Kaiden’s dry chuckles echoed off the stone walls as he hung beneath the talons of an Abyssal Nightclaw, boots dangling over the black pits below. The beasts carried their passengers across the death-field of spikes that split the pathway.
Behind him, screams filled the air.
High-pitched, unending, and full of sheer panic.
He tilted his head toward Luna, who flew alongside him. "Sounds like they’re in an amusement park, doesn’t it?"
Luna squinted back at the terrified natives being carried across. "Yeah. A shady one that definitely failed every safety inspection known to man."
"..."
The creatures swooped low as they neared the end of the cavern. The air shifted, turning cool and damp.
Soon, the Verdant Expanse stretched out before them. Compared to the harsh black rock of the entry area, this place felt like pure heaven.
Kaiden dropped to the ground as the flying Nightclaw released him, landing with a solid thud. Alice, clinging to him like a needy cub, refused to let go. Her arms locked around his waist.
He chuckled and patted her head behind him. "You can let go now. The ride’s over."
"No," she muttered into his chest. "I’m still scared, big brother..."
Yes, the girl responsible for killing thousands of monsters and hospitalizing hundreds of mighty awakened combatants cited ’fear’ of the cruel pathway as a reason why she had to cling to him.
The fact that she was an S-tier awakened who’s seen much worse did not seem to be a good enough argument because when the girl was presented with it, she formed big crocodile tears and clung to him even harder.
No one believed her act, but no one wanted to confront the girl either.
Kaiden shook his head with a small smile tugging at his lips. "You’re unbelievable..." he muttered to himself before reaching back and grabbing hold of her wrist.
Alice made a sharp noise of protest, tightening her grip around his waist. "No! I’m still afraid of the ugly monsters!!"
"I’m not pulling you off," he sighed. "Trust me."
After a few seconds of stubborn silence, she finally loosened her hold, giving him a sulky look from behind. Kaiden got a good grip and hoisted her up with practiced ease. Alice yelped as he lifted her, only to find herself perched on his shoulders a moment later.
The pout vanished almost instantly. Her eyes lit up as she steadied herself, thighs pressing around his neck for balance. "Ohhh! A new brother-sister position!!!"
Kaiden snorted with the wryest of expressions on his features, especially as he felt the gazes of his women aimed right at him. This was... certainly a sight to behold, he had to admit.
"I don’t know what to do with you anymore, Alice... You’re almost seventeen. This doesn’t exactly suit your age."
Indeed, Alice was not a little girl who should be riding on his shoulders like a child. She was already taller than Luna.
With her fingers absentmindedly playing with his hair, the black-haired teen snorted. "Hmph!! I’ll always be your little sister, and big brothers are obliged to cherish and love their little sisters! This is a fate you can’t escape! Embrace it with all your heart!"
Kaiden exhaled a quiet laugh. "... There’s really no escape?"
"None."
"..." As Alice began happily singing atop his shoulders, Kaiden turned his attention back to the tunnel, from which Vespera appeared without sound or fanfare.
She had skipped the Abyssal Nightclaw ride entirely, reforming from shadow near Kaiden as if the entire obstacle course had been beneath her notice. Her calm stride and untarnished coat made the rest of them look like amateurs.


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