Ch. 186

“…Fou…”

“That’s why we should eat first.”

“Explain in more detail!”

“I said I’m hungry and tired. We can’t go anyway since the sun’s down. We’ll go tomorrow.”

I had used up all my diligence for the day and just wanted to rest. The dungeon was right in front of us, but it wasn’t going anywhere.

As always, Lox seemed to think differently from me.

“Lead us there now!”

“Nope.”

When it came to me, I had a twisted personality that made me not want to do things the moment someone told me to.

“…You… you…!”

“Don’t forget, I’m the only one who knows where it is now.”

So you’d better treat me well. When I added that, Lox went through steps one through twelve in repetition.

Didn’t think he actually knew all of them.

—

“There was a huge gate. Dark blue.”

As I chewed on a well-roasted fish skewer, I talked about what I’d seen in bits whenever my mouth was empty.

The five men all focused on me like they didn’t want to miss a single word, and honestly, I didn’t like the attention—it was a little burdensome.

But I knew well enough that pulling a sudden disappearing act would lead to a coup. Just like flies on a tail, that kind of thing leaves you feeling gross.

“I tried to open it, but it didn’t budge. It was completely locked. I think there’s magic involved.”

“…You just… tried to open a dungeon gate. Is that right?”

“That’s right.”

“What if there had been traps? That’s insanely reckless…!”

“I didn’t just push it. I even tried blasting it with attack magic to break it, but it wouldn’t open.”

By my standards, I’d used pretty powerful attack spells, but all I confirmed was that the gate was protected by even stronger magic.

“And yet you made it back alive. Did the idea of traps never even cross your mind?”

“I figured it wouldn’t matter either way.”

“You seriously have no sense of danger.”

“Can you call it courage instead?”

[Or that your liver’s flopping around outside your body.]

This punk—look who’s talking! Though Rai technically didn’t have a liver… oh. He really doesn’t. I had a strange moment of realization.

[Come to think of it, I don’t recall seeing you scared much, Master. Maybe when you were a kid with the ogre, or recently with the Gold Dragon Adelaide? Yeah, you’re definitely the fearless type for a human.]

I did wonder about that sometimes.

What part of the human experience could genuinely frighten me? Was there anything out there that could make me truly nervous?

People say that love is the only thing strong enough to bring down those who seem beyond human.

Love for family, for a lover, or for humanity itself. In that case, I guess I don’t have any weaknesses.

For a moment, my eyes met Ash’s through the flickering campfire. Like the others, he was listening closely to my story.

“Anyway, the point is this. Let’s regroup tomorrow and go in together. I know this is important to you guys, so I’ll take you.”

I said it like I was doing them a big favor. Lox looked displeased, but right now, I was the one holding command.

Who else but me could explore the vast depths of that water?

“So where exactly is it?”

“See that part where the lake connects to the sea?”

I pointed to the lake with the fish skewer.

The sky just before nightfall was a deep bluish-purple, and though it was dim, we could still see. Lox pushed up his glasses.

“Yes, that raging current that looks like instant death if you touch it.”

“That’s the one.”

“…”

“Somewhere deep beneath that.”

And that’s the face I get after telling them?

“So… we’re diving into that water?”

“Got a better idea? I told you the treasure’s in there.”

“How?”

“I’ll use spirit magic to make a path through the water.”

Ahem. Not just anyone can pull that off!

I puffed myself up, but the reactions were underwhelming.

They should be worshipping me, yet they looked like cows being led to slaughter.

The first to hesitantly raise a hand was Enk.

“I have a question.”

“Speak.”

“What exactly is a ‘water path’?”

“It’s literally a path through water. Don’t you understand the common tongue?”

“Umm… should we write our wills beforehand…?”

“How about digging underground instead? If we’re going to die anyway, it’s all the same.”

Chad had the same pessimistic view. These guys seemed unusually afraid of water.

Why, I wonder. Traveling with someone like me and still scared of water?

Oh. Is it because of me?

“Geez, you guys are just big babies.”

“Of course we’re scared! We’re about to be drowned alive!”

“I’m not scared.”

“That’s because you’re some kind of water something!”

“Geenie! If we really must cross the lake… can’t we just walk on water like you did earlier?”

“Too much hassle. Rejected.”

Using the mana and mental energy needed to walk six people over water was far less efficient than just making a path.

It’s like choosing whether to roll one big ball or six small ones. One big ball is obviously easier.

“Do you guys still not trust me?”

“When did you ever give us a chance to?”

“Well, you’re not wrong. I’ll give you that.”

“…And yet you expect us to entrust our lives to you?”

“Let’s do this. You may not trust me, but you trust Ash, right? I’ll put Ash on the line—he’ll vouch for me.”

I looked around at the doubtful expressions of the group.

Ash was the only one smiling a little, and that helped my mood, even if just a bit.

“Here’s the bottom line. Without me, none of you are getting into that lake alive.”

“It… does seem that way.”

“Do you know how many water Spirit Mages are on the continent?”

“No idea. Maybe… a thousand?”

“Wrong. There aren’t even 500 total Spirit Mages. Among them, less than 70 specialize in water. Most of those are low level. And low-level ones can’t do this.”

I guarantee that if a low-level Spirit Mage tried this, they’d either run out of mana and drown everyone, or Undine would get exhausted and de-summon, taking the summoner down with her. One or the other.

To reach the dungeon and come back, you’d need to maintain Undine for at least two hours and have enough stamina and mental focus to sustain six people’s breathing the entire time.

As with all magic, the more targets involved, the greater the burden.

Just like rolling a ball—doesn’t matter how big it is, what matters is whether you’ve got the strength to roll it. That’s the foundation.

So yeah, I can’t help being smug about this.

“There are very few talents like me on this continent. Do you guys now realize how little respect you’ve shown me? Come on, who am I?”

“Delusional narcissist.”

“Lady Geenie.”

“Dictator.”

“Annoying, but competent.”

[Master of Rai!]

Only two answers I’ll accept. No more.

—

The only time I seriously consider quitting this ill-suited journey and going back to Dmitri is right now.

Lying on the ground in a flimsy sleeping bag, feeling rocks poke into my back.

No matter how many times I do it, I never get used to it. No matter how I lay, I can feel the cold, hard ground.

But if I brought a thicker sleeping bag, the bulk would be ridiculous, so for long trips, this thin one was the best option.

It was a trade-off.

Would I put up with a crappy bed for the sake of freedom and lightness? Or have a plush bed but suffer endless meddling and interference?

“Sigh…”

Going back meant the headmaster or nobles would start bothering me again, and just thinking about it made me groan.

They’d try to fit my every move into the mold of a ‘saint,’ and I’d resist, but even that meant freedom had already left my hands.

I even thought about building a castle in the forest and going into seclusion, but what a waste it’d be to not enjoy the wealth and power I finally earned.

Besides, I’m a city person—I can’t live in the countryside.

Why is there never a middle ground?

I’m not cut out for travel, but I’m not cut out for being some noble saint either.

I know myself.

My true calling is to do absolutely nothing and just breathe.

“Geenie.”

As I struggled inside my sleeping bag trying to find a less awful position, Ash approached.

He cast a shadow over me and held out a bowl of mysterious black liquid soup.

If Lox had given it to me, I would’ve assumed it was poison.

“Drink this.”

“What is it?”

“A recovery potion. You look tired.”

“…Really?”

I replied nonchalantly, but I was honestly surprised.

I didn’t think I showed any signs, but Ash somehow noticed I was running on empty and brought me a potion?

“Today was hot, and we’ve been moving constantly. You brought rain to the field this morning, made that water bridge at the canyon, and explored under the lake. Isn’t that too much?”

As I quietly listened, I realized—this guy’s really paying attention to me.

“I don’t know much about Spirit Mages, but I do know that if a Mage did even one of those things, they’d be bedridden all day. So drink up.”

Maybe it was the color, but drinking it felt like taking bitter poison. Still, I didn’t think Ash would poison me, so I accepted it.

I gave a faint smile and took a sip—then spat it out like a sprinkler.

“Pfft.”

“It’s good for you.”

“It tastes like crap!”

It was so shockingly bad that if it had been anyone else, I’d have suspected an assassination attempt and shoved their face into the bowl.

“Just drink it. You’ll feel way better tomorrow.”

[Yeah! Drink it, Master!]

[Why do you sound so cheerful? Do you enjoy seeing me suffer?]

[A little, but it’s not that funny. Besides, Master, you always hide your injuries and then go fight someone. At least take what you’re given.]

That was Rai, talking about something from ten years ago.

Maybe it’s just me, but saying I’m in pain feels kind of embarrassing.

Like asking for pity because I’m weak. That’s for kids.

I’m an adult.

An adult… I repeated that like a mantra as I forced myself to sip the nasty potion bit by bit.

Then I happened to glance at Ash’s face and was surprised to see him looking troubled.

“You suggested we wait until tomorrow… is it because you’re already exhausted? Did you spend all your strength today?”

“Nope? Not at all?”

I’m the invincible Geenie Crowell, remember?

“Geenie, sometimes being honest might help. If you just told Lox the truth, I think he’d understand…”

“Talking about weakness is like advertising your soft spots. That’s just asking to be eaten alive. I don’t do that.”

“…You really are the type to be misunderstood.”

“I just don’t pretend.”

I snorted and downed more of the foul potion, but honestly, I was feeling a little guilty.