Anagin Chronicles

Chapter 033. Ah, geez (1)

The next morning.

Anagin woke up feeling refreshed.

It was only natural, he had slept warm and full.

Half-lidded, he stepped outside while scratching his belly.

Tak-! Tak-!

There were already quite a few people outside.

Servants were busily carrying buckets of water, and hired guards were striking scarecrows as they trained.

It seemed everyone had begun their day long before Anagin awoke.

‘Everyone here sure is diligent…’

Still scratching his stomach, Anagin blankly watched the scene before him.

Then something surfaced in his mind.

Like his hometown before the plague…

His mother and younger sister preparing breakfast, his father heading off to work…

That old scenery flashed through his memory.

‘…Have I been too warm and well-fed lately?’

Shaking his head, Anagin pushed away the past that had suddenly risen up.

He didn’t like the feeling. It made him feel weak.

Still, he decided to let it go.

After all, he was leaving today anyway.

“Are you awake?”

Spanich appeared, soaked in sweat, along with his cousins.

Judging by their state, they had been training since morning as well.

“Haaah~ yeah.”

Anagin answered with a long, lazy yawn.

“I’m glad you slept well.”

Unlike Spanich, who smiled warmly at Anagin, the cousins were beginning to look more and more skeptical of him, since he looked like a complete slacker.

Spanich was different because he had seen Anagin fight with his own eyes.

“Breakfast will be soon. You woke at just the right time.”

“Good. I didn’t want to be shameless enough to miss mealtime in someone else’s home.”

Anagin said boldly, as if unaware of the irony.

“You should wash before we eat.”

“Well, there’s still a bit of time before breakfast… how about it? Would you care to spar with us?”

Competitive spirit? Or overconfidence?

One of Spanich’s cousins once again suggested a match.

They had all heard of Anagin’s feats from Spanich, but honestly, they didn’t believe it completely.

They wanted to confirm it themselves.

Anagin waved his hand dismissively.

“I don’t like sparring.”

After a lifetime of sparring with his master, he refused immediately.

His answer made them poke at him a bit.

“Is there… another reason you’re refusing?”

A roundabout way of asking if he was scared.

Spanich nudged his cousin, signaling him to stop.

But Anagin didn’t mind at all.

People always acted bravely before getting hit. Anyone could do stupid things.

Besides, he was leaving today.

He didn’t care what they said.

He just wanted to eat and go.

Looking at the four sweaty young men, Anagin spoke.

“Know any streams nearby to wash up in?”

“Why do you ask?”

"It seems like you all should wash up first, and I don't like waiting."

“N-no, you’re the guest—”

“It’s fine. I’m not that shameless. Just tell me where I can wash.”

* * *

Spanich repeatedly tried to yield to Anagin, but Anagin refused each time.

In the end, Spanich told him where he could wash, and Anagin headed there.

“Didn’t know you liked peeking at people bathing, mister.”

“What the hell are you talking about?”

When Anagin arrived, the robed woman was just finishing putting on her clothes.

Seeing the wet golden hair peeking out from her robe, it seemed she had washed here as well.

“Why’re you washing out here like some vagrant?”

“I was out for a walk, so I did it along the way. And you mister?”

"I'm here to wash."

“You said doing it here was like some vagrant.”

“When I do it, it’s called having atmosphere.”

“…….”

The robed woman stared at him deadpan, overwhelmed by the sheer amount of shamelessness.

She had met many people during her travels, but none as absurd as this man.

“What are you staring at?”

“I think you’re incredible.”

“That’s obvious. Why say something so obvious? If you’re done, go. I’m going to wash and I’m shy.”

As he finished speaking, Anagin took off his shirt.

Which made her seriously question whether he was actually shy.

The robed woman sighed and began walking away.

“Haah~ seriously, you’re so careless. No wonder your little sister hates you.”

“Don’t be stupid. She loved me.”

“Are you sure that’s not a lie?”

“I bluff sometimes, but I don’t lie. My little sister loving me is one of my many points of pride.”

The phrasing was strange enough that she paused and tilted her head.

Normally, people would say it was one of their few points of pride.

But he made it sound like he had countless accomplishments.

It irritated her a little. Follow current novᴇls on novel-fire.net

Maybe that’s why she felt like teasing him.

“So why’d you leave a sister who loved you that much?”

“Why did you leave your mother’s arms?”

“I told you. To search for knowledge.”

“It sounded like a lie, so I asked. I’m good at picking these things up. I can even hear the sound of your gears grinding in your head.”

Anagin tapped his temple with his finger.

Whether someone was stupid or clever, he always heard the same sound when they schemed:

Drrrrrk. Drrrrrk.

Maybe she was hit by that remark, because the robed woman suddenly changed the subject.

“Just go wash. Breakfast is soon—your favorite part of the day.”

“I like tasty food, that’s all.”

“I’m not cooking for you.”

“I wouldn’t eat it anyway. I bet your cooking is bad.”

“I’m actually good at cooking!”

“Don’t lie. I hate lies.”

“Why would I lie!? You tried to make me cook yesterday!”

“I asked because I knew you’d refuse. I’m smart. How did you not realize that?”

When Anagin scolded her, the robed woman looked at him with a disbelieving expression.

A look that said, What kind of person even are you?

Maybe, just maybe, he was a genius when it came to provoking people.

While she was thinking that—

Anagin took off his pants and stepped into the stream.

He spoke as he submerged himself.

“And besides, we’re parting ways now, so how would you cook for me?”

“What…?”

“Did you forget? You were only traveling with me temporarily. Until we got out of the witch’s territory and reached a village. And that’s now.”

Anagin was right.

Their relationship was a literal temporary companionship.

They were now out of the Harpy Witch’s domain, and they had reached the village—meaning it was time to separate.

Realizing this, the robed woman’s voice softened slightly.

“Heh… yeah. That’s true. Shame, though. It was short but fun."

“Where there’s a meeting, there’s a parting.”

“You’re really heartless.”

“It’s better not to get tied up with each other. You and I each have our own goals, right?”

Anagin said.

It sounded like a casual excuse, but it hit the truth precisely.

Anagin became a practitioner to become a god.

The robed woman left home to seek knowledge.

They both had concrete goals.

Though he didn’t know what knowledge she sought, she surely did.

Their pursuits were different—unsuitable for long-term travel together.

Even people with the same goal ended up on different paths. People with different goals had no chance of staying aligned.

She understood that too, and stopped complaining.

“Where will you go now?”

The robed woman asked, sounding a bit regretful.

While washing his face in the stream, Anagin answered:

“Wherever the wind blows. What about you?”

“Suddenly?”

She reacted as if surprised.

Why was the man who seemed indifferent about everything suddenly curious?

Still, she answered.

“I’m not sure yet. Haven’t decided. Why’re you asking?”

“Razonia wants to hire you.”

“…What?”

“He said mages are valuable. Interested?”

* * *

“I’m sorry, but I’m not interested at all.”

It was a pleasant breakfast table.

The table was filled with warmth and cheer.

Toast—bread soaked in egg and milk and grilled with butter—along with sausages, boiled eggs, butter-fried mushrooms, and so on…

Perhaps because it was breakfast, it felt modest compared to last night’s feast, but regardless, an excellent meal had been laid out. The portions were generous, too.

And in the middle of that cheerful breakfast, when Razonia subtly expressed his intention to employ the robed woman, she firmly rejected it.

Saying she had absolutely no interest.

Razonia seemed taken aback; he hadn’t expected such a decisive refusal.

“Huh… is that so?”

His sons and grandchildren made displeased faces, but the robed woman remained unchanged.

“Yes, I’m sorry, but I’m not thinking of settling anywhere right now.”

“I haven’t even told you the conditions yet.”

Whether because he did truly desire her or for another reason, Razonia clung persistently.

‘Well, having a mage is convenient, that’s for sure.’

Anagin thought so, recalling how the robed woman washed clothes as if they were new.

After all, the only reason he allowed her to travel with him was the laundry.

So Anagin decided he understood why Razonia was trying so hard to hire her.

Even if the robed woman herself didn’t seem inclined to accept.

“I’m sure the conditions would be great, but I must decline. Honestly, I just want to wander around for a while.”

“Why so? Being hired under good conditions is what most mages desire.”

“I’m a scholar before I am a mage. I pursue mental satisfaction over physical comfort.”

Whether her words were sincere or not was unclear, but it was certain she had no intention of accepting Razonia’s offer.

Still, perhaps because she had been treated well, the robed woman left a sliver of courtesy.

“When I feel I’ve acquired enough knowledge, I’ll return. Even if someone else makes me an offer.”

It was obviously a polite line meant to avoid hurting feelings, but it was something. She was at least trying to give him some face—unlike Anagin, who didn’t even do that much.

Judging her as difficult to persuade, Razonia stopped insisting. Instead, he asked:

“Then… when do you plan to leave, young lady?”

“Today. I think staying longer would be discourteous.”

“...Where do you intend to go?”

“Well? I’m thinking of going wherever the wind blows. I’ll probably walk with this mister until we reach outside the village.”

Pointing to Anagin, she said it without asking his opinion.

Razonia let out a hollow laugh at her answer.

“Haha… well now. Our precious guests, whom we welcomed with such care, are leaving at the same time, this is unexpected. Was our hospitality so poor?”

“It was excellent. I just don’t want to overstay and drain someone else’s household.”

Anagin answered while glancing around.

Some faces didn’t look so pleasant, and a number of armed guards had positioned themselves near the entrance.

“The host always wants to treat guests even better…”

“And the guest always wants to leave at the right time.”

Anagin shoved a piece of toast into his mouth as he responded.

The toast was incredibly sweet.

Breakfast was slowly drawing to an end.

A faint tension drifted through the air.

Noticing this, Anagin moved to rise from his seat, and the robed woman began to stand as well.

Seeing the two, Razonia opened his mouth.

“Do you remember our conversation yesterday?”

“...Well, I’m not the type to remember every little thing.”

“Then I will ask again now. Anagin, what do you think of monsters? As a practitioner.”

A sudden question.

But strangely, the weight of that question was heavy—far heavier than expected.

So heavy that the surroundings fell silent, everyone’s ears perking up.

In the air stretched tight with tension.

Anagin pointed at the robed woman and asked:

“Is this because of her? Because she’s a monster?”

“?!”

Anagin tossed out a shocking statement as casually as breathing.

Razonia asked.

“...You knew?”

And it wasn’t just Razonia who wanted to know.

Spanich stared at Anagin in shock, and even the robed woman herself looked at him with rounded eyes.

“How did you know?”

She must have been very surprised; rather than denying it, she asked. Not that anyone would believe a denial in this atmosphere anyway.

“I’ve got a good nose. I can tell human scent from not-human. And my eyes aren’t busted either.”

Anagin mentioned the faint beast scent he noticed the first time, her unusually sharp, glinting fingernails and toenails, and the tail that rustled behind her hips.

She must have thought she hid it well, but it wasn’t enough to fool Anagin.

“Why did you pretend you didn’t know?”

Whether she understood the situation or not, the robed woman asked with an almost carefree tone.

Well, maybe not carefree. Her voice carried a faint note of betrayal.

“What do you mean by pretend? I didn’t ‘pretend not to know.’ I just didn’t act like I knew.”

“My point is that—”

“—Shut it.”

Seeing the conversation getting long-winded, Anagin shut her up.

Smart kid, sure, but oddly scatterbrained. Did she think her own curiosity mattered right now?

The priority was not her curiosity—it was Razonia.

Or rather… the entire Dolos Family?

Anagin flexed, his muscles tensing as he stared at the Dolos Family members whose eyes now glinted sharply.

The daughters-in-law—the non-combatants—had already vacated the room, leaving only the Gigantes behind.

Razonia pressed him again:

“You knew and still protected that thing?”

“She did my laundry. And anyway, does that really matter?”

“Hah… no, that isn’t what matters.... I have an offer.”

“I think I know what it is, so to save time, may I offer my own suggestion?”

Anagin made a counteroffer, trying to minimize the waste of time.

Though honestly, this too felt like a waste of time—but he had eaten their food, so he’d at least check.

“...If you let me leave with her, I’ll go quietly. How does that sound?”

A proposal so far outside common sense that the room answered with a silence as heavy as lead.

No—there was one more answer.

Daria, the Dolos family’s lone daughter, kicked the table toward Anagin.

As the table came flying, Anagin muttered:

Ah, geez, damn it.