Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

With the corpses of several Six-Petaled Flower Mantids littering his surroundings, Gandr casually leaped to the largest of more than a hundred giant lilypads. Though it had the same structure as a normal lilypad, it was more than thirty meters across, more than big enough to support the weight of a person.Of the optional objectives listed by Quant, Gandr had, as could be expected, chosen to complete the most difficult among them. This included going to the very center of the Forest of Death, the location of a lake spanning more than three kilometers across. There, a small black pylon could be seen at the very center of the largest of several lilypads, each representing the territory of six-meter long insectoid Shinheuh called Six-Petaled Flower Mantids.Though they had rather beautiful and ornate bodies, appearing similar to blooming lotus flowers while stationary, the average Six-Petaled Flower Mantid could easily cut kill most budding Regulars in a single blow. This was largely due to their two large forelimbs, each appearing like exceptionally durable pink scythes. If that wasn't enough, they were also exceptionally quick, capable of blitzing inexperienced Regulars before many could even react.Unfortunately for the mantid colony, Gandr wasn't the average Regular, nor did he lack experience in dealing with large, fast-moving, monsters. As a result, it only took him eight minutes to kill all of the Six-Petaled Flower Mantids, his sword tracing graceful arcs through their steel-like carapaces without any discernible difficulty.Placing his Pocket in the center of the pylon, a smile spread across Gandr's face as his point value increased from 1,948 to 2,948 in an instant. A thousand points was an incredible boon, and, though he didn't really need them, it was less suspicious to buy a mountain on food from the commissary than it was to continually pull out large quantities from his Inventory.With his objective completed, Gandr did an about-face before skipping across the surface of the Shinsu-infused water as if it were flat ground. In the end, it only took him a few seconds to move from the very center of the lake to the distant shore, a cheeky smile on his face as he saw the trio who were taking a rest after barely killing a single Six-Petaled Flower Mantid Scout, the smaller variant that patrolled the Forest of Death.Seeing Gandr return so quickly, Shibisu had an incredulous expression on his face as he asked, "Did you already finish? Seriously, man, you're a monster...I'm glad we're on the same side."Though she was largely just tagging along with the group, firmly believing it was smarter to stay at the side of the strong, Nare nodded in agreement, adding, "It's a shame you're not really my type. I would have liked to climb the Tower with someone as strong as you protecting me. My Knight isn't weak, but I can't even imagine him catching up to you, Gan-chan."(A/N: I have decided to use a few honorifics since it feels more natural in the dialogue.)Hearing Nare's pet name for him, Gandr scrunched up his nose a bit before smiling mischievously and stating, "No worries. I don't really have a thing for chibis anyways."Reinforcing her childish image even further, Nare puffed her cheeks in response to Gandr's words. She knew he was just teasing her, but that didn't stop her from retorting, "Hmph! What does a brat like you know? I bet you've never even kissed a girl before, right? I'm warning you, Gan-chan, if you don't learn to treat women more delicately, you won't be popular once you grow up!"Rolling his eyes in response to the girl's outburst, Gandr resisted the urge to tell her he had done a lot more than simply kiss a girl. Unfortunately, those were the escapades of a much older version of himself. The most he had done in his current form was bathe with Fenrir and act as the body pillow for various women in the Inner Sanctum.Thinking Gandr was annoyed by Nare's words, Shibisu decided to give his youthful companion a hand. More specifically, he made a thumbs-up gesture, smiling as he said, "Just ignore her words, Gandr. Most guys can't even approach a Princess of Jahad, much less get close to two. Even if the Tower prohibits it, you have my support if you want to elope with Endorsi. If you use your ears and tail as collateral, I think she could be convinced to run away with you~."Though he knew Shibisu was joking, Gandr deadpanned directly at the man before saying, "If you want to reach the center lilypad, you'll have to swim..."Originally, Gandr had agreed to help everyone across, as, even with his speed, Shibisu was unable to run across water. The most he could make it was a hundred meters before he plopped into the crystal-clear, ice-cold, water below. Because of this, Shibisu's expression immediately turned into a stressed smile as he awkwardly laughed and said, "Come on...you know I was just messing with you. Please don't make me swim across..."Rather than respond directly to the man's plea, Gandr just snorted before walking over and picking up the incredibly light Nare. This caused the young woman in question to blush slightly, but, having been carried during the journey over, she managed to avoid flustering. Instead, she adopted a small smile as she appended, "Well, you have some redeeming qualities..."Ignoring the little girl's remark, Gandr immediately changed her impression of him as he tucked in her head, not to display affection, but to prevent her neck from straining due to his spontaneous acceleration...With the sound of Nare's scream echoing in the distance, Shibisu released an exasperated sigh as he stared at the crystal clear water below. As for Hatsu, he removed his top, wrapping it around his katana before placing it near the base of a rock. Then, without any hesitation at all, he jumped from the small cliff, diving into the water so he could swim across using his own power...---With the rest of his morning passing uneventfully, Vahn released a long yawn as he pulled himself from the bed and prepared to make his way to the commissary. He wasn't quite sure of the reason, but he had been feeling a peculiar form of exhaustion ever since first arriving in the Tower. His first hypothesis was that this had something to do with the Shinsu exerting a constant form of pressure on, not just his body, but his mind and spirit as well. Now, however, he was beginning to feel like it was something different, almost like he was on the verge of some kind of breakthrough...Rather than mull over the strange feeling, Vahn decided it was best to simply ignore it. There were times when your pursuit of something either led you astray or prevented you from obtaining. Thus, with other thoughts occupying his mind, Vahn decided not to let an inexplicable sensation interfere with his short-term plans. Instead, he made his way over to the commissary, finding his fellow Wave Controller classmates, Baam included, waiting for him to arrive.Though it was completely unnecessary, Hwa Ryun, and, as a result, Hoh, Rozeal, Grey, and Baam all rose to greet him. The only one who stayed in his seat was Laure, but, perhaps due to an instinctual desire to conform, he respectfully nodded before saying, "You're right on time. We were just giving Baam a breakdown of everything we discussed yesterday. Since the Instructor is bound to cover the basics on the first day of class, I'm sure everyone here would be grateful if you explained the things you hinted at yesterday."Resisting the urge to chuckle in response to Laure's leading statement, Vahn took his place at the circular table before explaining, "The Laws aren't something that can be understood from a simple discussion. All you really need to know about them is that they are the rules that dictate everything from the structure of fundamental particles to the complexities of energy systems like Shinsu. With adequate comprehension of the Laws, you can even bend or outright break these rules, snubbing the restrictions that act upon everything, and everyone, else."Seeing that everyone was listening attentively to his words, Vahn offered an approving nod as he went on to explain, "Some of the basic yet most important Laws are those governing the Elemental Forces. These are the easiest to glean insight into, as, with very few exceptions, everything has some kind of Elemental Affinity. In Shinsu terms, this is what many refer to as a Quality. There is a general misunderstanding that only a select few people are able to manifest a Shinsu Quality, but, the truth of the matter is that a person's Elemental Affinity ultimately determines how easily that can emulate specific forms of phenomena..."Though words could help people understand a concept, visuals were tantamount to 'proving' what you said was true. Thus, out of consideration for the people who couldn't understand what he was trying to say, Vahn created a Baang at the very center of the table, rapidly changing its Quality from the basic water to things like Lightning, Darkness, Fire, Light, and even Earth. This caused everyone at the table to stare in awe, but, as the person most experienced with Shinsu, Laure's couldn't help but pale at the masterful demonstration...Amused by the man's expression, Vahn's smile became slightly more prominent as he explained, "I will now inform each of you what your Elemental Affinities are. Keep in mind that, while it is rare for a person to have more than one affinity, possessing multiple isn't an indicator of talent. Rather, due to the limitations of a person's lifespan, it is often better to master a singular affinity than it is to try and unilaterally increase your proficiency in every element."This time around, Vahn punctuated his statement by performing a simple hand gesture, producing several small squares of paper in front of each candidate. These were actually the test strips used in the Record of Naruto to determine a person's Chakra Nature, but, as most energy systems used a person's Elemental Affinity as a basis, they worked just as well when determining a person's Shinsu Quality.Since everyone present was a Wave Controller candidate, they had at least some talent regarding the manipulation of Shinsu so Vahn didn't waste too much time explaining. Instead, he held up his own piece of paper and said, "Rather than manipulate the Shinsu in the surroundings, imagine a similar flow present within your body. Guide that flow into this piece of paper. Depending on how it reacts, you can accurately determine what kind of Elemental Affinity you possess."Serving as a demonstration, Vahn inserted a thread of Source Energy from his body into the piece of paper, converting it into Shinsu in the process. He had a much easier time managing this kind of conversion than emulating mana, so, even if he was currently weakened by the Record's Laws, Vahn was quickly increasing his proficiency in the foreign energy system. As a result, the paper began to glow with a resplendent golden hue, the type of glow that inspired awe in everyone who laid eyes upon it.Understanding the question in everyone's mind, Vahn preempted any interruptions by saying, "My Shinsu Quality is Divine. It is a Quality that specializes in dominating other Qualities; enhancing my power with simultaneously decreasing my opponent's. It is the Quality of an Emperor, and, if used properly, it can completely inhibit or seal another person's ability to use Shinsu."Hearing Vahn's explanation, everyone at the table, sans Baam, showed a slightly terrified expression. They got the impression that the Divine Quality was probably the most powerful, a notion that even Laure couldn't refute. Fortunately, their eagerness to discover their own Quality helped to ease the tensions in the room, albeit only after the golden light had faded.Following Vahn's directions, everyone at the table began trying to infuse their internalized Shinsu into the piece of paper. This was very difficult for most of them, as they were still struggling with the concept of manipulating the natural Shinsu in the surroundings, but Baam and Laure were able to succeed almost instantly. This broke the concentration of everyone else, as, though not as bright as Vahn's, Baam's piece of paper had started to release a bluish-white glow. As for Laure's, his piece of paper became exceptionally rigid, similar to metal, before splitting smoothly down the center.Having purchased a book regarding Shinsu Qualities after discovering his own, an approving look appeared in Vahn's eyes as he habitually stroked his beard and explained, "It seems our little friend has a natural affinity with Shinsu itself. You will have a much easier time than most learning how to use Shinsu, and, though it will require considerable effort to master, you will be capable of using all variations of Shinsu. As for you, Mr. Phonsekal, you have an affinity with barriers, reinforcement, and a Shinsu Quality related to Wind. You have great potential for both offense and defense. Better yet, you will have a much easier time mastering flight compared to normal people..."Though everyone was initially envious of Baam's Shinsu Quality, Vahn's explanation of Laure's made it seem far more useful. After all, Baam's seemed to require an extreme amount of effort to master while Laure's seemed to be useful both immediately and in the far future. With Vahn's guidance, he was even able to create a swirling green Baang in the amount of time it took for the next person to discover their Shinsu Quality...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'You don't even know how fast I am...!','RIP Nare...','Laure is well on his way to becoming a Metapod...)https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

With another day of classes drawing to a close, Vahn returned to his room while Phae and Gandr continued going about their own business at his behest. He was actually starting to enjoy seeing the world through them, as, despite controlling their each and every thought, emotion, and output, they almost felt like completely different people.As was often the case, Gandr was making his way through Evankhell's Resort with Shibsu, Hatsu, and, though she was basically just accompanying them for a 'free pass', Nare. The latter currently had a big smile on her face as she held up her pocket, drooling slightly as she saw the number on the display.For reasons she wouldn't divulge, Nare had an 'extreme' fondness for money. Though she had only gotten 750 points for being the second person to place her Pocket on the pylon, it was still a huge boon for a Regular who had just started out. Because of this, she had chosen to forgive Gandr for his lack of 'delicacy', beaming radiantly when Hatsu and Shibisu only received 500 and 250 points, respectively.Though he had received the fewest points within the group, Shibisu, surprisingly, didn't even try to complain. The swim had cooled his head quite a bit, and, after seeing more than a hundred corpses of Six-Petaled Flower Mantids, any indignation he felt had vanished in an instant. After all, they had struggled to defeat a version of the Mantid that was just over three meters in length, half the size of the smallest Mantid defeated by Gandr.Shibisu knew he was basically getting a 'free ride' just by being Gandr's friend, so, while he liked to mess with the boy every now and again, he also feared and respected him. Because of this, he and Hatsu were usually the ones to follow after the boy, effectively becoming his 'posse' and constantly receiving benefits just by association. Of course, this wasn't their actual intention, the boy practically forced the benefits onto them, smiling all the while doing so...Just as Shibisu was thinking about using his reward to treat the rest of the group, the four of them arrived in the bustling commissary. The Scout candidates had been the last to return today so most of the other Regulars were already present. Despite this, there were still a few empty spaces left at the two largest tables, spots clearly reserved for the four of them.Noticing one particular seat, a smile spread across Shibisu's face as any desire he had to treat the rest of the group dried up. Then, after lightly nudging the boy at his side, he motioned towards the empty seat and teasingly remarked, "Your crystal palace awaits, my Leige~."Understanding the meaning of Shibisu's words, Gandr just rolled his eyes before making his way over to the counter to order his food. The kitchen staff there were 'very' familiar with him at this point, and, so long as he paid them an additional fee, they would bring his mountain-sized portion of food directly to the table.After paying for his meal, parting with 480 points in one go, Gandr made his way back to the group table, occupying the only remaining seat. This brought an end to the awkward tension around that particular section of the table, as, with Gandr to separate them, Anak and Endorsi no longer had to put up with being seated next to each other.Since Anak rarely talked to others unless it was to pick a fight, Endorsi was the first to speak, smiling as she asked, "So, how did your classes go today, Gandr? Still lugging around a bunch of additional baggage~?"As someone who believed in individual strength and effort, Endorsi wasn't too fond of the growing number of people that seemed to rely on Gandr. The boy in question, however, enjoyed his position as the 'heart' of the group, frowning slightly as gazed up at the woman and said, "My Master taught me that friends help each other. They aren't extra baggage, Princess. Stop saying rude things all the time..."Endorsi didn't actually care about the company Gandr kept; he had more than enough strength to take care of himself. She had just wanted to tease him a bit, so, hearing his instantaneous retort, her face became slightly red as she issued a loud 'hmph' before remarking, "Whatever..." in an annoyed tone.Never missing the opportunity to pick a fight with the people she didn't like, Anak didn't hesitate to laugh at Endorsi's expense before promptly exacerbating matters by smiling at Gandr and warning, "If this ghost-eyed hag ever tries to bait you into her room with candy, make sure you immediately inform an adult, okay?"If she was annoyed before, Endorsi was completely incensed upon hearing Anak's little remark. Her cheeks immediately turned a vibrant shade of red, completely ignoring the fact Gandr was seated right next to her as she exclaimed, "Who are you calling a ghost-eyed hag!? You're even older than me you rock-headed lizard!"With his enhanced hearing, Gandr's ears flattened in response to the shrill noise just centimeters away from his fuzzy ears. This hadn't escaped Endorsi's notice, but, before she could apologize, the words got caught in her throat as she noticed Gandr's eyes change from gold to scarlet as he, quite literally, snarled at her. Though this actually made him look rather adorable to others, Endorsi felt a cold sweat envelop her body under the diminutive Vanargandr's gaze...Fortunately, just as the atmosphere seemed to reach a critical level, the kitchen staff emerged from the double-doors leading to the food-prep area with large service carts. This immediately eased the tensions at the table, Gandr's eyes shifting back to a glimmering gold the moment food was placed in front of him.Feeling as though she had just escaped a disaster, Endorsi issued a sigh of relief before rising from the table and saying, "I've lost my appetite..." in an uncharacteristically demure tone. Just as she was about to leave, however, Gandr stopped her by saying, "Phae gave me a ton of cookies to pass out to all my friends. You should stay and eat with us. Your body is super thin so I'm a little worried you aren't eating properly."Even if it wasn't meant as a compliment, Endorsi's mood immediately improved the moment Gandr called her thin. She was constantly concerned about her figure, putting great effort into maintaining her 'national treasure' level beauty, so it always made her happy whenever someone complimented her, even if they weren't trying to.With a beautiful smile spreading across her face, Endorsi plopped back into her seat as emulated Phae's action of combing through her hair. This was evidence that Endorsi actually looked up to, or, at the very least, envied the former. People had an instinctual tendency to emulate the behaviors of the people they saw as 'above' themselves, even if they weren't consciously aware of it.Since it was a good opportunity, Gandr returned a smile of his own, producing a veritable mountain of cookies for the entire table as he asked, "Is that an actual horn on your head? I thought it might have been a part of your hair accessory..."Happy for the attention, Endorsi raised her bangs to allow a better view of the tiny horn poking out above her right temple, explaining, "Though it's only a cutaneous horn, it is one-hundred percent real. How about it? I'll let you touch it if you let me touch the fluff inside your ears~."Though it had only been a day since he lambasted Endorsi for always trying to touch his ears, Gandr didn't get too annoyed since she actually asked this time. He was, however, still a little annoyed, so, in response to her proposition, he deadpanned and asked, "You think touching your horn compares to touching my ears? That's like me saying you can poke my cheek in exchange for letting me touch your bottom. Are you an idiot?"With her eye twitching slightly, Endorsi removed her hand from her head and opted to momentarily ignore the brash boy seated to her left. She had just calmed down moments prior so she refused to make a scene after failing to storm off the first time. Instead, she comforted herself with the cookies piled up at the center of the table, genuinely surprised by how delicious they were...---With dinner still ongoing, the last group of Regulars, the Light Bearer candidates, began to file into the commissary. The core of this particular girl was comprised of Phae and Khun, the former being the literal center of attention since nearly every other Light Bearer candidate, excluding Rachel and Chung-Chung, were male.Though she had gotten used to being the center of attention, Phae didn't like to be congregated around, so, as soon as the group reached the commissary, she offered a polite smile to the group and said, "I'm afraid this is where we part ways. I'll see everyone in class tomorrow. Make sure you don't stay up too late trying to master your Lighthouses. Proper rest is often even more important than effort."Realizing they were effectively being dismissed, the majority of the Light Bearer candidates replied with parting words before quickly moving to their respective groups. The only person to stay back was Khun, who, immediately after the rest of the group had dispersed, adopted a troubled look as he asked, "What did you give that woman to change her appearance so drastically? You must have been able to sense what kind of person that woman is...why did you help her become even more dangerous?"Combing back her bangs, Phae smiled in response to Khun's question before answering, "As I have said time and again, my Lord believes that everyone deserves a chance at happiness. I understand your concerns, but that woman has yet to do anything that merits severe treatment. Judge people based on their actions, not your assumption of their character. All you truly know about Rachel, at least for the time being, is that she helped your best friend become the person he is today. Even if her true nature is that of a snake, there are some poisons that are as equally effective as medicine..."As if he had gleaned some insight into Phae's intentions, Khun's eyes widened a bit as he said, "So that's how it is...I understand now..."Resisting the urge to give the young man across from her an incredulous look, Phae just giggled in response to his words before honestly admitting, "I'm not sure what Mr. Khun is trying to imply~?"Surprised by Phae's convincing performance, Khun made a mental note never to underestimate her as he fixed his tie and said, "I must have misunderstood then...well, I suppose I should be going. It was a pleasure speaking with you, Ms. Phae..."Offering a polite nod in response, Phae watched as Khun made his way over to where Baam was seated among the other Regulars. He was seated at the very end of the table containing most of the group, but, despite this, it was almost like he had become a secondary center of attention.Though there was no one around to observe her act, Phae giggled lightly before turning away from the commissary and heading to Vahn's room. Since she was his vassal, she had to check in on him a few times a day just to keep up appearances. It was also an opportunity for them to bounce ideas off of each other, as, despite being one and the same, it was surprisingly effective to have an actual person to talk with. Thus, while doing her best to understand what Khun had misunderstood, Phae leisurely walked through the halls while pretending to ignore the invisible presence that constantly monitored nearly everything that took place on the 2nd Floor...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Shibisu is jealous of our goodest boi...','Gandr about to slap a ho...','Khun has a propensity to overthink things (O w O)...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Though he wasn't surprised to see her, Vahn issued a light hum of acknowledgment when he saw Hwa Ryun leaning against the exterior wall of his room.Smiling in response to her God's presence, Hwa Ryun didn't beat around the bush, asking, "There is a matter I wished to discuss. Is now an acceptable time?"Since he could already guess what she wanted to discuss, Vahn opened the door to his room while answering, "If it is regarding the matter of Baam and Rachel, I will handle it in my own way. For the time being, you should continue performing your original duties. When the time comes, I will either discover the truth on my own or see their destiny play out with my own two eyes."As she had actually stopped by to discuss the matter of Baam and Rachel, Hwa Ryun's visible eye widened, a zealous gleam flashing across its surface. Then, unable to contain her curiosity even a moment longer, she asked, "Does my God truly possess the sight? How much do you see?"Though he was tempted to just enter his room and close the door behind him, Vahn stopped in his tracks, back facing Hwa Ryun as he plainly stated, "I do not see the future, Hwa Ryun...I shape it in the present. I am an existence that represents infinite possibilities, someone who shapes the past, present, and future through my actions. No manner of clairvoyance or future sight will ever be able to predict my path or the ones I set others upon....when the time comes, I will teach you the greater meaning contained within the words..."Feeling he had been adequately mysterious, Vahn allowed the door to close with a mechanical hiss, separating him from the wide-eyed Guide. He got the feeling she already found her own meaning within his words, but, for the sake of his future plans, Vahn was willing to overlook her actions until the Position Exam had come to an end.It was exceptionally obvious that some greater scheme was afoot, so, while he had the option of stirring things up, he wanted to see how far the Administrators were willing to game their own system. He also knew Princess Yuri was on her way to retrieve the Black March that was currently in his possession, so, based on his knowledge of millions of fictional worlds, Vahn could assume an enemy that required her intervention was bound to appear.Unless he had seriously misread the situation, Anak was the most likely target for whatever enemy appeared in the near-future. Her existence as a False Princess of Jahad, combined with the fact she was in possession of one of the Thirteen Month Series, all but assured someone would be sent to both kill her and retrieve the symbolic weapon belonging to the Jahad Empire. This was one of the reasons Vahn had approached the girl, and, though it was a little manipulative on his part, his desire to protect her, at the very least, was genuine...---Though classes started at 7 AM, Phae, as could be expected of someone with her bearing, arrived a little more than half-an-hour early. Despite this, there were already two people within the class, her expression showing visible amusement as she made her way over and said, "Oh my, is this beautiful young lady your wife? Administrator Lero-Ro is a lucky man..."Hearing Phae's remark, Lero-Ro returned a good-natured laugh before remarking, "It would seem Ms. Phae has quite the sense of humor. No, this young lady is not my wife. Rather, shouldn't you be the most aware of her identity...?"Despite the truth contained within the man's words, Phae just giggled in response before combing back her bangs and saying, "Why, Administrator, whatever do you mean? I believe this is the first time I've ever met this beautiful young lady~?"As most women were weak to compliments, especially those prone to extreme vanity and envy, the beautiful young lady in question, Rachel, developed the closest thing approximating a bashful blush she could manage before sheepishly muttering, "Ms. Phae, it's me, Rachel..."Showing an expression of pseudo-genuine shock, Phae momentarily covered her mouth in surprise before offering a radiant smile as she said, "My goodness, You clean up well, don't you~?"Though her basic features were still the same, the current Rachel looked like a completely different person compared to her previous self. Her complexion had pristine and fair, free from all blemishes, whilst her previously blonde hair and pale-yellow eyes now had a subtle golden hue to them. Most notably, however, was the fact she had become slightly taller, and, though her physical proportions hadn't changed that much, her drastically improved posture made her breasts and bottom far more conspicuous, giving her a healthy and balanced look.If Rachel's original appearance could be graded as a 2-3 on a scale ranging to 10, her features after consuming the [Flawless Jade Pill] placed her squarely around a 7. If she changed her attire, started exercising, and improved her general disposition, she could easily eclipse an 8 or 9, potentially even pushing a ten if she made a genuine effort. After all, the [Flawless Jade Pill] didn't have the effect of simply removing a person's impurities overnight. It continued working for years, helping to refine a person's beauty by regularly expelling anything detrimental to their body...Since she was genuinely happy about the changes to her body, Rachel didn't have to pretend when responding to Phae's question, smiling as she answered, "It is all thanks to Ms. Phae's 'advice'. I was awake all night thinking about what you said, and, though I'm not sure how long it will take, I want to change. Please continue to advise me into the future..."Following her 'heartfelt' words, Rachel performed an even more graceful bow than she had the day before. Previously, she lacked the posture and presence to execute to properly sell the act, but, now that her appearance had improved qualitatively, Rachel gave off the impression of a dignified and refined young lady...Though Rachel's act was even better than before, it was, in the end, still an act. Phae could tell she was enthused by the change in her appearance, but, based on the fact she had arrived early just to make an impression on the Administrator, it was easy to intuit she was still the petty young woman from before. The moment she noticed Phae's arrival in the classroom, Rachel's aura had fluctuated slightly, so, even if she wore an even more convincing mask, she was still far from being able to fool those experienced at seeing through such things.Offering a practiced smile of her own, Phae giggled in amusement at Rachel's words before saying, "That depends on you, young lady. I have already given you all the 'advice' I think you need. If you want more, you'll need to demonstrate your sincerity through results. The Tower isn't a place that rewards those who simply 'want' or 'expect' things to go their way...if you aren't willing to make an effort, don't expect others to do so on your behalf..."Though she clenched her teeth slightly in response to Phae's words, Rachel was able to maintain a radiant smile on her face as Administrator Lero-Ro offered an approving nod and added, "Well said, Ms. Phae. If the Tower rewarded everyone who 'wanted' to climb, it would be nothing more than a convenient wish-granting device. If you aren't willing to put in the effort to achieve your dreams, it is only natural that you fail whilst those with stronger will succeed. Though luck and destiny play a part, both can be overcome with enough effort and an adequate level of strength, intellect, or sheer force of will. I have great expectations for the both of you, but, in the end, it will be your efforts that decide how far you go..."As if they were mirror images of each other, Phae and Rachel offered very similar smiles in response to Lero-Ro's words. This caused the Administrator to feel slightly taken aback, but, as someone who had lived for hundreds of years, he was also rather adept at maintaining a mask...---While the other classes were still learning the basics indoors, the Scout and Spear Bearer candidates had been transported to specialized testing grounds located far from Evankhell's Resort. Thirty days wasn't enough to teach advanced tracking skills and other techniques that took years, on average, to master. Thus, after learning the basics of forming a contract with the Guardians and using Shinsu to enhance your physique, they transitioned to purely practical lessons.With all eyes focused on him, Quant smiled rather viciously as he shouted, "Okay, maggots, listen up! Now that I know where each of you stands physically, I'll be checking to see how capable you are at actually navigating terrain and locating a target. See this forest behind me? We Admins all affectionately refer to it as the forest of death. Other than Gandr, none of you weaklings is strong enough to venture into the center so make sure you stick along the periphery, you hear me?"Hearing Quant's remark, many within the Scout class showed annoyed expression. In the end, however, none of them tried to refute his words. Gandr really was much stronger and faster than them. In fact, he was so fast that the majority of the Scouts couldn't even follow his movements with their eyes, causing many to doubt if they were actually qualified to climb the Tower...Though he was amused by his students' reactions, Quant's expression became severe the moment he saw them expressing doubt. His aura surged outward like a tidal wave, enveloping each of them in a fiery Shinsu that made the surroundings suddenly spike to a temperature hotter than an oven as he shouted, "Even if you're maggots, show some damn backbone! Don't forget the desperation you experienced prior to being chosen to climb the Tower! Use those emotions to fuel you forward! We are Scouts! Where others fear to tread, we move forward without hesitation! I don't care if you have doubts, you better damn well act like you're confident during my instruction! If you can't even do that much, pack your bags and get the hell out of the Tower! You won't be missed."Despite feeling even more indignant after hearing Quant's words, each of the Regulars that had been previously shown doubt now had a flame of passion in their eyes. Few people enjoyed being talked down to, so, while their skills were still lacking, that wouldn't prevent them from delivering their all if it meant putting the short man in his place. After all, they were each 'Headon's Chosen', the lucky few who had been given a chance to climb the Tower and make all their dreams come true. Their's was an opportunity people would literally kill for and risk their lives to obtain, so, even if they were annoyed by the man's words, they couldn't refute them.Seeing the passion return to his 'precious' students' eyes, Quant returned to his vicious smile as he mused, "That's more like it. Now, listen closely. There are eight marked locations hidden within this forest. Each possesses hints that will guide you towards the other locations. Your objective is to find one of the locations, and, using the hints provided, seek out as many others before the day ends. If you don't have any questions, the time has already started so move your asses."Following Quant's instructions, many of the Regulars immediately broke off into a sprint, eager to be the first to find a point and complete the task. The only people to remain behind were Shibisu, Hatsu, Nare, and, of course, Gandr.Though he showed a visibly annoyed expression at first, Quant smiled once the other Regulars were out of view, stating, "Good. When you are given the opportunity, always seek more knowledge and information. It's the job of Fishermen to run in like idiots. As Scouts, our duty is to obtain the most accurate and up-to-date information possible, feeding it to our team members in order to prevent any mishaps from occurring. Regardless of your actual reason for staying, you all get 100 points for successfully ignoring my provocation and choosing to stay behind. Now, since I already know what you want to ask, let me tell you about the optional objectives..."(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Vahn's Chuuni Ascension Plan is well underway...','A pretty face can't hide a repugnant soul...','Jebaited')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Chapter 1714: Quality