Ch. 180
A small problem came up. The field was a bit larger than I’d expected.
About 1,298 times larger, to be exact.
It stretched all the way to the horizon. I was standing in the middle of what looked like an endless sea of farmland, and apparently, ‘all’ of it was the field in question.
Damn. I was picturing something small and cozy when they said “field.”
This old man was loaded.
“Can you really make it rain…?”
The farmer looked at me suspiciously as I stood there with my arms crossed, saying nothing. My lips twitched.
My pride—my noble, infallible pride—would never allow me to admit defeat now just because the scale was a little… excessive.
A fierce battle between pride and laziness raged within me, but in the end, pride won, backed by the hopeful gazes of everyone watching.
“Of course. This much is nothing. Like drinking soup while lying down.”
“You can really do this?”
“Of course. Who do you think I am?”
It wasn’t impossible. Just a little beyond the scope of the “small favor” I had in mind.
“…And who ‘are’ you, exactly?”
“You don’t need to know that. Asking too much can get you hurt.”
“…Excuse me?”
Leaving the confused old man behind, I scanned the vast field again. It was too big for Undine to handle alone.
For this scale, Undaine would be more efficient—but when I saw my bright-eyed, sparkling little Undine, who literally shimmered like a lake, I couldn’t bring myself to say it.
My Undine was too pure, too gentle, too good for this cruel world. Just like me, really. A virtuous being who could live without laws or limits.
“Undine, can you do it? The field’s a bit big.”
[I’ll try my best! If it’s with you, Master, I can do it!]
“How can you be so sweet.”
Humans have limits, and so do spirits. It’s like being born a rabbit and trying to eat a tiger—you simply can’t surpass your innate bounds.
A low-grade spirit’s potential is fixed from birth. No matter how hard they tried, they could never match a mid-grade one like Undaine.
But… they could come close. A low-grade spirit could grow as strong as a mid-grade—by meeting an exceptional master like me.
It started with Undine turning into a small raincloud.
From where I stood, the cloud spread rapidly toward the horizon.
The gray deepened until it blanketed the entire sky, and soon, rain began to fall.
Within moments, it became a torrential downpour.
Not a single patch of land escaped the blessing of rain. The blazing, sun-scorched soil turned dark as heavy clouds swallowed the light, plunging the world into cool twilight.
Watching that transformation, I felt an unexpected swell of pride.
My little Undine had grown up—doing work fit for Undaine herself.
I was so proud.
Not just because she was mine, but because Undine really was a genius.
“Well, while she’s watering the field, shall we go finish lunch?”
It was a bit tiring, but still an easy job. I ‘am’ Geenie Crowell, after all. I turned around, refreshed, only to find everyone staring at me with strange faces.
“Heh…”
“…”
“Why are you all looking like that? Never seen rain before?”
Ash, Lox, the rest of the group, Lil, and her whole family—all stood frozen, mouths agape, staring at the rain-soaked land.
Maybe it was too much rain?
I didn’t really know much about farming, so I couldn’t gauge what counted as “just enough.”
“Too much water? Should I make it lighter?”
“N-No, that’s not it. It’s just… incredible. I never imagined it would actually work on this scale. This is—!”
“If this much surprises you, you’d faint if I showed you Endairon.”
“Endairon…?”
“It’s a thing.”
They didn’t need to know I’d barely shown them one percent of my greatness.
Mysterious, aloof city woman—that’s me.
“Father, I don’t think bread and jerky are enough for this! Should we butcher a pig?”
“Good idea. Maybe a goat too—”
“No, no! That’s not necessary!” Ash cut in quickly.
Why stop them when they’re offering free meat?
Ash really had no sense of priority. Sure, we were supposed to leave soon, but who turns down fresh roasted goat?
I pouted, but then noticed Lox with his hands clasped together, muttering something under his breath. His expression told me exactly who he was praying ‘about’.
“Dear God, why would You make such a person so gifted?”
“…Hey, wasn’t your whole religion based on the idea that God doesn’t make mistakes?”
“Then this must be the exception. Lord, You’ve gone too far.”
That guy. He knew full well I was a Saint, but apparently, his ego couldn’t handle admitting it.
Or maybe he’d simply lost his grip on reality trying to deny it.
Either way, I pitied him—just a little.
“Listen up, all of you. I may be shameless, brazen, and not exactly what you’d call a good person—but I ‘do’ repay kindness with kindness.”
“…So you ‘do’ know you’re shameless.”
“Of course!”
Though “confident” would’ve been a nicer word choice.
—
Ignoring people’s generosity is rude.
Granted, I’m far too free-spirited for something as stiff as “manners,” but still—if they’re insisting on roasting pigs and goats for me, it would only be polite to stay for dinner.
And maybe another night’s rest.
Just imagine—soft bed, full belly, leaving tomorrow instead. Perfect.
“Hey! Stop dawdling and get out here already!”
I was moving at a leisurely pace, letting my laziness take over, when Lox yelled at me from behind.
Didn’t even need to look to know it was him. Only Lox had the suicidal courage to shout at me like that.
The weakest member of the party, yet his tone suggested he’d drag me out by the collar if he could.
“If I kill him, Ash will be sad…”
“You’re saying that out loud, you know?”
“I ‘want’ you to hear it.”
Correction: judging by that scowling, insolent face, it wasn’t that he wanted to drag me—it was that he wanted to dump me under a bridge somewhere.
Which only made me want to go slower.
“I’m ready. Let’s go.”
“Honestly, travel doesn’t suit you. If you hate moving this much, why not just go home?”
“Hahaha! Nope. Give up on that dream, Lox. And here I thought you were smart.”
“Demon woman…”
Excuse you?
I’m a Saint, thank you very much.
One who happens to enjoy laughing loudly.
“Infuriating woman…”
“You should re-enroll at the Academy. Your insults are getting stale.”
“Damn human…”
I’m Geenie Crowell—master of sarcasm and proud owner of the metal spirit Rai.
Everything Rai does, he learned from me. He’ll never surpass his teacher.
Listening to Lox grind his teeth was music to my ears as I stepped out into the yard.
The men were already mounted, saying their goodbyes to Lil’s family.
“Thank you so much for everything.”
“We truly appreciate your hospitality.”
“It’s we who should thank you! May your journey be safe.”
“Thanks. We’ll stop by on our way back to return the horses.”
“Oh, maybe we’ll meet again in the capital! We’re planning to see the Swordmasters’ Tournament—if we can get tickets for the whole family, that is.”
As I came out, Enk brightened and brought his horse over. Ever the chivalrous knight, he took my bag before I could say no.
“Miss Geenie! Have you decided who you’ll ride with yet?”
“Not yet.”
“Then please, ride with me. I’ll make sure you’re comfortable.”
Ah, right. That conversation.
We had six people but only four horses—there simply weren’t more to spare at the farm.
It was high travel season; finding even these was a miracle.
So, naturally, two of us had to double up. The lightest ones—Lox and me—were the obvious choices.
Lox immediately claimed Ash.
Meanwhile, Enk was offering passionately, but I wasn’t feeling it.
After thinking it over, I realized I didn’t ‘want’ to.
I’m a woman who knows what she wants.
“I’ve decided. I’ll go with Ash.”
“What…”
Enk’s shoulders drooped. But honestly, the idea of holding on to someone awkward the whole ride didn’t appeal to me.
Especially since I’d have to lean against his back.
“I’ll be riding behind Ash!” Lox shouted. “Don’t you dare try to take my spot, you usurper!”
“I want to ride with Ash too!”
“If you don’t want to ride with Enk, Gale’s still free!”
Besides Enk, the only remaining options weren’t great. Gale looked like he’d rather travel alone, and Chad… well, Chad already weighed as much as two people. His horse didn’t deserve extra suffering.
“Enk or Gale, it’s all awkward. I’m still not comfortable with them yet.”
“You? Shy?”
“You can’t tell, but it’s true. I’m delicate, you know.”
“Delicate people don’t kill so easily!”
“I kill ‘because’ I’m delicate. I can’t stand irritation.”
“…Unbelievable!”
Lox wasted no time climbing onto Ash’s horse.
So that was ‘his’ plan.
“Lox, seriously?”
“You think I’ll just watch you cozy up behind him?”
Ugh, he’s like a jealous old aunt.
I couldn’t tell if he hated me or just didn’t want anyone near Ash.
Determined to settle this peacefully, I approached the horse calmly.
“Looks like we both want the same thing. So be it.”
“I’m not doing rock-paper-scissors! Ash’s back has ‘always’ been my spot!”
I was getting tired of this whole rivalry over Ash.
Actually, no—Lox himself was starting to get on my nerves.
I just wanted to relax with Ash, but he kept inserting himself like a wall.
I’m a woman who prefers clarity. When something’s in the way, it’s simpler to remove it from existence.
I smiled sweetly.
“Lox? Let’s decide who rides behind Ash with a duel. Fair and square.”
He was the party’s weakest member and a non-combatant, but I was dead serious.
“…Do you even have a conscience?”
“Nope. That’s why I’m doing this. I know what I want—and what I want is you out of the way. If you value your life, you’d better stay off my nerves.”