Anagin Chronicles

Chapter 99

Silence.A heavy silence fell over the sparring arena, broken only by the sound of breathing and sweat dripping.

Just minutes ago, cheers filled with excitement had been roaring through the air…

In that weighty stillness stood two men.

Anagin and Meleager.

More precisely, Anagin was trying to stab Meleager after snatching a spear, and Meleager was blocking it.

Drip. Drip.

Sweat poured from Anagin’s entire body as he thrust the spear with veins bulging from the strain, while Meleager raised one hand into the air and halted the spear in place.

He was blocking it using the blessing [Protection of the Spear], which was far more efficient this way.

Thanks to that, both of Meleager’s hands were relatively free.

He could have grabbed another spear at any moment and stabbed Anagin.

Or driven in a punch as he had earlier.

“……”

However, for some reason, Meleager could not bring himself to do so.

If he did, it would feel as though he were running away.

And in truth, he had already used two blessings against a practitioner who had received none.

[Protection of the Spear] and [Instant Acceleration].

If he avoided this head-on clash now, it would truly feel like retreat.

No—beyond simple retreat, in a sense, it could even be considered defeat.

That he, called a great hero, had fought like this against someone without a single blessing.

Of course, it was a spar, and he had adjusted to Anagin’s level.

Even so.

Honestly, he was somewhat surprised.

He had clearly been pressing Anagin one-sidedly.

He had nearly knocked him out of the arena with a spear, and in spear combat, he had overwhelmed him throughout.

Not even a single exchange had passed without Anagin’s spears breaking, snapping, bending, shattering, leaving more wounds across his body.

And yet, Meleager felt as though he had not pressed him as much as expected.

Perhaps it was Anagin’s attitude—continuing to fight back as if accustomed to such pressure—and his persistent attempts at counterattacks.

He had assumed Anagin was no ordinary man since he had fought against Erysichthon, but this was beyond imagination.

He had thought that ancient monster had merely toyed with him on a whim, but perhaps…

As these thoughts passed through his mind, Meleager rolled his eyes and glanced around.

The spectators who had been excited at his apparent advantage had fallen silent.

Startled by how events had unfolded differently than imagined… no, even before that, they were likely stunned that Anagin had fought Meleager to this extent.

If Meleager himself was surprised, how much more so the others?

He had to admit it.

This man named Anagin was remarkable.

He had heard that his rough temperament had nearly caused trouble several times, but at this level, he certainly had the ability to back it up.

However…

Recognition was one thing. Meleager had his own position to consider.

If this spar dragged on any longer, it could harm not only his reputation but also that of Chiron Tower.

It was time to truly end this.

With that thought, he moved the hand controlling the spear to shake Anagin off—

“…Huh?”

Something felt different.

Though the spear was under his control, for some reason, it did not move as he intended.

The spear trembled in midair, frozen in place.

Was Anagin holding it purely by strength?

It was possible—but only a few could manage such a feat.

And it did not quite feel like mere brute force.

If it were only strength, how to describe it… It felt foreign.

As Meleager puzzled over that strange sensation—

The spear Anagin was gripping moved, just a little… just a very little, closer toward Meleager.

“……”

Meleager’s eyes widened, and an indescribable surge of emotion welled up.

Different from when he first hunted a monster.

Different from when he faced villains.

Different from when he stood alone against thousands of soldiers…

This feeling reminded him of that time.

When he had faced the bishop of the Barbaroi Cult, who radiated an utterly alien presence.

In that moment, Meleager’s heart raced slightly. The reason that had been matching his opponent's skill diminished, and instead, the instinct obsessed with victory and defeat surged.

The instinct that seized control rendered its judgment—

—Click!

A sound broke the silence.

Though not loud, it pierced everyone’s ears.

Naturally, all heads turned to identify its source.

Among them were Anagin and Meleager.

“What are you doing?”

The first to speak was Anagin.

Because the one who had made the sound was Ponytail.

“I saw something interesting, so I took a photo.”

Holding a wide wooden board in both hands, Ponytail spouted something incomprehensible.

Before anyone could question it, he explained.

“Oh, you don’t know what a photo is, right? It’s a recently invented magical tool, this.”

He turned the wooden board around to show them.

A sheet of paper was fitted in its center, and soon ink seeped across it, forming a single image.

The image depicted Anagin attempting to stab Meleager with a spear.

It was so detailed that it perfectly captured the fighting spirit within Anagin.

“……”

When Ponytail finished explaining, silence returned.

But it was different from before.

The earlier silence had been heavy, something building toward a peak.

Now, it felt as though something was about to explode.

“…Who are you?”

Someone standing near Ponytail asked.

The atmosphere was as thin as ice about to crack.

Yet Ponytail, either oblivious or uncaring, merely wore his characteristic irritating smile.

“Ah, me? Klephthys, junior reporter of Talaria Weekly. Pleasure to meet you?”

“Kle… phthys?”

The man who had asked for his name slowly repeated it.

Others reacted similarly.

Eyes narrowed sharply, teeth clenched slightly, brows furrowed.

Because Klephthys was…

“You know me? …Ah! Have you read my article? …「The Practitioner Killer Who Protected Practitioners from Erysichthon! Turns Out He’s a Practitioner Protector?!」 Thanks to that, I got promoted from trainee to junior reporter!”

With a smirk, Ponytail openly admitted to writing the article that had struck Chiron Tower like a reverse scale.

In front of countless people.

“…………”

The silence intensified, ready to burst at any moment.

Of course, they all retained their reason—for now…

But Ponytail did not remain still.

Standing atop the fragile atmosphere like thin ice, he suddenly began to dance.

“Oh, but looks like I’ll get promoted again. I’ve captured the moment when the great hero Meleager was just about to be defeated by the Practitioner Protector! What should I title it? 「The Practitioner Protector Who Topples the Hero of Chiron Tower」? Or simply 「Has-Been」?”

As if he had no attachment to his life, Ponytail once again recited headlines that would set Chiron Tower ablaze.

He was not a fool who lacked awareness.

So it had to be one of two things.

Either he truly wished to die.

Or he had something to rely on.

Most likely…

“Is there a spar going on?”

The latter.

“M-Master?”

Chiron appeared at the entrance without a sound.

He rarely showed himself except at spars he personally presided over. His sudden arrival drew all attention.

Why had the Master suddenly come here?

Because of Meleager? Or… because of Anagin? Was he perhaps intending to take him as a disciple?

As various thoughts ran through everyone’s minds—

Chiron himself revealed the reason for his visit.

“Irida.”

“Y-Yes? Yes, Master!!”

Irida of the Wind, a member of the New Argonaut Expedition Team, answered stiffly, clearly nervous.

She thought she had grown accustomed to the Master, yet at times like this, she still tensed up.

“Where is your sister?”

“Uh, my sister went outside the Tower to hunt. She said she wanted some fresh air for once.”

“For once?”

Anagin, who had been listening quietly, muttered.

Something about “for once” sounded strange.

Did that mean a woman capable of standing alongside Meleager had been confined somewhere?

Regardless, Chiron continued.

“Tell your sister to come to me as soon as she returns. There is something to convey.”

“May I ask… what that message is?”

“Your father has sent word.”

“F-Father?”

Irida’s expression darkened, as if she had encountered someone she ought not meet.

She was not the only one whose expression soured.

Across from Anagin, Meleager’s face also darkened.

His expression clouded with dissatisfaction, irritation, and a strange sorrow. There was even a sense that he was holding something back.

As confusion lingered, Chiron drove the point home.

“He says the Groom Competition will resume, so she should come without delay.”

* * *

After Chiron revealed his purpose and left, everything fizzled out.

The spar between Anagin and Meleager ended without a victor, and the people who had been glaring at Ponytail only moments ago naturally dispersed.

It left behind a dirty feeling, as if something had been left unfinished.

Yet it wasn’t easy to press the matter.

Meleager clearly looked to be in a bad mood.

He seemed angry somewhere deep inside, yet also sorrowful, making it awkward to suggest continuing the fight.

And despite appearances, Anagin had a surprisingly considerate side.

So Anagin went to do what he had to do.

He headed straight down to the underground prison to bring out Pais, who was locked up.

“Is this really okay?”

Sphinx asked as she followed Anagin with Kori.

She agreed with rescuing Pais, but she was worried about whether this was truly acceptable.

“Okay or not, they’re the ones who failed to wrap things up properly. What do you want me to do?”

Anagin replied casually.

If it became an issue later, he’d deal with it then.

For now, he intended to get Pais—the brat—out first.

Sphinx, seeming to agree, asked no further questions, and Kori quietly felt relief and joy.

Having once imagined never being able to save her younger brother, she was all the happier.

“Where are you all going?”

In the midst of this somewhat serious mood, Ponytail joined them naturally with a grin.

“To the underground prison.”

“There’s an underground prison in Chiron Tower?”

“I just found out today, too. But aren’t you a reporter? You didn’t even know that?”

“A reporter’s qualifications are agitation and fabrication, not investigation and knowledge. That’s what amateurs do.”

“My headache’s coming back.”

Sphinx complained again at Ponytail’s nonsense.

Looking aggrieved, Ponytail said to her,

“I don’t know what kind of illusions you have about reporters, but this is reality… Anyway, why the underground prison? Trying to break someone out?”

“Not a jailbreak. Just getting a kid out who’s locked up.”

“People generally agreed to call that a jailbreak… So what did the kid do to get thrown in an underground prison?”

Anagin gave a brief explanation.

That a fight had broken out because of the article he wrote, and in the process, Pais had nearly crushed some kid’s eyeball.

Hearing that, Ponytail looked genuinely delighted.

“Oh, my article had that much impact? I love it!”

(T/N) : LOL

Not something to say in front of Kori, Pais’s family, but Anagin let it slide.

He already knew what kind of guy Ponytail was. Saying anything would be pointless—better to just get Pais out.

Anagin went down into the underground prison and met Pais again.

“B-Big brother?”

He looked like he wanted to ask if Anagin had won the bet.

Instead of answering, Anagin bent the iron bars open.

“Come out.”

Pais stepped out of the cell, his face brightening.

With their business done, they were heading back out of the underground prison when they ran into some familiar faces.

The guy who had been screaming that Pais nearly burst his little brother’s eyeball—and his friends.

Tramachus, Irida, and Meleager were nowhere to be seen.

It was just them.

“Move.”

Anagin said to the ones who had appeared late.

“Move so we can get out.”

He neither knew nor cared why they were there or why they were blocking the way.

They could either attack or step aside. That was their choice.

They looked at Anagin. Their eyes wavered.

After a brief pause, they obediently stepped aside, clearing a path.

Seeing his fierce battle with Meleager had broken their spirit.

Anagin had no interest in that.

He simply walked between them as if it were only natural, followed by Sphinx, the children, and Ponytail.

They exited without any interference.

Seeing things resolve more smoothly than expected, Sphinx let out a sigh.

“Haah… I’m glad there wasn’t any clash.”

“The people who’d back them up are probably busy right now.”

Ponytail muttered as if he knew something.

Normally, Anagin would have ignored him, but this time he was curious.

“Tramachus? Meleager?”

“Yeah.”

“Why are they busy?”

“You heard it too, didn’t you? The Groom Competition.”

The Groom Competition Chiron had mentioned.

Even after hearing that, Anagin found it harder to understand.

Wasn’t the Groom Competition about Atalanta? Then why were Tramachus and Meleager busy? More importantly…

“What exactly is the Groom Competition?”

“It’s a competition to choose Atalanta’s groom… Ah, why don’t you go take a look too?”