Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

Vahn escorted the twins to the fourth floor of the dungeon before allowing them to take the lead and go at their own pace. His duty was to help them recover their stamina, praise them when they did well, offer them advice, and pick up all the loot using his domain. If they suffered any injuries, Vahn could heal them, but only after the fight was over or they were in serious danger. Not just the twins, but all the girls needed to develop some pain tolerance and suffer blows or their Endurance parameter wouldn't increase by much.While he was watching Maemi and Emiru fight, Vahn noticed their cooperation and synergy was rapidly developing and there was a strange 'tempo' to their movements. He knew this would probably be exploited by stronger opponents, but it was a great tactic when teaming up against monsters. It was really interesting how one of the sisters would attack with a feint to draw a monsters attention to create an opening for the other to exploit. They were quickly learning how to deal with monsters, even when they were outnumbered. The biggest problem was their lack of stamina and ability to continue fighting for long periods of time.Since they were Snow Leopards, their actual stamina wasn't bad at all...the problem came from the fact that they were synchronizing with each other and it put a serious strain on their bodies and minds. It wasn't an exaggeration to say that, when they fought at the same time, it was like their stamina drained at more than twice the expected rate. It was like they were always pushing themselves well beyond their limits, even though their actual movements were relatively normal. Vahn knew this would likely cause their physical parameters to develop well, but it would potentially stunt their magical development.After around two hours on the fourth floor, the twins had managed to defeat 39 Dungeon Lizards, 17 Kobolds, and 11 goblins with only a few short minutes of break in between each room clear. During the breaks, Vahn would place his palms on their heads and use [Hands of Nirvana] to recover their energy at the same time, since he noticed it actually made the process much more efficient. When he healed one twin, it would consume about twice the normal amount of energy, but only around 40% would be transmitted to the second girl. When he healed them both at the same time, the energy consumption was even greater, but the rate at which they recovered was far more than twice as fast. Vahn noticed that, if they were receiving the same treatment, they would synchronize even further and it would greatly enhance the efficacy of his [Hands of Nirvana].Because he was curious about how this principle worked, Vahn wanted to see what would happen if the twins wore different clothing, or used different weapons when they fought. He gave Emiru the [001], while Maemi used her normal heavy dagger. For Maemi, he let her use his [Xuánwǔ Protector]s and a light cloak to force her to change her fighting style slightly. They complied to his request because the twins understood that Vahn was trying to help them understand the skill better so they could improve faster. When they eventually started fighting again, Vahn noticed a 'severe' drop in their cooperation and ability to adapt to each other's movements. This allowed him to confirm that their synergy was improved when they were 'matching' in equipment and didn't allow much leeway for variations. It made sense, in a way, since the feedback would be very different if one twin used a greatsword, while the other wielded a spear and they used completely different attack patterns and movements.When asked about what they felt afterward, the twins explained that there were 'phantom' sensations like things were 'different' in their own bodies and it was a big distraction. However, Vahn learned that the strength of the sensations hadn't changed and this made him wonder if his observations and deductions weren't entirely correct. It could be that, since the skill was still a low level, it made it difficult for the twins to adapt. It was something worth looking into in the future, but Vahn allowed them to return to their normal fighting style for now. As their parameters improved, and they Leveled up, the twins would naturally be more capable of using other weapons. There was no need to force them to change early on, as there was no guarantee it would benefit the development of their Innate ability, or their own combat capabilities so soon after they started training.Though he was able to 'record' the information in his mind, Vahn also documented all of his observations, and speculations, inside a journal as he watched the twins fight monsters. It wasn't necessarily for his own use, but so that he could let Ryuu and Aki look over the information alongside the twins. Vahn had no illusions that his perspective was always the correct one, and he knew it was often better to consult others that had more experience than himself. Besides, he had shown the journal to the twins earlier, and they were very happy to see the detailed information and sketches he had been drawing inside the journal. Though he didn't consider himself a capable artist, Vahn was able to rough out a relatively accurate representation of the girls in mid-combat and point out his observations.With how much praise the twins gave him, Vahn felt like it was a perk of his [Mentor] skill that had been 'correcting' the information that he picked up while watching them. He realized this might be the case when he read over the information he had just written and noticed it wasn't a thought that had actively passed through his mind. He just wrote it down on 'instinct' as he observed how Emiru's dagger deviated a bit when she was cutting through the thick hide of a Dungeon Lizard. His hands had naturally written down the importance of weapon maintenance and proper follow-through for strikes while casually drawing a dull dagger next to the description with a picture of a whetstone underneath it.Though he could easily repair their weapons with a [Whetstone], Vahn had been using his [Master Smith] ability to perform maintenance instead. [Whetstone]s were great for emergencies, but they weren't necessary for simple wear and tear, so Vahn had taken to sharpening their blades manually while performing on-site maintenance for their other equipment. It was moments like this when his inventory really came in handy because he could give the girls a change of equipment and immediately start repairing the damaged bits. Everything that he repaired with his [Master Smith] ability would receive a 3-7% boost to their stats, so Vahn was very satisfied and wanted to develop the skill even further in the future.After enjoying a light lunch, while flanked by the twins, Vahn led the way down to the fifth floor so that the twins could go through what he mentally called the 'Ant Hell'. He had gone through his own 'trial' back when he first started venturing into the dungeon, and Haruhime had experienced something similar the previous day. Though it wasn't 'necessary', Vahn felt like it was a rite of passage for new adventurers and wanted to see how the twins would fare given the fact that didn't have magic weapons to use. Vahn mentioned his own experiences with the ants, while also telling the twins how well Haruhime had performed.Hearing how Haruhime, someone nearly three years their junior, had killed 139 Killer Ants made the twins feel a bit conflicted. Vahn wasn't the only one to notice their lack of stamina, as they were the ones actually experiencing it. They wanted to 'beat' Haruhime, especially since there was two of them, but they also knew they likely wouldn't be able to fight for very long and their weapons weren't suitable for monsters like Killer Ants. Per their request, Vahn gave them the swords [001] and [002], which were both B-Rank, much stronger than their D-Rank heavy daggers. They spent a few minutes practicing with the swords before eventually mustering up enough resolve to step forward into the fifth floor.Vahn watched their backs and gave an approving nod as he followed silently behind them and observed the changes in their bodies and auras. When they were synergized well, Vahn noticed that their auras became slightly stronger and their emotions compounded off of each other's, much like his own interactions with Hephaestus at times. This could be a good thing, as long as they were both motivated, as it would prevent them from faltering easily. However, such a thing could also be a double-edged sword, since if they both felt fear and apprehension, it would be much more powerful than what would be experienced by a normal person.Unlike how Haruhime had let the Killer Ants swarm, Emiru and Maemi focused on killing them as quickly as possible in order to pace themselves and preserve their stamina. They wanted to kill as many as they could without having to rely on Vahn helping them recover, so they took turns moving and attacking while the other focused on exploiting gaps and regulating their breathing. They obviously couldn't breathe for each other, but by relaxing their bodies, they didn't put any excess strain on whoever was fighting at the time. Vahn had noticed this tactic they had developed, probably through their 'mental link', and couldn't help but smile appreciatively at their progress.Though he kept it primarily concealed from them, Vahn decided to use [Hands of Nirvana] to sneakily help replenish their stamina while they were distracted by fighting. As long as they didn't realize what was happening, the twins would think they were pushing themselves further and growing beyond their limits. Since exilia and parameter development was influenced by mental perception, Vahn was certain this would be one way he could help the girls within the Familia develop further.With his support, the twins started to grow more motivated over time after realizing how well things were going with their conservative strategy. Though they still didn't mass any ants intentionally, their blades had long been covered in pheromones and it made errant ants track them down and their numbers had steadily been building up. After nearly three hours, the twins had managed to killed precisely 150 Killer Ants before Vahn had to step in and finish the job and protect them. Of course, Killer Ants weren't the only things they had fought, because they had been traveling through the dungeon instead of staying in one area, the twins had also killed 19 Frog Shooters along the way.Vahn didn't bother to bring up the fact that Haruhime had killed her large number of ants within a twenty-minute window, he instead just pampered the girls a bit while paying them a few heavy compliments for performing well. It was actually 'more' correct to use the method that had been incorporated by the twins, instead of the somewhat suicidal method used by Haruhime the previous day. If he hadn't been there to save her, she would have inarguably caused her own demise because she had been exceeding her limits by a fair amount. The twins, though less educated, were older and more sensible than Haruhime and took a more conservative approach that would likely preserve their lives in the future.After helping them recover completely, Vahn brought up the idea of having them fuse while he tried to help sustain the transformation by infusing his own 'mana' into their body. Without much thought, they twins both agreed with excited expressions on their faces as they mentioned wanting to understand the form better as well. A few seconds wasn't enough to truly understand what was going on, and they were interested in the changes their body underwent during the transformation. Vahn was relieved to see their excitement and waited for the twins to finish their preparations before they performed the experiment. It took them several minutes to calm their minds and perfectly synergize with each other, so Vahn understood it wouldn't be a viable skill for combat unless they had made some drastic improvements.Eventually, Emiru opened her eyes and Vahn noticed they had turned the beautiful, snowy blue, color as she locked eyes with the lilac-eyed Maemi and they placed their palms together. Emiru immediately vanished in a magical light before a heterochromatic 'Maemi' appeared in front of him. Other than her eyes, there was no noticeable change in her body, though Vahn had confirmed irrefutably that their aura had increased by a large amount. Since it was the most efficient location, Vahn placed his palm over the navel of 'Maemi' and began channeling his energy almost immediately after the transformation completed.Maemi felt the powerful flow of energy enter her body as she stared down at the kneeling Vahn and muttered in a strange voice that sounded like when she spoke in concert with Emiru, "Vahn-sama...we feel very warm...very strong..." Vahn looked up into her blue-lilac eyes and asked, "Can you describe any other changes you can feel in your body?" While he asked the question, Vahn noticed that his energy wasn't draining nearly as fast as he suspected, which allowed him to understand that the form didn't actually require too much mana to sustain, at least if they were standing still.'Maemi' placed her hands overtop the hand he had placed on her stomach 'casually' before closing her eyes and saying, "Everything...everything is so much more...it's like our skin is so sensitive that we can feel the air...everything we smell is so much more pungent...every sound so much more clear...and..." 'Maemi' opened her eyes as a strange smile appeared on her face and she continued, "Everything we feel...it's like everything is amplified...like we're going to explode..." Vahn understood what 'Maemi' was saying because her aura was much larger than normal and he knew what kind of things she was 'feeling' at the moment. He had already checked through the system out of curiosity but noticed that both Emiru and Maemi's affections had 'vanished' after their fusion. It might be because they were combined through an Innate, but Vahn couldn't see the 'values' behind their emotions and it made him feel strangely unnerved with how she was looking down at him.Though Vahn could continue channeling energy into 'Maemi' for several minutes, he decided to bring the experiment to an early end as he said, "Okay, that should be enough for the time being. Try to remember the sensation and practice when you can. As long as you're able to develop your Magic parameter a bit, you'll be able to sustain this form for longer. This could be a powerful trump card for the future and allow you both to become much stronger." For the entire duration of the transformation, 'Maemi' had continued to rest her hands atop his with that same strange smile her face. Hearing Vahn's words, she nodded her head and said, "Yes, Vahn-sama...we will become much stronger...together."When Vahn removed his hand from her abdomen, 'Maemi' touched the spot as if she were trying to feel the ambient warmth before her body split into two a few seconds later. Vahn caught their bodies and released a relieved sigh before setting them on the ground after laying down a futon. He sat on the edge of it with his back against the wall and checked his system to see if there had been any changes. Both Maemi and Emiru had affection values of 92 for him and Vahn was wondering how the parameter was influenced when they fused. Though their aura was predominantly yellow, Vahn noticed that the small amount of pink along the edges was tainted with a passionate red.(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Working twice as hard','Clever girls','Unknown Affection')If you'd like to support me as a writer so I can write even more stories in the future, please follow the ******* link below (O,...,O)~! Stay beautiful &lt;3https://www.*******.com/user?u=14397149Discord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

After around an hour, the twins began to wake up on their own and they both looked toward Vahn briefly before staring at each other. Vahn knew they were somehow communicating, but he decided to interrupt them and said, "The two of you made great progress, but it's about time for us to head back to the surface. You can take the rest of the day off to do whatever you'd like." Hearing his words, the twins' rounded ears twitched and Emiru asked, "Vahn-sama, do you have anything planned for the rest of the day?" There was a small sparkle in their eyes, but Vahn disappointed them when he nodded his head and said, "Yeah, I was planning on visiting a friend of mine named Welf. I'm trying to put a few things together...well, you'll find out about it later, probably."Both twins released a simultaneous sigh and Vahn smiled as he said, "Sorry, but I need to spend time doing my own things as well. Now that we're not stuck in the Manor, I want to make the rounds and visit a few people I haven't seen in a while. There is plenty of time to worry about other stuff later, so don't get disheartened. The two of you should spend more time with Hestia, and the rest of the Familia, instead of just cooking and cleaning all the time." The twins nodded their heads, but Vahn could tell they were still feeling a bit down so he said, "Well, I'll make you some matching accessories pretty soon..."The prospect of receiving gifts dashed away the mood of the girls and Vahn couldn't help but show a wry smile on his face as he led them towards the surface. Because of their early return, it was slightly after 1 PM when they returned to the Manor, and Vahn left to change in his room before preparing to head out. He stopped by Hestia's room and asked if there were any important changes before sharing a few affectionate moments with her and explaining his plans for the day. She knew he was probably trying to improve his relationships and make some 'guy friends', so Hestia didn't have any complaints.Vahn left the Manor and casually made the nearly forty minute walk to the Hephaestus Familia workshop district. Along the way, Vahn noticed that most people kept a fair amount of distance from him and he drew a lot of attention, even though he wasn't escorting the girls. Because he was no longer disguising himself, many people easily recognized him because there had been fliers circulating around with his face all over the City. It wasn't that he was 'wanted', or being treated as a criminal, people were just afraid that they would be a victim if they crossed him. The actions Freya had taken when dealing with the Ishtar Familia were rather excessive and, even though he didn't have any direct involvement, people tied the event to him and his reputation had become somewhat notorious.The only thing Vahn could do was shake his head and ignore the bias people had developed against him. He still didn't understand how people could so easily change their opinions and then use them as justification for how they treated others, even if they had never met before. Vahn thought it was rather ridiculous because he understood that, if someone controlled the information network, they could pretty much make anyone out to be a villain and the populace at large would believe the news without even considering the matter. He knew that everyone around him would probably react in the same way he had, yet they unjustly painted him as a bad guy based on a biased perception of the events that had transpired.To cheer himself up, Vahn had decided to stop over at Tsubaki's Manor and visit for a while before checking up on the Anubis Familia. He knew Anubis had been making the children train with the Hephaestus Familia recently and they were trying to improve their capabilities while Vahn was on his 'probation'. They had the goal of trying to reach Level 3 by the time his probationary period ended and then the entire Familia would probably migrate closer to the Hearth Manor, while some of the pack would likely try to join the Hestia Familia itself.After he arrived outside Tsubaki's Manor, Vahn noticed her door was closed so he passed his perception through the building and confirmed there was no one present. He released a sigh before walking around the side path and heading towards his previous residence. Even though he wasn't supposed to visit the 'headquarters' of the Familia in the Alliance, Vahn knew that restriction was primarily to restrain Hephaestus and Loki, and the Guild was currently treating him in a lax manner because of the approaching Denatus. If they tried to make a big deal out of things, they would probably find themselves in a difficult position once a few matters came to light and more gods became aware of the situation. Ouranos seemed like an intelligent god, so Vahn imagined he would sweep the matters aside and overlook small sleights.Vahn smiled as he walked through the courtyard because he saw a familia aura moving through the foyer before exiting through the front door. The moment she locked eyes with him, Anubis showed an elegant smile before bowing and saying, "Welcome, my Master...would you like to come inside?" Vahn walked forward and casually began to stroke Anubis's hair and large fluffy ears as he asked, "I can't sense anyone here...are the children in the dungeon?" Anubis's tail had started to gently waggle about behind her as she nodded her head and said, "They've been inside the dungeon with Tsubaki for the last few days. Though it isn't anything large scale, they are conducting a 'mock expedition' with the Takemikazuchi Familia, Miach Familia, and Hephaestus Familia. Tsubaki is leading the group, and she had taken Naaza and Lili along with her so they can get experience working with large expeditions."Hearing Anubis's words, Vahn felt like he was missing out on something that seemed to be pretty fun. He was glad the children, as well as Naaza and Lili, were working hard to become stronger, but he kind of wanted to be there with them. After shaking the thoughts from his head, Vahn said, "I can't stay for too long, and I'm headed towards Welf's workshop soon..." Anubis's ears drooped a bit at Vahn's words until he stepped forward when she had dropped her guard and embraced her from the front. As if by instinct, Anubis cried out, "Master..." as she fell into his chest and enjoyed the physical contact.Vahn knew that Anubis was one of the most devoted and 'loyal' people around him, even though she was a goddess. She was also very receptive to his actions and he knew she had a bit of a deviancy in her personality and liked to be on the receiving end of things. Vahn caressed over the top of her dress at the area of her lower back as her tail wagged back and forth happily. He began using [Hands of Nirvana], though not too intensely, to rub her back as she clung onto his body and pressed her breasts into his chest. An amorous expression appeared in her beautiful face and her moon-like eyes turned watery before Vahn gave her a short kiss and said, "Thanks for working so hard Anubis...let me give you a small reward."Anubis nodded her head before nuzzling against his neck and the side of her face as if she were trying to 'mark' him with her scent. Vahn enjoyed the ticklish feeling as he wondered what he could do for Anubis that wouldn't require him to spend a lot of time within the Manor. It wasn't appropriate for him to do anything untoward while they were still in the courtyard since it would be a problem when the children returned if they picked up her scent. While he was lost in thought, Vahn felt a slightly hard object touch against him and looked down to see the collar Anubis was wearing. He briefly remembered the objects she had kept in her room at one point as a thought came to his mind and he asked, "Anubis...would you like to go for a walk?"Hearing Vahn's words, Anubis pulled her head away and looked into his face with a bit of confusion until Vahn pulled out an object that made her heart nearly explode in her chest. It wasn't the same one he had taken from her room in the past, but Vahn pulled out a somewhat long 'leash' that would be able to fit around the clasp at the back of Anubis's collar. Vahn saw that her eyes widened and that her breathing had accelerated quite a bit as her tail flapped about with a speed he had never before seen on the 'elegant' and exotic looking goddess.After she calmed down a bit, Vahn attached the leash to Anubis's collar and got to experience a very peculiar situation where he walked around with a beautiful goddess while having a leash attached to his wrist. It was almost unnoticeable if you weren't looking for it, but the small tether made the entire situation seem strangely intimate. Even Anubis, though she maintained her composure, had a wavering light in her eyes to compliment the blooming smile on her face as she walked at his side through the small gardens of the residence. The scary thing was how rapidly her loyalty was increasing even though they were just walking around...Half an hour later, Vahn eventually removed the leash from Anubis and her tail immediately calmed down to a steady rhythm as she said, "Thank you, Master..." Vahn swallowed his saliva as he reached out and stroked her ears for a bit and said, "It was an interesting experience...we should do it again sometime." Anubis's eyes squinted as a smile blossomed on her face and she said, "I'll be looking forward to it...every day...my Master~." She placed a heavy emphasis on the last word as Anubis leaned forward and did something Vahn hadn't anticipated. Starting from his collarbone, Anubis dragged her tongue up his necked until she came to a stop at his cheek before kissing him once and stepping away.Vahn felt a little giddy, but he showed what he wanted to be a 'polite' smile as he said, "I'll come by soon..." They then parted ways, and Vahn felt a slightly cool sensation on his skin where Anubis had licked him since it was still very cold outside even in the afternoon. His heart had been beating rapidly for a while, and he was only able to calm down after walking for nearly ten minutes in silence. Though he knew she enjoyed the 'walk', Vahn couldn't help but berate himself a little at having come up with the idea in the first place. Because she had agreed to it so easily, Vahn ended up following through with his suggestion, but not he had a few regrets since he probably should have shown a little more restraint. He didn't mind taking Anubis for a 'walk', but Vahn was afraid that, if other girls found out about it, they would ask him for similar treatment. His reputation within the City was already somewhat bad, and he imagined it would only be worse if rumors spread around that he 'walked' his girls on a leash.As if heading towards a bastion of hope, Vahn doubled his pace until he eventually arrived outside of Welf's workshop. Vahn believed that, if he interacted with more guys, he would be less prone to his small whims and experimental personality. It wouldn't be a problem if he pitched the idea and the girl refused, but most of the girls around him seemed to be 'too willing' to try and please him. Vahn knew it was because he took actions that cultivated their affection towards him, but it still felt like he was constantly walking a tightrope that would lead him to a serious fall if he weren't careful. He now understood why Loki had told him to go to her if he had any strange thoughts and interests since she would probably let him vent out his urges and correct his behavior so it doesn't become a problem...After entering into the somewhat dark workshop, Vahn noticed that the cold faded away quickly and there were several materials strewn about all over the place. There was a small formation to alert Welf to the arrival of customers, so he came out from the back room of the workshop covered in soot before noticing who his guest was. Welf showed a friendly smile and said, "Hey man, welcome to my workshop! Anything I can do for ya, or did you come around just to hang out?" Hearing Welf's amicable words, Vahn released a relieved sigh that caused Welf's brows to raise. He looked into the eyes of the red-haired youth and said, "Welf, we should hang out more often...hahahaha." Vahn began laughing, even though he didn't understand the reason himself.Welf looked at Vahn as if he had gone mad before placing his hammer on his shoulder and saying, "Sure, I don't mind hanging out. If anything, I could always use a hand on my research if you're not too busy. Unless you want to go get a drink or something, I'm not really too social if I had to be honest." Vahn nodded his head and said, "Yeah, but if its alcohol we should wait until we gather more people first." Welf cocked his head to the side and asked, "More people?" Hearing Welf's question, Vahn continued with a smile, "Yeah, there is this 'network' that the girls have made that I'm not allowed to use. I was thinking of making a network of my own to include some of my friends, colleagues, and rivals. We can use it to exchange information and discuss problems and stuff. Though I don't mind it much, it gets a little...stressful, to be around the girls so often."Hearing Vahn mention the problems with his 'girls', Welf frowned before releasing a long sigh and giving Vahn a vexed look as he said, "Vahn, how the hell are you able to have so many women surround you. I even feel like, in the few weeks we haven't seen each other, that the number somehow increased even further...and this network...jeez man, what kind of life are you even living!?" Vahn released a strange laugh before he walked over and patted Welf on the shoulders and said in a low tone, "Let me tell you about it..."(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Sheeple : Rumors','Anubim recharges her Vahnobtainium','Welf and Vahn's frustrations')If you'd like to support me as a writer so I can write even more stories in the future, please follow the ******* link below (O,...,O)~! Stay beautiful &lt;3https://www.*******.com/user?u=14397149Discord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

After Haruhime fully awoke, she noticed the state of her own body and began to act something bashfully as if she were embarrassed by her current state. Vahn shook his head before smiling and placing his palm atop hers and saying, "Relax, I feel nothing but pride after everything you accomplish. You can't always be ladylike and elegant within the dungeon and there is something charming about a girl that can push through difficult situations without letting it affect them." As he spoke, Vahn pulled out a large basic before filling it with water and heating it with his [Heart of the Eternal Flame]. It was the same basin he used to help bathe Fenrir in the past, and he also set out a change of clothing for Haruhime since he had prepared a few extra pairs just in case her clothing got damaged in the dungeon.Haruhime graciously accepted the clothing before setting it to the side and loosening her obi. Vahn averted his eyes and let her undress for a few minutes as he wondered about what the others were up to. He knew Haruhime was probably trying to appeal to him, but Vahn maintained his sensibilities and upheld a sense of propriety as if she were his patient. Haruhime emitted a quiet "Muuu~" sound before dropping down into the water and saying, "Okay, I'm done..." Vahn passed his detection over her and noticed she had sat facing him before he casually walked around to her back without sparing her a glance.Seeing his behavior, Haruhime submerged half her face into the water and blew bubbles before Vahn handed her some soap, and cleaning powder for her hair. To distract her, Vahn said, "I'd like to check your Status Board and see if anything has changed. Try to relax for a few minutes, Haruhime, I have a good feeling about your progress after that amazing fight earlier." Haruhime nodded her head before moving her long, blond, hair to the side and wrapping it around the front of her body. Vahn marveled at her pale and unblemished back for a moment before pricking his finger and drawing a line of blood down her spine. After he was done, the hieroglyphs displaying her status appeared alongside the Hestia Familia crest.-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------[[STATUS]]Name: Sanjouno HaruhimeRace: RenardLV. 1POW: I19-&gt;H133END: I41-&gt;H174DEX: I30-&gt;I98AGI: I52-&gt;G201MAG: C603-&gt;C665Skill: [Inari:Innate(sealed)], [Prometheus's Blessing:A], [Heroic Strike:G], Featherfoot(I)Magic: [Uchide no Kozuchi:B], [Kokonoe:D]Development Skill: [Moon Priestess:Innate(sealed)], [Spirit Healing:D][Heroic Strike]Rank: GUse: Raises power exponentially based on willpower and resolve.[Featherfoot]Rank: HUse: Increases comprehension of movement abilities and footwork. Provides a moderate increase to stealth related abilities.-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------When Vahn saw Haruhime's new parameters, he could help but pause for a moment as a large smile covered his face. His silence was noticed by Haruhime and she looked back in curiosity to see his expression before they made eye contact with each other. Vahn's smile became even wider and he said, "Haruhime, you really have amazing potential. Not only did your parameters increase to an incredible extent, but you even picked up two new skills!" Vahn showed Haruhime her Status paper and she stared at it with wide eyes for a moment before she tried to stand up from the basin with an 'Eeeeeiiii~?". Before she could, however, Vahn placed his palm on her head and lowered her back into the basin and said, "You're supposed to be washing up, don't overreact."Haruhime gave him a slightly 'begrudging' look that caused Vahn to laugh as he set the paper off to the side and said, "Here, I already brushed your hair earlier, but let me wash it as a reward for your efforts." Hearing his words, Haruhime blanked for a short moment before happily handing over the cleaning powder and a loose comb so that Vahn could make good on his claim. Vahn accepted the comb and spent around ten minutes washing Haruhime's incredibly long hair while paying extra attention to not damage it or pull on her scalp. Other than Hestia, Haruhime had the glossiest hair amongst all the girls around him and Vahn was really amazed at how healthy it looked, and felt, as he passed his fingers through it. When he was finished, Haruhime tried to get him to help wash her somewhat waterlogged tail, but Vahn handed her to comb and said, "Maybe next time; Work hard Haruhime..." After ruffling her hair a bit, Vahn gave her a small smile before making his way out of the ward and heading toward his workshop.As he was leaving, Haruhime followed his retreat with her eyes until he had completely vanished from sight. After he was gone, she relaxed her body in the water and blew bubbled for a few seconds before rising from the water and reaching for the piece of paper Vahn had left. Seeing her own parameters and skills left her somewhat baffled since the majority of her stats had increased by more than one-hundred points. Since her prior parameters, other than magic, were all below 100, to begin with, this was an incredible increase. Even though the paper became damp from her touch, Haruhime still held onto it as she stared happily at the numbers as a small fire was lit inside her heart. Though she couldn't see it, Haruhime imagined the flame seed within her chest blazing like an inferno.---Within his workshop, Vahn got to work on forging the final piece of Haruhime's set items, the necklace that would emulate her 'fortune' charm that she had received from her mother in the past. Since it would be a symbolic item, Vahn put a lot of care into its design and construction before realizing he had no idea how to actually make small chains for necklaces. Vahn purchased a few texts on the process and was blown away but the ridiculous complexity of creating individual links for necklaces without using things like 'machines' to automate the process. He suddenly developed a deep respect for jewelers and craftsman as he purchased a few molds through the shop to make his job easier.Because of the fine quality, and thinness of each individual link, it didn't actually take too much time to melt down and shape the metal with the molds. The hard part was actually creating the gaps to segment the links together, and Vahn had to make incredibly precise cuts before welding the alloyed metals together and shaving off the imperfections with his [Eyes of Truth]. But the time he was done, it was actually nearing 11 PM and Vahn noticed everyone had returned and the majority of them had already gone to bed. He wasn't too surprised, since he had a propensity to completely focus on his tasks when he was doing a complex procedure. Just like when he had made the [Promise] for Hephaestus, Vahn had completely immersed himself in his work and the girls probably didn't want to disturb him. Unless there was an emergency, the only person that was allowed in Vahn's workshop presently was himself.Vahn finished up connecting the final piece, the actual 'charm' of the necklace before holding it in his hands and marveling at his own craftsmanship. The chain had been created using adamantine and orichalcum, just like the bracelets and anklets, and Vahn had interwoven the links together in a linking method called 'foxtail'. Vahn thought it was suitable since Haruhime was a Renard and it would increase the durability of the chain so it wouldn't snap easily. As for the 'battery' aspect, Vahn had left a crystallized plat of his blood within the core of the charm that hung from the chain. When he was finished, Vahn decided to name the necklace [Fox Maiden's Fortune] in the hopes that it would act as the core of the set pieces and protect Haruhime from harm.[Fox Maiden's Fortune]Rank: AP.Def: 7M.Def: 777Abilities: Durandal(C), Magical Amplification(B), Magic Vessel(A), Fox Maiden's Set(B), Luck(C)An ornate necklace designed to act as the core of the 'Fox Maiden's Set'. Enhances every piece of equipment within the same set and serves as a protective charm to shield the wearer from harm. This necklace carries the hopes of its creator to protect the wearer and enable them to walk their path safely, without fear of the future.Restriction: Renard Only (Female)After the necklace was completed, Vahn had a happy smile on his face as he exited his workshop and woke up the sleeping girl sitting in the hallway and leaning against the wall. The moment she opened her green eyes, Vahn held out the necklace and said, "Here you go, Huruhime...it's called [Fox Maiden's Fortune] and it will help protect you from now on." The sleepy expression on Haruhime's face vanished and she happily reached for the necklace with her characteristic, godlike, speed. She was almost about to wear it herself before the sheepishly handed it back to Vahn and asked, "Can you help me wear it~?" Vahn nodded his head as Haruhime turned around and he helped her latch the back. Since he was able to perfectly envision her body when he worked, Vahn had adjusted the length of the chain so that the charm perfectly situated itself in the gap under her collarbone without uncomfortably nestling into her cleavage. Since it had a squarish shape, Vahn had been worried that it would scratch her if it was too long.Once the necklace was fixed around her neck, Haruhime held the small charm in her hands before squeezing it tightly and uttering a silent prayer. After she was finished, she turned around and gave Vahn a very loving smile before loosely embracing his body and saying, "Vahn, thank you for always looking out for me...I..." Though she didn't finish her words, Vahn understood what she was trying to say but shook his head slightly and returned her embrace as he said, "I know, Haruhime...I'll watch over you for as long as it takes." For the same reason she held back her words, Vahn also kept his to himself as they gently held each other for several minutes until the atmosphere got a little awkward and they separated.Vahn sent Haruhime off to bed after saying he needed to clean off his body and refusing her assistance in the matter. She gave up and went down the corridor connecting the central stairway as Vahn watched her back until she disappeared through the door at the end of the hallway. He released a short sigh before making his way to the men's onsen and enjoying a relaxing bath while letting the cold winter air soak into his head and upper body. When he was finished, Vahn returned to his own room and it was nearly midnight by the time he fell onto the cold blankets and instantly fell asleep.---Even though he had gone to sleep late the previous night, Vahn still awoke at 5 AM, even though it would be nearly two hours before the sun rose. Because it was well below freezing in the mornings, the girls had rescheduled their training and were spending more time reading books and learning about the dungeon than actually exercising. As they were all currently in the process of delving into the dungeon for the first time, it was important that they had the proper mindset and took the extra precautions necessary to prevent anything adverse from happening. Since Vahn had the support of Sis, as well as dozens of compendiums regarding the dungeon, he didn't have to study up much so he decided to eat a private breakfast with Hestia and Ryuu while Aki took care of the girls.During their breakfast, Ryuu informed Vahn about everything that had happened with Fenrir the previous day while Hestia told him about any changes that had appeared on the network while also explaining their absence in the afternoon. They had been invited out by Hephaestus and Loki before going to the cafe that had become their common meeting point and discussing various matters that Vahn would learn about at a later date. She also ran upstairs and brought back a logbook for Vahn's personal use that showed all the 'bookings' that had been made for his services. Vahn opened it to give it a cursory glance before his eyes widened a bit as he turned through several completed pages of bookings.The moment he began 'advertising' his services, it had apparently exploded on the network and the girls had been vying for spots while making agreements with each other to jump the order a bit. Vahn had even noticed a few new names on the list, such as Tiona, Ais, Tione, Lefiya, and even Riveria had put forth her name, apparently out of curiosity. Vahn was looking forward to how the 'new' clients would react before he noticed that a number of slots had actually been reserved by Ais. He remembered the first time they were together and how he had 'shocked' her body a bit and wondered if she had a different understanding of the massage than expected.There was also a second list, which including equipment specifications and bookings to have their measurements taken and documented. Vahn looked forward to the meetings, which also corresponded with each girl's respective massage appointments. There was no specific date, and it was up to Vahn to reach out to the girls when he had free time and he began wondering if he should clear up his afternoon's whenever possible. Depending on how early they left, Vahn could help one of the groups train in the dungeon from around 6-7 AM until around 2-3 in the afternoon. This was more than adequate for their current capabilities and was actually somewhat beyond their limits.If not for his presence to heal their wounds and carry the drop items, the girls would be making much slower progress than normal. Haruhime's currently 'Max Floor' was at 5, while the twins had apparently gone down to the 4th floor with Mikoto and Aki. They had accepted a mission from the Guild to collect 25 Dungeon Lizard hides and had taken until nearly 6 PM to finish. It wasn't that they were taking their time, but that Dungeon Lizards didn't often drop their hide and usually left small teeth and magic cores behind when defeated. Fortunately, they were able to successfully complete their mission and submit it to the Guild as the first official task completed by the Hestia Familia.Vahn was thinking if the event was worth celebrating, but it was eventually decided that it was unnecessary since there were more important benchmarks to work toward, such as leveling up or increasing the overall rank of the Familia as a whole. Ryuu lectured Vahn that 'celebrations' should be more meaningful and that he shouldn't over-glorify mild achievements or it would give the Familia strange expectations and breed complacency within their minds. They should be constantly striving to achieve great things, instead of celebrating every minor achievement. It should be their expectation to succeed, and not something they expected to be rewarded for when the accomplishment itself should be enough.According to Ryuu, one of the number one causes of death in newer parties is becoming complacent after mild successes and overextending themselves expecting the same success to happen without as much effort. Since he had nearly died several times due to his own 'overconfidence', Vahn took all of Ryuu's words to heart even though he had the bad habit of 'pampering' the girls when using his [Mentor] Development Ability. He was just unable to treat them poorly, especially when he was alone with Haruhime, or alongside the twins, Emiru and Maemi. They were just too adorable, and he actually experienced a bit of pressure by 'holding back' and having them work hard to grow stronger.After breakfast, Vahn waited for the twins to gear up before packing away some essentials into his inventory, which included rations, first aid supplies, and extra changes of clothing for the twins, which also including underwear and 'tape', just in case. The rest of the Familia needed to visit the Guild to pick a new mission, so Vahn led the two through the City streets and headed toward the dungeon while asking about their progress the previous day. Their Status Boards hadn't been updated, because Aki said it was better to wait until they had obtained a mild achievement or it would negatively influence their growth. If they constantly updated their status, they would definitely grow fast, but it would also cause them to face a bottleneck because they didn't spend time acclimating themselves to their current strength and overcoming difficult situations.Vahn also asked if they had made any progress in their [Gemini] skill, even though they were very obviously 'synchronized' ever since he saw them earlier. Not only did they match each other's steps, while at his flanks, but they mirrored each other's actions almost perfectly and responded in a synchronous manner to most of his questions unless he asked them something individually. Vahn felt it was a little weird, especially since they were on each side of him, but he also thought it was incredibly interesting and wanted to see how far they could develop the skill in the future. Their current limit was 'fusing' for a total of four seconds, but they would always pass out immediately after and only used it when they had returned to their room after dinner. When asked, they explained that the feeling wasn't all that different from when they were in sync with each other, just that it felt 'closer'. They also claimed that they experienced a strange feeling of 'power' and it was like their senses became much stronger before they eventually blacked out...Hearing their words, Vahn decided he would help the twins develop their magic parameter a bit and also create some accessories for their use. Unless their internal mana developed, however, they wouldn't be able to make use of their fused state for a long time. Vahn even contemplated having them cease going into the dungeon until he could come up with a solution for their diminutive mana pool. It was a well-documented fact that mana could be increased through meditation and study, but the twins were rather uneducated and couldn't even read and write properly yet. They also didn't have enough mana to make proper use of magical weapons, so Vahn was a little confused on how to encourage their growth for the time being.A strange thought passed through his mind all of a sudden before a ruminating, somewhat speculative, smile appeared on his face as he cocked his head to the side in deep thought. It seemed like a strange method, but Vahn felt like he would be able to manage depending on the circumstances...he had decided that, when their training for the day came to an end, Vahn wanted to have the twins fuse together and he would try to feed his mana directly into their bodies. If they were able to sustain the form for a longer period of time, Vahn was confident the mana within their bodies would begin to develop further since it was a fusion derived from an Innate ability. Just like his own magical parameter, if they were able to level up the skill, their parameters should grow to match.(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Absolute Focus','Vahn's bad habits','Experimenting with girls...')If you'd like to support me as a writer so I can write even more stories in the future, please follow the ******* link below (O,...,O)~! Stay beautiful &lt;3https://www.*******.com/user?u=14397149Discord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Chapter 316: Experiment