Just like at Sienna’s mansion, the fee to enter Meriden Square was exorbitantly expensive. So there wasn’t a crazy amount of people packed into the square. Although this was partly because of the extortionate entrance fee, it was also partly because of the fact that such a large statue was easily visible from a distance even if you didn’t enter the square.

Eugene sat down on a bench and kept an eye on the entrance to the square. He glanced up at a clock tower in the distance. It was currently noon.

‘It’s about time he got here,’ Eugene thought.

They had promised to meet at noon. There was no way he wouldn’t be able to enter just because he couldn’t pay the entrance fee, right? Could it be that the road was blocked because there were too many people?

‘I guess not,’ Eugene realized as he spotted something.

Eugene had just noticed a large figure towering over the rest of the crowd. Despite his size, there was no need for the figure to push people out of his way. The people in front of him were intimidated by his large size and got out of his way of their own volition. Thanks to this, the giant was able to enter the square before too long.

Eugene got up from his bench. The giant slowly drew closer.

“I almost can’t believe it’s really him,” Eugene sincerely muttered to himself.

The giant figure was Gargith Lionheart. It was the first time they had seen each other since the Bloodline Continuation Ceremony four years ago, but this guy’s growth was unbelievable.

“Eugene?” Gargith called out.

“Is that really you, Gargith?” Eugene asked as he looked up at Gargith.

It seemed like Gargith’s height was now over two meters. Although his body had already been quite large when they had last met. Gargith had now grown tall enough to completely tower over Eugene. The button stretched tight over his bulging pectoral muscles was trembling dangerously.

“That’s right,” Gargith confirmed. “It’s me, Gargith Lionheart. Have you already forgotten my name?”

“No… it’s not that I’ve forgotten it, but… you… are you really eighteen?” Eugene felt the need to ask.

Although Gargith’s build was already shocking enough, the most surprising thing was that shaggy beard of his. Was it really possible for him to grow such a beard when Gargith was only eighteen? Eugene stroked his own cheeks, which were still smooth and silky.

“I’ve heard many people say that I look older than my real age,” Gargith admitted.

“You don’t look that old, but… why is your beard so shaggy? You should trim it a bit. It looks scruffy,” advised Eugene.

“It’s not scruffy. It’s manly.”

“Even without a beard, you already look pretty manly.”

“Thanks for the compliment,” Gargith said with a grin.

He reached out to Eugene with one of his large hands, offering a handshake. When Eugene accepted the handshake, Gargith gripped Eugene’s hand and vigorously shook his arm up and down as if he’d been looking forward to doing so for quite some time.

“Although it’s not as much as I have, you’ve also grown a lot,” Gargith observed.

“...It’s just that you’ve grown stupidly big,” Eugene retorted.

“However, it’s slightly disappointing….”

“What is?”

“I could tell from holding your hand just how much you’ve trained your body during these past four years…. However, that still isn’t enough.”

“Well, for now, why don’t you let go of my hand.”

Shaking their clasped fists, Eugene pulled his hand free.

However, Gargith didn’t stop talking, “Although your physique has greatly improved compared to four years ago, it still isn’t good enough. Have you been neglecting your training?”

“What do you mean by that?” Eugene demanded.

“I only sleep four hours a day,” Gargith bragged proudly.

What was this bastard suddenly talking about? Eugene narrowed his eyes, having forgotten their previous conversation from four years ago.

Gargith threw back his shoulders and continued speaking, “Except for the time spent sleeping, all my time goes to training. My own personal tableware has had its weight increased by magic, as well as everything else I use, and even my clothes have had their weight increased.”

“Oh… is that so,” reacted Eugene blandly.

“The same goes for my underwear.”

“How impressive of you.”

“This body of mine has been created through constant discipline and hard work. Of course, just because you increase the amount of weight you can hold doesn’t guarantee that your muscles will get bigger. You need sufficient training, proper rest, as well as this,” Gargith placed a hand into the inner pocket of his coat. “Our family’s revolutionary muscle growth agent.”

He pulled out what looked like a small potion. After looking down at the potion with proud eyes, Gargith offered it to Eugene, “I’ve brought some here for you.”

Eugene bluntly rejected the offer, “Don’t need it.”

“Why not? Lord Gerhard’s weight loss and muscle growth are all thanks to receiving help from our family. Weren’t you aware of that already?”

“Now that you’ve brought it up, please stop trying to send me those strange drugs through my father.”

“That’s why I wanted to give them to you personally. It doesn’t matter if you drink it before a meal, so have it.”

“I told you, I’m not going to drink it.”

“It looks like you just don’t understand…. I’ve heard that you’ve reached the Third Star of the White Flame Formula. Although that’s an impressive achievement, in addition to training your mana, you shouldn’t neglect training your body.”

“I’ll take your advice into consideration, so just keep your shady drugs to yourself.”

Eugene ultimately managed to refuse the potion.

Unwilling to keep listening to Gargith prattle on about his muscles, Eugene prompted Gargith, “So why did you ask to meet? You can’t really have come all this way to Aroth just to try and force that drug of yours onto me.”

He had received a letter from Gargith a few days ago. It had said that, since Gargith was heading to Aroth for specific reasons, they should meet in person after so long.

“There is something else that I have to do,” Gargith confirmed.

“What is it?” Eugene asked.

“Remember what I told you a long time ago? Our family’s revolutionary muscle growth agent was created by a famous alchemist of Aroth,” Gargith said as he returned the potion to his inner pocket with a reluctant heart. “However, now that my body has grown, the current mixture can no longer meet my requirements. When I informed the alchemist of this, he told me that he would adjust a new mixture to suit my body’s needs.”

“So you’re saying that you’re here to meet the alchemist?” Eugene checked.

“That’s my main task, but there are a few other things as well.”

“Looks like you have a lot on your plate.”

“That’s because Aroth is so far away. Since I’m already here, I might as well make sure that the time spent traveling here and back isn’t wasted.”

Every time Gargith took a step, the ground seemed to shake slightly. When Gargith approached him, Eugene backed away slightly.

“Why are you avoiding me?” Gargith asked.

“You’re giving off body odor,” Eugene complained.

“This isn’t body odor. It’s the scent of a man.”

“Just put on some cologne.”

“Why are you saying the same thing as Dezra…?”

Eugene changed the subject, “In any case, what other tasks do you have?”

“Hm,” Gargith didn’t reply immediately, instead glanced at his surroundings.

The other people in the square were looking in their direction. Although he wasn’t wearing the formal dress of the Lionheart Clan, Gagith was so gigantic that the crowd’s gazes couldn’t help but be drawn to him.

Gargith lowered his voice and asked, “...Do you know anything about Bolero Street?”

“I’ve heard of it,” Eugene answered.

It was the place where that spoiled bastard, Eward, went to play around.

“Have you also heard that there’s an auction house there?” Gargith continued.

Eugene hesitated, “Roughly speaking, yes. Is there something that you want to buy from there?”

“I’ve heard rumors that the testicles of a giant will be revealed at the latest auction.”

“Test… What?”

“A giant’s testicles.”

“Why do you want to buy a fucking thing like that?”

“Weren’t you aware? The testicles of a giant have great magical value.”

“You’re not the type who would want to buy those testicles for fucking magic, no?”

“You’re right. I’m thinking of handing those testicles to the alchemist.”

If it was giants that they were talking about, Eugene was also well aware of them. They were just as rare as elves, but their inclinations ran the exact opposite to the elves. Three hundred years ago, their entire species had sworn allegiance to the Demon King of Destruction.

Although their journey hadn’t been able to reach the Demon King of Destruction in the end… while they were wandering around Helmuth, Hamel and his party clashed with the giants a few times. The giants were able to resist any amount of magic with just their bare bodies and could even collapse mountains by merely shouting.

“Let’s go there together,” Gargith suggested.

“Go where?” Eugene asked.

“I’m talking about the auction house. Although I’ve brought a lot of money, it still might not be enough to win the bid.”

“So you want me to lend you money?”

“I swear on my name that I’ll pay you back with interest.”

“Don’t wanna.”

“I’m even willing to beg you on my knees.”

Gargith’s body started to bend down. Eugene paled and quickly grabbed him by his shoulders.

“Alright, I’ve got it, so don’t do something so eye-catching. Moreover, what’s with a big-boned bastard like you kneeling so easily,” Eugene demanded in a fluster.

“Thanks,” Garghith said calmly.

“What are you thanking me for? For agreeing to lend you money?”

“It was for calling me big-boned. Wasn’t that a compliment?”

No matter which angle you looked at him from, Gargith really did seem like a descendant of Molon.

“Apart from the giant’s testicles, I’ve heard that many other items will be revealed,” Gargith shared.

“Oh, is that so,” remarked Eugene disinterestedly.

“Aren’t you at all interested in it? Then again, you do have Wynnyd already, so you probably can’t lower yourself to look at ordinary weapons.”

“Apart from the Auction House, there is someplace else in Bolero Street that interests me,” Eugene said as he walked ahead of Gargith.

It wasn’t because he thought any further conversation was pointless; it was just that Gargith’s body odor was far too strong.

Openbookworm's Thoughts

Gargith: “This body of mine has been created through constant discipline and hard work. Of course, just because you increase the amount of weight you can hold doesn’t guarantee that your muscles will get bigger. You need sufficient training, proper rest, as well as this.”

Euguene: “I’ll take your advice into consideration, so just keep your shady drugs to yourself.”

OBW: Oh no, here comes the mlm pitch.

dMomo: Gargith and Eugene's interactions are pure gold

Yojj: note to self: never drink water while reading this.