Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

Because his pace had been unnaturally fast, Vahn arrived outside the Hostess of Fertility after around four minutes of travel. There were a number of people in the process of leaving and Vahn could see they were carrying various tools and appeared to be a group of craftsmen. Vahn made his way into the interior and Mama Mia noticed him as she yelled out, "Heya kiddo, looks like you're a bit early!" She had a big grin on her face as she looked down at him with her arms akimbo. Vahn smiled in return and looked around to see that there was a fair amount of changes that had started to take shape within the pub. Noticing his gaze, Mama Mia explained, "Every few months, we like to do some routine renovations to keep things fresh and interesting for our customers. Crews have been in here all day, and they're trying to have everything wrapped up by tomorrow evening."Vahn understood that this 'conveniently' timed renovation was likely brought about by Syr as an ideal cover for whatever she had planned. He had even passed a large sign on the outside of the building that showed they would be closed until Monday morning. If she had something planned that required all the girls, the only way to involve everyone was to either book the entire pub, or have the pub shut down temporarily. A number of people had complained after the place had been booked for the Vahnatus, and this was likely a means to prevent them from having any complaints.Mama Mia poured a tall glass of ale and gestured for Vahn to come over and take a seat. Vahn nodded and sat down before saying, "Thanks, Mama Mia." Hearing his words, Mama Mia began to laugh heartily before saying in a teasing tone, "Don't thank me so soon, most of these renovations are going on your tab after all." Vahn's eyes widened a bit before he began laughing along with her. He raised his glass in friendly gesture before downing the entire contents in several large gulps. After a few minutes of casual conversation, the final crewman left the Hostess of Fertility and Mama Mia left the counter to lock up the building.When Mama Mia turned back toward Vahn her friendly expression had suddenly turned into a very serious one before she walked over and sat across from him at the bar. She grabbed a glass for herself, but before she could grab some of her own stock, Vahn placed out a small bottle of [Dwarven Drought] for her. She, like Gareth, was a pure-blooded Dwarf so she had a powerful tolerance and a love for alcohol. Even though her expression remained serious, she couldn't hide the fact that her aura had started to blaze slightly as she nodded her head and said, "At least you haven't forgotten your manners...thanks, kid." She poured a flagon of the rich brown liquor before taking a probing swig and letting out a satisfied sigh.After enjoying the intoxicating aroma for a short while, Mama Mia set the glass to the side and her expression solidified as she said, "I'll be honest, kid, I'm not at all in agreement with this little game you're all playing. I know you're a good lad, but I don't have much confidence you're up snuff to deal with the matters you're throwing yourself into. Tell me, what do you know about this place?" Mama Mia's brown eyes squinted, almost like she were trying to see through any falsehoods Vahn was intending to tell her.Vahn set aside his own flagon without breaking eye contact with Mama Mia as he said, "I can't say I know much, but I've speculated and deduced various things. First of all, though I know you probably built this place to protect the girls, I can also tell your blessing is still active. I've inferred a few things regarding Syr's past and identity, so I imagine you were tasked with protecting her, for what purpose, I have no idea. All I can say on that matter is, I won't allow Syr to be exploited by anyone against her will..." Mama Mia's eyes turned even more serious after hearing Vahn's words, but she didn't interrupt him yet as he continued, "If I had to guess, though it is actually your intent to protect the girls, this place still retains ties with the Freya Familia and is likely a front to draw in powerful adventurers for Freya's purposes. Since all of the women here have trauma related to men, there is very little chance they would be courted easily and, even if they were sought after, the men would need to be somewhat capable since all the girls here are very strong. Other than Syr herself, and the recent additions, everyone else is at least Level 4 and very difficult to approach..."Mama Mia crossed her arms across her chest and released a heavy sigh before explaining, "It's a lot more complex than you realize...but that might not even matter for much longer." She then reached over and grabbed her flagon then downed half the contents before she continued, "Yer right about a few things, the fact being that I'm still loyal to Freya-sama. Though I'm at loggerheads with her, she did a lot for me in my youth and I can't simply cut ties with her so easily. She asked me to look after Syr as she develops her own network and consolidates her own power in a unique way. Like you guessed, this place would inevitably serve as a gathering point for capable adventurers that sought after some of the troubled women here and Freya-sama would have scouted them..."Her own words seemed to trigger something in her as Mama Mia frowned deeply before finishing off her glass before having Vahn refill it. She released a sigh as she shook her head and said, "Fortunately, or unfortunately for Freya-sama, that girl is far kinder and gentler than she expected. Though she found capable Adventurers and earned their trust, she never did anything that would bring them harm...I think she understands what Freya-sama was thinking and has been acting in an effort to truly cut ties with her in the future. Now that you're here...well, you're an 'easy out' for Syr and the other girls...it helps that you're also handsome and able to actually resist her charm."Mama Mia waved her hand dismissively as if she were banishing her own words out of the air before she continued, "Well, as I said, it probably won't even matter now. You're a bit of an anomaly and I've already received orders from Freya-sama to support you if the opportunity presented itself. Still, even though that is the case, I can't easily accept the fact you're so involved with so many people. Keep this up and you'll break down sooner or later kid...that network, well, it might be a brilliant idea, can't question that really, but it isn't a real solution to the underlying problems. Like you said, all of the girls here have traumas related to men, but that is just the tip of the iceberg. They didn't become as strong as they are on accident after all, most of them have heavy burdens that even they struggle to bear. Even with something like the network, they can't easily reach out and place their trust in others because they have their own inner demons to work through. If you actually go through with things and push your luck, you'll end up bearing their burdens in the future and I honestly don't think you can manage it...I don't want to see those girls break down and lose themselves when you fail."While Mama Mia was speaking, Vahn paid close attention to each of her words and considered them seriously. However, though they were heavy words, everything Mama Mia said just made him feel more confident in his decision going forward. He knew it would be difficult, but Vahn didn't consider the matter 'troublesome' at all. The problems the girls faced wouldn't simply go away with the passage of time, so Vahn wanted to help them overcome their trauma if he could. It might take years, but Vahn could support them emotionally during that time until he eventually helped them find a solution to overcome their burden. Just like in the case of Chloe, Vahn intended to one day visit the Empire, not to seek revenge for her, but to find absolution and pay respects to her mother. He wanted to free her from the darkness she was bound to, and he had truly started to love her a long time ago. Though he didn't feel the same way currently about some of the other girls, emotions could be nurtured with time and there was a large support group available to them in the meantime. Vahn knew that there were few things, other than the whims of fate, that could stand in his way as long as he continued toward the future. Even if he wasn't the key to their happiness, he could be the catalyst that leads to a solution to help them find peace with the past so they can face the future, just like Ryuu had started to do.When Mama Mia mentioned the girls breaking from his failure, a resolute gleam passed through his eyes as his [Will of the Emperor] passively activated. He stared into her intimidating brown eyes and stated with conviction, "Fear of failure is not the path towards success. If fear of failure is what drives you, you'll never be able to overcome the matters of the past; you'll never be able to find your way towards a better future! The girls here may have been dealt a cruel fate that requires them to bear a heavy burden, but there is nothing that dictates they must bear that burden alone! Your fear that I'll break down, that I'm only one person, is flawed from the outset...I'm not alone, regardless of how lonely I feel at times, there are countless people I can rely on if I place my trust in them...together...together, there is nothing we can't overcome!" By the end of his words, Vahn was standing off his stool and had left indents in the bar with how powerfully he was gripping it.Even though she was nearly Level 7, Mama Mia felt slightly intimidated at being stared down by Vahn. She could sense a dangerous light in the depths of his eyes that made her instincts trigger a hard to suppress fight-or-flight response. She saw the damage to the hardwood table before shaking her head and smiling, "Well, it's good to have a bit of conviction when you're young...but that'll only get you so far if you're not properly prepared. The fact you know its better to work in a group is important, but what do you actually intend to do to help the girls? Spewing platitudes doesn't defeat your enemies, nor does it put food on the table and provide security for your family. In fact, the bigger you talk, the greater the number of enemies that will line up to prove you wrong..."Uncharacteristically, Vahn began to laugh heartily and it made Mama Mia feel slightly unnerved since she thought he might have lost it. Vahn shook his head and stated plainly, "I know better than most how my actions lead to consequences that could bring harm to those that I love if I make mistakes...but, I'm prepared to live with that...knowing that I'm not perfect, that I'll make mistakes that might cause harm to others...however, no matter how hard things get, I will never. stop. trying. I will work tirelessly to improve my strength, increase my authority, and pursue the ideals I believe in. There are no perfect plans, preparations, or solutions to any and all problems. The most important thing, the thing that I will never relent on, is HOPE. Hope that, as long as people believe in, and work towards, a better future...the closer it will come to fruition. It isn't complacency and concerns that create the foundation for tomorrow, it is our combined actions, our unified resolve! You shouldn't ask what I can do for them, but what we're able to do together!For a few seconds, there was absolute silence as Vahn and Mama Mia stared into each other's eyes with serious expressions on their faces. After a while, it was Mama Mia who broke as she released a heavy sigh before standing from the bar. She had a wry smile on her face as she gave Vahn an appreciating look and said, "Looks like the previous generation is always destined to be overtaken by those that follow...I'm getting too old, seems like I've forgotten a few important things. Well, I'll be honest kid, I don't know what kind of future you're heading for...but I think you might be able to pull it off if you truly believe what you just said. I've heard of, hell, I've even seen a few of the revolutionary things you've done. Just the fact that Freya-sama is supporting you, instead of trying to make you her's, is already a miracle in and of itself..." Mama Mia shook her head before 'casually' picking up the bottle of [Dwarven Drought] and walking toward the door as if to exit the Hostess of Fertility. She shook the bottle in her hand with a grin on her face as she said, "Thanks for the gift, I'll leave things to you for now...don't fuck it up, Vahn."After she exited the building, Vahn heard the doors lock and he could sense a powerful formation activate throughout the entire building. He sat in silence for a while and stared at the door in confusion because he had been left in the bar alone, without any of the other girls in sight. He could sense their presence nearby, but he wasn't sure if he was supposed to keep waiting or if he was supposed to try and go to them. It was already past the time he was told to show up, so Vahn actually felt a strange sense of guilt for having them 'wait' for him while he talked with Mama Mia. Fortunately, the formation must have informed them about the situation as one of the auras started moving toward his location with a hurried pace. Since her aura was slightly larger than normal, Vahn understood it was Syr heading toward him, hopefully, to explain the situation.Less than a minute later, she stopped outside of the door leading to the pub before opening it silently as if she had forgotten Vahn had the ability to sense her. After a few silent seconds, Syr peeked through the gap and saw Vahn staring directly at her with an amused expression. She gave a relieved sigh before opening the door and saying, "I was afraid that Mama Mia might have scared you off. Looks like things went well." Complimenting her gorgeous smile, Syr was wearing an intricately designed white blouse with frills on the hem and sleeves. It was decorated with small black ribbons and she had a very short black frilled skirt that didn't even reach halfway down her thighs. Underneath the skirt, Vahn could see white stockings with a matching garter belt and a pair of black slip-on shoes with red ribbons. With the mild blush on her smiling face, she looked almost dangerously tantalizing compared to her usual, somewhat modest, appearance.Syr had seen Vahn's wandering look and the clear intrigue in his eyes as her face blushed slightly deeper and she playfully grabbed the edges of her skirt and raised the hem. She didn't actually reveal what was underneath, but Vahn swallowed on instinct when she asked, "Curious~?" Vahn took a slightly deeper breath and said, "You look great, Syr..." as he walked over toward her with confident and casual steps. As he approached, Syr let her skirt fall down as she bashfully looked away and said, "Ano...we shouldn't tarry here." Vahn smiled and, instead of embracing her as he intended, stroked her beautiful light-grey hair that framed her nearly flawless face. His gentle action made her blush deepen before she grabbed his hand and said, "Follow me...and try to behave yourself...the night is young."(A/N:Alternate Titles: 'What Many People Can Do, Together','Vahn vs. Demi Ymir','Syr leads the way...for now')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

When Vahn awoke the next morning, he peeled Hestia off of his body before he and Aki made their way to the bath to prepare for the day. After increasing their tensions after lunch, Vahn spent the rest of the day in his workshop templating out a few outfit designs before spending a bit of time with the girls at dinner. Afterward, Vahn retired to Hestia's room alongside Aki and the three shared a few intimate moments long into the night. Ryuu had returned to the Hostess of Fertility to manage a few things, so Vahn gave in to the advances of the two girls before 'punishing' them a bit. Hestia had tried to push herself without using the medicine, but she eventually gave up after failing in her attempts for a few minutes. She still had nearly no stamina, so the majority of his time had been spent with Aki after Hestia fell asleep. Her stamina, unless he pushed her to the limits, was nearly as endless as his own and it was nearly 2 AM before they finally went to sleep. Hestia had woken up intermittently and gotten Vahn to tend to her in the periods when Aki was 'recovering'.Vahn had intended to visit the Hostess of Fertility for lunch, but when he mentioned it on the scroll, he was asked to wait until tomorrow. Ryuu had been staying there since the previous night, so Vahn assumed they were likely making preparations for whatever Syr had planned. Since the Status Log showed all the girls at the Hostess of Fertility as 'Busy', he began to feel very nervous because it seemed to involve all of them, with the exclusion of Milan, Tina, Shizune, and Mona. Though Vahn thought he was worrying over nothing, he couldn't help but have some minor expectations because his brain had taken a strange turn lately as he more proactively pursued the girls around him. Even if he might be wrong in his assumption, Vahn felt like the event Syr had planned would likely result in him having sex with one, or multiple, of the girls there...For the rest of the day, Vahn studied with the girls and cuddled with Fenrir to calm his mind in preparation for the coming day. He had tried to rationalize several different things, including a party, or something more intimate like a private discussion. With the exception of, perhaps, Mama Mia, all the other girls within the Hostess of Fertility had some trauma related to men. Though it was a strange thing to want, Vahn hoped that they just wanted to talk about their past and get to know each other better. However, no matter how much he tried to rationalize things, there had been too many signs with Syr, Chloe, and even Ryuu. Ever since he had seen the glint in Syr's eye when he made his 'bold' claim during the 'Vahnatus', he had some expectation that something like this would happen sooner or later. He was both excited, and admittedly very concerned since he didn't even understand the 'logistics' involved when dealing with more than two women at a time.He didn't talk to anyone about it, nor did he try to find out any information since Vahn felt like it would be very embarrassing if he jumped to a conclusion that had nothing to do with the actual event they had planned. Though he kind of liked showing off a bit, Vahn realized he wasn't actually that great at dealing with stress and embarrassment until it was just between himself and another person. The more people involved, the more strenuous the situation was because he felt like, even though it might not be the case, he was being 'judged' or 'tested' for his performance. Just in case, when he went to sleep that night, Vahn spent a few hours studying various materials related to the subject and even learned the term associated with such an event. The fact there was a coined term made him feel a little less insecure and Vahn studied the matters in detail because he wasn't 'willing' to fail if put to the task. If Syr had somehow planned an orgy or 'harem presentation' for him, Vahn wanted to make sure he was mentally prepared since his physical body and stamina shouldn't be an issue.Though he didn't particularly need much sleep, Vahn had been unable to rest throughout the night since his own concerns kept him awake. He couldn't help but feel he was getting himself riled up over a misunderstanding, but when he checked the Secret Log after finally giving up trying to sleep, Vahn saw a message that said, 'Everything is prepared, make sure to show up around 6 PM today. Don't both stopping by too early as we've closed the pub for the day. -Syr' This message made Vahn feel like he had a thirteen-hour countdown to one of the greatest trials he might ever face. Since there was a very real chance he would have to 'tend' to several women at a time in the future, Vahn convinced himself he needed to succeed, assuming his inference was correct. If it turned out to be something entirely different, Vahn expected he might laugh himself silly on the spot because of how embarrassed he would feel.Since he wanted to get some proper rest before the 'event', Vahn invited Fenrir up to the balcony to relax in the freezing cold air with just the two of them for a while. When he was alone with Fenrir, the only 'expectations' Vahn felt was just pampering her a bit. She almost never said anything unless he asked her questions and just silently enjoyed the time they spent together. When Vahn reclined on a sofa he had set out for them, she curled up next to him and fell asleep quickly even though she had rested well the night before. Vahn was somewhat jealous that she could fall asleep so quickly, but her relaxed state allowed him to calm his own mind and he managed to fall asleep himself not long after.It wasn't until Haruhime came to look for them that Vahn awoke from his extended nap. He had rested for about five hours and felt a lot calmer now that he had relaxed his mind and body for a bit. He hadn't even been using his domain since he was connected to the defensive formation of the Manor while he was resting. Vahn had been realizing lately that over-reliance on his domain was forcing him to act more like a god than a mortal. It always made his mind calm and rational, and Vahn started to believe this would have negative consequences on his ability to cope with things in the future. He noticed that every time he wasn't using it, he had small bouts of anxiety and was very reliant on others to be able to work through things. He didn't want to become a cold and detached person through overusing his domain, so unless he was out and about he decided to use it less often. His natural perception was already far greater than most people's, and he could even detect presences and auras through walls. There wasn't a need to constantly keeping his domain at the maximum distance and it did nothing except promote his Magic parameter and unbalance his stats further.During lunch, Hestia had been casually sitting alongside Vahn and asked, "Vahn, can we go out on our date tomorrow? I want to go shopping for a new dress to prepare for the Denatus on Monday. I'd like for you to help pick it out so I'll have more confidence...this is the first time I'll be attending the banquet, and I'll honestly admit I'm very nervous..." Vahn ate the small sausage she had been holding out for him to eat before smiling and saying, "Sure, I promised to take you out on a private date soon anyways. This is a good opportunity and I haven't made plans for tomorrow." Hestia pumped her small fist victoriously before standing up and saying, "I need to tell everyone else before they get any ideas~! Ehehehe, I get to go on a date with Vahn all by myself~." Without finishing her lunch, Hestia ran off to her room, presumably to send a message on the network about her date with him.Vahn saw that most of the girls were giving him 'strange' looks, so he laughed humorously before saying, "If you do well on our excursions and obtain the [Hunter] Development Ability, I'll agree to take you out on a short afternoon date. I'll help you pick out some casual clothes and treat you to a delicious meal as a reward." Haruhime, Emiru, and Maemi, all cheered up after hearing his words, but Preasia had a somewhat sad look on her face since she didn't actually enter the dungeon. Vahn's cheek twitched imperceptibly as he said, "Preasia, I think I could use your help when conducting some experiments. Even though I have the [Mixing] Development Ability, I haven't been able to create any potions of my own. If possible, I'd like you to assist me and I'll walk you through the process until you are able to learn the ability for yourself."Hearing that Vahn had included her, Preasia showed a very small smile before lowering her head without actually vocalizing her response. She just continued to 'glare' at him as she slowly made headway on her own food while mainly focusing on feeding Fenrir. As for the adorable little wolf girl, she didn't seem to mind about dates, or many other things for that matter, and was just happy when Vahn spent time with her. She made a lot of effort to 'not be a bother' when he was working, so Fenrir didn't even process that she wasn't 'included' in the rewards that were mentioned. As long as she 'did her best', Fenrir knew she would always be able to get pampered by Vahn whenever time allowed. She just listened to everyone talking and said a few things in a quiet voice to Preasia every now and then.After lunch, around 4 PM, Aki had come to Vahn, who had been spending more quality time on the balcony with Fenrir, and showed a kind smile before asking, "Fenrir, do you mind if I speak to Vahn alone for a little while? Pretty please~?" Fenrir's ears twitched a bit before she crawled off the sofa obediently and said, "Fenrir is a good girl. Fenrir will let Vahn spend time with the others now." As she had spent the better part of the previous afternoon, and the majority of today, with Vahn, Fenrir was in a very pleased mood and didn't make any complaints as she trotted into the Manor wearing her midnight blue dress. Ever since Vahn had gifted it to her, it had been her favorite outfit and she tried to wear it whenever they were at home.When Fenrir had left, Aki turned to Vahn and laughed in a gentle tune before saying, "She seems very happy to get to spend time with you...well, not that I can blame her." Vahn walked over and gently embraced Aki's body before rubbing noses with her and asking, "Did you come to give me advice?" Aki tilted her head slightly and said, "I'm not entirely sure what they have planned, but I have a few ideas after talking with Loki-sama. Syr had talked with all of the core members of the network before receiving permission, and Loki-sama wanted me to make sure you were in a healthy mental state. It's not really a secret, and Syr probably understand this as well, but this is a test that was given to her by Hephaestus-sama, Eina-sama, and Loki-sama. Because of her nature, there is a good chance she might work her way to the top of the network and they want to see how well she can manage things...if you feel any inhibitions at all, you need to make sure to inform everyone about what happened. Don't worry, we'll take care of things before they get out of hand...besides, I trust Ryuu and Chloe to look out for you..."Though it didn't 'confirm' anything, Aki's words made Vahn believe his inference had been on the mark from the beginning. She didn't mention it, but he also understood this was a test for himself as well, not just Syr. It would show if he was actually capable of 'pushing' himself further in the regards of intimacy, and also let everyone understand if he was easily taken by the momentum of the situation. Because he would be 'outnumbered' greatly if he lost control of things it could become a problem in the future. He needed to do his best to take control of the situation and not simply be 'exploited' by the whims and needs of the girls around him.A healthy relationship required both parties to give 50/50, in a balanced manner without greatly compromising. This was thrown out of whack very quickly when there were more than two people involved since Vahn couldn't give 50% of himself to every girl present, nor could they return the favor. There had to be a common grounds that they could find, or he would always be restricted in his actions in the future. Now was one of the best times to test this principle, since he would be getting married in the very near future and that would complicate matters a great deal if there were any tensions and concerns within the network. And this wasn't even taking into consideration the problems that would arise within the next few days after matters were clarified at the Denatus...Vahn took a deep breath of the cold winter air before holding Aki's body firmly in his embrace and saying, "I'll be fine...Though I can't say with absolute certainty, I believe I've made the proper preparations. And besides, I trust Syr, Ryuu, and especially Chloe...I'm not sure who else will be involved, but I believe in Arnya and Lunoire as well. If things devolve into a strange direction, I'm certain I'll be able to take a step back and I know, at the very least, Ryuu and Chloe will support me." Aki nodded her head before leaning her head forward and giving Vahn a relatively long kiss on the lips. When they parted, she whispered in a happy tone, "It isn't just them, but every girl on the network will support you if things get tough. Just like you work hard to meet the needs and expectations of those around you, we'll combine our efforts to ease your burdens~. I think if it's Hestia-sama, Hephaestus-sama, and Loki-sama, you'll be able to recover even if something goes wrong...I'll also be there, just a single knock on the door away."After talking for a short while, Vahn spent the remainder of the time he had left in a meditative state. He was trying to completely clear his mind and make sense of the indistinguishable words that constantly repeated like a mantra within his soul. It made sense, considering the words came from the gacha reward [Mantra of Eternity: SSS] that he had received long ago. He knew his Soul Tier wasn't high enough to discern the words, but Vahn had long ago realized that focusing on each sound helped clear his mind and speed up the replenishment of the energy within his body. Though he hadn't expended any yet, Vahn wanted to top off all of his reserves, including stamina, mental energy, and source energy. When the time showed 5:40 PM, Vahn stood up from his seated position and used Shundo to disappear from the balcony. His destination was the Hostess of Fertility to attend whatever event Syr had been planning for the entirety of the last week.(A/N: Shameless Plea: There have been a few 'trolls' plaguing the review section with 1-star reviews and, unfortunately, Webnovel doesn't have a system that prevents this from happening. Please, if you enjoy the story, I would implore you to take a few short seconds to leave a review showing your support for the novel. Stay classy, and know that I appreciate all the support everyone had shown for me over the last two months we've been on this journey together.(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Vahn's Enviable Lifestyle','Are these real concerns!?','Towards the Hostess of Fertility...')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 341: What One Person Can Do