Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

As much as he was annoyed with Merlin's behavior at times, Vahn knew he couldn't continue to idle on the matters of the Empire if he one day wanted to expand its influence. Though it was possible to use forceful means to have people follow his policies, such methods were to be saved for uprisings and insurrections. Since Artoria had placed her confidence in him in the past, likely the very reason he had even been able to claim Camelot, Vahn wanted to keep his promise with her for as long as possible. Fortunately, though it would undoubtedly take a number of years, potentially even two or more generations, Vahn knew it was possible to bring about the change they wanted to see through the efforts of Luvia and Da Vinci.With that in mind, Vahn asked Da Vinci to help him alter the layout of the Throne Room, removing the thirteen thrones, his own included. Since it was supposed to be his literal seat of power, Vahn wanted to have a hand in producing his own. Though there was considerable historical significance to the wooden throne that had been occupied by Artoria, Vahn was not her, nor was he a King that intended to sacrifice himself for others. His creed as a ruler was to pave the way forward, opening the path for others to follow rather than pandering to and pacifying his subjects. It was always his intention to create a system that allowed people to elevate themselves through effort and, though this certainly had its flaws, Vahn considered it infinitely better than systems that treated people as nothing more than a resource to be exploited.Though Vahn was rather fond of eastern designs, the cathedral-like structure of the Ivory Castle made it impossible to incorporate such elements without making them seem considerably out of place. This didn't mean he couldn't draw inspiration from such designs, however, especially as one of his primary Innates, [Rakshasa Body], seemed to embody several aspects of Chinese culture. Thus, in order to create a Throne that symbolized the unification of all cultures, while showing his willingness to break away from established ideologies, Vahn did something that no Emperor before would have done. Instead of elevating his Throne atop a series of platforms, Vahn spent a few days reshaping the Throne Room to make it descend downward several levels, each representing a Soul Tier.Vahn wanted to emphasize the idea that, while he held absolute power, it wasn't to place himself above everyone. Instead, it showed his capacity to support everything, including the heavens above if necessary. As his Soul Tier gradually increased, so too did his responsibilities, even if he himself wasn't the most responsible individual. Just by virtue of being a God, or whatever lay beyond, he would have become a pillar supporting the entire world's fate. At higher Tiers, even entire Records would only exist as a result of his will, with everything within being an extension of the decisions he had made. It wasn't an exaggeration to say even simple words uttered by him would be able to shape reality as, when you moved up in Tiers, language itself was represented by powerful Laws.While it was different than the Language of Gods within Danmachi, Vahn had been able to make a bit of progress in the Nasuverse's 'Divine Words' by 'studying' with Ishtar, Ereshkigal, and Circe. They were all capable of using Divine Words with limited success, something Vahn had found rather odd with Ishtar and Ereshkigal being actual Goddesses. According to them, though they were capable of understanding the entire language, the words they could use were restricted, both by their Divinity and 'authority'.As Divine Words were the language of creation itself, only Creation and Sky Gods were typically able to use them freely and, as a result of their Divinity giving them Sovereignty over other Gods, they could determine to what degree most Gods were able to use Divine Words. As for Demigods like Circe, who had considerably less authority than an actual God, she was able to reach her level of understanding through study and devotion to her ancestral Goddess, Hecate. However, though she was surprisingly able to use more words than both Ishtar and Ereshkigal combined, the power in each individual word was significantly weaker by comparison.Ereshkigal, for example, could use her authority over Death itself to simply 'decree death' to anything within her perception and, if they lacked the mental strength or Od to resist, they would literally die on the spot. Circe, however, would have to link 'death' together with other words, forming them into a complex chant that, more or less, served as an 'argument' against the world, an attempt to convince it that her words were the 'truth'. Success largely depended on whether or not she could make a sound argument, something that could be outright refuted if the target was strong enough. In a way, clashes between individuals that were capable of using Divine Words were a clash of wills, each trying to convince the opposite party, and the world itself, that they were correct.Vahn hadn't been too surprised by these revelations as, much like the Laws themselves, the power a person was able to manifest largely depending on their comprehension and 'belief'. What he was more interested in was the language 'above' Divine Words which, based on what he had learned from Eva and observed through Akasha, seemed to revolve almost entirely around Symbology and Runes. Simply by 'giving' power to a specific shape, using it to represent a powerful concept, it could serve as a powerful catalyst that could greatly enhance a spell. A good example of this was how the symbols for alchemy were used in their magic circles while, allowing them to function even though they were just arbitrarily decided upon by famous Alchemists. The best example was how the Holy Church could use a simple crucifix to even suppress powerful demons, using a simple piece of wood to manifest 'miracles'.It was this heavy emphasis on Symbology and Runes that gave power to most Magic Circles, Wards, and Formations. Thus, upon reaching Tier 5, you would be able to exercise an extreme amount of power just by 'giving' power to a specific shape. Even something as simple as a circle, if given greater meaning, would have the power to seal away Gods. Though this was rarely the case, as the shapes of runes were generally made complicated so they could not be emulated, it was still an important part of the puzzle to one day reaching Tier 5. It was for this reason that Vahn focused on comprehending Scáthach's [Primordial Runes] while simultaneously trying to make sense of the mysterious runes that manifested with his own Innates.With this in mind, Vahn made it so that the highest level of the Throne Room, representing Soul Tier 1, was made from simple clay. Though it was heavily embellished, almost gaudily so, it didn't clash against the solemnity of the cathedral-like chamber as, while most weaker humans sought wealth and luxury in the pursuit of happiness, they were also capable of blending in with their environment to avoid hardship and survive. As for the second level, it was comprised almost entirely of precious metals, such as silver and gold, while an ornate pattern of gemstones formed into constellations that encircled the lower levels. This represented an even greater focus on wealth as a form of power as, upon reaching Tier 2, people began to break free from the constraints of normalcy and often began to consolidate wealth while lording over others...If you were to look closely at the second level, you would find several small cracks that had been left as intentional design flaws, representing that power gained through the consolidation of wealth created an unstable foundation. Depending on the actions of those at the first level, it was possible for this foundation to shatter completely, something that periodically occurred throughout history, both in Danmachi and the Nasuverse. As for what the constellations embodied, they represented the propensity for some that had obtained power to look towards the heavens, seeking something far greater than the material wealth they had consolidated. This is what often led to the advancement of civilization, allowing knowledge, ideologies, and wisdom to slowly become more valuable than the material...Even lower, representing Soul Tier 3, the foundation was formed of marble and, instead of precious jewels and valuable metals, the surface was adorned with reliefs depicting heroic men and women overcoming trials and leading humanity towards their version of a brighter future. Looking closely, you would be able to see that most of these heroic figures were faceless, causing their weapons, armor, crowns, and other artifacts to stand out. There were also several panels that depicted scenes of brutal conquest as, depending on which side of the conflict you were on, one country's Heroes could be another's Demons. What the more observant would notice was, behind each Heroic figure, there were often men and women with their faces shrouded, some fading into the background while others stood like pillars that seemed to elevate the figures in the foreground...Contrasting the rather plain materials used in the third level's construction, the foundation of the fourth level, representing Soul Tier 4, was comprised of pale gold. Though it would undoubtedly be labeled as heresy by the Holy Church, Vahn had separated the fourth level into eight sections, much like how Heaven had been divided in Danmachi. He filled the panels with masterful representations of a myriad of different Gods, Fae, Spirits, Elementals, and Divine Beasts, representing no particular God and instead focusing on the Divinity they represented. Then, to make this level seem even more impactful, Vahn separated the third and fourth level with passages written in Divine Words that also extended into the three prior levels, emphasizing the influence of the Gods in the Mortal World, even if they themselves were unaware of it.The fifth and final layer, as the Nasuverse was only a Tier 5 Record, was where Vahn's Throne existed. Though he wasn't at Tier 5 himself, it represented the 'pinnacle' and, as this is the goal he had set for himself, Vahn felt it was rather appropriate. As for the Throne's construction, it was relatively plain, made of simple black stone that, if you looked closely, was adorned with a pattern of complex runes. When the 'true' Emperor sat upon the Throne, it would shimmer with blue light which, much like the Divine Words of the fourth layer, would extend across each preceding surface. Though the majority of the light was focused towards the center, even the outer periphery of the first level was within the scope of the Fifth Tier's power...Though it wouldn't make sense to most people, Vahn also separated the fifth level into eight parts, offset from the sections of the fourth level so that the dividing lines parted through the center of each major panel. Within each of these sections, he carved the same runes that were visible within the empty black void occupied by the Four Sacred Beasts represented by his [Rakshasa Body]. Then, at the top of his Throne, Vahn carved the visage of two eyes which, when he sat down, would glow with a subtle divine light that could seemingly peer through all things. This represented his [Eyes of Truth] and, though it was less prevalent than the eight trigrams pattern spread around him, they would be the thing most people focused on when looking upon the Throne, representing the fact that it, in turn, was observing them...With two more Innates making up the basis of his power, Vahn chose to represent his [Keeper of the Akashic Tome] by literally keeping a thick bound book at his side. Though it was only meant to be a symbol, he used high-quality materials in its construction, hand-binding the pages together after investing several million OP. Then, deciding to use it as a record to log the status of each member of the Imperial Court, Vahn wrote down the names of everyone residing in the castle. Later, he intended to have Scáthach or Merlin help him enchant it so that, instead of just writing the names down and filling the pages, the words would be stored as Magical Energy, leaving the pages blank unless the information was requested. In the future, the status and title of every member of the Imperial Court would be recorded in this book, meaning you would be unable to claim any form of nobility without having your name inscribed...After constructing his bastardized version of the [Akashic Tome], Vahn had officially completed his restructuring of the Throne Room. There was no need to have anything represent his [Will of the Emperor] as that was the purpose of the Throne Room, the Ivory Castle, and his presence itself. As for his 'authority', which was something he would have to give to his Herald and anyone sent to represent him, this took on the form of a seal that had his crest carved into its surface. Since he had even used an Imperial Seal back in his previous life, Vahn intended to do the same in the Nasuverse. This seal would represent himself when he sent out emissaries in the future, giving whoever held it the same level of authority he enjoyed...With his Throne Room completed, an arduous task that would have been impossible to accomplish expediently without his Space-Time Orbs and memory fragments, Vahn decided it was nearing time for him to hold Court for the first time. The whole reason for the renovation was to better represent the fact that, rather than sitting upon the Throne of Camelot, it had now become the Throne of the Aldrnari Empire. When the representatives of the four Fairy factions arrived, this Throne Room would convey his ideologies much better than a simple wooden chair flanked by twelve other thrones. He was, after all, a fundamentally different ruler than Artoria, both in terms of status and the ambitions he possessed...Though it wouldn't require much for him to visit the domains that Merlin had assigned to the four factions, this would be considered an extreme breach of etiquette. He needed to earn the respect of the Fairies but, if he lowered himself to appealing directly to them, the odds of them doing as they pleased in the future increased exponentially. Thus, instead of going to them, Vahn knew he would need to have them attend his Court and, if they could not come to an accord, he would banish them from Avalon. After all, while this place was meant to be a sanctuary to the various races threatened by the existence of mankind, it was not their playground. If they could not live peacefully alongside others, they were better off living in their secluded homelands until he could make an agreement with their Queens directly.Before he could invite others to attend his Court, Vahn needed to get his personal affairs in order as, while sitting in the Throne Room alone would undoubtedly increase the impact of his presence, it would also make him appear to be a Tyrant that kept all power for himself. Though there were many kinds of Emperors, the most capable ones were always surrounded by capable Ministers, often with an Imperial Court that was comprised of thousands of members.The greater the number of followers at his side, especially if they wielded immense power, the higher his own status would be in the eyes of others. After all, if he was surrounded by a hundred different Gods, each lowering their heads to him, most people wouldn't even be able to enter without feeling an oppressive and suffocating aura. Since there was enough space for more than a thousand people to occupy without any discomfort, the only thing he would accomplish by having the room emptied was making it feel solemn and cold. This could be useful in some circumstances but, if he was trying to reach an accord with future allies, showing them the allies they stood to gain by acquiescing to his rules would hasten the process of their submission.Fortunately, though she was no longer King, Artoria was rather beloved amongst the Faires as, with her own existence bordering on that of a Divine Spirit, she had an even higher status than a Queen of Fairies. In the past, it was the blessing of the Fairies that caused her body to cease aging and, even though they did not aid her in battle, as the Fae never fought in human conflicts, their assistance had been paramount in the construction of Avalon, the production of the Round Table, and the creation of the various Noble Phantasms used by both Artoria and her Knights. Even Caliburn and Excalibur were both created by the Fairies, enchanted with powerful magics that far exceeded the Magecraft used by most modern Magi.If Vahn could win over the Fae to his side, it was the same as ensuring prosperity for Avalon as, with more Fairies coming to reside here, the greater the presence of the Laws they represented. As it was possible for a group of Water Sprites to convert a section of the desert into a large oasis, there were endless benefits to having a good balance of various different Fae in his lands. Not only would the land always be fertile, the waters bountiful, and the air crisp and clean, but even the weather would be within his ability to control. He could determine if it was sunny, rainy, or even snowy, all with a simple request to the Sylphs that resided in the skies above.Better still was the fact that, while they were likely far from the skill possessed by Hephaestus and other forging Gods, the Dwarves and Vulcanae would still be able to construct entire fortresses and even produce Noble Phantasms without much difficulty. The only thing they needed was materials, some of which were purely conceptual while others simply couldn't exist. This, however, mattered very little to the Dwarves as, with their understanding of Laws related to forging and crafting, there were some among their ranks who could weave moonlight into silk, harvest the flames of passion in a human's heart, and even bottle up the fear of death in liquid form. For this reason, Dwarves were one of the most sought-after types of Fae, to the point that established Magus families would even go to war with each other to obtain 'ownership' of a young Dwarf...In the future, Vahn intended to liberate all Spiritual creatures that had been mistreated and exploited by not only the Mage's Association, but all the factions present within the world. For now, however, he needed to focus on his own affairs and, when the time was ripe, win the respect of the Dwarves by displaying his own forging skills. Though he didn't doubt their Masters were able to best him in a contest, Vahn doubted that Queen Effe had sent her most skilled craftsman in the batch that now occupied the cave system beneath the castle town. This gave him the confidence to challenge them directly and, even if he lost, Vahn knew he could still earn their respect by producing masterpieces that could at least pass muster. Then, by providing them with rich and potent alcohols, Vahn knew it wouldn't be long before he had a large Dwarven community living beneath the island...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Words are powerful, but symbols can represent thousands of words','Imagine what it would be like to experience entering a Throne Room, finding yourself looking down upon an Emperor, unaware of the fact you are standing on the level that represents the weakest amount of power...','Conquering the Dwarves through competition and alcohol xD...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/mn5xMbE

With Luvia's private jet having touched down, Vahn and co were able to follow the edge of the tarmac to a large hangar used for storing military aircraft. They arrived just as a small private jet, painted with a stylish black coating and adorned with golden stripes, taxied in from the runway. Then, moments later, the door on the side of the aircraft opened, revealing that it also served as a set of stairs which, in this instance, served no purpose.Much to the flight crew's chagrin, Astolfo leaped from the interior of the aircraft, flying like a missile through the air while laughing uninhibitedly. Instead of letting himself be tackled, this time Vahn cut his hand forward in a swift strike, chopping the center of Astolfo's head. Though this sent him on a crash course with the ground, Vahn cushioned his landing by creating an air cushion as he stone-facedly remarked, "Astolfo, didn't you promise me you wouldn't cause any trouble...?"Rubbing the top of his head with a teary-eyed expression, Astolfo complained in an unrepentant voice, "C'mon, Vahn. I just wanted to climb to the top of the tower to get a better view. It's not like I got into any fights or destroyed anything..." Though Vahn hadn't struck him that hard, Astolfo felt a painful pulse in the top of his head that didn't seem to fade away no matter how much he rubbed it. Fortunately, as if it had never existed in the first place, the pain disappeared entirely as Vahn released a sigh and remarked, "I understand your inclination to show off. In a way, it is the current state of the world that is in the wrong..."Just as Astolfo had started to beam, muttering, "Your Majesty..." in a gratified tone, Vahn caused him to swallow his words by adopting a stern expression and adding, "However, you broke your word. As a Knight of the Imperial Order, you will be held accountable for your actions. For the next thirty days, you are prohibited from wearing cute clothing. The next time you cause a scene like this, I will curse you to become extremely muscular for a similar amount of time..." Though Vahn's first punishment caused Astolfo's heart to feel pain, the follow-up punishment caused him to turn pale. For a singular instant, his mind imagined a muscular version of himself, still wearing cute clothing, while everyone who looked upon him had expressions of disgust...Though his first instinct was to cling to Vahn's leg and beg for forgiveness, Astolfo quickly realized this could constitute making a scene. Thus, after jumping to his feet, Astolfo gave a proper Knight's salute while exclaiming, "I understand, Your Majesty! Next time, I will make sure not to get caught!" As these words left his mouth, Astolfo realized his verbal slip, causing him to turn pale as Vahn gave him an incredulous look that quickly turned into an admonishing gaze. This only lasted for a brief moment, however, before Vahn shook his head with a wry smile and remarked, "So long as you don't get caught, I have nothing to say on the matter..."Understanding that someone like Astolfo needed to be wild and free, or else they just weren't their true selves, Vahn felt it would be going too far to punish him over such a small matter. Though he would still have him dress in men's attire for the next month, it was almost guaranteed that he would find some men's fashion catalog where the models wore feminine clothing. With that as 'evidence', it wouldn't be much of a punishment at all but, as Vahn wasn't really that bothered by the fact Astolfo had climbed the Eiffel Tower, he pretended not to have foreseen the inevitable. Thus with crocodile tears in his eyes, Astolfo gave a theatrical sniffle before, in a voice filled with emotion, muttering, "You're always so good to me, Your Majesty..."Ignoring Astolfo's upturned eyes, Vahn gave a courteous nod toward Catherine before turning his gaze to Nobunaga and smiling appreciatively. She was wearing boyish shorts that showed off her long legs, black combat boots, a similarly black t-shirt with a skull pattern, and a rather stylish leather jacket with fur along the fringes. Since she had tied her long crimson-black hair into a ponytail, she looked like the leader of a pop idol band, someone that young girls back in Japan would refer to as 'Onee-sama' with both affection and admiration.Meeting Vahn's gaze with her blood-red eyes, Oda gave a rather sly smile in response, even though she somewhat bashfully combed the fingers of her right hand through her fringe bangs. Then, in a teasing tone, she mused, "Look at you, gawking like a dog wanting a bone...did you miss me that much~?" Though her eyes briefly passed over Luvia, Artoria, and Gray as she asked this, Nobunaga was still curious about Vahn's response. From his perspective, it could have been upwards of two months since they parted so, missing him more than she would ever admit, Nobunaga wanted to hear Vahn at least pander a bit.Without missing a beat, and showing a sincere smile on his face, Vahn muttered in a husky tone filled with genuine emotion, "I did..." Since Nobunaga was one of the only females he could just cut loose around, it was the truth that he had missed her quite a bit. Even Artoria and Gray were just too aware of him when they were together and, though Nobunaga wasn't exactly exempt from this, it was her nature to be uninhibited. She was one fo the few women he could be openly intimate with without it having to develop further due to rising passions. Instead, their interactions were always bordering on just messing around, making her one of his only female friends, even if she was also his lover...Hearing Vahn's words and tone caused her heart to skip a beat but, without letting it show on her face, Nobunaga just crossed her arms and mused, "Is that so...?" This behavior, however, wasn't very convincing to the women present who, perceptive to such things, gave Nobunaga knowing looks and wry smiles. Luvia, in particular, was evaluating her new 'companion', knowing full well that this was the Heroic Spirit that Vahn himself had summoned. As he had used his own blood as a catalyst, this implied that Nobunaga had the highest compatibility with him, something she couldn't simply overlook.As if she could intuitively sense what Luvia was thinking, Nobunaga turned her blood-red eyes upon this rather snobbish-looking golden-haired woman. The moment their eyes met, a series of small sparks seemed to clash between them as both women allowed their mouths to curl up at the sides. Though Nobunaga had felt it was pointless to compete against other women, there was something about Luvia that riled up her competitive spirit. She knew the latter felt threatened by her and, with this knowledge, her predatory instincts and a strong desire to tease her were awakened. At the same time, Luvia felt somewhat perturbed by Nobunaga but, never backing down from a challenge, she crossed her arms and raised her chin slightly.Sensing the rising tensions, Vahn furrowed his brows slightly, an action they both seemed to notice as their smiles became cooperative masks without any animosity between them. This wasn't enough to make him simply overlook their behavior, however, so Vahn plainly stated, "If you two are going to compete, make sure it is in a non-destructive fashion. The moment your actions begin to impact others, don't blame me if I punish you..." Though he did not intend it as such, even Vahn felt that his words were strangely sexual in nature, eliciting blushes, not just from Luvia and Nobunaga, but Gray, Artoria, Catherine, and even Astolfo. The latter's reaction caused Vahn to frown deeply, earning a round of laughter from everyone present that seemed to diminish the tensions completely...---After returning to the Edelfelt Mansion, Astolfo was forced to change into the security uniform by order of Artoria, his superior within the Order of Imperial Knights. As the outfits used by the Edelfelt security forces were somewhat androgynous in design, making them appealing when worn by both men and women, Astolfo looked surprisingly suave and cute at the same time. He seemed to enjoy this contrast and, though the thought of wearing men's clothing for a full month still weighed on his heart, he appeared to be his normal chipper and outgoing self on the outside.While Astolfo was getting briefed on the proper security protocols, even though he would likely forget them soon after, Vahn was listening to Catherine's account of their travels. Though he was enjoying the story, sitting between Luvia and Nobunaga made it feel like the air around him was ionized. He knew it would be necessary to mediate between the two women in the future but, as neither was 'foolish', he didn't expect them to ever have any open conflicts. If anything, they would compete behind the scenes, in ways he would only be made aware of when they were presented to him. Since having a rival wasn't exactly a bad thing, so long as it didn't develop into an antagonistic relationship, Vahn decided to just see how things play out before he intervenes further...When Catherine had finished her recounting, Vahn gave an appreciative nod before remarking, "It sounds like you all had quite the journey..." This caused Catherine to giggle lightly, adding, "Yes, it was a liberating experience. The French countryside is quite beautiful...even if Astolfo can be quite the handful at times..." As she said this, Catherine looked affectionately toward the pink-haired Knight, causing him to laugh openly while rubbing the back of his head. With his snaggletooth fully visible, combined with his cute appearance, he was the picture of childish innocence, even though he was nearly forty years old.Understanding that Astolfo's nature made it virtually impossible for him to sit idly and perform his duties, Vahn had already discussed a potential solution that would allow him to act out without drawing negative press. With that in mind, Vahn cleared his throat before adopting a more serious expression as he said, "Count Astolfo, I have an important mission for you." This caused Astolfo to immediately cease laughing and, though his salute was almost comically executed, he still answered in a pseudo-serious tone, "Your Knight is prepared to walk through a field of blades or a forest of flames if necessary...!"Snorting through his nose at Astolfo's response, Vahn crossed his arms and explained, "We will need to begin a positive propaganda campaign to shift the mentality of the general public in a way that makes them more receptive to the existence of Magic. To that end, you will go to America and work as an Actor, representing the Empire through one of Luvia's production companies. This will give you ample opportunities to stand out and, as you will become very famous, similar incidents to what had occurred in Paris can be played off as publicity stunts." Though they hadn't been as exciting as the Soccer games played back in Danmachi, Vahn had been rather surprised by the existence of modern motion pictures. Since Astolfo's personality actively sought attention, Vahn expected he would be quite popular amongst both males and females, especially since they planned to conceal his actual gender while obscuring his identity.Hearing that he was going to be a movie star, Astolfo's eyes practically began shining as he clenched both fists and shouted, "Leave it to me, Your Majesty! I will become the biggest star the world has ever seen~!" As theater had always been something he was interested in, Astolfo was rather excited by the prospect of performing on the silver screen. He had gone to watch a movie with Catherine and, though it was rather boring at first, the fact the images on the screen were 'fake' had been a big shock to him. At first, he thought they had just been recording scenes, much like a play, and just felt that the actors needed to strengthen their bodies to put on a better show. When he found out that it was almost all fake, with most of the explosions and special effects being computer-generated, he had been quite surprised.Piggybacking on to what Vahn had stated, Luvia giggled at Astolfo's reaction before adding, "You will need to undergo some coaching but I have high expectations for your popularity." Then, after turning her eyes toward Catherine, Luvia explained, "I understand it will be troubling for you, but I would like you to act as Astolfo's agent, at least privately. Since I own the production company, you won't have to worry about finding work so your primary task would be keeping him out of trouble. The movie industry has its own version of high society so you will have to keep Astolfo from doing anything that would endanger himself and others. If possible, you should have him avoid things like after-parties and private celebrations. I'm certain I don't have to explain to you the true purpose of such events..."As she was also born in modern times, Catherine was very familiar with the stigmas associated with being a famous celebrity. Things like drugs, illegal dealings, and sexual misconduct were extremely rampant within the industry. With Astolfo's nature, he would be targetted by a number of competing production companies while his fellow stars could potentially campaign to slander and publically shame him.Blackmail was one of the most prominent means of conducting business as, with how important 'image' was to a celebrity, having their scandals exposed could be career-ending. This was generally how the criminal syndicates and corporations controlled those within the industry, having them become patsies to push their products and often causing young celebrities to have mental breakdowns. Just recently, there had even been a largescale crackdown on a child sex ring that had been operating out of Hollywood, where young actors and actresses were forced into compromising situations just to pursue the careers their parents had chosen for them...With far greater conviction than Astolfo had in protecting her, Catherine adopted a stern and almost cold expression as she nodded her head and answered, "I understand. I won't let anyone corrupt my Astolfo-chan...!" As she said this, there was a fiery illusion burning within Catherine's eyes and, as she had been able to survive within the Magus community, she was more than confident in dealing with a few corrupt producers and businessmen. Since she would also have the connections of the Edelfelt family to rely on, she knew her main duty would be to prevent Astolfo from falling into the schemes of his fellow actors and actresses. Fortunately, while he was prone to attention-seeking, Astolfo was usually very perceptive to those who had malicious intentions toward him so, while the chances of him doing something embarrassing were rather high, it shouldn't be beyond her means to control.---For much of the early morning, leading into lunch, Luvia and Catherine discussed Astolfo's future career as a celebrity while everyone else just listened in while enjoying hot tea and light snacks. It wasn't until gentle bells began to ring through the Mansion, indicating it was noon, that everyone moved to the large dining hall to order their meals. Vahn found it rather novel that he was able to pick anything from the menu that had been handed out to him, making him wonder if it wouldn't be interesting to have a similar system back at the castle. Though it was currently impossible to do so, as Circe would never pander to people in such a way, it shouldn't be difficult to arrange once they began staffing the castle with actual personnel.With that in mind, Vahn couldn't help thinking what Illya was up to and, though he had been content with entrusting matters to her, this resulted in him establishing a connection with Scáthach, asking, ("How are things going...?"). This was only his second time establishing contact, the first time being when Scáthach had informed him of the successful capture of the Einzbern Castle. It was knowing this that allowed Vahn to not fret over Illya's and her mother's affairs, trusting that they would return as soon as they were prepared to do so.After a brief delay, Scáthach's cold yet sonorous voice echoed within his mind, ("There have been no major developments. Currently, we are in the process of establishing a gateway connecting Avalon and the Einzbern Castle.") Understanding it would cost a phenomenal amount of Magical Energy to have Vahn transport thousands of Homunculi several thousand kilometers, Illya had come up with the idea of creating a gateway directly to Avalon. This was impossible under normal circumstances but, as Merlin had appeared to check up on Cath Palug, he had been helping guide her through the long and arduous process. After all, having an isolated fortress castle to retreat to in the event of an emergency was extremely useful, especially when it was already built into a mountain that had an artificially constructed leyline.As this was his first time hearing of this, Vahn had been more than a little surprised, asked, ("Gate?") in a confused tone. Following this, Scáthach dutifully explained the situation before recounting other developments she expected he had not been aware of. This caused Vahn's mind to buzz in moderate frustration but, as this wouldn't be the first or last time that Merlin had acted without informing him of the situation, he ultimately shrugged it off after hearing that Heracles had regained his rationality. Now, Vahn was interested to see what kind of man the burly Hero was as, with how the latter had protected Illya even in a maddened state, Vahn had high expectations of his character. The thought of sharing a beer with one of history's greatest Heroes reminded him that he should summon Karna the moment the summoning formation had absorbed enough Magical Energy...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Vahn is too lenient xD...','World's Greatest Actoress, Astolfo-chama~!','TFW you realize Heracles would drink from a keg as if it were a normal mug...')(A/N: From now on, chapters will release when I can get them out xD. Trying to stick to the schedule with real-life stuff going on is impossible for the current me. I'll still be releasing 3+ chapters a day with a focus on pushing for 4+ in the future. I feel that, if I don't take any rest days, I can get two out in the morning, take a nap, and then pump out two in the evening without any issues. Sorry if things have been rather chaotic as of late. I realize in hindsight that I shouldn't have made such arbitrary promises when I had other things going on x_x...)https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/mn5xMbE

Chapter 1188: Residents