Anagin Chronicles

Chapter 030. Dolos Family (1)

Passing through the crowd, they arrived at the manor built atop the hill at the center of the village.

Up close, the manor looked less like a house and more like a fortress.

A very solid fortress at that.

But the moment Spanich approached, the ironclad fortress gate opened effortlessly.

“Welcome back, Young Master!”

Through the opening gate, the Dolos Family’s butler came out to greet Spanich.

The conversation that followed was similar to before.

Have you already completed your mission? Are you hurt anywhere?—that kind of talk….

Between the butler and the villagers, it became clear why Spanich was so polite and mild-tempered.

“Unlike a certain someone.”

“Are you talking about yourself?”

The robed woman mocked him, and Anagin mocked her mockery.

In the meantime, the butler asked Spanich a question.

“Ah, but young master… did something happen? You returned much sooner than expected….”

As expected of someone who worked for a practitioner family, he was happy Spanich came back early, but also found it suspicious that he came back too quickly.

According to the Dolos Family’s own investigations, even for Spanich, defeating the witch and returning this fast should have been impossible.

As though he had anticipated the question, Spanich smiled and gestured toward Anagin.

“Thanks to the esteemed guests I met on the way… I received great help.”

“Do you mean those two?”

Though he seemed not to have noticed earlier while greeting Spanich, the butler spoke as if he had been aware of Anagin and the robed woman from the very beginning.

“The lady in the robe is a mage. She gave me various advice on the way to the witch’s tower.”

Spanich, being considerate, excluded the part about her being the witch’s disciple and only mentioned the help she had offered.

“Oh, a mage… it is an honor to meet you.”

“The pleasure is mine.”

“And that gentleman is a practitioner.”

“I’m Anagin.”

“Anagin... Did you say Anagin?”

The butler froze.

“Yes.”

The stunned butler looked at Spanich, and Spanich nodded, confirming it.

After confirming, the butler straightened himself and took a few steps toward Anagin, bowing politely.

“It is truly an honor to meet the Hero of the Outskirts, who has recently made quite a name for himself. Although the Elder is not present, I wholeheartedly welcome you on his behalf. Please make yourself at home.”

The butler was being overly formal.

But Anagin was not flustered. He more or less knew why.

It was probably because of that ridiculous reputation he earned from beating up some guys he didn’t like.

What was it called again? Hero of the Outskirts, or something?’

Truly absurd.

He had simply beaten up people he found annoying, and somehow ended up being called a hero.

Still, Anagin didn’t bother correcting it.

Explaining the misunderstanding to one or two people changed nothing, and doing so felt stupid.

So he just let it pass.

“Thank you for the welcome.”

“Is Grandfather out of the house?”

Once Anagin accepted the welcome, Spanich turned to the butler and asked. Had something big happened?

The butler laughed lightly, as if it were nothing.

“Do not worry. He will return soon. A gigantic boar appeared in the western forest, so he took the young master and the cousins with him.”

Listening from the side, Anagin tilted his head.

He didn’t know how big boars were around here, but dragging the whole household out just to hunt one seemed excessive.

Unlike him, Spanich looked relieved.

“Ah… then that’s good. It’s about time everyone got some exercise.”

“They’ll return before sunset at the latest.”

At the butler’s explanation, Spanich nodded as though it was perfect.

“Sounds good. Then why don’t we rest a bit until they return? How about starting with a bath? It’ll help relieve fatigue.”

* * *

As soon as Spanich learned that his family was out of the house, he suggested they bathe first.

Anagin didn’t refuse.

After fighting the witch, his body was filthy, and he wanted to wash up.

For Anagin, who valued cleanliness even more, it was all the more reason to bathe.

With a pleased heart, Anagin followed Spanich into the bathhouse, and soon he was surprised by two things.

The first was that the bathhouse was far larger than Anagin had ever imagined.

“Is this a palace…?”

A hot bath and a cold bath, both filled to the brim. Marble floors, marble walls, marble ceiling.

It resembled the luxurious bathhouses he had reluctantly listened about from his boring master—one of the few stories that had caught his interest.

“Thank you for thinking highly of it. But this is nothing special. There are many far better bathhouses.”

At that annoying remark, Anagin narrowed his eyes and glared at Spanich.

Stung by the sharp glare, Spanich made an aggrieved face. He had simply stated a fact—why was he being scolded? It wasn’t as though he was trying to brag.

This bathhouse might be good by Anapik standards, but compared to those in central Hellas, it was nothing.

Their own bathhouse held only two or three people at most, but merchants in Hellas had bathhouses that could be used by dozens.

And that wasn’t even all—some decorated them with gold, statues, and other extravagances.

Bathhouses were practically the pride of civilized people, and those who could afford it made them as luxurious as possible.

“Oh, now I’m curious.”

“Are you, really?”

Spanich asked, sounding surprised. Personally, he hadn’t expected Anagin to be interested in luxury.

Unexpected, to say the least.

When he expressed his honest surprise, Anagin replied:

“I’m not some masochistic freak who enjoys pain and poverty. I know how to enjoy good clothes, good food, and a good house too.”

“I see. Then I shall welcome you with utmost sincerity.”

As Spanich spoke, two women entered the bathhouse.

Bath attendants who would help them wash. Anagin flinched.

“Whoa, that startled me… what is this?”

“They are attendants who will help us bathe. They are both well-trained—”

“—Ah, enough of that. I’m fine, so tell them to leave. I’m not so old or so young that I need someone to wash me.”

Anagin firmly rejected the offer. It was a custom unfamiliar to him.

Spanich hesitated for a moment at the firm tone, then wisely decided not to insist.

Something told him that if he pushed one more time, Anagin would simply walk out of the bathhouse……

Once the two attendants exited, Anagin apologized to Spanich.

“Sorry. I get shy easily.”

Spanich didn’t believe that. For someone ‘shy,’ Anagin seemed far too composed. But he didn’t question it.

They had invited him to build a good relationship. There was no reason to nitpick over something so trivial.

“Ah, by the way, is she bathing too?”

“You mean the young lady?”

The young lady—meaning the robed woman. He didn’t know her name, so he called her that.

When Anagin nodded, Spanich answered:

“Yes, there’s another bathhouse. The butler must have guided her there. She’s probably washing up nicely by now.”

* * *

“Refreshing…. Oh, you’re here?”

Just as Spanich said, the robed woman seemed to have washed thoroughly.

You could tell just by seeing her slumped in the guest lounge after finishing her bath first.

“Huh? Did we not provide you with clothes?”

Spanich asked the robed woman as he and Anagin came out together.

Guests who finished bathing were always given clean, comfortable new clothes, yet the robed woman was still wearing the same outfit as before.

It was freshly washed, but still……

Spanich shot a questioning look at the butler, as if to ask what kind of hospitality this was.

When the butler lowered his head apologetically, the robed woman quickly stepped in.

“Ah, I refused, so don’t blame him. I get uneasy if I’m not wearing my usual clothes. The butler did offer new ones, but I just turned him down. And I washed my clothes while bathing, so they’re clean.”

It sounded like she was defending the butler, but Spanich’s expression worsened.

A host should have their guest’s clothes washed for them, but she washed them herself. During the bath, no less.

As the host, it was embarrassing.

Anagin stepped in to console him.

“She likes doing laundry, so it’s fine.”

“No, I don’t like doing laundry, mister.”

“No, you do.”

“I said I don’t.”

“If you say you don’t, the butler will get in trouble, you know?”

When Anagin struck that weak spot, the robed woman blinked, then reluctantly gave in.

“Ah… I love doing laundry.”

“You also love cooking, right? Enough to do it for free.”

“Cut it out.”

“So, did you also refuse the attendants?”

“Yeah, I got embarrassed and turned them down. You too?”

“Yeah, I got embarrassed and refused.”

Like breathing, the conversation wandered completely off-topic.

Fortunately, the atmosphere loosened, and Spanich’s expression softened.

Spanich then asked the butler:

“Have Grandfather and Father returned?”

“No, not yet. I will inform you the moment they do.”

“Please do…. Ah, and could you prepare a light snack?”

“Of course. I will bring it as quickly as possible.”

“Thank you.”

The butler bowed and stepped away, and before long, he returned with wine and sliced fruit laid on a bed of ice.

“Oh my goodness. Peaches, plums, grapes, watermelon…? It’s spring. How do you have these? Do you have a greenhouse here?”

While Anagin examined the fruits he’d never seen before, the robed woman asked in surprise.

Whatever the case, these weren’t fruits that should be in season now.

“We purchased them from the city. This village is not yet prosperous enough to maintain greenhouse orchards.”

“They must be expensive.”

A roundabout way of asking whether it was fine to be treated so generously.

Being a good host was a mark of civilized people, but guests also had to return that respect appropriately.

Spanich only smiled.

“Do not worry. It’s no trouble. More importantly, you are the very first guests I’ve ever invited. I want to treat you as well as I can.”

Pure goodwill.

Even so, the robed woman looked uneasy.

Kindness was appreciated, yet excessive kindness could sometimes be more dangerous than clumsy malice.

Through experience, she knew this well, and it wasn’t easy for her to accept it outright.

Maybe—

“This fruit’s amazing! What’s it called?”

In contrast to the robed woman’s cautious thoughts, Anagin was already eating the fruit faster than anyone else.

He held a piece of fruit with striking red flesh.

“It’s called watermelon. Strictly speaking, it’s a vegetable. Do you like the taste?”

“Very much.”

Anagin shoved another piece of watermelon into his mouth, proving he wasn’t just being polite.

Crisp texture, sweet juice spreading across his tongue.

He looked ready to demolish the entire pile of watermelon resting on ice.

The robed woman hadn’t had even a single bite!

“Mister? I haven’t eaten any yet?”

“You kept staring at it, so I thought you didn’t want any.”

“Uh… I’ll ask them to bring more.”

“No, no, it’s fine. She doesn’t look like she wants any. Leave it.”

When Anagin stopped Spanich, the robed woman grabbed a piece of watermelon and popped it into her mouth.

“It really is delicious… Stop eating so much!!”

The robed woman, who had been calmly savoring the taste, finally snapped and yelled at Anagin as he inhaled the watermelon.

Only then did Anagin stop the hand that had been demolishing the fruit.

Seeing this up close, Spanich struggled to suppress his laughter.

“Kukuk…! Ah, pardon me. In any case, I’m glad the two of you like it.”

Anagin nodded.

“Yes, it’s really good. The other fruits are tasty too, but this one is incredible. Makes me think becoming a practitioner was the right choice.”

“Haha, is that so?”

“Yes. Originally, I never planned on becoming a practitioner. But eating something this good makes it feel not so bad.”

Spanich froze for a moment.

He never planned to become a practitioner?

It wasn’t a strange statement. No one was born saying, ‘I will be a practitioner, wahh.’

But it was the nuance.

His tone implied he hadn’t intended to become a practitioner until very recently.

As that thought surfaced, Spanich recalled their earlier short conversations.

Anagin lacked even the most basic knowledge that any “0-Star Practitioner” would know—things like “Divinity” or “Harpies.”

As if he were someone from an isolated wilderness with no contact with the outside world.

When asked about it, Anagin nodded easily.

”You’re not wrong. I did come from living in a rather deep forest.”

“If you don’t mind me asking, from which forest?”

“No idea. We just called it ‘the forest.’ All I know is that it was very deep and dense.”

It didn’t sound like a lie, but Spanich’s questions only grew deeper.

There were countless deep and dense forests in the world.

“Then do you know the very first place you reached after leaving the forest? A village? A city?”

Spanich tried to deduce his origins by asking where he first arrived.

Even that much could give him a rough sense of geography.

“Mm… a city called Dysis Polis.”

“Dysis?”

“Yes. You know it?”

“Of course.”

Dysis Polis.

A city founded in Anapik by a merchant from Hellas.

A surprisingly well-developed city for something built here, everyone in the region knew it.

Not to mention, back when the Bender Caravan invaded, Dysis had requested help from the Dolos Family.

Although Grandfather refused…

“Isn’t that where Sir Anagin’s fame began? Then your hometown must be near there.”

Spanich accepted it.

It was plausible that near the outermost edge of Anapik—around Dysis Polis—there existed some unknown village.

“No, I don’t think so.”

“Pardon?”

“It seems too far away to call it ‘near.’”

Anagin recalled when his master threw him out.

He had flown for an absurdly long time—long enough that saying he “flew” wouldn’t be wrong.

It absolutely wasn’t within any reasonable distance of Dysis Polis.

“But didn’t you say Dysis was the first place you arrived at?”

“It was. But I only arrived because I fell out of the sky after flying through the air…”

“???”

“If I explain, it’ll be a long story. Anyway, it definitely wasn’t near there….”

Spanich’s expression twisted further as Anagin’s explanations became less understandable.

So he tried another question.

“Then, when did you become a practitioner?”

“When I decided to leave the village.”

“And when was that exactly?”

Anagin counted on his fingers, thought for a moment, then answered:

“About ten days ago?”

“Ten days?!”

Spanich shouted in shock, so loudly he nearly shot out of his seat.

So he left his village less than ten days ago… and in those ten days, he beat down the Bender Caravan, crushed Deodia, and wrecked the Monster Merchant?

He’d known those events happened in a short span, but assumed at least the practitioner career itself had been longer.

At least a year, because that was normal.

But Anagin defied all such common sense.

“You don’t need to believe me.”

Anagin said after seeing Spanich’s bewilderment.

Spanich shook his head.

“No, it’s not that I don’t believe you. We’ve heard the stories. I’m just shocked that all that happened right after you left your village.”

He was right.

Gigants were infamous for having terrible luck, yet even so, meeting the Bender Caravan, Deodia, and the Monster Merchant the moment he stepped outside was something no probability could explain.

“Hearing it out loud, I guess it is kind of surprising.”

“Yes, you’re incredible. To build that reputation within ten days of deciding to become a practitioner.”

“I was lucky.”

He wasn’t being modest.

If his master hadn’t thrown him out, he would’ve probably wandered the forest for at least a year.

The forest had been so deep and vast that even Anagin couldn’t see its end.

Right then, Spanich asked:

“Did your master also teach you swordsmanship?”

Anagin nodded while eating the last piece of fruit.

All of Anagin’s fighting skills were learned from his master. Though he wasn’t grateful at all.

“Why do you ask?”

“Your swordsmanship is extraordinary. If you don’t mind… perhaps you and I could—”

Just as Spanich was about to suggest something, the butler entered the guest lounge.

At the same time, the sound of the front gate opening echoed from outside.

”Young Master. The Elder has returned. He has brought back the wild boar as well.”