Chapter 131: Kaiden’s Conviction
Kaiden understood better than anyone just how emotionally vulnerable his girls were. Nyx claid she no longer cared about the opinions of randoms, but words had power. No matter how strong she acted, being mocked and insulted for their chosen path on repeat would still hurt her. He wasn’t naïve enough to believe otherwise.
He had willingly stepped onto this thorn-covered road, fully aware of the ridicule and scorn it invited. And yes, his Valkyries had chosen to walk beside him; their consent was the final requirent to complete the hidden quest that transford them into Sinsworn Valkyries—into won who willingly trod the sa path as their Paragon of Sin. But just because they had accepted the weight of this path didn’t an he would stand by and let others spit on their honor.
Kaiden had made a promise to himself.
He would not let others mock them. Not while he still breathed.
His personal pride and his love for these precious, irreplaceable existences would never allow him to look the other way. If anyone thought they could trample on what was his, they would learn the hard way just how wrong they were.
He didn’t care how many tis he had to fight.
He didn’t care who stood in his way.
He would never let their dignity be tarnished.
Jack smirked upon seeing his combat-ready stance before mimicking Kaiden’s motions. The blonde brute had trained extensively in hand-to-hand combat, and there was no way he’d lose to so F-tier rookie in an unard bout. He cracked his knuckles and grinned from ear to ear. “You’re most certainly S-tier at speech, but let’s see if the force of your bite matches the strength of your barks.”
But before either could make a move, a soft thud landed against Kaiden’s back. Warmth spread across his body as delicate hands stroked his chest while a gentle presence pressed into him from behind.
“Calm down, Kai…” Aria whispered lovingly as she rested her head on his back. The tone she used carried a soothing effect in it. She was getting practiced at calming his overly protective boyfriend by this point.
“No need to waste your energy on soone like him,” Nyx scoffed dismissively, which was followed up by Luna’s, “That’s right. Ignore the randoms, Kai.”
Kaiden exhaled, feeling the tension in his body ease at Aria’s touch and the words of the other two Valkyries. Jack’s smirk faltered, but before he could say anything, a sharp hiss cut through the air.
“Stand down, Jack. Right this instant.”
The voice belonged to none other than Tessa. Her eyes burned with anger as she stord forward. Jack turned his head, and his lips imdiately began to part to argue, but the expression on Tessa’s face made him stop.
Tessa took a deep breath before lowering her head in front of Kaiden. “I sincerely apologize for my subordinate’s behavior.” There was a trace of exhaustion beneath her voice. “As the leader of this guild, I’ve failed in my responsibilities.”
Jack clenched his jaw at the sight, and he wasn’t alone.
“… In the end, nothing happened. One could even argue that I started the tensions. Please raise your head, Guild Leader of Nova Circuit,” Kaiden said before turning around so that he could return Aria’s hug.
“You didn’t check the files, did you?” Tessa asked Jack after straightening her spine.
Jack’s silence was all the answer she needed.
Her brow twitched. “The files my assistants sent? The ones instructing everyone to act with respect toward Valhalla’s Sinners?”
Jack finally broke eye contact. Through gritted teeth, he muttered, “Tch. My bad, I guess.” The apology was anything but genuine. He turned away, stomping back to his queen bee’s side.
Tessa exhaled while shaking her head. The exhaustion in her eyes was clear now. Dealing with Jack’s ego was draining, and it was the least of her problems as the leader of a crumbling guild.
But then, a wave of murmurs spread through the crowd.
The audience’s gaze followed Kaiden when he turned around toward his girls, and they were t with a sight that left many gasping.
Standing beside him were three breathtakingly beautiful won. Aria, with her supermodel proportions and flowing silver hair. Nyx, whose curvaceous figure and vibrant pink locks gave her an exotic allure that demanded attention from all males and seething jealousy from females. And lastly, Luna, whose lithe yet irresistibly hot fra was decorated by her lush purple hair.
Many stared at the trio with shock, but no one looked more flabbergasted than the queen bee herself.
She had expected Kaiden’s teammates to be three other societal rejects like that nerdy David guy Kaiden had hung around with back in high school.
Instead, not only did the man she had rejected a few years ago have the most insane glow-up she’d ever witnessed, but he was surrounded by three of the most stunning won she had seen.
And worst of all?
They seed to be devoted to him. None of them gave off an air resembling a gold digger or that of an opportunistic woman who was here to mooch off of a dumb but powerful guy to have an easy ride to a good life.
If that wasn’t enough… ‘No, this can’t be…’ she muttered inwardly as a strange feeling assaulted her heart. ‘Do I think myself to be uglier than them?!’
For the first ti in her life, Vaelira was introduced to the feeling called jealousy.
“The minivans are ready. Change into your combat gear and grab your weapons, alongside any other items you wish to take with you into the dungeon. We’ll move to the site together with your teachers,” Tessa instructed the group.
Just as she said so, three adults entered through the sa door Kaiden and co did monts before. The newcors were in their late twenties or early thirties, and their gazes spoke volus of their experience gained through hard-fought battles in the dungeons. Many injuries riddled their bodies, forcing them into retirent from active duty. As a result, they beca instructors guiding the newer generations on their awakened journeys.
Being teachers of the awakened in today’s environnt could be best described as bittersweet. On the bright side, they lived to tell the tales of intense life-or-death situations, marking them as survivors when many of their teammates fell. But on the other hand, they could not be healed in full, marking the end of their leveling journey. Once one tasted the sweet taste of power progression, being forced to return to mundane life bore significant ntal strain on most.
Now that the tense greetings had concluded, the group moved toward the awaiting minivans. The vehicles were parked in a lot behind the guild’s headquarters. The large, reinforced minivans had been modified into vehicles that could function even in cases of dungeon breaks, featuring sturdy exteriors and spacious interiors to accommodate both people and gear.
Kaiden slid into the backseat of one, flanked by Aria and Luna, while Nyx took the seat in front of them. Next to her sat Tessa and one of the scarred instructions. The other two teachers spread themselves among the remaining vans to keep an eye on the recruits.
The engines roared to life, and the convoy rolled out onto the streets. The drive was long but eventless. The six of them chatted among themselves amicably. Just like Tessa, the teacher did not show signs of mockery toward their chosen path.
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