Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

Since he was clearly stronger than everyone else in the current batch of Regulars, Gandr had agreed to several requests to help people train. As a result, Shibisu, Hatsu, Chunhwa, Nare, Aleksai, Endorsi, and, starting today, Anak had gathered together within one of the Resort's training areas at 5 AM.As the only one who wasn't really there to train, Nare was still wearing her pajama as she hugged a pillow off to the side. She was already struggling with the normal Scout training, so, while it would undoubtedly be beneficial to her in the future, she wasn't at the point where she could train before her actual training even started. As for her Knight, Hong Chunhwa, he was pretty eager to improve before the second Special Test for Fishermen began.Chunhwa was one of the eight candidates that had passed thanks to Endorsi and Anak eliminating each other, so, with less than a week to prepare, he was pushing his limits to try and learn physical reinforcement. Fortunately, though he would have been allowed to participate regardless, Nare had told him about the morning training session hosted by Gandr, so, with a commendable amount of conviction, the rather handsome 'Knight' had taken to the training with gusto.Unfortunately, Chunhwa's training partner ended up being Endorsi, so, while he was doing his best, he was also getting played to death by the grudge-holding Princess. Despite this, Chunhwa didn't give up, and, every time Nare cheered him on, he seemed to become ever so slightly stronger than the moment prior. This earned him a fair amount of teasing from Endorsi, but, rather than show any embarrassment, Chunhwa pushed forward with a resolute light in his eyes.While Endorsi was beating up Nare's Knight, the other Princess present, Anak, was facing off against someone more than twice her height and several times her size. Despite this, it was the much larger man, Aleksai, who was constantly being pushed back. Anak wasn't very good at holding back so he had a number of cuts and bruises all of his body. Despite this, he would quickly get back up after a heavy blow, his reddish-brown eyes showing a calm determination as he adopted a boxing stance and attempted to anticipate the next blow.Despite several people claiming that Aleksai had fought like a fierce demon during the Deathmatch, the truth of the matter was that the man was a relatively gentle giant. Though he did have demonic wings protruding from his upper back, his combat style revolved around countering the opponent's attacks, rather than going on the offensive. He even had a surprisingly gentle voice, a stark contrast to his burly and muscular appearance.Seeing her opponent rise to his feet for the umpteenth time, Anak showed an expression of mild annoyance as she remarked, "You really don't know when to quit..."Though Aleksai rarely spoke, often choosing to keep a fair amount of distance from most people, he sometimes uttered a few words every now and then during training. Thus, in response to Anak's taunting, he just softly stated, "I'm ready..." as the muscles in his body tensed up.Without any hesitation, a ripple appeared near the base of Anak's feet as she closed the distance between herself and Aleksai in an instant. This was actually her first time at the training sessions so she was annoyed by the fact that Gandr was focused on helping others. She didn't see the point of sparring against people that were weaker than herself, arguing that it was a waste of time. What she never expected was for Gandr to use her own declaration against her, asking why he should 'waste time' sparring against her when she was, very clearly, weaker than him.Anak wasn't at all enthused by Gandr's statement, feeling as though he had somehow betrayed her by saying such a thing in front of everyone. Despite this, she ended up participating in the training, as, even if she wanted to, there wasn't really an argument to make against Gandr's rebuttal. He had used her own words against her, and, even if she went all out using the Green April, Anak couldn't even imagine a scenario where she emerged victoriously against the annoying Vanargandr...Due to the drastic difference between their physical capabilities and speed, Anak easily evaded the cross-counter of Aleksai, spinning under the blow and using her tail to hit the side of his knee. This caused the man's knees to buckle, utterly destroying his balance and causing his head to move into the perfect position for Anak's tiny fist to impact against his cheekbone. As a result, a visible ripple passed through the man's face, and, though she held back quite a bit, a visible shockwave formed at the impact point of Anak's fist.For the umpteenth time since the beginning of their spar, Aleksai was sent spiraling through the air before crashing, hard, into the ground. His right eye immediately swelled to a point where he could no longer see through it, but, much to Anak's chagrin, he still climbed to his feet after taking a few seconds to catch his breath and come to his senses.With the tip of her tail shaking in frustration, Anak was very near the point of going all out against the annoying red-head. An even greater density of Shinsu began to build up around her feet, but, before she could charge forward, her vision was obscured by a familiar figure. In the next moment, a not-so-gentle chop impacted the top of her head as Gandr plainly remarked, "You're letting your anger get the better of you. This is training, not a battle to the death. Aleksai isn't your enemy, he is your training partner. You should be guiding him and giving advice, not taking your frustrations and resentment out on him."Feeling a remarkable amount of pain from the crown of her head, Anak used both hands to cover the area, moisture building in the corners of her eyes as she glared back at Gandr. She wanted to say something in her defense, but, as was often the case whenever she faced off against the hateful Vanargandr, his words struck at the heart of the matter. She also knew he was trying to help her, so, even if she wanted nothing more than to chop his head in retribution, she ultimately managed to resist the urge, saving herself further embarrassment.Just as Gandr was about to release a sigh and apologize for hitting Anak on the top of her head, the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end. At the same time, his ears perked up to their full height, his body becoming illusory as the heel of a foot passed through where his head used to be.Despite failing her surprise attack, Endorsi didn't show any signs of backing down as she shifted her gaze to Gandr's new location, a malicious yet teasing smile on her face as she said, "I'll teach you to bully my niece, you furry-eared brat~!"Understanding Endorsi's true intentions, Gandr just rolled his eyes in response to her words before asserting, "We all know you're just looking for an excuse to fight. I would never allow someone to bully Anak, much less myself. Try coming up with something more convincing the next time, Ghost-Pepper Princess."Hearing the peculiar form of address, Endorsi managed to momentarily retrain her urge to charge, confusion visible in her subtly glowing eyes as she asked, "What did you just call me...?"Smiling mischievously in response to Endorsi's inquiry, Gandr adopted a teasing tone as he mused, "A ghost pepper has the traits of being super hot, spicy to the point of being unbearable. Since you have ghostly eyes, I figured it would be a good rebuttal whenever you call me a fluffy-eared brat~."Though she felt a little fluttery when Gandr said she was 'super hot', Endorsi quickly understood he wasn't simply talking about her physical appearance. As a result, her smile became somewhat dark, cracking her knuckles as she asked, "Are those your last words...?"Realizing he might have gone a little overboard, Gandr decided to backpedal a bit while continuing with the same theme, winking playfully as he took evasive action and mused, "Spicy things aren't so bad in moderation..."Failing her first punch, Endorsi was intending to follow up with a roundhouse kick when she heard Gandr's sudden addendum. Though she was still able to execute the action seamlessly, she became a little muddleheaded as a very light blush colored her cheeks. She knew he was teasing her, but, as someone who wore their vanity on their sleeve, Endorsi was still gratified by the boy's remark. As a result, she made a mental note only to 'half-kill' him...that was assuming she could ever catch him...---Similar to the first day of Wave Controller class, the first half of the day was spent focusing on the various theories and applications for Shinsu. Then, following an hour-long lunch, everyone gathered together to continue the practical lesson from the previous day. This would apparently repeat every day until the Final Exam, as, with very few exceptions, it took a lot longer than thirty days to reach a level where you could successfully pop all the balloons.Being such an exception, Vahn was given the option to either skip the afternoon lessons entirely or assist in helping other Regulars refine their skills. Vahn, of course, chose the second option, both as a means of building rapport with the rest of the class while concurrently keeping a watchful eye on Administrator Yuga.As could be expected, the Administrator had taken quite an interest in Vahn, showering him with praise and asking various probing questions. Vahn could tell the man was trying to get a feel for his character, likely to determine whether or not he was a threat to be eliminated or an asset that could be used to further the gains of whatever organization backed him.Based on Phae's and Sis' joint investigation, there were only a handful of powerful organizations within the entirety of the Tower. The Jahad Empire and the Ten Great Families worked tirelessly to prevent any rival organizations from trespassing on their territory, so, with the exception of the Workshop, a completely neutral organization, the only operation to oppose them was a criminal group known as FUG.From a narrative point of view, FUG was clearly intended to be the 'good guys', but, based on all the information present within the Administrator Archives, they were more-so a group of terrorists than a revolutionary army. This could be the result of careful manipulation of information, but, based on the general structure of the Tower and its political system, Vahn suspected they were likely just as bad, if not worse, than the Ten Great Families. They had likely been founded with good intentions, but, as was often the case when vast power disparities were involved, they had been corrupted by the passage of time and the clashing of individual interests.Vahn didn't know which organization Administrator Yuga represented, but, based on his propensity for showing off and the swirling mass of negativity hidden beneath his costume, it was reasonable to assume he was associated with the Jahad Empire. There were bound to be some egotistical types in FUG, but, more often than not, those who flaunted their arrogance were commonly associated with whatever group currently held the most power.Fortunately, it didn't seem like Administrator Yuga suspected him to be an Irregular. After all, only three 'known' Irregulars had appeared within the entire history of the Jahad Empire, so, even when a monstrously talented individual showed up, few people assumed they were Irregulars. There were countless examples of people possessing an inordinate amount of talent, and, though it was rare, a few even possessed unique abilities that led to them being poached by, and marrying into, the Ten Great Families.Though Vahn's capabilities stood out quite a bit, he made sure to hold back his true power in order to prevent too much trouble before he was able to find his footing. He didn't really care if his status as an Irregular was exposed. After all, he had already admitted it directly to Administrator Quant on the first day of Testing. Still, that didn't mean he would go around flaunting his Irregular status, as, when it ultimately came down to it, Vahn didn't even remotely care about the infamous title...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Chunhwa is fueled by the power of Loli love','The origin of the Ghost-Pepper Princess','Does this count as hiding in plain sight...?')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

With everyone falling into the groove of their Positions, life within Evankhell's Resort became rather routine. Though there were a few noteworthy incidents, such as Rachel apologizing to Baam, Anak showing up outside of Phae's door in the middle of the night, and Endorsi trading in her heels for a pair of sneakers, everything else was just 'business as usual' up until the final week of class.As could be expected, the final week was far more important than the three preceding it. Not only would there be a Final Exam at the end of the week, but, in order to make sure everyone was able to fulfill the responsibilities of their Position, joint training sessions had become the norm. After all, it didn't really matter how talented you were if you couldn't actually work together in a team.Unfortunately, due to having completed the Special Tests, Vahn, Phae, and Gandr were required to sit back and watch the joint training sessions from within the Administration Command Center. This was to prevent them from effectively 'carrying' each of the teams through the Tests, so, while all the other Regulars were hard at work, the Imperial Trio were seated alongside Rak and Ghost, the only other candidates to have passed their Special Tests.Fortunately, watching the tests from a birds-eye view allowed Vahn to get a better grasp of which Regulars would be useful for his future plans. The Administration had also prepared a large quantity of food and drink for them to enjoy, so, while it was pretty boring to just sit around all day, it wasn't all bad. The only person greatly affected by the turn of events was Gandr, who, in accordance with his character, was lying upside down with his head and ears dangling off the sofa, an exceptionally bored expression on his face.Seeing Gandr's ears twitching convincingly, even without his willing it to, Vahn had a thoughtful expression on his face that was mirrored by Phae. The only difference was, his features gave off an impression of solemnity while hers vaguely resembled a concerned mother wondering about the future of her child. This was, of course, the impression that Vahn was going for, but, whenever he was around his fairer and younger counterparts, he couldn't shake the feeling they were gradually becoming completely different people.Sharing her Lord's thoughts, for obvious reasons, Phae offered a polite smile as she habitually combed back her bangs. This was a reaction so deeply ingrained into her character that, even without putting any conscious thought into it, Vahn would perform the action through her as if it was completely natural. There had even been instances where he was completely caught off guard by her responses, irrespective of the fact he was the one controlling them...At this point, Vahn was pretty sure that Phae and Gandr were becoming 'unique' existences, entities intrinsically linked to him but with their own, separate, Egos. This was actually something he tried to accomplish during his training, but, likely as a result of being inside his Realm, his efforts had been limited by his own omnipotence. As for why he wanted to accomplish any kind of separation at all, Vahn was intending to use the Memory Fragment he had saved from his time in Danmachi to create an Avatar for himself after linking the Records. He also wanted to give Sis a chance to 'pilot' a vessel of her own, one which she would be able to manage without having to separate from him.If he were being honest, Vahn was pretty excited by the growing 'independence' of Phae and Gandr; he just hadn't expected it to happen so soon after entering the Record. After all, he had spent years developing Phae's and Gandr's characters without achieving any noteworthy results. Now, after less than a month in the 'final' Record, he was already on the verge of a breakthrough. There was even a chance their autonomy was the result of his Mind Innate beginning to awaken, something Vahn had been anticipating for decades...Restraining the urge to sigh, Vahn offered a curt nod in response to Phae handing him a cup of tea, yet another action he seemed to perform 'instinctually' through her. As for Gandr, he had relocated to where Rak and Ghost were engaged in an unscheduled eating contest. They each had a large pile of chocolate bars in front of them, quite literally shoving the sugary sweets into their maws without even bothering to remove the wrappers.As could be expected, neither of the massive men were a match for Gandr, as, despite his small size, he could, quite literally, eat an infinite amount of food. Every excess calorie he consumed became a meager amount of energy that was stored within the complex seal imprinted upon his back. There was no limit to the amount of energy that could be stored within the seal, but, upon activation, it would immediately consume every last drop in order to drastically increased Gandr's parameters for a short period of time.It wasn't an exaggeration to say that, while weaker than both Vahn and Phae, Gandr had the highest combat potential between them. He not only wielded Laev-tan but, thanks to the restraints that had been placed on his body, [Chainbreaker] allowed him to demonstrate remarkable speed and power, even eclipsing that of Vahn. The only downside was that [Chainbreaker] was directly influenced by the state of a person's mind, so, in order to benefit from the powerful ability, Gandr was prone to bouts of frustration and anger.Back within the Realm, Gandr's seal didn't really seem to influence him that much since he could always remove it, quite literally, with a single thought. Now, however, his power was greatly limited, and, unless he put in an extreme amount of effort, it was impossible to remove the seal without the 'key'. The best he could do was activate it, burning away all the stored energy in order to mitigate the strain placed upon his body by the seal.Since it was meant to emulate Fenrir's Innate, the most potent effect of the 'Vanargandr Seal' was placing a literal strain on the user. The seal would feel heavier depending on the amount of energy stored within, and, though this had absolutely no effect on physical weight, it placed a tremendous burden on the mind and spirit. This could actually be used to strengthen both, but, similar to how Fenrir would grow increasingly frustrated the more her power outgrew her ability to control, Gandr would suffer very similar effects. As for why this had no effect on Vahn and Phae, they largely offset it with some liberal usage of the [Will of the Emperor]...---While Vahn and co were idling about within the Control Room, the rest of the 'surviving' Regulars, those who had yet to be eliminated due to serious injury or death, were participating in a Capture the Flag style competition. This involved diving the Regulars into four teams with 6-8 people, each defending a fortress located amidst heavily forested or extremely rocky terrain.As was the case in most Capture the Flag competition, the penultimate goal of the game was to secure the enemy team's flag while simultaneously protecting your own. You earned points based on the total number of flags your team was able to capture, the caveat being that you would lose all of your points the moment your flag fell into the hands of another team.In a vain attempt to ensure things were fair, Endorsi, Anak, Laure, and Khun had all been placed in charge of separate teams. To further balance things, Endorsi and Anak were both part of teams that only had six members. They were forced to choose between protecting their flag or venturing into enemy territory to try and eliminate as many other Regulars as possible. After all, every Regular they took out of the battle was one less person they needed to worry about.Unfortunately for the two Princesses, their propensity towards violence made it easy for others to predict their actions. They ended up getting baited into a trap and pitted against each other after some careful wordplay by Khun. Around the same time, members of both his and Laure's teams performed a raid on the Princesses' Fortresses, securing the flags and ultimately winning the game without any real suspense. Later on, Baam asked Khun what he had said to get the two Princesses to fight against each other despite knowing it was a trap. As for the answer, he produced a rather peculiar cookie from his Inventory, one loosely resembling a certain onyx-haired Vanargandr...---With classes having wrapped up for the day, Gandr had gathered within Baam's room alongside Khun, Shibisu, Hatsu, Laure, Chunhwa, Aleksai, and Rak. They had decided to have something like a 'boys only' sleepover while most of the girls had all gathered together within Phae's room to learn advanced hair care and beauty treatments. It was a well-known fact at this point that the changes in Rachel's appearance were thanks to Phae, so, as could be expected, she instantly became the center of attention among girls who were concerned about their appearance.As someone extremely knowledgeable regarding the care and development of women, Phae had quickly become the big sister that everyone looked up to within the relatively small group of girls. Even Endorsi looked up to her quite a bit, probing Phae's brain for advice on everything from men to fashion. This led to a few rather 'pointed' questions being thrown Phae's way, but, with several years of practice preparing for these exact types of questions, she was able to avoid embarrassing herself, often flipping the table entirely to put Endorsi on the spot.In the beginning, Endorsi didn't truly respect Phae due to her rather inflated sense of self-worth. It was only after the latter completely destroyed both her and Anak in an arm-wrestling contest that she accepted Phae as the de facto leader of the girls' group. From that moment on, she, alongside many of the other female Regulars, congregated in Phae's room after hours. They even spent a few nights within the confines of the room, a trend that had started when several people noticed Anak emerging from the motherly woman's room early in the morning.Though it wasn't every night, Anak had made a habit of sleeping in Phae's room whenever she had a particularly hard day. The latter always had cookies and other snacks waiting for her, and, though she had trouble expressing herself, Phae always seemed to understand what was on her mind. This caused Anak to develop a bit of a dependence on the woman, but, considering she had spent more than three-hundred-years stuck in a suspended mentality, any change was a step forward. The fact Anak's body had started to subtly develop was the biggest indicator of this, even if these changes were largely due to her rivalry with Endorsi and her growing awareness of Gandr...Even if it was more competitiveness and curiosity than anything else, it was clear to most that Anak treated Gandr differently than everyone else. She hardly talked to other people, and, the few times she did speak, it was often to say something condescending or abrasive. In Gandr's case, however, she was usually very quiet, and, at times, even appeared shy and demure. She also sat next to him during meal times, and, though she never thanked him for the compliments, she would sometimes smile whenever he commented on the changes in her hair and clothes.From Gandr's point of view, Anak was like a little sister to him, and, as far as he could tell, at least for the time being, she viewed him in a similar light. The fact they were always competing against each other was the best example of this. They would often race through the hallways, and, when it came time for training, their spars would quickly devolve into rather brutal slugfests. After all, Anak had a very similar style to Gandr's when they were fighting unarmed so the latter had been training her in the basics of the Heavenly White Tiger Style.Though it wasn't completely necessary, possessing a tail greatly aided in the execution of several techniques common within Baihu's patented style. Anak's, in particular, allowed her to nearly bend forward at ninety degrees without falling over. This, combined with the fact she was only 154cm in height, gave her an exceptionally low center of gravity. As a result, she was able to slip into the gaps created by foes much larger than herself, gaps easily exploited by the phenomenal strength stored within her petite frame.With strength being the most important thing within Anak's mind, second only to her revenge, she always put an inordinate amount of effort into her training. This was the reason she didn't want to 'waste time' fighting against foes weaker than herself, but, after some careful guidance, Anak was slowly beginning to accept that others not only had their own desires, they also had a right to grow stronger. Her selfishness would only be a detriment in her pursuit of revenge, so, while she would show considerable dissatisfaction at times, she at least made an effort to advise others during their group training sessions. She had even helped Shibisu in his physical training, albeit by sitting on his back as he struggled to do even ten pushups with the addition of 140kgs weighing him down...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'It's only a matter of time before Sis appears (O w O)...','Phae is da wae...','That is one thiccc cucumber...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

While Phae was looking after Anak, Gandr had been roped into visiting Endorsi's room with a tray of food. She wasn't able to leave her room due to her condition, so, after discussing the matter with Shibisu, Hatsu, Khun, and a visibly depressed Baam, he had been delegated the responsibility of bringing her food in exchange for having her sign everyone's friend list.Though Endorsi had already signed his sheet, Gandr knew she had yet to sign any of the others, so, now that she had 'settled' things with Anak, it was a good time to help her open up to others. These would be the people she climbed the Tower with, and, though there was nothing proving she was a central character to the original plot, it would be very strange if she wasn't. Her status as a Princess all but guaranteed she was a potential love interest for the main character, especially in a Record where such love was forbidden.With everyone else staying out of the camera's field of view, Gandr pressed the small button that served to notify the room's occupant of a guest. Almost immediately after that, the door opened with its characteristic mechanical hiss, followed by a smiling Endorsi remarking, "Oh my, what have we here? Did you finally realize this Princess' charms~?"Seeing the youthful-looking woman with her hair tied back in a small ponytail, Gandr's brows raised before plainly stating, "You look like a completely different person with your hair tied up like that. It gives you a nice, sporty, vibe. I think your original style suits you better, but this one isn't bad at all."Not expecting the usually dense boy to pay her a compliment, Endorsi was momentarily at a loss for words as Gandr set the tray of food down before pulling over a chair to take a seat. Then, with a trace of concern visible in his gaze, he asked, "Are your legs okay?"Remembering the pain she was in, Endorsi released a moderately exasperated sigh before asking, "What do you think? The Doctor's said my femur fractured in six different places. I really owe that little lizard for this one..."Scrunching up his nose slightly, Gandr didn't hesitate to remark, "You shouldn't hold a grudge over something like this. I can tell you don't really hate Anak so this is an opportunity to make amends. I can get Phae to treat your leg if you're willing to apologize. I don't want to see either of you fail the Position Test over something like this..."Having noticed the slight change in Gandr's expression, Endorsi lightly clicked her tongue before crossing her arms in a huff. She actually wasn't that angry with Anak, and, though it was bound to cause her a lot of problems in the future, she had already decided to climb the Tower with her only niece. The problem was, she didn't want to be the first one to compromise, so, rather than agree to Gandr's words, she began tapping her finger on her forearm while considering methods she could use to benefit from this situation...Seeing the tray of food on her nightstand, a brilliant idea danced across Endorsi's mind, her face developing a crafty smile as she said, "Fine. I'll apologize to the lizard. It beats being stuck in bed for the next couple of days...However!"With her smile becoming even more conniving than before, Endorsi held up her finger triumphantly before pointing towards the tray of food and saying, "I'll only apologize if you agree to feed me!"Expecting Gandr to frown or outright refuse her offer, Endorsi was more than a little surprised when he simply tilted his head to the side and answered, "Okay? If it'll end the tensions between you and Anak, I don't see any problem with that. Afterward, I also have a few friend's lists for you to sign. We will all be climbing the Tower together, so it will be better if you can become friends with everyone."Feeling like the wind had been taken out of her sails, Endorsi released a sigh before resting against her headboard and muttering, "You and your friend fetish...shouldn't you be happy that you're the only one with my name on their list? I don't get you..."Though she understood the reasons, Endorsi couldn't help but feel extremely annoyed by the fact that Gandr never treated her like a Princess. At the same time, however, she felt his personality was rather refreshing. Being treated like a Princess all the time wasn't pleasant, so, while it more than a little annoying, she didn't mind his attempts to include her in his circle of friends. She just wished he was a little more 'appreciative' of the fact she tolerated his antics...Seeing the wistful look in Endorsi's ghostly golden eyes, Gandr couldn't help sweating internally as he mentally exclaimed, ("Oh, come on! I didn't even do anything this time...right?")Rather than reprimand Gandr for his behavior, Sis actually giggled in the back of his mind, her voice filled with amusement as she replied, (*For some women, all it takes is treating them like a 'normal' girl to open their heart. Don't worry, Gan-chan, it doesn't seem like she is attracted to you. If I had to guess, she currently sees you more like an adorable little brother, someone she wants to pamper and be pampered by. Since there are so many males within your group this time around, there is a chance she might set her sights on one of them after opening up a little more.*)Though he felt Sis' reaction was a little strange, Gandr released an audible sigh, confusing Endorsi enough to ask, "What's wrong? Is it really that important to you that I sign those pieces of paper? It's not like it changes anything..."Shaking his head, Gandr picked up the chopsticks from the tray of food before answering, "It's not that...I just think you would be happier if you had more friends. Even if we climb up the Tower at a record-setting pace, there is a chance we would be spending the next fifty years together. Though our companions might change over time, it is important to lay the foundation for lasting friendships early on...if you want to protect the things you care about, you're going to need allies you can trust to help carry your burden..."Seeing Gandr's ears drooping slightly, Endorsi began to feel a little guilty, her expression softening despite the visible frustration in her countenance. Gandr was usually so vibrant and full of life so she felt uncomfortable just seeing him like this. To further exacerbate matters, she had a strong impulse to pat his head, but, remembering their previous quarrels, attempting to touch his ears would only make things even worse.Suppressing a sigh, Endorsi adopted an even more annoyed expression as she complained, "You're really persistent...whatever. If it will prevent you from behaving like an abandoned puppy, I'll sign those pieces of paper. It's not like I lose anything by just writing my name down..."Genuinely enthused by Endorsi's words, Gandr's ears immediately perked up as his characteristically mischievous grin appeared across his face. This made Endorsi feel like she had been tricked by the bratty Vanargandr, but, before she could get angry, her tensions relaxed when Gandr softly replied, "Thank you, Endorsi. I promise you won't regret this."Suppressing yet another sigh, Endorsi just crossed her arms in response to Gandr's words, pouting slightly as she said, "Whatever...now, how long are you going to keep me waiting? I might be on a diet, but that doesn't mean I enjoy starving myself. If you don't keep your end of the bargain, I-"Before Endorsi could finish her words, Gandr surprised her by deftly placing a piece of sweet pork into her mouth, smiling as he teasingly remarked, "Less talking, more eating~."---Hearing a familiar 'pitta-pon' echo within his room, Vahn casually opened his eyes before shifting his attention to the Pocket hovering at his side. It was currently 1:43 AM, and, while this wasn't that early, it was an abnormal time for someone to be at his door.Expecting someone like Hwa Ryun, Vahn instantly frowned when he sensed who was outside of his room. Despite this, he still unlocked the door, opening it to reveal a young woman with golden hair and eyes. She seemed surprised by the sudden opening of the door, but, almost immediately after that, a smile spread across her face as she attempted to cross the door's threshold.Manipulating the flow of Shinsu around the door, Vahn created a physical wall to bar the woman's passage as he plainly stated, "I did not give you permission to enter my room. State your business or be on your way, Michelle Light."Without showing any visible signs of perturbation, Michelle, better known as Rachel, performed a flawless curtsy before neatly folding her hands in front of her as she replied, "I understand this isn't the most appropriate time, but I've been wanting to speak with you since before the Crown Game. I also wanted to thank you for everything your vassals have done for me over the past few days. May I come inside...?"Already knowing what Rachel wished to discuss, Vahn very plainly stated, "I have no business with a woman who would abandon the people she purports to care about just to achieve an arbitrary goal. The next time you approach me without first going through one of my vassals, I will assume you are attempting to assassinate me. Now, begone from my sight."Feeling an overwhelming amount of indignation welling up inside of her, Rachel's first instinct was to try and justify her actions, but, seeing the look in Vahn's eyes, she was ultimately able to restrain herself. He wasn't the type of person she could afford to offend, so, after a brief moment of silence, her response was to emulate Phae's bow, quickly apologizing before walking away.Closing the door even before Rachel had completed her bow, a tired sigh escaped Vahn's lips as he muttered, "What a farce...that woman's head is filled with ambition and delusion. I wonder how she expects to convince anyone to team up with her after publically 'discarding' the one person willing to sacrifice everything in order to achieve her dreams...ridiculous..."Though it was a little strange, Vahn had developed the habit of speaking to himself even when he was alone. Vocalizing his thoughts allowed him to better grasp his own intentions. Thoughts, alone, had a higher chance of being misconstrued due to their propensity to 'sound' right whenever they were internalized. It took bouncing ideas off another person to truly grasp where or not they made sense, so, whenever Vahn wasn't speaking to Sis, he spoke openly to himself.Of course, that didn't mean Sis was obligated to remain silent. Rather, if she had something to say about a situation, she could be surprisingly assertive. This time, however, she seemed to share in his exasperation, stating, (*That woman gives off a very dangerous feeling. It's almost like she has the power to subsume or leech off the fate of others. If you're going to continue with your current plan, you need to make sure you take measures against her ability. You don't have a [Fate Severing Knife] on hand to deal with...ah...that might work?*)With the ability to know all of Vahn's thoughts, Sis could sense what he had in mind regarding the troublesome blondette. It was far from the best solution, but, unless Rachel attempted something more 'substantial', it wasn't like he could just kill her to remove a problem. Vahn had never been the type to preemptively eliminate threats since there was no way to know with absolute certainty what a person would choose to do. He also knew everyone had a reason for the way they behaved, so, at least until she had given him something more substantial to act upon, Vahn would withhold his final judgment of Rachel's character. After all, there were countless examples of evil people turning good and vice-versa...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Seems like she is more thirsty than hungry...','I wonder if this is Endorsi's first time having a boy put something in her mouth~?','BEGONE, THOT!')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Chapter 1720: Routine