Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

With their three-day break coming to an end, Vahn, Phae, and Gandr had gathered inside a large lecture hall alongside the other remaining Regulars. They had all been informed on their Pockets earlier that day to gather, so, after enjoying a rather lively breakfast, everyone slowly migrated to the room in order to learn about the Positions they had been assigned.Since the Admins had yet to arrive, Vahn spent his time silently analyzing each of the Regulars who had passed through the first series of Tests. As for Phae and Gandr, the former just sat silently at his side with a smile on her face while the latter, having become friends with most of the Regulars, was asking Khun, "So, Baam is still unconscious?"Though he wasn't particularly fond of anyone in the 'Empire's Team', Khun was sensible enough to understand there was no merit in making enemies. Thus, after interacting with Gandr during several meals, he had slowly become more sociable with everyone in the former's social circle.In response to Gandr's question, Khun released a tired sigh before answering, "The medical staff has said there's nothing wrong with him. He just hasn't woken up..."Since Phae had already taken a look at Baam's condition, confirming there was nothing wrong with him, Gandr didn't press the issue too much. Instead, he just offered an awkwardly cheerful smile as he said, "Cheer up. That Baam kid is pretty special. I'm sure he'll pull through soon so don't let this incident get you down."Though he wanted to believe in Gandr's words, Khun couldn't prevent another sigh from escaping his lips before replying, "I hope that is the case...Baam is one of the few people I can call a friend. If he doesn't wake up soon, I'm not sure what I'll do..."Feeling slightly troubled by the melancholy in Khun's tone, Gandr's smile became somewhat wry as he turned to fact Vahn. This earned him a casual smile from the latter, who, having heard the entire conversation, simply replied, "Once this conference is over with, I'll head over and take a look. Now, stay focused. It looks like the Admins are about the arrive."Beaming in response to Vahn's words, Gandr turned back to face the confused Khun, his tone filled with an infectious vigor as he said, "Everything will turn out fine once Master gets involved. Let's all go visit Baam together once this is all over~!"Khun wanted to remark that Gandr's faith in his Master was without merit, but, considering who they were talking about, it was difficult to make such a claim. He had no idea how capable the Sage Dragon Emperor truly was, only that he seemed capable of doing pretty much 'anything'. This was constantly attested to be both Gandr and Phae, almost as if they were trying to cement the idea in everyone's minds...Deciding there was no reason to argue, especially since the Emperor might actually be able to help Baam, Khun just nodded in response. Then, as if lending veracity to Gandr's claims, a group of three Rankers entered the room alongside Administrator Lero-Ro; just as the Emperor had ordained...---While his Admin Assistants moved to take their seats, Lero-Ro moved to the central lectern that was located at the very front of the room. Behind him, a digital blackboard immediately lit up, and, after everyone's attention was focused on him, he opened by saying, "Good morning, Regulars. Though it seems our young friend has yet to awaken, I hope everyone else was able to enjoy the last three days. It might not have been a long break, but it should have given you plenty of time to familiarize yourself with the facilities and form a few personal connections. Remember, even Jahad himself had the aid of Ten Great Warriors and a vast army of natives during his ascent up the Tower. If you want to forge your own legend, you will need to find strong allies who are willing to shoulder the burden alongside you."Hearing Lero-Ro's words, the Regulars who had spent their time avoiding the 'competition' began to look a little nervous. As for the rest, specifically the large group that had gathered near the back of the class, they all had confident smiles on their faces. This was especially true for a certain boyish Vanargandr, who, noticing Lero-Ro's gaze shift to him, rubbed the back of his head while snickering mischievously.Returning a smile of his own, Lero-Ro motioned towards the display behind him as he said, "Now then, allow me to explain the next Test in greater detail. As many of you are well aware, we analyze the data of each Regular from the moment they enter The Floor of Tests. Using this data, our staff of qualified Rankers get together to determine which Position is best suited for everyone. Some of you might qualify for multiple Positions. However, for the duration of your stay on the 2nd Floor, it is required that you complete the curriculum that has been assigned to you..."Following Lero-Ro's statement, the display behind him turned a hazy gold color as five columns of names showed up. Then, before anyone could ask questions, Lero-Ro explained, "Though it would surprise me to learn there are people who are unaware of this, I will briefly explain the five primary Positions most commonly associated with Regulars climbing the Tower. The first, and, according to many, most powerful position is that of the Fisherman. They are chiefly responsible for disarming and defeating enemies using powerful reel inventories. Because of this, they are both the vanguard and primary attackers within many parties, constantly fighting on the frontlines or taking individual activity to secure objectives..."During Lero-Ro's explanation of the Fisherman Position, the display behind him had periodically changed to show many different people wielding needles, hooks, and swords. Many of these were placed into peculiar artifacts that seemed to float around the individuals, likely Reel Inventories if the literal reels placed at the ends were anything to go by. What Vahn found most interesting is the fact there were multiple weapons placed within these Inventories, and, based on their small size, it was safe to say there was some kind of spatial compression integrated into the peculiar device...With his explanation of Fishermen complete, Lero-Ro pressed a button to change the display, this time showing various powerful and muscular figures wielding spears. It was pretty self-explanatory what their Position was, but Lero-Ro still patiently explained, "The next Position, often supporting the vanguard from a distance, is the Spear Bearer. They generally focus on landing heavy blows on the targets that have been distracted by the Fisherman, but, throughout the Tower's history, there have been numerous Spear Bearers who were exceedingly proficient at close-range combat..."Since the duty of a Spear Bearer didn't require much explanation, Lero-Ro quickly moved on to the next category, his face lighting up as he explained, "Next is the Position known as the Light Bearer, my personal favorite and the Position I am best known for. There are many places within the Tower that light cannot reach so it is the duty of the Light Bearer to illuminate the darkness, collect battle data, and convey it to the members of their team. Because of this, they are often the leaders of the team, commanding the battlefield while manipulating versatile Lighthouses to monitor the situation and protect their allies..."Based on the massive grin on Lero-Ro's face, it was easy to see how much he favored his Position as a Light Bearer. Unfortunately, this wasn't a seminar to discuss the pros and cons associated with the Position, so, after a quick button press, he went on to explain, "Often working in tandem with the Light Bearer, the next Position is known as the Scout. As the name implies, they are responsible for observing the enemy's movements, investigating routes ahead of the team, and using Observers to feed information back to the Lighthouse. In niche situations, they will fight alongside the Fisherman, targeting various weak points using their precision strikes and high-speed maneuvers..."Though the Scout was one of the more versatile and intensive Positions, only people who had been Scouts for a long period of time could explain the specifics. All that could really be said was that it required the keenest senses and an inordinately refined instinct. Those without these things would not last for very long, as, even more so than the Fisherman that fought on the frontlines, Scouts had the most dangerous job of all.Since there would be professionals instructing each of the Regulars in their Positions, Lero-Ro didn't waste time explaining the finer details. Instead, he simply pressed the button his remote, changing the display as he added, "The last position, Wave Controller, controls Shinsu to assist in battle, often using powerful support skills to aid allies and powerful ranged attacks to defeat enemies. Though it is said that Fisherman is the most powerful Position, there is no arguing that Wave Controllers have the greatest firepower and versatility. They are known to dominate the battlefield, and, though they generally require the protection of the Light and Spear Bearers, there have been quite a number of Wave Controllers that specialized in body reinforcement..."With his summary of each Position completed, Lero-Ro pressed his remote one final time, restoring the display to the five original columns. Each listed a specific Position at the very top, followed by a number in brackets. Beneath this, a list of the presumed candidates for each Position could be seen, some containing a designation as 'Best Seed' next to them. Though the meaning of this was rather self-explanatory, one of the rather average Regulars, the boy with a horn protruding from the base of his skull, asked, "Sir! What does the 'Best Seed' written beside some of the names represent?"Not expecting someone to ask such a question, Lero-Ro smiled wryly as he said, "Best Seed? Those with 'Best Seed' next to their names have been evaluated to have the greatest potential for a given Position. These designations were decided after a considerable amount of deliberation, so, even if you don't agree with them, the decision cannot be reversed. Now, are there any other questions?"Though it looked like a few people wanted to argue, the serious expression on Lero-Ro's face was more than enough to deter them. The only one who didn't back down was Khun, who, upon seeing Baam's name under the Wave Controller Position, asked, "Pardon me, Administrator Lero-Ro. I want to ask about what will happen to the candidates who are currently absent. How will they be able to take the Test?"Shifting his attention to Khun, Lero-Ro stared at the boy for several seconds before answering, "The Position Test takes place over a thirty day period. There are no penalties for failure to attend classes, only a risk that you will not have enough points to actually pass. As you can all clearly see, there is a number next to each of the Positions. This is the number of candidates who will be allowed to move up to the 3rd Floor following the completion of the final exam. Those who fail will be forced to give up their status as Regulars."Dissatisfied with Lero-Ro's explanation, Khun was prepared to defend his friend before his leg was suddenly kicked by Gandr. This confused the blue-haired boy until the latter pointed towards the direction of the seated Rankers and said, "There is a person missing."Though Khun was confused by Gandr's meaning, Lero-Ro smiled as he stated, "As expected of the boy who was selected as the Best Seed for the Scout Position. Yes, it is as you suspect: the teacher for the Wave Controller Position has yet to arrive. As a result, the seven candidates for the Position of Wave Controller are free to attend any of the other lectures or simply enjoy a free day. Once the teacher for the Wave Controller class arrives, we will inform you through your Pockets."Understanding the meaning behind Lero-Ro's words, Khun released a sigh of relief before briefly glancing towards the smiling Gandr. The latter obviously noticed this, his smile growing to show off his teeth as the ears atop his head twitched happily...----------------------------------------------[Fisherman(4)]Best Seed: AnakEndorsiCheonhwa HongDeodLeo ClockerDede CanchoKon...[Spear Bearer(4)]Best Seed: GhostRak WraithraiserHyun SeoungAlexay AmigocharzErik BiyonGuunPitzru...[Light Bearer(2)]Best Seed: Ha Phae StiosBest Seed: Khun Aguero AgnesBest Seed: Michelle LightLeeron 3Chung-ChungLevin...[Scout(3)]Best Seed: GandrBest Seed: ShibisuHatsuNarae SeonwooPalgyeonKatanBeckster...[Wave Controller(2)]Best Seed: Vahn Aldrnari MasonPhonsekal LaureHwa RyunHohLozealGreyThe 25th Baam----------------------------------------------(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Gandr is a little social butterfly...','Light Bearers are OP','One of these Best Seeds seems out of place (O w O)...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

With the obvious exception of the Wave Controller candidates, everyone else was asked to follow one of the four Rankers present. They were meant to be the Position Instructors over the next thirty days, grading each regular and assigning points based on attendance, performance, and merit.Gandr, as a candidate for the Scout Position, ended up following after the same red-haired Ranker that had presided over the 'Deathmatch' Test. His name was Quant Blitz, a descendent from a rather famous family within the Tower. They were one of the only families with the ability to easily convert Shinsu into flames, so, as could be expected, many of their members had fiery temperaments.A stark contrast to Quant, at least in temperament, Phae ended up in Administrator Lero-Ro's class. He seemed rather passionate about the Position of Light Bearer, but, while Quant had his students sprinting back and forth in a large training hall, Lero-Ro was patiently explaining the ins and outs of being a successful Light Bearer.Due to its significance as the team's 'center', often taking command of the entire battlefield, Light Bearers had a tremendous responsibility. They needed to constantly be on their toes, gathering as much information about the terrain and any enemies as possible while directing each of their team members to where they needed to be. This required an extreme ability to multi-task, so, more often than not, the prerequisite to being a Light Bearer was being exceptionally intelligent.Despite his prodigious achievements, Vahn knew he wasn't actually that intelligent, at least when he compared himself to actual geniuses. Fortunately, he had a number of outstanding people he could always rely on, chief among them being Sis and Da Vinci. The former could effortlessly humble the most powerful supercomputers in existence, and, though she had a propensity for the eccentric, Da Vinci wasn't known as an Omnipotent Genius without basis.One of the main skills required to be a successful Light Bearer ended up being a proficiency with computer languages and hacking. Since Vahn could literally interpret these languages, he had an advantage over most from the very beginning. This allowed Phae to sit comfortably within one of the practice Lighthouses that had been handed out to each of them, a casual smile on her face as her hands danced across a light-formed keyboard.Fortunately, even if Phae hadn't been extremely adept at interpreting computer languages, Sis was more than capable of interfacing with the Lighthouse's network. Though she was currently limited to the files provided to them by the Administration Office, Lero-Ro had informed them that, upon reaching the 20th Floor, all Lighthouses would interface with a much larger network. By that point, Sis would have access to most of the information publically available within the Tower, and, so long as Phae, Gandr, or Vahn were nearby, she could even trespass encrypted networks in an instant.From Lero-Ro's perspective, Phae was an absolute monster as a Light Bearer, as, not only was she able to type at speeds exceeding six-thousand words per minutes, her ability to multi-task could already put veteran Light Bearers to shame. Even more notable than that, however, was her almost 'instinctual' ability to bypass firewalls, most falling as soon as she discovered them. As a result, she, or, more specifically, Sis, was able to hack into the protected files that the Administration posted to filter out the true prodigies among the other exceptional talents.Though they would normally only hear about it on the third day of lessons, each Position class had a Special Test that, once completed, guaranteed the right to pass. For Spear Bearers, this generally involved hitting an elevated target at a distance of one kilometer. This was beyond the threshold of many E-Rank Regulars who had passed the 20th Floor, so, as long as they managed to hit the target seven times with ten spears, there was no reason for them not to pass.For Light Bearers, the Special Test required the candidates to gain access to the same files that Phae had casually accessed within an hour of being issued her Lighthouse. This surprised Lero-Ro a great deal as the only objectives he had assigned the class were familiarizing themselves with the controls and performing basic searches. He had only briefly prefaced hacking and tracing during his lecture, so, while it wasn't uncommon for some people to get a head start, Khun being a good example, he had never seen someone complete the Special Test without even knowing of its existence...---While Phae was quickly becoming Lero-Ro's favorite pupil, Quant could be sweating slightly as he stared down at the heavily breathing Gandr sprawled out on the ground. Though he had a visibly annoyed look in his eyes, the Ranker was still able to manage an appreciative smile as he extended his hand towards the boy and remarked, "You're incredibly fast, kid. Though there are still two other objectives you'll need to compete, I'll count this as partial completion of the Special Test."Though he made a show of hesitating for a brief moment, Gandr ultimately accepted Quant's hand, rising to his feet with slightly droopy ears as he said, "I still couldn't beat the Instructor though. I've never met someone who could move so quickly. Were you cheating?"Finding Gandr's remark humorous, even if the latter part gave him an urge to punch the boy in the face, Quant burst out laughing. Then, after patting the friendly youth on the shoulder, he said, "I'm even faster when I use Shinsu. Unfortunately, though I'm pretty confident in my speed, there are a lot of Rankers faster than I am. The Tower is a big place, kid, don't let your perception be limited by your personal standard."Feeling proud of himself for saying such sagely words, Quant gave Gandr another pat on the back, encouraging the boy to take a rest while he whipped the other Scout candidates into shape. They had been watching him and Gandr playing 'tag' for the last hour, so, now that he was in such high spirits, Quant felt like giving his adorable students a little bit of love...Seeing the Instructor literally throwing balls of fire at the backsides of the candidates running too slow, Gandr couldn't help but laugh before sprawling out on the ground. The seal on his body had an effect that reduced the replenishment of his stamina, so, for the first time in a long while, he was actually feeling exhausted. Rather than hate this feeling, however, Gandr enjoyed it quite a bit as it reminded him of his training days in the Record of Danmachi, back when he both worked hard and played even harder...---Though they could have returned to their rooms and gone about their own business, each of the Wave Controller candidates chose to linger within the lecture hall. They were all going to be in the same class for the next month, so, at the suggestion of the effeminate man named Hoh, everyone decided to at least introduce themselves and share what they knew about the Position.To Vahn's amusement, everyone seemed surprised when he also chose to stay back. This caused even Laure to open his eyes, poking his head out of the blanket he used to enclose his body even during the Administrator Lero-Ro's lecture. As for the rest, consisting of a rather beautiful woman named Rozeal, the ever-androgynous Hoh, a gloomy girl named Grey, and Hwa Ryun, they had a mix of reactions varying from intrigue, shock, fear, and adulation.Offering a polite smile in exchange for the not-so-polite stares, Vahn calmly explained, "Though I am the Best Seed, my knowledge of Shinsu is very limited. Being an Emperor does not mean I am all-knowing and without flaws. As for the matter of etiquette, you need not concern yourself with such things, as, despite my status, you are not my subjects. Though I would advise against acting in a rude or abrasive manner, you are permitted to treat me as you would any other student."Before the others could even fully adapt to what Vahn was trying to convey, Laure didn't hesitate at all to ask, "You're an Emperor, correct? Where is your Empire? How did you become so proficient at using Shinsu despite having limited knowledge of it?"Vahn had never been fond of being interrogated, but, out of consideration for his prior statement, he offered a relaxed smile and answered, "I am the Sage Dragon Emperor who protects the Aldrnari Empire located far beyond the influence of the Jahad Empire and the Ten Great Families. As for my proficiency with Shinsu, it has less to do with the Shinsu itself and more-so my general mastery over the internal energy in my body. You are mistaken if you believe that Shinsu is the penultimate form of energy. What truly matters is your comprehension of the Laws and the strength of your Will..."To emphasize his point, Vahn held out his palm, manipulating Creation Laws to create a statuette formed from a rainbow-hued crystal. This was enough to awe nearly everyone in the class, but, as the most knowledgeable regarding Shinsu, Laure began to sweat slightly. It wasn't that difficult to create things with Shinsu, but, from what he could tell, Vahn hadn't used any Shinsu at all to create the phoenix-shaped statuette...Noticing the look in Laure's eyes, Vahn took things a step further, this time manipulating the Laws of Destruction to disintegrate the statuette as he stated, "Though I am often liberal when it comes to sharing information, certain things require a price. As a member of the Phonsekal Family, this is something you should be well aware of, no?"Swallowing the words that had been on the tip of his tongue, Laure simply nodded in response to Vahn's statement before saying, "I'll keep that in mind. If there is anything you want to know about Shinsu, I will do my best to explain it in detail."Surprising the man with matching dark-green hair and eyes, Vahn didn't hesitate to shake his head, his smile becoming more prominent as he stated, "We have gathered like this to share information amongst each other, not exchange it between individuals. I'm certain everyone here would benefit from your explanation, so, if you be so kind, please share with the class."Though he got the impression he had been designated the status of a Substitute Teacher, Laure was too enticed by the promise contained within Vahn's words to perform his favorite pastime. Thus, to the benefit of everyone within the lecture hall, he began to give a thorough explanation regarding Shinsu, starting with the basics of forming a Contract with the Floor Guardian...---While listening attentively to everything Laure was saying, Vahn also took the opportunity to assess the rest of his classmates. Each had unique qualities that made them special, but, unfortunately, the limitation of three people passing meant they were all but guaranteed to fail. None of them could hope to compare against Laure, and, while Baam likely lacked even basic knowledge regarding the nature and use of Shinsu, it was pretty clear at this point that the boy was the protagonist.Though he could probably make an argument to change Positions, Vahn found the idea of being a Wave Controller rather novel. This meant there was no suspense regarding who would be chosen to move on, as, even if something ended up happening to Laure and Baam, Hwa Ryun was more than capable of passing the Test.Knowing the other candidates were destined to fail, Vahn decided he would, at the very least, make things a little easier for them once they lost their status as Regulars. They would be allowed to live in the Middle Tower alongside other Regulars who had failed the Floor of Tests, so, while they might not have the chance to climb the Tower, they would still be able to increase their strength and make their lives a little easier. This was the least Vahn could do for them, so, while Phae would bear most of the burden, he could at least facilitate the free-sharing of information while they were gathered together like this...---Understanding her God's intentions, Hwa Ryun was unable to prevent an appreciative smile from spreading across her face. It was exceptionally rare for the power to also be benevolent, especially within the Tower where such traits were considered a weakness. Vahn, however, seemed to be able to turn that weakness into his strength, so, while she believed there was no advantage to helping the Regulars fated to fail, she did not question her God's decision in the slightest...Noticing the woman's gaze, Vahn briefly made eye contact with Hwa Ryun, earning a slightly more prominent smile from her in response. This compelled him to sigh internally, but, rather than show any perturbation, he just gave her a polite nod of acknowledgment. Unfortunately, this seemed to be interpreted differently by the woman in question, as, immediately after his nod, her gaze became focused as she began inspecting each of the Regulars present within the room...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Sis, once again, proving why she is Best Girl','I'm fast as fuck booiiii~!','What a novel concept, a Believer misinterpreting the will of their God (UwU)...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Seeing the familiar notification within the system, it took restraint Vahn didn't know he had just to prevent his brow from twitching.Vahn's first instinct was to simply refuse, but, after traversing three Records, he knew the futility of such actions. Thus, after staring at the top of Hwa Ryun's head for several seconds, he accepted the notification whilst saying, "We shall see...stand up..."Though she didn't understand the meaning contained withing Vahn's words, Hwa Ryun stood up and faced him with the same conviction she showed upon first crossing the threshold of his room. Guides never questioned or doubted the path they walked, as, the moment they began fearing for their own lives, all paths would become unknown to them.Seeing the complete lack of hesitation in Hwa Ryun's actions, Vahn's smile became imperceptibly wry thanks to his neatly trimmed beard. Then, after gesturing for the woman to come close, Vahn extended his hand, placing his palm over her eyepatch as he said, "If you truly wish to follow this path, I forbid you to ever tell me a lie. In exchange, I will carry your burdens so that it will be easier for you to follow..."As Vahn was speaking, Hwa Ryun's left eye opened wide as a visible scar and a rather gruesome cut appeared across the surface of his eye. At the same time, she felt an exceptionally prickly sensation beneath her eye patch, followed by an intense heat that, despite feeling comparable to a lump of hot coal, didn't cause any pain.Though he had lost it upon his departure from Danmachi, Vahn's experience with [Wound Transfer] allowed him to emulate its effects if he really wanted to. He got the impression that Hwa Ryun was still a little dangerous at the moment, so, with her having already become his Believer, he wanted to increase her Faith to deter her from doing anything suspicious like arbitrarily using his status as her 'God' to justify her actions...Retracting his hand, Vahn covered his own injured eye for a brief moment, holding it there for less than three seconds before removing it to reveal an uninjured eye. These actions caused Hwa Ryun's Faith to increase from 93 to 208 in an instant, as, even without him explaining, she could 'see' it by observing her own path.With a smile spreading across her face, Hwa Ryun emulated Phae's bow near-flawlessly, her earlier trembling nowhere to be seen as she answered, "I swear by my status as Guide that I will never tell a lie. You are my God, the one who will open the path forward for everyone. Betraying your trust is the same as abandoning my purpose and my most deeply held desire. Should you command it of me, I would happily lay down my life knowing my dream will one day be actualized."Seemingly inspired by her own words, Hwa Ryun's Faith took another substantial leap, compelling Vahn to simply ignore it as he rebutted, "I do not require others to die and make sacrifices on my behalf. A true Emperor bears the burden of his people, not forces his own upon them. These words might not resonate with you right now, but, when the time comes, you will know the true meaning contained within."Raising her head to face Vahn, Hwa Ryun saw the same resolute light that had inspired her to follow him moments prior. This caused her heart to begin palpitating rapidly, almost as if someone had injected a dangerous amount of adrenaline directly into her chest. She began to feel a shortness of breath and a bit muddleheaded, but, rather than stand so she could breathe more easily, Hwa Ryun felt compelled to keep her head lowered in the presence of her God.Feeling like he had recklessly picked up someone troublesome, Vahn decided to take advantage of his newfound status within her mind, ordering, "For now, you will continue with your original duties. If there is something you need, consult Phae before coming directly to me. Though I am not against company, it would become troublesome if I allowed people to approach me freely."Understanding the truth contained within Vahn's words, Hwa Ryun lowered her head one last time before rising to her full height. The sudden rush caused her to teeter slightly, but, before she could fall over, an invisible force momentarily locked her in place. This caused her smile to become even more prominent, but, remembering the words of her God, she quickly alighted from the room with newfound purpose present in her steps...---While Vahn had been busy dealing with his newfound Believer, Phae and Gandr had been loitering about in Anak's room alongside Shibisu and Hatsu. Phae was helping Anak to style her hair, earning a surprisingly timid response from the girl whenever the boys gave her a compliment. As for Gandr, he was currently driving both Shibisu and Hatsu crazy by winning nearly every single hand of Five-Card Draw they had played.When the game first started, it was just to have a bit of fun, but, as was often the case when any kind of gambling was involved, things got heated when Shibisu began betting points. As a result, he had already lost nearly three hundred points in half-an-hour, enough to purchase three days' worth of luxury meals from the Commissary.With visible sweat pouring down his face, Shibisu focused his somewhat beady eye on the 'brat' sitting across from him as he said, "I'll take two..."In response to the man's words, Gandr displayed his toothy grin as he rebutted, "So long as it's from the top this time. You wouldn't want to lose an additional ten points by getting discovered cheating once again~."Hearing Gandr's statement, Shibisu's expression darkened quite a bit, a defeated look spreading across his face as he muttered, "Fold..." in a sullen voice.With his excellent hearing, Gandr could easily make out Shibisu's words, bursting into laughter at the man's expense. This caused the man to visibly deflate while, at the side, having folded most of his hands, Hatsu just stared blankly as he said, "Cheaters never prosper." before sipping his cup of green tea.Fed up with the two swordsmen seated across from him, Shibisu threw himself back, arms sprawled out as he exclaimed, "Ahhh! Why can't I win even one hand!? Please tell me you've been cheating! My luck can't be this bad, can it!?"Flopping his ears to the side, Gandr stared at Shibisu as if he was looking at an idiot, plainly stating, "People with bad luck don't end up partnered with a Princess of Jahad and a Master Swordsman on their first day of climbing the Tower. You just suck at gambling when you're not allowed to cheat."Though Gandr's first words deeply resonated with Shibisu, his follow-up statement caused his face to morph into a perfect deadpan as he retorted, "I'm never gambling against you again..."Finding Shibisu's words rather amusing, Gandr snickered at the man's expense before looking over at where Anak was seated in front of a mirror. There was a very light blush coloring her cheeks, and, though it would fade away the moment she caught someone looking, a happy smile could be seen on her face as happily dangled her feet within the chair.Sensing someone's gaze, Anak shifted her focus away from her hair, meeting Gandr's gaze within the mirror. Her smile immediately faded away, but, when she saw the annoying boy smile back at her, Anak was unable to resist the urge to avert her eyes, muttering, "My room isn't a place people can just gather..." in a voice that wasn't intended to be heard.Though she could have pretended not to hear, Phae giggled in response to Anak's words as she quickly fixed the girls' hair into a small ponytail. It was the style that suited her the most due to her neatly trimmed bangs and the way her fringe perfectly framed her face. It was also the style that put the biggest smile on Anak's face so Phae decided to tie her hair up with a blue ribbon as she softly stated, "You cannot climb the Tower alone, Anak. Even my Lord must rely on others every now and then so do not lament the opportunity to make friends. Your burdens will become that much lighter if you have people to share them with."To punctuate her words, Phae fastened the ribbon into a neat bow, smiling at the girl through the mirror before adding, "It suits you..." in a motherly tone.Seeing Phae's expression through the mirror, Anak felt the same incongruous feeling as before, her mind screaming at her that 'something' was wrong despite a feeling of warmth spreading through her chest. She didn't really know how to describe it but it was like Phae was being both sincere yet deceitful at the same time...Pulling her legs up into the chair, Anak hugged her knees before hiding her face and saying, "I want to be alone. Get out of my room..." in a somber tone.Understanding the girl likely had 'a lot' to work through, Phae didn't want to push her too hard, so, while lightly patting her back, she whispered, "Okay, Anak...when you feel better, you can find me in my room or in the commissary..."With that said, Phae retracted her hand from the girl's back, shifting her attention to the trio sitting in the middle of the room as she said, "It seems Anak isn't feeling well at the moment. If you want to play, please move to another room."Being able to read between the lines, Shibisu and Hatsu both rose to their feet without a fuss, but, as someone who was supposed to be a little brash, Gandr asked, "Oh? Did you get a tummy ache from trying to compete against me during lunch?"Hearing Gandr's words, Anak balled her hands into fists but ultimately kept her face hidden. She didn't want to see her own expression right now as she wasn't quite sure to express what she was feeling at this exact moment. Fortunately, she wasn't compelled to respond as Phae promptly gave Gandr's head a chop whilst saying, "Don't be nosy. Didn't His Imperial Majesty tell you not to bully girls? Do I need to tell your big sister you've been a bad boy?"Though it was all part of the act, Gandr couldn't stop the hairs on his ears and tail from standing on end when he heard Phae's final words. His 'training' with Fenrir had given him a rather unique form of trauma, as, due to his own insistence, she treated his Vanargandr form like her younger brother; one she was 'very' strict with.Noticing Gandr's reaction, an exceptionally sly grin morphed Shibisu's face into one of vindictive amusement as he remarked, "What's this? This brat is scared of his big sister? Maybe I should start keeping a record of his bad deeds so she is properly informed~."Hearing Shibisu's remark, both Phae and Gandr looked at the man as if he was seeking death. This caused his face to immediately pale, especially when Phae added, "Fenrir can be very protective of her little brother. Though she isn't afraid to discipline him, she won't tolerate others trying to bully or pressure him. If you somehow manage to upset her, even my Lord won't be able to protect you from her wrath..."Though he had largely been joking, Shibisu wrote Phae's words across his heart, swearing to never offend the woman named Fenrir. Gandr was already ridiculously powerful so it wasn't difficult to imagine the big sister he was scared of being even more monstrous. With that in mind, he offered an awkward smile in response to Phae's words, replying, "I'll keep that in mind, Ms. Phae...thanks..."Nodding her head in approval, Phae then grabbed Gandr's hand and led the group out of the room so that Anak could decompress. She was clearly the anti-social introverted type, so, while she could tolerate the presence of others to a certain extent, she wasn't mentally equipped to remain in their presence for long periods of time. This was likely related to her traumatic past, so, while she wanted to help the not-so-young girl, Phae knew there was only so much they could do for her in a single day...---With everyone else having departed her room, Anak waited for several minutes before tentatively raising her face to view her own reflection. There were noticeable tear stains coloring her skin a slightly darker shade of green, but, rather than resentment or anger, she noticed confusion and a mix of other emotions within her eyes. This served to further increase her confusion, compelling her to retreat beneath the safety of her blankets before dimming the lights. The darkness had always brought her a certain feeling of security, so, while it did little to help with her tumultuous mental state, she was eventually able to calm down enough to get some sleep...Just as Anak felt memories of her past begin to resurface, a common occurrence whenever she was on the verge of sleep, a crimson hue spread across her face as a loud grumbling emanated from her stomach...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Vahn is about to start hearing Hwa Ryun's prayers in the middle of the night xD...','Trying to cheat against a person whose perception is thousands of times more refined than your own...','Stomach be like, "I demand sustenance~!"')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Chapter 1705: Placement