Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

With seven days passing in the blink of an eye, Vahn received a message from Shiroyasha detailing which of the Gift Blocks they would be using for the Rite of Challenge.Thanks to spatial compression and all kinds of other neat space-saving tricks, only about 30% of the Little Garden was residential. The remaining 70% was reserved for the various Gift Games that took place as very few Communities actually had the capacity to produce Game Board.Since it was presently impossible for the members of the Sage Dragon's Hearth to enter the 5-Digit Gates, the Perseus Community was forced to temporarily relocate to one of the Game Blocks leased by Thousand Eyes. This ended up costing them quite a bit, but, when it came to matters concerning his pride, there was no price Laius wasn't willing to pay."It's not too late to back out, kid. Don't get me wrong. I'm more than happy to give you a thrashing. I'm just worried people will accuse me of bullying the weak if we continue..."If looks could kill, Laius, wearing a rather stylish hat to cover his bald spot, might have been able to erase Vahn from existence with how hard he was glaring. Unfortunately, he lacked the requisite Gift so the only thing he accomplished was straining the veins in his temples as he said, "Go ahead and keep talking. We'll see how arrogant you are when I'm grinding your banner beneath my heel."Rolling his eyes as theatrically as possible, Vahn shifted his attention from the blithering Laius to Shiroyasha, saying, "You can't say I didn't warn him..."Though she wanted nothing more than to laugh, Shiroyasha maintained a neutral expression as she said, "Indeed. Now then, on behalf of the Thousand Eyes Community, I, Shiroyasha, Floor Master of the East Side, stand witness to the Rite of Challenge between the Perseus Community and the Sage Dragon's Hearth. In accordance with the Laws of the Little Garden, both sides will now attempt to complete each others' Game of Challenge. For the sake of fairness, the Game Board proferred forth by the Sage Dragon's Hearth has been adjusted so that the time spent within does not exceed two hours. If the members of the Sage Dragon's Hearth are unable to complete the Host Community's Game of Challenge within this period of time, they have agreed to forfeit."As this was the first time he was hearing this, a look of suspicion appeared on Laius's face as he asked, "What's this about? You're not trying to play favorites are you?"Snorting through her nose, Shiroyasha was about to explain when Vahn beat her to the punch, stating, "I never expected anyone to be dumb enough to challenge me so my particular Game of Challenge is designed as a training assist. Those who enter within are given six years to complete a set of objectives. Depending on their performance, they will be rewarded with various Gifts or have the ones they already possess strengthened. I've adjusted things so that time flows precisely 4,380 times faster for the people inside. I can normalize it if you insist but I doubt my Community would need six years to complete your joke of a challenge...""You bastard...!"Though he both shocked and secretly relieved to learn a bit about Vahn's Game of Challenge, Laius hated how the former continuously insulted his Community. They weren't just a group of no-name rabble without any merits. They were a legendary organization that had hosted innumerable high-brow Gift Games that shook the very foundation of the Little Garden.Resisting the urge to shave the other side of Laius's head just to balance things out, Vahn rolled his eyes a second time before asking, "Can we get on with this? I have so many better things to do that it would literally take longer to list out than to complete your challenge...""You son of a bitch! Fine! If that's how you want to play, let's fucking-!?"Surprising even Shiroyasha, an unnaturally large smile developed across Vahn's face as he stared at the now statuesque Laius. He didn't really care if people insulted him. That was par for the course in such disputes. Insulting his mother? Even if he wasn't speaking literally, Laius had just crossed a line he never should have approached."Good. Good. Very good. Hahahahahahaha~!"Too angry to continue the conversation, Vahn just turned around and walked away. As for Laius, he literally collapsed onto the ground, his legs giving out due to the pressure that, even now, hadn't let up."For someone with daddy issues, you should have known better than to bring someone's parents into this. I went through a lot of effort to convince Vahn to spare you. Now, you only have yourself to blame if you choose to continue with this farce..."Though Shiroyasha's words implied Laius still had a way out, even she knew it was too late for that. Vahn, undoubtedly as a result of his power, rarely got angry. Sure, there were times when he lashed out at people, but, more often than not, his hostility towards others was driven by disdain for their actions, not hatred. Now that Laius had genuinely offended him, she had no idea what Vahn might do.Coming back to his senses in response to Shiroyasha's words, Laius's expression morphed into a scowl as he leaped to his feet and asked, "You think I'm just going to back down and run away like a dog with his tail tucked between his legs? Both you and your little pet dragon can go straight to hell. In fact, once this is over, I intend to file an official complaint. I know you had something to do with that vampire bitch's escape. It's only a matter of time before she is returned to me and your title as Floor Master is stripped away."Under normal circumstances, Shiroyasha might have reacted hostilely in the face of such slanderous insults. Instead, she just shook her head in exasperation before issuing a tired sigh and saying, "Your father was a good man. He wasn't without his faults but he always did his best to better the lives of his friends, his family, and his people. I pray, for his sake, that you survive this encounter..."Without waiting for Laius to respond, Shiroyasha promptly disappeared with her words still hanging in the air. At the same time, a massive screen appeared high overhead with the numbers 00:15:00 in large digital font. Over that were the words Preparation Phase, an indicator that both Communities had fifteen minutes to prepare their away teams and their respective Game Boards.Clicking his tongue, Laius leaped into the air, wings manifesting from his sandals as he flew toward the veritable army waiting for him in the rear. There were no restrictions on the number of people who could participate so he had prepared a literal batallion to protect his Game Board. He had also recruited a few temporary members from allied Communities since their agreement only stipulated that members of Perseus and the Sage Dragon's Hearth would become forfeit upon their defeat. In other words, even if he lost, the Sage Dragon's Hearth would get nothing."These fucking morons want to mess with me? Let's see how you swagger around after I'm finished plowing the members of your Community right in front of you...!"......Though he was angrier than he had been in a long time, Vahn appeared calm and collected by the time he reached his Community's waiting area. This was Sarina's and Nono's first official Gift Game so he didn't want them to worry by wearing a dour expression on his face. Instead, he caused both girls' hearts to skip a beat as he smiled even more radiantly than usual, his hands gently caressing their heads as he said, "You're up. Remember, you don't actually have to fight them. Just work with the Familias you familiarized yourselves with during your training."As they had already been exhaustively briefed on what they should do, even Sarina appeared a little exasperated by Vahn's reminder. They had also repeated the same thirty-day cycle a total of seven times, as, prior to Vahn's tinkering, the time dilation had only been 150. In other words, every time they went inside for six hours, approximately 37 days would pass.Simply put, the girls were now intimately familiar with what they needed to do to get a jump start in the Game Board templated from the anime version of Danmachi. Thus, in response to Vahn's words, Sarina answered, "Jeez, Vahn, you worry too much..." as a blush slowly developed across her face. As for Nono, she maintained a neutral expression on her face but surprised both of them by asking, "Is it okay to stay inside for the full duration?"Blinking in surprise, a genuinely befuddled, "Huh...?" emanated from Vahn's throat as images of a certain heterochromatic princess spontaneously appeared within his mind. It didn't even take him a microsecond to understand what she was aiming for, his expression hardening ever so slightly as he muttered, "Nono..."As if she understood exactly what Vahn was thinking, Nono shook her head, her blue eyes clear and devoid of even a trace of deceit as she said, "You misunderstand. I simply wish to work with Miach-sama to further my understanding of medicine and healing. Even if it's only for a few weeks longer, I want to try my best."Though he knew she was telling the truth, Vahn couldn't help manifesting Loi-chan to hear what she had to say regarding Nono's decision. To his surprise, the usually gossipy girl appeared with both hands covering her mouth, a mischievous glint in her eyes as she playfully mused, "Nuh-uh, not telling~!" before promptly disappearing with a snicker."..."Since there was little difference between Nono learning from him and learning from a literal God of Medicine, Vahn ultimately just shook his head in mild exasperation before answering, "Very well. As I have said before, everyone is ultimately responsible for the path they choose to walk. I have done my best to guide you till now. If you sincerely believe in this course of action, you have my full and unwavering support..."Smiling more radiantly than Vahn had ever seen, Nono's face visibly lit up as she pressed the tips of her fingers together and replied with a happy, "Thank you, Vahn! I knew you would understand~!"Restraining a dry chuckle, Vahn just continued to caress Nono's head as he shifted his attention to Sarina and asked, "What about you, Sarina? If you want, I can remove the thirty-day fail-safe for you as well. The clock isn't likely to run out but-""I'll do it! Nono already has a head start on me! There's no way I'll let her get even further ahead...!"A stark contrast to Nono, Sarina's intentions were transparently clear. This caused the already wry smile on Vahn's face to grow even more so, as, despite the progress she had made with Jin, Sarina had effectively forgotten about him after seven months in the Game Board. She has also managed to join the Loki Familia in her last three playthroughs, so, as much as he didn't want to admit it, his plan to set her up with Jin was already a lost cause...Suppressing a sigh, Vahn just nodded his head, saying, "Very well, then. If you believe you can hold out for six years, I'm not going to tell you no. Just promise me you won't get upset when everyone you interact with inside the Game Board inevitably resets..."Demonstrating an uncharacteristic amount of awareness, Sarina laughed heartily in response to Vahn's words before pumping her right fist and saying, "It's okay! I'm just treating this as practice for when I meet the real deal! You said they were super important to you so I need to make sure I can get along well with everyone! Ehehehehehe~."Though he got the impression her idea of 'getting along' would change quite a bit when she met the people she currently idolized, Vahn's heart melted when he heard Sarina's words. Unfortunately, the moment was ruined when her nostrils began to flare in a manner reminiscent of Loki when she was trying to grope Ais's breasts.........(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'You dun goofed...','Nono is a very earnest young lady...','Looks like Loki found a new apprentice...')(A/N: Sorry for the late post. Today was my birthday and rest day so I was a little busy xD.)https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

------------------------------------------------&lt;Fairytale in Perseus&gt;[Win Condition]Defeat the Leader representing the Host Community.[Hidden Conditions]None[Rules]1: The Leader of the Community that Hosts the Game is not allowed to leave the deepest part of the White Palace.2: The Participants from the Community that Hosts the Game are not allowed to enter the deepest part of the White Palace.3: Participants are not to let themselves be seen by members of the Host Community with the sole exception of the Leader.4: Participants that have been spotted will be seen as eliminated, hence losing the right to challenge the Leader.5: Participants who have been eliminated will only lose their right to challenge the Leader but can otherwise continue the Game.[Restrictions]1: Destruction of the Game Board: White Palace, is Prohibited.2: Gifts that overwrite the Divine Protection of the Little Garden are Prohibited.3: Gifts that inflict curses or injuries that persist beyond the duration of the Game are Prohibited.4: The area outside of the White Palace is considered a Forbidden Area.5: Teleportation and other forms of Spatial Movement are Prohibited.[Time Limit]000:000:01:58:54------------------------------------------------"Mmm...they're really pulling out all the stops, aren't they?"Though there were a few obvious loopholes he could exploit, the members of Perseus had come up with a relatively decent set of Rules and Restrictions. It was obvious this wasn't their first rodeo, but, while other people might struggle to infiltrate a Colosseum-like structure guarded by a batallion of highly skilled soldiers, several of which were invisible and capable of flight, Vahn was able to literally walk through the people guarding the premises.Waving his hand in front of a rather serious-looking individual, a smile spread across Vahn's face as he mused, "Guess they've never gone up against someone who is intangible and can shift from the Principle Axis of Reality. Unlucky."On that note, Vahn walked through the literal shield wall blocking the entrance to the Colosseum's depths. He harbored no ill will towards the lesser members of the Perseus Community. His conflict was with Laius, so, while he could have easily knocked each and every one of them unconscious without being spotted, he intended to wrap things up quickly so he wouldn't need to deal with a seventeen-year-old Sarina.With that in mind, Vahn stepped out into the arena located at the center of the Colosseum. There, her found Laius seated atop a golden throne with a lavish, royal purple background. He had a fierce expression on his face, and, based on how he was nervously tapping his armrest, the complete lack of any and all sounds of conflict was beginning to wear on him.Fortunately for Laius, there was something Vahn needed to take care of before teaching the youth a lesson in propriety. Thus, instead of simply walking up and smacking Laius while he was still seated on the throne, he allowed his existence to align with reality, saying, "Yo." the moment he came into view."...!?"Though he had already begun to suspect that Vahn had the means to turn invisible, Laius's eyes still widened when the former appeared at the exact center of the arena."Those useless fools...!"Slamming his fist on the throne's armrest, Laius rose to his feet with a half-crazed expression as he added, "Completely worthless, every single one of them...!"Instead of refuting Laius's claim, Vahn nodded his head in affirmation before adopting a smug grin and asking, "What did you expect when even you, their Leader, is a wastrel?"Glaring with an intensity that made it appear as though he was about to shoot lasers from his eyes, wings of bluish-white light emerged from Laius's ankles as he took to the sky and shouted, "That's it! You can all go to hell...!""Well, that was easy..."Seeing Laius grab the gorgon-like stone charm attached to his choker, Vahn's expression gradually relaxed. He had been worried that Laius might grow a brain and surrender. If that happened, his job would have become marginally more difficult."Awaken, Demon Lord Algol...!"Following his outburst, Laius extended his hand towards the sky as a massive bolt of malicious red lightning erupted from the charm in his hand. When it impacted the clouds above, they promptly turned a dark, bluish-purple as their interior swelled with the same red lightning."This is taking quite a while..."Though it was only a few seconds, even microseconds were a long period of time between beings at the highest level. To make matters even worse, Laius was fully focused on the clouds, completely oblivious to what was happening beneath him. Thus, by the time an even larger bolt of lightning hit the center of the arena, Vahn had already disappeared completely.Fully intending to gloat, Laius's arrogant expression quickly morphed into one of confusion as he looked around and saw no traces of Vahn. Shortly thereafter, his brow began to twitch violently as he shouted, "Do you think you can hide!? Algol, teach this idiot a lesson...!"Responding to Laius's command, a monstrous, purple-skinned humanoid with blood-red eyes, long purple hair, and frayed, angelic black wings released a shrill, high-pitched roar. At the same time, its clearly female frame began to swell in size, its body straining at the thick leather bindings and white padded clothes that gave it the appearance of an escaped mental patient.From within the creature's mouth, a reddish-purple light began to build until Vahn, appearing like a phantom, manifested right underneath her. She had grown to a height of around 2.5 meters at this point so it was pretty easy to look up at her as he asked, "You've suffered quite a bit, haven't you?"Instead of answering his question, the monster, Algol, arched its body forward to fire the beam of light point-blank into Vahn's face. This caused Laius's face to light up like the sky on New Year's, his expression becoming even more crazed as he began cackling like a madman. Algol's beams of light were capable of petrifying entire worlds, and, so long as she was empowered with Divinity, even the Gods would fall prey to her curse."Serves you right, you stupid mother-"Unable to finish his words, Laius's eyes widened as a clawed hand closed around the lower half of his face. At the same time, Algol, still standing in the middle of the arena, collapsed forward like a poorly balanced statue."To be honest, I don't really give a damn about you, your words, or even your actions. If you never appeared before me, you could have lived your entire life without having to fear my wrath. Instead, you keep opening this stupid little mouth of yours without any consideration for the consequences. It's clear to me you've lived a very sheltered life. Allow me to introduce you to the real world."Though he did his best to kick and punch free of Vahn's grasp, Laius couldn't even get the former to flinch as his hand gradually tightened around his face and jaw. He even tried to pull out one of his father's most powerful Gifts, a hooked sword known as the Harpe. In legends, it was the sword that cut off the head of Medusa, and, as a result, it gained the unique ability to cut down Gods and slay Celestial Spirits.Unfortunately, despite mustering every ounce of his strength, Laius barely managed to nick Vahn's neck as the latter mercilessly crushed his lower jaw."Oops. It looks like you won't be able to surrender. Guess that means you're stuck with me until time runs out or you lose the right to participate."On that note, Vahn released Laius from his grasp, a tremendous volume of blood staining his hand as the formerly arrogant man held his jaw and released an excruciatingly pained whimper. It mostly came out as a gargle due to his jaw hanging freely from the tendons, but, compared to the words he had been speaking beforehand, it might as well be music to Vahn's ears."You know, I don't normally do things like this. Even if you were the kind of person who exploited children and performed all manner of profane acts, my normal modus operandi is to simply kill my enemies and return them to the cycle of reincarnation. Since that isn't an option this time around, I have decided to spend the next hour or so teaching you your first lesson in Buddhist Principles...life is suffering..."Without affording Laius the time to process what he had just said, Vahn pointed to the ground, his voice resonating through the void as he stated, "You do not have my permission to fly..."......While Vahn was busy teaching Laius a lesson, a much calmer version of the empathic Emperor was looking down at Algol with a wry smile on his face. He had used his own variation of Severing Laws to sever any fate she had with Laius. This included the contract that had effectively turned her into a monster, so, rather than a malicious-looking demon, Vahn currently found himself looking down on a young girl with pale purple skin and long, dark-purple hair..."I already expected as much, but why are all the Star Class Demon Lords legal lolis or perverted old men? I'm starting to think the creator of the world is a bit of a pervert..."Shaking his head, Vahn dismissed that train of thought as he knelt down and placed the tips of his index and middle fingers against the crown of Algol's head. The moment he did, a frown formed on his face, as, even after removing the contract that bound her, the damage she had sustained to her mind was irreversible. Algol was part of the first generation Problem Children alongside Shiroyasha and a Sadomasochistic woman known as Queen Halloween. She was an extremely prideful person, so, in her attempts to break free from the mental shackles imposed upon her by Athena, Aphrodite, and Artemis, she had basically ruined her mind. He could heal her physical injuries but most of what made Algol the person she was had been destroyed."I'm starting to get a little fed up with how the Olympians of every world are basically monsters..."(*It's because they are the most 'human' amongst the Gods in various pantheons. I can't speak for the people who came up with the originals, but I believe they were intended to represent the most extreme aspects of humanity. Fortunately, this is the Divine Realm. If you can obtain their Fragment of Origin, you can basically recreate the Olympians across all realities. Kind of like what you did with Ishtar back in the Nasuverse.*)Though he was about to argue that it wouldn't be right to just arbitrarily change history, the words got caught in Vahn's throat when he heard Sis's remark about Ishtar. He hadn't really thought about it but there wasn't much of a difference between using a Page of the Akashic Tome and redefining a God's existence by obtaining their Fragment of Origin...Exhaling a sigh, Vahn muttered, "I'll think about it...I mean, it's only a matter of time before I govern over all realities. Fixing a few issues along the way wouldn't hurt..."With that in mind, Vahn sent a surge of energy into Algol's body to rouse the sleeping demon from her slumber. When she opened her eyes, tremendous confusion could be seen within the depths of her ruby-red irises. Vahn was going to ask if she was okay, but, before the words could form on his lips, the petite demoness looked up at him with a pleasantly surprised look on her face as she said, "Wow, you're pretty cute. Mind telling this beautiful Onee-san your name? If you're honest, I might give you a reward~?""..."......(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Nothing to see here~','The Path to Enlightenment is filled with pain and suffering. Humu...','Shiroyasha be rolling on the floor laughing...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Though he expected her to jump up and have another outburst, Asuka surprised everyone by rising to her feet, fixing her dress, issuing a light cough, and sitting down with her eyes closed. Then, as if the last thirty seconds hadn't taken place, she opened them with a serious expression on her face as she asked, "Why are you here? Surely you didn't come all this way simply to lecture us? Didn't your contract with the No Names expire the moment we were summoned?""Wow. You bounce back quickly, don'tcha...?"Ignoring Izayoi's remark, Asuka continued to stare at Vahn as if she were preparing to engage in a business transaction. This earned her an amused smile from the latter, who, after several seconds of silence, answered, "It's simple. Now that our contract with the No Names has expired, I intended to invite you all to join the Burgeoning Communities Accord. For details-""Not happening/Pass."Directing an accusatory look towards Izayoi for daring to talk over her, Asuka cleared her throat a second time before stating, "The No Names do not require your protection. Now that the three of us have arrived, we will watch over and protect them using our own means. If we wanted the easy way out, we would have joined a more prestigious Community from the start."Though he didn't disagree with what Asuka was saying, Vahn shifted his attention to Jin. She might view herself as the future Leader of the No Names, but, for the time being, the only one who could decide their Community's fate was Jin and Jin alone.Fortunately, Jin was a very perceptive young man. He had also put a tremendous amount of effort into growing stronger, so, while he would prefer to keep relations between their two Communities genial, he also desired to see how far they could grow and develop on their own. Thus, after a long moment of silence, he briefly exchanged glances with Lily before declaring, "The No Names will not be joining the Burgeoning Communities Accord.""Master Jin...!"Not expecting Jin to turn down Vahn's offer, Black Rabbit's hair burst into pink light as she became visibly flustered.Before the befuddled bunny could get too riled up, Vahn plopped his hand atop her head, gently caressing the space between her ears as he said, "Relax. This is a good thing. After all, I can't keep babysitting them forever.""But Vahn..."Shaking his head, Vahn leaned down to plant a kiss atop Black Rabbit's forehead before adopting a casual smile and adding, "Have more faith in the Community your friends built. Jin might be young but he has the makings of a great leader. As for these three...they're a little rough around the edges but they have tremendous potential. Once they catch their stride, I might actually have to watch my back. Or, at the very least, protect my ankles..."Directing his gaze towards Izayoi, Vahn earned a snort from the blond-haired youth by sending him a wink. He wasn't actually afraid that the young hero would ever catch up to him, but, considering how powerful the opponents he was expected to defeat were, it wasn't entirely impossible for them to catch up. He would just need to laze about and do nothing.Unfortunately for them, Vahn, quite literally, had time on his side. He also had trouble sitting still for too long, so, shortly after his offer had been rejected, he invited Black Rabbit to accompany him for a date before promptly departing the land of the No Names.........After spending part of his morning watching anime and cuddling with Fenrir, Vahn tracked Sarina and Nono to the Library. He wasn't too surprised to find Nono sitting at the mahogany desk he sometimes used, but, considering how she forced Jin to read and explain things at her behest, it was a little surprising to see Sarina curled up on one of the sofas with a book in hand."Well, this is a pleasant surprise. However, shouldn't the two of you be getting ready? I noticed your bento boxes sitting on the counter. Make sure you eat before class begins."Though Nono simply marked the page she was reading before promptly closing it with a smile, Sarina practically jumped from her position on the sofa when she heard Vahn's words. She was able to catch herself, but, considering she attempted to hide the book she was reading behind her back, it was pretty obvious she was up to some mischief.Since it wasn't really his business what the girls did in their free time, Vahn pretended to have no idea what Sarina was up to as he turned away and said, "I'll see you in about forty minutes. Don't forget to change into your uniforms."On that note, Vahn promptly departed the library. This caused Sarina to exhale a sigh of relief, but, before she could completely relax, Nono chimed in to remind her, "Have you forgotten? Vahn sees and knows everything that takes place in the Sage Dragon's Hearth. What reason is there to try and hide things from him?"Though she was perennially bashful around Vahn, Nono could speak in full and unbroken sentences when she really wanted to. Her time with the No Names had helped her break out of her shell. She had also gotten used to Sarina's antics, so, while her voice was still soft and delicate, it often carried a teasing undertone whenever she conversed with her 'Onee-san'.Paling in response to Nono's words, Sarina retrieved the book she had haphazardly stowed behind a cushion before whimpering, "He's going to think I'm a pervert..."Squinting her eyes ever so slightly, Nono resisted the temptation to remind Sarina that reading a book was far from the most perverted thing she had done. She had attempted to time her bath with Vahn's, and, after learning he handmade many of their undergarments, she even offered to assist him as a live model. Indulging in a medical text related to the male anatomy was relatively tame in comparison. Rather, if they couldn't treat boys in the future, more than half their potential clients would be ostracized...After quickly organizing her thoughts, Nono surprised Sarina quite a bit by asking, "And? What's so bad about that? It's perfectly normal for girls our age to be interested in such things. Do you really think Vahn would resent us over something so trivial? If that were the case, he wouldn't have left to give you a chance to collect yourself."Blinking in surprise, Sarina ignored most of what Nono said. Instead, she focused on one specific part of her explanation, asking, "You also have these kinds of thoughts? I tried talking to Lily and she said I'm not old enough to worry about the relationships between men and women..."Though a rather potent blush colored her cheeks, Nono didn't attempt to dodge Sarina's question. Instead, she stared in the direction that Vahn had departed, a somewhat wistful look in her eyes as she said, "Of course I do...how could I not? Vahn is the most amazing person I've ever met. He cares for us in such a manner it would be impossible not to have such thoughts..."Seeing the 'mature' expression on Nono's face, Sarina's formed into a slight pout as she exhaled a sigh and muttered, "I knew it...you're also gunning for Vahn, aren't you?"Bringing a finger to her lips, Nono tilted her head to the side as if she were in deep thought before surprising Sarina a second time by saying, "Not really.""Eh...?"Not expecting such a response, Sarina couldn't help staring slack-jawed at the auburn-haired girl who, even now, was looking at the spot where Vahn had departed.Feeling Sarina's gaze on her, Nono's smile gained an ostensibly amused look as she turned to meet the former's gaze and plainly state, "I don't have to. I'm happy just being around Vahn. He cares for me in ways I never could have imagined prior to coming to the Divine Realm. Even if things stay like this for the next ten years, I'm sure I'll be just as happy then as I am now. Besides..."Turning away from the befuddled Sarina, a desirous light reflected in the depths of Nono's eyes as she added, "When he believes I'm ready, Vahn will come to me..."......Restraining the urge to laugh, Vahn had a somewhat silly smile on his face as he fed Usalia spoonfuls of curry. She was currently half-laying across the table, eyes closed with a defeated look on her face as she absentmindedly ate whatever he brought near her mouth. As for the reason? She had made the mistake of insisting she was perfectly capable of looking after their kittens on her own. This was the result of a single morning."I'm so tired, plip. How do you manage to stay so busy without ever getting tired? It's not fair..."Without missing a beat, Vahn proferred forth another bite of curry as he answered, "I guess I draw energy from the people around me? All I know is I feel revitalized and full of energy every time I lay eyes on you and our adorable children.""Muuuu..."Though she groaned in defiance, Usalia was unable to prevent her tail from waggling in response to Vahn's words. She even felt as though her energy was beginning to return, so, after eating another spoonful of curry, she promptly sat up, spread her arms, and said, "Hold me, plip. I'm going to take my energy back."Restraining yet another chuckle, Vahn hooked his hands beneath Usalia's armpits before picking her up from across the table. She would probably take a bite out of him if he spoke his thoughts aloud but this was one of the benefits of having an inordinately petite frame. She was exceptionally easy to pick up and carry around. If they were to walk around outside, passersby might literally mistake them as parent and child.Fortunately, despite being a Star-Class Demon, Usalia didn't possess any mental or mind-reading abilities. Thus, while she could sometimes sense when he was thinking rude thoughts, Vahn could usually get away with regarding her as the cute and lovable existence she was. He was also quite fond of holding people, so, while no one else was looking, he enjoyed carrying Usalia around and gently caressing her back until she invariably fell asleep in his arms.........Though they arrived a little late, Vahn wasn't going to harp over punctuality when their classes often ran late. Instead, he waited for the two girls to take their seats before rising from his own and saying, "As I mentioned previously, I intend to have the two of you participate in the upcoming Rite of Challenge. To prepare you for this, you will be spending six hours a day living in my Game Board. How you choose to spend that time is ultimately up to you. Just know that, unless someone tries to target and take advantage of you, I will not be stepping in. In other words, even if you join up with a Familia and enter into the Dungeon, I will not be there to protect you. If you're not careful, there is a very real chance you'll lose your life. This might only result in you being ejected from the Game Board, but, as the pain and hunger you'll be experiencing are very real, I would advise you to work together and take every precaution you can think of..."Hearing that they would be spending six hours a day in what basically amounted to a foreign and hostile world, both Sarina and Nono adopted conflicted looks on their faces. Nono, in particular, wasn't a fan of violence. She also had trouble interacting with new people so there was a chance she would freeze up the moment someone tried to approach her. This was something Vahn was well aware of. In fact, it was one of the many reasons he had chosen this particular type of training. As for the others? He wanted the girls to experience his original world for themselves. Thus, before either could protest, he adopted a kind smile and began telling them all about the Hestia, Loki, and Hephaestus Familias.........(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'I can actually imagine Vahn wearing greaves to guard his ankles once Izayoi begins to increase in strength...','Cuddle bunny (U w U)...','Aka: Nightmare, Hard, and Easy Modes')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Chapter 2113: Crossing the Line