The Golden-Haired Summoner - Chapter 46

It seemed Chad was quite dizzy, as his eyes failed to focus and spun around.

He tried to gather strength to get up, but he couldn’t even lift his torso before collapsing again under his own weight.

However, amusingly, he still held onto his axe tightly.

He must have been scared of getting hurt.

Well, if he had dropped it, he might’ve ended up as a chunky tomato juice by now…

“Ughhh, y-youuu~”

Was his tongue not working properly either?

Regardless, I approached Chad, who seemed half-conscious, as if his mind had taken a brief vacation.

Not sure if he realized I was nearby, I nudged his side lightly.

Actually, to be honest, I saw this as a prime opportunity and kicked him with all my strength.

When else would I get the chance to hit him so openly like this?

Seeing him cough and splutter water was oddly satisfying.

That’s what you get for messing around!

“Lost, didn’t you? Huh? Admit it, you lost, didn’t you? Ha-ha-ha!”

“Miss Geenie…”

“Is she a mage? They say mages are temperamental, and it’s true!”

“We won’t duel her. She’s scary.”

After a few more kicks to Chad’s side, I realized he didn’t seem to be in much pain. Emboldened, I stomped on him outright, letting my true nature slip out a bit.

Though I felt a pang of guilt, I didn’t lift my foot off his back.

Right now, I wasn’t Geenie Crowell but someone else entirely. When else would I get the chance to let loose like this?

“Miss Geenie… wins!”

Ash declared my victory in a dispirited tone, as if something about this whole situation annoyed him.

I was just thrilled about winning, so I didn’t bother suppressing my laughter that bubbled out again.

“Hah, you heard him, right? I won! Ha-ha, you lost! Told you not to mess with me!”

“L-lost? Who… who said I lost? Hahhh!”

It seemed I had provoked him too much. Chad shot up angrily as if to fight back, only to collapse again when he couldn’t keep his balance.

Frustrated, he flung the axe still in his grip with a sharp throw. The axe spun in an arc, like a boomerang, and soared far away.

I couldn’t help but think it might eventually meet the bastard sword I had thrown earlier.

Even in his dizziness, Chad still had an uncanny amount of strength left.

“What’s the point of throwing an axe when you can’t even stand straight? It’s flying pretty far—ah!”

As I approached to tease him more, something suddenly whooshed past my ear, rustling my hair.

[Ack! Master!]

“Miss Geenie!”

Startled, I turned to find out what had almost hit me.

The sound of a thud followed, and I discovered the culprit lodged into a tree trunk.

“What the heck? How did that end up here?”

It was Chad’s axe, which had flown far away just moments earlier.

I had found it suspicious that it flew so strangely—who would’ve thought it would actually come back?

Had I not instinctively dodged, that axe might have ended up in my neck instead of the tree.

[Master, Master, are you okay?]

“Are you hurt?”

Rai, who had been watching from a distance, and Ash, the referee, hurriedly approached, their faces filled with concern.

Though I was unharmed, I briefly wondered if Chad had deliberately aimed for my neck.

But seeing him still dazed and groggy, I dismissed the thought and gave him another kick in the side.

“You idiot! If you lose, you should accept it gracefully! Why scare people with such antics? Don’t you agree, Mr. Ash?”

Despite my scare, since I wasn’t injured, I quickly lost interest in the boomerang-throwing axe and turned to Ash.

But his expression was peculiar.

His mouth hung open, his eyes were wide, and his nostrils flared.

It was unlike his usual composed demeanor—he looked downright pathetic.

What’s his problem? Is he mad that I kicked Chad?

“L-look… y-your h-hair…”

What about my hair?

I tilted my head in confusion and touched my head. Everything felt fine.

I had tied my hair into a single braid and thrown it over my back. It seemed perfectly normal until…

“Ahhh! My hair!”

I remembered the axe and frantically touched the right side of my head, only to realize that my hair had been cut cleanly up to my ear.

Because it had been braided, the chopped part was tangled with the other side, dangling loosely.

One side was now ear-length, the other still waist-length.

What do I do now?

I had planned to cut my hair eventually, but not this short!

[Master, you look half like a peasant girl now. Puh-hahaha!]

Ear-length? That’s way too short!

And calling me a peasant?

I was torn.

Should I beat Rai or Chad to a pulp first?

—

Early in the morning, two men entered the east gate of Daniz, a small city nestled between Korhan and Elan.

One of them, with purple hair and a robust frame, appeared to be a swordsman. He was handsome, with thick, long eyebrows and double eyelids, exuding confidence in his stride and gaze.

Beside him was a blue-haired man with a lean build, carrying two spears on his back. His sharp eyes were as piercing as the tips of his weapons.

The purple-haired man seemed carefree, whistling as they walked, while the blue-haired man scowled in irritation.

“Wow, looks like there’s a festival here. So lively! Let’s enjoy ourselves!”

“It’s noisy and chaotic… I hate festivals.”

The purple-haired man suggested having fun, but the blue-haired man only grumbled in annoyance.

“See, this is why people call you boring. Festivals are meant to be enjoyed.”

“Mind your business and go have your silly fun.”

“Fine, let’s at least head to the plaza. Ash might have left us a note.”

“Mm…”

Daniz’s central plaza was bustling, packed with people enjoying the festival. A large noticeboard displayed various posts, festival announcements, and notes left by visitors.

Among the hundred or so notes, the purple-haired man quickly found the one they needed.

“Top right corner. This one, right?”

The blue-haired man nodded as he accepted the white note.

“Yeah, it’s Ash’s name. ‘Fairy’s Bridge’? Sounds like an inn.”

Apparently, they had prearranged the note’s location. Turning it over, they found a map leading to the inn.

Following the map, they reached the inn without much trouble. Its large, ornate sign was hard to miss.

“Hey, Enk. Did we grab the wrong note? Ash wouldn’t book a place like this.”

“You’re right. Ash is a common name. Should we head back?”

“I took the top right note as planned, so it’s not my fault.”

“I didn’t say it was. I thought it was the right one, too.”

The two men—Enk and Gale—were clearly Ash’s remaining party members.

Yet, they almost walked away, as the luxurious inn before them seemed far too fancy for Ash’s taste.

But before they could leave, a loud voice stopped them in their tracks.

“Hey! Enk, Gale!”

They instantly recognized the booming, cheerful voice.

“Chad!”

Or was it?

Turning to face the source, their expressions soured as a bald Chad approached with a wide grin, hugging them both.

“You’re here! Ash said it was about time you showed up.”

“Yeah, right on time. But… pfft! What’s with your hair?”

“You didn’t actually pay for that haircut, did you?”

Chad’s once luscious ponytail was now shaved clean, his bare scalp gleaming under the sun.

“It’s… a punishment, sort of. This morning… some stuff happened…”

“Punishment? And where’s your sword? Why are you carrying that axe?”

“Yeah, you loved that custom-made sword.”

Chad’s iconic bastard sword was nowhere in sight, replaced by a crude hand axe.

“What happened over the past two months?”

“Don’t even start! Some demon-like person joined our party, and nothing’s gone right since. My sword? Gone. Even this axe is a replacement for the first one they took! Damn it!”

Chad was usually disliked for his stubbornness, but this was the first time they’d seen him this rattled.

“Who was it? If you hate them so much, why not challenge them to a duel?”

“I did! But… I lost. Ugh! If it weren’t for those wretched water attacks! I should’ve learned how to swim!”

Chad, gnashing his teeth as if about to explode, suddenly raised his voice in frustration, his anger escalating.

He seemed to forget he was standing in the middle of a busy street as he let out an ear-splitting yell. It was so loud that passersby stumbled in surprise.

Gale and Enk, familiar with his antics, instinctively covered their ears.

“Alright, calm down, calm down. By the way, where are Ash and Lox? We were just about to head back, thinking we’d found the wrong inn. Meeting you here saved us the trouble.”

“First, let me show you where we’re staying. Then I’ll tell you about that demon-like person.”

“Huh? Oh, the inn? It’s right over there. That note Ash left is legit. I posted it myself on my way to the weapon shop.”

Chad pointed, and Gale and Enk turned their heads, both tilting them in confusion.

The inn Chad indicated was none other than the luxurious “Fairy’s Bridge,” the very one they had turned away from earlier.

“Wait… That inn that looks like it’d cost at least 5 silvers a night?”

“Five? It’s more like six silvers!”

“No, our room costs 30 silvers. Come on in. Ash should be waiting for you downstairs.”

“Seriously, that place?”

Chad strode confidently toward the inn, leaving Gale and Enk behind to exchange incredulous glances before bursting into laughter.

“That place…”

“Pfft!”

“Ha-ha-ha!”

Chad, turning back to respond, froze mid-step, his expression resembling someone who had just stubbed their toe on a sharp edge. He stared, bewildered, at his two companions rolling with laughter.

“What’s so funny? What’s making you laugh like that?”

“Ha-ha-ha! S-smile… a smile!”

“What are you talking about? What smile?”

Seeing Gale and Enk pointing at him and laughing hysterically, Chad scratched the back of his head in confusion. His fingers brushed against something odd—his hair.

Though there wasn’t much left after his head was shaved, some strands had apparently been arranged into a pattern.

Realizing this, Chad grabbed Gale, who was still laughing on the ground, and demanded an explanation.

“What’s wrong with my hair? What’s going on?”

“A smile… Ha-ha! A smile~”

“Chad… y-your head has a smiley face on the back! Ha-ha-ha! A hair smile! That’s some punishment!”

Chad’s face flushed red.

He suddenly remembered the weapon shop owner bursting into laughter after selling him an axe earlier. On his way back, he had occasionally heard chuckles from behind but assumed it was just the festival atmosphere.

Never in his wildest dreams did he think a smiley face had been shaved into the back of his head.

Why hadn’t he checked his head earlier?

Trying to act like nothing was wrong with his unfamiliar hairstyle had been his biggest mistake.

But what could he do now? He had already strutted confidently through the streets, smiley face and all.

Even Enk, usually serious and stoic, was now rolling on the ground, unable to contain his laughter.

“This is…! Arrrgh!”

Chad let out a roar and bolted toward the inn.

Gale and Enk, watching his retreating figure, burst into another round of laughter.

It took them several minutes to recover, their sides aching from laughing too much. When they finally calmed down, guilt began to set in.

“Enk, did we laugh too much? Ha-ha…”

“Yeah, maybe we went a bit overboard.”

“It was just too funny, though. Let’s go in and check on him. Maybe we can cheer him up—and grab some food while we’re at it.”

“That place… the meals are probably expensive too.”

The two entered the inn cautiously.

The interior was just as extravagant as the exterior, and they were taken aback again. They also noticed the commotion within the inn, with many patrons whispering and glancing around.

Worried they might be the cause, they hesitated briefly. However, having seen Chad enter earlier, they pressed on.

“Looks like he caused another scene.”

“Miss Geenieee~”

“Sorry! So sorry!”

Searching for familiar faces, they spotted Chad sprawled on the floor in the dining area, soaking wet and looking half-dead. Surrounding him were Ash and Lox.

They quickly realized the commotion in the inn was due to Chad.

“Chad? Ash, what happened to him?”

“He’s not dead, right?”

“Oh, you’re here? He’s probably fine. There was just… a bit of a scuffle.”

“Mr. Gale, Mr. Enk! Glad you made it. You look well. By the way, let me introduce you to someone—this is Miss Geenie.”

Lox stepped aside to reveal someone seated behind him.

It was a blonde woman with dazzling short hair, her sharp eyes carrying a mischievous glint, and a smile that seemed to light up the room.

Next to her sat a large yellow dog, seemingly acting as her guardian, pressed close to her side.

“Hello.”

“Snort.”

The woman smiled politely while the dog, as if mocking them, let out a dismissive snort.

Instead of being offended, Gale and Enk found themselves blushing at the sight of the unfamiliar beauty.

They had met plenty of women during their travels, some of them stunning, but this woman carried an air of otherworldly charm—playful yet elusive, as though she might vanish at any moment.

Regardless, she was breathtakingly beautiful.

Especially in Gale’s eyes.

“H-hello.”

“P-pleased to meet you. I’m Enk.”

“A-and I’m Gale! A pleasure to meet you.”

“I’m Geenie. Nice to meet you too.”

Enk was the first to offer a handshake, and Gale quickly followed, unwilling to be outdone. Geenie shook both their hands graciously.

Unbeknownst to them, this was none other than *the* Geenie Crowell, currently reveling in hiding her identity and taking full advantage of the situation to flaunt her mischievous nature.

“Haha, so… um… What happened to Chad? When we met him earlier, he seemed fine.”

Despite Ash and Lox being right there, Gale directed his question at Geenie. It seemed he simply wanted an excuse to talk to her.

Naturally, Geenie was fully aware of this.

“He attacked me out of nowhere, so I taught him a lesson.”

“W-what? He attacked you? Chad did?”

“Yes, he did. I was eating, and he suddenly came at me. It was purely self-defense.”

Gale’s eyes darted nervously between Chad, who was soaked and unconscious, and the woman who claimed responsibility for it.

Should he be angry that she hurt his dear friend? Or would that be rude to someone he just met?

What if she ended up disliking him for it?

Gale hesitated, conflicted.

After a moment of awkwardly opening and closing his mouth, Gale finally made up his mind and spoke.

“Ah, I see! Well done! Honestly, Chad can be hot-headed at times. You handled it brilliantly. Ha-ha!”

“Isn’t it, though? Ha-ha! Oh, by the way, I shaved that head myself. Pretty cute, don’t you think?”

“Ha-ha-ha! You’ve got quite the artistic touch.”

“Snort.”

And with that, another admirer joined Geenie’s growing list of followers.

—

The vast sea shimmered with its unique, crystalline beauty. White foam crashed against the waves, as white as the luxurious cruise ship slicing through the water, and seagulls circled the vessel, seeking food.

The sight of the seagulls brought joy to at least one person on board—they signaled the proximity of land.

“Seagulls! Finally, land! Freedom from this suffering at last—urk!”

“Brother! I think I’m dying. Ughhh!”

Two men clung desperately to the ship’s railing, expelling the contents of their stomachs into the beautiful sea.

The two looked so alike they were clearly brothers—and both were suffering from extreme seasickness.

If seasickness were hereditary, then their shared misery was an unfortunate family trait.

“De-Denika, hold on a little longer. Our family has always been prone to seasickness, remember?”

“That doesn’t help, Brother… Urgh! I feel like I’m going to throw up my guts.”

“Don’t worry about that, Denika! I’ve vomited plenty in my time, and trust me, your guts won’t come out. But stomach acid will, ughh—bleh!”

Denika. That was undoubtedly the name of Geenie’s younger brother.

And that meant the other man had to be Zeras Crowell, Geenie’s elder brother.

These two runaway brothers, determined to find Geenie, were aboard a cruise ship heading toward Heidrike, suffering severe seasickness along the way.

Unbeknownst to them, their destination was taking them farther from Geenie, making their plight all the more pitiful.

“Ugh, but… Brother, are we sure Sister will be in Heidrike?”

“Probably… Heidrike is full of dragon legends, so at the very least… ugh! There’ll be plenty of information about dragons. Maybe… we’ll find traces of her. Ughhh!”

“We’re almost out of gems, too… Argh, ugh—”

“Ugh, I’m out of stomach acid at this point…”

Heidrike, often shortened to Heike, was a picturesque island nation known for its stunning beaches and rare flora and fauna. Its primary industry was tourism, which was also the main purpose of the cruise ship.

Naturally, the Crowell brothers’ constant vomiting didn’t endear them to the other passengers. Their retching not only marred the beautiful scenery but also forced everyone within a 10-meter radius to vacate the area, leaving them isolated.

“Brother, I feel like we’re disturbing the other passengers too much.”

“Don’t worry about it. We’re not going to see these people again. Just let it all out, Denika.”

“Ah, I see. You’re so wise, Brother! In that case… Huuuurk!”

Zeras, true to his character, exhibited a thick-skinned confidence, and even the once-innocent Denika was beginning to adopt his attitude after three months of traveling together in search of Geenie.

While Zeras dry-heaved, having nothing left to throw up, he spotted something on the horizon.

He squinted to focus and realized it was their destination—Heidrike.

He was so overcome with emotion that he almost cried.

“Denika! Look over there, Denika!”

Denika, still clutching the railing and barely conscious, lifted his blurry eyes to look at Zeras.

“Ugh… What is it, Brother?”

“Look, little bro! After a week of battling seasickness, we’re finally at the end of our suffering!”

“Where… Oh! It’s really Heike—urk, Brother!”

“Denika!”

It was true. After a grueling week aboard what was supposed to be the fastest and most comfortable ship from Elan to Heidrike, they finally spotted their destination.

The Crowell Brothers, united in their suffering, embraced each other tearfully.

As the cruise ship docked at the port, passengers poured onto the land, eager to explore.

The Crowell Brothers were the first to set foot on solid ground. They immediately ran off in search of food, their wobbly legs quickly regaining strength fueled by their determination to eat.

“Aah, this is the life! Want to try some, Denika?”

“No thanks, Brother. I’m still underage.”

“Then how about some milk, Denika?”

“Milk? Brother, I’m not a child. I’ll take fruit juice.”

Zeras, quoting like a middle-aged man while chugging beer, was 26 years old. Meanwhile, Denika, who opted for juice over milk, was a 17-year-old minor.

Milk or juice… It was all the same.

“Alright, then! Waiter! One fruit juice, today’s recommended dishes for two, and a whole roast piglet.”

“Yes, sir. The roast piglet will take about 30 minutes. Is that alright?”

“That’s fine. Just bring the other dishes quickly.”

“Understood!”

After placing their order, Zeras took another gulp of his beer.

As he drained the oversized glass, his slightly tipsy gaze wandered around the bustling restaurant. Among the patrons were a few familiar faces from the cruise ship.

“Hey, Brother. Isn’t that guy the mage from before?”

Denika pointed at a brown-haired man sitting alone at a table, looking rather uninterested in his surroundings.

The man’s pale complexion stood out, and the brothers recognized him as the mage who had caused a scene on the ship. He had used magic to toss a mercenary into the sea and, when confronted by the mercenary’s party, had pummeled them with “Magic Missile” spells, turning them into a sorry mess.

Since magic users were rare and the incident occurred in a crowded area, he had become quite the talk of the ship.

The Crowell Brothers, who had spent most of their time clinging to the railings, had witnessed the event firsthand.

“Yeah, that face looks familiar. That’s definitely him.”

“A mage… That’s incredible. You don’t see many of them in our country, right?”

“Ha! Your sister, the summoner, is even rarer.”

It seemed Zeras’ comment had reached the mage’s ears, as he turned his head slightly to glance in their direction.

Zeras’ sharp blue eyes met the mage’s purple gaze.

Zeras thought, *What a sour-looking guy.*

The mage’s features were so delicate he could’ve been mistaken for a woman if they were just a little softer.

Before Zeras could look away, the mage turned first, distracted by someone rushing over to him.

The new arrival, with neatly cropped blue hair and glasses, had an almost scholarly appearance, making Zeras feel oddly uneasy.

“Mr. Bright! We have a problem!”

“What is it, Jaimam? Why the fuss?”

“W-well… I contacted the homeland, and there’s surprising news…”

“Didn’t I tell you not to bother them? What else could they say but to come back soon, those nagging old geezers?”

Bright and Jaimam—clearly they, too, had business in Heidrike, much like the Crowell brothers.

Zeras leaned toward Denika and whispered.

“That mage must be from Dmitri, don’t you think? He talks like an aristocrat from Dmitri.”

“Seems like it, Brother. But aren’t all mages in our kingdom part of the royal court? They’re supposed to be extremely valuable.”

“That’s what I thought, too… Maybe he’s on vacation.”

Bright was indeed on vacation.

However, his purpose in Heidrike was the same as Zeras’—to find traces of Geenie. The difference was that he had far exceeded his approved leave, by a month and a half.

“It’s not that, Mr. Bright! I just sent a quick message to confirm your safety, but the news I received… it’s incredible!”

“What is it? Did Geenie come back to life or something?”

“Yes! Exactly that! She’s alive! She hasn’t returned yet, but word has it she’s safe!”

“What? Is that true—whoa!”

Crash!

Bang!

Clatter!