Chapter 57
“Oh. I guess now isn’t the time to be gossiping about my exes. How many are coming? How big is the force?”
“Roughly ten thousand. Maybe more.”
Zynie answered. She had seen the massive column of troops through Donovan, and the sight of the fields flooded with gold-colored ranks was so shocking her eyes still felt sore.
“We have nowhere to retreat, so we have no choice but to fight. Which is why…”
Virelda glanced sideways at Alnazir.
“Are you really sure that thing of yours—whatever he is, octopus or jellyfish—can actually count as combat power?”
It seemed Virelda had decided, however reluctantly, to accept that he was an invoked. Meanwhile, Zynie still looked uncertain, stealing nervous glances at him.
“Why are all three of you staring at me all of a sudden?”
Alnazir folded his arms.
“Are you talking about me?”
He couldn’t understand their words, but the atmosphere definitely wasn’t friendly.
“No. We weren’t looking at you at all. Don’t worry about it.”
And Fay lied in the most obvious way possible.
Alnazir shot her a sharp look that said, You’re caught—just say it. She turned her head away.
Did she just ignore him on purpose? No… surely not. That silly witch probably just didn’t understand complicated emotional cues.
Even so, something about it bothered him.
The witches went back to their discussion.
“I’ve been searching for information about invokeds that can turn into humans.”
But it was useless. Virelda said.
She had even gone into the forbidden tower, digging through every book she could find. All she learned was that Zynie hadn’t been lying. There were records of fish-men and bird-men, but nothing about a being that could mimic a human so perfectly.
“Does it really communicate properly with you?”
“Of course! Invokeds can talk with witches, right?”
“Not in writing—out loud?”
Fay nodded quickly.
“…So it really is an invoked?”
“Do you still think I’m lying? That I’ve been tricked?”
“…It’s just that this kind of invoked has never been recorded before. You can’t blame me for being cautious.”
Honestly, it was hard to believe. But with ten thousand enemies coming, Virelda had to believe. They barely had a thousand allies and it was a long shot. She’ll use anything she can.
She had to use all her might, so a simple verbal confirmation was the best she could do. She was anxious, but Virelda swallowed back a sigh and asked.
“Does that invoked really follow your commands?”
“…Y-yeah!”
Fay’s answer was hesitant.
“Since you contracted it, that man… invoked is entirely your responsibility.”
If it harms allies or causes trouble, you’ll be held accountable. Are you fully aware of that? Virelda asked menacingly.
“I know! Don’t worry. It just didn’t listen once before. Normally it obeys!”
She remembered the enormous tentacles from their first meeting. With something like that, it could wipe out enemies by the hundreds. Fay puffed up her chest and said she’d protect everyone.
Could they really trust her? Virelda wasn’t convinced, but suddenly a shadow fell over them.
“How long are you planning to talk?”
Alnazir had come up behind them. His face was shadowed, but his eyes gleamed ominously.
“We’re done!”
Startled, Fay answered at once.
If she asked him to wait any longer, it felt like he might lose his temper. She’d just been boasting that he followed her orders perfectly—this timing couldn’t have been worse.
She quickly grabbed both of his hands so he wouldn’t summon his tentacles.
“Anyway, don’t worry—he is combat-ready!”
As if fleeing, she dragged Alnazir down the stairs. Only after Virelda and Zynie were completely out of sight did she finally slow to a stop.
She let go of his hands, which she’d been gripping tightly out of anxiety. They were both red from how hard she’d held on.
Alnazir stared quietly at his flushed hands before speaking.
“You make too many expressions when you talk.”
“…Expressions?”
“You keep smiling. And even your smiles are all different. Not very proper.”
So that was a complaint?
Fay’s mouth fell open in disbelief. What kind of an invoked nitpicked at a witch for smiling too much?
“Fine. From now on, I’ll be proper and stoic—just like you.”
She exaggeratedly pulled her lips down and rolled her eyes upward.
“Not with me. With the others.”
“And in front of you?”
“You should smile.”
“That’s completely self-centered!”
What an unbelievably picky invoked. Fay shook her head as if she couldn’t deal with him anymore.
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