Anagin Chronicles

Chapter 143

A year?Anagin wondered if she was joking.

After going out of his way to drastically shorten the journey and arrive early, he was being told he might have to wait a whole year just to enter the Temple of Delphi. A year, my ass......!

'No. Let's calm down.'

Anagin talked himself down. She had said at most a year. Which meant that, conversely, it could be as short as a few weeks, didn’t it?

'But even a few weeks is damn long!'

Anagin felt his emotions churn again.

Just what kind of danger had the Oracle seen to make her go into seclusion for an entire year? From what he had heard, it sounded like crowds of people came to see her every single day.

“She has no consideration at all... just what did she see, anyway?”

“Even we don't know the details that precisely. The fact that the Oracle saw some kind of danger was information we barely managed to get our hands on.”

“You’re not as impressive as I thought.”

“...I’m sorry we couldn’t be of much help.”

Rather than protesting, Uma, the leader of the Pebble Traveling Troupe, bowed her head deeply. It felt unfair, but this was safer. This was a man who might lunge in any direction at any moment.

In fact, it was the correct choice. Anagin didn’t press the issue any further.

“So what now......?”

Uma asked, as though she had laid all her cards on the table.

Asking what he would do with them.

Anagin pondered briefly, then made his decision.

“Fine, I’ll let it slide. That utterly vile act of trying to rob me.”

With great magnanimity, Anagin decided to forgive the Pebble Traveling Troupe.

Anagin himself knew it was a ridiculous attitude, but Uma accepted it gladly.

“Thank you... By any chance, is there something you wish from us?”

Despite being blind, Uma quickly realized that Anagin hadn’t forgiven them for nothing. And instead of glossing over it, she asked directly.

It was, indeed, a commendable attitude.

“There is. But before that.......”

Before stating his conditions, Anagin left the tent to find his party waiting outside—the Chiron Tower Four.

Since the leader’s tent was smaller than expected, only Anagin and Uma had entered to talk. Well, plus Sphinx, who had transformed into a cat.

Anyway, when Anagin came out, they asked how things had turned out.

Whether the Pebble Troupe was an enemy or not, and whether to subjugate them or not.

Anagin began to speak.

“For now, the Pebble Traveling Troupe is Magno, but not really Magno.”

Just as Uma had explained, Anagin conveyed the troupe’s unusual situation.

They had a fair number of mages and thus belonged to Magno, but in reality, they were something like conveniently exploited slaves.

“They mainly provide information or temporary places to rest.”

“Well, that’s a pretty plausible story. The poorer people are, the more they tend to exploit those in similar situations.”

“What exactly do you mean by that?”

Anagin asked back at Lynceus’s meaningful remark.

Perhaps because they had arrived earlier than scheduled and had time to spare, Lynceus explained in detail.

“Mages are subtly part of the lower social strata. Not all of them, but overall, that’s the general feel.”

“Really...?”

“How many mages have you actually seen?”

Asked in a tone that implied disbelief, Anagin thought for a moment, then shook his head.

Now that he thought about it, mages seemed rarer than practitioners.

He had encountered them now and then—Sphinx, Harpy Witch, the Dolos family’s mage butler—but considering the overall ratio, they were few.

“It’s not a coincidence. Mages are usually ostracized and live hiding their identities, or they live completely alone in remote places. Mages with especially strong innate talent are even more so.”

“Why?”

“Because they can’t handle their magic.”

That was it. Magic could be used through personal talent and effort, but mages with exceptionally strong innate aptitude could wield powerful magic from childhood without much effort.

However, that was closer to a curse than a blessing.

It was like putting a torch into a child’s hands.

A torch in a child’s hands could easily lead to a massive fire, and magic was no different.

“When the magic is too strong, there are often cases where the mage can’t control their own power. If only they got hurt, that would be one thing, but usually, others get hurt too. That’s why mages are fundamentally ostracized.”

“Except for mages employed by those in power or practitioners, disciples of renowned mages, or mages who have built a reputation themselves.”

Thyreos added that clarification.

Anagin roughly understood.

It wasn’t that mages were automatically to be torn apart and killed, but their general public image wasn’t very good.

That was just how the world worked—one person messing up was enough to earn condemnation.

In that sense, the Pebble Traveling Troupe here was quite unfortunate.

If they were strong, it would be less unfair, but it seemed the only magic they could use was deception.... And on top of that, they had a bad reputation.

He could understand why, even while being exploited, they couldn’t completely cut ties with Magno.

Once again, Anagin felt that retaliation wasn’t necessary. They were already miserable enough—why bother piling on?

“Even so, is it really okay to just leave these guys alone?”

Tramachus, who had been listening quietly, voiced his opinion. It wasn’t without merit.

Even if they were being exploited, they were still affiliated with Magno—and it was possible they weren’t being exploited at all.

“Do you have some kind of grudge against Magno?”

Anagin asked Tramachus, who was showing an unusually hostile stance.

It felt slightly out of character for Tramachus, who usually acted pragmatically.

However, Tramachus looked more dumbfounded than anything at Anagin’s question. The one who was usually the most aggressive was suddenly acting like a meddling sister-in-law trying to stop a fight.

“I don’t have good feelings toward them. It’s already common knowledge that Magno mages make drugs from practitioners, or harm people for bizarre magical experiments.”

“At the same time, they heal people and use their knowledge to help others.”

Sphinx, who had been on Anagin’s shoulder, jumped down and returned to her original form as she spoke.

The Pebble Traveling Troupe members nearby gasped in awe at the natural transformation magic.

When Tramachus looked as if to ask if she was taking their side, Sphinx shrugged.

“I’m just stating facts. They’re not people who can be outright classified as criminals, like the Forest Brotherhood.”

It felt like the conversation was getting complicated.

Anagin, who didn't like such things, immediately settled the situation. In Anagin's way.

“I don’t care about any of that. I don’t feel like messing with these guys. It suddenly became a hassle. So you guys just follow along. You promised to do so.”

“......Wasn’t the promise only until we reached the Temple of Delphi?”

Tramachus asked, sounding slightly argumentative.

They had followed him this far, so why now? Still, it was a fair question. Anagin was annoyed, but he explained.

“We haven’t gone to the Temple of Delphi yet.”

“It’s right there. If you fall over, you’d smash your nose into it. It’s as good as arrived.”

“Nope. If things go well, it’ll be a few weeks. If they go badly, we might not be able to go to the Temple of Delphi for nearly a year.”

“What?”

Everyone reacted as if asking what the hell he was talking about. Anagin felt relieved—it wasn’t just him who found this unacceptable. At least they were normal.

“Don't take it out on me. I just heard it myself.”

Anagin jerked his chin, subtly pointing at Uma over there.

“The Oracle of the Temple of Delphi saw some kind of danger and has gone into seclusion.”

“Is that true?”

“How would I know? That’s why.......”

“That’s why?”

The New Argonaut Expedition Trio pressed.

Anagin shouted at them, exasperated.

“Then you go and find out! You’ve been here before!”

* * *

At Anagin’s shout, the New Argonaut Expedition Trio finally reacted with an “Ah—!” expression.

Thinking about it, it really was too right to argue with. Even though it hadn’t been that long, following Anagin’s orders had apparently made their thinking stiff.

Coming to their senses, they immediately headed for the ‘Parna Gate,’ located at the foot of Mount Parnassus, where the Temple of Delphi stood.

Calling it a gate was generous—it was just an ordinary stone building erected beside the path leading up to the Temple of Delphi.

However, if one wished to go to the Temple of Delphi, obtaining their permission came first. That was why it was called a gate.

The New Argonaut Expedition Trio went to the Parna Gate and returned around the time dusk was slowly settling in.

Even though it was right nearby, the Pebble Traveling Troupe was camped on the outskirts, so it took some time to go back and forth. The sorrow of the powerless, perhaps.

Well, it didn’t seem like that alone was the reason they returned at this hour.

“So?”

“Just like you said. They’re refusing visits to the Temple of Delphi right now. The reason is...... unknown.”

That made it certain.

Just as Uma had said, the Oracle had seen some kind of danger and gone into seclusion. Otherwise, there was no reason to hide the truth.

Indeed, similar rumors already seemed to be spreading around Mount Parnassus.

Based on that, Anagin suggested leaving the Pebble Traveling Troupe alone.

They might end up bringing useful information.

At this point, the others also seemed convinced.

“But those guys might sell our information to Magno later.”

“Then I’ll just demand Magno’s information from them when that happens.”

Anagin cleanly dismissed Tramachus’s concern.

If they tried to pull something, then they’d do the same. If they refused to cooperate, they could just smash them later.

Of course, that wasn’t the only reason Anagin was leaving the Pebble Traveling Troupe alone.

“You said you guys know this area inside and out, right? Then act as my guides for a while.”

“Is that the condition for forgiving us?”

“For now.”

“Is there more?”

“Do you have a problem with it?”

“Not really, but it feels like we’ve already paid enough of a price.”

“Sure, it’s enough. Just not enough for me.”

Anagin was being unreasonable, but the Pebble Traveling Troupe accepted it.

They didn’t really have another choice. If you can't avoid it, you might as well enjoy it.

While he stayed here, Anagin decided to make use of the Pebble Traveling Troupe’s deep familiarity with the area.

They would tell him about the surrounding terrain, good restaurants, and places worth seeing.

Of course, no one stayed silent about it.

“We can guide you as well.”

The taciturn Thyreos unusually spoke up, volunteering to act as a tour guide himself.

He seemed uncomfortable with Anagin getting close to the still-suspicious Pebble Traveling Troupe.

‘He’s being a bit excessive.’

Anagin could guess what he was worried about, but he had no intention of accommodating him.

Personally, he felt he’d see their true faces better being guided by these guys than by the New Argonaut Expedition. And more importantly.......

“You guys haven’t been here in a while, right? Might as well be guided by people who’ve actually been staying here.”

He rejected Thyreos’s proposal with what was, in its own way, a reasonable argument.

“Then, will you be staying with us?”

“No way.”

Anagin recoiled in shock at Uma’s question.

Having grown up pampered(?), Anagin had no intention of living in tents like these. He planned to sleep surrounded by sturdy walls and a ceiling, on a soft, fluffy bed. He’s precious, after all!

He stated this outright and declared that he’d be staying at a high-class inn near Mount Parnassus.

“So, send someone to guide me every morning. You can come yourself, if you want.”

“Fufu, I’m afraid I’ll be too busy running the troupe. Please forgive me.”

“Forgive you, sure. What’s the real reason?”

“I feel like I would collapse from a stress-induced fever, so I don't think I can go.”

Only after finally hearing Uma’s true feelings did Anagin leave the traveling troupe and head for the ‘Festival Village,’ where proper inns were located.

Fortunately, the New Argonaut Expedition Trio had spotted an inn on their way, so they could head straight there.

“Ohhh, this place is really flashy.”

Leaving the outskirts where the Pebble Traveling Troupe stayed and approaching Mount Parnassus, a massive festival village...... no, a village that could even be called a city, welcomed them.

It just lacked city walls; otherwise, it was not inferior even when compared to the cities Anagin had seen.

In some ways, it was even more splendid. Even the walls and pavements were carved with paintings and reliefs.

‘Feels like a place that really does celebrate all year long.’

Even though night had fallen and it was dark, the place was lively and noisy.

‘Lots of practitioners, too.’

“There are more than a few practitioners who got stuck here because the Oracle went into seclusion.”

As if he had learned mind-reading, Tramachus read Anagin’s expression and answered his unspoken question.

“Oh, damn. You startled me... So does that mean everyone here has to meet the Oracle before we can?”

At Anagin’s question, clearly informed by the concept of first-come, first-served, Tramachus nodded.

“Not necessarily, but there’s a high chance.”

“But we brought the Coins of Greed we received as a request?”

Anagin said, as if something had suddenly occurred to him. Come to think of it, wasn’t he basically on official business? If so, there should be perks.

“That was a request from the Arcadian priests.”

Ah, right. It wasn’t a request from the Temple of Delphi. Which meant there was no reason for them to show any special consideration.

Even so, setting logic aside, it was still annoying.

He had come here because of work, yet there was no telling when he’d be able to meet her.

“That aside, this is unexpected.”

“What is?”

“I thought you’d just leave.”

Tramachus said something cryptic, but Anagin quickly understood.

With the possibility of having to wait nearly a year, it was surprising that Anagin wasn’t leaving.

He was someone who constantly talked about leaving at the slightest inconvenience, after all. In a way, it was a natural reaction.

Feeling a tiny pang of guilt, Anagin answered honestly.

“Since I’ve come all this way, I want to see it. The Temple of Delphi.”

There was no grand reason. His master had mentioned it once, and since it was a place all practitioners seeking blessings eventually visited, he wanted to see it for himself.

Just how amazing was it?

Compared to other practitioners, it was an incredibly lightweight reason.

If someone else heard it, they might grab him by the collar.

However, Tramachus, who had grown accustomed to Anagin to some extent, didn’t say anything.

He knew this was his personality, and he also knew that Anagin had the right to say such things.

After all, Anagin was someone who didn’t back down even against Erysichthon the Devourer, and even if he had received help, he was the one who defeated a bishop-level figure of the Barbaroi Cult.

A practitioner is a being who speaks through achievements and skill; therefore, he couldn't refute Anagin's words.

To be honest, Anagin was great enough to evoke admiration even from a fellow practitioner. To the point where he felt a bit of jealousy. Just a very little bit.

Still, since the positive feelings were stronger, Tramachus offered Anagin some advice.

Tramachus, a royal of Calydon who dreamed of becoming the second Meleager.

“The Oracle.”

“Hm?”

“Address her as ‘Oracle.’ I won’t interfere with what you’re thinking inside, but at least observe the formalities and show courtesy. It’s advice. As a friend.”

Because it was important, Tramachus even brought up a word that made him feel awkward.

Friend.

Logically speaking, though, it wasn’t wrong.

Whether he had just blurted it out or not, Anagin had called Irida of the Wind a friend, and later acknowledged it when she called him one.

And Tramachus was also Irida’s friend.

A friend of a friend is a friend.

By that logic, Tramachus called Anagin a friend.

And Anagin.......

“Well, I’ll see.”

He tacitly acknowledged the word 'friend.'