Episode 52. Dale Han’s Secret Life (1)

After that meaningful reunion(?) with Yuren.

My daily life became so busy that the expression “no time to breathe” felt inadequate.

‘Lectures at school, assignments.’

Every evening, I met Berald and Yuren to teach them martial arts and swordsmanship, squeezing in time for personal training.

‘I’m gonna die for real.’

Well, in my case, even if I die, I’d come back to life quickly.

But the mental exhaustion couldn’t be recovered even with the Blessing of Resurrection.

‘Ah, I wanna rest.’

I just wanted to sprawl on my bed and laze around all day.

‘How happy would that be?’

Imagining a lazy nap under the warm spring sunlight streaming through the window made me swallow hard.

The thirst for rest burned my throat.

Grabbing my screaming mind, I struggled to get up from the bed.

“Phew… Still, gotta do what I gotta do.”

Today was Saturday.

No lectures, no meetings with Berald and Yuren, but that didn’t mean I had nothing to do.

“First, I’ll go see Professor Jade.”

I looked down at the pill in the square box.

The pill was a magic-enhancing elixir I got from Yuren.

For someone with a lot of magic power, it wouldn’t have much effect, but for someone like me with ant-sized… no, rat-sized magic power (though it’s grown a bit recently), it was quite a useful elixir.

‘It wouldn’t be bad to just take it as is.’

But since I had the elixir, why not ask Professor Jade, an authority in alchemy, if there’s a way to amplify its effects?

“Next… I should meet that Juliet guy.”

After visiting Yuren’s private training ground, my desire for a private training ground grew even more.

‘And after sparring with Instructor Vincent, I’ve been drawing too much attention.’

Honestly, it was getting in the way of my training.

‘No wonder Yuren and other top candidates train in private training grounds.’

If I just step into the public training grounds, spectators swarm in like I’m a zoo monkey. How can I focus on training like that?

“I’ll send a message first.”

I clicked on Juliet’s contact and sent a message.

[I have something important to discuss with you today. Are you free?]


[Ha, what’s it about?]

A reply came immediately.

[I’ll tell you when we meet. I’ll contact you again later.]


[Uh, okay. I’ll wait.]

The application fee for a private training ground wasn’t small, but since I had Juliet’s “weakness” in my hands, he had no choice.

‘Let me check if the photos are still there.’

I clicked on the album file in my Hero Watch.

“Ugh, my eyes, dammit.”

The first thing I saw upon opening the album was a photo of Juliet cross-dressing in a seductive pose.

Even if it was to hold his weakness, the fact that I had such photos stored in my Hero Watch was unbearable.

‘If I manage to squeeze… no, borrow money from him this time, I should delete all these photos.’

By now, I think I’ve repaid the grudge from being bullied by Juliet in my past life, so I planned to let him off.

“Alright, let’s get moving.”

Just as I was about to drag my tired body out.

Knock knock.

There was a knock on the door.

“Huh?”

Who could be visiting at this hour?

Creak.

I opened the door, tilting my head, and there stood Iris with a fierce expression.

“What’s the matter… Gah!”


“You bad boy!”

Iris grabbed my collar and shouted in anger.

“Why… why are you like this?”


“Ha, why am I like this? Are you seriously asking that?”

Iris gritted her teeth and continued.

“Why haven’t you contacted me for days?”


“Well, you told me not to contact you for a while…”


“But did you really have to not contact me at all? Huh? You’re so clueless, so clueless!”

Iris pulled my cheeks and stomped her feet in frustration.

“Ugh. Fine, fine. It’s my fault for expecting anything from you, Dale.”

Hmph.

Iris snorted and looked at me, who was dressed to go out.

“It’s the weekend. Where are you going?”


“Ah, yeah. I have some business at Professor Jade’s lab…”


“Going to work again, huh?”

Iris glared at me accusingly.

“Not exactly work, but I have something to ask.”


“Either way, it’s not rest, right?”


“Well… yeah, I guess.”

Snap.

A vein popped on Iris’s forehead.

She grabbed my hand and said.

“Come to Valhalla City with me today.”


“Huh? Suddenly?”


“You’re not thinking of refusing, are you?”

Iris smiled brightly.

“…I’ll get ready quickly.”

Looks like I’ll have to visit Professor Jade’s lab tomorrow.

* * *

Iris and I headed towards Valhalla City, the massive city surrounding Reynaldo Hero School.

“By the way, where’s Camila?”


“I didn’t tell Camila and sneaked out.”


“…Is that okay?”


“With you here, I don’t need a separate escort, right?”

Well… that’s true.

“But won’t Camila be upset later?”

Iris smiled prettily and winked.

“Got it.”

Her natural demeanor made me chuckle.

“Speaking of Valhalla City… are we going to the orphanage?”


“No. Today, I have a different place to go with you.”


“Where?”


“Ta-da! Look at this!”

In Iris’s hand were two tickets with a bold fist logo.

“They made a movie about Iron Fist Ryujinseong’s story in the Republic!”


“Ah.”

Come to think of it, Iris did say she liked Iron Fist Ryujinseong, one of the Five Great Heroes.

“It’s been out for a while, but… I wanted to watch it with you.”


“I’m fine with that.”


“The theater isn’t far either.”


“Where is it?”


“Just a bit into the city, and it’s right there.”

Speaking of theaters.

“I’ve only heard of them, but this is my first time going to one.”


“Huh? You’re from the Republic, but you’ve never been to a theater?”


“Never really had the chance.”

To be precise, it wasn’t that I didn’t have the chance, but I couldn’t afford it.

During my candidate days, I lived off the meager Republic stipend, and after graduating, I was too busy as a mercenary on the southern front, where there were no cultural facilities.

“Have you been to one, Iris?”


“I’ve been a few times with the kids from the orphanage.”


“Really? Then can you guide me?”


“Hehe. Just trust me and follow!”

Iris confidently patted her chest and walked ahead.

We arrived at the theater.

The movie Iris mentioned was titled “Iron Fist: The Legend Begins,” a rather uninspired title.

The poster inside the theater showed a muscular, bald man with a thick beard (note: there’s no record of Iron Fist Ryujinseong being bald) roaring with clenched fists.

‘Why did they make a perfectly fine person bald?’

I chuckled at the poster in the corner when Iris pulled my hand.

“Come this way, Dale.”


“Huh? Isn’t the entrance the other way?”


“Right. We’re buying snacks first before going in.”


“Oh, what? Can we eat while watching the movie?”


“Of course. You have to eat popcorn at the theater.”

Iris skillfully headed to the snack counter.

She ordered a couple’s set (she didn’t hesitate upon seeing the word “couple”) and entered the theater with a bright smile.

“How is it? Tasty, right?”


“It’s good, but… we’ve already eaten more than half before the movie even started. Is that okay?”


“Popcorn is meant to be finished before the movie starts.”

Iris said as she picked up a piece of popcorn.

“Here, say ‘ah.'”


“I can eat it myself…”


“Say ‘ah.'”


“Yep.”

Like a baby bird being fed by its mother, I ate the popcorn Iris handed me as the lights dimmed and the movie began.

The movie itself was a light action film with little artistic merit.

It told the story of Ryujinseong, who came from another world, training hard to earn the title “Iron Fist.”

Except for the fact that Ryujinseong, who had a full head of hair before training, became bald after three years of training, it followed the textbook story of Ryujinseong.

Aside from decent action, the movie had few redeeming qualities, but Iris seemed to enjoy it, fully immersed with clenched fists.

“Please…! Get up!”

Haha.

Iris is really sensitive.

“That’s it! Smash those bastards’ skulls!”


“…….”

A bit too sensitive, maybe.

‘Well, there’s hardly anyone here, so it’s fine.’

As Iris said, the movie had been out for a while.

The large theater was almost empty except for us.

‘It’s nice to watch comfortably.’

I spent a leisurely time watching Iris, who was muttering things like “Break their backs in half!” and “Yes, tear their limbs apart!” (more entertaining than the movie).

After leaving the theater, we had a light meal nearby, chatted over coffee, and took a walk in the park under the warm spring sun.

‘I can’t even remember the last time I relaxed like this.’

I sat on a park bench, basking in the sunlight, and stretched.

Since returning, I’ve been so caught up in a hectic schedule that I never even thought of taking a break like this.

“Dale.”


“Yeah?”


“Lie down here.”

Iris, sitting next to me on the bench, patted her thigh.

“W-what? Lie there?”


“Yes. There’s no one watching anyway.”


“But…”


“Come on, lie down.”

Iris pulled me down onto her lap.

The soft sensation of her thigh against the back of my head was indescribable.

Iris gently stroked my forehead and looked up at the sky.

“The weather’s nice today, isn’t it?”


“Weather?”


“Yeah. The wind’s just right, and there’s not a single cloud.”

Following her gaze, I looked up at the sky.

A vast curtain of blessing filled my vision.

I couldn’t even see her face, let alone the sky.

Captivated by the breathtaking sight, I couldn’t help but let out a sigh.

“Wow, it’s really big… Ah, no. It’s nice.”


“…….”

Ahem.

“…What’s big?”

Iris opened her eyes slightly and interrogated me.

“Well, you see…”

Sweating, I tried to think of an excuse when Iris lightly pinched my cheek.

“Pervert.”

She playfully pinched my cheek, then grabbed my hand and pulled it towards her chest.

“If it bothers you that much… want to touch it?”


“Huh?”

Saintess.

If you say things like that here, I’m gonna say “Oh yeah.”