Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

After resting for a few hours Vahn awoke to the sound of another notification within his mind.//Milan Yuel: Intrigue - 1//Confused, Vahn called up the system log to see what happened while he was asleep.//System Log////Milan Yuel: Affection +1////Milan Yuel: Intrigue - 1////Milan Yuel: Intrigue +1////Milan Yuel: Intrigue - 1////Milan Yuel: Intrigue - 1//("This must be the extra details Sis talked about when I touched the aura of someone using 'View Affection'. It seems to show me whenever the values change. But why would they change when I'm nowhere near them?")(*The reason is simple Vahn. Imagine if you were really angry at someone, but then they left for an extended period of time. Your anger would diminish over time, and if they were gone long enough it may cease entirely.*)Vahn had a small epiphany after listening to Sis's explanation. ("So you're saying that peoples thoughts and feelings change based on exposure, time, and other factors?")(*Yes, but you should keep in mind that everyone is unique. Different people may respond in unexpected ways, and time may even enhance certain emotions.*)He could understand what she meant. Even though he had never had the opportunity to spend time with his Mother, his affection for her had only grown with time. Other than experiencing everything the 'records' had to offer, it was the primary force driving him forward.*sounds of stomach-sama demanding your attention*Hearing the protest of his stomach Vahn quickly left the room, making sure to lock the door on his way out. Though he hadn't left any valuables inside, he actually enjoyed the thought of locking away his own little personal space that nobody had free access to.On his way down he came across the small girl who was shuffling between several tables serving food to the other guests. Noticing his appearance, she immediately began to back away before saying, "My mother said you were a guest~nya. And to make sure not to let you touch my ears or tail~nya."Hearing what the girl said, the surrounding customers all burst out laughing."Hahahaha, you tell 'im lass. Don't be gettin' handsy now y'hear!" said one man with a deep baritone voice."Aye, you tell 'im Jim! Keep yer filthy mitts off our lit'le Tina!" shouted his companion while raising a flagon of ale.Vahn didn't know what to say in response to the ruckus of the crowd. He looked helplessly at the young girl that seemed to be terrified of him and noticed her aura was a wispy purple color. Though he wanted to 'touch' her and see her values, he assumed it would probably make the situation worse.Giving up, he waved towards the Proprietress who seemed to be enjoying his misery and left the Inn.//Milan Yuel: Intrigue + 5////Milan Yuel: Affection + 2//The moment the notification sounded, he almost tripped which caused another round of laughter to erupt behind him.//Milan Yuel: Affection + 1//He quickly left the area before asking a passerby for directions. Tonight he had decided to visit one of the more popular places in the manga, the 'Hostess of Fertility'. That was where Bell had met the silver-haired beauty Syr Flova and was also the workplace of Ryuu Lion who was one of his favorite characters. He wasn't sure if they were working there yet, but it would still be worth it to visit. He remembered it being one of the most famous places in the City due to its all-women staff and incredible food.After nearly half an hour traveling by foot, Vahn finally arrived at the 'Hostess of Fertility'. It boasted a size similar to the Guild office, and also had three floors that seemed capable of housing hundreds of guests with ease. Vahn could smell a captivating aroma escaping the slightly ajar double-doors. It was the first time in both his lives that the simple smell of food was able to dominate his senses.*the sound of Cthulhu awakening from its thousand year slumber (A/N: This is his stomach*With a rising anticipation, he entered through the doors and was immediately welcomed."Welcome to the Hostess of Fertility~nya. Will you be dining in tonight~?"Vahn looked towards the voice and saw a black-haired Cat Person with green eyes smiling at him with a dangerous look in her eyes. She seemed rather petite at 158cm but was still slightly taller than he was. Her aura was a mixture of yellow surrounded by an almost illusory pink. (A/N: I switched to cm by suggestion, since not a lot of people liked meters for height. BTW, Vahn is 150cm tall right now~)"Nyaa~? It's not nice to stare Mr. Customer~" She seemed to be admonishing him, but the smile on her face grew to the point it reached her eyes causing her to squint slightly.Snapping out of his stupor, Vahn gave a polite nod before saying, "Sorry about that miss. And yes, I'd like to dine-in tonight. I've heard great things about this restaurant and had to experience it for myself."While guiding him towards an area near the bar she couldn't help but ask, "What great things have you heard~nya?"Without thinking about his response, Vahn replied, "They say this place has cute women and great food." Immediately after the words left his mouth, he felt a slight shiver down his spine."Cute women~nya? Does that include me?" She gave him her most playful look as she put her finger to her chin and tilted her head.Vahn didn't know why, but he felt a sense of danger in the look as he noticed the aura around her become a deeper shade.Swallowing his saliva he responded with a smile, "O-of course."Hearing his response, the Cat Person leaned towards him with a seemingly malicious grin. "Oh, and what part of me is cute~nya?" She couldn't help but tease the young boy further.Thoughts rapidly spun through Vahn's mind as she inched closer and closer towards his face. When she was less than a foot from him, he blurted out the first thing that he could think of. "Your hair and ears are definitely very cute!"The woman seemed to freeze slightly and Vahn noticed the ears on her head begin to noticeably twitch. The aura emitting from her body began to fluctuate slightly. Thinking he may have offended her, he was preparing his apology when she suddenly interrupted him."My name is Chloe Lolo, what is your name~nya?"Vahn noticed her eyes seemed to shimmer with an 'evil' light and felt compelled to answer. "My name? Vahn Mason?""Vahn Mason~? How old are you Vahn~?" Based on her demeanor, she almost seemed to be interrogating him.As he prepared his answer, another voice cut in from across the bar. "Chloe, you're terrifying the poor boy. Take his order and get back to work, or I'll find someone else to take care of him!"After the voice sounded, Chloe assumed a more professional stance and bowed slightly towards Vahn. "Forgive me~nya. I didn't mean to pressure you, I just couldn't help myself~nya."Unsure of what had just happened, Vahn nodded slightly before giving his order to Chloe. As she passed by to submit the order to the kitchen, she made sure to swipe her tail secretly across his hand.Feeling the unexpectedly soft touch, Vahn looked in her direction and saw her give a wink before turning away.//Chloe Lolo: Affection + 7////Chloe Lolo: Intrigue + 11//As he heard the notifications within his mind, Vahn couldn't help but feel like he was navigating through a minefield and had forgotten the layout.The woman who had spoken out earlier to admonish Chloe saw his expression and walked over."Don't let her get to you kid. She gets that way sometimes when dealing with some of the younger boys. You need to learn to have a little backbone or someone will walk all over you in the future."Vahn nodded his head and looked towards her as she went about serving the customers at the bar. Though she looked a bit different from the manga, he was able to easily determine her identity. She was Mia Grande, the Proprietress of the 'Hostess of Fertility'. She was around 180cm tall and had filled out in various areas due to her age. She had brown hair and eyes that both seemed to glisten in the taverns' light. Though Vahn knew she was pushing into her 50s, she still maintained a youthful vigor likely due to her secret as being one of the few Level 6s in the City.While he was waiting for his food he began to look around to see if he could recognize anyone else. Though he wasn't able to see the appearance of Syr or Ryuu, he did spot Anya Fromel and Lunoire Faust. They were both going around in their waitress attire and Vahn couldn't help but smile seeing their interactions with other customers."Enjoying the sight~nya?""Mmm." Vahn nodded his head in response before jolting his body and turning towards the voice.Chloe was standing there with his food and had been observing him as he looked around the pub. Though she found it amusing at first, she couldn't help but get annoyed when he hadn't noticed her presence for such a long period of time. Seeing that Mama Mia was busy with other customers, she decided to 'punish' Vahn for ignoring her.Placing his food on the bar, she sat down on the stool immediately to his left which was a slight blind spot unless Mama Mia looked directly over here. She turned towards Vahn with a big grin before gesturing at his plate."Go ahead~. Eat up~nya."Feeling the hair on the back of his neck rise, Vahn smiled as he picked up the fork and looked at his plate. Though the meal looked unlike any he had previously seen, he couldn't help but feel like he was about to eat his last meal...Slowly spooling the noodles called spaghetti, Vahn began to bring it to his mouth only to stop once his nose had caught the smell of the dish. Releasing all his previous anxiety, he couldn't help but close his eyes and inhale deeply the rich aromatic fragrance. After several long breaths, Vahn finally put the food into his mouth as he was assaulted by the vibrant array of herbs and spices.It almost felt like his soul was leaving his body and he was about to transmigrate to another world. He savored every single instance as he slowly chewed the richly textured noodles and perfectly spiced meat sauce. Before this moment, he didn't even know food could taste so good. In his previous life, he was fed almost exclusively vitamin supplements and nutrient cocktails. Ever since coming to this world he had the opportunity to sample various wild fruits and vegetables as well as wild game. He had mistakenly assumed the bland taste of the meat he roasted was something high-class since it tasted so much better than what he had back in the labs..."Ano~ Why are you crying~nya? Did I go too far?"Hearing a voice of concern, Vahn looked towards Chloe and saw an apologetic expression on her face as she stared at him. Reaching his free hand to his face, he noticed he was actually crying over the taste of the food.Embarrassed, he could help but look away as he said, "No, it's not your fault. The food was just so good that I..."Sighing in relief, Chloe noticed that Mama Mia had been looking in this direction and panicked slightly. Instead of saying anything, Mia just gave a subtle thumbs up and then indicated for her to return to work.Vahn continued to eat after Chloe left and even took the opportunity to order seconds. After finishing the second plate and paying his tab, he got ready to leave. On his way out Chloe personally sent him out and got him to promise to come back when she was on her shift.On his way home he seemed to remember the notifications from earlier and decided to see the affection values for Chloe.'View Affection: Chloe Lolo {[Affection: 64[Interested], Intrigue:71[Desire to Pet]}Seeing the value for Intrigue, Vahn couldn't help but feel a cold sweat for what seemed like the 10th time this evening. What does it mean 'Desire to Pet'!?Lamenting at the implications, Vahn returned to his room and passed out in exhaustion.

Vahn awoke early the next morning and gave a cursory glance at the system log. He noted there weren't many changes in Milan's affection, but Chloe's had increased overnight. Seeing the strange description 'Desire to Pet' Vahn quickly closed the log.He spent a few minutes washing his face and using water from the 'Decanter of Replenishment'. Afterward, he performed some routine maintenance on his equipment before heading downstairs.Preparing to leave the Inn, he noticed someone new at the counter. She was a human girl, around 17-18 years old with black hair neatly arranged into a long braid flowing over her shoulder. Her purple eyes seemed to droop a bit towards the end giving her a gentle expression. Noticing his presence she displayed a gentle smile and waved.Vahn returned a smile of his own with a curt nod as he exited the Inn. Today was an important day and he wanted to get an early start. If she was a permanent worker at the Inn, he would have plenty of time to interact with her in the future.He turned to walk towards the massive tower in the center of the City. Today he was planning to enter the dungeon for the first time. As he made his way along the road he couldn't help but increase his pace a bit.Along the way, several people gave him curious glances but he would worry about that later. He had almost used some of his stockpiled OP to purchase new clothing but wanted to see how far he could get into the dungeon relying on his current equipment. If things were more difficult than he expected he would upgrade his gear before making a second attempt.Due to his increased pace, he managed to reach the tower in under twenty minutes. Before entering he looked up to take in the view of the tower from its base. He remembered from the manga that the tower had been built by the Gods to seal the dungeon below. It should be 50 floors tall and from where he stood it almost seemed to pierce into the heavens. The top could be seen, but it was almost a blur that disappeared into the atmosphere above. He couldn't imagine how long it would take to go to the top...Vahn entered the first floor of Babel and was surprised to see the number of adventurers present. He wasn't the only person that decided to enter the dungeon first thing in the morning. He observed the hustle and bustle before making his way towards a desk near the stairwell leading downwards into the earth.Entering one of the open windows, Vahn met his first elf in this world. At around 178cm with golden hair and green eyes stood an elven male. He had very smooth facial features giving a bit of ambiguity to his gender, but his style and the way he carried himself answered any questions observers might have. His hair was short and combed back giving him a very princely look, and the expression in his eyes was intelligent and intimidating.Noticing the approach of the human child before him, Nicholas Grimm waved him over. He had a good memory for faces and was often posted outside the dungeon, so he assumed this human child was likely a new adventurer or freelancer. Though it didn't concern him much, he knew it damaged the Guild's bottom line when adventurers died within the dungeon."Good morning. I assume you would like information about the dungeon before entering?"Vahn nodded while observing the peculiar green aura emitted by the elf receptionist."Very well, you can exchange 100 Valis for a map of the first four floors of the dungeon. Though the layout changes on the deeper floors, the upper levels remain relatively consistent and we update the maps weekly. For first-timers, it's one of our most recommended items. We also have several volumes that cover the ecology and weakness of various monsters."Vahn listened as the elf tried to offer him various items for purchase. After selecting books about kobolds and dungeon lizards the man started to explain various other hazards that might appear in the dungeon. Vahn was surprised with how much detail the man put into his explanation, and had Sis keep a log so he could review it later. Lastly, the man had Vahn fill out his information like address and expected time of stay within the dungeon. He was told that if he failed to leave within the written time, they would wait 72 hours before informing the people listed on the contacts of his disappearance. After everything was said and done, Vahn finally entered the dungeon.The first floor was a wide-open path with brackish blue walls and a peculiar off-green colored floor. Vahn wasn't the only person walking along the path, but everyone seemed to stick to their own groups so he didn't go out of his way to bother them. Though he had expected to encounter monster immediately upon entering the dungeon, they seemed to spawn infrequently and were eliminated quickly by others.Creating some distance between himself and all the other groups, Vahn made his way through a corridor that branched off of the main pathway. At this point, he was proactively trying to map as much as he could using the auto-mapping function of the system. Everything within his line of sight was updated in detail within the minimap displayed within the periphery of his vision.He tried not to focus on the map too much as it wouldn't really increase his progress and might even distract him. He knew it would become a valuable asset whenever he tried to backtrack in the future and was satisfied only checking it periodically.Fifteen minutes into his first dive, Vahn finally encountered a monster. Eight meters ahead of his current position, the wall seemed to open and 'spit' out a form he instantly recognized. With the familiar creature in sight, Vahn equipped his bow and dispatched the goblin with a single arrow.Approaching the area where the goblin fell, Vahn bent over to pick up the crystal left behind.("I may have to go deeper into the dungeon if I want to test myself. Goblins in small groups don't pose any threat to me anymore.")(*Vahn! Look out!*)Hearing the shout of Sis within his mind, Vahn leaped forward and rolled along the ground. He rebounded to his feet and saw the creature that had just tried to sneak attack him. Standing in the spot he had just occupied stood a second goblin wielding a small wood club. Vahn could see behind it two more goblins being spit out of the wall.The closet goblin lunged towards him and Vahn had to re-open the distance to take aim. Unlike the goblins on the surface, this one seemed to be much quicker as it was easily able to close the distance towards Vahn who was back-stepping. Swinging its club, Vahn managed to intercept with his bow before kicking the goblin away during the resulting struggle.Before the goblin was able to find its footing, Vahn immediately loosed an arrow into its body turning it to dust. Not missing a beat, he continued to open the distance and fired two more arrows into the other goblins who were trying to close the gap and attack. They both turned into dust as Vahn released a sigh he had been withholding. He carefully looked around to see if there were any other goblins trying to sneak up on him.Unlike the forest where he was able to make use of the terrain to stealth-kill goblins, in open areas like this where monsters could spawn freely he had to always be alert. When the dungeon released monsters it was almost soundless, and Vahn almost paid the price for his negligence.("Even though I thought goblins didn't pose a threat, I was almost forced to swallow my words...The fact that the goblins are able to spawn in such close proximity makes the bow less effective. I'm too reliant on attacking things from a distance which isn't suitable for someone soloing the dungeon.")Vahn re-assigned his bow to the secondary slot and equipped the dagger he had received when he first arrived in this world. He hadn't used it since his breakaway from the goblin sentries, and it's low attack value made it unreliable if he wanted to fight stronger monsters.("Sis, please filter through the list and purchase a dagger that is about twice as strong as this one...no, wait! Instead of a dagger make it a sword. It has better range and looks a lot cooler than a small knife.")(*Confirmed, purchasing 'Runic Tamahagane Blade' for 2,000 OP.*)At this point Vahn had saved a total of 51,790 OP, so he wasn't worried about the loss of two-thousand. What caught his attention was the large black sword that had appeared before him. Its total length was 130 cm, with the blade taking up 3/4 of that total. When he picked it up he was surprised at how light it felt compared to its size.Taking a look at his surroundings, Vahn stood with his back to a wall so he could see anyone approaching. Afterward, he decided to quickly inspect the new sword.'Runic Tamahagane Blade'Rank:(A), MagicSlots: 2P.Atk: 510+50M.Atk: 180A sword reforged countless time by a young blacksmith from the 'Far East' who aspired to become the greatest in the land. Upon his death, his friend enchanted the blade using an ancient technique in hopes that his friends' dream would become a reality.Vahn was surprised at the attack value of the sword, but it made sense given the increased size. He gave it a few practice swings, and even though it felt 'light' his arms began to tire after a while.("I'll have to focus on landing decisive strikes if I don't want to tire myself out. But I can use this as an opportunity to further my training.")As the last test before he moved on, Vahn began to channel his 'source' energy into the sword while watching its stats. It seemed to take far more energy than the bow and arrow, but he noticed as the runes began to glow that the sword actually became lighter. Another thing was the fact that the P.Atk of the sword remained unchanged while the M.Atk seemed to increase rapidly.Vahn continued to channel magic into the sword until all of the runes began to glow. The blade began to hum and whenever he swung it, the sword felt as light as a feather in his hands. The coolest thing was how the blade now left a trail of light wherever he swung. He noticed that the M.Atk was now 1800, 10x the initial value. Curious about the effect he decided to attack the nearest wall.The moment the sword contacted the wall Vahn was surprised. The expected impact never came and the sword seemed to pass effortlessly through the dense dungeon wall. It seemed that the magic not only decreased the weight but also enhanced the sharpness to an insane degree. Even as a novice in swordsmanship, as long as he managed to hit the target he would likely be able to kill it.Marveling at how powerful an item that cost 2000 points was, Vahn made a determination to stockpile as much as he could for the future. He would still buy consumables and upgrade his equipment when needed, but now it had become his goal to buy an item that cost 100,000, no, 1,000,000 OP!//Quest Triggered//[Quest: Birth of a Legend]Rank: SSHeroes are as famous as the weapons they wield. Even a lowly squire can become a Legend when wielding a sword forged by the Gods. Condition: Exchange 1,000,000 OP with the system to obtain a random weapon.Rewards: 'Gacha Function Unlocked', 10+1 Premium Gacha pull, 1000 KarmaFailure Condition: Death, 12 months pass [364D23H58M], Spend more than 100,000 OP [4,997/100,000]Penalty: All items within the inventory destroyed. Shop Function disabled for 12 months. Equipment items become cursed for 1 month [cursed items cannot be removed]Vahn smiled. If 'The Path' wanted to challenge his conviction, he wouldn't let it down. He turned towards the depths of the dungeon and continued to walk forward...

At a cafe located outside of the Guild of Orario, a beautiful woman sat staring aimlessly as adventurers went about their business. Seated across from her was a handsome gentleman with a fervent expression as he made an earnest effort to try and earn her attention.The woman sighed in her mind. Listening to the feeble attempts of the fool across from her, she began to wonder why she had allowed him to accompany her in the first place. As a God, his looks were pleasing to the eye, but after a time she had grown bored with his company.As the fool drolled on endlessly, she continued to stare at the various adventures. It had become a past time of hers to seek out those with talent, and she often spent her free time observing any newcomers entering and exiting the establishment. Unlike the seemingly unchanging Gods she often associated with, she had gained an appreciation for the seemingly endless variations of mortals. To her, they were the only excitement in the perpetuity of her life. She especially liked those with unique souls harboring untold potential for growth.She grew progressively more dissatisfied with the company of her fellow God and began to ignore him entirely. Just as she was about to dismiss him and conclude her hobby for the day, she noticed a peculiarity within the flow of people. There stood a young boy, garbed in black attire from head to toe. Compared the vibrancy of the rest of the crowd, he stood out as he began moving further down the street almost as if opposing the flow of everyone else. Ordinarily, she would dismiss his existence as a mild anomaly that lacked tact and common sense, but for reasons uncertain, she continued to follow the boy with her eyes.Sensing the change in atmosphere, the male God followed the sight of the Goddess he was trying to woo. There he observed an unkempt boy barely considered a young man. The boy was garbed in a black tunic that seemed to absorb the light, whereas the rest of his clothing was simply tacky and soiled.Testing the waters he looked towards the Goddess and spoke. "He his dressed rather...interestingly, isn't he? I wonder how he can walk so calmly through the crowd dressed in such a foolish outfit. Maybe he is trying to become a clown?" he laughed at his own joke.Hearing the abrasive sound, the female Goddess flinched before scornfully turning towards the foolish God."You may leave. I've grown bored with your company. Perhaps you should consider evaluating yourself before you so carelessly speak of others."Angered by the admonishment he experienced, the God stood up before lashing out. "Freya, don't think you're so much better than everyone else just because your Familia is a little bit bigger. We don't all have the same 'benefits' to provide our children."A gleam passed through the eyes of Freya as she sized up the insect in front of her. "Oh? You make it sound like you weren't wishing to enjoy those same 'benefits'. You must feel so inferior that mortals are able to experience something you'll never be able to obtain.""Y-y-you! How dare you insult me in such a manner!?" he shouted.Freya looked directly into his eyes and waited for several breaths before speaking. "Do you perhaps wish for a 'War'?"The male God immediately stopped any words that were able to leave his throat. He stared into the eyes of Freya and saw the seriousness contained within. With cold sweat dripping down his back, he bowed slightly towards her in his most gentlemanly manner."I spoke out of turn. If you'll please excuse me, I have other matters to attend." Without waiting for her response he immediately left the private booth, desperate to escape the pressure of the gaze at his back.Freya continued to watch as he exited the room. She made a special note to have Ottarl disappear some of the foolish Gods' children in the near future.Turning towards the window, she looked for the silhouette of the boy that had caught her eye. After about two minutes she eventually gave up and prepared to leave for the day. She was unable to understand just what had caught her eye about the abnormal child but decided that if they crossed paths in the future she would be certain to discover the reason.Meanwhile, Vahn continued his journey towards the tower of Babel. After about twenty minutes he had arrived in an area that seemed to double as both residential area and marketplace. Considering it would be beneficial to live in an area with readily available commodities that was also in close proximity to the Guild, Vahn decided to enter a nearby Inn called 'The Hearths Embrace'.Entering the Inn, Vahn caught the attention of a uniformed girl who seemed to be around 10 years old. She had chestnut brown hair split into two lively pigtails. Her most notable feature was the cat ears that danced playfully on the top of her head. The ears accented the relatively plain facial features of the girl who still had a bit of baby fat in her cheeks.The girl looked towards Vahn with her large golden eyes and shouted, "Weeeeeeeeeeeeeelcome~! Would you like to stay the nya-ight~? Or would you like to order some food~nya?"Vahn was completely at a loss as he stared directly at the twitching ears on the girls head. Though he knew of their existence and had even seen a girl with rabbit ears from a distance, he was caught off guard by the overwhelming presence of the girl before him. He couldn't pull his eyes away from the ears....("Ah, they twitched!")The girl began to back away under the gaze of the boy in front of her. Though she didn't sense any danger coming from the look, it still made her rather uncomfortable."Mooooooooooooom, there is a customer that needs you~nya!" She shouted before running into the back room.Vahn watched as the girl turned away, and turned his eyes downwards. As he had expected, once the girl turned away she was chased by a tail that poked through a ribbon near the waist of her uniform. As he watched the girl disappear into the back room, he couldn't help but marvel at the existence of cat ears and tail in reality. He was very curious how they were attached, and if the girl had stayed any longer he might have asked.Moments later a much larger version of the girl entered through the door. They shared many of the same features, but the woman before him was far more mature. She stood around 1.7 meters tall and had a very athletic looking figure that was noticeable even through the maid-like blue uniform she was wearing. Vahn let his eyes wander over the woman before turning his attention towards her chest, where some modest sized breasts could be seen.He briefly stared for a few moments before fixing his gaze towards the head of the mature Cat Person to observe her ears. In the process, he also noticed that the aura emitting from her body was a mixture of oranges and reds that appeared very similar to a weak flame. Though he was unaware of what each color meant, he could determine she was likely angry from how the 'flame' flickered back and forth.After her daughter, Tina had informed her of the arrival of a strange man, the woman, Milan Yuel, exited the kitchen. The moment she stepped through the door, she could feel the wandering gaze from the young man in front of her. As a woman and proprietor of an Inn, she was very sensitive to the gazes of others. She noticed the boy had a look on intrigue on his face and dismissed the thought of lecturing him, at least until his eyes had landed on her breasts...She began to get angry at the boy who continued to hold his gaze for a few moments before looking towards the top of her head. ('Is he looking at my ears?') she wondered. As that thought passed her mind, she noticed that the moment his gaze fixed on her ears his expression froze and he began to look a little apologetic?Out of curiosity, she spoke towards the young man. "What brings you to my Inn young man?"Vahn noticed that the flame-like aura had begun to fade and looked into the eyes of the woman who had just addressed him. "Please forgive my intrusion, Ma'am. I had just entered the City today and was looking for a place to room for several days. Your Inn caught my attention as it seems to be in a very convenient location."Milan looked towards the boy and re-evaluated him. He definitely had the looks of a traveler but wasn't sure he would be able to afford room and board given the quality of his clothing. "Is that so? Well, rooms are 2100 Valis a night with an additional 400 Valis for meals and water. You can choose to eat at the bar or have the food placed within the compartment near your room if you prefer."Vahn nodded before asking, "Is it alright to pay for just the room? I have my own plans for food and water.""Aye, but make sure you don't bring outside food into the Inn during meal times. It's bad for business if other customers start getting similar thoughts." Milan nodded at the boys' question and assumed he wouldn't have any difficulties paying given his leisurely expression. "How many nights would you like to stay? We give a 10% discount if you book more than a week at a time."Vahn noted that with the 10% discount he would have just enough to be able to pay for an entire week in advance. He began to marvel at the apparent foresight of 'The Path'. He wasn't worried about spending all his money either since he would be able to earn more than enough once he entered the dungeon."I would like to book a room for one week, Ma'am." He handed over the entire sack of coins he had received from the Guild.After confirming the amount and issuing his change, Milan looked towards the boy who kept sneaking glances at her ear and tail. She checked the logbook that he had just signed before asking, "Tell me Vahn Mason, have you never seen a Cat Person before?"Vahn was surprised at the question and didn't know what to say. He thought for a few moments before responding, "Yes Ma'am. I lived in the forest with my Grandfather and had only ever interacted with humans before today."Judging by the honest expression on the boy's face, Milan nodded in understanding. "I see, I see. I'll let it slide for today, but you'd do well to remember it's very impolite to stare at a lady without permission. You about scared my daughter half to death, she almost thought you were going to eat her up!" Milan laughed as she watched the boys' expression become increasingly flustered.Vahn bowed his head and offered his most sincere apology while the mature woman before him simply laughed. Confused, he turned towards her just as she covered her mouth and continued to giggle for a moment. He noticed that the aura around her body had turned into a yellow color with a tinge of sky blue along the edges.("I really wish I knew what these colors meant. I can kind of understand that darker colors mean the person doesn't like me, but what does yellow and sky blue mean?") Vahn couldn't help but wonder as a bold thought crossed his mind."Excuse me Mrs...umm....""Milan Yuel. I'm the Proprietress of this here establishment." Milan could see the apprehension in his body, but the curiosity within his eyes didn't escape her attention."Mrs. Yuel, I know it may not be appropriate to ask, but could I...um...touch your ears?" Though he wasn't aware of the reason, Vahn became progressively more nervous with each word. He could also see the aura around Milan fluctuate slightly as the yellow color became more prominent."Ara~ Sure, but only one touch. Any more than that and I might hold you responsible~nya." Milan was very amused with how Vahn was acting and couldn't help but tease him a bit.Though he wasn't sure what she meant by holding him responsible, he understood it was something very dangerous. Overcoming his fear he stretched out his hand while Milan leaned forward slightly with a sly grin on her face. As his hand came into contact with the ear, his body jumped when the ear spontaneously twitched.He began to reach out again before Milan interrupted him, "Ara~ Didn't I say just one touch? Fufufu~." She squinted her eyes while looking at his outstretched hand.Vahn quickly pulled back his hand and apologized."Fufufu~ It's quite alright Vahn. Here is your key, you'll find your room on the second floor towards the far end on the right. Make sure you don't lose your key or else there is a fee to replace it and the lock~." Satisfied with the boys' response, she sent him on his way with a grin and wave.Vahn quickly entered the stairwell and made his way towards the second floor. He couldn't help but feel like he had been messed with, but wasn't sure what to do about it. Fortunately, he was able to succeed in his plan during the brief moment of contact.'View Affection: Milan Yuel {[Affection: 53[Amicable], Intrigue:59[Playful]}Uncertain of the meaning behind the numbers or how they related to the colors, Vahn finally found his room. He unlocked the door and took a look around the place he would be staying for the foreseeable future. Though the room was much smaller than his cave, it was still around 50 meters squared and contained a large single bed, writing desk with lamp, and a small separate area for bathing.Vahn laid in his bed and enjoyed the warm atmosphere that permeated throughout the room. Even though his cave wasn't cold, there was something fulfilling about living in a room that has been prepared and tended to by other people.It had been a long day, so Vahn decided to take a short nap before heading out for dinner. There was a specific place that was often shown in the manga he wanted to visit, but for now, he was just happy to have a place to live that was surrounded by interesting people.He began to look towards the future as he slowly fell asleep...//Milan Yuel: Affection + 1//With that notification sounding in his head Vahn lost consciousness.

Chapter 20: The Hostess of Fertility