Anagin Chronicles

Chapter 110

Everyone looked stunned.Starting with Atalanta on the stage, followed by her younger sister, Irida.

Tramachus and Thyreos, who had been discreetly searching through the crowd, and even Lynceus of Farsight, who had been resting with Sphinx—all of them.

It was as if they all knew who Hippomenes was.

After a moment, Ponytail spoke up.

“Hippomenes… he’s from Chiron Tower. What’s more, he was in the same class as Atalanta and Meleager.”

Anagin didn’t ask how he knew that.

Well, he’s a reporter for Talaria Weekly, so he probably knows. Even if he didn’t, he wouldn’t get a proper answer anyway.

Instead of wasting time on such a useless question, Anagin asked something more productive.

“Is he a member of the Argonaut Expedition Team?”

“No, not that level…”

From Ponytail’s tone and choice of words, it seemed he wasn’t particularly remarkable.

Is that why the people from the Chiron Tower are so surprised?

‘Even so, they seem way too surprised… is there really a reason to be this shocked—’

“—Huh, fascinating.”

While Anagin was still puzzled, Ponytail spoke again.

Just as he wondered what was so fascinating, something rather surprising was revealed.

“I heard he got rejected by Atalanta and went off to Barbarland, but I never thought he’d actually return…”

Before Anagin could even ask what that meant, a loud trumpet blared in the distance, announcing the arrival of a massive cart accompanied by numerous attendants.

Amazingly, the cart was piled high with golden ornaments—enough to resemble a small mountain!

Even though the gathering included renowned practitioners, merchants, bureaucrats, nobles, and royalty, this small golden mountain captivated everyone’s attention.

Could it be that he brought all this gold as a gift? everyone wondered.

Clatter!

A faint sound of gold shifting rang out.

One of the attendants around the cart had drawn a golden sword and handed it to an elderly noble.

The old noble looked flustered.

He hadn’t expected to receive such a gift, here and now.

After all, the center of attention was Atalanta, the princess of the Kingdom of Arcadia.

So the noble felt more embarrassed than delighted by the golden sword. However…

“Huh? Huh?”

The gleaming yellow-gold sword had a mesmerizing power. Unable to resist, the old noble found himself clutching it.

It was a gift, after all—why refuse?

The same went for everyone else.

“Oh my?”

“…Should we accept it?”

“What’s happening…?”

The cart carrying gold slowly moved forward as the attendants began handing out rare treasures to the onlookers.

Golden belts studded with large rubies, gold earrings adorned with sapphires, and golden hair ornaments encrusted with pearls.

Even the servants and slaves attending the spectators received generous gold coins.

Caught off guard by the sudden generosity, no one could respond—they simply accepted it.

This included the Original Argonaut Expedition Team, the New Argonaut Expedition Team, and even Atalanta herself.

“Here, please take it.”

An attendant offered a large, shining golden ornament to Anagin. He examined it briefly… and refused.

“Excuse me?”

The attendant asked again, incredulous, urging him to accept.

“Don’t worry. It’s just—”

“—I said I'm fine.”

Anagin declined firmly. He couldn’t explain why, but something felt off.

Perhaps sensing this, the attendant frowned, clearly displeased, and stepped back.

Hippomenes might have plenty of money, but apparently, he couldn’t train his attendants well.

“I’m fine too.”

Ponytail beside him also rejected the golden ornament extended by an attendant.

Curious, Anagin asked why he refused. Ponytail grinned.

“Treasure is for stealing, not receiving.”

“Crazy bastard.”

Anagin muttered this, yet couldn’t help thinking Ponytail was wise.

He didn’t know why—just a gut feeling. Reflexively, he glanced at Sphinx and his companions.

Had they taken the golden ornaments too?

Fortunately, Sphinx politely declined as well.

The attendant tried to force the gold into their hands, as he had with Anagin, but Lynceus stepped in, and the attendant backed off.

Lynceus himself seemed uneasy, refusing as well, and a few others also declined some of the golden items.

But those who accepted the gifts were far more numerous.

The gold that had been so abundant soon revealed empty spaces, proving this.

With this unexpected shower of gold, the arena, already buzzing, grew even more charged with a new kind of excitement.

If one had to put it into words, was it greed?

At that moment, a man strode confidently forward.

It was Hippomenes.

“Long time no see, Atalanta.”

* * *

Hippomenes was a handsome man with gray hair.

Dressed as impeccably as any participant in the Groom Tournament, he took advantage of the guests being distracted by golden ornaments, and before anyone realized it, he was kneeling on one knee, confidently greeting Atalanta.

Perhaps because of his extraordinary entrance, Atalanta showed a rare expression of bewilderment.

Compared to the way she had reluctantly dealt with all previous suitors, it was a refreshingly new sight.

Hippomenes seemed aware of this and gave a small smile.

“I’ve come to keep my promise. The promise to become a man worthy of you.”

At that, a curious murmur broke out among the spectators, especially the women.

It seemed they were imagining some romantic scenario.

“I am Hippomenes! To become a man worthy of Atalanta, the princess of Arcadia and a great warrior of the Argonaut Expedition Team, I have crossed Anapik and conquered Barbarland!”

The mention of conquering Barbarland sent shockwaves through the crowd.

Conquering Barbarland beyond the middle land of Anapik was one of the greatest interests of the Hellenes.

This was because spreading the light of Hellas, the center of the world and the birthplace of civilization, was a noble mission.

Yet, unfortunately, this noble mission had repeatedly ended in failure.

Due to countless barbarians and the Barbaroi cults manipulating them from behind the scenes.

And now, Meleager had declared that he had conquered Barbarland.

Naturally, people were astonished… though not everyone believed him.

There were still those with sharp eyes who refused to drop their doubts.

After all, there had already been countless self-proclaimed conquerors of Barbarland or those claiming they would do so if supported.

Even those who had temporarily conquered Barbarland but were soon driven out were too numerous to count.

Therefore, fully trusting Hippomenes’ words was not easy.

…Yet, despite that, many listened intently to what he said.

Anyone could fabricate words, but heaps of gold could not be faked.

While suspicion lingered, the enormous amount of gold he brought made it hard to openly doubt him.

After a long silence, Atalanta finally spoke.

“Where did you conquer?”

“It is a land called Hogsekos. A land of opportunity with a vast vein of gold and rare treasures that one could not use up in a lifetime.”

Hippomenes explained the land he had conquered, Hogsekos.

It was a territory settled by countless Barbaroi, and through his courage and will, he had defeated them and established a small foothold.

The story might have sounded like ordinary boasting, but the immense gold transformed it into a captivating tale.

“…Impressive.”

After hearing the explanation, Atalanta expressed a brief sentiment, and Hippomenes gave a somewhat regretful smile.

As if asking if this was not enough.

In truth, Atalanta did not seem particularly moved. She was surprised, yes, but that was all.

And understandably so. No matter how valuable a gift, it benefits the owner more than the object itself, does it not?

It seemed unlikely that any story or gift could sway Atalanta’s heart.

Hippomenes appeared to know this.

“…It seems this alone is not enough to win your heart.”

In a somewhat wistful tone, Atalanta frowned with sympathy.

“I…”

“But that is fine. I have already steeled myself. I intend to offer two gifts to the great King Isos of Arcadia.”

“…!”

Hippomenes said he would present the gifts not to Atalanta, but to her father, Isos.

The crowd was shocked. It was an act that openly revealed an uncomfortable truth everyone knew but did not speak of.

Rather than anger, Isos’ reaction was curiosity. He wondered what great gifts could have prompted this boldness.

“What is it?”

“I shall offer the Golden Apple, which cures all diseases, curses, and poisons, and the Boar Statue, which guarantees a son!”

* * *

When Hippomenes’ turn ended, the day was already fading, and the Groom Tournament for that day was practically over.

All that remained was for Atalanta to choose and announce the winner, and the tournament would be truly finished.

Normally, people would have shouted and argued about who would win, but strangely, that didn’t happen today.

The gossips who loved to talk about others, the gamblers obsessed with wagers, the spies sent to snoop, even the participants themselves—all of them refrained from saying who would win.

It was already obvious who the winner would be.

The Conqueror of Barbarland, Hippomenes.

Everyone was certain that the newcomer would win the Groom Tournament.

His achievements—conquering Barbarland, one of Hellas’ great causes—his wealth, which allowed him to provide gifts to satisfy even the most distinguished guests, and above all, the gift that Atalanta’s father could never refuse.

There was no reason he would not be chosen.

He was the overwhelming participant that Ponytail had mentioned.

Especially because he had seen through the very essence of the Groom Tournament.

Though the tournament ostensibly revolved around Atalanta, everyone knew it was an event her father had forced. The real authority belonged to Isos, King of the Kingdom of Arcadia.

Hippomenes had brought a gift that Isos could not refuse:

The golden apples that would cure Isos’ ailment and the divine method to obtain the son he so desired.

“According to the treasure once held by the Barbaroi tribe, if you keep this in your household, the head of the family will have a son. I’ve already confirmed it myself.”

For a father using his daughter to secure an heir, this was impossible to ignore.

And if the one saying it also brought the golden apples, there was no reason not to believe him.

As if to prove it, when Hippomenes presented his gift, Isos’ eyes burned with greed—so intensely that even Anagin, observing from afar, could notice it…

For that reason, everyone concluded that the Groom Tournament was essentially over.

Except for the suitors who had lost the treasures they brought, everyone else was content to just enjoy the remainder of the event.

Of course, the suitors who had lost their precious treasures were in a mood as if attending a funeral.

The somber mood affected the others as well.

“Wow… I didn’t expect him to show up.”

The New Argonaut Expedition Team and Anagin’s group.

More precisely, only the New Argonaut Expedition Team was uneasy; Anagin’s group was merely going along with the general atmosphere by being in the same space.

Hippomenes’ appearance seemed to shock Irida of the Wind and Tramachus of Flame. They didn’t even ask their usual question of whether any suspicious individuals had appeared whenever the Groom Tournament ended, instead standing half-dazed.

Clearly, Hippomenes’ presence had a strong impact.

In the subdued atmosphere, Thyreos spoke to Irida, perhaps to comfort her.

“Still, isn’t this better than nothing? If it’s Hippomenes, he must care deeply for Lady Atalanta.”

“Unwanted attention isn’t a blessing—it’s just annoying. And… you know what Hippomenes did, right?”

Irida paused, glanced at Tramachus, and finished her thought.

Apparently, there was some story behind it.

Anagin judged it had nothing to do with Tramachus. The timing didn’t match. Perhaps if it were Meleager, Tramachus’ cousin, it might make sense.

Out of simple curiosity, Anagin asked what had happened.

“What happened with Meleager?”

Anagin asked suddenly, his mind turning over something.

Sensing a bit of unease, Irida and Tramachus hesitated briefly, but eventually answered.

“Hippomenes has liked my sister for a long time. I even know about it myself. He followed her to Chiron Tower, so that says it all.”

“Oh, so it’s true love, then.”

“The problem is, my sister doesn’t want that true love.”

Irida spoke with an exasperated tone. Since time immemorial, it had irked her that her heroic sister was treated as if she were a prize to be won by men, simply for being a woman.

Anagin, being a man, couldn’t really empathize with that.

So he asked what happened afterward.

“...Nothing special. They trained together at Chiron Tower.”

“That’s when Atalanta met Meleager.”

Tramachus, standing nearby, added a word.

Looking at Irida, he continued,

“That’s also when we first met.”

“...Right.”

“And that’s it?”

“Huh?”

“That’s it? What about Hippomenes?”

Irida and Tramachus pondered briefly, realizing it wasn’t over.

“Hippomenes challenged Meleager to a duel.”

“A duel? Over Atalanta?”

“Yeah, technically it was a duel for a spot in the Argonaut Expedition Team.”

According to their explanation, Atalanta, Meleager, and Hippomenes were in the same class, but there was a gap in their skills.

All three were Gigants, but Hippomenes had weaker blood, so his skills were relatively inferior. Moreover, he failed the divine test given by the gods and did not receive their blessing.

As a result, the skill gap widened, and when Atalanta and Meleager were selected for the Argonaut Expedition Team, only Hippomenes was left out.

"Unable to accept it, Hippomenes challenged Meleager. The problem was that while it was called a duel, it was practically an ambush. Then he brazenly claimed that if he won, he should be given a spot on the Argonaut Expedition Team. Eventually, they fought, and—"

"—He lost."

Anagin stated the obvious outcome.

Irida nodded.

“As the penalty for losing, Hippomenes left Chiron Tower. But he didn’t just leave. He promised to return, as a man more worthy of my sister."

Anagin understood the promise Hippomenes had made.

Honestly, it was impressive. Even Anagin acknowledged greatness where it existed.

Setting aside that it was unrequited love, the persistence and determination deserved respect.

Enduring humiliation for the woman he loved, leaving to strive in a new land, and achieving success was commendable—especially for a man.

Yet, for some reason, Anagin couldn’t fully respect Hippomenes.

The reason was…

“But why are you so focused on Hippomenes?”

“Oh, it’s nothing. His face sometimes looks like a pig’s.”

Anagin explained why he had been staring at Hippomenes all day and thinking about him.

Fundamentally, he looked like a person, but every now and then, he looked like a pig.

The kind of face that triggered the hunting instinct.