Showing the Way

Meanwhile, Theresa had long since flown into a rage.

"You, you really are such a... big idiot! How could Cecilia have given birth to a daughter like you..."

"Your mother was the strongest S-rank Valkyrie in history, and your father was the Kaslana Family's glorious knight. But you, you..."

"Ugh!"

Theresa said bitterly, disappointed by her failure to live up to expectations:

"I'll give you one more chance at the assessment. If you fail again, I'll really demote you to a C-rank Valkyrie and toss you into the rear-line kitchen squad."

"Really?!"

Kiana's heart leaped with joy, her eyes shining.

"I knew you'd agree! Auntie, you're the best!"

"If you know that, then why aren't you training already?"

Theresa knew her niece's flighty nature well. She was nothing like her mother, but had picked up seven or eight parts of her father's way of doing things.

"Okay, okay, I'm going to the Shooting Range now."

With that, Kiana turned and left without any hesitation.

But just as she reached the door, she was called back.

"Wait. Don't rush off yet. Take this..."

Theresa glanced down at the documents, then pointed at Ren Yu beside her and added, "While you're at it, take this newly arrived Teacher Yang to the Teacher Dormitory. It's his first time at St. Freya, so he doesn't know the way very well."

Chapter 2: Showing the Way

"Teacher?"

The girl named Kiana was completely baffled by Theresa's words.

This young man... who looked only a few years older than her was a teacher?

Blinking, she asked curiously:

"So, Teacher, what subjects do you teach?"

"Psychological counseling, stress relief, relaxation?"

Since a combat instructor could become an Assistant Teacher, Ren Yu simply mentioned his main profession.

At that moment, the white-haired girl smacked her fist into her palm as if she had realized something. Shocked, she said, "Oh, I get it! So you're the kind of Civilized Beast Mei was talking about!"

"Gah—"

Ren Yu's face immediately darkened.

What did she mean, Civilized Beast?

After taking a breath to calm himself down, he said faintly:

"How did a perfectly respectable psychologist become a Civilized Beast in your eyes?"

"Isn't that what you are?"

Kiana looked utterly surprised.

"Aren't people who enjoy messing with others' minds all messed-up perverts and beasts?"

Ren Yu: "..."

Expecting Kiana to come up with any profound insight had made him an idiot.

Still, she was right. Most people who enjoyed playing with other people's minds had some problems with their own minds too.

Just as Ren Yu's emotions churned, Kiana stuck out her tongue and lowered her head apologetically. "Sorry, Teacher. I really wasn't trying to mock you. I just... just got carried away for a moment."

"Heh."

Ren Yu sneered. So she knew she acted without thinking. Why hadn't she shown this much self-awareness earlier?

"Teacher, please be magnanimous. If you happen to teach our class, absolutely, absolutely don't deduct my credits, okay? If you deduct any more, then I... I... I'll get demoted..."

As she spoke, Kiana's momentum weakened more and more, and she became dejected.

It seemed getting demoted really mattered a great deal to her.

Theresa could no longer stand watching this. She reached out and shoved Kiana, who was far taller than her, toward the door.

"Enough nonsense. Hurry up and take the new teacher to the dormitory."

"Don't even think about running off halfway there. If I find out, you know what the consequences will be."

Kiana did not resist, repeatedly agreeing.

"Okay, okay, I got it. Honestly, Auntie, you're doubting my character. When have I ever failed to complete an assignment on time and in full..."

Ten minutes later, in the Teacher Dormitory area.

Ren Yu politely declined Kiana's offer to carry his suitcase and silently walked behind her alone.

"So your name is Cheng Wen, Teacher!"

Walking backward, Kiana held a résumé about Ren Yu in her hand and chatted aimlessly with him.

Though most of the time, she talked while Ren Yu listened.

"You joined the Honkai Impact Assault Team at thirteen, defeated the terrorist Holladeng with a sliding tackle at fourteen... Teacher, you're seriously amazing! Even my lousy dad doesn't have stories as exciting as yours."

Ren Yu: "..."

Those were all fake, okay? And she actually believed them.

At that moment, Kiana saw the final line of Ren Yu's credentials.

—At eighteen, he had fought the Honkai Emperor barehanded for nine days and nine nights without being defeated?!