Ash's Taste in Companions
Now that I had them all gathered in one place, I could clearly see Ash's taste in people.
He seemed to prefer the trustworthy, decent types. Both Enk and Gail had that solid reliability about them—the kind that suggested they wouldn't stab you in the back.
In other words, the sort of upright people who would protect even a total stranger like Einy, carving away at their own flesh if they had to.
Chad was a bit dense, Enk's speech was on the light side, and Gail had a somewhat negative streak, but at their core, they were clearly good people.
Of course, this was just my impression, but I had quite a bit of confidence in my ability to read people. Having a dirty and picky personality meant I was equally picky about who I associated with.
So these are the guardian candidates who'll help make Ash the crown prince.
Chad, Enk, and Gail.
Knowing things they didn't made me watch the three seemingly close men with a scrutinizing eye. Enk, however, appeared to interpret my gaze as interest in him personally.
The way he kept winking one eye made it look like he had some kind of ocular condition.
"You're a Spirit Master?"
"Yeah. A water Spirit Master."
It had been several months since the whole party had reunited, so we'd found a restaurant famous for its delicious food, loaded up the table, and were deep into dinner.
The six of us around the table made it feel like a big family meal.
"I've heard of them, but I don't really know much. What exactly are they?"
"Explaining it would take too long and it's a pain."
"...Ah."
"You'll figure it out when you see it."
It looked like Enk needed to learn the hard way that asking me questions was pointless. Time would sort him out.
"I know one thing. It's a job that demands even more talent than a mage, right? Only people born with the gift can become Spirit Masters."
"Isn't that the same for mages?"
"Mages just need to be able to handle mana. Spirit Masters are different, aren't they?"
Gail, who came from Baylan's public academy, seemed to know more than Chad or Enk.
"To put it simply, Spirit Masters are people who summon and command beings known as spirits."
"Hmm... What are spirits?"
"There are some. Blue ones."
Chad, who had seen a few, tried to sound knowledgeable, but it wasn't very convincing.
"Not all of them are blue, you know?"
"Then is it like red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple? That kind of thing?"
"The one I saw was only blue. Wait, no. There was one that sparkled."
The conversation continued, heavy with question marks, and to the curious glances thrown my way, I answered by steadily shoving more food into my mouth.
Don't talk to me while I'm eating.
If you want a lecture on spiritology from me, start by turning into a dragon first.
"Ahem. Jeanie hates it when people pry into her business."
"Why? I'm just trying to get to know her."
"She hates getting close to people too... She only acts friendly when she feels like it..."
"Eek!"
They were treating me like some kind of cat.
I listened as Ash quietly explained my self-indulgent personality to Enk and Gail while reaching for the seafood skewer loaded with shrimp and scallops.
Ugh.
It was so far away I practically had to stand up, but my hand still couldn't reach it. This oversized table for multiple people was ridiculously large.
It was too much trouble to get out of my chair, so maybe I should just summon a spirit. Show off my first bit of spirit magic right here...
"Here."
The one who couldn't bear watching me struggle and stood up himself was Ash.
He was sitting just as far away as I was, too.
How touching. When did our Ash grow up enough to do something this sweet?
"Is one enough?"
"No."
I accepted the two heavy seafood skewers Ash handed over, unable to hide how moved I was.
You're a good man.
"...So, exactly how far are you planning to travel with us?"
While pulling a shrimp off the skewer, I glanced at Lox.
He cut in with a sharp tone, as if he wanted to rip apart the silent exchange of looks between me and Ash.
"I don't know?"
"If you don't know, then who does?!"
"Until I lose interest?"
"Are you seriously thinking of following us all the way to Heidricke?"
"Why? Is that a problem?"
Had my presence suddenly become inconvenient?
When Lox began to tremble with frustration, the whole area fell silent.
Why was the mood like this? These shrimp are delicious.
"Ash! This is the time to be clear! If you respect Enk and Gail, you need to draw a proper line! We've suffered for over ten months to barely find this location—does it make any sense to suddenly share it with this woman?!"
"This skewer is really good."
"Oh, is it?"
"Now that Enk and Gail are here, we can't just do whatever we want! We have to ask their opinions, and if they say no, we need to kick this woman out immediately! We're a team!"
"You should try one too, Chad."
"Let me have one..."
"Will you people listen when someone is talking?!"
Why was he getting so worked up?
Lox was always far too nitpicky.
I kept chewing my shrimp while meeting Lox's fierce glare. Munch, munch.
"Look at those completely indifferent eyes!"
"It's so noisy while I'm trying to eat. So what's the problem?"
"You know we're searching for the Cup of the Golden Star!"
"I do."
"Enk and Gail have located the place where it's estimated to be buried. We're heading there! But we can't possibly take you!"
Only then did I understand why Lox was flying into such a rage.
In short, he didn't want me tagging along. It was like I was trying to freeload on a group project.
After tracking something for over ten months only to finally find a potential treasure spot, having some random passerby tag along would make anyone want to beat them to death.
"I get what you're saying."
"Then from now on, separately—!"
"Even if by some one-in-a-million chance it happens, but if we somehow luckily find it, you can leave my name off the list of discoverers."
Finding the Cup of the Golden Star—one of the famous ancient artifacts—would allow the discoverers to earn considerable fame across the continent.
But I had zero interest in such petty things. My fame was already at max level anyway.
"What is that long-winded addition supposed to mean...! You're thinking we won't be able to find it at all, aren't you!"
"Pioneer, hero, adventurer—whatever they call you, make sure you leave your name in history. I'll be cheering you on."
No matter what I said, Lox kept getting worked up.
The rest of the party, however, didn't seem to care about being left off the discoverers list. The atmosphere quickly returned to its previous harmonious state.
"If that's how it is, then going together is fine. I approve."
Enk was the first to welcome me.
Chad didn't take long either.
"I'm in too. I don't think I'll die if I'm with her? As long as she doesn't kill me."
"Is it that serious?"
"She may not look it, but she's a powerful asset. Even if me, Ash, and Enk all jumped her at once, we wouldn't stand a chance."
"I'm surprised. If Chad says that much... then I approve as well."
The mood was one of easy acceptance all around.
Even Gail, who had seemed rather guarded, soon nodded willingly. There was no need to ask Ash.
"Have you all lost your minds! How can you make such an easy decision when you've barely met her? There's a limit to being casual about things!"
Lox pounded his chest in frustration as his plan to drive me out failed to go his way.
"Well, she seems close to Ash? And Ash is a good judge of character. He's the leader, after all."
"Ancient treasures are usually protected by lots of magic traps, so we need someone with magic abilities too."
"Spirit."
"Ah, right. Spirit type. Since we're all swordsmen."
"Spearman."
"Sorry."
Enk looked a bit sheepish after the corrections from me and Gail, but they were clearly different things. Lumping them together carelessly would annoy anyone.
"Ugh...! This can't be happening!"
It wasn't intentional, but the flow was heading toward me officially becoming a temporary party member if Lox gave in.
Until now I'd simply followed them one-sidedly, but becoming an official member carried a different weight.
Even if it was only temporary.
I pointed the finished shrimp skewer at Lox.
"Lox? Who was it that saved you when you were getting beaten up in that alley?"
"...Y-you..."
It was also me who set the trap, but whatever.
"Who was the miraculous person who fixed your glasses in two days when you said it would take a week?"
"I don't know how you did it, but... it was you."
"Who was the water Spirit Master that healed your swollen leg?"
"...Lady Jeanie."
His face was twisted with resentment.
I had a condition where seeing someone drowning in defeat made me want to laugh.
"Hehe. I'll specially grant you the honor of serving me. Everyone, consider yourselves lucky."
I sat arrogantly in my chair and shrugged my shoulders for emphasis.
Ash and Chad were used to it and didn't even glance over, but Enk and Gail looked at me with expressions that clearly wondered what was wrong with me.
Ugh, this is so embarrassing.
This damn spirit.
Isn't there a cure for queen bee syndrome?
The room was so dark it felt like someone was worried the mice might overhear, with every door locked tight.
Several maps of varying sizes were spread across the table.
Southern region, northern region, full continental maps—the areas they covered were all different, but they shared one thing in common: they were all ancient common maps from a very long time ago.
Maps from at least eight thousand years ago, from the era known as the ancient period.
Compared to modern maps, their accuracy was extremely low, making them practically useless.
I had no idea why Lox had suddenly laid them all out.
"Ahem! I'm not exactly thrilled about your joining us, but since you've become part of the party, I suppose I should at least give you the basic explanation of our objective."
"I'm not interested..."
"The reason we're searching for the Cup of the Golden Star, the meaning behind it, our goals and determination..."
"Just skip the details. I'm sleepy, and I'll probably forget it all anyway."
"Excuse me. I'm doing this because of you, you know?"
He was trying to sound serious and weighty, but that didn't magically create interest where there was none.
It was the middle of the night, and having just stuffed myself, I kept yawning.
This was the inn room we'd taken.
"Hey, can't this wait until tomorrow?"
"I feel like I've heard that line about twenty times now..."
"I'm tired."
From the looks of it, the only model students here were Lox and Ash.
Chad, who took everything casually, had already flopped onto the bed, while Enk and Gail sat at the table with reluctant, bothered expressions.
They seemed to be listening out of politeness toward me.
"Come on! Don't you all think you're being too half-hearted about this? How do you expect to find the great Cup of the Golden Star with such a sloppy attitude? I've told you over and over to take this seriously!"
"Yeah, yeah."
"Sigh... I didn't even study at the academy at this hour."
"It's funny. Why should I show sincerity when you're the one who wants to explain this so badly?"
I grumbled openly, but it didn't do much good.
Lox seemed firmly convinced that if I was going to travel with them, I needed to share the basic information.
That's what being on a team meant, after all.
Though unity was the last thing on my mind, I had no choice but to sit through Lox's mandatory lecture whether I liked it or not.
"We're not here to play around! We're risking our lives to find the Cup with everything we've got! If you're coming with us, you need to have the same level of resolve. We won't tolerate you just coasting along! You there! Yes, you—the one yawning right now!"
"Haaam. Fine, just keep it short."
I was willing to bet that if you put Lox and Master Iel in the same room, they could spend three full days and nights complaining about me.
"This is important, so listen carefully. The reason Enk and Gail split off from us was to find these maps."
Over the already numerous maps, yet another map was unfolded.