Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

With the first day of lessons coming to an end, Gandr was walking alongside Shibisu and Hatsu as they made their way toward the commissary. Their class had finished a little earlier than the rest of the classes due to the special assignment they had been given by Quant: making ten friends before the end of the week.Scouts were meant to be skilled at gathering information, not just on the battlefield, but outside of it. They were required to be extremely sociable, as, more often than not, they were the ones sent to various locations in order to meet with people, exchange information, and transport goods. Scouts who were unable to perform these functions had an exceedingly difficult time finding teams, as, not only were they the most 'common' Position, they were considered by most to be the weakest.As an exception to the rule, Gandr wasn't too concerned about his future path. Instead, he had a smile on his face as he walked along with his hands behind his head, listening as Shibisu groaned, "Ahhh, my body isn't going to hold out if this keeps up. Why'd you have to rile that matchhead up so much, man?"Snicking in response to Shibisu's complaint, Gandr just plainly remarked, "This level of training is nothing. When I was learning swordsmanship, even losing limbs was a pretty common occurrence. You'll need to work on your strength and stamina if you want to reach the 134th Floor and become a Ranker."Agreeing with Gandr's words, Hatsu nodded his head, his expression a lot more relaxed despite the layer of sweat covering his brow. He had trained his stamina for years, so, while the training wasn't exactly easy, he was better off than most.Seeing the two swordsmen showing no real signs of fatigue, Shibisu released a tired sigh, rubbing his shoulders as he changed the subject and asked, "So, what's the deal between you and Anak? Do need some advice from your big brother?"Flopping his ears to the side, Gandr pretended not to understand what Shibisu was talking about, asking, "What do you mean?"Amused by his furry companion's reaction, Shibisu attempted to link his arm around the former's shoulder, a teasing smile on his face. Unfortunately, just as he attempted to lean some of his weight against Gandr's body, Shibisu phased through his body and fell to the ground, landing hard on his elbow.Inhaling sharply, Shibisu began furiously rubbing his elbow as he exclaimed, "You brat! Don't you know how to take a joke!? Jeez..."Ignoring Shibisu's outburst, Gandr just stared blankly at the man before offering him his hand as he said, "There is nothing between me and Anak. She is pretty cute, but I don't have an interest in things like that right now. I just wanted to ease her burdens a little. It's pretty obvious how lonely she is and it never hurts to have more friends."Rising to his feet with Gandr's help, Shibisu continued to rub his arm for a bit as he said, "Yeah, you make a good point. I just thought there was more going on since you even helped to fix our team's issues following the Crown Game. A lot of people were pretty upset with her so thanks for helping patch things up. You and Phae are pretty amazing people..."As if he had only just remembered something, Shibisu's expression became slightly lecherous as he spontaneously asked, "Oh yeah, what's the deal with Phae? Though she eats with everyone else, it's pretty hard to approach her if you're a guy. Is there something going on between her and that Vahn fellow?"With his ears twitching slightly in response to Shibisu's words, Gandr's expression darkened slightly as he fixated his gaze upon the man and said, "You shouldn't ask questions like that. Also, unless he gives you permission to call him like that, you shouldn't refer to my Master as 'fellow'. He might not care about things like that, but it always annoys me a little when I hear people demeaning his status like that..."Holding his hands up in a gesture of surrender, Shibisu was sincere as he said, "Sorry. I didn't mean to upset you or insult your Master. I just wanted to ask the question that was on all the guys' minds. It's not every day you meet a woman of Phae's caliber. Can you really blame us for being curious?"Though he continued to stare pointedly at Shibisu, Gandr's expression and body relaxed slightly as he nodded his head and said, "It's fine as long as it's just curiosity. I don't think Phae even minds it when people stare at her. Just make sure you don't do anything stupid and I won't have anything to say about it. Phae can be very scary when she's mad so you only have yourself to blame if you make her angry. Even my Master can't do much against her when she goes off the deep end."Recalling the scene of Phae 'casually' smashing two Regulars with her hammer, neither Shibisu nor Hatsu doubted the veracity of Gandr's claim. The former, in particular, had felt his skin crawl when Phae looked at him with her patented smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. She was very calm and poised most of the time, but, the moment you angered her, you would feel a biting chill spread through your body despite the surrounding temperature noticeably increasing...---With time to kill before the other classes let out, Gandr ordered a substantial amount of food from the cafeteria, his portions taking up an entire section of the table everyone sat at together. Then, in the characteristic manner of a Vanargandr, he began devouring it at a pace that caused everyone in the surroundings to pale slightly.Noticing Gandr's teeth always became sharper whenever he was eating, a very young-looking girl wearing a baggy pink hoodie and dark pink skirt couldn't help but ask, "Gandr? Why do your teeth change whenever you eat?"Hearing someone call his name, Gandr continued chewing the food in his mouth as he turned his attention to the voice's owner. There, he saw a girl who appeared to be around ten-years-old. She had blonde hair styled in a bob-pixie cut and gold eyes that resembled polished bronze. He knew who this girl was even before their Scout classes as she stood out quite a bit, not just because of her appearance but because of the red pot she always carried around in her backpack.After swallowing down his food with a loud gulp, Gandr offered a toothy grin to the young girl as he mused, "Very perceptive, Nare! As for the answer to your question, well, it's pretty obvious, isn't it? I'm a member of the Vanargandr tribe. We're the descendants of a wolf that was said to be able to devour the Heavens and swallow stars in its massive maw. Because of that, all Vanargandrs have an insatiable appetite that allows us to convert everything we eat into energy. Even if I devoured all the food in this cafeteria, I would still have room in my stomach for seconds! Shishishishi~."Though his words surprised a number of people, Nare seemed to have a slightly different view than everyone else, her expression turning slightly envious as she complained, "It must be nice...if I don't watch my weight, I become fat in an instant. Maintaining my womanly physique is a constant battle against the enemy known as calories..."As she hadn't really tried to conceal her words, everyone at the table turned their attention towards Nare, their expressions turning skeptical as Shibisu voiced everyone's thoughts, saying, "I might not be an expert, but even I can see you have a long way to go before you can call yourself womanly. In fact, I think you might benefit from eating a little more..."Understanding what Shibisu was insinuating, Nare's expression darkened in an instant as she stared at him with a look that could kill. Both of her parents were from races that were naturally petite, her mother being a member of the Golden Pixie tribe while her father was a Dwelfing. She had already experienced her growth spurt and was actually considered quite a beauty back in her hometown so it annoyed her to no end having people treat her like a child. Fortunately, she managed to meet a handsome man who could appreciate her beauty during the Deathmatch test. He had even agreed to become her Knight, protecting her from harm and pampering her whenever they had the chance to be alone.Thinking of her Knight, Nare managed to gradually calm herself down but not before she pointed her steak knife towards Shibisu, saying, "You'll never be popular with women if you say things like that."Feeling like he had suffered some kind of mental damage, Shibisu visibly flinched in response to Nare's words. It didn't help that several others began laughing at his expense, the only exception being Hatsu since he didn't really show emotion. As for Gandr, he was laughing while shoveling food down his mouth, enjoying the constant entertainment he got while hanging out with these people...---Though it didn't take that much effort, Phae was feeling a little fatigued after sitting in the same place for nearly ten hours. The Lighthouse could grow to the size of a room or shrink small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, so, whenever a Light Bearer was accessing its systems, they typically concealed themselves inside.Since they were capable of floating freely within a Shinsu field, Lighthouses could effectively be used to survey a battlefield while flying high above the danger. This was actually one of the reasons Spear Bearers were trained to hit targets in the air as one of the quickest ways to gain an advantage against an enemy team had always been to destroy their Lighthouse...While stretching her body, extending both arms up to ease some of the tension in her shoulders, Phae noticed several gazes immediately shift to her. This was something that took a little getting used to, but, after mastering what Da Vinci called the 'reaper's smile', Phae had been able to deter most overtly lecherous gazes.Noticing two separate people approaching her, Phae shifted her attention to the Administrator, earning a disarming smile from the man as he said, "You performed exceptionally well today, Ms. Phae. At this rate, you are bound to become one of the greatest Light Bearers in the Tower. Being able to teach someone with your talents has been a great privilege."Playing her part well, Phae giggled in amusement at Lero-Ro's words, combing back her bangs out of practice and necessity before replying, "It should be my honor to have such a capable teacher. It might be the first day, but I can already feel my horizons expanding. Should I reach the heights you think me capable of, I will be sure to let everyone in the Tower know who introduced me to the path of a Light Bearer."Though it was a far cry from the bow she offered Vahn, Phae performed a polite genuflection upon the completion of her words. She didn't miss the momentary wandering of the Administrator's eyes, but, by the time she raised her head, Lero-Ro's gaze had returned to her eyes. This was something else that Phae had gotten used to, so, after quickly fixing her hair, she mused, "It seems there are others seeking my attention. It has been a pleasure, Administrator Lero-Ro. I look forward to your continued guidance in the days to come."Having long noticed the presence lingering off to the side, Lero-Ro returned a polite nod before saying, "It is a shame there is only thirty days before classes end. With your talents, I feel motivated to teach you everything I know about being a Light Bearer. That would be favoritism, however, so I will be on my way to meet with other students. Have a pleasant evening, Ms. Phae."Finished with his farewells, Lero-Ro briefly shifted his attention to the young woman who had been waiting at the side. This smile on his face almost immediately faded into a more serious expression, as, despite the nominations for Best Seed traditionally belonging to the teacher, this particular girl had been nominated by the Director. To further exacerbate matters, her performance was barely up to standard, far from the 'Best Seed' designation handed to her on a silver platter.Lero-Ro knew there was definitely 'something' going on behind the scenes but his investigation had turned up more questions than answers. Still, he didn't want to be accused of playing favorites, so, even if he didn't mean it, Lero-Ro offered a polite node to the young woman before saying, "I hope you have a pleasant evening as well, Ms. Michelle Light..."Returning a smile of her eye, Michelle, better known as Rachel, showed no visible signs that she was bothered by the difference in treatment between herself and Phae. Instead, she copied the bow she had witnessed moment's prior, surprising both Phae and Lero-Ro by the near-seamless execution as she answered, "Thank you for your kind words, Administrator Lero-Ro. Though my skills are far from Ms. Phae's, I can feel myself improving steadily thanks to your patient tutelage. Please take care of me tomorrow as well."Though he wasn't entirely sure of the reason, Lero-Ro felt an incongruous mixture of awkwardness and shame after hearing Rachel's words. His intuition told him there was something wrong with the woman, but, despite his best efforts, he was unable to see through her. This was more than enough to tell him there was something amiss, but, even if that was the case, there wasn't really anything he could do about the situation unless Rachel was caught breaking some kind of rule.Quickly suppressing his emotions, a relaxed smile spread across Lero-Ro's face as he nodded his head and said, "With that kind of attitude, you are bound to improve greatly. I'll see both of you young ladies tomorrow at 7 AM, sharp. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have other students to attend before they all wander off."With those parting words, Lero-Ro waved towards the girls before walking off with the same smile affixed to his face. His departure was monitored by both Phae and Rachel before the latter shifted her attention to the far more mature and beautiful woman standing across from her. For a very brief moment, a dangerous light flashed across her eye, but, by the time Phae turned to meet her with a smile, it had vanished into thin air...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Can't touch this','Om nom nom nom','The problems that arise from being an attractive woman...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Having returned to his room long before the other classes had let out, Vahn had been practicing his Shinsu control in accordance with the method demonstrated by Laure. This involved imagining the Shinsu as a massive sphere of water that formed around a mental image of yourself, accounting for both physical appearance and body position. From there, you would compress the sphere within your mind, and, assuming you held the image successfully, a Baang of Shinsu would begin to form in the exact same spot you had imagined it.Though Vahn could effectively ignore the need for this exercise due to the existence of his domain, he couldn't deny there was merit in learning the 'proper' method. It seemed that the Shinsu on the Floors actually worked to compress his domain, so, the more he expanded it, the greater the strain on his body, mind, and spirit. This wasn't that much of an issue if he stayed put, but, the moment he began moving through the Shinsu field, the resistance against him would increase exponentially like a drag force.Fortunately, there were few people who could compete with him when it came to mental imaging and perceiving the surrounding space. Vahn knew the purpose of the exercise was simply to create a mental awareness of the Shinsu in your surroundings, but, unlike most people, he already knew 'everything' was just an amalgamation of some kind of energy. He had also spent a fair amount of time as a literal God of Space, Time, and Creation, so, rather than his original nine golden spheres of Shinsu, Vahn had practically turned the interior of his room into an observatory. There were more than a thousand bluish-white dots of various sizes gently pulsating in his surroundings, each acting in accordance to his intent.While it wasn't really suitable for combat, at least in its current state, Vahn could essentially create as many Baangs of Shinsu as he wanted. It took time to form each individual sphere, but, from the moment it had taken shape, Vahn could easily maintain each of the spheres due to his inordinately precise control. He was someone who could literally account for the trillions of cells that made up a person's body, so, when it came to something like visualizing the placement of a thousand baangs, well, there was really no comparing the two at all...Opening his eyes slowly and methodically, Vahn took in his surroundings for the first time since he had started his training. This caused a few of the baangs to twinkle, nearly collapsing, but, with no other forces acting upon them, they were ultimately able to remain stable. Fortunately, even if a few did collapse, he wouldn't need to worry about a chain reaction due to the propensity of the Shinsu to simply pop like a bubble before vanishing into thin air.Satisfied with the result he had achieved, Vahn decided to conduct one final test before moving to the commissary to grab a bite to eat. This was obviously unnecessary, but, in order to successfully reinforce the image he was trying to create, establishing a baseline for others' expectations was one of the most important steps.Without moving a single muscle, Vahn expanded his domain like a bubble, enveloping the spheres of Shinsu before they had the chance to destabilize. They immediately turned golden in response to the invisible field generated by his domain, and, though the Shinsu contained within didn't increase, their golden luminance gave off the impression they were far more powerful than normal baangs...---With Rachel asking if they could talk in private, Phae followed the young woman until they arrived in a vacant corridor. She was honestly a little curious about what kind of scheme the toxic woman was cooking up within her mind. The moment Rachel revealed her true nature was the exact same moment all her plans went up in smoke. Vahn, and, by proxy, Phae, and Gandr, might not be willing to punish someone who had yet to commit a crime, but, the moment they caught someone in the act, they would not hesitate to pass judgment.Unfortunately, it seemed like Rachel's current objective was merely trying to ingratiate herself to others, turning to face Phae with a 'starstruck' expression, smiling radiantly as she said, "Ms. Phae really is amazing. Not only are you beautiful, but your skill and talent would be enough to make even the descendants of the Ten Great Families green with envy. If I had even a tenth of your talent, I think I could reach the top of the Tower without issue...how unfortunate..."Though she started off similar to a bubbly fangirl, Rachel quickly adopted a melancholic expression towards the end of her statement. There was a genuine listlessness in her eyes, and, though it didn't change much, there was a very small ripple across her ever-steady aura. Immediately after that, she did her best to put on an apologetic smile as she emulated Phae's action of combing through her bangs and saying, "Sorry...I just..."Shattering whatever expectations Rachel might have had, Phae just giggled lightly in response to her little act before musing, "You might be lacking in other departments, but your acting skill is top-notch. With a few simple touch-ups and a bit of exercise, you could easily become a pop-star or an actress with skill like that~."Showing both practiced and genuine confusion in her expression, Rachel tilted her head slightly as she asked, "What do you mean, Ms. Phae? I don't understand..."Pulling out Da Vinci's patented reaper smile, Phae sent shivers through Rachel's body as she lightly squinted her eyes and remarked, "Young lady, you might be able to fool normal people, but you are far from the point of being able to trick a member of the Imperial Court. I have dealt with schemers, corrupt nobles, and literal villains for hundreds of years. I've even encountered a literal Goddess of Trickery, someone who had lived for hundreds-of-millions-of-years. Your skills are undoubtedly very impressive, but you are far too inexperienced to play this game with someone like me."With her face gradually paling in spite of her unwaveringly calm aura, Rachel continued pretending she had no idea what Phae was talking about. Tears began to well up in her eyes, and, after what seemed like an inordinate amount of effort, she was able to sobbingly reply, "I don't understand...I just wanted to ask for your advice...everyone seems to look up to you...I thought you would be nice to me as well..."Realizing she was dealing with quite the sociopath, Phae's smile faded away completely, replaced by a serious expression as she said, "If you want to make friends, the only thing you ever needed to do was show sincerity. The reason people shun you is that there are times when you drop your little act without realizing it. This causes people to feel uncomfortable around you because, here in the Tower, everyone 'expects' others to betray them. You also put a half-hearted effort into everything you do, convincing yourself you lack talent so you refuse to even try..."Showing instantaneous anger in response to Phae's words, Rachel was about to scream at the top of her lungs before a gloved hang silenced her with a resounding slap. This was enough to instantly change the character she was playing, but, for a very brief moment, Phae noticed the woman's aura had become darker than pitch. It was like her aura had become a black hole, swallowing everything in its surroundings and causing the world to appear ever-so-slightly darker.Though she was tempted to slap the malice out of the woman, Phae's expression actually softened a little as she calmly stated, "Stop blaming everyone else for your shortcomings. I once knew a guy who had absolutely no talent in the sword, but, after hundreds of years of tireless effort, he reached a point where he could, quite literally, cut through the concepts. You might lack talent, but, so long as you apply yourself, there are no limits to your growth. You could become as strong and beautiful as you like, you just refuse to put in the effort. Instead, you blame the world and the people around you for things that have absolutely nothing to do with them, all while disdaining anyone who would 'dare' treat you in a similar manner..."Despite the harshness of her words, Phae maintained a motherly smile and a gentle tone during the entirety of her speech. She genuinely wanted to stop Rachel from doing something she was bound to regret, so, before the venomous woman could retort, Phae pulled out what appeared to be a tiny jade marble, explaining, "This is a rare medicine known as the [Flawless Jade Pill]. Purchase a mat or something from the commissary and then lay it out on your bedroom floor. After that, remove your clothes and then ingest this pill. It will cause you some discomfort, but this medicine has the ability to remove the impurities in a person's body. Once the process is completed, you will be covered in a foul-smelling liquid, but, once it has been wiped away, your skin will be as smooth as jade. I want you to take it and reflect on everything I told you today. If you are serious about reaching the stars, stop slithering around like a green-eyed snake eager to strike anyone you perceive as being more fortunate than yourself..."Since Rachel hadn't accepted the pill, Phae punctuated her words by tossing it directly at the young woman. After that, she turned around without another word, an exhausted sigh escaping her lips as she left the woman to brood alone within the darkening corridor...---Though they had already finished their meals, most of the Scout candidates chose to remain in the commissary. Their task of making ten friends limited them to just one other Scout candidate, so, in order to complete their objective by the end of the week, they needed to convince Regulars in the other classes to put down their names.Noticing members of the other classes beginning to file in, several of the Scouts seated around the table immediately rose to their feet in order to intercept the migrating group. Gandr, Shibisu, and Hatsu, however, just stayed in place, as, if the previous days were any indicator, it was only a matter of time before their usual group congregated gathered.Even without Hatsu shifting his gaze with a troubled expression on his face, the subtle twitching of Gandr's ears indicated that he was well-aware of the situation. As a result, he easily tilted his head to the side, evading the attempt to touch his ears. Immediately after that, his body seemed to fall through the bench, sinking into the floor and vanishing in an instant.Clicking her tongue, Endorsi began looking around the area for where Gandr would reappear. At this point, she was absolutely determined to pet the young Vanargandr's head. Her instincts told her that his ears were very soft, and, though it was a little annoying to be evaded so easily, Endorsi actually found the boy's 'bashful' behavior rather cute.Just as she began to consider ways to bait the boy into allowing her to touch his ears, Endorsi was surprised when two hands suddenly appeared from the ground, grasping her ankles. She felt a very strange sensation spread through her body, almost like her awareness had increased exponentially, but, before she could make sense of this, Endorsi soon found herself immersed up to her hips in the ground...After recovering from the initial shock, an exceptionally flustered look appeared on Endorsi's face as she looked up at the boy now towering over her, shouting, "You fluffy-eared rascal! If you don't get me out of the floor this instant, I swear you'll regret it for the rest of your life! Don't make me break out of here by force...!"Though she could easily emerge from the ground, the commissary was one of the few places they were strictly told never to damage. There was a heavy penalty for damaging the facility, so, with only 2,418 points to her name, Endorsi was hesitant to break free.Before helping the Princess escape her confines, Gandr squated down just beyond her natural reach to say, "Touching someone without their permission is never okay. Besides, a Vanargandr's ears and tail are the most sensitive spots on their body, places we only allow close family, those we sincerely respect, and those we love to touch. Touching our ears without permission would be the human equivalent of randomly groping someone's chest or butt, so, unless you can honestly tell me you wouldn't be bothered by people randomly fondling your breasts, you need to stop."Seeing the surprisingly severe expression on Gandr's face, Endorsi suddenly felt uncharacteristically sheepish. Her first instinct was to rebut him but it was surprisingly difficult to muster the courage to argue when you were half-buried in the ground. She could also understand the boy's reasoning, so, after several seconds of ever-growing tension, she ultimately released a sigh and said, "Fine. I won't try to touch your ears without permission anymore. Now, get me out of this damned floor before I blow a gasket."Though he got the distinct impression Endorsi hadn't truly given up, Gandr still extended his hand to help her out of the ground. This involved infusing his sword intent into her body and activating the State of Nothingness, an advanced version of the process used to prevent him from becoming naked whenever he activated the ability. This effectively relegated Endorsi to the status of his sword for a brief moment, a rather amusing thought that caused a smile to spread across Gandr's face as he resisted the urge to create sword beams using her body...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Vahn is a monster even when he is nerfed...','Phae don't play','In the hands of a Grandmaster, anything can be a sword (UwU)...')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

Chapter 1707: Rapport