Dig Up the Sun Emperor's Legacy: I Build an Invincible Undead Legion
Chapter 38: Memory Lane Ambush

Chapter 38: Memory Lane Ambush

Carlos looked toward the two grown women, hoping they’d drag the twins back to their side.

Instead, Yolanda flashed a proud smile, like she was thinking ’that’s my girls!’

The woman who called herself ’sister’ but was actually the adoptive mom, Sara, was completely absorbed in demolishing her mutton, totally blown away by the special spices.

"Great, with daughters this obsessed with pretty faces, their guardian probably isn’t exactly normal either."

Carlos made this assessment in about two seconds flat.

Whatever, let them stare—it wasn’t hurting anyone.

Actually, this might work in his favor, helping Carlos make them want to stick around.

"The only way to keep them safe is to have them stay close to my sister."

...

After stuffing themselves, the twins planted themselves like two bookends next to Carlos, not making a peep but staying dead quiet.

Just watching Carlos eat with laser focus.

Under this kind of scrutiny, Carlos found himself wolfing down his food way faster than usual.

Finally done!

Carlos figured this awkward standoff couldn’t go on forever, so he might as well work on building some trust.

So he said casually:

"You’re Riley, and you’re Anna?"

"Oh my God! Big brother, you’re incredible! You actually know I’m Riley (Anna)! I’m so happy!"

The twins were over the moon—their dream prince knew their names the first time they met!

Their eyes practically turned into stars.

They totally spaced on the fact that their mom had done introductions earlier.

This kind of praise... made Carlos think their IQ might not be firing on all cylinders, so he gave up trying to have a real conversation with them.

"Can you fill me in on your family situation?"

He turned, redirecting the question toward the two women across the bonfire.

"Sure thing, what do you want to know? My daughters’ hobbies? How old they are? Don’t let their tiny size fool you—my girls are already twenty."

Yolanda’s voice was sweet as honey, smiling like they were old family friends, completely dropping all her earlier suspicion.

Carlos’s eye twitched—was he moving too fast? Had they already hit the ’asking about ages’ stage?

And the Shadow Twins were twenty?

Right, the second awakening happened at exactly twenty. If they’d awakened at fifteen, he definitely would’ve heard about it.

But there was a problem—judging by how they acted, their emotional maturity seemed way too young, almost childish. What was up with that?

Seeing Carlos go quiet, Yolanda figured he wanted the full scoop and giggled:

"Want to hear some embarrassing stories about them? Let me tell you..."

"Mom!" (x2)

This threatened their image in front of their dream prince, immediately putting the twins on high alert as four little hands clamped over Yolanda’s mouth to shut her up.

Yolanda ’fought back,’ tickling with both hands.

All three started horsing around like nobody else existed.

Carlos sighed internally, somehow feeling like things were getting way more complicated.

"Sorry about that—they lose their minds when they see something too beautiful."

Sara, who’d been in an epic battle with her mutton, now stood respectfully next to Carlos, carefully apologizing.

Hearing this, Carlos felt weirdly relieved.

So you’re still sane.

Carlos pulled out a red tea set and six matching chairs.

"Have a seat. Let’s talk."

The Purple Thornblade Skeleton Guard poured for both of them.

"Thanks."

Sara didn’t bother being polite—they were already in his hands anyway, so she’d go along with whatever he wanted.

Before Sara could say anything, Carlos spoke calmly:

"Let me introduce myself first. I’m Carlos Valois, from Ember City’s Valois family. When we get back to Ember City, I’ll recommend to my sister Iris Valois that Riley and Anna become her vassals. Bottom line, I think you get that I have zero reason to bullshit you."

The kid’s words hit like a bombshell, sending massive shockwaves through Sara’s mind.

She shot to her feet, practically yelling:

"You... you’re Carlos Valois? The new generation Carlos Valois who successfully awakened five months ago?"

Carlos nodded.

"That’s right, it’s me."

He could feel that after confirming his identity, the woman completely chilled out.

Her eyes showed incredible relief and joy, but her shocked stare was weird—like seeing the neighbor kid had grown up huge!

"You know me?"

Sara noticed she’d totally lost her cool, shut her mouth, and coughed.

"Young Master Carlos, it’s only been a few years—have you already forgotten me? Have you forgotten that every time you got into trouble as a little kid and Captain Iris caught you, I was right there... um... cheering her on!"

By the end, Sara was getting all emotional.

In just a few years, that tiny kid had become a powerhouse Psionic.

"???"

Carlos’s body went stiff as his brain frantically searched through memories...

A scene from age 2: running away from home trying to find adventure, getting caught by his sister, with a woman nearby heckling:

"Captain, brats need to be smacked hard—can’t spoil them like this!"

Age 3... still that same woman heckling the loudest, who also liked sneakily pinching his butt...

He fought like hell, but she just pinched more enthusiastically.

His sister didn’t even stop her!

She only vanished from his memories after age 5.

Carlos was temporarily speechless—how had he not recognized an old acquaintance?

Thank God he had perfect memory, or ten years would’ve been enough to wipe all that out.

It was all because his attention had been hijacked by the Shadow Twins that he hadn’t recognized her.

"Cheering her on? I remember it more as ’heckling’?"

Carlos kept his cool despite his mixed feelings.

Sara scratched her head awkwardly.

"Did I do that?"

She tried to play dumb, but seeing Carlos’s ’I remember everything’ expression, she gave up.

Gritting her teeth, she threw her hands up:

"Fine, I admit that when you were little, I used to heckle a lot and occasionally liked pinching your tiny butt..."

Carlos reminded himself he was a noble and couldn’t resort to violence.

Suddenly Sara bent down, grabbing Carlos’s hand with both of hers, putting on a pitiful expression despite her usual tough-girl act.

"But that’s all ancient history. Forgive your big sister, okay..."

Carlos tried to yank his hand back but couldn’t, saying helplessly:

"I never held any grudges about that stuff."

Sara’s mouth curved up as she naturally let go of his hands, cheering internally:

"Still as fun to mess with as when he was little."

Carlos felt like this scene was déjà vu and was about to dig through his memories.

The three who’d been goofing around saw the commotion and came over, staring intently at the pair.

"Everyone sit down."

"Yay, tea time!"

The twins very deliberately sat one on each side of Carlos.

Then they fine-tuned their chair positions so their distances from Carlos were exactly equal.

Finally, their eyes locked onto the red tea in front of them, making sure the amounts were identical before settling in and beginning their ’staring contest’!

Yolanda sat next to Sara, still wearing her gentle smile.

After everyone was seated, Sara couldn’t wait to spill:

"Yolanda, you’ll never guess—he’s Young Master Carlos, that little troublemaker who used to roam the streets like a pint-sized adult."

Yolanda’s eyes lit up, her already gentle smile getting even warmer.

"So it’s Young Master Carlos~~"

Her voice was loaded with reunion joy, full of affection.

That familiar tone made Carlos’s scalp prickle as he muttered:

"Don’t tell me it’s another old acquaintance..."

His brain went into overdrive, comparing Yolanda’s looks and build with his memories...

Age 2: First time wandering the streets looking for adventure, suddenly getting scooped up by a woman who patted his head and kissed him, totally derailing his plans!

Age 3: On the street, familiar surprised greetings.

He fought desperately trying to make her back off, but she just got more enthusiastic, smothering him with love until he was completely confused...

Same deal—everything ended at age 5.

Carlos unconsciously clenched his fists—he felt like fate was playing some kind of cosmic joke on him today.