The Golden-Haired Summoner - Chapter 12

Rummaly was a city within the territory of Elan, but its proximity to Valen and its famous port made it well-known as a commercial hub.

When people thought of “Rummaly,” they often associated it with the bustling port, as it was a famous port city.

There were plenty of sights to see everywhere, but I couldn’t afford to be distracted by them, as I had something urgent to find.

[A little further ahead, Master. Take a left up ahead.]

“Left?”

I quickly followed the direction Arie’s tail was pointing to.

Hansen and Filo were trailing behind me, struggling to keep up. With so many people around, there were moments when I lost sight of them, but they always reappeared shortly after. I decided not to worry about them.

If anyone were to get lost, it would be me, not Hansen and Filo.

[Here! Stop! To the left, Master.]

“Here?”

[Yes, it’s inside there.]

I quickly stopped and looked up at the sign of the shop Arie was pointing to.

**Dunhell Jewelers, Rummaly Branch**

It seemed like there was some persistent connection between me and Dunhell Jewelers. Maybe it was a bad one.

After frowning briefly, I pushed open the glass door of the Dunhell Jewelers and stepped inside.

The lavishness here was on a different level compared to the Dunhell Jewelers in Hoden. It was almost blinding.

The shop was filled with glowing lights and a seemingly endless display of various jewels.

I had thought I was accustomed to luxury, but apparently, I was used to sophistication, not sheer extravagance.

“Hmm? Kid, this is…”

Bang!

“Young lady!”

“Young lady!”

A clerk, who seemed to be about to scold me, quickly closed his mouth when he saw Hansen and Filo following in behind me.

He seemed to think I was a noble lady out for a stroll. Not that he was entirely wrong.

In any case, Hansen and Filo were proving to be useful.

“Haha, lovely lady. Are you looking for something in particular?”

The clerk quickly changed his attitude, reminding me of Captain Tonell. Though in this man’s case, it was understandable since he worked in customer service.

Ignoring the clerk, I asked Arie.

[Arie, look around. Where are the spirit stones?]

Poking his head slightly out of my sleeve, Arie narrowed his eyes and scanned the area. Then, his eyes widened, and he pointed to the display case on the far right.

[Over there, Master!]

I swiftly approached the display case and scanned the numerous raw stones arranged under the transparent glass. I noticed a jewel that gave off a peculiar energy.

It was a combination of a transparent gemstone and pieces of deep and light blue stones tangled together.

[Is that it? The blue one!]

[Yes, that’s right. But its energy is faint… It seems that spirit stone is reaching its limit.]

Upon hearing Arie’s words, I quickly pointed to the spirit stone and shouted.

“This one! Could you show me this one, please!”

“Yes, this one, you mean?”

The clerk reached into the glass case and pulled out the spirit stone, but his movements felt frustratingly slow. I had an urge to push him aside and grab it myself.

When the spirit stone was finally brought out in front of me, I felt a sudden chill for a moment.

The sensation became clearer when I held the spirit stone in my hand. It wasn’t just a chill on my skin; I felt it deep in my mind. If my guess was right, then this must be…

[It’s an ice spirit.]

[…I was just about to say that. Hmph!]

[I was just… doing my job, Master!]

Ignoring Arie’s whining, I flipped the spirit stone over in my hand.

Looking closely, I noticed tiny black dots in the center of the spirit stone, as small as pinpricks. And there was a small circle in the middle. This must be the spirit summoning circle, right?

Ice, huh… Perfect! With Undine’s abilities, ice, and electricity! It’s the perfect combination for me!

“Hehehe.”

I couldn’t help but let out a dangerous chuckle, causing Hansen, who was standing nearby, to speak up in surprise.

“Uh… Young lady, are you planning to buy that?”

Hearing Hansen’s voice snapped me back to reality. Buy? Oh right, this is a jewelry store. Damn, I was so focused on getting the spirit stone that I forgot about the money…

“This was just recently brought in from the village of Hoden. Hoden is famous for its raw stones! This is a one-of-a-kind item, ma’am,” the clerk said.

Hoden was the village we passed through just before parting with the delegation. It was also where I obtained the electric spirit stone.

Unfortunately, I left the village without being able to take any gems with me at the time.

So, this spirit stone must be from that time? Maybe they moved it to a bigger store since it’s the same Dunhell Jewelers? I’m not sure, but it seems likely.

“Ah, it’s a beautiful stone. I’d love to buy it… How much is it?” I asked.

The clerk smiled and replied, “5 gold and 30 silver, ma’am.”

“5 gold…?”

“Gah!”

Hansen and Filo were more shocked than I was at the clerk’s words. Damn it, all my money got used up when I summoned Adol.

I awkwardly smiled and asked, “Um… can I get it on credit…?”

“No, ma’am.”

“Then… installment payments…?”

“No, ma’am.”

“How about… a card…?”

“I don’t know what that is, but no, ma’am. We only accept cash here.”

Damn it, crying isn’t going to solve this… What should I do?

[Master, I can make money.](Yes! I was waiting for this!)

Arie’s voice, which came just in time, made me nod instinctively.

If I just make one gold coin by using up all my mana, everything will be settled! There’ll even be money left over.

Ah, my dear Arie. I don’t think you’ve ever seemed so lovely to me as you do today. (Well, I always thought you were lovely, Master. ㅠ.ㅠ)

Having made up my mind, I whispered to the clerk.

“Where’s the restroom here?”

“At the end over there, ma’am.”

Thinking how well-trained the clerk was in hospitality, I hurriedly entered the restroom at the corner and quickly took out Arie.

“Okay, Arie! One golden coin! Not gold, but golden! You can do it, right?”

[Hehe! That’s as easy as eating iron while lying down, Master!]

“Alright, wait a moment. Let me take a deep breath. Most of my mana will be drained.”

[Half of your mana should be enough, Master.]

Arie’s words made me curious. Half? Last time, I almost died because my mana was drained when making copper.

“Why? I used all my mana even when making copper coins before.”

[Copper or gold, they have similar hardness, and there were two coins then, but now it’s just one. Although crafting gold is slightly more intricate, with your increased mana, half should suffice.]

“Hehe. Really? Then go ahead! Do it!”

Hehe. I see. So, if I make just one gold coin a day, I’ll never have to worry about my living expenses again.

Ah, becoming a summoner was the best decision I ever made. I praised my excellent choice enthusiastically.

My mana was quickly drained, and Arie soon spat out a gold coin. Ah, the joy of that moment!

However, instead of savoring the moment, I quickly chose to leave the restroom.

I proudly held up the gold coin in my hand. Hansen and Filo, their eyes wide open, asked in astonishment.

“Young lady, where… where did you get such a large amount of money…?”

“Gasp!”

Filo reached out with trembling hands toward the gold coin I was holding, while Hansen gaped in shock.

Smiling brightly, I replied cheerfully to Hansen.

“It’s my allowance!” (Well, as you know, 1 gold equals about a million won, and 1 gold coin equals about ten million won… maybe?)

I stopped Filo’s hand, which seemed dangerously eager to snatch the coin, and quickly handed it to the clerk.

Hansen and Filo, trembling as if they couldn’t bear the thought of parting with the money. I also felt a little regret.

But I have a personal bank that walks, or rather, crawls. Puhahahah!

“How much allowance do you get…?”

“Uh, 1 gold per month!”

Hansen stared at me in bewilderment and asked again, his face blank.

“1 gold… as allowance?”

“Gah! Hansen! That’s about the same as our monthly salary… oof!”

Hansen quickly covered Filo’s mouth as he was about to say something.

But I had already heard it. Hansen and Filo’s salary was about 1 gold per month.

It seemed a bit low, but then again, knights usually lived in dormitories with free board, and they also received pensions later, along with armor and swords. Also, the Fifth Knight Order had the lowest salary, so it made sense.

Tsk! Hansen, Filo, I hope you get promoted soon.

“Ma’am, here’s the spirit stone you purchased and your change of 4 gold and 70 silver. Would you like it wrapped?”

“No, I’ll just take it.”

“Yes, thank you, ma’am.”

The clerk placed the spirit stone in a red pouch and handed it to me along with the change. Taking

the spirit stone, I hurriedly turned around.

“Young lady?”

“Let’s go back to the inn!”

“Huh? We’re in Rummaly. Aren’t you going to look around the market?”

“I have urgent business first, so let’s head to the inn!”

“I-Is that so?”

Hansen and Filo looked quite disappointed. I also wanted to look around, but this came first.

I quickly stepped outside the shop.

I had initially planned to run straight to the inn, but once I was outside, I couldn’t move. I didn’t know the way.

I flicked my fingers and asked Hansen, who had followed me out.

“This way? Or that way?”

[That way, maybe?]

“This way, young lady.”

Tsk, Arie. If you had just stayed quiet, we’d have been halfway there by now.

When I entered the inn, Tonel approached me, wearing his usual awkward smile.

“Oh dear. You’re back already? Not staying out longer? If you don’t mind, would you like a glass of milk…?”

“No, thank you! Excuse me!”

I ignored Tonel, whose dark intentions were obvious, and quickly climbed the stairs two at a time, clutching the spirit stone tightly in one hand.

I went up to the third floor, where my room was, and locked the door once inside.

“Arie! Do I just need to infuse this one with mana too?”

I recalled the time I summoned Adol.

Back then, Adol had tried to come out on his own but failed due to a lack of power, so I ended up pouring my mana into it…

[That should be the case. But be careful, Master. Just like when Chiri was summoned and discharged, summoning a spirit from a spirit stone tends to manifest their power.]

Nodding at Rai’s explanation, I placed the spirit stone on the table and carefully infused it with mana.

As the thin stream of mana flowed out, it quickly surged into the stone as if meeting a rushing current.

The spirit stone glowed white for a moment.

“Eek!”

I quickly moved back, and at the same time, blue ice pillars shot up from the center of the spirit stone with a crackling sound.

I was startled and fell back, and my eyes caught sight of the table encased in the viciously spread ice pillars.

Damn, I almost got skewered by ice spikes!

The memory of that day suddenly came back to me.

My legs wouldn’t move in front of the raging flames! I ended up having to crawl on the ground. I unconsciously bit my lips hard as something floated up from within the ice pillars.

*Crack, crack*

[Who… awakens me…?]

It was the Ice Spirit.

Crystals of ice sprouted up all around, making crackling sounds.

Its form was vaguely similar to Adol, but while Adol was a gathering of electricity, this one was clearly a gathering of ice.

Sitting on the floor, I felt a chilling sensation at my toes.

The intense cold emanated from that thing, the Ice Spirit, at the center of the ice pillar surrounding the table.

“I-I am Geenie Crowell! I summoned you! So please make a contract with me.”

I felt a shiver run down my spine, not from the cold, but from an unknown sense of elation.

With this spirit, Adol, and Undine at the center, it was perfect. I felt confident that no one could stand in my way.

[…I refuse.]

“W-what? Why?”

[Such arrogance! Master, forget about such a spirit.]

I frowned at the rejection, which I hadn’t expected. I had assumed they would naturally accept.

Flustered by the unexpected response and worried by my rapidly depleting mana, I felt an urgency. At this rate, the spirit would soon be unsummoned.

[With such pathetic skills… you can never… be my master.]

“W-wait! It’s only because I’m at half mana right now! This isn’t my true ability!”

No way! A refusal? But Arie, Adol, and even Undine all said I was excellent. They said I was someone with exceptional mental strength and affinity.

[Even if that’s true… you are still… far too lacking… to be my master…]

*Crack, crack*

As my mana decreased, its voice gradually faded.

As the Ice Spirit continued speaking, it abruptly cut off communication when my mana was about ten percent remaining.

The ice pillars surrounding the table crumbled and turned into ice fragments.

“Wait! Hold on… ugh!”

[Master! Forget about such an arrogant spirit…]

I didn’t hear what Arie said. I was just ashamed and embarrassed by the fact that I had been rejected for a contract.

“What the hell, that thing? R-rejected me…?”

[M-Master! Please don’t cry, Master~.]

“Ugh… Pathetic? Far too? Ugh, ugh… wahhh!”

I couldn’t hold it in anymore.

The indignation and embarrassment were too much for the emotions of a 10-year-old girl, and I had to wipe away the tears.

The blue gem on the table continued to glow brazenly and prickly.

***

Bright, as the head of the magic department, ensured that the magic students safely completed their warp before being the last to warp to Rummaly along with the teachers and other department heads.

As a member of the magic department, the warp circle should have intrigued him, but it barely registered to him. Perhaps because he was in love. With a cute 10-year-old blonde girl.

Upon arriving in Rummaly, he immediately prohibited the magic students from going out and assigned them the task of memorizing magic formulas.

This was purely to keep them from causing any trouble by confining them to their rooms.

Although there were some complaints, who was he?

He was the eldest son of the Kennyan family, the greatest magic family in Drike. His abilities were substantial, making him a promising talent.

Because of this, the children aspiring to be wizards in Drike eventually had to yield to Bright Kenneyan’s orders for a secure future and reluctantly memorized the formulas in their rooms.

Having fulfilled his duty as head of the magic department, Bright quickly inquired about Geenie Crowell’s whereabouts.

All in hopes of walking through the harbor with her.

However, he was disappointed to hear that Geenieee Crowell, after entering the inn, had immediately gone out with the knights.

“Ugh!”

He sighed heavily and, biting the bullet, joined the magic students in memorizing formulas.

It was around then that his loyal aide, Jai Mam of the Alchemy Department, brought him news that Geenieee Crowell had returned.

Bright’s face lit up with joy at the news, though in contrast, the expressions of the magic students present were as if they had bitten a mouse turd.

Their faces soon turned even more miserable as Bright announced, “Anyone who hasn’t memorized it will be my next magic training opponent! So memorize it thoroughly! Oh, and I have something urgent, so I’m leaving!” and then disappeared.

Bright, caring little about the remaining expressions of the magic students, inquired about Geenieeee Crowell’s room.

Promising to give a high-quality mana potion, he got the information from Iruje, who seemed to be both a fellow department member and Geenieeeee’s friend. According to the information, Geenieeeee’s room was a single room, Room 302!

Bright gleefully headed to Room 302.

Of course, he didn’t forget to grab a bunch of flowers from the vase displayed in the inn’s lobby. The innkeeper’s sharp gaze was noticeable, but who cared!

“Hmph~.” (Aww! Cute haha)

Bright cheerfully skipped his way to Room 302.

Just as he reached the third floor, he suddenly felt a faint mana fluctuation.

However, being only a 4th class beginner, Bright merely felt a vague sensation. Still, considering his age, that was impressive enough.

Wizards range from 1st class to 10th class.

Moreover, within each class, there are subdivisions: Beginner, User, and Master.

Beginners are the novices, Users are somewhat competent, and Masters are the experts.

In reality, the 1st and 2nd classes are considered Beginners and not further subdivided.

1st Class is the most basic level! Regardless of mana perception, a few basic spells can be cast using the mana naturally accumulated in the body. It’s an embarrassing level to be called a wizard, as anyone can learn to cast a spell or two at this level.

2nd Class is still at a basic level.

Anyone can reach this level with time and effort.

The spells usable at this level are not much different from the 1st class. However, the magical knowledge is slightly more advanced, allowing one to claim to be aspiring to become a wizard.

3rd Class is the final basic level. Those without talent can only become beginners through extreme effort.

Only at this level can one use practical spells, including offensive magic.

Some wizards never surpass the 3rd Class Master level in their lifetime. Usually, those lacking talent.

4th Class, having barely surpassed the basics, it’s a level where one can introduce themselves as a wizard without much embarrassment.

Without a modicum of talent and insight, reaching this level is impossible.

There’s a clear divide between those with talent and those without. At this level, one can become a wizard for a local lord or a mercenary. It’s broadly considered the Beginner-level wizard. Mana can be sensed.

5th Class is where one begins learning specialized magic in earnest.

Only those with talent and effort combined can reach this level. Insight is, of course, essential.

From this point, one chooses an attribute that suits their aptitude and focuses on it.

Typically, only one attribute is selected. Learning more than one

is difficult, and mastering all attributes is impossible for a human.

If you encounter a 5th Class wizard who has mastered all attributes, it’s likely a non-human or a dragon 99% of the time, so it’s best to avoid them!

6th Class, surpassing the notorious 5th Class. Wide-area spells become possible.

This is the realm achieved by those with exceptional talent and tremendous effort.

If one reaches the 6th Class by around 40, they are considered a genius. At this level, kingdoms are eager to recruit them.

Among wizards, their names are relatively well-known. They can secure a position in most kingdoms. Broadly, they are considered User-level wizards. Mana can be manipulated.

7th Class, they can earn the title of a great wizard. They are envied by the royalty of most kingdoms.

They can even manipulate the weather to some extent. They can modify spells themselves, transforming something from non-existence into existence.

Currently, there are only five 7th Class wizards on the continent. Among wizards, they are virtually idols. They are sufficiently regarded as Master-level wizards. They can transform mana.

8th Class, transcending the realm of sensing, manipulating, and transforming mana, they exert strong dominance over mana.

They can manipulate mana with mere willpower. Among wizards, they are almost deified.

There is currently only one 8th Class beginner on the continent. He belongs to Elan. A universally recognized Master-level wizard. They can turn something from existence to non-existence.

9th Class, not only do they dominate mana, but they also begin using Word of Command spells.

It is said to be a level unattainable by humans. It is a realm of imagination for humans. They can transform from non-existence to existence.

10th Class, the legendary realm of dragons.

They transcend all attributes. They even surpass the dominance over mana, becoming one with mana.

The boundary between existence and non-existence disappears. They break free from the dominion of gods. They escape fate.

They transcend even death, reaching an infinite state. If two 10th Class wizards fight, the result would be a draw. Because it would ultimately be a confrontation between infinity and infinity.

Bright was pressing his body close to the door of Geenieeeee’s Room 302, eavesdropping intently on the sounds inside. And what he heard was…

“What the hell, that thing? R-rejected me… wahh! Pathetic? Far too? Ugh, ugh… wahhh!”

That was it. Listening so closely that he could’ve been part of a search team.

Bright, who was holding his breath and eavesdropping on Geenieeeee’s voice, turned pale.

Panicking, he tried to open the room door, but it was firmly locked.

“Ah, ah! That’s right! So… The powerful gathering of mana at my fingertips, shoot towards my enemy! Magic Arrow!”

*Whoosh*

*Crash!*

Bright’s hand made several swift motions in the air, and a bright light burst from his fingertips. At the same time, the doorknob of Room 302 broke easily.

Bright immediately pushed the door open and stepped inside.

*Creak*

Normally, there wouldn’t have been a sound, but it seemed the door had sagged a little from the impact just now.

Bright thought as he opened the door. He was going to hold Geenieeeee, who was crying alone in her room, in his arms.

Then, Geenie would surely say, “Ah, age is just a number! Bright, please accept my love,” and fall into his broad chest.

It was nothing more than his baseless delusion, but still.

“Come into my arms, Geenie!”

His thoughts were long, but opening the door took only a moment.

In the middle of the room, Geenie sat alone, wiping away tears.

Geenie turned to look at Bright, who had just entered her room. Her eyes were tear-stained and sorrowful (from Bright’s perspective).

Up to this point, Bright’s imagination was almost accurate.

Bright closed his eyes tightly, imagining Geenie would soon rush into his arms. He opened his arms wide, ready to embrace her.

“Geenie!”

Thinking her response was a bit slow, Bright called her again, a hint of “Come into my arms!” implied.

At this point, Geenie was supposed to confess her love, he thought. Bright slightly opened his eyes.

And what he saw was the same cold gaze Geenie had shown Leo after their duel.

At the same time, Jinny’s small, delicate lips slowly, very slowly, parted.

“Arie, bite!”

*Whoosh!*

Something long and white flew towards him as quickly as a Magic Arrow!

Shocked, Bright waved his hand in the air. And…

“Ahhh!”

Oh, the wretched scream as he hit nothing but thin air amidst the scattering flower petals.

Ah, Geenie. Why are you Geenie?

When leaving Dmitry, it seemed like just yesterday that I sighed at the long road ahead and the uncertain future, yet here I am now, firmly standing with both feet in the capital of Elan, Neikal…

“Ugh… ugh…”

Although my feet were on the ground, why did the world still feel so overwhelming?

Everything before my eyes was spinning, my mind was a mess, and I couldn’t stand still. Eventually, I had to lean on Iruje, who was beside me, with my heavy head swaying.

“Geenie, are you okay? You look worse than in Rummaly.”

It was true.

Compared to when I warped to Rummaly, the dizziness and nausea were even more intense. This was unbearable; I couldn’t even think about returning to Drike. If I tried again, who knows what might happen?

Uncertain about the future and overwhelmed by the severe aftereffects of the second warp, I stumbled forward, unable to hold myself steady. Instructor Iritho approached.

“What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?”

“Ngh… No… It’s just that the world is spinning…”

My mind was clear, but I couldn’t keep my balance.

The nausea was so bad, I was feeling dizzy! I swear! If I warp again… if I… ugh…

“Oh dear, Miss Geenie, lean on me. I’ll help you to your room.”

“Thank youuu…”

I’d better make that promise after I get back since it seems like I’ll have to warp again to return.

Instructor Iritho treated me like a patient, and I didn’t refuse.

After eating a bowl of bland soup, I laid down in the quietest room.

Instructor Iritho told me that sleep was the best cure for motion sickness and sang a lullaby I’d heard many times before.

I had to quickly fall asleep, overwhelmed by dizziness and the instructor’s dreadful lullaby that could make anyone pass out.

*Slap!*

That was until Arie woke me up. Is it dawn already? I need to get up, but my body feels heavy…

*Slap!*

But why did Rai’s tail slaps keep getting more painful lately…

*Slap!*

“Hey!”

[Screech!]

Arie, who had been relentlessly smacking my soft cheeks with his hard tail, shrieked in surprise when I suddenly shouted and sat up. Seriously, he needs to change his scream!

“Stop it! Stop it!”

[You wouldn’t wake up, Master… I was just trying my best to wake you up… sniffle!]

Arie pretended to wipe his eyes with his tail as if crying. He’s becoming more human-like by the day. Soon enough, he’ll be cutting steak with that tail!

“Oh, trying your best? Fine, Arie. Then, make a mirror.”

[What?]

“Don’t pretend you didn’t hear me. Make a mirror!”

[Yes, Master.]

When I glared at him and spoke, Arie reluctantly coiled his body into a circle.

Coiled up like that, Arie was about the size of my face. Soon, his white body turned silver.

I picked up Arie, who had transformed into a mirror, to check my face.

It was a rough, uneven mirror, but it was good enough to check the condition of my face. Messy hair was one thing, but the marks on my cheek…

“Don’t you see these three red whisker-like marks on my cheek, Arie?”

[You look more charming, Master.]

“Really? Hmph, as if… you think so!”

[Screech!]

On my right cheek were three thin, long red marks neatly aligned, and enraged, I threw Arie, who had turned into a mirror, into the air.

Who needs a scrap metal snake that only gets better at talking, hmph!

As I snorted, I saw Arie’s body, which had been flying through the air like a frisbee, turning pale again. Along with that, my mana was also draining.

“Hey, who said you could revert on your own?”

*Roll*

Arie, having reverted back to his snake form, rolled a few times after falling to the floor.

[But Master, glass is fragile! If I stayed like that, I would have to remake the shell, and then… then… there would be… clattering.]

Rai’s way of turning into a mirror involved temporarily altering his body’s properties to glass and silver, which consumed a very small amount of mana.

It was easy because turning diamond into glass was simple.

However, turning back from glass into a diamond snake required more mana.

The amount of mana needed generally correlated with hardness; softening something hard consumed less mana, while hardening something soft consumed more.

Reverting from a mirror to a diamond snake, unlike when creating his body, which took several days, only temporarily altered the substance, requiring minimal mana.

But turning something like iron into a diamond permanently consumed a significant amount of mana.

In short, it was easy to temporarily change as a trick.

For some reason, Arie seemed extremely averse to damaging his scales and was trembling all over, as if terrified at the thought of his scales getting hurt.

“A trick? How did the word trick come up?”

[Ahem.]

Like a mute who had eaten honey, Arie kept his mouth shut and just looked out the window, where dawn was breaking. What’s with him, this guy? How dare he not answer when his master asks?

“Oh, Arie. Are you trying to act tough now? When your master asks, you’re supposed to answer…”

[Gasp, gasp! T-that eerie footsteps… It must be Iruje! Screech!]

“Wa-wait, Arie! Arie!”

I had intended to fix Rai’s increasingly defiant behavior, but just as he tilted his head slightly, his thin body quivering as he sensed a faint vibration, he suddenly bolted away at breakneck speed.

The speed was so fast that it deserved to be called light speed.

Recently, ever since Iruje became curious about why Arie’s color had turned white, she frequently visited my room, and Arie would disappear in a flash whenever she did.

Not only that, but whenever Iruje was around, Arie would vanish somewhere, so we barely spent any time together except when sleeping. Iruje or Arie! That is the question.

As I pondered this serious dilemma, someone knocked on the door.

It’s got to be Iruje, right? I was still in my pajamas, but I didn’t mind much since I had a good idea who it was. I opened the door.

“Iruje, what brings you here so early…”

I started to smile at the sight of Iruje, but then I noticed two much taller figures standing behind her and glanced up.

Two boys looking down at me. One of them was a rather unwelcome acquaintance I had been running into frequently lately—Bright Kennyan, ranked 5th.

He stared at me for a moment, just a moment, then awkwardly waved a hand and greeted me.

“H-hello, Geenie? Do you want to go see the dawn market… together?”

The dawn market… Hmm, I did regret not getting to see anything in Rummaly, and after arriving in Neikal around lunchtime yesterday, I slept through the day, so I felt a bit cheated.

“Senior, you have a nosebleed.”

“Bright, your nose is… bleeding.”

“Huh? Ah! Senior, you have a nosebleed. Hehe.”

A 10-year-old in pajamas with a nosebleed… How is that guy getting more pathetic by the day?

“W-what? A nosebleed? Who? Me?”

Yes, you…

“Bright, here’s a handkerchief.”

The boy with blue hair and glasses standing beside him handed Bright a neatly folded handkerchief.

He was a boy with a neat bob haircut, reminiscent of Instructor Iritho.

“Ah… thanks, Jai Mam.”

Huh? If I recall, Jai Mam was the alchemy department senior who shared a room with Iruje.

So, he’s a boy? Even if they are kids, isn’t it a bit odd for a boy and a girl to share a room?

As I tilted my head in confusion, Iruje smiled and spoke.

“Geenie, Senior Jai Mam is a girl.”

“Oh, I see. A girl… huh?”

I was nodding in agreement when I suddenly realized something. Wait, how did Iruje know what I was thinking? Was it showing on my face? Or could Iruje possibly be reading minds…?

“I haven’t learned mind-reading, Geenie, hehe.”

“…Really?”

I asked skeptically, my face stiffening.

Is there a mind-reading subject in alchemy? Even Mia, who was clueless, didn’t have that ability.

“It’s true, I’m just a bit more perceptive than Mia.”

Hey, this isn’t something that can be explained away by perceptiveness.

I decided to redefine Iruje from a chatterbox on par with Arie to a somewhat more dangerous chatterbox. Just then, Bright called out to me again.

“Uh… Geenie! Let’s go to the dawn market together. Of course, just the four of us. What do you say?”

A strange wizard with a lolita complex, and next to him, Jai Mam, a girl who looks like a boy. Alright, I’ve sorted out the people in front of me.

I contemplated whether to go to the dawn market or not. I wanted to go, but I also needed to do my morning meditation…

“Come on, Geenie. Neikal’s dawn market is famous, you know. The whole city is a spectacle! It only opens once a week, and today is that day. Let’s go, please? Geenie~.”

When the somewhat dangerous chatterbox suddenly grabbed my arm and started pleading, I was swayed towards going to the dawn market.

It opens only once a week? I want to see the sights, but we’ll probably have to go with a bunch of knights, which wouldn’t be fun. Hmm… aha.

“If we go without the knights, then fine.”

“Without the knights? You mean just us?”

Bright’s eyes widened at my suggestion. Was my proposal that surprising?

“Yes, if we go with the knights, the group will be twice as big as it is now… Also, when we’re with knights, people give us weird looks.”

“But wouldn’t that be dangerous?”

Bright hesitated, clearly not keen on the idea. He sure acts like he grew up in a greenhouse. What a scaredy-cat.

“…You’re a coward, Senior. In that case, I’m not going…”

“W-wait! I-I’ll go! We can leave the knights behind, right?”

I loosened my grip on the door I was about to close. He should’ve said that from the beginning. The dawn market… I’m starting to look forward to it.

Bright, who went to inform the knight captain, didn’t return for over 10 minutes. In the meantime, I had to endure Iruje’s relentless chatter.

“And so, you know. If you mix silver and copper here and boil it together in the boiling mana solution, according to the Acryl Law…”

*Knock knock*

I was saved from Iruje’s chatter, which made me feel like I was in the alchemy department, by a small knock on the door.

Bright and Jai Mam were standing there. I turned back to the bed and opened the door with relief.

The first thing I saw was Bright’s gloomy face as he mumbled.

“Sorry, Geenie. Captain Tonell said it was nonsense and flat-out refused, so I just…”

“Let’s all rest for today. Then, excuse me…”

*Bang!*

Tsk, useless.

I immediately closed the door. A moment of silence passed as I stood on the other side of the door. Just as I was about to turn away, Bright knocked on the door.

*Bang bang bang*

“W-wait, Geenie! Listen to me, okay? J-Geenie! Geenie!”

His desperate knocking was so pitiful that I briefly considered opening the door again, but if he couldn’t even handle this, he wasn’t worth it.

Besides, that desperate tone… it reminded me of Arie. Ah! Come to think of it, their names are similar. Bright, Arie… Wait! Is there a Arie inside Bright…?

*Bang bang*

“Geenie, please, just listen to me! There are lots of good reasons to bring the knights! Huh? Geenie?”

Perhaps because he had been bitten badly by Arie when he opened my door recklessly yesterday, Bright didn’t come barging in, but he kept knocking on the door and calling my name, making me feel a bit awkward.

Anyone would think I’m a really mean girl. And we’re not that close, so why is he calling me by name? I think some clarification is needed.

“Just let him in, Geenie. We have to go to the dawn market today!”

“But, Iruje, you didn’t like going out much.”

I tilted my head, confused by Iruje’s insistence, who usually stayed out of things she wasn’t interested in. This wasn’t like her.

“That’s true, but I’ve already made a deal. Hehe.”

“Made a deal… for what?”

“For a high-grade mana potion, 1,000 milliliters!”

“Iruje, you…!”

How could you use me for a deal? I can’t believe you traded me for a mana potion! Even if it’s high-grade, that’s too much, Iruje.

Just as I was about to glare at Iruje, her expression turned so serious that I couldn’t help but listen to what she said next.

“The truth is… That’s one reason, but I found out something. There’s something at this dawn market.”

“…Something?”

“Yes, something! And that something is…”

“What is it?”

Iruje took her time getting to the point, making my eyes narrow and my ears focus entirely on her voice.

It seemed like something very interesting was about to come up.

“It’s a monster market.”

“A monster… market?”

When the words finally left Iruje’s mouth, I widened my eyes and repeated them. A monster market? What’s that?

“Yes, a monster market! It’s a black market where they illegally trade monsters. It’s quite large, and since Elan’s wizards are at the core, the country keeps it hush-hush! It’s well-known among wizards.”

“Does Senior Kennyan know about it? Is that why he wants to go?”

“No, he’s still young

. So, he wouldn’t know about things like that.”

You’re also young, Iruje! Those Drike kids think they’re all grown up.

“But he said you agreed to go to the market with him? So shouldn’t you go together?”

“We’ll just ditch him halfway.”

“…And the mana potion?”

“It’ll be given once we get to the market. Hehe.”

You’re cruel, Iruje! I couldn’t help but think how similar her thoughts were to mine; she was truly my friend.

Smiling wickedly, I stepped forward and flung open the door that was still being pounded on.

“J-Geenie?”

“Miss Crowell?”

They looked at me with surprise. Stepping out, I said.

“I’ll get the permission myself!”

That pesky knight captain is no match for me. Haha! Wait for me, monster market, Geenie Crowell is coming for you!