Ch. 158
“…Miss Geenie? Each match is supposed to have a ten-minute break in between.”
“I want to lie down already. Next cue ball?”
I curled my finger at them in challenge, and the team leader stepped forward.
He approached with determination, then stared at me and spoke stiffly.
“I forfeit.”
“…Didn’t you just say picking me was a guaranteed win?”
“The me from five minutes ago and the me now are two different people. People change.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me. Just come and—”
“Then have a nice rest!”
The other team quickly vanished into the darkness, dragging their half-dead mage with them.
Spectators murmured with disappointment, and Ash shook his head while Rai kept yawning as if this was all beneath him.
It was a peaceful day.
“Another safe day completed.”
[Have you already forgotten that you beat up those bandits half to death and sold the rest?]
“I’m safe, aren’t I?”
I live my own damn life.
—
Though it ended a bit anticlimactically for something called an “honorable duel,” we still rightfully claimed the room.
It might’ve been the last room available in Daniz that night.
I’d never stayed in a five-person room before. It was like a dorm—five beds lined up neatly.
“I’m taking this one!”
I liked the window seat, so I claimed the innermost bed and flopped down.
Yep, this was my calling.
Lazing around doing absolutely nothing never felt so right.
Ash watched me with restless concern, while Chad and Lox awkwardly placed their bags at the far end of the room.
What’s with them?
[Master! There’s one bed left. Can I take it?]
[Of course, of course.]
Luckily, this inn allowed pets.
They did charge a fee, but money wasn’t really an issue for me.
Rai took the bed next to mine and wagged his tail with satisfaction, bouncing around proudly like some high-quality dust mop on four legs.
While watching him, Ash slipped out of the room and came back not long after.
At first glance, I thought that white, square thing he was holding was a window.
“I got a divider from the first floor.”
“Hmm?”
“I’ll set it up between the beds.”
Without being asked, he placed a partition between our beds and, apparently unsatisfied, threw a cloth over the top of it too.
That small opening in the five-panel divider must’ve bothered him.
While Ash fussed over setting it up, I ignored him and calmly braided my hair, getting ready for bed. Such a diligent boy, that Ash.
“…Miss Geenie? Are you listening?”
“To what?”
“Just for tonight, we’re sharing this room, but I’ll look for another inn in the morning. I imagine you’re uncomfortable.”
“I’m not.”
“Ahem… well, we’re the ones feeling awkward… you know, with bathing and changing clothes and all…”
“Then do as you like. I’m tired, I’m going to sleep.”
Sleeping in a room with three men might’ve been dangerous, but I had Rai—a sentinel who never slept—and none of those three looked suicidal enough to try anything funny.
If someone ‘did’ want to die early, I wouldn’t stop them. But honestly, if I couldn’t trust them even a little, I wouldn’t have traveled with them.
Two weeks was enough time to know these guys were safe—even if I walked around half-naked, it wouldn’t matter.
If Ash ever saw me changing by accident, he’d probably cover his eyes and scream.
Chad would squint in disgust and go wash his eyes out.
Lox… would probably scold me and throw me something to cover up with.
Of course, none of that’s actually happened, but I had a solid enough read on them.
They say all men are wolves…
[Why?]
Rai’s stronger than any wolf.
I looked at Rai, then at Ash.
Yeah, he was definitely a herbivore.
That innocent gaze, that pitiful soul—he looked like someone who ‘needed’ protection.
“Go ahead and sleep. I’ll keep watch on this side… rest easy.”
I was already nestled comfortably like it was my own home.
As I pulled the blanket over myself, I glanced at Ash standing by the divider and gave him a nod before closing my eyes.
Why did I feel like I wanted to protect Ash?
That question flickered in my mind—then sleep took over.
—
[Master! Wake up!]
How long had I been asleep?
Judging by how sluggish I felt, maybe just an hour or two. It was still dark outside—definitely the middle of the night.
It wasn’t time to get up at all, but Rai was tapping my forehead insistently with a big paw.
[What… why are you waking me up.]
[They’re talking about you.]
Still groggy, I tried to push his paw away—then my eyes shot open.
What? They’re talking behind my back?
The human body truly is amazing. In an instant, all my senses were awake.
Especially my ears—suddenly everything sounded clearer, like my hearing had sharpened.
Naturally, I zeroed in on the conversation.
“Ash! How long is that woman going to tag along with us?”
“Until she feels like stopping?”
“Don’t give me that laid-back crap! Gale and Enk are going to rejoin us soon. We can’t keep letting her do whatever she wants!”
I didn’t miss a single whisper from behind the divider.
“I’m the one who doesn’t get it. Lox, why do you hate her so much? There’s no reason for it.”
“First, she’s got a terrible personality. Second, she’s ruthless. Third, she has no conscience. Fourth—her name’s Geenie. She’s a Spirit Mage. She’s blonde. She has blue eyes…”
“That just sounds like ‘I hate her for no reason.’”
“And most of all, she totally ignores you even though ‘you’re’ the leader!”
So Lox really is the one who hates me most.
What did I ever do to deserve that? Here I am… eavesdropping like a decent person.
“I actually think she cuts me a lot of slack.”
“Where?!”
“I’ve always felt like she gives me at least some respect as party leader. Lox, don’t be so harsh. She’s got good points too.”
“Forget it! Let’s ditch her in this city! Kick her out tomorrow! We’re not out here for fun—why should we keep playing house with her?!”
‘Playing house’?! That’s harsh!
…Though not exactly wrong.
“It’s not that big of a deal. She’s not causing any problems. Just think of it as temporary—same road, same destination.”
“What about when Enk and Gale show up?! They risked their lives retrieving the map from Koiren because ‘you’ asked them! And now they’ll come back and see some random kid tagging along?!”
“Calm down. I’ll explain everything to them—”
“Ash! I also hate how soft you are with that woman! You’re completely under her thumb! You barely even know her and you’re already acting all submissive!”
“…Was I really that submissive?”
“Yes!”
“I didn’t think I was. Was I really?”
Hmm. Looks like Ash is the only one who hasn’t noticed.
I noticed.
Turning onto my side, I propped up my head and kept listening. They had no clue I was awake, and their conversation was heating up.
They were whispering, but it was so quiet at this hour, I could hear everything clearly.
“Chad, back me up! Tell him how dumb Ash looks around her! He’s totally whipped!”
“Well… yeah, he’s definitely not acting like himself.”
“See?! Even Chad noticed!”
“Lox… that sounds like you’re insulting Chad too.”
“Was it? I just thought Ash must really like her or something. That’s what it looked like.”
“Ugh! Don’t say creepy things like that!”
Lox’s dramatic reaction came through even the divider.
You’re gonna wake people up, man. Well—too late, I’m already up.
“Why? Honestly, I kinda like her.”
“…You two are always bickering! What do you mean you ‘like’ her?! Chad, don’t tell me…!”
“Not like ‘that.’ As a traveling companion. Sure, she does whatever she wants, but she’s not a burden. Doesn’t cry, pulls her weight. And I like her mean glare. Beats a weepy face any day. Also, she eats everything I cook.” (T/N: Didn’t expect this from you Chad. lol)
Aww, Chad.
You actually ‘can’ see people for who they are.
Maybe I should stop giving you such a hard time. I thought you hated me as much as Lox did.
“You fell for her over ‘that’?! I eat well too!”
“I didn’t say I love her. Just that I don’t mind traveling together. I just really don’t want to make her an enemy.”
“Let’s take a vote—whether to keep her or kick her out! First thing tomorrow!”
“How do you even say something like that out of nowhere?”
“Get it together, Ash! She’s not some poor, wet puppy! She’s a crocodile from the river! If you won’t do it, I will!”
I like crocodiles, though.
“That would hurt her feelings.”
Ash actually sounded like a sad little puppy himself.
That low, weak voice of his made it obvious.
“No, it wouldn’t! There’s no way she’d care.”
“Telling her not to follow us is like saying we don’t want her around. Would ‘you’ be happy if someone said that to you? Lox, try to see her good side. You just haven’t looked hard enough.”
“You ‘do’ know she’s probably killed at least a hundred people, right? I’ve personally seen her kill six.”
“…Those were all self-defense.”
“You know that ‘self-defense’ of hers covers way too much. I don’t trust her. She could kill us all anytime she wants! Aren’t you scared? What are you guys trusting so blindly?”
Turns out, I’m the one who failed to build trust.
I never seriously considered that I might seem like a threat to Ash’s group.
Sure, I ‘maybe’ threatened them a little at the start…
So that’s why I’ve been so relaxed this whole time. I’m the ‘predator’ in this equation.
“Oh! She’s suspicious as hell! Don’t you wonder what she really is? Even in the last town, knights and mages were following her around, calling her ‘milady’ and all that. She must be some noble’s daughter or something!”
“……”
“…Chad.”
“Right? Makes sense, doesn’t it? I’m pretty sharp, huh?”
Chad…
“You ‘really’ don’t know? Her name’s Geenie. She’s from Dmitri. A Spirit Mage. Blonde. Blue eyes. A royal knight bowed to her.”
“So what? My name’s Chad, and I’m from Dmitri.”
“Haaah…”
“Not everyone is as smart as you, Lox.”
“Dear gods, we don’t need this trial. Please save us. Deliver us from this woman and her dark sorcery. Amen.”
“So what is she then?! Some noble’s daughter?! Am I the only one who doesn’t know?! Come on—what is it?!”
After eavesdropping quietly, I reached a few solid conclusions.
Chad is a good guy, but his intelligence is questionable.
Ash doesn’t seem to mind traveling with me.
And Lox… I really need to do something about him.
He’s too smart for his own good—and that makes him annoying.