The One and Only Sami Chapter 8

“I told you that’s how you should have answered from the start.”

Like he was coaxing a cat, Razard set Sami down and lightly brushed his cheek. He was casual yet gentle, moving with the ease of someone stroking a kitten that couldn’t quite understand his words.

The contact lasted only a moment, but a rich, exotic fragrance lingered on Razard’s fingertips. He moved like a man accustomed to such intimacy and command. Sami wondered for a second if he might actually be a nobleman rather than a magician, but—

“If you’d made me wait much longer, I was planning to toss you straight to that snake.”

There was no way a noble would say something so terrifying. As a servant to a dignified elder and a virtuous young master, Sami couldn’t imagine a person of high status being this violent and rude.

“Razard.”

A sinister voice drifted from behind. Though he couldn’t bring himself to approach Sami while the boy was coated in gold, the magician—his neck stretched out long and thin like a serpent’s—emitted a grotesque groan and glared at the two of them. The whites of his eyes, which had been blood-red, were now stained pitch black, making him look like something not of this world.

Sami was so horrified he couldn’t even manage a scream.

“Razard, hand over that little insect before I rip your belly open.”

“I-I gave him my name! I did exactly what you told me to do!”

Terrified, Sami clung to Razard’s side as if they had never been strangers. He even gripped Razard’s belt tight, as if he wouldn’t let go even if the man changed his mind and tried to push him away. Razard, looking amused at having his clothes grabbed, gave Sami’s cheek a little poke with the hilt of his sword.

“I told you I wouldn’t leave you behind. I keep my promises. Now then.”

He showed his hands to Sami. Every finger was adorned with a ring set with a gemstone larger than a fingernail. The red, blue, and white jewels spilled out diamond-shaped flashes of light every time Razard moved his fingers.

“Which color do you like?”

“Are—are you serious right now? There’s a ma-magician, a snake, right behind us!”

“Blue? Or red? This one is the most recent prize.”

“Can you even hear me, sir?!”

“If you don’t answer, shall we go with this ring?”

He was completely wrapped up in his own world. Sami was less shocked by the luxury of treating priceless gems like candy and more stunned by the man’s attitude, which went beyond “relaxed” into “reckless.”

I even went against my better judgment and told him my name! Sami opened his mouth to snap back at him, but—

“Sun of Harut and Moon of Marut.”

Words entirely unrelated to their conversation flowed from Razard’s lips. In time with the words, Razard lifted his fingers and moved them through the air as if stroking invisible silk.

The movement was slow and graceful, yet different from a dancer’s poise or a musician plucking a string. A lavish, weary flow dwelled at his fingertips.

“Dwellers of the boundary. Midpoint of breath. My Jinni.”

He tossed out seemingly unrelated words without much effort, but the call was a spell. The rings wrapped around Razard’s fingers began to twist and move like serpents.

The moment Sami caught his breath, the gems in the rings began to glow. The light spread in thin strands, instantly transforming into a white mist.

“Heave-ho.”

Razard scooped Sami up and pulled back.

Like a well-rehearsed play, the spot they had just occupied was engulfed in black soot the moment they moved. The feet of the blackened magician called Bisan stomped down on that very spot.

“Hee…!“

The magician scowled, huffing with rage.

“Every Jinni and Shaitan is desperate to tear you apart, yet you dare—you dare!”

As his voice grew thicker with fury, the corners of the alleyway shriveled into blackness.

“You dare chant the Word and practice magic!”

“What can I say? I was born with the talent to command Jinnis and Shaitans like my own limbs. I’m just living up to my potential.”

Even as a complete outsider, Sami thought those words were incredibly obnoxious.

Razard went a step further, shaking his head and looking at Bisan with a pitying gaze. He made it very clear he felt sorry for him.

“It’s quite a bother when you blame me and hurl curses just because your own skills are lacking. Honestly, you magicians and your tongues are always the problem. Next time, I’ll have to cut it out as punishment for your sins, Bisan.”

Razard stuck his tongue out at Bisan. While the magician fumed at the blatant provocation, Razard jumped into the mist with Sami in his arms.

“Wh-whoa…!”

“No need to be surprised. I told you.”

The mist, smelling sweet like flower oil, enveloped them. Razard covered the mouth of the gasping, panicked Sami. The same scent as the mist drifted from his fingertips.

“Shh,” Razard coaxed, letting out a soft breath through his teeth to calm him. By the time Sami’s shoulders relaxed, the reddish mist settled down flat.

A powerful wind rushed overhead. When Sami, who had been huddling in Razard’s arms out of fear, finally dared to peek—

“I’m trying to save you, mate.”

Sami and Razard were already flying through the sky.

“…!”

Sami’s mouth hung open. He had to shake his head and nod repeatedly just to accept the fact that he was currently riding a carpet that flew like a bird.

“E-Excuse me, sir. Right now, we’re…!”

“Razard.”

Despite Sami’s dazed voice, the man simply said what he wanted to say. Sami was still stuck to him like glue. He had no choice. They were in the middle of the sky.

The flapping wind whipped against his ears. Even Sami’s short vest fluttered wildly in the high-altitude gusts. Every time Razard’s bandana whipped in the air, the dangling gold ornaments clinked together, making a beautiful sound.

“Sir?”

“The name is Razard. Say it.”

“Ra—Razard.”

“Call me that from now on.”

From now on? Sami wondered if they would ever even meet again, but he nodded reflexively.

Looking satisfied, Razard lay back comfortably on the carpet. Even though a single slip could send them plummeting, he seemed so used to it that he even crossed his legs and wiggled his toes. Too terrified to even sit up straight, Sami huddled down low.

“Sami.”

“Yes, sir?”

Sami, who had been spaced out by the flight, snapped to attention. It finally hit him that he had actually given Razard his name.

“Bisan… that creepy magician won’t be able to follow us now. I kept my promise.”

“Pardon?”

When a shell-shocked Sami failed to keep up with the conversation, Razard arched an eyebrow. He spoke slowly, emphasizing every word.

“Just as you asked, I’ve helped you escape the magician.”

“…”

He seemed to think he was being quite generous by putting up with the stuttering, confused Sami; his expression was actually somewhat benevolent.

While he had “saved” him from the magician only to leave him dangling high in the sky, it did technically count as helping. However, as soon as the carpet banked sharply into a turn, Sami shrieked and threw his arms around Razard’s waist.

“Gyah…!”

It seemed his deathly pale face wouldn’t get its color back until his feet were on solid ground. Sami squeezed Razard’s waist with all his might. He felt like he’d fly off into the blue if he let go for even a second. Razard watched the trembling Sami with a look of disbelief and laughed.

“How can you be such a coward when you had the nerve to pour oil all over me?”

“We weren’t in the sky back then! I-I feel like I’m going to fall!”

“The Jinni I command doesn’t make mistakes like that.”

Razard was lazily stroking the carpet when he suddenly let out a small exclamation as if remembering something.

“Ah, but then again.”

His well-formed lips curved into a long, slick smile.

“Unless it’s not a mistake.”

Sami, who had only been clutching the man’s clothes until then, lunged and clung to him the moment Razard finished his sentence. He stuck to him like a little lizard on a wall, his eyes already swimming with tears.

“Haha, I won’t drop you. Don’t worry.”

Razard chuckled repeatedly, clearly finding great entertainment in teasing the innocent servant.

“Put—put me down, please…”

“Don’t worry, we’re almost there anyway.”