Chapter 26: Ant Nest (1)

On the weekend morning, I woke up earlier than usual, completed my regular mana cultivation routine—though no one would ever guess it was mana cultivation just by looking—and stood in front of the mirror. Every time I saw my reflection, one question always naturally came to mind. “I’m quite good-looking, aren’t I?”

Turning my face this way and that, I allowed myself a satisfied smile. Of course, a tiny voice of conscience deep inside asked smugly, But what about compared to Yuren?

However, I ignored it with ease. Furthermore, thanks to a dear friend, I was able to borrow a decent-looking outfit for free. I had even gotten my hair neatly trimmed the previous day. It wasn’t like I had never gone on a date with Iris in my previous life, but a date with her now, while I was still just a cadet, was a first.

“Well then, time to head out.” I made my way to the meeting spot, wearing a face full of anticipation.

Waiting for me there was Iris, dressed neatly in the formal robes of the Holy Empire. But she wasn’t alone. Beside her was Camilla, who looked ready for war in full combat gear.

Seeing me stare at her, Camilla said, “What’s with that look?”

“What are you doing here?” I asked.

“What kind of question is that? I’m obviously here to protect Milady.”

Well, fair enough, I thought with a sigh.

Logically, there was no way the church would allow Iris to leave the academy alone, especially not when our destination was the infamous Ant Nest, the most dangerous, crime-ridden part of Valhalla City.

Camilla crossed her arms and glared at me like she wanted to burn a hole through my head. “Hmph. Don’t tell me you were under the delusion that you’d be going out alone with Milady?”

Iris stood beside her, shoulders slumped, clearly dejected. “Ugh! Why did you have to show up today of all days!”

Judging by that expression, I could tell she had tried to sneak out without Camilla noticing and failed miserably.

“What do you mean why? Milady, didn’t I tell you that you’re absolutely not to leave the academy grounds without an escort?” Camilla replied.

“But Dale’s coming with me.”

“Hah! And you think some low-ranking cadet like him can protect—” Camilla paused and glanced at me. Her expression stiffened; she remembered how she had failed to even draw her sword before I knocked her out last time. Then, avoiding my gaze, she cleared her throat awkwardly. “Ahem. Anyway, if word got out that the Saintess left the academy alone, I would be in serious trouble.”

“Fine. You can come too, Camilla,” Iris said with a sigh.

“By the way, if you’re heading toward the Ant Nest, are you going to that place?” Camilla asked her.

“Yup.”

The two women chatted like this wasn’t their first time going there.

“Haah! You really are something else, Milady.” Camilla shook her head, though she looked surprisingly relaxed.

“What? You like going there too, don’t you?” Iris teased her.

“Hmph. Who says I do?”

“Oh, come on. You’re always the most excited once we get there.”

“T-that’s not true!”

“Heehee! Are you sure about that?”

Interrupting their conversation, I asked out of curiosity, “So, where are we going exactly?”

“Hmm? Milady didn’t tell you?”

“Nope.”

Camilla glanced at Iris, as if to ask permission to explain. Iris just smiled mischievously, shook her head, and said, “Let’s keep it a surprise until we get there.”

I wondered where she was planning to go. Even with the memories of my past life, I had no idea about it.

A surprise, huh? Well, guess I’ll find out soon enough. There’s no way she’ll be heading somewhere like the Demon Cult’s hideout, right? I thought.

Suddenly, Iris said, “Oh, right. Before we go, there’s something we need to buy.”

I tilted my head in curiosity. “What is it?”

With a bright smile, Iris replied, “Ramen.”

“What?”

Just like that, I went on my first “date” with my former lover in this life.

* * *

Located within Valhalla City was the largest slum on the continent, the Ant Nest. Naturally, there were different degrees of awfulness even within the slum. The area Iris wanted to visit was in the less awful category: the outskirts. That was where a Holy Empire-funded orphanage was located.

Soon, our group reached this orphanage. As soon as we entered it, a swarm of kids came running at us like hungry hyenas spotting prey. Their wide eyes sparkled with pure excitement and joy, and they started talking excitedly.

“Wahhhhh!”

“Sister Iris!!”

“Guys! Come out quick! Sister Iris and Sister Camilla are here!”

“Huff, huff! Sister Camilla, can you grab my hair and spank me once, please?”

“We thought you forgot all about us!”

An elderly priest walked behind the rushing children and sharply yelled, “You brats! Didn’t I tell you to stay inside and behave?”

The kids scattered like ants doused with water.

“Ah! Father is here!”

“Run for your lives!!”

Dressed in the robes of the Seven Star Church, the elderly priest approached Iris and made the sign of the cross. “Hahhh. Good grief! My apologies, Saintess. It seems my teachings were lacking.”

Iris shook her head with a warm smile. “Hoho. Don’t worry about it, Father Antonio. The kids look healthy. It’s a joy to see. Have you been well?”

Father Antonio pushed up his loose sleeves with a grin. “Haha, of course! I may look old, but I’ve still got the energy of a youth!”

He wasn’t bluffing; beneath those robes were firm and muscular arms, like those of a seasoned warrior.

Camilla stepped forward. “I’m sorry we haven’t been able to visit more often.”

“No need to apologize, Lady Camilla. Just having you two drop by now and then gives this old man great strength.” Father Antonio turned to me. “But, who’s this gentleman?”

“I’m Dale Han, a fellow cadet in their class,” I replied.

Iris explained, “As you know, Father Antonio, we third-years have more group classes. Dale’s going to be in a fixed party with us going forward.”

Wait, when did I become part of a fixed party? I wondered.

Father Antonio’s eyes gleamed with interest. “Ohh, I see. It was a little surprising. After all, you have never brought anyone else here before, Milady.”

“Dale is someone I trust,” Iris said.

Father Antonio tilted his head slightly, as if taken aback by Iris’s immediate response. Then, chuckling softly, he looked between the two of us. “Well now, I suppose if you live long enough, you get to witness all sorts of things.”

“What do you mean by that?” Iris looked at him.

Father Antonio replied, “To think the little girl I watched grow up would one day bring a young man here, looking all grown-up and reliable.”

“W-wait a minute! If you say it like that, it sounds like I brought a fiancée or something!” Iris shouted, her right cheek flushing bright red.

“Since she was little?” I asked.

The elderly priest looked at me and made the sign of the cross with graceful dignity, exuding a calm wisdom earned through the years. “Oh, I suppose I haven’t properly introduced myself. I’m Antonio, someone who had a small connection with the Saintess before she officially became one.”

That was a name I had never heard in my previous life either. Well, Iris had never really talked about her past anyway. Whenever I tried to ask, she would just smile bitterly and change the subject. It always felt like she was deliberately avoiding the topic.

What kind of reincarnated guy doesn’t know anything? I shook my head with a self-deprecating smile.

But I honestly didn’t mind this. Every time I discovered something I didn’t know in my previous life, every time I saw something new or heard an unfamiliar story, it reminded me that I was truly living a new life.

Father Antonio beckoned us into the orphanage and said with a warm smile, “Come now, why don’t the three of you come inside? It’s still a bit chilly, even if it is spring.”

I turned to Iris. “This is the place you wanted to visit, right?”

“Yes. Camilla and I come by sometimes to help with the kids. I thought it’d be nice if you joined us this time, so I asked you to come along,” she said, watching me carefully, almost nervously.

Then, she hesitantly asked, “Erm… Were you disappointed?”

“Huh? About what?” I said.

“It’s not exactly the kind of place most people would spend their weekend hanging out at.”

True enough, when she had first asked me out, this was not the kind of place I imagined. But I replied honestly, “I like it, though.”

“Really?” she asked.

“Yeah. Actually, I’m kind of used to places like this.”

“Used to?”

“I grew up in an orphanage too, back in the Republic.”

“Oh!”

It wasn’t exactly a warm, happy place like this one, but I was still a born-and-raised orphan who had grown up in an orphanage. However, I didn’t remember much from my time there. I could barely recall my academy days, let alone anything before that.

“So, you were raised in an orphanage too, Dale,” Iris said.

“Too?” I looked at her.

Iris quickly changed the topic. “N-no! It’s nothing. Ahem! Anyway, we should go in. The kids must be waiting.”

“Alright.”

As we stepped inside after Iris, the sound of shouting and laughter filled the air. Camilla was surrounded by a horde of hyperactive kids.

“Sister Camilla! Let’s spar! Come on, swords!”

“I wanna join too!”

“Sister Camilla, please scold me with your mighty sword!”

“This time I’m definitely gonna win!”

“W-wait! Everyone, calm down!” Camilla said. Overwhelmed by the kids’ enthusiasm, she darted her eyes around in panic. Then she grabbed a wooden stick from the corner of the orphanage. “Fine. All of you, outside!”

The kids stampeded out after her, saying, “Yay!”

I watched them with a bemused expression. “Didn’t expect the kids to like Camilla this much.”

“Hehe, she acts all stern, but deep down, she loves playing with them,” Iris said with a soft smile.

I chuckled as I watched Camilla spar with the children. “I can see that.”

The kids weren’t bad; they had even somehow formed a makeshift encirclement, but it was no use. There was no way a group of children could overpower Camilla. So, they settled to complain instead.

“Eek!”

“Y-you’re too fast!”

“Kyaaah!”

Camilla took them all down in an instant. Standing tall and proud and flashing a triumphant grin, she then said, “Huhu! Come back after you’ve drunk more of your mommies’ milk, you little runts!”

Wait a second, you can’t say that kind of thing here,I thought.

The kids immediately retorted.

“We don’t have mommies!”

“Slurp! Can I drink your milk instead, Sister Camilla?”

“I wonder what mommy’s milk tastes like?”

Realizing her fatal mistake far too late, Camilla started to sweat buckets, waving her hands frantically. “N-no! That’s not what I meant! I-I was just—”

The kids burst into giggles, and just from their bright smiles, it was easy to tell how much love and care had gone into building this orphanage.

“Ehehehe!”

“Sister Camilla’s so cute!”

One of the children pointed at the sword hanging at my side and asked, “By the way, is he a swordsman too?”

I walked over and nodded. “Yeah, that’s right.”

Technically, I was a lot more than just a swordsman, but there was no need to get into that here.

The kid asked further, “Then, who would win in a fight? You or Sister Camilla?”

It was an innocent question, filled with nothing but pure curiosity, but the impact was immediate. The courtyard erupted into a full-blown debate, and the kids split into two heated factions.

“Pfft, of course, Sister Camilla would win!”

“Is that even a question?”

“She’s going to be the next ‘Sword of the Holy Empire,’ remember?”

“Well, yeah, but that guy looks really strong too!”

“Right? And it’s the first time Sister Iris has ever brought someone here. No way he’s just some regular dude!”

Looking at them, Camilla and I exchanged glances. This was something we couldn’t back out of, even if we wanted to.

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