The Golden-Haired Summoner - Chapter 13
“Absolutely not!”
I almost grimaced at Tornell’s firm refusal, which was uncharacteristic of him lately, considering how submissive he’d been around me.
No, I can’t lose my composure now. I have to maintain my image as a cute and delicate young girl. (Though, that image might already be ruined…)
“Why not? We’re just asking to visit the market briefly. Is there really a need to bring knights along?”
“This is a foreign city, and we are outsiders. Caution is necessary.”
It seems Tornell isn’t just holding the title of Knight Captain for nothing; he’s showing a surprising amount of resolve. Annoyingly, he only lives up to his reputation when it’s inconvenient for me!
“Hmm, so you’re saying you don’t trust the safety in Neikal, as if the city’s defenses are so poor?”
“N-no, that’s not what I meant…”
If Tornell agreed with me, he would essentially be criticizing the security of Elan, a place often referred to as the Grand Empire, so he hesitated, fumbling with his words. Of course, he tried to be polite; he probably knew that getting on my bad side wouldn’t do him any good.
“Not allowing us to go out is the same as saying you don’t trust Neikal’s safety!”
“It’s not about forbidding you from going out; it’s about bringing knights with you…”
“No! If we take knights with us, we’ll draw attention everywhere we go, and it’ll be inconvenient to move around!”
“But it’s dangerous for students to go out alone. If something were to happen, the kingdom would issue a reprimand immediately… Anyway, it’s too dangerous without protection!”
Really, if we bring knights, we won’t be able to see the Monster Market! I could probably shake off Bright or Jai Mam, but losing the knights would be impossible. Hmm, guess I’ll have to compromise a bit.
“Fine. How about this: there are four of us students, so normally, that would mean four knights accompany us, right?”
“Geenie, you have Hansen and Philo, so there would be five knights.”
Oh right, I have two knights assigned to me. I forgot I insisted on keeping them when they offered to replace them.
“Okay, so normally it would be five, but since this is just a light outing, let’s compromise and reduce the number of knights. How about that?”
“But the knights are there to ensure the students’ safety, not just as an escort…”
“I can handle myself well enough, and Senior Bright is capable too, isn’t he? We don’t need that many knights.”
“No matter what, it’s still…”
This guy, he’s persistent! Does he really think I’m that unreliable? I’ve been a model student—except for the occasional getting lost. Sure, they called me the “Hand of Misfortune” in Valen, but that was just a minor part of my past.
How can I get out of this… Ah!
“Alright, how about this: let’s have a match, and only the knights who can beat me can come along.”
“What?”
“Out of the five knights who are supposed to come, only those who can defeat me in a duel should accompany us. Anyone who can’t beat me doesn’t deserve to protect me.”
Tornell made a face like he’d just bitten into something sour.
Of course, it’s unlikely I’d win against all five knights in a fight, but I also don’t think I’d lose to every single one of them. I could probably defeat one or two without going all out, and Tornell knows this too, so he can’t just agree hastily.
If any knight loses to a student, it would be a huge embarrassment. Plus, it would be unprecedented to have a knight duel the person they’re supposed to protect.
“Hmph, fine. Let’s compromise. Three knights, no less!”
As I expected, Tornell eventually gave in, though he was clearly displeased, showing three fingers.
I shook my head and raised one finger.
“One!”
“Two! That’s the lowest I’ll go. How can one knight protect four students?”
“One!”
“Absolutely not!”
Would I even be able to shake off one knight? How would I manage two?
I was already giving up my morning meditation for this outing, and it seemed like we’d spend the entire morning just arguing with Tornell.
I pondered for a moment. Could I actually lose two knights? After some thought, a solution came to mind.
“Alright, two. But I get to choose who.”
“Sure, that’s fair. Who do you want to bring along?”
“Hansen and Philo!”
They’re the easiest to deal with.
After negotiating with Tornell, I was finally able to leave the inn with Hansen and Philo in tow.
Tornell still looked doubtful, but I was stepping onto the dawn-lit street at last, and the feeling was exhilarating.
“Hehe, I’m excited, Geenie.”
“Me too, Ilrujeh . This is going to be a fun market trip!”
Ilrujeh and I exchanged smiles, and Bright and Jai Mam, not knowing what we were planning, seemed excited too.
Behind us, Hansen and Philo, who had been dragged out for this trip without explanation, looked around warily.
After a short walk, the six of us arrived at the central fountain in Neikal’s dawn market.
The sky was still a dim blue, but the area around the central fountain was bright and bustling, and I was already feeling thrilled. I wasn’t the only one, either.
“Look at that, Geenie! What a magnificent fountain!”
“It’s just as impressive as the rumors said.”
Ilrujeh and Bright were mesmerized by the central fountain.
The central fountain of Neikal was adorned with various statues, both large and small, harmoniously arranged.
At the center stood statues of Agiotita, the Holy God of Creation who protected the Crancia continent; Prophitia, the God of Prophecy; and Heyos, the only female among the chief deities, revered for her purity, mercy, and sanctity as the God of Peace.
Around them were statues of the Seven Sacred Gods, who serve the chief deities and oversee the welfare of both the heavenly and middle realms.
There were also smaller angel statues surrounding them. The Seven Sacred Gods and the angels each had names and meanings, but I only knew about the chief deities.
In practice, even in the temples, only the chief deities were worshiped, and the rest, like the Sacred Gods or angels, were merely supplementary.
Well, besides the Sacred Gods, there are also Demons, but mentioning them is forbidden.
Honestly, worshiping all the chief deities while only revering the Seven Sacred Gods among their subordinate gods is a bit odd.
Even the chief deities, to be precise, Agiotita is the God of Creation and Destruction, Prophitia is the God of Prophecy and Calamity, and Heyos is the God of Peace and Misfortune.
Of course, not many citizens knew about these aspects. I only learned about the hidden sides of the gods through an old text I stumbled upon.
“That fountain is called ‘The Banquet of the Gods.’ Each statue is said to be worth as much as a castle.”
Jai Mam spoke softly, and I asked.
“Are they really that expensive? What if someone steals them? They just leave them out in the open like this?”
“Well, you see, each statue is enchanted with protective magic! That protective magic is as strong as the walls of Valen’s Citadel.”
It was Bright, not Jai Mam, who answered my question. He seemed eager to show off his knowledge.
I wasn’t particularly concerned about who answered, so I just nodded.
“I see. That’s impressive. Enchanting each statue with protective magic. For a magic-deficient country like our Driké, that’s unimaginable.”
“Miss, I suggest you refrain from making such remarks…”
It seemed Hansen was bothered by my use of the term “magic-deficient country.”
Well, it’s true, isn’t it? That’s why we don’t have the capability to warp all the students at once and had to send them on a mission to Valen.
Instead, we have powerful knight orders, balancing us with other countries.
“You’re right. I misspoke.”
I shrugged as I replied.
If we’re short on magicians, we’ll make up for it with summoners, and I’ll be at the forefront of those summoners. Just wait and see.
“Come on, let’s go inside, Geenie! We have somewhere to visit, remember?”
“Oh, right! Let’s hurry.”
As I was setting my goals, Ilrujeh , perhaps sensing the awkward atmosphere, tugged at my arm.
We need to shake off these dead weights and get to the Monster Market. Hehe.
Stalls stretched endlessly, piled high with fascinating items I had never seen before. It certainly lived up to its reputation.
Even though my goal was the Monster Market, I couldn’t help but get distracted.
“Wow! Look at this. Hey, this is interesting too!”
“What about this? Look, it’s bread made from ground rice mixed with something called chili. It’s really chewy!”
“Chili? You mean chili powder? Isn’t that a spice? Let me see.”
The unusual foods were what caught our eyes the most.
Ilrujeh and I couldn’t stop grabbing things, and as a result, Bright’s purse was always open.
“Is it good, Geenie?”
“Yes! It’s delicious. You know, this reminds me of something I had before.”
“Before?”
“Yes! A long time ago. The taste is a bit different, though.”
Bright tilted his head at my words.
Ah, honestly, the tastes of those foods are barely in my memory anymore. But coming here makes me think about the past. Markets seem to be similar wherever you go.
“Geenie.”
Ilrujeh whispered in a small voice while I was busy stuffing my mouth. The moment had finally come!
“Um~ Senior, I’m feeling a bit thirsty…”
“Thirsty? Should I get some water?”
“No, I want a 100% strawberry juice.”
“I want 88% kiwi juice!” (What…?)
Wait a minute, Ilrujeh , does an 88% juice even exist?
I hesitated, wondering whether I should point out my suspicion to Ilrujeh , but Bright suddenly stood up and confidently said,
“Alright! 100% strawberry juice, right? Leave it to me. I’ll cast a freezing spell and bring it back!”
As Bright was about to disappear into the crowd, Ilrujeh called out to him.
“Don’t forget, Senior! I want 88% kiwi juice. And also, three skewers of chicken we had earlier and two cotton candies.”
“Uh…”
Bright looked reluctant. Ilrujeh , you’re really determined to get rid of him, aren’t you? I should probably help out.
“Please, Senior. I want some too. It’ll be a lot to carry, so why not take Hansen and Philo with you?”
“Well, if Geenie wants, sure.”
Bright nodded readily.
If Bright goes, Jai Mam will likely follow, and then Hansen and Philo—one of them will stay behind, hopefully Philo. He’s easier to handle.
“Wait, Miss. I’ll go with the Young Master. Philo, you stay here and guard the young ladies.”
“Sure, munch munch, crunch.” (Not the best expression, but you get the point!)
Luckily, Hansen was too busy eating various things to pay much attention, leaving Philo in charge of us. Hansen followed Bright into the crowd, with Jai Mam trailing behind.
Hehe, now we’re only left with Philo!
I glanced at Philo, who was still engrossed in eating, and nudged Ilrujeh , whispering.
“Let’s go, Ilrujeh .”
“Yeah.”
Pretending to browse other stalls, Ilrujeh and I slowly moved away. Once Philo was out of sight, hidden among the crowd, we quickly turned and threw on our plain-colored cloaks that we’d prepared in advance.
How far did we run? The crowd began to thin out around us. Both Ilrujeh and I, out of breath, stopped running.
“Hah, I think we ran too far. Is this the right place, Ilrujeh ?”
“Yeah, it’s just a bit further! Even though it’s technically an underground market, it’s pretty open since the government turns a blind eye to it. Mercenaries and adventurers passing by also stop here!”
Ilrujeh was usually accurate with information, and I trusted her judgment.
“Really? What if we get caught?”
“Don’t worry about that! It’s not a hidden entrance; it’s an open trading square. I even got a map!”
“Where’s the map?”
“In my head!”
I stopped looking for a physical map from Ilrujeh and nodded.
Ilrujeh was a genuine genius, even among the prodigies of Driké, so I could trust her memory.
We continued to follow Ilrujeh as we walked further from the market.
How far did we walk? The number of people around us significantly decreased.
As Ilrujeh and I chattered away, I suddenly felt something off and glanced behind me.
I sensed something… Was it guilt for ditching Hansen, Philo, and Bright?
I felt a little guilty, but I planned to just take a quick look and then return, making up an excuse about getting lost when we got back to the inn.
“What’s wrong, Geenie?”
“Huh? It’s just… I feel like someone is watching us. Maybe Hansen and Philo are frantically looking for us.”
Noticing I had suddenly stopped, Ilrujeh asked, and I answered casually.
Ilrujeh , who was a few steps ahead of me, started walking again and said,
“Oh, really? Hehe, Geenie, you’re a bit sensitive, aren’t you? Hey, Geenie, behind you—”
Ilrujeh suddenly screamed, pointing behind me, and I instinctively turned my head…
“Huh? What… Mmmph!”
Before I could finish my sentence, a thick, rough hand covered my mouth.
Ugh, it stinks! What is this? Someone lifted me up from behind.
The hand covering my mouth was so big it covered half my face, even blocking one of my eyes.
What the hell is this hand?
Through the one eye that wasn’t covered, I saw Ilrujeh being grabbed by a menacing-looking man.
Who are these people?
Ilrujeh was struggling desperately.
“Mmmph! Mmmph!”
“Just when I thought we wouldn’t have any good goods today, this is great!”
“Right? The master will be pleased.”
Master? Goods? I couldn’t see the person who grabbed me, but I could clearly see the face of the one holding Ilrujeh .
If Shabelle’s gang had a rough but honest look, this guy looked dangerous—like trouble was written all over his face.
“Since we caught the opening goods, there should be a bonus, right?”
“Sounds good! We can have some fun with the leftovers tonight.”
“Mmmph! Mmmph!”
Even with her mouth covered, Ilrujeh continued to twist her head, making noise.
I thought that if Arie had been here, these guys wouldn’t have even been able to get close. I wanted to summon Adol to fry these nasty guys immediately.
But then something hard hit the back of my head.
I vaguely saw Ilrujeh getting hit on the head too, through my blurry vision.
Damn it…
A dull pain started from the back of my head and slowly took over my vision.
I need to call Adol…
A dull pain spread from the back of my head, and a chilling cold slowly crept over my body as I struggled to open my eyes.
Everything was dark around me, with only a faint light coming through a small window above the door.
Even that small window had bars, confirming my suspicion. I sighed.
From what I could see, it looked like we’d been kidnapped by slave traders.
Kidnapping two young children… It was obvious what they intended. How did things end up like this?
I just wanted to see the Monster Market, not participate in a slave auction as merchandise.
“Ilrujeh ! Ilrujeh ! Are you here?”
I called out in a low voice, looking for Ilrujeh , but there was no response.
There was just some rustling nearby.
It seemed like someone was there, but their figure wasn’t clear. Was it Ilrujeh ?
“Ilrujeh , is that you?”
I squinted, trying to adjust my vision, when someone spoke.
“She should be somewhere nearby.”
“…What?”
It was a young-sounding voice. It seemed to be a boy.
“The girl who was caught with you, I mean.”
“Oh, right? Were you captured too?”
I asked, but there was no reply.
For now, I decided to search around for Ilrujeh . I groped around, feeling the cold, rough floor beneath my hands.
The place felt pretty dirty, with a layer of dust gathering on my hands. This must either be a basement or deep inside a building.
Most likely a basement, right? Anyway, she should be somewhere around here… Ah! Found it. I felt the fabric of her clothing.
A bit more groping, and I touched her loosely braided hair. It had to be Ilrujeh .
“Ugh…”
Was it my touching that woke her up? Ilrujeh stirred. I quickly shook her body.
“Ilrujeh , wake up, Ilrujeh !”
“Ugh…”
I tried shaking her roughly, but Ilrujeh just let out a small groan and slumped back down.
Seriously, how can you sleep in a situation like this?
I needed to wake Ilrujeh up to either escape or make a plan.
Again, the thought crossed my mind—if only Arie were here, this wouldn’t have happened.
I remembered how Arie had run away to avoid Ilrujeh . Just you wait, Arie.
Though it was dark, time seemed to pass as I thought about how to escape.
But no clear solution came to mind.
“Sigh…”
Now what? I couldn’t help but let out a sigh.
Thinking back, it seemed I’d been living too sheltered a life in Driké.
Getting caught so easily! I thought I was doing well just because everyone around me praised me and treated me well.
I felt ashamed and humiliated that I still hadn’t come to my senses after being rejected by the Ice Spirit.
No matter how talented I thought I was, I was still just a powerless child.
I didn’t know how much time had passed, but by now, the delegation must have been in chaos. What if Hansen and Philo get severely punished?
No, that’s not the point right now.
I needed to figure out what was going on.
I stood up to try to understand the situation better.
If I just stayed still, I felt like I’d suddenly panic and start crying.
I was still a sensitive 10-year-old girl, and I wasn’t confident I could hold back the tears that wanted to come out against my will.
I had to try everything I could.
My eyes slowly adjusted to the darkness, and I could vaguely make out the silhouettes around me.
As I felt my way around the walls, I started to get a sense of the room’s layout.
A square room, with all sides tightly packed with bricks, and a large, sturdy iron door.
The small window on the door was too high for me to reach.
The door was sturdy, but with Arie here, I could tear it down in one hit. Once again, I found myself missing Arie.
“…What are you doing?”
“Huh? I’m trying to find a way out.”
The boy spoke again. What’s with this kid? Is he just resigned to his fate, or has he given up on life?
“It’s useless. Just sit down and save your strength.”
“Hmph, you defeatist brat, just stay quiet. Undine!”
At my command, Undine silently appeared, floating in mid-air.
Her soft blue glow gently illuminated the room. She flew over and perched on my shoulder.
Undine herself emitted light, so her figure was clearly visible even in the dark room. The boy’s voice, surprised, came from the shadows again.
“W-what’s that?”
“My spirit. Can you be quiet? What if someone hears you?”
“A spirit?”
“Shh! Undine, can you make yourself invisible? As transparent as possible!”
[Yes, Master.]
Undine nodded, and her blue glow faded away.
Gradually, Undine’s form became transparent, leaving only a slight distortion in the air.
If you didn’t pay close attention, you wouldn’t see it. This should work, right?
Although it was a new skill, I didn’t have time to worry about it now.
“Okay, now try to go through that window and look outside. Tell me what you see and where we are!”
[Yes!]
I heard her answer.
It seemed Undine had gone outside, but I couldn’t see her.
It was a new skill, and mana was depleting fast. The boy, who had been silent, suddenly spoke.
“Undine? The Water Spirit?”
“Yeah, you know about it? That’s right, Undine is a lower water spirit.”
“How do you use something like that?”
“Something like that? That expression is quite offensive. Undine has a personality, you know…”
Hearing a disrespectful comment from someone I couldn’t even see was just adding to my already low mood, and I almost snapped.
But then Undine returned.
[Master!]
“Undine, where are you?”
[I’m on your shoulder, Master.]
“Really? Return to your original form. What did you see outside?”
Undine slowly reappeared. The rate at which my mana was depleting decreased significantly.
[There are five people outside the door. They’re all big and dirty. And there are more rooms like this one. This room has the fewest people. The other rooms are full of people. There are also things that aren’t human. This is the third basement level. The upper floors are very spacious.]
“This room has the fewest people?”
[Yes, the other rooms have this many people.]
Undine held up her ten tiny fingers to demonstrate. She wasn’t very good with words, being a new spirit, so she often used gestures, which was incredibly cute. Unfortunately, the situation didn’t allow me to express that.
“I see. And the people outside… Can you beat them?”
I asked, half-expecting an answer. Undine tilted her head, thinking for a moment, then shook her head.
[No. I can beat one or two, but three or four would be too much. There are five outside.]
So it’s impossible? I had suspected we were underground, but… I pondered for a moment.
Should I send Undine to find Arie? Or should I summon Adol and try a direct assault?
But both seemed impractical. There could be more people on the upper floors, and Ilrujeh , who was still unconscious, was another issue.
The best option now seemed to be to call for help.
“I see. So a direct assault isn’t an option? Undine, listen carefully! I want you to become invisible again, get out of this building, and as soon as you’re outside, return to your original form. Then, head back to the inn as quickly as possible and tell them, ‘Geenie Crowell and Ilrujeh Feyroux have been kidnapped by slave traders. It’s an emergency.’ And guide them back here. Can you do that?”
Undine, who had been listening quietly, nodded resolutely. It seemed she understood the gravity of the situation.
[Yes! I can do it!]
“Even if my mana drops to 10%, don’t return. Stay connected until I cut the mana flow myself! Oh, and if you see Arie, bring him along! Got it, Undine?”
[Yes!]
“Then, go!”
Wind spirits would have been perfect for quickly delivering messages, but Undine was a water spirit.
Flying fast was difficult for her, and using her voice to communicate would consume a lot of mana. But right now, this was the only option.
Undine’s form blurred, and I adjusted my posture, preparing to regulate my mana output.
To conserve mana, I had to control the flow as much as possible.
Though this would only prolong it a little, I didn’t know the distance to the inn, so I had to try everything.
As I started meditating to regulate the mana flow, the boy called out to me again.
“Hey!”
“…”
“Hey!”
“…”
I didn’t respond to the boy’s calls, as I was focused on regulating my mana flow.
Meditating while controlling mana output was dangerous. I’m trying to survive here, you brat! Can’t you just stay quiet?
“Hey!”
“…Why?”
This kid was really getting on my nerves. Didn’t he realize we could be dragged out and sold off any moment?
The mana I’m regulating right now is the lifeline keeping you alive, you little brat!
I gave a short answer and tried to resume my meditation. I needed to gather mana and control it to…
“What are you doing?”
“…”
I had no time to politely answer the boy. I was in no state to do so. I needed to survive, didn’t I?
“…Do you think that spirit will really bring someone back?”
I nodded in response to the boy’s question.
Mana consumption was decreasing, indicating that Undine had left the building.
My remaining mana was about 90%. Even if I meditated to gather more mana, doing two things at once wouldn’t allow me to increase it significantly. At most, I might recover around 10%.
I couldn’t afford to be careless. The farther I was from Undine, the faster my mana would drain.
“Really?”
The boy asked again, but I simply ignored him.
I was really busy trying to stabilize my mana. There’s no time for chit-chat with you.
“…Is there anything I can do to help?”
The boy’s voice, a bit subdued, asked me, and I nodded.
Staying quiet would be a big help, I wanted to say, but decided against it.
“Alright? Well, uh… is there anything I can do?”
A bit dispirited, the boy asked again, but I ignored him.
“Is there anything I can do to help?”
A bit disheartened, the boy asked again. Should I tell him to just stay quiet and still?
“Well? Huh?”
I remained silent, focusing on regulating my mana. There wasn’t much time left.
“Okay? Uh, okay…”
A bit disheartened, the boy continued talking.
“It’s actually because I ran away from home.”
I was grinding my teeth at the boy’s constant chatter when he suddenly mentioned running away from home. I almost lost my concentration on the mana. Do you want to be sold off, kid?
“I mean, I didn’t have any other choice…”
Oh, so it’s a case of sibling rivalry? How childish. To run away just for that… Well, look where you ended up.
“And then my mother passed away recently. But my father never came to see her, not even once while she was sick. I even begged him, but he refused. My brother and sister… None of them… Huff… sob…”
This kid… stop crying. It’s making me want to cry too. I mean, aren’t you supposed to be staying calm and planning an escape?
I wanted to say it out loud, but with my mana flow faltering, I had to focus all my energy on maintaining it. I had to keep it as steady as possible…
“And then my mom… sob… my mom, she was crying at the end… sob… sniff…”
Kid, I’m a sensitive 10-year-old girl! Stop crying! You’re making me want to cry too… I’m barely holding it together as it is.
I was about to open my mouth when a familiar voice came from the side.
“That’s too bad. Is that why you ran away?”
Ilrujeh ! When did you wake up? You…!
“Grind!”
I was grinding my teeth again in frustration, but no one seemed to notice. I closed my eyes even tighter.
Calm down, calm down… I’m down to 70% mana now.
“Yeah, so I wore my old clothes and snuck out. No one recognized me once I changed.”
“Oh, okay. But first, let’s introduce ourselves. My name is Ilrujeh Feyroux! I’m in the Alchemy class at Driké Academy, Junior Division. Um… My specialty is memorizing books after just one read!”
“I’m… I’m good at swordsmanship! My name is Epyros. But Mother called me Ash.”
Oh… These brats… Do I kill them all? Ahhh!
I was screaming internally, but the boy and girl continued chatting happily as if nothing was wrong. Just you wait until I get out of here…
“Epyros? Sounds like you’re from a noble family. Do you have a family name?”
“A family name? Oh, you mean the name that comes before your first name?”
“Yeah, my family name is Feyroux. So my full name is Ilrujeh Feyroux! My father’s last name is Feyroux, you see.”
“My full name is Eron Du Pon Epyros. My father’s surname is Eron Du Can. His name is Megaloprophis.”
Hmm? Isn’t that a bit long for a surname? What was it again, Eron Du… Pon? Eron Du signifies a direct royal lineage in Elan, doesn’t it? Especially with “Pon,” it means a direct descent…
“Gulp! Gasp!”
I was so surprised that I gasped and almost lost my mana control.
I quickly regained my composure, but I had already let some mana slip, causing a minor shock
in my body. At the same time, I tasted blood in my mouth.
Damn, is this for real? Royal or noble names usually have the surname before the first name, indicating that they are not just individuals but representatives of their country.
And given that he accurately named the current Emperor, it seemed likely to be true…
“Hehe, don’t be ridiculous!”
“Huh? What does that mean?”
“Stop lying… hehe.”
Oh, it was probably just a joke? I shouldn’t have taken it so seriously.
After all, “Eron Du Pon” would mean he’s a direct royal descendant of Elan, and if his father’s name is “Eron Du Can,” it would mean he’s the current or former Emperor of Elan.
That would mean this mumbling kid is a prince, but that can’t be true.
“But it’s true.”
Stop lying, kid. Because of you, I have blood in my mouth!
Just as I was about to shout in frustration, Ilrujeh ‘s mocking voice interrupted.
“If you’re a prince, then I’m a dragon!”
“Are you… a dragon?”
These two idiots… Are they serious? The intense desire to use Undine to waterboard them was growing…
Just as Geenie had suspected, the delegation was in chaos.
“You useless idiots!”
Thwack!
Tornell, who was furious to the point of bursting, kicked Hansen in the side.
Hansen’s body wobbled, but he didn’t utter a groan.
Beside him, Philo was already half-beaten to a pulp, kneeling on the floor. (Ugh, because of stupid Geenie, my favorite characters are suffering! What humiliation!!)
Hansen wasn’t in much better shape than Philo.
“Damn it… This is why commoners are useless! As soon as we return to the kingdom, you’ll both be dismissed from the order! Understood? Aghh!”
Unable to contain his anger, Tornell kept cursing under his breath.
Since dawn, they had been searching relentlessly, but they hadn’t found even a single clue about the missing students. The search teams, afraid that the blame would fall on them, held their breaths.
Until that morning, the delegation had been relatively peaceful.
But that peace was shattered when Bright Kenyan returned, crying and shouting. Six people had gone out, but only four had come back!
Two students were missing.
Among them was Geenie Crowell, who had been receiving the king’s and academy headmaster’s attention, and was regarded as the delegation’s most notable figure and considered a hidden ruler among the students.
And the other was Ilrujeh Feyroux, not as renowned for her status but infamous for the enormous wealth of the Feyroux Ducal House! (Duke – Count – Marquis – Viscount – Baron – Baronet, or something like that, right?)
Despite having an elder brother skilled in swordsmanship, the family’s affections were centered on her. She was also praised as the greatest genius of Driké Academy!
They had lost two of the top figures among the delegation’s students.
For Tornell, who already had a strained relationship with the kingdom due to a false report about Geenie Crowell’s death, this was a disaster of the highest order.
Just as Tornell was about to strike Hansen again in frustration, Deputy Commander Cooper spoke up.
“Commander, how about asking for the assistance of Elan’s knights? It seems difficult for us to handle this alone.”
“…Elan?”
“Yes, Commander. While it might be embarrassing to ask for help, losing those two students would be far worse, don’t you think? Since the students went missing in Elan’s capital, Elan also has a responsibility for their safety.”
Listening to the deputy’s words, Tornell seemed to weigh his options internally.
Should he rely on their own strength to find them, or should he request help from Elan? A conclusion was soon reached.
Even after searching from morning until now, they still had no clue about the missing students. It would be impossible to find them on their own.
If they failed to find the girls, Tornell knew he would face severe repercussions. It was better to ask for help and find them than to face the consequences alone.
“Very well. We will request assistance from the Empire! Cooper!”
“Yes, Commander! At your command.”
“Go to the imperial palace immediately. Request a search for Geenie Crowell and Ilrujeh Feyroux!”
“Leave it to me.”
Saluting and departing, Deputy Commander Cooper left, while Tornell’s eyes filled with anxious anticipation.
He was worried that he might be dismissed before he could expel Hansen and Philo from the order.
Though darkness had fallen, the capital city of Neikal in Elan was still bustling and lively. The market, which had started at dawn, continued into the late hours of the night.
Around that time, a luxury inn near Elan’s imperial palace was in turmoil for a different reason.
“What is this? You said we could trust you! Is this what you call trust?”
“We are conducting a thorough search. What do you expect us to do if no information comes in? Frankly, we should be the ones asking if the descriptions you gave are accurate!”
“What? Are you accusing us of lying now?”
“Well, with no information whatsoever, it’s hard not to think so! You mentioned a girl with curly blonde hair and another with vibrant pink hair, right? With such distinctive appearances, you’d think someone would have noticed them, but no one has!”
At the request of the Driké delegation, the Wind Knights of Elan, known for their exceptional scouting abilities, had confidently taken on the search.
Each member was known for their speed-focused swordsmanship and exceptional reconnaissance skills.
When they volunteered to assist, Tornell had almost felt as if the two girls were already found.
But his hopes were quickly dashed.
They had searched the city thoroughly, only to find nothing. The Wind Knights, who were supposed to be adept at searches, seemed no different from the 5th Knight Order led by Tornell.
“Tsk, they say the Wind Knights are experts in search and rescue, but that seems to be an exaggeration. And instead of finding them, you’re blaming us.”
“What? And you call yourselves the Knights of Dmitri, the so-called land of knights? The commander doesn’t even have armor, and your two knights over there look like they got beaten up badly! Where did your knights get beaten up?”
“I did! I beat them up! Any problem with that?”
“Is that something to brag about? Ugh!”
Tornell was growing increasingly agitated, seeing no signs of finding the students.
The Wind Knights’ Captain, Kagon, had arrived confidently, promising to find the missing students, only to be disappointed.
If they returned without finding them, the other captains would surely mock him. The thought alone was unbearable.
So naturally, tensions flared between the two captains.
As the captains bickered, the tension between the knights of both orders, gathered on the same floor, also grew.
“I can hit my subordinates if I want. Did you contribute anything?”
“Regardless, how could you beat someone to a pulp like that!” (That’s right!)
“They deserved it! What, do you want to take their place… huh?”
The two were in the middle of a heated argument, seemingly ready to throw off their gloves and duel when Tornell suddenly stopped and stared above Kagon’s head.
Kagon, wondering why Tornell was looking up, glanced up as well.
A bluish light hovered above his head—a rather bright light, yet strangely not blinding.
“What… what is this? A fairy?”
Seeing the creature for the first time in his life, Kagon recoiled in shock.
Unlike Kagon, Tornell immediately recognized the creature and exclaimed with delight.
“Undine! My goodness! That’s right, Geenie is a summoner. Right, where is your master? Come on, tell me!”
Tornell reached out as if to grab Undine, but his hand only swiped through the air.
Avoiding Tornell’s grasp, Undine floated a bit higher and spoke.
Her voice, like a gentle ripple, was soft yet clearly audible to everyone in the hall.
[Geenie Crowell and Ilrujeh Feyroux have been kidnapped by slave traders. It’s an emergency.]
The noisy hall fell into a brief silence.
But that silence quickly turned into a commotion. Tornell turned pale and let out a scream.
“Slave traders? Damn it!”
“Good heavens! Kidnapped? This is…!”
Kagon shuddered in fear.
Kidnapped by slave traders, of all things. This was not a matter to take lightly. They were here in Elan for friendly relations.
If something were to happen to them here in the capital of Elan, it would escalate beyond the knight orders to an international incident.
“Where are they? Where are they? Tell me quickly!”
Tornell frantically swiped at the air, trying to grasp Undine.
But Undine remained out of reach and only pointed towards the inn’s door.
“Looks like she’s asking us to follow. What should we do?”
Kagon asked, his face just as pale.
“What do you mean, ‘what should we do’? We follow, of course.”
Just moments ago, the two Knight Captains Tornell and Kagon had been at each other’s throats, but now, with resolute faces, they nodded at each other.
Then, almost in unison, they shouted.
“Emergency! Everyone, arm yourselves!”
A wave of tension swept through the inn’s hall, filled with knights.