Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

After Vahn finished confirming the total number of attendees five times, his casual smile turned into a somewhat wry one as he walked forward and said, "I-It's good to see everyone together like this...hahaha." In response to his awkward greeting, all of the girls present gave a variation of their own, though decidedly more chipper and affectionate than what he had managed. They had the 'numerical' advantage, so the pressure on them was a lot less than what Vahn himself was experiencing. Fortunately, there were a few girls that stepped forward to ease the tensions for Vahn, including Hephaestus, Eina, and Hestia. He shared an embrace with the three lovable girls, which also included a brief kiss, even with slightly blushing Eina.Vahn felt a lot calmer after parting with the three girls and wasn't as affected when Loki asked with a mischevious smile on her face, "Surprised by the hole you dug for yourself~?" Vahn shook his head and, with a fresh smile on his face, said, "Just a little overwhelmed honestly...I imagine any guy would probably pause after seeing so many beautiful girls in one place." Though it was a simple compliment, Vahn could feel the auras of almost everyone in the room stabilize and take on various warm colors, including a few vibrant yellows, sky blues, and pinks. One of the reasons he had been 'overwhelmed' at first, was because the auras of the girls had been overlapping with each other, almost like they had become part of a greater whole and it was somewhat intimidating to see the chaotic state of the room when he first entered.After exchanging greetings with everyone present, Loki took the initiative again and said, "Okay, we'll be eating a light lunch and enjoying a few snacks for the next two hours or so. This is the time that has been allocated to Vahn, so please pay close attention and try not to interrupt unless its an important matter~! As everyone has noticed, we outnumber him a little, kekekeke~." Piggybacking off of her words, Hephaestus nodded and said, "We originally got together like this for Vahn's benefit, so it's important we take into consideration his will on matters. Understanding and communication, just like what we have on the network, is important for everyone's shared happiness."Vahn gave a grateful smile to the two goddesses before turning his attention to the larger group with a little more confidence. He noticed that, with few exceptions, every girl present was paying attention to his presence and waiting for his words with small smiles on their faces. Because he was going to be addressing them all, he was standing in the area where Hephaestus had been sitting previously as she moved off to the side to watch him from the front. Vahn took a deep breath before clearing the area around him and dropping to his knees in a smooth motion. Before the girls reacted to his unexpected behavior, Vahn placed his hands on the ground before pressing his forehead to the floor and saying, "First off, even if it may not be necessary, I want to apologize to everyone here!"More than a few girls wanted to rise and have Vahn stand, but they were still following the advice of Loki and Hephaestus and just worried bit their lips instead of saying anything. Vahn kept his head bowed low as he continued, "I know how abnormal this situation is...even if everyone is okay with it, I know I'm not enough to guarantee that everyone here will always be happy. I will do my best to meet everyone's expectations, but I am only one person...I can't bear such a great burden all the time, so please forgive me." After his words fell for a few seconds, Vahn raised his head and passed his gaze over everyone present as he said, "I won't lie...I am truly grateful for the affections everyone has for me...and...I can't help but want to be with everyone based on my own curiosity and intrigue. If it were just acting intimately with people..." Vahn clenched his teeth before an incredibly confident look appeared in his eyes and he said, "I would be able to manage without difficulty."Though his claim was 'bold', Vahn had confidence that, other than maybe Tiona, Tione, and Aisha, he was more than 'capable' of tending to every woman present if necessary. The problem was managing the relationships and making sure everyone was 'happy' in their everyday lives. At this point, Vahn rose to his feet and looked around at the various looks on the girls' faces. Some were confused, but there was a fair number that had mild blushes and slightly expectant looks in their eyes. He nodded his head firmly before continuing, "The problem is, I know that isn't healthy, nor is it the right thing to do given the current situation. The main reason I came here was to let my own stance on the matters be known, since I want to do my best to make sure everyone is able to understand what I'm going through during all of this..."Vahn took a deep breath before saying, "I can't always be around...because of my nature, and the things I want to accomplish in this life, I can't guarantee I will be able to stay with everyone as much as I'd like to...as much as some of you might need me to. There will be times when I may even be gone for several months, and there is also a very real possibility that I could die to any number of unknown circumstances...because of that, I can't easily involve myself with anyone that isn't independent or capable of living without my presence. Though I will always do my best to protect everyone, it puts me under a great deal of mental and physical duress when I try to manage my life around the lives of others..."A somewhat pained look appeared on Vahn's face as he said, "I'm just...not strong enough. And I know things will only get more difficult in the future...so I ask that, if by some chance you find it in your heart to care for me...if you make the decision to honor me with your affections...you also have the expectation that, at any moment, I may not be able to be there when you need me. I want everyone to be self-reliant, especially when I have to take into consideration the matter of having children in the future. This network...I'm positive that, if I wasn't fortunate enough to meet with Hephaestus and Eina, things wouldn't have progressed so smoothly..."Vahn briefly made eye contact with everyone in the room as he spoke before saying, "Because I am compelled to follow the path I've chosen for myself, I want everyone to have their own convictions, their own path, something that they've decided to dedicate themselves to in order to become happy...and that can't be me alone. I can't bear the burden of so many people having placed their expectations, their happiness, their burdens, all on my shoulders. And the simple truth is, I would do my best to bear it regardless of how much pain it caused me...until I eventually broke and made a mistake. If that happened, and it most likely would at some point, I'm not sure if I'd ever be able to recover from it..."Though he didn't kneel down, Vahn bowed to everyone present and said, "I know...I know what I'm saying is selfish...because I should be grateful that so many beautiful, kind, and capable women...that you've deemed me worthy of your affections. But, I have to think about the worst-case scenario...I have to take into consideration my own nature, my own desires, my own interests. If I deny them, I feel like I will lose my way...so please understand my standpoint...and do what you think is best for your own happiness. No matter how much it pains me, I will always support your decisions and do my best to guarantee you able to obtain what you seek...even if it is a path that diverges from my own...I just want everyone to be happy, and not reliant on me...even though I also will do my best to make myself reliable so that you are never in danger..."The atmosphere within the Hostess of Fertility had almost grown eerily quiet, but Vahn actually felt a bit of relief since he could see that none of the girls present seemed to show any enmity toward him. Though some had fluctuations in their auras, none of them showed any negative emotions in regards to his words, and there were even a number of girls that had very loving expressions on their faces. Hephaestus was chief amongst them, but Eina, Aki, and even Syr, were both looking at him with gentle expressions with a hint of concern in their eyes. Chloe had a resolute expression and even girls like Tiona and Ais had kind smiles on their faces.After a brief period of silence, Loki was the one to ask, "So, if you had to put forth any regulations of your own, what would they be?" Vahn ruminated over her words for a bit before saying, "Unless I feel like they have stabilized, I don't want to be romantically involved with any girl under Level 3...I also don't want too many girls to get pregnant at the same time...and..." Vahn swallowed a 'knot' that had found its way in his throat before he muttered in an awkward manner, "I want to...be able to...ummm...talk about the things I...want to try...on the network..." Even though he had mentally prepared himself, Vahn couldn't help but blush when he talked about something so 'deviant'. He couldn't deny it, that he himself had a very strong interest in girls, so he wanted them to be aware of it and, for those that were interested, Vahn wanted to be able to communicate with them and try out the things he was interested in.Though not everyone understood at first, it wasn't long before the entire room, excluding Fenrir, understood what Vahn was trying to say. Loki herself burst out into laughter as she eyed the various reactions of the girls within the room. She wasn't the only one, as there were a number of women present that were also exchanging glances with others within the room, especially Syr, who had a mild blush on her face and a slight glimmer in her light grey eyes. Vahn was also gauging everyone's reactions and had seen several auras within the group flare up with a stronger touch of pink, while others were practically blazing about, especially Hestia, Tiona, Ais, and even Tione and Aisha.Loki finally stopped laughing and gave a cursory glance over everyone before she asked in a playful tone, "Anything else~?" Vahn nodded his head and said, "I want to be a good father...so I'd like to be involved in raising my children when the time comes. Though I will probably be in the dungeon a lot, I'd like to be able to spend time with them whenever I can..." Loki waved her hand dismissively and said, "You don't really have to worry about that, since we weren't going to let any of your kids out of sight anyways. As long as you want to meet them, I don't imagine there is a girl present who would even try to stop you...anything else?"Vahn shook his head and a somewhat wry smile appeared on his face as he explained, "I honestly don't have enough experience with life to even know what I want to do right now...I'm just doing my best based on my understanding of the situation, so I've probably overlooked several things. Please, if possible, always be honest with me so I'll be able to increase my own experience and make more informed decisions in the future. I'm not sure how many times meetings like this will happen...but I'd like to be present for some of them, even if I'm not around for the full duration."As he was speaking, Vahn remembered a matter, so he tacked it on and said, "Oh, I want to make a network of my own as well, one with just guys. I stayed over at Welf's last night, and I feel like it was theraputic in a way...also, umm...I wanted to bring up something about that as well...?" Vahn scratched the back of his head as he looked around before saying, "Umm, I'm actually not...that sure about how to...appeal to girls...and I wanted to help Welf find a partner as well." Since there were currently twenty-eight girls that had all gathered for his benefit, Vahn felt it was strange to say he didn't actually know how to appeal with girls.Surprisingly, several girls nodded their heads as if they were agreeing with him before Hephaestus said, "Yeah...Welf would probably have a lot of trouble with women, and I can't imagine you would be able to help him out with it given your personality. I know he had a crush on me, and it's pretty apparent he had a crush on Tsubaki as well..." Even though he hadn't explained anything, Hephaestus had known Welf for years and even Loki added in after hearing her words, "So he is the type that likes older women, probably ones with big boobs and stuff..." She had a somewhat annoyed look on her face as she stared at girls like Hestia and Mona out of the corner of her eye.Vahn felt a little guilty with how the girls were reacting to Welf, and he almost regretted bringing it up when there was so many present. Everyone had started discussing the matter, even though the majority of the girls had never even met him. Vahn felt like he needed to defend his friend a bit, so he said, "Welf might not be that capable now, but he has a lot of potential and is actually a great guy. As long as he has proper guidance, I believe he would be able to become a better blacksmith, as well as a capable adventurer in the future. The research he is working on it something that will revolutionize magical items, and it's something that is worth investing in while helping nurture his growth..."Hephaestus nodded her head in agreement as she said, "Vahn didn't mention it, but his full name is Welf Crozzo. He bears the rare skill [Crozzo Magic Blood] and can create devastating weapons that would change the tide of almost any battle. He has a bit of a trauma since his family's reputation is somewhat disreputable, but he has been working incredibly hard to change that reputation through his own efforts. I agree with Vahn that he will likely be an incredibly capable person in the next ten years." Loki nodded her head next and said, "Especially if he is Vahn's friend, it's almost guaranteed he'll have a fair amount of success...so the real matter is finding a girl that can look after him so he doesn't break from associating with Vahn. I imagine he is probably very jealous, especially considering you're very near each other in age..."Aisha, the person that Vahn had originally wanted to talk to about the matter, had been listening to the conversation and said, "There are a number of Amazon girls that are looking for long-term partners...do you know if he has anything against non-human relations?" Vahn shook his head quickly and explained, "No, he seems to just like strong girls with big breasts and plump butts..." Though he said the words 'casually', Vahn felt a little embarrassed to broach the subject of someone else's preferences. Aisha's smile turned somewhat sensual as she squinted her eyes and said, "Well, I know more than a few girls that would look out for him...if he is serious about growing stronger, they'll even protect him, especially if he has the support of people like you and Hephaestus-sama."Though she seemed to throw out the idea as a joke, based on how she was cackling, Loki said, "If he will one day be as capable as Vahn claims, it might even be better if you send multiple girls to him at once. I'm sure it'll help stroke his ego a bit and give him the encouragement to grow stronger, kekeke~." As if seriously considering the matter, Aisha nodded her head and said, "I know at least five girls that are Level 3 and know how to deal with younger men well. They're all pretty young as well, so they'll be more than willing to wait a few years for him to actually become more capable..."Hearing Aisha's words, Vahn imagined Welf being surrounded by a group of exotic, brown-skinned, Amazon beauties and pictured the red-haired youth having a silly smile on his face. For a brief moment, Vahn wanted to slap his image of Welf silly and he finally understood why so many men gave him looks of envy. After shaking the image from his mind, Vahn looked over towards Tiona, Tione, and Aisha before swallowing a fair amount of saliva when he saw the somewhat 'hungry' looks in their eyes. To make matters worse, Ais had a similar look and Vahn could see a competitive fire burning deep within her pupils. Since he was unable to control his expression when he let his mind wander the girls close to him, and those with experience, were easily able to discern what he was thinking about.Vahn had a somewhat bashful smile on his face as he scanned over the group of girls and saw everyone's expressions. Even when they were talking to each other, everyone was focused on him, so he felt quite a bit of pressure seeing how they reacted to his words and actions...Eventually, the lunch period came to an end and Vahn left the Hostess of Fertility to let the girls discuss the matters he had brought up amongst themselves. Given their initial reactions, Vahn felt like things should go well since there didn't seem to be any negative responses from the core of the group. Though some of the lesser involved girls might distance themselves from him, Vahn believed that things would take a turn in a positive direction for him in the future. It was impossible for him to balance everything on his own, but Vahn knew the girls that were leading the discussion were capable of managing things due to their influence and experience. Especially with girls like Hephaestus, Eina, Loki, and Syr amongst their numbers. Though Hestia was also 'influential' in his life, Vahn naturally excluded her because he knew she would likely never be able to overcome her own bias for the other girls within the group. He left the matters for the more mature, and highly capable, women in his life...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Everything starts from an apology','Vahn's Resolution','RIP Welf')(A/N: Hope everyone is enjoying the sixth-ranked original novel TT___TT. Still can't believe we keep getting overtaken by a wish-fulfillment novel for women.)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;3. 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Now that he had left the Hostess of Fertility, Vahn didn't actually know what he should be doing. There was no work to do, no girls to spend time with, and no objectives for him to currently complete. For the first time a while, Vahn had 'real' free time and he didn't know how to spend it. The girls would probably be at their meeting for a few more hours, and probably even eat dinner together, so he had the majority of the afternoon to himself. He was half expecting, now that things were calm, for something to happen that would change the relative peace he was enjoying. Since he didn't have any control over the actions of others, the only thing he could do was simply avoid looking for trouble himself.Though he had the urge to 'walk around' and enjoy the City, Vahn felt like it was a 'flag' that would trigger an event to happen that would once again increase the burden on his shoulders. Even going into the dungeon seemed like he would stumble across someone that needed help, or he would somehow run across the expedition and meet Tsubaki, Naaza, Lili, and Nanu. He was somewhat interested in putting his theory to the test, especially since he wanted to replenish his diminishing Origin Point reserves. The girls were allowed to keep the magic cores of the monsters they hunted during the training, and they would exchange them for points and Valis when they returned to the Manor. This meant that Vahn hadn't really been gaining any OP to replenish his supply, and he was afraid it would become a problem if he didn't address it soon.Vahn had several ways to make OP, but the most effective method would inarguably be to slay monsters. It was also the only way for him to grow stronger, but it was dangerous to venture into the deeper floors alone, even with his powerful abilities. He could use the [Seal of the Challenger] and stay on the upper floors, but it likely wouldn't make a big difference since he didn't really get hit at all. Simply 'not fighting back' wouldn't really get around that problem, since the biggest factor to growth was the person's mental state. Vahn needed to experience real threats, not artificially created ones...Though he was 'lost in thought', Vahn still maintained awareness of his surroundings, and he saw a kid in an alleyway getting bullied by another group of children. Based on their clothing, they all looked like orphans and they were currently trying to steal the small roll of bread that was being clutched by the small child in a death grip as the curled up on the ground. Even though it was nearly freezing outside, the children only had cloths wrapped around their feet, and Vahn saw several cuts and bruises all over their bodies. Everyone around pretty much ignored the scene as if it were perfectly normal so Vahn released a sigh as he walked over.Seeing Vahn approach, the three 'bullies' gave him a discontented look before trying to kick the kid on the ground and run off. Vahn completely locked down their movements and they each froze mid-motion with expressions of abject terror on their faces. Though he hadn't noticed at first, Vahn could tell the children looked slightly more mature than normal, and he quickly understood that all four of them were actually Pallums. When he approached, he had a contemplative look on his face as he observed the four and said, "Explain what is going on..."The Pallum boy that was being beaten previously look up with a hesitant expression after seeing the three people surrounding him standing like statues. He swallowed his saliva and said, "I...I was just...trying to eat my bread...they wanted to take it from me." Vahn shook his head as he released one of the bullies and asked, "Why do you want to take his food?" The bully's mouth quivered a bit as they said, "We're hungry...it isn't fair that he gets to eat while we have to starve..." Vahn squinted his eyes and asked, "But it's 'fair' to gang up on him and try to take what isn't your's?"Hearing Vahn's question, the boy fell onto his butt with fear in his eyes as he stuttered, "I-I-I-I..." Vahn shooked his head before infusing [Heart of the Eternal Flame] into his domain to warm up the air around them. He also slowly began to heal their wounds as he pulled out a few dishes of food and some rations that were used in the dungeon. The children all swallowed when they saw the sudden appearance of sumptuous meals out of thin air. Vahn released his restraint on the other two bullies and they all looked at him with trepidation and a hint of expectation.Vahn passed his gaze over them and explained in a patient tone, "Life is not always fair...sometimes it is very hard, and it seems like things will never get better. This will always be the truth unless you can work together...hurting others just increases the amount of pain and hatred within the cycle of life. You might hurt him now, but that pain will breed resentment...depending on how things develop, the people you hurt might go to drastic lengths to make sure you suffer just as they did. It's better to work together, that way you can help ensure each other's happiness..."Each of the four boys looked at him with conflict on their faces and it made Vahn shake his head before he asked, "Tell me, how old are you, how long have you known each other, where are your families?" He turned his attention to each boy, one by one, and they stated, "I'm 8...I've known Todd and Marty for three years...they are my friends...and my family." Vahn nodded his head and the next boy said, "I'm 8 as well, and I've known Sean and Marty for three years...we grew up together." The last of the bullies continued after Todd finished, "I'm 7, and I've been with Todd and Sean for the last three years...I don't remember my family..."After the bullies were finished, the final Pallum child said, "I'm Sardyr...I'm 10 years old...and I've seen these boys a lot...they bully me because I am alone..." There was a deep resentment in the boy's eyes that made the other three boys frown. Before they said anything, Vahn released a light pulse of energy and they held their words as he said, "So you do understand that things are easier when you work together...right?" The three bullies looked at each other before nodding their heads in affirmation. Vahn asked, "So, if Sardyr ended up hurting one of you in the future, what would you do?"The 'leader' of the bullies, Sean, immediately said, "I would beat him up, black and blue!" Vahn frowned and asked, "Is that 'fair'?" The boy backed down a bit before muttering, "Yes...he hurt my friend..." Vahn shook his head and asked, "But he only did that because you hurt him...isn't that his right to take action? Why is it 'fair' for you to hurt him, but not fair for him to hurt you?" The boys couldn't answer his question, so Vahn continued, "See, this is what I mean...you create a cycle of hatred based on your own justifications...your own bias...and it doesn't make anyone happy. For a temporary reprieve, you take from others, but the only thing you're doing is inviting unhappiness in the future. If Sardyr left, who would you steal from? Would you just move on to someone else? What happens if you steal from a lot of people and they all team up to get revenge?"Vahn saw a 'cruel' glint pass through the eyes of Sardyr and he squinted his eyes and said, "Will taking revenge make you happy? Does it return to you the things you've lost? Would you truly be able to trust the people that banded together to bring harm to others? What happens when they turn their backs on you and hurt you as well?" Unable to answer his question, Sardyr just frowned with a conflicted expression on his face. Vahn looked over the four kids for several long seconds and said, "The only thing that can guarantee your happiness is strength...not just physical, or magical, might...but strength of character...and the strong bonds that tie you together as friends...even family. Instead of weakening yourselves and suppressing others, you should continue to grow stronger, together, so that you can protect the things you care about."Holding out the dishes, Vahn said, "I give you a simple choice...reconcile your differences and I will allow you to eat this food. Though I won't be around to enforce that you get along, I will trust that you remember the lesson I have taught you today. If we meet again in the future, and I see that you have created better lives for yourselves, I will make sure to reward you for your efforts. Know that, as long as you make the effort to change, life will get easier...even if you don't plan for it, the future will always come...so do your best to make sure it is a bright one, and not one surrounded by pain and hatred. Be better than the life you have been forced into..."Though they may not have taken his words to heart, the four boys at least put on a show of 'making up' with each other. They each shook hands and apologized for everything that had happened before Vahn allowed them to eat the food. When they finally got to dig into the dishes, the boys ate ravenously and Vahn explained the contents of the satchels he gave each of them. Though it wasn't 'pleasant', each one contained enough field rations for an adult that would last an entire week. Vahn told them that, he wouldn't always stop by, but he would occasionally appear in this area in the future. If he saw they were making an earnest effort to build a better life for themselves, he would give them more food and even other necessities. Vahn knew he couldn't 'adopt' every orphan he saw on the street, so the best he could do was provide them some moral guidance and hope they pursue the change that would better their lives.Before he left, Vahn gave each of the kids 1,000Valis, which was enough to actually seek temporary shelter, or to purchase things like shoes. He couldn't give them more, because it would make them a target by other homeless people and older orphans. Since they'd been orphans for several years, they had enough street smarts to not flaunt their 'wealth'. It also incentivized them to work together, because any one of them could 'betray' the others if there were hard feelings between them. Though it was small, they now had a small amount of wealth they needed to protect, and the only people they could rely on was each other.After leaving the alleyway, Vahn continued on in silence for a bit as he wondered if it were possible to do something more meaningful for people in the same situation as the children. He knew that it wasn't actually a solution to just give them everything since it would only cause disreputable people to exploit them for further gain. There was simply no infrastructure in place to deal with the homeless, provide for orphans, and prevent criminals, or disreputable adults, from exploiting their situation. No amount of money could fix the problem, because it would just be used to strengthen the 'power' of those that exploit others and eventually escalate matters unless someone took action to stop it. However, even if he eliminated every 'evil' person, there was a very real chance someone amongst the orphans themselves would 'rise up' and replace that person once they got a taste of power and authority. It was a never-ending cycle, and the only permanent solution seemed to be education and setting a proper example...only by putting in an effort to change their own situation could people truly overcome their trials and move on with life.With that thought in mind, Vahn turned his attention to the system for a moment and saw the perpetual 99 Affection of Lili and knew she was still someone that hadn't been able to move on from her tragic past. Though she was putting in an exorbitant amount of effort, she hadn't taken many actions to correct her mental state and she was still overly reliant on other people to function. Vahn didn't know what he could do to help her since the only person that could truly change her mentality was Lili herself. Even if he went to the Soma Familia and forced them to 'repent' for their past actions, there was no guarantee it would help her. The alcohol production Familia was already under pressure from the Guild and was being forced to change their ways after the various illegal dealings they were involved with were exposed. Lili didn't even have to do anything, and the Soma Familia would be forcibly corrected over time while anyone that had committed a crime would face their due punishments.Vahn shook his head and knew that the only thing he could do was continue working hard to live by example. The girls on the network would always look after her, and when she eventually joined his Familia in the future, Vahn knew she would probably begin to stabilize. If nothing else, the best solution to Lili's problem was simply time. The stronger, and more confident, she became, the happier she would be. Once she opened up to others, a lot of the things that caused her pain in the past would slowly fade away. Vahn actually believed that girls like Preasia, Haruhime, and even Fenrir, would be very therapeutic for her. Other than Naaza and Tina, Lili didn't have many actual friends.For the rest of the afternoon, Vahn ruminated over a few matters before psyching himself up when he detected the arrival of the girls. He believed that most of the solutions to his problems would be found through the network, and he placed a lot of trust in the capable women that ran it. His primary focus should be doing his best to develop, not only his own strength, but the strength of the Hestia Familia itself. Everything else would be dealt with after consulting with everyone, unless it was a matter that could only be dealt with by Vahn personally, such as something like a quest.When he went downstairs, Vahn greeted all the girls that had just arrived which included Hestia, Aki, Ryuu, Fenrir, Haruhime, Mikoto, Emiru, Maemi, Preasia, Milan, Tina, Shizuna, and surprisingly, Loki. The moment he saw the red-headed goddess, Vahn paused for a bit as a small amount of expectation took root inside of him. She immediately noticed his reaction and playfully stuck out her tongue before saying, "There are a few things we need to talk about~. It might take a while, so how about we use your bedroom~?"Vahn swallowed a bit before he turned his attention to Hestia and saw her release a small sigh before saying, "I'll be expecting you to make it up to me later..." Without saying anything else, she walked off with the majority of the other girls, including Ryuu. The only ones that stayed behind were Loki and Aki, who looked to Vahn and asked, "Do you want me to come along?" Vahn could see her aura flared up a bit with a pink hue, but he shook his head and said, "No, I think I need to 'talk' to Loki in private for once..." Aki nodded her head before her tail flickered about and she whispered, "I'll be next door if you need me..." After her words fell, Aki gave Vahn a quick hug before making her way upstairs ahead of them. Vahn turned his attention back to Loki and saw a large grin on her face before he too smiled. Just as she was about to make a comment, Vahn moved directly next to her with Shundo and picked up her body in a princess carry and said, "I wonder what we'll talk about~? It must be very important..."Loki had opened her eyes in a rather surprised expression for a moment before she gingerly hung her arms around Vahn's neck and whispered, "I can't help but feel like it's the most important thing in the whole world..." Vahn nodded his head and, with a gentle smile on his face, whispered in return, "Then I guess we shouldn't idle about here in the foyer..." As soon as his words finished, Vahn appeared at the landing between the first and second floor which shocked Loki a bit as a curious expression appeared on her face. She playfully said, "Ara~? A little 'fast', aren't you~?" In response, Vahn used several Shundo to appear at the third-floor corridor before he said, "Hmm, I feel like I can turn the tables and make you 'faster' though~?" As he spoke, a mild electrical sensation appeared on Vahn's fingertips that made Loki's body shake a little. She opened her red eyes and said in a hot voice, "You little brat...let's talk."(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Fenrir eat bully~?','Break the cycle','Loki came to talk, but Vahn wants her to sing')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;3. Since it was requested, I also added a Paypal link if that is preferable~!)https://www.*******.com/user?u=14397149paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Due to the large number of attendees, and the fact that ten of the members worked there, it had been decided that the second Vahnatus was to take place at the Hostess of Fertility. Unlike the first meeting, where there were eighteen girls in attendance, there were now twenty-eight girls that had shown up, many for the first time. This brought the total number of women to participate in the Vahnatus to an astounding thirty-four members, and it was a number that would inspire awe in many, especially since the majority of the girls were very beautiful.The Hostess of Fertility had closed its doors to customers for the day and they had moved around the majority of the chairs and tables before linking them all together to allow for everyone to sit and discuss matters easily. This time around, those in attendance were Hephaestus, the 'Goddess' Representative, Chairman, and First Wife of Vahn, Eina, the 'Mortal' Representative, Vice-Chairman, and also the First Wife of Vahn. There was also Loki, the Spokesperson, and Negotiator for the entire group, and several members of her Familia including Tiona, Ais, Tione, Riveria, Lefiya, and Aisha. Anubis was also in attendance, but her entire Familia was still on an expedition with Tsubaki, so they were absent alongside Naaza and Lili. The largest 'faction' within the group was represented by Syr and it consisted of Mama Mia, Chloe, Arnya, Lunoire, Mona, and to a lesser extent, Milan, Tina, and Shizune. Wrapping up the attendees, there were the members of the Hestia Familia including Hestia herself, Ryuu, Aki, Haruhime, Mikoto, Emiru, Maemi, Preasia, and last but not least, Fenrir.Just as they had done so during the first meeting, albeit with greater efficacy this time around, Hephaestus, Eina, and Loki had everyone present agree to take a vow to protect the information discussed within and never disclose it to anyone outside of the group. As most of the girls had already made non-disclosure type vows, they quickly made the decision to do so, even though some were slightly hesitant and gave in to the pressure and momentum of the group as a whole. Since there were several new attendees, the matter concerning Vahn's assumed origin was brought up yet again and, even though many of the girls present were already aware of his past, there were still several who got somewhat misty-eyed. For those just learning about it, it was quite an impact for them, especially in the case of Haruhime, Emiru, Maemi, Preasia, Mona, and Shizune. They all had tragic pasts of their own and had suffered no small degree of misfortune, but it was hard to imagine what Vahn had gone through before he finally obtained his 'freedom'. All they usually saw when interacting with Vahn was a capable and understanding young boy that often pampered them and treated them with a respectful attitude even though they often pressured him a bit.They weren't the only ones affected greatly, as there was also one girl who had a somewhat blank look to her eyes with a gentle smile on her face as she processed everything she had just learned. Perhaps more than anyone else, Syr understood what it was like to be used and exploited just because of the virtue of one's birth, and she heavily empathized with Vahn's origin story. She had already made the decision to pursue and live alongside him, but these new revelations amped up her already firm resolve to ensure that they were able to be together forever. There was a powerful urge to 'protect' Vahn welling up inside her, and she was slowly analyzing each of the girls present as if she were evaluating their existence and potential impact on Vahn's life...After the 'prelude' was taken care of, the tone of the conversation underwent a large shift as the topics turned to somewhat happier, yet stressful, matters. Though it was already known by most of the girls present, the matter regarding Vahn's upcoming marriage with Hephaestus and Eina was discussed in detail, including when and where it would take place. Of course, everyone present was invited to attend, and it would be a relatively private matter even though it would become highly publicized in the coming days. They then moved on to discussions about the Denatus, and it was revealed to the group that Hephaestus was confirmed to be pregnant with Vahn's child. This was a massive impact on several girls, for a variety of reasons, because it was a significant event that would change the momentum in the group indefinitely while also causing ripples throughout the world.Once things got to this point, though Loki was about to announce her own intent to get pregnant and their strategy at the Denatus, Aki had interrupted the conversation with an uncharacteristically bashful appearance as she claimed, "I'm...also...most likely pregnant with Vahn's child." Hephaestus, who had been the only other girl present with a [Maternity Band], wasn't too surprised by the revelation, but it was a big impact on most of the girls present. Those that knew the biology of Cat Persons weren't too surprised either, but girls like Tiona and Tione, were somewhat up in arms since Aki was their former comrade in the Loki Familia. Aki didn't shy away from their somewhat playful rebukes as she just smiled and rubbed her belly with a satisfied look on her face.Syr, once again, began to pay closer to attention to several other girls and also noted the lines of the [Maternity Band] that was being worn by Hephaestus and Aki. A few alarms were ringing in her head and a plot was forming within the depth of her mind to regain the momentum and bring things in her favor in the future. Though she had no intention of vying for the 'first wife' position with Hephaestus and Eina, Syr wanted to be a decision maker within the group and become one of the people closest to Vahn. Now that girls, other than Vahn's 'wives', were beginning to get pregnant, she felt a little bit of pressure, especially when Loki expanded on their strategy in the upcoming Denatus. Not just mortal girls, but there would be goddesses trying to flock to Vahn's side to receive 'benefits' within the future and it would destabilize her position and threaten the balance of the entire group if things got out of hand.The entire time she was speaking, Loki had been paying very close attention to Syr and the two had locked eyes several times and understood, to a certain extent, what the other was thinking. It had already been discussed within the 'leadership' on the network, and each of the girls, Hephaestus, Loki, and Eina, realized the potential benefits, as well as the threat, that someone like Syr provided for Vahn and the network as a whole. Eina had already made her decision to act primarily in Vahn's interest, to be something akin to his personal caretaker and 'big sister', while girls like Aki were meant to help manage things within the Familia alongside Hestia and Ryuu. Vahn still needed a woman to manage the interpersonal relationships on the network, as well as someone that was willing to organize his personal life so he wouldn't be so stressed out trying to keep up with everyone on his own.Though it could be managed by Hephaestus, Eina, and Loki herself, they all had other responsibilities and something akin to personal bias, either because of their disposition, or their Divinity. Hephaestus would always take to Vahn's aide, but she was also busy most of the time managing her thousands of Familia members. Loki knew her nature, and she could potentially disrupt the established order within the group just because of the influence of her Divinity. Eina herself was a capable manager, but she was fully invested in Vahn himself and didn't know enough about the girls on the network to easily influence things outside of the Manor itself.Because of her nature, and her apparent devotion to Vahn, Syr was in the best position to have the greatest amount of impact on his life. They had already seen through her plot to essentially turn the Hostess of Fertility into a central component of Vahn's existence ever since she 'protected' Milan and Tina in the past. She then began developing Vahn's relationships with the other girls and slowly cultivated the habit he had of visiting the Hostess of Fertility nearly every day. When Vahn needed someone to look after him, she was the one that pitched the idea of sending over Ryuu, and she had also been the one managing the network and arranging the various outings Vahn had gone on. She also convinced Mama Mia to shelter the former slave girls and has been steadily developing everyone within the Hostess of Fertility to be more receptive to Vahn's presence.Even Eina herself agreed that, of all the girls around Vahn, Syr was one of, if not the, most capable women in his life, even though she was only Level 1. She had a fierce intelligence, a rational mind, and seemed to be very devoted to Vahn. However, there was a very high chance she would slowly try to take control of his life over time just to monopolize his affections by even a marginal amount compared to the other girls. Since she was somewhat manipulative and had a lot of influence on the girls within the Hostess of Fertility, she was also one of the biggest threats within the group as a whole. If they truly brought her into the 'inner circle', other than Loki herself, the others might not even be aware of what had happened by the time she seized control. Of course, since Loki was present, they would serve as a restraint on each other for the foreseeable future. The biggest, and scariest concern was what would happen if Syr eventually worked together with Loki, or alongside the problematic Freya, who she already had a pre-existing relationship with.These were important things that needed to be taken into considerations by those in 'official' relationships with Vahn, as they would impact, not only his life, but the lives of everyone within the network, as well as any children that may be born within the group in the future. It was something that had to be discussed in private so, for now, they focused on other matters including the potential aftermath of what would happen after Vahn's ability to help goddesses get pregnant was exposed. Because of the 'Tripartisan Cooperation' of the top three Familia, Vahn would be able to remain relatively safe, even if there were any that harbored resentment or ill will towards him.There was also the influence of the Alliance itself, and how they planned to restrict the information by forcing anyone that learned of the process to undertake a strict vow of secrecy. Since he would be a unique existence, the Guild would most like take Vahn's side as well, as Ouranos was somewhat cunning but unable to directly oppose even a single one of the top three Familia, much less all three. He would most likely even try to 'protect' Vahn for the 'benefit' of the greatest number of people, but there was already a plan in motion to pretty much shut him down at the start.Simply put, the 'Tripartisan Cooperation' wouldn't even give him any room to maneuver on the matter because it was already the 'common law' amongst gods in the mortal world to not restrict the actions of children outside their own Familia. Even if he could make an argument for the 'greater good', there would be no actual justification he could put forth that would allow him to use Vahn to 'cultivate' demigods and 'heroes' that couldn't be pointed out as blatantly selfish, and borderline evil. Since mortals had the freedom to choose how they lived, they were capable of great good, as well as great evil, so if someone got their hands on a child sired by Vahn himself, there was always the possibility that a powerful force would arise in the world that had a devastating impact on society as a whole. Imposing strict regulations within their own small circle, and taking care of the children as a collective, was the best way to guarantee that something didn't go wrong.Once the matter of the Denatus was discussed, the conversation took a somewhat strange turn, because the girls were actually beginning to anticipate the arrival of Vahn before lunch. Since they had been discussing things like pregnancies, the inevitable discussion arose within the group as Hephaestus, Loki, and Eina began to lay down the 'rules' and 'restrictions' that would need to be followed if any of the girls present decided to have Vahn's children. For this part of the discussion, Fenrir had been asked to 'guard' the outside and wait for Vahn to arrive with Fafnir since it was generally understood that she was too mentally immature and unstable to have that kind of interest at the moment.It was essentially laid out that, if a girl within the network became pregnant with Vahn's child, they were required to stay within the influence of the network until the child had reached physical maturity. Since Vahn was something of an 'anomaly', his children would likely have various skills and abilities, some of which might have never appeared before in history, and they would need to be closely monitored in order to protect them from outside forces. There were several big restrictions that the girls would also have to agree to, and the matter would always have to be discussed on the network and justified, even if it was a child born of 'mutual love'. The biggest restriction that was to be imposed was the idea that, unless there were multiple children born at the same time, that the girls would need 'approval' if they wanted to have more kids with Vahn. Since there were so many women around him, it would become an incredibly difficult thing to manage if Vahn sequentially got the same women pregnant over and over because of his 'Fertility' attribute.Of course, there weren't only restrictions, as there were also a lot of benefits that were also discussed. Essentially, any child sired by Vahn would almost certainly be protected until they reached adulthood. Simply based on Vahn's nature, he wouldn't be able to mistreat his children and was perfectly capable of providing a somewhat stable environment, and financial security to ensure the development of the children. They also had access to the other girls on the network for support, and they would be able to rely on each other to look after and care for each other's children. Since he was likely going to arrive soon, they began to discuss why this was an important thing, as Loki made it known that Vahn was actually only capable of being 'happy' with women that were self-reliant.For the girls that Vahn had placed 'restrictions' on, they understood what she meant better than everyone else. Because Vahn was required to 'protect' them, they were unable to break down his defenses and actually enjoy a proper relationship with him. He treated them well, and even showed them affection, but it was impossible for them to cross that final line, even if they wanted to. This was another reason why the girls at the Hostess of Fertility had something of an advantage, since almost every one of their original members was Level 4, or higher. The only exception was Syr, but she was in control of the entire group, including the Level 6 Mama Mia. Just like Eina, she was one of the 'capable' girls around Vahn that wasn't a combatant.Since the matter was brought up, it started a discussion where the girls gave each other advice about what they could do to become more 'capable' and make an impression on Vahn. The powerful girls like Tiona, Ais, Tione, just talked about what they had done to become strong whilst the non-combatant girls like the Goddesses, Eina, and Syr, discussed the importance of things like education and having a sharp mind that was also receptive to change. Since there were girls like Preasia, who had no interest in combat whatsoever, it was important to understand that the path to becoming 'capable' wasn't necessarily the path to obtaining strength. Knowledge, and influence, were arguably even more important than physical, or magical, potential.Of course, it wasn't an argument at all about the girls that had the greatest advantage to approaching Vahn. If they were strong, self-reliant, and ventured with him into the dungeon, it was almost a sure thing they would be able to eventually close the distance with him. As long as they put in the effort, Vahn himself would guarantee they could become strong. There was also the added benefit that, if they went into the dungeon alongside him, they didn't have to worry about carrying a bunch of items, looking the drops, or worrying about staying clean and such other annoying matters. Though the fights were hard, adventuring into the dungeon alongside Vahn was closer to a date than an actual struggle, especially since he was prone to 'rewarding' the girls for their hard work.When the matter of how Vahn 'rewards' people was brought up, it started a strange conversation that also included his moniker within the group as the 'godhand'. It was an irrefutable truth, at least within the network, that Vahn's 'petting' ability was inarguably the best in the world. Even experienced women, and goddesses, were completely helpless against his technique, and he was always especially affectionate with the capable women around him when they were in private. Aki had even brought up the matter of the 'Heaven and Earth Convergence' and mentioned that it was a 'dangerous' technique that she, even more than a week afterward, hadn't been able to stop thinking about on occasion.As they were talking, it was nearly noon and everyone heard an exclamation from the outside that brought a hush over the room as they all looked expectantly towards the door. Those with stronger senses had already started to smile and their reactions had slowly spread to the rest of the group as Vahn walked through the doors and looked over with a smile of his own. However, his smile collapsed almost instantly as a somewhat shocked expression appeared on his face and they were able to see his head nodding slightly as if he were counting everyone present.(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Sixth Best Novel in Originals Kappa','Things Have Escalated Quickly','Syr's Influence','The Legendary Godhand')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;3. Since it was requested, I also added a Paypal link if that is preferable~!)https://www.*******.com/user?u=14397149paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Chapter 322: The Second Vahnatus (2/2)