick, Chad deflected the Cold Beam with his sword. The ice shattered into fragments.

Seeing the shards, an idea sparked in my mind.

Pleased with himself for deflecting two of my attacks, Chad sneered.

“Hah, is that all you’ve got?”

“No, I just came up with something interesting. Undaine, Multi-Cold Beam.”

With a bit more effort, I created four ice projectiles, aiming for Chad’s sword. He raised his sword, blocking them as they shot toward him. This time, the fragments stuck to the blade, clustering around the handle until the ice reached his hand.

Startled, Chad loosened his grip on the now-heavy sword, which tilted sideways.

Now’s my chance!

“Undaine, the sword!”

[Yes!]

Without needing further instruction, Undaine quickly swept up the sword in a stream of water, launching it high into the air. The blade flew off into the woods, far out of Chad’s reach.

“Agh! My sw- sword!”

“Without a sword, what will you do now? Get ready to take a dip.”

Unable to use sword energy without his weapon, once I encased him in water, it’d be game over.

Chad, furious and empty-handed, glared at me.

“Do you even know what that sword meant to me?”

“Oh? Was it an heirloom or something?”

“It was custom-made! I paid 7 gold and waited two years to get it!”

Chad pointed at the empty air where his sword had disappeared, on the verge of tears.

But that sword, and its sword aura, had been my biggest concern, so I had no regrets. I might not like to brag, but I’d even broken heirloom swords before.

One thing’s certain: when facing a swordsman, you should always disarm them first. Especially if they can use sword energy.

“So? Go find it yourself! Hmph.”

“You…!”

Chad pulled out the hunting axe from his side.

Oh, so now he’s going to throw it?

If he throws that, it’s attempted murder. This is a duel, not a death match.

Furious, Chad looked ready to throw the axe, but I gestured to Undaine.

“Undaine, Underwater Breathing.”

Perfect for the final blow.

In the blink of an eye, Chad found himself encased in a water bubble, swinging the axe in frustration, but without sword energy, the underwater breathing spell held strong.

[Master, he looks like he’s about to drown! Should I stop?]