Chapter 62
[Master, are you here?]
“Ah, Rai!”
“Who’s here?”
Oh, right. Rai said he was going hunting for the first time in a while to see if there was any decent prey. I guess he picked up my scent and came looking for me.
I glanced at the red-haired woman before slightly opening the door. Rai squeezed through the narrow opening and immediately rubbed against me as he spoke.
[Why are you here, Master? I went to your room and saw a bear on your bed. It scared me! You can’t just leave me like that!]
“A dog? Is that your dog?”
[Wolf!]
“Yes, his name is Rai… Do you dislike dogs?”
As I gently stroked Rai’s head, stopping him from baring his teeth, I turned to look at the woman. I wondered if she might get upset, but she merely shrugged, looking unconcerned.
“Not really. We have five dogs at our estate. They’re all of excellent pedigree. What breed is that one?”
“He’s a mix.”
“A mix?”
“A mutt.”
The woman’s face stiffened slightly.
But I couldn’t exactly say he was a wolf, could I?
[A mutt? Following ‘mutt snake,’ now I’m a ‘mutt dog’? Master, I’m the Spirit of Metal, not the Spirit of Dung.]
“A mutt? How could you keep such a thing? I thought its coat was quite striking, so I assumed it was a new breed…”
Right, Rai was indeed the Spirit of Metal. But does a Spirit of Dung actually exist? If so, that’d be groundbreaking. In a way, it might even be the strongest… though I wouldn’t want to form a contract with one.
“Aren’t all mutts essentially new breeds? Besides, Rai is smart.”
“Hmm, I don’t know. I can’t understand the thinking of commoners. And what kind of name is Rai? It’s too short. Our estate’s shortest dog name is François Yre Gerter Het.”
What? François Yre… what now?
Also, for the record, I am technically nobility—technically a marquis. Well, it hasn’t been long, and it’s not my family that’s the marquisate, but still. I’m at least a baroness! I graduated from Drike Academy, after all.
“How do you even call a dog with a name that long? Short names are the best for pets.”
“We call him François!”
So, in the end, that’s his name!
I thought she might be okay, but it turns out I don’t really mesh with these stereotypical noblewomen. She’s not as bad as I feared, but I can’t deny it’s uncomfortable.
[Master, I want a long name too! Even a nickname would be nice!]
[What? If it’s long, it’s not a nickname anymore.]
[Still! Please give me a cool name! She called me a mutt dog, after all.]
[Hmm, then… Raistroberryfruits-boing-boing.]
I combined some cute-sounding words that came to mind, but Rai gave me a frosty expression. His round, beautiful eyes turned lifeless, like a dead fish, and he opened his mouth slightly. Was that frostiness or just a dead look? Did he not like it? I thought it sounded fine.
[Hmm, that name… I’ll give it to Ziri.] (T/N: I’m not sure about the name here but that’s literraly the translation or could also be “Chiri”.)
[Then… Ziristroberryfruits-boing-boing? Or Adolstroberryfruits-boing-boing?]
[ZiriAdolStrawberryfruitsCanEat-Boing-Boing. How’s that?]
Rai upgraded it further, but it got way too long. Just saying it would tire me out. Still, it did seem kind of cute.
For someone who always fought with Adol, Rai putting thought into something for him was touching. Maybe Rai was finally maturing. I should tell Adol about it later. He’s always wanted a long name.
Three days into the voyage, I maintained a somewhat amicable relationship with the woman.
From spending time with her, I learned her name was Vanessa Cridit, and her family held the title of count in Heidrike. Apparently, her family had a tradition of spirit summoning, and her father could control both a mid-level fire spirit and a mid-level wind spirit.
At first glance, it might seem like she and her father were equally skilled, aside from the number of spirits, but that’s not the case. Even with mid-level spirits, the strength they display varies significantly depending on the summoner’s abilities—up to tenfold, in fact. The same applies to low-level spirits.
Oh, and one more thing: she’s traveling to Femmington to meet her lover. She said he’s not much to look at, but he’s wealthy and smart. Apparently, he suggested they travel to Neikal, the capital of Elan.
—
“So, how’s the room, Geenie?”
“Well, it’s not as bad as Chad made it sound. It’s fairly comfortable. Maybe it’s because we’re both spirit summoners.”
Our party was gathered at a corner of the ship’s dining hall for the first time in three days. It was rare for all of us to be in one place, as our group had a habit of doing their own thing. If we tried to meet, at least one or two would wander off.
Suddenly, Chad smirked sarcastically.
“Hmm, is that so? Is she also the type to disappear when you look for her?”
Of course, the most uncooperative member of the group was me. Recently, my individualistic tendencies had blossomed into full-blown selfishness. Or maybe selfishness had always been in me, just waiting for the chance to thrive after graduating from the academy.
“What did I do? I was just fishing!”
“Right. So you fished for three days and caught nothing?”
“It’s not that I didn’t catch anything! I just let them go.”
That’s what I said, but in truth, I hadn’t caught a thing. And no wonder—I hadn’t even baited the hook. I wasn’t really fishing. I was searching for a mermaid’s scale that might have sunk into the water. But after three days of fruitless searching, I decided to give up.
“Fishing, Geenie? That’s unexpected. And I hear you like reading too. I thought someone like you would have some unusual hobbies.”
“Unusual hobbies? Like what?”
“Monster herding, perhaps, or bookbinding?”
I could understand bookbinding, but monster herding? That’s not my thing! Oh, wait—once, when I was ten and nicknamed ‘The Minus Hand,’ I accidentally herded monsters. Not intentionally, though.
“Bookbinding? What kind of book?”
“Like a collection of threats, or a compilation of people’s weaknesses… mmph!”
“Oh, so that’s the kind of thoughts you have, Withry?”
Gale hurriedly clamped a hand over Withry’s mouth, but it was too late—I’d already heard everything.
I try to live as kindly as I can, so why do the people around me always paint me as some kind of villain?
I seriously debated whether to stuff Withry’s mouth with the large piece of bread in my hand or one of the fruits from my portion.
“Geenie! Withry doesn’t know any better. Please understand, okay?”
“……”
“Ah, here, have this. And this, too.”
“……Do I look like a pig to you?”
If I had to name my weaknesses, they’d be Ash, metal, or food. Gale, knowing this, offered me the meat in front of him, but I wasn’t about to give in that easily. Besides, I was already full, so such temptations wouldn’t work.
“Oh, I know! Geenie, how about chocolate for your birthday gift? One box, no, two boxes!”
“Don’t forget about Rai and Undine.”
“Fine, four boxes?”
“Alright! I’ll look forward to my birthday, Gale.”
I flashed him a deliberately sweet smile.
Might as well smile at him; why not?
My birthday wasn’t far off, so I figured I should keep people around me happy for now.
Time flew by like a ship with the wind at its back. Soon, we could see Femmington in the distance.
According to the sailors, we had about two hours until we reached the port. Vanessa Cridit and I began packing our belongings in preparation for disembarking.
I thought I had a lot of luggage, but compared to hers, mine was nothing.
She lifted her heavy-looking bags with ease, explaining that they were lightened with a spell. I made a mental note to ask Bright to make me one of those spells later. Still, no amount of lightening magic could justify carrying three large suitcases on a trip.
What on earth was in all those bags?
“Cridit, what’s in all that luggage?”
“Oh, nothing much. Just dresses, shoes, hats, and cosmetics.”
“…Food?”
“I have money and jewels.”
Well, she was just as impractical as I was. Must be a product of her pampered upbringing.
If she gets hungry on the road, will she start chewing on her jewels?
“You should probably buy some food to carry with you. Jerky or dried fruit would be good.”
“Ew, no. That would make my bags smell.”
Fine, suit yourself.
I decided to keep quiet after that. Anyway, she said her beloved was waiting for her at the port, so he could deal with it.
While I focused on packing, she struck up another conversation.
“Oh, by the way, Geenie.”
“Yes?”
“That ring on your left ring finger—an engagement ring?”
“Well… something like that.”
I didn’t want to get into a long explanation, so I answered vaguely. She let out a low whistle.
“Wow, it’s such a unique gemstone. What kind of stone is it? It’s not sapphire, is it?”
“Uh, aquamarine?”
“Oh, aquamarine, is it? For a rare gem, it’s not very expensive.”
“Ahaha, is that so?”
I just said aquamarine because it was the first blue stone that came to mind, but her comment irritated me.
Who critiques someone else’s ring like that? Unbelievable!
I was annoyed, but since it was the last day of our journey, I decided to let it slide with a smile.
“Maybe I should ask my guy to buy me a ring, too. Hmm, diamonds are too common, but then again, diamonds are the best. Perhaps something unique like a teardrop diamond or a pink diamond?”
“Aren’t those essentially the same thing?”
“No way! They’re completely different in price!”
I don’t care. I’ve got Rai, my walking gemstone factory.
And liking freebies will make you go bald!
Do you want that beautiful hair of yours to fall out?
Ignoring my disgruntled expression, she simply beamed, happy to see the end of this dull voyage.
[Master, about diamonds. Even if the color is different, they all taste the same.]
[Really? Have you eaten a lot of diamonds, Rai?]
[Hmm, I’ve eaten about a ton of diamonds. Want me to spit some out?]
[Absolutely not.]
A ton of diamonds? I couldn’t even comprehend that.
Then again, considering the mountains of gems Rai had consumed in Magi’s lair, it wasn’t entirely surprising.
I tightly secured my packed bag and handed the strap to Rai, gripping it with his teeth.
[What? I’m supposed to carry this?]
[What, should I hang it around your neck instead?]
[Tsk!]
Tsk? Tsk! How dare my pet spirit complain to me?
I was about to say something, but remembering that my bag was neither lightened nor small, I held my tongue.
Instead, I silently looped the bag’s strap around Rai’s neck.
After all, a leash is essential for a dog!
As the ship docked at the port, we lined up to disembark. I was still with Cridit, as we planned to meet the others outside.
She kept chattering, boasting non-stop.
“My guy has such leadership qualities, and judging by his demeanor, he’s definitely a noble. But for some reason, he keeps it a secret. Well, I’m never wrong! After all, he’s the man I chose.”
To be fair, it was rare to find nobles among travelers. Most nobles used their personal carriages instead. By that standard, our party was rather luxurious, with three nobles—Ash, myself, and probably Lox.
[Master, when will we be rid of this human?]
[Hmm? Soon. Why?]
[I don’t like her. She feels unpleasant.]
[Hmm, I actually think she’s okay. She hasn’t caused me any trouble.]
Honestly, I had been a bit wary of her being a fire summoner. After all, I had been burned to death in my past life.
But that was a previous life, and I’ve lived in this one much longer since then.
Whether I liked it or not, this life had become my reality.
I still didn’t like narrow, dark corridors or thick smoke, though.
“And my guy… Oh, I haven’t told you his name, have I? It’s René. I’m sure he has a long and impressive full name… kyaaa!”
“Huh?”
At the mention of ‘René’ and her sudden scream, I turned my gaze from the sea to her.
Apparently, a man standing behind her had stepped on her dress. A clear black footprint was visible, but it wasn’t something to scream about.
“Why all the fuss… That’s why you shouldn’t wear such flimsy clothes in a place like this.”
“Oh, miss, I’m terribly sorry…”
“You lowly thing!”
*Slap!*
Cridit immediately raised her hand and struck the man’s cheek mercilessly.
Hitting him was unnecessary.
The man who was slapped looked like a poor commoner. Even after being hit, he simply bowed his head repeatedly.
“I’m sorry! I’m so sorry! Please forgive me!”
“Ugh! You worm-like creature! What do you plan to do about this dress, huh? What will you do?”
Cridit took off one of her gloves and swung it, striking the man on the head again.
She seemed truly enraged.
The man quietly endured the blows, and no one around stepped in to stop her.
*Sigh…*
“Calm down, Cridit. Just change your dress in one of the empty rooms, alright?”
“Ugh! I can’t let this lowly thing off like this! I should beat him halfway to death…”
“I have a spare traveling outfit with a cleansing spell on it. I’ll give it to you. Come on, Cridit.”
“A-A cleansing spell?”
Having observed Cridit’s greedy personality over the past few days, I coaxed her into a nearby empty room. Though still fuming, she seemed to cool down slightly as she examined the outfit I handed her.
Of course, who wouldn’t like a magical item?
“How do you like the color? Or I have it in gray, too.”
I offered her the newest purple traveling outfit from my collection, one of the ones I’d purchased on this journey. It had a cleansing spell and cost a fair bit, but it felt worth it to de-escalate the situation.
Better to part with a dress than witness someone being humiliated to death. Personally, I’d rather someone end my life than humiliate me to that extent.
“It’s wonderful! I’ve been wanting a traveling outfit with enchantments.”
“Is that so? It’s essential for travel, so take good care of it. When we get to Neikal, you can find some with patterns, too.”
“Really? Oh, how delightful! I’d love one with floral patterns! Do they have those?”
“Uh, probably? If not, you can always order one.”
Floral patterns?
I wouldn’t wear one, even if I were paid.
Still, I had the nagging feeling I’d forgotten something important. What was it?
Despite the uneasy sensation, we spent quite some time as Cridit changed into the outfit. Once she emerged, she finally looked the part of a traveler.
Thanks to the outfit I’d given her, she no longer seemed like an entirely spoiled noblewoman.
I glanced around the ship before heading off.
Where were we supposed to meet again?
“I’m meeting my group at a restaurant called ‘Ocean Tales.’ What about you?”
“Oh, me too! My dear said to meet him there.”
“Really? Then let’s go together.”
[Master, what about the bear? Can we get rid of this luggage already? It’s flattening my fur.]
Don’t make me laugh. That bag would have to stay on you for a hundred years to flatten your fur.
Ignoring Rai’s exaggerated whining, I walked toward ‘Ocean Tales’ with Cridit.
Parting ways with her didn’t feel bittersweet in the slightest.
Upon entering the bustling restaurant, filled with passengers who had just disembarked, I scanned the room for Ash.
Where is he…?
“Geenie!”
There he is!
Ash noticed me first, waving enthusiastically, and I waved back. I started heading toward him but stopped, remembering Cridit was with me.
“Are your companions not here yet?”
“Um, I guess not. What should I do?”
“…Let’s just head over to my group for now. There’s no room anywhere else, anyway.”
“Wow, thank you!”
At times like this, a little gratitude wouldn’t hurt.
Dragging Cridit along, I walked to where my party was seated. Chad’s eyes widened in surprise as he spotted us.
Ah, that’s right—this guy mentioned getting slapped by Cridit before, didn’t he?
“Ah, hello.”
“Hello?”
“Who…?”
Ash and Withry stood from their seats to greet Cridit, while Gale tilted his head, puzzled. This was his first time seeing her.
“This is Cridit. We shared a room on the ship. Withry, you’ve seen her before, right?”
“Yes! She’s a mid-level fire summoner. I really respect her!”
“Hoho, hello, everyone. I’m Vanessa Cridit, the second daughter of the Cridit count family, as you may already know.”
Even in traveling clothes, Cridit introduced herself gracefully, as if she were wearing a ball gown.
Chad’s expression remained sour. He clearly wasn’t pleased.
“Tsk.”
“Oh? Isn’t this the rude man from before? The one who dared enter a lady’s room without even knocking…”
“That room was mine, too.”
Chad’s retort didn’t back down, causing Cridit’s face to harden.
She raised a finger, lips curling into a thin, venomous smile. A red ring glinted on her finger—it was an unmistakable sign of aggression from her.
“Your tongue is quite sharp for a commoner, isn’t it? Shall I burn it for you…”
“Wait, Cridit—”
“Barnet! Barnet, where are you? …Not here?”
Fortunately, it seemed her companions had arrived. She instantly forgot her raised finger and turned to greet them with a bright smile.
The red ring on her finger, a ‘Lava Stone,’ was a tool often used by fire summoners. Created when molten rock solidified around an unmelting core, it increased the speed of fire spirit summoning. Though it only enhanced summoning speed, it was rare enough for her to boast about it several times during the trip.
“Chad, are you stupid? Never provoke noblewomen. Especially educated ones—they’re vicious.”
“Tch, but she’s so infuriating!”
Chad ground his teeth at Enk’s advice.
Cridit certainly had a fierce streak. Maybe not cruel, but definitely intense.
I suddenly felt a sharp surge of fire energy behind me and quickly turned.
Cridit?
The energy was clearly aggressive.
Almost reflexively, I called upon Undine.
“Undine!”
*Splash*
“Aaaagh! Arrgh!”
Even though I summoned Undine and readied myself, the target of the attack wasn’t me.
However, it was clear that the attacker was Cridit.
Ahead of her, a mercenary-looking man was rolling on the ground, clutching his arm in pain.
What just happened?
The sharp stench of burning filled the air, and atop Cridit’s hand, a flaming red salamander flickered—it was a low-level fire spirit, Salamander.
“How dare you! Salamander, fire on the other hand too—”
“What are you doing, Barnet?”
For some reason, Cridit seemed to have burned the mercenary’s hand. I wasn’t one to meddle in others’ misfortunes, so I stood frozen. Just then, a man who seemed to be her lover approached her.
Phew, he’ll probably calm her down.
“Oh, Rene! You wouldn’t believe it—this man suddenly groped my backside! I’ll kill him!”
“What? This filth? How dare such scum exist? Tsk, make it a painful death, Barnet.”
Ack! He’s just as bad as she is!
The restaurant buzzed with tension.
I could feel the raw fear and unease radiating from the crowd. No matter the crime, watching someone get killed in front of their eyes wasn’t something people could easily stomach. I stepped toward Cridit.
“Wait, Cridit! Killing someone over this isn’t right.”
“It’s not just wrong—it’s absolutely forbidden!” Ash, who had followed me, shouted angrily. He crouched beside the fallen mercenary, trying to calm him down as he inspected the man’s injured hand.
The burns were severe.
I pinched my nose against the acrid stench and sent Undine to assist Ash.
“Geenie, why stop me? Filthy humans like this deserve to die!”
“The burns on one hand are more than enough, Cridit. Sure, maybe slave traders deserve to die, but not over this.”
“One hand isn’t enough! At least burn both hands! How dare he lay a hand on me—on *me*!”
“These kinds of things happen all the time when traveling, Cridit. This man probably meant no real harm and was just being overly playful.”
Most travelers were mercenaries. With so few women among them, it wasn’t uncommon for female travelers to draw their attention. In cramped spaces like inns or taverns, instances of light groping occurred almost daily.
Not that it happened to me—Rai usually scared them off. Still, the number of people who tried to touch me and ended up bitten far exceeded what I could count on my fingers.
“I’m a noble! You might forgive this as a commoner, but I cannot! How dare he touch me? He deserves to die a hundred times over!”
“Stop arguing and just kill him, Barnet. Want me to help?”
Cridit’s lover, Rene, unsheathed his sword.
From the sound of it, the sword was more for show than skill. It looked expensive but not suited for combat.
Also, for the record, I’m a noble too. Technically, a marquis.
Wait… Rene?
“You cannot kill someone so easily!”
Something that had been nagging at me felt like it was on the verge of surfacing. Ash, fiery with justice, drew his own sword—still sheathed—to confront Rene.
Alright, go ahead and fight.
Meanwhile, I tried to piece together what I was missing.
The commotion around us grew louder, but I tilted my head, staring intently at Rene.
A boring face.
Right, Cridit mentioned his face wasn’t great, but that he was rich and likely a noble.
Gray hair and a sly smile, but such a plain, forgettable face.
Kind of like Ash… huh?
A face *that* plain and his name is Rene?
My gaze shifted to his neck.
Necklaces!
Why is he wearing so many necklaces?
What’s with all the stuff hanging from his neck?
