Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

Though he could have gone on, quite literally, forever, Vahn decided to call it quits after everyone except Illya, Arcueid, Aoko, Okita, and Fenrir collapsed. He had been enjoying himself for a few hours, and, soon enough, he would have to take the children to school. There was also the simple fact that if he didn't stop quickly, girls like Medea, Jeanne, and Okita might end suffering a trauma.Vahn had been curious about their presence at first but, after Circe began an impromptu lesson on sexual etiquette, it became clear why they had stayed. She wasn't the most qualified teacher but, with Fenrir having difficulties explaining things in an easily understood manner, Circe was the best alternative.It was a little awkward having such an attentive audience but Vahn had grown accustomed to such things due to his past experiences. He wasn't a particularly shy person, so, knowing it would make things a lot easier for the inexperienced girls; he let himself be a test dummy. Besides, it was amusing seeing Circe try to restrain her urges while trying to explain things to her fiercely blushing niece.Medea had gone so red that her ears were practically glowing with a crimson color as she sat at the edge of the bed in a pale-lavender dress. As for Jeanne and Okita, the former had a wide-eyed look as she formed her lips into a perfect line, a somewhat overwhelming reaction as it looked like she was trying to avoid saying something. Okita, however, just watched on with a disinterested expression despite the intense focus in her gaze...Though the lessons alone were rather intense, Vahn's Divinity ensured they wouldn't soon forget the event. He generally projected his aura radially, so, like the other girls on the massive bed, they were well within the area of his influence. As a result, they could feel everything Circe was experiencing, albeit to a lesser extent. Still, this was more than enough stimulus for pure girls like Medea and Jeanne, even if the latter took it surprisingly well at first.Fortunately, Medea had Medusa hugging her from behind, the latter's hand lightly stroking the area beneath her navel to help her relax. Medusa was still a virgin, but she was rather fond of 'helping' out when Vahn was having sex with the other residents of the Menagerie. She had also dutifully learned the very basics of [Hands of Nirvana], so; while her skills were negligible compared to her Master's, it was useful for things like massages and helping people relax.The real problem was the inclusion of girls like Arcueid and Illya as, compared to 'normal' women, they experienced something that others would describe as transcendental. Even Vahn wasn't able to fully resist their influence, so; shortly after he and Illya began making love, Medea ended up briefly losing consciousness. Since she insisted on being allowed to stay, regardless, she ended up being put through the wringer along with the rest of the girls present...In the end, only those who had a high tolerance, immortal bodies, or a considerable amount of experience had been able to stay conscious. The rest ended up succumbing to the shared waves of pleasure; Hati and Medusa included. It was Hati's collapse that caused the event to come to an end as, though fundamentally different than Fenrir; she was still a Vanargandr. For even her to fall prey to the veritable ocean of pleasure, well, it was a red flag in a lot of ways.Fortunately, Arcueid and Aoko were pretty easy to calm down so, after coaxing Illya and Cath Palug for a few minutes, everyone had been freed from the seemingly endless cycle. Afterward, Vahn helped to wake up the collapsed girls, checking on their bodies to make sure there were no sequelae. Though Medea ended up needing to cool her head for a short while after awakening, Jeanne, Hati, Gareth, and Medusa were all in high spirits.Once Circe had finished talking with Medea, everyone decided to take a bath together using the sizeable in-ground tub. Though not quite an onsen, it served a similar function as it was capable of comfortably seating fifteen people, something that would undoubtedly be necessary for the future. For now, Vahn just enjoyed soaking his body in the steamy water with Illya and Fenrir flanking him. They had always been relatively close, so, after sharing a bed, they were practically on the same wavelength, both wholly fascinated with their 'Master'...---As much as he would like to spend all of his time with his family and lovers, the latter of which could be attested to by his Divinity; Vahn couldn't allow his indulgences to supersede his actual duties as Emperor. He still had a purpose to fulfill, starting by meeting with Gawain to discuss the deployment of the Imperial Forces. Afterward, he visited Olga to spend a bit of time with her, checked up on Lilith, and wrapped things up at the Hanging Gardens. Then, when everything else was was said and done, Vahn entered his personal [Space-Time Orb] with the ever-mischevious and adorable Aeterna.One of the things Vahn felt compelled to complete was the forging of [Lævateinn] so, even if he was busy with other matters, he always found at least an hour to focus wholly on forging. This hour translated to fifty within the [Space-Time Orb], time that was necessary to keep his skills sharp and Aeterna happy.Vahn had once failed to visit the affectionate Vulcanae Queen for three days in a row, resulting in the Dwarves having to send a plea to have him visit as she had effectively made the Great Forge unusable due to feeling neglected.Spirits were emotionally sensitive creatures, and, as a Greater Elemental Spirit, Aeterna suffered from this same quirk. She was also pretty young, so it was easy for her to fall into a negative mindset, even if she was smart enough to know he hadn't abandoned her. Instead, the main reason for her dour mood was the fact that much like Vahn himself, she was very eager to complete the forging of [Lævateinn]'s penultimate form. It was something they had been working for virtually her entire life, so, in a way, [Lævateinn] was even more critical to Aeterna than it was to Vahn.Now, Vahn could focus all of his attention on the internal structure of the blades they were forging as Aeterna dutifully managed the heat. Their cooperation had long reached the point where it didn't require them to communicate with each other verbally so, while they had yet to achieve their shared dream, even the 'failures' they produced were always A-Rank and higher.At this point, almost every item forged between Vahn and Aeterna approached the level of a masterwork, not just their [Lævateinn] prototypes. As a result, they had even been able to outfit both Gawain's and Kenshin's battalions, earning him quite a bit of rapport with both the Commanders and the Homunculi themselves...The curious thing about this was; by having people appreciate and laud his work, Vahn noticed that the quality of his forged equipment gradually increased. He didn't know if it was due to his [Will of the Emperor], which unilaterally increased his capabilities based on things like Loyalty, Respect, and Adulation, but it was a 'very' noticeable change. The only other explanation was the 'Power of Belief,' something he needed to account for within the Nasuverse. After all, it was similar beliefs that allowed many Heroic Spirits to make use of unique abilities, some of which they may not have had during their lifetimes.Semiramis was one of the best examples of this quirk as, during her lifetime, she had nothing to do with the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. She hadn't even seen it during her lifetime but, because she was often associated with the Hanging Gardens by countless people, it had become a part of her actual Legend. Because of this, she has an intuitive knowledge of how to construct it and, despite the real Hanging Gardens being nothing more than an intricate garden; it was even able to fly due to the imaginations of people who imagined it to be.Since even Concepts could be manifest with a physical form, Vahn wasn't too surprised by the fact that his skills and abilities were becoming more powerful due to the perception of people around him. Even his ability to pleasure his women had experienced a qualitative improvement, something he had heard with increasing frequency as of late. Thus, with these factors driving him, Vahn was encouraged to continue working hard, continually aspiring to reach even greater heights...It was with this mentality that Vahn was able to forge an S-Rank [Lævateinn], one of five 'successes' he had managed to achieve over the last few months. This caused Aeterna to happily rubs her cheek against the rather vicious-looking blade before flittering up to Vahn's face, kissing him on the cheek before chiming, "We did it, Vahn~! Hurry, name it, name it~!!"With a gratified smile showing his appreciation and pride, Vahn did as Aeterna suggested, pointing the newly forged blade toward the sky as he exclaimed, "Henceforth, your name shall be [Lævateinn: Epsilon]. Become a blade that vanquishes the Empire's foes and protects its people...!"Since this was his only real opportunity to use [Keeper of the Akashic Tome] these days, Vahn didn't hesitate to use up his current charge. Each successful [Lævateinn] he forged was infused with his and Aeterna's hopes and dreams so; while not on the same level as his actual children, Vahn wanted his masterworks to be able to grow without restrictions.As if to respond to this desire, [Lævateinn: Epsilon] flashed with chaotic energy that seemed fueled by the Laws of Destruction. It gave it an awe-inspiring, albeit tyrannical, aura, one which threatened to lay low any you crossed its path.At the same time, it's four 'brothers' resonated around it as Vahn always made sure they bore witness to the birth of their sibling swords. They currently lacked a real Ego, but there was a nascent seed of awareness within each of them, crying out in celebration of their newly forged brethren.When the light had faded away, [Lævateinn: Epsilon]'s Grade had advanced to what Vahn would estimate to be the middle of the S-Rank. Like it's sibling-swords, it even had an unlimited ability for growth, represented both by its Parameters and Abilities. He would need to wield in battle but, from the very beginning, Vahn's journey towards the peak hadn't exactly been a peaceful one...-----------------------------------[Lævateinn: Epsilon]Rank: S (Divine)Slots: 1P.Atk: 2407+240M.Atk: 1692Abilities: Acknowledgement of the Emperor(-), Lævateinn(S), Flame Wreath(S), Spirit-Siphon(A), Familial Bond(-)One of five swords possessing the legacy of the legendary Lævateinn. The flames emitted by this sword cannot be extinguished by normal means, burning all things recognized as an enemy by the Creator. Due to its Creator's desire to forge a blade with limitless potential, this sword has a very high chance of developing a Spirit that embodies this desire.Restrictions: Vahn Aldrnari Mason, Progeny of Vahn Aldrnari MasonUnique Restriction: Can only be used by those with a sincere desire to protect the Empire and its citizens from harm-----------------------------------Seeing Epsilon's stats, Vahn felt even more pride than before he had named it. He was unable to restrain himself, so, along with the other four [Lævateinn] variants: Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Delta, he exited the forge to give the newly forged blade a test run. He could feel their excitement bubbling up with his own, each desiring the thrill of battle.Fortunately, he could create a new Memory Fragment on the fly so, for the remainder of his session within, Vahn, and the five vermillion blades, cut loose. Though the Memory Fragment lacked the use of his Innates, it was able to change its shape freely, and, with its ability to use [Laplace's Key], Vahn was one of his most terrifying opponents. By the end of his session, it had become a 'beast' that was more than 10m in height, formed from metallic black ooze that unhesitantly used various Laws in unique and 'educational' ways...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Vahn is a monster o_o...','Aeterna doesn't like being ignored (T ^ T)','Vahn is basically an eldritch entity at this point xD...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Though it was a hard-fought victory, Vahn still had the absolute advantage of his Innates, combined with the simple fact that his Memory Fragment lacked Sis to help pull him back from the brink. As a result, it ended up transforming into a pretty terrifying monstrosity that required the combined use of [Enkidu] and Emperor of Light to ultimately put down.Every time Vahn fought his Memory Fragment, he was reminded how much he held back in the majority of his battles. However, while he was comfortable with exploiting his transformative abilities to a certain extent, he didn't want to be recognized as a monster. Ideally, he would assume a form that inspired hope in those viewing him for the first time, not nightmares.Much like how Fenrir could conceivably devour reality itself, Vahn could use his abilities to achieve a similar result, if he wanted to. After all, he could produce a functionally infinite amount of matter using his own body as a catalyst, eventually growing to the point where he was large enough to devour entire planets. This wasn't an exaggeration either as, during one of his experiments with Da Vinci, Vahn had grown to a size large enough to fill a 500x500m testing room.Though it was challenging to maintain a human form while exponentially increasing his size, a trait of Illya's he was slightly envious of, that didn't mean he couldn't continue growing. Instead, by turning into a pseudo-liquid form, where each of his cells served as super-dense sensory organs, Vahn could increase his size without limit. He could grow to fill any volume or cover any surface; there were no limits, only his inhibitions...---Opening his eyes, Vahn found himself in the same location he had been in prior to entering into the [Space-Time Orb]. This didn't mean his position hadn't changed, however, as he had 'entrusted' his body to Nobunaga before submerging. As a result, he awoke to find his hands cuffed to the sturdy headboard while the mischevious beauty straddled his hips, a sadistic grin on her face as she mused, "What a shame...had you been less punctual, I would have been able to play around~"Following her statement, Nobunaga bent her body down, her breasts pressing against him as bit the lobe of his right ear. Unfortunately, her actions had upset the nearby Aeterna, who, seeing Vahn get 'bullied,' began to flare up within her Faerie Lantern.Before Aeterna could set fire to the bedspread, Vahn liberated his right hand from the cuffs without any difficulty, saying, "Don't worry, Ae, she is only playing around. Remember, you promised not to burn anything without permission..."Even before Vahn had finished speaking, Aeterna had cooled off, the flames comprising her body turning a docile shade of magenta as she sulkily stated, "I don't like seeing you get bullied..."Hearing the adorable fae express her concerns, Vahn's couldn't help but smile while Nobunaga, feeling a bit of sweat on her back, said, "Hey, now, I'm not bullying anyone. I'm just playing around a bit. Did you see how easily Vahn got out of those cuffs? It is just a game, a game, okay?"Aeterna had, indeed, seen how easily Vahn escaped the shiny metallic cuffs, so she ultimately chose to believe Nobunaga's words. This, unfortunately, planted the thought it in her mind that Vahn liked to be bound with chains, at least to the point that he treated it as a game. When she returned to the Great Forge, Aeterna decided she would work with her sisters to create some durable chains as a gift, believing it would make him happy.Unaware that Nobunaga had 'corrupted' the innocent Aeterna, Vahn released a small laugh while his right hand sneakily moved to pinch the former's butt. Nobunaga had seen this coming, so she made a half-hearted attempt to block his actions, ultimately failing due to her ongoing effort to coax the fiery spirit staring back at her...---After teasing Nobunaga a bit, Vahn took Aeterna back to the Great Forge. While he was there, he talked with the Gwent about a few of their ongoing construction projects and the possibility of allowing more Dwarves to reside in the Undercity. Since Gwent had already received the title of Lord, Vahn ultimately left the decision to him. So long as the people he invited were willing to follow the Common Law, he had absolutely no problem with welcoming more Spirits.Though it was somewhat unnecessary, Gwent made a big show of bowing his head in public. This was his way of expressing gratitude for Vahn's benevolence and a means of showing respect. After all, it was a pretty big deal that Vahn had entrusted the matter to him, showing just how much the Emperor respected his past promises. The Empire provided them with an excess of resources, fine alcohol, and delicious food, so, for Vahn to also allow them some degree of sovereignty, it left a deep impression on every resident of the Undercity.Vahn understood the intentions behind Gwent's gesture, so, playing to the Dwarve's sensibilities, he helped the Elder Dwarf rise to his feet rather than order him to stand. This didn't necessarily convey that they were equals but, from the very beginning, Vahn had always intended to build a relationship based on mutual respect. He would be firm and ruthless when necessary, but, so long as the people in his charge lived peaceful and productive lives, Vahn would never look down on them...With his business in the Undercity finished, Vahn had to refuse Gwent's offer to join them in their usual festivities as he was too busy to spend a few hours just drinking and partying. He promised to stay longer during one of his future visits, but, for now, there were pressing matters to attend. It was almost time for him to take his children to school, an event that would be immediately followed by a meeting with Solon.After deciding to move forward with his plans, Vahn needed to take proactive steps to finish one of his active Quests, [World Power]. He would soon be completing the Objective of defeating a total of ten Dead Apostle Ancestors but, before that, Vahn wanted to make the irritable hermit into his subordinate, officially. If he couldn't even achieve this, jumping through hoops to summon the Pontiff of the Holy Church would be pointless.Vahn was hoping that Solon would willingly agree to his offer as he had already completed most of the Optional Objectives at this point. Obtaining the five-billion OP reward would make his plans easier to actualize while the [Heaven's Mandate], [Seal of Heaven], and [Imperial Reglia] would undoubtedly prove useful. If they performed similarly to historical versions of the items, Vahn might be able to prevent even more unnecessary deaths.With this in mind, Vahn teleported back to the castle to discuss matters with Artoria before meeting with the children at the Transfer Room. He was already discussing things with Merlin, as the flowery Magus knew Solon best, but it was still essential to get Artoria's input. She was his Empress and, in more ways than one, an important Advisor who also served as one of his moral compasses. He knew better than everyone else just how extreme his decisions could be at times so, when the opportunity presented itself, Vahn would always defer to those he trusted...Since he had already sensed it, Vahn wasn't surprised to find Boudica, Nero, and Grey accompanying Artoria. Boudica spent most of her free time caring for Artoria, so, with her upcoming deployment, it wasn't surprising to find them together. She genuinely treated Artoria like one of her daughters, and, for the most part, Artoria reciprocated these feelings. As a result, they had a very close and personal relationship; one Vahn tried not to pry into too much.Seeing who had arrived, all of the girls within the room immediately rose to their feet, Nero included. She was a little slower than the rest, but that was to be expected considering her status, nature, and other hidden factors. Still, her rising was an indicator of progress, so Vahn gave an appreciative nod in response to the group's courtesy, saying, "Please, be at ease. This is as much Artoria's room as it is my own. You are her guests, so there is no need for such formalities."Though the women all gave affirmative responses, none of them took a seat until Vahn had approached t. This was a basic etiquette for them, a general courtesy of sorts toward the man they unilaterally respected or loved. Vahn understood this, of course, so his words were also a courtesy. After all, he knew what kind of woman Artoria was, a serious woman who would never breach etiquette unless 'forced' under specific circumstances.Since the burden fell to him to start the conversation, as he had intruded upon them, Vahn leaned back against the sofa while asking, "Might I inquire as to what you four were discussing?"With Vahn sitting in a relaxed manner, everyone else visibly relaxed as Artoria answered, "There were a few matters between Nero and Boudica that warranted a discussion. It is of no great importance to the Empire; just a means to build rapport and clear up misunderstandings."Historically, Boudica and Nero had been enemies on opposite sides of a war. Nero's army had even been directly responsible for Boudica's defeat and subsequent death, so, in more ways than one, she could be considered the tragic Queen's nemesis. Fortunately, Boudica was a sensible woman who showed special consideration for others, especially if they were females. She had learned much from Merlin about the events taking place during her lifetime so, even before Nero's summoning, there had been no ongoing animosity between them.Boudica's real enemies had been the same as Nero's, the corrupt officials that had ultimately led Rome, one of the greatest Empires in history, to ruin. Nero had even publically admonished those responsible for her Kingdom's ruin, trying and hanging them for their crimes. Since she was just another victim of the circumstances she had been thrown into, Boudica didn't have the heart to lay blame on Nero for the actions of others.The purpose of their current conversation was to explain their perspective on events that had taken place during the conflict as Merlin, despite his nigh-omniscience, couldn't guess the real motives behind why people behaved the way they did. He hadn't even been alive at the time so, while he had memories of the conflict and could recount the sequence of events with absolute accuracy, the way he recounted things felt distinctly impersonal. Though he tried to make up for this with his illusions, it wasn't exactly pleasant to re-experience the events that had scarred you in vivid detail...Vahn had already agreed to summon Boudica's daughters in the future and, if she so chose, he would even revive her deceased husband. This knowledge gave her great peace of mind as, even if the current version of herself died, Vahn could resummon her original self to make good on their promise. Thus, rather than harbor hatred toward Nero, Boudica felt a great deal of concern and empathy for her former enemy.Just like she was able to see through Artoria with considerable ease, Boudica could tell that Nero had grown up without a mother's love. Instead, her mother had been the contributing factor to most of the tragic moments in her life. This filled Boudica with a form of grief unique to mothers who had experienced great tragedy throughout their lives, specifically those related to their children. She had lost her daughters in an incredibly unjust fashion, so, rather than be offended by Nero's behavior, Boudica couldn't help but feel pained by how comprehensively the former had buried her actual emotions...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Word Devourer Vahn','Aeterna don't play...unless it is time to play?','Boudica needs to be careful around Mama's Boy Mason xD...','There are few greater tragedies than a child's life being ruined by their parents'https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

With the banquet drawing to an end, the majority of attendees retired to the Inner Sanctum to sleep off the alcohol or just get some rest. Vahn saw off Alexander and the rest, including Siegfried and his not-so-recently obtained companion, Sol. The two had started living together only two weeks after the latter's summoning, something Vahn was more than a little grateful for. Now, Siegfried actually kept the company of two women; Sol and the Homunculi Governess tasked with Alex's education, a rather buxom woman named Yvette.Unfortunately, Sol's example hadn't been followed by others so Vahn still needed to worry about the happiness of his male retainers. It would alleviate a lot of his concerns if people like Gawain, Galahad, Karna, Bedivere, and Lancelot managed to settle down. This would give them a greater purpose than simply fulfilling their duties and, while it wouldn't be the end of the world, Vahn was worried that his children might mature and end up with the rather handsome and capable Knights. He couldn't really complain about things like age differences as, in the grand scheme of things, the separation of a few decades meant nothing to people who would live for several thousand years; on the low end.Still, Vahn would rather his children find people around their own age as it could complicate things quite a bit if his retainers became entangled with the inner workings of the Imperial Family. While he would most likely accept their love if it was sincere, a father couldn't help but want the best for their children; even if that may ultimately end up being something completely outside expectations...For now, the bigger issues Vahn had to face were the addition of Nero to the Inner Sanctum, finding a suitable 'caretaker' for Altera, and making sure girls like Illya, Arcueid, and Aoko weren't feeling as if he was ignoring them. They had all recently experienced some pretty major events so he would need to constantly check on them over the next several weeks until they; growing guilty from his constant attention; forced him to focus on other things.From a broad perspective, there was really no end to the things he needed to take care of as; even with all of those things; he still needed to practice forging, work on Scáthach's challenges, help train Gareth, spend time with his children, meet with Gawain to hear about the state of the Empire, check on Olga to make sure she was sleeping properly, etc. There was truly no end to the matters requiring his attention so it was good to have Ozymandias, Alexander, and Nero to begin carrying out his will in the outside world...---With Artoria telling him to leave Nero and Altera to her and the rest, Vahn decided to be prudent by checking on Arcueid, Illya, and Aoko. They were all at the Menagerie and, though it hadn't been long since he was celebrating alongside them during the banquet; it was a good opportunity to visit them all at once. Fenrir and the usual ensemble were also present so there was a fair chance he could just kick back and enjoy a hot bath with the massive group of girls for a solid hour or so.What Vahn didn't account for was the fact that many of the girls had a little too much to drink during the earlier celebration. Even prior to entering the Menagerie, he could feel the atmosphere inside shift; indicative of the fact that his presence had already been noticed. He couldn't just turn around and walk away, however, so, without any discernible hesitation; Vahn entered inside the Menagerie to find nearly every pair of eyes within focused on him...The Menagerie had never been known as a place where people with strong sensibilities gathered so, with Penelo whisked away by Ulla and Luvia, things quickly escalated. In hindsight, Vahn should have realized the greater meaning behind Aoko and Arcueid visiting the Menagerie around this time. The fact Luvia had been the one to invite Penelo over was yet another indicator that this series of events had been premeditated; likely as a means to keep him occupied while the matter of Nero and Altera was addressed.Realizing he had been lured into a trap, Vahn began laughing uninhibitedly as he loosened the collar of his tunic with an amused glimmer in his eyes. There were ten girls present but he doubted Medea, Medusa, Jeanne, and Okita would be active participants. Though having them watch was strange in and of itself, dealing with Fenrir, Circe, Hati, Illya, Arcueid, and Aoko wasn't a difficult task. Rather, it was a good opportunity to strengthen the bonds between the girls while pushing his Divinity to the limits with three Tier 5's present...---With Vahn preoccupied inside the Menagerie and visiting the Hanging Gardens, Artoria and several other women had gathered together with Nero sitting before them; a smile on her face despite the fact her situation was almost like a prisoner being sentenced by an assembly of judges. This wasn't an exaggeration either as, after being allowed access to the Inner Sanctum; Nero's next assertion was that she be allowed to stay in Vahn's room.Now, the girls had gathered to clearly explain the inner workings of the Inner Sanctum, detailing the rules that everyone followed; both written and unspoken. She couldn't just act with impunity within the Inner Sanctum as; even if she was given the status of Empress in the future, that held very little weight within these walls. This was a place where they all worked together to ensure their personal happiness, take care of the children, and make sure Vahn wasn't pushing himself too hard.Nero was too accustomed to simply doing as she pleased, acting with impunity and ordering others around without batting an eye. This wouldn't be tolerated within the Inner Sanctum and, if she failed to adhere to the same rules as everyone else; they made it very clear her presence would not be tolerated. They used the examples of Semiramis and Lilith to prove their point, detailing the power and status both women wielded in order to make Nero understand the severity of their words...Believing that an Emperor's words carried more weight than even written contracts, Nero had never intended to act in a way that would cause discourse within the Inner Sanctum. After her battle with Artoria, she had effectively promised that she would learn the etiquette of the Empire and adhere to it. Her request to stay in Vahn's room had been misinterpreted as, while she had no qualms about having sex with Vahn; the purpose of her stay was to observe Artoria.Despite this thought dancing around in her head, Nero listened patiently as each woman took turns laying out things she needed to consider. Though their reaction seemed excessive, Nero didn't let it bother her as an Emperor needed to be magnanimous and considerate of their fellows. Their words were also very informative and, unlike the past, her head didn't feel like it was going to split open. It was a little boring but Nero felt like she could listen to these women drone one for hours, their soft and sonorous voices like music to her ears...In the end, the explanation only took around forty minutes; the key points being that Nero would be shadowing Artoria and, as someone who intended to sleep with Vahn; she would not be allowed the opportunity to sleep with others. This was something Nero didn't personally agree with but, as it was a unanimous decision by everyone else; she wasn't going to argue the merits and contradictions that could be easily pointed out.Though she knew Vahn could manifest himself with multiple forms, Nero felt it wasn't 'fair' that the girls expect him to care for all their needs on his own. It wasn't uncommon for the wives of Senators to have servant boys as, on the opposite end of the spectrum, the Senators themselves often slept with female servants. After all, the situation didn't always allow for spouses to meet with each other and; at least during her time; it was considered detrimental for a person to stockpile stress and allow their frustrations to build up.From what she could tell, Vahn's harem was rather sizeable with an approximated twenty females, all for a single man to care for. Even if he could split himself into multiple forms, it would still be a ratio of 10:1, indicating Vahn was either exceptionally skilled in the bedroom or relied on other means to keep his partners happy. He didn't seem to be the type of person to rely on drugs but she couldn't be certain without experiencing his prowess with her own body...With this in mind, Nero followed up the rather one-sided discussion, asking, "If I am to follow your example, should I not be staying in the same room? There will come a time when I am required to tend to my Master's needs. Though I am confident in my skills, it will simplify matters if I am able to learn his preferences. Umu..."Hearing Nero try to gain access to Vahn's bedchamber, yet again, Rin couldn't help but release a tired sigh before answering, "Vahn's preferences are easy enough to understand but, in the end, it doesn't particularly matter. He is the type to focus more on the pleasure of his partner so, when the time comes, you'll be the one on the receiving end. When that happens, you'll be lucky enough to keep your dignity as a woman intact...seriously, you are underestimating Vahn too much..."After an affirmative nod in support of Rin's statement, it was Ishtar who followed up by adding, "You may have had the status of Emperor in life but we are far superior as a Goddess. Vahn is even able to lay us low, peeling back our defenses until we are stripped bare before him. With your legacy, it will be a wonder if you don't become addicted to his care. Your confidence means nothing before that man. None of your experiences can prepare you for what is to come so discard your arrogance, lest you get broken completely~"Though it didn't show on her face, Nero was marginally annoyed by Ishtar's words. It was clear that she was being underestimated so, rather than acquiesce, Nero insisted, "I will have to determine for myself the veracity of your claims. Umu, you may be a Goddess but, during my time, even Venus, the Goddess of love, sex, and beauty, was not my equal. I will not look down on Master, umu, rather, if he is as skilled as you purport, I will rise to the task as his equal."Ishtar was never fond of people talking back to her but, knowing what Nero was getting herself into, she just rolled her eyes and murmured, "Utterly ignorant...". Then, having lost interest in the ongoing conversation, she decided to go make sure her daughter wasn't up to no good. She had a penchant for mischief and, while Ishtar didn't particularly mind this; Isanna's existence as a Vanir was a matter of great importance to her...Seeing Ishtar teleport away, Nero raised her chin slightly with a proud smile on her face. At the same time, however, everyone else looked at her with wry and knowing looks. With Nero's personality, the odds of her being put through the wringer by Vahn were exceptionally high. They couldn't allow her to be alone with him as, if she managed to goad him on; there was a good chance she would end up 'broken' after a single evening. Vahn didn't seem to be aware of it himself but, in the aftermath of an evening with him; some of the girls needed to 'detox' by distancing themselves from him and talking with others who had shared their experience just to convince themselves they were still alive...(A/N: I had a little bit of time so I decided to write a 'bonus' Valentine's Day chapter. I didn't feel like writing anything too serious though so I hope this was mildly entertaining for you all.)https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Chapter 1364: Ceaseless Pursuit