The Golden-Haired Summoner - Chapter 70: Final Chapter

I vaguely heard Rai and the others shouting, but I forced myself to stand tall.

I could feel Rovenin’s sword piercing through my side, the blade exiting out the back.

So what if my side’s been pierced? People don’t die from a hole in the side, do they? …It hurts!

“Bind Rain!”

Gritting my teeth, I chanted the spell.

Bind Rain—the best binding magic I know that doesn’t kill the target.

It failed against Theatrazen back then, but this time was different!

Silver threads of ice rained down from the sky, wrapping around Rovenin.

‘Hisssss!’

I squeezed out every bit of my remaining mana to trap him in those icy threads.

When I reached my limit, Rovenin was encased in an ice sphere about two meters in diameter.

Though the shape wasn’t perfect—likely because he struggled—it successfully trapped him.

The evidence of his capture was the sword still lodged in my side, protruding from the ice sphere in front of me.

Resting my forehead against the ice, I muttered,

“Ugh, this is cold… No, my side… It hurts!”

Leaning against the rounded Bind Rain, my legs wobbled.

I wanted to faint, but I didn’t know how to fall properly with the sword still embedded in me.

Someone, please help.

“Geenie!”

“…I won.”

Tears welled up in Ash’s eyes as he stood nearby.

Seeing him there, I finally closed my eyes, unable to hold on any longer.

This hurts so much…

—

I must have slept for a long time.

Exhaustion hit me hard, not just from the fight but from all the accumulated fatigue.

And so, I fell into a deep, dreamless sleep.

Well, not entirely dreamless. I vaguely remember something.

‘Pop!’

“Miss Anna, how are you?”

Anna, a tiny mermaid-like spirit no bigger than Undine, appeared in my dream, releasing bubbles everywhere.

I proudly declared, “Hehe, it’s me! I finally beat Rovenin! It’s 1–1 now. I just need to win about ten more times!”

‘Bubble, bubble.’

Anna shook her head and used water droplets to spell out the word “humility.”

“Humility isn’t really my thing. I carry it when I need it, but only then.”

Anna raised her hand, pointing to the end of the strange, dreamy world.

Normally, my dreams were boundless, painted in rainbow hues. But now, there was a boundary, and something dark loomed beyond it.

“What’s that?”

[…Earth…]

“What? Anna, did you just speak? What did you say?”

I leaned closer to listen.

[Mother’s land… Ah… Su…]

What is she saying?

Just as I tilted my head in confusion, something smacked my cheek.

What the—? Did Anna hit me?

I tried to glare at her, but when I opened my eyes, it wasn’t Anna I saw. It was Rai.

[Master, peek-a-boo.]

‘Thwack!’

[Move! Shoo!]

[Ack!]

Startled by his ridiculous antics, I rubbed my eyes and surveyed my surroundings.

It was my room in the Imperial Palace.

Ah, I must’ve been dreaming… Something important, maybe? What was it?

Never mind. Probably not important.

“Yawn…”

Stretching lazily, I noticed it was still morning.

Wait… my side?

Huh?

It doesn’t hurt!

I pulled at my clothes to check, only to find faint red marks where the wound had been. No pain, no injury.

Even stretching didn’t hurt.

Rai piped up, [“Oh, that. A bunch of priests rushed in, went ‘poof,’ and left.”]

“…I see.”

Well, this is the Holy Empire of Elan; there’s no shortage of priests here.

I rubbed the sleep from my eyes and climbed out of bed.

Since I’d slept so long, I wasn’t tired anymore.

[By the way, Master, the reason I woke you up…]

‘Bang!’

“Geenie…!”

Rai muttered, [“The idiots have arrived.”]

You could’ve mentioned that sooner, Rai.

I was mortified by my disheveled hair, wrinkled pajamas, droopy eyes, and—oh no, drool on my face.

The sight of me made the intruders shield their eyes.

“Eek!”

“Ahhh!”

“Agh!”

“Want to scream outside?”

How dare they disturb a lady’s morning!

After kicking them out, a group of maids rushed in.

They bustled around, fixing my outfit and tidying up the room. Among them, a familiar face greeted me.

“Lady Crowell! Do you remember me? I’m Chelsea!”

“Ah, um…”

Who was she again?

“Kyaa! You do remember! It’s an honor! I knew you were extraordinary from the moment I served you at the founding celebration!”

“I’m so honored to serve you! Please, let me know if you need anything!”

“Yes! Anything at all! You like chocolate, right? I’ll get you as much as you want!”

“I can bring chocolate and candy if you’d like!”

Ah, now I remember—Chelsea was one of the maids who had dressed me for that infamous party.

The one where a dragon showed up.

“So, why am I getting dressed up now?”

“There’s a celebratory breakfast with Prince Ross and his Guardians!”

“Ah, to celebrate becoming Crown Prince?”

“Yes!”

Ah, good. At least that wasn’t a dream.

I succeeded in repaying my debt.

When I set my mind to something, I get it done!

—

At breakfast, I carefully followed proper dining etiquette, using utensils from the outside in.

“Hey! Pass the meat! Meat!”

“Huh? Oh, sure. I’ll take that yellow stuff!”

“Sir Gale, say ahhh…”

“Ahhh~.”

As Rai had said, the “idiots” paid no mind to etiquette, making my efforts to eat properly feel foolish.

So, they’re idiots, and I’m the fool?

Which is worse?

Still half-asleep, I wobbled in my seat until Ash spoke to me.

“Geenie, how’s your injury?”

“Oh, it’s fine.”

“Really? Then, if you’re okay with it… I’d like to officially confess—”

“Ah! I forgot my morning meditation! I’ll be back!”

I suddenly remembered what I’d been forgetting all morning.

Quickly wiping my hands, I dashed out of the room.

Meditation should’ve been done before breakfast!

By the time I finished my late morning meditation, the sun was high in the sky.

It seemed I had been meditating for a long time.

Feeling pleased with my meditation’s results, I crawled back into bed.

I need more sleep…

[Master, Ash is coming.]

“…What?!”

Reluctantly, I left my bed and sat at the desk instead.

Knocks echoed through the room before Ash entered.

This overly formal life was starting to get on my nerves.

All it did was make me feel tense and stiff—definitely not something I wanted to prolong.

“Geenie, this…”

“What now?”

Ash handed me a large, flat box.

It was likely a necklace or a circlet.

As expected, the box contained an old necklace, delicate and worn.

“It belonged to my… mother. Please accept it, Geenie. I’ll officially introduce you at a party soon. Just wait a little longer.”

“Take your time.”

“Right! I’ll hurry!”

Oh no. I’ve used sarcasm so much that Ash doesn’t even recognize when I’m being serious.

It’s not that I dislike Ash, but…

Ugh, why does the thought of marriage make me so reluctant?

—

Two weeks had passed since I started staying in the palace.

I was told to visit my family before the official Crown Prince announcement, but…

I get motion sickness from warping.

So, I ended up spending my days at the palace, passing time.

With a library access pass, I spent most of my days there until Ash sent a message.

He wanted to meet.

Why was that busy guy summoning me?

Normally, I hated being summoned, but since it had been a week since I’d seen him, I went to him without any ulterior motive.

After passing through the maids and guards, I entered his room—or rather, his office.

The space was packed with documents and books, and there he was, sitting in the middle of it all.

But something was off.

Ash looked unusually somber.

What’s going on?

“What’s wrong, Ash?”

“Geenie, I… I’m sorry.”

“Sorry? For what?”

“At the Crown Prince’s coronation… I’ll be introducing the Crown Princess.”

For a moment, I froze.

So that’s what he’s sorry about?

Wait, does that mean… he’s not asking me to be the one introduced, right?

No, he’s saying he’ll introduce someone else.

I shook my head, keeping my displeasure clear.

“Listen… I have no plans to get married right now.”

“I’m sorry…”

“Ash, there’s no need to apologize. I care about you, but I’m just not ready for marriage!”

“I’m sorry, Geenie. It’s because… the partner has already been chosen.”

What? For a moment, I thought I misheard him.

This hit me ten times harder—no, a hundred times harder—than the mention of a Crown Princess.

My voice sharpened instinctively.

“What are you saying?”

“I’m sorry. Truly… I’m sorry.”

“So… there’s someone else? For the position of Crown Princess?”

Ash nodded, and instead of feeling sorry for him, I found myself getting annoyed.

I didn’t expect this from you, Ash.

No, it wasn’t entirely his choice—it was the empire’s. But I was still disappointed.

How do I even describe this miserable feeling?

Ash tried to offer an explanation, but I cut him off.

“Don’t bother. You’re saying you’re marrying someone else. Not me.”

“I… I didn’t…”

“So I’m not good enough, huh? I thought I was pretty renowned, but I guess I wasn’t fit to be the Crown Princess, was I?”

Bitter words spilled out of my mouth as I removed the old necklace and the obsidian ring Ash had given me.

I tossed them onto his desk.

So, this is what it feels like to be betrayed—even in love.

I never wanted the position of Crown Princess, but if I were to marry someone, I thought it would be Ash.

Clearly, that was a foolish thought.

“Geenie!”

“If you dare suggest marrying her and staying with me on the side… I’ll kill you.”

I was the one who made you Crown Prince.

Even when I was bleeding out, I did it all for you!

If not for me, you—someone so naive—would never have made it this far.

“I understand you’re angry, but please… take this, at least!”

“I don’t need it!”

If Rai were here, Ash, your throat would be torn out.

And I wouldn’t stop him.

Without saying another word, I turned and left.

I’d heard enough.

‘You’re not good enough.’

I never wanted the lofty title of Crown Princess, but I now realized it wasn’t even an option for me.

I was so arrogant.

I’m such a fool!

—

Seething with rage, I stormed out of the office, leaving Ash behind.

Ash, left alone, leaned on his desk, tears dripping onto the papers.

The ink blurred as he cried silently, too overwhelmed to care.

‘Shhhhhh.’

A ripple distorted the space near him, and a figure emerged.

Golden hair and eyes filled with mischief, his appearance resembled Denika Crowell, Geenie’s younger brother, but his aura was different—arrogant, as if entitlement were his birthright.

“She’s gone?”

“…Yes.”

Ash answered with tears still brimming in his eyes.

Who was this person, someone Ash, the Crown Prince, addressed with such reverence?

The boyish man smirked, nodding in satisfaction.

“Good. If I ever catch you near Geenie again, your empire—no, your entire nation—will be… what’s the word again?”

“…Destroyed?”

“Yeah, that. Your nation will be destroyed. I swear it on the name of the Gold Dragon, Magi. So don’t even think about touching her again.”

‘Shhhhhh.’

As suddenly as he appeared, the Gold Dragon Magi vanished.

Ash, left alone once more, wiped his tears, but they continued to fall.

He clutched the necklace and ring Geenie had thrown at him, his grip tightening.

“Sniff… Sniff…”

Though he cried silently, his heart felt like it was shattering.

It was as if he had betrayed himself.

—

Unable to bear it any longer, I left the palace.

There was no reason for me to stay there any longer.

God, I never thought something like this would happen to me.

It was so absurd that I didn’t even know who to complain to.

Fine!

What love, in my situation?

Marriage isn’t an option, and just dating? Is that even possible in this world?

[Master, shall I go kill that guy right now…]

[No! I’m going home! I’ll go… and rest like crazy!]

Kicking every stone in my path, I stomped down the road.

The moment I left Neikal, I’d ride Rai straight to Dmitri and visit home for the first time in forever.

And then… and then… Ugh!

[Master…]

“It’s just tears, ignore it.”

[Oh, right. With Master, tears come from the eyes and nose, don’t they?]

“…Exactly!”

Practically running, I reached the gates of Neikal.

Goodbye, Neikal! Goodbye, Ash!

I’ve repaid my debt!

And Ash, may we never meet again.

Live well on your own!

At the gates, a crowd had gathered around a bulletin board.

What’s this?

Since it was on my way out, I casually approached, hoping for something to lift my sour mood.

“Wow, Prince Ross is amazing, isn’t he?”

“Of course! They say his coronation will be incredibly grand. I hear the Crown Princess will be announced too.”

Tch, that again?

I started walking again, dragging my feet.

There’s nothing special about him—he’s a traitor!

“They’re recruiting mercenaries to go to Abelas.”

“Yeah, my son’s already applied. He’s proud to join an expedition to explore the unknown continent of Abelas.”

“Apparently, all the lifeforms that disappeared from here are gathered there?”

I stopped in my tracks.

Pushing through the crowd, I reached the bulletin board.

Let’s see…

Ugh, this section is about Ash’s coronation.

Ah, here it is!

Do you know about the unknown continent of Abelas?

We are recruiting warriors to explore it.

It is our land, and uncovering its secrets is our duty.

Discover the legends hidden there and become a hero.

Qualifications:
– Open to citizens of the Elan Union (no restrictions on rank; slaves may apply).
– Must be 17 years or older.
– No gender restrictions.
– Citizens of the Koiren Union are strictly prohibited.

Notes:
– Bring your own weapons and basic supplies.
– Those prone to seasickness must prepare their own remedies.
– Travel will take three months by sea.

Compensation:
– Determined through interviews. Minimum 2 colds/month, up to 100 gold guaranteed.

How to Apply:
– Visit your nearest Guard Station or the Tower of Mages.

– The Elan Union

—

Abelas, huh? I thought I’d never see it in my lifetime, but now they’re organizing an expedition.

It’s too valuable a land to leave untouched forever.

[Hehe, sounds fun! Master, you’re going, right? Right?]

“…Maybe I’ll think about it.”

Of course, I was dying to go.

With my foul mood, I needed something fresh and exciting to clear my head. I immediately dashed to the Mage Tower and sent a communication request.

And what did I do? I begged.

[You… are you trying to win or exhaust me? Sigh…]

The archmage seemed to age before my eyes, and I couldn’t help but worry about him.

Who’s been stressing him out?

‘Ah, Master Yael… Please wait just a little longer. Maybe a year?’

Maybe more.

‘Hehe, Annie. I’ll catch a magical beast for you!’

—

Two months later, I arrived at the port city of Femmington.

From there, I hurried to the ferry port and boarded the expedition ship.

Naturally, as Geenie Crowell.

The captain, moved to tears by my presence, gave me the best cabin on board.

With a necklace made from mermaid shells securely around my neck, I had nothing to fear.

Sure, I got scolded a bit by my father and a lot by my brother, but I wanted to go!

Though the journey would take three months, my heart raced as if we’d arrive tomorrow.

Only a few key personnel had boarded so far, leaving the deck quiet.

Standing by the railing, I gazed at the vast sea, readying myself.

Wait for me, Abelas!

I’m comi—Ahhhh!

“Hey there.”

“…Aaah!”

[Rovenin spotted.]

Why is Rovenin here?!

Why is he on my sacred expedition?!

“Good to see you.”

“…How are you here? Wait, are you also going to Abelas?”

“Indeed.”

“But why? Why?!”

Why would you go? Do you know how much trouble and begging I went through to join?

I barely got in as Dmitri’s representative!

“I heard you were going, so I applied.”

“…What?”

“Let’s fight again. This time, I’ll win.”

“Get lost.”

‘Sigh.’

I exhaled so heavily it felt like the deck might collapse under me.

Ugh, I have to spend at least a year with this guy?

The same guy who put a hole in my side?!

“Oh, by the way, what’s your name again? Something Crowell, right?”

“Geenie Crowell!”

Grinding my teeth, I accidentally pronounced it with the original inflection I hadn’t used in a long time.

Not that he’d notice… or so I thought.

“Geenie Crowell?”

“…What did you say?”

“Geenie Crowell, right? Geenie… It’s unique.”

What in the world?! You’re the first person in this world to pronounce my name correctly. (T/N: Okay, from now on I’m a Rove-nie shipper. Fight me. lol)

“Wait… You can say it properly?”

“Why wouldn’t I?”

“I mean, it’s just…”

[Ahhhhhh!]

Suddenly, Rai’s deafening scream filled my head.

Clutching my temples, I glared at him.

You try hearing this!

Rai was staring toward the sea, trembling violently.

“Rai, what’s wrong?”

[Ma-Ma-Ma…]

What are you trying to say?

As I tried to calm him down, a hand appeared over the railing.

What… what is that?

Below us was definitely the sea, so how…

“Wh-who’s there?!”

“Geenie…!”

It was Magi.

That adorable face unmistakably belonged to Magi’s polymorphed form.

Since I’d shaped that appearance myself, I couldn’t possibly mistake it.

He smiled angelically and leaped into my arms.

A scream escaped my lips.

For the first time, I understood how Rai felt.

“Ahhhh! Noooo!”

“I missed you, Geenie. Mom said I can play! Let’s play together!”

Magi! Aaaah! What is happening?!

I was in complete panic.

Rovenin, who had been watching, casually asked the Magi in my arms,

“Who are you?”

“Huh? Who are you? Geenie is mine!”

“Is that so? Good for you.”

“Right? Hehe. But who are you?”

Good for who?! And what are you, anyway?!

I was trembling from the shock of both Rovenin and Magi’s unexpected appearances.

If one more person showed up, I might just faint.

Hey, gods! Stop sending people, please!

“Rovenin!”

“Yeah? I’m Magi. Hey, human, I like you. Sometimes, I’ll let you borrow Geenie.”

“Oh, that’s nice. Can I fight her?”

“Sure! Just don’t leave any marks!”

Gurgle.

How was I supposed to deal with these insufferable weirdos?

I staggered, leaning heavily against the railing, still holding Magi in my arms.

[Master! Noooo! You can’t die! You can’t leave me behind!]

“Eh? Geenie, what’s wrong? Are you dying already?”

“I’m not going anywhere! I’m not dead yet!”

Ugh! The journey was just beginning!

There was no way I’d give up because of Rovenin and Magi.

This was just the start of a new adventure.

Wait for me, Abelas!

I’ll conquer you—with these lunatics by my side.

****************************************************************

Heya everyone!

Wow, I can’t believe we’ve made it through all 70 chapters of this amazing novel together. Thank you so much for sticking with me through this journey—it’s been a lot of fun!

Sadly, this is where the unrevised version ends. From what I’ve found out, the publisher went bankrupt, and the author couldn’t finish it the way they wanted. But don’t worry—this isn’t the end of the road for us!

We’re moving on to the revised version, which already has over 300 chapters! I’m currently gathering chapters (I’ve got 20 so far), and here’s where I could use your help. If you happen to have raw copies or know where to get them easily, please send them my way! You can drop them in our Discord channel or email me directly at webnoveltranslation@gmail.com.

For now, I can only grab one chapter per day on Kakao, so every little bit helps us keep up the momentum.

Thank you again for all your support! If you’ve enjoyed this project, please share it with your friends who might love this novel too. Let’s keep this journey going together!

See you in the next chapters! 😊

– G