The Golden-Haired Summoner - Ch. 3

Sunlight streamed through a hole in the ceiling, dazzlingly bright.

I stared blankly at the clouds drifting across the sky until someone called my name.

I knew exactly who it was, so I didn’t bother to look over. With a large book balanced on her lap, she kindly asked me a question.

“Geenie? Aren’t you going to read a book?”

Only then did I slowly turn my gaze toward her.

Her radiant golden hair fluttered in the sunlight, and her light blue jade-like eyes sparkled. She had the soft, fair complexion typical of children and a delicate, doll-like face.

People often gushed over how much she and I looked like twins, though I always thought it was an exaggeration. It seemed more likely that people said it because two small girls of similar age were constantly together.

The truth was, we were both textbook examples of noble young ladies, so we probably made a picturesque pair when standing side by side.

Still, there were a few key differences between us, one being our eyes.

I had sharp, upward-slanting eyes that gave me a fierce and, frankly, unpleasant expression. She, on the other hand, had slightly drooping eyes that made her look gentle and kind.

The most significant difference, though, was that unlike her, I wasn’t a real genius.

I was just a seven-year-old kid with the intelligence of a seventeen-year-old teenager.

“No, I hate reading books.”

The fact that studying wasn’t my forte was something I had painfully learned in my past life. Yet somehow, when I came to my senses, I had found myself enrolled in an elite boarding school. It felt like life had dealt me an unfair hand.

It was clear that I was unlucky, and the best way to cope was to live quietly and avoid stirring trouble.

“Then why did you come to the library?”

“Because it’s quiet. Perfect for taking naps.”

The only reason I frequented the library was precisely that—it was quiet.

In particular, the central hall of the library was incredibly cozy, making it the ideal spot for a nap.

This place was always peaceful.

I would stretch out between the chairs in the hall, watch the clouds through the hole in the ceiling, and drift off to sleep. It was my second favorite pastime. My absolute favorite was skipping classes altogether.

Today, however, Mia had tagged along and ruined my nap.

“I thought you came here to read, Geenie.”

“No way. I don’t need books to fall asleep.”

The sweet, innocent girl, whose full name was Kamia Drilla—affectionately called Mia—flipped through the thick book in her lap. Her expression made it clear that she couldn’t understand how anyone could not enjoy reading.

“How could you sleep when there’s something this fascinating right here?”

“Ha, fascinating? What part of it?”

Ah, even the title was grand.

“A Brief Treatise on Alchemy.”

The book was as thick as a person’s head, and just looking at it filled me with dread.

Honestly, they should have renamed it “A Long and Arduous Treatise.”

To make matters worse, the book wasn’t even written in the common language of the continent—it was in the original ancient language.

If Mia wasn’t a genius, then who could be?

Of course, I could read it too, but let’s be fair—I had the mental age of seventeen. Or maybe twenty-four if you add my current age to it. That has to count for something, right?

“Well, you see, the author of this book, Donna Berser, was a very great alchemist. They successfully turned gold into copper, which means it’s also possible to turn copper into gold. Donna Berser’s insights are systematic and logical…”

That’s exactly why it’s boring. And honestly, turning gold into copper? What a pointless thing to do.

While Mia rattled on enthusiastically, her face lit with fascination, I couldn’t help but feel drowsy.

Just as I was about to close my eyes, Mia’s shrill scolding startled me.

“Geenie! Are you even listening?”

“Mm, yeah. Of course. Wow, so interesting.”

Quickly wiping the drool from the corner of my mouth, I nodded at Mia.

She tended to sulk easily. She liked me so much that she followed me everywhere, and she couldn’t stand it if I didn’t pay attention to her stories.

“Geenie, you’re the worst! Why do you always fall asleep when I’m talking? It’s not like I’m casting a sleep spell!”

“Oh, you mean you can’t?”

Apparently, even joking was off the table.

Seeing Mia tear up, I clicked my tongue in resignation. Genius or not, she was still a child, and she often got upset over little things.

“Mia? Look, I’m not an alchemy major, so I don’t know much about that stuff. Honestly, I’m not even interested in it. Besides, it’s rare for someone as young as you to already have a major. How am I supposed to keep up with you?”

At Drike Academy, students were required to choose their major before they turned ten.

Those with a clear talent were admitted with a pre-determined specialty. However, in cases like mine and Mia’s—where we were brought here early simply because of our exceptional intelligence—choosing a major was delayed.

Personally, I didn’t think I’d be able to decide on a major, even by the time I turned ten.

I’d never had anything I truly wanted to do. Whether in my past life or now, I’d always been consistent in my lack of ambition.

“But Geenie, you’re good at everything! Why don’t you pick a major?”

“I don’t know. I’m not sure yet.”

“Then come study alchemy with me! It’s so much fun!”

Mia’s idea of fun was always so peculiar.

Alchemy was one of the most headache-inducing fields of study and, more importantly, not my cup of tea.

One wrong mix of reagents, and ‘poof!’—there goes your hair. Sometimes, it could even blow up a whole building.

For someone like me, who valued a simple life, it was too much.

I preferred something safer.

Like, say, breathing exercises.

“Sorry, but alchemy is better suited to someone as calm and meticulous as you, Mia. You can do it for both of us, okay?”

The moment I flattered her, Mia’s face broke into a cheerful smile.

She was a kind and transparent child, easy to read. While she could be a bit eccentric at times, being friends with her was enjoyable more often than not.

For someone like me, who felt like an old soul, being around her often felt like babysitting.

Mia must have sensed this too, which was probably why she depended on me so much.

“Alright! I’ll work hard enough for the both of us!”

“Great! When you become the greatest alchemist on the continent and figure out how to turn copper into gold, make sure to give me a cut.”

“Okay! I will!”

“Promise? I’m counting on you so I can live a long and comfortable life.”

“Then, Geenie, will you learn magic for me instead? I can’t sense mana, so magic is out of the question for me! The teacher said it’s something you’re born with. But he also said your mana sensitivity is the best among our peers. If you put your mind to it, you’d definitely make a great magician!”

Oh, look at her, trying to strike a deal already.

A child using such advanced negotiation tactics—where did she learn this? She’s always around me, so maybe I’m to blame. I twitched a smile at the compliment, but I wasn’t about to fall for it.

My specialty was shaking my head and lying down to breathe.

“Mia, it’s no use. I’m terrible at math, you know that. I’m bad at mental calculations, and magic is for smart kids.”

Sure, I was outstanding for a seven-year-old, but in this place, swarming with geniuses, I was barely average.

The real prodigies here could solve four-digit multiplication problems in the blink of an eye.

Me? I’d give up on three-digit problems in the blink of an eye.

“Then… would you become a priest instead? I want to be a priestess who helps a hero! How cool would that be?”

“Priests are for good kids. Look at my personality.”

“True.”

“…Why does that feel offensive?”

“Why? Isn’t it true that you’re clumsy, bad at math, not very smart, and have a terrible temper? You said so yourself!”

Mia’s greatest strength—and her scariest trait—was her complete lack of malice.

Sometimes, I found myself falling into Mia’s traps like this, and those moments reminded me just how much of a genius this little girl was.

“Aren’t you worried, Geenie? I heard if you don’t decide on a career by the time you’re ten, you’ll end up as a squire. Do you want to be a squire?”

“Ugh, absolutely not. Physical labor is the worst.”

The rumor that kids who failed to pick a career by ten would become squires was widespread at the academy.

A squire, in this context, was a young servant—practically disposable.

But I was convinced it was nonsense. It was likely just a cheap trick by adults to scare the kids.

Why would they waste the talents of the prodigies they worked so hard to gather?

“Then what ‘do’ you want to do?”

“Nothing.”

“Huh?”

“I want to do nothing. I decided that a long time ago!”

“…But you can’t actually do nothing, right?”

Mia’s words often hit uncomfortably close to the mark.

“Fine, I’ll do something,” I said, raising my fingers to list my criteria.

“It has to be easy to study, not require physical effort, be safe, and make a lot of money.

If it meets those four conditions, I’m fine with it.”

“Wow! Is there such a thing? I want to do that too!”

There’s no way, right? It’s just wishful thinking.

“Do you know where you can find it?”

“Where?”

“In your dreams.”

That was my cue to take a nap.

For someone as adorable as me, napping was a critical part of my daily routine.