Chapter 29

Chapter 29: The Invitation (2)

“Of course, of course.”

Spanichi nodded happily at Anagin’s question.

It was common knowledge that Giants ate a lot.

Naturally, the Dolos family—an Ascetic Family—knew this as well.

For that matter, the Dolos family itself boasted an enormous appetite.

“Hm, good. Then let’s go.”

When Spanichi said he could eat as much as he wanted, Anagin accepted the invitation. Spanichi happily led him home. There was one thing to do before that, though…

“You are all now free from the Witch’s tyranny. You may live out your days in peace.”

Spanichi visited each village that had been under the Witch’s rule, one by one, informing them that the Witch was dead and that they had been freed from her tyranny.

“R-Really?”

The villagers couldn’t believe the sudden news.

Each time, Spanichi pulled out the Witch’s head, wrapped in cloth, and showed it to them.

Evidence more effective than a hundred words.

Only after seeing the severed head did the villagers accept that the Witch was dead.

“Thank goodness… Thank goodness!” “Oh my, it’s real…” “A-Amazing!”

The villagers all reacted similarly—shock, then joy. Their praise for Spanichi, who had brought the Witch’s head, was especially identical, as if stamped from a mold.

“No, everyone. I only did what an Ascetic ought to do… And more than anything, I didn’t do this alone.”

Spanichi spoke humbly and pointed to Anagin.

Anagin was taken aback.

Whether he was or not, Spanichi kept speaking.

“It was thanks to this man, Anagin, that we were able to defeat the Witch. In truth, he did almost all of it himself.”

The villagers looked at Anagin, standing behind Spanichi.

Their first reaction was doubt and suspicion.

Compared to Spanichi, who was well-dressed and properly armed, Anagin had only a single sword hanging at his hip, and his clothes were plain. They couldn’t bring themselves to believe it.

Honestly, if you exaggerated a little, he looked closer to a servant than a comrade.

Whenever Spanichi caught that look, he emphasized Anagin’s role.

He told them it was Anagin who had played the decisive part in bringing down the Witch.

Each time, Anagin said it wasn’t necessary, but Spanichi wouldn’t bend.

“No, I have no intention of stealing credit.”

An attitude almost pointlessly upright.

Thanks to that, the villagers came to believe in Anagin’s contributions as well.

If Spanichi, who had brought the Witch’s head, said so, who wouldn’t believe it?

At one point, someone threw a question at Spanichi.

“W-What happens to us now?”

The first to ask was the elderly Village Chief.

A face that seemed familiar somehow…

Anagin soon realized he was the Red-Feather Helmet Man who had come to capture Robe Girl.

He’d been confused for a moment since the man wasn’t wearing his helmet, but Anagin could tell it was him from his eyes, his way of speaking, and his smell.

Spanichi asked back.

“What do you mean, what happens?”

“The Witch was a tyrant, but she was also our protector. This is Anapic… Who do we ask for protection now?”

It was a natural yet puzzling question.

It was the Red-Feather Helmet Man who had asked Spanichi to defeat the Witch.

For him to ask such a question was strange. And yet, at the same time, it was natural.

This was a kind of formality. A ritual to move forward with what had already been decided…

As if to prove it, Spanichi opened his mouth as though he’d been waiting.

“If you wish, our Dolos family will protect you! Under the name of Ares!”

It was closer to a declaration than an answer.

The Red-Feather Helmet Man bowed his head.

“Under the name of Ares, God of Pioneering, we ask the Dolos family for aid.”

Then, one after another, the entire village bowed to Spanichi and asked for protection.

Spanichi answered with a satisfied smile.

“I gladly accept your request. I’ll send someone to work out the details.”

That was the end of the conversation with the village where the Helmet Man was Chief. And the other villages concluded their talks in exactly the same manner.

When Spanichi proved the Witch’s death, they asked the Dolos family for aid, and Spanichi humbly accepted.

Under the name of Ares, God of Pioneering.

Some villages went further, offering food, lodging, and women in gratitude, but Spanichi politely declined, saying he had business to attend to, and headed for the main estate with Anagin.

“I apologize for taking so long.”

Spanichi apologized to Anagin for spending more time than expected visiting every village in the Witch’s domain.

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

“I accepted the invitation, so it’s fine. More importantly, how much farther is your home?”

A day had passed since they’d finished touring the Witch’s domain and come south. Anagin asked.

He’d accepted the invitation because he’d been promised plenty of food, but he was worried, a little late, about what he’d do if it was too far.

Spanichi answered with a smile.

“Just a little farther.”

“Hek! Hek! Is that ‘a little’ by Giant standards? Or by normal people standards?”

Robe Girl, who had been following silently, asked, panting for breath. There was a note of accusation in her voice.

And no wonder—Anagin and Spanichi hadn’t shown her any consideration and had walked too fast, for too long. She wasn’t a Giant!

Beneath the large robe, Robe Girl was sweating and gasping, clearly miserable.

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

Taking the chance, Robe Girl plopped down on the spot and caught her breath.

“Haah—! You people are really too much!”

Robe Girl loudly voiced her frustration.

Spanichi apologized, his voice tinged with embarrassment.

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

“If you get happy a second time, will you turn your guests into lost children?”

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

Anagin cut in naturally to correct her.

No matter how he thought about it, he didn’t think he’d get lost.

Robe Girl’s eyes went wide as if shocked. Beneath the robe, golden eyes flashed.

“Did you see that? This is who I’m traveling with—a man with no sense of decency! I even did his laundry for him!”

“Haha…”

Spanichi had nothing to say and simply laughed. To ease the awkward mood, he complimented Robe Girl.

“Still, you’re impressive. Even with magic, it can’t be easy for a woman to keep up with a Giant.”

He’d meant it to lift her spirits, but he also meant it sincerely.

Keeping pace with a Giant who moved as he pleased was no easy feat.

An ordinary person would need a horse or a carriage, and even with magic, a half-baked mage would struggle greatly.

Magic was mysterious and powerful, but it wasn’t easy to master…

In that sense, Robe Girl could be called a fairly skilled mage. Though for some reason, it seemed she couldn’t use that magic in combat.

“Haha…”

This time, Robe Girl laughed. She was embarrassed at having her magical skill indirectly praised… Or perhaps there was another reason.

“Want me to help if it’s hard?”

While Robe Girl and Spanichi took turns laughing,

Anagin suddenly walked over and asked.

“What?”

Robe Girl, not understanding, asked back.

Help with what, exactly?

“I said I’d carry you if it’s hard.”

Robe Girl’s golden eyes flashed beneath the robe.

Carry her on his back? It was so unexpected she couldn’t believe it.

“He says it’s just a little farther, so it’d be weird to take it slow… It really is just a little farther, right?”

“Yes, just a little farther.”

Spanichi nodded.

Robe Girl stared intently at Anagin. The offer was so kind she wondered if there was some kind of trap.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“You’re suddenly being nice, so it’s suspicious.”

“I’m always nice.”

“Don’t lie.”

“I’ve carried the kids back home plenty of times.”

“Really?” “Is that so?”

“Why are you both so surprised?”

Anagin glared at the two of them. He was genuinely surprised and a little hurt. What was so strange about him?

“Believe it or not, I played with the kids a lot. I have a younger sister.”

“Oh…”

At the fact that Anagin had a younger sister, the two let out exclamations of surprise again.

They’d assumed that, growing up without siblings, he must have caused his parents no end of trouble.

Of course, if Anagin had heard that, he’d have thought, “Are you all out of your minds?”

After a moment’s hesitation, Robe Girl decided to accept Anagin’s kindness. He’d gone out of his way to tell them all this—it didn’t feel right to refuse.

“Fine, big brother. Then carry me.”

“Hm?”

“You said you’d carry me. I’ll trust you, so carry me. Honestly, my legs have been killing me.”

Patting her swollen legs, Robe Girl held out both arms. It was a rather cute sight.

But Anagin tilted his head.

“No, I said I’d carry you—who said anything about a piggyback ride?”

Robe Girl tilted her head, a question mark practically floating over it.

She soon understood what he meant.

In a way she hadn’t wanted.

“It’s just a little farther.”

Spanichi said, quickening his pace and looking at Anagin following behind—or more precisely, at Robe Girl, dangling like a sack of luggage tucked under Anagin’s arm.

Anagin had, true to his word, picked Robe Girl up and carried her.

Dangling and swaying, Robe Girl wore a blank expression. As if vowing never to forget this humiliation.

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Fortunately, Robe Girl’s humiliation didn’t last long.

Just as Spanichi had said, the main estate wasn’t far.

Anagin, Spanichi, and Robe Girl soon arrived at Dolos Village, where the Dolos family’s estate stood.

“…It’s really named Dolos?”

Anagin said, looking at the sizable village.

A red-tiled manor built on a great hill.

The village centered around that manor had quite an impressive look to it.

It wasn’t wealthy, but it seemed prosperous, and above all, it seemed safe.

Spanichi, hearing the praise, wore a smile mixed with embarrassment and pride.

“Yes… The village was built after our family settled here… And the village itself asked to name it that, as a show of gratitude.”

It was an entirely understandable story.

It was common enough to take the name of a powerful being who protected the village, to stay in their good graces. And an Ascetic Family, which needed to elevate its name, had no reason to refuse.

On top of that, looking around the village, the Dolos family seemed competent at their work.

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

Proof that they could feel safe even without walls.

“Huh? Young master?!”

As they entered the village along the road, one of the residents immediately recognized Spanichi.

His face was full of welcome.

“Mister.”

“You’ve already finished the job?”

“Yes, one thing led to another.”

At Spanichi’s answer, the villager looked surprised and impressed.

“Truly? They said the Witch up in that village was no ordinary foe… Everyone, come here! The young master is back!!”

The villager, delighted as if it were his own news, shouted loud enough to shake the whole village, announcing Spanichi’s return.

“Oh…? Young master?! You’ve returned safely!” “We were worried. Are you hurt anywhere?” “I knew we could count on you. Still, to return this quickly—amazing.”

The villagers who gathered one by one all reacted much the same.

They had worried about Spanichi, and they had believed in him. That he would catch the Harpy Witch notorious for her cruelty.

“By the way, who are these two?”

Someone asked, pointing at Anagin and Robe Girl, as Spanichi received the villagers’ warm welcome.

Spanichi introduced them as if glad for the chance.

“These two are my invited guests! They were a great help in defeating the Witch.”

“Ooh…!”

At Spanichi’s introduction, the villagers looked at Anagin and Robe Girl with friendly eyes.

Their goodwill toward Spanichi extended to his guests.

Robe Girl was awkward under the sudden kindness, while Anagin took it more naturally than expected and greeted them with proper courtesy.

“It’s good to meet you all. My name is Anagin.”

Robe Girl’s eyes went wide as if startled by Anagin’s polite demeanor.

“What?”

“Nothing, just… unexpected.”

“Are you two Ascetics as well?”

One of the villagers reflexively asked about Anagin and Robe Girl.

It was a natural question, given they’d helped catch the Harpy Witch.

“This young lady is a mage, and this man is an Ascetic… In fact, he did all of—”

“—Oh, snap out of it, everyone. Step aside, all of you! The young master has brought guests, and here we are blocking the road!”

Just as Spanichi was about to explain Anagin’s achievements, the villager who had asked clapped his hands and cut him off.

He waved his arms to clear the road and urged Spanichi to go on.

“The elders will be waiting for you to arrive, young master.”

“…Thank you, mister.”

“Haha! Think nothing of it!”

Spanichi smiled in reply and, walking through the parted crowd, looked back at Anagin and Robe Girl.

He said,

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