Chapter 57
“Chad!”
“…It wasn’t on purpose, right, Chad?”
“You… cruel… ruthless… tyrant!”
“Do you want another hit?”
Even as he lay sprawled on the ground, Chad kept running his mouth.
Who’s the cruel tyrant here? I’m a good person at heart, you know.
What is he even saying!
Amid the commotion caused by Chad’s dramatic fall, the purple-haired summoner woman seemed oblivious to the atmosphere. Instead, she jumped up and down, clapping her hands and cheering.
“Yahoo! Found her! Found her! Rejoice, Master! I’ve found the continent’s most difficult and prickly person—”
“…Are you talking about me?”
My sharp glare could cut through steel.
The countless glares I’d thrown at people over the years must have honed it to perfection.
The woman froze for a moment before grinning and walking up to me, her boldness immediately apparent.
“Don’t you need a servant? I can be your servant!”
“No thanks.”
[“Chad is enough, right, Master?”]
[“He’s not even worth having.”]
Traveling had certainly changed me—most notably my tone. I used to speak politely and attach ‘-yo’ to the end of my sentences. Now, my speech had become rough and casual, perhaps due to the long journey.
I’d have to adjust my tone again when I returned to my homeland.
“Oh, come on, just for a few months! I won’t even ask for any money. Please, okay? Pretty please?”
“Nope.”
“You’re so harsh! But once you hear this, you’ll change your mind.”
“…What is it?”
Her sudden offer to be my servant drew the attention of not just me but my entire party.
The absurdity of her words and her bizarre demeanor, not to mention her horrendous artistic skills, made her both fascinating and baffling.
How many people would respond with “Sure, why not?” to someone saying, “I’ll be your servant”?
“I’m… a wind summoner! I can summon Sylph, a low-level wind spirit!”
“…So what?”
“W-what? I’m a summoner! Isn’t that amazing? Don’t you think I could be helpful on your journey? I can be a servant *and* provide light protection!”
“I’m a summoner too, you know.”
Her eyes widened in surprise at my unimpressed response.
Had she forgotten her earlier declaration that I was perfect as a water summoner?
But why would she go so far as to offer herself as a servant with such specific conditions?
Golden-haired summoners were already rare enough—like finding a needle in a haystack. The additional condition of blue eyes and a water affinity only made the task near impossible.
“Please don’t say no! I’ll do anything! Just… just agree to meet my master in two months.”
“Your master?”
“Yes! My master is none other than the greatest… ah, I can’t say more. It’s a secret. But I promise I’ll be your servant for two months. Just meet my master at the end, okay? Please!”
Suspicious. Very suspicious.
I glanced at the flyer she had been distributing.
Golden hair, blue eyes, female, water summoner, under 22 years old.
And the black staff?
What was that about?
Honestly, without the black staff, these conditions fit me almost too perfectly. If I turned her down, I doubted they’d find anyone else who matched them.
But it had nothing to do with me. I had no reason to accept her offer.
Shaking my head, I replied firmly, “Go look for someone else. I’m not interested—”
“Let’s take her with us! It’ll be fine, right, Ash?”
“Huh? Uh, I mean…”
Chad, as always, jumped in without thinking. Ash, who had been quietly observing, was caught off guard and hesitated, his expression clearly showing how uncomfortable he was.
“What do you mean, ‘fine’? No way! How can we travel with such a suspicious person?”
“Ha! She’s less suspicious than you, at least.”
This guy…!
I was annoyed but couldn’t argue with his point. I puffed out my cheeks in frustration.
It was obvious Chad just didn’t want to carry my luggage anymore. All he ever did as my “servant” was haul bags, and now he wanted to offload even that responsibility.
As I frowned, Rai scratched at my leg with his paw, drawing my attention.
[“You didn’t even clean your paw, did you?”]
[“Oops, forgot, Master.”]
[“…Why are you bothering me?”]
[“Didn’t you need a human? For that test or whatever. Why not take this woman along?”]
Oh?
That’s actually a good idea.
I didn’t need a servant, but I did need a companion. Her abilities seemed useful enough.
Time was short, and having another person would help.
Still, her offer was highly suspicious. Why was she so insistent on becoming a servant?
As I pondered, the woman crouched down near Rai.
“Oh, what a cute doggy! I’ll have to play nice with him. Dogs love me! See? Hello, puppy! Who’s a good boy… Eek!”
[“Grr! Don’t even think about touching me!”]
The woman had likely hoped to win points by getting along with Rai, but he bared his teeth and growled as her hand neared his head. If she’d been a second slower, she might have been bitten.
The dog truly does take after its owner—grumpy to the core.
Rai rarely allowed anyone to touch him unless I commanded it. Even the slightest contact could provoke him.
“W-why are you growling, puppy? How about a treat? Want some jerky?”
[“You eat it yourself.”]
Rai glared as the woman, now looking worried, pulled out a strip of jerky from her bag. Naturally, Rai wasn’t tempted.
The woman seemed a bit naïve but harmless.
What was it she said earlier? That she’d serve as my servant for two months if I agreed to meet her master?
Hmm… a summoner’s master would likely be another summoner.
Thinking back to her earlier slip about her master being “the greatest,” I pieced things together.
This woman must be a disciple of Lidrat Theatrazen, the so-called greatest summoner on the continent.
Who else fit that description?
And the “black staff” they mentioned… that must be Rai. They must have mistaken him for a staff during the commotion last night.
“Oh, I see… This all makes sense now.”
[“What makes sense, Master?”]
“What, Geenie?”
“I can even get along with this dog if you give me a chance. Please, take me with you! I’ll do anything you ask, I promise!”
A disciple of Theatrazen, chasing me under his orders.
Clearly, the old man was pulling the strings.
I wasn’t sure of his exact plan, but three things were certain:
1. Theatrazen was using his disciple to track me down.
2. He wanted his disciple to bring me to him.
3. This woman didn’t know I was the intruder from last night.
“Just by looking at her, it’s obvious.”
But why wasn’t she instructed to bring me in right away? Why was a two-month timeframe given instead?
Could it be that Theatrazen didn’t expect us to meet so soon?
“Let’s bring her along, Ash! She’s a summoner; she might be useful.”
“It’s not a bad idea, but deciding suddenly might not be the best. We should also consider the opinions of the others, Chad.”
When I didn’t respond, Chad turned to Ash, trying to shift the decision onto him.
Ash, too, was in a situation where he needed more companions, so he seemed conflicted.
I, too, was deep in thought.
If Theatrazen had sent his apprentice in secret, it meant he was quietly searching for me. But what could he have told the King of Heidrike? Did he report false information about me?
It was entirely possible. Admitting he’d been bested by a younger girl would tarnish his reputation.
So what should I do about this woman?
Her connection to Theatrazen was a risk, but her status as a low-level wind summoner could be an asset—particularly for Ash.
She didn’t seem like much of a threat, and since we were short on companions for Ash’s trial… What should I do?
“I promise I’ll be useful! You won’t have to pay for my lodging or meals. Please take me with you. I’ll do all the chores!”
Chores, huh? If she’s good at cooking, that’d be helpful.
Lox was already decent at cooking, but having two cooks could only improve the quality of our meals. I am, after all, a bit of a foodie.
I glanced at the anxious woman and asked, “What are you good at?”
“Anything that doesn’t require artistic talent! I’m great at cleaning beakers, organizing books, and even interpreting ancient texts a little. Plus, I’m good at brute labor!”
What the heck is that?
What use are beaker-cleaning and book-organizing skills on a journey?
And interpreting ancient texts “a little”?
I can do that fluently!
And why is a summoner doing brute labor in the first place?
As a fellow summoner, I was slightly annoyed.
“Aren’t you a summoner? Why would a summoner do brute labor? Summoners are high-value professionals!”
“Uh, well… I’m clumsy with my hands, and I’m not very good at thinking either…”
“You’re a disgrace to summoners everywhere.”
Though I said this, I couldn’t help but recall why I’d chosen to become a summoner. I had wanted a job that didn’t require physical labor or much thought, and summoning had seemed perfect.
It was laughable now, how naïve I’d been.
The reality was much different. As time went on, I realized that summoners needed to strategize like mages and maintain stamina like knights.
In this world, there was no such thing as an easy job.
Still, the effort I’d put into becoming a summoner made me deeply attached to my abilities and my role.
“Geenie! That’s too harsh,” Ash reprimanded.
“Too harsh? I’m just being honest.”
Ash’s scolding didn’t faze me. I had a blunt personality, and I wasn’t one to hold back—especially with another summoner.
For me, sharing the same abilities brought others closer, and the closer I felt to someone, the harsher I tended to be.
Rai, of course, bore the brunt of this.
“Oh, I don’t mind at all! If anything, I find your prickly personality reassuring!”
“…Forget her personality. What do you think, Ash? If you’re okay with it, I don’t mind bringing her along.”
“I don’t mind, but we should ask Lox, Gale, and Enk what they think.”
Opinions, huh…
Chad had been eager to bring her along from the start, and I was inclined to make use of her. Two months would be enough time for Ash’s trial.
“Fine. Lox, Gale, Enk—anyone opposed, come over here and pet Rai.”
“Oooh. I’m all for it.”
“If Geenie’s okay with it, I’m okay with it.”
“I don’t really care either way.”
Petting Rai was essentially a threat—if they opposed, they’d likely get bitten.
But no one seemed inclined to object.
Lox looked particularly welcoming.
It made sense. He’d probably been worn out by Ash’s overly righteous tendencies, like paying off bandits, meddling in others’ business, and always trying to act just.
Honestly, Ash could be quite frustrating, even though he was my friend.
“Decision made! She’s not a servant, but we’ll take her along for now. Oh, I didn’t even ask your name. What is it?”
“Thank you so much! Really, thank you! My name is Withry. I promise I’ll be helpful!”
You’d better be.
Otherwise, there’d be no reason to bring you along.
I turned my gaze to the city gates.
With the team assembled, it was time for the real challenge.
From here to Vaikis would take about a month. Then, by ship, it would take a week to reach Elan’s port city, Femington. From there, it’d be another two weeks to the capital, Neikal.
Even adding some buffer time, two months was more than enough.
If we hurried, we could do it in a month and a half.
That timeline would work perfectly for Ash’s trial.
Two months from now was his fateful day—the end of the “Path of Trials” and the day of the Guardians’ Duel.
—
Exit inspections were usually lax, but today was different.
The gatekeepers not only checked our identification but also rummaged through our bags.
My bag was no exception.
“Is this all your luggage?”
“Yes, this and my pet dog.”
“Hmm…”
The gatekeeper’s gaze lingered on my short, golden hair, which had grown out slightly from its cut.
I had a good idea why the inspections were stricter today, but I feigned ignorance.
“Is there a problem? The inspections seem more thorough than usual.”
“Oh, nothing significant. Could you show me your ears, though?”
“My ears?”
Feigning confusion, I brushed my hair back to reveal my ears.
They were probably looking for the intruder from last night’s palace incident.
Though I felt a little uneasy, the gatekeeper didn’t seem overly suspicious of me, so I kept my composure.
“Yes, you’re clear to go. Have a safe journey.”
“Thank you.”
It seemed the wanted poster didn’t match my description.
Heh, Theatrazen must have been pretty bitter about losing to me.
Though I pushed the unease aside, I couldn’t shake the feeling entirely.
When the city gates had shrunk to a speck in the distance, I spoke to Rai.
[Rai, sneak back and check the paper the gatekeeper was holding. Tell me what it says.]
[“The paper, Master? Right away.”]
[“Yes, it’s probably about the wanted notice for last night’s intruder. Judging from the gatekeeper’s reaction, it seems the description doesn’t match me exactly… Still, confirm it to be sure.”]
It wouldn’t hurt to know. In fact, knowing would help me stay cautious.
[“Understood, Master.”]
[“Oh, and don’t go in wolf form.”]
[“Huh? Then what? A snake?”]
[“No, something smaller.”]
I smirked, and Rai, despite being a wolf, made a pitiful face and shook his head.
He had already guessed what I was going to say.
[“No, no way! Not that…!”]
[“Ding-ding! You’re heading out as a striped squirrel.”]
[“Why?! Why a squirrel of all things?”]
[“Do you want to sneak around in your enormous wolf form? You’d stick out too much! If you hate the squirrel idea, you can always use Transformation #8.”]
Ah, Transformation #8—the one Rai’s previous owner had thoughtlessly added to his forms. It was an insect—a black, shiny, many-legged, winged creature that evoked disgust in anyone who saw it.
Yes, a cockroach.
[“I’ll be the squirrel. Master, did I ever tell you how much I love squirrels?”]
[“No, but if you like it so much, you can just use that form forever.”]
[“Neverrrrr!”]
I didn’t like the cockroach either.
At least a squirrel would be dismissed as just a forest animal wandering into town. A cockroach… I shuddered to think of Rai scurrying toward me, antennae twitching, and saying, “Master, praise me!”
—
Thanks to two sleepless days of hard riding, we reached Menden, a small town halfway between Mizellan and Vaikis, in just 11 days. Normally, it would have taken 15.
Situated between the harbor city and the capital, Menden was bustling with trade, though otherwise unremarkable.
Ash had pushed us to hurry so we could catch an early ship from Femington to Neikal, which left me too tired to complain.
“I booked two rooms—one double and one for five. The double is for the women.”
“Ugh, I’m so tired.”
“Geenie, aren’t you going to take your key?”
Ash held out a key attached to a wooden tag with the room number engraved on it. But I had neither the strength to take it nor the energy to climb to the room.
Why? Because I’d never endured such grueling travel before.
“Withry, could you take the key? Chad, take my luggage to the room.”
“Why me?”
“Because you’re my servant. It’s your job.”
“Why not have her do it?” Chad gestured angrily toward Withry, who looked as exhausted as I felt.
Hey, can’t you see how weak she is?
Withry had abnormally low stamina for a summoner. While summoners usually had better endurance than the average person, our intense pace had been too much for her.
“I already asked her to take the key. Now take the luggage.”
“That’s not fair! Why do you make me do all the hard stuff? You’re biased!”
“Are you seriously whining? Shut up and carry it upstairs.”
[“Master, Master, whining is my specialty! You’re hearing this, right, Master?”]
Not listening, not listening.
I’m too tired for this.
The rest of the group carefully avoided me, aware that my irritability was directly proportional to my exhaustion.
Ash and Lox tried to calm Chad down, while Enk had already disappeared without a sound. Normally, Gale would have slipped away too, but today he was anxiously helping Withry retreat from the scene.
“Fine! I’ll do it, happy?!”
“Should I draw another smiley face on your head, then?”
“Damn it! I’ll carry it already!”
Grumbling, Chad stomped up the stairs, looking like he was about to break them. The rest of the party followed, leaving me slumped in a corner of the inn’s dining area.
I didn’t have the energy to move, let alone eat. My plan was to stay here and fill up when the others came back down. Once I went to my room, I wouldn’t want to leave.
Leaning back, I let my eyes drift shut, the surrounding noise filtering into my ears.
The clatter of cutlery, the clang of toasts, snippets of conversation…
“Hey, have you heard the rumor?”
“A rumor? What rumor? The one about the Lord of Vaikis trying to drown himself because he was bewitched by a mermaid?”
“No! That’s old news, you slowpoke. Haven’t you heard?”
“Then… is it the rumor that Geenie Crowell is alive?”
The mention of my name made my ears perk up.
Vaikis’s lord? That would be Albert Vaikis, and his wife… Anna Roy, of the merfolk.
So that’s how the rumor turned out. Bewitched by a mermaid into a suicide attempt?
How tragic.
Though the truth was just as sad.
“Come on! That’s not a rumor—it’s a legend!”
“But Geenie Crowell is alive, so it’s not a legend.”
“Whatever! Anyway, that’s not the rumor I’m talking about. And honestly, calling her ‘Miss’ Crowell feels a bit strange—she’s not a man, and she’s just a young girl. But I suppose it’s fitting for someone who’s a hero who saved kings and befriended a dragon.”
“Of course, it’s fitting! But what’s the rumor you’re talking about? I can’t believe there’s one I don’t know.”
Inns were always hotbeds for gossip, it seemed.
I was about to tune them out when a single word made my ears snap open again.
“Listen up! About ten days ago, there was a break-in at the royal palace!”
“The royal palace? Which one? Here in Heidrike? How does a common thief break into a royal palace?”
“Yes, here in Heidrike! And it wasn’t just any thief—it wasn’t even human. Rumor has it… it was an elf!”
“An elf? One of the harmonious race? What would an elf want to steal?”
So the rumor had already reached here?
They weren’t kidding when they said gossip travels faster than the wind.
We hadn’t even arrived yet, but the story had beaten us here. Was it thanks to magic communication? A telegram, maybe?
Whatever the method, it was impressive.
“Yes, an elf! Disappointing, isn’t it? An elf, the harmonious race, breaking into the palace of our harmonious kingdom. What could they have been after?”
“Thieves steal things, don’t they? Maybe it was to take something?”
“Well, the story doesn’t say what they were after. Some say they didn’t take anything at all, while others claim no one knows what was stolen.”
“Then they’re not a thief!”
Exactly! That’s the point.
I didn’t steal anything!
I just had a little look around the library!
Okay, I did tear out a couple of pages, but… that’s minor, right? A mere trifle compared to actual theft!
Though my conscience pricked at me, I firmly told myself it wasn’t a big deal.
