The Golden-Haired Summoner - Chapter 3
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Normally, I would be excited about mealtime, but I hesitated as I opened the door and stepped out. Quickly, I received my meal and turned back to return to my carriage. Just then, I heard the familiar, grating voice.
“Oh! It’s Geenie Crowell! I heard she’s replacing Leo in the tournament because she cozied up to the king. Poor Leo!”
“Ugh, how annoying! Spirits? What’s that? I hate it! Just trying to charm the king, how disgusting!”
…Damn. Yes, the reason there were only three members in the martial arts team was that I, a spirit mage, was added, meaning someone had to be left out. That unfortunate victim was Leo, from the junior martial arts division.
I didn’t want to go either, kids. And I never tried to charm the king. The reason I’m here, quietly taking the abuse, is simple: I have no confidence in winning the competition. Floating on water, purifying water—how could I win with those spells?
Damn it, who nominated me in the first place? If Mia had been chosen instead, it would have been better. Unfortunately, Mia didn’t make it to Drike’s Winkan Festival “representative team.” What a joke of a team. Ugh, I just have to endure it.
Some kids from my general division were there too, but none of my close friends. I realized I needed to work on my social skills from now on. I had been too indifferent to those around me.
Anyway, for the next 20 days, I had to travel by carriage to the Kingdom of Beilan, the land of sages. From there, we’d use a warp to enter the Elan Empire. How would I survive the next 20 days? Even though I wanted to get out, this wasn’t what I had in mind!
[Master, can I absorb that?]
Without the chatterbox, Arie, I might have exploded. Undine understood my words but couldn’t express herself to me due to our low affinity. I wondered what her voice sounded like. I wanted to hear it.
[What? Is there something to eat?]
[Over there! The red-haired knight’s sword. It smells like… mithril. Just a small amount, though.]
Arie, who was hidden in my clothes, poked his tail out through my sleeve. Looking in that direction, I saw the slightly skinny, red-haired knight on high alert. His scabbard, with its ornate designs, looked like a family heirloom.
[No, that’s not allowed.]
I was slightly tempted by the mithril, but…
[Okay…]
Arie sounded disappointed. Despite his occasional insolence, he usually listened to me and called me master, so I couldn’t bring myself to hate him.
I climbed back into the carriage, looking at my food tray with a sigh. Did the king think a low-level spirit was akin to a spirit king?
Indeed, the kingdom of Dmitri, being a nation of knights, had little information about magic or spirits. As I bit into the warm, steaming bread, I drifted into my thoughts about the next 20 days…
* * *
I must have dozed off because I woke up to strange noises outside. It sounded like fighting… or something chaotic.
“Um… Arie, what’s that noise?”
[I’ll go check.]
“Okay…”
Still drowsy, I watched as Arie, melting like water, slipped through the carriage door gap. The noise outside grew clearer.
[Master.]
Arie, now in snake form, called me from the door gap.
“Yes?”
[It’s a monster. To be precise, twelve orcs.]
I jumped up from where I had been lying. Monsters?
“Really? Move aside!”
Pushing Arie to the corner, I opened the carriage door and peeked outside. About twenty knights were calmly dealing with the orcs.
So, those were orcs. They had human bodies with pig heads, covered in thick fur. Boar heads, maybe?
[Master, should I absorb them?]
“Huh?”
Arie pointed with his tail at the red-haired knight’s dropped sword. Oh? Where was its owner? Looking further, I saw the knight collapsed, clutching his shoulder.
If I could summon the high-level water spirit, Endairon, I could heal him. Maybe I could get some mithril from his sword as a reward…
I wanted the mithril, but taking it for free seemed wrong. A brown-haired knight was tending to the injured red-haired knight, looking around as if searching for something. Judging by the dry cloth in his hand…
[It seems he’s looking for water.]
This guy…
[I was just about to say that!]
Don’t steal my lines.
I grabbed my shoes from under the carriage seat, put on my coat, and headed to the back of the carriage towards the knights.
I should do something crazy! It would be wrong to take it for free.
[Master! It’s dangerous.]
[It’s fine. You go get the sword and take a bit of mithril. Replace it with something else, something good. Got it?]
[Yes, Master.]
Here comes the automatic water purifier.
Arie slithered towards the sword, enduring a few stomps from the orcs along the way. I approached the injured red-haired knight.
Both he and the brown-haired knight looked at me in shock.
“What are you doing? It’s dangerous. Go back inside!”
“You need water, right? Shall I get you some?”
“…?”
The brown-haired knight frowned. Offering water empty-handed must have seemed absurd.
“Undine.”
Bloop.
The transparent Undine appeared. The torchlight shone through her, making her glow red in the night.
“…What is this? A fire spirit?”
“No! She’s Undine, a water spirit! How dare you call her a fire spirit!”
Annoyed by the fire spirit comment, I snapped back.
“Okay, okay!”
The brown-haired knight scratched his head, seeing my displeasure.
“Undine, did that upset you? They called you a fire spirit… so ignorant.”
I apologized to Undine, who was flying around my head.
She shook her head slightly and spoke to me faintly.
[No.]
“…What?”
[It’s okay, Master.]
“D-did you just…”
[Master?]
Her voice was so delicate and soft, like a baby’s. I almost cried.
“Ugh, Undine… I’m so touched! Sob.”
After nearly five months, I finally heard Undine’s voice. Tears of joy welled up.
As I cried with joy, the red-haired knight and the brown-haired knight looked at me as if I had lost my mind.
“Um… you don’t look well. Maybe you should go back to the carriage…”
“Ahem, Undine! Fill this with water.”
[Yes, Master.]
Undine filled the empty bucket I pointed to with water. Her voice was so beautiful! Oh, the joy!
[Master…]
What’s that guy doing? I turned to see Arie, tail wrapped around the sword, slithering back.
“Oh! That’s my sword! A snake is stealing my sword!”
The red-haired knight, now standing, pointed at Arie and shouted. Hey, that’s rude!
“That’s my pet snake. I told him to bring the sword.”
“A snake… can do that?”
“Why not?”
The orcs seemed to have been subdued. I didn’t really need to get the sword, but I felt bad taking the mithril for free.
Handing the sword back, the red-haired knight accepted it with his uninjured hand, looking a bit dazed.
“Th-thank you, miss.”
“You’re welcome.”
I turned and walked away from them.
They were probably trying to figure out what just happened.
But I had gained something from my little act of craziness.
“Undine!”
[Yes, Master.]
I could now communicate with my lovely Undine,
[Master! Mithril absorbed. Replaced with an alloy.]
[Hehe, good job!]
and obtained some mithril. I also saw an orc! For a little craziness, I got a lot.
Though the future seemed dark… Should I just run away? I stopped to seriously consider it but ultimately, my timid self crawled back into the carriage.
* * *
We left Dmitri, passing one city without stopping. By nightfall, we reached the second city and needed to find lodging.
Here, another problem arose. Mirine from the martial arts division, who was supposed to share a room with me, caused a commotion, insisting she’d rather go back than share a room with me.
Thus, I ended up with a room to myself at the inn, just like in the carriage.
[Master.]
[…What?]
[Cheer up. I’m here.]
[Shut up!]
Clueless Arie. Feeling awkward alone, I decided to go out and headed down the stairs.
My room was on the third floor. The first and second floors were dining areas. As soon as I reached the second floor, someone grabbed my shoulder.
“Where are you going, Geenie?”
One of the two teachers accompanying the representative team, the martial arts teacher, looked at me with strong hostility. Ugh…
“I wanted to explore the market. Isn’t that allowed?”
“Of course not! Students should stay in their rooms and behave…”
The hostile martial arts teacher, whose name I didn’t know, was about to issue a house arrest order when the economics teacher, Ms. Irito, interrupted.
“Wait a moment, Mr. Dinel! I believe students can go out if accompanied by a knight. Am I wrong?”
“Uh… well, yes, that’s true.”
Ms. Irito, wearing glasses, had a scholarly vibe. At her words, the muscular Dinel quickly backed down, his face turning red, and he quietly disappeared.
Interesting. I studied Ms. Irito.
She was pretty, with a good figure and a calm demeanor. She was quite a beauty. It seemed Dinel had a thing for her…
“Geenie, is there something on my face?”
“Huh? No. You’re just very pretty, Ms. Irito.”
My innocent, childlike compliment made her blush.
She had enabled my outing, so she deserved some praise.
“R-really? Thank you. So, you want to go out?”
“Yes. Can I go if I’m with a knight?”
“It’s for safety. See that knight commander over there? Ask him.”
She pointed to a middle-aged knight, fully armed despite being in the dining hall, reading a book at a table.
A rather mismatched sight.
[Master, can I absorb his sword…]
[No.]
Is he always hungry? He wants to absorb every shiny sword he sees. Does he think I’ve been starving him?
Approaching the reading knight commander, he closed his book and looked at me.
“What’s the matter?”
I guess being a knight commander means he can speak informally. The other knights always used honorifics.
“I want to go out. They said I need a knight to accompany me.”
“Ah, that. Which division are you from?”
…Why ask about my division to go out?
“The spirit division.”
“Spirit…? Heh.”
This old man laughed at me?
[Arie!]
[Yes?]
[Eat everything he’s got!]
[Yes!]
My dear Arie, so obedient. Hehe.
“Let’s see… Spirit means you’re weak. I’ll assign two knights to you. Be grateful! Hey, call those guys over.”
“No need.”
He was right, but it felt insulting. He’s doing everything on his own. Who asked for two knights?
“…What?”
“One knight is enough for me!”
I accidentally spoke informally. But do you have proof I did? Hmph. Standing up, the knight commander glared at me. Damn, I made an enemy!
“Hoh, really? Then, by the authority of the 5th Knight Commander, spirit division ladies must be accompanied by at least two knights from now on.”
“Wha…? Who decided that?”
“Hahaha! The 5th Knight Commander of the royal family, concerned for the weak ladies!”
“What? Who’s weak?”
“The spirit division lady. If you’re unhappy, make a name for yourself! Hahaha!”
He laughed in an annoying way, and he was only the 5th Knight Commander, talking about making a name for oneself…
I’ve had tea with the king, you know! Only once, but still.
“…What does making a name have to do with being weak? Ridiculous.”
“You… insolent brat!”
“I’m a lady.”
Ignoring his glaring, three knights approached him. He must have called them.
“Commander, we’ve brought them.”
“Mm, yes. Introduce yourselves to the lady. She’s going out.”
…Being called a lady felt unpleasant.
“Greetings, I’m Hansen from the 5th Knight Division.”
“Greetings, I’m Filo from the 5th Knight Division.”
Oh, familiar red hair… and brown hair too!
Is this fate? Or just coincidence? Either way, it felt a bit comforting to see familiar faces.
Recognizing me, they widened their eyes, but the knight commander’s rough voice broke in.
“Heh, she looks like a noble lady. Have fun with these commoners! What? Are you going to say you won’t go out with commoners now? Hahaha!”
“Crazy…”
I don’t care about nobles or commoners. I was thinking about fate, coincidence, and connections.
“…Crazy?”
The knight commander doubted his ears, but I maintained a blank expression and spoke quickly.
“Crazy? What are you talking about? Who said crazy? How vulgar. If there’s a crazy person, have fun with them! I’m busy, so…”
With the knights introduced, I turned and ran down the stairs without looking back.
The sounds of Hansen and Filo following me were clear.
Thud, thud, the loud sounds of three people descending drew everyone’s attention in the dining hall. I didn’t care; I was angry!
[Arie!]
[Yes, understood!]
[…What do you understand?]
[To absorb that arrogant knight’s armor?]
Hey, he’s getting used to me. But…
[Nope! Eat all the metal he has, including money. Hehe.]
I was already out the inn’s door, running towards the market I had seen earlier.
Voices seemed to call after me.
“Wait!”
“Come with us!”
They’d follow, right? For the first time since leaving the academy, I felt excited. Only 18 days to Beilan?
The sunny weather and bustling market were delightful.
Watching people scurry about, I entered the market, but I quickly became a target.
“…Moses’ miracle?”
Damn it, people parted like the Red Sea as I entered. Did I commit a crime? I glared at Hansen and Filo.
A girl with two shiny, armored knights… prime target for avoidance.
Some might see me as prey, but to commoners, I was an obvious target for avoidance.
[Master! Why are people looking at you like a monster?]
[Shut up!]
So, am I a monster? Arie’s lack of awareness is annoying. Now what? Entering the market like this felt wrong.
I’d just cause trouble for people.
“What’s wrong?”
Hansen, who introduced himself, looked at me. I glanced at his sword, feeling a bit guilty.
“Could you take off that armor? It’s too conspicuous.”
Hansen’s expression hardened.
“Sorry. I can’t disarm without superior orders.”
Damn…
“Not even for a moment?”
“No. It would be disobedience, leading to punishment.”
Should I have Arie strip him? No, that’d reveal Arie. Anyway, Arie isn’t useful in crucial moments! No choice…
“Ah!”
“Miss!”
I turned and ran without looking back.
Behind me, Hansen and Filo’s desperate shouts were clear, but I was focused on having fun. I could meet them later!
“Kya! Let go! Don’t touch me! Ahh!”
“Miss, why are you doing this? It’s dangerous!”
“If you want to go somewhere, we’ll accompany you.”
Dangling from Filo’s waist, I realized… these knights were well-trained, and I was a weak ten-year-old girl.
I didn’t get ten steps before Filo caught me.
I struggled, but his grip was firm. Damn, you muscular knight!
[Master, you’re caught.]
[Caw!]
[Hiccup!]
Frustrated, breathing heavily, I heard Filo’s voice above me.
“…Do you dislike us that much?”
“Huh?”
“…Is it because we’re commoners? Sorry.”
What a pitiful commoner. No, two of them.
“Look, if I cared about that, your arm would be chopped off for daring to handle a noble. More than your arm, your head would be at risk.”
“Ah, I’m sorry!”
Seemingly shocked, Filo put me down. Are knights supposed to be so scared?
Hansen, still frowning, stood beside him.
“…Well, let’s just walk around like this.”
Dusting off my clothes, I spoke. Filo, still pale, bowed.
Running away was impossible. It’d be annoying, but walking around was better than staying in.
With two knights following me, I stepped into the market, avoiding everyone.
A fruit stand caught my eye, so I walked over and started looking at the fruits.
It had been a while since I saw uncut fruit. I found something resembling apples and thought about buying some when Hansen spoke.
“…Are you the girl who returned my sword last night?”
If Filo had asked, I’d have shrugged it off, but Hansen’s question made me stiffen a bit.
“No, I never left the carriage.”
Denying until caught, I played dumb.
“…Really? You didn’t give us water when monsters attacked?”
“No, I hate orcs. Why would I go out?”
Not true? Deal with it…
“Orcs?”
“Yes, orcs.”
“I only mentioned monsters last night.”
Damn, I dug my own grave. What am I doing? I’m supposed to be in the genius general division, not like this.
“…Undine told me. She said there were orcs.”
It was Arie, but I can’t say that…
“…Undine? The water spirit?”
“…Oops.”
Right, I’m stupid. I’d forgotten, playing alone.
[Master! Undine didn’t tell you. I did.]
[Caw!]
At least knowing there was someone dumber than me was a comfort.
“Why hide it? I just wanted to thank you.”
“Hehe! Didn’t they say to let the left hand not know what the right hand does?”
Oops? Does it matter?
“Really?”
“Of course! Do good deeds quietly.”
“I see.”
I really felt like a genius.
Hansen’s frown softened slightly.
I had planned to deny until proven, but I changed the subject.
Red apple-like fruits. They had apples here too.
The fruits I had eaten were varied, but usually cut, so seeing whole fruits was interesting.
I glanced at the price. Three for 10 cuppers. About a thousand won for three? Not bad. The currency in the Kranthia continent was unified.
Four thousand years ago, the great hero Mites unified the continent and created a standard currency. One cupper equaled about 100 Korean won.
1, 5, 10, 50 cuppers in coins. 100 cuppers was 1 silver, equivalent to 10,000 won.
Silver coins: 5, 10, 50 silvers. 100 silvers equaled 1 gold, equivalent to a million won.
Gold coins: 10 golds equaled 1 goldun, worth ten million won. Beyond that, transactions used notes.
The academy gave students a monthly allowance of 1 gold, about a million won.
Reactions to receiving 1 gold were mixed.
Some noble kids dismissed it as nothing, getting money from home. Most commoner kids sent it to their parents through the academy.
This applied to 90% of the students. The rest were either noble kids or had no parents. Most who kept the money had little opportunity to spend it.
Students could leave the academy only four times a year, and there was little need to spend money within the academy.
I had saved up over 50 golds. I stopped counting after that. In short, I was rich!
“Hehe.”
“Miss, why are you laughing?”
“Hmm, nothing. My throat hurts… Madam, I’ll take three of these.”
The fruit stall lady, a typical market vendor, nodded and put three apple-like fruits in a brown paper bag. Ten cuppers…
“Ugh!”
“Yes?”
“What?”
My sudden gasp made Hansen and Filo look worried. I looked at them with teary eyes.
“I have no money.”
“Oh, I have some money.”
“I do too!”
I felt bad, but if they offered, I wouldn’t refuse… Hehe.
As they searched their pockets, I smiled.
Coming out without any thought, I had no money. But with two people offering to pay, why not accept?
They were dependable. I was glad I brought them along.
“Um… Miss?”
“Yes?”
“Sorry. I rushed out without money…”
“…”
Hansen, frowning, spoke. I looked at Filo with hopeful eyes. Filo, don’t let me down! Filo didn’t disappoint.
Smiling, he pulled out a money pouch.
“Oh, here it is! I have some money.”
Well done, Filo. I watched him expectantly as he opened the pouch.
But as he opened it, he dumped its contents onto the tasting table at the fruit stall.