Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

Having received a notification on his pocket the prior evening, Vahn was the last to arrive at the lecture hall dedicated to the Wave Controller class. There, he found the rest of his classmates had spread throughout the classroom, while, at the very front of the hall, an inordinately short person wearing a strange outfit that was similar to a fusion between a ball of rice and a sheep.Though Vahn found the figure somewhat cute, somewhat like a mascot character, the feeling he got from the short-statured figure was anything but pleasant. He could sense dozens of Shinheuh-like creatures 'swimming' around inside the rather disarming costume with a friendly smile and six tiny freckles plastered onto the front of its costume. This wouldn't have been that bad, but, unlike the rather adorable Shinheuh Nare kept hidden within the large jar on her back, the variants swimming around inside the wooly costume all had dark and twisted auras.Despite feeling as though he had just encountered the first real enemy, Vahn offered a polite smile upon entering the classroom, remarking, "You must be our Instructor, Test Administrator Yuga. My name is Vahn Aldrnari Mason, the Sage Dragon Emperor. I'm looking forward to your instruction and guidance."Turning his entire body to face Vahn, the petite mascot's sewn-on smile appeared to stretch into an even larger grin as it answered, "Ohhh? So this is the famous Sage Dragon Emperor I have heard so much about! I heard that you and Mr. Laure had taken the initiative to help your fellow classmates during my absence. It is rare to find someone so generous within the Tower! I'm looking forward to seeing your progress over the next month!"Offering a polite nod in response to the peculiar man's words, Vahn then made his way to the back of the class, smiling in response to his fellow classmates' greetings. The only exception to this was Baam, but, considering the drama that had occurred earlier in the morning, this wasn't too much of a surprise.Though Rachel tended to avoid every other Regular, choosing to spend most of her time cooped up inside her room, that didn't stop Baam from directly seeking her out. Unfortunately, even after he spent the entire evening sitting outside her door, Rachel insisted she had no idea who he was. This led to Baam questioning why she was pretending to be someone else, and, after a series of back and forth questions and accusations, Rachel eventually 'snapped', shouting at Baam to leave her alone before storming off.With the person he cared about most pretending to be someone else, it wasn't surprising that Baam would be in low spirits. Staying up all night didn't help, so, with visible bags under his eyes, he sat silently at the front of the classroom, a melancholic aura radiating from his body. This was obviously noticed by Administrator Yuga, but, rather than pay it any mind, he performed a small bow and said, "Well, now that everyone has arrived, allow me to quickly apologize for my delayed arrival. As an apology, I have requested that the Director give everyone an additional two hundred points as compensation. Now, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Yuga, the Ranker assigned to teach you all about the Position of Wave Controller..."Following his introduction, Yuga raised his 'head', and, after looking around at everyone in the class, his smile became even more prominent as he remarked, "It seems most of you have already formed a contract. Still, it would reflect negatively on my status as an Instructor if I didn't cover the basics at least once. After all, while Shinsu has no limits, strengthening your foundation is the most important aspect when it comes to determining your future success!"Though the only person who could 'see' it was Vahn, Yuga punctuated his statement by pressing a button on the remote hidden within his costume. This caused the display behind him to light up, a picturesque scenery coming into view as he explained, "Shinsu is the world itself. It makes up even the smallest organisms, and, without it, we would not even be able to breathe, much less overcome our limits. Without Shinsu, life, as we know it, simply wouldn't exist. It is responsible for every single phenomenon we observe, be it water, fire, or even light. There are infinite ways in which Shinsu can manifest, it's only limits being our imagination and understanding..."With another press of the remote, the image behind Yugo changed to show the same landscape, now devastated to the point of being borderline unrecognizable. Then, in a deep tone that didn't really suit his stature or appearance, he added, "There are no proper words to describe the miracle that is Shinsu. As a result, we simply refer to it as the Blessing of God, thus the name 'God's Water'. Controlling Shinsu is tantamount to interrupting the role of God, borrowing his power to shape the world around you in accordance with your will. Because of this, Shinsu is an exceptionally powerful tool that can be used to save countless people...or destroy countless lives. Though it might be hard to believe, I could kill every Regular here within five seconds. That is the awesome power of Shinsu, the power that dominates everything within the Tower..."---Following Yuga's basic explanation of Shinsu, the costumed man went on to explain the importance of contracting a Guardian. They were the god-like entities that regulated the flow of Shinsu on each Floor, and, without their permission, manipulating Shinsu was practically impossible. Even items that were specifically created to manipulate Shinsu required contracts with the Guardians, irrespective of their level and rank. In fact, the higher the rank of an item, the more strict the guidelines for its use. There were even some items, specifically those ranked A or higher, that could only be used a single time on any given Floor, regardless of the amount of time that had passed.Vahn found the idea of such restrictions rather novel, but, considering he was an Irregular, none of what Yuga was saying really applied to him. In fact, when Quant had tasked everyone with forming a contract with the Guardian, a massive serpentine creature that was more than three kilometers in length, the monstrous entity informed Gandr that forming a contract would be the same as placing a restriction on himself. Despite this, Gandr actually accepted the contract, as, due to his nature as The Path, breaking free from such contracts wouldn't require any effort at all.For the sake of appearances, Vahn and Phae had also contracted with the Guardian, confusing the colossal creature quite a bit. From its perspective, they were all the same entity, but, an existence it had already contracted but couldn't sense. As a result, it ended up forging three contracts with the same person, albeit binding each of Vahn's vessels individually. This would help strengthen the idea that they were each different people, even if Vahn didn't mind telling those close to them that Phae and Gandr were effectively extensions of himself.In the end, Vahn intended to cause as much confusion as possible to those who were actually in control of the Tower as it would make his future plans a lot easier. He was currently formulating a plan to effectively link all of the Floors within the Tower, as, even with his power, it would apparently take upwards of fifty years just to reach the 134th Floor. This was a record that had been set by the 'strongest' person within the Tower, an Irregular by the name of Ureko Mazino who apparently had enough raw power to level a mountain range with a single punch and fire countless Baangs at light speeds.Vahn wasn't quite sure how powerful the strongest entities within the Tower were, but, based on the impression he got from Headon and Yuri, they couldn't be underestimated. Thus, while he intended to climb the 'normal' way, the main purpose of this was to effectively create spatial anchors on each of the Floors. This would effectively allow him to move freely within the Tower, a terrifying capability that was bound to become the Jahad Empire's worst nightmare...---While the Wave Controller candidates were having the basics of their Position explained to them, the other Position classes were just learning of the Special Test that guaranteed free passage to the next Floor. Those who completed the Special Test would even be allowed to skip the Final Exam, and, fortunately for the other candidates, their passing was not included in the final count that determined how many people were allowed to ascend to the 3rd Floor.Since they were Tests scaled to the average D-Rank Regular, meaning those who had been able to pass the 20th Floor, even Best Seeds generally had a very difficult time passing the Special Test. This was especially true for the Light Bearer and Wave Controller Positions, as, prior to entering the Floor of Tests, there was no way to form a contract with the Guardians. As a result, there was no practical way to gain experience using a Lighthouse or manipulating Shinsu, irrespective of whether or not you were an average Regular, a Princess of Jahad, or a descendent of the Ten Great Families...Fortunately, Phae and Gandr were exceptions to this rule, so, immediately following the explanation of the Special Tests, they became two of the fastest within the Tower to pass the Position Exam. This was especially true of Phae, as, after witnessing her prowess on the first day, Lero-Ro had promptly approved of her qualifications as a Light Bearer. As for Gandr, he just needed to complete a trapped obstacle course within a single hour, all while blindfolded.In the end, Gandr bettered the old record by thirty-seven seconds, effectively becoming the fastest person to ever pass the Scout Position Test. Despite this, both he and Phae elected to continue their lessons, effectively serving as Assistant Instructors and examples for the other Regulars. Quant even allowed Gandr to teach the remaining lessons that day. He had become rather fond of the latter, as, despite all his talents, Gandr never shied away from helping others. This was a very rare trait within the Tower, one that often decided whether or not a person would become an average Scout or rise far above their peers...---Unaware of the Special Tests occurring elsewhere, all of the Fisherman candidates had gathered in an area simply referred to as Special Test Spot No. 1. It was a man-made field comprised entirely of massive cylindrical pillars that were approximately 20m in diameter and 100m in height. They were each spread out at random intervals across an expanse of white stone, some nearly touching while others were more than 30m apart.With each of the Fisherman candidates spread out across the field, the Instructor for the class, a buxom female Ranker with flowing black pigtails protruding from a silver mask could be seen floating in the sky atop a jellyfish-like Shinheuh. She was a rather mysterious woman named Hex, and, though she wore somewhat cutesy clothing consisting of a pale-blue blouse and striped pink dress, those who knew her well knew how terrifying she was as a Fisherman.With her inordinately large pigtails flowing unnaturally away from her masked face, Hex playfully dangled her slippered feet as she explained in a voice that resonated across the vast testing field, "Welcome to the first Special Testing area for the Fisherman Position. Today, we'll be keeping things simple by conducting a free-for-all of sorts. The aim of this Test is to be one of the eight candidates left standing. Though you are allowed to fight using your bodies, the only weapon you may use is the needle you have been given. Though this is only the first of three Special Tests, it will still have a substantial impact on your final grade so make sure to try your hardest! That being said, are there any questions before we begin?"Having learned to fear their instructor during the previous two days, the only person bold enough to speak out was Endorsi. She even went out of her way to stand ramrod straight as she held up her hand like an eager schoolchild, beaming as she shouted, "I've got a question! These pillars a pretty tall for the average Regular. Are there any protections in place to prevent people from dying~?"Smiling beneath her mask, Hex adopted a playful tone of her own as she explained, "There is, but it isn't perfect. If you land badly, there is a real chance you could die or sustain severe enough injuries that you simply cannot continue. Simply put, if you fail this test, there is a very real chance you will fail the entire class."Satisfied with the answer, Endorsi beamed even more radiantly as she happily chimed, "That sounds simple enough! Thanks for answering my question~!"Hearing the glee contained within Endorsi's voice, most of the other Fishermen candidates felt a chill run through their bodies. Many of them couldn't even cover the distance between pillars, so, depending on their luck, they could be eliminated by the seemingly unstoppable Princess without ever having a chance to eliminate another opponent. Unfortunately, the only person that could be blamed for their weakness was themselves, a truth that had already poisoned the minds of several weaker Regulars...With Endorsi being the only one bold enough to speak out, Hex only waited a few seconds before smiling beneath her mask and saying, "Well then, let's begin the Test. Remember, only eight of you can move on to the second Special Test. With that in mind, do your best so that, even if you fail, you won't have any regrets, okay? Now then...Ready, set, go~!"Following Hex'a commencement of the Special Test, a loud gong sound echoed through the entire field. Despite this, the majority of the Regulars made no effort to leave the relative safety of their personal pillars. Though they were supposed to be the Position that threw themselves head-first into the battlefield, none of them wanted to draw attention to themselves due to the presence of two Princess of Jahad. For them, it was basically pure luck whether or not they succeeded, as, even if they teamed up, Endorsi and Anak could effectively solo the entire group of Regulars...Seeing the stillness below, a dark aura began to emanate from Hex's body as she internally cursed at the cowards turtling atop their pillars. She understood their reasons, but, regardless of whether or not the enemy was stronger, it was the duty of a Fisherman to fight on the frontlines. Refusing to leave your pillar all but guaranteed you would fail the class, as, without invading other territories, it was impossible to earn points. The class didn't reward cowards, so, even if they managed to defend against all their aggressors, those foolish enough to remain on their original pillar were doomed to fail...While thinking of methods to punish those who managed to 'survive' the current test, Hex's brows raised slightly as she noticed movement on one part of the battlefield. Just as she was wondering who was bold enough to charge towards the center, the location of Endorsi Jahad, an exasperated sigh escaped Hex's lips when she noticed it was none other than Anak. This all but ensured one of the Princesses was going to be eliminated, effectively rewarding the cowards who had chosen to remain in place. Because of this, she found it hard to get excited for the battle, at least until Endorsi began baiting Anak to invade other pillars; systematically eliminating everyone they came across...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'A wolf in sheep's clothing...','That's a nice record you have there...','The Tower does not reward cowardice~!')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Following the start of the Special Test, Endorsi could be seen idling about with a bored look on her face, lightly tapping the needle she had received against her leg. Like the other Regulars, albeit for very different reasons, she didn't really feel like moving around all that much. Her spar with Gandr had left her body aching in various places, so, after quickly eliminating a few Regulars, Endorsi was intending to just relax until the Test came to an end.Unfortunately, before she could even move from her platform, Endorsi felt alarm bells sounding in her mind, an exasperated sigh escaping her lips as she turned to her side and complained, "Really now...a fake thinks she can overcome the genuine article? You aren't terribly bright, are you? Even though I was going to ignore you, here you are, coming directly at me..."Hearing Endorsi's complaint, a taunting smile spread across Anak's face as she asserted, "I've been looking forward to this ever since I learned about your existence during the Crown Game. Though I don't think you're as bad as some, I can never forgive the Jahad Empire for what it has done. Every time I see that stupid hair ornament on your head, I can't help but want to smash it into pieces...!"Accompanying Anak's shout, the petite Princess charged at Endorsi like a bullet that had just been freed from its chamber. Her figure turned into a literal blur, but, without any perceptible difficultly, the taller of the two Princesses was easily able to evade Anak's attack, deterring a follow-up strike by orienting the tip of her needle in the pursuing path. Then, with a bit of distance between them, her expression became slightly serious as she said, "Even with the Green April, you wouldn't be able to defeat me...don't look down on a 'real' Princess of Jahad..."Emulating a certain fluffy-eared swordsman, Anak tilted her head to the side almost comically, a confused look on her face as she asked, "Oh? Did Jahad actually have a child? Is there finally a 'real' Princess somewhere? Last I heard, there were just a bunch of brats that had his blood injected into their body."With some not-so-pleasant scenes emerging within her mind, Endorsi had to inhale a deep breath just to restrain the urge to turn the girl across from her into a pincushion. She hated anything that reminded her of the process that turned her into a Princess of Jahad. It was for this reason she was unable to get along with Anak, as, despite knowing the latter must have experienced a tragedy of her own, Endorsi believed her personal history was far more tragic.To prevent herself from accidentally killing the girl across from her, Endorsi threw her needle to the side as she said, "Honestly, I never really cared about you calling yourself a Princess of Jahad. If you want to paint a massive target on your head for the Royal Enforcement Division, that has nothing to do with me. What annoys me is how arrogantly you flaunt your power despite having done nothing to earn it. Real Princesses of Jahad have to put in an extreme amount of effort just for the chance to obtain a fraction of Jahad's power...you got it simply by being born. Your existence is an insult, both to the Jahad Empire...and the tens-of-thousands of young girls who are sacrificed in order to create just one Princess of Jahad..."Though Endorsi understood that Anak was just another victim, she hated how the latter acted like she was the 'only' victim. There were countless people within the Tower who had experienced fates far worse than simply losing their mothers. Unlike Anak, however, these people didn't possess the blood of the Tower's 'God' flowing through their veins. They didn't have a powerful weapon passed down to them without having to make any effort to obtain it. Instead, they had to put in an extreme amount of effort to avoid just becoming a victim themselves, many never even having a chance to even think about vengeance.Anak was undoubtedly an unfortunate woman, but, within the Tower, that didn't make you special. The only thing that distinguished her from countless others was that she had been given a power that many desperately sought to obtain. She was allowed to be strong, fast, and durable without any effort and had even inherited a weapon that would turn most Rankers green with envy. In spite of this, she used her trauma as an excuse to behave like an arrogant brat, haughtily flaunting all the things she had been 'given' while treating others, many who had suffered even worse, as beneath her...Taking another deep breath to calm herself, Endorsi stared at the petite woman across from her and said, "I can understand your desire for revenge...I really can...however, if I don't give you at least one spanking, I won't be satisfied. Now, come at me, you fake."Incensed by Endorsi's remark, Anak's expression turned fierce as she launched herself toward the former, shouting, "We'll see which one of us gets spanked...!"Having largely calmed herself, Endorsi chuckled in response to Anak's outburst, deftly evading the straightforward blow with practiced finesse. Then, with Anak chasing after her, she decided to take out a few of the other candidates to prevent any accidents. She didn't mind fighting it out with the bratty lizard, but that didn't mean she would risk being eliminated for the sake of someone else's revenge.While lightly humming a song, Endorsi continued to evade the increasingly-angry Anak's attacks, even going so far as to link her hands behind her back as she gracefully backpedaled. There was a drastic difference in their amount of experience and combat proficiency, so, while Anak was indeed very powerful, she was also 'extremely' predictable.Without having to look behind her, Endorsi easily ducked under the attack of the Regular whose platform they had invaded before giggling at his expense. This caused the man to visibly pale, but, before he could so much as think about a follow-up response, he was sent flying from the platform by a stray punch, courtesy of Anak.Understanding that Endorsi was currently toying with her, Anak's anger continued to rise as she shouted, "Stop running away! Is this how a 'real' Princess of Jahad fights!?"Without missing a beat, Endorsi performed a quick side-step before spinning playfully as she remarked, "Of course. After all, I am an actual Princess. I'm different than a certain blockheaded lizard who only knows how to charge blindly at her enemies. Woh, careful now~."With Anak suddenly throwing her needle like a spear, even Endorsi was a little caught off guard. That didn't prevent her from easily evading the blow, however, a teasing smile on her face as she mused, "There goes your weapon~."Snorting through her nose, Anak leaned forward an amount that was only possible due to her tail serving as a counterbalance. It was a long appendage that was nearly as thick as her leg, so, while it sometimes got in the way, Anak had learned to take advantage of her racial traits to attack in ways that most bipedal creatures struggled against.Though she thought Anak's stance was a little silly, as it would give anyone behind her a full view of the spat-like garment she wore beneath her dress, she didn't underestimate it at all. She could feel the Shinsu in the air gathering around Anak's bare feet, and, after a few seconds had passed, visible white vapor could be seen rising from her skin; comparable to someone who had emerged from a hot bath during winter...Since she had yet to master the basics of Shinsu reinforcement, Endorsi was genuinely surprised by Anak's ability to demonstrated basic proficiency after just two days.As that thought entered her mind, the fine hairs on the back of Endorsi's neck stood on end, her instincts compelling her to dodge before she perceived the attack. For the first time since the start of their little game of cat and mouse, her expression changed to one of genuine shock, as, not only did Anak manage to close the distance in an instant, she was able to instantaneously stop herself by adhering her feet to the platform using Shinsu.With widened eyes, Endorsi exclaimed, "Is that supposed to be your version of Gandr's-" before closing her mouth when Anak charged at her, fist extended. The latter had aimed directly for her face, further increasing Endorsi's annoyance as she put a 'considerable' amount of effort into her physical appearance.Ignoring the pain in her arms from blocking Anak's attack, Endorsi formed a fist with her right hand, shouting, "Where do you think you're aiming, you bratty lizard!?"Having been in the middle of a charge, it was Anak's turn to express surprise as Endorsi's figure, for a very brief moment, seemed to fade away. By the time her brain had processed this information, a powerful impact slammed into Anak's side, forcing the wind from her lungs as a sharp pain radiated from her rib cage.Despite having the wind knocked out of her, Anak managed to flick her tail in a way that helped to counterbalance the rotational force of her body. Unfortunately, this brought her to a stop just over a gap between two pillars, a truth she only realized after gravity began working its magic.Just as Anak thought she was going to be eliminated from the Special Test, the world around her seemed to spin as Endorsi leaped through the air, grabbing her ankle and flailing her body like a lasso above her head. This made Anak feel extremely nauseous, but, in the next moment, she found herself embedded into the surface of one of the pillars, now within bounds.Landing softly on the periphery of the pillar, Endorsi combed back her bangs as she said, "I'm still in the midst of giving you a spanking. Don't think I'll let you fall out of bounds that easily..."Noticing Anak wasn't moving, Endorsi allowed her words to trail off, a frown marring her beauty as a glimmer of concern flashed across her eyes. She could feel a depressive aura suddenly radiating from Anak's body, clearly the result of the girl's cognizance of the fact that she had, once again, nearly lost her chance at revenge due to her anger and short-sightedness.Suppressing a sigh, Endorsi relaxed her guard, placing one hand on her hip as she said, "I'll admit it, you're pretty good. Even I can't use Shinsu to enhance my body just yet so you should feel proud...it seems you inherited more than just the blood of Jahad from your mother, the real Anak Jahad..."Though she heard Endorsi's remark, Anak just continued to stare up into space, slowly acclimating herself to the pain in her body while thinking about her various failures over the last few days. She had nearly been eliminated three times in less than a week. If she failed, it would be impossible to get her revenge against the people who had killed her mother, so, while she was burning up like a volcano inside, she appeared uncharacteristically calm as Endorsi began monologing...Taking advantage of Anak's silence, Endorsi's expression appeared equally calm, her voice filled with certainty as she asserted, "Anak Jahad was a Princess who had climbed the Tower more than three-hundred years ago. She was a powerhouse respected by many, even earning the right to wield the Green April thanks to her prowess. Shortly after that, however, rumors that Anak had eloped with a man began to circulate alongside whispers that she had become pregnant. Though it would have made more sense for her to simply have an abortion, it seemed like Anak couldn't bear to part with her child, so, before members of the Royal Enforcement Division could track her down...she simply vanished alongside the Green April. A few years later, rumors of the sinful Princess' death began to circulate within the Tower, but, even after scouring the Floor where she had been hiding, neither the Green April nor her supposed child was ever found..."Seeing Anak still lying on the ground, Endorsi suppressed a sigh as she averted her eyes to the side and added, "When I had first become a Princess of Jahad, there was a widespread rumor asserting that Anak's child, a young girl, had disappeared along with the Green April. Back then, I didn't think it was possible for some stray brat to escape from the Empire's clutches. Because of this, I'm certain you can imagine my surprise when I found some random girl calling herself Anak Jahad during the Crown Game...truth be told, I decided from that moment on that I wanted to take this Test with you. I had always wanted to meet the girl that managed to escape Jahad's control and survive all these years without anyone learning her location. I wanted to know what kind of person you were, and, if given the chance, I wanted to ask you a question...tell me, daughter of Anak Jahad...tell me why my sister, your mother, chose such a path..."Though she didn't immediately answer Endorsi's question, Anak removed her forearm from her head, sprawling it out to the side as she plainly stated, "She wanted to be happy...being a Princess had never brought her happiness so she married a man who could cook delicious chicken pies...her favorite..."Not expecting such a 'silly' reason, Endorsi couldn't help but frown as she watched Anak slowly rise to a seated position. She wanted to remark that, even if she hadn't been happy, it was still better to be a Princess than a criminal. Her stealing the Green April all but guaranteed she would be hunted down by the Jahad Empire, and, once it was discovered she had actually given birth, both she and her daughter would be brutally murdered. Because of this, Endorsi thought that the original Anak must have had some great reason for doing what she did...she never even considered the fact that this reason would be 'chicken pie'...Noticing the look on Endorsi's face, a smile spread across Anak's as she added, "My mother's only regret was that her favorite chicken pie cook was murdered at the hands of her own sister...one of the few she trusted. I'm here to avenge that chicken pie cook...I'll make sure everyone with the last name Jahad experiences the wrath of Anak Jahad! I will have my revenge, starting with you, Endorsi Jahad...!"Finished with her words, Anak burst forward with enough speed to fracture to the top of the pillar, her palm impacting Endorsi's abdomen and forcing her to take a few steps back. This wouldn't have been a problem under normal circumstances, but, as she had been standing very near the edge of the pillar, Endorsi's eyes widened due to a sudden feeling of weightlessness. She barely managed to avoid falling by bending her knees and performing a half-squat with her arms extended out in front of her. This put Endorsi in a rather awkward position, and, as if to add insult to injury, a wicked smile spread across Anak's face as she extended her hand and attempted to finish what she had started...With her expression both paling and turning red, cold sweat appeared across Endorsi's brow, her eyes seemingly asking, 'This is the thanks I get for sparing you?'.Reading the meaning contained within Endorsi's words, Anak's smile became even more vicious, her own eyes communicating, 'I have no mercy for a Princess of Jahad,' before attempting to knock the former from the pillar. This caused Endorsi's expression to darken in an instant, her body moving faster than it ever had before as she leaned back to evade Anak's second push while subsequently grabbing her wrist and shouting, "If I'm going down, you're coming with me, my bratty niece!"Though Anak tried to break free from Endorsi's hold, the latter's grip could easily crush steel, so, without any suspense, both Princesses were sent tumbling over the side of the pillar, the former shouting explicatives while the latter laughed like a madwoman; both stopping only when they crashed, hard, into the stone floor below...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Oh? You're approaching me?','Endorsi actually has a point...Anak is pretty lucky, all things considered...','Nothing like the good ol' crab bucket mentality...')(A/N: Just as a reminder, I moved my rest days to Friday so that people have more chapters to read on the weekends. This will be the only one I release today as I'm pretty exhausted from increasing the chapter output xD...)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

Chapter 1716: Special