Hey guys! Crescent Rider here, and I'm back with another chapter of this story.
But before you all begin with this chapter, I would like to make an announcement.
After I've finished the first season of this anime, I won't be working on the next because I'm going to rewrite a few chapters in the Little Ruler. For there are some things written there that I'm dissatisfied with, and I wish to make things right for myself.
Also, You may notice that I've updated this story on December 2 (Philippine Time). That's because it's my 21st birthday! Woohoo!
That is all and as always. Enjoy the chapter.
Outside the Palace
Nadia and the Formerly Wounded Ant were being escorted by the Ant Queen.
Apparently, The Ant Queen took several short routes and it landed them at a place where Nadia suddenly froze in place.
The building with Ant Children... A Building similar to an Orphanage...
Memories of her past life flooded her very mind. Even her training as an assassin couldn't ignore the feelings of human emotion.
So many memories, yet so little time...
The Formerly Wounded Ant then nudged on to Nadia once after the latter took notice, "Are you alright?"
"Huh? Um, yeah. I'm good, Why do you ask?" Nadia questioned,
"You froze," The Formerly Wounded Ant stated,
"It's just... I'm not fond of children," Nadia lied, and the latter seems to have seen through her lie but spoke nothing of it.
Meanwhile, The caretakers of the nursery simply greeted the Ant Queen and explained the situation to them.
Afterward, the caretakers gave way, and the Queen Ant escorted them further into the nursery building. In several separate rooms, there were several ant children learning several lessons from teachers to combat training by drill instructors.
Nadia was somewhat impressed from witnessing their training also similar to that of humans. Hence, she could already anticipate the potential within these insectoids if she taught them herself.
The Queen Ant soon stopped in front of some doors and opened them. There, Nadia was beheld by what's possibly the biggest room of the nursery building containing several eggs, and caretakers inspecting each and every one of them.
Some of the eggs hatched recently, and the caretaker took the newborns to another room for nurturing. Despite the inevitability, They still performed their job regardless of what's to come.
Meanwhile, The Queen Ant then turns to Nadia, "This is what I've produced in my time,"
"A lot of eggs I see, but what'd I expect from a colony of ants" Nadia then used [Magic Sense], and saw little to no magicule resonating within all of them, "Huh, and it's seems every egg here seems normal,"
"Eggs with large quantities of Magicule are extremely rare, Nadia," The Queen Ant, "Even the most powerful queens aren't capable of creating such an egg,"
Nadia kept that in mind as she glanced around the room. But soon, her eyes set on one egg, and held some amount of magicule within it. Even though, It wasn't special, it stood out among the rest of the eggs.
"It's not about producing the fastest, the strongest, or the smartest. What really matters," Nadia approached the egg, gently grabbed it, and brings the ant up to her face as she gazes inside it, "It's all about proper guidance, and the acknowledgment of one's potential..."
The Queen Ant and the Formerly Wounded Ant momentarily turned to each other then back to Nadia.
'How much can I carry?' Nadia questioned,
[As many as you like, and don't worry about it dying inside though. As long as you're replenished with mana, It'll be well preserved until the day hatches]
'Good' Nadia said, then makes the egg disappear into thin air which caught the Queen Ant and The Formerly Wounded Ant off guard. However, Nadia was there to reassure them, "Forgive me for making it all so sudden. I simply transport the egg into a place where no one would destroy it, and it'll grow up until the day it hatches from its shell,"
The Queen Ant simply sighed, and the Formerly Wounded Ant followed suit. Then, Nadia glanced at the entire room and saw several more eggs with the same amount of magicule resonating within them.
"Quick question. Can be the one to pick which eggs I can take?" Nadia questioned,
"You... May," The Queen Ant answered,
Afterward, Nadia selectively picked every potential egg she could find as well as a few extras along with it. Once she finished, she walked up to the Queen and gave a single nod.
"Alright then, Where's your heiress?" Nadia questioned,
"This way," The Queen Ant said, and went further into the building,
The three passed through the nursery station where Nadia witnessed the caretakers doing their jobs in nurturing the newborn ants despite that the fact that they'll soon be killed by the approaching army.
The Queen Ant then called one of the caretakers and requested that they are to be guided to a chamber where the heiress of the colony resides in.
The caretaker did what she was told, and went on to guide her and Nadia to the room where the heiress is currently being kept in. The Formerly Wounded Ant simply stayed behind as per the order of the Queen Ant.
Once they've entered the room, Nadia was greeted by a single ant child in the very center of the room.
Nadia's mind soon flashed from a certain child she once knew in her previous life. The very thought bothered her to the core as she placed his hand onto her forehead and tried to shrug it off of her mind.
"This is the one?" Nadia questioned,
"Indeed," The Queen Ant answered,
"Does she have a name?" Nadia questioned,
"No... Even generations of Ants, We have no such name," The Queen Ant answered, "But we are still able to identify one another and socialize. Even common ant folk can recognize themselves in crowds,"
"Huh?" Nadia hummed,
"Um..." The Queen Ant and Nadia then turns to the heiress, who seemingly approached the two, "Who is this?"
"This is Nadia," The Queen Ant introduced, "She will be accompanying you as soon as you depart from this colony,"
"You're relying an outsider to escort me?!" The Heiress Ant questioned, "Aren't there any guards for me to have?"
"Well, aren't you a spoiled little brat," Nadia commented, but it brought up another memory of her past life, but she continued to repress it even further.
"Silence, Outsider! You have no right to interrupt me with my Mother!" The Heiress Ant warned,
"Enough," The Queen Ant stated, "Your argument can be reasonable. But the guards have sworn themselves to the defense of this colony. They will not abandon their post even if I told them to,"
"So that's it? I'm going to leave this place with an outsider," The Heiress pointed out,
"If it makes you feel any better, I have someone you may tolerate," Nadia said, "
"Mother..." The Heiress Ant whined,
"My apologies, Little one. But she and the one standing outside are the only ones available to escort you," The Queen Ant said,
Heiress Ant groans in irritation as she wandered around the room, conflicted by the only people she has as her escort. Even after pondering several excuses that may be proven futile in this situation, She groans quite loudly and sighs in defeat, "Fine! I guess she will do, and my other escort better be a good one,"
'She seriously needs an attitude adjustment,' Nadia commented,
[Reminds you of another kid you once knew?]
'... I'd prefer you keep your mouth shut...' Nadia demanded,
[Okay, But know that I'm here if you ever need someone to talk to]
After the conversation between Nadia and her Alter Ego, She turns back to the Heiress Ant, who seemingly conversed with the Queen Ant and the latter even gave her a parting hug.
Then, The Queen Ant soon turns to Nadia with a firm stature.
"Take care of her... Will you?" The Queen Ant questioned,
"You have my word..." Nadia promised,
With that, The Queen Ant provided some degree of supplies for the journey, and the Formerly Wounded Ant formally introduced himself to her.
The plans for departure were planned rather quickly since Queen Ant needed to organize her generals and prepare a final stand to divert the attention of several colonies away from the Heiress Ant and her escorts.
Right now, They were being escorted by a nurse ant who had memorized the tunnels that would lead to the nearest exit of the colony walls.
Upon arrival, The Nurse Ant said her farewells with the Heiress Ant and her escorts before heading back. Before the group proceeds to exit the walls, Nadia creates some hooded robes with the fabric she stored from defeated monsters.
"Here," Nadia said, as she passed the robes to them,
"What's this for?" The Heiress Ant questioned,
"Since we're getting out. We will be going unseen by everyone," Nadia said, "That way, No one will find us as we exit this colony," Nadia explained,
The Heiress glanced at her robe, then proceeds to put it on and pulls the hood up. But as soon as she did, she suddenly became transparent to the naked eye and it shocked her and the Formerly Wounded Ant.
"What the!? What did you do to me!?" The Heiress panicking questioned,
"Thee robes are enhanced with [Cloak] magic. They make you invisible to the naked eye and no one will be able to spot you as long as you keep the hood on," Nadia explained, as she puts on her robe around her neck "But I'd be careful if I were you. Just because you're invisible doesn't mean you're intangible,"
"Why this though?" The Formerly Wounded Ant questioned,
"We're abandoning this colony, It's better that we leave with no one sees or hears us leave," Nadia stated, then pulls up her hood, and goes completely invisible,
The Formerly Wounded Ant then pulled his hood up as well, and the three would soon depart to the exit of the colony walls. As they passed through the streets, The group would glance around at buildings and people they were going to abandon to the enemy.
Despite the two ants having a hard time accepting this fact, They pushed on while Nadia simply watched them ensure they don't do something stupid.
After a while, They soon reach the gates, and the Heiress Ant hesitated as she was going out of the colony for the very first time. Nadia took notice of this, and relieve her by grasping onto her claw.
This, in turn, caused the Heiress Ant to look at Nadia, and the latter simply gave her a reassuring look that tells her that it'll all be okay.
Taking a deep breath, The three would soon walk their way out of the gates, and into the wilderness where they will spend their time hiding for the rest of the time...
A Few Months Later...
Winter has come, and snow was moderately falling down from the sky to the ground.
Not a moment later, A Winter Rabbit then suddenly peeked out of it's hole and came out to search for something to eat.
As it went further out of its hole, The rabbit's nose twitches a couple of times before an arrow suddenly pierced through its head and died instantly.
Soon, Footsteps were heard and it appeared that it was none other than Nadia herself as she picked up the deceased rabbit from the back of its neck, pulled the arrow out, and put it away through spatial magic.
[That's Five Now,]
'Thanks for the count. Now, let's go and rejoin with the others' Nadia declared, as she put the arrow into its quiver, placed her bow around her back, and makes her way back to the others.
A couple of walks later, Nadia reaches a cave they've settled in, and the two ants with her were there. But something about them had changed...
The Formerly Wounded Ant had become more human than he was once was in the past. He had red short hair with short antennas, a pair of red eyes, a muscular body, two arms, and legs, and wore clothing that fit his size.
As for the Heiress Ant, She too had become what the Formerly Wounded Ant went through. She now has long neck-length red hair with shorter antennas, same eyes, a more lean body, two arms, and legs, and some regular clothes as well.
"I'm back!" Nadia called out, as she entered the cave, "How are things going with your ends, Reese?"
"No sight of any enemy ant whatsoever," The Formerly Wounded Ant, now named as Reese, answered, "In fact, I didn't see any monster or wildlife nearby,"
"Good," Nadia nodded, then she turns to the Heiress Ant, "What about you, Zen? How are things with your end?"
"Some of the children you chose back then are starting to mature," The Heiress Ant, now named as Zen, answered, "As of now, I've provided everything they need for nutrition, and I taught them the same lessons you've provided to me back then,"
"Well done, Zen," Nadia praised, then provided them her spoils from the hunt she had done,
As the campfire cooked their meals for today, Nadia took the time to recall a few events that had occurred not long ago.
Flashback...
A few days after the group departed and settled on a certain location, Nadia decided to go back and watch the colony from a distance.
Once she had a good view of the colony, she used magic to zoom in on the battle.
Apparently, The army of opposing ants soon broke through the walls and took no prisoners or survivors. Basically, it was a massacre.
Nadia couldn't avert her eyes even if she wanted to. For Nature is a cruel and gruesome force as the opposing ants killed and devoured everything they set their sights on.
The more the opposing ants pushed, the greater the destruction they've caused especially when they reached the nursery building.
Nadia could already presume on what they will do to everything inside. But the mere thought of it angers her to the core and her aura began to resurface that it caused cracks to several trees and branches, and every animal in Nadia's vicinity began to flee.
[Nadia!]
Nadia soon snaps out of her anger, and the aura immediately dies down. She then placed three of her fingers onto her forehead and closed her eyes as she tries to relax from her sudden anger.
Moments later, Nadia's Alter Ego talked to her.
[That was too close! Do you have any idea how stupid that was! What if those ants picked up your aura!]
"You don't have to say. It's just-" Nadia tries to finish, but her Alter Ego just continued the conversation,
[Yeah, Yeah, Yeah. The old orphanage you used to work in your past life. But that's where I get to ask you a question. When will you learn to forget?]
"I don't know..." Nadia answered, with an uncertain look on her face, then it was silence for a couple of minutes
[...]
Meanwhile, The opposing ant army has reached the main capital of the colony, and that's where Queen Ant met her demise as the enemy ants stormed inside and Nadia presumed that every last one of them had been devoured by the enemy ants.
Once she had seen enough, Nadia stood up from the branch and went back to the others to tell them of the colony's demise.
Next Flashback
A few days after the fall of the Colony, The Formerly Wounded Ant was seen training with Nadia and the Heiress Ant present.
As for what the Formerly Wounded Ant was up against, they were several afterimages of Nadia created and each one of them was a challenge.
After the battle, The Formerly Wounded Ant pants heavily and falls to one knee while Nadia dispels the afterimages and clapped at his improvement.
"You've done well to hold out for so long," Nadia said, "You should be proud yourself,"
"I should. But it's not enough for me," The Formerly Wounded Ant said,
"Regardless, You're doing great," Nadia said, "But..."
"But what?" The Formerly Wounded Ant questioned,
"I'm kinda irritated that you don't have a name for yourself," Nadia said, "Where I come from, I prefer to call out names than anything else,"
"Oh... I'm sorry to hear that," The Formerly Wounded Ant apologized, "You see, Monsters like us have no name whatsoever,"
"Hmmm..." Nadia hummed to herself as she pondered about this situation, but it soon led to the most obvious choice that would change their lives forever, "If that's the case, How about I give you one?"
The Formerly Wounded Ant and the Heiress Ant gasped as they widened their eyes at this idea, and the former immediately stood upstraight after recovering some of his energy, "You wish to name me?"
"Yep, That way, It would be easier for me to call you out and all," Nadia said, then she turns to the Heiress Ant, "Would you like a name as well?"
"M-Me?! B-But I don't deserve such a thing," The Heiress Ant said,
Nadia hummed in response, and the Heiress Ant seemed conflicted by this declaration, 'What is up with these two. Why are they so surprised about having a name?'
After a while, She first gives the Formerly Wounded Ant his name.
"From now on, your name will be... Reese," Nadia named, then she turns to the Heiress Ant, "And as for you, your name will be Zen. Does that sound good to you?"
The two ants looked at each other for a brief moment, then turns back to Nadia and gives her a nod in response.
"Good!" Nadia said, but not a moment too soon, she soon felt a little dizzy then she pressed her forehead with a single hand as a headache surged through her mind, 'What the heck was that?'
"Hey, are you alright?" The Formerly Wounded Ant questioned,
"I think I'm fine... It's just a headache, that's all," Nadia responded, "Anyway, We'd better find a place to rest. We can't stay out of the open for too long,"
The group soon continued to wander about and found an empty cave to stay in for the night. Once everyone was in, Nadia cast a projection at the mouth of the cave to ensure they aren't seen, summoned a few familiars as sentries to the surrounding area, and provided the two ants some meals.
After a while, Nadia and the group took it upon themself to sleep in for the rest of the night.
The Following Morning...
Nadia had lost track of time, but as she yawns and stretched her arms. Moments later, she soon heard Reese's voice, "Good morning, Nadia,"
"Good Morning Reese," Nadia greeted back, and wearily opened her eyes, "How's your-"
Nadia completely trails off as her eyes widen at the sight of Reese's sudden change of appearance. He looked more human, but what's more shocking was the fact that he was seemingly naked and Nadia immediately flushed in red as she covered her eyes and shrieked in pure embarrassment.
"WHAT THE HECK HAPPENED TO YOU!?" Nadia screamed,
"What happened to me?" Reese questioned, then densely looked down to his body and noticed the change, "Oh, It's because you gave me a name?"
"A name? Why the heck is involved with your sudden change!?" Nadia questioned as she kept her eyes covered,
"You see, Nadia. When a Monster is named, Their status as a Monser rises drastically, and we would become a [Named Monster]. Becoming stronger than my previous form, and sometimes we would undergo a drastic change in appearance,"
'Huh? I didn't know a simple name can Improve one's status for Monsters,' Nadia said, while slightly opening both her eyes and sets her sights on Reese's upper body.
[But there's a catch though. Naming a Monster also drains your Magicule Supply. Therefore, It's the main reason why you suffered a headache yesterday]
'Wow... I didn't know something so simple would lead to something new and powerful... Guess I'd better be careful in naming any monster I see...' Nadia stated,
But after a brief moment, she soon recalled that she had named someone else in the cave.
'Wait a minute... If Reese had undergone a drastic change, then that means...' Nadia slowly turned to a certain someone in the cave.
When Zen woke up, she stretched her arms, then noticed the flustered Nadia awake as well, "Oh, Good Morning Nadia,"
Nadia's body began to glow red as she set her sights at a naked Zen, a moment later, Nadia screams her loudest and caused some of the wild birds to flee from their nests or their branches.
After a while, Nadia is seen standing next to a tree just outside the mouth of cave. She was panting heavily as her head remained heated from witnessing Zen's naked body, the palm of her right hand was against the trunk of the three, and her left hand was clutching onto the chest.
[*HYSTERICALLY LAUGHING* Geez, Nadia. I didn't know you get flustered even more after witnessing a woman's body. *HYSTERICALLY LAUGHING*]
'SHUT IT, YOU!' Nadia yelled,
[*HYSTERICALLY LAUGHING*]
Nadia was groaning to herself just by listening to the loud laughter of her Alter Ego. Meanwhile, Reese and Zen looked concerned, and the latter tried to step outside the cave, "Nadia, are you alright?"
"DON'T YOU DARE! STEP OUT OF THAT CAVE, YOU TWO! I MEAN IT!" Nadia ordered, and the two simply did what she told them to do,
Then, Nadia would walk around just to clear her head from witnessing their naked bodies, and muttered to herself just to keep the thought it out of her mind.
After a while, Nadia takes a few deep breathes, and finally calms down.
"It's okay, I'm calm now, There's nothing to be worried about," Nadia muttered to herself, then created some clothes for the two, and threw them just near the mouth of the cave, "Put those on now!"
Reese and Zen grabbed the clothes from the ground and began to wear them. A few moments later, Nadia turns to them and felt relieved after they've covered up.
"Are you sure, you're okay now, Nadia? You kinda gave us a fright and all that nonsense," Zen questioned,
"I'm fine, Zen. It's just that I'm not typically fond of seeing other people naked. That's all," Nadia assured, as she rubbed her forehead,
"Uh... Okay," Zen said,
"But that brings up the important question of the day. Why aren't you two embarrassed when you see each other like that?" Nadia questioned,
"What do you mean? We've never felt anything like that since everyone back in the colony never had the sense of wearing clothes whatsoever," Reese said, "But the only exception is the armor of course,"
"I-I see..." Nadia understood, 'Guess I'll be adding that to the list of lessons once I've rebuilt this colony again'
Present time
After recalling those moments, Nadia finishes with cooking today's meal, and began materializing some bowls not only for Reese, Zen, and herself. But also for the ant children that Nadia handpicked before their departure from the colony.
The number of them consist of only five, three boys and two girls, and each received an equal meal before Reese, Nadia, and Zen had gotten their own share.
After they've finished with their meal, Everyone gather around and started making plans for the future.
"So... Are we planning on heading back to the old colony? Or are we starting somewhere else then?" Zen questioned,
"Reese, did you find us a place to stay in?" Nadia questioned,
"I'm afraid there aren't any viable options to reside in considering that the other ant colonies have made their move on several places," Reese said, "We won't be able to establish a proper colony without getting ourselves caught in the process. Unless..."
"Unless what?" Nadia asked,
"We could make our way to the ruins of the central colony. From what I've been hearing, not one of the colonies have decided to set a foothold on that place," Reese recommended,
"Are you nuts?! That place is the battlefield of every colony," Zen reminded, "If we reside ourselves there, The possibility of us being annihilated again is high as it is!,"
"Indeed, but... It's the only place that remains untouched," Reese said,
"Then that means we don't have another option then?" Nadia said, while Zen still groaned from being present to yet another situation with no viable options whatsoever,
Therefore, she decided to point out the one thing that actually mattered, "But even if we do manage to make a brand new colony there, I doubt we'd last a day or more. The walls and buildings have long crumbled after it's former predecessors were wiped out of the face of history. Unless we have someone who knows how to rebuild and strengthen those walls, I'd doubt we'd last long before another battle starts there,"
'She's right... If only we have someone with those kinds of skills, Then moving there would be pointless' Nadia agreed, 'I can't believe I'm saying this, but I miss having my Servants at my side...'
[But you can summon them...]
...
...
...
'... What...?' Nadia mouthed,
[I mean it, Nadia, You can summon them. I checked the list of items you have in store, and luckily for you. There's a copy of a certain Item that allows you to summon your Servants again,]
'Are you saying that I can summon them again?!' Nadia exclaimed,
[Indeed, However... I'm afraid that no one they won't be able to remember you or everything you've done with them. Even if they managed to recall the slightest of details, They won't remember you whatsoever]
'What? Why would say that?' Nadia questioned,
[You died, Remember?]
This froze Nadia as the sudden realization had finally hit her. Servants of the Throne of Heroes won't be able to recall her entirely since she had died in her previous life. They may question her on why she looked familiar to them, they won't be able to recognize her even if they are provided with the exact amount of details explained to them.
Shrugging it off, Nadia steeled her resolve, and focused on present instead of the past.
"I've decided," Nadia declared, "We're going to the central colony,"
"Are you sure you want that, Nadia?" Reese said with doubt,
"I am, in fact, I just so happen to recall something that may help use with fortifying those old walls, and buildings," Nadia stated,
"Really?" Zen questioned,
"Yep, and if it doesn't help. Then you can just push the blame to me," Nadia said, then she stood up and placed her hands onto the sides of her waist, "Now, let's go and prepare everything. We've got a long journey ahead of us!"
With that, The three soon made preparations for departure. Reese packed his weapon and carried some provisions, Zen gathered the ant children and told them to follow their lead, and Nadia readied herself with her weapon and magic.
Once everything was ready, They soon departed to the central colony. Where all battles occur...
That is it for this chapter, everyone! As for the following chapter, the possibility of the first Servant being summoned to the New World will occur very soon!
Some of you might guess who will appear, But regardless of that, I still won't tell you who it is specifically.
Other than that, I hope you've enjoyed what I've made here today, stay safe from the virus, and I will see you all in the next chapter!
