Anagin Chronicles

Chapter 029. Invitation (2)

“Of course, of course.”

Spanich happily nodded at Anagin’s question.

It was common knowledge that a Gigant ate a lot.

Naturally, the Dolos Family, being a practitioner family, knew this well.

In fact, the Dolos Family itself was famous for its enormous appetite.

“Mm, good. Then, let’s go.”

When Spanich said he’d let him eat to his heart’s content, Anagin accepted his invitation. Delighted, Spanich guided him toward his home. Though there was one thing he had to do beforehand……

“You are now free from the Harpy Witch’s tyranny. From now on, you may live peaceful days.”

Spanich visited each village that had been under the Harpy Witch’s control, informing them that the witch was dead and that they had been freed from her tyranny.

“Is… is that really true?”

The villagers couldn’t believe the sudden news.

Whenever that happened, Spanich would take out the witch’s head wrapped in a cloth bundle and show them.

A far more effective proof than a hundred words.

Only after seeing the severed head did the villagers accept the witch’s death.

“This is a relief… truly a relief!”

“Good heavens, it’s real….”

“A-amazing, sir!”

The villagers all reacted in nearly identical ways—shock, joy, relief. Especially the part where they praised Spanich for bringing the witch’s head; it was almost copy-and-paste identical.

“No, everyone, I merely did what any practitioner ought to do…. More importantly, I didn’t do it alone.”

Spanich spoke humbly and pointed at Anagin.

Anagin froze, embarrassed.

Regardless, Spanich continued speaking.

“Thanks to Sir Anagin over there, we were able to defeat the witch. In truth, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say he did almost everything by himself.”

The villagers looked at Anagin standing behind Spanich.

Their first emotions were doubt and suspicion.

Compared to Spanich, who was well-dressed and properly armed, Anagin had only a single sword at his hip and wore very plain clothes. It was difficult to believe.

To exaggerate only slightly, he looked more like a servant than a companion.

Seeing those hints of doubt, Spanich emphasized Anagin’s achievements every time.

He told them Anagin played the decisive role in defeating the witch.

Every time, Anagin said that wasn’t necessary, but Spanich refused to back down.

“No, I have no intention of stealing someone else’s merit.”

A straight-laced attitude to an unnecessary degree.

Thanks to that, the villagers came to believe in Anagin’s achievements.

If Spanich—the one who brought the witch’s head—said so, who would dare doubt it?

That was when someone directed a question at Spanich.

“W-what will happen to us now?”

The one who asked was the village chief, an elderly man.

A somewhat familiar face……

Anagin soon realized he was the red-feathered helmet man who had come to capture the robed woman.

He had been confused at first because the man wasn’t wearing his helmet, but the eyes, the tone, and even the scent made it clear.

Spanich asked back:

“What do you mean, what will happen?”

“The witch was a tyrant, but she was also our protector. This is Anapik, and… who are we supposed to seek protection from now?”

It was a natural yet curious question.

It was the red-feathered helmet man who had asked Spanich to defeat the witch.

For that same man to ask such a question felt strange. And yet, at the same time, it was also the natural course of things.

It was a kind of formal procedure—something done to proceed with a decision that had already been made……

And as if to prove it, Spanich spoke as though he had been waiting:

“If you so wish, the Dolos Family will protect you! In the name of Ares!”

It was more of a proclamation than an answer.

The red-feathered helmet man bowed his head.

“In the name of Ares, the God of Pioneering, we ask the Dolos Family for aid.”

Then the entire village followed, bowing to Spanich and asking for his protection.

Spanich answered with a satisfied smile.

“I gladly accept your request. I will send someone to discuss the details.”

That was the end of the conversation with the village where the helmeted man served as village chief. And the other villages ended in exactly the same fashion.

When Spanich proved the witch’s death, they asked the Dolos Family for help, and Spanich humbly accepted their plea.

In the name of Ares, the God of Pioneering.

Some villages went further and tried to offer food, lodging, or even women out of gratitude, but Spanich politely refused each time, saying he had business to attend to, and then headed for the main estate with Anagin in tow.

“Sorry it took so long.”

Spanich apologized to Anagin for spending more time than expected visiting every village within the witch’s territory.

Anagin shook his head and said there was nothing to apologize for.

“I’m the one who accepted the invitation, so it’s fine. More than that, how much farther is your home?”

A day had passed since they finished circling the witch’s territory and headed south. Anagin asked.

He had accepted the invitation because he’d be fed plenty, but he was now belatedly worried about the distance being too far.

Spanich answered with a smile.

“Just a little farther.”

“Hah! Hah! Is that ‘little’ by Gigant standards? Or by normal-people standards?”

The robed woman, who had been silently following behind, asked while gasping for breath. Her voice carried a tone of reproach.

And understandably so, Anagin and Spanich had walked far too fast and for far too long without considering her. She wasn’t a Gigant, after all!

Sweat dripped beneath her large robe, and she panted heavily in obvious distress.

Realizing his mistake, Spanich stopped for a moment. Anagin naturally stopped as well.

Taking the opportunity, the robed woman plopped down on the ground to catch her breath.

“Haa—! You two are seriously too much!”

The robed woman loudly voiced her suffering.

Spanich apologized with a voice full of embarrassment.

“Ah, I’m sorry. I was so happy to invite guests that I….”

“If you get any happier, you’re going to get your guests lost, you know?”

“You’re the only one who’d get lost. Not me.”

Anagin slipped in naturally and corrected her statement.

No matter how he thought about it, there was no universe where he would get lost.

The robed woman’s eyes widened in shock. Beneath the robe, her golden irises glimmered.

“Did you see that? I’m traveling with someone that heartless! Even though I did his laundry!”

“Haha……”

With nothing to say, Spanich only laughed awkwardly. To ease the mood, he praised the robed woman.

“Still, you’re impressive. Even with magic, keeping up with a Gigant is not easy for a woman.”

He said it to comfort her, but he meant it sincerely.

Matching the pace of a Gigant—who moved however they pleased—was no easy feat.

Ordinary people needed a horse or a chariot. Even with magic, unless one was highly skilled, it was extremely difficult.

Magic was mysterious and powerful, but not easy to master….

In that sense, the robed woman could be considered quite a proficient mage. For some reason, she didn’t seem able to use her magic in combat, though.

“Haha……”

This time, the robed woman laughed. Whether out of embarrassment at the indirect praise or for another reason altogether.

“If it’s too hard, should I help?”

While the robed woman and Spanich were taking turns laughing,

Anagin suddenly approached and asked.

“Help with what?”

Not understanding what he meant, the robed woman asked back.

‘What exactly was he offering to help with?’

“If you’re tired, I’ll carry you.”

The robed woman’s golden eyes flashed beneath her robe.

Carry her? That was so unexpected that she couldn’t believe it.

“If we’re almost there, taking our time feels silly…. We really are close, right?”

“Yes, just a little farther.”

Spanich nodded.

The robed woman stared at Anagin. The offer was so unexpectedly kind, she wondered if there was some sort of trap.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“You’re acting nice all of a sudden, so it’s suspicious.”

“I’m always nice.”

“Don’t lie.”

“I’ve carried kids from my village before.”

“Really?”

“Is that true?”

“Why are you both shocked?”

Anagin glared at the two of them. He was genuinely hurt by their surprise. What exactly was so unbelievable about it?

“I actually played with the kids a lot. I have a younger sister.”

“Ah….”

Learning Anagin had a younger sister made both of them gasp again.

They had assumed he grew up alone with no siblings and must’ve given his parents hell.

Of course, if Anagin had heard that, he would’ve thought, What’s wrong with these lunatics?

After a moment of thought, the robed woman finally accepted Anagin’s offer. He had even shared something personal—refusing now felt wrong.

“Fine, mister. Then, carry me.”

“Mm?”

“You said you’d carry me, right? I’ll trust you, so go on. Honestly, my legs really hurt.”

She tapped her swollen legs and held out her arms—an unexpectedly cute gesture.

But Anagin tilted his head.

“No, I said I’d carry you. Whoever said anything about giving you a piggyback?”

The robed woman blinked in confusion.

And soon she understood.

In a way, she absolutely didn’t want.

“We’re almost there.”

Spanich urged them on as he watched Anagin walk beside him—more precisely, watched the robed woman dangling like a sack of luggage under Anagin’s arm.

Just as he had said, Anagin carried her… literally.

Swaying up and down like baggage, the robed woman wore a blank expression. As if promising herself she would never forget this humiliation.

* * *

Fortunately, the robed woman’s humiliation didn’t last long.

Just as Spanich had said, the Dolos Family’s main estate wasn’t far.

Anagin, Spanich, and the robed woman soon arrived at the Dolos Village, where the Dolos Family resided.

“…It’s really called Dolos?”

Anagin said this as he looked at the fairly large village.

A red-tiled manor built atop a great hill.

A village formed around that manor, looking quite respectable.

Not wealthy, but plentiful—and above all, safe.

Receiving the compliment, Spanich showed a smile mixed with shyness and pride.

“Yes… since the village was founded after our family settled here… and the villagers requested it as a sign of gratitude.”

It was perfectly understandable.

Naming a village after the powerful protectors who watched over it was common. And for a practitioner family that needed to elevate its reputation, there was no reason to refuse.

Besides, a quick look around showed that the Dolos Family was clearly doing its job well.

The village was orderly and prosperous, yet had no walls or fences.

Proof that they felt safe even without fortifications.

“Huh? Young master?!”

As they walked along the road and reached the village entrance, one of the residents immediately recognized Spanich.

His face was full of joy.

“Uncle.”

“Have you finished the task already?”

“Yes, somehow.”

At Spanich’s answer, the villager widened his eyes in amazement.

“You’re amazing! I heard the witch up north wasn’t ordinary at all…. Everyone, come here! The young master has returned!!”

Overjoyed as if it were his own achievement, the villager shouted loud enough for the whole village to hear, announcing Spanich’s return.

“Oh? Young master?! You’ve returned safely!”

“We were worried. You aren’t hurt anywhere, are you?”

“We believed in you, of course. But to return this quickly, truly impressive.”

One by one, villagers gathered, their reactions nearly identical.

They had worried for Spanich and believed in him. That he would return after defeating the infamous Harpy Witch.

“But who are those two?”

While Spanich was being warmly welcomed, one villager pointed at Anagin and the robed woman and asked.

As if waiting for that moment, Spanich introduced them.

“These two are guests I invited! They greatly helped in defeating the witch.”

“Ooh…!”

Hearing the introduction, the villagers looked at Anagin and the robed woman with eyes full of goodwill.

Their affection for Spanich naturally extended to his guests.

The robed woman looked awkward at the sudden friendliness, while Anagin accepted it more naturally than expected and greeted them with proper courtesy.

“It’s nice to meet you all. I’m Anagin.”

A polite Anagin. The robed woman widened her eyes in surprise.

“What?”

“No, it’s just unexpected….”

“Are the two of you practitioners as well?”

One villager reflexively asked about Anagin and the robed woman.

It was natural curiosity, after all, they had helped defeat the Harpy Witch.

“The young lady is a mage, and this gentleman is a practitioner…. In truth, he’s the one who did most of—”

“—Oh dear, look at us. Everyone, clear the way! The young master brought guests, and here we are blocking the road!”

The villager who had asked the question clapped his hands loudly and cut him off.

Waving his arms, he cleared a path and urged Spanich onward.

“The elders are surely waiting for you, young master.”

“……Thank you, uncle.”

“Haha! Think nothing of it!”

Spanich returned the smile, then walked through the opened crowd, glancing back at Anagin and the robed woman.

He spoke.

“Both of you, come along. I’ll take you to my home.”