Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

With the strongest monsters ranging between 300~650 BP, on the high end, the journey toward Nyandoma had proceeded without incident. The only tense moment was when Asuna had to go relieve herself, forcing Vahn to stand on the opposite side of the bush with a wry smile on his face. She didn't seem to care that Arika and Fenrir were both very powerful, refusing to let him leave her sight for even a brief moment. To further exacerbate matters, it took more than ten minutes just to convince her to go while his back was turned, leaving Vahn feeling unnaturally fatigued by the time they reached the outer walls of Nyandoma...Though humans weren't barred entry into Nyandoma, traveling without identification was a serious issue. It was hard to enter foreign nations even during times of peace, so, with war lurking just over the horizon, it was to be expected that entry was even more difficult. This was especially true for the nations closest to Megalomesembria, so, before they could even stand in line to try and gain entry, Vahn and his party were approached by a few guards wearing, of all things, samurai-like armor.Before Arika could complicate things by revealing her actual identity, Vahn gestured for her to stay back while smiling at the approaching guards. He could see the caution in their eyes and sense the tension in their bodies, but, in spite of this, both men had relatively calm and pure auras. They were just doing their jobs, so, rather than cause a commotion, Vahn cupped his hands politely, asking, "Is there something you require of us?"Not expecting Vahn to speak in their native dialect, both men showed surprised expressions before suddenly becoming even more alert. This left Vahn repressing a slight chuckle as he stated, "This is my first time visiting Nyandoma, but I am well versed in the language, laws, and culture. We are on a pilgrimage to visit the Nine Sacred Lands and chose Nyandoma as our first destination. I'm certain the Great Spirit of Light would not turn away those who have come to seek his wisdom..."Though Vahn's words weren't enough to allay their concerns, neither of the men showed any overt hostility. The borders had yet to be closed so it was still possible to enter the country as long as you didn't have a warrant or a bounty. Nyon Utu, the Great Spirit of Light, was especially fond of people who came to seek his wisdom, so, if it was discovered they turned away a group on a pilgrimage, it would become a much bigger issue.After considering the matter for a brief moment, the senior of the two guards adopted a warning tone as he said, "Stand in line. You will be required to declare yourselves once you reach the gate. As long as you aren't wanted, you will be allowed entry into the city. Tensions are pretty high these days, so try and avoid trouble once you are inside."Without responding verbally, Vahn just gave the two another cupped salute before returning to his group and joining the rather long line. Their presence didn't go unnoticed by the various groups of Adventurers and Mercenaries trying to enter the city, but, rather than seek trouble, the majority of people minded their own business. Causing a disturbance at the gate all but guaranteed you would be denied entry so even the more nationalistic Cat People kept to themselves, albeit after glaring at Vahn's party and performing some less-than-pleasant gestures...Rather than mind the group of bigoted individuals, Vahn just blocked Asuna's view before shaking his head at Fenrir and saying, "We're not here to stir up trouble. You can just ignore weaklings like that. That goes for you too, Arika. Remember, we are just travelers right now. They are just stressed out due to the impending war. Unless they go out of their way to seek trouble, pay them no mind."As she was only ever taught how to converse with foreign dignitaries and politicians, Arika had no experience interacting with normal people. All she knew was that they were being disrespectful for no real reason, leaving a bad taste in her mouth that caused her expression to turn into a neutral deadpan. She wanted to force them to explain why they were so hostile, but, after hearing Vahn's words, she just gave a small nod without lowering her guard...---After nearly two hours of standing in line, it was finally time for Vahn's group to pass through the checkpoint. Fortunately, the guards that had stopped them previously were still present, so, after declaring their identity before a basketball-sized orb, they were allowed entry. The Hellas Empire had never officially placed a bounty on him, and, after his showy battle with Jack, they weren't in a hurry to do so. His current power was enough to deter even an Empire from seeking trouble with him, so, unless he began wreaking havoc within their borders, it was perfectly natural for them to simply pretend he didn't exist.The only real danger with passing through a checkpoint was Arika and Asuna being recognized as the Queen and Princess of Ostia, but, even after stating their names, the guards didn't seem to care all that much. They couldn't even imagine members of the Royal Family trying to enter the country through a normal security checkpoint, so, after confirming there were no bounties on either of their heads, both were able to pass without obstruction. Afterward, they were all given a special tile that would serve as their identification for a period of three days. This was the norm for those entering on a pilgrimage, and, if they wanted to stay longer, a more thorough screening process would be required.Once everyone had their identification tabs, Vahn allowed Arika to lead the way while letting Asuna ride on his shoulders. The amount of traffic at night was even greater than it would be throughout the day, as, unlike other countries, Nyandoma was considered a nocturnal city. Most Cat People had excellent night vision and were more active at night than during the day, so, once the gates closed for the day, the city came to life as hundreds-of-thousands of paper lanterns illuminated the entire nation. It was truly the City of Light, and, due to his fondness for eastern architecture, Vahn couldn't help but admire the nation's beauty...Unfortunately, as was often the case when something was outwardly beautiful, the inside was less than pleasant. Nyandoma might be considered the City of Light, but that didn't mean it was lacking in Darkness. Rather, the brighter the light, the further-reaching the shadows seemed to run, and, as a result of rising tensions, quite a few people were glaring at Vahn's party. Though most businesses still tried to attract them as customers, it wasn't difficult to imagine them hiking up the prices in an effort to extort them...Since she was a very sensitive young girl, Asuna wasn't blind to the way people were looking at her. As a result, her face was morphed into a slight frown as she lightly pulled at his hair and asked, "Do these people hate us? What did we do wrong...?"Shaking his head, Vahn adopted a slightly apologetic smile, explaining, "It isn't that they hate us. It is more accurate to say that they simply don't know us. They allow their assumptions to guide their behavior. This is normal during tumultuous times, especially before and after a war. Don't let them get to you, okay, Asuna? Remember, these people aren't really bad and you haven't done anything wrong."If possible, Vahn would have liked to let Asuna grow a bit more before she had to encounter things like bias and unjustified hatred. It wasn't fair for children to be burdened with such things, as, unless they had been led astray, all children were innocent. Adults who imposed their resentment onto the innocent were truly pathetic, and, despite understanding the underlying reasons, Vahn could never truly understand how any sensible person justified such behavior...Though she didn't truly understand, Asuna nodded her head in response to Vahn's words, ignoring the hateful looks of some, and, instead, focusing on others. She noticed that only a few people were staring at them, specifically young adults and the elderly. The children and those around the age of parenthood didn't seem to mind them at all, their focus on more important things than people who had nothing to do with them...Seeing that it was only a few people directing their hatred toward her, Asuna lost interest in trying to understand why. Instead, she began playing with Vahn's hair, wondering what he did to make it so soft. It seemed wild at a glance, but, whenever she ran her hands through it, it was similar to the finest satin. This made her feel slightly annoyed, but, knowing she could just ask him to wash her hair, Asuna decided not to let it bother her too much...---Fortunately, despite a number of people showing hostility, none of them actually tried to impede the group's progress. Even without any action on Vahn's part, Arika and Fenrir radiated the type of aura that made them 'very' difficult to approach, albeit for different reasons. Arika had an extremely dignified and noble bearing that unnerved anyone with a weaker will. Fenrir's, however, was even more terrifying as it caused an instinctual fear in anyone who made eye contact with her. This had been the case as far back as the Record of Danmachi, so, with a Skill like [Apex Predator], only those with supreme confidence in their abilities would dare confront her. Since it was rare for a bigot to have even a marginal amount of power, this meant they had been able to walk around with relative impunity, passing unobstructed for three hours.Finding a rather homely inn with an attached bathhouse, Vahn set Asuna on the ground, leading the way inside after grabbing her hand. He wasn't afraid she would wander too far, but, if she saw a cute Elemental or a tiny animal, there was no way of knowing what she would do. Very few animals enjoyed having strangers harass them, so, even if she didn't mean any harm, there was a chance she could injure herself or upset someone else...Despite noticing the peculiarities of Vahn's party in an instant, the old woman seated at the counter showed no aversion to their presence. Instead, she smiled in the kindly way that only genuinely kind elders could manage, the wrinkles on her face forming evident laugh lines that had been eternally engraved into her countenance.A testament to her wisdom, the woman had a knowing look in her striking blue eyes as she said, "It must have been difficult for you to travel this far. It isn't much, but I can at least offer you a bowl of porridge and a hot bath as an apology. Of course, you'll have to actually rent a place to stay before I can accommodate you..."Towards the end of her words, the woman looked between Vahn, Fenrir, and Arika before ultimately resting her gaze on Asuna. Her smiled became even more prominent when she saw the doll-like girl who shared quite a number of similarities with her cousin. This hadn't gone unnoticed by the older woman, so, as could be expected, she quickly misunderstood the relationship between Vahn, Arika, and Asuna. Though Arika was only fifteen, this was going by Mundus Magicus years, meaning she was around twenty-eight according to Earth-time. This wasn't really something Vahn accounted for, but, from the perspective of most people, Arika was more than old enough to be a mother.Thinking she was doing the 'couple' a favor, the elderly woman smiled as she said, "It is rare to see a family traveling together during these trying times. You don't look like refugees, so I assume you are here to make an offering to the Utu-sama. Out of consideration, I'll offer you a family discount and arrange one of our larger suites for your use. There are two bedrooms, so your escort will also have a place to stay. How does 350 Drachma a night sound...?"Hearing the old woman's words, Vahn realized she had misunderstood the group's dynamic, but, as there were already two rooms within the suite, he decided not to correct her. Instead, he pulled out a platinum coin, startling the woman slightly as he said, "Keep the change. It is refreshing to meet a kind soul after drawing the ire of so many during our travels. We will be staying for two nights and will not require meals."As a platinum coin had a value of 10,000 Drachma, it was very rare for people to use it as a means of payment. The average person barely made more than a thousand Drachma in a month so it was a rather substantial sum to just throw around, causing the old woman's eyes to widen as she deftly slipped the coin into her sleeve. She could confirm whether or not it was real later, so, rather than risk offending her guests, she rang a small bell that was hidden under the counter.Less than a minute after the bell had sounded out, a young Cat Person around eight years of age came scampering into the foyer. She was an adorable little girl that drew a lot of similarities with Chloe, surprising Vahn for a brief moment until she asked, "Are these our new guests, Granya~?"While nodding her head, the elderly woman extended her hand, lightly caressing the head of her granddaughter as she explained, "These are our very important guests, Shiori. Guide them to our largest suite and make sure to explain our faculties properly, okay? You might be able to earn a bit of extra pocket money if you do well~."Though the old woman's words were a little shameless, Vahn just lightly chuckled in response. Ana had given him a spatial artifact that contained several million Drachma before departing so he had more than enough to reward obedient bellgirls. He could also make a fortune just by creating and selling a single artifact so money didn't really have much value to him.Hearing her Grandmother's words, the young Cat Person, Shiori, showed a gleeful expression, her ears and tail twitching excitedly as she thumped her chest and said, "Leave it to me-nya~! I'll give them the Super Shiori Special-nyahaha~!"Laughing at her granddaughter's antic, the old woman handed over a room key and two wooden slips that served as a bath keys. Nyandoma was famous for its public bathhouses, but, unless you paid for a special service, they were still split between males and females. Children below the age of five could freely enter both sides, but, if you were caught trying to pass the barrier of the opposite gender's bath, a short stay in the local prison was the least of your worries.With the room key in hand, Shiori raised it up high, a beaming smile on her face as she exclaimed, "Follow Shiori-nyahaha~!" while wielding the key like a marching baton.(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Vahn behaves very differently when children are present o3o...','Asuna is a very astute young girl','Arika.exe has stopped running','Shiori will guide the way~!')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Though it was called a suite, the lodging Shiori guided them to ended up being a relatively simple dwelling with two six tatami rooms, a foyer area where shoes could be stored, a simple kitchenette, and a small bathroom. It was also sparsely populated with furnishings, but, as simple was better on some occasions, Vahn was quite fond of the homely accommodations. It inspired a certain sense of closeness, the type of place a family or group of close friends would share while vacationing within the scenic City of Light...To reward Shiori for showing them the way and explaining the Inn's faculties, Vahn rewarded her with a silver Drachma piece and a special bag of candies that could help increase a person's mana capacity by a very marginal amount. To Shiori, they were just sweet candies, but, if she spread them out over a few weeks, they would help strengthen her foundation quite a bit. This would make life in Mundus Magicus easier, and, though it didn't seem like they were struggling to get by, Vahn was always eager to help good people like Shiori and her Grandmother...In a surprisingly miserly fashion, Shiori quickly hid the silver piece from view almost as smoothly as a magician who specialized in sleight of hand. Children in Mundus Magicus learned at a very early age to keep their wealth hidden from view. Even if you were very powerful, showing off your money was the same as inviting misfortune upon yourself, so, even before her shock had worn off, she had already hidden the money from view. Then, 'snatching' the bag of candies out of Vahn's hand, she giggled in a mischievous manner, saying, "Young Master is very generous, nyahahaha~."Hearing Shiori address him in such a 'respectful' manner, Vahn couldn't help chuckle as he reached out his hand and absentmindedly stroked her head. The Cat People of Mundus Magicus didn't have the same traditions as those in Danmachi, and, though it wasn't particularly proper to pet those you didn't know, children were a universal exception. It was pretty common to see shopkeeps and those of the older generation stroking the heads of those younger than themselves, sometimes well into their teens.Though her Grandmother often warned her about letting outsiders pet her head, Shiori didn't try to evade Vahn's extended hand. His presence gave her a feeling of warmth, and, though it was hard to explain, he even smelled like the sun. As a result, she allowed him to pet her head, finding his caress unlike anything she had ever experienced. Even without having to pretend, a contented smile found its way to her lips as she instinctually pressed her head against his hand.Even without using his [Hands of Nirvana], Vahn's Petting Laws were effective against enemies and allies alike. He had cultivated them over hundreds of years at this point so it took little more than a simple touch to convey positive emotions to others. Prolonged exposure would turn his target into 'putty', however, so, after stroking Shiori's head for a few seconds, Vahn retracted his hand, a subtle laugh escaping his throat as she nearly stumbled in her attempt to pursue his palm.Before Shiori could ask for more head pats, Vahn adopted a fond smile as he said, "Run along now, Shiori-chan. I'm certain you still have other duties to attend. Try not to eat those candies I gave you all at once, okay...?"After coming back to her senses, Shiori rapidly bobbed her head, spiritedly exclaiming, "The Young Master is right-nya~! Thank you for the treats, nyahahaha~!"Not wanting to risk offending their special guest, Shiori gave a steep bow before departing down the adjoining corridor with her arms spread wide like an airplane getting ready to take off. She was feeling more energetic than ever before, and, though she would keep it hidden from others, Shiori was eager to show off her 'tremendous fortune' to her Grandmother...After following the energetic girl's departure with his eyes, Vahn turned to the duo that had been staring at him for quite a while, smiling in amusement as he asked, "What, do you want me to pet your heads as well~?"Far more honest than Arika, Asuna didn't hesitate to nod her head, scampering forward and taking the initiative to place his hand atop her head. Even before he began to move, she closed her eyes in anticipation, causing a wry laugh to escape Vahn's mouth as he lightly caressed her head.Seeing Asuna enjoying a healthy dose of head pats, Arika stared unblinkingly for a few moments before ultimately averting her gaze only to find Fenrir had returned from arranging the futons. She had a knowing smile on her face that caused Arika to feel slightly annoyed, but, rather than allow it to bother her, she walked past the hateful woman, saying in a tone audible to everyone present, "It is already getting late. Asuna is still growing so it is important for her to eat routinely and rest often. It will be safer for us to traverse the city during the day time, so I suggest we take a bath, eat dinner, and retire for the evening."Even if her words were a means of deflecting, there was a certain amount of truth to everything that Arika had said. As a result, Vahn lightly pinched Asuna's nose, causing her eyes to slowly peel open as he explained, "You'll be bathing with Arika and Fenrir from now on. Even if the public bathhouse allows children to enter both sides, I'm certain you don't want strange people to stare at you, right? Besides, I'll need you to prevent the two of them from going at each others' throats..."Though a pout had started to spread across Asuna's face when she first heard Vahn's words, a look of understanding quickly replaced it as she nodded her head and answered, "I understand..." in her usual monotone. Her mother and aunt had told her numerous times that is was dangerous to allow a man other than Vahn to see her naked. They told her men could transform into terrifying wolves if they spotted a young girl's naked body, so, hearing there might be strange men present, Asuna had no desire to expose herself to them.Not expecting Asuna to readily agree, Vahn was pleasantly surprised, a gentle smile on his face as he stroked her head and said, "Good girl. And don't worry, Fenrir is very skilled at washing. Listen to her and you'll have super smooth skin and silky soft hair, okay~?"Hearing Vahn's statement, Asuna turned her swiveled her head toward Fenrir, noticing she had very glossy hair despite its somewhat unkempt appearance. This caused a thoughtful shimmer to flicker across her eyes before she turned back to Vahn, nodding with a curt 'Nn' escaping her throat...---While the girls were enjoying their bath, Vahn decided to abstain since he could sense quite a few people lounging within the men's side. He didn't feel like being the center of attention amongst a group of guys, and, though he could change his appearance to that of a Cat Person, hiding when it wasn't completely necessary felt weird to him. As a result, he just lounged about within the room as his second vessel cooked alongside Medusa back at the Airfish. This was the reason he had told the old lady not to mind their meals, as, compared to the things he could prepare, most food left a lot to be desired.Though Vahn enjoyed sampling local delicacies, his fondness for cooking had existed ever since his time in the Record of Danmachi. He had even risen through the ranks in the virtual world revolving around cooking, securing the seventh position on the leaderboards. The only reason he couldn't go even higher was due to monstrous existences such as Circe, Benienma, and Medea, who, despite a general disdain for the Virtual World, enjoyed the thematic world's cooking contests quite a bit.It had taken a while, but, after a considerable amount of coaxing, Vahn was able to convince Circe and Benienma to actually teach him their techniques. They had been very unyielding at first, saying the kitchen was a 'woman's battlefield', but, knowing their weaknesses, Vahn was eventually able to wear them down. Benienma was very weak to gratuitous amounts of praise, and, if you found a way to reverse the usual dynamic, placing her on the receiving end of service, her brain would overload rather quickly. As for Circe, she was marginally more difficult to coax, but, after teaming up with his daughters, Vahn was able to convince her that cooking together was the 'pinnacle' of what it meant to be a family...With three amazing teachers, including the easy to convince Medea, Vahn had quickly developed as a Chef, ultimately earning the seal of approval from all three. He was still far behind the trio in terms of skill, but, if he had genuinely tried to surpass them, Vahn knew he would have been stepping on a landmine. They could be surprisingly scary at times, so, rather than offend the trio recognized as Gourmet Gods within the Virtual community, Vahn settled on becoming good enough to simply put a smile on the faces of his family, friends, and lovers...---By the time Asuna, Fenrir, and Arika had returned, each wearing specialized yukata that had come with the room, Vahn had already finished setting the table. He had also changed into a yukata, as it was nice to just relax every now and then, so he earned a blank look from Arika as Fenrir and Asuna unhesitantly sat around the table. They each occupied the spots on either side of him, leaving the golden-haired Queen furrowing her brows slightly as she sat on the completely opposite side of the table.Understanding his 'place', Vahn smiled in response to the three's arrival, casually stating, "The three of you look very refreshed. Those clothes suit you well."Hearing her Master's compliment, Fenrir lightly tapped her tail against the tatami with a gratified smile on her face. As for Asuna and Arika, the former just gave her outfit a quick once-over before seemingly losing interest, turning her head up and asking, "Will you brush my hair again?"Since Asuna let her hair down to take a bath, her reddish-orange locks extended to the floor when she was seated. Her hair seemed to grow unnaturally fast, so, despite being only two-years-old, it nearly reached the middle of her calves. As a result, she had to tie it up in a rather unique style of twin-tails that used gold ribbons to extend the hair outward five centimeters on both sides. All of her outfits also had a strangely 'oriental' feel to them, making her look like a tiny martial artist with her long-sleeved tunic, black leggings, and laceless shoes.As it had pretty much become his job to help Asuna fix her hair, Vahn dutifully nodded his head before using his chopsticks to pick up a tiny piece of fish. He found it rather amusing when Asuna immediately opened her mouth in anticipation, even if the food wasn't actually intended for her...Resisting the urge to tease her too much, Vahn extended the piece of fish toward Asuna, allowing her to chomp down on it as he looked Arika and asked, "How early do you want to set out in the morning? This is the first leg of your journey so we can walk around and explore for a bit if you'd like. Some of the locals might not be too fond of us, but that is no reason not to enjoy the sights and sounds of the city. We can even register at this country's version of the Adventurer's Guild if you want to try and make a name for yourself as something other than a Queen."Without having to consider her response, Arika shook her head, explaining, "I have never agreed with the Guild system. It should be the responsibility of the state to protect its people and manage things like trade and resources. Allowing people to privatize such services leads to conflict and a vast disparity between the living conditions of the citizenry. There is nothing wrong with seeking to make a fortune, but, to expect people to risk their lives just to make a living...I cannot agree with it at all. I would rather help people without the promise of a reward, content with the knowledge my actions have aided those in need. I do not believe in pitting the people against each other just to turn a profit..."Hearing Arika's response, Vahn couldn't help but admire the woman a little more than he already did. She could be a little prideful, but she was always thinking about what was best for the Magical World and its citizens. The Guild System was actually a very serious issue in most countries, but, due to the nature of the Magical World, densely populated with monsters, ruins, and massive labyrinths, most people considered it 'necessary'. Becoming a famous Adventurer or Mercenary was the only way in which most people could improve the quality of their lives, so, despite tens of thousands of people dying every day, there was no end to the number registering with the Guilds...You only needed to look at the countries that focused on education and the empowerment of their people to understand the flaws inherent in the Guild System. The average graduate from one of the various Academies could completely wipe the floor with even a veteran member of the Guild. It was these same graduates that often rose to prominence within the Guilds, a fact most aspirants within the community completely ignored. They simply saw these graduates as children who were able to achieve a meteoric rise within the Guilds, so, without taking into consideration the disparity in both training and experience, many people overestimated their own chances at fame...The sad truth of the matter was that the most famous Adventurer parties and Mercenary groups were generally comprised of the 'failures' from the Academies. Most of the nations that placed a heavy focus on academics didn't have the Guild System as they wanted to keep their talent within the country, not send it abroad. This meant, with very few exceptions, most graduates joining the Guild did so because their prospects back in their home country were bad. As a result, they sought to become famous Adventurers and Mercenaries, choosing to show off among people who lacked proper training since they were unable to compete against their actual peers...While continuing to passively feed Asuna, Vahn considered the matter of their identification before nodding his head and explaining, "I agree with your views on the Guild System, but, with your and Asuna's status, it will become a problem entering the territory of other nations, even if it is to lend a hand. You will need a new identity if you want to avoid causing an international incident. Becoming the enemy of an entire nation is a simple matter for me, but, as a nation's Queen, there are quite a few things you need to take into account."Hearing Vahn's words, Arika fell into deep thought for a few moments, staring blankly at the food on her plate before raising her head, a resolute light in her eyes as she said, "I understand what you are trying to say, but I cannot agree. I do not believe you are an evil person, so, even if we have to take extreme measures, I believe it is for the greater good. Deposing corrupt officials, undermining illegal organizations, and providing aid to those in need...these are not things we should fear being associated with. Even if it causes an international incident, Ostia will not bow down to the tyranny of other nations who prioritize their own interests over their people. This journey is meant to represent a change from a passive approach to a more proactive means of fulfilling our duty. Though I will try and abstain from causing an incident, I will not shy away in the fact of corruption. Ostia has forever been a mark for nations who exploit their people, so, the moment we show weakness, our enemies will feel emboldened."Not expecting Arika to be so resolute, Vahn was at a loss as to how he should respond to her rather 'bold' words. In the end, he settled on smiling widely, an appreciative glimmer in his eye as he said, "Well said! Trying to compromise with people who only see others as a means to secure profit and power is a waste of time. Such people will only listen if they think it benefits them or if they believe their foe is simply too powerful to oppose. There is nothing wrong with being more forceful in your methods, so long as you never lose your sense of purpose!"Feeling Vahn's aura radiating outward, Arika felt a giddy feeling in her stomach, her hand naturally moving to comb through her fringe bangs as she nodded her head with a gratified 'Nn...'. His words were strangely pleasant to hear, filling her with a peculiar sense of validation that seemed to permit her to push forward without fear of censure. She had always felt dissatisfied with the current state of the world, so, hearing Vahn's supportive words, Arika couldn't help but feel a little excited about the future...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'The legacy of the Godhand has been passed unto a new world...','Guess the next Record is Tier 6 Shokugeki no Souma? Toriko? Fighting Foodons?','Giving a prideful woman a sense of validation is very dangerous o_o...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Feeling greatly refreshed, Vahn emerged from the Captain's quarters with Fenrir and Medusa close behind. The former had shown up while he was being pampered by Medusa, her arrival marking a shift from peaceful relaxation to far more 'affectionate' cuddling. Now, Vahn was feeling energetic and completely revitalized, more than ready to face whatever the Record would throw at him next...Finding the person responsible for his emergence, Vahn adopted an affectionate smile as he asked, "Did you sleep well, Asuna...?"As if she only noticed the presence of others when spoken to, Asuna, who had been sitting stock-still on one of the common room's sofas, raised her head slightly, plainly stating, "I am hungry." in her usual monotone.Hearing the taciturn response, Vahn laughed out loud before pulling a tray of macarons out of his Inventory and saying, "We'll eat a proper meal once Arika awakens. For now, how about you join us for some tea and snacks?"Though her expression didn't change much, it was easy to tell Asuna was excited by how quickly she jumped off the sofa, running over to his side with a pitter-patter of footsteps. She even tried to take one of the macarons from the plate by standing on her tip-toes, tugging at his tunic in order to reach a little higher.Preventing Asuna from obtaining her prize, Vahn moved the tray out of reach, patting her head as he said, "Now, now, that isn't very proper. Come, we'll eat together, okay?"After failing to obtain a macaron, Asuna showed a visible pout on her face, but, hearing what Vahn had to say, she fell silent for a few seconds before ultimately nodding her head with an 'Nn'. Then, as if she was programmed to behave as adorably a possible, she tugged on his sleeve in an effort to hasten the short trip to the sofa. Once there, she had him sit down first before hopping onto his lap and using his right thigh as her seat, a habit she developed during the times he would read to her back in the palace...---Perhaps as a result of the noise transmitting through the hull, it wasn't long before Arika appeared from the small spiral stairs that connected the common room to the belly of the ship. She was still wearing her creamy silk pajamas, and, forcing Vahn to repress a sigh as he saw more than just the curves of her body. The top button of her blouse was undone, and, due to not wearing a bra, it was possible to make out two tiny buds due to how thin the beige-colored fabric was.Showing no outward signs of a reaction, Vahn simply smiled as he casually stated, "Just in time. We were just about to wrap up afternoon tea and enjoy a light lunch. Afterward, I'd appreciate it if you help Asuna wash up in preparation for our journey to Nyandoma. I could teleport us over, but, as this trip is supposed to be your opportunity to explore and experience the world, we will be moving through the forest."Hearing Vahn's words, Arika combed through her long fringe bangs before lazily nodding her head and taking a seat across from Fenrir. She was still a little tired, so, rather than waste energy putting on a front, she just picked up the cup of tea that had magically appeared before her, sampling the rich flavor in contented silence...---Following a rather hearty meal, consisting primarily of vegetable stir fry and fried rice, Vahn created a second body, surprising Arika and Asuna slightly. Clone techniques and spells weren't uncommon in the Magical World, but, with their enhanced senses, even Asuna could tell this wasn't that kind of technique. As a result, she was the first to ask, "How...?" before immediately regretting it when she saw the teasing look in his eyes...Surprising the doll-like girl, Vahn honestly explained, "Now that the two of you are my apprentices, I will trust you to keep the secrets I tell you. Though the actual explanation is far more complicated, it basically comes down to the fact that I can freely alter and create new bodies. As you have noticed, these are not simple clones. I have to control both bodies simultaneously, meaning I experience the stimulus from all my vessels simultaneously. It is a little disorienting, but, if I really push myself, I can even produce upwards of ten versions of myself."Though he didn't try something like making eight more versions of himself, as it was simply too taxing for his current self, Vahn decided to demonstrate his transformation ability, ignoring his first instinct of transforming into a copy of Asuna. Instead, he became a chibi-version of his Vanargandr self, laughing mischievously in response to the visible incredulity visible on the two girls' faces. This had the expected consequence of his chibi self being snatched and cuddled by Fenrir, but, with his main body still intact, Vahn smiled as he explained, "You will learn more about my true nature over the duration of your training. For now, it is easiest to think of me as an Ancient Dragon with control over Creation, Space, and Time."Showing the closest thing to an actual emotion Vahn had seen on her face, Arika had an expression of incredulity as she asked, "What is your true form?"Understanding what she might be thinking, Vahn just shook his head, explaining, "I rarely go out of my way to disguise myself. What you see before you can be considered my true form as I have kept it for nearly a hundred years. Don't worry, I'm not going to suddenly reveal myself as some strange creature with an amorphous form and thousands of eyes."Though she returned to a neutral expression, Vahn could tell that Arika was greatly relieved by his words, causing him to lightly shake his head before saying, "We'll be departing. I'll leave a version of myself to safeguard the ship and keep Medusa company."Knowing Medusa wasn't fond of crowds, Vahn wasn't going to continue forcing her to accompany them. Fortunately, as someone needed to stay with the ship, she had the opportunity to freely idle about, and, with his ability to produce extra vessels, it meant they could spend all day just cuddling if they really wanted to.Making no effort to hide her satisfaction, Medusa had a somewhat cheeky grin on her face as she added, "Don't worry, I'll make sure the ship is well guarded. Take your time and explore as much as you can. Even if you're away for a few days, I can guarantee nothing will happen~."Seeing the cheeky smile on Medusa's face, Arika wasn't the only one feeling slightly annoyed by the mischievous Gorgon. Fenrir had a glowering look in her eyes, holding the miniature-version of her Master tightly as she said, "Make sure you behave, Medusa. If you cause any kind of problems, I'll be the one to punish you in our Master's stead."Hearing Fenrir's tone, Medusa's hair automatically condensed to protect her backside as her eyes began to shimmer with a piercing light. She knew Fenrir was serious, but, doing her best to appear undaunted, Medusa adopting a taunting smile before trying to say a few biting words. Before she could, however, her Master interrupted, his hand plopping on her head as he addressed the group as a whole, saying, "Let's head out." in a casual yet firm tone.Without waiting for anyone to respond, Vahn then picked up Medusa in a princess carry, allowing Fenrir to retain his chibi-form, who, following his larger self's words, added, "We'll be traveling on foot, so, unless you want to spend the night in the jungle, we should set out. Asuna will be setting our pace until she gets tired. Now, let's go."Since he was still being carried, Vahn pointed towards the stairs leading up to the deck, causing Fenrir to 'flicker' near the base before leaping through the opening. She could be very clingy when he was in his Vanargandr form, but, when it was combined with his 'chibi' self, it was impossible to convince her to release him. He could transform back into his normal self, but, for the better part of half an hour after the fact, Fenrir would be in a dour mood...Seeing the rather incredulous sight of Vahn being whisked away by Fenrir, Arika remained standing in the same place for several seconds. It wasn't until Asuna pulled at her dress that she came back to her senses, making eye contact with her adorable niece as the latter said, "We should go. I don't want to be left behind."Nodding her head in understanding, Arika picked up Asuna with no discernible difficulty, holding the girl in much the same way as a parent holding their child. Then, in a manner similar to Fenrir, her body flickered before vanishing from view. She had never actually used [Shundo] before, but, after seeing it once, both she and Asuna had been able to memorize it. This was an ability unique to the Ostian Royal Family, and, though it didn't equate to mastery, it allowed them to become some of the most prodigious Mages in existence with very little effort...---Contrary to what some would expect when traveling with small children, Asuna small gait didn't slow the group by much. She was only a little over two-years-old, but, despite her small size and virtually non-existent muscles, she had enough strength to easily rival adults who had trained for years. She didn't move with assurance and confidence in her actions, but, after analyzing a problem for a short while, she was able to figure a way around or over most obstacles. The only thing that kept them from advancing even faster was the occasional appearance of monsters, causing Asuna to quickly retreat behind Vahn despite having more than enough strength to defeat most enemies in a single blow.Rather than force a two-year-old to fight monsters several times larger than herself, Vahn allowed her to hide behind him before giving Arika a small nod. This would often result in her staring at him for a few moments, but, once the monster began charging, she would manifest a golden longsword out of thin air before vanishing in a flash. Her skills weren't very refined, but she was able to bisect a dinosaur-like monster that was more than 15m long in an instant before brandishing her blade in a rather flashy manner...Understanding Arika was trying to show off, Vahn just smiled in response, saying, "Well done. Your skills are a little unrefined, but your talent is exceptional. I have great expectations for you once we begin our training."Hearing Vahn's praise, Arika showed no discernible signs of satisfaction as she swung her sword in a smooth arc, creating a golden trail with her magical energy. Then, in an icy monotone, she asked, "Are you going to make me fight everything? I'm starting to feel as though I'm the one protecting you. I have yet to see your true power, so it is difficult for me to accept such remarks..."Though not entirely unexpected, Vahn couldn't help but burst into laughter when he heard Arika's biting remark. This caused her brows to furrow slightly, and, if they had been closer to each other, he could imagine her trying to slap him for laughing so zealously in response to her words.Taking the initiative to speak, Fenrir adopted a serious expression on her face as she said, "Master is far stronger than you can comprehend. I can tell that you are very powerful, but you are just brute-forcing everything without any real skill. Even without using his full power, Master could defeat you with technique alone."Arika hadn't actually been serious with her comment, but, hearing Fenrir's remark, she couldn't help but feel a little offended, asking, "You think so little of my skill? I'll have you know that I trained hard to reach my current level. I might lack combat experience, but I'm confident that I would be able to defeat you in a battle. Vahn might be very strong, but I'm far from weak."Hearing Arika's words, it was Fenrir's turn to be slightly offended, her hair becoming marginally more pointy as she plainly stated, "You overestimate yourself. It's a good thing that my Master has been placed in charge of your training. With your mentality, you and your allies would suffer as a result of your hubris..."Though she knew there were a lot of people stronger than her, Fenrir had already lived for over a century. Even if Arika gave off a dangerous feeling, there were so many gaps in the woman's stance that she might as well be a complete amateur. If they were to truly go all out against each other, it would not be a match at all, but a one-sided slaughter...Before the two could start a rivalry based on hostility, Vahn instructed Asuna to stand off to the side before flicking his wrist and pulling out the sealed form of Laev-tan. This caught the attention of the two girls locked in a staring contest with each other, Arika's expression revealing a small amount of trepidation as Fenrir began to snicker mischievously.Without explaining anything, Vahn exhaled a breath that seemed to echo in the surroundings as his body seemed to 'melt' away. This caused Arika to instinctually assume a defensive stance, her sword held in a posture that would allow her to deflect most attacks from the front. Before she was able to complete the motion, however, Vahn had already appeared behind her, plainly stating, "When both sides respect each other, a healthy rivalry can help you increase your strength exponentially. Unless it is a matter of honor, never allow your pride to dictate your actions. There are people in this world who have trained for hundreds, or even thousands, of years. Never assume you are at the peak, only that there will always be someone stronger."The moment Vahn finished speaking, hundreds of thin lines appeared across Arika's blade before it shattered into tiny motes of magical light. Despite this, she didn't move from her defensive stance, almost as if her mind had completely stalled while trying to process the visual and audio stimulus she had received. It wasn't until Vahn lightly tapped her shoulder that she 'rebooted', her mouth opening as if to ask a question she didn't know how to form.Seeing the rather 'honest' look on the usually expressionless woman's face, Vahn adopted a smile as he answered, "I have pursued the pinnacle of swordsmanship for decades and have yet to reach it. I can confidently call myself a Grandmaster, but, compared to those who have dedicated their entire lives to the art, I still have a long way to go. Don't let this lesson be a setback. Rather, whenever you meet someone stronger than you, be grateful. It can be very lonely at the peak, and, without strong foes, even the most powerful entities in existence will begin to stagnate.After listening to Vahn's words, Arika looked between him and the hilt that remained in her hand, a thoughtful glimmer in her heterochromatic eyes. She knew he was stronger than her, but, no matter how strong he was, she thought they could at least have a good match. Instead, she was powerless to even defend herself, and, according to him, he wasn't even the strongest...Feeling as though her perspective of the world had broadened, Arika gave a brief glance toward Fenrir, seeing the somewhat hateful woman smiling haughtily back at her. This caused her to feel a small amount of indignation, so, unable to even understand Vahn's power at her current level, she adopted a competitive look in her eyes as she answered, "I understand...thank you for the lesson..." without breaking eye contact with the wolf-like woman...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Asuna is quickly becoming spoiled xD...','Arika, the Frog Queen','Fenrir be like, "OwO, what's this? Is someone seeking death~?"')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Chapter 1555: Pre-War Tensions