Anagin Chronicles

Chapter 144

Tramachus had advised that one should address the Oracle as "Oracle" and observe courtesy, at least as a formality.Surprisingly, Anagin tacitly accepted that advice.

No, was it really surprising? In a way, it was only natural.

However, to the Chiron Tower Four, who knew Anagin to some extent, it was nothing short of astonishing.

That’s because... they had watched Anagin's foul and prickly personality from up close more than anyone else.

Like a rebellious three-year-old constantly going off the rails, Anagin was a human who seemed to have collected every unpleasant trait a person could possess.

A complex and multi-layered human who was cranky, arrogant, and unlucky—yet strangely good at what he did when it mattered, making it hard to say anything against him.

So when that Anagin said he would follow the advice, they could not help but feel shocked and moved.

From the Chiron Tower Four’s perspective, it was a weight off their shoulders.

Watching this from the side, Anagin himself felt dumbfounded. It wasn’t as if he were some ill-mannered brute who just ran wild.

......At least, that was how Anagin saw it.

If he really were that kind of person, he would have slapped Atalanta and Irida’s father long ago when the man acted obnoxiously.

However, the well-raised(?) Anagin exercised superhuman patience and endured it. No matter what, he knew the basic human principle that you shouldn’t hit someone else’s parents.

And that wasn’t all. Even when the woodcutter beheaded him, instead of openly laughing, Anagin merely thought to himself, ‘Serves him right!’

Likewise, toward elders who deserved respect—like the old carriage driver or the village chief—he knew how to show courtesy in his own way, and even toward people he only needed to be polite to on the surface, he could at least pretend to observe etiquette.

‘As long as they don’t pull any shitty stunts right in front of me. What’s so special about an Oracle, anyway?’

Running his own calculations, Anagin arrived at a positive conclusion.

Surely, that should be the case.

The Chiron Tower trio seemed unable to believe it and confirmed it several times.

“Then… I’ll believe you.”

“Believe it.”

“I really will. Really.”

“Don’t say ‘really’ twice.”

“I believe you.”

“Are we going to keep this up all day?”

Voices rose for a moment, but the issue was settled like that.

Anagin then visited the high-class inn that the New Argonaut Expedition Team had their eyes on.

It was a building closer to a castle than an inn.

“Thank you.”

“Not at all.”

As soon as they entered, Tramachus shook hands with a man and expressed his gratitude.

Purely by intuition, Anagin guessed he was a practitioner. When asked for the reason, he replied that the man had given up his room at the inn.

“Since the Oracle isn't meeting anyone, the inns are all full, so we obtained it this way.”

“Then where is the person who gave it up going to sleep?”

“Who knows? Probably camping.”

When Anagin made a face as if to ask what kind of nonsense that was, Tramachus provided a supplementary explanation.

Apparently, the person who gave up the room had done so out of goodwill, admiring the New Argonaut Expedition Team.

At that moment, Anagin's brain came up with the interpretation: 'He gave up the room as a sort of bribe to build a connection with the New Argonaut Expedition Team.'

Which wasn’t far from the truth.

The New Argonaut Expedition Team was still in its early stages, but its fame was already high, and it was regarded as a group with tremendous potential.

Personally founded by Great Master Chiron, all members of noble blood, and some were even blood relatives of the Original Argonaut Expedition Team.

It wouldn’t be wrong to say they were the practitioner organization with the brightest future.

It would be stranger if no one wanted to build ties with them.

Still, there was a slight doubt.

As far as Anagin knew, practitioners tended to keep each other in check, and poor information sharing was one example of that.

‘Hmm, does that kind of thing disappear when the gap in level is too big? That could be. The disciples of Chiron Tower were all practitioners too, but rather than seeing Atalanta and Meleager as rivals, they revered them.’

Anagin answered his own question.

As if to confirm it, once they were assigned rooms and went to the dining hall, quite a few practitioners approached the New Argonaut Expedition Team first.

“Tramachus of Flame?”

“Oh… isn’t that Lynceus?”

“Lord Thyreos, it’s been a long time!”

There were all kinds—complete strangers, people he recognized, and former comrades who had once fought together.

Naturally, the New Argonaut Expedition Trio returned their greetings politely, and before long, the inn’s dining hall became bustling like a social gathering.

Even Anagin, who normally didn’t care much about noise during meals, began to feel irritated and pondered.

'Should I tell them to get lost, or should I move to another seat?'

Anagin was a little surprised to find himself thinking that.

How should he put it? It was a bit awkward to say it himself, but compared to when he first left the village to become a practitioner, his personality seemed to have softened a lot.

With his original temperament, he would have told them all to get lost.

In truth, Anagin knew it himself. He knew his personality wasn’t great.

But it couldn’t be helped. In the early days, there had been tragedy in the village, and he’d been thrown by his master and spent days on end flying through the sky.

Compared to then, he really had become softer now—at least in his own eyes.

Hmm, maybe it’s because they’re acquaintances of people I know.

He thought this while watching the New Argonaut Trio exchange courteous greetings with practitioners they recognized.

Or perhaps Anagin was simply growing accustomed to this kind of life.

'Hmm, that’s not good.'

Just as Anagin was about to sink into thought with concern.

“Eh? Aren't you the Practitioner... Protector?”

Someone spoke to Anagin as if they knew him.

It was the fellow who had called Thyreos like a comrade-in-arms, and Anagin corrected him.

“It’s Anagin.”

“Oho—! That’s right! The rising Morning Star!”

“You know me?”

“How could I not? Recently, Talaria Weekly has run articles about you several times.”

‘

That Ponytail bastard.’

Anagin hurled a curse at Ponytail, who had already left.

Regardless, the practitioner who recognized him showered Anagin with flattery.

Saying he knew from the time he was called the Hero of the Outskirts that he wasn't an ordinary figure, that his heart fluttered upon hearing Anagin's heroic tales, that he had performed incredible feats despite his young age...

It was a total fuss.

Still, their reaction was understandable.

In less than a year—no, in not even half a year—Anagin had faced several formidable opponents.

The Bender Caravan could be dismissed as nobodies who only mattered in Anapik, but defeating the Monster Merchant was not something ordinary practitioners could simply ignore.

On top of that, joining hands with the New Argonaut Expedition Team to fight the Forest Brotherhood made him stand out. (Of course, rumors had also spread that he’d destroyed a practitioner family beforehand, but everyone agreed to overlook that.)

The Forest Brotherhood subjugation went smoothly. In the process, Anagin not only defeated the notorious villain Periphetes the Clubber but even clashed with the villains’ patron, Erysichthon the Devourer.

That was extraordinary.

Who was Erysichthon?

A great villain closer to a monster than a man, whom countless practitioners had tried to defeat but failed, only to be devoured instead.

Naturally, he also engaged in conduct befitting that infamy.

If he deemed a practitioner to have potential, he wouldn’t kill them on the spot—he would let them grow, then devour them.......

Anagin himself could have fallen into that category, which only meant his potential was tremendous.

Before anyone realized it, the attention gathered on the New Argonaut Expedition Team had naturally shifted to Anagin.

Crunch. Crunch.

Regardless, Anagin was just eating.

Someone asked,

“Did you also... come to offer prayers at the Temple of Delphi?”

It was a foolish question. If that wasn’t the reason, there was no reason to come here.

Of course, it wasn’t that the person asking was foolish.

More precisely, they were asking indirectly whether he had come to receive a blessing.

Saying outright that you’d come for a blessing sounded too materialistic—not the kind of question a practitioner striving to build merit would ask.

What they wanted to know was which god he wished to receive a blessing from, and whether he had a particular blessing in mind.

It was similar to how merchants take an interest in one another’s trade secrets.

Just as the New Argonaut Trio were about to step in to stop the intrusive questioning, Anagin spoke first.

“I didn’t come to pray.”

“Is that so?”

The reaction was one of surprise, but from Anagin’s perspective, it was only natural.

In his life, Anagin had prayed... exactly once. And even then, he’d been ignored.

He had no intention of praying ever again.

“I came on business.”

“What kind of business did you come for?”

“Hey, wait—”

“That’s business I can’t talk about. Anyway, I didn’t come to pray.”

Anagin deliberately avoided mentioning the Coins of Greed.

Seeing that, his companions felt relieved as well.

And so, the previously noisy atmosphere of the dining hall finally settled down.

* * *

After finishing their meal and before returning to their respective rooms,

Tramachus scolded Anagin, saying he’d spoken unnecessarily.

That there had been no need to mention the Coins of Greed.

Anagin more or less understood what he meant.

Greed is bound to arise when something is within sight.

There was no need to invite danger by bringing up the Coins of Greed.

Still, Anagin had something to say.

“I don’t like lying. I don’t do things like praying.”

“Haaah....... You could’ve just lied.”

“It’s different. And I cut it off at the right point, didn’t I?”

At that, Tramachus couldn’t argue any further.

In fact, Anagin really had stopped the conversation at an appropriate moment, right before the topic of the Coins of Greed came up.

Tramachus knew that too, but he still voiced his regret.

If they’d outright pretended they’d come to pray, everyone might’ve just gone along with it—but since he said it was for business, a few sharp ones might notice that he was carrying the Coins of Greed.

Still, Tramachus soon wondered if he’d been overly anxious.

At that level, some might have suspected Anagin the moment they saw him anyway.

Those who would know about the Coins of Greed would already know. The Pebble Troupe was a good example of that.

He even came to think that talking about it just enough might actually draw less suspicion.

“Sorry. I overreacted.”

“I’ll forgive you. I’m kind, after all.”

At Anagin’s obnoxious tone, Tramachus felt even the lingering sense of apology evaporate.

“More importantly, are you really going to take the troupe guys as guides?”

Tramachus offered once again to guide him themselves.

It was pure goodwill. He was confident they could guide him better, and he believed it would help Anagin.

Though it felt awkward to say this himself, after what he’d seen in the dining hall, Tramachus was confident he could introduce Anagin to people who would be genuinely helpful.

Out of pure goodwill.

However, Anagin politely declined. Judging by the people he’d seen in the dining hall, they didn’t seem particularly helpful, and even if they were, he didn’t feel inclined.

“If I need it later, I’ll say so then.”

“There might not be a later.”

“Then I guess it wasn’t meant to be.”

At Anagin’s refreshingly blunt attitude, Tramachus didn’t press further.

If he didn’t want it, what could be done?

“I’m still a bit worried, though.”

“So you want to tag along after all?”

“No, that’s not it. I mean, you were recognized instantly in the dining hall.”

Anagin propped his chin up obnoxiously and frowned.

It was the posture of someone with an absurd amount of confidence in his own looks.

“What if I’ve become so famous that people cling to me while I’m sightseeing, acting all buddy-buddy? I hate that kind of thing.”

Sphinx, who had been silent until now, gently placed a hand on Anagin’s shoulder and gave him a deep, lingering look.

“Then, wouldn't someone have recognized you on the way to the inn, brother?”

It was a tone that seemed to say, 'Don't talk nonsense.'

Anagin retorted.

“It was dark.”

As if at a loss for words, Sphinx covered her face with one hand.

Tramachus covered his face too.

“You don’t need to worry about that.”

“Why?”

“Because any practitioner who comes all the way here has a strong ‘I’m the best’ mentality.”

“So they don’t know humility.”

“For a second, I almost told you to ‘take a look at yourself first’....... And originally, this place overflows with gossip, so it flares up and dies down easily. So the people paying attention to you will also disappear easily.”

“Hmm, that’s a bit disappointing. I wanted to push away the people who rush at me out of admiration as if they were a nuisance.”

Anagin ended the conversation while flaunting his endlessly contrarian mindset.

Rapidly exhausted, everyone returned to their rooms.

The next morning, someone came from the Pebble Traveling Troupe, just as Anagin had ordered.

It was the bear-like man.

“Hehe, I’ve arrived.”

* * *

“Your attitude’s changed?”

“Oh, that was all an act. Acting! You have to put on airs to even find a place to lie down when you live on the streets, you see, so I’d appreciate your understanding.”

The bear-like man, who had been so imposing when they first met, rubbed his hands together repeatedly, as if he’d sold off that earlier swagger somewhere.

“By the way, is it alright if I only guide you?”

“Huh, yeah. Seems like everyone wants to look around on their own.”

That went without saying for the New Argonaut Expedition Trio, and Sanchonius had also departed to attend to the New Argonaut Expedition Team.

Even Sphinx had said she wanted to look around alone and left, so the only one the bear-like man had to guide was Anagin.

In a way, his workload had decreased, but the bear-like man couldn’t hide his unease.

It was because he had to be alone with Anagin.

Anagin reassured him not to worry so much, saying that even if he got bored, it wasn’t like he’d do more than cause a little trouble.

“I’ll guide you with all I’ve got!”

Having steeled his resolve, the bear-like man devoted himself to playing the guide, determined to protect the traveling troupe he belonged to.

Fortunately, as befitting a Festival Village where celebrations never ceased, there was no shortage of places to show.

From the theater where poets and musicians showcased their poems and music:

“Do they all make a living off this?”

“The Temple sponsors them. We don’t get any support, though.”

To the street of sculptures displaying countless statues.

“Who makes all these statues?”

“Sculptors sponsored by the Temple. We don’t get any support, though.”

To the training ground where people with steadied bodies and minds loosened by the festivities.

“Let me guess. The Temple runs this, too, right?”

“That’s correct. We aren't allowed to use it.”

To the forum where many people gathered to share their thoughts:

“That place too ?”

“No, that’s just practitioners gathering on their own. Though we aren't allowed to enter.”

And even an arena where one could watch chariot races.

“Chariot number seven! Number seven!! Number seven!!!”

“Chariot number five! Number five!! Number five!!!”

Just skimming through it all was enough to consume an entire day.

“Aaaaaaaghh……!”

Having won money, Anagin thoroughly savored his victory against the backdrop of the bear-like man’s lament over his losses, then tossed him half of what he’d won.

“Aaaaah…… What is this?”

“Tip. I heard you’re supposed to give one.”

Anagin followed his master’s teachings. Giving a tip would probably keep him quiet.

As Anagin expected, the bear-like man, who had been screaming and crawling on all fours, brushed himself off and stood up as if he had never cried.

The scale of the money they’d bet was so different that even just the tip was enough for the bear-like man to recover what he’d lost. In other words, he hadn’t actually lost any money.

“Anywhere else to go?”

“There are many places left. But at this hour, going to the Temple of Aphrodite is the best. Coincidentally, it’s nearby. Though I’ve never been there.”

In the Festival Village formed around the Temple of Delphi, there were other temples as well.

Naturally, they were smaller in scale, but that was only relative.

Having already been guided through a few temples, Anagin wasn’t particularly surprised. What puzzled him was why the Temple of Aphrodite was supposedly best, specifically at this time of day, as the sun was setting.

“There! Over there!”

The bear-like man stretched out his arm, pointing at a temple erected in the distance.

Compared to the others, it had a far more open atmosphere. Slender pillars shaped like flowing foam, reliefs adorned with roses, laurel, doves, and swans, and vines draped between the columns.

It radiated a distinctly feminine tone.

Between the curtained sections of the temple, beautiful women could be seen passing by.

Anagin could roughly guess what kind of place it was……

“Ah!”

A woman carrying a basket of apricots bumped into Anagin, fell down, and spilled the apricots all over the ground.

“I’m so sorry.”

The girl with nearly black chestnut hair apologized.

Her eyes were large and clear, her frame slender—someone who stirred protective instincts.

As if to prove it, the bear-like man immediately tried to help.

“Oh my, let me hel— Hurgh?!”

That is, if Anagin hadn't stopped him.

“Watch where you’re going, girl.”

Anagin spoke coldly to the girl who had fallen and spilled the apricots, then led the bear-like man away.

The bear-like man, seemingly out of his mind, criticized Anagin.

“I mean... no matter the circumstances, that was...”

“Are you really an actor?”

“Pardon?”

The bear-like man, sporting knotty-looking eyes, asked back, and Anagin gestured with his chin.

In the direction Anagin indicated, the girl who had fallen earlier was gathered with other girls, chattering about something, before pulling out gold coins and handing them over.

At a glance, it looked like some kind of wager.

“Ah……”

Only then did the bear-like man realize he’d been the target of a stupid bet, and he let out a groan.

* * *

The bear-like man admitted that, despite boasting of having been in the Festival Village for a long time, he’d never experienced something like that before.

He did say, however, that he’d heard rumors of priestesses of Aphrodite creating worshippers in that manner.

“So they target practitioners who can make large offerings to the god…… But how did you know?”

The bear-like man asked, belatedly curious as to how Anagin had seen through the act.

Even he, an actor, had momentarily lost his judgment to her beauty, so he couldn’t help but wonder how Anagin had known.

The answer was simple.

“Because I’m awesome.”

It was an obnoxious answer, but in this situation, there was no room to argue.

In a drooping voice, the bear-like man asked,

“Is there anywhere else you’d like to see?”

“A restaurant that makes delicious food. My stomach is growling after all this walking.”

Anagin said this after filling his stomach here and there at eateries along the way and buying snacks from street stalls.

Having already confirmed Anagin’s appetite, the bear-like man began guiding him.

“Then I think this place would be good. I’ve never been there, but I’ve heard it’s very tasty.”

“Why are you grinning like that?”

“Ahaha, thinking that you will be treating me to a meal makes me happy. People from a traveling troupe rarely get to eat food like this.”

“Oh, that’s unfortunate.”

Anagin genuinely felt sorry.

One of the reasons he endured the practitioner life he didn’t even want was to eat delicious food, so hearing that the bear-like man and the rest of the traveling troupe couldn’t do that was a bit pitiful.

Just a bit, though.

Following the bear-like man’s guidance, Anagin arrived at the restaurant.

As befitting a place bustling every day, it was open, and a long line had already formed.

“Huh? No matter how good business is, there usually isn’t a line at this hour.”

The bear-like man was briefly flustered by the discrepancy between his expectations and reality.

He soon learned why.

“Anagin?”

“What are you doing here?”

Anagin asked Tramachus, whose eyes met his through the window.

After asking, he felt a little foolish.

Obviously, they’d come to eat.

Huh?

But then, he sensed something off.

There were four people seated at the table, but one of them was a face he didn’t recognize.

Tramachus of Flame, Thyreos of Reinforcement, Lynceus of Farsight.

By elimination, the remaining one should have been Sanchonius, but instead, there sat an unfamiliar silver-haired man.

Carefully lifting the lyre in his hand, the man rose from his seat.

“Pleased to meet you. My name is Orpheus. You must be Anagin?”

A magically alluring voice.

Those around them savored the voice as if enchanted—men and women alike.

They looked as though they’d fallen into hypnosis. Soon, that trance was broken.

“Yeah, I’m Anagin. And who are you to speak so casually to me at our first meeting?”

By Anagin’s indifferent voice.