The Golden-Haired Summoner - Chapter 49

“Ash! Are you happy?”

“Huh? Y-Yes, I’m happy! Really… thank you, Geenie!”

“What? Ash, you…!”

[Oh my, Master, how flirty~]

Ash suddenly pulled me into a hug. Gale, standing nearby, was visibly shocked, and I was caught off guard as well. Since Ash was quite tall, my face ended up resting against his shoulder. For a moment, I considered punching him in the stomach but decided to let it go since I was in a good mood.

“Really happy?”

“Of course I’m happy… Ah! Sorry, Geenie!”

Ash, realizing what he had done, abruptly let go, as if touching something burning hot. Then, he looked down at me with an awkward smile. His plain face somehow appeared radiant with that expression.

What would he have done if I had said no?

“I’m happy too, Ash, to be able to help you! So, how about you stop being so formal?”

“Huh? Ah, um, is that… okay?”

“And every time you add ‘-yo’ to the end of your sentences, you owe me one silver coin.”

“W-What?”

Honestly, I wanted to make it one gold coin, but I decided to go easy on him. And do I look like I won’t collect? Heh heh.

—

A strange song escaped my lips as I fought to keep my wandering thoughts in check. My mind was foggy even though I wasn’t tired. It was like my brain wasn’t mine anymore.

“G-Geenie, how about going up to the deck to get some fresh air?”

“Huh? Sure, why not. My head’s hurting anyway, so I might as well.”

“Yeah. The fresh sea breeze might help…”

“One silver.”

Pocketing the silver coin Ash handed me, I clung to his sleeve as we climbed to the deck.

It had been three days since boarding the ship, and I still wasn’t used to it. It was a miracle I hadn’t thrown up yet. I’d been eating minimal amounts to avoid getting sick, and the ship’s stability as a luxury liner helped. Still, I couldn’t entirely fend off seasickness.

Once on deck, I grabbed a chair and sat down. I tried inhaling the supposedly refreshing sea breeze, but it didn’t do much to ease my nausea.

“Geenie, stay here. I’ll go get Chad.”

“Sure. Oh, and leave Chad somewhere else. If you bring him near me, I might throw up.”

“Got it.”

I wasn’t the only one suffering from seasickness. While mine was the worst, Chad wasn’t far behind. Unlike me, though, he had thrown up several times and probably felt better as a result.

[Master, why don’t you just let it out too?]

“…I can’t. I have to maintain my dignity…”

[Oh, look, Master! Over there! A ship just like ours is passing by.]

Huh?

Rai pointed with his paw at a ship passing nearby. It was identical to ours but appeared to be heading toward Femmington, likely making the return trip.

I noticed two men on the far side of the ship clinging to the railing and clearly struggling with seasickness.

“Look at those guys hanging on the railing, Rai.”

[Huh? They’re throwing up? Eww, gross. Master, you shouldn’t throw up either.]

Like I have a choice?

I squinted at the two men in the distance. From this angle, I could only make out their hair colors—familiar shades of blue and blonde. They reminded me of my brother Zeras and his friend Denika.

“…They look familiar.”

[Who? Those vomiters?]

“Hey! Don’t call them vomiters. Do you have any idea what it’s like to suffer from seasickness?”

They weren’t really family, but seeing two men resembling my loved ones being mocked still annoyed me.

[Then what should I call them?]

“…Regurgitators?”

[What does that even mean?]

“Sorry, I’m not in my right mind. Just spouting nonsense.”

As the ship passed out of sight, I felt an odd sense of regret. At the same time, a wave of drowsiness washed over me. I quickly closed my eyes—it was better to rest while I could, especially since seasickness had kept me up the previous night.

“Kyahhh!”

“Ah! What the…”

The peaceful breeze was interrupted by a loud, shrill scream. Reluctantly, I forced myself upright.

What now?

A sailor’s tale from when we boarded the ship popped into my mind: the occasional appearance of krakens in the Torrent Sea between Femmington Harbor in Elan and Baykis Harbor in Heike.

Could it be… a kraken?

Frantically, I scanned my surroundings, but there wasn’t even a hint of a kraken.

[What is it, Master? What are you looking for?]

“Tch, it’s not a kraken.”

Not that I was hoping for one, but I was slightly disappointed to find that the source of the scream was just a young girl leaning over the railing.

“Aaah! My brooch!”

Apparently, the little girl had dropped her brooch into the sea. Screaming over something so trivial?

What a waste of vocal cords.

As the girl leaned too far over the railing, a sailor approached her.

“Hey, kid! Don’t lean over the railing!”

“But my brooch fell into the sea! My mother gave it to me…”

The girl, with messy gray hair, looked older than Annie—perhaps fourteen or fifteen? She seemed to be a commoner, and the sailor’s tone was far from kind.

“Sorry, but once it’s in the sea, it’s gone. Ask your mother for another one.”

“No! I have to find it. Please, help me. Waaah!”

While this was a luxury liner, not all passengers were wealthy. Some commoners paid the high fare just to secure a spot on the only ship heading to Heike.

For reference, I had paid extra for a private room. After all, I’m a devoted fan of beds.

“Don’t be ridiculous. How do you expect us to retrieve something from the sea?”

“Waaah! No! Please help! My mother gave it to me!”

The girl’s cries were heartbreaking, but there was nothing anyone could do. Her desperate sobbing echoed across the deck.

The sound I hated most in the world was children crying.

And yet, the girl, oblivious to my feelings, wailed incessantly.

Hey, you’re too old to cry like that!

I plugged my ears, squinting, and stood up from my chair to head back to my cabin, intending to escape the noise.

But then, a man approached the crying girl and the sailor.

The girl abruptly stopped crying, and I sighed in relief, uncovering my ears.

Finally, some peace!

“I’m sorry! I’m truly sorry. Did my child do something wrong…?”

The man, likely the girl’s father, began soothing her while apologizing profusely to the sailor.

Surrounded by nobles, they had to tread carefully. A single misstep that irritated the aristocracy would mean nothing but trouble for the commoners. Keeping a low profile was the safest course.

“It’s not so much a mistake, but your child leaned too far over the railing. It was dangerous. She said she dropped a brooch into the sea.”

“A brooch? Is that true, Lil?”

“S-Sniff, I’m sorry, Father. I just… I wanted to show Mother the sea, but I accidentally dropped it…”

The father’s excessive reaction over a brooch was surprising, as was the girl’s oddly specific comment.

A brooch? Mother?

She wanted to show the sea to… her mother? Ah, could it be…?

“I see… It’s okay, Lil. Calm down. I’ll buy you something similar when we reach land.”

“But it was Mother’s brooch! It’s her keepsake… Her hair is inside it! I don’t want another one! Waaah!”

Just as I thought.

I watched the father and his daughter disappear below deck before walking to the railing where the girl had been.

Ugh, my stomach’s already upset, and now this?

[Why, Master? Are you going to throw up? That would be gross…]

“Shut up, Rai.”

I thought she’d appear right away since we were surrounded by water, but she didn’t.

Huh? What’s taking her so long?

[Did you call for me, Master?]

Undaine’s voice floated up from below the railing. She emerged from the sea, her translucent form shimmering as she approached.

Ah, she must have been waiting in the water.

“Good timing, Undaine. Could you help me find something in the sea? Is it too difficult?”

[No, Master. That’s easy. What am I looking for?]

“It’s not much—a brooch. The girl just dropped it, but since the ship is moving, it might be over there. Could you find it and bring it back to me?”

[What’s a brooch?]

Ah, of course, Undaine wouldn’t know what a brooch is. I formed a circle with my thumb and index finger to show her.

“It’s a small decorative piece about this size. You know my earrings and necklaces, right? It’s something like that.”

[Got it, Master! I’ll be back soon.]

“Off you go.”

[Hmph, go away and disappear! Master is mine! Grr!]

Waving as Undaine dove back into the sea, I turned to head back to my chair.

However, my path was blocked by a man dressed in attire slightly above that of a sailor—likely the deck officer.

“What is it?”

“Ah, pardon me, but… was that just now… a water spirit?”

Wow, someone actually recognized Undaine at a glance?

Most people think she’s a ghost or a fairy when they first see her.

“And if it was?”

“That’s wonderful! Are you a summoner?”

“…Just a low-level water summoner. Why?”

I was starting to feel annoyed.

I’m not in the mood for this. Can you move?

Claiming to be a low-level summoner was part of my cover.

Given my age, claiming to be a mid-level summoner would raise suspicions since most reach that level in their mid-twenties. On top of that, being a young, blonde woman who’s a mid-level water summoner would immediately link me to the infamous Geenie Crowell.

Although I had used Undaine, a mid-level spirit, to save Annie, Ash’s group wouldn’t have recognized her.

Being a low-level summoner was already impressive enough for someone my age.

“I apologize if I upset you. I wanted to ask for your help…”

“I’m expensive. I’m not interested in doing anyone favors. Now, move.”

“Please wait! Just a moment. It’s related to the lord of Baykis, and there would be compensation.”

Ugh, really…

The deck officer’s persistence was annoying, so I ignored him.

Returning to my chair, I sat down, but he followed me.

[Rai, get rid of him.]

“Grrr! Rawr! Raaawr!”

“Ack! Please, just listen to—”

I can’t hear you, don’t care, too annoying.

I closed my eyes, attempting to nap.

I’m already dealing with seasickness—I don’t need this.

[Grr! Master, he’s gone. I think he gave up.]

[Really?]

Peeking briefly to confirm, I saw the deck officer was indeed gone. Relieved, I closed my eyes again.

Undaine would need some time to find the brooch, so I might as well rest.

Just a little…

[Master!]

“Eek!”

Undaine’s voice startled me just as I was drifting off. She returned sooner than expected, bringing a massive droplet of water roughly the size of a person’s head.

Inside the droplet were several items Undaine had gathered.

[Here you go, Master. I found several things that might be it.]

A dozen or so objects spilled onto my lap, ranging from coins to shells to a large scale.

“Hmm, let’s see… Ah, this must be it.”

Digging through the pile, I found a brooch that matched the girl’s description—a black background with a white silhouette of a woman’s profile. It was a common design.

Like most brooches of this type, it was a locket-style piece that opened. Inside, there was a small amount of gray hair and a picture of a woman who appeared to be the girl’s mother.

This is definitely it.

I kept the brooch and the coins, intending to discard the rest when Undaine picked up the large scale and held it out to me.

[Master, don’t throw this away. It’s very valuable.]

“What is it?”

The scale, about the size of a coin, shimmered with a rainbow-like sheen. Judging by its size, it must have come from a massive fish.

[It’s a mermaid’s scale. You know, those who look like me?]

“A mermaid’s scale? This?”

[Yes. Mermaid scales have a calming effect. Humans use them to prevent seasickness. It’s why mermaids don’t get seasick even in the fiercest storms.]

Really?

Now that I think about it, my seasickness did ease up around the time I held this scale.

Still, if a mermaid gets seasick, are they even a mermaid?

[Can I eat it, Master?]

[No way. Back off.]

How dare you eye my miracle cure, Rai?

More than being amazed by the scale’s origin, I was thrilled that my nausea had vanished.

Seeing a real mermaid was rare, but stories of their existence were plenty.

“Hmm, this is good. Hey, Undaine, would this work for aerial sickness too?”

[It’s only effective against the motion of water, so… probably not.]

“I see. Can you find more of these?”

[It’s possible, but this one was a lucky find. Mermaids are said to treasure their scales greatly.]

Tch, so much for selling it later.

I tucked the mermaid scale into my pocket, deciding to ask Gale to turn it into a necklace later. Gale was skilled with his hands and could craft small items beautifully.

“Thanks, Undaine! I’ll make good use of it. Do you want to hang around for a bit?”

[Yes! I’ll stay with you, Master.]

“Alright then.”

With my seasickness gone, I felt much better. With Undaine perched on my shoulder, I wandered around the ship, planning to grab a bite to eat. When I entered the dining area, I saw the girl who had been wailing earlier. She sat with a slice of cake in front of her, glaring at her father as if in protest.

“Father, my brooch…”

“Lil! Stop it! You know it’s impossible!”

“Sniff… I don’t want this. I want my brooch back!”

Before she could start crying again, I quickly approached.

Ugh, I was planning to have a crew member deliver it later. Why do I have to run into her now?

“Excuse me, is this the brooch you were talking about?”

“Huh? Oh, that’s mine! That’s my mother’s brooch!”

“What? How did you get that?”

As expected, I was hit with the obvious question. I quickly made up an excuse.

“Ah, I found it while fishing.”

[Master, your lies are so awkward sometimes.]

Tch, I’m usually a great liar, okay!

Without time to think of a better excuse, I went with the clunky explanation, but the girl was too overjoyed to doubt me.

“Thank you so much, sister! This is so precious to me!”

“Really? Make sure you take good care of it.”

“Thank you! Truly, thank you. My daughter is so careless…”

If you lose it again, I’m not helping. Deal with it yourself.

I wanted to leave quickly, but the girl grabbed my sleeve, holding me in place.

Let go, kid. You’re stretching my sleeve.

“Thank you! Really, thank you. Sister, my name is Derilsae. If you ever need me, just call!”

“Deril-what?”

“Derilsae!”

“Oh, sure. But I doubt I’ll need to, so don’t worry about it.”

I really don’t care what your name is.

I slipped out of the dining hall, avoiding the girl’s starry, grateful eyes. Her and her father’s repeated thanks echoed behind me, making my back itch.

Ugh, I’m starving.

—

A broadcast announced that the ship would dock in about ten minutes. Watching the growing silhouette of Baykis Harbor, I returned to my cabin to gather my belongings. My luggage was sparse—just a few changes of clothes. I strapped my bag onto Rai and headed out, where Gale and Ash were waiting for me.

“Where are the others?”

“Still packing, I… think.”

Ash stumbled over his words, still not used to dropping formal speech, and I couldn’t help but laugh.

“Pfft, why so awkward? Gale’s gotten used to it by now.”

“This guy took a whole month just to stop speaking formally to us,” Gale chimed in. “He’s got this habit of always being polite—it’s hard to break.”

“Sorry. It’s just stuck with me.”

Ash’s reputation as the Second Prince of Elan was that of a strange noble who even addressed his maids and servants with formality. While unusual among the aristocracy, it earned him widespread support from the common folk.

“Oh, by the way, Geenie, I finished the necklace you asked for.”

“A necklace? Did you make it, Gale?”

Gale rummaged in his pocket and pulled out the necklace made with the mermaid scale. Ash’s interest piqued as he eyed the necklace, but I quickly snatched it up.

Mine. Don’t even think about it.

The scale was threaded onto a dark brown leather cord, adorned with a few small beads, giving it a charming look.

“Wow! Thanks, Gale. I love it.”

“R-Really? Then, how about a k-k-kiss in return…”

“Sure, no problem. Close your eyes.”

“R-Really?”

Gale eagerly closed his eyes, while Ash’s eyes widened in shock. Alarmed, Ash stepped forward to stop me.

“Geenie! That’s not…”

“Shh!”

[Huh?]

I silenced Ash with a finger to my lips and gestured for him to hold Rai. Both Ash and Rai looked bewildered as I brought Rai’s snout close to Gale’s cheek.

Sensing something approaching, Gale instinctively turned his face, only to end up locking lips with Rai.

[Argh!]

“Huh? What’s this fur… AAHHH!”

If he had just stayed still, he might not have noticed. Serves you right for having such impure thoughts, Gale.

Did he really think I’d kiss him?

These guys are so much fun to tease.

“Geenie…”

“What? Do you want a kiss too, Ash? And drop the ‘-ssi’ already. Hehe.”

“Gah!”

[Argh!]

I pushed Rai toward Ash, and both he and Rai recoiled in mutual horror.

Ah, such cute reactions. This is why I love having them around.

Laughing at Ash and Gale’s antics, I barely noticed the ship docking. But my amusement quickly faded as I stepped onto Baykis Harbor, only to be blocked by several armed men.

Judging by their armor bearing official crests, they weren’t simple guards but soldiers from the lord’s private army.

Could my identity have been exposed?

I had been so careful…

“What’s this about?” I asked, my tone wary.

“The lord has requested your presence. Please come with us.”

“Why is he looking for me?”

“We don’t know. We are simply following orders.”

Their tone was polite, but their actions weren’t. The soldiers quickly surrounded me, drawing the attention of passengers and townsfolk alike.

“Grrr… Woof! Woof! Grrr!”

“What is the meaning of this? What has our group done wrong?”

“If you’re taking Geenie, take us too!”

“Who the hell are you guys?”

Rai barked furiously, while Ash, Gale, and even Chad tried to intervene. But these were armed soldiers in their own country, and we were foreigners. Resistance would be futile.

Realizing this, I raised my hand to calm my group and allowed the soldiers to take hold of me. Their grip was firm but not rough.

“Calm down, everyone. I’ll go quietly. It’s fine—I have Rai with me. By the way, can I bring this dog along?”

[Master, I’m a wolf!]

“Huh? Oh, sure, bring it along.”