Chapter 56

“I will give you an assignment. The one who completes it first will become my successor.”

“Ah! Finally, is this the test, Master? What kind of assignment is it?”

“I’m curious too, Master! What’s the assignment? Is it going to be difficult?”

Theatrazen grinned slyly. He had come up with the perfect way to track down the intruder who had eluded him while also relieving his growing fatigue in old age and keeping his apprentices occupied.

“It’s as difficult or as easy as you make it. Now, listen carefully. Find a girl with golden hair, blue eyes, and… a water spirit. She should be around your age.”

“…What kind of test is that? Are we just supposed to find someone?”

“Golden hair… blue eyes… a water spirit? Master, isn’t that the description of Geenie Crowell, who’s been the talk of the continent recently? The legendary figure who escaped the grasp of a dragon! Are you asking us to bring her here?”

“Oh! Are we to find Geenie Crowell? Is there some deeper meaning to this, Master?”

Huh?

Theatrazen was taken aback when her name came up. Geenie Crowell was the most prominent name across the continent at the moment.

Once called the Messenger of Anais, the Goddess of Sacrifice, for offering herself to the dragon for the sake of emperors and kings, she was now rumored to be alive and well, even befriending the dragon and wandering the continent.

Her survival and the spreading rumors were already widely known.

Theatrazen quickly shook his head and waved his hand in denial.

“No! Absolutely not! Do you want to cause a war? Do you even realize the consequences of crossing Geenie Crowell? While the description may sound similar, it’s not her. The person I’m referring to is still in this country—on this island, in Heidrike. There’s no reason for the real Geenie Crowell to be here.”

“Ah, I see. I’d have loved to meet her. Isn’t she said to be extraordinarily beautiful and kind?”

“Indeed, I’d like to meet her as well, but nations are desperate to find her right now. How could we, mere apprentices, hope to locate someone who hasn’t revealed herself despite all that effort?”

None of them realized that they had crossed paths with her barely an hour earlier.

Theatrazen broke into a cold sweat. The girl he described resembled Geenie Crowell too closely. If word spread that he had tangled with her, he’d be inundated with criticism from all sides.

“Of course, such a ridiculous task wouldn’t be the test. All you need to do is find a girl with golden hair and blue eyes in this city and bring her to me. She may be hiding her identity as a summoner, so focus on her appearance. Oh, and keep it a secret that I’m your master.”

“…What’s the purpose of this task, Master? Are we supposed to bring as many golden-haired women as we can?”

“So true. Will we be working separately, Master? And if we both find golden-haired women, do we both win?”

Theatrazen pondered for a moment. While he had assigned the task, it was rife with loopholes.

Part of him wanted to take on the search himself, but his responsibilities made it impossible. As the Royal Summoner of the palace, he couldn’t leave his post for long.

“Hmm, let’s do it this way. Each of you will track down one golden-haired water summoner. Then, find out everything about her—who she is, where she’s from, and her weaknesses. Only after fully uncovering her identity should you bring her to me. Can you do that?”

“Well… we can, but what’s the point of this test, Master?”

“Yes, Master. What’s the lesson to be learned here?”

Theatrazen frowned. Had he raised his apprentices too well? Instead of simply obeying, they were questioning his reasoning.

“Tsk. What else would it be? It’s to learn how to track someone down. Even if the person is difficult and uncooperative, you must persist and uncover their identity. She may be younger than you, but you still need to humble yourselves and learn everything you can about her!”

“Oh! So, it’s a lesson in how to deal with people. As expected of you, Master! Such a profound meaning hidden within the test… I deeply respect you, Master!”

“Ah, so the winner is the one who brings back someone more eccentric and peculiar?”

“Y-yes! That’s… exactly it.”

Huh?

Theatrazen realized things were taking a strange turn. Should he have simply ordered them to find the person who had defeated him?

No, that wouldn’t do.

What would happen to his reputation as the continent’s greatest summoner if word got out?

He dismissed the thought with a shake of his head. Golden-haired women with blue eyes weren’t common. If they matched the description, there would only be one or two in the city. His apprentices were bound to find the culprit.

“Leave it to us, Master! No matter how peculiar she is, we’ll bring her back.”

“I’ll start first thing tomorrow morning, Master. Shall we set out at dawn?”

“Good. You have a month… no, two months to find her. Remember—golden hair, blue eyes, and in her late teens to early twenties. She is still in this country. Oh, and one more thing—she carries a black staff about a meter long, shaped like a snake.”

“Understood!”

Both apprentices grinned and responded enthusiastically.

But would it really be that easy to find her?

“…If not, oh well.”

Muttering to himself, Theatrazen dismissed the thought. If his apprentices couldn’t find her, so be it.

The odds, however, seemed in his favor. It was a gamble he was willing to take.

Theatrazen leaned back in his chair, watching as his apprentices eagerly prepared for their assignments. He had done his part, and now it was up to them. The task he had given was both a distraction and a practical solution to the problem at hand. If they managed to find the culprit, all the better. If not, at least they would have learned something from the process.

—

Meanwhile, I carefully navigated through the mountain paths, avoiding any pursuers as I made my way back to the inn. Once there, I slipped inside quietly, avoiding attention by entering through my room’s window.

“Phew… return to your original form, Rai.”

[“Can I transform into a wolf?”]

“Go ahead. Ugh, I’m so tired.”

I removed my hood and cloak, tossing them aside before collapsing onto the bed.

What a reckless night this had been. I had narrowly escaped capture. At one point, I had considered using “Unbreathing” to shake off the relentless knights, but since it was a skill unique to me, I decided against it, fearing it might reveal my identity. So, I had settled for simply running.

Frustrated, I bit down on the corner of the blanket.

Damn it! This was a once-in-a-lifetime encounter with another high-level summoner! The first I had ever met besides myself!

Although I ultimately prevailed, it was undeniable that I had been overwhelmed at the start. If not for that impromptu “Oceanification” spell, I might have lost. If I had lost, I wouldn’t be lying in my bed now but locked up in a cell—or worse.

Well, maybe not a cell. With Rai by my side, I wouldn’t have been caught that easily.

Rai, now transformed into a fluffy wolf, padded over to me with a cheerful gait.

[“Master, Master! Want me to massage your shoulders?”]

“With those paws?”

[“Yes! I can do it. Just give me a chance, Master.”]

“Hmm, tempting, but I’ll pass. A massage from a wolf doesn’t exactly sound… comfortable.”

The thought of Rai’s weight pressing down on me was less than appealing. Besides, it wouldn’t be a good look.

[“Aw, Master! I’m not a dog; I’m a wolf! Let me try. I’ll do a great job!”]

“Dog, wolf—same difference. One’s wild, the other’s domesticated.”

[“Hmm? What’s this?”]

As I moved to change out of my clothes, something slipped out of my pocket. It was the page I had torn from the royal library earlier.

Rai grabbed it with his mouth and handed it to me. Thankfully, being a spirit and not a real animal, it wasn’t dampened by drool.

“Oh… this.”

[“What’s wrong with it?”]

“This… this is frustrating. Two of the spirits listed here are out of reach now. No, make that three.”

The mythical crystal spirit likely no longer existed, and the spatial and luck spirits were already tied to Theatrazen’s household. I couldn’t pursue them.

Theatrazen had mentioned that the luck spirit was destroyed, and as for the spatial spirit, it seemed he had already contracted it.

Pass. I had no desire to pursue spirits that already belonged to someone else.

[“Oh! That’s great news, Master!”]

“Great news? How is this great news? I’ve just written off three elemental spirits!”

[“That’s three fewer future rivals for me, Master.”]

…I should stop talking to Rai.

Ugh, this is frustrating.

Losing three spirits that might have been mine in one go… It was hard not to feel bitter about it now that I knew.

If I had remained ignorant, I wouldn’t feel this pang of envy, but now that I knew, I couldn’t help it.

Honestly, I never thought I was the only one aware of the existence of non-elemental spirits.

After all, any summoner worth their salt would pursue such spirits.

“Now, what’s left? The Spirit of Screams… and the Spirit of Protection?”

Between the two, the Spirit of Screams was more appealing.

Protection meant defense, and I already had Rai, who excelled in defense.

According to this page, the Spirit of Screams looked like a raven, didn’t it?

…It might actually be cute.

Then again, compared to Rai, what wouldn’t be cute?

Not that Rai isn’t cute in his own way, of course.

—

“You’re leaving today?”

“Yeah, it’s a bit rushed, but time is tight. I hope you understand, Geenie.”

They’d arrived only yesterday but were leaving today.

Normally, I’d be irritated, maybe even angry.

But today, I felt different. After last night’s incident, I couldn’t stand staying in this city any longer.

If it weren’t for Ash’s party, I might’ve already bolted on my own.

So, instead, I answered enthusiastically.

“No, no! Don’t worry about me. Let’s leave right away. If you’re leaving, I’m all for it. Isn’t that right?”

Ash gave me a perplexed look, his kind nature preventing him from voicing his doubt, though his expression clearly read, “What’s gotten into her?”

“Well… if you say so…”

“Ha-ha! I didn’t realize we were so in sync, Ash. Our next destination is Elan, right?”

Yes! Perfect!

Sometimes, the heavens really do help me out.

Leaving town right after causing a ruckus—how fortunate.

Elan was also our final destination.

Though Ash couldn’t reveal that yet, his awkward smile betrayed his unease.

“Yeah… the capital of Elan, Neikal.”

“Then we should leave as soon as possible. When do we head out? How about right now?”

“I was thinking… after breakfast. How does that sound?”

“Deal!”

This long journey was finally nearing its end.

Or maybe, considering my two lifetimes, it was the longest journey I had ever taken.

The anxiety from revealing my hair color last night lingered as I ate breakfast. It wasn’t overwhelming, but it weighed on me.

Still, the prospect of leaving today was a relief.

[“Master, does that mean we’re getting back on the ship?”]

[“Most likely.”]

[“Oh, you mean that ‘bluuurgh’ thing?”]

[“…It wasn’t all bad. There were good things too. Why do you only remember the gross parts?”]

Rai seemed to have taken a liking to the ship. He found it fascinating that such a massive structure floated on water.

Had he really never been on a ship in his thousands of years of existence?

Well, ships of that size had only come about in the last few centuries, so it made sense that Rai wouldn’t be familiar with them.

[“Good things?”]

[“Yes, like the ocean, the waves, and… hmm, dining on the deck!”]

[“And then throwing it all up into the ocean and waves…”]

[“Shut it.”]

How dare he sully my meal with such filthy thoughts!

Rai seemed fixated on the people who’d gotten seasick during the voyage.

Hmph. He probably couldn’t understand their suffering because he hadn’t experienced it himself.

The misery of seasickness…

It’s almost on par with internal injuries, I’d say.

Thankfully, I overcame it thanks to the mermaid scales.

—

Bang!

“Hey, Geenie! Geenie!”

“Pfft! What the—? You scared me, you fool!”

Chad had burst in suddenly.

The same Chad who had left the inn early in the morning, claiming he had to sharpen his sword or something, had returned in the most brutish manner imaginable.

He’d kicked the inn door open so forcefully it slammed against the wall, then dashed inside like a madman.

His face was the real kicker.

His eyes were wide open as if about to pop out of their sockets, his nostrils flared, and his enormous mouth, which seemed to take up half his face… Maybe I should shove Rai into that mouth.

“Look! Look at this!”

Rustling something in his hands, he shoved a piece of yellowish paper toward me.

For a moment, I tensed up.

A wanted poster? Already?

Had they really started hunting for the intruder with just the clue of golden hair?

I clenched the bread I was holding tightly.

If that was the case, I’d need to flee right away… Huh?

“…What is this?”

“Just look at it!”

The crumpled paper Chad held up depicted an unidentifiable creature with golden fur and mismatched blue eyes. Something poked out from near one of the eyes, possibly meant to be eyelashes.

Was it female? More importantly, was this drawn with a foot?

Relieved that it wasn’t a wanted poster, I was immediately overwhelmed with a surge of frustration. I threw the now-crushed bread directly at Chad’s face.

“You scared me, you idiot!”

“Pfft! What’s wrong with you? Why are you so mad? This is good news, isn’t it?”

[“What is this, Master? A new monster species? Uh… ‘The stranger the better. Become our servant’? What does that mean, Master?”]

I was about to hurl my bowl of soup at him but stopped myself, unwilling to waste it. Grumbling, I snatched the paper from Chad’s hand.

What the heck is this?

“Restricted to golden-haired women with blue eyes under 22. The stranger, the better. Welcoming users of black staves. Water spirit summoners preferred. For those who meet these conditions, we offer our servitude.”

I read the bizarre lines below the crude drawing and crumpled the paper again before throwing it back at Chad.

I had aimed for his head, but the jerk deftly caught it mid-air with a grin and said cheerfully:

“Doesn’t this sound like you?”

“Not really… Only a fool like you would fall for something this absurd.”

“Absurd? It says they’ll serve you!”

It was obvious why Chad was sensitive about the word “servant.”

About two months ago, we had dueled. If he won, I would leave the party; if I won, he would do anything I asked.

He lost, and as punishment, I shaved his head.

Well, not completely. I left a smiley face on it.

Even I couldn’t help but laugh at my handiwork, so imagine how he must’ve felt.

In the end, he’d begged me in tears to just finish the job.

But I wouldn’t be Geenie Crowell if I made it that easy.

I added a condition: he would have to serve me as my “servant” for as long as I stayed in the party. And, with tears streaming down his face, he had no choice but to agree.

“An extremely prickly and defiant servant.”

Chad, acting as though he couldn’t understand why I didn’t appreciate the “good offer,” smoothed out the crumpled paper and shoved it in front of my face again.

I snorted dismissively.

“Hmph, I’m not interested. Calling it a servant is just a fancy way of saying burden, isn’t it?”

“No way! The more servants, the better! Having lots of servants is a sign of wealth! Aren’t you from a rich family? Don’t you think you’re short on servants? I mean real, specialized attendants.”

Ridiculous. It was painfully obvious that he just didn’t want to carry things himself, and there was no way I was falling for it.

Turning my head away, I grabbed another piece of bread.

My action made it clear I had no intention of continuing this conversation.

As I tried to ignore Chad’s outburst, Rai poked my waist with his nose.

[“Why?”]

[“Master, Master. This really looks like you.”]

“…What part of it?”

[“Right here… the mismatched eyes.”]

I calmly put down the bread and, using one hand to hold Rai’s head steady, grabbed one of his left whiskers with the other.

This little mouth of his was definitely the one that had called the drawing a new monster earlier, wasn’t it?

“Let me even out those whiskers of yours!”

[“Eek! No, Master, please! Stay still! Hic, hic!”]

As much as I wanted to yank them out, Rai’s whiskers were tough as ancient tree roots and refused to budge.

Watching this exchange with a sigh was none other than Ash.

“Geenie, for the love of everything, stop talking to the dog.”

“Hmph, he’s the one provoking me.”

“…It already feels strange enough at times, like the dog is really talking. It gives me… weird feelings.”

Ash seemed genuinely unnerved.

While he tried to keep his composure, his occasional outbursts betrayed how uncomfortable Rai’s “speaking” made him. The stares of others around us didn’t help.

And for the record, Rai does actually talk! I’m not crazy!

Tsk, should I consider summoning a creature that can converse properly? It might be worth thinking about.

—

As we packed up and left the inn, Chad grumbled loudly, hauling my overstuffed bag.

“Ugh, it’s so heavy! What do you even have in here? It keeps getting heavier!”

“Hm? Not much. About thirteen books… oh, make that fourteen now. A medium-sized frying pan, a set of spices, a box of jerky, and about eight souvenirs.”

“All junk! That’s all useless junk! Just throw some of it away!”

“No way! Why would I throw away stuff I bought with my own money?”

Chad’s frustration amused Rai, who hated being treated like a pack animal but was clearly enjoying watching Chad struggle with my bag.

Though Rai didn’t mind carrying me on his back when necessary, I refrained from riding him in towns—too many eyes.

—

[“Master! Look over there, look!”]

About ten minutes after we left the inn, the city gates came into view.

Walking confidently beside me, his tail wagging like some proud house pet, Rai suddenly became more animated, wagging his tail vigorously and pointing at something with his front paw.

“Rai… what’s he doing?”

“Beats me. He says to look… Oh, maybe it’s that.”

Ash, unnerved by Rai’s un-doglike gestures, cautiously stepped back and asked me.

I followed Rai’s indication and spotted a woman with purple hair handing out flyers.

At first, I thought it was just some ordinary handouts, but upon closer inspection, I realized it was the same paper Chad had shown me earlier—the “Become Our Servant” flyer.

Why would someone willingly advertise themselves as a servant?

[“Master, that person… sniff, sniff. It’s wind… definitely wind.”]

“…Wind? Oh, really?”

Wind?

At first, I didn’t get it, but soon realized Rai was referring to the woman’s wind attribute. Paying closer attention, I could feel the wind aura emanating from her, strong and unmistakable.

She might even be a mid-level summoner.

Recently, I felt like I’d been meeting summoners left and right, though I didn’t think much of it.

I mean, I’d met dragons and princes—what’s a few summoners?

“Hmm? What do you think? Interested? She’s perfect for you! Become our servant!” Chad’s tone was dripping with mischief.

“Hmph. I’m not too keen on the ‘servant’ part, but I’m a bit curious.”

“Wanna go check it out? Huh? Huh?”

Chad’s eyes sparkled with anticipation as he leaned in, clearly eager.

I stopped walking and stared at the woman.

Should I?

What kind of person was she to be a summoner handing out flyers like that?

A mid-to-high-level summoner in this kingdom of harmony, Heidrike, could at least serve as a royal assistant or be under a noble’s employ. Summoners were rare and valuable, after all.

“Hmm, Ash! I’m going to check out that woman.”

“I’m coming too, Ash!” Chad chimed in.

“Uh? Where are you two going? Hey!” Ash called after us, worried.

Once I told Ash, the leader of our party, where I was heading, Chad followed closely behind, and Ash, unable to shake his concern, trailed us. The rest of our group—Rox, Gale, and Enk—naturally fell into step behind him.

Approaching the woman, we noticed her expression shift rapidly as she caught sight of me. By the time we reached her, her face lit up as though she’d found buried treasure.

“Oh, wow! Golden hair! Blue eyes! A girl! And this energy… a water summoner? Perfect!”

“Uh… thanks?”

Perfect? Sure, I’d take that as a compliment.

But if she was saying I resembled the bizarre creature on her flyer, that was another story entirely.

“I can’t believe I found you so quickly. You! What’s your personality like? Hopefully terrible!”

“She’s terrible, terrible! Possibly the worst in the world. Oof!”

Chad, seemingly forgetting I was right beside him, spoke without hesitation, earning a sharp elbow to his side.

His solid muscles probably dulled the pain, but he’d better learn not to test my patience.

[“Oh no, Bear Cub #2 is down, Master.”]

“Gah… Help…! I’m dying…!” Chad groaned dramatically, clutching his ribs as he collapsed to his knees.

“Oh dear, I must’ve hit him harder than I thought. My bad.”

Feigning guilt, I raised my hand to cover a smirk as Ash rushed over.

To avoid his wrath—and an hour of lectures—I pretended to help Chad back to his feet.