The Golden-Haired Summoner - Chapter 66

“Just take the carrot and go!”

The hall was beginning to stir, signaling that the competition was about to officially start.

I quickly sent Rai off.

He knew full well not to be seen by anyone, so he disappeared into the shadows.

[Master, you’re mean!]

He left behind some unnecessary grumbling.

Just a moment ago, he was saying “Me too”! Rai, if you talk out of both sides of your mouth, you’ll grow hair on your butt!

Oh, wait. He already has some, doesn’t he?

The Emperor descended from his platform.

He approached Ash and René, who were both kneeling, and alternated his gaze between them.

Not a word of encouragement or praise for their efforts escaped his lips.

He simply wore an indifferent expression.

The guardians stood a fair distance away, silently observing the Emperor.

We hadn’t yet been granted permission to stand face-to-face with him.

“…Begin.”

With that curt declaration, the reunion between father and sons was over.

According to Ash, this was the first time he’d seen the Emperor since returning to the palace.

So, this was how royalty behaved?

Still, it was rumored that the Emperor favored Ash, the Second Prince, over the First Prince, René.

“Huu…”

Ash returned to our side, exhaling as if trying to steady himself.

Was he nervous about facing the Emperor?

The setup of the arena was straightforward.

A rectangular stage stood in the center of a circular hall.

To the south was the Emperor’s platform, flanked by his guards.

To the west stood Prince René and his guardians, including Rovenin.

To the east were Ash and our group, facing them directly.

To the north, a panel of high-ranking nobles—likely the judges—sat in a row.

The room was packed, with knights lining the perimeter as well.

Ugh, too many people made me uncomfortable.

Once the Emperor returned to his platform, a tense atmosphere filled the hall.

My thoughts flitted between concerns over Rai sneaking into the box and my simmering hostility toward Rovenin.

It seemed we were about to begin.

Lox approached our group and addressed us.

“Everyone, please come this way. His Majesty will now be introduced to the guardians. We’ll begin with the First Prince’s team, but our turn will come shortly. When your name is called, bow respectfully to His Majesty. If the Emperor or the council members ask you any questions, answer them sincerely.”

Wait, council members? I thought they were just high-ranking nobles.

They didn’t even look old!

Still, the council was known to hold immense influence in Elan.

Our group, already nervous just being in the same space as the Emperor, was trembling visibly.

“Stop shaking! How can you call yourselves Ash’s guardians like this?”

“Are you saying you’re not nervous, Geenie? We’re scared to death!”

“Exactly! If I tell my master about this later, I’m sure she’ll faint on the spot!”

“I take pride in my composure, but I’ve never been in a situation like this before…”

Tsk, such timid creatures.

They should take a page from Rovenin over there!

So calm! Or perhaps just completely uninterested in everything?

Regardless, the First Prince’s guardians were maintaining their composure.

Rovenin, the 5th-circle mage, and even Cridit seemed collected.

That mage, in particular, had an overly composed, aristocratic demeanor.

As I tilted my head in thought, one of the council members rose and used amplification magic to address the room.

“First, we will have the introduction of the First Prince, Aaron de Von Glorisrenne’s guardians. Henshaw Hardaf of Bailan, step forward and pay your respects to His Majesty.”

See! I knew it! He’s a noble!

The first guardian to step forward was the 5th-circle mage, Henshaw Hardaf, a noble from Bailan.

If my memory served me right, wasn’t Hardaf the surname of the Empress’s family?

This is so unfair!

Prince René is the Empress’s son, and the Empress hails from Bailan.

And now, conveniently, a member of her family—a 5th-circle mage, no less—was serving as René’s guardian.

It reeked of favoritism, but the council members maintained blank expressions.

Wasn’t it said that Prince René had the central nobles’ support?

How shameless.

“Henshaw Hardaf greets His Majesty, the Emperor of the Great Empire of Elan. May you reign forever…”

Henshaw, sporting a mustache and wearing a traditional mage’s robe, walked to the edge of the stage. He bowed deeply to the Emperor, then, with no questions posed, returned to the waiting area.

Just from his introduction, it was obvious he was a noble.

Hey, Emperor, investigate this! Isn’t this cheating?

“Next, Foneya of Bailan, step forward.”

“I am Henshaw’s disciple. It is an honor to address His Majesty…”

Her tone was lackluster.

She appeared to be a commoner, though she dressed in a masculine manner similar to Senior Jaimam.

Her expression was stiff, and her demeanor cold.

She looked to be in her late twenties.

Hmm, if she’s his disciple… she seems suspicious too.

“Vanessa Cridit of Heidrike, step forward.”

“Greetings, Your Majesty. My name is Vanessa Cridit. I am a mid-level fire spirit mage. My father is a Count of Heidrike, and as his second daughter, I have been training to—”

Pfft! Just as I suspected, Cridit started rambling, but the Emperor waved her off.

She was told to move on.

Pffft, and wasn’t the stench worse when she opened her mouth?

Though we’d somewhat grown accustomed to the smell, it returned with a vengeance, reminding everyone of its presence.

“You may step back, Miss Cridit.”

“But I haven’t finished introducing—”

“Step back!”

“Grr…!”

No matter how much she grumbled, Cridit couldn’t defy the council’s orders.

Though she liked to flaunt her noble status, she was still just the daughter of a minor count in a small island nation.

Here, the lowest rank was a count, equivalent to a marquis in her homeland.

Cridit glared daggers at me, clearly blaming me for everything as she returned to the waiting area.

Even while waiting, her burning gaze never left me.

Such a warm, fiery stare—it’s great for warming up before the real match.

“Next, Nickel Zamen of Dmitri, step forward.”

Huh? That female knight is from Dmitri?

No wonder she seemed dim-witted.

Dmitrians are known for their combative nature, which often gives them the appearance of low intelligence.

A prime example would be Chad.

‘Stop looking at me like that!’

“That’s just a nickname; her full name is Nikeller Zamen… Ah, my apologies.”

Whether it’s Nickel or Nikeller, the council didn’t appreciate corrections.

Nikeller earned herself sharp glares for daring to correct their words.

Hey, Nikeller, don’t make enemies of the council—it’s exhausting.

Look at me—I don’t bother correcting anyone anymore when they confuse Jin and Geenie.

Nikeller, now thoroughly chastened, retreated hastily to the waiting area, muttering something about being from a fallen noble family.

It was becoming clearer what kind of person René was.

All but one of his guardians were nobles.

Did he really dislike associating with commoners that much?

It couldn’t have been easy to assemble such a team intentionally.

“Next up, ahem… Our very own Elan swordsman, Rovenin Fedri. Step forward.”

What? Hey, noble!

What’s with the ahem? Why are you so pleased?

And why did you say it so coquettishly?

That noble was clearly a supporter of René.

No wonder they seemed so delighted about Rovenin’s presence on René’s team.

Judging by the expressions of the council members, it seemed at least eight out of ten were in René’s camp.

Ash sure had an uphill battle ahead.

“Rovenin Fedri, I greet His Majesty the Emperor.”

“…Rovenin, I did not expect to see you here.”

For the first time, the Emperor spoke directly to a guardian.

The council members began to buzz with excitement.

Being near enough to eavesdrop, I perked up my ears to catch their chatter.

Let’s see what they’re whispering about.

“Hoho, with Rovenin on Prince René’s side, his victory is almost assured. Didn’t the Prince do exceptionally well? Recruiting someone as difficult as Rovenin Fedri!”

“Indeed, this is proof that the gods favor us.”

“If we secure Rovenin’s loyalty to Prince René in the future, our influence will undoubtedly grow. Hoho, Rovenin is the key to it all…”

“Enough of this talk! The competition hasn’t even begun! This isn’t a tournament, but a series of one-on-one matches. Prince Ash’s guardians are formidable too. Even if one loses to Rovenin, the other four can still win!”

Hmm, that last noble seems to be on Ash’s side—or should I say the “Ross” faction?

[‘Ross faction? Sounds like a snack.’]

Anyway, that noble is right.

This isn’t a match where one loss decides everything.

That’s why I can afford to set my sights on Rovenin.

Besides, if they have Rovenin, we have ‘me’!

“So, I heard you were gravely injured. How are you now?”

“I have fully recovered.”

Hey! Even if the Emperor is asking about your health, couldn’t you at least say, ‘Thank you for your concern’?

Seriously, is this guy aiming to be not just the continent’s greatest warrior but also its greatest stone-faced stoic?

“I see. How strong was Count Trenfe of Heidrike?”

“He was strong.”

“How strong?”

“…Approximately 71% of my father’s strength.”

What the heck? How do you even calculate that percentage?

Not 70%, but 71%?

He supposedly got beaten to a pulp by Count Trenfe and still rates him at only 71%?

It’s so stingy it’s infuriating.

Maybe I’m just biased against Rovenin, but every word out of his mouth grated on my nerves.

Ugh, what a smug jerk!

Just wait—I’ll show him!

“Very well. You may return.”

At the Emperor’s command, Rovenin gave a slight bow and returned to the waiting area.

The Emperor seemed to like him, brushing off his curt mannerisms.

Well, I guess someone like Rovenin, a poster child for Elan, is worth favoring.

“Now, we will introduce the guardians of the Second Prince, Aaron de Von Epiros. First, Chad, a commoner swordsman from Dmitri.”

Hey! Why emphasize “commoner”? You didn’t do that with René’s team, especially not with Foneya or whoever she was!

This is discrimination! You’re looking down on us just because we’re Ash’s team!

Argh, that noble is smirking!

I glared at the noble in charge of introductions, but he only gave me a condescending look in return.

It was definitely intentional.

“Ah, hello, Your Majesty! No, wait, Your Highness! Um… my name is… Chad. Uh, it’s an honor to have such a great son, I mean prince, like Ash, uh, as your son. Ahahaha!”

This idiot… Argh!

Could you make yourself look any dumber?

Chad didn’t seem to care about being introduced as a commoner and made his self-introduction as clumsy as possible.

I specifically told everyone not to ramble, but here he is, blathering away. When he comes back, I’m going to—

“…Thank you.”

“Ahahaha!”

…Huh?

I cleaned out my ears.

Did the Emperor just say, “Thank you”?

Did he actually like Chad?

That bald-headed idiot?

Well, his smile is kind of endearing, I guess…

Anyway, the Emperor accepted Chad’s fumbling introduction without complaint, which was surprising.

Chad kept grinning like a fool until Lox dragged him back.

Unbelievable.

“Next, Gale, a commoner swordsman from Elan.”

“Hel…lo. My… name… is… Gale. Nice… to… meet… you.”

Why are you talking like that, breaking every word apart?

And you cracked at the end!

Ugh, René’s guardians are mostly nobles and are used to formalities, but our side is clearly out of practice.

Gale returned stiffly, collapsing onto a chair, visibly drained.

He must have been seriously nervous.

“Next, Enk, a commoner spearman from Koran.”

“My name is Enk. I am a member of the Tatio tribe of Koran. It is an honor for my Tatio clan to meet His Majesty the Emperor.”

Oh? Enk’s introduction was actually the best so far.

So, he’s from the Tatio tribe?

The Tatio are the third-largest tribe in Koran and known for producing exceptional spearmen.

While I haven’t seen much of Enk’s spear skills yet, his energy suggests he’s at least on par with a swordsman, maybe even a spearman of higher caliber. That’s reassuring.

“Next, Withry, a spirit mage from Heidrike… Status unknown? Are you perhaps a commoner?”

“Uh? Well… I’m an orphan, so…”

Hey! Don’t ask questions like that!

And Withry, don’t answer them so honestly!

The term ‘cheonin’ referred to a class barely considered human, often equated with slaves.

As Withry hesitated mid-step, her body froze under the cold stares of the council members.

“Proceed.”

“S-Sorry! I’m Withry, a spirit mage… I’ll introduce myself.”

To everyone’s surprise, the Emperor, who had displayed no emotion until now, frowned in displeasure and ordered the council to move things along. Withry, seemingly touched by his intervention, spoke tearfully.

“Thank you, Your Majesty! I may be an orphan… but I’ve worked hard to make something of myself! I’m from Heidrike and, um, actually the top disciple of Master Lidrat Theatrazen.”

…Wait a second, wasn’t that supposed to be a secret?

It seemed Withry couldn’t bear being looked down on as one of Ash’s guardians and had decided to reveal her connection to the famous master.

It worked.

Not only did the council murmur in surprise, but the Emperor’s eyes lit up with interest.

Though their reactions were nothing compared to the shock of our group.

“E-Eh? Withry is Master Theatrazen’s disciple?”

“I… I didn’t know! Withry never told me that!”

“Theatrazen? Is that… food?”

“…No, it’s not something you eat.”

Lox and Gale seemed to know who Theatrazen was, but Chad and Enk wore blank expressions.

Ugh, they recognize Rovenin but don’t know Theatrazen? Stop underestimating spirit mages!

Withry pressed her lips together and returned to the waiting area, only to collapse into tears beside Gale.

“Sniff… I did well, didn’t I, Gale?”

“Huh? Uh, yeah, you did great, really! That noble was awful. Why would they ask such a thing?”

“Sniff… Now my master’s going to scold me. He told me not to tell anyone. Hic.”

Withry glanced at me briefly, tears streaming down her face.

I gave her a sly grin.

A brilliant idea had just struck me—one that might mean I wouldn’t need to visit Theatrazen after all.

I had been dreading that prospect anyway.

“Withry, if you don’t want to get scolded, why not just live here?”

“Huh? How could I? This is a succession trial, remember?”

“Didn’t you know? If Ash becomes the Crown Prince, we’ll be granted viscountcies in Elan. That includes citizenship. Since you’re going to marry Gale eventually, you’d live here anyway. Why not take the opportunity to settle down as a couple of viscounts?”

Withry’s eyes widened in disbelief, as did the rest of the group’s.

Apparently, they hadn’t known.

Oh, right—I hadn’t told them yet! If they ask later how I found out, I’ll just say Ash told me.

Ash would do anything I say, anyway.

“R-Really? But the competition isn’t over yet…”

“Don’t worry. Do you think three out of five of us will lose? We just need three wins, and we’re all set.”

I already held noble status in Dmitri, but having another title wouldn’t hurt.

As I was about to further manipulate Withry, I heard my name being called.

“A spirit mage from Dmitri, a commoner—Geenie.”

Oh, really?

That noble must’ve been irritated by Withry’s revelation about being Theatrazen’s disciple.

Hmph, so they can’t stand the idea of Ash doing well because they’re on René’s side?

I strode confidently into the arena, stepping onto the stage.

There was no need to go all the way up, but I thought it might make a better impression—and I could check on Rai in the process.

The stage was large, and even standing on it, I was still ten paces from the box.

Approaching it further would look suspicious, so I stopped where I was.

[Rai! Are you in the box?]

[Grrr, Master, it’s so cramped in here!]

Confirming Rai’s presence, I turned to face the Emperor.

I shifted my left leg back, bent at the waist, and placed one hand over my chest while the other rested behind my back.

It was the standard greeting of respect among nobles, especially when addressing someone of higher rank.

“Greetings, Your Majesty. I trust you’ve been well?”

“And… who might you be?”

Though I greeted him warmly, the Emperor seemed unable to place me.

Well, that wasn’t surprising.

The last time he’d seen me up close was ten years ago, and even a passing encounter had been half a year ago.

Expecting the Emperor, who met countless people, to remember my face was wishful thinking.

I opened my mouth to introduce myself.

“I am—”

“Wait! I object!”

Just as I was about to give my name—not that it would have been much of a revelation—Cridit interrupted, climbing onto the stage.

What’s her problem now?

Why is she causing a scene at such an important moment?

I glared at her sharply.

“Who are you to interrupt before His Majesty? Return to your place at once!”

“But that woman is completely unfit to be a guardian! She’s not only ignorant but also cruel. How can someone like her be allowed to stand before His Majesty?”

“What do you mean? Are you accusing this spirit mage of something?”

“Of course! The reason my breath reeks like this is because I was tricked by her! She fed me a strange flower. Ever since I ate it, this rotten stench has followed me everywhere! And that flower was from the imperial palace grounds! She tampered with palace property and should be punished severely!”

Oh, so that’s what this is about?

How is that cruel? At least I didn’t break anyone’s hand for groping me, unlike ‘her’.

As much as I wanted to snap at her, this wasn’t the time for “just Geenie.” This was the moment to be “Geenie Crowell.”

People who knew me understood that I worked hard to maintain a certain image, especially in front of royals or nobles.

It made life so much easier.

“Is this true?”

“…I did pluck a flower, yes. But is that truly such a grave offense?”

“Hmm. And what about this smell she’s complaining about?”

“I have no idea. I merely picked the flower because it looked pretty and offered it to her as a gesture of goodwill. As for the smell… I’m afraid I don’t know anything about that.”

My calm denial left the noble visibly conflicted about whom to believe.

The Emperor, looking bored, waved a hand dismissively.

“Flowers bloom to wither, after all. So what if one was plucked early? Shall I dole out punishment for that? I am not so cruel. If punishment is to be dealt, it should fall upon ‘you,’ Cridit, was it? How could a noblewoman behave in such a disgraceful manner?”

“But, Your Majesty…!”

“I do not wish to hear it. Are you now attempting to lecture me? Glorisrenne! Your guardian is utterly childish and thoughtless. Is this the kind of person you entrust your back to?”

“N-No, Your Majesty! I will reprimand her properly, so please, please calm your anger…!”

Oh-ho, serves you right, René.

Seeing the First Prince being scolded by the Emperor was deeply satisfying.

Though I missed the chance to properly introduce myself, Cridit’s expression—like she had bitten into something rotten—made up for it.

Pfft, the face she made with her stinking breath only made it funnier.

“Ahem! Spirit mage from Dmitri, Geenie! Proceed with your introduction once more.”

“Ahem, then, with that brief interruption… Greetings, Your Majesty. As you heard, I am from Dmitri, and I consider myself a patriot.”

“…Hmm?”

“My homeland is the Crowell estate in Dmitri. Furthermore, I humbly handle the spirits of water, though my abilities are modest.”

I hoped they’d understand by now, but everyone still looked confused.

Well, I couldn’t blame them.

It would be hard to reconcile ‘me,’ standing here with my short blonde hair, with the rumors of the elegant and self-sacrificing noblewoman, Geenie Crowell.

Not to mention, even among commoners, short-haired women were rare—usually mercenaries or swordswomen at best.

“If you’ve finished your introduction, you may return to your seat.”

“Oh? My introduction is only just beginning. It’s disappointing that no one seems to recognize me. After all, I am an imperial hero, am I not? His Majesty personally granted me a title in recognition of my service—saving the lives of His Majesty, my king, and the leading nobles of several nations at great personal sacrifice.” (T/N: Let’s go Geeniieeeeeeeee!)

I smiled lightly.

For a brief moment, the Emperor’s eyes sparkled with interest.

At least someone in the room had a sharp mind.

Well, it made sense—he wouldn’t be Emperor otherwise.

“…What did you say your name was?”

There it is—that’s the question I was waiting for.

I glanced around the room.

The council members, René, and his guardians all looked equally baffled.

Naturally, my gaze lingered on Rovenin.

Of course, he maintained that stone-cold expression of his.

I snorted softly.

Hmph! I’ll wipe that stoic look off your face in ten seconds flat.

“My name is Geenie. And… my surname is Crowell. A common first name, I admit, but the surname is quite distinct, no? Pfft, some even call me Geenie ‘Ten’ Crowell.”

“Ten…!”

The room erupted into murmurs.

Allies, opponents, and council members alike were stunned.

Everyone except Ash, it seemed, shared the same shock.

The Emperor’s face lit up with recognition.

Of course, he would know.

The name “Ten,” placed between a first and last name, signified an imperial hero—a rare honor granted by the Emperor himself.

This designation could be passed down for three generations, and those who held it were permitted to use it when introducing themselves, though it was optional.

Most commoners didn’t even know what “Ten” meant, so I rarely used it myself.

Honestly, it just didn’t sound good to me.

It lacked elegance—truly, an issue of aesthetics.

(T/N: Oh no!! 5 more chapters left before the finale!)