Chapter 199

Chapter 199. News (2)

The ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Oracle of the Temple of Delphi.

As ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the name implied, she was the Oracle who served at the Temple of Delphi.

The ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍name itself was remarkably simple.

But ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍her reputation was anything but.

After ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍all, the Temple of Delphi was regarded as a place every practitioner had to visit in order to receive a blessing.

Because ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍of that, even practitioners overflowing with confidence would humble themselves and kneel before the Oracle.

‘Of course, I didn't kneel.’

Anagin took pride in that.

Still, that didn't mean he could deny the Temple of Delphi's prestige.

Even the New Argonaut Expedition Team.

Even Orpheus of the Argonaut Expedition Team had shown her proper respect.

And yet...

Sphinx had just told him that the Oracle had turned into gold.

"Seriously?"

Just to be sure, Anagin asked again.

Not that it changed Sphinx's answer.

"Seriously. Look..."

Seeing was believing.

Sphinx unfolded the Freedom's Thread and showed it to Anagin.

The worn scroll displayed the words:

[Information-Sharing Board]

Beneath it were several posts.

[Breaking News. The Temple of Delphi has been attacked!]

[An unprecedented incident. Numerous casualties reported in Festival Village.]

[Looking for anyone who can provide detailed information. Generous compensation guaranteed.]

[Is this real? Seriously, the Temple of Delphi got attacked???]

It felt similar to the information board he had seen while transporting the Coins of Greed in the past.

But there was one noticeable difference.

Back then, despite being called an information-sharing board, it had felt more like a marketplace where information was bought and sold.

This time, it truly felt like people were sharing information.

There were still posts offering rewards.

But far more posts were simply reporting the news or expressing shock.

That alone showed just how shocking the attack on the Temple of Delphi had been.

According to several posts, it seemed to be an event without precedent in recorded history.

"This is what people posted right after it happened. Judging by the timing, it looks like the Temple was attacked a few days after we fought Orpheus."

"...Huh."

Without realizing it, Anagin let out a sigh.

What a strange coincidence.

He had spent several days loitering around the Temple of Delphi.

Yet shortly after he left...

Something like this happened.

That said, he didn't feel sad.

Nor angry.

It was simply...

An unfortunate coincidence.

There was no reason for Anagin to grieve or rage over the Temple of Delphi being attacked.

At most...

He felt it was a shame.

Such a huge incident had happened—

And he hadn't been there.

Big incidents often created unexpected opportunities.

"...And after some time passed, these posts started appearing."

Sphinx touched the worn scroll and opened another page.

The previous text beneath Information-Sharing Board dissolved before reforming into new messages.

[It's Midas! Midas the Golden Touch attacked the Temple of Delphi. This is war!]

[Breaking News! Midas of the Rebels attacks the Temple of Delphi!]

[I'm almost certain now. Midas the Golden Touch has declared war on the heroes of Hellas.]

Midas.

Rebels.

War.

Those three words stood out to Anagin more than anything else.

Noticing that, Sphinx took the hint.

"Midas is one of the greatest villains among the Rebels, the same organization Erysichthon belongs to. Want me to explain more?"

"Yeah."

Anagin answered without hesitation.

Not only was he curious about the man responsible for such a massive incident...

He also couldn't ignore the fact that Midas belonged to the same group as Erysichthon.

No—Even before that, his instincts told him it would be better to learn about him now.

Sphinx nodded and began explaining.

"His full title is Midas the Golden Touch. They say he earned that nickname because he's afflicted with a curse that turns anything he touches into gold."

"Hold on."

"Isn't that a blessing instead of a curse?"

Interrupting someone the moment they started explaining wasn't exactly polite.

But Anagin couldn't help himself.

He genuinely couldn't understand.

The ability to turn everything you touched into gold sounded like a blessing, not a curse.

Sphinx had apparently expected that reaction.

Rather than looking annoyed, she answered with understanding.

"I thought the same thing at first. In fact, he was even called the richest king in the world because of that blessing."

"But?"

"They say he eventually lost his entire kingdom because of that power."

"He turned the whole kingdom into gold."

"...Yikes. How'd that happen?"

Anagin blurted out after hearing the explanation.

Sphinx shrugged.

"I don't really know that part..."

"There are more unknown stories than known ones about everyone in the Rebels."

"But Midas is one of the worst cases."

Anagin accepted the explanation without asking further.

Even with someone as active as Erysichthon, there were practitioners who doubted he even existed.

If that was the case...

There was no need to ask about Midas.

"There are still plenty of theories about him, though. For example, some people believe Midas is the true sponsor behind the Forest Brotherhood, the bandit alliance."

As far as Anagin knew, that had been Erysichthon.

Still, there didn't seem to be any contradiction.

Erysichthon and Midas both belonged to the Rebels.

Considering Midas's Golden Touch ability, the theory sounded entirely plausible.

If someone could create gold just by touching something...

Financing a group of bandits would be trivial.

"There are also rumors that he's closely connected to the Brokers' Guild. And some even claim he created the Coins of Greed."

"The Coins of Greed too?"

The mysterious coins that granted the power of blessings simply by possessing them.

Midas made those?

That sounded like far too much to attribute to one person.

"It's only one of many rumors."

"But based on what's written here on the information-sharing board, it seems to be true."

"Why?"

“Someone posted a thread saying Midas created the Coins of Greed. On top of that, the timing is coincidental too. Not long after the new Coins of Greed made an appearance, Midas reappeared as well.”

That certainly was suspicious.

It could all be dismissed as coincidence.

But after spending so long as a practitioner, Anagin had learned that smoke rarely appeared without fire.

Whether the rumors were true or not...

There was probably some connection.

"I've got another question."

"Yes, go ahead."

Whether she found explaining fun, Sphinx replied playfully.

“Information like this must be quite precious; how was it posted just like that?”

Anagin pointed at the messages on the Freedom's Thread.

Normally, despite its name, the information-sharing board demanded payment for almost everything.

“Good question. It seems to be because the rumor spread too widely to sell for money. A few just posted it freely as well. Look.”

Sphinx touched one of the posts, causing additional replies to appear beneath it.

[└Furious One: Damn it! Why are you just giving this information away?!]

[└Watching Fisherman: Because it's information worth giving away.]

[└Well-Connected: Agreed. The rumor's already spread all over the Festival Village. They say Midas attacked the Temple of Delphi and turned the Oracle into a golden statue.]

[└Bronze Spear: There were so many people there who saw it...]

[└Cautious Hunter: But seriously... did Midas really make the Coins of Greed?]

[└Information Collector: I don't know for sure, but there are people saying that's the case. There've been rumors like that for a long time.]

The reason the information had become public was simple.

There had been too many witnesses to Midas's attack.

Although the reports mentioned heavy casualties...

Apparently, he hadn't managed to kill every practitioner present.

Then again, there were so many practitioners in the Festival Village. That would've been impossible.

The part about the Coins of Greed, however, seemed different.

There were no witnesses.

No evidence.

Just information from an unknown source.

Though Anagin didn't particularly care either way.

"Once information loses its value, people just share it. Or rather… They're excited by a huge incident and want to share that excitement."

“Is it usually like that?”

"Who knows? This is my first time using Freedom's Thread, too. But I think it's possible. People sometimes just want to talk, even when there's nothing to gain. Especially after something this big."

Without realizing it, Anagin found himself agreeing.

Something on this scale...

Yeah.

That sounded believable.

"Besides, the truly valuable information is somewhere else."

Sphinx touched the scroll again, revealing another set of messages.

[Seeking information on participants in the Rebel Subjugation. Generous payment offered.]

[I've identified several practitioners participating in Midas's subjugation. Anyone interested in trading, speak up.]

[Buying Midas's current location. Payment in advance, with additional compensation after verification.]

[Trading. Buying and selling information.]

[Selling the list of volunteers participating in Midas's subjugation. Those interested in trading...]

"...What's all this?"

"As you can see, it's information related to the campaign to subjugate Midas. The Temple of Delphi was attacked, and the Oracle was killed. No one can just sit back after that, can they?"

It made sense.

Even so...

Anagin couldn't shake the strange feeling.

Wasn't this operation a bit excessive for hunting down a single person...?

From what he could tell, countless practitioners were participating.

Merchant guilds and nobles were even supplying the expedition with resources.

...No.

If I compare him to Erysichthon, maybe it isn't that strange.

That Midas guy probably has plenty of followers too, like the Forest Brotherhood.

Drawing on his own experiences, Anagin gradually came to understand why the operation was so massive.

Considering that the Oracle of the Temple of Delphi had died...

There would also be countless practitioners hoping to distinguish themselves and receive blessings.

Viewed that way, it wasn't so strange after all.

"Are you going to join?"

The subordinate woman, who had been quietly listening the entire time, suddenly asked.

Was Anagin planning to participate in the subjugation of Midas?

Anagin answered simply.

"Not really."

* * *

"...Not really."

That was Anagin's answer when he said he had no intention of participating.

More accurately, he had no intention of joining right now.

Although Anagin understood the seriousness of the incident intellectually...

He simply didn't feel it in his heart.

The Temple of Delphi might have been a sacred place to ordinary practitioners.

But not to him.

At most, it had been somewhere he visited out of passing curiosity.

Even then, the visit hadn't exactly ended pleasantly.

More importantly...

"I don't know anyone there."

Anagin explained why he wasn't interested in subjugating Midas while eating the meal Sphinx had prepared.

Incidentally, Sphinx and the subordinate woman—who had transformed into human form—were seated across from him, eating together.

Apparently, the subordinate woman had quietly taken a liking to Sphinx's cooking.

"...Didn't you talk with the Oracle?"

At the subordinate woman's question, Anagin shot Sphinx a sharp glare. A look saying, ‘You even told her something that trivial?’

Sphinx merely shrugged as if to say, It just came up.

Anagin didn't press the matter any further.

It wasn't exactly some great secret.

"Just because we talked for a little while doesn't mean we knew each other."

"......Doesn't that make you acquaintances, at least?"

"Sure, we're acquaintances. But that doesn't mean we have some special bond. It's not like I'd mourn over hearing bad news about her..."

The subordinate woman narrowed her eyes at Anagin as though looking at something contemptible.

She practically seemed to be calling him cold-blooded.

It was laughable.

She had kidnapped perfectly innocent people herself. Granted, it had been for the sake of her younger siblings.

Still.

Being the considerate man he was, Anagin didn't bother pointing that out.

He still had treatments left to receive.

Instead, he calmly explained why he wasn't grieving.

"No, seriously. We barely exchanged a few words. Wouldn't it be weirder if I was devastated?"

To other practitioners, the Oracle was someone special.

But not to Anagin.

Honestly, she was closer to being a pain in the ass.

She knew full well people had come all the way to see her.

Yet after claiming she'd seen an ominous future, she locked herself away and left everyone waiting.

Well, fine.

He could let that slide.

The real issue was that despite all that, she had secretly disguised herself, came down to Festival Village, and played around by luring innocent men.

She had been less like an Oracle… And more like an immature girl.

‘Then again, considering her age, it suited her.’

Anagin recalled the Oracle's appearance.

She had looked to be in her late teens.

Brown hair.

Large eyes.

A slender frame.

She had been far too young to match the image of the revered Oracle whom practitioners willingly knelt before.

Judging from her attitude...

It didn't even seem like she truly wanted the role herself.

‘She even looked a little sad.’

Objectively speaking...It was a sad story.

But Anagin couldn't bring himself to feel much sorrow.

As he'd already said...

She had simply been an acquaintance.

"Don't expect too much from me. She was just someone I knew. How sad am I supposed to be?"

"Haa...I can't believe I gave my blessing to someone like you."

Apparently deeply disappointed by his answer, the subordinate woman set down the bowl she had been eating from.

It was her indirect way of saying she'd lost her appetite.

Watching her, Anagin warned,

"Hey. Finish your food. Don't waste it."

"..."

"What are you looking at? And stop saying weird things. I'm grateful you gave me your blessing, but it's not like you gave it for free. Frankly, it's because you needed me."

"..."

The subordinate woman neither agreed nor denied it.

She simply picked up the bowl she'd set down and quietly finished the rest of her meal.

She ate in silence.

Then...

Bang!

She forcefully slammed the empty bowl onto the ground.

"Go ahead. Break it while you're at it."

Ignoring Anagin's sarcastic remark, the subordinate woman stood up.

"Thanks for the meal."

"My pleasure."

Sphinx returned the farewell.

The subordinate woman then headed back toward the sea.

She was going to spend time with her younger siblings now.

Only after she disappeared did Sphinx finally speak up.

"Why did you have to say it like that?"

"So what? You wanted me to flatter her instead?"

"You could've at least been a little considerate. What if she stops coming?"

It was a perfectly reasonable concern.

Anagin still hadn't fully recovered.

Even so, Anagin answered as though it had nothing to do with him.

"If she stops coming, then she stops coming."

"You're still injured."

"I'm much better now."

"..."

Seeing that Anagin wasn't going to budge, Sphinx gave up trying to persuade him.

She knew it was pointless.

Instead, she changed the subject.

"Haa… Then practice magic with me."

One of Anagin's eyebrows rose.

It wasn't "Can you help me?" It was "Help me." The firm tone surprised him.

Even more surprising was that Sphinx wanted to practice magic at all.

After all...

She had always avoided fighting whenever possible.

"I've changed my mind. I think I need to become stronger too."

Sphinx answered his unspoken question.

Even so, Anagin still looked puzzled.

"Why all of a sudden?"

"Because if things go badly… she might come to take me back."

"...Who?"

"My mother."

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