Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

Feeling greatly refreshed, Vahn emerged from the Captain's quarters with Fenrir and Medusa close behind. The former had shown up while he was being pampered by Medusa, her arrival marking a shift from peaceful relaxation to far more 'affectionate' cuddling. Now, Vahn was feeling energetic and completely revitalized, more than ready to face whatever the Record would throw at him next...Finding the person responsible for his emergence, Vahn adopted an affectionate smile as he asked, "Did you sleep well, Asuna...?"As if she only noticed the presence of others when spoken to, Asuna, who had been sitting stock-still on one of the common room's sofas, raised her head slightly, plainly stating, "I am hungry." in her usual monotone.Hearing the taciturn response, Vahn laughed out loud before pulling a tray of macarons out of his Inventory and saying, "We'll eat a proper meal once Arika awakens. For now, how about you join us for some tea and snacks?"Though her expression didn't change much, it was easy to tell Asuna was excited by how quickly she jumped off the sofa, running over to his side with a pitter-patter of footsteps. She even tried to take one of the macarons from the plate by standing on her tip-toes, tugging at his tunic in order to reach a little higher.Preventing Asuna from obtaining her prize, Vahn moved the tray out of reach, patting her head as he said, "Now, now, that isn't very proper. Come, we'll eat together, okay?"After failing to obtain a macaron, Asuna showed a visible pout on her face, but, hearing what Vahn had to say, she fell silent for a few seconds before ultimately nodding her head with an 'Nn'. Then, as if she was programmed to behave as adorably a possible, she tugged on his sleeve in an effort to hasten the short trip to the sofa. Once there, she had him sit down first before hopping onto his lap and using his right thigh as her seat, a habit she developed during the times he would read to her back in the palace...---Perhaps as a result of the noise transmitting through the hull, it wasn't long before Arika appeared from the small spiral stairs that connected the common room to the belly of the ship. She was still wearing her creamy silk pajamas, and, forcing Vahn to repress a sigh as he saw more than just the curves of her body. The top button of her blouse was undone, and, due to not wearing a bra, it was possible to make out two tiny buds due to how thin the beige-colored fabric was.Showing no outward signs of a reaction, Vahn simply smiled as he casually stated, "Just in time. We were just about to wrap up afternoon tea and enjoy a light lunch. Afterward, I'd appreciate it if you help Asuna wash up in preparation for our journey to Nyandoma. I could teleport us over, but, as this trip is supposed to be your opportunity to explore and experience the world, we will be moving through the forest."Hearing Vahn's words, Arika combed through her long fringe bangs before lazily nodding her head and taking a seat across from Fenrir. She was still a little tired, so, rather than waste energy putting on a front, she just picked up the cup of tea that had magically appeared before her, sampling the rich flavor in contented silence...---Following a rather hearty meal, consisting primarily of vegetable stir fry and fried rice, Vahn created a second body, surprising Arika and Asuna slightly. Clone techniques and spells weren't uncommon in the Magical World, but, with their enhanced senses, even Asuna could tell this wasn't that kind of technique. As a result, she was the first to ask, "How...?" before immediately regretting it when she saw the teasing look in his eyes...Surprising the doll-like girl, Vahn honestly explained, "Now that the two of you are my apprentices, I will trust you to keep the secrets I tell you. Though the actual explanation is far more complicated, it basically comes down to the fact that I can freely alter and create new bodies. As you have noticed, these are not simple clones. I have to control both bodies simultaneously, meaning I experience the stimulus from all my vessels simultaneously. It is a little disorienting, but, if I really push myself, I can even produce upwards of ten versions of myself."Though he didn't try something like making eight more versions of himself, as it was simply too taxing for his current self, Vahn decided to demonstrate his transformation ability, ignoring his first instinct of transforming into a copy of Asuna. Instead, he became a chibi-version of his Vanargandr self, laughing mischievously in response to the visible incredulity visible on the two girls' faces. This had the expected consequence of his chibi self being snatched and cuddled by Fenrir, but, with his main body still intact, Vahn smiled as he explained, "You will learn more about my true nature over the duration of your training. For now, it is easiest to think of me as an Ancient Dragon with control over Creation, Space, and Time."Showing the closest thing to an actual emotion Vahn had seen on her face, Arika had an expression of incredulity as she asked, "What is your true form?"Understanding what she might be thinking, Vahn just shook his head, explaining, "I rarely go out of my way to disguise myself. What you see before you can be considered my true form as I have kept it for nearly a hundred years. Don't worry, I'm not going to suddenly reveal myself as some strange creature with an amorphous form and thousands of eyes."Though she returned to a neutral expression, Vahn could tell that Arika was greatly relieved by his words, causing him to lightly shake his head before saying, "We'll be departing. I'll leave a version of myself to safeguard the ship and keep Medusa company."Knowing Medusa wasn't fond of crowds, Vahn wasn't going to continue forcing her to accompany them. Fortunately, as someone needed to stay with the ship, she had the opportunity to freely idle about, and, with his ability to produce extra vessels, it meant they could spend all day just cuddling if they really wanted to.Making no effort to hide her satisfaction, Medusa had a somewhat cheeky grin on her face as she added, "Don't worry, I'll make sure the ship is well guarded. Take your time and explore as much as you can. Even if you're away for a few days, I can guarantee nothing will happen~."Seeing the cheeky smile on Medusa's face, Arika wasn't the only one feeling slightly annoyed by the mischievous Gorgon. Fenrir had a glowering look in her eyes, holding the miniature-version of her Master tightly as she said, "Make sure you behave, Medusa. If you cause any kind of problems, I'll be the one to punish you in our Master's stead."Hearing Fenrir's tone, Medusa's hair automatically condensed to protect her backside as her eyes began to shimmer with a piercing light. She knew Fenrir was serious, but, doing her best to appear undaunted, Medusa adopting a taunting smile before trying to say a few biting words. Before she could, however, her Master interrupted, his hand plopping on her head as he addressed the group as a whole, saying, "Let's head out." in a casual yet firm tone.Without waiting for anyone to respond, Vahn then picked up Medusa in a princess carry, allowing Fenrir to retain his chibi-form, who, following his larger self's words, added, "We'll be traveling on foot, so, unless you want to spend the night in the jungle, we should set out. Asuna will be setting our pace until she gets tired. Now, let's go."Since he was still being carried, Vahn pointed towards the stairs leading up to the deck, causing Fenrir to 'flicker' near the base before leaping through the opening. She could be very clingy when he was in his Vanargandr form, but, when it was combined with his 'chibi' self, it was impossible to convince her to release him. He could transform back into his normal self, but, for the better part of half an hour after the fact, Fenrir would be in a dour mood...Seeing the rather incredulous sight of Vahn being whisked away by Fenrir, Arika remained standing in the same place for several seconds. It wasn't until Asuna pulled at her dress that she came back to her senses, making eye contact with her adorable niece as the latter said, "We should go. I don't want to be left behind."Nodding her head in understanding, Arika picked up Asuna with no discernible difficulty, holding the girl in much the same way as a parent holding their child. Then, in a manner similar to Fenrir, her body flickered before vanishing from view. She had never actually used [Shundo] before, but, after seeing it once, both she and Asuna had been able to memorize it. This was an ability unique to the Ostian Royal Family, and, though it didn't equate to mastery, it allowed them to become some of the most prodigious Mages in existence with very little effort...---Contrary to what some would expect when traveling with small children, Asuna small gait didn't slow the group by much. She was only a little over two-years-old, but, despite her small size and virtually non-existent muscles, she had enough strength to easily rival adults who had trained for years. She didn't move with assurance and confidence in her actions, but, after analyzing a problem for a short while, she was able to figure a way around or over most obstacles. The only thing that kept them from advancing even faster was the occasional appearance of monsters, causing Asuna to quickly retreat behind Vahn despite having more than enough strength to defeat most enemies in a single blow.Rather than force a two-year-old to fight monsters several times larger than herself, Vahn allowed her to hide behind him before giving Arika a small nod. This would often result in her staring at him for a few moments, but, once the monster began charging, she would manifest a golden longsword out of thin air before vanishing in a flash. Her skills weren't very refined, but she was able to bisect a dinosaur-like monster that was more than 15m long in an instant before brandishing her blade in a rather flashy manner...Understanding Arika was trying to show off, Vahn just smiled in response, saying, "Well done. Your skills are a little unrefined, but your talent is exceptional. I have great expectations for you once we begin our training."Hearing Vahn's praise, Arika showed no discernible signs of satisfaction as she swung her sword in a smooth arc, creating a golden trail with her magical energy. Then, in an icy monotone, she asked, "Are you going to make me fight everything? I'm starting to feel as though I'm the one protecting you. I have yet to see your true power, so it is difficult for me to accept such remarks..."Though not entirely unexpected, Vahn couldn't help but burst into laughter when he heard Arika's biting remark. This caused her brows to furrow slightly, and, if they had been closer to each other, he could imagine her trying to slap him for laughing so zealously in response to her words.Taking the initiative to speak, Fenrir adopted a serious expression on her face as she said, "Master is far stronger than you can comprehend. I can tell that you are very powerful, but you are just brute-forcing everything without any real skill. Even without using his full power, Master could defeat you with technique alone."Arika hadn't actually been serious with her comment, but, hearing Fenrir's remark, she couldn't help but feel a little offended, asking, "You think so little of my skill? I'll have you know that I trained hard to reach my current level. I might lack combat experience, but I'm confident that I would be able to defeat you in a battle. Vahn might be very strong, but I'm far from weak."Hearing Arika's words, it was Fenrir's turn to be slightly offended, her hair becoming marginally more pointy as she plainly stated, "You overestimate yourself. It's a good thing that my Master has been placed in charge of your training. With your mentality, you and your allies would suffer as a result of your hubris..."Though she knew there were a lot of people stronger than her, Fenrir had already lived for over a century. Even if Arika gave off a dangerous feeling, there were so many gaps in the woman's stance that she might as well be a complete amateur. If they were to truly go all out against each other, it would not be a match at all, but a one-sided slaughter...Before the two could start a rivalry based on hostility, Vahn instructed Asuna to stand off to the side before flicking his wrist and pulling out the sealed form of Laev-tan. This caught the attention of the two girls locked in a staring contest with each other, Arika's expression revealing a small amount of trepidation as Fenrir began to snicker mischievously.Without explaining anything, Vahn exhaled a breath that seemed to echo in the surroundings as his body seemed to 'melt' away. This caused Arika to instinctually assume a defensive stance, her sword held in a posture that would allow her to deflect most attacks from the front. Before she was able to complete the motion, however, Vahn had already appeared behind her, plainly stating, "When both sides respect each other, a healthy rivalry can help you increase your strength exponentially. Unless it is a matter of honor, never allow your pride to dictate your actions. There are people in this world who have trained for hundreds, or even thousands, of years. Never assume you are at the peak, only that there will always be someone stronger."The moment Vahn finished speaking, hundreds of thin lines appeared across Arika's blade before it shattered into tiny motes of magical light. Despite this, she didn't move from her defensive stance, almost as if her mind had completely stalled while trying to process the visual and audio stimulus she had received. It wasn't until Vahn lightly tapped her shoulder that she 'rebooted', her mouth opening as if to ask a question she didn't know how to form.Seeing the rather 'honest' look on the usually expressionless woman's face, Vahn adopted a smile as he answered, "I have pursued the pinnacle of swordsmanship for decades and have yet to reach it. I can confidently call myself a Grandmaster, but, compared to those who have dedicated their entire lives to the art, I still have a long way to go. Don't let this lesson be a setback. Rather, whenever you meet someone stronger than you, be grateful. It can be very lonely at the peak, and, without strong foes, even the most powerful entities in existence will begin to stagnate.After listening to Vahn's words, Arika looked between him and the hilt that remained in her hand, a thoughtful glimmer in her heterochromatic eyes. She knew he was stronger than her, but, no matter how strong he was, she thought they could at least have a good match. Instead, she was powerless to even defend herself, and, according to him, he wasn't even the strongest...Feeling as though her perspective of the world had broadened, Arika gave a brief glance toward Fenrir, seeing the somewhat hateful woman smiling haughtily back at her. This caused her to feel a small amount of indignation, so, unable to even understand Vahn's power at her current level, she adopted a competitive look in her eyes as she answered, "I understand...thank you for the lesson..." without breaking eye contact with the wolf-like woman...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Asuna is quickly becoming spoiled xD...','Arika, the Frog Queen','Fenrir be like, "OwO, what's this? Is someone seeking death~?"')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

With the strongest monsters ranging between 300~650 BP, on the high end, the journey toward Nyandoma had proceeded without incident. The only tense moment was when Asuna had to go relieve herself, forcing Vahn to stand on the opposite side of the bush with a wry smile on his face. She didn't seem to care that Arika and Fenrir were both very powerful, refusing to let him leave her sight for even a brief moment. To further exacerbate matters, it took more than ten minutes just to convince her to go while his back was turned, leaving Vahn feeling unnaturally fatigued by the time they reached the outer walls of Nyandoma...Though humans weren't barred entry into Nyandoma, traveling without identification was a serious issue. It was hard to enter foreign nations even during times of peace, so, with war lurking just over the horizon, it was to be expected that entry was even more difficult. This was especially true for the nations closest to Megalomesembria, so, before they could even stand in line to try and gain entry, Vahn and his party were approached by a few guards wearing, of all things, samurai-like armor.Before Arika could complicate things by revealing her actual identity, Vahn gestured for her to stay back while smiling at the approaching guards. He could see the caution in their eyes and sense the tension in their bodies, but, in spite of this, both men had relatively calm and pure auras. They were just doing their jobs, so, rather than cause a commotion, Vahn cupped his hands politely, asking, "Is there something you require of us?"Not expecting Vahn to speak in their native dialect, both men showed surprised expressions before suddenly becoming even more alert. This left Vahn repressing a slight chuckle as he stated, "This is my first time visiting Nyandoma, but I am well versed in the language, laws, and culture. We are on a pilgrimage to visit the Nine Sacred Lands and chose Nyandoma as our first destination. I'm certain the Great Spirit of Light would not turn away those who have come to seek his wisdom..."Though Vahn's words weren't enough to allay their concerns, neither of the men showed any overt hostility. The borders had yet to be closed so it was still possible to enter the country as long as you didn't have a warrant or a bounty. Nyon Utu, the Great Spirit of Light, was especially fond of people who came to seek his wisdom, so, if it was discovered they turned away a group on a pilgrimage, it would become a much bigger issue.After considering the matter for a brief moment, the senior of the two guards adopted a warning tone as he said, "Stand in line. You will be required to declare yourselves once you reach the gate. As long as you aren't wanted, you will be allowed entry into the city. Tensions are pretty high these days, so try and avoid trouble once you are inside."Without responding verbally, Vahn just gave the two another cupped salute before returning to his group and joining the rather long line. Their presence didn't go unnoticed by the various groups of Adventurers and Mercenaries trying to enter the city, but, rather than seek trouble, the majority of people minded their own business. Causing a disturbance at the gate all but guaranteed you would be denied entry so even the more nationalistic Cat People kept to themselves, albeit after glaring at Vahn's party and performing some less-than-pleasant gestures...Rather than mind the group of bigoted individuals, Vahn just blocked Asuna's view before shaking his head at Fenrir and saying, "We're not here to stir up trouble. You can just ignore weaklings like that. That goes for you too, Arika. Remember, we are just travelers right now. They are just stressed out due to the impending war. Unless they go out of their way to seek trouble, pay them no mind."As she was only ever taught how to converse with foreign dignitaries and politicians, Arika had no experience interacting with normal people. All she knew was that they were being disrespectful for no real reason, leaving a bad taste in her mouth that caused her expression to turn into a neutral deadpan. She wanted to force them to explain why they were so hostile, but, after hearing Vahn's words, she just gave a small nod without lowering her guard...---After nearly two hours of standing in line, it was finally time for Vahn's group to pass through the checkpoint. Fortunately, the guards that had stopped them previously were still present, so, after declaring their identity before a basketball-sized orb, they were allowed entry. The Hellas Empire had never officially placed a bounty on him, and, after his showy battle with Jack, they weren't in a hurry to do so. His current power was enough to deter even an Empire from seeking trouble with him, so, unless he began wreaking havoc within their borders, it was perfectly natural for them to simply pretend he didn't exist.The only real danger with passing through a checkpoint was Arika and Asuna being recognized as the Queen and Princess of Ostia, but, even after stating their names, the guards didn't seem to care all that much. They couldn't even imagine members of the Royal Family trying to enter the country through a normal security checkpoint, so, after confirming there were no bounties on either of their heads, both were able to pass without obstruction. Afterward, they were all given a special tile that would serve as their identification for a period of three days. This was the norm for those entering on a pilgrimage, and, if they wanted to stay longer, a more thorough screening process would be required.Once everyone had their identification tabs, Vahn allowed Arika to lead the way while letting Asuna ride on his shoulders. The amount of traffic at night was even greater than it would be throughout the day, as, unlike other countries, Nyandoma was considered a nocturnal city. Most Cat People had excellent night vision and were more active at night than during the day, so, once the gates closed for the day, the city came to life as hundreds-of-thousands of paper lanterns illuminated the entire nation. It was truly the City of Light, and, due to his fondness for eastern architecture, Vahn couldn't help but admire the nation's beauty...Unfortunately, as was often the case when something was outwardly beautiful, the inside was less than pleasant. Nyandoma might be considered the City of Light, but that didn't mean it was lacking in Darkness. Rather, the brighter the light, the further-reaching the shadows seemed to run, and, as a result of rising tensions, quite a few people were glaring at Vahn's party. Though most businesses still tried to attract them as customers, it wasn't difficult to imagine them hiking up the prices in an effort to extort them...Since she was a very sensitive young girl, Asuna wasn't blind to the way people were looking at her. As a result, her face was morphed into a slight frown as she lightly pulled at his hair and asked, "Do these people hate us? What did we do wrong...?"Shaking his head, Vahn adopted a slightly apologetic smile, explaining, "It isn't that they hate us. It is more accurate to say that they simply don't know us. They allow their assumptions to guide their behavior. This is normal during tumultuous times, especially before and after a war. Don't let them get to you, okay, Asuna? Remember, these people aren't really bad and you haven't done anything wrong."If possible, Vahn would have liked to let Asuna grow a bit more before she had to encounter things like bias and unjustified hatred. It wasn't fair for children to be burdened with such things, as, unless they had been led astray, all children were innocent. Adults who imposed their resentment onto the innocent were truly pathetic, and, despite understanding the underlying reasons, Vahn could never truly understand how any sensible person justified such behavior...Though she didn't truly understand, Asuna nodded her head in response to Vahn's words, ignoring the hateful looks of some, and, instead, focusing on others. She noticed that only a few people were staring at them, specifically young adults and the elderly. The children and those around the age of parenthood didn't seem to mind them at all, their focus on more important things than people who had nothing to do with them...Seeing that it was only a few people directing their hatred toward her, Asuna lost interest in trying to understand why. Instead, she began playing with Vahn's hair, wondering what he did to make it so soft. It seemed wild at a glance, but, whenever she ran her hands through it, it was similar to the finest satin. This made her feel slightly annoyed, but, knowing she could just ask him to wash her hair, Asuna decided not to let it bother her too much...---Fortunately, despite a number of people showing hostility, none of them actually tried to impede the group's progress. Even without any action on Vahn's part, Arika and Fenrir radiated the type of aura that made them 'very' difficult to approach, albeit for different reasons. Arika had an extremely dignified and noble bearing that unnerved anyone with a weaker will. Fenrir's, however, was even more terrifying as it caused an instinctual fear in anyone who made eye contact with her. This had been the case as far back as the Record of Danmachi, so, with a Skill like [Apex Predator], only those with supreme confidence in their abilities would dare confront her. Since it was rare for a bigot to have even a marginal amount of power, this meant they had been able to walk around with relative impunity, passing unobstructed for three hours.Finding a rather homely inn with an attached bathhouse, Vahn set Asuna on the ground, leading the way inside after grabbing her hand. He wasn't afraid she would wander too far, but, if she saw a cute Elemental or a tiny animal, there was no way of knowing what she would do. Very few animals enjoyed having strangers harass them, so, even if she didn't mean any harm, there was a chance she could injure herself or upset someone else...Despite noticing the peculiarities of Vahn's party in an instant, the old woman seated at the counter showed no aversion to their presence. Instead, she smiled in the kindly way that only genuinely kind elders could manage, the wrinkles on her face forming evident laugh lines that had been eternally engraved into her countenance.A testament to her wisdom, the woman had a knowing look in her striking blue eyes as she said, "It must have been difficult for you to travel this far. It isn't much, but I can at least offer you a bowl of porridge and a hot bath as an apology. Of course, you'll have to actually rent a place to stay before I can accommodate you..."Towards the end of her words, the woman looked between Vahn, Fenrir, and Arika before ultimately resting her gaze on Asuna. Her smiled became even more prominent when she saw the doll-like girl who shared quite a number of similarities with her cousin. This hadn't gone unnoticed by the older woman, so, as could be expected, she quickly misunderstood the relationship between Vahn, Arika, and Asuna. Though Arika was only fifteen, this was going by Mundus Magicus years, meaning she was around twenty-eight according to Earth-time. This wasn't really something Vahn accounted for, but, from the perspective of most people, Arika was more than old enough to be a mother.Thinking she was doing the 'couple' a favor, the elderly woman smiled as she said, "It is rare to see a family traveling together during these trying times. You don't look like refugees, so I assume you are here to make an offering to the Utu-sama. Out of consideration, I'll offer you a family discount and arrange one of our larger suites for your use. There are two bedrooms, so your escort will also have a place to stay. How does 350 Drachma a night sound...?"Hearing the old woman's words, Vahn realized she had misunderstood the group's dynamic, but, as there were already two rooms within the suite, he decided not to correct her. Instead, he pulled out a platinum coin, startling the woman slightly as he said, "Keep the change. It is refreshing to meet a kind soul after drawing the ire of so many during our travels. We will be staying for two nights and will not require meals."As a platinum coin had a value of 10,000 Drachma, it was very rare for people to use it as a means of payment. The average person barely made more than a thousand Drachma in a month so it was a rather substantial sum to just throw around, causing the old woman's eyes to widen as she deftly slipped the coin into her sleeve. She could confirm whether or not it was real later, so, rather than risk offending her guests, she rang a small bell that was hidden under the counter.Less than a minute after the bell had sounded out, a young Cat Person around eight years of age came scampering into the foyer. She was an adorable little girl that drew a lot of similarities with Chloe, surprising Vahn for a brief moment until she asked, "Are these our new guests, Granya~?"While nodding her head, the elderly woman extended her hand, lightly caressing the head of her granddaughter as she explained, "These are our very important guests, Shiori. Guide them to our largest suite and make sure to explain our faculties properly, okay? You might be able to earn a bit of extra pocket money if you do well~."Though the old woman's words were a little shameless, Vahn just lightly chuckled in response. Ana had given him a spatial artifact that contained several million Drachma before departing so he had more than enough to reward obedient bellgirls. He could also make a fortune just by creating and selling a single artifact so money didn't really have much value to him.Hearing her Grandmother's words, the young Cat Person, Shiori, showed a gleeful expression, her ears and tail twitching excitedly as she thumped her chest and said, "Leave it to me-nya~! I'll give them the Super Shiori Special-nyahaha~!"Laughing at her granddaughter's antic, the old woman handed over a room key and two wooden slips that served as a bath keys. Nyandoma was famous for its public bathhouses, but, unless you paid for a special service, they were still split between males and females. Children below the age of five could freely enter both sides, but, if you were caught trying to pass the barrier of the opposite gender's bath, a short stay in the local prison was the least of your worries.With the room key in hand, Shiori raised it up high, a beaming smile on her face as she exclaimed, "Follow Shiori-nyahaha~!" while wielding the key like a marching baton.(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Vahn behaves very differently when children are present o3o...','Asuna is a very astute young girl','Arika.exe has stopped running','Shiori will guide the way~!')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Due to the existence of a seemingly infinite number of Magical Beasts and countless ruins, two of the most lucrative professions within Mundus Magicus included becoming a Mercenary, hunting both people and monsters, or an Adventurer, completing quests and commissions for the various research institutions and academies.Though it required a considerable amount of strength to rise through the ranks, the most successful Mercenaries and Adventurers could make several hundred-thousand Drachma on a single bounty or quest. Since the average earnings of a citizen of Mundus Magicus were only around six-thousand Drachma each month, there was never a lack of people aspiring to make a name for themselves in the two lucrative professions. The promise of substantial wealth was too great a draw for those who sought higher standing in life, so, even if the annual death count for Mercenaries and Adventurers sometimes reached six-digits, it wasn't enough to deter the courageous, foolish, and desperate...Among the most profitable creatures to hunt in all of Mundus Magicus were Dragons, specifically those of a non-magical nature. A single successful hunt could easily net a party upwards of three-hundred thousand Drachma. In some cases, this amount would increase exponentially, especially if the quarry had been pregnant or had started to develop a magical core. Unhatched Dragon Eggs could sell for over a million Drachma in the market, and, though they were exceptionally hard to come back, a Dragon's Core was a treasure that could go on auction for more than double that amount.Unfortunately, hunting a Dragon was no simple feat as even the weakest subspecies had powerful magical resistance, durable scales, chemical breath attacks, and claws strong enough to rip through the armor of an Airfish with ease. If you managed to encounter one that had started to develop a Dragon's Core, they could even use powerful Magic that could instantly overwhelm an unprepared party. As a result, most parties hunting a Dragon for the first time were either forced to retreat or risk being completely wiped out. This made Dragons the single most dangerous creatures in all of Mundus Magicus, accounting for nearly 20% of all deaths among even Veterans in the field.---Seeing a group of four cat-like people attempting to take down a Dragon, each adorned in armor that was forged from various monster parts, Vahn felt both intrigued and disappointed. His intrigue was derived from the fact it was always interesting to see people struggling to overcome difficulties while his disappointment was entirely due to his expectations. He had somewhat expected the large explosion to have been caused by Nagi and his party, as Megalomesembria wasn't too far from the curious land of cat people, but it ended up just being a party of would-be Dragonslayers. They had seemingly lined the Dragon's den with a bunch of magical explosives, attempting to kill it without a direct encounter, but, either due to fate or happenstance, the heavily armored beast only suffered a few tears to the webbing of its wings and a couple of minor injuries.Vahn wasn't particularly fond of the idea of 'cheating' by using explosives and traps, but, as there was literally a point when he did the same, he couldn't exactly blame them. Strength was not easily obtained, and, due to various circumstances, most people never had the opportunity to proactively seek it. Most children started working at a very early age just to help support their families so they didn't really have the time to dedicate themselves to the thousands of hours it would take to slowly increase their strength. Their only real focus was only trying to be happy and keep their family safe, so, until they experienced some kind of setback, most people never proactively pursued strength...In an attempt to keep the Dragon from thrashing around and making the environment even harder to move in, one of the four Mercenaries, a young female Cat Person with features resembling more of a cat than a human, cast a spell that created bindings formed from light. Light-based spells were exceptionally common amongst the various Cat tribes, especially around Nyandoma, but Vahn was still surprised to see how versatile the magic spell was. It had taken most of her magical power, but the young girl still managed to immobilize the Dragon long enough for the largest of the group, a muscular man with two tiny cat ears and a nub-like tail, to attempt beheading the beast.Using an ax that was nearly as large as he was, the man strained the muscles in his arms as a thin aura of magical energy shrouded his body. His motion wasn't exactly smooth, but the ax eventually traced a lethal arc towards the thinnest section of the Dragon's elongated neck. Unfortunately, even after putting his full weight behind the blow, the man wasn't able to cut through the exceptionally hard vertebrae in the Dragon's neck. He would have been better off aiming for the fleshier bits in an attempt to sever its jugular, but, perhaps overestimating himself or underestimating the Dragon, his mistake was rewarded with the Dragon breaking free, now even angrier than before.As the closest target, the burly man quickly found himself knocked to the ground in the Dragon's fury. It managed to sweep the man's legs using its whip-like tail, shattering his right femur in the process. Then, using its taloned claws, it pinned the man to the ground before opening its rather vicious maw, caustic spittle dripping from its teeth as a fiery light rippled between the gaps in its scales.In a desperate attempt to save their companion, the other female Cat Person, looking far more human than her counterpart, cast a spell that created a magical barrier between the burly man and the Dragon's spittle. At the same time, the final member of the party, a young man who seemed to be from the Leopard tribe, attempted to blind or distract the dragon using his bow. Unfortunately, perhaps as a result of the rush of adrenaline, he was unable to hit the bowl-sized target despite his close proximity...Unable to deter to furious Dragon, the other members of the party could only watch on in horror as liquid-like flames erupted from the Dragon's mouth, enveloping their companion before spreading through the area like water poured from a bucket. The Dragon's breath was very similar to Napalm, making it impossible to extinguish using normal water-based spells. It also possessed qualities that allowed it to eat through armor with ease, so, if you were unlucky enough to take a direct hit, you were bound to sustain severe injuries.Seeing their companion enveloped in flames, the more bestial woman released a feral scream as she attempted to charge at the Dragon, her cane raised like a club. She didn't seem to care about the fact there was Napalm-like liquid between her and the Dragon, her fury and grief completely overriding her sensibilities as she charged like a banshee towards the undaunted monster. Even the calls of her companions did nothing to stop her charge, forcing them to choose between trying to help or fleeing before they, too, became victims.While it would have been perfectly normal to run in such a situation, as there was no way for them to win, the final man and woman stood their ground, conviction visible in their gazes. Vahn couldn't help but nod approvingly when he saw this, a smile spreading across his face as he casually stepped off the side of the mountain. Then, in a functional instant, he appeared before the woman charging through the flames, pushing her back with his right hand while creating a swirling vortex to absorb the Dragon's second breath attack.Before the three could process what was happening, Vahn compressed the flames into his hand before vanishing from view. When he next appeared, he was right next to the Dragon, a tiny orb of flame in his hand. This surprised even the Dragon, but, before it could do anything to defend itself, Vahn placed the tiny orb into its mouth, smiling as he said, "You can have this back."Though its own flames wouldn't be able to hurt it under normal circumstances, the compressed ball of energy wasn't something that could be looked down upon. The Dragon's gag reflex had caused it to swallow the destructive flame, and, without anything to keep it restrained, it released a violent eruption. The Dragon's scales and muscles were durable enough to prevent it from exploding like a balloon, but, as its organs were significantly weaker, it collapsed to the ground, dead, immediately following the muted explosion sound.Ignoring the three people gawking at him, Vahn reached his hand through the mud-like substance that was left in the wake of the Dragon's flames. Then, causing everyone except the bestial woman to collapse to the ground, he pulled out the burly man's body, still intact. He was a little worse for wear, especially with his right leg shattered, but he would survive. The thin membrane surrounding his body, provided as a courtesy of Vahn, had made sure of that...---While his secondary vessel was dealing with the party of would-be Dragonslayers, Vahn's main body was still seated atop the finger-like mountain near Arika's Airfish. Even Asuna had more than enough power to protect herself from most threats, but, promising to keep them safe, he couldn't simply leave them unattended. There were creatures far stronger than non-magical Dragons in the Magical World, so, even if you were extremely powerful, dropping your guard could be fatal. There was even a group of monsters known as the 'Four Beasts of Calamity', devilish creatures capable of rivaling the Great Elemental Spirits.Not much was known about the Four Beasts of Calamity, as they seemed to appear and vanish at random, but their names and appearances were well-known. The most famous of the four was the so-called Dragon King, Arvayr, a mountain-sized Dragon that appeared amidst a horde of tens of thousands of lesser Dragons. The most dangerous, however, was the angelic being known simply as The Harbinger of Death, a monster that appeared as a femme fatale with anywhere between three to six sets of wings. She didn't seem hostile, with some accounts saying she even smiled and waved at people in passing, but, without exception, any region visited by the angelic beauty experienced great misfortune in the days that followed.The final two Beasts of Calamity were known as the Behemoth, a giant Mammoth that even made the mountain-sized Arvayr seem small, and the Leviathan, a surprisingly small serpentine Dragon that had a penchant for devastating port cities with massive tsunamis. The Behemoth was the most docile of the Four Beasts of Calamity, often appearing far away from cities and settlements, but, as could be expected from such a colossal creature, its mere steps caused earthquakes to spread for hundreds of kilometers. As for the Leviathan, it was easily the most hostile of the four, proactively appearing to sink any ships that were unfortunate enough to cross paths its path. It was rumored that Airfish had been developed as a direct result of the Leviathan sinking countless merchant and fishing fleets, drastically decreasing trade and making it impossible for island nations and ports to flourish.According to legend, the Four Beasts of Calamity and the Four Sacred Guardian Dragons had been created alongside Mundus Magicus itself. They were considered pinnacle existences that could only be defeated by each other, but, in the near future, that illusion would be shattered. Ala Rubra, led by the currently unknown Nagi Springfield, would be elevated to legendary status overnight when it was discovered they had killed the Dragon King, Arvayr. Nobody knew how the conflict had started, but, according to some historical accounts, it was apparently the result of Nagi's attempt to turn the infamous Dragon King into his mount...Imagining a thirteen-year-old kid trying to tame a legendary King of Dragons, Vahn couldn't help but be reminded of his children. While most of their actions were relatively tame by comparison, he could easily imagine someone like Vana trying to befriend a legendary dragon. She would thrive in a world where taming and befriending creatures was the norm, and, though there were a number of other reasons, she was the main inspiration behind the thematic virtual world related to taming.Remembering the spirited Vanir, Vahn could feel a sour feeling in his nose, causing him to inhale a deep breath before releasing it in the form of a tired sigh. It had been nearly a hundred years since his departure from Danmachi, and, based on his current rate of growth, it would likely take several hundred more before their reunion. This was a moderately depressing thought, but, as he couldn't simply ignore Eva, Vahn was always fated to depart Danmachi at some point. He also felt a powerful draw to explore other Records, so, while his timing could have been better, Vahn knew the journey itself had been inevitable.After calming himself down, Vahn teleported back to the Airfish and decided to follow his advice to Arika, choosing to take a nap, or, at the very least, cuddle with Medusa. She was very sensitive to his mental state, so, whenever he felt sad or nostalgic, their roles would reverse and she would happily pamper him. She could use her hair like countless extra appendages, massaging and caressing his entire body as he used her modest yet impeccable soft breasts as a pillow. It wasn't quite the same as when he allowed someone like Artoria or Musashi to embrace him, but it was still enough to help calm his unsteady heart...---After an hour-long shower, Arika emerged from the bathroom wearing little more than a towel and a pair of pure white panties. In her absentminded state, she had forgotten to prepare a change of clothes, but, rather than fret, she unabashedly walked through the ship in her near-naked state. She, like her mother, wasn't particularly worried about being seen by Vahn, and, during a few occasions, they had even bathed together. The Royal Bath was a massive bath that could easily accommodate over a hundred people without space being an issue. It was also one of the few instances where the Royal Family came together in order to relax and socialize, so, as a 'friend' of the Royal Family, Vahn had been given permission to use the Royal Bath.Originally, Vahn had been asked by Vesperina to take care of Asuna, as she had been following him around like a lost puppy since their first meeting. He had been reluctant to agree, at first, but, after an upturned gaze from Asuna, he ultimately relented. From then on, it became relatively normal for everyone to bathe together, and, though it sometimes caused her to feel anxious, Arika did her best to behave as normally as possible. She had even offered to wash his back a few times, but, with the ever-present Medusa, he had been able to casually refuse her goodwill time and again.Finding herself near the entrance of the Captain's cabin, Arika nearly stepped inside before catching herself at the last moment. She knew that, at the very least, Medusa would be inside, so, after a few moments of hesitation, she turned around and made her way downstairs. Most of her luggage was in the cargo bay so she had to dig through a sizeable pile of suitcases before finally finding the one with her sleepwear. This included everything from simple panties to far more intricate designs that included frills, ribbons, and lace. She, like most women in Mundus Magicus, typically didn't wear a bra, but, at the deepest part of the suitcase, a semi-transparent set of black garments caused a very slight blush to spread across Arika's face as she quickly buried them from view.After looking around to make sure nobody had noticed the parting 'gift' her mother had given her, Arika released a sigh of relief before picking out a pair of pure white panties and pale-pink pajamas. Then, without bothering to find a changing room, she stripped out of her previous pair, becoming completely naked for a brief moment. This made her feel unusually nervous, but, suppressing the feeling, Arika quickly donned her sleepwear before returning to the bathroom for a brief moment to fold up her previous pair of panties...---While Arika was taking her sweet time to return to the cabin, Fenrir was beginning to feel a little stressed out. Her senses were very sharp so she knew Arika should be returning at any moment, but, every time it seemed like she was heading back, the woman would wander off. This wouldn't normally bother her, but, sensing her Master was feeling lonely, Fenrir wanted to go to his side. She couldn't just leave Asuna alone, however, so, until Arika finally finished her preparations for sleep, Fenrir was forced to bide her time, her scarlet eyes glowing slightly in frustration...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Is this a new Monster Hunter expansion...?','Anyone else kinda feel bad for the Dragon King?','Fenrir be like, "Hurry the f**k up, you smelly Queen (&gt;,...,&lt;)~!"')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Chapter 1554: Peak