The One and Only Sami Chapter 12

“No, first of all, to enter this house, you need the master’s permission…”

The house didn’t even belong to Sami. Sami spoke tentatively, feeling Razard’s gaze directly on him.

“You shouldn’t come in without permission…”

Mumbling though he was, he still managed to say everything he needed to.

Sami carefully shifted his eyes, which had been darting away the whole time, to look at Razard. Resting his chin on his hand as he listened, Razard looked bored—and as arrogant as a young Lord.

He gave a thin smile and replied.

“I didn’t come to see the homeowner; I came because I have business with you.”

It was, indeed, a reply as arrogant as a bored young Lord’s.

And it made sense, as the reason Razard moved was usually for ‘himself.’ His way of skipping all formalities and customs to get what he wanted was truly admirable in a sense. Though, more often than not, it was just plain exasperating.

“What kind of business brings you here at this hour…”

“Happy birthday.”

“…”

Sami was rendered speechless.

“I’m the first to wish you, right?”

“You… you came here just to say that? To wish me a happy birthday?”

“Among other things. I’ve been waiting for this day for quite a while.”

“Excuse me?”

Sami was originally a clever servant who did his job efficiently without needing to ask for clarification multiple times. One had to be at least that capable to be part of Salif’s household.

However, Sami was helpless against Razard’s way of speaking—blatantly blurting out only what he wanted to say. Once again, he found himself blankly asking back at Razard’s headstrong, shameless, and arrogant remarks.

“Why were you waiting for it?”

“I told you I’d come to collect the scent when the time was right.”

“Is that today?”

“I’m here to find out.”

Razard, who had been sitting as relaxed as if he were in his own home, stood up.

He stretched his interlaced fingers forward and, with a fluid motion, waved the back of his hand in front of Sami. Rings set with large gemstones were still perched on every one of his fingers, sparkling brilliantly.

“I’d like you to help me find this.”

“…Now?”

One corner of Razard’s mouth twitched upward. Looking at that face—which suggested no answer was even necessary—Sami went from being speechless to feeling like he couldn’t even breathe.

“So suddenly, without any preparation? No, more than that, at this hour…”

“I’ve already handled the preparations. And I’ll have you back here before sunrise. I’ll even give you my elixir so you won’t be tired, alright? I promise.”

“…! U-uuugh…”

Sami’s mouth opened and closed repeatedly with every word Razard spoke, until finally, he looked ready to cry. It was incredibly annoying how Razard blocked every possible rebuttal, but in the end, Sami had nothing left to say.

“It’s not like I’m asking you to risk your life by entering a cave alone, trekking through poisonous mists, resisting the temptation of a serpent, and defeating a Djinn just to pull out an old lamp. What’s the big deal?”

Razard hummed as he stood before Sami. As Razard pursed his lips and blew a low whistle, a carpet embroidered with ornate patterns appeared, draped over the window frame waiting for them. It was the same carpet Sami had gripped tightly the last time he flew through the sky with Razard.

Razard hopped onto the carpet with one foot. Then, he reached out his hand toward Sami.

“Besides, if you fall into a trap and get into trouble, you have someone to save you.”

What’s the problem? Razard’s attitude was so clean and refreshing that it possessed a magical quality, making even the listening Sami think, ‘Is that so?’

Though, he quickly snapped out of it and tried to press him with questions.

“Is it very dangerous? Like, life-threatening danger, or being chased by sorcerers, or getting hurt… Whoa!”

But the intruder before him was absolutely not the type to wait and entertain every single word. Without further discussion, Razard simply scooped Sami up and plopped him down onto the carpet.

“I wasn’t even finished talking!”

“If I listened to all your mumbling doubts, the sun would be up. I told you there’s nothing to be dangerous. I said I’d save you. What exactly is the problem?”

“Well, that’s because…!”

Even for a Sami who said his piece, he couldn’t exactly snap back with, ‘It’s because I don’t trust you!’ He was already sitting on a carpet floating in mid-air; he couldn’t afford to further provoke the carpet’s owner.

Sami finally resigned himself and tightly gripped the tassels of the carpet.

“…You have to fly gently.”

“As you command.”

As if making a show of granting that request, Razard’s carpet flew gracefully across the dawn horizon. Sami’s sigh scattered along the same trajectory.

⚜️

“This place is…”

Getting off the carpet, Sami looked around in a daze. It was too dark to see clearly, but the gently shimmering water and the tall, looming palm trees were definitely similar to the scenery Sami had seen before.

“This is that oasis from back then.”

“Correct.”

Razard gave the bewildered Sami a half-hearted pat on the head and walked ahead. As Sami hurried to catch up, Razard used his hands, wet from the lake water, to roughly wipe Sami’s forehead and cheeks.

Sami’s curly hair got wet and stuck to his skin. When Razard swept the hair back, it revealed a round forehead.

“Is the gem here? Did it fall in the water? My swimming is…”

“No need for that.”

As Razard tapped the edge of the lake with his toe, a blue light rippled beneath the surface. It was as if the water were responding to his touch.

Once the brilliant light—which seemed to emanate from the deep inner reaches of the oasis—subsided, the surface of the water split in half with a roar. Before Sami could even say anything in surprise, the bed of the lake, or rather, a cavern at the bottom of the lake, was revealed like a gaping mouth.

A cave beneath an oasis, not even the sea. Sami swallowed hard. Surely…

“Go on in.”

Just as he thought. Sami stared at the split oasis with despairing eyes. He knew this was suspicious business, but it was hard to remain calm after seeing a lake crack open before his eyes.

“Um, Razard.”

“What are you doing not coming?”

Razard was already walking ahead with his sword slung over his shoulder. Having already set foot on the lake bed, Razard looked back at Sami.

“No, I’m coming…”

Being next to a man who was so composed while flying through the sky, insulting sorcerers, and splitting an oasis in front of him, Sami felt embarrassed to even look surprised. Even as Sami took cautious steps, the cross-section of the lake was clearly visible, as if it had been sliced open and pushed aside with a blade.

“Is there anything left for me to be surprised by…?”

“Probably.”

Razard turned his head toward Sami and gave a playful, mischievous grin.

I guess he thinks this is fun… Sami slumped his shoulders again and followed behind him.

The inside of the cave was also a structure where water fell in long streams from the ceiling. Every direction was draped in transparent waves, creating an entirely bluish glow.

Between the currents that flowed like thin silk, the reflections of the two men appeared. On the shimmering waves, which stood upright like a wall of water, he saw a small face frozen stiff with fear.

“Sami.”

Razard, who was walking half a step ahead, suddenly thrust the back of his hand forward. Even though the only light in this cave was the faint, flickering glow following the ripples of the water, the rings were still shining clearly.

“Does a scent similar to this gem come from anywhere?”

“I feel like you’re treating me like a hunting dog…”

“Should I really treat you like one?”

“No…”

Sami looked down and replied instantly. As if Sami were being precious, Razard gave his head a good rub.

The thought occurred to him that if this wasn’t being treated like a pet, then what was, but if he showed any more curiosity, Razard might ‘really’ treat him like one. Like a clever servant, Sami quickly folded away his useless curiosity.

“If anything happens, call my name loudly.”

“Yes, sir.”

Sami and Razard frowned as they looked around the inner cave, where paths were starting to branch off.

“Um… I don’t feel anything.”

“It’s alright. There aren’t many people who can clearly sense Marut’s scent. Even I only know it vaguely.”

Razard waited patiently for Sami before speaking.

“If it doesn’t work, just go wherever your feet take you. I’ll follow.”

It was hard to just brush it off by saying he didn’t know. Sami finally began to trudge forward.

He had always liked the adventure stories told by storytellers, but now that it was his turn to play the role, he just felt dazed. He couldn’t shake the feeling that he’d been thoroughly snared by a person he never expected.

Sami quietly looked around once more. Far from the scent of a gemstone, the place was thick with the white, damp mist created by the falling water, and the smell of water was everywhere. There was no particular scent he could pick up.

But… deep within the veil of water, it felt as though a long silhouette was flickering.