Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

Though Tsubaki invited them along, Miach had his Familia thank the Hephaestus Familia before parting ways. Even though it wasn't wrong to celebrate Naaza's return, he wanted to give his children time to mourn the death of their comrades. He also needed to arrange the time to visit the Guild and issue a formal investigation request. Miach would not rest until the duo that leads to the death of his children were brought to justice.Tsubaki understood his concerns and let Miach know the Hephaestus Familia would cooperate with the investigation. Though it had been an indirect result, the duo almost led to the death of Vahn as well, since the misunderstanding that caused him to be attacked would have never happened without the 'pass parade'. If Tsubaki got her hands on the two, she would string them both up to dry in the sun if she had her way.---The two groups parted ways and Tsubaki led the members of the Hephaestus Familia to the Hostess of Fertility. Vahn and Lili both visited frequently and it was the best place they could think of to celebrate with a large number of people. Upon their arrival, the group was greeted by Anya who quickly got Mama Mia to settle the matter of seating arrangements while she went to inform Chloe. Whenever she was on duty, Chloe was the waitress that always dealt with Vahn and his accompanying guests.After Mama Mia learned the purpose of the groups visit, she began to laugh loudly similar to Tsubaki. She looked towards Vahn with a huge smile on her face and said, "You got a real heroic streak in you kid! First the little one and now you got yourself a big one in the bag? At this rate, you're going to break our Chloe's heart. Hahaha!" Mama Mia had seen Chloe approaching and said the final few words loud enough the entire pub could hear.Chloe gave an awkward laugh while trodding over to the group. "Mama Mia~! You're embarrassing me~nya! I'm happy as long as Vahn is happy you know~?" Though she acted embarrassed, Chloe didn't display a bashful demeanor or shy expression. She even used the last few words to tease Vahn by giving him a playful wink. Vahn returned a smile and sat between Tsubaki and Lili as the rest of the Familia started placing their orders.Everyone was in high spirits as they were celebrating the safe return and heroic deeds of their younger Familia members. For many, it was their first time actually meeting Vahn and Lili, so they were very interested to know what kind of people they were. Seeing how much emphasis their Goddess put in his 'rescue' and how quickly they were asked to gather, many of them wanted to establish an amicable relationship with the rising star.Vahn answered many of their questions while Tsubaki intercepted anything that might relate to his secret. She didn't shut anyone down directly, but always interrupted and changed the topic of conversation. Vahn was really grateful for her help, as he wasn't accustomed to dealing with so many people at once. Even Lili and Chloe would periodically step in to change the atmosphere or even distract Vahn when he seemed to have trouble responding.The members of the rescue party quickly caught on that it wasn't appropriate to ask too many personal questions about Vahn. Most of their members were Level 3 or higher, and they had been familiar with Tsubaki for a very long time. It wasn't an accident that Hephaestus had arranged for Tsubaki, who is the Captain of the entire Familia, to be the one leading the emergency mission. Instead of prying any deeper, they just gave into the festive atmosphere and drank their curiosity while teasing Vahn for his apparent 'luck' with women.---The party continued late into the night before Mama Mia finally kicked everyone out. Tsubaki paid the tab for the entire group which roused a cheer from the whole party as they parted ways into the cold night. After everyone left, Tsubaki escorted Vahn and Lili home before having them take turns bathing and sending them off to bed. Since it was a special occasion, she told them to take the next day off and relax.Vahn and Lili were both happy to hear that as they had been working hard for the entire three weeks. Tsubaki didn't give them much free time and even their days off consisted of reading books or performing equipment maintenance. Vahn had become a good assistant and had even forged some mid-grade weapons on his own.That night, Vahn slept soundly and continued dreaming long into the next morning. It had been a very long time since he enjoyed sleeping in and it wasn't until Lili knocked on his door that he finally pulled himself from the comfort of his futon. She had come to inform Vahn that it was time for lunch and stated Tsubaki had some news to discuss. Vahn nodded and headed towards the bathroom to wash his face before leaving towards the dining area.---When he arrived, Vahn was pleasantly surprised to see Hephaestus drinking tea with Tsubaki and Lili. They were all waiting for him before eating lunch, which consisted of grilled-fish with rice and a rich vegetable soup. Hephaestus showed a radiant smile when Vahn entered the room, and he bowed in response while greeting her in return. "Good afternoon Hephaestus. Thanks for your help yesterday. I'm sorry to have troubled you for personal reasons."Hephaestus gave a helpless sigh as she shook her head. "Its no trouble Vahn. It's fortunate those idiots weren't that strong. If anything had happened I would have had to send Tyche back to heaven after annihilating her Familia." She spoke without a change in expression and Vahn could tell she wasn't joking. He sat down before trying to calm her."Mmm, it was just a misunderstanding. I'm lucky they weren't stronger or I would have had to kill them instead of just injuring them. I don't want to become a murderer over something inconsequential." As Vahn spoke, Lili, who was sitting to his left, flinched slightly. She lowered her head while holding her cup with both hands and slowly sipped at its contents.Hephaestus nodded in response to Vahn. "I'm glad, Vahn. The fact you're able to keep your head in that type of situation is commendable. Continue to improve so you'll never be forced to kill anyone that isn't threatening the things you wish to protect." She showed him a gentle and encouraging smile while Tsubaki began to laugh with a cheeky grin on her face."Hahaha, you're not going to mention how you almost forced the entire party to be exiled from the Familia or how you initially wanted that dumb elf to pay 100,000,000V in reparations? I heard Tyche-sama had to beg on her hands and knees just to calm your anger!" Tsubaki was beside herself with laughter. Seeing Hephaestus pretend to act calm was very amusing to her.Hephaestus blushed and gave a hateful look at Tsubaki who continued to laugh in spite of her reproachful gaze. Eventually, Hephaestus just sighed and recalled the events of the previous day in her mind. She had known something was wrong long before news came from the dungeon.While she was in her workshop, she could feel Vahn's heartbeat begin to accelerate rapidly. When she focused on it, she could feel his distressed state of mind and his unease. She knew from the connection they shared he was in danger, so Hephaestus immediately threw aside the metal she had been shaping and used a communication magic tool to immediately inform Tsubaki who then passed the word to the available high-level adventurers.Hephaestus then spent the next several hours in a state of duress. She even nursed the thought of trying to enter the dungeon herself, since she believed she would be able to track Vahn using their connection. She showed up to meet with the group led by Tsubaki and was prevented from entering by the Guild personnel that had arrived to investigate.After arguing with the officials for a while, Hephaestus began to grow restless but managed to keep her cool since Vahn's heart had stabilized a while back. However, even though it had returned to normal, there was a point where his heart had been beating so rapidly she thought it was going to explode within her soul. Immediately after that, the beating nearly stopped and Hephaestus almost collapsed before noticing it continued to beat with a gentle, but steady rhythm. After that, it was a roller-coaster for her which is what led Hephaestus to arrive outside the entrance to the dungeon.While the group was still arguing with the Guild staff, a party of five adventurers came rushing out of the dungeon. Seeing the Guild personnel, they began to inform them of what had happened in the dungeon. Though Hephaestus ignored it at first, the moment she heard them mention a boy named 'Vahn' she immediately took action only to be beaten in response by Tsubaki.Tsubaki forced the group to recount the story from start to finish and nearly went ballistic after hearing that the group tried to attack Vahn. Hephaestus had also been listening and looked at the party of five with a cold expression. After she found out what Familia they belonged to, she split the rescue party in half before dragging the cowering adventurers straight to the residence of the Goddess Tyche. The rest was very similar to what Tsubaki described...it wasn't until Tyche made a vow that Hephaestus finally calmed her anger."Thank you Hephaestus. You got angry on my behalf..." Hephaestus was broken from her reverie by Vahn, who had whispered his thanks to her yet again. She could see he was genuinely grateful, so she let go of the anger that still remained in her heart and put on her best smile. "I told you I would protect you Vahn. I mean to keep my word."---After a few short exchanges, Lili began serving everyone lunch. The group continued chatting about various things including the Miach familia and the ongoing investigation. Hephaestus also had an interest in finding out who the two were, so she pressured the Guild alongside Miach to force them to investigate quickly. Since the Guild had a database of all the recorded Familia and their members, it wouldn't be long before they were able to identify the culprits.The conversation continued before Tsubaki brought up the topic she had originally intended to speak about. "Pretty soon you'll be getting an alias Vahn. Your fame will likely spread after people find out about all the things you've done recently. Make sure you're working hard so some shady characters don't use you to make a name for themselves!"Vahn was surprised to hear he would be getting an alias but didn't mind much since he had long ago reached Level 2. Hephaestus continued the topic and gave her own news. "Tsubaki is right. It's nearly the time for the Denatus where all the gods in the area gather to discuss various matters. One of the topics that are often raised includes the naming of any adventurers that have reached level 2 or higher. I will be attending for a few days, and when I return I'll inform you about their decision. Try not to get your hopes up though...not all the alias' assigned to Level 2 adventurers are very flattering."Hearing her explanation, Vahn nodded his head in understanding. He remembered Hestia working hard to get a 'normal' alias for Bell when he had reached level 2. Hopefully his wasn't too strange though, even if it was, Vahn figured he could just work hard for the next three months to obtain level 3 and get a new one...Tsubaki chimed in, "Lili, you need to work hard as well. You're already qualified to reach level 2, so you'll have three months to improve your foundation before the next Denatus. Once you obtain your alias is when your journey as an adventurer officially begins. You'll be able to accept missions from the Guild and people will even come to you depending on your reputation." Tsubaki was very familiar with the influence of an alias. Even her current nickname, 'Cyclops', had a big impact on how people saw her. She still wanted to punch the fool that came up with the idea...---After lunch, Hephaestus had to leave to attend to other matters. Before she left though, she hesitated before turning back and embracing Vahn. Though he was surprised, Vahn accepted Hephaestus's embrace and even reciprocated with his own. He could see her aura had been in disorder since she laid eyes on him earlier. She had likely been worried about him yesterday, and Vahn wanted to help alleviate her feelings of unrest.Hephaestus gently whispered into his ear, "Don't go dying in someplace I can't reach you...". Vahn nodded, even though his face was currently near her breasts. He put strength into his arms and returned a whisper of his own. "I promise...I will become the strongest so you never have to worry about me again."Hephaestus laughed slightly after hearing his words. She put more strength into her embrace and pulled his face closer to her own. "I worry about you because I want to. Even if you become the strongest in the entire world, my heart will only be at ease when you are safe within my sight."After the extended embrace, the two parted ways. Vahn continued staring at the back of Hephaestus as a conviction began to take root in his heart. He gripped his fists and headed towards the training area while Tsubaki, who had been watching the situation with interest, shook her head without stopping him. Lili stared at Vahn's back, lost in thought until he had nearly disappeared. Seeing his body turn the corner, she too headed towards the courtyard.(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Come back...with your shield, or on it.', 'Two Cyclops and a Hero', 'Tyche did nothing wrong!')

In the days to follow, Vahn had increased his training intensity. He was now up to the sixth level on the weighted bamboo course which Tsubaki equated to being able to react to a veteran Level 3's attacks. Since he had been unable to evade the attack of the previous Level 2 adventurer party, Vahn wanted to greatly enhance his mobility. At this point, his [Featherfoot] ability had increased from E to D, and Vahn knew it wouldn't be long before the skill increased again.Lili was also making an increased effort and started a strange practice with Tsubaki that had her put weights on her legs and walk on her hands through an obstacle course. Every time she arrived at a post, she was required to kick ten times before she was allowed to continue. After Vahn asked why she had Lili perform such a strange training, Tsubaki told Vahn it was to help increase her omnidirectional movement abilities and core strength.Since Lili had a small stature, her center of gravity was low to the ground which allowed her to use many unorthodox combat styles. As Lili had a unique skill like [Artel*Assist], it was actually much easier to condition her body than normal people. While other people had to struggle and adapt to increased weights, Lili was able to actually improve her stats instead. As long as she continued increasing the intensity, Lili would be able to slowly convert her entire body into a weapon.It wasn't long after this strange training started that Tsubaki had Lili and Vahn begin sparring with each other. Lili was hesitant at first but quickly threw her inhibitions aside before charging Vahn. Unlike their previous spars a month ago, Lili now had greater agility and used her flexible body to attack Vahn from several tricky angles. Instead of the awkward stances and weak strikes used in the past, now Lili used her entire body to maneuver and attack.As Vahn's parameters were much higher, he was able to easily deal with the attacks. However, he was caught off guard in one instance where Lili had actually vaulted off her hand to kick towards his face. Vahn caught the leg, but Lili twisted her body and used her second leg to nail Vahn directly in the chest. Vahn released the captured leg, and Lili used the rebounding force of her attack to somersault back to her feet.Vahn was so surprised by the acrobatic movement that he was nearly unable to receive the follow-up attacks. He began to laugh and enjoy the fight while Tsubaki, who was spectating from the side nodded in approval. Her training with Lili not only increased her versatility but also helped polish Vahn's skills in dealing with unorthodox attacks. It also allowed him to practice controlling his strength, which Vahn seemed to struggle with when under pressure.The spar continued for twenty minutes before Tsubaki stopped them. Lili was gasping for air, but she still had a smile on her face for being able to perform much better than she expected. This was her first time sparring with Vahn since their training began, and she was very satisfied to see her own improvements.Vahn was also happy and had been enjoying the fight since her initial acrobatic display. He approached and infused energy into his hand and placed it on Lili's back. Activating his [Hands of Nirvana], he was able to help ease her breathing difficulties. When he was finished, he playfully ruffled her hair before sitting off to the side and taking a break.This was the first time Lili had seen Vahn act so happily, and she was experiencing a mixture of excitement and bashfulness after Vahn used his skill to ease her fatigued state. Tsubaki started laughing from the side before teasing the two for their interaction. "You two are almost like a brother and sister! How adorable~!"Vahn smiled, but Lili seemed to take damage after hearing the words. She kept muttering 'brother' and 'sister' under her breath for the entire duration of the break. Before the break ended, however, a guest had arrived. It was Miach, and he had been accompanied by Naaza who was dressed in casual attire consisting of a beige shirt, light red shawl, and a green pleated skirt accented by white stocks and tan boots.After seeing Vahn enter the room alongside Tsubaki and Lili, Miach showed a gentle smile while Naaza displayed a slight blush. Vahn was curious at her behavior, as it was far different than the detached character she displayed in the manga. It's likely that healing her arm had prevented her personality from deteriorating and this was most likely her original character. As she was only a sixteen-year-old girl, it would have been sad to see her depressed and melancholic.Miach and Naaza both bowed. "Once again, Vahn. I, Miach, God of the Miach Familia, would like to thank you for saving my precious child Naaza." After he finished his words, Naaza spoke as well. "Yes, thank you, Vahn. I may not be here today if it weren't for you. Also..." Naaza looked towards Miach and saw him nod with a kind smile."I..wanted to confirm something. I know it may not be appropriate to ask, but I'm certain that before I passed out that I had been missing my arm. Though I'd like to pretend it was just a dream, the image is so clear in my head that I...I..." Naaza began to tremble as she began to recall the scene. The image of the White Shadow slowly grinding away at the stump of her arm had left a deeply rooted trauma in her heart.Tsubaki listened at the side, and when Naaza began to ask her question, she too became curious. She looked towards Vahn and saw he was in contemplation before he made eye contact with her. Tsubaki understood from his question if he was allowed to speak, and she slowly nodded her head before interrupting."You two should know it's taboo to ask someone about their skills or parameters. Vahn might be willing to talk, and though we're not distrusting you, you'll have to guarantee absolute secrecy if you want to hear the answer." Tsubaki looked towards Miach sternly, and he nodded without changing his expression at all."I, Miach, Patron God of the Miach Familia, hereby swear on my Divinity to protect the secrets of Vahn Mason at risk of destruction of my mortal body should I dishonor my vow." As he spoke, Miach drew a strange crest which seemed to record his words. When he was finished, he looked towards Naaza who made a similar vow. "I, Naaza Erisuis, hereby swear on my Familia Crest to protect the secrets of Vahn Mason at risk of losing my falna and sealing my skills." After she spoke, they both added a drop of blood to the floating crest which flashed with a brilliant light before vanishing into particles.Tsubaki, seeing that the ritual was completed, nodded towards Vahn and asked if she and Lili were allowed to listen. Vahn nodded, as he already trusted the two who had developed affection values exceeding 90 with him. Lili was even holding strongly at 98, and Vahn had often considered what was required to earn the last two points.---After nearly an hour, Vahn had explained everything that happened from his end. He excluded anything related to [Rakshasa Body] but explained the functions of [Wound Transfer] and how he was able to use a combination of his other skills alongside healing magic to re-attach his arm. Naaza, hearing him recount the events had tears in her eyes after realizing the effort he had put in to save her. She hadn't expected Vahn had cut off his own arm in an attempt to help restore her own...Miach was surprised to learn the existence of such a skill. If used properly, Vahn would be able to save countless lives! But, after hearing the amount of pain and suffering the user had to experience, Miach knew it was not such a convenient skill. If the person using it lacked willpower they would succumb to the very wounds they were trying to heal. And, without a method to rapidly heal themselves, overuse of the skill would inevitably lead to death or disability."It seems the debt my Familia owes you is even greater than I expected." As he spoke, Miach bowed low until his forehead nearly touched the ground. It was almost considered blasphemous for a God to bow to a human, but Miach never cared for such formalities. The boy before him was deserving of his respect and admiration. Not many people his age, or even those much older, would be able to willingly sacrifice themselves or suffer on behalf of others.Naaza also tried to bow, but Vahn spoke up interrupting the two. "Stop! I acted at my convenience to do something I wanted to do. Even if you're grateful, it doesn't make me happy to see people bow to express their feelings. From now on just do your best to live well and enjoy life, that is more than enough to pay your debts."Miach's impression of Vahn grew even more, and he ceased bowing to show his assent. Looking to his side, he could see Naaza still on the verge of tears as she struggled with her internal emotions. Miach showed a gentle smile before addressing Vahn. "Vahn, I would like you to visit my Familia when you get a chance. I guarantee we will greet you with open arms, and I'd like to introduce you to all of my children. If you're interested, I would also be willing to teach you and your companions how to make various medicines and concoct potions."Vahn nodded his head. It had been his intent for some time to learn alchemy and brewing. He had purchased some basic manuals on it but hadn't been able to learn the [Mixing] or [Alchemy] development abilities. Without proper guidance and experience, there wasn't a lot of progress he could make on his own.Seeing Vahn agree to visit, Miach nodded and prepared to leave. Naaza rose to follow, but Miach stopped her. "It's okay Naaza, stay for as long as Tsubaki allows you. When the time comes, you can be the one to escort Vahn back to the Familia. I'll entrust his basic training to you." Naaza froze after hearing her God's words. Though she didn't mind helping Vahn learn how to mix potions, she never expected Miach to allow her to stay outside of the pharmacy.Miach shook his head. "I understand you have your concerns Naaza, but you should be enjoying your youth more. I've seen how uncomfortable you are around the rest of the Familia right now. You still blame yourself for what happened in the dungeon and are avoiding getting close to anyone. I think staying here will be good for your mind and body. Treat it like a vacation and return whenever your heart finds balance." As he spoke, Miach was gently patting Naaza's head. She blushed at the affectionate action and seemed to be confused as she snuck peaks between her God and the boy who saved her...Tsubaki laughed loudly at the sudden series of events. "Good for you kid! Looks like its going to get more lively around here. Feel free to stay as long as you want Naaza. If Vahn or Lili bully you, just tell me and I'll beat them up!"Tsubaki had started patting Vahn's back and gave him a thumbs up while winking with her only uncovered eye...Vahn couldn't help retorting in his mind, 'Isn't that just a blink!?'.Naaza bowed her head low with a bright blush on her face. "Please...take care of me." Though she was still worried, she couldn't help but feel a slight anticipation for the future.(A/N: 'Giving away one's daughter', 'Miach is secretly the best wingman', 'Emo puppies make my heart cry', 'Lili's new combat style: Capoeira?', 'Heartwarming case of domestic assault')

Vahn continued carrying Naaza while making his way through the dungeon. There were several instances where monsters spawned and tried to attack, but he was able to use [Will of the Emperor] in concentrated bursts while using the burning effect of his [Heart of the Eternal Flame] to injure the monster's eyes. On this floor the most common encounter was with Frog Shooters, so damaging their single eye made them helpless in trying to attack Vahn as he sprinted through the corridors.After arriving near the staircase, Vahn was able to see Lili in the distance still waiting for him. When she caught sight of his approach she became very excited until noticing the girl in Vahn's arms. Lili frowned but didn't say anything as she knew the girl was likely a victim and someone Vahn had saved. For now, she cleared the path of the door and allowed Vahn to pass unobstructed.The corridor connecting the stairs is typically considered a safe zone, so Vahn allowed Naaza to rest on the mats that Lili had laid out. After placing her down, he noticed her clothes were in disarray, so he used a blanket to make sure she was properly covered. The air within the dungeon wasn't very warm, and it would be ironic if she got a cold after everything that happened.Lili, seeing how much care Vahn was giving the girl, decided to replace him and tend to the unconscious woman. She told Vahn it was more appropriate for girls to help girls in case there were any sensitive matters to discuss. For now, she told him to just rest until the woman awoke on her own and then they would be able to leave the dungeon.Vahn nodded and rested against the wall. He watched as Lili began inspecting Naaza for injuries and then, seeing his gaze, put up a barricade to block his sight. Vahn was able to hear the sound of clothes being shifted about and imagined that Lili was probably putting her first-aid training to the test. Vahn knew that Naaza didn't have any injuries, but he allowed Lili to do as she pleased for now.Lili undressed the chienthrope girl and began to frown. She noticed that no matter where she looked, she was unable to find any injuries on the girl. This meant that Vahn had likely used the same technique he had used to save her previously. Since he had the ability to heal minor wounds, that meant the girl had suffered severe injuries and he probably had to experience a lot of pain when saving her.She sighed and began to inspect the figure of the girl, though not for injuries. Lili noticed that the girl was pretty cute and had a great figure. Given the efforts Vahn put into saving her, she would likely become a rival in the future. Lili also noticed that, like most chienthropes, the girl had droopy dog ears and a bushy tail. Given Vahn's propensity for petting girls with such features, Lili was very worried about the future.She released an even deeper sigh before asking Vahn to hand her a change of clothes. As all of Lili's clothes were far too small, she had to make do with giving the girl one of Vahn's tunics. Lili gnashed her teeth at the 'good fortune' of the girl and struggled to part with the piece of fabric. After making sure the girl was properly dressed, she removed the barrier blocking Vahn's sight and then plopped down on his lap.Vahn was surprised momentarily, but as he had grown accustomed to her actions, he just allowed her to act spoiled for the time being. He knew she was pouting and was probably jealous that he had saved another girl. Though he still wanted to break her selfish tendencies, seeing the small form of the girl and the fact she had waited patiently for his return, he decided to reward her for a bit and began playing with her cat ears.Lili had been anticipating Vahn's actions and immediately stopped pouting. She instead rested her back against his chest and mewled silently in response to his affection. Moments like this were the times when she was most happy, and it gave her the energy she needed to continue putting in efforts to grow stronger.---After having been around Vahn for more than a month, she had started to realize a lot of important things she previously overlooked. Though she also built walls around her heart and avoided people, Vahn seemed to almost have a disregard for the existence of others. Unless they directly interacted with him, Vahn seemed to ignore people and made almost no efforts to communicate until he had 'evaluated' them.Yes, 'evaluated', is how Tsubaki described it when she and Lili were talking about Vahn. Tsubaki noticed that Vahn had a tendency to observe people he associated with and always made measured responses. His actions were unnatural, and even though he showed moments of insight, he seemed to not notice it himself. This was the reason she had invited Welf over that night because she wanted to see how Vahn was able to deal with a 'male' similar in age to himself.During the moments when Vahn wasn't around, Tsubaki was constantly speaking with Lili about Vahn's mental wellness and other important subjects. She shared the speculations held by her and Hephaestus and wanted Lili to understand the significance of what Vahn was going through. Since Vahn treated Lili as something he desired to protect, Tsubaki made sure Lili was to restrain herself until Vahn manages to adapt to normal society.To prove the severity of the issue, she had dragged Lili to the onsen after Vahn entered to prove he had no interest in the opposite sex at the moment. Lili was surprised at seeing Vahn's reaction to their intrusion and the indifference he showed in regards to his own nudity and being seen naked by others. Though she was 'distracted' at the time, after Tsubaki captured her later she was able to understand things more clearly.Lili was very sad by the revelation and thought she had been wronging Vahn by acting out, but Tsubaki ignored her melancholy and began teasing her. After playing with her body for a few torturous minutes, Tsubaki finally freed her before explaining further.Tsubaki actually encouraged Lili to have Vahn spoil her, but told her only to do so when she had worked hard or accomplished something. Since Vahn wanted to protect Lili and help her grow stronger, he would be able to justify his actions as a 'reward' and slowly build awareness of other peoples feelings over time. Lili was more than willing to participate and began to work hard the very next day.---After a few minutes, Lili sighed in her mind before separating from Vahn. She knew if things continued for too long it would cause more harm than good. Vahn didn't prevent her from escaping, he just gave her a gentle smile before turning to face Naaza. Lili sat next to him and also waited for the sleeping beauty to awaken.While they were waiting, Vahn asked if the five-man party had passed by. Lili affirmed his suspicions and said they only briefly questioned why she had set up camp in the area, but since she had largely ignored them, they ended up moving on. The elf of their party seemed to be offended by her unwillingness to answer, but the boaz man with a sword and shield smacked him in the back of the head before dragging him away.Hearing that the fool kept antagonizing other people, Vahn began to seriously wonder if that elf had a few screws loose within his head. He couldn't help but think, 'How can someone have so much pride that they continually dig themselves further and further into a hole?' He shook his head and swore to bring up the matter to Hephaestus when they exited the dungeon. Though Vahn didn't want the entire Familia to suffer, he would have justice for the treatment he received.---About an hour later, Naaza finally awoke with a confused expression. She looked at her surroundings while inspecting the unfamiliar clothes on her body. To the side, she could see the man who saved her, Vahn, showing a gentle smile as he looked towards her. Beside him, Naaza could see a young cat person who, unlike Vahn, seemed to have a bit of hostility in her gaze. A thought passed through Naaza's mind as she seemed to understand the underlying meaning.Naaza blushed slightly and lowered her head. Seeing the clean tunic on her body, she couldn't help but ask, "Did you change my clothing? Where did this tunic come from?" In response to her question, the small cat person spoke. "Vahn wasn't the one to change you, it was me. I'm Lili, Vahn's partner, by the way. The tunic you're wearing is one of Vahn's spares. Unfortunately, my clothes wouldn't be able to fit you so we had to make due with what was available."Hearing that the clothes belonged to the boy, Naaza, who still had her head lowered, felt her nose twitch slightly. As a chienthrope, her sense of smell was much stronger than other races and she could faintly detect a 'manly' aroma from the garment. Her small action didn't escape the sight of Lili who began to groan with jealousy. She wanted to say more, but Vahn interrupted her by standing."We need to get out of the dungeon. It's already pretty late and I'm certain both our Familia are waiting for our return. You should be able to walk, but if you're feeling any discomfort I can carry you to the surface." It was already nearing 11 PM, almost a full hour past their curfew. Vahn knew there were going to be problems if they delayed any further, and could even feel a slight discomfort from the 'eternal flame' in his heart.The two girls nodded in response and helped clean up all the currently strewn about items. Naaza was in much better shape after crying herself to sleep and resting for a bit. Though she would still need time to process everything and cope, Vahn hoped she was able to put this event behind her in the future. After everything was ready, the trio began their journey towards the surface.---After arriving on the first floor of Babel, the group was immediately intercepted by a large group of people. Vahn was able to see many familiar faces in the crowd including Tsubaki and Miach. Hephaestus wasn't in sight, but Vahn learned later that she had stormed into the Tyche Familia and demanded an explanation from their Goddess, Tyche. The culprit behind the incident, the elf known as Rein, was severely reprimanded and forced to take an oath to repay 30,000,000V to Vahn as compensation in the future. He would be stuck trying to repay the debt for years unless Vahn was willing to forgive him.Tsubaki had a fierce expression on her face, but the moment she saw Vahn and Lili she began smiling. "I'm glad you two are safe. Good work!" Tsubaki then gave them both a big hug that lasted several seconds. Both Vahn and Lili were comforted by the action, as they had expected her to be very angry for failing to return before their curfew.Naaza had been received by the other group of people and was exchanging hugs with several crying members. The tears she had been holding back since awakening now started flowing freely as she was embraced by her Familia. Miach was comforting her from the side and listening to her recounting the events with a mixture of anger and sadness on his face. Their Familia had suffered a terrible blow today, and if Vahn hadn't saved Naaza they may have never even known the reason.Miach left Naaza to the care of his children and approached the Hephaestus Familia 'rescue team'. He wanted to meet the hero who had saved one of his beloved children. Noticing the young man next to Tsubaki, Miach was surprised. The boy was much younger than he expected and had a powerful aura sleeping within his body. He could see the shadow of greatness slowly taking root deep within Vahn's soul.Vahn also noticed the approaching Miach. While Miach was evaluating him, Vahn was doing the same. He noticed that the God was an incredibly handsome man with blue hair and blue eyes. The aura coming from his body was incredibly dense and was a mixture of yellows accented by a deep violet color that radiated out of his body. From Vahn's experience, this showed that Miach was likely a very compassionate person who harbored no ill will towards him.The two smiled at each other before Tsubaki loudly spoke out. "Hey, Miach-kami! Looks like our kid ended up doing you a pretty big favor this time. Make sure you give him a good discount in the future!" Tsubaki started laughing at her own words while patting Vahn's back. (A/N: Other than their own gods, most people don't refer to gods with 'sama'. It feels weird to type out "Hey, God Miach..." in a sentence so I added -kami to the end. Let me know if you think it should be changed to sama for future reference.)Miach nodded in response to Tsubaki before bowing slightly towards Vahn. "Thank you, Vahn. My Familia owes you a debt of gratitude that cannot be repaid. If you are ever in need, please feel free to rely on us. As long as it is within our means I, God Miach, vow to provide no less than my full efforts to return your kindness."Hearing their God's proclamation, every present member of the Miach Familia also bowed towards Vahn. As long as it wasn't against their principles, they would do their best to repay his favor in the future.Vahn nodded and returned the bow as Tsubaki laughed loudly at his side. Even as he bent over, she kept patting his back with increased force while Lili anxiously looked on from the side. She was very happy for Vahn, but seeing Tsubaki so riled up made cold sweat pour down her back. Tonight would probably not end until everyone partied themselves to sleep.(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Handsome, Manly Gazes', 'Miach's Gratitude', 'Vow between men')

Chapter 66: Party : Promise