Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

As more people began to trickle into the dining room, a variety of breakfast foods, including eggs, sausage, pancakes, biscuits, gravy, fruit, yogurt, and other 'staples' began to manifest out of thin air atop a series of banquet tables. This gave people the opportunity to pick and choose their favorite breakfast foods, a notion that brought smiles to the faces of many.Being one of the first to arrive, Gandr secured himself a stack of twenty pancakes, a literal pot of sausage gravy, a plate full of buttermilk biscuits, and an entire pan of bacon. Despite this, he was largely finished eating by the time everyone else began to arrive, a massive grin spread across his face when he noticed that half of Shibisu's was swollen.Noticing Gandr's smile, Shibisu returned an awkward one of his own before making his way over to the buffet table. Most of the other guys followed close behind, the only exceptions being Baam and Hatsu since neither had much of an appetite. It was from the latter that Gandr learned about what had happened in the bath, a recounting that caused his ears and tail to twitch happily at the notion of Shibisu's suffering.Fortunately, despite their altercation, there didn't seem to be any particularly hard feelings between Shibisu and Chunhwa. The massive bruise on Shibisu's face was enough to pacify the latter's anger, and, though he couldn't help but redden when Nare entered the room, everyone pretended not to have noticed.After securing food for themselves, the girls quickly invaded the boys' table, Endorsi taking the seat left to Gandr while Anak took her usual seat on his right. This caused the boy in question to adopt a wry smile, not because he was seated between the two Princesses, but because Endorsi, despite her penchant for avoiding meat, had a single large sausage on her plate. She also had a teasing look in her eyes, and, though it garnered her a considerable amount of attention, she took her time to bite the very tip of the sausage, all while staring directly at him.To make matters even worse, causing Endorsi to literally choke, Yoruichi confirmed what everyone else was already thinking, plainly remarking, "You're gonna need a bigger sausage, Princess." This caused Endorsi to basically inhale the piece she had just bitten off, requiring a few heavy pats on her back in order to dislodge it...---Emerging from the kitchen, Vahn couldn't help smiling when he saw how 'lively' things were in the dining hall. His presence caused things to calm down quite a bit, but, based on the vibrant colors of everyone's auras, it was easy to see how well everyone got along. He was worried that the training might cause some animosity to build between them, but, thanks to the healing qualities of the hot spring and the calming effect of the Little Garden, everyone bounced back pretty quickly.Deciding to join everyone for breakfast, Vahn made his way over the table, smiling when Yoruichi, in her cat form, leaped up to his shoulder. This drew the attention of several people, especially when she began licking the area near his sideburns, but Vahn didn't particularly mind their stares. Instead, he sat down next to Hinata, affectionately patting the girl's head for a few moments before turning his attention to the table at large and asking, "So, how was everyone's first day of training?"Without even a moment of hesitation, Endorsi promptly pointed directly at Hinata, a very light flush coloring her cheeks as she exclaimed, "That woman is a demon! She might look sweet and innocent on the surface, but I thought I was going to die more than a dozen times during our training! I want someone else to teach me...!"Though he was slightly annoyed by Endorsi's remark, Vahn's smile became more prominent as he instantaneously answered, "Denied. Hinata is the most suitable teacher for both you and Anak. She will help strengthen your bodies, and, so long as you follow her teachings properly, you will quickly become masters at hand-to-hand combat. If you're sustaining injuries, it means you are charging in without using techniques. Most of her abilities rely on counters and exploiting gaps in the enemy's guard. Stop leaving yourself open."Not expecting her complaint to be shot down so unceremoniously, Endorsi found herself unable to offer a retort, mouth moving but no words coming out. She felt compelled to offer a rebuttal, but, before she was able to, Vahn's expression seemed to soften slightly, smiling as he added, "You're a tough girl, Endorsi. I don't believe you are unable to continue with this training. Besides, it will help to refine your beauty even further. The technique Hinata uses is even more effective than the pellet that was consumed by Rachel. The latter only removes impurities from the body, enhancing beauty and making it easier to manipulate energy. The former refines the body down to the cellular level, drastically increasing your strength and durability while also providing a similar effect to the pill. If you took a photo of your current self and then compared it to the version of you a couple of months down the line, I imagine you'll be pretty shocked."Hearing Vahn list out the various benefits of being Hinata's punching bag, Endorsi got the distinct impression she was being tricked. Despite this, she still chose to believe in his words based on the premise that 'God's couldn't lie'. She was also very weak to compliments, so, hearing Vahn say she was a 'tough girl', Endorsi felt compelled to demonstrate the veracity of this claim. There was also the fact that she had experienced a much worse hell during her childhood, so, while it was certainly very painful, Endorsi knew she could tough it out, just like she always had.Noticing the 'fire' within Endorsi's eyes, Vahn responded with an approving nod before shifting his attention to the rest of the table and saying, "Things might not be easy in the beginning, but, once you adapt the training and become accustomed to overcoming your limits, you are bound to grow stronger at an exponential rate. If it was easy to become strong, everyone would be a powerhouse on the level of Jahad and the Ten Great Family Leaders. Instead, most people waste their talents by making excuses, blaming others, and envying those who were more 'fortunate' than themselves. In the end, talent will only get you so far. True power is something that is obtained through effort. It is not gained from a desire to suppress others, but a resolution to overcome yourself. Each of you has unlimited potential. Don't waste it."Not expecting a 'motivational speech' during breakfast, an oppressive silence promptly descended upon the dining room in response to Vahn's words. This made the atmosphere a little awkward, but, proving why he was the 'protagonist' of this world, Baam shattered the tensions by excitedly saying, "Mr. Vahn is right! People have no control over the circumstances of their birth so I won't waste my time envying others! I will continue to grow stronger! Strong enough to obtain all the things I want! Strong enough to protect all the things I want to protect...!"Hearing Baam speak so spiritedly, smiles spread across the faces of many as the atmosphere quickly reverted to the liveliness that had been present prior to Vahn's arrival. This caused the latter to feel a little awkward, but, rather than fret over his inability to compete with a 'protagonist's aura', he just smiled along with everyone else before enjoying a hearty breakfast...---After promptly kicking everyone out of the Little Garden at 8 AM, Vahn decided to kick back and relax for a few hours, lying on his bed with Yoruichi curled up on his chest. There was something calming about having a cat purr on your chest, so, while he got the impression she was acting a little 'too' clingy, he didn't particularly mind it. Rather, it made him a little excited to imagine that the velvety black cat lying on his chest was actually a beautiful woman allowing him to stroke her body at his leisure...Unfortunately, like all good things, Vahn's relaxation was interrupted by a sudden ping emanating from his Pocket. At the same time, the spherical black device appeared right next to him, indicating that the person calling him was none other than Marble. This was a little earlier than expected, but, rather than simply ignore the call, Vahn lightly tapped the Pocket with his left hand before casually remarking, "Good morning, Ms. Marble."Seemingly surprised by the casual greeting, Marble remained silent for several seconds before her voice could be heard softly replying, "Good morning..."Amused by the petite Dwelfling's remark, the ends of Vahn's smile curled up slightly as he asked, "I assume you are calling to inform me about the preparations? Tell me what I need to do."Having recovered her senses, Marble adopted a more confident tone as she answered, "Everything has been taken care of. Your first Special Test will be against a Test Administrator named Siddallino Rubeus. He doesn't belong to any of the Ten Great Families, but he is pretty famous as an up-and-coming Ranker. You can find his office at the coordinates I uploaded to your Pocket. Keep in mind that he is not an affiliate of Wolhaiksong so you should avoid revealing your own association with our organization..."Since he had already memorized the names provided by Soo-Yun, Vahn didn't really need Marble's reminder to keep mum. Despite this, he maintained his smile, thanking Marble for the information before allowing her to hang up the call from her end. Then, after a brief moment of consideration, Vahn picked up the black cat pretending to sleep on his chest, asking, "Feel like bullying a Ranker with me...?"Though it looked a little creepy, Yoruichi managed a very 'human' smile on her feline face as she replied in a very deep tone, "Of course. I can't wait to see the expression on their face when they get bullied by a cat."Unable to restrain himself, a light chuckle escaped Vahn's throat as he rose from the bed, promptly equipping his shirt before placing Yoruichi on his shoulder. He was also looking forward to seeing how the Ranker would react to a cat that was able to move around at hypersonic speeds, so, after quickly informing Phae of his departure, Vahn took to the sky, once again drawing a considerable amount of attention despite the relatively short flight.Ignoring the gazes focused on him, Vahn entered into Rubeus' Vocational Office, this time flagging down a staff member directly instead of waiting in line. This caused the young woman to appear a little nervous, not because she was frightened, but because Vahn's smiling expression was enough to flutter the hearts of happily married women, much less a single Regular who had been stuck on the 3rd Floor for more than a year.Sensing the woman's thoughts even before she had approached him, Vahn decided he would make her day by beaming even more radiantly as he said, "Good morning, young miss. Could you please inform Administrator Rubeus that I have come seeking to challenge his Special Test?"With her face immediately turning a bright crimson, the young woman, characterized by her cherry-blonde hair, faun-like features, petite antlers, and pointed ears barely managed to fumble out the response, "Y-y-yes sir! I'll see to it right away...!"Though she clearly would have liked to stand around and talk for a bit, the deer-like girl quickly ran off without even asking for Vahn's name and payment. This allowed the latter to see that she also had a tail similar to a cottontail deer, one that was currently waggling happily as she ran to the back of the room with a surprisingly swift gait.Vahn had seen women with deer-like features in the past, but this was actually his first time talking with one. As a result, his mood had improved slightly, and, though he had no intention of following up on the notion, he couldn't deny he was a little curious about what other traits she possessed. He could see that she had hooved feet, similar to Marble, so it was pretty easy to imagine that her legs were likely covered in a thin layer of healthy brown fur...Shortly after this thought crossed his mind, Vahn noticed the bashful young woman burst from the back room with an embarrassed expression on her face. He could already imagine the reason, so, when she nervously approached him and asked for his name, Vahn was able to avoid laughing out loud as he returned a slightly amused smile and answered, "My name is Vahn Aldrnari Mason. Here, this is the fee to take the Special Test...Missus...?"Realizing he was asking for her name, the deer-like girl's expression immediately brightened as she happily exclaimed, "Blossom! My name is Faunus Beryl Blossom...!"Though he felt she was a little too excitable, Vahn still found Blossom's response rather adorable. As a result, he decided to make the young Regular's entire year by saying, "It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Ms. Blossom. Would you like to join me for the Special Test? I will pay the fee on your behalf and you won't have to worry about injuries. How about it...?"At this point, Blossom was pretty sure she was in a dream, so, rather than refuse, her expression brightened considerably as she happily replied, "I would love to~!". Then, perhaps deluded by the notion that this 'was' a dream, she fearlessly latched onto Vahn's arm, leaning against his shoulder with a contented grin on her face.Though he was starting to realize that Blossom might not be playing with a full deck, Vahn decided to just let her enjoy the moment while it lasted. She should come to her senses by the time the Test had come to an end, and, even if that wasn't the case, he was confident in his ability to pacify her with a few headpats before promptly returning to the Inn. After all, she was certainly very adorable, but, with the ability to basically create potential harem members with a thought, Vahn didn't really need to pick up a random Regular just to satiate his curiosity...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Endorsi is playing with fire...','Protagonist Aura OP','She might not be the smartest lightbulb in the Crayola box, but Blossom sure is lucky (OwO)...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Following Blossom's lead, Vahn soon found himself in an arena similar to the one located beneath Marble's Vocational Office. There, a man resembling an older version of Quant, albeit with short red hair, could be standing in the very center of the arena.Noticing one of his staff members clinging to a man with a peculiar black cat riding on his shoulder, Rubeus couldn't help frowning as he asked, "Why have you left your post, Ms. Blossom? You are not being paid to slack off and flirt with other Regulars."Though she cowered in response to her Boss' words, Blossom was still under the delusion that she was currently in a dream. As a result, she managed to muster up a bit of courage, clinging to Vahn with her left hand while forming a fist with her right and saying, "I'm here to take the Boss' Special Test!"Surprised by the normally timid woman's response, Rubeus pulled up the personal terminal given to all Test Admins, confirming that Blossom's name was, indeed, on the list of participants. With that being the case, he quickly dismissed the invisible panel, smiling as he said, "I won't go easy on you just because you've been working here for the past six months. I will, however, wish you the best of luck."Even more convinced that she was in a dream, Blossom's expression became even more radiant as she happily exclaimed, "Thanks, Boss! I won't disappoint~!"Though he felt like Blossom was behaving a little strangely, Rubeus just assumed it was because she had found a reliable man with deep pockets. One of the ways many of the weaker Regulars climbed up the Tower, especially attractive women, was by entering into a relationship with other promising Regulars. It was a little unscrupulous, but, considering many Regulars would happily murder just to eliminate the competition, charming members of the opposite sex was a relatively tame method of climbing the Tower.With that in mind, Rubeus turned his attention to the admittedly handsome man that Blossom was clinging to. He had already heard about the man's power through the Admin Channel, so, while he was a little surprised to be the first on Vahn's bucket list, Rubeus didn't particularly mind it. He was the type that preferred taking action, so, with most of his duties revolving around paperwork and compiling dossiers on specific Regulars, he was more than happy to entertain challengers.Deciding to just jump right into things, Rubeus offered a polite smile that couldn't hide his growing excitement as he said, "I'm guessing you're already aware of the rules, but I have an obligation to explain the rules of my Special Test to new challengers. My test is pretty simple. You will be given a ten-thousand-kilogram ball that has the property of becoming lighter when infused with Shinsu. If you look around you, you'll find that there are goals placed at the four cardinal directions and one located in the center of the ceiling. Your objective, simply put, is to place the ball into any of these goals within a ten-minute period. I can only take action from within the circles located around each of the goals so you won't have to worry about me attacking. As for the goal on the ceiling, that one is a little special. If you have the ability to get the ball into that goal, I won't even try to stop you."Realizing why Marble had suggested he come to Rubeus first, a smile spread across Vahn's face as he mentally communicated, ("Looks like you'll have to wait until next time. This Ranker seems like a nice guy so let's spare him the embarrassment.")Though she was a little annoyed by the wasted trip, Yoruichi just hoped from Vahn's shoulders, stretching her body a bit before walking off to the side. This drew the attention of both Blossom and Rubeus, the latter remarking, "Black Cats are pretty rare below the 100th Floor. It seems like you have quite the backing..."Resisting the urge to inflate his own Ego by declaring he needed no such backing, Vahn just smiled in response to Rubeus' words before asking, "Shall we proceed with the test?"Since Vahn had already paid for himself and Blossom, Rubeus had no reason to refuse. Thus, after producing a bright silver ball from his personal storage, casually tossing it over to Vahn with a smile on his face. To his surprise, however, Vahn easily caught the ball with one hand, returning a similar smile as he promptly spun it on the tip of his finger...Realizing he shouldn't underestimate Vahn, Rubeus adopted a ready stance as he said, "The test has now begun...!"Rather than aim for any of the other goals, Vahn shifted his attention towards the relatively small target located approximately 300m above. This caused Rubeus' brows to furrow, but, as he already declared he wouldn't block attempts to score on the above goal, he could only watch with a slightly sullen expression as the silver ball slowly ascended under the compulsion of Vahn's Telekinesis.Understanding that Vahn's passing was inevitable, Rubeus released an annoyed sigh, scratching the back of his head as he said, "You're no fun. Even the majority of D-Rank Regulars would struggle to get the ball into a target that high off the ground. Looks like Blossom lucked out this time around."Though she had previously been following the silver ball's ascent with her eyes, Blossom snapped back to awareness when she heard Rubeus' remark. A fluttery feeling immediately spread through her body, and, though she had only met Vahn a few minutes ago, she suddenly felt extremely lucky to have won his 'favor'. It was pretty rare for Humans to be interested in her species, and vice-versa, but, for reasons she didn't quite understand, Blossom felt a magnetic attraction to the inordinately handsome man. His aura reminded her of her home forest, and, though his scent lacked the same musk that would normally excite her, an uncharacteristically fierce fire began to spread through her body...Feeling Blossom's body heat gradually increasing, Vahn's smile became wry as he made a mental note to research the characteristics of the various species calling the Tower home. He didn't expect the woman to suddenly enter a state similar to a Chienthropes heat, so, before things could get any further out of hand, he began stroking the excited woman's head, temporarily inflaming her passion before gradually restoring her calm.Seeing the couple 'flirting' right in front of him, Rubeus' smile began to crack slightly as he turned his attention towards the still-rising ball. The moment it made contact with the ceiling, he stopped the timer on his Pocket, saying, "The two of you have successfully completed my Special Test. Now, get the hell out of my sight with your lovey-dovey crap. I'll give Blossom the rest of the day off, so go celebrate or something."Without waiting for Vahn's response, Rubeus' used his authority as a Test Administrator to teleport the duo alongside the peculiar Black Cat. Then, with an exasperated sigh escaping his mouth, he caught the ten-ton ball with a single hand before smiling as he remarked, "It looks like I'll need to increase the intensity of my training. I look forward to facing you once you become a Ranker you god damn riajuu..."---Vahn wasn't particularly fond of being forcibly teleported, but, understanding it would needlessly complicate things if he resisted, he allowed himself to be teleported outside. Then, before Blossom could further mistake his intentions, he grabbed the bubbly girl's shoulders, holding her in place as he calmly explained, "Ms. Blossom...I won't deny that you are a beautiful woman. However, I am not trying to start a relationship with anyone right now. I just found your reactions adorable so I wanted to make your day by allowing you to pass the Special Test. Please don't misconstrue my intentions. I do not wish to hurt your feelings..."Hearing Vahn's remark, Blossom lightly pinched her own cheek, confirming that she wasn't actually dreaming. This made her mood diminish quite a bit, but, considering she had earned 2000 Points and a free License, it was hard to be too upset. She knew she had a penchant for misunderstanding things, prompting most of her teammates to abandon her, so, despite feeling as though there was a hole in her chest, she managed a smile as she replied, "I understand. Thank you for taking pity on me."Realizing he probably didn't want her clinging to him, Blossom attempted to break free from Vahn's hold so she could find someplace quiet to cry. It wasn't that she had fallen in love with the man she had only recently met, but, feeling as though her luck was finally changing for the better, having her delusion shattered was a little heartbreaking. Unfortunately, that was the grimness of reality, a place where dreamers were often disappointed...Understanding his blame in the situation, Vahn surprised Blossom quite a bit by refusing to let her escape. Instead, he wrapped the woman gently in his embrace, stroking her back as he said, "There is no reason to feel sad. Though I can't take you with me, I can still help your dream come true. This was the only thing I had planned, so, from now until the sky turns dark, allow me the great fortune of accompanying you. At the very least, let me treat you to lunch in order to celebrate our victory..."Since her eyes had already moistened from the earlier rejection, Blossom couldn't help shedding a few tears when she heard Vahn's words. She wanted to comment that he was only making things worse by treating her so kindly, but, feeling his warmth invade her body, she couldn't bring herself to separate from him. Instead, she buried her face into his chest, sniffling as she wrapped her arms around his body to prolong the contact...---Though it probably would have been better for him to return early, Vahn ended up creating a proxy to return alongside Yoruichi as he kept Blossom company, not just for the remainder of the day, but until early the next morning. She had told him about her past and her desire to become a protector for her people, a species that was often poached as slaves within the Outer Tower.Unfortunately, as a relatively pacifistic species who lived alongside nature, she wasn't very suited for combat. The best she could do was act as a Scout, but, with Scouts being the most common of the five Positions, it wasn't long before her former team had replaced her with someone less accident-prone. To make matters even worse, the 'leader' of her team, consisting of five men, had offered to let her stay if she was willing to earn extra Points in the brothel while also serving as 'relief' for the rest of the party.Needless to say, Blossom had refused the man's offer, so, for several months, she had to survive outside of the Town of Beginnings until she had earned enough Points to return. This wasn't too bad, as she was very adept at surviving in the wild. Her biggest problem was that she was still very weak, and, due to her propensity to misunderstand things, she was often tricked out of her Points or used as a gopher by the few people willing to let her join their Party. None of them, however, were willing to take her to the next Floor, so, after failing to find a group for more than a year, she ended up working as a Floor Receptionist in various Vocational Offices.Blossom was one of many Regulars who were unable to advance to the next Floor, but, due to her unwillingness to simply give up on her dream, she continued to persevere. She couldn't give up on her people, so, even though she had been tricked countless times, she never gave up hope that a Party would eventually help her ascend to the next Floor. This seemed to be the case for many of the people working as Receptionists, a job that solely recruited personable Scouts.After listening to Blossom's story, Vahn knew he had made a mistake, but, rather than lament, he decided to just go with the flow and follow his instincts. There was no way he could simply ignore the plight of someone right in front of him, especially when said person was an extremely kind and caring young woman who just wanted to help her people. She might be a little ditzy and prone to misunderstandings, but, disregarding this, and his original intentions; Vahn stayed at the woman's side for the entire night, making slow and passionate love to her until his Pocket alerted him to the fact it was already morning.Disabling the alarm that only he could hear, Vahn looked down at the woman on all fours, her face flushed with an impassioned hue as she stared back at him with glazed eyes. At the same time, his hand lightly caressed her firm, plump, and fur-covered butt, savoring the smooth sensation against his palm. He found it extremely arousing that the lighter part of her fur formed a heart shape from behind, but, as that wasn't important right now, he allowed himself to slip out of the woman's fiery and moist cavern with a 'pop'. Then, after laying her on her side, he occupied the spot next to her, gently caressing the side of her face as he said, "Don't worry...I'll make your dream come true..."(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Rubeus dodged a bullet xD...','Blossom used Escape...it was ineffective! Unable to Escape...','I want to say that Vahn is very responsible...but...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Unaware of the conversation going on in the women's bath, a disturbingly similar one was taking place within the men's.With public baths being the most common form of bathing within the Tower, Gandr decided to take it easy alongside Hatsu and Chunhwa after their training had completed. There was nothing strange about this, but, from the moment they saw Gandr's 'endowments', Hatsu became eerily silent while Chunhwa, with a wry smile on his face, remarked, "You're scary in all kinds of ways...hahahaha..."If things had ended there, Gandr wouldn't have particularly minded, but, with the rest of the guys slowly filing into the bath, things somehow transitioned from a literal 'dick-measuring contest' to an open discussion about preferences in women. The fault for this largely lay with Shibisu, who, after securing himself third place among the men present, asked, "How are things going between you and Endorsi? I noticed she was all over your during last night's supper."Though he knew Shibisu was the type that asked what was on his mind, Gandr couldn't help but sigh in response to the man's words before explaining, "There isn't really anything between us right now. I don't know how things will progress in the future, but I'm not trying to pick up girls and start a harem right now."Raising his brows, a sly smile spread across Shibisu's face as he asked, "Who said anything about a harem? Seems like you're already having some ideas~."With a simple wave of his hand, Gandr caused a spout of hot water to smash into Shibisu's face, his own adopting a deadpan expression as he said, "Mind your own business, Isu. You might think it is envious to be in a position like mine, but that's only because you haven't experienced it. Endorsi is an attractive woman, but she has a vain nature and a violent temperament. As for Anak, she is more like a little sister to me than anything else...and don't even get me started on Yuri...haaaa..."Deciding to lend Shibisu a hand, Khun, from his position next to Baam, stated, "Give him a break, Gandr. The fact you have three Princess of Jahad pining after you really is something to be envious of. I understand that it might be troublesome, but there are literally billions of people in this Tower who would willingly trade places with you. If we didn't pick on you for it, who would voice the anger and indignation of the masses~?"Hearing Khun's remark, Gandr just released another tired sigh before sinking into the water up to his nose. This ended up being a little dangerous, as, immediately following Khun's statement, Rak, the undisputed 'number one' among the men gathered, boldly stated, "The Blue Turtle is right. It is the sign of a strong man to have strong women to mate with. Take pride, Fluffy Black Turtle, you are a strong man."Accidentally inhaling water through his nose, Gandr entered a coughing fit, a slightly resentful look in his eyes as he stared at the muscular crocodilian relaxing on the opposite side of Baam. The trio had very few boundaries between them, and, though none of them were gay, it wasn't rare to see Baam and Khun using Rak as a cushion or a bed. It was a very strange dynamic, but, after spending a few years alongside members of the Xenos, Vahn, and, by proxy, Gandr, didn't really question it.After recovering from his accidental inhalation, Gandr decided to just relax against the side of the bath, head tilted back as he muttered, "You don't really have to tell me how fortunate I am. I am the most aware of it. It's just not my main focus so it's kind of annoying to hear about it so often. I just want to have fun climbing the Tower alongside my friends. Relationships always make things more complicated than they need to be, especially when there are multiple women involved. Right now, it is mainly just a joke, but, if I really did start a relationship, it would slowly drive a wedge between all of us...I don't want to lose the friends I just made..."Not expecting to hear something so sincere from the young Vanargandr, everyone present within the bath momentarily fell silent. They knew there were more than a few grains of truth behind his statement, and, though people like Chunhwa didn't really care, as he already had a relationship, it was bound to cause problems if Gandr started dating all the other girls in the Team. People had a habit of thinking there was always a chance they could get lucky if someone was already taken, so, when one person started taking 'everyone', it was impossible to prevent a little resentment from taking root.Though Endorsi was a 'vain and annoying woman', her beauty made her relatively popular among all the males within Team Wolf Pack. The only people who didn't particularly care about her were Rak, who had a very different opinion on what beauty meant, Baam, who only really had eyes for Rachel, and Khun, who, despite his firm denial, had a soft spot for his step-sister. She was the light of his life, and, though he principally did it to help secure her status, he had helped his step-sister become a Princess of Jahad just so she wouldn't end up with another guy.With the exception of the peculiar trio, this left Shibisu, Aleksai, Hatsu, and even Laure as people who all had middling crushes on Endorsi. Sure, they disdained her personality quite a bit, but, as she was, in fact, a Princess of Jahad, they actually 'expected' her to act like that. The fact she was also something that was supposed to be unattainable also gave her the allure of the forbidden, a fruit that everyone would want to taste if given the opportunity.Endorsi clinging to Gandr already caused the seeds of resentment to sprout within the hearts of several Team Wolf Pack members. As a result, they felt quite a bit of guilt after hearing what Gandr had to say on the matter. They didn't know his actual age, so, from their perspective, he was just a young boy that wanted to have fun and make friends. Despite this, they teased him because of their own insecurities, envying the youth for his appearance, talent, and inordinately good 'fortune' with women...As the primary culprit behind the teasing remarks, Shibisu adopted an apologetic expression on his face as he stated, "I'm sorry, Gandr...I didn't really try and consider things from your perspective. I'll try to control myself better in the future..."Fixing his posture so that he could stare back at the man, Gandr surprised Shibisu by shaking his head and saying, "No, it's fine. I don't really mind being teased that much. After all, it's normal for friends to mess with each other. The thing that bothers me is how it feels like I'm being pressured to start a relationship when I don't really want to. I'm pretty sure Anak also feels the same way. She probably doesn't even think about the matters between men and women, yet, time and again, she is teased for treating me 'specially' just because we're a little close...it's frustrating..."Feeling even more guilty after hearing Gandr's exasperated remark, Shibisu didn't really know what else to say to the boy. Instead, he just rubbed the back of his head, an awkward smile on his face as he thought back to all his past comments regarding the duo. Fortunately, Baam came to his rescue pretty quickly, a completely innocent smile on his face as she offered, "I think it would be best if we just focus on getting stronger and climbing the Tower. We're already members of the same Familia, so I'm sure we can overcome anything if we just talk it out like this. Isn't that what friends do?"Nodding his head in agreement, Gandr liberated Shibisu from his awkward silence by saying, "Baam is right. I'm probably making a bigger deal out of this than it actually is. I mean, now that we're all a part of the same Familia, you can easily obtain the same type of medicine used by Rachel. After that, the only thing you really need to do in order to win a girl's heart is to display confidence, treat them nicely, and work hard to improve yourself. Girls like guys who make them feel emotionally and financially secure. They can also appreciate the hard work you put into improving yourself, as, more often than not, girls put a lot of effort into their appearance. It makes them feel gratified if you do the same, rather than just one-sidedly coveting their beauty."Not expecting to hear relationship advice from the 'youngest' person present, Shibisu couldn't help but tentatively inquire, "How do you know all of these things? Aren't you like twelve...?"Rolling his eyes, Gandr reclined his head back again before saying, "We experience the passage, just like anyone else, but the Vanargandr doesn't age. We're all Ageless, so, unless I want to change, this is how I will always appear. As for my actual age...I'm pretty close to 305-years-old..."Though three-hundred wasn't particularly old by the Tower's standards, the fact Gandr was already that old came as quite the shock. They had thought he was still a 'brat', but, considering how skilled he was, it made sense that his actual age was a lot older than their expectations.Despite having just resolved himself not to tease Gandr too much, Shibisu couldn't help but shake his head as he said, "Man, Endorsi is going to flip when she hears about this. The way you speak, it is pretty obvious you have some experience too. Did you have a family outside of the Tower...?"Rather than answer Shibisu's question, Gandr just waved dismissively before letting his body sink into the bath. He didn't really feel like making up excuses or coming up with a cover story, so, after counting to one-hundred beneath the water, he rose from the tub and said, "I'm hungry. I'll see you all at breakfast."With that said, Gandr walked toward the entrance to the bath, steam rising from his hair and fur as the water soaking them quickly evaporated. Then, with a quick activation of his [REquip] system, he was fully clothed before he even reached the Changing Room.Feeling his guilt resurface, Shibisu rubbed the back of his head a second time as he murmured, "I guess Gandr's past is a taboo subject..."Though Shibisu hadn't been speaking towards anyone, in particular, Khun elected to nod his head, adding, "You don't acquire those kinds of skills if you lived a normal childhood. That Fenrir woman is also a little unhinged so it's pretty obvious they have a checkered past. Vahn probably saved them at some point. It's pretty obvious his relationship with most of his retainers is abnormal...I guess the world outside the Tower has its own problems..."Following Khun's remark, silence descended on the bath for several tense moments as everyone's thoughts wandered to the 'outside' world. The only exception to this was Baam, who, having lived outside the Tower for many years, didn't particularly care for it. He was more focused on climbing to the top of the Tower and opening the way so that others could achieve their dreams.With silence dominating the atmosphere for nearly a full minute, many of the people present were considering getting out when Shibisu suddenly asked, "So, what do you guys think about the new girls? She is a sadistic monster, but that Yoruichi chick is ridiculously sexy. For a moment, I actually considered becoming a masochist when she was stepping on my face...I'm not sure how the soles of her feet can be so soft when she walks around barefooted like that..."Hearing Shibisu's 'admission', Khun couldn't help but glower at the man as if he was looking at a complete idiot. Before he could say anything, however, Chunhwa seemed to be interested in the topic, a distant look in his eyes as he stated, "That Hinata girl is very cute...though she can't really compare to my Nare, my Chivalrous instincts kick in whenever I see such a timid and frail-looking girl...it makes me want to protect them..."Not buying Chunhwa's 'bullshit', Shibisu adopted an accusatorily sly smile as he said, "You're so full of it, Chun. We all know you're a Lolicon. You don't have to make excuses."With a fair amount of red bleeding into his cheeks, Chunhwa adopted a threatening look as he said, "I'm not a Lolicon..." in a dark tone. Unfortunately, Shibisu already had his weakness in his grasp, the smile on his face becoming even more wicked as he asked, "Oh? You and Nare haven't done it? I'm pretty sure I saw her sneaking off to your room a few times...I guess she was just feeling insecure so she went to you for 'protection'..."Unable to refute Shibisu's words, Chunhwa averted his eyes to the side, rebutting, "Her appearance is due to her race...she is only child-like if you hold her to human standards. What, would you have her remain alone her entire life just because she looks a little young...?"Finding Chunhwa's justification rather amusing, Shibisu couldn't help but loudly guffaw in response to the man's words. Then, despite feeling as though he had already gone too far, a somewhat lewd smile appeared on his face as he mused, "Don't worry, even if you're second-to-last, I'm sure Nare thinks you're massive~." before immediately sprinting towards the entrance.(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'The indignation of the masses xD...','Gandr has left the server','Shibisu must have an Innate related to seeking death...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Chapter 1768: Momentum